Emelia Bailey

Bailey wins singing contest

Emelia Bailey, 11, won first place in the junior division at the Maine Association of Singing Teacher’s annual Musical Theater singing competition held Nov. 19 at Bates College. 

Bailey sang two selections from “Cinderella” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” A sixth-grader at Gorham Middle School, Bailey has also performed with the Port Opera company and is a member of the University of Southern Maine Children’s Choir.

Santa coming to town

A tree lighting ceremony and a light parade delivering Santa and Mrs. Claus to Gorham is set for Sunday, Dec. 4.

The parade with vehicles lighted for the holiday kickoff will line up at 4 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 270 Main St., and festivities also begin at 4 p.m. at Robie Park, off Ball Park Road, with music, horse-drawn carriage rides and hot cocoa.

Santa arrives about 5 p.m. on a Fire Department ladder truck and will meet with boys and girls in the Recreation Department after the tree is lit until 6:30pm.

Admission is free and parking will be at the municipal and high school lots. Registration is requested for the light parade and participants are urged to take non-perishable food for Gorham Food Pantry. Collection bins for donations will be in Shaw Gym at the Recreation Department.

Angel tree concert

Cressey Road United Methodist Church, 81 Cressey Road, is hosting the “Angel Tree Project” benefit concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The program will feature church music groups – choir, Fulcrum and handbell choir.

A freewill offering will be taken to benefit the project, helping to provide Christmas gifts for families in the community who might otherwise have none. For more information, call the church ast 839-3111.

Thanksgiving reminder

A free turkey dinner will be served at noon on Thursday, Nov. 24, at Mister Bagel, 13 New Portland Road, Gorham. Meals can be delivered on request by calling 839-4516.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on Nov. 17 that the U.S. public debt was $19,897,150,970,886.87.