Furthermore

All About Citizen Corps

The Gray Region Citizen Corps (GRCC) volunteers provide monthly safety and emergency preparedness seminars, generally on the second Friday of the month, to residents from Yarmouth to Casco. Past monthly seminar topics have included ATV safety, home fire extinguisher practice, pet first aid, and cooking without electricity.

Future seminars are planned for topics such as winter survival techniques. More information about the federal Citizen Corps program may be found at www.citizencorps.gov

The Gray Region Citizen Corps encourages local residents to answer a skills survey available in the lobby of the Gray Public Safety Building. This allows the information to be entered into its database and then during a regional disaster such as the Ice Storm of 1998, citizens can be contacted to help their neighbors. Volunteer skills are needed for tasks from delivering groceries to taking care of pets. Without such a database of skills and interests of the citizenry, local disaster response by volunteers will be slow and disorganized. The Citizen Corps can be an effective organization with active citizen participation.

The local group is in the process of establishing a website at www.grccme.org. The Citizen Corps motto is "Uniting Communities -- Preparing the Nation".

The local group publishes a periodic electronic newsletter. Messages for the GRCC may be left with Gray Public Safety at 657-3931. The Gray Region Citizen Corps is an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable corporation. Donations are tax-deductible.

Gray-New Gloucester American Legion Blood Drive

Donate blood on Monday, October 17, at the American Legion Hall, Route 100, 15 Lewiston Road, in Gray. The American Red Cross will be there between 2 to 7 p.m. Please contact Dick Prince, at 428-3737, or E-mail at CHIEFW4@aol.com to give approximate time to donate. Walk-ins welcome.

It's Chainsaw Season: Citizen Corps Offers Safety Class

The Gray Region Citizen Corps volunteers are hosting a free Chainsaw Safety seminar at their monthly educational meeting on Saturday, October 22nd. The seminar will be from 10 a.m. until noon at Whitney Tree Service in Gray, on Route 100 near the Gray-Cumberland town line. The highly experienced instructor, Don Whitney, will discuss safe techniques, and provide a demonstration outside if weather permits.
Photo (courtesy of K. Demers, Gray Region Citizen Corps): Don Whitney provides classroom instruction.

Dry Mills Schoolhouse needs you

The Dry Mills Schoolhouse Committee in Gray is seeking volunteers o assist in welcoming guests as groups to our one-room schoolhouse and to participate in planned programs and activities. The 2006 year will run from June through September, open Saturdays and Sundays between 11:30 and 3, weather permitting, and other hours by appointment.
No experience necessary, flexible volunteer schedules. This is a great way to get involved with your community or help preserve history. Students are welcome! FMI please call Bob Quigley at 657-3781.

Senior lunch

Lunch for senior citizens on the last Tuesday of every month from 10:30 am to 1 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Lewiston Road in Gray. Entertainment and a hot meal are provided for a donation of $4. Sponsored by the Southern Maine Agency on Aging. For more information call 800-400-6325.

Church bean suppe
r
Beans, ham, coleslaw, potato salad, Italian bread, pies, and beverages. Saturday, October 29, from 4:45 to 6 at the Highland Lake Congregational Church, 1303 Bridgton Road. Adults $6, children under 12, $2.

AMVET bean supper

Beans, chop suey, hot dogs, coleslaw, biscuits, brown bread, pies. Saturday, October 15th from 5 to 6 p.m. at the AMVET Hall, Route 100, New Gloucester. Adults $6, children $2. For more information call 926-4402.

Annual Harvest Supper

Sabbathday Lake Grange on the old Route 26 in New Gloucester will be holding their annual Harvest Supper on Saturday, October 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Adults, $7; Children under 12, $3. Roast Turkey with stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, squash, boiled onions, cranberry sauce, bread, and home made desserts. Served family style.

Haunted Barndance and Hayride, benefits hurricane victims

Acres of horror and hair raising fun. Barn Dance, 8-12 by the Help Wanted band, Saturday, Oct. 29, hayride alone, $8, dance and hayride combo ticket, $15. Adults only. BYOB. All donations raised go to Red Cross to hurricane victims. FMI visit www.stonehedge-me.com, call 428-3659

GNG silent auction

The Gray-New Gloucester High School senior class will be holding their annual silent auction on October 25 at 6 p.m. in the high school east gym. The auction will feature a large variety of products and services available for bidding. Light refreshments will be served at the event and all proceeds will benefit the senior class. Anyone interested in donating an item or service may do so by contacting Matt Robertson via email at mrobertsongng@aol.com

Holiday Craft Fair

The Lake Region Eagles, non-profit organization whose motto is, "People helping people," will be holding a Holiday craft fair at 824 Roosevelt Trail in Windham on December 10th from 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. Tables are available for rent. Contact Teresa at 776-3562. Leave a message and you WILL receive a return call.

SMVA meeting and walk

The Southern Maine Volksport Association invites you to attend its regular meeting to be held on October 12th at 7 p.m. sharp, held in the General Assembly Room of Walker Memorial Library located at 800 Main St, Westbrook, ME. The meting is open to all, and everyone is invited. SMVA invites you to its Saco Bay Trail Walk on Sunday, October 16 at the Bay View Villa, Saco, ME. This is a group walk and the start time is 11 am. Everyone is invited; children must be accompanied by an adult. For information on year round or seasonal events, contact Denise Macaronas at 774-3415 or email to dlmaca@juno.com.

Senior fitness testing

Free fitness testing offered to anyone age 60 plus, by Healthy Solutions, Inc, using the Senior Fitness Test developed at the University of California. Identify areas needing improvement; maintain independence. By appointment during the month of October, at Healthy Solutions, 71 Pineland Drive, Lisbon Hall, Suite 101, New Gloucester. For more information call Erin at 688-8600.

Fall Clothing Sale

Sat. Oct. 15th, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Hollis Elem School Caf., Rt. 35 Hollis, across from the Municipal Center. FMI, to volunteer or donate call 642-3508. Everything still 25¢. New things from Walmart including Halloween decorations, Make-up, cobwebs and liquid blood. Benefits BEHS scholarships.

4th Annual Choir Festival

October 16th, 3 p.m. held at the Tuttle Road United Methodist Church in Cumberland, ME. Choirs from area churches in Gray, Gorham, Cumberland, Portland and South Portland will sing two numbers and then will join in a massed choir to sing two anthems. Festival Choir Director is Sandi Simpson from Clark Memorial UMC and Festival Accompanist is Bethany Smart from Good Shepherd UMC in Gray. Admission is free and there will be a Love Offering with proceeds directed towards UMCOR for hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast. FMI, please call 829-3766 or email: mqueior@verizon.net .

Gray Snowolves to meet

Come on out and get involved in your local snowmobile club! We need the help getting the trails ready for this winter. Due to conflicts in schedule, this month's meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 25th not on the usual 2nd Tuesday of the month. We meet at 7 p.m. at the Fish & Wildlife Bldg. on Route 26. For more info contact Kim Shelley 428-3244 Treasurer.

Happy Hands Play Group

The group is open to the public and meets each Wednesday in the New Begin Center basement from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.. The cost is 50 cents per child and covers the cost of a snack. Parents or caregivers are to remain with their children over the duration of the session. For more information, call Mike or Heather Maines at 657-4425. All are welcome!

Wanted Women Ages 40-64

Mammograms and pap tests through the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program at No Cost to you. Special Screening Day, October 29th For more information, call 874-8942 or 1-800 350-5180.