Painted turtles remain a sign of spring

By Peter Rowland
Raymond Waterways Treasurer

One of my favorite heralds of springtime is the appearance of our painted turtles.

A small part of a larger group of painted turtles gather at 
Turtle Cove on Sebago Lake during the summer of 2025. 
Early in the spring, you may see them in large numbers,
crowded together on logs and rocks.
PHOTO BY PETER ROWLAND

They develop their pretty colors related to carotenoids in their diet. Did you know these cute little turtles can live for more than 50 years? And how do they survive our harsh winters? They have amazing adaptations that allow them to utilize anaerobic respiration with little or no oxygen for months at a time. But do they freeze? It turns out they may partially freeze, but their cells are protected by high concentrations of glucose and other compounds that act as antifreeze, so the cells don’t form ice even if areas between them are frozen.

They also have a markedly depressed metabolic rate and can absorb oxygen via their skin and cloaca. In shallow water they dig burrows 2 to 3 feet deep where they hibernate in the mud for up to 5 months.

They know it is time to leave hibernation when the water temperature reaches between 59 and 64 degrees. Temperature also controls the beginning of mating season in the spring with males producing sperm when their body temperature exceeds 63 degrees F.

Mating occurs at the bottom of water bodies. Females dig nests a few inches deep on land in sandy soil, within a couple of hundred feet of the shore in late May, June or early July. They lay an average of 5 eggs per clutch and may return to lay 2 to 5 clutches per year. The young turtles hatch in late August or September but may stay buried in the nest until the following spring. This ability to overwinter in the nest has been important in northern climates, although hard freezes can cause mortality.

Turtles are cold blooded and bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature. Particularly early in the season, you may see them in large numbers, crowded on logs and rocks. The area photographed here had more than 30. Once warmed, they re-enter the water and pursue a varied, omnivorous diet that includes algae, plants, small crustaceans, insects and small fish or carrion.

They may have multiple cycles of basking and foraging each day, but are inactive at night and mainly stay underwater, capable of staying submerged for hours at a time. The underwater environment provides safety.

Although adult turtles are fairly well protected by their shells, they can fall prey to birds of prey, raccoons and otters. Hatchlings are more vulnerable and have more predators and higher mortality. I’m pleased to report the painted turtle is doing well as a species and should continue to announce the arrival of spring for generations to come.

Fundraising Mailings

This year’s Raymond Waterways fundraising mailing will be sent out by March 2026 to all previous donors and Raymond lakefront owners. Your generous donations are essential to fund Courtesy Boat Inspections, the Lakesmart Program, and our educational programs, such as printing tips for erosion control and invasive species prevention. We are staffed entirely by volunteers – except for our Courtesy Boat Inspectors, and our mission is to keep Raymond lakes and waterways healthy and clear. You may donate by mailing a check made out to Raymond Waterways to PO Box 1243, Raymond, ME 04071, or by visiting our website at raymondwaterways.org.

Preserving the health of Raymond lakes isn’t just a benefit to landowners, but to the entire town. A University of Maine study found that lake health was closely tied to property values in a town, even for non-lakefront property owners. The success of Raymond businesses, homeowners, and our tax base depends on clean and beautiful lakes. <

Loon Echo Land Trust receives $142K for Mountain Bike Trail Development

Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) has been awarded $142,000 through the inaugural round of the Maine Trails Program, a new statewide initiative made possible by the voter-approved Maine Trails Bond.

Loon Echo Land Trust has been awarded a
$142,000 grant by the Maine Trails Program
\to support continued development of
mountain bike-optimized trails at Rolfe Hill
Forest in Casco. Project construction is
planned for later this year by the land trust.
SUBMITTED PHOTO    

Established in 2025, the Maine Trails Program reflects strong public advocacy and broad bipartisan support for investing in outdoor recreation, trail access, and the economic and community benefits they bring to communities across Maine.

