Michaud to attend Saint Anselm College

Katelyn Michaud will attend St. Anselm College as a Rev. Dominic Scherer OSB scholar to study biomedical engineering.

Michaud graduated in May from Catherine McAuley High School in Portland with high honors. She was the captain of the varsity lacrosse team and was named U.S. Lacrosse 2005 Academic All-American.

She was a member of the Varsity Club, National Honor Society and Key Club.

Michaud is the daughter of Ann and Gary Michaud of Gorham and granddaughter of Rose Letarte and Beatrice Michaud, both of Westbrook.

Bartlett delivers tax relief

State Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, Scarborough, Westbrook, has been busy informing constituents about the Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent Refund Program, commonly referred to as the Circuit Breaker Program, and hand-delivering applications to homeowners.

“In talking with voters during the campaign, it was clear that their number one priority was property tax relief,” said Bartlett. “Applications for the expanded property tax refund program just became available, and I’m eager to get them into the hands of overburdened taxpayers.”

The Legislature expanded the Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent Refund Program to increase the maximum benefit from $1,000 to $2,000. Eligibility was also expanded to include individuals with incomes up to $74,500 and families with incomes up to $99,500. The refund applies to property taxes that exceed 4 percent of household income or rental payments that exceed 20 percent of household income.

Applications for the Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent Refund Program are now available and must be completed by May 31, 2006. Applications are available online at www.mainesenate.org/taxreform.

Additional questions about the program can be answered by calling Maine Revenue Services at 626-8475 or by calling Bartlett at 839-7827.

Candlight peace vigil

Organized by Cathryn Falwell of Gorham, 56 people participated in a 60-minute peace vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17, on Main Street in front of the Municipal Center.

Several in the group, which included people from neighboring communities, held political signs, and many lit candles as darkness fell. The vigil was in support of gold star families, which have lost loved ones in the war in Iraq.

Fifty years ago

The Westbrook American reported in its issue of Wednesday, Aug. 24, 1955, that Cmdr. Peter Mills had left on the previous Sunday with a South Portland unit of the naval reserve on a cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on Thursday, Aug. 18, that the U.S. public debt was $7,925,741,499,921.91.

Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, delivers a tax refund application to a homeowner.Tina M. Ruel of Gorham holds a sign, which reads “Why is George Bush Afraid of Cindy Sheehan?,” as 56 people hold a peace vigil on Wednesday evening on Main Street.Rick Seferian of Gorham holds a sign and a candle during an hour-long peace vigil last week on Main Street.