GORHAM, ME – Gorham Schools thanks the following groups for making our tennis courts come alive again! 

Shaw brothers

Terry, Jeff and the Gorham Public Works Crew!

Beaver-brook Tennis

Gorham Recreation

Gorham Fence

Everybody loves a parade! Whether you’re for the music, the balloons, the vintage cars or just to see who’s wearing the most sparkles, the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival parade has something for everyone. Make sure to hunker down in your front-row seat on Sat., Aug. 16 at 10 AM.

Here’s how the parade will roll:

Kickoff at Elm & Main in Auburn

Cruise down Main Street through New Auburn – wave like you mean it!

Float over the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge into Lewiston via Cedar Street – keep it zen in the Quiet Zone (from Cedar in Auburn to Lincoln Street in Lewiston).

Trek on through to Lincoln Street

Wrap up at Beech Street or just keep rolling down Lincoln if the energy’s too good to stop.

Wanna be in the parade instead of just watching? Drop a line to hamlyn300@gmail.com and join the fun!

Maine is already breathtaking… Our rolling hills, winding rivers, and vast stretches of pine and sky. But when you see it from the sky? Well, that’s when it becomes something else entirely.

Book your sunrise or sunset hot air balloon ride now by visiting https://bit.ly/Rides2025 or www.laballoonfestival.org. Space is limited. Spots go fast.

Lewiston, Maine | Aug. 15 – 17

Sunrise Rides for peace and promise or Sunset Rides for golden skies and awe

Tethered rides available, too — perfect for families or first-timers

Reserve now: Hamlyn300@gmail.com (they go fast!)

Free festival entry. But floating above it all? That’s priceless.

Got a great eye and love for balloon-filled skies? Enter the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival Photo Contest for a chance to win awesome prizes and even more importantly, win smiles across our community

Whether you’re snapping sunrise lift-offs, glowing evening skies, or joyful festival faces, we want to see your favorite moments from the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival Aug. 15–17, 2025 at Simard-Payne Park in Lewiston!

Open to all amateur & professional photographers

Unlimited entries allowed

Digital photos only, JPEG, 300 dpi

For full contest rules, visit www.laballoonfest.org

GORHAM, ME – Scott Construction Corporation will be closing Windham Center Road to complete the rehabilitation of Great Falls #1 & Great Falls #2 Bridges (6210 & 1529) over the Presumpscot River for the MaineDOT.

 Great Falls Bridges are located approximately 0.5 miles westerly of River Road. The closure will start at 7:00 am on Monday, August 18th, 2025 and will be open to traffic on or before Wednesday, October 1st, 2025.  Detour routes will be provided. 

If there are any questions, please contact Scott Construction at 207-899-5709. Maine DOT WIN: 23655.00

GORHAM, ME – Red Cross is hard rocking into a new phase of our collab with Metallica to offer blood and platelet donors a new way to score exclusive merch! Book your blood or platelet donation appointment at [ https://rcblood.org/Metallica] to come give by Feb. 28, 2026, at any U.S. Red Cross blood drive.

Then, you’ll get:

A newly designed, limited-edition Red Cross x Metallica T-shirt (sent by mail, while they last). To receive the shirt, you must complete the form at the link above and show up for your donation appointment.

A chance to score a one-of-a-kind [ESP Guitars] Snakebyte guitar featuring the exclusive Red Cross x Metallica design created by famed Metallica artist [SQUINDO] and personally autographed by all Metallica band members!

Help save lives and give patients an encore!

Sign up for the local blood drive this coming Thursday in Gorham to get your shirt ASAP!

PORTLAND, ME – Norway Savings Bank recently delivered a $20,000 contribution to the University of Southern Maine Foundation, part of a multi-year commitment to support the McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success, the new hub of the university’s Portland campus.

“We’re so pleased to have been designated a ‘Founding Sponsor’ of the center by USM,” said Dan Walsh, President and CEO of Norway Savings. “It is already such an incredible resource for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the wider community, including the opportunity for business representatives to connect with students in building relationships and establishing the possibility of eventual employment. NSB is thrilled to be associated with a building that is benefiting so many people today and holds limitless potential for the future.”

The McGoldrick Center’s second floor is home to USM’s expanded Career & Employment Hub, where the employer community intersects with students in the academic community. The third floor is dedicated to cultivating student leadership opportunities and connections with spaces set aside for USM’s Student Government Association, Diversity Center, and other organizations. The three-story center also features dining facilities, meeting and conference rooms, and student activity rooms.

The USM Foundation is an independent nonprofit that works side by side with the university to support the aspirations of students and the strategic vision of USM. For more information about its work and how you can assist, visit https://usm.maine.edu/foundation.

GORHAM, ME – Makers Market & Pick Your Own Blueberries Fest at Orchard Ridge Farm in Gorham! The Market is August 9th from 10-2 (rain date August 10th, 10-2).

We will have 30 Vendors selling their goods (Ceramics, Jewelry, Woodworking, Illustration and Painting, Vintage Clothes, Stained Glass, Soap and Body Products & More).

There will be live music, farm animals and we will have 2 food trucks, Gunnars Icelandic Hotdogs and Top it on the go serving up ice cream.

We are also having a BAKE SALE (blueberry themed) fundraiser for ARLGP with all the funds raised will go to help the shelter continue doing the amazing work they have been doing for years.

This event is going to be incredible and at the height of blueberry picking season, on one of the most beautiful local farms in Maine. We hope to see you there!

ARUNDEL, ME – The Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design in Arundel, a non-profit marine trades school, is hosting open houses at our campus at 286 River Rd. on Aug 4 (1-3 PM), Aug 15 (2-4 PM) and Aug 25 (10AM-12PM).

PORTLAND, ME – The American Red Cross calls on donors to give blood or platelets now to maintain a steady national blood supply. Type O blood donors are especially key to keeping critical blood products on hospital shelves into August.

Even a strong blood supply can experience a sudden drop ? potentially impacting the availability of lifesaving blood and platelets that could help new mothers, burn and trauma patients, and those facing cancer. Help safeguard patient care by booking a time to give blood or platelets. Visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.?

In thanks, those who come to give by July 31 will receive a Fandango Movie Reward by email. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/July.

Those who come to give Aug. 1-28 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Plus, the Red Cross will perform free A1C testing, commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes, on successful donations (one test result per 12-month period). Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Test for more information.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 31-Aug. 7

Cumberland

Bridgton

8/5/2025: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Masonic Hall, 166 Harrison Road, Route 117

Freeport

8/7/2025: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Freeport – Old Town Hall Building, 5 Park Street

Gorham

8/7/2025: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Cressey Road Christian Church, 81 Cressey Road

North Yarmouth

8/5/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wescustogo Hall and Community Center, 120 Memorial Hwy

Portland

7/31/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Cambria Hotel, 25 Hancock St

8/4/2025: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Maine Medical Center – Dana Education Center, 22 Bramhall Street

Scarborough

8/5/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saint Maximilian Church, 150 Black Point Rd

Standish

8/4/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Gardenside Condo Association, 12 Gardenside Drive

Yarmouth

8/1/2025: 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion Post 91, 196 Main St