Thousands will follow the scarecrows

This group of spirited volunteers spent a few hours building scarecrows last week. The scarecrows will point the way to the athletic complex at the high school and middle schools, so that thousands of visitors can find the eighth annual Crossroad Challenge on Columbus Day Weekend. The event is hosted by the nonprofit Patriot Soccer Club, which provides a quality youth soccer program primarily for girls and boys from the Gray and New Gloucester areas in the U-9 through U-14 divisions. Last year, 82 teams registered for the challenge held every year on Columbus Day Weekend. The event is a fundraiser for the community and athletic fields. This year’s tournament is expected to be even bigger. From left, the folks behind the scarecrows are Cheryl Hicks, Stephanie Rogers, Sharon Giggey, Amanda Giggey, Robin Pelkey, Penney Ward, Lori Haymon, Sharon Verreault, Mary Martell, Michelle Kane, Cathy Moreau, Chris Rogers and Tim Verreault. Courtesy photo by Kent Pelkey

New Town Councilor to be Named

Mark Grover, Tracy Scheckel and Andrew Edson have submitted applications to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of former council chair Allison Libbey. The term will run through June. Of interest, if Andrew Edson wins the seat, at 18 years old he could be the youngest sitting councilor in Gray’s recent history. The council will announce its selection on Oct. 11 at a special town council meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Stimson Hall.

I love Mainers

James Razsa, 23, graduated from GNG High School. Between then and now he’s had a couple of years of film school. His summer job, though, has recently earned him some attention.

A friend of the family is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and wrote a web story about Razsa. A photo accompanying the article showed Razsa at the recent protest held at Walker’s Point. He was there, he said, because friends were in Iraq. Not so unusual, except Razsa’s summer job was working at Walker’s Point as George Bush Sr.’s pool boy. The story got legs on the Internet and Razsa ended up being the topic of a radio show and numerous blog stories. While it’s interesting that a local story makes national waves online, locals probably don’t find it so strange to find another local literally on both sides of the fence.

After all, in Maine, we’re used to celebrities and celebrity-politicians. A rumour this summer that Tom Brady of Patriots fame was buying a summer place in Raymond, met with only mild interest. Steven Tyler buying a sandwich at a gas station in Cumberland?… Ho hum, let the poor guy get a sandwich in peace. We take it with a grain of salt, they come and they go. Kind of like Internet celebrity. What endures, though, is Yankee practicality. Online, the story was exploited politically, because Razsa expressed views against the Bush’s policies. Here at home? It wasn’t the politics that got attention. One line in the story mentions that while Razsa was working, he wasn’t making enough money to cover needed dental work. A Maine group offered Razsa assistance with his dental care. Razsa said that he received enough additional donations to cover the cost of his dental work and funds left over will go to the Root Cellar in Portland, an organization that provides services to needy families. Razsa said it was an interesting couple of weeks for him, “like a minute and a half of fame.” Just proves that it doesn’t take long for Mainers to lend a hand.

“Cuke” Barrows, Gray’s Major Leaguer

Who knew Gray had its very own major leaguer? Cuke Barrows was born in Gray on Oct. 20, 1883. Barrows was 25 years old when he broke into the big leagues on Sept. 18, 1909, with the Chicago White Sox.

He batted left, threw right, was an outfielder and had 99 at-bats over four seasons in the majors with the Chicago White Sox during the dead ball era. For trivia buffs, Wikipedia describes the dead-ball era: “During the dead-ball era, baseball was much more of a strategy-driven game. It relied much more on stolen bases and hit-and-run type plays than on home runs. These strategies emphasized speed, perhaps by necessity. Teams played in spacious ball parks that limited hitting for power, and, compared to modern baseballs, the ball used then was “dead” from both its design and its overuse.”

Barrows played his final game on Sept. 10, 1912. He would have played for Hugh Duffy, a baseball Hall of Famer, who was managing the team his last couple of years. While I couldn’t find his salary, one is listed for a teammate of his, Ed Walsh. According to the site baseballalmanac.com, Walsh earned a $3,500 salary in 1911.

One source says that Barrows came home to Maine and married into the Hannaford family and for many years was part of a business that became known as Barrows Greenhouses in Gorham, one of the oldest flower shops in the state. The Allen family purchased the greenhouse in 1961.

Barrows died Feb. 10, 1955 in Gorham, and is buried in a South Portland cemetery.

Show Your Vintage Automobile

Here’s some interesting trivia: At their eighth annual convention in 1925, a fledgling Lions organization was challenged by none other than Helen Keller to become “Knights for the Blind.” That challenge was accepted and today the Lions are an international service organization dedicated to providing answers for blindness and sight-related issues worldwide.

Chairman Joe Murray, of the Gray-New Gloucester Lions Car Show, invites classic car owners to participate in the fourth annual Gray-New Gloucester Lions Car Show on Saturday, Oct. 20. Rain or shine.

The show is part of the New Gloucester Community Days celebration held at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds (Trotters Park) on Bald Hill Road in New Gloucester. Great family fun for everyone! Registration is from 8-11 a.m., voting ends promptly at 12:30 p.m. with awards at 2 p.m. Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in 16 classes, plus Best of Show. Entry fee is $5 per vehicle. FMI contact Joe Murray 657-3034, e-mail jmurray1@maine.rr.com or Dean Neal 926-4723, e-mail dc4723@securespeed.us

On a local level, the Gray-New Gloucester Lions Club has 23 members and is very active in the community. The Lions award two scholarships; support local youngsters attending camps and athletic programs for the blind; help support Camp Susan Curtis, Camp Sunshine, Opportunity Farm, The IRIS Network, Fidelco Guide Dog Organization and the Diabetes association. Lions also host a blood drive, conduct an oratorical contest and a peace poster contest, sponsor a local youngster at the HOBY Leadership program and provide eye exams and glasses for those in need. Lions also join forces with Gray Parks and Recreation, the Octagon Club and the American Legion to host Halloween and Christmas parties for youngsters of all ages. The Lions gratefully acknowledge the generous support of local businesses and individuals whose contributions make all this possible.

The Lions also invite interested, community-minded persons to join them at a meeting and get to know them better. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Parish Hall of the Gray Congregational Church (located behind McDonald’s). New members are welcome and there is a new family membership program with discounted dues for members of the same family unit.

Upcoming:

Monday, Oct. 8: Blood Drive at Gray American Legion Hall, Route 100, 15 Lewiston Road, 2-7 p.m. For more information or reservation please call 428-3737 or chiefwf@aol.com.

Your Government:

Oct. 8: Council Workshop, 6 p.m., at Stimson Hall.

Oct. 11: Planning Board, 7 p.m. at Stimson Hall.