GORHAM, ME — After two years of fostering our community’s appreciation for good books and good company, The North Gorham Public Library Director, Lea Sutton decided it was time to retire. She has quite a long list of mostly fun things she plans to dive into, including a stack of books she hasn’t had time to read. If you belong to our book club, you’ll get to visit with her every month, and we’re hoping that once she settles down a bit from the joy of no longer working, we can entice her to volunteer now and then. Thank you, Lea, for the many gifts you brought to our library and each one of us.

Lea’s last day was July 31st and since then, Diane Atwood has stepped into her shoes. Atwood wrote: “I knew from being the Assistant Librarian there were far more responsibilities than most people realize. I also knew that when the Board offered me the position, I would forever be disappointed if I didn’t accept. Since childhood, libraries have been sacred spaces for me, and when my daughters were young, I wondered if someday, I could become a librarian. So, here I am! I hope I can live up to the strong example of all the librarians in our community who have come before me.

Thankfully, it won’t be a solitary commitment. We have a devoted board, many wonderful volunteers, and a new Library Assistant — Debbie Ledoux from Standish. Recently retired from a career as a dental hygienist, Debbie was looking for a part-time job that brought her joy. Being surrounded by friendly people and books begging to be read fit the bill! Welcome, Debbie!               

We hope you’ll come in to visit us soon and often. As did Lea, we all have an appreciation for good books and good company!”

Lea Sutton (L) Diane Atwood (R)

GORHAM, ME — The University of Southern Maine Art Gallery is pleased to announce our 2024 fall exhibition, under/current. Featuring work by artist Stephanie Garon, this show uses video, sound, and mined rocks to transform our two-century-old building into an immersive artistic experience.

Stephanie Garon focuses on materials to investigate human collisions with the environment. She recently acquired a 20,000-rock core collection from a Gold Rush mining site from 1850. The site sits between two Passamaquoddy reservations and five towns in eastern Maine. Garon utilizes these rocks to create a new landscape within the Gallery. The resulting exhibition asks viewers to consider and respond to these material transformations, noting how such alchemizations prompt us to pay closer attention to our surroundings. In turn, our understanding is deepened regarding how natural resources are gathered, accumulated, and commodified. All are invited to join us for the exhibition and two major programmatic events:

An opening reception for under/current on Thursday, October 3 at 6 p.m. Location: University of Southern Maine Art Gallery 5 University Way, Gorham, Maine

A panel discussion on October 5 at 4 p.m. on issues around land claim, mining’s impact on the local economy, and how themes of economic and ecological intertwinement can be viewed as a microcosm of the concerns that face many communities throughout the ecoregion. Location: USM McGoldrick Center for Student Success, 35 Bedford Avenue, Portland, Maine 04101 & online via Zoom

Learn more at usm.maine.edu/gallery

Image courtesy of artist Stephanie Garon.

BRUNSWICK, ME — Jon Pousette-Dart, best known as leader of the classic 70’s folk rock group, the Pousette-Dart Band, will be performing with bandmate Jim Chapdelaine at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick on FRIDAY, September 20th, 2024 at 7:30 pm as part of the UUCB Concerts for a Cause. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Brunswick Area Teen Center and Maine Family Planning.

The Pousette-Dart Band was a mainstay of album radio, a favorite on the college circuit and became one of the busiest touring groups in the US working with such acts as The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, The Eagles, James Taylor, The J. Geils Band, and many more. They released 4 albums of harmony-filled, country-tinged folk-rock, and got plenty of radio play with songs including “Amnesia,” “What Can I Say,” and “Freezing Hot.”

Although the band formally broke up in 1981, Jon Pousette-Dart continued writing and producing and recording again on his own. He’s turned out five solo albums. The band members reunited in 1991 for a series of concerts, and a “Best Of” album was released in 1994. Since then, collaborations among various former personnel have continued,

Jon is back on the road with his longtime fellow bandmate, Jim Chapdelaine on guitar/vocals, who co-produced several of Jon’s records. As a Duo they perform decades of music from the Capitol years up to the latest solo releases. Jon Pousette-Dart DUO has become one of the top Country and Folk artists in the 2024 music scene. These long-touring musicians will perform the music known by heart by a whole generation. 

Please note that this concert is on a FRIDAY, which is a departure from most of the other Concerts for a Cause.

Tickets:  $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $10 Students/Children.  Available at the church office, Gulf of Maine Books, or online at https://ticketstripe.com/pousette.

STANDISH, ME — Standish Community Dog Park will be holding a Pups in the Park event to benefit the dog park. The event is free and fun for all, well-behaved dogs on a leash,  and will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024 (rain date 9/15).  It will be at 670 Ossipee Trail West, Standish on the multi-purpose fields at Memorial Park.  The event is from 10 am-1 pm. The Fun Dog Show registration starts at 10 am and the show will start at 10:30 am.  Trooper Hinck and K9 Berry will do a demonstration at noon.  Raffle prize drawings will be at 1 pm.  We will have Sponsors and give-a-ways, vendors, non profits,  a chill zone, fun agility area and more! 

Standish Parks and Recreation operates the dog park with support from volunteers.  The money raised with help add benches and a shade structure. We hope to see you there!

STANDISH, ME — You are invited to celebrate the past year and get a glimpse into what is to come at Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s Annual Meeting at Randall Orchards on Sunday, September 29th, starting at 5 pm.

5:00 pm: Socialize and enjoy snacks and cider

5:45 pm: Welcome and slideshow highlights from the last year

6:00 pm: Strategic Plan

6:15 pm: Annual meeting and member votes

6:25 pm: Wrap up and enjoy the sunset over the orchard

Come early and enjoy apple picking at Randall Orchards. The Randall family owns Randall Orchards, and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust holds a 500-acre conservation and agricultural easement on the orchard and surrounding forest.

GORHAM, ME — You are invited to participate in an upcoming Community Book Talk! Please consider joining this opportunity to connect with others in our Gorham School community!

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!