August 20, 2020 a Free, Not-For-Profit Newspaper Serving Gorham Since 1995 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS of NEWS for the GORHAM COMMUNITY Schools Will Open Sept
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NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE Your Community Paper PAID GORHAM, ME PERMIT NO. 10 Volume 26 Number 16 | August 20, 2020 A Free, Not-for-Profit Newspaper Serving Gorham Since 1995 CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF NEWS FOR THE GORHAM COMMUNITY Schools Will Open Sept. 8 25 School District Continues Years Work on Reopening Plan in the Making Photo credit Kathy Corbett Members of the School Committee attend- ed a tour of classrooms set up at Great Falls School for the hybrid attendance plan. In each classroom about 11 students will sit at desks placed six feet apart. KATHY CORBETT Staff Writer All Gorham public schools will open on September 8. On August 6, the School Committee (SC) approved the overall reopening plan (6-1 Gagnon), which describes how schools would Photo credits MK Kitchen, Erin Flett, Roger Marchand and Leslie Dupuis function under each of three plans. These range from “red,” on-line instruc- LESLIE DUPUIS you look at this measure Gorham has Originally proposed in 1999, a new tion, to “green,” all students physically Editor the second highest share of popula- $5 million public safety building was attending school. The SC gave unani- tion growth in Maine since 2010, unveiled in 2016. The complex now mous support for a Grade K-8 “yellow” Gorham has undergone many behind Windham. Gorham’s share of houses the fire station and a new hybrid plan in which students return changes in the last quarter century. the state’s population growth exceeds 10,000-square-foot police station. The to school twice a week but voted (5-2 Over the past 25 years, the Gorham that of Scarborough, Westbrook, and municipal offices moved into the for- Gagnon, Wright) to open Grades 9-12 Times has consistently been there to Saco, too.” mer Shaw Junior High School on in “red.” Superintendent Heather Perry document those changes while con- School enrollment was 2,456 in South Street in 2006. Baxter Library said, “the plans would be evaluated on tinuing to bring “the news to all of 1995 and is anticipated to be 2,832 added a 10,000-square feet addition an ongoing basis with changes com- Gorham.” for the 2020-21 school year. The in 2003 and remains a fixture in the municated in real time as needed and The population of Gorham grew new Gorham Middle School opened community. as conditions change.” from 11,856 in 1990 to 16,381 in in 2003 and Great Falls Elementary Traffic concerns and subsequent The SC decision to open Gorham 2010. The current estimated popu- School opened in 2011. While GHS studies were documented in several High School (GHS) with the “red” lation is 17,651 but is thought to was renovated and expanded in the of our earliest publications and date virtual learning plan also permitted be higher based on the number of 1990s, a committee was formed more back as far as the 1989-1993 MDOT sports and other extracurricular activi- registered voters (14, 485). Laurie recently to review possible options Route 25 Corridor Study. The Bernard ties to potentially operate under “yel- Nordfors, Town Clerk, believes the for additional renovations to meet Rines Bypass went out to bid in 2007 low.” Barriers to a full hybrid plan for 2020 census will surely reflect more increases in enrollment. GHS centered on classroom size and growth. USM continues to be a valuable CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 the number of moves teachers would In speaking with Abe Dailey, a data resource for our community. First have to make for it to work. analyst with Greater Portland Council opening in 1878 as the Gorham SC members and the administra- of Governments, about Gorham being Normal School, the university annu- tion, however, felt strongly that they one of the fastest growing towns in ally hosts community events such insidetheTimes needed to find a way to offer in-per- Maine, he shared, “A better way to as Gorham Night and a Halloween son instruction at GHS at the start of identify the fastest growing town may Party. USM also partners with GHS 3 Augusta the school year. Subsequently, at the be to look at the share of the total pop- students, among others, for athletic August 12 SC meeting, Principal Brian ulation growth in Maine since 2010. If events and online classes. 