Community Calendar

The Women’s Fellowship of the First Congregational Church of Gray is taking orders for the Community Birthday Calendar, which runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. The price is $6 per calendar, which includes two free listings (birthday, anniversary, In Memory, or events). Each additional listing costs 50 cents.

If you wish to order one, please send your name and phone number and listings along with a check made out to: Community Birthday Calendar, to Women’s Fellowship, c/o First Congregational Church of Gray, P.O. Box 155, Gray, ME 04039. If you would like more information or have questions, call Fran Hutchings at 657-4338. The fundraiser goes to support many projects such as Vacation Bible School, Awesome Bible Adventures, providing assistance for children attending Pilgrim Lodge, and donations to the Gray/New Gloucester Community Food Pantry to name a few.

Don’t forget to attend the Public Baked Bean Supper, Saturday, March 28, at 5 p.m.

Library-U and You

Learning how your library works, and how to make the library work for you. Session II is Wednesday, March 18, at 2 p.m., entitled “Using the Catalog.” How do I find the most recent John Grisham book? What are the most recent movies added to my library? How many books do I have checked out? This 60-minute guided tour of the Minerva catalog will teach you everything you will ever need to know about successfully using the library catalog. Signup is not necessary.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Gray Public Library Association and the Gray Public Library Trustees, you can now see movies as they were meant to be seen. 100-inch screen, 7:1 digital surround sound, and, thanks to a kind donation from AV systems of Maine, we have Maine’s only sub-woofer in a public library. All showings are free and open to the public. Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m., “Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast” (G); Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m., “John Wick” (R); Thursday, March 19, at 2 p.m., “Good Morning, Vietnam” (R); Saturday, March 21, at 1 p.m., “Mary Poppins” (G).

Watch for the upcoming Book Sale – Preview Night/Early Bird Sale, Friday, March 27 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m, $5 admission. The sale is Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free admission.

Children’s Theater

Fiddlehead Children’s Theater presents “Shrek Jr.,” In a faraway kingdom, the green ogre, Shrek, finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits, who’ve been cast off by Lord Farquaad.

Shrek sets off to confront Farquaad, and is handed a task – to rescue feisty Princess Fiona from the dragon-guarded tower, then his swamp will be returned to him.

But, a fairy tale wouldn’t be complete without unexpected twists and turns along the way. Showtimes are at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays, March 21 and 28 and at 1 p.m. on Sundays, March 22 and 29, at the Gray-New Gloucester High School. Advance ticket prices: Adults $10; under 18 are $6. At the door: Adults $12; under 18 are $8. Check http://fiddlehead.ticketleap.com or call the Fiddlehead Center for Arts and Science 657-2244 for tickets.

Garage Sale and Vacation

The Ultimate Indoor Garage Sale takes place from 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at the Newbegin Community Center. Refreshments available.

Vendors, please bring your gently used items, crafts, books to sell. Tables are 6 feet, with one table for $16, two tables for $26. Space for your own table $11, (space would be comparable to a 6-foot table). Please contact organizers if you are in need of an electrical outlet.

Don’t spend vacation week (April 21-24) at home bored. Join Gray Recreation for a cool week of awesome activities. The gym will be open for fun activities, contests and games each day. You’ll be going outside for some fresh air and fun (so pack your outdoor play gear – mud boots included). Board games, crafts, ping pong tournaments, foosball and air hockey are all available in the Recreation room as well as music, dancing, movies and more. Field trips are in the works but remember a minimum of 14 registrations are needed to provide a bus.

Call Gray Recreation at 657-2323 for more information or www.grayrec.com.

Budget Time

All town of Gray budget workshops are conducted in the Council Chambers at Town Hall at 7 p.m. Workshops are open to the public, and are aired on GCTV Cable Channel 2. Following is a brief overview of the topics for some of the March workshops. March 17 is an informal hearing. The council will conduct an informational public hearing on the proposed budget to seek public comments before it takes any official action regarding the budget. On March 30, the council review of the proposed budget starts.

Help Your Neighbors

Gray Fire-Rescue is now recruiting for EMTs or firefighters. Gray Rescue, formed in 1969, is now Gray Fire-Rescue (GFR), a combination department providing 24-hour fire and medical emergency services to the town of Gray (pop. 7,500).

Watch the video today or learn more about Gray Fire Rescue at http://www.graymaine.org/fire-rescue.

Give Blood

Gray- New Gloucester High School is sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, March 20 in the high school’s auxiliary gym, 10 Libby Hill Road in Gray. It will be from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. For an appointment, log on to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “GNG HS” or contact Karen Licht or Caroline Verrill at 657-3323.

Get Involved in Gray

Nomination papers are available starting March 11, for the offices of: Gray Town Council – two three-year terms to expire June 2018; MSAD 15 Board of Directors – two three-year terms to expire June 2018; Gray Water District Trustee – one five-year term to expire June 2020. Interested Gray residents may obtain nomination papers at the Gray Town Office during regular business hours.

All nomination papers must be received by the Town Clerk no later than Monday, April 27, at 4 p.m.

Elections will be held June 9, Poll times 6 a.m.-8 p.m., at Newbegin Hall. For more information, please call the Town Office at 657-3339.

Local Artist on Display

A new winter exhibit featuring equine artist Scott Leighton (1847-1898) is on public display at the Skyline Farm Carriage and Sleigh Museum, 95 The Lane, North Yarmouth, every Sunday from 1-4 p.m. through March 29.

Leighton grew up in Gray and became interested in horses at a young age. He painted many prominent horses of the day, barnyard and landscape scenes. Currier and Ives printed at least 30 different lithographs of his work. This exhibit, developed in conjunction with the Cumberland Historical Society, showcases vehicles depicted in Leighton’s paintings, plus a history of his life.

Nicholas Winfield “Scott” Leighton became a member of the Gray Honor Roll in January 2011. He and his wife, Sadie Wyman Leighton, are buried in the Methodist Cemetery in West Cumberland.

Nineteenth century equine artist Scott Leighton’s work is on display at the Skyline Farm Carriage and Sleigh Museum, 95 The Lane, North Yarmouth, every Sunday from 1-4 p.m. through March 29. Leighton was a Gray native. Courtesy photo