The grant will support continued development of mountain bike–optimized trails at Rolfe Hill Forest in Casco, with construction planned for 2026.

Rolfe Hill Forest is a 400-acre conserved property that was acquired by LELT in early 2024 following a successful multi-year fundraising effort. Located in an area facing increasing development pressure, the conservation of Rolfe Hill ensures permanent public access to a landscape with exceptional recreational and ecological value.

LELT began trail development in fall 2025, partnering with Mt. Abram Trails to construct a 0.7-mile downhill flow trail. Funded through a combination of private donations and a grant from the Maine Mountain Bike Trail Fund, the trail is slated to open in spring 2026 and represents the first piece of the planned trail network. Rolfe Hill has a long history of public access for recreation and hunting and hosts the “Que 5” snowmobile and ATV trail.

The newly awarded Maine Trails Program funding will allow LELT to expand the system by approximately 2.5 additional miles, including a loop designed to adaptive bike standards and two additional downhill bike trails. LELT has already secured the required local match through generous community support and is planning complementary infrastructure improvements, including expanded parking to accommodate increased visitation.

“This project reflects years of planning, fundraising, and community collaboration,” said Matt Markot, Executive Director of LELT. “We’re excited to keep building high-quality trails that welcome a range of mountain bike riders while demonstrating what’s possible when public investment and community-based philanthropy work together. The Maine Trails Program is a powerful example of what Mainers can accomplish together, and continued public support will be key to bringing this trail system to life.”

Additional donations are welcome and will help ensure that these trails are completed to a high standard, remain accessible to a wide range of users, and deliver the full community, health, and economic benefits envisioned for the Rolfe Hill Forest. Donations can be made online at LELT.org/rolfe-hill.

Rolfe Hill Forest sits within a larger network of publicly accessible, privately-owned forestland in Casco and was identified in the town’s Open Space Plan as an area of high recreational and ecological importance. Its conservation and thoughtful trail development will provide lasting benefits for residents and visitors, offering close-to-home outdoor recreation for generations to come. The forest is also a beloved destination for deer hunters in the fall. Mountain bike trails at Rolfe Hill will be closed during future deer hunts to allow for this tradition to continue.

Construction on the next phase of trails is expected to begin in 2026. More information about Rolfe Hill Forest and opportunities to support trail development can be found at lelt.org/rolfe-hill.

About Loon Echo Land Trust

Founded in 1987, Loon Echo Land Trust 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. The organization currently conserves more than 9,300 acres of land and manages a 35-mile trail network across the Lake Region. LELT protects many important local landmarks like Pleasant Mountain, Bald Pate Mountain, Raymond Community Forest and Hacker’s Hill.

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

Racers dazzle during Cub Scouts’ Pinewood Derby event

By Matt Pascarella

The Cub Scout tradition of the Pinewood Derby brought excitement and fun along with some really cool and fast handmade cars to Windham Middle School on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Windham Cub Scouts and their families look on as model
cars built by scouts head down the track during the 2026
Pinewood Derby on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Windham Middle
School. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

Some 37 racers and their friends and family gathered to put their cars to the test; each scout got to race four times and then the average speed was taken. Awards were given for best in show to the best designed cars. The top five winners and the best in show top winner will advance to the district race in Westbrook in April.

Each scout starts with a Pinewood Derby kit which includes a block of wood, four wheels, four nails and two axels. From there that wood can become whatever the Cub Scout can come up with, provided it stays within the criteria to be legal to race. The cars are then placed on a track four at a time with the races powered by inertia and gravity.

“This is a longstanding tradition,” said Windham Pack 805 Cubmaster Michael Chickering. “Its goal is to teach kids to be independent; it’s not parents building the cars, it’s parents assisting. If your kid wants to run a block of wood – great, if your kid wants to hand carve an arrow, they can do that. It helps them learn about physics, learn about weight ... friction, the wheels get polished, the nails get polished and you explain to your kids why you’re doing that. It helps with sportsmanship also; not everybody wins, not everybody loses.”

