Treasure hunt

A multi-family indoor yard sale will be held at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Gray Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., rain or shine.

You will feel great searching for treasures and supporting great ministries at the same time. The church is located at 151 W. Gray Road (Route 115/202) in Gray. Please call 829-4207 for more information or if you have items to donate. No early birds at the sale, please.

Green and clear

Citing an urgent need to address the health of Maine lakes and watersheds, several groups are banding together to present a lecture by author and lecturer Paul Tukey Tuesday, June 17, titled “Green Lawns, Clear Lakes: How & Why to Garden Organically.”

The lecture, arranged by the Crystal Lake Association and co-sponsored by the Little Sebago Lake Association, the Forest Lake Association, the Gray Public Library Association, the Not Your Mother’s Garden Club, Coast of Maine Organics, Casco Bay SafeLawns & Landscapes, and the Lee Auto Malls, will be free to the public at the Gray-New Gloucester Middle School Gymnasium, beginning at 7 p.m.

“We made a plea to Mr. Tukey, saying, ‘We need you’,” said Cheryl Welch, president of the Crystal Lake Association. “We know he is a popular speaker all across America and his message is so timely. We are hoping he will inspire homeowners, especially those who live around lakes, rivers, streams and oceans, to do the right thing when it comes to applying fertilizers and pesticides on their lawns and gardens.”

Tukey, a Maine native and current resident of Cumberland, is author of “The Organic Lawn Care Manual.” In 2006, he founded a nonprofit organization known as SafeLawns.org and pledged to personally visit all 50 states to spread his message of growing natural lawns and gardens.

His work has been profiled on Good Morning America, Martha Stewart Living, and in the New York Times, Washington Post and National Geographic. He was also named the nation’s horticultural communicator of the year in 2006

“There are so many environmental contaminants the average person can’t control, but you can control what you do to your lawn and garden and, therefore, what runs off into the lakes and watersheds,” said Tukey. “Maine is taking a strong stand against phosphorus fertilizers. That’s a good start, but there’s more that Maine can do.”

Find out what you can do by attending the lecture.

Page turners arrive

New book releases at The Gray Public Library are “Sail,” by James Patterson “Fearless Fourteen,” by Janet Evanovich, which arrives June 17. Gray Public Library hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more library information call 657-4110 or visit www.gray.lib.me.us.

For the birds

A very unique chance to learn about the variety of birds you can discover on Libby Hill happens Sunday, June 15 from 7-10 a.m. Local biologist and naturalist Derek Lovitch of the Yarmouth Wild Bird Center, will lead a bird watching tour on the trails of Libby Hill Forest.

Whether you are a novice or expert bird watcher, you’ll learn how to identify birds in the diverse ecosystems of Libby Hill. Bring your hiking boots, binoculars and questions for this great way to celebrate Father’s Day and nature and support Libby Hill Trails.

This very special event has only 15 spots and requires a $20 donation for the Save Libby Hill campaign. Register in advance at www.libbyhill.org or call Steve McPike at 657-2114. Walk-ins are welcome if space allows, meet at the Libby Hill Trails parking lot near the Gray New-Gloucester Middle School at 6:45 a.m.

Ticking away

The Maine Wildlife Park will host a program entitled Learn about Lyme Disease Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Maine Medical Center Research Institute will have lots of information about ticks and control of tick-borne diseases like Lyme Disease.

Learn how to identify the different types of ticks found in Maine, and get tips on prevention and basic information on the disease itself. Friends of the Wildlife Park is sponsoring the program.

Please consider becoming a Friend of the Wildlife Park and volunteering at the park. There are opportunities for gatehouse attendants, tour guides, gardeners and store clerks in the snack shack and nature store. For more information, please call 657-4977, ext. 0.

Lions still looking for their glasses

May is officially “Recycle for Sight” month but June will do just as well, as the need for your old glasses is constant. Lions clubs collect over 20 million pairs a year to address a worldwide need estimated at 150 million. Almost anything will do-metal or plastic frames, prescription or “drugstore” glasses, sunglasses. Children’s sizes are particularly needed. Hearing aids and cell phones too. Just drop them in the same collection box.

The Gray-New Gloucester Lions maintain collection boxes at Cloutier’s Store in New Gloucester and Gray Market and Gray Family Vision in Gray. Attendants at the Gray Transfer Station also collect glasses for the Lions

Almost everyone has one or two pairs of old glasses tucked away in a drawer somewhere. Please take a minute to dig them out and donate to the Lions. Your unneeded glasses may be the only pair that someone in a developing nation receives in their entire life. They will be truly grateful for your gift. For more information, contact Joe Murray by e-mail at jmurray1@maine.rr.com.

Make a splash

Registration for Red Cross swimming lessons at Wilkies Beach are Saturday, June 14, at 8:30 a.m., and Tuesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. Registration will be held at the beach.

Lessons will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from July 1-31. For more information call Lisa at 657-3430.

Author and lecturer Paul Tukey will speak about keeping lakes and lawns clean and chem-free Tuesday, June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Gray-New Gloucester Middle School.