Knights of Columbus honored

Anthony Alfiero of Gorham said St. Anne’s Knights of Columbus No. 10221 recently won the State Council of the Year award for the B division (under 100) and two state Supreme awards at a convention at Sunday River.

“I can’t even begin to express my pride in being a part of a council that accomplished as much as it did in the past 12 months,” Mike Foster, grand knight, said in a statement.

Members are committed to community improvement and serving the church. The Gorham council can be reached at 839-4857.

USM recognizes Hamilton at commencement

University of Southern Maine President Selma Botman recognized six retired faculty members who have been awarded emeritus status at the univrsity’s recent commencement exercises.

The honorees included Michael S. Hamilton of Gorham, professor emeritus of political science. Hamilton is retiring this month after 27 years of service in the Department of Political Science. Hamilton has served on the Faculty Senate, the College of Arts and Science General Education Council and the University Planning and Budgeting Advisory Committee.

He is known among his colleagues as a prolific scholar, having authored, co-authored or edited 111 scholarly and professional publications. In 2006 and 2009, he was awarded the Faculty Senate Award for University Service.

Throughout his career, Hamilton developed a reputation for classroom rigor and organization. He received his doctorate in political science from Colorado State University.

Others honored were Richard A. Barringer, professor emeritus of community planning and development; Carol Lynn Davis, associate professor emerita in the School of Education and Human Development; Elizabeth H. Kilbreth, associate research professor emerita in the Muskie School of Public Service; Robert M. Schaible, professor emeritus of arts and humanities, Lewiston-Auburn College; and William “Bumper” White, associate professor emeritus, Lewiston-Auburn College.

BioSpecialists expanding

Bill York of Gorham, founder of BioSpecialists, has opened a service center in Hudson, Fla., in addition to companies in Brookline, Mass., and Gorham.

The company specializes in cleanups at crime scenes, suicides and traumas like accidents. It provides services to law enforcement agencies, funeral directors, families and individuals.

In Florida, BioSpecialists cleaned up a homicide in a high-profile case in March at a high school in Jacksonville.

BioSpecialists can be reached in Maine at 839-9111

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on May 17 that the U.S. Public Debt was $15,712,823,135,725.84.

Jon Smith of Great Falls Construction receives the 2012 Businessperson of the Year award last week from Gorham Business Exchange. Pictured are, from left, David Willis, vice president of Gorham Business Exchange; Mary Kroth-Brunet, past winner Businessperson of the Year; Smith; and Becky Winslow, president of the Gorham Business Exchange. (Courtesy photo)