Student of the Week: Cassidy Sawyer

Cassidy Sawyer, a fourth-grade student at Raymond Elementary School, is The Windham Eagle’s Student of the Week. Sawyer states that she enjoys swimming, skiing and when she isn’t studying, she is outside riding her bike.

Her teacher, Mrs. Vangelist chose Sawyer to be the first student of the week this year because of the strong example she has set for other students this year.  “Cassidy is a student who takes pride in creating quality work.  She follows directions, listens well, and always has her work done.  Her best quality is her caring nature.  She is a caring big sister and a caring friend.  She is going to have a wonderful year!”

Sawyer’s favorite subject is math and so far, her greatest accomplishment is learning how to go across the monkey bars on the playground. Sawyer plans to be a teacher when she grows up.

She lives at home with her Dad and Mom (Charlie and Jack) and her twin brothers, Jack and Ethan. Sawyer and her family have 11 chickens, a cat, a dog, a bunny and two fish.

Her favorite TV show is “The Loud House”.

Her favorite movie is “Are We Done Yet?”.

Her favorite animal is a bunny.

Loon Echo Trek a success

A family of Trekkers celebrates finishing their traverse of Pleasant Mountain

Over 70 runners and hikers braved the elements to participate in the 19th Annual Loon Echo Trek on Saturday, September 14^th.

“We’d like to thank our Trekkers, volunteers, and sponsors for making the 19^th Annual Trek a fun and successful day,” said Matt Markot, Loon Echo Land Trust’s Executive Director, “spirits were high despite the weather.”

Trekkers traversed Pleasant Mountain from Denmark’s Southwest Ridge trailhead to Bridgton’s Shawnee Peak ski area. Participants completed the six-mile mountain ridge course in support of Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT)’s conservation efforts. Trekkers also have the opportunity to crowdfund to support their hike and run. Top fundraisers John Keller and Tom Gilmore brought in over $1,000 for LELT.

Since its beginning in 2000, the Loon Echo Trek has been LELT’s largest annual fundraising event. Hiking the trails at Pleasant Mountain trails has been part of the event since 2007. The “Trek” showcases LELT’s conserved land and extensive trail network on Pleasant Mountain in Denmark and Bridgton.

Runner Frank Farrell reflected on the beauty of the course, “While running, the view from the peaks made me stop in my tracks and look around.”

Snacks and volunteers greeted Trekkers at three “rest-stops” at each of Pleasant Mountain’s peaks along the mountain ridge. A taco bar lunch and beer donated by Allagash Brewing Company welcomed participants and volunteers at Shawnee Peak’s Blizzards Pub as well as door prizes from local businesses such as Bridgton Books, the Good Life Market, Pleasant Mountain Camping, Portland Water District and more.

The 19^th Annual Loon Echo Trek would not have been possible without the support of presenting sponsor Norway Savings Bank and other top sponsors Shawnee Peak, Migis Lodge, and the Bridgton News.

Next September marks 20 years of the Loon Echo Trek, and LELT is excited to grow the event with the support of the local business community and volunteers. More information about the Trek, as well as photos from this year’s event, can be found on LELT’s Facebook page and website.

Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) is a member supported, non-profit land trust that works to protect the natural resources of the northern Sebago Lake region for future generations. Loon Echo conserves over 6,700 acres of land and manages 31 miles of hiking and biking trails in the towns of Bridgton, Casco, Denmark, Harrison, Naples, Raymond and Sebago. To learn more about Loon Echo Land Trust visit www.lelt.org or call 207-647-4352.

Music with a Mission features Bruce Marshall Group in concert Saturday October 5th

Bruce Marshall

On Saturday, October 5th at 7 p.m., the very talented Bruce Marshall Group will perform in concert at the North Windham Union Church.  Bruce Marshall’s music career spans five decades and the singer, songwriter, guitarist has been a full-time musician his entire adult life. With an affinity early on for blues, rock and 60’s pop, he honed his chops in the gin mills of New England and put out his first record in ‘87. He went National with guitarist Toy Caldwell in ‘89, touring the U.S. with Charlie Daniels and Lynyrd Skynyrd.  He has fronted the Bruce Marshall Group since 1991. Their sound defies categorization, slipping seamlessly around touches of Blues, R&B, Rock and Southern Boogie.

