Lobsters and Science

On Saturday, June 8, at the Maine Wildlife Park, located on Route 26 in Gray, you can learn about lobsters on World Oceans Day. Join Captain Tom and crew from the Portland lobster boat Lucky Catch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to hear about lobsters, their lives, habitats and conservation efforts, plus many other cool sea critters. For more information, go to www.luckycatch.com and worldoceansday.org.

On the following Saturday, June 15, the park will host a Mad Science Fire and Ice Show from 11 a.m.-noon. Witness experiments like the Big Burp, Sizzling Scissors and famous Mad Science Shower. There will be live, interactive and compelling experiences that make learning a blast. For more information, check out www.madscience.org/maine.

At Gray Rec

American Red Cross swimming lessons for children up to age 12 take place each week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from June 25-July 25 at Wilkies Beach in Gray from 8-10 a.m. Costs $37 for residents.

Gray Recreation Summer Camp provides an enjoyable experience in a safe, caring environment. Enjoy Ice Cream Walks, Obstacle Courses, Dance Contests and Minute to-win-it Competitions, Water Balloon fights, Chalk Art, Shaving Cream Wiffle Ball Games, Visits from the Zoo, Field Trips to the beach, Funtown and more.

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

Gray Toll Lane Closures

Emergency repairs necessary to accurately charge E-ZPass tolls will require closing one of two toll lanes used by vehicles entering the Maine Turnpike for southbound travel at Exit 63 in Gray. Work is expected to begin at about 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 12. Motorists will likely experience long delays and much higher traffic volume on nearby roads, especially between 6 and 10 a.m. Thursday, June 13, Friday, June 14, and possibly Monday, June 17.

There will also be a restriction for wide-load vehicles over 8 feet, 6 inches wide. They will be prevented from entering the Turnpike for southbound travel throughout the project.

Motorists can check MaineTurnpike.com, call 800-675-PIKE (7453), or check out MTA on Facebook or Twitter, in advance of the Monday, June 17, morning commute for more updated information and an estimated time of project completion.

Public Bean Supper

A church supper, will be held on Saturday, June 22, 5-6 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, Route 115, Gray. Baked beans, casseroles, salads, homemade breads, desserts with all the fixings will be served at the cost of $8 for adults, $4 for children under 12. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend, and the hall is handicapped accessible. For information call 657-4279 or 657-3279 day of the supper.

Gray Municipal Departments Closed

On Wednesday, June 19, the Gray Public Library, along with all Gray municipal departments, will be closed for mandatory training.

Summer Reading

The summer reading theme at the Gray Public Library, 5 Hancock St., this year is, “Dig Into Reading.” Sign-up will begin the week of June 18 and the following week. Because of the library expansion to begin sometime in July, they will probably be meeting off library grounds. Middle or high school students are being sought for help.

The summer season will begin with an evening program that they hope all of the library families will attend. On Wednesday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m. PuppeTree, a group from Vermont will entertain everyone with Caps for Sale. A Summer Reading packet will be supplied for each reader, which will include dates, fun stuff, Sea Dog tickets, book lists and other neat stuff. Call 657-4110 or www.gray.lib.me.us/ for more information.

Longest Day

Walk/Run

The second annual Longest Day 5K Trail Run and Walk will be held Friday night, June 21, at the Libby Hill Forest in Gray. Come run or walk the challenging 5K trail loop and enjoy the longest evening of the year in a beautiful forest surroundings and some of the best groomed trails in Maine.

Starts at 7 p.m. with a free Kids Trail Fun Run. The 5K starts at 7:15 p.m. followed by refreshments and awards at the finish line. They will award the Fastest Male and Fastest Female Finisher and everyone will be entered to win raffle drawing prizes. Entry fee for the 5K is $10 and Gray-New Gloucester students run for free. For more information, go to www.libbyhill.org.

It’s Your Government

Election Day is Tuesday, June 11. Polls are open in Gray from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and all voting takes place at Newbegin Gymnasium at the Henry Pennell Town Hall Complex on Main Street. Voters with special qualifying circumstances will be able to request an absentee ballot between June 7-11.

On the ballot will be the municipal budget , SAD 15 Budget and Town Election Ballot. Town Council incumbent Matthew M. Doughty seeks reelection, challenged by Norman L. Tanguay, for a three-year term. For SAD 15, Will H. Burrow seeks reelection and Belinda J. Desmond seeks to fill the seat to be vacated by Sheryl Robinson. The two are running unopposed for the three-year terms. For the Gray Water District, Bruce R. Sawyer is running unopposed for a five-year term. For more information and to see a sample ballot go to www.graymaine.org or visit 24 Main Street, Gray, ME 04039 or call 657-3339.

Community Yard Sale

The Destination Imagination Community Yard Sale will be Sunday, June 9, at the SAD 15 Superintendent’s Building, 14 Shaker Road, Gray, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, call Michele Landry at 807-7415.

Attention All Veterans

The June get-together of the Southern Maine Squadron of the Sampson AFB Veterans Association will be at noontime, June 13, at The Chickadee, 1472 Lisbon St. in Lewiston.

This is an informal get-together for lunch of veterans who survived basic training at Sampson AFB, their wives/companions/guests. Sampson was known as Sampson Naval Training Center from 1942-1945, and then known as Sampson Air Force Base from 1950-1956. All veterans are welcome. For more information, contact Bob Sawyer at [email protected] or call 657-4909.