Raymond Parks and Recreation offers a variety of fall programs for young and old

By Masha Yurkevich

Raymond Parks and Recreation is offering a variety of programs and activities this fall for residents of all ages, from youth sports and adult recreation to outdoor activities, family events and community outings.

According to Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Riley Silvia, the department aims to provide opportunities for residents with a wide range of interests and experience levels.

“Our goal is to make sure Parks and Recreation truly has something for everyone,” Silvia said.

Youth soccer is currently under way, and registration is open for the upcoming youth basketball season. Adult offerings include basketball at Jordan-Small Middle School, pickleball at Raymond Elementary School and futsal at Jordan-Small Middle School.

The department is also offering several outdoor recreation opportunities. The “Fall in Love with Yoga” program, offered in partnership with Sebago Cycle, allows participants to practice yoga at Tassel Top Park. The “Together on the Trail” hiking group meets weekly and explores trails in Raymond and surrounding communities with Registered Maine Guide Elena Glidden.

For younger children, Raymond Play & Grow provides a relaxed weekly play group at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park. The program gives young children an opportunity to play while their parents and caregivers connect with others.

While there are no brand-new programs being introduced this fall, Silvia said the department is continually looking for ways to expand its offerings.

“One of our biggest challenges right now is access to indoor recreation space,” Silvia said. “As we head into the colder months, we are trying to get creative with the spaces and resources available to us.”

Youth sports continue to be among the most popular programs. Soccer and basketball provide local children with opportunities to participate close to home, develop skills and become part of a team.

Pickleball has also become popular among adult participants. The department offers different nights for different levels of play, from beginner and leisurely play to intermediate and advanced, allowing people with varying levels of experience to participate.

Silvia said the department determines its programming by listening to residents, monitoring which programs fill up and considering feedback from participants. Staff members also look at how existing community spaces can be used in new ways. One example is Raymond Play & Grow, which was created around the existing amenities at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park, including its playground and walking path.

Among the events Silvia is particularly looking forward to this fall is Pumpkins in the Park and Outdoor Movie Night at Tassel Top Park. The family-friendly event will give families the opportunity to decorate pumpkins together before watching an outdoor movie. The event is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 in partnership with the Raymond Schools PTO. Families will receive a pumpkin and decorating supplies, with the movie beginning at approximately 6:15 p.m. Popcorn and a drink will be included, and families are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. The decorated pumpkins will also be displayed for the community to enjoy on Halloween night. Parks and Recreation will additionally have a photo booth available during Halloween trick-or-treating for families and children to take pictures in their costumes.

The department is also organizing “Night Out with Raymond Parks & Recreation” trips to Maine Celtics and Maine Mariners games, giving residents an opportunity to attend professional sporting events together. 

For Silvia, the importance of the department extends beyond the individual activities it offers.

“Recreation is about much more than the activity itself,” Silvia said. “These programs create opportunities for people to meet their neighbors, make friends, spend time with their families, and feel connected to their community.”

Residents can find information about current programs and register through the Raymond Parks and Recreation RecDesk page at Raymond.recdesk.com. Program updates, registration openings and special events are also shared through the Town of Raymond Parks and Recreation Facebook page. Silvia encourages residents who have never participated in a Parks and Recreation program to give one a try.

“You do not have to know anyone, be an experienced athlete, or have participated in Parks and Recreation before,” Silvia said.

Whether through a sports program, hiking group, family event or community outing, the department hopes residents will find an opportunity to get involved this fall.

“More than anything, I hope they leave feeling a little more connected to their neighbors, their family, the outdoors, or the Raymond community as a whole,” Silvia said. <

New volunteers sought to help others through traumatic events

By Erin Rose

The Traumatic Intervention Program of Greater Portland (“TIP”) is searching for new volunteers, and Windham resident and current TIP volunteer Richard MacLaughlin can attest to how rewarding it is to help people going through dark times.

Windham resident Richard MacLaughlin
is a volunteer for the Traumatic
Intervention Program of Greater Portland 
which is hosting a training session for
new volunteers at the Westbrook Public
Safety Building from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, Oct. 14.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

“Every time there is a call, I know I am going to help someone through something difficult,” MacLaughlin said of his year with the organization. “It helps me keep my problems in perspective.”

The group will be hosting a training session for new volunteers at the Westbook Public Safety Building from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The session will be the first of seven required trainings that are scheduled before volunteers are able to start taking calls and helping members of the community.

“The training is five weekday evenings, one full weekend day and two half weekend days,” MacLaughlin said. “It’s excellent training. I felt competent to volunteer on my own after completing the training. The trainers are local and awesome. I am a better person for having attended this training.”

TIP ‘s volunteers are available 24 hours a day to help provide support and resources to people impacted by traumatic events, including fires, accidents or severe injury, suicide, overdose or sexual assault. The group’s team of 25 volunteers serve nine local communities, including Windham, Gorham, Westbrook and Falmouth.

“In the towns we serve, we meet with the first responders and make our services known,” MacLaughlin said. “Anytime one of the first responders, or sometimes a nurse from MaineMed, sees the need for a volunteer because someone is in distress, they contact our dispatch and we go to where they are. You can’t always tell how someone is doing until you get a chance to really check in with them.”

Pam Grant, the Director of TIP, said the organization covers 62 shifts a month.

“We are called in by the 911 system to support the survivors of a tragedy, as well as the first responders,” she said.

The volunteers provide four main areas of support. Emotional first aid helps provide a “calm, caring presence when it matters most,” MacLaughlin said. TIP volunteers also provide clear information, to help the impacted families “understand what’s happening and what comes next,” he continued.

They also provide access to and information about resources that are available to victims and survivors, including cleanup services and community support, MacLaughlin said, adding that the fourth includes helping protect the victims and their families from harm and hurtful comments, even if they are well-meaning.

The support is not limited to just the direct victims of the trauma, but also to those who may be in the background as emergency services personnel work to assist their loved one.

“We prevent what is called a second injury, the feeling of being abandoned by the system that is caring for their loved one,” MacLaughlin said. “A simple example of what I’m describing would be if someone and their spouse were in an automobile accident and one of them was severely injured or died. While the police, EMTs, firefighters and the first responders work on the injured one, the other may be left alone and without support. That’s where we come in.”

Sometimes, it can be difficult for those who provide care to people during traumatic events to separate themselves from the incident, but the group provides opportunities for supporting each other.

“We have monthly required meetings and part of that is speaking about difficult calls, sharing with the group and making sure members get whatever support they need,” MacLaughlin said. “I have a mantra – ‘This is to be with and help, not to carry.’”

A dedicated volunteer, MacLaughlin gives his focus to a single group at a time, having previously been on the Board of Directors for the Windham Youth Soccer Association and a member of the Sebago Lake Rotary Club.

“I saw a story on a morning news program about TIP and thought ‘I could probably do that,’” he said. “Within a week, I began the training.”

MacLaughlin has lived in Windham since 2005 with his wife Sarah and son Josh and works as a local building contractor.

