Fans greet Rice at bank

Retired Red Sox slugger Jim Rice signed autographs and talked baseball as TD Banknorth held its grand opening celebration on Wednesday at its Gorham branch on Main Street.

“What a thrill it is to meet him,” said Jackie Francis of Gorham. “Holy moly.”

The bank branch, which opened in November, celebrated last week with hors d’oeuvres and musicians playing string instruments besides a “rap” session with Rice. “I know you’re Red Sox nation,” Rice said.

Answering questions from the large gathering, Rice recalled memories from his career. He got his first major league hit off Wilbur Wood in 1974. Rice spoke about former teammate Carl Yastrzemski. “My hat’s off to Yaz,” Rice said.

Rice called former Red Sox manager Don Zimmer the best manager he had played for. “Don Zimmer knows the game of baseball,” Rice said.

Speaking about baseball, Rice said in his opinion, the only competitive teams are the Red Sox and the New York Yankees. “If the Yankees can’t win, they buy you,” Rice said, obviously referring to former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon signing with the Yankees. “They can’t buy Banknorth,” he said, alluding to his sponsor.

Rice, who played his 16 seasons in the majors with the Red Sox, said he’s not connected with the team and he’s retired. “I don’t punch in,” he said.

Rice will be 53 next month. Rice, who has three grandchildren, said his wife finds things for him to do everyday.

Fans crowded around Rice with photos, baseball cards and baseballs for him to sign. Those seeking autographs included Peter Mason of PoGo Realty and Jim Burnham, president of Gorham Lions Club.

Burnham said Rice is a good speaker and he was a good hitter. Rice received an ovation from the gathering.

TD Banknorth also presented a check for $2,000 to the Gorham Food Pantry during the ceremonies.

Tom Ellsworth, president of Gorham Economic Development Corporation, said it was a thrill to see Rice. “We should have something like this every week,” Ellsworth said.

Credit unions set record in “end hunger” drive

At the “January Thaw to End Hunger Celebration” held at the Maine Credit Union League on Jan. 31, Maine’s credit unions announced that they raised the most money ever for their annual campaign for ending hunger with $251,000 in 2005.

This year’s total made it possible for the campaign to surpass the $2 million mark in money raised since 1990. This also marks the third consecutive year that the campaign total has raised more than $200,000.

“The 2005 Maine Credit Unions’ campaign for Ending Hunger not only had a record setting year by raising over $250,000 but through the campaign we formed new relationships with food pantries across the state and helped launch Maine’s first ever Food Mobile in conjunction with the Good Shepherd Food Bank,” explained Jon Paradise, governmental and public affairs manager for the Maine Credit Union League. “The campaign is a unique philanthropic initiative and is driven by the credit union philosophy of people helping people.”

The event included the distribution of checks to representatives from credit unions from across the state. The checks, in turn, will be distributed by each credit union to their local food pantries and hunger organizations. One hundred percent of the money raised goes to ending hunger in Maine.

Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised over $2.025 million to help end hunger in Maine.

Farrington sponsors business forum

Rep. David Farrington hosted a forum for local business people on Thursday on the Gorham campus of the University of Southern Maine.

John Richardson, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, and Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, attended along with local business owners. “Our goal is to help small businesses succeed and grow,” Farrington said.

Richardson gave a progress report on legislative action aimed at helping Maine businesses. He said 90 percent of businesses in Maine are small and make up 50 to 60 percent of the work force.

Richardson answered questions that included ones about education, state regulations, government spending and healthcare. Richardson urged business leaders to take an active role in finding solutions for high healthcare costs in Maine. “We need a dialogue and businesses need to lead and step up and say what’s going on when hospital costs are double the national average,” Richardson said.

Weird science at library

Science buffs of all ages are invited to Baxter Memorial Library, 71 South St., anytime during February school vacation week to try some hands-on weird and wacky science experiments.

Those attending will learn about magnets, force and motion, electricity and more.

No registration is required, as this is a drop-in program.

School vacation is the week of Feb. 20.

Drouin duo on dean’s list

Mathew Drouin and Stephanie Drouin have been named to the dean’s list at the University of Maine in Orono. Matt with a 4.0 grade point average.

Members of the class of 2006, they are the son and daughter of David and Lisa Drouin.

Cossar on dean’s list

Kristina Cossar has been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Western New England College.

Cossar is a freshman majoring in sport management.

Theriault excels

Stacy Elizabeth Theriault made the dean’s list at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H., for the fall semester.

Enman took institute course

Marine technician Charles Enman recently completed a Volvo-Penta training program at New England Institute of Technology in Warwick, R.I.

The course was entitled “Marine Electronic Fuel Injection.”

Life on a Gorham farm

In a family research project, Jim Cote of Westbrook said that his grandparents, Eugene and Rose (Tanguay) Boucher, bought a 70-acre farm in Gorham in 1922.

Formerly known as the George Allen place, the farm was on Brackett Road. The driveway into the farmhouse was where Newton Drive is now.

Cote said the farm didn’t have electricity or running water when his grandparents bought it. According to old tax records, his grandparents had two horses valued at $125; four cows, $160; four pigs, $60; and one car, $300.

Tax on the real estate was $48.60 for 1922.

Gorham Marketplace 2006

This year’s Gorham Marketplace will be on Saturday, March 11, in the Costello Field House on the Gorham campus of the University of Southern Maine.

Marketplace will feature a food court, entertainment, live demonstrations and activities for children. A shuttle wagon will transport “shoppers” from the parking lots to the door.

Community outpouring for steeple vigil

The 24-hour steeple vigil by Eric Smith of the First Parish Church has become an annual event in Gorham to raise money and food for the needy.

While the drive is organized by the church, the event has become a community effort with those of all ages taking part as volunteers or donors.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Wednesday, Feb. 1, that the U.S. public debt was $8,183,138,191,456.56.

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