Rainbow Dance Party to be held at Windham’s Roosevelt Room

By Erin Rose

Rainbows and dancing shoes will be essential for an upcoming Pride event in Windham.

The Roosevelt Room at 965 Roosevelt Trail in Windham is hosting a Rainbow Dance Party to celebrate Pride, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27.

“I recently came into this position at the Roosevelt Room, and it was one of the things I asked about – what are we doing for Pride,” said Nicole Petrin, Roosevelt Room Event Coordinator.

The dance party, for ages 21 and up, will include a karaoke hour and three drag performers, “dancing and having a great time,” Petrin said. Tickets cost $15.

Food and drink will be available for purchase, including two drinks that Petrin has created. Both mixed drinks, one tastes like birthday cake while the other is a refreshing floral mix with elderberry and lavender.

“I’m not a bartender, so it was exciting to make my first drink that actually tasted good and tasted like I wanted it to,” she said. “There will be plenty of glitter added to both.”

Kate Turpen, President of Windham Raymond Pride, says that she is excited for the chance to celebrate with people in the community.

“To find out we have allies in the community without us having to build that connection was huge,” they said. “It may be a first of its kind event in our community. It’s hopeful, and it shows the solidarity of our neighbors.”

Windham Raymond Pride will also be raffling off a basket that will include a gift card to Ironclad Eats and Pride swag, Turpen said.

“I’m excited to see who is going to show up, and from how many other communities,” they said. “Windham isn’t the only community that hasn’t had a ton of LGBTQ focused programming, so I’m curious how far people are going to come in for this.”

June has been globally recognized as Pride Month, a time of celebration, commemoration, and activism for the LGBTQ+ community. The activities during Pride Month are not only a vibrant celebration of diversity and self-affirmation, but also a potent reminder of the need to promote equity, acceptance, and respect for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

After working at a hotel in the Old Port, the position in Windham offered Petrin a chance to expand on her goal of focusing on event planning.

“Working in a hotel in the Old Port was delightful because I enjoy people watching and it’s a really great place to do that,” she said. “I have always been events focused, and I saw this position open as a chance to move more toward events. It was scary at first, but it was the ideal thing for me. I can help other people with their events which is really fun. I can also do my own events where I can put an idea into the world, and it comes out. That’s what I have always wanted to do.”

To learn more about the Rainbow Dance Party, including how to purchase tickets, or other events at the Roosevelt Room, can be found at https://www.therooseveltroomme.com/events. <

Discover exotic animals up-close with educator Mr. Drew

By Erin Rose

Mr. Drew and His Animals Too will give children ages 3 years old and older a chance to interact with exotic animals during a presentation at Windham Middle School at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20.

Animal educator Mr. Drew and His Animals
Too will offer a free presentation at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, June 20 for kids ages 3 and older
at Windham Middle School. The event is
sponsored by the Windham Public Library.
COURTESY PHOTO  

“If it’s cute and fluffy, we do not do it,” said Andrew Desjardins, also known as Mr. Drew, the owner and operator of the exotic animal rescue that has a facility and visitor center in Poland. “We take in the creepy, crawly creatures that many people are scared of, so snakes, insects, lizards, turtles, some fish and birds.”

The creatures that the animal rescuer will bring to the 60-to-75-minute presentation will be determined on the day, depending on what animals are ready to greet people.

“Some days, some animals are not feeling like being out for the day, and I respect that,” Desjardins said. “I also have to take in feeding schedules, digestion times, temperatures, and schedules of other shows.”

The first of two free presentations sponsored by the Windham Public Library, children in attendance will receive “edutainment,” Desjardins said, a mix of “education and entertainment.”

“I often tell people that I have the best seat in the house as I get to watch the faces of the children, and see that excitement and curiosity in their eyes,” he added, noting that the second presentation will be Wednesday, July 15.

Children will have a limited opportunity to have hands-on experience with some of the animals at the end of the presentation. Seeing children face their fears and learn to appreciate the animals is part of the enjoyment for the passionate presenter.

“My favorite reaction is the smile that comes to their face when their fear first fades away,” Mr. Drew said. “It is always a joy when they see something for the first time.”

“When they say they have only seen it on YouTube or when they say they have never touched one before, I tell them that they can never say that again,” he said.

