Grange honors Shepard, McCauley

White Rock Grange No. 380, 33 Wilson Road, on Friday honored two Gorham natives with special presentations.

Bill Rust, master of White Rock Grange, recognized Town Councilor Ronald Shepard, retired Gorham police chief, as the recipient of the Grange’s Community Award. Rust presented Shepard with a certificate and a Grange shopping bag. Rust, alluding to recent plastic bag ordinance in Portland, joked that now Shepard wouldn’t have to “spend a nickle” shopping in the city.

Vicki Huff, master of Maine State Grange in Augusta, presented Gorham resident Edith McCauley with a certificate for her 70 years as a member of the Grange.

For entertainment in the meeting, John Ford, a retired game warden, and Mark Nickerson, retired state trooper, shared amusing stories from their careers, drawing repeated laughter from a large turnout. Ford and Nickerson, both authors, signed books after the program and presented copies to Shepard.

Memorial Day parade registration

Gorham is accepting registrations for the annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 25. The parade is being organized by Gorham Recreation Department that can be reached at 222-1630.

Gorham will accept parade registrations until Friday, May 22.

Moutinho honored

Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts has announced that Thomas Moutinho of Gorham has been awarded the university’s Salisbury Prize for academic excellence.

Moutinho is a senior majoring in biomedical engineering. He was a 2011 graduate of Gorham High School.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on May 1 that the U.S. public debt was $18,152,549,890,270.99.

Lifelong Gorham resident Edith McCauley, right, on May 1 receives special recognition as a 70-year member of White Rock Grange from Vicki Huff, state Grange Master.Sen. Amy Volk, R-Scarborough, recently welcomed Gorham Middle School student Samuel Orlando to the State House in Augusta. Orlando, accompanied by his mother, Elizabeth Orlando, served as an honorary page for the day. Courtesy photoBill Rust, master of White Rock Grange, left, on May 1 presents Ronald Shepard, retired police chief and now a town councilor, with the Grange’s Community Award.Staff photos by Robert LowellLakes Region Senior Center cut a ribbon on May 4 at its grand opening in a return to its headquarters in the renovated Little Falls Activity Center on Acorn Street in Gorham. Pictured are senior center board members, from left, Clarence Wisecup of Windham; Avis Fleck, Windham; Blanche Alexander, Gorham; Cheryl Robbins, Gorham; Gerry Day, Gorham; and Bob Tofenelli, Windham.  The board held the long ribbon and Alexander, president, cut it.  Courtesy photo