GHS renovation could cost $11M

Kyle Currier, chairwoman of the Gorham School Committee, said on Dec. 21 that the estimated cost of a renovation-expansion planned for Gorham High School would be $11 million.

The School Committee this month authorized forming a building committee to oversee the project.

“We are in the process of populating that committee with members from the School Committee, town council, Gorham High School staff, community representatives and an administrative team,” Currier said. “We hope to have the first committee meeting in January 2013.”

The high school, 41 Morrill Ave., opened in 1959 and was renovated in 1995 for about 675 students. The enrollment is now 850 students.

Boyle named ?to Senate post

Sen. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, has been appointed senate chair to the Joint Standing Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources for the 126th Legislative session.

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee is responsible for reviewing proposals pertaining to the Department of Environmental Protection and general environmental policy. Previous bills have addressed air and water quality, waste management and disposal, growth management, and natural resource protection.

Senate President Justin Alfond appointed Boyle.

Boyle represents District 6, which includes Gorham and parts of Scarborough and Westbrook. Boyle defeated Ruth Summers of Scarborough, a Republican, in the November election.

The Legislative session will convene on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Boyle will also serve on the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee.

Boyle is a small-business owner, a forester, and an environmental consultant. Like his parents and his children, he is a graduate of the University of Maine, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in forest management. In 1996, he founded Boyle Associates, an environmental and land-use consulting company specializing in wetland science, wildlife biology, and environmental permitting and compliance.

Doucette leads genealogical group

Paul Doucette of Gorham, who this month was elected president of the Greater Portland Genealogical Chapter, announced its monthly meeting is set for Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 29 Ocean House Road in Cape Elizabeth.

The meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a social time that includes refreshments followed by the program at 1p.m. The speaker will be Charles Scontras, who will speak on Maine labor unions. He is a historian and research associate at the Bureau of Labor Education at the University of Maine and author of “In the Name of Humanity: Maine’s Crusade Against Child Labor.” A business meeting will follow the program.

At the December meeting, other officers elected for 2013 were Sue Hawes, vice president; Pat McBride, treasurer; Lois Knight, secretary; and Diane Brakeley and Lynne Holland, program chairs.

For more information, call Doucette at 839-2593.

U. S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Dec. 19 that the U.S. public debt was $16,352,043,784,079.65.

The Berlin City Auto Group recently awarded $6,000 from its Drive for Education Foundation to support four programs at Gorham Middle School. Among recipients are the steel band program, which is purchasing iPads to help in developing a steel band app, and the upcoming European tour for members of the middle school band in the summer of 2013. On hand to accept the grant check were student Evy Turnbaugh,  Choral and Steel Band Director Tracy Wheeler Williamson, teacher Kim Fotter, school band director Kim Mathieu Palmer, alternative education teacher Heather Whitaker, and student Lizzy Lemieux.    
Sen. Jim ?Boyle