Benefit dinner

Members of the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St., are sponsoring a chicken pie dinner at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, to benefit a mission trip in February to La Masica, Honduras.

The church members will travel to Honduras as part of a medical team.

The benefit dinner menu is chicken pie, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls and pie. Cost is $7.

Marketplace plans

The 11th annual Gorham Marketplace will be held on Saturday, March 15, in the Costello Field House on the Gorham campus at the University of Southern Maine.

Registration forms for booths have been mailed to businesses. Incentives are being offered to early registrants.

Marketplace 2008 will attract thousands of shoppers, features live entertainment, demonstrations, food court and kids activities. Trish Moulton is chairwoman of this year’s Marketplace. Moulton can be reached at 749-6265.

Attention bridge players

All levels of players are welcome to join a bridge group at the Gorham Recreation Center, 75 South St., on Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-noon. For more information, call Norma Murray at 839-3215.

Start smart youth programs

Gorham Recreation Department is sponsoring starting golf and basketball six-week programs for youths.

Golf for ages 5-7 runs Tuesday, March 11, through Tuesday, April 15, at 6-7 p.m., at Shaw Gym. The cost is $50.

Basketball for ages 4 and 5 begins Wednesday, Feb. 27, through Wednesday, April 2, at Robie Gym. The cost is $40.

Each program needs 20 participants to register by Jan. 25 and parents will participate with their children.

To register or for more information, call Alan Grady at Gorham Parks and Recreation Department, 222-1633

Wondering Wednesdays

The parables of Jesus about making choices will be the topic for Wondering Wednesdays in January at the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St.

The series is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16, 23 and 30.

For more information, call the church at 839-6751.

Home heating fundraiser

Maine Reps. Chris Barstow and David Farrington of Gorham, along with the Gorham LifeChurch, will host a spaghetti dinner to benefit local home heating assistance programs. The dinner will be held Friday, Jan. 18, from 6-8 p. m. at the Gorham PTA Building, Gray Road.

“Even with federal aid coming through, the high cost of fuel oil is hitting Mainers hard,” said Barstow. “The early, bitter cold that we have experienced over the past several weeks has only added to the hardship.”

Monetary donations will be accepted for home heating assistance as well as canned goods to be donated to the Gorham Ecumenical Food Pantry. Those who would like to volunteer for or donate to the event can contact Barstow at 839-2095 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Historical reminder

Gorham Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday in the Gorham Savings Bank Operations Center off Gray Road.

President Jan Labrecque said the program would be “Antique Road Show” by Tim Gould, who will identify and appraise items taken to the meeting by those attending.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public debt reported on Jan. 2 that the U.S. public debt was $9,210,587,444,062.47.