Congratulations to Jennifer Betancourt, elected the new President of the Maine Cheese Guild at the annual meeting on November 6! I know the entire membership joins me in looking forward to her energy and enthusiasm leading Maineıs cheese industry into the future. As a wise songwriter once sang, the futureıs so bright, you need sunglasses....

The annual meeting of the Maine Cheese Guild is scheduled for Monday, November 6, from 10-2, at State of Maine Cheese Co., on Rt. 1 in Rockport. We will be electing officers, setting the meeting schedule for the next year, planning workshops and strategizing our presence at the American Cheese Societyıs Annual Conference in Vermont in August.
Please bring cheese to share. The Guild will provide lunch items. Hope to see you there!

The next meeting of the Maine Cheese Guild is Monday, September 25, 10-2, at Seal Cove Farm in Lamoine, our host Barbara Brooks. Realizing that this is a long drive for many, we're not structuring the meeting, so late arrivals are welcome! Please bring cheese and/or lunch items to share.
Directions to Seal Cove Farm: From Belfast way take Routes 1 and 3 to Ellsworth: From Bangor: Take Route 1A to Ellsworth which becomes Routes 1and 3. In Ellsworth, At MacDonald's turn LEFT onto Route 1 (Route 3 heads straight toward Bar Harbor) Go up the hill past Home Depot and Morrison Chevrolet. You see the Lutheran Church and Route184 on your right. BEAR RIGHT onto Route 184. When you reach the Lamoine Town Hall TURN LEFT on to Route 204. We are two and one half miles from the town hall on the LEFT. Mailbox has #200 on it. (At one and one half miles from the town hall the Mud Creek Rd bears to the left STAY TO THE RIGHT -this road is also called Partridge Cove Rd)

The next meeting of the Maine Cheese Guild is scheduled for Monday, May 15, 10-2, at Oak Leaf Creamery in Kennebunkport. Our host David Peterson. We'll have updates on the Harvest Fund Grant and the Dairy Promotion funds issue. Please bring cheese to share. 
Directions: Take 95 South from Portland and exit at Kennebunk (#25 I think), then turn left onto 35 South. Stay on 35 S to it's end at a traffic light in Kennebunk lower village. Turn left onto Rte 9 East, take it through Kennebunkport, turning right onto Maine street and left onto School street (both still 9 E). Go past an elementary school on the right and then up a slight grade and turn right onto Magnolia Drive...we're # 11 fourth house in on the right. Phone number: 207 229-3216

The next meeting of the Maine Cheese Guild is scheduled for Monday, April 3, 10-2, at Sunset Acres Farm in Brooksville, hosts Anne Bossi and Bob Bowen. Bring cheese to share! We'll be planning a fall workshop with Patrick Anglade and discussing volunteers for various Guild events. Bob has some used equipment to show, as well as lots of cute baby kids. Jane Marasco also has the completed list of books in the guild library, now located at State of Maine Cheese Co.
Directions: from the south: From Bucksport go 6 miles to rt 15 turnoff by shell station. Go 5 miles and turn right onto rt 199. Go to stop sign and turn left onto rt 175. Go 5 miles +/- till Gulf station. Turn rt (still 175) and go to stop sign. Turn left and go 1/4 mile till Hidden drive sign and next drive on left. Farm sign is across the road on right. 2 wood sided trailers at end of drive. From east: in Ellsworth take 172 to Blue Hill. Go straight as you will be picking up rt 15 and going 5 miles to stop sign . Turn right onto 176 and go till you see the Gulf gas station. Before it turn left and follow as above. Any questions, Google our phone number 326-4741 and print out a map. From the north is the same as the south since they all go thru Bucksport.

Happy Winter! Canıt complain about the weather so far.
Our next meeting will be at Deb Hahnıs in Phippsburge. Please bring a bag lunch and cheese to share. It has been suggested that we use this meeting to put together a group order to Fromagex for wrapping paper, and perhaps some other supplies. Directions: coming into bath on Route 1 from the south: take the route 209/Phippsburg exit 3.9 miles from the exit take a left onto Fiddlers Reach Road take a left onto Captain Perry Drive we're number 62   coming into bath on Route 1 from the north: take the route 209/Phippsburg exit follow signs that say "to 209 south" (you will have to turn left at the light and drive under the overpass) Drive past BIW and continue about 2 miles until you hit Route 209 (south) drive 2 miles on 209 and take a left onto Fiddlers Reach Road take a left onto Captain Perry Drive we're number 62

Directions to the Holiday Gathering on Dec. 12:
From the south: Take Rt 1 north to Bath. Cross the Bridge in Bath and turn right at the Dairy Queen Rt 127 South. Take 127 South for aprx 12 miles. You will pass the turn off for Reid State Park (large American Flag painted on rock at corner) continue straight on 127 for one more mile. Five Islands Farm is on the right. From the north: Take Rt. 1 south to Woolwich. Exit Right on Rt. 127 South across from the Texaco. Take 127 South for aprx 12 miles. You will pass the turn off for Reid State Park (large American Flag painted on rock at corner) continue straight on 127 for one more mile. Five Islands Farm is on the right.

Seasonıs Greetings!
The Guildıs annual Christmas gathering will be held on Monday, Dec. 12, 12-4 at Heidi Klingelhoferıs house in Georgetown. Please bring a potluck item (and cheese!) to share, as well as photos of any cheese trips you may have made over the past year. We had a very productive annual meeting at State of Maine Cheese Co. on Nov.7, with the result of a new directive and focus for 2006. Networking, infomation exchange, education are some of our goals. When doing your holiday shopping, remember Maine cheese makes a wonderful gift.

Time is flying by, and we have several upcoming events!
The Guild will be having an informational booth at the Common Ground Fair, Setp. 23-25, in the Ag Demo Area. Please stop by to visit or volunteer your time for awhile! The next Guild meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26, at Liberty Fields Farm in Saco, with hosts Anne and Joel Tripp. They will give a tour of their new cheese plant. The Third Annual Cheese Festival is coming up fast on October 15 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. We have flyers and posters ready to put up, as well as advance tickets to sell. Hope to see you at one or all of these events!

Next Meeting: Monday, May 16, 10-2, UMO, Orono, "The New and Improved Department of Food Science"
The next Guild meeting will be hosted by Gary Anderson at the University of Maine at Orono. Gary Anderson and Al Bushway will lead a tour of the new Food Science wing including the pilot plant and sensory evaluation facilities. Al will be available for questions cheesemakers have on food science questions and testing questions. We have a large room reserved for the day in Hitchner Hall. Be sure to email Melissa Potts (mpotts@umext.maine.ed) for your parking permit!