Community News

Paris Fundraisers
A small but dedicated group of students is raising money to visit Paris and London in April of 2005. The GNG French Club is starting their Spring Fundraiser with Wilbur's of Maine Chocolate Confections. Please order your SPRINGTIME/EASTER CANDY from any of the following students: Kelley Gellerson, Kevin Oliver, Riley Kern, Stephanie Hare, Caroline Simms, Amy Day, Nycole Cadigan, Meg Licht, Katie Gill, Chelsea Goldstein Walsh, Sarah Young and Alicya Orlando.

You have many options to choose from, including a decorative Easter Basket filled with traditional goodies, solid chocolate bunnies in two sizes, a bunny pop, whimsical carrots and a beautiful "Spring Fling" box of assorted chocolates. For more information or to place an order, contact the students or feel free to call Deb Gellerson at 428-3739 and Claudette Simms at 657-2301. Orders will be taken until Tues, March 9th.

Bottle Drives are under way too. Thanks to all who donated their returnables on the first bottle drive on Monday, Feb.2. Please save your bottles and cans and call us for pick ups! More bottle drives will be scheduled, which will be listed in this paper.

Also, Spring Clean Up. Students are available for helping with yard work and general clean up. Please call Deb Gellerson to schedule a work crew.
Thank you in advance for your help in assisting the students to raise money for their Paris/London trip, a trip of a lifetime!

134 participate in Ice-Fishing Tournament
New Gloucester--A snowstorm on February 7 did not keep 134 hardy fisher folk from trying their luck on Sabbathday Lake in the fourth annual Ice-Fishing Tournament sponsored by the Board of Missions of New Gloucester's First Congregational Church. The event raised $1,340 to send a family for a week to Camp Sunshine, a camp for seriously ill youngsters.
By the 4:00 p.m. deadline, 21 fish had been weighed. First prize, an ice augur, went to Stephen Cote of Lewiston. Second prize, an Indian basket and five traps, went to John White III, of New Gloucester.
Third prize, an L.L. Bean gift certificate for $75 went to Garon Mailman, of Saco.

Roger Hines, the chairman of the event, extends special thanks to a long list of individuals and organizations which made February 7th such a successful day. First and foremost, the members of the Sabbathday Lake Grange, who lent their building for the tournament's headquarters and offered refreshments to revive the chilly participants.

Second, the donors of the prizes: Dick's Sporting Goods, the Roger A. Hines Memorial Fund, and The Men's Group of the church. Third, those stores that sold tickets for the event: Cloutier's Market, Wing's Variety, Buddy's Store, and Dag's Bait Shop.

And finally, Hines offers thanks to his wife and son, Pam and Billy, The Royal River Rod and Gun Club, Maurice Bussier, Hammond Lumber, Geoff Foster, Charles and Gina Gauvin, Hahnel Brothers, Trout Unlimited, Seltzer and Rydholm, and Stephanie Brooks.

Hines and his committee express the hope that everyone will return to Sabbathday Lake next year to test their luck.

Republican Town Caucus:
All Republicans in the Town of Gray are earnestly encouraged to participate in a Caucus from 1:00 to 3:00 on Sunday afternoon February 22, 2004 in Stimson Hall. The agenda for the Caucus will be :
Election of a Chair of the Caucus. The Chair of the Caucus will also be the Chair of the delegation from Gray to the Republican State Convention.
Election of a Secretary of the Caucus.
Nomination of candidates for selection as the Republican nominee for election to be President of the United States.
Election of Officers of the Republican Town Committee of Gray.
Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Election of representatives from Gray to the Republican County Committee.
Election of Delegates to the Republican State Convention.
Election of Members of the Republican Town Committee of Gray.
Discussion of plans for participation in the upcoming election campaigns of 2004.
Conduct of any other business that may be appropriate for the Caucus.
Only registered Republican voters in the Town of Gray may participate in voting. The Caucus, however, is a Public Meeting and all who may be interested will be most welcome to participate in all discussions. The present leadership of the Republican Town Committee would be positively delighted to have new participation by some other Gray Republicans who would be willing to accept election to responsible offices and


Maine Audubon March Programs and Trips

Gilsland Farm Public Programs: Unless noted otherwise, all programs are held at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth. For reservations and details call (207) 781-2330, ext. 215.
Travelers' Club: Fly Fishing Out West: Dick Behr will show slides and talk about his experiences fly fishing off the beaten path in the Rockies, from the South Fork of Flathead River in Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness, to Big Creek in Idaho's River of No Return Wilderness, to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. Thursday, March 4, 7 p.m. Free

Family Program: Full Moon Hike: Explore Gilsland Farm on an early spring evening! In this nature walk, we will enjoy the full moon and look and listen for animals that are active at night. Saturday, March 6, 6:30 p.m. Members: $6/adult, $3/child Nonmembers: $8/adult, $4/child. Reservations necessary.

