Gorham police aid Special Olympics

Gorham Police Department is raising funds with a number of events to benefit Maine Special Olympics.

Last week, several officers and Gorham Police Chief Ronald Shepard lined up for haircuts in Buzz the Fuzz, raising $803. Next up is “Tip a Cop,” from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, May 31, at Applebee’s, 834 Roosevelt Trail, Windham. Lt. Christopher Sanborn and five Gorham officers will participate.

Sanborn said a recent “Tip a Cop” event at Applebee’s in Portland generated $800.

Gorham officers will participate in the annual Torch Run on Wednesday, June 5, through Gorham to Westbrook.

Dirt bike site walk

The Gorham Planning Board will view the site of a proposed motocross track and proposed events at 463 Fort Hill Road, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 1.

Merritt Bennett and the Pamela M. Bennett Living Trust are seeking permission for the track facility under a special exception/site plan review. The 68-acre property, a former dairy farm, is located in the rural zone. Events would include those for motocross and snowmobile drag racing on grass. Permission is also being sought for parking.

The project’s engineer, Nancy St. Clair of St. Clair Associates, introduced the proposal to Gorham planners in a meeting on May 13. Interested parties are welcome to attend the site walk. For more information, call the town’s planning office at 222-1620.

Cumberland Farms seeks Gorham store

Proposing a store in South Gorham, Cumberland Farms is asking the town to amend its contract zone requirements.

Cumberland Farms will present its plans at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 3, at a Planning Board meeting in Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St. Tom Greer of Pinkham and Greer is the project’s engineer.

The firm wants to construct a 4,513-square-foot convenience store and gas station at 74 County Road in the Hans Hansen contract zone. Cumberland Farms is seeking contract zone changes to permit parking to be located in front and side yards of its proposed store, as well as reducing minimum setback requirements from routes 22 and 114.

In February, the Town Council heard plans for the proposed Cumberland Farms store. The council sent the request from Cumberland Farms to amend the town’s contract zone with Hans Hansen to the Planning Board for a public hearing and a Planning Board recommendation.

Arlington cemetery society’s topic

Alan Gregory will present a program about Arlington National Cemetery when Gorham Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 10, at Gorham Savings Bank Operations Center off Gray Road (Route 202).

Gregory has been involved with the cemetery. The public is invited to attend. The program wraps up the society’s meeting season, which resumes in September.

The historical society’s archives, 28 School St., will be open from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursdays to October or by appointment.

For more information, visit gorhamhistoricalsociety.com or email Society@gorhamhistorical.com

Potluck reminder

Human trafficking will be the topic when a monthly series, Potluck With a Purpose, continues at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 31, at South Gorham Baptist Church on County Road (Route 22).

A free meal will be served prior to the program with a guest speaker.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on May 22 that the U.S. public debt was $16,734,032,974,210.27.