Chickering said he thought this year’s racers did fantastic. The Pinewood Derby is the scouts’ favorite event of the year and during this year’s race, everyone was excited and cheering each other on while high-fiving after the races. He said you don’t have to win; you are competing with the best possible work you could put out.

The Pinewood Derby is a multi-age range race with scouts as young as 5 and as old as 11. A scout who may have started with a block of wood with little detail during their first race ever learns more as the years go by and may learn how to sculpt and make their car go the fastest they can by the time they enter their final Pinewood Derby. Several new scouts who participated in their first Pinewood Derby did very well.

A lot of these cars had very, very fast times regardless of their result. Everyone cheered and was very excited when a new top speed was announced – which happened a few times throughout the day.

In addition to the regular Pinewood Derby race, the pack had a family race, where participants could race against siblings who aren’t in Cub Scouts and new this year, was an outlaw race which racers could design cars outside of the official Pinewood Derby guidelines and race them together. The outlaw race asked for a $2 donation.

Results of the 2026 Pinewood Derby at Windham Middle School are as follows:

Fifth place, third-grader Issac Littlefield, Bear rank

Fourth place, third-grader Benjamin Conant, Bear rank

Third place, second-grader Cooper Blaney, Wolf rank

Second place, fourth-grader Nolan Desmond, Webelo rank

First place, fourth-grader Kye Fowler, Webelo rank – with an average speed of 192.18 miles per hour.

“You got to do your best on making the car and trying to win,” said Desmond. “If you don’t do your best, it won’t turn out how you wanted it to. I learned my car was the fastest. I had fun because ... I got at least 10 high fives, got the fastest speed not just for this year, but for last year too. I won all four of my races, got the second-place trophy, got best in show in my Webelos Den and I’m going to districts.”

Desmond’s car design was based on his YouTube channel “NolanD2016.” His mom made the YouTube sticker and his dad helped with the car.

Best in Show results:

Weston LaPointe, kindergarten, Lion rank

Grayson Edwards, first grade, Tiger rank

Jasper Webber, third grade, Bear rank

Ryker Pelletier, second grade, Wolf rank

Nolan Desmond, fourth grade, Webelo rank

Grayson Charles, fifth grade, Arrow of Light rank

Overall Best in Show: Luca Bove, third grade, Bear rank

Fowler said the Pinewood Derby applies the Cub Scout motto of “do your best” through being respectful and having good sportsmanship. His car’s design was based on the American flag and was painted red, white and blue. He said he had fun during the Pinewood Derby, hanging out with friends and family. Fowler has been to the district race several times where competition is tougher, but he’s excited to go again.

While this is a competitive race, all participants are winners. The fun for them is in designing their car and then racing against and cheering with and for fellow Cub Scouts.

All money raised from concession sales and donations from the outlaw race will go toward Cub Scout Pack 805’s Spring Fling. <

Becky Longacre: How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions in 2026

By Becky Longacre

Every January, we all seem to magically transform into ultra-motivated versions of ourselves. We buy the fancy planners, sign up for gym memberships, and declare, “This year will be different!” 

Becky Longacre

But by February, the yoga mat is collecting dust and cookies have quietly replaced kale chips. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone – but 2026 can truly be your year, especially when you tap into the power of a growth mindset in order to achieve sustainable change.

First off, let’s keep things light. New Year’s resolutions shouldn’t feel like a root canal. Instead, think of them as opportunities to explore, learn, and grow. A growth mindset is all about believing that your abilities and habits can improve over time with effort and practice – not expecting perfection from day one. So, if your goal is to run a 5K, maybe just commit to running for five minutes to start. Progress is what counts, not instant success!

