Beans, beans

The First Congregational Church on Route 115 in Gray will be serving baked beans, casseroles, salads, homemade breads, desserts and beverages on Saturday, April 28, at 5 p.m. Cost will be $8 for adults, children under 12, $4. The facilities are handicapped accessible. For more information contact 657-4279, day of supper 657-3279.

On the following weekend, the American Legion Auxiliary Post 86 in Gray will hold its monthly Bean Supper at 15 Lewiston Road on Saturday, May 5, from 5 to 6 p.m. On the menu are pea and kidney beans, chop suey, cole slaw, hot dogs, breads, pie, coffee and punch.

The meal costs $7 for over 12 years of age; $2.50 for 5 to 12 year old; under 5 free. Proceeds benefit veterans and their families and children in the area. Any questions, call Nancy True at 657-2661 (cell 653-3886) or the Legion at 657-4884.

For the community

Be among the first to see the new Gray Community Endowment website: http://gcemaine.org Also, follow GCE activity at http://www.facebook.com/GrayCommunityEndowment, their new Facebook page.

Dr. Dolittle performed in Gray

The Fiddlehead’s Center 4th Annual Children’s Theatre production is the Maine premiere of Doctor Dolittle, performed by the Fiddlehead Players. A cast of more than 65 students from ages 4-16 will be performing at the Gray New Gloucester High School.

Show dates are Friday, April 27, (6 p.m. show time) and Saturday, April 28 (1 p.m. matinee and 6 p.m. show). Tickets are available online at www.fiddleheadcenter.org or at the door of the Gray-New Gloucester High School auditorium, 10 Libby Hill Road in Gray. Tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for children under 12.

Play Ball

Opening Day for Gray Little League is April 28, 12:30 p.m., at Douglas Field (behind Subway). Please arrive in uniform at 12:15 p.m. in the outfield of Douglas Field with your team. This is the way to officially start the season and recognize the teams, managers, coaches, sponsors, umpires, board members and volunteers.

Go to www.eteamz.com/graylittleleague3/ for more information.

Longest Day 5K Coming

Come celebrate the longest day at Libby Hill Trails. A 5K event is slated to happen on Wednesday evening June 20. This race is open to runners or walkers and features a 5K course on the Moose Odyssey trail and a 1K fun run for kids. Moose Odyssey is a beautiful trail with no roots or rocks and ideal for cross-country running. Prizes will be awarded and race results published on their website. Snacks and water will also be available.

All proceeds to benefit Libby Hill Trails and in particular to fund a new snow groomer.

Register before the race and save $5 (fun run is free for kids). FMI, www.libbyhill.org.

Recycle that car seat

The Gray Transfer Station is now accepting used and expired car seats to be recycled. All types of car seats are accepted including a 5-point harness, a high-back booster or a backless booster. Car seats are made of hard plastic, metal, foam and fabric. The seats can be disassembled and the components sorted in to the appropriate bins.

The average life span of a car seat or booster seat is six years. Some manufacturers put an expiration date on the seat stamped in the plastic. If there is no date of expiration, it is safe to assume that the seat expires six years from the date of manufacture. Manufacture dates are usually printed on a sticker either on the side or back side of the car seat. For more information, contact safekidsmaine@tallpinesafety.org or visit maineseatcheck.org.

More Gray theater

The classic Jane Austen story, Pride and Prejudice, is coming to the Gray-New Gloucester High School stage May 3, 4, and 5. The Patriot Players presentation features Arden Jordan as Elizabeth Bennett and Jake Malloy as Mr. Darcy. This timeless romantic comedy will be performed at 7:30 p.m.

The Patriot Players are also encouraging the community to join them at the Patriot 5K and Fun Run on May 19. The Players will be hosting some warm-up games for the fun run.

Patriot 5K Race

The Patriot 5K is a USATF-certified, fast, mostly flat, scenic course around Crystal Lake in Gray. It will be held on Saturday, May 19, at 9 a.m. (Free Kid’s Fun Run at 8 a.m). Start and finish lines are at St. Gregory’s Church, 24 North Raymond Road in Gray. More than $5,000 in cash and prizes. Free food, live music, face painting and activities for children and plenty of free parking. You can pre-register online for $18, or on race day for $20. FMI, www.patriot5k.org.

Maine’s Big Cats

On Saturday May 5, come and celebrate the opening of the new, state-of-the-art mountain lion exhibit at the Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 in Gray. Cougar sightings are often reported in Maine, but few have been confirmed. Canada lynx and bobcats are native wild cats that reside at the park as well. Rarely seen in the wild, learn about the lifestyles of all three elusive species of cat.

For more information, please call 657-4977, ext. 0, or go to www.mainewildlife park.com.

Spring Clean-up Time

Clean-up weekend at the Gray Transfer Station is April 27, from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., April 28 from 7a.m.-3 p.m. and April 29 from 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Bring in your old mattresses, box springs, sofas, chairs, loveseats, auto batteries, non-refrigerant appliances, and up to one pickup truck load of carpet at no charge. You can dispose of any combination of two refrigerators, air conditioners, or dehumidifiers and up to five televisions or computer monitors at no charge. Four passenger vehicle tires can be discarded at no charge. Stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, and dishwashers are always accepted at no cost. There are charges for additional items in most of these categories, go to www.graymaine.org under Recycling and Solid Waste Dept. for more information.

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.

Marilyn Keating-Porcaro

Contact her with happenings at:

mkp657@aol.com

(207) 657-4453

Alex Adams, of Paper Bull Puppets, was artist-in-residence at Fiddlehead Center for the upcoming production of Dr. Dolittle. Adams, who grew up in Gray, held puppet-making workshops to create several of the puppets used in the production and worked with the young puppeteers. In all, he designed, created or oversaw the making of 22 individual puppets for the show.   
Dr. Dolittle, played by Zack Fisher, is brokering a circus deal with the Pushmi-Pullyu (Sarah Mariski and Madelaine Panici) and Albert and Gertie Bloom (Brian Sidders and Ceara Buzzell) to perform at the Bloom’s circus. A cast of more than 65 students at Fiddlehead Arts Center from ages 4-16 will be performing Dr. Dolittle this weekend at the Gray-New Gloucester High School.