School is open
The Dry Mills Schoolhouse Committee is pleased to announce the “grand re-opening” of this historic schoolhouse on July 9. Please stop in for a visit to the site located on the Maine Wildlife Park Road next to the park, from 1 to 4 p.m. and enjoy some old-fashioned lemonade.
The Schoolhouse will be open throughout the summer season on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m, and for scheduled group presentations. Please contact Jennifer Dupuis, committee chairperson, at 657-3649 for more information or to lend a hand in helping preserve this museum.
Fun camp
Kids Sports and Games Camp will be held at the Gray-New Gloucester Middle School, Libby Hill Road (outdoors) July 11-14. A wide variety of fun sports and games will keep the children entertained exercising and having fun. Children should dress accordingly and bring a snack and water bottle each day. Cost: $40.
For more information and other activities call Gray Recreation at 657-2323 or www.graymaine.org.
Free swimming
The Gray Town Council decided on June 21, that Gray residents can now use Wilkies Beach for free. If you have purchased a pass for this season and would like a refund please submit your name, address, the approximate date of your purchase, where you purchased the pass, and the type of pass you purchased to admin@graymaine.org or Gray Town Hall, 24 Main Street, Gray, ME 04039.
Happy 100
The Civil War Monument at Gray Corner celebrates its 100th year this year. The statue is a work by Albert E. Como and was commissioned circa 1910 and installed on May 18, 1911. The original dedication was held on June 20, 1911. The monument has been moved twice to accommodate increased commuter traffic through Gray corners, where five major roads intersect.
The inscription reads, “To perpetuate the heroism and the sacrifice of the struggle, 1861-1865.” Gray sent proportionately more men to the war than any other town in Maine (and Maine sent proportionately more than any other New England state). There are more than 178 Union soldiers and one Confederate buried in the Gray Cemetery, just across the street from the monument, which has the names of Civil War veterans engraved on it, an effort by local citizens a few years ago.
Ride or walk
On the evenings of Wednesday, July 13, and Wednesday, July 20, mountain bike rides are scheduled on Libby Hill. The rides start at 6:30 p.m. and last about an hour. Meet at the parking lot by the Middle School.
For more information call Steve McPike at 370-9155 or e-mail steve@libbyhill.org.
They currently have four openings for trails that need adoption. A trail steward allows volunteers to work on their own schedule and only requires about an hour a month. Stewards simply need to walk their assigned trail (1-1.5 miles) once a month and report back any major trail needs and remove any minor trail debris that may be in the trail.
If you’d like to learn more about being a trail steward, please contact Dwight Holmquist at dnaholm@maine.rr.com.
Library events
The Poland Shakespeare Company will perform “The Tempest” at the Gray Public Library on Wednesday, July 13, at 6 p.m. It is free and open to all.
If you are growing, raising, or producing something and would like to share at the Library during their Last Thursday of the Month “Tasting Series,” please e-mail Karl or Margaret at info@tenapplefarm.com.
The “One World – Many Stories” Summer Reading Program begins officially on July 1 and continues through July 29. Kids can continue to register after opening day. Meetings are Friday mornings at 10 a.m. and attendance is not mandatory. Participating kids will receive prizes and surprises along with four programs featuring special guests.
On Friday, July 15, a puppet show called Shadow Tales will take place at 10:30 a.m. Professional Story Teller Jody Fein will be in attendance. On Friday, July 29, children will be entertained and educated by a Martial Arts program at 11 a.m. Finally, story teller Antonio Roko will perform on Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. Friday meetings will also feature arts and crafts within the “One World, Many Stories” theme.
Please contact the library at 657-4110 to sign up for summer reading or stop by the circulation desk if you have questions on these events.
Chainsaw art
On Saturday, July 9, at the Maine Wildlife Park, on Route 26 in Gray, join Maine Custom Wood Sculpture’s Bill Fournier as he uses a chain saw to create eagles, bears and more. Also see Ron Carlson, who specializes in carving bears and will have a variety of carvings on exhibit and for sale.
The following Saturday on July 16, the park will feature a popular and unusual “Night Visit.” The park opens on a moonlight evening for an “All About Owls” event with the owls of Chewonki from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Several live owls will be the stars of two short education programs while the park’s four species can be viewed in their normal habitats. Other “owly” exhibits and displays will be set up around the park. Regular admission fees apply. (Call office FMI 657-4977 if raining.) The Nature Store & Snack Shack will be open for snacks and souvenirs.
For more information, call 657-4977, ext. 0 or go to www.mainewildlifepark.com.
Tourney time
Senior Little League softball team ready for all-star tournament July 13. After completing an undefeated 12-0 season, the girls will host either Portland or Westbrook in their first game. If the team can win the district competition, they would advance to the state tournament in Biddeford.
The team is led by Alex Thompson, Sandy Ricardi, Emily Harlow and Abby Ordway. The girls will rely on Sam Libby and Taylor Whaley in the pitching department, backed up by Heather Chapman and April Lambert. Other team members include Anna Knapp, Breana Bozutto, Lindsay Nunley, Erin Doughty and Molly Stansfield. Alternates include Karen Sutherland and Lauren Coulombe.
Last year (as juniors) the girls made it all the way to the regional tournament in New Haven, Conn.
Gray-New Gloucester Senior Little League Girls show off theirSend questions/comments to the editors.
