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What’s the big celebration at Gray Corner? The answers are in the calendar.

Holiday help

If you have a child in one of the Gray-New Gloucester elementary schools and think you may need assistance for Christmas this year, please fill out an application. You may pick one up at the following locations: Gray Town Hall, New Gloucester Town Hall, Gray Public Library, Gray Fire Station. Once applications are complete, please drop them off at one of the following locations: Gray or New Gloucester Town Hall, elementary schools in both towns and the Gray Public Library.

If you need assistance for Christmas and have questions please call Josie Mann at 657-6462 or Andrea Harvey at 329-8188 if you live in Gray. The deadline for turning in the Christmas application is Dec. 1.

Since this is an entirely volunteer program, we depend on monetary donations, sponsorship by churches, civic organizations, businesses and private individuals. If you would like to make a donation and/or volunteer for the Holiday Assistance Program, please call Donna Rand at 657-4795.

Bowls & Things

First Friday Pottery Show & Sale to be held, Friday, Dec. 5, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The pottery artists will show and sell their wares. It is a great opportunity to pick up some creative holiday gifts. Contact Fiddlehead, Rt. 26 in Gray at 657-2244 for more information or check out their web site at www.fiddleheadcenter.org

Hoops for women

Basketball season is here and now there is a night offered at Newbegin Gym just for women. It is the perfect opportunity to get some exercise, play some basketball and socialize. If the numbers permit, a women’s three-on-three league could be started. Come by Fridays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The fee is $2 a person.

Crafters wanted

The American Legion Auxiliary Annual Christmas Fair will be held Sunday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be at American Legion Post #86, Lewiston Road (Rt. 100) in Gray. Table rentals are available for $15 to be paid in advance. Send check payable to: American Legion Auxiliary to Beverly Prince, PO Box 431, Gray, ME 04039. Call 428-3737 for more information.

Medicare now open

The open enrollment season for the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. The Southern Maine Agency on Aging is offering no-cost assistance to seniors to review their plans carefully because of the number of changes that occurred in the last year.

Appointments throughout the enrollment period are being scheduled for Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Gray Library, Hancock Street. To arrange an appointment call either SMAA at 1-800-427-7411 x524 or Philip Ohman, SMAA volunteer, at 657-5446.

For the dogs

The Rabies Clinic sponsored by the town of Gray will be held Dec. 6, noon to 2 p.m., at the Public Safety Building on Route 26 near Seagull Drive. The cost is $10, and dog owners should bring proof of previous vaccinations. In addition, the 2009 annual dog licenses will be issued at the same time.

Native Americans in need

The Native American Inter-tribal Foundation is asking for non-violent, educational toys and games for children up to age 18 to give to children on Maine reservations for Christmas. Winter clothes, baby food and canned fish are also welcome. New items only please. No stuffed animals. Items can be dropped off until Dec. 11 at the Gray Chiropractic Center at 2 McConkey Road.

A Gray Christmas!

Start the Christmas season off right by attending the Gray Christmas Tree Lighting. This event is held annually and will take place this year Sunday, Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. outside the Town Hall on Route 26. Take a ride on a horse-drawn hayride, hear Elyse Doyle, a Gray-New Gloucester High School senior, and the GNGHS Chorus sing Christmas favorites while you sing along and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. Ray Clark will be there to read stories and Donnie Carroll will MC the whole event.

For a finale, around 4:15 p.m., Santa will light the tree in front of the Gray Town Hall with the help of the firemen and their ladder truck. This event is sponsored by the Gray Fire & Rescue and the Gray Historical Society and guarantees to put you right into the holiday spirit!

For the Gray Aficionado

Louise Knapp proudly presents the 2009 calendar titled “Bits and pieces of history – Gray, Maine.” You’ll find a short history of each picture for each month of the year. These pages of pictures and stories would be a great keepsake. What a great way to learn the history of your town, what a great gift to send to someone who use to live in Gray!

The calendar will be on sale at the Key Bank in Gray Plaza on Route 100 Friday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. until noon. If you can’t make it those days and would like to purchase the calendar, call 657-4297. Donation price is $10, plus the $2.50 cost for shipping (if needed).

The proceeds from the calendar will benefit Gray Historical Society to restore the painted stage curtain that originally hung in Stimson Memorial Hall. Gray artist Edgar S. Caswell painted stage curtains in almost every town in Cumberland County.