AUGUSTA, ME – The Maine Department of Education (DOE) continues to promote climate education opportunities for school districts statewide with the recent publication of the Maine Climate Literacy Plan.

In the spring of 2024, the Maine DOE convened a taskforce to develop this statewide climate education plan, designed to support the Maine DOE Climate Education Program, which launched in 2023. This program takes a place-based, interdisciplinary approach to helping students learn more about our planet’s climate system and how it works.

So far in its three-year pilot, the Maine DOE Climate Education Program has supported nearly 30 locally-designed climate education professional learning opportunities throughout the state—including 10 underway this school year. Some examples include:

MSAD 17

Elementary, middle, and high school students in MSAD 17 are engaging in a wide range of experiential, environmental education programs through a partnership with Roberts Farms Preserve and the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy. Advisory groups made of teachers throughout the district help to guide and lead curriculum efforts. MSAD 17 recently expanded its capacity for this climate education work by unveiling a new experiential learning building at Roberts Farm Preserve.

Westbrook Middle School

Westbrook Middle School has a robust farming and environmental education program right in its own backyard. This year as part of the Maine DOE Climate Education Program, the middle school has hosted an educator from the Wild Seed Project three days a week to help teachers explore and learn more about the natural environment. Teachers work with the Wild Seed Project educator to integrate interdisciplinary lessons for students throughout the school day. This programming is set to continue throughout the spring.

RSU 34

RSU 34 in Old Town is wrapping up a busy year of programming through the Maine DOE Climate Education Program in partnership with the RiSE Center at the University of Maine. This initiative has focused on braiding together Indigenous knowledge and Western science to develop climate education curricula and support teacher professional learning. Celebratory events for this program will be hosted on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30, at the UMaine Orono campus.

RSU 34 teachers participate in professional learning at the Hirundo Wildlife Preserve as part of the Maine DOE Climate Education Program.

GORHAM, ME – Spring is here! Flowers are in bloom, and on some days it’s warm outside! Here at the North Gorham Public Library, we’re getting geared up for our spring Plant and Book sale on Saturday, June 7, from 9 am to 1 pm.

Do you have any books or plants you’d like to donate?

Drop off books anytime the library is open, or if you only have a few, put them in our front door book drop. Please do not put books in the big green parcel container. We accept all books in decent condition except encyclopedias, textbooks, yearbooks, or Reader’s Digest condensed books.

Plants can be put in front of the library where the pavement begins or in the little driveway to the right. If you know the name of the plant, please add a label. We can dig up your plants for you if you need some help. You’re also welcome to donate plant pots, gardening tools, and other useful gardening paraphernalia.

If you want to get in touch, please drop by the library, email libng@north-gorham.lib.me.us, or leave a message at 892- 2575.

To keep you better informed about what’s happening at our library and in our community, we will now be sending out a monthly newsletter instead of a quarterly one.

Thank you for your support,

Diane Atwood, Library Director

Debbie Ledoux, Library Assistant

NEW GLOUCESTER, ME – If you’ve been following the progress of the Shaker Barn repairs, you know it’s in its final phases. The structural repairs are done, and we have to raise money for new exterior siding, a roof, painting, windows and doors, and re-grading around the building. We’re almost there!

We’re planning a fun and exciting fundraiser, and we hope you’ll help! We hope it will help you clear some household clutter while giving to a great cause.

On Saturday, June 14th, we will host an old-fashioned barn sale, professionally run with services donated by Constant Galore Estate Sales, and all proceeds raised will be used to complete the barn project this summer. Please help us bring this three-year project to a close!

As you’re doing spring cleaning around your house this year, please consider donating unwanted items that might be someone else’s treasures. We’re looking for clean, complete, and working items that retain some resale value. The barn is huge, and we have a lot of space for the barn sale. Here’s a list of the things to give you ideas about what you might have spare around your house to get your creativity flowing:

Furniture, antiques, household items, clean kitchen-wares in working condition, collectibles, recreational/sports equipment, knick-knacks and decorative items, artwork, jewelry, toys and games in good condition, usable craft supplies, hand tools and power tools, patio and outdoor items, baskets and vases, garden tools and supplies, anything new-in-box, pet supplies and equipment.

We cannot accept mattresses, box springs, or firearms.

We’re accepting donations now through Sunday, June 8th.

The donation process is simple: Pack your items into boxes and load up your car. We’ll open the barn door, and you’ll have plenty of room to offload and there will be signage. Drop-off at the Shaker barn can occur Sunday through Saturday from 8am-5pm. If you need assistance, please contact us.

Together, we’ll complete the barn as a lasting monument to the Shaker Farm and all the ways that the Shakers have contributed, and continue to contribute, to farming, agriculture, and community wellness. Thank you!

Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village | 707 Shaker Road | New Gloucester, ME

GORHAM, ME — Cressey Road Christian Church, located at 81 Cressey Road, Gorham will be hosting a perennial and baked goods sale, along with a yard sale on  Saturday June 7 from 9AM-2PM.

FMI Lorraine Lindstedt lindcabin@gmail.com

GORHAM, ME — Public Works (located at 80 Huston Road) will be accepting brush Saturday, May 10th 8AM – 3PM.

This event is for residents ONLY, no commercial drop offs will be accepted.

No stumps, please.

Leaves and grass clippings accepted in the designated area throughout the season.

Please do not leave your bags behind.

Contact the office with any questions at 207-222-4950 or dpw@gorham.me.us.

