The Town of Gorham coordinated a surprise fire apparatus and Town vehicle parade last Friday, at the Gorham Central Fire Station at 270 Main Street to honor retiring Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre.  

In addition to Town vehicles from Public Works, Recreation, Police and Fire departments, fire apparatus from York and Cumberland Counties also joined the procession.  

Chief Lefebvre will be retiring in early-August after a 36-year career with the Gorham Fire Department.  Prior to Gorham, Chief Lefebvre was a firefighter in his hometown of Westbrook starting in 1971.

Raise a glass! Sebago Brewing Co. is reopening the doors to its Tasting Room on Thursday, June 25 at 4 p.m. Dining will be available both inside and outside. During the summer, Sebago will offer tables under a tent on the lawn, in addition to covered picnic tables. The fire-pit table on the patio will be available for reservation.

“The Tasting Room is spacious, both inside and out, so guests and staff will feel very safe in our space,” said Kai Adams, VP and co-founder of Sebago Brewing. “We know it’s been awhile, and we want to make the experience is fun and relaxing while also caring for everyone’s safety.” 

A full food and bar menu will be available, and of course, Sebago will be serving beer on draft and in cans. Takeout and delivery will also available.

by Catherine Wilson, On Purpose WellBeing Center

On Purpose WellBeing Center has joined with other businesses to offer the Edible Main street boxes.  The Gorham Grown Initiative 2020 decided to move forward with their project and adhere to public safety measures this year.

The Girl Scout Troop 2300 in Gorham showed up early on a Saturday morning to set the boxes, and Meghan Irish planted the “Roasted Herb Garden” for On Purpose WellBeing Center to take care of for the summer.  My team and I will make sure the Thyme, Rosemary, Cilantro and other herbs, along with what I have planted — green beans and lettuce — will be watered and loved, so that anyone can stop by and take some home!  

While businesses struggle to stay afloat, On Purpose Well Being Center continues to morph into what we call a home and community!

After On Purpose Well Being Center (OPWBC) was closed down due to COVID19, a deer runs through the studio, and guidelines change for re-opening, Catherine Wilson, owner of OPWBC clears the way and sets the blueprint for outdoor workouts, one on one personal training and finding exercise enthusiast a new home with welcome arms.

OPWBC is offering 1 on 1 personal training inside and classes outside.  They will be complying with the CDC and keeping the facility clean and disinfecting any equipment after every use.  They ask for attendees to dress appropriately for outside classes (bring a hat). They sell bottled water, but you can bring your own as well. You can also bring your own bands and weights if you prefer.

By Jeffrey Ryan

I am always on the lookout for trails, but this is one of those little gems that I discovered by accident. Boy, was I glad I did!

When the architects designed the Enterprise Business Park in Scarborough, they added two nice features that are often omitted — pedestrian friendly sidewalks running the length of the two roads leading inland (Enterprise Drive and Technology Way) and a sweet woodland trail along the Nonesuch River, which is more like a brook in this part of its journey. Combining the two provides a nice 20-minute walk over gentle terrain.

I parked in the roundabout at the end of Technology Way right near the trail kiosk and map, then headed into the woods. The trail is easy to follow, and has some nice amenities including two bridges and three benches along the route. The only place that’s a little tricky is at the location of the second bench, which is a few feet to the left of the main trail. It’s easy to think that the trail continues beyond the bench, but not so. Return to the main trail and turn left (slightly uphill) and you’ll be on the right track.

The trail emerges from the woods behind the Fluid Technologies building, then follows along the edge of the woods to meet Enterprise Drive near a streetlamp. Cross the street, then take a left, following the sidewalk down Enterprise Drive and Technology Way back to your vehicle. 

According to the trail map at the kiosk, there are plans to add another one mile plus of woodland trail to the system, which will be a nice addition. Even without, it’s nice to find a little pocket of solitude to enjoy, especially when some of the more well-known local trails are crowded.  

Next week, I’ll cover the 10-mile second leg of the pedestrian and bike friendly Sebago to the Sea Trail. 

Jeffrey Ryan is a Maine-based hiker, photographer, public speaker and author of several books about the outdoors. Learn more at www.JeffRyanAuthor.com.  

The Gorham Food Pantry has continued to support the community during the pandemic by providing food to residents via weekly “drive through” pantry opportunities.  As the pantry supports its clients, the entire town of Gorham has actively supported the pantry through monetary and food donations.  Residents have been so faithful in food donations that a second bin has been installed at the top of the ramp at the pantry.  As supplies initially became thin at the beginning of the pandemic, so many people have stepped up in so many ways.

