Atwood wins award for blog

The New England Society for Healthcare Communications recently honored Diane Atwood of Gorham with a Gold Lamplighter Award for her health and wellness blog, Catching Health with Diane Atwood.

Atwood, a former health care professional and television health reporter, began writing Catching Health with Diane Atwood in 2011. Bangor Daily News now carries the blog and Atwood is a community blogger for WCSH 6. In addition, she is a regular contributor to Maine Women and My Generation magazines and has a regular column in Maine Women Magazine called Keep Me Healthy.

Her Catching Health blog was also recognized by the Maine Public Relations Council with a Golden Arrow Award in 2011.

The Lamplighters were established in 1974 to showcase and recognize excellence in health-care communications in the New England region. The 2013 competition included 385 entries from more than 86 organizations throughout the area.

Spire 29 gala opening

Spire 29, 29 School St., is hosting a grand opening gala featuring the Jim Ciampi Band at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. The event features dancing, light appetizers and cash bar. Tickets available by reservations or at the door are $10 and those attending must be at least age 21. Attire is club-style casual.

The venue is in the former School Street Methodist Church. The building previously housed the Bella Chiesa banquet facility. For Spire 29 grand opening reservations, call 222-2068.

USM energy open house

A University of Southern Maine program to give students and working professionals hands-on experience in evaluating energy conservation measures will hold an open house and demonstrations from 5-7 p.m., on Thursday, June 6, at 19 College Ave., Gorham.

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP to Assistant Research Professor Daniel Martinez of the university’s Department of Environmental Science at daniel.m.martinez@maine.edu or 780-5444.

Martinez, who manages the house, is interested in talking with the general public, students as well as with energy conservation professionals about possible ways to partner in the testing, research, and education of affordable and new energy-saving technologies.

Built as a private home in the late 19th century, the 19 College Ave. site is a university-owned building. The university’s Applied Energy Program uses the building as a test site for the installation and monitoring of weatherization programs and other low-cost energy conservation measures on an older residential structure.

GHS ’63 classmates sought

The reunion committee for the Gorham High School class of 1963 is trying to locate several classmates – Julia Hamilton, Ann Henderson, Timothy Mercier, Elizabeth Snow, Germaine Tanguay and Albert Williams.

The reunion dinner is set for 4-8 p.m., on Saturday, July 13, at Treworgy’s Barn, 120 Flaggy Meadow Road. Gorham. Cost is $50 per person. Reservations are due by June 15. Those with information about the missing classmates or for more information about reunion activities are asked to contact Marty Towle at 831-7185 or email marty.towle@yahoo.com

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of Public Debt reported on May 30 that the U.S. public debt was $16,737,246,099,998.86.