They have shared the stage with Bo Diddley, Blood Sweat and Tears, Joe Cocker, John Hiatt, Bryan Adams, Boz Scaggs, Doobie Brothers, The Band and a host of others.  Bruce Marshall recently put out his 7th record “Borrowed Time” in 2018.  He has performed in over 9,000 shows as a pro and still plays over 200 shows a year.

“We are very proud to welcome Bruce Marshall as our season headliner to close out our seventh season for Music with a Mission,” said Dr. Richard Nickerson, Minister of Music for NWUC. “Bruce is a local treasure living in Denmark, Maine.  For over 50 years he has delighted audiences in New England and across the country, and we hope that fans from throughout Southern Maine will turn out for this benefit concert.”

The Music with a Mission concert series is sponsored by the North Windham Union Church, which donates a portion of the proceeds to area non-profits.  Now in our seventh season, MWAM has provided over $66,000 for mission support to the church and other community organizations. Bruce Marshall has chosen to support Good Shepard Food Bank with the community proceeds from this concert.  The mission of Good Shepherd Food Bank is to eliminate hunger in Maine by improving access to nutritious food for people in need, building strong community partnerships, and mobilizing the public in the fight to end hunger.

Tickets will be sold at the door and online and are $15 each and $5 for all students.  Seating is general admission.  The box office opens at 6:00 and the doors will open at 6:30. The North Windham Union Church is located at 723 Roosevelt Trail in Windham.  For more information please call 892-7149 or email MWAMconcerts@gmail.com.

The Inaugural RAA Artist Scholarship Fundraiser was a success

By Mary Therese Duffy

September 7 was a cold and blustery day, but fans were undaunted, as were a host of wonderful musicians who turned out to ensure the success Raymond Arts Alliance seeking to create a scholarship for David and Deven Young while also seeding a fund for aspiring artists.  Many thank you’s go out to The Disclaimers, Dos Conosos, The Interstate Kings, as well as guest artist, Jani Cummings.  It was a pleasure to hear each of them. Classic Rock, Latin Jazz, outstanding originals and The Kings bringing down the house with a rockin’ encore kept the audience enthusiastic and well warmed! 

Many, many thanks go to the Raymond residents who generously donated the use of their grounds,  

absolutely perfect for the occasion; and to Phil Hammett of Sweet Abyss music for the unexpected donation of his original CD’s to the raffle. The Raymond Arts Alliance is delighted to say we have collected enough money to seed the Artist Scholarship Fund as well as provide a generous donation to David and Deven for their transition to Nashville. Raymond has loved and enjoyed these wonderful homeboys for many years, and the RAA thanks you for showing up, letting them know it and sending them off with extra cushioning to support their careers as working musicians!

If you missed the opportunity on the 7^th and still want to donate, you absolutely still can!  Simply send your check made out to the Raymond Arts Alliance or leave a donation designated for the fund at the Raymond Village Library.  We are happy to send you a receipt if requested.

Know that the RAA is still working out the many particulars of the scholarship application process, however, aspiring Raymond artists of any form: literary, music, fine, performing, etc., are encouraged to apply.  We cannot thank the community enough, for the very vital role it played in making this vision a reality. We are all wishing David and Deven every success in their new venture!

Before the memory fades: The Luckson Water Ski Club of Highland Lake – Windham’s Cypress Gardens of the north

Aqua Ski Maids Ballet from left to right Barb Moulton, 

Dale Goudreau, Phyliss Coffin

By Walter Lunt

The comment, heard numerous times around Maine in the 1950s and ‘60s, went something like this: “It’s like having Cypress Gardens right here in Maine.” It was in reference to Windham’s own Luckson Water Ski Club, based on Highland Lake, which performed shows throughout the state.

The name was a merger of two of the club’s founding members. They were Harlan “Sonny” Stultz (owner of Stultz Electric in Westbrook) and Herb “Lucky” Coffin of Portland. Another early member was Walter Johnson of Windham. The impetus for forming a ski club was the intense passion for the sport. It was the bringing together of kindred spirits to form an organization that would travel the length and breadth of Maine to perform with grace and athleticism.

Other members were Ron Cole of Highland Lake, who became president of the club, Barbara Moulton and daughters Donna and Denise of Portland and Walter Johnson’s brother, John. All became accomplished showmen and water ski tournament competitors in conjunction with the Eastern Region American Water Ski Association.