To learn more information about TIPS or to get more details about the upcoming trainings, visit https://www.tipgreaterportland.org/. <

Riding To The Top celebrates final Wine Tasting Event

By Erin Rose

The Riding To The Top Equine Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) will be hosting its 15th annual and final Wine Tasting event at its facility on Lilac Drive in Windham from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Riding To The Top Equine Therapeutic
Riding Center on Lilac Drive in Windham
will host the 15th annual Wine Tasting
fundraising event from 4 to 7 p.m. on
Saturday, Sept. 19 with proceeds to
benefit RTT's equine therapy programs.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

“This is 15 and we’ve had so much fun,” said Pat Niboli, a longtime volunteer at the center who helps host the event after developing the idea with her nephew when he began working at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. “He said ‘let’s have some fun, and let’s do a wine tasting party.’”

The first year was hosted at a neighbor’s house, and while attendance was small with only seven people, it quickly grew.

“We decided to do it again because we had so much fun, and moved it to RTT,” Niboli explained. “Over the 15 years, we have had over 1,000 people come in to that wine tasting party. It’s been huge.”

The event has raised more than $70,000 to support the center over the 15 years and has allowed people to tour the facility and meet the equine members of the staff.

“This event has long been a staple of RTT’s fundraising events,” said Kelly Johnson, Development Director for the center. “It’s always a pleasure to welcome those long who are familiar with the farm and our work here alongside newcomers who are being introduced to RTT for the first time. It is always special to get to watch members of the RTT community, particularly RTT’s stalwart volunteers who attend this event as guests, get the chance to introduce their friends and family to the farm. Our volunteers are such an integral part of what gets done on the farm and it means so much for them to get to share it with their loved ones.”

The wines will be selected from the most popular offerings at event sponsor The Good Life Market, located on Roosevelt Trail in Raymond, and will be paired with a selection of cheeses also provided by the local market.

“The event includes an educational component with Bob Scheele of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits offering insights into the different wines and the regions they come from,” Johnson said. “The evening ends with a shared potluck dinner provided by various community members. It’s an event that allows people to come together to enjoy good wine and cheese pairings, curated by Walt Manchester of The Good Life Market, some time with friends and the chance to reset after the bustle of the summer.”

The center’s significant impact on the population it serves is witnessed by the volunteers who are well placed to watch the patients’ growth over their time at RTT.

“We see some of these clients grow from four years old to 15 years old and it’s just incredible the feeling you get when you watch a kid smile when he gets on a horse, or when he runs to his horse and puts his arms around him,” Niboli said. “It’s just a wonderful feeling.”

“It’s like an empowerment to that child,” she added. “The parents say that they look forward to that one day a week, and that’s really something.”

The impact is not limited to the patients who take part in equine therapy but also touches the 200 specially trained volunteers that devote their time to the center.

“The volunteers are tremendous,” Niboli said. “We know how much it means to those kids for us to be there, but it means so much for us because of what we get in return from both the horses and the kids and adults that ride. We get a lot out of being with the horses, almost as much as the clients we work with do.”

Johnson echoes the same, as she hears from volunteers who have benefited from their work at the center.

“Our volunteers also comment on the physical and social-emotional benefits that they receive from volunteering at RTT,” she said. “One volunteer recently commented, ‘As soon as I step out of my car on Monday mornings at RTT, I can feel myself decompressing. Probably the most special moments are that some of the horses seem to want to be there for you, coming and standing near you, sensing the emotional grief you are feeling that day.’” 

The center decided to end the event while it remains popular and are still working to find a new idea for future fundraisers.

“This event is a close partnership between Riding To The Top, The Good Life Market in Raymond, and Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits,” Johnson said. “After a joint discussion, it was decided that while we’re all open to collaborating in different ways in the future, 15 years felt like a good stopping point for this particular event.”

Tickets for the event are available to members of the public who are 21 years of age or older for $25 and must be purchased in advance through a link on the center’s website: https://www.ridingtothetop.org/wine-tasting

Founded in 1993, RTT is the only center in Maine accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) solely dedicated to Equine Assisted Services. The center’s facility includes a heated indoor arena and an outdoor riding ring on 50 acres of land at 14 Lilac Drive in Windham.

The center’s programs include therapeutic riding, where patients are helped through horsemanship and riding activities. Therapeutic Carriage Driving provides the opportunity for patients who cannot ride to harness and drive a horse from a cart or carriage. RTT also offers Equine Assisted Learning, where interaction with the horse, both mounted and unmounted, helps in the development of life skills, and Hippotherapy, where the horse’s movement is used as a therapy tool.

“For many individuals who struggle in traditional therapy, medical or classroom settings, time spent at the farm is frequently life-changing due to RTT’s natural, nurturing and non-medical environment,” Johnson said. “Teachers and family members, along with medical and mental health providers, tell us that RTT has a significant impact on the lives of children with disabilities and that the farm is a safe and trusted setting.”

RTT will also be hosting their 18th annual Triple B ~ Boots, Bands & BBQ at the facility on Saturday, Oct. 17.

“This is our largest fundraiser of the year and focuses on raising money for our rider scholarships and horse care funds,” Johnson said. “It’s an evening of dinner, dancing, a bucket raffle and a mission-based auction led by auctioneer, Elizabeth Ross.”

To learn more about RTT, its programs, to make a donation, or to inquire about volunteering, visit www.ridingtothetop.org or call 207-892-2813.

Details about the Good Life Market can be found at https://www.thegoodlifemarket.com/ <

Maine's public universities to award college credit for career-aligned high school microcredentials

AUGUSTA – As part of its efforts to promote postsecondary access, upward mobility, and the growth of the state's workforce, the University of Maine System (UMS) will award academic credit for microcredentials earned by high school students through Jobs for Maine's Graduates (JMG).

Through the agreement announced today, Maine's public universities will award up to eight college credits for microcredentials earned through JMG that demonstrate mastery of competencies and skills in high demand, including financial and digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.

"This historic agreement between Maine's public universities and JMG will strengthen aspirations, access and degree attainment while reducing student debt and time to a door-opening college degree and meaningful, good-paying career," said UMS Chancellor Dannel Malloy. "JMG's microcredentials demonstrate a student's college-level learning and skill development in critical areas necessary to their future success and the growth of the state's workforce. Our System has rigorously evaluated them and is proud to accept them for credit as part of our ongoing efforts to create more college and career pathways that promote upward mobility and Maine's employers and economy."

To meet the workforce needs of the state, Maine has set a goal that by 2035, some 70 percent of working-age adults will hold postsecondary credentials that lead to good jobs. The state has made considerable progress over the past decade, thanks in large part to Maine's public universities expanding college access through early college, direct and guaranteed admissions, online offerings, adult degree completion initiatives, and region-leading affordability. Still, just 55.5 percent of Mainers hold a high-value credential, even as automation raises the premium employers place on durable human skills such as leadership, communication, and judgment.

Under the new program, JMG students can earn UMS credit for eight career-readiness credentials: Leadership Development, Personal Growth, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Multicultural Foundations, Pathway Navigation, Job and Career Readiness, Financial Literacy, and Digital Literacy. Students earn the credentials over multiple years of high school as portable digital badges, with the exact number of credits and course designation set by each UMS university.

