Open house

Gray Fire-Rescue will hold their annual EMS Open House on Monday, May 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Central Station, 125 Shaker Road in Gray.

Join the staff for free food, demonstrations and free giveaways. There will be informational booths about CPR and child safety seats, opportunity for child fingerprinting and photo security plus visitors will be able to purchase house number signs from the Gray Historical Society.

Give blood

A Gray Community Blood Drive will be held on Monday, May 21, from 1-6 p.m. at Newbegin Gym, 22 Main St., Gray.

Your roots?

At the Gray Public Library on Tuesday, May 22, from 6:30-8 p.m., the Gray Historical Society will be hosting: Part I Beginning Genealogy-Getting Started with Nancy Critchley Mason, genealogist. Critchley will offer guidance on how to begin researching your family tree. You will talk about organizing, interviews, charts and forms and what to expect online. And you can ask questions. Part II is to be announced in the fall.

Also, the Sahaja Meditation program continues at the library. By popular demand the group will continue to meet Wednesdays, on May 23, May 30, June 6 and 13. New members are welcome. Call 657-4110 or www.gray.lib.me.us for more information.

On ‘The Hill’

On Saturday, May 19, a crew from Pepsi Corp. and their families are coming to Libby Hill Forest to help work on the trails and spruce up the area. More help would be appreciated from 10 a.m.-noon. Afterwards, the Pepsi group will share a barbeque lunch with all volunteers. The plan is to meet at the kiosk across the street from the Gray-NG Middle School on Libby Hill Road. Please sign up ahead with the Gray Recreation Dept. so they can get an idea of how many to expect. Call 657-2323.

On National Trails Day, June 2, you are invited to a short ceremony at 1 p.m. atop Libby Hill at the new kiosk and stone bench. They will be thanking and honoring those who have helped to establish Libby Hill Forest.

Come celebrate the Longest Day at Libby Hill Trails. A 5K event is slated to happen on Wednesday evening, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. and a free 1K fun run for kids starts at 7:15. For more information, www.libbyhill.org.

Veterans get together

The first 2012 get-together of the Sampson Air Force Base Veterans Southern Maine Squadron will be Thursday, May 10, at noontime, at DiSanto’s Restaurant on Route 115 in West Gray.

All SAFB veterans and their guests are welcome to come. For more info. contact Bob Sawyer at 657-4909 or wwmtkwkr@aol.com.

Run!

The Patriot 5K is a USATF-certified race around Crystal Lake in Gray. It will be held on Saturday, May 19, at 9 a.m. (Kid’s Fun Run at 8 a.m). Start and finish lines are at St. Gregory’s Church, 24 N. Raymond Road. Over $5,000 in cash and prizes. Free Kids Run prior to the 5K. Free food, live music, face painting and activities for children and plenty of free parking.

You can pre-register online for $18, or on race day for $20. FMI, www.patriot5k.org.

For the birds

On Saturday, May 12, at the Maine Wildlife Park, come celebrate International Migratory Bird Day. Join Park Assistant Superintendent Steve Oliveri for all kinds of bird demonstrations and activities for kids. Meet the Park’s resident Bald Eagle, Lawrence. Bring your cameras for some great close-ups. FMI, www.birdday.org.

The following Saturday, May 19, the park will be visited by the Endangered Species Coalition. Learn about everyday actions that people can take to help protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining open spaces. FMI, www.stopextinction.org

Both events are held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, call 657-4977, ext. 0, or go to www.mainewildlife park.com.

Think soccer

Registration for the Patriot Soccer Club Fall 2012 season is now open to all boys and girls ages 8-13. You can register online at www.patriotsoccerclub.org. For general information, contact Penney Ward, President at president@patriotsoccerclub.org.

Palette talk

The 5th Annual Silent and Live Auction Fundraiser, “Palette,” will be on Saturday, May 19, 6 p.m. at Fiddlehead Center for Art and Science, 25 Shaker Road in Gray.

This year an online portion to the auction will be held through a fund-raising website called “Bidding for Good” starting May 7 and ending May 17 at 11 p.m. To preview some of the great items, visit the online portion of the auction. Another feature of the online bidding is absentee bidding that is available for items not reserved for the “live only” event.

For more information on the event, or to donate items or buy tickets, check out www.fiddleheadcenter.org.

I love a parade

Gray’s annual Memorial Day parade will be held on Monday, May 28. The procession will begin at the Russell School and continue through Gray Center to the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex. There, a ceremony will be held in honor of our veterans. The parade will then proceed to The American Legion Hall, where refreshments will be served to the marchers.

Organizations with a patriotic theme and wishing to honor our veterans are encouraged to participate. If you would like to join in the festivities, please call Jason White (Commander of the American Legion) or email jwillow26@aol.com. They would like to invite all veterans who wish to be included. Cars will be provided for those of you who are unable to march.

Come in, relax

The Third Coffee House at the First Congregational Church Parish House on Brown Street, will be open Friday, May 18, at 6 p.m. for fresh coffee, tea drinks, home-baked treats and local art and music talent. Artists and performers from the community are again invited to participate. Sign-up in advance is appreciated. Admission, drinks and baked items are free. Donations are graciously accepted.

There is free parking for the event across the street from the Parish House on Brown Street. FMI or to show your original art/photography or perform, contact Ann Arsenault at 400-7115.