Safety and Smokey

On Saturday, June 22, at the Maine Wildlife Park located on Route 26 in Gray, outdoor safety and survival skills will be featured. Join Maine Department of Inland Fishing and Wildlife’s recreational safety instructors who will demonstrate fire building/starting; survival shelter construction, maps, compass and must-have equipment you should always carry with you. For more information, go to www.maine.gov/ifw/education/safety.

The following Saturday, June 29, learn about the Maine Forest Service. Join a local District Forest Ranger with a demonstration and display of the tools of his trade. There will be a special photo opportunity for the kids from noon to 12:30 p.m., when Smokey the Bear will arrive to meet his fans. Bring your cameras.

For more information, call the Maine Wildlife Park at 657-4977 or visit www.mainewildlifepark.com.

Hope for Elephants

The Gray Parks and Recreation Department is holding a Penny/Coin Drive for the rehabilitation and educational facility for injured and retired elephants located in Hope, Maine.

Our Summer Camp students will be counting the coins from June 8 through August 16 and delivering a check to the facility in August. We welcome the community in assisting us with this unique and educational fundraiser.

For more information call The Gray Parks and Recreation office at 657-2323 ext. 117.

Church News

Vacation Bible School will be held, Monday July 8 through Thursday July 11, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the First Congregational Church, Gray, Parish House next door to McDonald’s. It is free and open to all children, donations for snacks will be appreciated.

On Friday, July 12, a First Congregational Church Family Outing will be held at the Gray Wildlife Park. Call 657-4279 if any questions.

One-Room School House

In the small town of Gray, is a one-room schoolhouse that loves visitors. Known as “The Dry Mills School,” it is very easy to find as it sits on the same road as the Maine Wildlife Park off Route 26.

This building on the National Register of Historic Places and has been restored to the year it was built in 1857 and really brings out the nostalgia of folks who once attended a one-room school and also to the younger generation who wishes to explore this type of an education.

The School House is open for visitors every Saturday 1-4 p.m., and is handicapped accessible. Groups of adults and children are always welcome, just call ahead to set up an appointment – 657-3649 or 657-4811.

Saturday Supper

A church supper will be held on Saturday, June 22, 5-6 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, Route 115, Gray. Baked Beans, casseroles, salads, homemade breads and desserts will be served at the cost of adults $8, children under 12, $4. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend, and the hall is handicapped accessible. For information, call 657-4279 or 657-3279 day of the supper.

Dig Into Reading

The summer reading theme at the Gray Public Library, 5 Hancock St., this year is, Dig Into Reading. Sign-up will begin the week of June 18 and the following week. The summer season will begin with an evening program that they hope all of the library families will attend. On Wednesday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m. PuppeTree, a group from Vermont will entertain everyone. A packet will be supplied for each reader and will include dates, fun stuff, Sea Dog tickets, book lists and other neat stuff. Call 657-4110 or www.gray.lib.me.us/ for more information.

Longest Day Walk/Run

The Second Annual Longest Day 5K Trail Run and Walk will be on Friday night, June 21, at the Libby Hill Forest in Gray.

Events start at 7 p.m. with a free Kids Trail Fun Run. The 5K starts at 7:15 p.m. followed by refreshments and awards at the finish line. Go to www.libbyhill.org for more information.

Journey For Sight

On Saturday, June 1, six hardy Gray-New Gloucester Lions Club members braved the heat and humidity to walk 5 miles in the annual Journey for Sight fundraiser. This marks the 17th straight year for the Lions Journey to raise money for sight programs.

Funds raised will provide eye exams and glasses for people in Gray and New Gloucester who cannot afford them on their own, purchase large print and juvenile diabetes books for local libraries, support athletic programs for the blind and other services for the blind and visually impaired provided by The Iris Network and Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation.

The Lions heartfelt thanks go out for the generous support of all their ever-supportive businesses, friends and neighbors throughout the Gray/New Gloucester community.

Election Results

On June 11, at the Annual Gray Town Election, Matthew M. Doughty won the one contested Town Council seat for a three-year term. All articles and questions on the remaining ballot were approved by voters.

For more information and to see all the results go to www.graymaine.org.

Summer Camp

Fiddlehead Art and Science Center, located at 25 Shaker Road in Gray, has weekly summer camps featuring art, nature, music, theatre, science or a combination of these. The camps will run from June 24-Aug. 16. Open to children ages 3 to 14 years. Pre-registration is required. Campers can come for a week or the whole summer. Call 657-2244, or go to www.fiddleheadcenter.org for more information.