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Pick up the next paper – a 24-page, Who is this man? commemorative keepsake edition – to find out. For more details, see page 2. A FREE B i W ee k L y N ewspaper NONPROFIT TowN of U.S. POSTAGE PAID olume umber ay V 17 N 10 m 13, 2011 GORHAM, ME Gorham, Maine PERMIT NO. 10 —fouNded 1736— Plan-It GHS A Higher Recycling 275 Years of Performing Follow-Up Gorham History and Efficient Bus and Walking Tours Dede Perkins High sulfate Levels School Stacy Sallinen Complicate Removal id you know the McClellan the Hannaford flagpole at 2 p.m. on house, built in 1773, was Sunday. orham High School was recently Sheri Faber Dthe first brick house in Highlights of the long bus tour identified as one of nine higher Cumberland County? Or that the include a stop of Merrifield Farm for performing and efficient public he town received a report from G Oxford and Cumberland Canal con- a brief talk on the Indurated Fibre high schools in Maine by the Center for the Department of Environmental necting Sebago Lake to Casco Bay Co. and as well a stop at the former Education Policy, Applied Research and Protection (DEP) that showed the T passed through Gorham? Did you Levi Hall School. The short bus tour Evaluation (CEPARE) and the Maine sulfate level in the material at Plan-It know that at one time there were and walking tour will encompass Education Policy Research Institute Recycling is higher than expected. two Shaker communities in our Village history 100 to 150 years ago. (MEPRI) at the University of Southern Sulfate is found in building materials town? Walkers will be invited to tour the Maine. such as sheetrock and wallboard. As If you’re interested in learn- inside of the IOOF building, which The high school qualified to par- a result a possible plan to take the ing more about Gorham history, has been restored to its original ticipate in a study to identify practices material to a landfill in Augusta is no consider joining one of the his- condition. Along the route, all tour that make it successful. In order for a longer a viable option. There are other tory tours offered on Saturday and participants will hear stories about school to be considered higher per- landfills that could potentially take the Sunday—May 28 and 29—during town monuments, churches, histori- forming, it must have a three-year aver- material but the cost of removing and the town’s 275th celebration. The cal houses, Fort Gorham, as well as age on SATs above state average, two- transporting it is estimated to be at Gorham Historical Society has orga- descriptions of what once was, but year average of meeting proficiency least $750,000. The town has been con- nized three tours—long (3 hours) is no longer. and have a graduation rate above state tacted by various businesses that have and short (1 hour) bus tours that To reserve your spot on one average. GHS placed ninth out of 106 expressed an interest in the property will leave from St. Anne’s parking of the history tours, please call schools for proficiency on the SATs but according to Town Manager David lot at 2 p.m. both days as well as a Gorham Recreation at 222-1630. and had a graduation rate of 90.09 per- Cole, the town is “trying to figure out walking tour that will leave from cent. The state average graduation rate what the best option might be for the was 83.53 percent. A school is consid- site.” He described the process as a ered to be efficient when the average “complicated one with many players amount a school district spends on a and one that is unlikely to have a rapid student is not disproportionate to high- solution.” There is an estimated 5,000 MDOT Holds Final Hearing er performing standards. tons of trash at the site. The town is In early March, researchers from still trying to address this problem, MEPRI spent two days visiting the although Cole points out there is “no Bill Ambrose on Burnham Road school. Their observations, categorized legal requirement for the town or the into eight key characteristics used to state to do anything.” t a public meeting at Gorham’s describe higher performing schools, One option under consideration Municipal Center on April were released in April. In the report, would be for the town to re-open its A26, the Maine Department of researchers noted: “many wonderful closed landfill and dispose of the mate- Transportation (MDOT) presented its practices were evident during our visit rial there. This would be appreciably final plans to improve the intersection to Gorham High School. The strongest cheaper than transporting it to an of Burnham and County Roads (Route and most pervasive elements