Set achievable micro-goals and then celebrate when you hit them. Why? Because celebrating even your partial success showers your brain with dopamine, the feel-good reward neurotransmitter. This primes you to want to try again. By rewarding yourself for little wins you’ll start associating your new habits with positive feelings, making it much easier to keep going. Just make sure the rewards are healthy instead of unhealthy.

Mistakes are part of the journey. Missed a day at the gym? Accidentally binged a whole season of your favorite show instead of reading that new self-help book? No worries! A growth mindset says, “What can I learn from this?” rather than giving up completely. View setbacks as stepping stones not roadblocks. Each misstep is a chance to tweak your approach and try again – maybe with a new playlist for your workouts or a reading buddy for accountability.

Finally, remember that life will happen. What worked in January might not make sense in June. Adjust your goals as you learn more about yourself and what motivates you. What works for Susie Q may not work for you and that is OK. With a growth mindset, sticking to your New Year’s resolutions isn’t about rigidly following a script – it’s about enjoying the process, picking yourself up when you stumble, and ultimately transforming into a better version of yourself, one small win at a time.

So here’s to 2026: a year of fresh starts, flexibility, and plenty of growth. Happy New Year – and may your resolutions bring you health and happiness!

Becky Longacre is a Nurse Coach for Health Transformers LLC. Send her questions at [email protected] or call her at 207-400-7897. Visit her website at www.healthtransformersmaine.com" <

Maine's minimum wage rises, including for agricultural workers

 AUGUSTA – The state’s minimum wage has increased from $14.65 to $15.10 per hour as of Jan. 1 and will now also pertain to agricultural workers in Maine, after the Maine Legislature enacted and Gov, Janet Mills signed "An Act to Establish a State Minimum Hourly Wage for Agricultural Workers" into law in June.

Some local municipalities, such as Portland and Rockland, may have higher minimum wage standards. Employers there should contact their local municipality for guidance. Workers in those communities who are not receiving the locally required minimum wage should contact the appropriate municipal office.

Maine Department of Labor is required under Maine law (Maine statute Title 26, chapter 7, section 664), to make annual adjustments to the minimum wage based on the cost-of-living index (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region, after Maine voters amended the law by referendum in 2016. Between August 2024 and August 2025, there was a 3.1 percent increase in the CPI-W.

According to current population survey estimates, 35,000 workers were paid hourly and earned an hourly wage of less than $15 per hour in 2024. These workers represent about five percent of all wages and salary workers (both paid at hourly rates and not paid at hourly rates) and about nine percent of wage and salary employees that are paid at hourly rates.

In addition to the minimum wage, the new "tip wage," or service employee minimum wage, in 2026 will be $7.55 per hour. This means that service employees must receive at least a direct cash wage of $7.55 per hour from the employer. The employer must be able to show that the employee receives at least the minimum wage of $15.10 per hour when the direct wage and tips are combined at the end of the week.

The amount of tips necessary to qualify as a service employee will increase from $185 per month to $191 per month.

The minimum salary threshold for exempting a worker from overtime pay must exceed 3,000 times the State's minimum wage or the annualized rate established by the US Department of Labor, whichever is higher. As of Jan. 1, 2026, the new minimum salary threshold for salaried workers exempt from overtime will be $871.16 per week, or $45,300.32 per year. This is only one of the factors used in determining whether a worker is exempt from overtime pay under federal or state law. An individual can earn more than the minimum salary threshold and still be eligible for overtime. The duties of each worker must be considered as part of this analysis.

Employers can download the required minimum wage poster at no cost on the Maine Department of Labor's website: https://www.maine.gov/labor/posters/

The minimum wage and overtime law can be found here: http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/26/title26sec664.html

More information about minimum wage and other labor standards is available at https://www.maine.gov/labor/bls/ <

Windham in the 50s: Arrival in a new town

By Max Millard
Special to The Windham Eagle

In February 1958, when my family relocated from Durham, New Hampshire to Windham, it was quite a different town than it is today. It had just one-quarter of its current population. No person of color attended the public schools, and there wasn't a single immigrant family.

