colGOR

Sinnett, Mathieu top chefs

Susan Sinnett of Sinnett Signs and Ray Mathieu, Gorham High School band leader, took top honors in the Gorham Business & Civic Exchange Chili and Chowder Cook Off Thursday at The Old Robie School.

Sinnett, representing Gorham Women’s Alliance, was top chef in the chowder category with a jalapeno shrimp chowder. Mathieu, the “chili maestro” sponsored by Working Words & Graphics, topped the chefs with his chili entry.

Dana Redmond, executive director of the exchange, reported that more than 100 hungry tasters sampled the wares of 25 entries.

“We were really excited about the turnout,” Donna Reinheimer, president of the organization, said. “There were so many different variations, it was hard to judge. We had seafood chowders, corn chowder, and even chicken and white bean from Sebago Brewing’s chef, Paul Kennedy. In the chili category there were vegetarian and venison chilies.”

Sinnett and Mathieu each received a $50 savings bond, donated by Norway Savings Bank and Gorham Savings Bank, in addition to a first-place plaque.

“This was so much fun. We’ll definitely have a second annual Chili and Chowder Cook-Off,” Reinheimer said, “and there’s even talk of a dessert cook-off in the winter.”

For more information about the GB&CE’s meetings and events, call 892-5515.

Beal honored

Rick Beal of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has been recognized with the Achievement Award for August.

Beal works in the office located at 53 Baxter Boulevard, Portland. The company said the award recognizes superlative achievement in every aspect of the real estate business.

Beal is a longtime Maine resident and graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in communications. He has a background in the telecommunications and customer service industry and Beal has been a full-time associate broker for four years.

He resides in Gorham with his wife, Tena, and daughter, Emily.

Scarecrow signup

The second annual Scarecrow Festival will be held, Saturday, Oct. 4, on the Gorham Municipal Center lawn, at 75 South St.

Gail Platts, administrative assistant at Gorham Recreation Department, said the event will include a scarecrow contest, drawings for scavenger hunt prizes, hayrides, apple cider making and other activities.

Individuals, groups and merchants are invited to participate in the scarecrow contest with a $5 entry fee. All scarecrows must be set up by 12:30 p.m. and prizes for Best in Show and People’s Choice will be awarded at 1:30 p.m.

Scavenger hunt and Scarecrow contest registrations are available at Gorham Recreation Department and on the website www.gorhamrec.com.

For more information, call Gorham Recreation Department at 222-1630.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau Public Debt reported on Sept. 18 that the U.S. public debt was S9, 664, 631, 803, 259.07.

Cutline (chili, chowder winners) Cutline (rbeal)