GORHAM, ME — In July, North Gorham Public Library hosted a hula hoop demo and workshop. Nettie Gentempo, aka Nettie Loops, is a professional hula hoop artist, instructor, dancer, and choreographer. She was amazing, especially to everyone who has trouble keeping just one hula hoop going! Try telling that to the little ones, who wanted to be like Nettie!

GORHAM, ME — On Thursday, August 15, 2024, Reverend Philip Shearman and longtime Chaplin for the Gorham Fire Department received the Boston Post Cane in a ceremony held in the Council Chambers at the Gorham Municipal Center.

History

In August 1909, Mr. Edwin A. Grozier, Publisher of the Boston Post, a newspaper, forwarded to the Board of Selectmen in 700 towns* (no cities included) in New England, a gold-headed ebony cane with the request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town, to be used by him as long as he lives (or moves from the town), and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it.

The canes were all made by J.F. Fradley and Co., a New York manufacturer, from ebony shipped in seven-foot lengths from the Congo in Africa. They were cut to cane lengths, seasoned for six months, turned on lathes to the right thickness, coated and polished. They had a 14-carat gold head two inches long, decorated by hand, and a ferruled tip. The head was engraved with the inscription, —Presented by the Boston Post to the oldest citizen of  (name of town)— “To Be Transmitted.” The Board of Selectmen were to be the trustees of the cane and keep it always in the hands of the oldest citizen. Apparently no Connecticut towns were included, and only two towns in Vermont are known to have canes.

In 1924, Mr. Grozier died, and the Boston Post was taken over by his son, Richard. At one time, the Boston Post was considered the nation’s leading standard-sized newspaper in circulation. Competition from other newspapers, radio and television contributed to the Post’s decline and it went out of business in 1957.

The custom of the Boston Post Cane took hold in those towns bestowed the honor of receiving a cane, including the Town of Gorham. As years went by, some of the canes were lost, stolen, taken out of town and not returned to the Selectmen or destroyed by accident. Fortunately, the Town of Gorham has retained its cane, which has been on display at the Gorham Municipal Center for many years.

In 1930, after considerable controversy, eligibility for the cane was opened to women as well.

 BUXTON, ME – Buxton Recreation Department will be holding our first ever Community Yard Sale! Be sure to come check out the many booths our community members have! They may just have the next treasured item! Maine-ly Meatballs will be joining us for the day and will be dishing out delicious food!

Have items that you might want to part ways with? Reach out Grace Bibber, Recreation Director at gbibber@buxton.me.us to rent a table or two!

GORHAM, ME — Last week, Casco Federal Credit Union delivered 145.12 pounds of food to Gorham Food Pantry Friends. Thank you to everyone who dropped off food. As always, your donations truly make a difference in our community!

GORHAM, ME — House of Parker Preschool is thrilled to invite you to our Grand Opening Open House! Join us for this special event as we open our doors to all families. Come explore our brand-new school, meet our energetic preschool teacher Mrs. Hanscome, and discover the exciting opportunities we have in store for your children. We can’t wait to welcome you!

Email: Houseofparkerpreschool@gmail.com or call 207-807-1197 for more info!

 WESTBROOK, ME – Discover Downtown Westbrook is holding its first Community Yard Sale. Stop by the Common from 10 to 2 on Sunday, August 25 to check out all sorts of new and used goods!

Vendors include:

Studio Joy Wonder

Sea Glass With Sass

CMQ Creations

Advitiiya Creations

Lighthouse Sports Cards

BlueCatVintage

Yardsale vintage

Cartermore Creations

and more!

GORHAM, ME — If picking your own grown juicy tomato and crispy greens is on your bucket list, try gardening at Cressey Road Christian Church Community Garden in Bucket Step planters, ready for planting, no fees, and PFAS free.

Bucket Steps were built by Eagle Scout candidate Christopher Bolton with help from his troop, scout leader Kelly Deprez, and Rick Smart. Bucket Steps have 3 rows, with 4 buckets each. You may share a bucket step unit with someone. Bucket Steps are user friendly planters with minimal bending required. This is just a beginning as we continue building raised garden units offering planting boxes and vegtrugs. Bucket Steps are available now on a first come, first served basis. To use one of these planters, please contact Lorraine lindcabin@gmail.com for guidelines and an application.

GORHAM, ME — A General Election, Referendum Election, and Municipal Election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 in which voters will have an opportunity to vote to elect the President, one of Maine’s two United States Senators, Maine’s two Representatives to Congress, all members of the Maine Legislature (State Senators and State Representatives), certain county officers (which could vary by county), as well as appointments to the Gorham Town Council and Gorham School Committee. The Referendum Election will also allow Maine’s citizens the opportunity to vote on People’s Veto Referenda, Direct Initiatives of Legislation (i.e. Citizen Initiatives), Bond Issues, other referenda proposed by the Legislature, and Constitutional Amendments.