Located at the corner of Routes 302 and 115 in Windham,
Boody's Store was considered to be the epicenter of
Windham in the 1950s. COURTESY PHOTO 

Except ours. My parents had grown up in England and arrived in the U.S. in 1949. My dad worked as a chemistry teacher at the University of New Hampshire, but with five children to raise and educate, he accepted a better-paying job in the research department of the S.D. Warren Paper Mill in Westbrook. For $20,000, he was able to purchase the Goold House, an ancient farmhouse in Windham Center that included a large barn and twenty acres of land. Just beyond our property was a graveyard dating back to the American Revolution, punctuated by the immense tomb of William Goold, who died in 1890.

The house had a long, narrow extension, the ell, ending in a tower. In the crawl space under the tower, we found a large pile of books left by the house's previous occupants. They were all the same book: William Goold's “Portland in the Past: with Historical Notes of Old Falmouth,” published in 1886. They were unbound, with the pages uncut, and tied up with string. They were probably stored there by Mr. Goold himself. I still have a copy but must confess that I never unpacked it. The book was reprinted as a paperback in 2019.

I enrolled in the 3rd grade at Arlington School in North Windham, and on one of my first days there, I proudly brought in my prized coin collection, which I safeguarded in an old handbag of my mother's. I can still recall the stinging laughter that greeted me when I took it outside at recess. It was a sharp lesson on the cultural climate of Windham compared to our former home, where our social circle was mainly university families.

My parents spoke with distinct British accents, which of course they imparted to their children. My Maine-accented schoolmates would scrunch up their faces and sputter, “You talk funny!” But soon we blended in and established strong friendships with three other college-minded families in town – the Aldriches, the Perrins and the Sanborns. Stan and Donna Aldrich were transplants from California who both taught in the Windham schools. All three families remained close to ours until my mother's passing in 2004, when they all sent representatives to her funeral.

On the route to school, the chief landmark was Boody's Store, which occupied the intersection of routes 302 and 115 – the epicenter of North Windham, It was the biggest commercial structure in the town – an all-purpose country store dating back to the late 1800s. It burned in 1930, was quickly rebuilt, and thrived until 1960, when it was sold and became Meserve's.

As a 9-year-old, I would ride there on my bike to purchase stacks of Superboy comics with the covers ripped off, which sold for 5 cents. Route 302 was then a relatively quiet highway where it was safe for kids to bike.

Meserve's thrived for just three years; a devastating fire in 1965 sealed the building's fate. To the delight of local teenagers, it was replaced by a Dairy Queen, who flocked there for summer jobs.

I was enthused to discover two ponds for ice skating within a quarter mile of our house. One was downhill from the Bennetts, who operated a nursing home just above it. Each winter, as soon as it froze, Eddie Bennett would flood it with a hose until the surface was as smooth as glass. He was a virtuoso skater and somewhat of a daredevil. His favorite stunt was to have us crouch down into a cannonball, and to remain immobile while he backed up, then barreled toward us, his skates flashing in the sunlight. At the last moment he launched himself into the air and vaulted over us. He never injured a child and never failed to land squarely on his skates.

The other pond, just down the hill from our house, was owned by the Hawkes clan, who maintained a cider mill nearby. It was smaller than the Bennetts', and was never flooded, but it had a small skate shack on the shore, with benches lining the interior. It was built by Alley Hawkes, the family patriarch and gentleman farmer. We would burn old tires inside, choosing the acrid smoke over the cold.

Like Boody's Store, Arlington School and the cider mill, the ponds have disappeared from the scene. One has dried up, and the other has shrunk to a puddle. The skate shack fell into ruin decades ago and no traces remain. The cider mill ceased operation in the early 1990s, when new laws required pasteurization and labeling, in lieu of the preservative-free, just-pressed product of the small farm. The cherished skating hangouts for neighborhood kids are part of local history. All things must pass.

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