Windham racer fulfills dream of winning Oxford 250

By Ed Pierce

Since he was a small child, Brandon Barker of Windham has been dreaming about winning the Oxford 250 auto race and he made that dream a reality by winning the 53rd annual Nitro Trailers Oxford 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway on Aug. 30.

Brandon Barker of Windham, 29, won the 53rd
annual Nitro Trailers Oxford 250 auto race at
Oxford Plains Speedway on Aug. 30, fulfilling
a dream he had held of winning that title since 
he was a small child. COURTESY PHOTO 

Following a near three-hour rain delay Barker, 29, in his Super Late Model Car No. 88, outlasted second-place finisher Johnny Clark and Joey Doiron in third place to claim the prestigious Oxford 250 title.

“We have focused on Oxford this year to prepare for the bigger races like the Oxford 250,” Barker said. “To win the Oxford 250 took a great car, a good strategy and a great team.”

This was Barker’s ninth attempt to win the Oxford 250, and through the years, he’s described the race as similar to winning the Daytona 500 for drivers from New England.

Barker started this year’s Oxford 250 race in fifth position and slowly moved up to second before rain forced a lengthy delay at about the race’s mid-point. He took over first place when leader Gabe Brown made a pit stop and held the lead for the next 50 laps. With just 65 laps left, DJ Shaw seized the lead, but taking a pit stop for fresh tires with 45 laps left to go, Barker made up ground on a restart and went wide moving from ninth to third. He held strong and was able to take the lead for good and hold off Clark and Doiron down the stretch.

His start in racing came when Barker was 5 years old and about to turn 6 in 2003 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway’s go-karting series in Scarborough. His grandfather obtained a couple of go-karts for Barker and his cousin to race there, and it prompted Barker to go on and pursue an auto racing career outside of his day job working for the Maine Turnpike Authority.

Taking the checkered flag in the Oxford 250 is another accomplishment in Barker’s career. Back in 2023, he joined the late Dale Earnhardt and DJ Kennington as being the only racers to win in their first American Canadian Tour start when he came in first in the Governor’s Cup 150 race at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, New Hampshire, beating 24 other racers.

This year alone, Barker has won five different races but winning the Oxford 250 stands out for him because it’s a flat track.

‘I think flat tracks are the toughest tracks to get a handle on and if you do, you go to places with banking because it helps your car’s handling,” he said. “If you’re good at the flat tracks you can usually go anywhere and be competitive.”

To reach this point in his racing career, Barker is grateful for support he’s had from other Windham racers such as Brad Babb and Bobby Timmons.

“They’re all older than me so they were always a step ahead and I looked up to them and asked advice from them,” he said. “Whether it was good advice or not seems to have worked out.”

Barker can be found nearly every weekend racing Super Late Models at events in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina and his sponsors include Landshark Performance, Sam Snow Construction, GoFas Racing with Archie, Maietta Towing, DLM Excavation, NLM Custom Homes, and RPM racing engines.

“I race on the Pro All Star series for Sam Snow, the Granite State Pro stock series, and the NASCAR weekly series Pro stocks at Lee USA Speedway for Archie St. Hilare and a few American Canadian Tour Late Models for Chad Sullivan,” he said. 

Among his biggest fans are his wife, Sara, who has a brother and father who also race cars, and she is used to the competitive aspect of the sport and tries to attend as many of Barker’s races whenever possible, and the couple’s 21-month-old son Bentley.

Winning the Oxford 250 checks off one of Barker’s long-standing goals and is especially meaningful to him.

“It’s something I had hoped to accomplish in my racing career before I am finished,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite races and one of the biggest races in the country. <

Town of Windham to receive $80K Community Action Grant

By Ed Pierce

Windham will receive an $80,000 Community Action Grant from the Community Resilience Partnership to support a residential preparedness program focused on emergency readiness, energy efficiency and connecting residents with services.

Windham will receive an $80,000 Community Action Grant
from the Community Resilience Partnership of Maine to
support a residential preparedness program focused on
emergency readiness, energy efficiency and connecting
residents with resources during severe storms and flooding.
PHOTO BY KEITH MANK  

The Community Resilience Partnership, administered by the Maine Office of Community Affairs, helps Maine communities to lower energy costs, reduce emissions and prepare for climate effects such as severe storms, flooding, extreme temperatures and public health risks.

