Holidays at the Library

Saturday, Dec. 6 is the Gray Public Library’s annual and traditional Gingerbread House-making event. If you have attended it before, no description is necessary. If this is new to you, it is an event you don’t want to miss. The Gray Public Library Association supplies the materials and you supply the creativity. It is free and the whole family can get involved in the project. The merriment runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The next annual tradition being offered is the Holiday of Trees. Again, the library supplies the tree and you choose a favorite book- children’s or adult- and decorate the tree accordingly. In the past they have had trees decorated from books such as Goodnight Moon, Linnea’s Garden, The Alphabet Tree, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.

Trees will be available the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This is another way you and your family or organization can celebrate the holidays.

The Gray Public Library is open Tuesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 657-4110 or check online at www.gray.lib.me.us

A little piece of history

Louise Knapp proudly presents the 2009 calendar titled “Bits and Pieces of History, Gray, Maine”. You’ll find a short history of each picture for each month of the year.

The calendar will be on sale at the Key Bank in Gray Plaza, Rt. 100, Friday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to noon. If you can’t make it those days and would like to purchase the calendar, call 657-4297.

Donation price is $10 each, plus the $2.50 cost for shipping (if needed). The proceeds from the calendar will benefit Gray Historical Society to restore the painted stage curtain that originally hung in Stimson Memorial Hall. The artist, Edgar S. Caswell of Gray, painted stage curtains in almost every town in Cumberland County.

Let’s play ball!

Patriot Boy Basketball starts Dec. 6. Varsity coach Scott Flagg and other members of the Patriot coaching staff and varsity players will again be running an awesome program for the boys in grades 1-6. Organized, semi-competitive in-house games will be played between the formed teams (as long as they have a minimum of four teams).

The program will be held Saturdays and cost $45, which includes a team t-shirt. First session will be Dec. 6, with the grade levels meeting as follows: 1/2 (8:30-9:30 a.m.) 3/4 (9:45-10:45 a.m.) 5/6 (11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.) On this date only, it will be held at Gray-New Gloucester High School. Remainder of the dates will be at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School at the same times: Dec. 13 and 20; Jan. 3, 10, and 17; and Feb. 7. Feb. 14 will be a snow date.

For the girls, join Lady Patriot varsity coach Chris Aube as well as other members of the coaching staff and players for another great season of basketball. New this year will be organized in-house games (if the numbers permit). Not only will the young players get to learn the fundamental skills through drills and compete in fun contests, but they will also learn how to play in game situations.

It will be held Saturdays at the Gray-New Gloucester gym and cost $45 (includes a team t-shirt). Girls in grades 1-6 are encouraged to join. The program starts Dec. 6, with grade 1-3 meeting 12:30-1:30 p.m., and grades 4-6 meeting 1:45-3 p.m. It continues Dec. 13, with grades 1-3 meeting 8:30-9:30 a.m. and grades 4-6 meeting 9:45-11 a.m. The program will meet at the same times for the remainder of the season, on Dec. 20, Jan. 3 , 10 , 17 , and 24. Feb. 7 will be a snow day.

Players in the travel program are strongly urged to attend, especially if there isn’t a game conflict. No fee will be charged. There will be a late fee for applications received after Dec. 3. Please have your child be on time for each session. Use the back entrance to the gym. Players should carry in their sneakers and also bring a water bottle.

Please make checks out to: Town of Gray. Mail to: Gray Rec Dept., 6 Shaker Rd., Gray, ME., 04039. Parents that would like to coach a team, or for more information, call 657-2323.

Gifts and Nirvana

The First Friday Pottery Show & Sale will be held Friday, Dec. 5, 5:30-7 p.m. The next day will be the Stone Soup Pottery & Jewelry Artisan Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Purchase a pottery bowl to support Fiddlehead Center. Over 20 pottery and jewelry artists will be represented. The fair is a great opportunity to pick up some creative holiday gifts.

Also Dec. 6 will be a free, adults-only Breathe Aware course, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Learn how to steady the nervous system and create stillness in the mind through various yoga breathing techniques. Donations will be accepted to benefit Fiddlehead’s scholarship program for children.

For more information, contact Fiddlehead at 657-2244 or check out their Web site at www.fiddleheadcenter.org.

A Legion Christmas

The American Legion Auxiliary Annual Christmas Fair will be held Sunday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A luncheon featuring fish chowder will be served. It will be at American Legion Post #86, Lewiston Road (Route 100) in Gray. Call 428-3737 for more information. Proceeds to benefit the American Legion Auxiliary.

For the dogs

The Rabies Clinic sponsored by the town of Gray will be held Dec. 6 at the Public Safety Building, Route 26 near Seagull Drive, noon to 2 p.m. The cost is $10, and dog owners should bring proof of previous vaccinations. In addition, the 2009 annual dog licenses will be issued at the same time.