Ten students involved in the Gorham High School Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary, attended a Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club meeting on July 25. Pictured, from left in front, are students Garrett Higgins, vice president; Ben Nelson, director; Michelle Rowe, director; and Sarah Walker and Hailey Morrill, who each attended Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp in Raymond. In the back, from left, are Dave Rolfe, Rotarian; Aaron Farr, Interact president; Sean Pocock, director; Jon Scriber, treasurer; Sarah Stevens, awards camp attendee; Abbie vanLuling, secretary; Neile Nelson, faculty advisor; and Ethan Johnson, Rotarian.

Rosary Rally at St. Anne’s

A Rosary Rally will be held on the lawn of St. Anne Parish on 299 Main St., Gorham, at noon Saturday, Aug. 12.

Bishop Robert P. Deeley will attend the rally that will honor Our Lady of Fatima and celebrates the 100th anniversary of the appearance of Mary to three young visionaries in the town of Fatima, Portugal. The rally will also feature music, information booths and free rosaries.

“The apparitions occurred on the 13th of each month, so the first two Rosary Rallies were on May 13 and June 13,” said Dan Kasprzyk, a 4th degree Knight of Columbus who is organizing the gatherings. “The remaining dates have been planned for Saturdays closest to the 13th of each month.”

“On May 13, 1917, three shepherd children named Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco saw a vision of the Blessed Mother in Fatima, Portugal,” a diocese press release said. “‘They looked up to see, in Lucia’s words, “A lady, clothed in white, brighter than the sun.”’ The woman was holding a rosary and said to the children, “Do not be afraid, I will not harm you. I come from heaven.’

“Mary appeared to the children monthly, a total of six times, bringing a message of prayer, penance, and reparation. She urged them to pray the rosary every day to bring peace to the world and an end to war,” the press release said.

The Rosary Rallies in Gorham will be held monthly through October. Previous rallies have drawn over 100 people, the diocese said.

Kasprzyk, along with his wife, Ellen, are the organizers of the initiative in Gorham, an effort to encourage local people to come together to pray the rosary.

“Everyone is welcome,” he said. “Non-Catholics, people who have never prayed the rosary, everyone. We’ll offer rosaries and guidance for anyone interested.”

The Kaspryzks have also established a website to promote the gatherings,  www.maineneedsfatima.org. Interested parties willing to volunteer to set up, teach others how to pray the rosary, or provide additional support should call 615-0575.

Dancers in  ‘Don Quixote’

Five Gorham dancers will perform in the Maine State Ballet production of “Don Quixote” Aug. 10-19 at Lopez Theater, 348 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth.

They are Angella Dellasala, Nathaniel Dombeck (now living in New York City), Estelle Ballard, Arie Eiten, and Kate Larkin.

The production is based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Performances are 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Saturdays.

Tickets are $19-$25 for reserved seating with a $2 discount for seniors over age 62 and children 12 and under. For tickets visit www.mainestateballet.org or call 781-7672 for more information.

North Gorham kids program

The kids program at North Gorham Public Library, 2 Standish Neck Road, continues through Friday, Aug. 25.

Each student who reads a book picks a prize and their name is added to a jar. Two names will be randomly chosen to win gift certificates to Gorham’s Book Worm.

For more information, call Jennifer Plummer, library coordinator, at 892-2575 or email libng@north-gorham.lib.me.us.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on Aug. 3 that the U.S. public debt was $19,845,082,603,862.30.