‘Festival of Feet’ fundraiser

A celebration of tap dance, “Festival of Feet,” is set for 7:32 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, in McCormick Performing Arts Center at Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Ave.

The Centre of Movement School of Performing Arts in Gorham sponsors the performance. A press release about the show said it features the “fabulous feet” of Caitlin Johnson, a member of the Boston Tap Company, in addition to the school’s Happy Hoofers Tap Dance Company and other students.

Tickets are $15; $12, seniors; and $8, children.

The show is a fundraiser to save the Centre of Movement, at 19 State St. The school, which needs to comply with fire codes, is in danger of being shuttered by local and state authorities.

A required upgrade for the building includes a sprinkler system, alarm system and emergency “crash doors” will cost up to $100,000, and the school is rallying to meet the need and keep the school open.

For more information, call Vicky Lloyd, director, at 839-3267 or visit the school’s website, www.cmdans.org.

FalGor in robot championships

Northern Force Robotics Team 172, which represents Falmouth and Gorham high schools, will compete in the New England championship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, April 9; Friday, April 10; and Saturday, April 11.

The Northern Force robot is named FalGor and the students’ team with 50 members is currently ranked 37 of 175 teams in New England. Michele Moutinho is the Gorham parent-adviser for the team. In the New Englands, FalGor display ability to pick up and stack storage tote boxes.

“We’re pretty excited,” Moutinho said.

The team competed in the Northeastern District Robotics Competition on March 27 and 28 and the team ranked as the third seed going into the playoffs. In addition, the team won the Engineering Inspiration Award, which celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.

At a previous competition, the PineTree District held in Lewiston, Maine, the team ranked ninth and was awarded the Industrial Safety Award sponsored by Underwriters Laboratories which celebrates the team that progresses beyond safety fundamentals by using innovative ways to eliminate or protect against hazards.

Based on the team’s performance in the New England championship, it could qualify to attend the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) championship in St. Louis, Mo. April 22-25.

Last year’s team qualified for the FIRST championship but was unable to attend. The team’s fundraising goal this year is $30,000, which would allow all 50 students to attend

To learn more or support the team, visit www.northernforce.org.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on April 2 that the U.S. public debt was $18,152,122,140,432.21.

Jeff McLellan of Gorham, left, receives autographs for his children from Bob Crowley, the retired Gorham High School teacher who won $1 million as the 2008 “Survivor” winner. McLellan met Crowley at Thatcher’s in South Portland before last week’s TV episode with this season’s contestant Dan Foley of Gorham.Lakes Region Senior Center on Monday returned to its former home, Little Falls School, which was renovated into the Activities Center at Little Falls. Pictured, from left, are Kim Foss of North Gorham; Avis Fleck, Windham; and Jackie Nielson, Standish. The senior center is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information, call Blanche Alexander, center president, at 892-5604. Staff photos by Robert Lowell