Shows were conducted on numerous Maine lakes and ponds from Rangeley Lake to Brandy Pond in Naples and Thomas Pond in Casco/Raymond.

Each show featured 16 to 18 acts, including the aqua ski ballet, jumping (clearing more than 80 feet), slalom (one ski) demonstrations, barefoot and trick skiing, kite flying and the popular pyramid skiers where one performer would stand on the shoulders of two base skiers. There was even a clown act.

Phyllis Coffin, now 96, remembers a show in Bar Harbor. In addition to the coastal water being very cold, she recalled that a group of spectators approached the skiers after a performance and wanted autographs.

“They wanted to know if we were from Florida (Cypress Gardens). We said ‘No’ and explained that we were Maine-based. They were surprised but said they wanted our autographs anyway.”

John Johnson still chuckles about an incident at North Gorham Pond just before a show. He said the sponsors had built a regulation ski jump for the club to use.

“They covered it in canvas. When Sonny (Stultz) took a practice run over it the skis stopped the minute they hit it. (But) Sonny kept going, clean over the jump.” The canvas was removed in favor of the underlying plywood surface, and the show went on.

Phyliss Coffin today at the age of 96

The number and complexity of the ski tricks were legendary. One of the acts that always prompted ooh’s and aah’s from the crowd was one invented and performed by Barb Moulton. While riding a “saucer,” a round 36-inch plywood disk, she would place her forehead on a kitchen sponge and perform a headstand.

Jeff Coffin would mount a 4-legged stool on the saucer and twirl 360’s. He also demonstrated the so-called “shoe-skis,” a pair of 12 to 14-inch skis barely longer than the bindings that secured his feet. His dad, Lucky, skied with one foot on a boat paddle. There was also backwards skiing and turning 360’s on two skis by stepping over the tow rope.

Champion Ski Jumper, Walter Johnson

Most of the shows were sponsored by lake-side marinas or local chambers of commerce. All money paid to the club, said Jeff, went back into boat gas and equipment. The members skied for the fun and for the enjoyment of the crowd.

One spectacular piece of equipment that was usually featured toward the end of a show was the kite flying man, a feat that often drew gasps from the spectators. Club officials had seen pictures of the kite in water ski magazines. They fashioned one from scratch. Fortunately, it functioned properly and was always a huge hit at the shows. Sonny Stultz was the ‘high-flying man.’ One story about the kite was how it somehow became disengaged from the tow boat. It seems Stultz glided over, then into trees off the Casco shore of Thomas Pond.

Nearly all the members of Luckson Ski Club competed and placed in the top three of various categories in state championship ski tournaments, from Georgia to Maine.

The club entertained thousands over its nearly 20-year existence. None of those memories have faded from the minds of the survivors who, to this day, enjoy telling the ski stories to those of us who love hearing them. 

Luckson Ski Club Co-Founder, Sonny Stultz

 

Expert Skier, Lucky Coffin

Book Review on Miranda July's “The First Bad Man”

Reviewed By Jennifer Dupree, Circulation Supervisor at the Windham Public Library

When Miranda July’s “The First Bad Man” opens, Cheryl Glickman is in love with Phillip, even though Phillip is infatuated with an underage girl and wants Cheryl’s permission to have an intimate relationship with the young woman. Cheryl, who keeps her life small and rigid so that she won’t be thrown into chaos, is thrown into chaos by Phillip. And then by Clee. Clee, the daughter of Cheryl’s employers at Open Palm, a self-defense studio for women, is what Cheryl describes as a blond bombshell. Cheryl’s employers ask Cheryl to take Clee in and, even though she resists, she can’t really say no.

Clee is a terrible houseguest. She’s entirely disruptive to the systems Cheryl has put in place and maintained for her forty-some years. She’s lazy, angry, and her feet stink. And then their relationship worsens as Clee begins to physically attack Cheryl and Cheryl, after therapy, starts to fight back. This novel is incredibly physical. July renders every aspect of the body viscerally. It’s impossible not to feel this book physically and then to feel it emotionally.

I don’t want to give too much away, but Clee and Cheryl’s relationship takes a turn, and then another. I loved the cadence of this book—the way things happened and didn’t happen, the consequences and regrets. Everyone moves outside her comfort zone, everyone makes mistakes. There’s happiness and sadness.