The 2024 General Candidate List (excluding the president) can be viewed at the Town’s website (as of August 5, 2024).

The November 2024 General Election ballot order of referendum questions can also be viewed at the Town’s website.

The Town has two seats open for three-year terms on the Town Council, and two seats open for three-year terms on the School Committee.

Absentee ballots can be requested on the Town’s website.  Absentee ballots will be mailed once the Town Clerk’s Office receives them in early October.

WESTBROOK, ME – WinterKids is thrilled to announce the recipients of its Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund. This year’s grants, totaling $25,000, will go to 10 outstanding organizations across Maine. These grants are aimed at promoting outdoor activities and encouraging children to stay active throughout the year.

The WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund was established to further WinterKids’ mission of getting kids outside and active with funds raised at the Downhill 24 event. Through a community vote, the top three winning organizations in each category were selected, with one honorable mention winner also being recognized for their dedication and efforts.

Maine 501(c)(3) Nonprofits Category

The top three winners in this category are:

Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine, Inc., Bangor, ME (grant funds to serve Hancock and Penobscot Counties). Grant Amount: $5,000

Intended Use: The WinterKids grant will be matched for the Snowbuster program, which is currently only provided in a few rural counties. Funds would allow expansion to Hancock and Penobscot counties. The Snowbuster program provides quality winter outerwear for youth in foster care or living with a kinship caregiver.

Saddleback Maine Community Corps, Rangeley, ME (Franklin County). Grant Amount: $2,000

Intended Use: Enable children in grades 1-8 to get free season-long equipment loans and lift tickets, then participate in Ski Tuesday, Saddleback’s 8-10 weekly 3-hour professionally instructed group ski/ride lessons accompanied by their Community Corps.

Big Rock, Mars Hill, ME (Aroostook County). Grant Amount: $1,000

Intended Use: Purchase skis, boots, poles, helmets, and snowboards to expand the rental fleet that supports the community ‘Ski4Life’ program.

Maine Public Schools Category

The top three winners in this category are:

Oak Hill, Gray New Gloucester, and Lisbon High Schools and Middle Schools, Wales, ME (Androscoggin/Cumberland County). Grant Amount: $5,000

Intended Use: Rent out Lost Valley for a day, provide gear, ski lessons, etc.

Noble Middle School, Berwick, ME (York County). Grant Amount: $2,000

Intended Use: Purchase skateboards, cross-country skis, sleds, archery resources, and additional outdoor supplies and/or fund transportation costs for hiking, skating, and fishing trips.

Dirigo Elementary School, Peru, ME (Oxford County).Grant Amount: $1,000

Intended Use: Replace old and worn-out gear for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Maine Parks & Recreation Category

The top three winners in this category are:

Eustis/Stratton Recreation Department, Stratton, ME (Franklin County). Grant Amount: $5,000

Intended Use: Train Water Safety Instructors and purchase lifejackets, safety equipment and learning tools to create a strong swim lesson and water safety program.

Biddeford Recreation, Biddeford, ME (York County). Grant Amount: $2,000

Intended Use: Offset the cost of ski programming to make it more accessible to children of all socioeconomic backgrounds, &/or purchase additional equipment for seasonal outdoor recreation that would allow more children to participate in water programing.

Easton Recreation, Easton, ME (Aroostook County). Grant Amount: $1,000

Intended Use: Offset costs for their work with local mountain to provide “ski for life” rates that include rental equipment and lessons for children in their downhill ski program.

Honorable Mention

Princeton Parks & Rec, Princeton, ME (Washington County). Grant Amount: $1,000

Intended Use: Support the addition of a bay of swings and playground accessories.

Congratulations to all the deserving grantees! We commend their commitment to getting kids outdoors and active, making a positive impact on the physical and mental well-being of Maine’s youth.

For more information about the WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund and its initiatives, please visit WinterKids.org/D24Fund.

GORHAM, ME — Gorham Public Works Department staff broke ground on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 on a project to upgrade the stormwater system at the Municipal Center. Currently, runoff from the Municipal Center enters Railroad Brook untreated. Thanks to this project, runoff from the site will be treated by two new FocalPoint Biofiltration systems.

This project is a type of “Low Impact Development” (LID) stormwater system. In carrying out this project, the Town hopes not only to improve stormwater treatment at the Municipal Center but to also show how other sites in Town might install similar LID retrofits.

Project work will continue over the next few weeks, and will also include installation of new curbing and general aesthetic and landscaping improvements.

This project is funded by a $50,000 Community Resilience Partnership grant from the state. The Town is grateful for support from resident Rob Woodman, with Ferguson Waterworks, for donating a significant amount of his own time to the project.