Student earns singing recognition

Gorham High School’s chamber singer Miles Obrey recently won second place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Musical Theater Competition at Bates College in Lewiston.

Obrey competed with more than 25 other high school freshman and sophomores from Maine. He is a voice student of Paul Stickney.

GHS grad worked on Oscar nominated film

Dan MacKenzie, a Gorham High School graduate, was among the team of animators that worked on the film, “The Boxtrolls,” which was nominated for an Oscar in the category of animated feature film, according to the high school’s website.

“MacKenzie was one of more than a dozen animators on the film, so his name does not appear on the nomination,” the school’s website reported

The Oscars will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 22, and televised live on ABC at 7 p.m.

MacKenzie graduated from Gorham High School in 2007. The high school’s announcement said MacKenzie, 26, lives and works in Portland, Ore., and Burbank, Calif.

Another former Gorham resident, Eric Saindon, has also been nominated in the past. Saindon, who lives in New Zealand, was nominated in 2014 for “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and in 2013 for the “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

LaBrie named GBE executive director

Megan LaBrie has been named executive director of the Gorham Business Exchange. LaBrie succeeds Leigh-Paige Smith, who serves on the board of directors. For more information, LaBrie can be reached at 892-5515 or visit www.gorhambusiness.org

Green Gorham to meet

Green Gorham will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, at the Gorham Savings Bank office building on Wentworth Drive.

The group’s interests include preservation of farmland, green buildings and renewable energy. Everyone is welcome to attend.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on Jan. 15 that the U.S. public debt was $18,079,608,395,519.69.

Gorham Girl Scouts in troops 2009, 1309, 1937 and 2070 participated in “Be a Santa to a Senior,” a Home Instead Senior Care program in Gorham. The scouts made more than 200 ornaments and cards, maintained gift trees, assisted with gift wrapping, and went caroling at two care centers. Courtesy photo by Pamela Irish