System to Alert Deaf Mainers to Emergencies
Gray Public Safety Communications

Each day many take for granted the basic ability to hear and communicate with ease. However an estimated 100,000 Mainers suffer from hearing loss or complete deafness. Technology such as teletypewriters (TTY), closed captioning for television and services such as the Maine Relay Service have eased the strain of being unable to easily communicate.

However, many deaf Mainers still feel as though they are the last to know or be alerted to emergency situations that could and do affect them. For many we take for granted the ability to hear emergency alerts regarding severe weather, civil emergencies, major road closures and even amber alerts for missing children on the radio or television.

Help for those deaf or hard of hearing has now arrived. On March 1 of this year the Emergency Notification System for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing began operating. This system was a joint effort by the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Division on Deafness (DoD) and the Maine Center on Deafness (MCD). With this new program deaf and hard of hearing residents can now receive alerts about any emergency in Maine sent out by the state including agencies such as the Maine State Police and the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

Much of the money and support needed to begin and operate this program was provided by the Department of Homeland Security and the Maine Emergency Management Agency. Grants and services totaling $48,000 were secured by the Maine Emergency Management Agency to set up the program and purchase the needed equipment. An additional $26,000 came from a state fund which receives it money from the surcharges on telephone bills.

Participants in the program will now be able to receive state-wide Emergency Alert System (EAS) notices such as tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, civil emergency messages and child abduction notifications. Also available are alerts by county such as National Weather Service Alerts, Department of Public Safety Alerts, and alerts from the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority.

This program will allow deaf or hard of hearing citizens to use their own equipments to receive these alerts or they may be eligible to receive equipment from the Maine Center on Deafness free or at a reduced cost depending on income. These devices include one and two way pagers, a weather alert radio with a digital readout or amplifier for those hard of hearing
For more information regarding this program contact the Maine Center on Deafness in Portland via voice or TTY at 797-7656 or 1-800-639-3884.

Card of Thanks

Destination Imagination Says Thank You!
GNG HS Destination Imagination would like to thank the following businesses and many individuals for helping our team raise nearly $8000.00 to attend the Global Competition in Knoxville, Tenn.

GNG PTSA, American Legion Post #86, Amvets Post #6, AAA Plumbing & Heating, Bleachers Restaurant -Portland, Pamela Anzelc, DDS, Casco Bay Steele, Casco Bay Imports (Pier One), Dunn Auto, Free Range Fish & Lobster -Portland, Maine, Gray Chiropractic, Gray Country Day Care & Learning Center, Gray Family Vision Center, Hannaford -Falmouth, Manely Men Haircuts, Samuel's Grill -Portland, Scizzor Hands, Wal-Mart -Windham.

In addition we thank the many individuals who supported our fundraising by making cash donations, purchasing raffle tickets, donating bottles and filling our donation cans in area businesses!

Our group would also like to thank Superintendent Vicki Burns, MSAD #15 School Board, Mr. Geoff Robbins (our academic advisor who has been a great source of support), Ms. Lori Robertson, and Mrs. Andrea Stultz, MSAD accountant. As a group we are proud to represent our schools, district, community, and State.

Finally, a huge thanks to the team families of Sarah Hanley, Caitlin Haines, Nicholas LaRochelle, Benjamin Miklovich, Jarrod Brown, Devin Gilman, & Ashley Giddinge.

Raffles were drawn by Mary Hadlock and Lori Robertson at the High School, results are:

Lobster Winner, Nancy Sullivan,
$30.00 to Bleacher's, Val Downs,
$25.00 to Samuel's Pub, Ray Topar
$25.00 to Samuel's Pub, Robert Farrell
Free Hair Cut, Terry Fouquette

NG Historical Society says thanks!
This letter is a public expression of thanks to the Gray-NG Middle School Computer Club from the New Gloucester Historical Society. Over the past several months, members of the Computer Club scanned over 400 images from the Society's archives including many unique photos.

The scanning and the production of CDs containing the images will allow not only for preservation of the extensively by genealogists and other researchers for vary purposes. The diligence of these students is to be commended. Warren Jensen is the faculty leader for the club and to him we offer our thanks and appreciation for the service given not only for the sake of the Society's collection but an extensive part of New Gloucester's history. Mr. Jensen and some of the club members gave an excellent presentation on May 12th showing the results of the project to Society Members-we were all suitable impressed. We wanted the community to know of the work done by these kids.

