Home from England

Susan Rappold has returned to Gorham after a recent month-long visit to England, where she was born.

Rappold traveled to the County of Devon, which she said is about a three-hour train ride from London. She helped her brother move after undergoing surgery. “It was nice to see my family,” Rappold said.

She said the weather was cold and rained every day, flooding farm fields. She said food is expensive in England with cost of a 3-pound chicken equating to $14 and ground meat, $12 a pound.

Rappold, a former resident of New Orleans, La., arrived in Gorham after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Bentley president’s list

Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., announced five students from Gorham were named to its president’s list for extraordinary academic achievement for the fall semester.

They are Nicole Danielle Roy, a senior, who is majoring in marketing; Meghan Anne Norton, a sophomore, managerial economics-accounting; and Matthew Ryan Fenton, Monique DePrez King and Isaac Andrew Pease, three freshmen majoring in business.

Garden club reminder

Gorham Garden Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the recreation room at the Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St.

A master gardener, Marty Schindler, will speak.

White Rock invite

White Rock Elementary School has announced an opportunity for parents with children, who turn 5 by Oct. 15, to visit the school 5:30-6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and Thursday, April 2.

Parents and children living in the White Rock area will meet teachers and staff along with participating in kindergarten activities.

Pre-registration is required by calling Regina at 222-1050.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Feb. 11 that the U.S. public debt was $10,713,124,215,572.20.

Gorham government begins

The first town meeting in Gorham was held on Feb. 18, 1765, according to a Gorham Historical Society chronology. Voters approved “40 pounds” (British currency) for schools. The town, founded as Narragansett 7, was incorporated in October the previous year and had a population of 340 people