This is a beautiful novel about unexpected friendship, about finding yourself, about being true to yourself. It’s about identity and longing and loss and letting go. It’s also absurdist in places and, because of that, wickedly funny.

Fun, music and cocktails at Sebago Spirits Festival

The First Annual Sebago Spirits Festival hosted by the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and Maine’s Alternative Caring was held Saturday, September 14^th at Point Sebago, in Casco, and it was a roaring success.  Over 380 attendees enjoyed wonderful food, great music, and tasting of a fabulous array of gins, vodkas, whiskeys and more – all produced by local distillers right here in Maine!

Photo by Molly Shaw

Practice school bus safety every day

Millions of students rely on public transportation to get them to and from school each and every day. The National Safety Council (NSC) says 25 million students in the United States begin and end their school days on school buses. The NSC adds that riding a bus to school is 13 times safer than riding in a family vehicle and 10 times safer than walking.

Recent community conversations in the Windham and Raymond areas have included concerns regarding stopping for a school bus while the red lights are flashing. There have been a few incidents caught on video by concerned parents that shows vehicles continuing, and often speeding, through a stopped bus as it is either picking up or dropping off a student.

According to Maine State law, “It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with red lights flashing on school property, on any undivided highway or parking area in Maine. If you are approaching a stopped school bus from either direction, with its red lights flashing, you must bring your vehicle to a complete stop in front or rear of the school bus and wait while children are getting on or off the bus. 

You must not proceed until the bus resumes motion or until signaled by the school bus driver to do so. The operator of a vehicle on a way separated by curbing or other physical barrier need not stop on meeting or passing a school bus if traveling in a lane separated by the barrier from the lane in which that operator is traveling.”

Although buses are designed for safety and other vehicles must adhere to the state law, student riders can do a lot to make their bus trips even safer and preventing injury.

· Stand only in the designated school bus stop. Always stand on the sidewalk, lawn or curb where the school bus stop is located. Stay away from the street because traffic in the morning and the afternoon can be very busy and hectic.

· Arrive at the stop early. Rushing to the bus stop may cause you to make errors in judgment, including running in traffic to catch the bus. Leave early so you have ample time to catch the bus and obey all traffic laws.

· Only board and exit the bus when it is safe. Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before boarding or exiting. The driver will engage the stop sign and put on the flashing red lights. Move around the bus only when it is stopped.

· Keep the aisles clear. Stay out of the aisle when the bus is in motion and store backpacks on your lap or under your seat so they are not tripping hazards.

· Use seat restraints. Use seat restraints when available on the school bus. While not every school bus has seatbelts, many now do.

· Stay in your seat. Remain in your seat while the bus is in motion. Keep your hands inside of the windows. Do not get up to engage with other riders.

·Keep a good distance between you and the bus. Exit the bus and cross in front where the driver can see you. If you cannot see the driver, he or she cannot see you. Check for safety signals from the driver to proceed when traffic has stopped. Always walk, never run, around a bus.

· Do not goof off. When on the bus, always behave so that you can hear any safety instructions and be aware of your surroundings. Behaving also means one less distraction for drivers.

School bus passengers can make their rides to school even safer by playing it smart.

Let’s all work together, keeping in mind the safety of our children.

Schoolhouse Arts Center presents “Catch Me If You Can” musical September 27 to October 6

Once again, Schoolhouse Arts Center (SHAC)is pulling out all the stops to bring great entertainment to audiences this fall. From September 27 to October 6, the SHAC will be presenting the wonderfully entertaining musical comedy “Catch Me If You Can”, directed by Jake Boyce. “Catch Me If You Can” is a big and bright spectacle with high-energy dance numbers and a riveting musical comedy that is sure to set toes tapping and laughter throughout the performance.  

This PG-13 play is based on the hit film and the incredible true story, “Catch Me If You Can”.  It is the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught. Nominated for four Tony awards, including Best Musical, this delightfully entertaining show was created by a Tony Award-winning "dream team," with a book by Terrence McNally (“The Full Monty”, “Ragtime”) and a swinging score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (“Hairspray”).  Schoolhouse is presenting a play that has not been presented in Maine for several years and is certain to be a hit. 

Seeking fame and fortune, precocious teenager, Frank Abignale, Jr., runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. When Frank's lies catch the attention of FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, though, Carl pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.

“Catch Me If You Can” will be presented at Schoolhouse on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. for only two weekends.  Order tickets before they are sold out. Tickets are available through the Schoolhouse web site at www.schoolhousearts.org. 