5 Town/Municipal Jandreau summarized drafts of three hybrid plans that would bring students 7 Schools safely to school. Superintendent Perry FROM THE FOUNDER, MAYNARD CHARRON said they “will be prepared to present The Gorham Times is a testament to close to 200 people, over 25 years, 10 Sports to the School Committee some options who have contributed to producing a quality community newspaper for and request a reconsideration vote on their friends and neighbors. I hope everyone in Gorham will continue to 15 Community August 18.” appreciate the interest, commitment, and skill, that all GT staff has given Parents have received a 57-page to their town. handbook describing all aspects and As newspapers, big and small, around the country are in trouble or requirements of the plans. During the folding,it is critical that everyone in Gorham, the GT staff, the readers and week of August 24, parents of all stu- certainly the advertisers, keep up the good fight and keep the GT alive. Real honest news, real community. I believe that is what we all want. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 25 Years in the Making CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 FROM THE and was completed in 2008, improving Also in 2019, Harvey Performance traffic flow by allowing commuters to broke ground on its new manufac- BRINGING THE NEWS TO All OF GORHAM FOUNDING MEMBERS PO Box 401 avoid the center of Gorham. turing plant at 49 Raceway Drive, Gorham, Maine 04038 Quotes In reference to land and new con- home of the 62-acre former racetrack. Phone and Fax: (207) 839-8390 It’s amazing that an all vol- struction, Dailey said, “The average cost Harvey became the first project at [email protected] unteer, non-profit organization of land per acre in Portland ($263,300 the sprawling site, owned by Shawn www.gorhamtimes.com has been able to continue to ful- per acre) is about five times the cost of Moody’s company, and is expected to —— the average acre in Gorham ($59,100). help boost the town’s tax base. The Gorham Times is a free volunteer-run fill the original vision outlined community newspaper distributed every other This trend in land prices means that for With the town’s original industri- during the planning meetings in Thursday to more than 100 pick-up sites the average family in this region a home al park almost at capacity and the throughout Gorham. the spring of 1995. We wanted is much more affordable in a place like Olde Canal Business Park located —— Gorham Times to actively support Gorham, Standish, or Windham.” off of Mosher Road quickly filling, News [email protected] A total of 146 subdivisions were the Gorham community recently Sports [email protected] local businesses, to strengthen Features [email protected] community ties with our schools, approved (although not necessarily approved a referendum to purchase Of Interest [email protected] built) between 1996 and 2014. Between 141 acres of land from the M.P. Rines Calendar item [email protected] to provide information about 2016 and present day, 30 new subdivi- Trust. Located along Libby and Cobb Advertising gorhamtimesadvertising@ important local issues, and to sions have been approved consisting Road and abutting the current indus- gmail.com or 839-8390 celebrate all that is best about of 323 dwelling units. On the commer- trial park, the new project will allow School News [email protected] —— living in a great small town like cial side, 51 projects were approved, the Town to attract more businesses SUBSCRIPTIONS Gorham. illustrating the upward trend in com- to further ease the tax burden on $20/year in Gorham; $25/year elsewhere mercial activity which is beneficial to residents. $15/year for college subscription As the Features Editor, I have Gorham's tax base. Housing sales for Recreationally, Gorham is leading Snowbird subscriptions available enjoyed working with many writ- Gorham in 1997 (the first year records the way with access to public trails. upon request Subscriptions and renewals are available ers and local small business own- can be found) totaled 84. In 2019, the As part of the Presumpscot Regional online on our website. ers who contribute articles in total was 311 homes. Land Trust, residents have their pick —— Non-profit organizations like the of walking trails in Gorham and sur- Editor: Leslie Dupuis their area of expertise. Several Gorham Business Exchange and the rounding communities. In 2005, Business Manager: Stacy Sallinen local history buffs write columns Gorham Village Alliance work togeth- Shaw Brothers Construction gave Advertiser Coordinator: Stacy Sallinen Design/Production: Shirley Douglas that connect Gorham’s past, pres- er with Gorham’s Department of the Town of Gorham and its citi- Staff Writers: Diane Abramson, Jacob Adams, ent and future. Community Development to support zens Shaw Park, a 7.5-acre community Kathy Corbett, John Ersek, Sheri Faber, I love writing about the our local business growth and enhance the park on the Presumpscot River. The Edmund Ricker, Cathy Walter community we live in. In the last five walking and biking trails at Shaw Features: Chris Crawford Gorham graduates in the Where years, the town has been transformed. Cherry Hill Farm opened to the pub- Photographers: Amanda Landry, Roger Are They Now column. We can be On Main Street alone, the demolition lic in 2019.