attendees of the New Portland Central High School and grammar school attended the annual New Portland Alumni Association gathering at the firehouse community room Saturday, Aug. 14.

Robert Meade and Marilyn Hall Clark, both 1947 graduates of Central High School in New Portland, enjoy an embrace after not seeing each other for some time. Both were at the New Portland Alumni Association gathering Saturday, Aug. 14. (Laura Dunham photo) Following the registration, a business meeting was conducted by the association’s president, Jo Dunphy, and secretary, Dorothy Emery Meldrum. It was noted that three seniors attending MSAD #74 from the New Portland area were awarded $500 each awards from the Alumni Association. The students were Gail Sylvain, Brittney Robinson and Skylar Bisisti. Meldrum read two thank-you cards from the seniors.

Meldrum also read the list of New Portland Alumni Association members who had passed away this past year. Among them was 101-year-old Winston Edwards from the class of 1925. A member from the earliest class present was Carryl Heath class of 1939. Faylene Tozier represented the 70-year class and Wright Pinkham and Wayne Hewitt the 50-year class. The largest class attending was the class of 1947 represented by Marilyn Clark, Meredith Knowles, Velma Tozier, Lilia Brooks and Robert Meade.

Those traveling the longest distance included Roger Cole who attended for the first time from Nevada, Dr. Lewis Parsons from Illinois, Fay MacFarland from Arkansas, Joyce Raimondo from Connecticut, Thomasine Lutcky from Maryland, and Joan Gamble Preble and Marilyn Hall Clark from New Hampshire.

At the business meeting, it was discussed how the alumni could get young people to attend as there were no class members after 1970. It was suggested to do an emailing for next year, put the event in the town report and contact the Lexington and New Portland Historical Society members and see if they would attend a board of directors meeting for more ideas.

New officers included: Jo Dunphy, president; Linda Dellamar, vice president; Dorothy Meldrum, secretary; and named to the board of directors for one year was Robert Meade and for three year terms Gerald Strickland and LeeAnn Tinker.

A 50/50 fund was awarded to Fay MacFarland. The potluck was followed by a Chinese auction which netted the organization $155. It was voted to use the money from the 50/50 and the Chinese Auction to start a fund to be used to preserve the history of the New Portland schools to be made into a video.