Because most of JMG's more than 13,000 annual students do not enter the program planning to attend college, the agreement gives young people who may never have considered a degree the chance to leave high school with credit already in hand.

It is the first time faculty governance groups at Maine's public universities have agreed to accept microcredentials for college credit. The evaluation process used for the JMG short courses was consistent with that already used within the System to award credit for prior learning, such as work and military experience.

The partnership builds on JMG's three decades of programming across all 16 Maine counties and its long-standing partnerships with Maine's public universities, where JMG college success advisors are embedded. The approach is already drawing interest from other states through Generation US (GenUS), a national nonprofit launched by JMG. The same model is now being considered by education systems in Kansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

JMG partners with public education and private businesses to provide results-driven solutions to ensure all Maine students graduate, attain postsecondary credentials, and pursue meaningful careers, including right here in RSU 14. Serving more than 13,000 students statewide each year, JMG offers on ramps from sixth grade through age 24 to nearly 150 programs embedded in public schools, career and technical education centers, and on every campus in the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System.

"We've watched too many students walk into our classrooms who never once saw college as a realistic option for themselves," said JMG President and CEO Kimberley Acker Lipp. "Maine can't afford that anymore. We're the oldest state in the country, and we need more young people to stay and build careers here. Now a student can graduate from high school having already earned eight college credits. That changes the math for a 16-year-old who is considering whether college is within reach."

For more information, please visit gen-us.org and jmg.org. <

Cub Scouts a first step in child’s journey to become a responsible citizen

By Josh Smeltzer
Special to The Windham Eagle

For going on 39 years, Cub Scouts Pack 805 has served the Town of Windham and the Sebago Lakes Region with the aim of building character, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership in children.

Members of Cub Scouts Pack 805 get ready to march in the
annual Windham Summerfest Parade in June. At 6:30 p.m.
on Monday, Sept. 14, Pack 805 will offer an Open House
and Registration event at St. Ann's Episcopal Church in
Windham for kids and families to learn more about
Cub Scouts programs in Windham. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO 
 

According to Pack 805 Cubmaster Mike Chickering, scouting teaches children positive character traits such as being courteous, helpful, and loyal, while fostering new friendships, learning about the outdoors, and serving the community.

At 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, Cub Scouts Pack 805 will conduct its annual Open House/Registration Night at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 40 Windham Center Road in Windham. There will be a cookout, games for kids, and a chance for parents and guardians to ask about the Cub Scouts program in Windham.

This summer, Pack 805 assisted the Windham Veterans Center with a U.S. flag retirement ceremony, hiked Knights Pond Preserve, did a night hike up Bradbury Mountain, held a food drive for the Windham Food Pantry, went camping, visited Aquaboggan and participated in many more activities.

For this coming school year, Cub Scouts will go hiking, camping, and ice fishing, collect food for donation and gather clothing and toys for those in need, present the colors at a Maine Mariners professional hockey game, go candlepin bowling, participate in the annual Pinewood Derby races and other events.

Past years have included scouting activities like air rifle and archery instruction at Camp Hinds in Raymond, bike rodeos, rock climbing, and hosted presentations like Mad Science and Mr. Drew and His Animals Too.

“The scout motto is ‘Do Your Best’ and that’s what the kids learn.” said former Pack 805 Cubmaster Casey Melanson. “Cub Scouts can do anything they put their minds to. We have gone winter camping, hiking, ice fishing, and built lean-tos in the woods. We also have our annual Pinewood Derby where kids design and build their own cars and then compete against one another. As a pack we have had beach outings, cookouts, movie nights, and EVO Rock Gym overnights.”

Joining the Cub Scouts is the first step in a journey to become a responsible citizen who cares about their neighbors and the community.

“We want our scouts to learn what it means to be part of something important, what it means to help their community, make new friends, build relationships, and to have fun,” Melanson said.

The Cub Scout uniforms consist of a shirt, a rank neckerchief, and a rank slide. Pants and rank hats are optional. Scouts are encouraged to have a belt (not necessarily a scout belt) to be able to display their beltloop achievements. Each scout is issued a handbook for each rank so they will be able to learn, perform, and complete each achievement and scout activities emphasize having fun and learning useful life skills.

Pack 805 Cub Scout activities and adventures are centered around earning merit badges that are specific to each school grade level. Each badge represents a rank and advancement and refers to the progress a Cub Scout makes toward their badge of rank.

Assistant Cubmaster Kayla Desmond said that Pack 805 Cub Scouts dues are highly affordable and go toward scout activities, awards, national and local Cub Scout registrations, and insurance.

Desmond said that Pack 805 conducts a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year to offset costs to keep expenses for parents at a minimum.

Windham parents should consider having their child join Cub Scout Pack 805 because it helps them to work on self-growth, and to not be afraid to try new things, Desmond said.

“We want our scouts to learn what it means to be part of something important, what it means to help their community, make new friends, build relationships, and to have fun,” she said.

For more information about Windham Cub Scout Pack 805, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.beascout.org. <

Free Touch A Truck event returning to Windham

By Ed Pierce

Kids will enjoy the opportunity to explore vehicles of all types while parents will appreciate that the event is free as once again the Windham Lions Club will host its popular Touch A Truck event in North Windham next month.

The 7th annual Windham Lions Touch A Truck event will be
held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 12 in the parking lot
behind Hannaford Supermarket in Windham. The event is
free but donations benefit causes that the Windham Lions
Club supports throughout the year. COURTESY PHOTO

The 7th annual Windham Lions Touch A Truck will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 12 in the parking lot behind Hannaford off Route 302 in North Windham. Although admission is free, donations will be greatly appreciated as proceeds benefit a variety of Windham Lions Club programs year-round in the Windham community.

During this year’s Touch A Truck event, children and families will be able to climb into the cab of a fire truck, see the inside of a police car, explore land excavators, dump trucks, snowplows, cement mixers, and much more. There will be many large vehicles on hand from throughout the community for kids to inspect, climb into the driver’s seat, and honk the horn.

Free water will be supplied by Poland Springs to Touch A Truck participants and snacks will be available.

“As with all events we hold, all profits are returned to our Windham community,” says Bob Simmons of the Windham Lions Club. “One of our local businesses started us off with a gift to raffle off and others joined in. This added feature will hopefully help us to raise more money. Our intentions have always been that our Touch A Truck adds enjoyment to the children and their families that come to our event. However, the raffle could help us raise more funds as we try to help as many families as possible through our Adopt-A-Family program during the holidays as well as other activities throughout the year.”

Simmons says that members of the Windham Lions Club are grateful for the participation of Windham agencies and local businesses that have helped make this event possible.

“The Touch A Truck event provides a hands-on educational community event to see and touch the trucks and machinery used in the community and to meet the men and women who operate these machines,” Simmons said. “Participating vehicles will be displayed in a safe, supervised environment and it’s the perfect venue for exploring the machinery while learning about the people who build, protect and serve Windham.”

Former Windham Lions Club President Evelyn Brissett is credited helping to launch the event.

“I had done some research online and it seemed like Touch A Truck would be a fun way to interact with kids and people in our community,” she said. “We also want our community to be aware that the Windham Lions Club does exist and with everyone’s help we can make life a lot brighter for those less fortunate.”

