Winter safety tips
Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre said with the winter cold and snow, it is time to review these important home safety tips:
• Make sure that all exit doors are cleared of snow and ice. While many of these doors are seldom used, they may be the only door for an escape route during a fire emergency. During serious medical emergencies these exit ways may be the quickest and easiest way for Rescue staff to reach occupants in the house.
• Make sure smoke detectors are all properly working. Check them monthly for proper operation.
• Properly install a working carbon monoxide detector and check its operation monthly.
• Those who have lost power and are using a generator must make sure the generator is placed outside. Under no circumstances should the generator ever be run inside a building including basements and attached garages.
• Those using space heaters, whether fuel supplied or electric, should run them strictly by the manufacturer’s specifications. Keep them well away from combustibles (a minimum of 36 inches).
• Those using monitor heaters should make sure that the exhaust and air intake pipe remain free from snow and ice.
• Woodstove users should make sure that it has been installed properly by the manufacturer’s specifications. Keep combustibles at least 36 inches away from the stove unless they are properly protected. Never use flammable liquids to help start the fire.
• Check the chimney creosote buildup at least every other week by inserting a mirror into the cleanout door of the chimney.
• Purchase a metal trashcan with a cover for use when cleaning out the ashes from a woodstove. Remove the ashes to the outside of the house at a safe distance from the home. Never place the ashes in paper or cardboard containers. Never dispose the ashes in the trash.
• If using candles make sure they are in a proper container or are placed on a dish. Never leave them unattended in a room.
• Make sure that the house number is on the front of the home and make sure the numbers are large enough to be easily seen from the street.
Those with questions can call the department’s business line at 839-6762.
Bank promotes Wright
Maine Bank & Trust recently announced that Darryl Wright of Gorham has been promoted to vice president and market manager at its Westbrook branch.
Wright began at Maine Bank & Trust in July 2005 in the Scarborough Branch. He is also active in the Westbrook community and is president of the Westbrook Community Chamber.
Driscoll in holiday visit
Alice Keddy said she and Betty Files were both visited on the Saturday before Christmas by former Gorham resident Ruby Driscoll, who now lives in Salem, Mass.
“She’s doing well,” Keddy said.
Driscoll is widow of the well-known Maine TV personality, Eddie Driscoll.
Club to hear Hodgkins
Marge Hodgkins will present a program about underground railway quilts when the Gorham Woman’s Club meets at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St. Visitors are welcome.
Antiques appraisals at historical meeting
Gorham Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14, in the Gorham Savings Bank Operations Center off Gray Road.
President Jan Labrecque said the program would be “Antique Road Show” by Tim Gould, who will identify and appraise items taken to the meeting by those attending.
Labrecque said the program, which is held annually, always attracts a good turnout. “Someone always brings something unique,” she said.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Dec. 21 that the U.S. public debt was $9,139,991,365,436.97
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