Teachers, district earn national award
The Gorham Teachers Association and Gorham School District were presented a national award on Wednesday at the Saturn dealership in Westbrook for its mentoring program for teachers.
Kelly Littlefield, president of Gorham Teachers Association, and Susan Sedenka, coordinator of teacher education for the Gorham school system, received the 2005 Partnership Award to Gorham from the National Education Association, Saturn and United Auto Workers. Dave Quick of the Saturn corporate office in Los Angeles made the presentation.
Littlefield said the award was for this year but many people have made contributions to the mentoring program. “It’s been a cumulative effort over time,” Littlefield said.
Gorham, recognized for efforts to assist new teachers in their careers, was one of only six in the nation to receive the award this year. Quick said there were 300 applicants for the award, representing 40 states.
“Today’s Partnership Award recognizes Gorham’s extraordinary joint efforts to create a mentoring program that assists beginning teachers,” Quick said. “Gorham teachers and their school district have jointly built a mentoring program that provides time and financial resources for paid mentor training, stipends, leadership positions and program development.”
Quick said that over the next 10 years, according to the National Education Association, that one million teachers will reach retirement age. He said that the need to bring new teachers into public education is immense. “We salute your efforts to help beginning teachers, as they begin on one of the most important jobs in America, educating our youth,” Quick said.
Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, praised the joint effort in winning the award for Gorham. “It’s nice to see Gorham teachers recognized nationally,” Barstow said.
Charles LaFreniere, general sales manager for Saturn of Westbrook, hosted a reception at the dealership following the presentation.
Littlefield and his wife, Jane Littlefield, who also attended the ceremony, teach at Gorham Middle School. Sedenka is a former teacher at Narragansett School in Gorham.
Learn wreath making
The Gorham Garden Club will hold a wreath-making workshop at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, in the First Parish Church.
Enid McNeally will present the workshop and wreath wire and some greens will be provided. Those attending are asked to take hand clippers and greens such as pine, yews or rhododendrons among others.
The workshop is $5, which can be paid at the session. Those who plan to attend must RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 23, by calling Linda Frinsko at 839-3878 or lfinsko@maine.rr.com
Gorham choirs to perform in Mason-Osann scholarship benefit
The Gorham High School Chamber Singers and the choir from the First Parish Congregational Church will perform in the fifth annual choral concert to benefit the Ann Mason-Osann Memorial Scholarship Fund at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20, at St. Anthony’s Parish on Brown Street in Westbrook.
Other participants in the concert include the Westbrook High School Chamber Singers and the Westbrook Kid’s Summer Chorus.
Tickets, available at the door, are $5 or $10 for a family (up to four people).
Proceeds will benefit the scholarship, which is awarded each year to a Westbrook High School senior planning a career in an arts related field.
Bauer to sing in concert
Johnathan Bauer of Gorham will perform with the University of Southern Chamber Singers in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Immanuel Baptist Church, 156 High St., Portland.
Conducted by Robert Russell, the concert is entitled “Joyous Sounds for a Festive Season.” It is sponsored by Time Warner Cable of Maine and a suggested donation is $8.
Bauer, who sings bass, will also be one of five soloists in a birthday tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which opens the concert. Aaron Robinson will be the organist.
Gun club fun, food
The Windham-Gorham Rod and Gun Club will have its annual turkey shoot 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 8 Tow Path Road, off Route 202 near Sawyer’s Store.
Larry Berberich, club president, said the event includes games, fun and food along with target shooting and great prizes.
Mosher chaired church project
Abbott Mosher headed up a building committee for an addition, which will be dedicated at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Westbrook-Warren Congregation Church.
The addition includes an inside stairwell, elevator and vestibule. Ground for the project, which included a $56,000 upgrade of the fire alarm and electrical systems, was broken in April. The project’s goal was to make the church more accessible for the elderly.
Baxter Museum holiday open house
Visitors will see what life was like in the 1800s when the Baxter Museum, 71 South St., opens its door 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Dec. 10. The museum is next to Baxter Memorial Library.
Take a new, unwrapped gift for a teen to put under the library’s Giving Tree and enjoy snacks, crafts, and holiday gifts. This year’s holiday open house is hosted by the trustees of the library and the museum as well as the BMLA, your library’s friends group.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Wednesday, Nov. 9, that the U.S. public debt was $8,034,610,660,541.64.
(award 1, 3 or 4) – Kelly Littlefield, president of Gorham Teachers Association, and Susan Sedenka, coordinator of teachers education for Gorham schools, receive national recognition from Dave Quick of Saturn, on the right, for Gorham’s mentoring program for teachers.Send questions/comments to the editors.