Brissette said that since the Windham Lions Club staged its first Touch A Truck, the event has exceeded all expectations in terms of participation and the Windham community’s willingness to help others.

According to Simmons, the Windham Lions Club works throughout the year to uplift the community, such as providing Christmas gifts for local students and families in need and contributing donations for worthwhile school activities such as Odyssey of the Mind, and scholarships for Windham High School students.

He said that when Windham residents take an interest in their own community, and work together for a cause, they can make a significant difference.

All proceeds from this year’s Touch A Truck event, coupled with the club’s annual Stuff-the-Bus event in November will go a long way to helping those in need in Windham, Simmons said.

Since its founding, the Windham Lions Club has played a significant charitable role in the community, supporting a variety of causes and issues affecting the lives of residents.

Some of those include purchasing and manning Windham’s first rescue van in 1968; significant donations to the Windham Public Library; helping with expenses related to eye exams and eyeglasses for participants when they meet the Lions Club criteria; assisting with expenses related to hearing tests and hearing aids when they meet the Lions Club criteria; conducting RSU 14 eye screening with more than 5,500 students screened to date; sponsoring the “Student of the Month” program in local schools; Breakfast with Santa; the annual Stuff-the-Bus program with more than 10,000 pounds of food collected for those in need; supporting the Windham Veteran’s Center; and collecting used eye glasses and hearing aids for those in need. <

SMAA receives $99,731 grant to expand dementia respite care

Southern Maine Agency on Aging has been awarded $99,731 from the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) to enhance the quality and availability of dementia-specific respite care for people living with dementia and their caregivers across York and Cumberland counties.

Southern Maine Agency on Aging is among 34 organizations nationwide selected to receive grant funding. The award will support the launch of Dementia Respite Without Walls, a community-based pilot designed to bring respite services directly to rural communities where families may face transportation challenges or have limited access to center-based programs.

The pilot will provide weekly, four-hour respite sessions in familiar community settings such as churches, grange halls, and community rooms. Two 12-week cohorts will serve approximately 12 to 24 people living with dementia while giving their caregivers dependable time for rest, appointments, errands, or other needs.

An open house will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Casco Community Center, 940 Meadow Road in Casco.

Interested participants need to be screened prior to attending the Open House. To be screened, they need to contact Adult Day Program manager Nicole Garrity at 207-396-6508 or send an email to [email protected].

“Caring for someone living with dementia can be demanding, especially for families in rural communities where respite services may be difficult to access,” said Megan Walton, President and CEO of Southern Maine Agency on Aging. “This grant will allow us to bring trusted, dementia-specific support closer to home while giving caregivers time to care for their own health and well-being.”

Dementia Respite Without Walls will bring trained staff, individualized care planning, and therapeutic activities into each community. Portable engagement kits will allow staff to provide meaningful activities adapted to each member’s interests and abilities. The initiative will also include caregiver support, volunteer training, community partnerships, and program evaluation, with the goal of developing a model that can be replicated in other rural communities.

In conjunction with the grant, Southern Maine Agency on Aging will receive online training and ongoing technical assistance from the CDRI to ensure respite services are dementia-capable and to support sustainability. The CDRI will also collect data and evaluate the impact of projects from all grant recipients to inform public policy.

“We congratulate Southern Maine Agency on Aging on this award and look forward to partnering with their team to expand access to dementia-specific respite care,” said Lauren Stratton, director, psychosocial research and program evaluation at the Alzheimer’s Association. “Each funded program contributes to a growing national network of innovative respite models, helping advance sustainable solutions that better support caregivers and people living with dementia in communities across the country.” 

The Alzheimer’s Association created the CDRI in 2024 after receiving a $25 million grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Through this initiative, the CDRI is distributing $25 million over five years to local respite providers and organizations to enhance the quality and availability of respite care nationwide. Visit alz.org/cdri to see the full list of this year’s grant recipients.

About Southern Maine Agency on Aging

Southern Maine Agency on Aging supports older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers throughout York and Cumberland counties. Through services including caregiver support, Adult Day Programs, Meals on Wheels, Medicare counseling, and information and resources, the organization helps people maintain their independence and quality of life. To learn more, visit www.smaaa.org.

Funding Disclosure

This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as part of a financial assistance award totaling $18,228,216, with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS, and $4,941,389, with 25 percent funded by non-government sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government. <

Through-Year Assessment Data shows continued student test score growth

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Education (DOE) recently received the verified aggregate data from Maine’s Through Year Summative Assessment, and Maine students’ average Rasch Unit (RIT) percentile scores are at and above the most recent MAP Growth National Achievement Norms.

Maine's Through Year Summative Assessment and student
Rasch Unit percentile testing scores are at and above the
2025 national testing scores. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

The 2025 achievement norms were established using scores from approximately 13.8 million students nationwide over the course of two years.

Maine students’ average summative achievement scores on the Through-Year Assessment have also increased every year since 2023, marking a positive trend that contributes to a much broader picture of student success.

The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) state score estimates have received a great deal of media coverage over the past 18 months, with multiple new studies and reports continuing to recycle the same data from that testing event every few weeks.

Maine’s 2024 NAEP score estimates were disappointing and continued a slow decline that began in 2011.

Maine DOE officials say that while NAEP and the Through-Year Assessment both provide some information about student performance in Math and Reading, the two assessments are very different, and the data they offer are produced in very different ways.

NAEP uses a random sample of about 1,700 fourth and eighth grade students per test and creates what the National Center on Education Statistics (NCES) calls state “score estimates.” The score estimates are actually a statistical projection that assumes that all students in the state would perform at a level similar to the sampled students.

The Through-Year Assessment, on the other hand, is taken by more than 85,000 Maine students (every student in grades 3 to 8 and in grade 10). Unlike NAEP, the Through-Year Assessment provides student-level data and school-level scores that can be used by teachers to give parents a better understanding how their child is performing and by the state in determining levels of support through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Experts caution against using standardized test scores alone to evaluate the success of schools, policies, or programs, recognizing that these data provide just a glimpse into the much bigger picture. Local assessments, teacher observations, passed course rates, and graduation rates, for example, offer information that builds toward a more complete picture of academic performance.

In Maine’s statewide Measure What Matters outreach, Maine DOE has heard from business leaders, educators, parents, and community members that the people of Maine prioritize active, applied learning; project based and “real world” projects; creativity, adaptability, and other durable skills that will prepare students for success in a dynamic future landscape. <

Maine registered fishing guide offers presentation at Raymond-Casco Historical Society

By Sue Pride
Special to The Windham Eagle

At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18, the Raymond-Casco Historical Society, located at the corner of Route 302 and 1 Shadow Lane in Casco, will host a free event featuring Registered Maine Guide Glen Gisel.

This evening program will be of interest to anyone who has experienced the joy of fishing, whether you are a weekend angler, a youngster hoping to catch your first fish, or an experienced sportsman.

Gisel has spent a lifetime enjoying Maine’s waters and says, “I have had a passion for fishing, boating, and being on the water since I was a young boy.,” It’s a passion he now enjoys as his vocation.