Starting in 2024, Maine kicked off awarding $69 million in climate resilience grants, funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. The grants represent one of the largest investments in climate resilience ever in Maine history. Maine was one of 10 states to share a total of $575 million in Federal funding for climate resilience authorized through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Over the next five years, Maine will implement three integrated climate resilience-building strategies that advance the recommendations outlined in Maine Won't Wait (PDF), Maine’s Climate Action Plan, and collectively build the capacity of underserved, rural, and Tribal communities. Strategies include building enduring community resiliency, reducing climate impacts through nature-based solutions and investments in green infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of working waterfronts.

Windham’s Residential Preparedness Program was developed in conjunction with Age-Friendly Windham and is intended to connect residents with energy and emergency preparedness coaches and other services that can address immediate needs and strengthen long-term resilience.

In announcing that Windham would receive the Community Action Grant, State Senator Tim Nangle of Windham pointed out that preparation before an emergency can make all the difference.

“This grant will give Windham residents practical, trusted help to address immediate needs, find ways to make their homes more energy efficient and prepare for severe weather,” Nangle said. “I’m grateful to the town, Age-Friendly Windham and all the local partners who worked together to build a program around what residents actually need.”

He said that funding for this initiative comes from both state and federal sources, including state general funds authorized by the Maine Legislature and a five-year Climate Resilience Regional Challenge grant awarded to the State of Maine by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration two years ago.

The Community Action Grants were made available through the Community Resilience Partnership, a program established by Gov. Janet Mills in 2021 to support local governments in undertaking projects that increase resilience to climate effects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Community Resilience Partnership has grown to include 308 towns, cities, and tribal governments representing 81 percent of Maine’s population. So far, the program has funded more than $29 million for projects in 305 different communities across the state.

“Investing in stronger infrastructure and energy efficiency helps communities withstand and recover faster from severe storms, saving money and easing pressure on local property taxpayers,” Mills said. “I’m proud that my Administration’s Community Resilience Partnership has invested more than $29 million to empower hundreds of Maine communities to strengthen their resilience and secure a strong future for generations of future residents.”

Samantha Horn, the Director of the Maine Office of Community Affairs, says the Community Action Grants are making a difference.

“Maine communities are proposing innovative and forward-looking projects that will increase their resilience and save tax dollars in the future,” Horn said. “The Maine Office of Community Affairs is pleased to be able to offer this easy-to-access funding to support them.”

Municipal officials greatly appreciate the Community Resilience Partnership’s commitment to supporting and investing in initiatives that advance the State’s policy priorities,” said Catherine Conlow, Executive Director of the Maine Municipal Association.

“The fact that the most recent round of Community Action Grants will support 26 projects submitted by first-time municipal applicants demonstrates the Office’s dedication to making this valuable program accessible to communities of all sizes and capacities across Maine, and its willingness to meet municipal leaders and residents where they are,” Conlow said.

Celina Cunningham, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources, says that investments such as these in energy efficiency, local clean energy projects, and community resilience can help lower energy costs and make taxpayer dollars go further.

“At a time when global energy prices have been volatile, these grants are helping towns and municipalities reduce energy use, strengthen critical facilities, and deliver savings for local residents and businesses,” Cunningham said. <

North Windham Wastewater Treatment Plant launches operations

By Ed Pierce

It’s been four years since Windham voters first approved creating the North Windham Wastewater Treatment project to the new plant becoming fully operational, but late last month that milestone event took place.

The new North Windham Wastewater Treatment Plant is now
fully operational on the grounds of Manchester School in
Windham. It is designed to remove 25,000 pounds of
nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants each year being
dumped by septic systems into the aquifer and watershed.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Windham Town Engineer Mark Arienti has informed members of the Windham Town Council and the Windham Town Manager that the wastewater treatment facility, located on the Manchester School grounds, is now up and running.

Plans were approved by Windham voters in a special referendum in June 2022 that included construction of a public wastewater system, and it will result in the removal of about 100 septic systems that were discharging into the North Windham aquifer. Because of the lack of an effective sewer system in North Windham, over the years contaminants have continued to pollute the aquifer, threatening surrounding ponds and lakes, and stifling economic growth.

In addition, for the past two decades increasing nitrate levels have been observed in the underlying aquifer that threatened local water resources including Sebago Lake. Current levels of nitrates in the groundwater have exceeded drinking water standards. Septic system pollution entering the aquifer directly impacts surrounding valuable water resources, and this new wastewater treatment plant addresses the issue before the problem escalated and became irreversible.

The wastewater treatment plant is expected to remove 25,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants each year being dumped by septic systems into the aquifer and watershed. The installation of sewers is expected to stimulate significant economic growth in Windham and lead to development in the area by industries and businesses not willing to locate here because of associated septic system issues and costs.

