Sticking it to winter
Jason Curtis of Gorham, foreground, and his daughter, Casey Curtis, practice hockey on a rink behind Gorham Public Safety building. Casey Curtis is a freshman at Waynflete High School in Portland. Robert Lowell / American Journal
New Gorham representative sworn in by governor
Gov. Janet Mills last week administered the oath of office to Jim Boyle of Gorham, a newly elected Democrat who represents part of Gorham and part of Scarborough in House District 27.
Boyle
Boyle won a special election on Jan. 11 to fill the year remaining in the two-year term held by Kyle Bailey, who resigned in October. Boyle defeated Republican challenger Timothy Thorsen and unenrolled candidate Suzanne Phillips in a light voter turnout.
Sock drive to benefit homeless
St. Anne Church in Gorham is collecting socks again in its annual donation drive “for those in need, especially the homeless,” the Rev. Lou Phillips, pastor of the St. Anthony of Padua Parish, said in a press release. “It’s a drive that we’ve had for many years, and it has been quite successful.”
Parishioners have previously donated thousands of pairs of socks for veterans’ groups, shelters, food pantries and local organizations such as Amistad, Preble Street and St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Portland.
“We’ve also distributed the collected items to schools in Buxton, Gorham and Limington as needed,” said Teresa Ledue of St. Anne.
The collection site is in the narthex of the church at 299 Main St. in Gorham. Donations can be dropped off before and after all January Masses (8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays; 9 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays) or at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish’s pastoral center, 268 Brown St., Westbrook, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Fridays.
The effort to assist those in need is ever-present at Maine parishes. One inspiring initiative after another, and all done for the right reasons.
“We do not give to be recognized,” Ledue said. “Only to provide for the need.”
50 years ago
The American Journal reported Jan. 26, 1972, that Sara Emerson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Horton Emerson, had left for South Africa as a foreign exchange student.
U.S. taxpayer debt
The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on Jan. 20 that the U.S. public debt was $29,867,021,509,573.92.
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