Speakout Contest

Two Gray-New Gloucester High School students competed in the annual Lions Speakout contest on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Parish Hall of First Congregational Church in Gray. Josh Moran took first-place honors with his speech on the use of illegal performance enhancing substances in sports. Jesse Hahnel was second with his talk about the pros and cons of computer gaming.

Moran will move on to compete with other Lions clubs at a regional competition later this month. The Lions congratulate these youngsters for a job well done and thank their families and G-NG High staff for supporting the Speakout program.

‘Fishin’

The Good Shepherd Players present A Mystery Dinner Theater Production of “Fishin’ for Trouble (A Whale of a Fatal Tale),” on Saturdays, March 16 and March 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Spring Meadow Country Club in Gray. Price is $29 per person or $220 for a table of eight and includes show, meal, dessert and gratuity. Contact Michele at [email protected] or 657-3880. Come figure out “whodunit,” and bring your $1 bills to bribe the cast.

Science Meetings

The Gray Public Library welcomes Sarah Sparks from University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Sarah will be leading 4-H science meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month now through May. The meetings will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and they are open to youth ages 5-18 (children under 9 will need to be accompanied by an adult). These events are free and all materials are included. You do not need to be a member of 4-H to attend but space is limited so please sign up for each session at the circulation desk. The scheduled topics are: March 27-Design a Pinwheel, April 24-Lift a Load Using Wind Power, and May 22-Can Wind Power Produce Electricity?

Please contact the library at 657-4110 or stop by the circulation desk for details.

Children’s Theater

Come see the fifth annual season of performance, featuring the production of Show dates for Annie Jr. at Fiddlehead Children’s Theater are: Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., evening; Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m.; Saturday, March 23, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 24, 2 p.m.

Check out the details for this event on their website: www.fiddleheadcenter.org or call 657-2244.

I’ll Tumble for You

Gymnastics/Cheer Tumbling Lessons will begin on Wednesday, March 27, and continue into May. Lessons will include participation on the balance beam, high bar, floor exercise and proper stretching for children in grades kindergarten to eighth grade. Participants must be able to do a forward roll.

Instructor Becky Norton will be teaching tumbling techniques such as cartwheels, roundoffs, back-handsprings and rolls. Included will be strength training, flexibility and timing. Register as soon as possible, this class will surely fill-up quickly. If you have any questions, contact Becky at 926-4735.

Check www.grayrec.com for other information or call Gray Recreation at 657-2323.

A Night Out

A public supper featuring baked beans, casseroles, salads, homemade breads and desserts and beverages will be held on Saturday, March 23, at 5 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, Route 115, Gray. Cost for adults is $8, children under 12 are $4. Handicapped accessible, contact 657-4279, day of supper, 657-3279, for more information.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Gray’s recycling rate three years ago was among the state’s best at 56.7 percent. Today it is just above 50 percent – still among the best in the state but heading in the wrong direction. Sending unrecycled trash to EcoMaine costs the town of Gray $88 per ton. On the other hand, in many cases, recycled items are sold, creating revenue for Gray. In this economy every dollar counts, so make sure Gray does not have to pay for recyclable items mistakenly tossed into the trash, when it could make money selling them.

Go to www.graymaine.org and click on Recycling and Solid Waste department for more information.

Budget Schedule

On Monday, March 25, the Gray Town Council will conduct an informal but informational public hearing on the proposed budget to seek public comment before it takes any official actions regarding the budget.

All budget workshops are conducted in the Council Chamber, Gray Town Hall at 7 p.m. Workshops are open to the public, and are aired on GCTV Cable Channel 2.

Gray Property

Taxes Due

Gray Property Taxes are due on Tuesday, April 2. Homestead and Veterans Exemption forms are due and must be delivered to the Tax Assessor at Town Hall by close of business (4 p.m.) on Monday, April 1.

The Homestead Exemption is a program that provides a measure of property tax relief for certain individuals that have owned and made a primary residence of their property for at least 12 months prior to April 1.

Veteran Exemption for veterans who served during a recognized war period and are 62 years or older; or, are receiving 100 percent disability as a veteran; or, became 100-percent disabled while serving, are eligible for a $5,100 reduction in assessed value. All applicants must provide DD214, and proof of disability (must be submitted annually) if applicable.

The Veterans Exemption for age 62 and the Homestead Exemption does not need to be renewed annually as long as you retain ownership and primary residency in your home.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

The annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 30, at 11 a.m. on the Pineland Campus near the welcome center.

Please arrive before 11 a.m. as the Easter Egg Hunt will start shortly after 11. Please bring along a bucket, bag or something to gather eggs, only one golden egg per child (these can be turned in for small prizes inside). You will be asked to share the golden eggs with others if you try to turn in more than one per child.

This event is co-hosted by Pineland Farms and the Gray Recreation Department and is open to the public free of charge.

Charitable Chili Cook-Off

On Saturday, April 13, the Gray Fire and Rescue Benevolent Association will host a Chili Cook-Off for charity at the Gray-New Gloucester High School cafeteria. Local restaurants and residents are invited to participate while local business owners will be judging. The general public will be voting for the Peoples’ Choice Award. The fee to enter your chili is $10 for professionals and $5 for amateurs. Applications are due on March 15. A late fee charge of $5 will be applied after that date. The fee to come and taste the chili is $10. For more information call Michelle Lefebvre at 807-0984 or email: [email protected].

Vendor tables for local businesses, artist and crafters will be set up outside the cafeteria and are available for $10 for a 6-foot table or by donating a $10 item for a gift basket raffle. Contact Margaret Hutchins at 657-2135 or e-mail [email protected].

Gray-New Gloucester Lions Club member Dean Neal, who chairs the Speakout Committee, presents certificates to Jesse Hahnel, middle, and Josh Moran, right, after the recent Speakout contest.
Courtesy photo