NEW GLOUCESTER – An update on Pineland, a presentation from the Friends of the Royal River and several bid proposals got New Gloucester selectmen’s attention on Monday.
Craig Denekas, vice president of the Libra Foundation, said approximately 75 percent of the Pineland campus space is leased to a variety of 42 commercial tenants.
“We’ve made very good progress, and this is where we hoped to be,” Denekas told selectmen.
Last May, Pineland Farms Natural Meats, formerly Wolf Neck Farms, was formed. It’s now based at Pineland.
By spring, a cheese production plant will operate in a 13,000-square-foot building at Valley Farm. “Cheese is a value-driven product and one of the last pieces to the farm puzzle,” he said. The cheese will be marketed at the visitors center at Pineland in a small retail shop.
Winter activities have faced tough times with the lack of snow for cross country skiers, but ice skating is now available.
At Gillespie Farms in Gray and New Gloucester, which is part of Pineland Farms at Mayall Road, construction is under way to provide housing for the manager. And a small greenhouse for seed production is under way also.
In other business, Friends of the Royal River presented a slide show demonstrating the work of the Royal River Youth Conservation Corps during recent years.
The high school students work to keep storm water runoff from entering local lakes and rivers within the Royal River watershed.
New Gloucester, North Yarmouth, Gray and Yarmouth have helped fund the seven-week summer program, along with grants, funds from the Department of Environmental Protection, help from the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District and private donations.
“The program helps raise public awareness of the negative effects of soil pollution on water quality,” said Nichols.
The students’ work includes building buffers and laying mulch, trail work, road work, watershed surveys, storm drainage stenciling and maintenance.
Last year, their 18 projects in eight towns resulted in 526 trees planted, 54 yards of mulch placed and 22 tons of soil prevented from entering the lakes.
Finally, Ruth Waterhouse was honored by the selectmen who have dedicated the town’s 210th annual report to her for volunteer efforts to the community, which began in 1955 when she served on the School Board. She has been an active member of the New Gloucester Planning Board with near-perfect attendance since 1988. And, for nearly 30 years, she served voters at the polls as a clerk.
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