Municipal offices closed

On Martin Luther King Day, Monday, Jan. 18, the Gray Town Office, Transfer Station, Public Works and Library will be closed.

Warm up at the library

Attend a free movie in the Gray Public Library’s new “theater.” Now showing: “Hotel Transylvania 2” (PG ), Saturday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m., “Everest” (PG-13) Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m.; “Tinkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast” (G) Thursday, Jan. 21, at 10:30 a.m.; “African Queen” (PG) ,Thursday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m.; “Andre” (PG) Saturday, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m.; “The Martian” (PG-13) Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m.; “Wall-E” (G) Thursday, Jan. 28, at 10:30 a.m.; “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (G),Thursday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m.

Please remember, if there is no school due to inclement weather, there is no Story Time.

These events are free and open to all.

Winter fun

Fit after 50 is a great group of seniors and older adults going through different exercises that will help improve range of motion, joint stability, flexibility, coordination and muscular strength. This low impact class is for all abilities and takes place Thursday, Jan. 28, from 3-4 p.m. at the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex. A chair is used for seated and standing support. Each class will end with deep breathing or a guided relaxation exercise. The cost is $20 for four classes.

In Service Day fun for grades K-6 is on Friday, Jan. 22. The Gray Rec staff will be on hand to keep the kids active and having fun. All children will have the choice of many activities, from exciting crafts to fun gym games. The recreation room and gym at Newbegin will be available all day from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Parents must sign in/out children). Fee is $52 per child.

Drop your kids off at Newbegin Gym for Parents Night Out, where trained staff will treat them to a night of “Beach Fun” activities on Friday, Jan. 29, from 5:30-9 p.m. Bring your shorts and towel and staff will turn up the summer fun with sand crafts and beach games galore. Pack a snack, a drink and something for dinner and make sure they are dressed for fun.

Registration is now open for Red Cross Certified Babysitting Course taking place Jan. 30. (Appropriate for ages 11-15.)

Continuing or coming soon is basketball for adults and families, Mad Science and ice skating at the Pennell Rink when there are freezing temperatures.

For more information, fees or other events, check out the Winter Flyer at www.grayrec.com, or call 657-2323, ext. 117.

Ice would be nice

The Crystal Lake Derby takes place Saturday, Jan. 30, at Camp Gregory, 24 North Raymond Road in Gray. The primary mission of this derby is to support the Maine military, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and local community schools by hosting the best Maine outdoor event.

The event features and All Ages Derby, Kids Derby, Polar Plunge, Ice Shanty Competition, Yellow Ribbon Tent and Kid Zone. Alternate date is Feb. 13 if ice is not ready. For more information, go to www.crystallakederby.com.

2015 Volunteer Recognition Awards

The town of Gray is proud to honor its volunteers throughout the community. Each year, they are recognized and applauded at the Volunteer Awards Banquet.

Award recipients for 2015 are:

Committee of the Year: Dry Mills Schoolhouse Museum Committee, a Town Council-appointed committee that has provided exemplary community service through its activities throughout the year.

Volunteer of the Year: Don Whitney, who during the last year has gone above and beyond to improve our community through volunteerism.

Organization of the Year: Gray Historical Society, an organization serving the residents of Gray that has made a substantial positive impact in out community in the last year.

Lifetime Achievement Award: David Knudsen, who has displayed a lifetime of volunteer service to Gray.

Evelyn Morrill Durgin Award: Carl Holmquist. Evelyn Durgin was an unsolicited, tireless volunteer toward the care and upkeep of the Civil War Monument. The recipient of this award exemplifies the essence of Evelyn’s humility, dedication to and love for Gray.

Recycling Christmas

The staff at the Gray Transfer Station wants to remind you about several considerations for the weeks after the big day.

Gray chips up Christmas trees. (The real ones, not the artificials). Please remove all of the decorations, tinsel, and lights from your tree before you bring it in. If you’re retiring your artificial tree, the “trunk” is probably metal and can be recycled in the metal pile. The “branches” may also be twisted metal so they can be recycled, too. If they’re plastic, they go in the hopper.

Most gift wrap is recyclable as mixed paper. The exceptions to this are the fancy coated papers. To check paper for coating, try tearing it in both directions. In one direction it will tear fairly easily. In the other, it will resist tearing and be stretchy. Coated paper goes in the hopper.

Before dumping boxes, check to see if they are corrugated or paper board. Look at the edge of a flap. If it’s solid, it’s paper board. If you can see holes, even little ones, it’s corrugated. There is a lot of really thin corrugated packaging out there these days. Separate them accordingly.

Please be sure to remove ribbon and bows before placing wrapping paper and boxes in their respective recycling bins.

Demystifying broadband

The Gray-New Gloucester Development Corporation has asked OTT Communications to make a presentation that’s been dubbed “Demystifying Broadband” at its upcoming Annual Business Summit.

Trevor Jones, OTT director of marketing and product development, will start with the basics to define and clarify just what broadband is and provide an overview of OTT’s capabilities and infrastructure in Gray and New Gloucester and share some expansion plans that will take place in the near future.

The 2016 Business Summit will be held at Enercon Technologies in the NorthBrook Business and Industry Campus in Gray on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 5:30 p.m. The event is open to businesses and residents of Gray and New Gloucester as well as those considering relocating or bringing a business to one of the two towns. Space is limited and an RSVP by Jan. 25 is required.

Call 657-2033 for more information or to reserve your spot.

Thank you

The town of Gray is overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of people in the Gray community and beyond. For 2015, 162 shoe boxes and 163 individual gifts for families in the Gray-New Gloucester community were received. Gifts varied from homemade mittens, coloring books, art supplies, and stuffed animals to gift cards, skate boards, toddler toys and more. Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s Shoebox Giving campaign.

Warm meal

A public supper consisting of baked beans, casseroles, salads, homemade breads, desserts and beverage will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 5 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, Route 115, Gray. The cost for adults is $8, and children under 12 are $4. The venue is handicapped accessible.

For information contact 657-4279, day of supper 657-3279.