Adult tickets are $19, seniors or students are $17.  A $2 discount on your order is available by using the coupon code CatchMe30 when ordering your tickets online before Sept 27. The Schoolhouse is located at 16 Richville Road in Standish just 7 miles west of North Windham or Gorham center. 

Susie Pepper & Mixology delight crowd with a “Night at the Movies”

By Elizabeth Richards

           

The seventh season of Music with a Mission at the North Windham Union Church featured a lively, engaging “Night at the Movies” with Susie Pepper & Mixology on Friday, September 13, 2019.

Though the show included Disney and Pixar tunes, those certainly weren’t the only soundtracks the band drew from. The eclectic mix of songs came from movies that spanned many decades, from classics to recent blockbusters.

Susie Pepper

The group showcased their talents with an incredible range of styles, tackling everything from the jazz standard “As Time Goes By” from “Casablanca”, to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from “Titanic”, to Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” from “Armageddon”.

Pepper’s energy and style shifted appropriately with each tune, and it was apparent that she and the band were having a great time throughout the show. At one point, Pepper burst into spontaneous laughter as a young boy in the front row covered his ears when she started to sing “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana”.  She paused, then picked up right where she’d left off.

Pepper displayed impressive vocal versatility, keeping songs true to the originals while also incorporating her own style into each song.  From the first song to the last, the show was engaging, lighthearted and fun.

The nonprofit chosen as beneficiary for this concert was Hope Acts, a Portland based organization. According to their mission statement, Hope Acts provides housing, English classes, and other resources to support immigrants in both their transition to life in the area and in achieving their goals for the future. Their vision statement reads, “We envision a community where immigrants are welcomed and empowered socially, emotionally, physically, economically and spiritually.”

Over the course of its seven seasons, the Music With a Mission series has raised more than $65,000 to support the church and community organizations. Their last concert of the season, which features The Bruce Marshall Group, will be held on October 5^th, 2019, and will benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. For more information visit www.mwamconcerts.com.

Local band to celebrate 40 years of making music together this Sunday

By Lorraine Glowczak

It all started in 1979 playing rag/tag tunes by a group of moderately undisciplined musicians jamming for fun. Fast forward to this Sunday, September 22 and you will find the slightly older, more refined - but still wild – band members of the current Bellamy Jazz Band perform their favorite Dixie Land Jazz songs at Lenny’s, 1274 Bridgton Rd, Westbrook from 2 to 5 p.m.

One of the original members who plays tenor sax and is a lead singer, Dave DeBree, shared the band’s history and story, beginning with his own experience. DeBree came to the band in a roundabout way. “I was at the store one day when I ran into a friend of mine, Roy Dunphy. He asked me if I still played the saxophone,” DeBree began. “I told him that I did. But the truth was, I hadn’t touched the instrument for a while. Roy asked me to fill in for their sax player, Peter Lord, while he was away for six weeks. I dusted off my sax and played with the band until Peter came back. Roy asked me to stay, joking that musicians are kind of like cats – you take them in and begin to collect them all.”

Dunphy who passed away in the fall of 2001 was considered the leader of the band. “Roy was the bass player and a wonderful entertainer. He was very charismatic and did a great job corralling 10 rotating musicians – all of which were either in early stages of parenthood or in late adolescence,” joked deBree. “Roy was just an over great guy and talented musician.”

Although the group has gone by a variety of band names, DeBree has been playing with the same group of musicians since the beginning early years. The group has performed all over southern Maine including venues such as the Old Port Festival, Sebago Lake Region Chamber events as well as at popular bars and nightclubs. The band has also performed for former Governor John McKernan on both of his Election Eve celebrations as well as at McKernan and Olympia Snowe’s wedding reception.

As described on their website, the band performs with six to eight pieces, depending on the occasion. They play a mixture of music from the 1900's to the 1940's including many standards by the likes of James P. Johnson, Duke Wellington, Fats Waller, George Gershwin, Bessie Smith, Sweet Emma Beret, Lewis Armstrong and many others.

“There’s hardly a tune that we cannot play,” DeBree stated. “We’ve gotten to the point that we rarely rehearse – we simply know each other too well now.”

But perhaps what is more important and contributes to the band’s longstanding success is that everyone gets their moment to shine. “We all share the spotlight – everyone gets their moment to stand out,” DeBree said.

