Rededication of Pennel Institute: Residents welcomed to attend ceremony, events on Saturday
GRAY
7/23/2010

By Stephanie Grinnell

The Pennell Institute has been empty since the mid-1990s but Saturday, residents will gather to rededicate the building as the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex. The re-dedication is not the only thing planned, many other events will take place as well. Events begin at noon and culminate at 9 p.m. with a fireworks display.

For those hungry residents, there will be food vendors ranging from Lonnie Dogs, a Gray tradition; Patriot Parents serving up hamburgers, popcorn, root beer and cotton candy; the food pantry offering baked goods; Gray Lions Club scooping ice cream; Class of 2012 students will have baked goods and offer face painting; First Congregational Church Womens Fellowship will host a quilt raffle, cutlery sale and lemonade as well as tickets for a chicken barbecue at 5:30 p.m.; while First Congregational Church Youth Fellowship has children's crafts and water to give away. Hannaford Supermarkets donated water.

There will also be athletic events sponsored by the recreation department, music, town staff in period costumes, trivia about the town, a bald eagle from Maine Wildlife Park, miniature horses from Open Gates Equine Rescue and a town photo at 3 p.m. taken by a photographer with the assistance of Windham Fire Department's ladder truck.

The ceremony will begin following the town photo and will feature a symbolic flag transfer from the old town hall to the new one, a speakers include Master of Ceremonies Donnie Carrol, Rev. Carl Gunn, MSAD 15 School Board Chairman Dr. Alan Rich, Pennell Alumni Association representative Everett Doughty, Gray Town Council Chairman Peter Gellerson, Town Manager Deborah Cabana and State Rep. Susan Austin.

A memory walk of 500 engraved bricks purchased by townspeople will be dedicated as well as a plaque noting the date on the building. The ceremony will end with a ribbon cutting by Pennell alumni on one side and school children on the other side while town councilors and the town manager cut the ribbon; representing the past, present and future.

Tours of the refurbished building will take place between 1 and 3 p.m. and 6 and 8 p.m. Town staff will be present, some dressed in period costumes; including Cabana, who will serve cake between noon and 4 p.m.

A full schedule of events can be found online at www.graymaine.org.