Historians to hear Labrecque
Jan Labrecque of North Gorham will speak when the Gorham Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13, in the operations center of Gorham Savings Bank off Gray Road.
Labrecque is a former legislator from Gorham. Her topic will be historic houses in Gorham. “It will be an insight on older homes in the region,” said Alice Keddy, a group spokeswoman.
Sen. Phil Bartlett, president of the Gorham Historical Society, will conduct the business meeting. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited.
Smith in steeple vigil
Eric C. Smith, assistant minister at First Parish Church, for the third year will stand a 24-hour vigil on the church steeple in a fundraiser for the Gorham needy. He’ll begin the vigil at noon on Friday, Feb. 3.
Last year, the vigil attracted attention to the annual local food drive and raised $2,500 in cash for the tsunami relief effort in Southern Asia. The vigil this year will again focus on the food drive along with raising cash to help the needy with home heating costs. “It’s been too successful not to keep doing it,” Smith said. “We always face the need in the middle of winter when food supplies are low and demand increases.”
Churches in Cumberland, Freeport and Portland will also participate. Rev. Richard Small, associate minister at the Congregational Church in Cumberland, will stand on the steeple at that church. Small, formerly with the First Parish in Gorham, accompanied Smith in the vigil the past two years in Gorham.
The vigil collected over three tons of food for local pantries last year. The four churches will collect non-perishable food items and cash donations will be accepted for local heating fuel assistance this year.
Collections will remain in each local community. “We’ve been helping local families buy oil all winter,” Small said. “But there may be several cold months ahead.”
G.H.S. presents plays
Gorham High School will present the one act comedy, “Check, Please,” by Jonathan Rand, in the McCormack Performing Arts Center on February 4, 2006, at 7:30 p.m.
Have you ever been on a blind date? Now you can enjoy the roller coaster ride of blind dating from the relative safety of your seat. Experience the suspense as blind dates become acquainted with each other’s “little” eccentricities. The results are often surprising and always hilarious. Admission is $3 for students and $5 for general public and tickets will be sold at the door.
Windham High School students will also perform the one act play, “Crying Out” by Matthew Hunt, a drama about the difficulties of teenage life.
In addition, Gorham High School students will be participating in the Maine Principals’ Association Maine Drama Competition Regional Festival on March 10 and 11 at Cape Elizabeth High School.
For more information, please contact Eileen Avery at Gorham High School at 222-1100.
Several earn college honors
A number of students from Gorham have been recognized for their academic achievements for the fall semester at colleges and universities.
Danielle H, Gagnon was named to the dean’s list at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt. Gagnon, a sophomore majoring in psychology, is the daughter of David and Judy Gagnon.
Timothy Webber was named to the dean’s list at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn.
Kristin Knight is a dean’s list student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
Meghann Foley was named to the dean’s list at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. Foley is a fourth-year student majoring in biology.
Adam Lord earned faculty honors at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Ga.
Gorham Day to combine with St. Anne’s Festival
The Gorham Family Fair committee has announced that organizers of the annual Gorham Day will join forces with volunteers of Saint Anne’s Summer Festival committee to plan a three-day family festival to be held July 21-23 in Gorham.
Cindy Hazleton, director of the Gorham Recreation Department, said it made sense for the two groups to combine talents and resources in order to offer a much larger and more diverse event. “When we were informed that St. Anne’s was planning a summer event around the same time as Gorham Day, it felt like a perfect opportunity to collaborate and offer residents a much broader event,” Hazelton said.
The festival will include a parade, carnival rides by Smokey’s Greater Shows, and will feature live entertainment, including musical performers, dancers, and other talent. Planned events include pie baking and eating contests, a pancake breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday, a giant craft fair, and other surprises. Food vendors will sell a variety of items throughout the weekend.
A perennial favorite, the annual chicken barbeque, organized by the Gorham Central Station Fire Department volunteers, will also return. In addition, Saturday evening will feature a movie night and organizers plan to close the festivities on Sunday with a giant fireworks display sponsored by the Central Station Fire Department volunteers.
“This event will draw from the strengths of both entities, calling on the reputation of past Gorham Family Fair successes with the hospitality that people have come to know from St. Anne’s Church,” said Marc Badeau, co-chairman of the committee. “We’re excited to work together to produce a festival that will allow the people of Gorham and surrounding communities the opportunity to gather with friends and family for a fun-filled weekend.”
For information on sponsorship opportunities, food vending, or craft fair exhibiting, e-mail margobadeau@excite.com.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Thursday, Jan. 26, that the U.S. public debt was 8,190,567,748,779.48.
(Andrew Pinkham) Send questions/comments to the editors.