Through an agreement reached between RSU 14 and the Town of Windham, in exchange for locating the new wastewater treatment site at Manchester School, the town has created four new playing fields for youth sports at the school. RSU 14 will also be able to shift its wastewater treatment operations at Windham High School to the new facility.

The new plant uses Membrane Bio-Reactor technology with innovative drip dispersal and will be the first system to use drip dispersal of this scale in Maine. This technology is designed to improve the quality of local groundwater and local waterways, and was chosen for its reliability, flexibility, and overall cost effectiveness for operation.

The contractor building the plant installed influent screens and bubble diffuser equipment for the biological nutrient removal (BNR) and sludge tanks. MBR, BNR and sludge blowers were completed in December and the installation of the membranes that will be used to remove the suspended solids was completed in February. Construction crews also built a control shed for the Manchester Drive pump station with a wet well, valve vault and pumps all having been installed, as well as concrete pads for the shed.

Last December, the sewer rate for the new North Windham Sewer District was established by the Windham Town Council at $16 per 100 cubic feet.

Earlier this year, Windham Town Manager Robert Burns said that because the entire sewer system and wastewater treatment plant will operate at first far below capacity, Windham will use TIF funds to buy down the sewer rate, preventing early users, mostly businesses initially, from bearing the full operational cost. He said Windham expects to raise $1.3 million with a TIF subsidy during the first year of operation for the wastewater treatment plant and sewer system.

The cost of the project was $48 million for the new wastewater treatment plant, new sewer lines and connections to individual properties and businesses around Boody’s Corner as well as to some multi-family residential buildings and a few single-family homes in the area. The new Windham Raymond Middle School will connect to the treatment plant when the school opens.

A Clean Water State Revolving Fund subsidized loan, including $3.25 million in grant capacity will be used to pay for the project, according to Portland Water District Engineering & Asset Management Services. The project also received several million dollars in grants from Environmental Prevention Agency Congressional-directed spending, as well as from Cumberland County and town American Rescue Plan Act funding. 

According to Burns, residential property taxes will not be used to pay back the loan. Instead, he said, it will be paid back using Tax Increment Finance District funds.

Now that the wastewater plant is fully operational, the town has sent out information packages to businesses within the collection system corridor including sewer connection applications, access agreements to allow installation of piping and pumps on the properties, and guidance on what can and can’t be discharged to the sewer

Windham Economic Development Company Executive Director Tom Bartell said the new wastewater treatment plant in North Windham will benefit the town substantially.

“This investment is a foundational step in supporting increased residential and commercial density, improving environmental compliance, and enabling future development in the Route 302 corridor, which will strengthen the tax base and expand options for residents and businesses,” he said.

The plant began operations on Aug. 19.

Businesses that are discharging to the collection system right now include Shaws Plaza (Shaws, Staples, CVS, Town Fair Tire, and Pet Warehouse), Reny’s, Portland Pie, Hannaford, Windham Mall and Manchester School.

All of the businesses currently using the new system, except Manchester School, are discharging to the gravity collection lines that flow to the Portland Water District pumping station at corner of Manchester Drive and Route 35, which pumps it over to the treatment plant.

Manchester School discharges directly to the 15-inch sewer line that flows to the plant.

During the rest of this fall, the Town of Windham will be working to add more North Windham businesses to the sewer and wastewater treatment system. <

Roosevelt Trail History Tour hits road for second year

By Erin Rose

Members of the public are welcome to journey through history during the Second Annual Roosevelt Trail Historical Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The public can tour the Raymond-Casco Historical Museum 
in Casco and other historical sites including some in
Windham during the Second Annual Roosevelt Trail 
Historical Tour running from Westbrook to Harrison
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.
COURTESY PHOTO  

A dozen different historical sites, from Westbrook to Harrison, will be open for visitors to tour at no charge. Refreshments will also be available at some locations.

“There are some new sites for this year,” said Bill Brennan from the Raymond-Casco Historical Society. “We had eight last year, and we have 12 now.”

One of the new additions had hoped to join last year but was unable to welcome visitors for last year’s tour after moving into a new location at 214 Main St. in Bridgton and is excited to join the trail historical tour this year.

“The Bridgton Historical Society had just taken over the Methodist Church on Main St.,” Brennan said. “They had to back out two or three weeks before because they weren’t going to be ready.”

