Free ecumenical choir festival

An Ecumenical choir festival will be held on Sunday, March 11, at 3 p.m. at Cressey Road United Methodist Church, 81 Cressey Road (at Route 25), Gorham.

The Gorham Ecumenical Council sponsors this free event with goodwill donations accepted. Bill Jenks directs the choir, and several pastors of Gorham-area churches will offer prayerful reflections.

Light refreshments will be served following the service.

USM art carries on without Art Guru

Art students at the University of Southern Maine now draw on resources at campus bookstores or Portland area outlets for materials after an art supply store in Gorham Village was shuttered late last year.

Jeremy Greene, former owner of The Art Guru, said his store closed on Dec. 31. The Art Guru most recently had been on Main Street, a short walk from the Gorham campus where the university’s art gallery is located. The Art Guru had been open seven years at various locations in Gorham Village. The store was handy for university students and other local artists.

Laurie Mooney of the university’s Office of Public Affairs said Wednesday that bookstores on university campuses in Gorham and Portland both have art supplies available. Mooney said the university has an estimated 200 students majoring in art.

The historic Gorham Academy building, which opened as a tuition school in 1806, is located on what developed into a university campus and recently has housed the university’s Art Department studios and classrooms.

Art retail stores in Portland can be reached by university students on a contract bus shuttle service that links campuses in Gorham and Portland.

Antique road show

Gorham Historical Society will host its annual “antique road show” program at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 12, in the Gorham Savings Bank business complex on Gray Road (Route 202).

Those attending are urged to take one or two antique items for appraisal.

“This is always a very interesting program. It’s amazing to see the items people bring and hear their value,” Jan Labrecque, past historical society president, said.

The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

Cossar receives degree

Kristina C. Cossar of Gorham received a master of business administration degree on Feb. 15 from Western New England University in Springfield, Mass.

Senior center St. Patrick’s events

Lakes Region Senior Center, 40 Acorn St., Gorham has announced a special activity for next week.

Thursday, March 15, noon. Open to the public; potluck lunch (donation $2) followed by a St. Patrick’s Day birthday party celebration with a 50/50 game. Entertainment will be Irish Tid-Bits by Florence.

The senior center is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seniors can drop in and see what the center is all about. Becoming a member allows them to be eligible to join all daily activities.