Desjardins started giving presentations on exotic animals “by accident” one rainy weekend.

“We were seasonal campers at a local campground and the children were bored,” he said. “I lived fairly close by and got some animals to share with the children. A mom was there and when I was done, she asked if I could do a birthday party, and so it began.”

As time has gone on, Mr. Drew has learned tricks about traveling with the animals.

“No special equipment for the animals is required but maybe occasional heat packs in their containers for winter,” he said. “Feeding while traveling is not necessary and often tends to be more stressful for them.”

“Traveling was tricky in the beginning, but over time with forethought, I streamlined it to be very convenient,” Desjardin added.

Mr. Drew hopes that in addition to learning about these unusual animals, children will learn to respect all life and how fear can be tempered through education.

“Being scared is okay for it keeps us safe, but if you are scared, try to learn about it,” he said. “The more you learn about something, the less scared you will be.”

One of the most important lessons the educator wishes every attendee would carry with them is his “One Piece Challenge,” inspired by a visit to Pine Point Beach in Scarborough. After going to the trash can to throw away a plastic bag that ended up wrapped along his leg while in the waves, he noticed piles of trash next to the barrel.

“When I took the lid off, it was barely full,” he explained. “It was like they felt close enough was good enough and it really upset me that people were just simply being lazy.”

“I started seeing one piece here and there, and I would pick it up and go back to that barrel and spent the rest of my rare day off with my family, cleaning the beach,” Desjardins said.

He now ends every presentation with issuing a challenge to the children and adults in attendance in an effort to carry that mission forward.

“It is a simple way to remind people that even small things we do can make a big difference,” Desjardins said. “If I can get everybody on this planet to pick up one piece every day for one full year, then we will have picked up 2,920,000,000,000 pieces of trash, by simply picking up one piece every day for one year. If we pick up one piece today, we guarantee tomorrow will be a better day for you, me, the animals on the planet, and the planet itself,” he said.

While Earth Day may be a single day of the year, we all share the planet and can take simple actions to help care for it, the educator explained.

“It is the one thing we all have in common, this planet we live on,” he said. “It is our home and not a trash can.”

For more details about the Mr. Drew and His Animals Too presentations in Windham, visit the Windham Public Library website or email [email protected]. <

Raymond militia presentation caps off Flag Day Weekend activities

By Ed Pierce

From the day that Joseph Dingley first arrived in Raymondtown in 1770, what is now the Town of Raymond established a lasting association with colonial militia, and a new presentation will focus on “The Colonial Militia” at the Raymond Casco Historical Museum.

A recently discovered flag used by militia members from
Raymond will be unveiled during a free presentation
about 'Colonial Militia' at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 15
at the Raymond Casco Historical Museum in Casco.
SUBMITTED PHOTO    

Both Dingley and his son Samuel volunteered for military service at the start of the Revolutionary War in the company of men from Raymond and Windham and returned to the fast-growing Raymondtown as Captains, a title that Joseph retained for the rest of his life, even though he later held the rank of Colonel in the militia.

Beginning with Flag Day Weekend, Saturday June 13 and Sunday 14, a free family event at the museum, 1 Shadow Lane in Casco, will offer flag crafts for all ages along with informational brochures about the U.S. flag. It’s all part of celebrating America’s 250th birthday, says Sue Pride of the Raymond Casco Historical Society.

“At 6:30 p.m. on Monday evening June 15, local historian Mike Davis who always entertains and informs his audiences, will present a noteworthy talk at the museum about the colonial militia, just in time for the 250 America Celebration,” Pride said.

In connection with the presentation, the historical society will unveil a recently discovered flag attributed to the Raymond militia which they could have displayed on their Muster Days.

Pride said that the flag was found in the Lewis Gay Homestead that was on Quaker Ridge Road in Casco. She said that Gay was a Revolutionary War patriot who was listed among the first 30 settlers to receive recorded deeds in 1794 from Salem, Massachusetts proprietors in what was Raymond and now Casco. That property is now part of the Rolfe Hill Forest managed by the Loon Echo Land Trust.

The militia flag was contained in an antique wooden document box by descendants of Willis H. Rolfe and Minnie Hayden-Gay Rolfe.