Another new site for visitors is the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum, located on the first floor of the Bridgton Historical Society. The group is working to preserve the two-foot narrow gauge railroad that once ran throughout the Lakes Region.

“That’s also an exciting addition,” Brennan said. “They want to do new things, like being able to show how they lay railroad track.”

The event provides a chance for locals who may frequently drive past the historic sites in their day-to-day lives, but who may not have taken a chance to stop in.

“I’ve heard it a dozen times this summer; ‘I’ve never been to the Raymond Casco Historical Society. I’ve seen it on the road and I’ve never dropped in.’,” Brennan said. “People just don’t stop.”

Brennan said that he’s guilty of the same, despite frequent visits to Bridgton.

“I’ve driven through Bridgton and have stopped at the Cool Moose but never stopped at the Rufus Porter Museum,” he said. “I stopped last year and will be doing some of the other sites out west before coming east on that Saturday, just so I can see the Harrison Historical Society.”

The Harrison site, located at 121 Haskell Hill Road, is a new addition to the trail and has new displays this year, including details on notable local businesses, farming equipment, and a replica of a canal boat.

All of the organizations that had previously participated in the tour returned for the second annual event, after seeing a great increase in attendance on the day last year.

“After the event last year, everybody has come back because they had some of their best turnouts,” Brennan said. “Sometimes you’ll get five or ten people showing up on a weekend. Some people had 40, 50, 60 that day.”

A returning site is the Scribners Mill and Homestead at 244 Scribners Hill Road in Harrison. They have recently opened the homestead to visitors who can see how the Scribner family lived when the mill was in operation, in addition to the sawmill.

Brennan said that a recent visit to a more modern milling facility helped show how technology has changed aspects of woodworking.

“My family and I went to Hancock Lumber last summer, and we got a two- or three-hour tour,” he explained. “When you compare what they do there to what Scribners Mill does, it’s exactly the same thing, just in a different era and different technology. Where a guy is looking at a computer screen now, at Scribners, you had a guy there shaping it, doing whatever he could as best as he could with what he had.”

The Raymond-Casco Historical Society Museum will also be participating in the day for the second year and will have a blacksmith operating the museum’s 19th century Watkins Blacksmith Shop. The property, which includes a one-room schoolhouse and 19th century barn in addition to the museum, is located at 1 Shadow Lane in Casco.

The Naples Historical Society and Museum, at 19 Village Green in Naples, will be highlighting their restored jail located on the site, while a guide will be on site at the Quaker Ridge Meeting House from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., located at 141 Quaker Ridge Rd. in Casco. The meeting house, built in 1814, is the oldest such Quaker building in Maine that is still in use today.

The idea for the day was developed from a desire to find a unique way to draw new visitors to the different historical sites that dot the area.

“The Hawthorn Community Association, met with the Raymond-Casco Historical Society a day in March” last year, Brennan said. “We were all talking about how we could reinvigorate our museums and historical sites.”

“This idea popped up amongst us, as something we might try,” he added, noting that the group worked to find a date in the fall that would allow more residents to attend.

The different organizations all meet to develop ideas for each year’s event, and they all are hoping that this becomes a tradition in the vein of other community events.

“It’s a collective effort from all of us,” Brennan said. “We brainstorm together ideas and we’re all invested in this.”

“It’s the second annual and we’re proud of that,” he continued. “We want it to be like the Maple Syrup weekend or the Sebago Fishing Derby, where it gives our community the chance to come out and see us and experience the local history.”

One local organization praised Brennan and the Raymond-Casco Historical Society for their drive to make the event a reality.

“Their society was an integral part in getting this idea off the ground,” said Susan Simonson, President of Windham Historical Society. “Windham Historical Society is pleased to be a part of this unique idea.” For more information on the day and the different sites open for visitors, visit www.raymondcascohistoricalsociety.org <

A blind date in 1950 leads to Windham couple celebrating 75th anniversary

By Ed Pierce

It takes a special type of loving relationship for married couples to reach their 75th wedding anniversary, but whatever it is, Arthur and Joan Wickham of Windham found it and have reached that important milestone.

Arthur and Joan Wickham of Windham are celebrating
their 75th wedding anniversary during a party with
their family on Sunday. They were married on Aug. 
18, 1951 at Holy cross Church in South Portland and
have five children, eight grandchildren, 10 great-
grandchildren and a great-great grandchild.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

The couple will celebrate 75 years of marriage with a party with their family on Sunday afternoon and remain together living in their home on Collinwood Circle in Windham. Arthur is 94 and shows no signs of slowing down. Joan will turn 94 in December and has trouble seeing and hearing. One thing is certain though – their deep and lasting love and commitment to each other is still there despite the passing of time.

