Nominations due Friday

Nomination papers for elected positions in Gorham are due by 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, in the town clerk’s office in Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St.

Available Town Council three-year terms are those of Sherrie Benner and Shonn Moulton. The three-year terms of School Committee Vice Chairman Darryl Wright and member Timothy Burns are also expiring. Papers were also available for one year to fill the School Committee vacancy left by the resignation of John Doyle.

Founders festival date set

Gorham Founders Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Recreation Department and in Robie Park at the municipal campus off South Street.

The festival, which began in 2011, honors the founders of the town who began settling in 1736.

Next month marks a new date for the annual festival. It previously had been on Memorial Day weekend before it moved to July and was previously held at the Narragansett Elementary School.

The Westbrook Gorham Community Chamber is sponsoring the event, an organizer Suzanne Phillips said in an announcement. An individual or any club/group looking to fundraise or have a booth at the event should contact Tabitha Swanson at 370-3491 or email tabitha@yourmainecpa.com.

Dowdle scholarship semifinalist

Gorham High School student Coleman R. Dowdle has been named a semifinalist in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship program.

Dowdle, a senior, is one of 16,000 semifinalists and about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level in February. “Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis,” the scholarship corporation said in an announcement.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on Sept. 10 that the U.S. public debt was $18,151,108,522,784.29.

Great Falls Construction is building this future home of a Subway Restaurant and an Aroma Joe’s coffee shop at 109 Main St. in Gorham Village. The project replaces a run down gas station that was demolished in June. Staff photo by Robert Lowell