Cutline (sophie) – Sen. Phil Bartlett, on the left, and Gov. John Baldacci welcome Sophie Berishvili, an attorney from the Republic of Georgia, to the State House recently. A courtesy photo

Bartlett hosts foreign dignitary

Sen. Philip Bartlett hosted Sophie Berishvili, an energy attorney from the Republic of Georgia, at the Statehouse from May 10 to 12.

Berishvili was in Maine to participate in the Community Connections program at Southern Maine Community College. Bartlett, who chairs the Utilities and Energy Committee, introduced Berishvili to legislators and other policymakers involved with energy issues. “This was a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from each other and to discuss common concerns about energy policy,” Bartlett said.

Berishvili had an opportunity to visit with Gov. John Baldacci on May 12.

Cutline (J. Leigh Hamilton) – J. Leigh Hamilton

It’s never to late for college

Spring is in the air, and high school juniors are planning their college visits. Graduating high school seniors are making final decisions about what colleges they will attend in the fall.

But, college isn’t always about teenagers leaving home for the first time.

One of two women in their 50s among 1,600 receiving degrees, a Gorham woman graduated on May 14 at the University of Southern Maine in ceremonies at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.

J. Leigh Hamilton, the oldest of nine children, is a first generation college student. She has been working on her degree for 15 years, first receiving an associate’s degree in plant and soil science from Southern Maine Community College before transferring to the University of Southern Maine as a psychology major.

Realizing that clinical counseling would not be a good fit for her, she designed her own major in career development and life planning and is about to begin an internship with Pathways to Higher Learning this May.

Hamilton and her husband, Stephen, raised two children during the years she pursued her bachelor’s degree.

She works in the history department on the Gorham campus and has been an active member of the Gorham community since 1986. She had served as a Girl Scout leader, a school volunteer and a member of the Gorham Garden Club.

Robin Day of Standish was the other woman in her 50s who earned a degree this year at the university. Day, a mother of three boys, is an assistant dean for finance and administration in the university’s College of Education and Human development. Story courtesy of Judie O’Malley

Cutline: Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, presents an award to Kingsley Strout of Gorham House on behalf of Gov. John Baldacci and the Maine Health Care Association. A courtesy photo

Strout honored for caring

Kingsley Strout of Gorham House was recently honored for his commitment to his family and community, as a minister and a caregiver to his wife for 60 of their 64-year marriage.

Strout was one of 44 people living in the state’s long-term care facilities who were recognized for his accomplishments by Gov. John Baldacci and the Maine Health Care Association (MHCA). Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, presented Strout with the award in a ceremony in the Hall of Flags at the Statehouse.

The association presented a certificate of lifetime achievement to Strout and the other honorees. The ceremony was part of a photography exhibit entitled “Remember Me,” which featured photos and biographies of those recognized.

“Just because these residents are less visible in the community doesn’t mean that we should forget their important contributions to our state and country. After giving to others all of their lives, they now depend on us for their daily medical and social care and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Richard A. Erb, MHCA president and CEO.

“This photographic tribute and recognition ceremony is our way of remembering them and saying ‘thank you,'” Erb said.

Cutline: Ken and Alice Mains at the Grand Canyon.

South Street couple cross country trek

Ken and Alice Mains of South Street took a month-long trip in the United States last month.

They spent a weekend in Ohio with one of Alice’s classmates, Pearl Leblanc Biscotti, before traveling on to St. Louis, Mo. There they climbed 630 feet to the top of the Gateway Arch.

The Petrified Wood National Park in Arizona was their next stop. While in Arizona, they rode the Grand Canyon Railroad to the canyon. “It was beautiful,” Alice said about the sunrise and sunset over the Grand Canyon.

The Hoover Dam was next on their itinerary before leaving Arizona for Las Vegas, Nev. They then went to Phoenix, Ariz., to visit Bobby Kimball, who once worked with Ken at the Gorham Post Office.

From there, they visited the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, which Alice said was very interesting. They traveled to New Orleans, La., where they cruised up the “mighty muddy” Mississippi River on a sternwheeler, a paddle wheel boat.

The Grand Ole Oprey in Nashville, Tenn., was the next stop for the couple. In shows, they saw Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner and Little Jimmy Dickens among many others.

In South Carolina, they spent a weekend with Ken’s nephew, Russell Mains, and his family. They wound up their trip visiting Alice’s pen pal of more than 50 years before returning home.

Alice said they traveled 8,025 miles with 880 of them crossing Texas. She described the desert as “so pretty” with all the wild flowers in bloom. Their trip took them to 26 states.

Alice said they are glad to be back in Maine.

North Gorham Library benefit sale

The North Gorham Library on Standish Neck Road is sponsoring a two-day plant and book sale from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28.

For more information, call Virginia Rundell, librarian, at 892-2575.

Pioneers paddled Presumpscot

In May of 1736, the Phinney family became the first pioneers to settle in Gorham. Capt. John Phinney and his son, Edmund, paddled up the Presumpscot River into its tributary, Little River, where they continued on, landing near Fort Hill.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public debt reported on Wednesday, May 18, that the U.S. debt was $7,768,380,239,101.88.

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