We all have valuable “good old fish memories, like the family time out in the boat with your dad, out with the guys, out with the girls, camp memories, the one that got away, and of course the one that was this big! Our daughter at age 5 was so excited catching her very first fish with a piece of ham from her lunch sandwich as bait.

Everyone has great fishing stories. Glen Gisel is no exception and his experience, and his fishing knowledge will make for an engaging evening for all who attend.

The Raymond-Casco Historical Society is excited to announce plans for a new exhibit on the vital resource of Sebago Lake to the Lakes Region for its environment, economy, recreation, and history. This exhibit is scheduled for completion by 2028, and will include the Landlocked Atlantic Salmon, Sebago Lake, Panther Pond, Casco and Raymond Hatcheries, fly fishing artifacts, and so much more.

The Society will be aided in this project by fishing historian Pete Leitner, who will assist in framing and preserving artifacts, photos, and historical documents for the exhibit. The display will explore the Paleo-Indian period, early settlers, the sporting industry, local Maine fishing guides, today’s anglers and fly fishermen.

Anyone who may have artifacts, photographs, fishing equipment, documents, or other items they would consider donating to this exhibit is encouraged to contact Raymond-Casco Historical Society, P.O. Box 1055, Raymond, ME 04071, call 207- 655-6389, or visit the RCHS campus on Saturday and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. through September.

All events are free and we gladly accept any donations in order to keep bringing you these varied and interesting events.

Follow the Raymond-Casco Historical Society on Facebook and visit www.raymondcascohistoricalsociety.org for scheduled events, news, and photos. <

Outdoor films ‘under the stars’ at Hacker’s Hill

Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) will host the Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF) at Hacker’s Hill in Casco at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14.

The Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF) will be held at
Hacker's Hill in Casco at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. The
event includes seven short films and is open to the public.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

In addition to its flagship festival in Portland, the Maine Outdoor Film Festival tours Maine with specially curated screenings of films about the outdoors, conservation, and recreation. This is the eighth year in a row LELT has hosted a screening at Hacker’s Hill, which is owned and managed by the Bridgton-based organization.

The film program to be shown at Hacker's Hill will include seven short films and will last an hour and a half.

The event is free and open to the public. There is a suggested donation of $10 per adult to benefit LELT, the stewardship of Hacker’s Hill, and land conservation efforts in the Lakes Region of Maine.

The films will begin at 7:45 p.m. but attendees are invited to come early to watch the sunset.

Attendees should bring a blanket or chair, warm layers, and a flashlight.

For more information and the full film program, visit maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com/2026-casco.

Notification of cancellation due to inclement weather will be posted on the Loon Echo Land Trust Facebook page.

Loon Echo Land Trust, founded in 1987, is a community-supported nonprofit organization that protects land, ensures public access to the outdoors, and builds and maintains recreational trails in Raymond, Casco, Naples, Harrison, Sebago, Bridgton, and Denmark.

The organization currently conserves over 9,300 acres of land and manages a 35-mile trail network across the Lake Region.

For more details about LELT properties, upcoming events, or how to get involved, visit LELT.org or their Facebook page. <

Windham bakery feeds neighbors in need

By Erin Rose

Hailey’s Kitchen has been working to help ensure that no one in Windham goes hungry.

Hailey's Kitchen in Windham established a 
food pantry after thousands of Mainers lost
SNAP benefits right before Thanksgiving
last fall and the bakery took donations to
help provide meals to those in need in
the community. COURTESY PHOTO

The bakery established a food pantry after SNAP benefits were cut before Thanksgiving last year and spent several months taking donations and funds to help provide meals to those in need in the community.

“People went without food when it’s a holiday built around food after benefits were slashed,” said Rebecca Willis-Coffin, the owner of Hailey’s Kitchen. “I had so many people bring in turkeys, canned goods, and they put in so much effort to support others.”

In total, the public donated at least 50 turkeys, and many included all the fixings to go with them, including vegetables and other sides to accompany the bird. Someone even thought to buy mayonnaise for the inevitable turkey sandwiches that come from Thanksgiving leftovers, Willis-Coffin said.

One of the largest donations was $500 from Paul’s Boutique, a recreational cannabis dispensary in Windham.

“They brought turkeys and bags of onions, potatoes, squash, apples,” Willis -Coffin said. “They brought so much and were my biggest single donator.”

The food pantry at Hailey’s grew so popular that the bakery ran out of storage room for the donated food.

“I had to call people to come and pick up their food now because I couldn’t store it,” Willis-Coffin said. “I had so much in there.”

The donated meals expanded into donations of breakfast sandwiches, tracked by Post-it notes which were pasted on the bakery’s walls. Soon, the walls of the storefront were covered in pastel notes, each one designating a breakfast sandwich that was pre-purchased by members of the public. Anyone in need of a meal was welcome to come by and take a Post-It and present it to receive a free sandwich.

“I said, ‘if anyone needs something to eat, just come in and we’ll feed you’,” Willis-Coffin said. “People brought in money and pre-purchased meals for people in need.”

The food pantry and free meal program ended in June, as the busy summer season takes up too much of the bakery’s operations to be able to support both.

“We had so many people right up until June,” Willis-Coffin said. “Then I said that you’ll have to rely on the Windham Food Pantry because we just don’t have the time and staff in the kitchen to do it all.”

The bakery still receives support from the community, as many people who have donated continue to purchase baked goods from the business.

“I’m glad that a lot of them still come in every week,” Willis-Coffin said. “They really take care of us.”

The program may be suspended for the season, but Willis-Coffin still maintains one Post-It on the cash register, as she will never let anyone go hungry.

“Even though I ask that you use the food pantry when we’re busy, I still do love my community and fully support my community and will always take care of my community,” Willis-Coffin said.

“It’s been unbelievable for me,” she said. “I’m just offering a sandwich or just providing a turkey meal for my neighbors. It’s what we should do.”

National news outlets, including MSNBC, covered the bakery’s efforts and helped show that good works can draw the community together.

“The news coverage was amazing because it just goes to show that a feel-good story really does win,” Willis-Coffin said. “And it really does matter when someone does something positive for the community.”

“The community will rally around that and not just say ‘oh that’s nice’ and move on,” she said.

The coverage also expanded the range from which people were donating to the efforts, leading people from outside the area to provide funds for food.

“I had people drive from Massachusetts to donate money for sandwiches and for turkeys,” Willis-Coffin said. “They wanted to see me in person.”

Willis-Coffin has been encouraged by seeing the community come together to support the bakery’s efforts.

“You saw the keyboard bullies, celebrating the removal of people’s SNAP benefits. And I saw the opposite side,” Willis-Coffin said. “I saw the most beautiful people come into my café and just give from the heart.”

Hailey’s Bakery was started in 2017 as a project for Willis-Coffin’s son, Alex, who began home schooling after suffering from intense anxiety in fourth grade. The bakery helped him learn new skills, all while enjoying baking.

“Eventually, he just said, I’m all set. You’re on your own,” Willis-Coffin said, explaining that Alex returned to public school as a freshman at Windham High School. He recently graduated and will be attending College of the Atlantic in the fall.