Beside DeBree, the current members of Bellamy Jazz Band include the following: Peter Lord on soprano, alto, tenor sax, Bill Thurston on drums, Tom Whitehead on piano, Peter Dunphy on banjo, tenor guitar and vocals, Al Doane on string bass, Scott Thurston on trombone, Ray Sapierstein on lead cornet.

Although these musicians are the current members of the band, you will find past musicians who once played alongside them - jamming with the Bellamy Jazz Band as they celebrate 40 years of entertaining crowds this Sunday at Lenny’s.

“I remember at one point when we were running low on musicians due to the busy lives we sometimes lead,” DeBree recalled. “Roy said, ‘We may only have a few musicians from time to time – but there will always be a band.’”

It seems Dunphy was correct. And The Bellamy Jazz band is here to prove it.

New pollinator garden offers another reason to visit Black Brook Preserve

By Briana Bizier

One of Windham’s most pleasant places may well be the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s beautiful Black Brook Preserve. Situated between Route 302 and 202, Black Brook Preserve contains 105 acres of gently rolling hills, mature forests, and meandering little creeks just begging to be discovered. Our family has enjoyed several hikes along the preserve’s well-labeled trails, which offer enough variation to hold even a five-year-old hiker’s attention. This past summer, the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust added another attraction to Black Brook Preserve: a pollinator garden.

This 1,000 square foot garden is home to 12 varieties of native plants and will provide much needed habitat for our butterflies, bees and moths. The garden was built this summer with the help of Windham Recreation Department's Summer Day Campers, who came out to learn about pollinators, lend a hand in building the garden, and cultivate the skills they will need as the next generation of environmental stewards. After its construction, the new garden was tended by Land Trust summer interns.

Black Brook Preserve’s pollinator garden is directly in front of the site’s main parking lot off of Windham Center Road. It’s a wonderful place to stop before a hike and search for some of our more colorful local pollinators, like the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly or their more famous cousin the orange-and-black Monarch butterfly.

Upon our arrival in the parking lot, however, my two little assistants were more interested in running down the trails than admiring butterflies and bees or listening to their mother describe the vital role pollinators play in the local ecosystem. Happily, with its gentle bends and frequent, clear trail markings, Black Brook Preserve is the ideal place to explore with children. My assistants enjoyed racing up and down hills, pulling our new puppy behind them, while my husband and I tried to keep up. Together, we followed the Diamond Trail along the perimeter of the preserve, stopping to climb on rocks and admire the “bog bridges” spanning muddy sections of the trail. In one muddy section, Sage, my nine-year-old daughter, spotted raccoon tracks crossing the trail. Her five-year-old brother Ian seemed a bit disappointed to learn raccoons are not pollinators.

The western section of Black Brook Preserve is an open field ringed by a large, mown path. Sage decided to race through the field by herself while the rest of the family stopped for snacks and water. A few minutes later, the tranquility of the preserve was broken by screams and squawks as an enormous turkey erupted from the tall grass beside the trail.

“That was huge!” Sage screamed as she ran back to us.

“Was that a pollinator?” Ian asked.

I explained that, while wild turkeys don’t pollinate flowers, they do eat insects. After the turkey incident, the kids stayed closer to us as we followed the trail through the grass, watching butterflies dance above the nodding seed heads and late summer flowers. At the hill’s apex, we found a second, smaller trail access connected to Route 202. If you decide to visit Black Brook Preserve, this is the place to turn around and retrace your steps along the trails; the Snowmobile Trail, as we discovered, is only a trail in the winter. In the summer, it’s home to a very healthy crop of poison ivy.

To visit Black Brook Preserve’s trails and new pollinator garden, look for the parking lot off Windham Center Road just south of Route 4. A full map can be found at the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust’s website: www.prlt.org

Raymond artist wins second juried art competition

By Lorraine Glowczak

It was just seven months ago, in February, when we learned that Holden Willard of Raymond, a 2017 Windham High School graduate and the son of Don and Megan Willard won an international juried art competition on February 13 at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. That competition was open to artists from all over the world. Willard, who attends Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA., not only received best of show for his self-portrait, but he also won $500 which he received at the gallery’s reception on Friday evening, February 15.

