Fire Rescue first responders recognized with award

Four members of Gray Fire Rescue were awarded The Brain Cell Saver Award from Deborah Gregoire, stroke program manager at Maine Medical Center.

Due to the prompt response by Assistant Chief Peter Holmquist, Lt. Rick Dunbar, firefighter/paramedic Howard Sterling and firefighter/EMT Dustin Carroll, and excellent documentation provided to MMC, a patient received treatment that allowed him to walk out of the hospital with no neurological deficits.

The time that was saved set an MMC record for the time from door to needle, according to a prepared release, resulting in the best possible outcome for the patient.

Visioning sessions

Gray is kicking off its comprehensive plan process with visioning sessions to discuss the future of Gray Village on the following schedule:

• July 27: 10-11:30 a.m., Mobility: Walking and Biking Roundtable; 12:30-1:30 p.m., Landowners and Business Community Roundtable; 4-5 p.m., Design for Multigenerational Living.

• July 28: 1-2 p.m., Street Design Technical Meeting; 5-6 p.m., Town Council and Planning Board.

• July 29: 4-7 p.m., community check-in and Block Party; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., open studio and family-friendly activities.

All events will be held at the Congregational Church Parish Hall at 5 Brown St. For more information, contact the Planning Department at 657-3339.

Library forgives fines

The Gray Public Library is now fine-free, effective July 1, and will no longer be charging for overdue items. However, patrons who keep items longer than 21 days past the due date will be billed for the cost to replace the item, plus a $3 processing fee.

Whale of a tale

Ladder, the life-sized whale from the Blue Ocean Society, will visit the town at noon Friday, July 29, as part of the library’s summer reading program, Oceans of Possibilities.

Ladder is modeled after a real-life fin whale that was studied for years. Blue Ocean memorialized Ladder by creating a life-sized, 65-foot-long inflatable. Guests can walk inside and see how a whale looks and functions.

Due to COVID-19 precautions and high interest, there will be limited tickets available for the event, to be held at the Newbegin Gym at the Gray Community Center. There will be four 30-minute sessions with 20 people allowed per session. Call 657-4110 to reserve.

Birdhouse fundraiser

Mary Underwood, known around Gray as the “Woman Who Walks,” has painted 15 gorgeous birdhouses that will be sold at LocalCentric, 6 Main St., to help a great program that benefits the health and wellness of local seniors. All profits are going to a cause close to Mary’s heart: the Nordic Walking Pole Program for Seniors.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner

The annual Gray Fire Rescue Association chicken barbecue is Aug. 6; drive-thru pickup starts at noon at 125 Shaker Road. The menu includes a half chicken, coleslaw, roll, cookie and a bottle of water for $12. Pre-order at gray-fire-rescue-association.square.site.

B-i-n-g-o

All entries for summer reading program bingo must be submitted to the library by July 31. Drawings will be held the first week of August.

Movie time

Movies being screened at the library are as follows: “Uncharted” (2022), rated PG-13, 1 p.m. Saturday, July 23; “Downton Abbey: A New Era” (2022), rated PG, 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 26; “Onward” (2020), rated PG, 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30.

Food truck Fridays

Food trucks will be at Maine Wildlife Park from 1-7 p.m. most Fridays this summer. Enjoy some gyros, souvlakis and sliders from The White Fox Taverna Food Truck on July 22; Cruzin Slice Food Truck appears July 29 with specialty naan bread pizza.

Marilyn Keating-Porcaro can be contacted at mkp657@aol.com.