Blasting boilers business

Demonstrating ingenuity, the crew at North American Service Group in the Gorham Industrial Park recently built themselves a $250,000 trailer and associated equipment that is now part of the company’s fleet utilized in industrial cleaning.

A national company, North American Services Group offers a variety of services to industries including cleaning boilers at power generating facilities while they’re operational. Wayne Cardner, general manager at the Gorham facility, said the company’s customers include Sappi and ecomaine, in addition to Florida Power and Light.

North American’s boiler cleaning processes include blasting with water, grit or explosives and the company has vacuum truck services. It also works in nuclear reactor facilities.

The North American Services Group has 50 employees working from its Gorham facility. Steve Morin, a former Gorham School Committee member, is safety and compliance manager. “I assist in hiring and training new employees,” Morin said.

North American relocated to Gorham from Westbrook in 1999. Cardner said Tom Ellsworth, director of Gorham Economic Development, was instrumental in relocating to Gorham. “They pay a good chunk of taxes,” Ellsworth said recently. “You need to balance the tax base.

Their Gorham 2.5-acre site at 56 Sanford Drive has an assessed value of $562,000, according to Gorham tax records. Gorham assessor Mike D’Arcangelo said taxes on that parcel for this tax year (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012) total $9,160.60. Morin said the company also registers 30 pieces of equipment in Gorham.

Industry in Gorham helps reduce tax burden on homeowners. D’Arcangelo said as of April 1, 2011, residential real property value in Gorham was 82 percent of total real estate taxable value, commercial was 6 percent, industrial was 9 percent and 3 percent was vacant land.

Register for Gorham Adult Ed courses

Registration has opened for adult education courses in Gorham, including:

English Pub Fare -Thursday, March 8, 6:30-9 p.m, Gorham Middle School, $25

Yoga/Pilates Combo – Session II – Eight classes, Tuesdays, March 13-May 8 (no class April 17), 6-7 p.m., Gorham Middle School, $49

Growing Your Own Fruit Trees – Wednesday, March 14, 6-8 p.m., Gorham Middle School, $10

Cyberbullying/Social Media Parent Workshop – Thursday, March 22, 6-8:30 p.m., Gorham Middle School, $15

Space is limited. For more information or to register, visit www.gorham.maineadulted.org or call 222-1095.

Woman’s club

to hear Gagnon

Philip Gagnon, vice chairman of Gorham Town Council, will speak at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, when Gorham Woman’s Club meets in Fellowship Hall at First Parish Church, 1 Church St. Gagnon’s topic will be Gorham Founders Day and the public is welcome to attend.

Refreshments will be served at 12:30 p.m. and a business meeting will follow Gagnon’s presentation.

Bob Marley at GHS

The Bob Marley comedy show and silent auction on Thursday, March 8, at Gorham High School will benefit Project Graduation.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with the show at 7 p.m. Tickets, at $15, are available at The Bookworm, Mr. Bagel, Cook’s Hardware, The Gorham Grind, or call 838-3148

Senior center schedule

The Lakes Region Senior Center, 40 Acorn St., Gorham, has announced its activities for next week.

Monday, March 5. 9 a.m., Coffee Cafe with refreshments $1.50; 9:30 a.m., cribbage open for all levels.

Tuesday, March 6, 9:30 a.m., exercise with video; 10 a.m., cards and/or board games; 10 a.m., knitting with Florence. She will be giving instruction on knitting baby/doll hats every Tuesday in March. Take No. 11 needles, yarn and darning needle. For more information, call Florence at 854-9284; Teresa will be knitting prayer shawls.

Wednesday, March 7, 10 a.m., learn and play poker with Ray; 1 p.m., Bunko, Roll the dice with Marge.

Thursday, March 8, 9 a.m., open for independent activities; 10 a.m., Bingo, 25 cents/card, first card free, open to the public; noon, mental health presentation, Diane Menario will discuss coping with stress, tension, anxiety, mood disorders plus more.