Holden Willard (Photo by Gardner Reed)

Fast forward to August and Willard once again entered his artwork into another juried art competition. This time, it was Mills Pond Gallery in St. James, New York – located along the north shore of Long Island. The focus and name of the exhibit was “Transformations: Figures of Our Other Selves” which began on August 17^th. This exhibit explored the artist’s take on what persona or alter ego is present in their artwork. This exhibition featured artwork, from around the U.S., where the transformation or alter ego focused on the creativity of the subject matter.

And, guess who won first place? Again? Our very own Raymond resident – Holden Willard. According to a local Long Island newspaper, The Times Beacon Record - August 15 edition, in an article written by Melissa Arnold, “The idea for  the latest exhibit, Transformations: Figures of Our Other Selves, “came to her [Allison Cruz, Director of the Museum] as she contemplated how young people today have embraced the concept of an alter ego, from multiple Instagram accounts for different facets of their lives to different personas in music and media. The subject intrigued the director, who said alter egos can be seen as dark and hidden or common and ordinary.”

The article also stated that around 10 exhibits are showcased at Mills Pond each year, roughly half of which are juried. Juried exhibits are curated by a guest juror who examines each entry for its artistry and how well it fits the chosen theme, ultimately selecting his or her favorites for exhibition. There were approximately 35 artists from all over the United States who entered the competition.

In addition to winning first place, Willard received a financial award of $700. Congratulations Holden Willard!

Music with a Mission features Susie Pepper & Mixology in concert Friday September 13th

Music with a Mission is proud to feature Susie Pepper and Mixology for a “Night at the Movies” concert featuring many favorite songs from Disney and other beloved musicals in a special Friday evening show, September 13th, at 7 p.m.  Mixology is a group of seasoned professional musicians who have performed hundreds of gigs covering jazz standards, pop, rock, R&B and genres from Elvis to Beyonce.

Susie Pepper is well-known throughout Southern Maine as a talented and dynamic vocalist. Susie won the title of Miss Maine in 2009 and was a featured soloist in the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s 2014 and 2017 “Magic of Christmas” series.  Kelly Muse is the bandleader and pianist for the group with over two decades of experience in performing, teaching, composing, and arranging. 

“We are very excited to bring Susie Pepper and Mixology back to our Music with a Mission concert series,” said Dr. Richard Nickerson, Minister of Music for NWUC. “They put on an impressive show in the spring of 2018 and our audience is eager to have them return.  Susie and Kelly have planned a fun concert of the most popular songs from movies that everyone loves.  This will be a terrific evening for families and kids of all ages from 9 to 90!”

The Music with a Mission concert series is sponsored by the North Windham Union Church, which donates a portion of the proceeds to area non-profits.  Now in our seventh season, MWAM has provided over $65,000 for mission support to the church and other community organizations.
Mixology has chosen to support Hope Acts with the community proceeds from this concert. Hope Acts provides transitional housing for asylum-seekers new to the Greater Portland area.  Their mission is to provide housing, English classes, and other resources that support immigrants in transitioning to life in Greater Portland and in achieving their goals for a successful future.  Hope Acts envisions a community where immigrants are welcomed and empowered socially, emotionally, physically, economically and spiritually.

Tickets will be sold at the door and online and are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $5 for children/students.  The box office opens at 6:00 and the doors will open at 6:30. The North Windham Union Church is located at 723 Roosevelt Trail in Windham.  For more information please call 892-7149 or email MWAMconcerts@gmail.com.

Windham parish collects over 2,500 food items to help feed local children

Thanks to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Windham, many local children were able to enjoy healthy snacks during their summer fun.

Created in the spring of 2016, “Operation Summer Snacks” is an initiative of the parish, located on 919 Roosevelt Trail, that collects food for children in need who receive bags of food from the “Backpackers” program during the school year but, in many cases, do not have the snacks during the summer.

“We totaled more than 2,500 individual snack items, bagging 226 gallon-sized bags that included 31 nut-free bags, 30 nut- and gluten-free bags, and 165 bags with no food restrictions,” said Jill Russell-Morey, a parish catechetical leader. “Each bag contained a mix of 10 snack items, and we tried to include a fruit and juice pouch in each while donations lasted.”

Organizers invite parishioners and community members to drop off snack items in the entrance of the church. From there, the bags are assembled by parish youth and volunteers before being sent to the Windham Food Pantry.

