Texas or bust
GNGHS Concert Band and Fanfare Band member Caleb McGrath Holmquist has been selected to perform in the NAfME National Honors Band in Grapevine, Texas. To help fund his trip, two bands will hold a benefit concert at 7 p.m Tuesday, Sept. 27, in the high school cafe. Donations will be taken at the door and there also will be a 50/50 Raffle and a bake sale.

Early Gravestones, great movies
Attend a movies and enjoy a tasty snack in the Gray Public Library’s theater. Showing soon are: “Beauty and the Beast” (G), Saturday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 a.m.; “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (PG), Saturday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m. ; “Network” (R ), Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m.; “Central Intelligence” (PG-13), Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m.; “Blazing Saddles (R ),” Thursday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m.

Ron Romano will make his third appearance at the Gray Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. Romano is an expert on Cumberland County stonecutter Bartlett Adams (1776-1828). Romano will read from and sign copies of his first and book on Adams’ life, “Early Gravestones in Southern Maine – The Genius of Bartlett Adams.” The event is sponsored by the Pat Barter Speaker Series. Books will be available for purchase and signing. For more information, call 657-4110. All events are free.

From Gray Recreation
Zumba Gold will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays for ages 18-100 from 9-10 a.m. at the Newbegin Community Center Gym. The class is perfect for the beginner and older active adults who are looking for a modified class. The class focuses on all elements of fitness; cardiovascular, muscle conditioning, flexibility and balance.

A Total Body Conditioning class, scheduled for Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. through Oct. 25,  will enable you to hit multiple muscle groups and burn calories in a workout that is designed to strengthen the cardiovascular system, tone muscles and boost balance, flexibility and endurance. All major muscle groups are challenged. This class will use your own body weight, gliding discs and other progressions for each exercise. It will be held at at Newbegin Gym. An exercise mat and hand weights are recommended but not required.

At Nerf Night, walls and barriers will be set up for team battles and organized chaos. Bring your Nerf gun (one that shoots standard darts), eye protection and a water bottle; darts will be supplied. Prizes will be awarded for some of the contests. The schedule is: Fridays, Sept. 23 (grades 6-8 only) 6-7:30 p.m., Oct. 7 ( grades 4 and 5 only) 6-7:30 p.m., and Oct. 21 (grades 3 and 4 only) 6-7:30 p.m. Nerf Nights will be held at the Newbegin Gym, and parents are welcome to watch on stage.

Enjoy learning about meteorology, sound waves, take a flight into space, inspect minerals with an ultraviolet light and more with Mad Science. The classes will be held Thursdays at the Russell School library from 3:20-4:20 p.m. for students in grades 1 to 4 through Oct. 20. For more info on Mad Science go to: www.maine.madscience.org.

Me and my Camera will be offered on Wednesdays, Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m.on the second floor of the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex. For more information and programs and fees go to www.greyrec.com or call 657-2323 ext. 117.

Free Ultimate Frisbee
Maine Ultimate staff will be at the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex from 9-11 a.m. on Sundays, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, for Learn to Play sessions. All high school students are welcome. Each participant will receive a free disk. Register at tinyurl.com/LTPMaine2016.

Homecoming
The Homecoming game schedule for Gray-New Gloucester High School is as follows: Friday, Sept. 23, 3:30 p.m., Varsity Field Hockey vs. Lake Region at 3:30 p.m..;4 p.m., Cross Country Meet at Libby Hill Trails vs. St.Dom’s, Poland, MCW; 7 p.m., Varsity Football vs. Spruce Mountain with a bonfire immediately after the game. Saturday, Sept. 24: Boys Soccer vs. York – Varsity at noon, JV at 2 p.m.; Girls Soccer vs. York – Varsity at 2 p.m., JV at noon.

The Homecoming Parade, with a Classic Fairy Tales theme, will be Saturday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 a.m.

Homecoming class booths will be open from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.:  Senior Class – chili, meatballs, iced tea, games; Junior Class – pulled pork, cole slaw, apple cider, games, hair color, water balloons; Sophomore Class – fruit kabobs, juices, face paint, bubbles; Freshman Class – nachos/cheese, popcorn, lemonade, games, carnival games; Student Council – desserts, water, soda, raffle, pictures with the Patriot. Project Graduation – hamburgers and hot dogs.

The Homecoming Dance, with semi-formal attire, will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, from 7-10 p.m. at the high school. Admission will be $6 per attendee; $10 per couple. 

If you have questions, contact wputnam@sad15.org or mbrann@sad15.org

Crossroads Challenge
Patriot Soccer Club 16th Crossroads Challenge is on Columbus Day Weekend, Oct. 8-9. The two-day tournament is for boys and girls “classic” teams ages U9-U14. All Patriot Soccer Club games are played at the GNG High School and Middle School Complex on Libby Hill Road in Gray. For more information, contact Penney Ward, crossroadschallenge@patriotsoccerclub.org, or go to www.patriotsoccerclub.org.

Second annual Open Mic
An Open Mic Benefit will be held Sunday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. at Good Shepherd UMC, 151 West Gray Road. Donations for the Gray Fire Department Association will be accepted. For more information, call 657-2009.

North Woods Law
The Maine Wildlife Park will feature North Woods Law Day/Fish and Wildlife Day Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m. Meet some of the Maine Game Wardens of the popular Animal Planet TV show “North Woods Law.” Also, a variety of Fish and Wildlife exhibits and displays will be staffed by MDIFW personnel. For more information, call 657-4977, ext. 0 or go to www.mainewildlifepark.org

Gray Honor Roll
The Gray Honor Roll is awarded to persons who, during the course of their lifetimes, demonstrated exceptional dedication, service or other contribution to the town.

Nominations are accepted for persons deceased a minimum of five years at the time of application. The honoree is required to have lived in Gray at some point in their lives. Submit a nomination by Oct. 1, at honor-roll-nomination on the town’s website.

Free Employment Skills Training
A WorkReady training grant has been awarded to the Adult Ed Programs located in Gray-New Gloucester. This grant will fund a WorkReady training program for new job seekers who are new Mainers, either new to Maine or new to the country.

WorkReady is a state-recognized employment skills training program consisting of 60 hours of interactive instruction. Participants, upon completion of the program, will be able to demonstrate the essential program competencies that make up the attributes of a good employee. In addition, students’ language skills, vocabulary, comprehension, speaking and listening skills will improve through instruction and interactions with each other, instructors and class guests. Students will conclude the program with a well-organized portfolio including a cover letter, resume, references and examples of their work.

Class begins on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and will run on a 1 p.m. Monday/Wednesday schedule, concluding Wednesday, Dec. 21. Classes are held concurrently at Gray-New Gloucester and Windham Raymond Adult Education. To register, contact Matt Hayden at WorkForce Solutions, 190 Lancaster St., Portland, Maine 04101, call 207-775-5891 or email matthew.hayden@goodwillnee.org.

Road work heads-up
Over the next two months, Gray Village will undergo traffic lighting updates from village center through the new southbound interchange with I-95 as part of the  Maine Turnpike Authority project. Towards the end of this project, the access ramps to I-95 will be closed for about three days as construction is completed. The town will publish closure dates will be published as soon as they become available.

The Fanfare Concert Band, with Stan Buchanan, and the GNGHS Band will perform in a benefit concert on Tuesday, Sept. 27, for student Caleb McGrath Holmquist.

The Maine Wildlife Park will feature North Woods Law Day/Fish and Wildlife Day Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m.