From Sebago Brewing

GORHAM – Sebago Brewing Company recently released several new beers.

No Comply is one of their highest-hopped beers ever, and their brewers used the original West Coast type of hops that started to push the hoppy beer styles to where they are today. Think Russian River’s Pliny the Elder or Maine Beer Company’s Lunch or Dinner IPAs.

India Pale Ales encompass numerous styles of beer and get their characteristics largely from hops and herbal, citrus or fruity flavors.

This beer is also a collab from the heart. In the summer of 2019, our brewers partnered with longtime Sebago Brewing friend Mike Norton, a.k.a. “The Heavy Metal Cripple,” to create an old school West Coast IPA to help raise money for the documentary “Brothers.” The film is about Mike and his late brother J.T. and their journey of bond and loss. (Brothers is available to rent on demand at http://bitly.ws/bVcx)

From Sebago Brewing

GORHAM – Throughout the month of February, Sebago Brewing Co. donated $1 for every pint sold of “Braap! Braap! Gorham SnoGoers Gold” to the Gorham SnoGoers Club.

The club is a group of Gorham residents who maintain more than 50 miles of trails throughout the area. This includes  the Cherry Hill Trails – almost three miles of hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling trails right next door to the Sebago Brewing Co. Tasting Room, brewery, and company headquarters.

“Braap! Braap!” is a golden ale made with one of the Sebago brewers’ favorite English yeasts. A subtle ale with a mild honey sweetness and smooth medium body, it is clean and refreshing, while full enough to stand up to colder weather. In other words, the perfect beer for ice fishing, ice skating, and other snowy fun.

Folks can explore the Cherry Hill Trails, then stop by the Tasting Room for something hot to eat and a cold pint of Braap! Braap!

Both Sebago Brewing locations offer indoor dining, following all COVID safety protocols, and takeout, including beer and cocktails. And for the hardiest Mainers, the outdoor patio (with heat lamps) and the fire-pit at the Tasting Room are also available.

Sebago Brewing has a brewpub at 29 Elm Street and the Tasting Room at 616 Main Street in Gorham.

From Upcycle Maine

GORHAM – Upcycle Maine Home Furnishings at 18 South St. in Gorham’s downtown village area just started carrying Farmhouse Paint Company Furniture Paint.

Owner Stephanie Sands has built a relationship with the owner and marketing director of Farmhouse Paint to be able to bring a large selection into her shop.

Farmhouse Furniture Paint is exclusively formulated and manufactured in the US.

Upcycle Maine will be stocking this, easy to use, one step furniture paint in its retail location, along with the refinished furniture and home décor already sold in the store.

Farmhouse Paint’s Facebook page said the paint offers a single-step process with professional results. Clean the project’s surface, allow to dry, then paint. No priming or waxing is necessary.

People will now be able to explore the art of furniture refinishing themselves, Sands said. She is happy to share tips and tricks with anyone to get their project started.

Sands hopes to empower others to create, and her inviting atmosphere and judgement-free zone will allow anyone to feel inspired while they pick out a color that is best for them.

If painting is not for someone, Sands provides custom furniture refinishing services for pieces in a home that need a refresh.

For further information, Like and Follow Upcycle Maine on Facebook and Instagram.

Upcycle Maine is a group shop of locally crafted gifts, home decor, refinished furniture and custom orders.

The store will be open Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 10-4 through the end of the month.

From UMaine

ORONO – University of Maine museums and planetarium have a rich library of online resources available to support remote K–12 instruction during the pandemic. 

The Page Farm and Home Museum offers Virtual Field Trip Experiences, via Zoom, to school groups, homeschool groups, and college classes. Groups can take an introductory tour, select a virtual visit topic, or request a program tailored to specific curricular needs by calling the museum at 207.581.4100. Online resources and a Whatz-It? challenge are also available to supplement remote learning for students of all ages. 

The Versant Power Astronomy Center offers a wide array of Virtual Astronomy Experiences to support online exploration of the universe for schoolchildren of every age. Maine’s Wondrous Night Sky, Planet Parade, Mysterious Moon and Me, and Voyage Through the Universe are a few of the lessons available — all are supplemented with age-appropriate resources from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Universe Explorers of Maine, an international online astronomy club, uses robotic telescopes and gamified learning quests to facilitate space exploration and participation in citizen science. Limited funding is available to support class participation in the explorers club. 

From Dana Perkins

BIDDEFORD – When Army veteran Richard Perkins died in 2014 at the age of 92, he left behind a treasure trove of hundreds of photos he took while stationed in Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Perkins was a radio operator who was stationed at Fort Shafter in Honolulu, and he worked at an underground base inside of Diamond Head. Except for a few brief stories, he never talked much about his service to his family.

While cleaning out his house after he died, his daughter, Alice, and son, Dana, came across a large tin container full of rolls of film negatives that had been developed, but never converted into photographic prints.

