Hungry hoot in town

A Barred Owl, likely hoping for lunch, perched a few feet above the snow in a tree all day Feb. 28 in Austin Boothby’s yard on South Street.

Boothby thought the owl was hungry and approached it within a few feet to put bread slices in the snow. It didn’t fly away at Boothby’s presence, but bread didn’t interest the owl.

Eric Hynes, Maine Audubon naturalist, said Friday the Barred Owl is a predator that feasts on mice, moles, an occasional bird or red squirrel. Hynes said the local Barred Owl population has swelled with an influx seeking food. Hynes, who said the owls are “food stressed,” said there’s been a migration to the area from upstate and Canada.

“There’s lots of owls,” said Hynes.

The Barred Owl is also sometimes called a hoot owl and is the most common owl in Maine. The Barred Owl is usually reclusive. He described an adult as weighing 1.5 pounds with up to a 4-foot wingspan.

Grange to honor Quinn

The White Rock Grange No. 350 will present its citizens’ award next month to Gorham native Rodney Quinn.

Quinn, a retired Air Force pilot, is a former legislator, Maine secretary of state and college professor. Quinn writes a column for the American Journal and wrote a book, “Gorham During the Great Depression.”

The award will be presented at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, at the Grange on Wilson Road, off Route 237 in White Rock. The meeting, which will have entertainment, will be open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Roy, Norton earn honors

Meghan Norton and Nicole Roy have been named to the president’s list at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass., for extraordinary academic achievement for the fall semester.

A freshman, Norton is majoring in management. Roy, a junior, is majoring in marketing.

Baker on dean’s list

David H. Baker earned dean’s list recognition at Connecticut College, New London, Conn., for the fall semester. Baker is a member of the class of 2008.

Named consultant

Kay Fearon has become an independent consultant for Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company featuring easy-to-prepare gourmet products. Fearon can be reached at 892-4516.

Barstow seeks another term

Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, has announced his intention to seek re-election to the Maine House of Representatives. Barstow is seeking his fourth and final term in Gorham’s House District 129.

The district includes the Gorham neighborhoods of North Gorham, White Rock, Little Falls, East Gorham, Gorham Village and South Gorham. Barstow has served four years as House chairman of the Legislature’s State & Local Government Committee.

He resides in Gorham with his wife, Rebecca, and their children, Alexa, Jacob and Elizabeth.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Feb. 28 that the U.S. public debt was $9,343,241,961,715.05