Run!

The 4th Annual Patriot 5K will be held Saturday, May 18, at 9 a.m. (Free Kid’s Fun Run at 8 a.m.) Registration is now open. Free food, live music, parking, face painting and activities for children. Please go online to sign up at www.patriot5k.org.

The Patriot 5K is a USATF-certified, fast, mostly flat, scenic course around Crystal Lake off North Raymond Road in Gray. Proceeds will benefit the schools of Gray and New Gloucester.

Enjoy the Bounty

Snowshoe trails are in great shape at Libby Hill, off Libby Hill Road in Gray, thanks to all the folks who broke trail just after the blizzard. All trails are open including the winter trail. If you go off trail expect to sink 12 or more inches in our new 26 inches of snow. Ski trails are groomed and continue to be worked by the groomers. FMI, www.libbyhill.org.

Derby News

The 2013 Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby is Saturday, Feb. 23, from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Crystal Lake, Gray, Some of the events at are: All-Ages Derby, Kids Derby, helicopter rides, the Patriotic Ice Shack Competition, free ice-fishing instruction, dog sled rides, great food, a military flyover, a Military Color Guard Team, US Army vehicles, USO VIPs and the Patriot Polar Plunge at the conclusion of the day. They have thousands of dollars worth of derby and door prizes to give away as well as a chance to win a 2013 Ford Raptor.

Go to www.crystallakederby.com for more information.

Holiday Closings, Weight Limits

Gray Town Office, Transfer Station, Public Works and Library will be closed Monday, Feb. 18, for the President’s Day Holiday.

About 40 town roads in Gray are posted for weight limits. The posting will be from Feb. 17 to May 1. Go to www.graymaine.org for a complete listing of affected roads.

Beans, Glorious Beans

A Saturday, Feb. 23 public supper at the First Congregational Church, Route 115, Gray, will feature baked beans, casseroles, salads, homemade breads, desserts and beverage. The supper will be held at 5 p.m. The cost will be $8 for adults; under 12 are $4.

The venue is handicapped accessible, please contact 657-4279, day of supper 657-3279, for any questions.

Something New

The Patriot Lacrosse Club is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization established in 2012. The club provides the youth of Gray and New Gloucester in grades 3 through 8 the opportunity to play lacrosse throughout central and southern Maine.

Registration for the Patriot Lacrosse Club will run Feb. 1-28, and registration documents can be found at www.gngpatriotlacrosse.org. The fee for the season is $100 and equipment can be rented for $30.

For more information about Gray-New Gloucester Patriot Lacrosse, please e-mail Glen Mercier or call him at (937) 901-6002.

Fiddlehead a

Charter School

Fiddlehead School of Arts and Science was approved Feb. 5 by the Maine Charter School Commission to become one of Maine’s first Public Charter Schools.

The nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization will be governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Guided by core values and inspired by Reggio Emilia, child-centered and placed based approach to learning, the regional school will open fall 2013, with 42 students in pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade (ages 4-7). Plans included expansion by one grade level per year culminating with ffth grade.

Though children may come from anywhere in the state, the catchment area includes Auburn, Casco, Cumberland, Gray, New Gloucester, North Yarmouth, Minot, Poland, Pownal, Raymond and Windham.

To learn more about Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences, please come to an open house. Open House dates are upcoming Saturdays, 2-3:30 p.m. (Feb. 23, March 2 or 9) or upcoming Wednesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. (Feb. 27, March 6. or 13), at 25 Shaker Road in Gray.

This March, come see the 5th annual Fiddlehead’s Children’s Theater performance, featuring the production of Annie Jr. Show dates are: Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m; Saturday, March 23, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., evening and Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m.

Check out the details for this event and all classes on www.fiddleheadcenter.org. or call 657-2244.

Soccer and Volleyball

Junior Indoor Soccer League for ages 4 through 9, starts March 2. Learn the basics of how to play the game and have fun playing. Dean Bennett, Seth Farrington and members of the Patriot Soccer Club will be running the program. Limited space is available due to gym constraints and liability issues, so you must sign up soon. Rosters will be available Monday, Feb. 25. Fee includes team jersey and end-of-program fun day.

Volleyball for Youth, grades 3 to 6, is coming to Gray-New Gloucester, March 11. Gray Parks and Rec is happy to announce that this may be the start of Patriot Youth Volleyball. This session will introduce the players to all of the basic skills to be a competitive volleyball player and Margo Linton, Bates College Women’s Coach, will be the instructor. A minimum of nine students per age group are needed to hold this program.

Check www.grayrec.com for other information or call Gray Recreation at 657-2323.

Play Ball

The Gray Little League (T-ball, softball, and baseball) registration for the 2013 season is now open. Families can sign up players right now at www.GrayLittleLeague.com.

New players must send in a copy of their birth certificate and proof of Gray residency via mail if registering online. Send information requests to loriholmquist@rocketmail.com. The deadline for sign-up is March 2. After that, all registrations will incur a $15 late fee.

See the website for all details about who qualifies for which league and much more. Volunteers are also needed. For any and all other information, please e-mail graymaineLL@aol.com or call communications director Sam Pfeifle at 749-0298.

Tax Time

Are you looking for tax forms? Unfortunately at this time the Gray Library only has the federal form 1040EZ and no booklets. Tax forms are late being sent to libraries this year due to the Fiscal Cliff.

State tax forms will not be available in the library this year. You can download state tax forms from www.maine.gov/revenue/forms or call 624-7894 and leave your name and address or write to Maine Revenue Services, P.O. Box 9107 Augusta 04332-9107, and forms will be mailed to you.

Please contact the library at 657-4110 or stop by the Circulation Desk for details.