Free Open Range Day

All Gray and New Gloucester residents are invited to a Free “Open Range Day” to be held on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Royal River Rod and Gun Club, Fish Hatchery Road in New Gloucester.

Visitors are encouraged to bring a firearm or two and try out the 35-yard and 100-yard shooting ranges, meet members to learn about the safety, education, and community programs they sponsor. Sight-in help for the upcoming deer and moose season is available and interested people who have never handled a firearm are encouraged to come.

This year a fishing equipment display, an invitation to tour the Maine State fish hatchery (behind the property), refreshments and a cash raffle will be available.

For more information please call or email Pete Thoits, 657-4184 (petethoits@maine.rr.com) or Aaron Barbour, 749-6737 (apbbmx@aol.com).

Library news

The Gray Public Library, Hancock Street in Gray, will be showing a free movie at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23. “Star Wars-New Hope, rated PG, will be shown on the silver screen. All are welcome.

The Gray Public Library Staff, Board of Trustees, and Gray Public Library Association (GPLA) are pleased to announce plans to renovate and expand Gray’s historic library, located on Hancock Street.

At this stage, their plans include preliminary drawings of a proposed 3,000 square-foot addition off the back of the existing building. By placing the addition in the back, they will preserve the character of the historic building. A preliminary cost of $1.5 million has been estimated. The project will add much needed space, bringing the library’s square footage in line with today’s library standards.

Renovations to the existing building will include: additional insulation, energy efficient heating and cooling system, updated lighting and bathrooms will be brought up to ADA code. The added space will expand the children’s area, create new meeting and study space, seating, and additional staff work areas. The library will ask the town to support a bond on the November ballot to pay for the renovations and expansion. The GPLA has pledged to raise money to offset a significant amount of the cost. Any questions the citizens of Gray have regarding these plans are welcome and can be directed to the Library Director, Marie Morey, or any of the trustees. Please contact 657-4110 or graylib@gray.lib.me.us.

Clean up everything

The Town of Gray will be holding its annual August “Clean-up Weekend” at the transfer station on Seagull Drive, Friday, Aug. 24, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25 and 26 from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

You can bring carpeting – limited to the equivalent of one pick-up load, mattresses/box springs, sofas, chairs, loveseats, televisions, computer monitors – limit of five; $5 each additional, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers – limit two; $14 each additional, tires- passenger size only – limit four; $2 each additional, $4 each additional on rim, automobile batteries, wood waste, construction debris, branches and yard waste are charged at their usual price. Stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, and dishwashers are always accepted at no cost. All vehicles must have a valid 2012 transfer station permit.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off also, Saturday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, contact the Transfer Station, 657-2343, or www.graymaine.com.

School days

On Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. at the G-NG High School Library, the Certified Nurse Assistant Program Open House will be held. Call G-NG Adult and Community Education at 657-2620 for more information.

First G-NG student day of school will be Sept. 4.

Signage in Gray

The Community Economic Development Committee is reviewing the existing sign ordinance. As part of this process, the town is seeking input from local businesses and property owners for a well-rounded perspective. For more information and to take the online survey go to www.graymaine.org.

Amazing art and amazing insects

On Saturday, Aug. 18, the Maine Wildlife Park, Route 26 in Gray, will feature chainsaw wildlife artists. Join Maine Custom Wood Sculpture’s Bill Fournier as he uses a chain saw to create eagles, bears and more. Also see Ron Carlson whose lifelong chainsaw carving hobby became a business. Local artist Georgie Kanach, www.Mainenatureart.com, will be on hand to demonstrate a variety of her art mediums and techniques, including her amazingly intricate carvings of moose antlers.

Also from Aug. 18-26, The Final Charge, a massive, museum quality display showing two huge Bull Moose with locked antlers, created by taxidermist Mark Dufresne of Nature’s Reflections Taxidermy in Gray, is on loan to the park for visitors to view and photograph up close.

The following Saturday, Aug. 25, Life Of The Honeybee, will “bee” the focus. Learn about the industrious life of the honeybee and the role of the beekeeper. Delicious native Maine honey and other natural products from the hive will be on sale. FMI, www.mainebeekeepers.org.

Sponsored by the “Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park,” these special displays may be viewed from approximately 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (unless otherwise noted). For more information, please call 657-4977, ext. 0.

Come and Get It

The First Congregational Church, Brown Street, Gray will hold its 21st Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Aug. 25, 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Adults $10, children 12 and under $5. The menu will include a half-chicken, baked potato, corn on the cob, homemade biscuits, cakes and pies, punch and coffee. The space is handicapped accessible and take-out is available. For more information, call 657-4338.

Little Sebago

On Tuesday Aug. 21, at 7 p.m., the Windham Historical Society will present a program entitled “Little Sebago, A Forgotten Landmark,” at the Windham Veterans Center, North Windham (behind Big Lots on Memorial Drive). The program may be of interest to seasonal residents who summer on Little Sebago Lake. The program, presented by Ray Philpot of North Windham, will explore how the lake levels and boundaries have changed over the years. Early maps of the Lake will be available. FMI, Windham Historical Society, 207-892-1306.

Crystal Lake Notices

The Canada geese are back. Wilkes Beach on Crystal Lake in Gray will be closed until the water tests improve. The Crystal Lake Association, which relies heavily on volunteers in its invasive plant patrollers who survey the lake – is hosting a free Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sabbathday Grange Hall in New Gloucester. Refreshments will be provided. To register, call 783-7733 or vlmp@mainevlmp.org.

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