Seniors: Assistance with Medicare Part D

The 2008 open season for those newly eligible and those wishing to change their enrollment in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program begins on Thursday, Nov. 15 and continues until the end of December.

Once again, the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging is offering assistance at the Gray Public Library to anyone in the region who is seeking information about the program or is considering a change to their present enrollment.

The assistance will be offered in the reference room of the library on Thursday afternoons from 1-3 p.m. For more information and/or to assure timely assistance, call volunteer Phil Ohman at 657-5446 for an appointment.

Pack 86 Cub Scouts Collecting Coats

Coats for Kids is a cooperative effort organized by WCSH 6, Shaw’s, Hannaford and several other area businesses focusing on collecting new and gently-used coats for area children who need them for the upcoming winter.

Gather up those outgrown coats (and mittens, hats and snow pants) and drop them off at any of the following locations: Gray Public Library, Gray Supermarket, Dunn School, Russell School, Gray-New Gloucester Middle School, Jess & Nic’s, K&K Video lobby and the YMCA.

The Cub Scouts will take coats collected by Nov. 30 to a WCSH televised live event for donation on Dec. 1. The collection boxes will still be out until the end of December for people who still find coats to donate.

If you are unable to make it to these locations, but have coats that you would like to donate, call Rusty Quinn at 657-2820 to schedule a pickup.

Thank You to G-NGBA Annual TV Auction Supporters

The 2007 Gray- New Gloucester Business Association’s Annual TV Auction was great fun and very successful in raising needed funds for area projects and the annual GNG High School scholarship program.

Thanks to our own local talent who did a remarkable job emceeing the show including Mark Persky, Mike Vadas, Rep. Sue Austin and Gray Town Manager Deb Cabana who were informative and very entertaining.

The association sends a hearty thank-you to the fine businesses in the Gray-New Gloucester area for donations and encourage readers to show their appreciation by supporting these fine establishments including: First Impression Hair Design, Pineland Farms, Pemberton’s Gourmet Foods, Nails Gone Wild, Fiddlehead Center for the Arts, China Village, Gorrill-Palmer Consulting, Holly Mason Inc., Karen’s Flower Shop, Mike and Julie Vadas, Hall’s Self Storage, Phil Pulsifer, Kenny’s Heating, Gatekeeper Communications, Berry Fowles and Co,, Gray Marketplace, Attorney Robert Avaunt, Hanley and Yost, Art of Stone, Ken’s Car Care, Kimball and Dube’s Garage, Tsukroff Photography, American Legion, Wayne T. Wood and Co., Steamatic of Greater Portland, A Finished Look Nail Salon, Gray Family Vision Center, Pine Tree Food Equipment, Dry Mills Store, YMCA, Special Effects Salon, Lakes Region Weekly, Edmiston Heating, Jess ‘n Nics, MGA Cast Stone, GNG Independent Newspaper, Maine Wildlife Park, Mario’s Restaurant, Androscoggin Bank, Syris Scientific, Greg’s Auto Body, M. Keating- Porcaro; Artist, Edmiston Heating, Cole Farms, Fisherman’s Net, Elite T’s , Key Bank, Maine Independent Reliv Distributor, Goodies Pizzeria, Enercon, Us & Co. Computers, John Couture State Farm Insurance, MGA Stone, Gray Physical Therapy, Maine Bank and Trust, G-NG Optimist Club, TD Banknorth, Timberstate G Inc., Marden’s, Sue Austin, Doggie Cottage, Whitney Tree, Spring Meadows, Mark Bacon CPA, Lewis Painting, Pine Tree Networks, Cartco, Open Gate Equine Rescue, Maine Bank & Trust, Lonnie Dogs, Gray True Value, Marcia Linscott and Jessica Gilcrest.

Many thanks are extended to those who helped at the auction itself including Chris Dombrowski from Gray Chiropractic, Michele Bedigan from Androsscogin Bank, Marcel Vachon from Us & Company Computers, Bryna Finucane from Key Bank, John Couture from Sate Farm Insurance. The technical staff included Brian Meehan, Bradd Fogg, Ryan Perry, and Mike St. Clair.

Working the phone bank were Kevin Anderson, Chris Morey, from Androscoggin Bank and from Gray Family Health; Jessica Giles, Marcie Linscott, while Carol Zack helped with the modeling, and the very important job of runner went to Shelby.

Scott Gousse also helped all around, and Chris Lee from Gatekeepers Communications was a great help in committee. A special thank-you to Pinetree Networks for help with the phones before the event. Thanks to Dry Mills Store and Jess & Nics for delicious food contributions that evening. And especially to all those who made bids and won the great auction items. We couldn’t have done it without all these great people, so thanks again.

If you would like to become a member of the Gray-New Gloucester Business Association e-mail info@gbamaine,com or call: 657-2033.

If you’re looking for local products and services check the Web site www.gba.org, click on “our members.”

Mark Calendar for ‘Our Town’

The Gray-New Gloucester High School Patriot Players will present “Our Town” on Nov. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 17 at 2:30 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Gray-New Gloucester Middle School on Libby Hill Road in Gray. Admission is $5 or $20 per family.

Locals Performing in ‘You Can’t Take It With You’

Barbara Stauble and her daughter Jill appear in this Pulitzer prize winning play at the Windham Center Stage Theater. This funny play will be showing at the Windham Town Hall/Community Center on School Road Windham, Nov. 9, 10 and 11. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday’s show is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 seniors/students and $10 adults. Call 893-2098 for reservations.

When Maine Declared War

Did you know that Maine is the only state to ever declare war on a foreign power? In 1839, Maine Governor Fairfield declared war on Britain over boundaries between New Brunswick and northern Maine. The dispute is known as the Aroostook War and was settled before any blood was shed.