Nature Book Discussion Group: "Journey Home," by Edward Abbey. Abbey loved the American West, especially the desert, and hated anything that threatened to destroy it. His prose invites readers to come west even as he inventories all the noxious creatures waiting to sting, spray, cut or poison them. A set of self-contained essays that can be read individually or as a whole, "The Journey Home" is written by a man at once an anarchist, environmentalist, desert rat, river-runner, essayist and novelist, but above all a Pennsylvanian who became enraptured by the mysteries of the desert and dedicated his life to celebrating its beauty. Join a lively discussion of Abbey's book with fellow readers. Monday, March 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Free.

Project Learning Tree: Are you a teacher who wants interdisciplinary, hands-on activities that promote problem-solving and critical thinking skills and are correlated to the Maine State Learning Results? Then join a Maine Audubon educator for this exciting six-hour workshop. Participants receive a curriculum guide, a document correlated to the Maine State Learning Results and contact-hour certificates. Project Learning Tree covers topics ranging from forests, wildlife and water to community planning, waste management and energy. The workshops take place in the Teachers' Resource Room at Gilsland Farm, where you can browse through more than 2,000 environmental education resources.
Friday, March 12, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $10/participant. Reservations necessary

Family Nature Walk: Signs of Spring: Naturalist Gary Roberts will lead this exploration of Gilsland Farm's sanctuary in search of signs of spring and wildlife. By mid-March, it's possible to see woodchucks, chipmunks, voles and many other animals that are not visible during most of the winter. Saturday, March 13, 10-11 a.m. Members: $6/adult, $3/child, Nonmembers: $8/adult, $4/child, Reservations necessary.

Family Program: Starry Night: Late winter is a fantastic time to observe the stars and constellations. We will begin with a brief indoor session and then move outside to look at what fills the winter sky. This is a perfect program for families. Dress warmly. Friday, March 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Members: $6/adult, $3/child, Nonmembers: $8/adult, $4/child. Reservations necessary.

Maine Audubon Trips
Reservations necessary, unless noted. Please call (207) 781-2330, ext. 215, for itineraries, prices and other details.

Plum Island for Winter Specialties: Clinging to the northern coast of Massachusetts off Newburyport, Plum Island is a barrier beach known far and wide for its great birding. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge covers most of the island, and there are wonderful viewing spots from which to search for a wide variety of seabirds, waterfowl, hawks and owls. Rarities are always a possibility here as well. We will travel in the Maine Audubon van from Gilsland Farm to Newburyport. Bring lunch and a thermos of something hot to drink, and bundle up for a brisk winter day of great birding in the dunes and on the beach. Price includes transportation, entrance fee and leadership. Falmouth: Saturday, March 6 (weather date March 7), 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Led by Chris Lewey, $ 35/member, 45/nonmember, Limited to 10 participants

Owl Prowl: Calling in owls in the crisp winter air is a rewarding way to spend an evening. Come on out and try it with Maine Audubon wildlife biologist Susan Gallo! By now, both great-horned and barred owls should be on territories and actively pursuing a mate, if not on a nest with eggs. Because they are territorial, they are very likely to respond to imitations of their call, making this the best time of year to hear, and hopefully see, owls. We'll listen for great-horned, barred and saw-whet owls as we witness the beauty of the night sky. Location TBA, Friday, March 12, 8-10 p.m. Led by Susan Gallo, $10/member, $15/nonmember, $3/child accompanied by an adult. Limited to 12 participants.

Sugaring at Claybrook Lodge: Learn the fine art of low-budget, backyard maple sugaring! You'll get firsthand experience in all aspects of this time-honored tradition, from collecting the sap in individual buckets to boiling it in the sugar shack. When we're not sugaring, we'll be sledding or exploring the area around the lodge on skies or snowshoes. In the evening, after a natural history slide show, sit by the fire, or go out to call owls and listen for coyotes; this is a great way to beat cabin fever in the early spring! Price includes food, lodging and all the great Maine stories you can listen to. Highland Plantation, Friday, March 26 at 7 p.m. to Sunday, March 28 at 1 p.m, Led by Greg Drummond, $195/member, $220/nonmember, Limited to12 participants.