Book author takes on ‘sea monsters’ during talk

Renowned Maine author and environmentalist Mary Cerullo will present “Monsters of the Deep” at 10:30 a.m. July 21 during the speaker series scheduled at Gray Public Library’s Oceans of Possibilities summer reading program. Cerullo will share photos and stories of real-life “sea monsters,” including the famed giant squid.

Children’s author Mary Cerullo will be talking about creatures of the deep July 21 at Gray Public Library. Contributed / Friends of Casco Bay

Cerullo decided to become an oceanographer when he turned 13, according to her website, and majored in geology and biology in college. However, she also studied Russian, because at that time, the work of Soviet oceanographers had not been translated into English.

“Despite three years of language study, my recall of conversational Russian consists of ‘Gde vanya?’ (‘Where is the bathroom?’),” she joked.

Cerullo spent two summers working at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, and also worked for the New England Aquarium in Boston.

For two decades, she was the associate director of Friends of Casco Bay in South Portland.

“Much of my work there, and in my recent books, has been to highlight how climate change is impacting the life in the ocean,” said Cerullo, who is also the author of several books about sharks, including “Sharks at Your Service” and “Volcano, Where Fire and Water Meet.”

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A geese deterrent light and a dog waste station have been added to Wilkies Beach on North Raymond Road off Route 26. Contributed / Town of Gray

Wilkies Beach news

A geese deterrent light and a dog waste station have been added to Wilkies Beach on North Raymond Road off Route 26.

Bids for sign requested

The town of Gray is seeking proposals to replace the 30-by-91-inch LED sign at 24 Main St. as well as a newly designed skin for the sign using the existing structure. Bids are due July 21 by mailing to Town of Gray, 24 Main St., Gray, ME 04039. Questions can be directed to Director of Buildings and Grounds Mo Russo at mrusso@graymaine.org or 657-3339 ext. 131.

Movie schedule

Enjoy free screenings of films from today and yesterday at Gray Public Library: 1 p.m. Saturday, July 9, “Turning Red” (2022, PG); 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, “Queen Bees” (2021, PG-13); 1 p.m. Saturday, July 16, “Bad Guys” (2022, PG); 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, “Double Indemnity” (1944, not rated ).

Legion news

A Queen of Hearts Drawing is held at 7 p.m. every Thursday to help the post raise funds.

Marilyn Keating-Porcaro can be reached at mkp657@aol.com.

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