Gray Public Library welcomes the New Year

The library welcomes you to start off your new year with a good book, a magazine, a movie, CD, or audio book from the Gray Public Library. You can also come in to read one of the daily newspapers, check out the reference area or use one of the patron computers.

Ongoing programs include the cozy Tuesday afternoon knitting group at the library. Bring your knitting and join Sheila from 1-2 p.m. Also the ever-popular preschool and toddler story times continue at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

January releases for adult books include “Plum Lucky,” Jan. 8 by Janet Evanovich; “Beverly Hills Dead,” Jan. 15 by Stuart Woods; and “Duma Key,” Jan. 22 by Stephen King.

Make sure to pick up a copy of the monthly newsletter from the Gray Public Library on your next time visit. In addition to lots of helpful information, the latest newsletter also has a copy of the newly revised circulation policy in it. Brooke Palmer, circulation assistant included a tribute in the newsletter to honor authors who passed away in 2007, including Sidney Sheldon, Kurt Vonnegut, Norman Mailer, David Halberstam and Madeleine L’Engle.

Looking ahead to new releases by mystery writers, “Winter Study,” by Nevada Barr will be available in April, Julia Spencer Fleming will have a new Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne book in May and “Blue Heaven,” by C.J. Box is out this month.

For those of you who want to get a head start on your taxes, copies of the State and Federal forms have started arriving at the library.

Cookie Time is Here

Rep. Mark Bryant, D-Windham, joined Gray Girl Scouts Amanda, Emily, and Caroline Ross at the State House Thursday for the kick-off of Girl Scout cookie sales in Maine. Representing three different levels of Girl Scouting, the girls were accompanied by their mother, Tracy Ross, and met with Gov. John Baldacci and other troop members from around the state for the celebration.

Senior Girl Scout Amanda Ross is in the 10th-grade and is a member of Troop 121 of Falmouth, while Junior Girl Scout Emily Ross is a sixth-grade member of Troop 1684 in Cumberland and North Yarmouth. Third-grader Caroline Ross represents Brownie Troop 2356 of Gray.

School Budget Decisions Coming

There will be a public form hosted by School Administrative District 15 on the upcoming 2008/09school budget on Jan. 23, at the Gray – New Gloucester Middle School cafeteria from 6:30-8 p.m.

SAD 15 has information that you can download on its Web site, www.msad15.org. On the home page, click on “newsletter from Superintendent Burns.”

The newsletter points out that the Gray-New Gloucester budget was going to be 3.7 percent higher this year because it is time to pay for the recent renovations.

This would be the time to jump in and see what the school consolidation committee is up against. One of the issues is trying to meet deadlines even though the rules keep changing.

As it stands now, Gray and New Gloucester may be forced to make up over $1 million in funding for the consolidation plan. The Legislature has promised to address this in January.

Something interesting from the newsletter is that personnel make up 80 percent of the budget.

In writing in the newsletter, Burns pointed out that this is the budget where we need to start paying for the $10 million in renovations to our school buildings over the last couple of years. This is an increase of 3.7 percent, not counting additional costs to run current educational programs.

The newsletter is packed with information. I hope you take a few minutes to read it. The warm June day when we’ll be voting might seem as buried in the future as we are in snow right now but this is the time when the budget process is heating up.

Kudos to SAD 15 for bringing this information to the public. They would appreciate seeing you at the meeting on Jan. 23.

For more information contact Victoria Burns, SAD 15 Superintendent, at 657-3335 or vburns@msad15.org.

Guided Snowshoe Walks at Libby Hill Forest Trails

Strap on the Snowshoes

Meet at the Gray – New Gloucester Middle School at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 for a two-hour exploration of the great snowshoeing on Libby Hill. You’ll learn the best trails for snowshoeing and find great places to explore off trail.

On Saturday, Jan. 19, local naturalist Caryl Widdowson will take snowshoers on a two-hour guided look at how nature adapts to

winter.

Snowshoes are available for both hikes if you don’t have them, call Steve McPike to reserve some at 657-2114 or visit www.Libbyhill.Org for more information.

This “Inside Gray” column is the last Jeanne Adams will contribute to the Lakes Region Weekly. The staff at the Lakes Region Weekly and Current Publishing would like to thank Jeanne for her timely, informative writing and abundant good cheer and welcome Gray resident Marilyn Porcaro, who will begin writing the “Inside Gray” column in the Jan. 18 Lakes Region Weekly edition.

Inside Gray