The most recent example is Alison Smith, age 13.  Smith has made about 250 masks since the pandemic began.  Some have been donated to the Maine Veterans’ Home and the rest were sold for $3.00 each with all of the proceeds going to the Gorham Food Pantry.  In addition to mask purchases, Smith also received donations, which she passed along to the pantry.  Smith recently presented the Gorham Food Pantry with a check for $635.00. 

Thanks to Smith and many, many other community members, the Gorham Food Pantry continues to be able to provide food to neighbors in Gorham.  Small donations can be left anytime in the bin.  Large donations (via Amazon, for example) can be shipped to their location at 299-B Main Street in Gorham.  Monetary donations can be made via their website at www.gorhamfoodpantry.org, and clients can check that same website for current days and hours of operation. 

By Nathan Tsukroff of PortraitEFX

Maine has wonderful doctors and great hospitals to treat almost any illness.

What it doesn’t have is an institute for cancer treatment in the center of the state. But that will start to change in early September.

The Dempsey Center in Lewiston, founded in 2008 by Patrick Dempsey as a way to give back to the community where he grew up, is committed to making life better for people managing the impact of cancer. However, it doesn’t provide the services of doctors for treating cancer.

That’s what a planned cancer center, or institute, at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) will provide for much of Maine, according to Dr. Sean McGarr, a gastroenterology doctor at the hospital. With a planned groundbreaking in early September, the cancer center will bring together cancer doctors – oncologists – from throughout the area to provide comprehensive cancer services.

“We have a wonderful Dempsey Center” which provides research, social support, and help for patients to navigate through the current healthcare system as they seek treatment for cancer, Dr. McGarr said, but, “It’s not a cancer center; it’s not a cancer institution.”

By Jeffrey Ryan

Since I started my hiking column in Gorham Weekly, I’ve mainly focused on the many short loop hikes found in parks and preserves within a short drive of Gorham Center. But the combination of longer daylight, warmer weather and the fact that I’m finally getting back into “trail shape” got me yearning for a longer hike. If you’re feeling that way, too, I suggest spending a few hours on the Sebago to the Sea Trail (STTST).

For those unfamiliar, the STTST runs 28 miles from the shore of Sebago Lake to the shore of Casco Bay in Portland. Along the way, it passes through parts of six towns and offers an impressive variety of scenery including majestic pine forests, woodland ponds and long stretches along the Presumpscot River.

I decided to take the trail on in three trips, starting at the Sebago Lake end. On the weekday I headed out there was one other car at the trailhead on Route 35. The trailhead also features a kiosk, owned by Portland Water District, where you can sign a day use permit to cross their property. After signing in, it was short walk through the woods to reach the Sebago to the Sea Trail at the shore of Sebago (where I could still make out snow on Mount Washington). Turning right on the trail will take you to the northern terminus, also on the shore of the lake. I took a nice break under the trees, knowing that I was only 28 miles from finishing the trail.

In the first few miles, the trail emerges from the woods and onto the aptly named Pond Road before heading back into the woods for a while (the exception being the crossing of paved Route 237). From here, it’s just over a mile until the trail intersects with the Mountain Division Trail, where a paved path becomes your footbed for the next 4.5 miles to Route 202 (parking at Windham Fire Station — please see Sebago to the Sea website for details).

I found that the first 8.5 miles of the trail were just what I needed to shake off the Covid-19 doldrums and enjoy a fine late spring day and a nice mix of woodland and paved trail walking as well. At a leisurely pace, I did the section in just over four hours (breaks included). Next up, South Windham to Westbrook — 10.8 miles. 

The trail is 28 miles total, sections one, two and three are 8.5 miles. The trail rating is easy to moderate and is managed by Sebago to the Sea Coalition. For more information, visit www.SebagototheSea.org.

Poland Spring Preservation Society (PSPS) has opened its buildings for the 2020 season.  This will be the 44th year that PSPS will be inviting visitors into the Maine State Building (1893), built in Chicago, Illinois, for the Worlds Fair and the All Souls Chapel (1912) to learn about the amazing history of Poland Spring.  PSPS is located at 37 Preservation Way, Poland Spring, Maine.  Hours are Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.  Call (207) 998-4142 or visit PolandSpringPS.org for more information.

By Jeffrey Ryan

South Portland Land Trust initiatives paying dividends:

A decade ago, the South Portland Land Trust (SPLT) organized a community meeting in the area near the Maine Mall. The group had recognized that while the east side of town was well served by pedestrian and bike friendly trails, the west side was lacking. That well-attended forum launched an initiative that has created several miles of trails to be enjoyed, including a popular 1-mile hike in the vicinity of Clarks Pond. While at first blush, a bustling area such as the Maine Mall wouldn’t seem to be a great location for trails, the SPLT found that there were still many stream side areas that had been spared from development that provide wonderful escapes for residents, visitors and employees of nearby businesses.