New Town Councilor for Gray

The Gray Town Council announced the appointment of Tracy Scheckel to fill an open council seat created by the resignation of former Council Chair Allison Libbey. Scheckel recently moved to Gray from New Jersey, where she was active in local government in the city of Nutley, population 27,000.

Tracy Scheckel said, “My husband, John, and I did extensive research before choosing Gray as our new home and site for my business. We were drawn to the town’s charm, location, scenic beauty, recreational amenities and historic nature. I am honored and excited that the Gray Town Council has put its faith in me and look forward to serving the citizens of Gray.”

Scheckel will serve until the next scheduled election in June 2008. In addition to Scheckel’s seat, the terms of Andrew Upham and Skip Crane expire making a total of three council seats that will be on the ballot.

Activity Bus in SAD 15’s Future?

Years ago the district provided an activity bus for kids to have transportation home after extracurricular activities. There are petitions circulating through town requesting gas money and salary for a bus driver to again provide the after-school service. The group plans to deliver the petition to the District Improvement Meeting on Nov. 19. More info about the meeting can be found at www.msad15.org.

Interested citizens who would like to voice their support for the activity bus and have not signed the petition can send an e-mail prior to Nov. 1 to: Karen Caprio kcaprio@msad15.org. Organizers request that the e-mail simply indicate that you are in support of an activity bus, along with the town you live in and your phone number.

Attention Crafters, Sign Up Now

The Christmas Fair at Gray American Legion, 15 Lewiston Road, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tables are $15 in advance. Make checks payable to Beverly Prince and mail to her at P.O. Box 431, Gray, Maine 04039. For more information call 428-3737 and leave a message. Proceeds are used for the nurses scholarship and veterans projects. A lunch counter will be available and the American Legion Hall is smoke-free. The fais is sponsored by the LaFemmes 40 & 8.

Students Go “Way Back” To School

Students from the Dunn School visited the Dry Mills Schoolhouse last week. After volunteer Nancy McMinn led the children into the school, sitting the boys on one side and the girls on the other, volunteer Bob Quigley asked the students what they noticed about the school? The responses came fast as the students pointed out that there was no heat in the building and asked about the stove. Someone pointed out that they now use paper at school instead of small chalkboards (slates) and that the desks are different and made of wood.

Quigley told the students that in the mid- to late 1800s it was a privilege to go to school. Children their age were expected to work at home, feeding animals, tending gardens and such. School might be what you did when you weren’t needed at home or it might be a sacrifice in the family to send a child to school.

Because of their work at home, students would not have always been able to attend regularly and young men in particular might go to school until they were 21. Grades one through eight were generally taught and boys and girls were separated to sit on opposite sides of the school. When they did come, the hours were longer than today’s average school day.

Quigley held up a feather quill pen saying you’d keep a knife on hand to sharpen your quill pen – hence the name “pen knife.” He showed the students the water bucket and dippers shared by the old-time students, explaining that the teacher would carry water from the brook that ran behind the original location of the school on Route 26.

Quigley said despite primitive conditions in the schoolhouse compared to today’s classrooms, The Dry Mills School was probably considered upscale at the time it was built. Many schools at the time had dirt floors and a fire built in the floor. The Dry Mills School was fortunate to have wood floors and a real stove.

Volunteers Quiqley and Nancy McMinn said they enjoy their work immensely, especially sharing the schoolhouse with visitors and students. They would welcome anyone who enjoys history and/or sharing it with others to join them. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary. You can e-mail Quigley and McMinn at 1rmschool@graymaine.org.

The students were interested in the tradition of punishing a child with the wearing of a dunce cap and enjoyed writing on the slates on the wooden desks.

Dynamite Lady of Gray

Celebrated artist Silvana Cenci moved to Gray in the later years of her life. If you met her, you wouldn’t forget her. She was a tiny woman with a big presence. She usually had a bird on her shoulder and lots to say.

A native of Italy, she lived most of her life in America where she became internationally known, primarily for using dynamite to blast images into stainless steel and finishing some pieces with pure gold. The pieces created with dynamite were often utilized by architects. One piece titled “Wheels in Motion” hung in Boston’s South Station. Cenci passed away in Gray seven years ago, in October 2000.

Two of her pieces are on the auction block this weekend: a large bronze tited “Gatto Siamese” is expected to bring $25,000; and an oil painting titled “Man on Horse” could bring up to $4,000. The Long Island auction house of Philip Weiss will auction the art on Sunday, Oct. 21. Her son, Charlie, will use the money to preserve the Cenci studio in Gray. You can see the works and bid on them at www.liveauctioneers.com, and www.philipweissauctions.com and read more about Cenci’s life and career at www.silvanacenci.com.

Our Town

On Nov. 9-11, Stimson Hall will literally be the stage for The Patriot Players’ production of “Our Town.” The Players are currently in rehearsals. The play by Thornton Wilder is thought to be the most often produced American play in history.

The timeless look at small-town American life only gets better with the telling. The Patriot Players have won several awards in the last few years as the program has grown and matured under the direction of Eric Walker, a teacher at Gray-New Gloucester High School.

The actions of the Stage Manager bring to life the town of Grover’s Corners. A minimal amount of scenery and props allow the actors to tell their stories as scenes from the town’s history between the years of 1901 and 1913 play out.

The cast of “Our Town” is: Stage Manager, played by Kaitlin Rokowski; Dr.Gibbs played by JD Raines; Joe Crowell played by Tristian Rowe; Howie Newsome played by Tyler Vachon; Mrs. Gibbs played by Mary Archabault; Mrs. Webb played by Riva Foss; George Gibbs played by Darren Brown; Rebecca Gibbs played by Caitlin Field; Wally Webb played by Jordan Holmes; Emily Webb played by Ariel Moser.

Also, Professor Willard played by Mike Churchill; Mr.Webb played by Brandon Hotham; Woman in the Balcony played by Jordan Holmes; Man in Auditorium played by Tristian Rowe; Lady in the Box played by Hannah Wurgler; Simon Stimson played by Emily DeTroy; Mrs. Soames played by Rachel Drew; Constable Warren played by Devin Gilman.

And, Si Crowell played by Abby Herson; Baseball Player 1 played by Victoria Coskery; Baseball Player 2 played by Caitlin Field; Baseball Player 3 played by Amanda Kimball; Sam Craig played by Amanda Kimball; Joe Stoddard played by Tyler Vachon; 1st dead woman played by Abby Herson; 2nd dead woman played by Victoria Coskery; 1st dead man played by Mike Churchill; 2nd dead man played by Tristian Rowe.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the last few performances of the Patriot Players and would recommend coming out to see this classic performed by the talented drama students of Gray-new Gloucester. And enjoying the play at Stimson Hall will be a real treat.

Business Auction Friday, Oct. 19

Tune into Cable Channel 2 on Friday, Oct. 19 from 7-11 p.m. for the Gray-New Gloucester Business Association’s Annual TV Auction. The association’s executive secretary, Marilyn Porcaro, said they have many wonderful items up for auction including gift certificates for car care, timber management, beauty items and pizza. Porcaro didn’t mention it, but she’s a talented painter who will have a piece of two of her own up for auction. Her works just happen to be on display at the Gray Public Library.