One-Pitch Tourney

A One Pitch Softball Tournament, organized by Gray Recreation, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Pennell Field (24 Main Street). These are seven-inning games, come join the fun. Contact Roger Dehetre at 657-6762 for more details.

Church Barbecue

The 22nd Annual Chicken Barbecue of the First Congregational Church of Gray will be at the Parish House on Brown Street, behind McDonald’s in Gray. This delicious dinner will be on Saturday, Aug. 24, with a 5 p.m. and a 5:45 p.m. seating. Cost for adult meals will be $10; children under 12 are $5.

The menu includes a half chicken, baked potato, ear of corn, homemade biscuits, beverages and a large selection of desserts. Takeout dinners are available. The hall is handicapped accessible and for more information, call 657-4338.

Go Girls

The Maine District 6 Senior Little League Softball team just completed another very successful season. The girls played a 21-game regular season schedule, which began back on April 17 and finished at the Eastern Regional Tournament in Worcester, Mass., at the end of July.

Four years ago, there were a limited amount of teams to play, but with the success of the past few years 14 teams were added to the summer league schedule and another five teams will be added next year.

The Maine girls traveled to Worcester and competed at the Regionals. They defeated Massachusetts 2-0 in Game 1. They lost a heartbreaker to Connecticut, 6-3. The girls took a 2-1 lead into the sixth, but a couple of miscues let Connecticut steal the win. The team bounced back in Game 3 and beat Rhode Island 11-1. This earned the Maine team a shot at the New England Regional Championship, but they were defeated by host Worcester, 4-1. It was a nail-biter as Maine had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but a hard hit line-drive was snagged in deep right field.

All in all it was another great season, many of the players are ready to play again next year. None of this would have been possible without the huge community support from all the local business owners, thanks to all.

Like us on Facebook

To avoid confusion, the Gray Community Endowment “group” Facebook page (the one with all the little photos at the top of the page) will be removed and GCE will go with just the Gray Community Endowment page. You are invited to like the Gray Community Endowment page: www.facebook.com/GrayCommunityEndowment.

Chainsaws and Bees

On Saturday, Aug. 17, the Maine Wildlife Park, on Route 26 in Gray, will feature chainsaw wildlife artists Ron Carlson, Tim Pickett and Dan Burns who use chainsaws to create eagles, bears and more. A variety of carvings will be on exhibit and for sale.

Life Of The Honeybee will be the program featured the following Saturday, Aug. 24. Learn about the industrious life of the honeybee and the role of the beekeeper. Parts of the bee hive and beekeeping equipment will be on display. An experienced beekeeper will be available to answer your questions. For more information, go to www.mainebeekeepers.org.

Most programs start at 11 a.m. For more information, call the Maine Wildlife Park at 657-4977; or visit www.mainewildlifepark.com.

Merrill Road Easement Plan

The Gray Town Council will hold a public hearing on Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex, 24 Main Street, Gray, Maine before considering taking final action on a series of actions to smooth out a sharp curve on the Merrill Road. This will be done by relocating a portion and discontinuing a portion of the Merrill Road, by accepting a deed dedicating an easement to the town to form a portion of the new right of way, and to exchange deeds with the abutting property owner to accomplish the ROW relocation. Residents are encouraged to visit the website at graymaine.org to see the plan or contact the town manager at 657-3339 for more information.

August Clean Up

On the weekend of Friday, Aug. 23, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 24 and 25, from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., you can “clean up” around your place and bring it to the Gray Transfer Station. Here are the particulars:

Carpeting is limited to the equivalent of one pickup load.

Mattresses and box springs, sofas, chairs, loveseats, televisions, computer monitors, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, branches and yard waste are limited to the equivalent of one pickup load

Tires – limit 4 passenger size only – are $2 each additional, $4 each additional on rim and automobile batteries free of charge (unless noted beforehand).

Wood waste, construction debris, asphalt shingles, gypsum board, vinyl siding, pressure treated wood, etc., are charged at their usual price, whereas stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, and dishwashers are always accepted at no cost.

Also, on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only, there will be a household hazardous waste drop-off available.

More information will be available at the transfer station. Be sure to take advantage of these two opportunities to dispose of unwanted and dangerous materials. All vehicles must have a valid 2013 transfer station permit, strictly enforced.

Contact the Gray Transfer Station at 657-2343 for more information.

Lions and Their Cars

The 10th GNG Lions Car Show will be held at the New Gloucester Community Fair on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds at 106 Bald Hill Road. The show will be held rain or shine. You must register day of show from 8-11 a.m., $5 per car, voting ends at 12:30 p.m., with awards at 2 p.m. There are 21 trophy classes including Best of Show and People’s Choice along with raffles, silent auction, prizes and surprises. For more information, contact Joe Murray at jmurray1@maine.rr.com.

All Over

The first day of school for Gray-New Gloucester public schools is Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Get Kicking

Fall Youth Soccer for grades K-6 is about to begin. Aug. 30 is the registration deadline. All games will be played on Saturdays and an optional practice will be scheduled once a week (TBA). Children in grades K-2 play at Russell School Fields and grades 3-6 fields are TBA. To register or for more information: www.grayrec.com or 657-2323.

This year’s Maine District 6 Senior Little League Softball team photo consists of, back row, coach Don Libby, Maddie Elliott, Allie Pike, Elizabeth Walker, Julia Treadwell, Breanna Lifland, Taylor Whaley, and coach Matt Whaley. In front row, from left, are Allison Morse, Heather Chapman, Ally Tillotson, Sam Libby, Ashley Clark, and team manager Bill Chapman. Missing from photo are Rebecca Howell, Kylie Martin and Kolby Woods.