Sponsors needed

The Gray-New Gloucester Optimist Club, in collaboration with the Fish Extraction Team and Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs, will hold a Learn to Fish Day Sunday, May 18 from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. on the Pineland Campus in New Gloucester.

Local business sponsors are needed for this year’s event. Anyone with raffle items to donate or who would like to sponsor this event, please contact Barbara Hanley at 688-8248 or Barbara.hanley@pinetreenetworks.com or.

Austin a flag lady

Rep. Sue Austin, R-Gray, was one of the 11 women legislators who have pooled $850 to buy a new flagpole for a Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

Rep. Bonnie Gould, R-South Berwick, organized the operation. “We thought we could make this small gesture of appreciation for the sacrifices made by our military veterans,” she said. “This cemetery was established in 2001 and has been underfunded by the state. They needed 26 flagpoles to line the Avenue of Flags, leading to the chapel, so we all decided to pitch in for a good cause.”

The legislators contributed enough money to buy eight of the 30-foot aluminum poles, each pole will bear a small plaque with the names of the donors.

The women legislators, who jokingly refer to themselves as “the flag ladies,” are Austin, Gould; Reps. Joan Nass, R-Acton; Jayne Giles, R-Belfast; Meredith Strang Burgess, R- Cumberland); Kimberley Rosen, R-Bucksport; Kerri Prescott, R-Topsham; Kathy Chase, R-Wells; Donna Finley, R-Skowhegan; Sally Lewin, R-Eliot; and Roberta Muse, R-Fryeburg. Sen. Christine Savage, R-Union, also took part in the operation.

Fiddlehead celebrates

With live and silent auctions offering something for everyone, 100 friends of Fiddlehead Center of Gray Village enjoyed live musical performances by students and instructors and cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and desserts rounded out the festivities.

Drawing from Fiddlehead Center’s programs the theme of “Palette” encompassed an arts and cultural compilation of auction items. Local and statewide businesses and artists generously donated over 100 items in support of the event.

The silent auction offered over 80 items ranging from gift certificates to sporting and cultural events, rounds of golf, wellness products, and original artwork including paintings, drawings, jewelry and photography.

Fourteen live auction items captivated the bidders’ attention, including creative works of art and overnight stays at resorts from Maine to Italy. The auctions raised $10,000. Proceeds

will directly assist the programs most crucial needs and ensure the performing, visual and creative arts and sciences offered at Fiddlehead Center will be a mainstay in the community.

The Fiddlehead Center thanks the community for generously supporting the work at the center, with a special thank you to sponsors including the Spring Meadows Banquet Facility in Gray, Farmers’ Eight Daughters of New Gloucester, Roopers in Auburn, Ian Gallant, Pineland Creamery, Olivia’s Garden and the many donors of our silent and live auction items.

Bring it in

The first of the two clean-up events this year at the Gray Transfer Station will be Friday, April 25, through Sunday, April 27. Carpeting, mattresses, sofas, recliners and other stuffed furniture, as well as televisions and computer monitors will all be accepted with no fees and no set limit on quantity of these items.

Passenger tires, whether on or off the rims are not charged with a limit of four per household for the weekend. Freon units, i.e. refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, are accepted at no cost during this time with a limit of two per household, also metal items will be accepted.

While this event does assist in allowing residents to dispose of unwanted items, it is important to note that there are limits. For those who show up with more than could be expected from a typical household, the facility staff has the duty to deny free disposal.

Construction debris, whether residential or commercial, yard waste such as leaves, grass and brush and hazardous wastes are not included in the category of free disposal.

A valid Transfer Station pass is required for use of the facility and

may be obtained at either the Town Offices or the Transfer Station with proof of residency and $5. The pass is valid until

Dec. 31.

Libby Hill News

The Gray Community Endowment successfully negotiated a buy agreement to finally secure permanent access to the Libby Hill Trail system. The purchase relies on contributions from the public, grants, and funds from the Open Space fund from the town of Gray. You can help by providing support for the current town budget that provides $25,000 from this fund at the May 3 town meeting.

The snow is finally leaving the trails and the forest is coming alive with spring activity. Trail users should restrict their use to hiking only for the next two weeks until the trails dry out. Trail cleanup will begin soon and if you can help do some light cleanup contact Steve McPike at 657-2114 or at steve@libbyhill.org

The Adopt a Trail stewardship program is a great success since starting last month. This program assigns trail monitoring to individuals who regularly walk the trails to check on their condition. Thanks to our current stewards, John and Laurie Keller, Tracy Ross, Francine Morrissette, Jennifer Lummis, Gigi Guyton, Joel McPike, Ryan Farnum and Meg Huskey. One trail is still available for adoption for anyone interested in being a steward.

The Friends of Libby Hill holds its next meeting Monday, April 28 at the Androscoggin Bank in Gray at 6:30 p.m.

Make some warmth

You are invited to join in efforts to provide assistance to individuals and families of Gray and New Gloucester. Knitters, crocheters and seamstresses are asked to help in getting a supply of hats, mittens and scarves in order to have at least one set for each person who applies, including adults as well as children.

If you can help, either by knitting or by providing yarn/material for our crafters to work on, please call the hat and mitten lady, Becky, at 428-3795. It’s never too early to start getting ready for the next season. If you can help in other ways, please call Donna Rand at 657-4795.

Beads or a book for mom

The Gray Public Library Association is having a Spring Book Sale Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the library basement. Books will cost 25 cents to $1, movies will cost $1 and there will be some specialty books. There will also be a Mother’s Day Bead Class with Karol Bowlds from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 657-4110 for more information.

The “flag ladies” pose for a photo on the front steps of the State House in Augusta. In front is Rep. Kimberley Rosen. From left, in the second row, are Reps. Sue Austin, Jayne Giles, Bonnie Gould, Roberta Muse and Kerri Prescott. In the third row, from left are Reps. Strang Burgess, Joan Nass, Kathy Chase and Sally Lewin. In the back row is Rep. Donna Finley.