Jones completes Eagle project
Eagle Scout candidate Collin Jones of Troop 817 this week thanked the many donors and volunteers who helped make his Eagle Scout service project a reality.
The project, a 11-by-18-foot picnic table shelter at Village Elementary School, was a year-long effort that started with months of planning with town officials and drafts of the project plans, and then moving on to fundraising in May. Actual construction of the project was in July and August.
The structure is next to a community playground, so not only do the students and teachers at Village School benefit from this project, but also people of the community, including the Gorham Recreation Department, which holds its summer camp at Village School.
Local businesses providing funds for the purchase of materials and supplies included Dr. Nicholas Albanese, Carter’s Auto Repair, Casco Federal Credit Union, Chalmer’s Insurance Group, Clean-A-Rama, Demetria’s Team Real Estate, Gorham Savings Bank, Great Falls Builders, Harbor View Eye Care, Lots for Tots, Mainely Plumbing & Heating, Moody’s Collision Center, Norway Savings Bank, Sawyer, Sawyer & Minott, P.A., Smith & Associates, and Transformit.
In addition, there were also many in-kind donations of merchandise and services from Cook’s Hardware, Creative Imaging Group, R.J. Grondin & Sons, Hammond Lumber, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and V&M Rental.
Local youth and adults contributed nearly 300 hours to the planning and construction of the project.
Gorham seeks parking input
Gorham Zoning Administrator David Galbraith has announced a meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25, in Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St., to hear public comments about downtown parking.
At the behest of the Town Council, the Gorham Economic Development Corp. is conducting the meeting. Galbraith said the meeting is a fact-finding mission as the council wants feedback from businesses and stakeholders.
Last week, the Town Council postponed until December actions on funding a $7,500 parking plan and a decision to spend $18,500 to demolish a town-owned house at 21 Main St. to make way for parking.
In July, with an eye on increasing parking spaces, the council approved paying $169,900 for 21 Main St. and $239,900 to buy the home at 10 Preble St.
GHS seeks accreditation volunteers
Gorham High School Principal Chris Record has invited parents and residents to assist in a school self-study as part of an accreditation process.
Record said in a press release Tuesday that the study is “a significant component in the accreditation process of the Committee on Public Secondary Schools for the accreditation of Gorham High School by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.”
Record said that all aspects of the school would be evaluated and volunteers are “urgently needed” to serve on committees evaluating core values, beliefs, learning expectations, curriculum, school culture, and leadership along with school and community resources for learning.
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is a voluntary membership organization of more than 1,850 schools, colleges and universities.
Those interested in volunteering for the Gorham High School study should contact accreditation coordinators Susan McCarthy by emailing SusanM@gorhamschools.org or Deborah Roy, DeborahR@gorhamschools.org
Chili, chowder cook-off
The fifth annual Chili and Chowder Cook-Off sponsored by the Gorham Business Exchange will be held 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 20, under the tent in My-FIT-24’s parking lot on Railroad Avenue.
The event will take place from immediately following the fitness center’s Zombie Obstacle Run. Everyone is welcome.
Those attending will sample the chili and chowder entries and cast votes to help choose Gorham Business Top Chefs and four awards will be given.
Besides popular voting, the entries will also be judged by members of the Gorham Town Council.
Members of the Gorham Business Exchange who would like to enter the competition should call 892-5515 or email dede@gorhambusiness.org.
Energy fair canceled
Judith Garland of the Gorham Ecumenical Council announced this week that the Energy Resource Fair it planned for Saturday, Oct. 20, at Cressey Road United Methodist Church has been canceled due to lack of responses by local area businesses and county/state agencies.
Woman’s club reminder
Gorham Woman’s Club will meet at 12:30 p.m. at First Parish Church, 1 Church St., for a potluck luncheon.
Fiddle-icious concert
Fiddle-icious, Maine’s largest fiddle orchestra of traditional Celtic music, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, in McCormack Performing Arts Center at Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Ave., Gorham.
Tickets available at the door are $10
It’s a nonprofit, all volunteer community organization, with members from the greater Portland area. Don Roy of Gorham, who brings Franco-American music alive for music lovers across the northeast in the United States and Canada, is director.
This is the ninth year Fiddle-icious will entertain its audiences with traditional music. The orchestra members play fiddle, piano,harp, guitar, banjo, accordion, cello, tin whistle, concertina and upright bass.
Roy and his wife, Cindy Roy, providing piano accompaniment, both grew up in French Canadian families where music was an integral part of their lives.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Oct. 4 that the U.S, public debt was $16,161,879,857,156.66
Brian Porter, right, principal at Village School, and Norman Justice, facilities director of the Gorham School Department, accept the completed Eagle Scout project of Collin Jones. Send questions/comments to the editors.