Dana painstakingly scanned the negatives into his computer and converted them into hundreds of never-before-seen historical photos. The people in the photos include veterans of the Army, Navy and Marines, as well as USO performers, civilians and children who lived in the area around the Army base of Fort Shafter. 

Alice and Dana have spent the last few years learning as much as possible about the people and locations in the photos.

They have received a tremendous amount of help from Milton Migita, a curator at the Army Museum in Hawaii, as well as from the general public through online social media groups.

Their goal is to make all of the photos available to the public by compiling them in a book or through a website. The original negatives, photos, and three photo albums will then be donated to either the Army Museum or the National Park Service in Hawaii.

Many people in the photos remain to be identified, and Alice and Dana hope that someone in Maine will recognize their father, grandfather, uncle, mother, grandmother, aunt, or some other friend or relative in the photos.

The photos can be viewed online at: ‘

If you recognize anyone, please contact Alice and Dana through the website, or by writing to them at: World War 2 Pacific Veterans Project, PO Box 789, Biddeford, ME 04005.

From Town of Gorham

GORHAM – Property owners in Gorham who need a permit for changes to their property must first pay any outstanding taxes, under an ordinance passed by the Town Council in November.

The ordinance establishes conditions for the issuance of all licenses, permits, and other approvals from the Town of Gorham.

The ordinance calls for applicants to be denied approval if the owner or lessee of the property or building has any outstanding real estate or personal property taxes due to the town.

The November ordinance covers permits related to zoning regulations, subdivisions, site plan review, massage establishment and massage therapist regulations, mobile home parks, marijuana cultivation or manufacturing facilities, victualers (anyone selling prepared food, such as restaurants, caterers, and mobile vending units), the optional program for local building plan review, historic preservation, special amusements, fire suppression systems, fraternity and sorority houses, variance requests for vacant properties, and large outdoor events.

There are some exceptions, such as taxes that are less than 30-days past due and under $250, or that are determined by the Town Manager’s office not to be owed by the applicant or property owner. The Town Council may waive the requirements if an applicant makes a written request to show good cause for the waiver.

The ordinance sets aside the requirement to allow for approval for permits necessitated by the disability of the applicant or property owner.

The ordinance, titled “Municipal License Ordinance”, can be found at: http://bitly.ws/bJkw

WPI Fall 2020 Dean’s List

WORCESTER, MA – Jonathan Scribner of Gor­ham, class of ‘22, major­ing in Civil Engineering, was named to the Worces­ter Polytechnic Institute Dean’s List for the Fall 2020 semester

The criteria for the WPI Dean’s List differs from most other universi­ties as WPI does not com­pute a grade point average (GPA). Instead, WPI de­fines the Dean’s List by the amount of work completed at the A level in courses and projects.

WPI, a global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier tech­nological university found­ed in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world prob­lems.

Recognized by the National Academy of En­gineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineer­ing and Technology Edu­cation, WPI’s pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important sci­entific, technological, and societal problems through­out their education and at more than 50 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 50 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across 14 academic depart­ments in science, engineer­ing, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more.

www.wpi.edu

Stonehill College Dean’s List

EASTON, MA – Di­ana Kolb of Gorham, Class of 2021, was named to the Dean’s List at Stonehill College for the Fall 2020 semester.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must have a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better and must have successfully completed all courses for which they were registered.

Stonehill is a Cath­olic college located near Boston on a beautiful 384- acre campus in Easton, Massachusetts. With a stu­dent-faculty ratio of 12:1, the College engages over 2,500 students in 80+ rig­orous academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and pre-professional fields. The Stonehill community helps students to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to meet their pro­fessional goals and to live lives of purpose and integ­rity.

Student on Holy Cross’ Dean’s List

WORCESTER, MA – Caitlin McCutcheon of Gorham was among 1,453 students named to College of the Holy Cross’ Dean’s List for outstanding ac­ademic achievement during the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic year.

McCutheon is a member of the Class of 2023 and has not yet de­clared a major.

To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must pass four or more letter-graded courses with no failing grades during the semester and earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, MA, is a highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 3,100 students. The college is renowned for offering a rigorous, per­sonalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition since its founding in 1843.

From BML

GORHAM – Events at Baxter Memorial Library at 71 South Street, during February.

Thursday

Feb. 18

10 a.m.

Gorham Feathered Friends

Come to Baxter Memorial Library and stroll along the walkway and gazebo area. Bring your binoculars to find all 12 “birds” and learn some fun facts. An identification/color page will be available inside the doors of BML and also to print off at home to use in your own yard.

Friday

Feb. 19

10 a.m.

Lava Lamp

Join Ms Heidi for this groovy experiment.  She will show you how to make a lava lamp with common household items.  You will need: a smooth-sided plastic or glass container, vegetable oil, water, food coloring drops, and Alka Seltzer tablets. We’ve bought plenty of Alka Seltzer tablets, so stop by the library if you need one.  

 Tuesday

Feb. 23

9:30 a.m.

Preschool Discovery Time

If you love picture books watch Ms Heidi on Facebook as she reads a new book each week. (ages 3-5) 

Wednesday

Feb. 24

10 a.m.

