Selectmen
approve Fairgrounds use Two applicants apply to use the facility
By Elizabeth Prata
New Gloucester--Three years ago, at a special Town
Meeting the New Gloucester Selectmen proposed to the
citizens that they buy Trotters Park, renamed New
Gloucester Fairgrounds, the historic horse park and
agricultural fair scene sited in west New Gloucester.
Citizens said no. The next year, the Selectmen asked
again, this time the price tag had been lowered. The
citizens said yes.
What citizens got is an exceptional property that
is fairly level, with a half-mile dirt track, woods,
a historic barn, and waterfront land along the Royal
River. Canoers, joggers, and Community Day organizers
quickly discovered this jewel, and last winter skaters
enjoyed the temporary skating rink that volunteers
built.
Now, other organizations are discovering the Park's
benefits. The Selectmen heard two requests for facility
use Monday night, and both applicants went away happy.
James Mulcahy owns a horse team and wanted to use
the track to exercise the team, with a drag behind
that would also help the track stay level and prevent
ingrowth from grass.
Selectmen Chair Steve Libby flipped through the short
and simple application form, and asked that the horses
not be exercised after a rain, since that would pot-hole
the dirt. He also asked Mr. Mulcahy to put up a closed
for maintenance sign on the field during the hour
he was using the track. He was worried about liability
issues with joggers being too near the team if both
were using it simultaneously.
With a bit more discussion, such as where to stow
the drag when Mr. Mulcahy wasn't using it, the Selectmen
approved the use 4-0 (Conger absent). There was no
fee assessed, since "dragging the track helps
us as much as it benefits you," Mr. Libby said.
Chip Amergian of the North American Versatile Hunting
Dog Association would like to use a section of the
Park near the river to conduct the Fall Utility annual
water test for the hunting dogs that have been painstakingly
trained all year long. He described the scene as including
blinds, a volley of shots (blanks) during which the
dog must wait, more volleys near and far from the
dog, a splash of a duck into the water and then the
dog must retrieve the bird.
The dog must perform flawlessly and remain focused
on the task at hand. The various shots from near and
far are designed to test the dog's patience and focus,
and the "Test is intense, a whole year's worth
of training goes into this," said Mr. Amergian.
He said that previously the Chapter had used local
resident Fred Thurston's pond, which is but the dry
conditions have pretty well dried up the pond and
once the Chapter began looking around for alternate
sites, they saw that the Fairgrounds would be perfect.
Mr. Libby said that he was worried about parking,
and wanted to be sure that no one parked on Bald Hill
Road. Mr. Amergian said that the Field Marshal takes
care of that. The field marshal is responsible for
guiding hunters tot heir blinds, managing the public,
and overseeing safety.
The Fall Utility test is designed to test the finished
hunting dog. In field work, the dog is required to
search for, fin, and point game and to retrieve shot
birds to hand. It is expected to be steady to wing,
shot, and fall. It is required to track and retrieve
a 100-200 yard drag. In the water sequence, the dog
demonstrates heeling through a serpentine course to
a blind and then remains by the blind while the handler
leaves, goes out of sight and fires two blank shots.
After the handler returns to the blind, the dog must
remain steady through a sequence of shots and then
retrieve a thrown duck from the water. The final test
involves a blind search for a live duck across water
with emerging vegetation. During the entire Utility
Test, the dog is scored on use of nose, desire, stamina,
cooperation and obedience.
A total of 12 dogs will be tested, half in the morning,
and half in the afternoon.
Mr. Libby wanted to make sure that the chapter had
the appropriate insurance, that the bullets were blanks,
and that the neighbors were informed prior to the
three-day testing exercises. "We don't want them
wondering what all the shots are," he said. With
promises to clean up afterwards, the Chapter was granted
permission to use the property on September 9, 10,
and 11 from 8 a.m. to dusk. "There will be no
fee," Mr. Libby said, "since the Park is
to remain open to the public while this is going on."
Selectmen voted 4-0 to approve the use, and Mr. Libby
indicated his own interest in seeing the exercises,
once September 9 rolls around.
