School shopping in Atlanta

Ready for school, Elizabeth Smith, a Gorham High School sophomore, returned recently from visiting family and friends in Georgia.

Her mom, Jeanie Smith of Gorham, said her daughter shopped for a back-to-school wardrobe in Atlanta, Ga. “Her luggage was stuffed,” Jeanie Smith said.

Elizabeth, 16, spent four weeks with her dad and stepmother, Roy and Marci Smith, and two sisters, Victoria and Samantha Smith. Elizabeth enjoyed her vacation with concerts and a trip to Panama City, Fla.

As a freshman last year, Smith participated in high school drama and enjoys drawing. She and her sophomore classmates start school on Thursday, Aug. 28. “She loves school,” her mom said.

Reunion reminder

The Gorham classes 1970 through 1974 are planning a combined reunion on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Verrillo’s in Portland.

Those wishing to attend should contact Donna Aikins at 329-0753 or [email protected] by Monday, Sept. 1.

Welcome mat is out

Membership in the Gorham Woman’s Club is open to anyone wishing to join. The purpose of the Gorham Woman’s Club is to bring together women of all ages, interests and experience who are interested in and willing to work toward community betterment.

Regular meetings are held September through May with the exception of December. Refreshments are served at 12:30 p.m. with a program and meeting starting at 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.

The group will hold its first 2008-2009 meeting Thursday, Sept. 11, at the First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham. The meeting will start at 12:30 p.m. with a potluck luncheon. Each member is requested to bring a guest and all prospective members are welcome.

For more information about the club, contact Marie Woodbrey at 839-4213.

Report crop, fence damage

Winds raised havoc in Gorham in a severe storm on July 18 and farmers might be eligible for federal help.

Farmers in Gorham who sustained significant wind damage to crops or fences should contact the Cumberland & York County Farm Service Agency in Scarborough The agency is assessing damage to request funds from an emergency conservation program.

The agency’s August newsletter reports that agricultural producers must have suffered $1,000 of debris removal on cropland or in fencing repairs to be eligible for the program.

Crop losses could be covered by disaster assistance programs.

Sandy Truslow, executive director of the agency, can be contacted at 883-0159.

Planning 2nd annual art fair

The 2008 Gorham Art Fair is having its second meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 27 State St., which is The Art Guru teaching space.

“We will be discussing the poster contest for the event, and how to judge it, what it should say, and what the prize should be for winning (besides glory and fame),” said The Art Guru Jeremy Greene in an e-mail statement. “We will also be discussing any new ideas for the event, what you would like to see, etc….”

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Aug. 15 that the U.S. public debt was $9,606,975,957,798.46.