Gorham Notes – 10/31

Gorham plaque unveiling

A plaque commemorating the incorporation of Gorham will be unveiled at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St. Town Manager David Cole said the date marks the 250th anniversary of the incorporation of Gorham as a town.

McLellan’s “History of Gorham” reported that the General Court of Massachusetts passed an act on Oct. 30, 1764, incorporating the town.

However, Joshiah Pierce’s “A History of the Town of Gorham” records the incorporation date as Oct. 24, 1764, and last week, the American Journal reported that the incorporation date was Oct. 24, a date posted on the Gorham Historical Society’s chronology.

Troop 73 Camporee victory

Boy Scout Troop 73 of Gorham was the overall winner of the recent Casco Bay District Fall Camporee.

In addition, scouts Nolan McCullough and Connor Donnelly placed second in wilderness survival shelter building competition in which they had to sleep overnight.

“The Casco Bay District hosts scout Camporees twice annually,” reported Connor Donnelly of Troop 73. “This Camporee focused on wilderness survival in which 10 troops participated. The camporee took place at Kiwanis Beach in Standish from the 13th-15th of October. Throughout the three-day event, all troops participated in six different challenges, including signaling, shelter building, fire starting and no-utensil camp fire cooking. No troop was allowed assistance or advice from adult leaders. All troops were scored on participation, task capability and attentiveness to instruction. Troop 73 was the overall winner.”

Troop 73 meets every Monday at 6:30 p.m. during the school year at The First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St., in Gorham.

“New scouts are always welcome,” Donnelly said.

‘Fiddle-icious’ in Gorham concert

Maine’s largest fiddle orchestra, “Fiddle-icious,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the McCormick Performing Arts Center at Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Ave.

Don Roy of Gorham directs the orchestra that plays traditional Celtic music. Members of the group play several instruments including piano, harp, guitar, banjo, cello, tin whistle, concertina and upright bass.

Available at the door, tickets are $10; free, children 12 and under. CDs will be available for purchase.

Election eve prayer service

A prayer and reconcilliation service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, at First Parish Congregational Church, UCC, 1 Church St. The Gorham Ecumenical Council sponsors the service, which is led by clergy of member churches.

“The purpose is to offer a venue where people can come together to consider and pray about their own choices and to promote civility and respect for all choices,” a council statement said.

Asphalt plant recognized

The National Asphalt Pavement Association recently has recognized the Brickyard Asphalt Plant owned by Shaw Brothers Construction in Gorham with two awards.

The Gorham plant has been awarded the association’s Diamond Achievement Commendation for excellence in asphalt plant operations and the Diamond Achievement Sustainable Commendation, which recognizes the company’s environmental, economic and social sustainable practices.

‘Bus Stop’ at USM

Several performances of the play “Bus Stop,” by William Inge, will be on stage at Russell Hall on the Gorham campus of the University of Southern Maine beginning on Friday, Oct. 31, and continuing through Sunday, Nov. 9.

Presented by the USM Department of Theatre, “Bus Stop,” tells the story of a cross-country bus that gets marooned at a Midwest diner, where longing for love is the desperation du jour.

“Inge’s story takes place in the 1950s; it’s a classic American dramatic comedy,” said Thomas Power, director of the show and USM professor of theater. “Part of that classic appeal are the universal themes that are explored in the show: the meaning of love, generational differences in romance and the ageless pursuit of personal connection with another human being.”

Tickets are $15; $11, seniors, university employees and alumni; $8, students. Show times vary; for more information, visit usm.maine.edu/theatre or call 780-5151.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on Oct. 23 that the U.S. public debt was $17,899,001,165,157.98.

Troop 73 scouts, from left in front, are Teddy Lockman, Nolan McCullough, Ben Nault, Sam Cousins, Benjamin Demers, Mark McShane III, and Adam Harrington. Back row, Connor Donnelly and Ben Bellantoni, senior patrol leader. All are from Gorham. Dance Studio of Maine dancers Natalie Brackett of Westbrook and Maddie Poulin of Gorham choreographed portions of a televised flash mob that aired on WPXT’s “The Flash.” Brackett and Poulin, along with Trish Moulton, owner of the studio in Gorham, choreographed and directed the dance performance along with 30 other dancers. Other locals joined in on the filming, which was aired on Oct. 7 and 14.