The bakery is a family enterprise, as all of Willis-Coffin’s children help out and work at the bakery, and even those not related by blood are counted as members of her family. Willis-Coffin says she has five children, as Alex’s best friend Olyver has become a part of her family as well.

“I’ve been pretty blessed in this endeavor,” she said. “My kids work with me, and I get to see them every day. Their growth with this business is just amazing and we’re a little family here. It makes me almost feel like I am just doing the job of somebody who isn’t doing their job in public office. We should have safety nets that never fail around food. When I was interviewed by MSNBC, they used my quote as their headline which was how can we call this a civilized country if we’re allowing citizens to go hungry? I’m using my powers for good.” <

Jeep and Military Vehicle Car Show and Swap Meet nearing in Windham

By Ed Pierce

If you’re anywhere near the Windham Veterans Center in North Windham on Saturday, Aug. 1, for the first time ever, American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 will be hosting a Jeep and Military Vehicle Car Show and Swap Meet and the public is invited to participate.

American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 will host a Jeep and
Military Vehicle Car Show and Swap Meet from noon to 
3 p.m. at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans
Memorial Drive in Windham on Saturday, Aug. 1.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

Jeeps old and new, ones that go off road and others that never do will be on display at the event at the WVC, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive, behind Hannaford in Windham.

Organizers say that vehicle registration for the Jeep Car Show will be conducted from 10 a.m. to noon for $25, followed by the show running from noon to 3 p.m. In the event of rain, the Jeep Car Show will be held on Sunday, Aug. 2.

Prizes will be awarded in six divisions for first through third place and a Best of Show award will also be presented.

The military history of the Jeep itself is the stuff of legends.

In 1942 with the United States embroiled in World War II, America’s military needed a nimble, 4x4 scout car. American Bantam Car Company built the first prototype called the "Quad", but the Willys-Overland and Ford companies were brought in to mass-produce the vehicles because American Bantam did not have the manufacturing capacity to mass produce the vehicles.

Willys was able to create what became the definitive military Jeep, and the Ford GPW was built to the exact same design.

Many say that the name "Jeep" came from U.S. Army slang short for "G.P." or a “General Purpose” vehicle.

The Jeep went on to revolutionize military transport and proved to be indispensable for the Allied forces. Jeeps were used for nearly every purpose including for shuttling troops back and forth from the front lines, as ambulances, and frequently as mobile command centers.

When World War II ended, Willys-Overland introduced the first Jeep for the civilian mark in 1945. During the 1950s and 1960s, Jeep expanded heavily into the recreational market. Corporate ownership then shifted to Kaiser Jeep and in 1963, Jeep introduced the Wagoneer, which transformed the market by offering one of the very first luxury, four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicles.

American Motors Corporation (AMC) acquired the Jeep product line in 1970. It refined the brand by introducing the full-time 4x4 Quadra-Trac system and eventually launching the Jeep Cherokee model in 1984. The Cherokee featured a groundbreaking unibody design that helped set the industry standard for all modern SUVs.

Chrysler Corporation acquired the Jeep brand from AMC in 1987 and introduced the Jeep Wrangler in 1986. Merging with DaimlerChrysler and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Jeep further evolved its lineup to include the Grand Cherokee and Gladiator.

Jeep operates under the Stellantis Corporation and now sells hybrid electric vehicles like the Wrangler 4xe.

During the Jeep and Military Vehicle Car Show and Swap Meet in Windham there will be vendors and a disc jockey playing music.

Donations will be appreciated with all funds going to support local veterans in need.

Jeep and Military Vehicle Car Show and Swap Meet sponsors include American Legion Post 148, Modern Woodmen of America and Mainely Jeep of Windham.

For further details or to inquire about vendor opportunities, send an email to [email protected] <

Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program honors Windham veterans

By Ed Pierce

Not many of us are thinking about Christmas in the middle of summer and holiday wreaths are not a hot topic for conversation when it’s 90 degrees outside, but for one local veterans’ organization, wreaths remain an important way to honor the men and women of Windham who ensured our freedom while wearing the military uniform of the United States.

American Legion Post 148 Auxiliary members gather during
last fall's Everlasting Gratitude Wreath program at 
Arlington Cemetery in Windham. From left are Pam
Whynot, Gail Labbe, Lin Tanguay and Maryann
Johnson. SUBMITTED PHOTO

American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 spearheads the annual effort to fundraise for Windham’s Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program, which supplies holiday wreaths adorned with red, white, and blue ribbons for placement on veteran’s graves in town. Each December, more than 1,000 wreaths are placed in 24 different Windham cemeteries honoring the service of military veterans buried there.

The program was launched by Sebago Gardens in 2013 and continues today under the leadership of American Legion Post 148 in Windham.

Some of the local graves of veterans date back to the Colonial Era and the Revolutionary War and the graves of Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans can also be found in Windham.

Every year in early December, the Windham Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program conducts a ceremony honoring the contributions of local veterans and follows that up with the placement of seasonal wreaths adorned with red, white, and blue ribbons. The special ceremony is coordinated with the laying of wreaths at the national cemeteries across America and includes placing a large, decorated wreath at each cemetery entrance in Windham.

Thanks to generous donations from local businesses and many members of the community, Windham’s American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 has been able to sponsor this popular program, but further donations from the public are needed to keep it viable. The Legion’s Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program has zero overhead in expenses, and all donations are used to purchase wreaths, ribbons, and hardware.

Later this year, with approval and assistance from the Town of Windham, each veteran’s grave in town will have a shepherd’s crock placed on it about 30 inches high to hang the wreath on. These shepherd’s crocks allow volunteers to remove the wreaths easily when it is time to retrieve them rather than having to dig them out from under a pile of snow.

Fundraising for the Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program starts in July because Post 148 needs to raise more than $6,000 every year to support the program and requires the funds to be available by September to pay for the massive wreath order, says David Tanguay, Post 148 adjutant.

“Once all the wreaths are ordered, the accompanying bows will be made by the American Legion family and local community volunteers and then matched to the wreaths when they arrive later in the fall,” he said. “We are still working with Libby Sawyer, the founder of the program. Although now the Legion Post does the funding and labor, she is still the vendor for the wreaths. Bows are made by the members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 148.”

American Legion members are now actively contacting the Windham business community and mailings to support the program run throughout the remainder of July and August.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program may do so by sending a check marked “Legion Wreaths,” to Legion Post 148 P.O. Box 1776, Windham, Maine 04062. Additional information will be provided as to when the bows will be made by volunteers at a location in town, and when the wreaths will be distributed in the cemeteries for those interested in helping to support this initiative.

The American Legion is a Federal designated 501 (c) 19 organization. <

Loon Echo Trail Race Series nearing

The 2026 Loon Echo Trail Race Series kicks off on Sunday, July 26 with the Crooked River 5K race in Harrison.

Runners leave the starting line during last year's Pleasant
Mountain Half Marathon Race to benefit Loon Echo Land 
Trust. The fourth annual Pleasant Mountain Race
Half Marathon presented by ReVision Energy, will be
held on Sept. 27 and starts at the Pleasant Mountain Ski
Area East Lodge in Bridgton.
PHOTO BY R. PERRY FLOWERS    

The trail race series is run by volunteer Race Directors Addie Casali and Scott Eugley and takes place across three trail networks owned and managed by Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT). All proceeds from the events support LELT trails and conservation work.