GORHAM, ME – The Town of Gorham is creating an Open Space & Trails Master Plan to help guide and prioritize future opportunities for open space preservation, protection of critical wildlife habitat and corridors, recreation access agricultural preservation and trail connections. This plan is being developed in recognition of the Town’s historic past on agricultural and natural resource based economies, anticipated commercial and residential development needs, and the anticipated impacts of a changing climate and natural resource disturbances. A survey inviting public input to identify opportunities, connections, and issues to address ran between February and May 1, 2025.

Public Open House Event

All are invited to attend a Public Open House event hosted by the Town of Gorham’s Open Space and Trails Master Plan & Steering Committee to continue conversations and provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process.

When: Wednesday, June 9, 2025, 6 to 8pm

Where: Burleigh Loveitt Council Chambers, Gorham Municipal Center (75 South Street)

 WINDHAM, ME – Riding To The Top (RTT) is excited to announce their participation in Seen Through Horses 2025—a nationwide public awareness and fundraising campaign promoting the mental health benefits of working with horses. See Through Horses is a peer-to-peer campaign that will run through the month of May and coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when conversations around mental health will be elevated around the country.

Mental health does not discriminate and statistics show that one in five people in the U.S. will be affected by mental illness, with depression being the number one cause of disability worldwide. Two-thirds of people with mental illness never seek help, and of those who do, only about 50% find traditional talk therapy successful (NAMI, 2020). What we have seen, however, is that experiential work with horses can bring about profound changes in people who struggle with mental health issues. This can be through direct therapy services (Equine Assisted Psychotherapy), or can be through equine-assisted learning and therapeutic riding—services that are not direct mental health therapy, but can improve one’s overall health and wellness by making connections with these powerful, sentient beings.

“We are thrilled to be part of this campaign that will bring awareness and as well as important funds to organizations who seek to improve access to equine-assisted services. Riding To The Top is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center, and while we do not provide direct mental health services, we witness daily the changes that happen when people and horses work together–from physical well-being, to social-emotional connections and improved self-confidence, to overall enhanced mental health and wellness.  Our volunteers also frequently comment on how much better they feel after working with our amazing equine partners. We are grateful to be part of the Seen Through Horses campaign,” said Sarah Bronson, Executive Director.

Riding To The Top’s mission is enhancing health and wellness through equine assisted services. As we join the equine and mental health sectors around one message, shared together during the month of May, we encourage you to help us spread awareness of our services. You can support Riding To The Top leading up to and during the campaign, by visiting https://sth2025.raiselysite.com/riding-to-the-top-therapeutic-riding-center and making a donation.

GORHAM, ME — Gorham’s Boy Scout Troop 73 is hosting a community rummage sale to raise funds to support Troop activities like camping adventures, community service projects and merit badge/rank advancement requirements.  They are looking for community support through donations of items and by coming to the event.

The Rummage sale will be held on Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (May 17 rain date) in the parking lot to the west of Shaw Gym. 

On behalf of the troop, Mitch Zaninelli invites community members to also participate in the sale by renting a table to sell your own items. He said, “We really want to make this an annual community event that brings Gorham residents together each spring.  It is a great way to kick off your spring cleaning and give used items a second life instead of going to the dump.  We are also going to have some Boy Scout demonstration tables showcasing some of the skills the scouts are learning.”

How can you participate?

Come to the sale and shop.

Donate items for the troop to sell – Items can be dropped off at On Point Storage, 551 Main St., during normal business hours between April 1 and May 8. Check in with the office when you arrive. Items must be in sellable condition (clean, not broken, working) and please no appliances.

Rent a table ($50) to sell your own wares. Reach out to mitchellzaninelli@gmail.com for more information. Tables are being donated by Party with Confetti Rentals.

Mitch added, “We are also looking for a food truck or two. If you are interested or know someone who is, please reach out to mitchellzaninelli@gmail.com”

AUGUSTA, ME – On April 23, Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, welcomed Katelyn McKay of Gorham to the Blaine House to honor McKay with a legislative sentiment. Katelyn, a student at the Southern Maine Community College, was awarded the Maine Community College System’s 2025 Student of the Year Award.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

“Katelyn’s journey is one of tenacity,” said Sen. Brenner. “Their willingness to work hard to overcome obstacles to achieve an education is so admirable. It was an honor to recognize and celebrate their success and I wish all the best in their future endeavors.”

Each year, the MCCS Student of the Year Award is given to one student from each of Maine’s seven community colleges. Students are chosen for their academic success, service to others and commitment to making a difference on campus.

Katelyn is enrolled in the Southern Maine Community College’s fire science and automotive programs. They are pursuing many interests, including completing their EMT and firefighting certification and exploring a four-year degree in the future.

Katelyn McKay and Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, at the Blaine House

Submitted by The Gorham Food Pantry Friends

GORHAM, ME — Pantry friends, THANK YOU!!  Our new Amazon list is being found and utilized, and deliveries are making it successfully to the bins at the top of the ramp!  We are continuing to add and edit items that are of most need (as well as a few “nice to haves”), and your generosity is astounding and humbling. 

If you’d like a way to help out that doesn’t involve going to the store, shopping for an item, and bringing it to the Pantry, feel free to try this out!  At check out, you should be able to choose from the Pantry address in your dropdown list of delivery addresses. 

We’ll continue to watch and edit the list to make improvements.  Thank you for helping to feed your neighbors here in Gorham.