STEAM – Tin Can Telephones

Join Ms. Deb on Facebook for a virtual STEAM activity. Activities are geared toward K-5 learners and require minimal supplies that you’ll likely have right on-hand at home. In this program, we’ll learn a bit about how sound works. We’ll recycle some aluminum cans and turn them into simple yet effective phones that you can use around your house any time you want.

Thursday

Feb. 25

9:30 a.m.

Toddler Discovery Time

Join Ms. Dani for a Virtual Discovery Time on Facebook.  She will read a story and present an extension activity related to the book.  So much fun for this age group!  (18months-3 yrs)

From Casco FCU

GORHAM – The cupids at the Casco Federal Credit Union branches in Gorham were hard at work this month to show their neighbors they are cared for, even while we have to stay six feet apart.

The staff at Casco FCU put their crafting skills to good use to make over 160 cards for senior citizens in Gorham.

The cards were delivered to the residents at Gorham House, a senior living center located on New Portland Road, just in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Gorham House provides a variety of retirement and living options including independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation

“In this ongoing pandemic, many people feel isolated or lonely. This can be especially true for seniors who may be separated from family and friends,” said Kelsey Gillespie, Marketing and Sales Director at Casco FCU. “This project was one small way that we can help our seniors feel connected to their community.”

This Valentine’s delivery was a part of Casco FCU’s ongoing Casco Cares Campaign, an effort to find creative ways to build community during the COVID-19 crisis.

To learn more about Casco FCU’s charitable efforts, visit their website at www.cascofcu.com or find them on social media.

Casco FCU is a is a not-for-profit financial institution with assets of over $81 million, providing banking services to more than 9,000 members. Branches are located at 375 Main Street and 393 Ossipee Trail in Gorham.

By Nathan Tsukroff

A recent decision by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, coupled with a change to “green” designation for Cumberland County schools, has allowed Gorham High School to restart its winter sports programs.

Cumberland County had been designated green from the start of the pandemic, then was designated “yellow” by the Maine DHHS in December as infection rates increased above state averages across the county.

Under DHHS guidelines, sports activities and other extra curricular activities in schools throughout Cumberland County were immediately suspended, in order to keep students and parents safe.

In mid-January, the Maine DHHS changed its determination for school sports after reviewing and determining that infection rates were substantially lower in schools across the state. The rate of new cases at the time was determined to be 27 per 10,000 school staff and students, compared to 113 per 10,000 people statewide.

The DHHS basically put decisions about sports back in the hands of the Maine Principals Association, which then gave schools approval to local decisions to restart sports and other after-school activities. Schools were advised not to allow competition with schools in other counties, however.

In late-January, the Maine DHHS returned Cumberland County to a green designation, although Androscoggin, York, and Oxford counties remain yellow.

Gorham High School varsity girls basketball coach Laughn Berthiaume said that Cumberland County schools had already made a decision to return to in-person winter sports, based on the change in MPA guidelines. The team began in-person practices on Jan. 25, and begins a five-week, 10-game schedule this week against other Cumberland County schools.

Players on all teams wear masks during both practice and games, and remain socially-distanced when possible.

Berthiaume said fans are not being allowed at games. Only players, coaches and referees up to the maximum of 50 people will be allowed in the gym at one time, under Maine DHHS guidelines. “Under 50 is both teams, game personnel, score clock operators,” he said.

While athletics were suspended, players practiced remotely, Berthiaume said. “We had a number of Zoom meetings. I had some former team members, currently playing in college, that got on with my team and were talking about their experience, and what they were doing to stay safe and practice at the same time.”

Berthiaume and his fellow coaches would “connect with the team virtually to talk about things. We had some videos we sent out about the things we’d like to do, and we had some workouts that we sent them that they could also do on their own.”

With the limitations on social-gathering under DHHS guidelines, the varsity and junior varsity teams will not be traveling together to games as they have in the past. Instead, the JV team will ride in a separate bus, playing its game and exiting the gym before the varsity girls take the court. The same process will be used for the boys teams.

The boys and girls teams traditionally play at opposite schools on the same day. And in an attempt to limit contact as much as possible, schools will play both seasonal games the same week,Berthiaume said.

Although parents and fans aren’t allowed to watch in person, “everybody is live streaming their games,” he said. “In reality, the family members that are far away that wouldn’t normally be able to see the games can actually watch them live, so that’s kinda cool!” And parents with children on both the boys and girls teams can now watch both games at the same time.

Gorham games will be streamed on nfhsnetwork.com, as part of the MPA’s collaboration with the National Federation of State High School Associations. Previous games should be available for on-demand viewing.

The Gorham girls volleyball team that normally plays in the fall will start its season on Feb. 22, overlapping the basketball season a little. Berthiaume said coaches are working together to have separate practice times, so students who play both sports can attend practices. Volleyball games are expected to take place after the basketball season ends on Mar. 11, and games are expected to be live streamed, as well.