“Three years ago, I contacted the pantry and asked if there was a particular food or item that we could focus on to collect at the parish throughout the summer,” Russell-Morey stated. “They needed individualized snack items to provide to some local families during the summer months. The donations helped supplement these children’s meals. The faith formation commission at the parish
decided that this was a great project to adopt, and we got the word out.”

In addition to individuals and families, generous donations were received this year from the women’s Bible study group at the parish and Windham Cub Scout Pack #805. Parishioners enjoy contributing their donations and time, and the project makes the issue of hunger in the community clearer to both the children and adults at the parish.

“It really puts things into perspective when we think about the number of snacks we eat throughout the week compared to what fits into a gallon-sized bag and will be rationed over a week’s period for these children,” said Russell-Morey. “Everyone wants to ensure the most variety possible for the children.”

Local American Legion shares update of national convention

Members of the American Legion Post 148 of Windham recently returned from a week in Indianapolis, Indiana at the American Legion National Convention. After a week of commissions, committees, caucus, and convention floor activities from August 23rd to 29th, Lin and Dave Tanguay, delegates to the Legion’s 101st and the Legion Auxiliary’s 99th conventions will now spend some time presenting the work of the convention to their respective department, district, post and unit organizations. Dave was a Maine delegate and assigned to the Convention National Security Commission and Lin was an Auxiliary delegate from Maine and sat on the history and upcoming Auxiliary’s 100th Anniversary Committees. Lin also sat in on the constitution and by-laws committee. All these meetings make for a very busy weekend prior to convention.

David and Lin Tanguay at the convention

This 100th year of the Legion and its 101st convention celebrated several major national events in support of veterans. Noteworthy that have both national and local implications to our veterans are as follows: 

The Blue Water Navy Act signed into law this year allows those Naval and Marine Corps personel attached to ships working off the coast of Vietnam during the conflict to be compensated for and treated by the VA for their exposure to Agent Orange.  Post 148 has one individual who, as a Marine Corp, was assigned to a helicopter carrier and was exposed to the chemical. He and thousands of other veterans will now be added to the support structure for agent orange.

The Legion Act, signed by President Trump on July 3, 2019 now makes 420,000 veterans eligible for membership in the Legion as well as their qualifying family members in the Legion Family. The Act strongly supported for years by the Legion recognizes the service of those veterans placed in harm’s way not during times of official armed conflict.

Over 1200 veterans lost their lives during these periods of “non-conflict”. The Act reads: “Any veteran serving after December 7, 1941 with at least one day of active military service and honorably discharged is eligible for membership in this country’s largest veterans’ organization, The American Legion. There are over 19,000 local veterans in Cumberland County eligible to join the American Legion.”

When the National Government shut down last year, many critical groups continued to be paid including our armed forces. Not so, the U.S. Coast Guard who falls under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime. The American Legion stepped up and provided over a million dollars in grants to the enlisted personnel of the Coast Guard during this crisis. In Maine, well over 60 families were supported out of the Legion Department of Maine.

Another milestone this year was the implementation of the Mission Act that allows veterans to use local medical support when VA support is too far away or not reasonably available. The other important factor is that veteran’s medical records are being digitized for use by both VA and civilian doctors. This program when fully implemented for all veterans will allow any doctor to see what other doctors have prescribed or recommended.

Each and every one of these laws and programs were instituted and/or endorsed by the American Legion. Like the GI Bill or the Veterans Administration Acts before them, these bills were the product of The American Legion and any member can be justifiably proud of their involvement in the Legion.

There were also many briefings and discussions on two major veterans’ issues:  Homeless veterans and veterans’ drug and suicide crisis.  In these areas much has been done, but much still needs to be done. 

On the local level, developing veteran camaraderie with the Field-Allen Post Veteran Coffee program (Every Wednesday from 9  a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Windham Veteran Center) and the very much appreciated, collection of non-perishable food items on Wednesdays at the WVC by the Legion Post 148 and delivered to the Homeless Vet Food Pantry at the Portland Veteran Center has made an impact in the local area. 

There is an open invitation to all veterans to drop in for coffee each Wednesday for 9 a.m. to 11 a.m at the Windham Veteran’s Center behind Hannaford’s North Windham. The Legion will also gladly accept any non-perishable food items for fellow vets with food insecurity issues. 

The American Legion: Veterans Serving Veterans for 100 years and looking to the next 100 years.