Crossroads Challenge

The Patriot Soccer Club 16th Crossroads Challenge is on Columbus Day Weekend, Oct. 8 and 9. The Crossroad’s Challenge is a two-day tournament for boys and girls “classic” teams U9-U14. This is an extremely well-run tournament offering a fun and festive atmosphere. All Patriot Soccer Club games are played MSAD15 High School and Middle School Complex, Libby Hill Road, Gray. For more information, see www.patriotsoccerclub.or or contact Penney Ward, crossroadschallenge@patriotsoccerclub.org.

Jack-o-lanterns, Haunted Lab and more
The Annual Halloween Party at the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex will be Saturday, Oct. 22, from 5-7:30 p.m.

Go for a Pumpkin Walk around Pennell Park, where there will be over 500 lighted carved pumpkins, go inside Newbegin Gym for carnival games (free prizes), and then take in the Haunted Lab.

For more information, go to www.greyrec.com or call 657-2323 ext. 117.

Two Nerf Nights
Walls and barriers will be set up for team battles and organized chaos during Nerf Night at the Newbegin Gym. Bring your own Nerf gun –  one that shoots standard darts – eye protection and a water bottle. Darts will be provided. Prizes will be awarded for some of the contests. Dates are: Friday, Oct. 7,  grades 4 and 5 only, 6-7:30 p.m.; and Friday, Oct. 21, grades 3 and 4 only, 6-7:30 p.m. Parents welcome to watch on stage.

For more information and programs and fees go to www.greyrec.com or call 657-2323 ext. 117

Boston Post Cane is back

On Tuesday, Sept.20, the Gray Town Council voted to approve a new Boston Post Cane Policy, thereby restoring a New England tradition.

The Boston Post Cane tradition started as a publicity stunt for the Boston Post newspaper in 1909. The publisher of the Boston Post, Edwin Grozier, issued a special cane to the Board of Selectmen in over 700 New England towns; no cities were included.

This year, the Town purchased a replica Boston Post Cane, while not ebony and 14K gold, the replica cane is wooden with a gold-colored head. The original inscription is the same and “Gray, Me.” is engraved on it.

Those who proposed the revival of the Boston Post Cane tradition, Elizabeth Bullen, Karen Taylor of the Gray Historical Society, Ann Elkanich and Debi Curry, believe that bringing back the BPC tradition to Gray will serve to honor our eldest citizens.

The Town of Gray is accepting nominations for a Boston Post Cane recipient. If you know anyone living in Gray that was born before 1922, please complete a Boston Post Cane nomination form at the Town Office or online at www.graymaine.org/bpc-nomination All nominations must be received by Monday, Nov. 28, by 4 p.m.

RR ballot wording
The official ballot for the Town of Gray Nov. 8, election will include a special town meeting question for a proposed budget appropriation as follows:

“Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $498,000 and authorize a grant of such funds by the Town to the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Industrial Heritage Trust, a Maine nonprofit corporation, to be paid on such date after July 1, 2017 as determined by the Town Council and to be on such written terms as determined by the Town Council, after notice and a public hearing on the same, to fund the acquisition of property by such nonprofit corporation and the design, permitting and improvement of property of such nonprofit corporation at and near the New Portland Road in Gray, Maine, for economic development purposes and to support such nonprofit corporation’s location of its facilities in the Town of Gray for use of historic two-foot gauge railroad equipment for the education and enjoyment of the public?

Property owner survey

This October, the Town’s Community Development Department will be conducting a survey of all property owners in Gray. The purpose is to update the transportation and land use sections of the 2003 Comprehensive Plan, the “blueprint” for guiding policy decisions for the town for the next 10 to 15 years.

As a property owner in Gray, the survey is your opportunity to express your opinion about the town. The survey will be conducted electronically via any computer with internet service. The survey link will be active to fill out through  Oct. 28. If you do not have a computer with internet service, there are several computers available for public use at the Gray Public Library.

Visit the Gray Town Office, 24 Main St., call 657-3339 or go to www.graymaine.org for more information.

Harvest Day

The Maine Wildlife Park in Gray will hold Harvest Day Saturday, Oct. 15, instead of a Halloween Fest. Watch the wildlife enjoy the same fall harvest crops that people do. Deer love corn, but did you know that moose love pumpkins and foxes and coyotes love apples? Enjoy a variety of ‘”old-tyme” harvest games and activities for the whole family. Learn how apple cider is made; do the Rabbit Hole Crawl or Ring ‘Em Up Toss. Experience Spider Legs, the Barrel Plank Roll and Aquatic Harvest Racing. Do the Pumpkin Long Jump, Pig Sty Pile Up or enjoy Autumn-Themed Face Painting. Activities run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information, please call (207) 657-4977, ext. 0 or go to www.mainewildlifepark.org

Library events

• Book Sale – Preview Night/Early Bird Sale, Friday, Oct. 14, 5:30 -7:30 p.m., admission $5. Sale, Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., free admission. Sponsored by GPLA.

• Attend a movie and enjoy a tasty snack in the Gray Public Library’s theater. Showing soon are: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (PG-13), Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m.; “Stir Crazy” (R ), Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m.; “Frisco Kid” (PG), Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. ; and “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” (R ), Thursday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m.

• On Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m., author Robert Bruce Coffin, former Portland homicide detective, will discuss his new book, “Among the Shadows: A Detective Byron Mystery.” Sponsored by the Pat Barter Speaker Series.

For more information 207-657-4110 or www.gray.lib.me.us. All events are free and open to the public. The Gray Public Library is located at 5 Hancock St.

Water District meeting

The Gray Water District Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at 80 Shaker Road.

The Patriot Soccer Club hosts its 16th Crossroads Challenge this wekend.

Nominations are being accepted for the Boston Post Cane.