Sincerely,
Leonard L. Brooks-President

Children Hop For A Good Cause!
The children at Gray Country Day Care & Learning Center in Gray are hoping up and down with excitement to let everyone know what they have accomplished During the week of April 25th, the children ages 2 1/2 to 12 years hopped to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. These children were on a mission to raise as much money as possible. The Center's goal of $500.00 was blown away! These wonderful children hopped so much that they raised whopping $1,035.75! These are dome extraordinary children with hearts of gold. Thank you to all the wonderful children, families, and staff who helped make this a spectacular success.

Leigh Sullivan,Gray Country Day Care and Learning Center

Conservation Camp Information

Maine Conservation Camp is a great opportunity for parents, and boys and girls ages 8-18 to learn about a variety of recreational pursuits in the woods and waters of the state.

On Saturday, June 4th, from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., a representative from Maine Conservation School will be on hand at the park to showcase some of the many great programs offered at their campus in Bethel, located on beautiful Lake Christopher. Camp activities include range safety classes in firearms and archery, canoeing, ropes courses, wildlife and fishery ID, map and compass, forestry, fly and spin casting, hunter safety certification and more. Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife Scholarship funding is available for 10, 11, and 12-year-old Maine residents in many of the weeklong sessions.

This is a great opportunity for your child to become 'woods wise' and safety conscious, and to develop an awareness and appreciation for our natural resources.

The Maine Wildlife Park has over 25 species of native wildlife on display, plus wildlife gardens, nature trails, and other interactive exhibits and displays. The park is open daily through November 11th from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; visitors must leave the premises by 6 p.m. Admission to the park is free for ages 3 and under; $3.25 ages 5-12; $5 for adults, and $4 for seniors. Groups of 15 or more are $2.50 per person. Bring a picnic and spend the day. Family and Community Season Passes are available.
For more information about any of these programs, please call the Maine Wildlife Park at 207-657-4977 or check us out online at www.mainewildlifepark.com

School News from SAD #15, Gray and New Gloucester, Maine
Accolades

Nation Latin Exam results

This year eight-one Latin students at G-NG High School took the National Latin Exam On March 10th. Administered by the American Classical League, the exam measures students' abilities in grammar, syntax and translation skills, as well as their understanding of Roam history and culture. The ACL recognizes the following students for their outstanding performance on the exam: Gold Medal and Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Rachel Drew, Henry Glennon, and Cailin Monaghan.

The ACL recognizes the following students for their outstanding performance on the exam: Gold Medal and Summa Cum Laude Certificate: Rachel Drew, Henry Glennon, and Cailin Monaghan. Silver Medal and Maxima Cum Laude Certificate: Thomas Bibber, William Kramlich, and Heather Monsivais.

Magna Cum Laude Certificate: Cameron Betts, Alyssa Belanye, Anamarie Danieli, Jen Farynaz, Derek Fuller, Katie Gill, Sarah Hanley, Victoria Hartig, Stephen Hofacker, Brandon Hotham, Emily Maguire, Michael O'Brion and Alison Olmstead. Cum Laude Certificate: Rachael Beote, Jerika Edwards, Chelsea Estes, Max Felker, Travis Horr, Robin May, Matt Mingo, Alicya Orlando, Chelsey Tanguay, and Tyler Vachon. The students will rec4ive their medial and certificates from Mr. O.Beirne during the Academic Awards Night ceremony at the high school on June 2 at 7:00pm.

High School Athletics Fall Parents Night

'05-06 School Year-Parent's night for fall athletics 2005 will be at 6:30 June 6th in the high school east gym. This meeting is mandatory for all high school students and their parents wishing to participate in athletics this fall. Sports included are soccer, field hockey, cross-country, cheering and football. Current 8th graders who will be starting at the high school in the fall are also required to attend. Any athlete and parents who does not attend will be required to meet with Geoff Robbins, HS Athletic Director, prior to starting athletics in the fall. This will be the only opportunity for students and parents to meet with coaches prior to the start of summer activities and fall season. Any questions please call Geoff Robbins @ 657-3323.