Annual tree lighting

Tree lighting festivities will begin promptly at 3:50 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, at the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex. The high school chorus will lead the Christmas carols, Santa will arrive on a fire truck about 4:15 p.m. and, using his magic candy cane, will light the tree shortly after. From 4:30-6 p.m., Santa and Dennis the Elf will lead children into the Newbegin gym where Gray Parks and Recreation, sponsor of the event, will have free craft tables with items to create.

Tsukroff Photography will be available to take photos for purchase. Each purchase of a photo with Santa will benefit the Caring Community of Gray-New Gloucester. Refreshments will be available, as will Gray Rec wear, perfect for Christmas gifts.

Caring Community will be collecting new toys and gamesalong with shoeboxes for the Shoebox Giving Campaign.

 A special thank yous to Glenn Walton, Dennis the Elf, Tsukroff Photography and Gray Fire and Rescue.

In need at Christmas?

The Caring Community of Gray New Gloucester coordinates the distribution of holiday meals to individuals, families and senior citizens who find themselves in need at Christmas.

If you are in need of a Christmas meal, pick up an application and return the completed form no later than Dec. 9. Applications are available at all GNG schools as well as thru the electronic school email, the Gray Public Library and both town halls. Applications forms also are available at www.msad15.org/community/caring-communities.

Sponsors and donors are needed .Sponsors “adopt” a family or individual and provide all the ingredients for a holiday meal and/or provide gifts to children 18 and under. Interested Christmas sponsors should contact Mike Marcotte at gngcaring@gmail.com. Donors provide the much-needed money to help CCGNG give food baskets to those families who do not have sponsors. Please send monetary donations to CCGNG, PO 1244, Gray, Maine 04039

For more information, contact Christina Foster at 233-0828 or at winkers92@yahoo.com

Fill The Train

Caring Community of GNG is sponsoring Fill The Train, Sunday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m..All are welcome to come to Gray Plaza and fill one of the Narrow Gauge train cars with donations of gifts for children ages birth to 17. Donations could include games, toys, and gift certificates to local stores, and also wrapping paper, ribbon and tape and monetary donations.

For more information, contact Christina Foster at winkers92@yahoo.com or 233-0828 or go the the Facebook page at GNG Caring Community.

Movies, gingerbread and more

Attend a movie and enjoy a tasty snack at the Gray Public Library theater. Showing soon are: “Finding Dory” (PG), Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10:30 a.m.; “Mulan” (G), Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m.; “Home for the Holidays” (PG-13), Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m.; “Finding Dory” (PG), Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 10:30 a.m.; “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” (R), Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m.; “Kubo and the Two Strings” (PG), Saturday, Nov. 26, at 10:30 a.m.; “The Fox and the Hound” (PG-13), Saturday, Nov. 26, at 1 p.m.; “Airplane!” (PG), Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 1 p.m.; “Hell or High Water” (R), Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 6:30 p.m.

Also at the library, the annual Gingerbread House event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. All supplies are provided through the generosity of the Gray Public Library Association. The event is free and open to all, but please pick up a ticket and select a time slot.

The library will close Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m., and remain closed Thursday, Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 25.

For more information and events, call 657-4110 or go to www.gray.lib.me.us. The library is located at 5 Hancock St.

Deadline for Boston Post Cane

The Town of Gray is accepting nominations for a Boston Post Cane recipient. If you know anyone living in Gray that was born before 1922, please complete a Boston Post Cane nomination form at the town office, 24 Main St., call 207-657-3339 or go to www.graymaine.org. All nominations must be received by 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28.

‘Nutcracker’ features local dancers

Gray residents Beatrice Schatz, Charlotte Schatz and Sadie Schatz are among the dancers performing in Maine State Ballet’s 40th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker,” at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Dec. 4. Tickets are on sale through Porttix at 842-0800, or tickets.porttix.com, or at the Merrill Auditorium box office, noon-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Tickets are priced at $21-66, and discounts are available for groups, seniors and children.

Volunteer award nominations

Each year, Gray recognizes and celebrates the folks who are the backbone of the community, the dedicated volunteers. The Gray Town Council encourages and welcomes nominations from Gray citizens who wish to recognize other community members for their volunteer contributions as they relate to the five categories of awards: Volunteer of the Year, Committee of the Year, Organization of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and the Evelyn Morrill Durgin Award. Nomination forms are available at the town office. The deadline date for nominations is Nov. 20. The nominations will be reviewed in early December.

Holiday fairs

First Congregational Church of Gray will hold its annual Holly Fair from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, in the Parish House on Brown Street, behind McDonald’s, in Gray Center, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Rose at the church office, 657-4279, with  any questions.

The 13th Annual Holiday Artisan Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Fiddlehead Art and Science Center, 25 Shaker Road. For more information, call 657-2244 or go to www.fiddleheadcenter.org.

American Legion Post 86, 15 Lewiston Road, will begin its craft fair at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.

Winter Moth?

The State of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry will conduct a Winter Moth Pheromone Survey by hanging one Multi-Pher trap per town in a tree along a coastal transect from Kittery to Tremont (52 towns) and along a transect from Lebanon to Gray (10 towns). Traps will be baited with a lure and contain a no-pest strip. Traps will be set out the first week of December and retrieved the first week of January. Learn more about the winter moth online at Invasive Threats to Maine’s Forests and Trees, www.maine.gov.

Thanksgiving closures

Gray Town Office, the transfer station, Public Works and the library will be closed Thursday, Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 25.

As he does every year, Santa will arrive on a firetruck to light the town tree with his magic candy cane Sunday, Nov. 27.