New Year Gorham looking for snow

A full slate of New Year Gorham events get under way Dec. 31, with a snow sculpture contest to be held in Robie Park near the high school from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31.

Organizers are hoping that Mother Nature will co-operate.

“The contest is open to individuals, families and groups that pre-register to reserve a ‘plop’ of snow for sculpting,” Cindy Hazelton, director of Gorham Recreation Department, said in a release.

Registration is free by contacting Gorham Recreation Department at 222-1630.

At several venues, New Year Gorham will feature choral music, comedy, steel drums, juggling, magic, hayride, and dancing.

“This year we are pleased to feature several local artists – some new and some back by popular request,” Virginia Wilder Cross, chairman of the celebration, said. “All are top-notch entertainers who certainly will make our celebration especially exciting.”

A spaghetti supper ($8, $4 for kids under 12) at 5 p.m. in the Odd Fellows Building, corner of School Street and College Avenue, kicks off the annual celebration, and fireworks at 10 p.m. at Gorham High School caps the celebration.

Individual admission buttons for shows are $5, with family packages available for $20, at Gorham Recreation Department through Sunday, Dec. 30.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.newyeargorham.org

Smith recognized

Gorham High School senior Patricia Smith was honored earlier this month at the Maine Field Hockey Association banquet in the Augusta Civic Center.

Smith, a goalie, was named to the association’s all-academic team and to the association’s all state team.

Smith was awarded a computing medal and commended as a merit scholar for her preliminary SAT scores. The association’s program said she volunteers as a coach for youth field hockey and softball.

She plans on playing collegiate field hockey and major in exercise science or sports management.

Her grandfather, Hans Hansen, read her commendations to the Gorham Town Council last week. “This old grand pappy is pretty happy,” Hansen said.

Time to renew dog licenses

The 2013 dog licenses are now available, the office of Town Clerk Connie Loughran has announced.

The current dog licenses will expire on Monday, Dec. 31.

Dogs can be licensed online at www.gorham-me.org/Public_Documents/GorhamME_Webdocs/online, or go to the town clerk’s office at Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St. and be sure to take the current rabies certificate.

For more information, call 222-1670.

Triad reminder

Gorham-Westbrook Triad will meet at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, in Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St. Triad promotes safety of senior citizens.

Old times site

The Gorham Academy building and Corthell Hall, both on the University of Southern Maine campus, were listed in December 1979 in the National Register of Historic Buildings, according to the Gorham Historical Society chronology.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Dec. 7 that the U.S. public debt was $16,365,370,575,377.43.

The firework show, the traditional conclusion of New Year Gorham, always draws a crowd.  The town is readying for the 2012 festivities, just a couple weeks away.