According to Pride, the flag was most likely used after the Revolutionary War and up to the Civil War after which time local militias were disbanded.

“After its discovery, it was taken to the Maine Historical Society where an outside evaluation indicated that it was hand-sewn on linen of the early 1800 period and then was gifted to the Raymond Casco Historical Society to be hung in the Raymond Casco Historical Museum.,” she said.

Raymond’s militia rosters varied in numbers up and down with the town’s population, from 50 to 75 after the Revolutionary War to about 175 during the Civil War.

There is no charge to attend the presentation by Davis, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 15 at the Raymond Casco Historical Museum in Casco. Following the presentation, refreshments will be served.

To learn more about the Raymond Casco Historical Society, visit www.raymondcascohistoricalsociety.org. <

Shaw Brothers Foundation matches donations to 1833 Town Hall restoration through July 4

Windham Historical Society been given a generous fundraising challenge by Shaw Brothers Family Foundation as donations for the restoration and renovation of the historic 1833 Town Hall will be matched by the foundation up to $100,000 through July 4, the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Dan Shaw, left, and Jon Shaw of the Shaw Brothers Family
Foundation have offered to match donations for the 
Windham 1833 town hall restoration project by the 
Windham Historical Society up to $100,000 until 
July 4. SUBMITTED PHOTO 
 

According to Carol Manchester of the Windham Historical Society, this means every dollar that is donated is now worth twice as much until July 4.

Manchester said that the building not only is the cornerstone of the Village Green in Windham but is also the gateway to the seven buildings and other outdoor structures representing Windham in earlier times. The purpose of the brick building and Village Green is to serve the greater Windham community area by providing educational and social opportunities to learn about the town’s history.

“Restoration of this significant, 1833 brick building is without question, the most extensive project ever undertaken by Windham Historical Society and financial gifts from community members to support this mission are greatly appreciated,” Manchester said.

Volunteers are seeking donations support for what would amount to a full rehabilitation for the historical structure including concrete for structural support, plumbing and electrical upgrades, ADA accessibility, mold remediation, a new staircase, and a second egress. The building currently houses valuable artifacts stored by the historical society, some accessible only by what Simonson told councilors is described as a “glorified ladder.”

Last June concerns arose about a floor at the Old Town House and if it had adequate structural support to safely hold the original town safe, and for a crawl space with need for extensive remediation. It evolved into a major reconstruction project.

Because of these serious concerns, Windham Historical Society hired Forge & Quill, a Windham company experienced with renovation of old buildings for an assessment. In the process of determining the flooring issue, Forge and Quill eventually needed to peel back the multiple layers of prior renovations and revealed the original structure and construction integrity of the building, said Susan Simonson, Windham Historical Society president.

A list was formulated of the requirements necessary to bring the building into a 21st century, code-approved, functional display, record holding office, and public meeting facility.

Simonson says that the historic 1833 Town Hall, the purpose of which is to serve Windham’s citizenry today as it did almost 200 years ago, anchors the historical society’s Village Green and is home to genealogy records, deeds, original town documents, Civil War letters, photos of Windham, artifacts, books, and more. It is the doorway to the Village Green behind it, a society project begun about 13 years ago where guests may visit the seven period buildings and outdoor structures and imagine life in rural Windham in the late 1800s.

The goal of Windham Historical Society is to ensure that this gem of a building will withstand another 200 years to serve the greater Windham community area historically, educationally, and socially, Simonson said. 

The society has already invested $35,000, which includes demolition of earlier revisions to the building and moving the 2.5-ton safe from the raised floor in the central section of the building. The safe’s eventual home will be on the cement base foundation discovered beneath the multiple layers of floorboards during deconstruction as this early footing has been determined to be structurally sound for the safe’s new location.

One may donate through the website page, windhamhistorical.org (donation tab), by using the QR code on the thermometer sign in front of the brick building, or by writing a check made out to Windham Historical Society, PO Box 1475, Windham, Maine 04062. Please note on the check that it is for the brick building. Donors may visit https://www.windhamhistorical.org/ to submit a donation online. 

WHS is a recognized 501c3 non-profit organization; all donations are tax deductible. A contribution of $5,000 or more will receive permanent recognition on a plaque in the completed 1833 Windham Town Hall. <