Crooked River 5K

A great introduction to trail running, the racecourse winds through the woods and along the bank of the Crooked River. The race starts and finishes at Scribner's Mill, a historic sawmill and homestead located right on the Crooked River in Harrison. This is a family friendly event.

The race starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, July 26 and leaves from Scribner's Mill in Harrison.

The cost to participate is $25.

Bald Pate 10K and Five Fields Farm 50K

Wind your way through the ancient pitch pine forest and take in beautiful views of Peabody Pond and the surrounding area. This is your chance to experience the best of a much-beloved mountain and trail network.

The Five Fields Farm 50K race is a figure-8, three lap course that navigates through the Bald Pate Preserve and Holt Pond Preserve. Each lap finishes with a section right through the heart of the apple orchard. No matter if you are a seasoned veteran or looking to break into ultra-distance events, this race will surely challenge runners.

The Bald Pate 10K races winds its way through the ancient pitch pine forest and takes in beautiful views of Foster Pond and the surrounding area. This is a challenging course that features steep climbs and technical terrain.

The races start at 7 a.m. for the Five Fields Farm 50K and at 9 a.m. for the Bald Pate 10K on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Both races depart from the Five Fields Farm in Bridgton.

The cost to participate is $35.

Pleasant Mountain Race presented by ReVision Energy

The Fourth annual Pleasant Mountain Race Half Marathon is presented by ReVision Energy. Runners will tackle Southern Maine's tallest mountain, and they will be greeted with technical single-track and traverse across Pleasant Mountain’s iconic ridge.

The race starts at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 and departs from the Pleasant Mountain Ski Area East Lodge in Bridgton.

The cost to participate is $75 for those registering prior to Sept. 1.

Pleasant Mountain is the tallest mountain in southern Maine and draws tens of thousands of visitors every year for hiking, running, and snowmobiling. The mountain is also home to Pleasant Mountain Ski Area.

Runners will compete on a tough course that begins at Pleasant Mountain Ski Area’s East Lodge in Bridgton. Runners will then head up the Bald Peak Trail and descend the mountain on the Firewarden’s Trail. They then run on the road from the Firewarden’s Trailhead to the Southwest Ridge Trailhead to head back up the mountain to the summit, across the ridge to Sue’s Way Trail, and down the Bald Peak Trail back to the East Lodge. The course is 21 kilometers long and has over 3,600 feet of elevation gain.

LELT races

Runners who sign up for one race in the 2026 series will receive $5 off another race in the series.

Not a runner but want to get involved? Volunteers are critical to the success of each race and always needed.

More information about registering as a volunteer and race registration links are available at LELT.org/race-series.

Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) was founded in 1987. It is a nonprofit organization that protects land, ensures public access to the outdoors, and builds and maintains recreational trails in Raymond, Casco, Naples, Harrison, Sebago, Bridgton, and Denmark. For more information on LELT properties, upcoming events, or how to get involved, visit LELT.org or their Facebook page. <

Bob Norwood: A teacher to remember

By Max Millard
Special to The Windham Eagle

In September 2025, I attended a lakeside reunion for the Windham High School Class of 1967. I brought a copy of the 1962 yearbook for Field-Allen Junior High and placed it on a picnic table, where it was instantly commandeered by a cluster of women from the class. They turned to the pages of head shots, touched them lovingly and emitted a chorus of "gone ... gone ... gone" for about one-quarter of our classmates.

Science teacher Bob Norwood, left, is shown in the 1962
Field-Allen Junior High School yearbook. At right, Bob and
Carol Norwood enjoy a meal in Florida in 2024. Bob passed
away at his home in Wells at the age of 89 earlier this year.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS 

The page depicting the 14 teachers and administrators drew little attention because, of course, they had all passed on. Except they hadn't. There was one survivor: Robert E. Norwood, who taught science at the school from 1960 to 1965.

I remembered Mr. Norwood as an energetic, engaging, fireball of a teacher who loved to tell jokes in class, but could be strict and serious when necessary. He loved teaching, and in 7th grade he directed a one-act play for the annual drama competition. I was among the players, along with Jean Bromley, Patty Hodgdon, Steve Turkington and Gail Sylvester.

Our play was voted the best of the evening. As a reward, Mr. Norwood drove the whole cast to Boston to see "How the West Was Won" at the Cinerama Theater, which had an ultra-wide, curved screen and three projectors to produce an immersive experience.

After the 1960s I lost touch with Mr. Norwood, but last year I learned that he was still alive and living in Wells. I contacted him and paid him a visit, along with my old Windham neighbor Jim Hawkes.

We were ushered into a room at the back of the house, with a big picture window facing the pristine backyard. Bob – as he preferred to be called – sat in a wheelchair with an oxygen tube under his nose, looking very fragile. He had been asleep when we arrived, but he immediately perked up, and along with his wife Carol, the four of us had a long, lively conversation.

Bob said that he left Field-Allen to teach in Portland because the pay was better. But he much preferred his old job. He explained: "In Windham, if a boy behaved badly and I called the parents, they would say, `He won't do that again.' In Portland the parents would say: `Oh, my son wouldn't do that!'"

In frustration, he quit Portland after five years, and met with William Foss, the Windham superintendent of schools, to request a new assignment. He was offered the post of transportation director, in charge of all of Windham's bus drivers, and with the authority to close the schools on snow days. He readily accepted and embraced the job for the next seven years.

Meanwhile, he was enjoying a side career as a businessman. His most successful venture was Arctic Penguin Ice in North Windham, which delivered ice to stores, summer camps and campgrounds. At its peak, the company had many employees and nine trucks.

Bob and Carol – a lifelong elementary school teacher – purchased a house on Pettingill Pond in Windham for $9,000. Bob built a second floor to accommodate their four children, and the family lived there for over 30 years. In 1991, Bob sold both the house and the ice business, and the couple moved to Polk City, Florida, where they spent the next 32 years. Recently the same house changed hands for $1 million.

In Florida, Bob renovated an old Greyhound bus to live in, and took a job as a tour bus operator, reinventing himself once again and getting to know every corner of the state.

Bob grew up in Biddeford, and he began teaching right out of college. I didn't realize at the time how young he was, because all the teachers then seemed to be adults of an indefinite age.

He laughed while recalling how teaching had changed since the old days – for example, the time he walked into the office of Field-Allen Principal Ronald Jacques and saw him with a boy over his knee, getting a vigorous spanking. He related that my classmate John Bridges once asked him, "Mr. Norwood, is it true that hot air rises?" Bob had said yes, at which John quipped, "Then why don't you go floating in the air?"

As much as Bob loved teaching, he valued his independence more and always managed to find jobs that suited his temperament. In his bedroom in Wells, his mind remained sharp, but it was apparent that his body was failing.

After an hour and a half, Jim Hawkes and I sensed that it was time to go. We said our goodbyes, and I pledged to visit Bob again in 2026. He asked me to tell him the next time the Class of 1967 had a get-together because he would like to attend, "if I'm still alive."

