Best-selling author

In one of only two library appearances in Maine, Nevada Barr, the New York Times best-selling author of the popular Anna Pigeon mystery series, will read from and sign her latest book “Boar Island,”at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the Spring Meadow Golf Club, 59 Lewiston Road. “Boar Island,” which will be released May 17, has Anna starting her new post as acting chief ranger at Acadia National Park. The event is sponsored by the Gray Public Library Pat Barter Speaker Series. Free event tickets are required. To reserve your ticket call 657-4110 or email graylib@gray.lib.me.us. Books will be available for purchase.

May movies

Attend a free movies and enjoy a tasty snack in the library’s new “theater.” Showing soon are: “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip,” (PG), Saturday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m.; “The 5th Wave,” (PG-13), Saturday, May 7, at 1 p.m.; “The Choice,” (PG-13), Saturday, May 14, at 1 p.m.; “Top Gun,” (PG), Tuesday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m.; “Stand by Me,” (R), Thursday, May 19, at 2 p.m. Events are free and open to all at the Gray Public Library, 5 Hancock Street. For more information, contact graylib@gray.lib.me.us or phone 657-4110.

Computer help

OTT Communications is underwriting a GNG Adult Ed course, Computer Basics Series. The classes, for adults, will be held on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. The remaining weeks of this program offers sessions on: Google and e-mail Basics, May 11 and 18 (2 weeks); Exploring the Internet, May 25 (1 week); Keeping Your Kids Safe Online and In Social Media, June 1 (1 week). All classes are free (thanks to the OTT support), but space is limited, so pre-registration is required. Students can call 657-9612 to register or register online at www.gngadulted.org.

Chicken dinner, auction and skits

A KFC Dinner with Silent Auction will be held Saturday, May 7, at 5 p.m. at GNG High School, 10 Libby Hill Road. The auction opens at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. GNG Destination Imagination Teams will present their skits. Tickets: $10/Adult, $8/Student, $35/Family (2 Adults and up to 4 kids) For tickets: colleenstrickler@gmail.com

Run!

The seventh annual Patriot 5K will be held on Saturday, May 21, starting at 9 a.m., with a half-mile Kid’s Run at 8 a.m. at St Gregory Church, 24 North Raymond Road. Sponsored by the Liberty Family Foundation, and proceeds benefit local schools. Register at www.patriot5k.org.

Dance for horses

Mark your calendars for the MGhelpME Gaited Horse Rescue Benefit Dance and Buffet to be held Satuday, May 7, from 5-10 p.m. at Spring Meadows, 59 Lewiston Road. The benefit will feature a lavish buffet, raffles, a silent auction with some fabulous horse and non-horse related items, and dancing to the one and only Country Roads band. A cash bar will also be available. Dress is country casual. Tickets may be pre-purchased for $20 or purchased at the door for $25. For more information, please visit mggaitedrescue.com. MGhelpME is a registered 501(c)(3) run solely by volunteers. All proceeds go directly to the rescue and care of horses.

Foodie Fest

Fiddlehead Foodie Fest will be held Saturday, May 14, at 6 p.m. Local chefs will come together at Fiddlehead to create unique dishes to be tasted and judged by attendees. Participating local businesses include the New Gloucester Village Store, the new Beet Market of Brunswick and Norumbega Hard Cider. In addition to some amazing dishes that participants will get to taste and judge, Allagash Brewing Co. will be providing local craft beer to sample. A live and silent auction will feature donations from local restaurants, activities and more. Tickets are $35 each or $85 for a four-pack for just $85. You must be age 21 or older to attend this event. Buy tickets now at http://www.fiddleheadcenter.org/ or at Fiddlehead Art and Science Center, 25 Shaker Road. 207-657-2244.

SAD 15 community forums

The SAD 15 School Board is proposing a bond to the voters of Gray and New Gloucester. This bond will have two questions: one that focuses on building renovations and one that targets fields and grounds. A Community Bond Forum is scheduled for Thursday, May 19, at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria for residents of the two towns. The required Community Budget Forum is scheduled for Thursday, May 26, in the high school cafeteria. The forum will start at 6:30 p.m. with voter registration beginning at 6 p.m. The school is at 10 Libby Hill Road.

Projects around town

Aroma Joe’s is locating in the Hancock Block with a projected opening of late spring.

Hill View Mini Barns of Sabattus has started its new sales and display location at 158 Lewiston Road.

Howell’s Gun and Archery Center on Route 115 is undergoing a 12,000 square-foot expansion that includes an indoor firing range.

Phase 1A of the Village Area Loop Trail (VALT) construction will start this spring. The new trail will follow the edge of the town property from Pennell Park around the back of the ballfields and meander back to the parking area in front of Newbegin Gym. There will also be a new link into Pennell Park from Route 100. Highway, bridge and toll system improvements will be made at Gray

Interchange-Exit 63, including new southbound ramps and a new southbound toll plaza on the west side of the Maine Turnpike, where they are proposed to intersect with routes 202 and 26A. Lane Construction will be completing repairs on the Hunts Hill Road turnpike overpass starting Monday, May 9. Work will continue for approximately 4 to 5 weeks, during which time the road will be closed to traffic.

May at the Wildlife Park

The Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 will hold a Bear Bonanza on Saturday, May 7, at 11 a.m., with bear activities for the whole family. Learn all about North American bears and have your picture taken with Smokey Bear, the Bowdoin polar bear mascot and the Maine Wildlife Park black bear mascot.

The following Saturday, May 14, is Endangered and Threatened Species Day at the park, starting at 11 a.m. Learn about National Endangered Species Day (Friday, May 20) with the Maine Endangered Species Coalition. Understand the importance of protecting endangered species hear about everyday actions to help protect them. For more information, see www.endangered.org/category/maine.

Also on Saturday, May 14, starting at 11 a.m., Maine Nordmenn Day offers activities about Scandinavian culture. There will be folks in full native dress; demonstrations of traditional activities like wood carving, rosemaling, weaving and Viking life. Sample delicious Scandinavian foods and enjoy Scandinavian music. See www.mainenordmenn.com.

All events are sponsored by the Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park, and all programs will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 657-4977, ext. 0 or see www.mainewildlifepark.org.

Blood drive

The GNG Lions Club will sponsor an American Red Cross Blood Drive at the Newbegin Community Center on Main Street in from 1-6 p.m. Monday, May 16. All presenting donors can enter to win $100 worth of fuel from Fielding’s Oil Company. Call Dean Neal at 926-4723 or the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment.

Black bears like this one will be featured at the Bear Bonanza.

Nevada Barr

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