we saw in out-of-town landfill as there would be 22). This intersection is within what is our review of documents, interviews, no tipping fees at Gorham’s landfill known as the “overlap area,” in which classroom observations, focus groups, and the transportation costs would be Routes 22 and 114 share the same and conversations” include: appreciably less, but there would still roadway. • The school and district demonstrated be a cost—probably at least $100,000. The intersection in question has a willingness to identify areas in Cole is continuing to seek a solution long been the site of vehicular acci- Photo credit Bill Ambrose need of improvement, both academ- where the town would not have to dents and near misses. It is classified ic and social, and then maintained spend taxpayer dollars to fund the as a “high crash location.” In addi- Westbound vehicles on County Road the focus and commitment to effect clean up. tion, it is a cause of traffic backups attempt to turn left while other westbound change Cole and the DEP are looking for during the morning and evening rush traffic pass on the right. This type of vehi- • A solid core of teaching staff knowl- a way to remove the waste as expe- hours. Left turns from Burnham Road edgeable about their content area ditiously as possible as it presents a to County Road and left turns from cle movement contributes to rush hour and demonstrated engaging, chal- potential fire hazard and will produce County Road onto Burnham Road congestion and a high rate of accidents. lenging practices odor and other potential problems as it are the major causes of difficulty. • The school enjoyed strong com- decomposes. Compounding the problem is the Continued on Page 18 Continued on Page 14 During his wish trip to meet “Toy Story” characters at Walt Disney World® Resort, wish child Lucien Beardsley, 6, and his new insidetheTimes friends read the Gorham Times. Lucien is one of numerous children 18 Blotter 5 Living who, while fighting a life-threatening medical condition, received 19 Calendar 4 Municipal the chance to have a dream come true thanks to the Make-A-Wish 19 Classified 6 School Foundation of Maine and its supporters. Portland Radio Group 16 Community 12 Sports sponsored Lucien’s wish with a donation of $6,000 and the Walt Disney Company provided theme park tickets and special meet and greets for Lucien and his family. www.gorhamtimes.com 2 | Gorham Times | May 13, 2011 letters to theEditor Times Letters must be less than 300 words, signed with a first and last name, typed or e-mailed and include a phone number. ­­ Letters are solely the opinion of the writer and not that of the Gorham Times. They are published at the discretion of the Gorham Times Bringing­the News­to­All­of GorhAm and are subject to editing. PO Box 401, 77 South Street Gorham, Maine 04038 Dear Gorham Times, should be voted down for the bad hand painted rock. Phone and Fax: 839-8390 I read the article in the Times idea it is and to show the council we My understanding was that there E-mail: [email protected] concerning the bond for the new have had enough of loose pocket- was a funeral in the cemetery and www.gorhamtimes.com athletic field. It is difficult for me to books. the chain was never put back up, rationalize spending $3 million on Peter Woodcock which doesn’t stop people for walk- The Gorham Times is a free volunteer-run a school athletic field. If the town ing under it. community newspaper distributed every other were awash in money, it would Dear Gorham Times, The town garage was notified, but Friday to more than 100 pick-up sites be a nice luxury. Just $0.21 more I am saddened by the person there was nothing they could do. to our mill rate is too much for an or persons who took my mother’s My sister put in a complaint to the throughout Gorham. absolutely nonessential dream of arrangement at her grave. I put them Gorham Police who thought it was a —— our elected officials. We are taxed there on her birthday, April 10th. My big joke! How To reacH us enough already. An item such as this sister, who lives on the same road, What did this person gain from News [email protected] never should make it to referendum; put them out for Easter and the very stealing the flowers? Just so they Sports [email protected] it should have died in chambers. next day they where gone. My sister could get out cheap for not buying Features [email protected] Thinking like this by our nationally called me all upset on Monday that their own? It’s bad karma! Of Interest [email protected] elected leaders in government is someone had taken them.

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