On May 5, 2026, Bob passed away at his home in Wells at the age of 89, leaving behind his wife of 66 years, three daughters, six grandchildren. and several great-grandchildren. His obituary in the Portland Press Herald gave the bare bones of his biography but failed to capture the essence of this remarkable teacher, entrepreneur, and bon vivant who lived his life to the fullest.

Max Millard is a retired journalist and teacher in San Francisco, California. Email him at: [email protected] <

Presentation to focus on lost Presumpscot River

In the summer of 2024, a dam malfunction caused the water in Dundee Pond in Windham to drain, offering a short-lived glimpse of what the Presumpscot River looked like before industrialization.

Whitney Falls reappeared in Windham in 2024 as part of the
'Lost River,' a part of the Presumpscot River, which was 
swallowed up when a dam was built creating Dundee Pond 
more than 100 years ago. The 'Lost River' returned in the
summer of 2024 when a dam malfunction drained Dundee
Pond. PHOTO BY ABBY WILSON     

It showed the ribbon of river below the dammed-up waters, giving new insight into the river which once flowed and the human history that was lost. It revealed clear remnants of the Cumberland & Oxford Canal, farm foundations, mysterious holes, and ancient artifacts.

At 7 p.m. on Monday, July 13 at the Little Meetinghouse, 719 Roosevelt Trail in Windham, retired University of Southern Maine Professor Mike Shaughnessy will give a presentation and lead a discussion about the lost wildness of this “river of many falls.” The river derived its ancient name from the Abenaki language spoken by the first people of the region, who fished the river's abundance and lived along the shorelands there for centuries.

This area of the Presumpscot River was the site of an original canal project dating back to the late 1700s. During this time, many dams were being built along the Presumpscot River for hydroelectricity. The pond was not flooded until 1910, however, which means the last time this landscape featured a river was over 100 years ago.

On May 17, 2024, a gate malfunctioned at Dundee Dam near Dundee Park in Windham. It is a hydroelectric project on the southern end of Dundee Pond, and the malfunction resulted in water being drained out of the pond there.

The Dundee Dam is owned by Presumpscot Hydro, the licensee of the Dundee Hydroelectric Project, and is operated by Relevate Power Management of New York. According to the company, one of the dam’s two deep sluice gates, used to pass large amounts of water during flooding events malfunctioned, sticking in the open position.

The dam gates were original components of this historic 1913 dam, and while proper maintenance has kept them in service for over a century, one of the gates reached the end of its useful life unexpectedly. The gate was located at the very bottom of the 52-foot structure, and subsequent repairs could only safely begin once the pond had been emptied.

That malfunction revealed geography and culture of an earlier time, most notably the re-emergence of the Presumpscot River, free-flowing again after nearly 125 years and acres of stumpage – old forest land that preceded the flooding of land that made way for construction of Dundee Dam in the early 1900s. It unveiled landscape such as the mile-long section of the old Cumberland & Oxford Canal, a watery hand-dug thoroughfare of the 19th century that transported goods between Long Lake and Portland, and the eroded remains of at least three locks used to raise and lower the barge-like freight boats along the channel’s 20-mile route 150 years ago. The Whitney Locks, located directly across the pond from Dundee Park, a double system consisting of two concave ditches with vertical tree trunks positioned against the banks to avoid cave-ins was uncovered.

This free presentation by Shaughnessy is sponsored by Windham Historical Society.

Though the dam has been repaired and the rushing waters silenced, Shaughnessy will explain to those attending his presentation what the river was, and what it can be once again. He will talk about the rich history of the Presumpscot River and its uses over the centuries.

Shaughnessy is the founding member and president of the Board of the Friends of the Presumpscot River organization. It is the mission of this group to restore and protect water quality, river habitat, native fisheries, and create recreational opportunities.

He lives in the historic Conant Homestead which sits along the Presumpscot River and is within a short walk to Saccarappa Falls. Situated nearby there is a monument and a memorial plaque that pays tribute to Chief Polin, leader of the Abenakis.

For further details about the presentation, visit windhamhistorical.org/ <

Last active Shaker Village in America preserves traditions

By Dina Mendros

Maine is home to countless natural and cultural treasures, but few are as unique, or as historically significant, as the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester. 

Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New
Gloucester was founded in 1931 with the
goal of educating the public about Shakerism.
A museum there exhibits traditional Shaker
crafts such as woodenware bowls and a 
collection of 27,000 Shaker items.
COURTESY PHOTO  

This remarkable site, the last active Shaker community in the United States, blends serene natural landscapes with centuries of living history. Spread across 1,800 acres of rolling farmland, orchards, gardens, and forest, the village remains home to the final three practicing Shakers, who continue to preserve their traditions while welcoming visitors from around the world.

The Shaker Museum, a central feature of the village, opens for the season on Saturday, May 23 and remains open through Indigenous People’s Day. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, giving guests ample time to explore the grounds, tour historic buildings, and learn about the Shakers’ enduring legacy.

The Shaker movement began in Manchester, England in the mid-1700s, founded by Mother Ann Lee. Facing persecution for their beliefs – including communal living, pacifism, and celibacy – Lee and several followers emigrated to America in 1774. They settled near Albany, New York, where their message of simplicity, equality, and devotion quickly attracted converts.

After the American Revolution, the faith spread rapidly throughout New York and New England. By 1824, the Shakers had established 19 self-sufficient communities stretching from Maine to Indiana. At their height in the 1850s, roughly 5,000 Shakers lived and worked in these villages.

The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Museum was founded in 1931 by Sisters Iona Sedgley and Ethel Peacock with the goal of educating the public about Shakerism. It remains the only museum created by Shakers themselves to interpret their culture firsthand. Today, the museum introduces visitors to the village’s historic buildings and traditional crafts, offering a rare window into more than two centuries of Shaker life in Maine.

Inside the museum’s 27 period exhibit rooms, guests can explore an extraordinary collection of nearly 75,000 items. These include Shaker furniture, folk art, tools, textiles, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and artwork. The collection represents every Shaker community known to have existed, with special emphasis on the Maine villages of Sabbathday Lake, Alfred, Gorham, and Poland Hill. The depth and breadth of the archives make it one of the most significant Shaker collections in the world.

The Museum Visitors’ Center, located in the 1850 Boys’ Shop, is open throughout the regular season. It features books, Shaker-made goods, locally crafted woodenware and baskets, and a wide selection of culinary herbs and medicinal teas - products long associated with Shaker ingenuity and self-sufficiency.

Upstairs, the exhibit “Come Little Children, Come to Zion: Growing Up at Shaker Village” offers a vivid look at 19th-century childhood in Maine’s Shaker communities. Set in the very rooms where Shaker children once lived, the exhibit includes a recording of Sister Mildred recounting her experiences growing up at the Alfred Shaker Village, choosing a Shaker life as an adult, and eventually moving to Sabbathday Lake.

Although the Shaker population has dwindled, the community emphasizes that their faith remains meaningful today. As their website explains, “Shakerism is not, as many would claim, an anachronism… It teaches above all else that God is Love and that our most solemn duty is to show forth that God who is love in the World.”

For more details, visit hmaineshakers.com/ or the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village Facebook page. <