Arthur Wickham was born in Portland and a graduate of Cheverus High School when by chance went out on a blind date with a girl named Joan Sincyr who had just moved to South Portland from Skowhegan in 1950. Something clicked on that blind date between the two teenagers, and as they continued to date over the next year-and-a-half they fell in love and Arthur decided he was going to propose marriage to Joan, who attended South Portland High School.

She accepted his proposal and the couple were married on Aug. 18, 1951, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in South Portland, and are still happily together today.

Arthur worked as a medical supply and medical devices salesman and later as an executive for the George C. Frye Company in Portland, and he also served in the U.S. Army Reserves, rising to the rank of Colonel before retiring in 1992.

He attended Casco Bay College and graduated with a degree in business administration and management and has been active in many fraternal and veterans’ organizations through the years. He served as a department commander for the American Veterans in Maine (AMVETS), as the state president of the Association of the United States Army and the Reserve Officer’s Association, and he also completed studies at the U.S. Army Command and General College and the Air War College.

Yard work and gardening occupy much of Arthur’s time these days and he still mows his own grass and maintains the couple’s property as he has done for all the years that the couple has lived in Windham. He’s still interested in issues that affect military veterans.

Joan worked for the Portland Housing Authority as a secretary before her retirement. At home, she has always been a baker and loves to cook. She used to make her own quilts and enjoyed going out to play bingo whenever she could find the time to do so. She was also active when her children were young in the Campfire Girls organization.

The couple purchased a home on Collinwood Circle in Windham decades ago, and they raised a family there of five children including Rick, Deb, Bobbi, Cindi and Mike. Over the decades the Wickham family has grown and prospered and now includes additional generations including eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a new great-great-grandchild.

To mark the occasion of their 75th wedding anniversary, the entire family will gather in Windham for a special meal on Sunday and possibly a surprise pontoon boat cruise on Sebago Lake. A lake cruise has become a cherished summer tradition for the Wickham Family and an annual way for family members to get together and celebrate Arthur and Joan’s wedding anniversary.

For many years Arthur and Joan Wickham would take the entire family to Bradbury Mountain State Park near Pownal for a fun-filled summer getaway and that gathering included a huge cookout, but that annual event has now shifted to the pontoon boat excursions on the lake.

Christmas celebrations at the couple’s Windham home were always meaningful for Arthur and Joan and their children because Joan’s birthday is Dec. 23, so they combine events and throw a huge holiday party every year because of the proximity of Christmas to Joan’s birthday.

Both Arthur and Joan Wickham say that the secret to sustaining a long and happy marriage isn’t complicated and is as important today as when they first said their vows in 1951.

“It’s all about communication and listening to each other,” they said. <   

Raymond residents start to receive revaluation notices

By Erin Rose

Raymond residents have started to receive notices informing them that their property’s value has changed and prompting concerns about an increased property tax burden, but town officials urge caution as the ultimate tax rate is still to be determined.

Raymond residents are receiving notices that their property's
value has changed, but town officials say the town's ultimate
tax rate has yet to be determined. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

The town conducted a reassessment of properties in the municipality, determining their value based on the land’s current status, including size, condition, location, and features. The valuation also considers comparable sales of nearby properties. The data is used by officials to determine the entirety of taxable property in the town and establish the tax rate, also known as the mill rate, for the upcoming fiscal year.

“People should not assume that if their property value doubled, that their taxes are going to double,” said Curt Lebel, Assessor’s Agent for Raymond. “That’s not the case. In the end, we’re going to have more than double the property value with which to distribute the property tax, which is going to move that tax rate down.”

Many residents’ assessments went up significantly, representing the change in property values in the period since the last revaluation was completed in 2005. The process of establishing a current value enables the town to redistribute the existing tax base to ensure that property owners are paying an equitable share of the overall tax burden.

“What it does is change how that tax pie is sliced, so it reapportions individual taxes according to market value,” Lebel said. “It resets equity and redistributes the tax according to the Maine constitution. It reshuffles how much of the tax burden each property is going to absorb.”

Concerned residents are encouraged to review the details provided in the letters informing them of their updated property valuation, as those details will have a significant impact on their taxes once the tax rate is established.

“We’ve asked residents to look at their property cards to make sure the information is correct, to look at their comparable neighbors to make sure they fall in line with them, and to look at the actual sales in the marketplace to be able to get a sense as to what similar properties in their area are selling for,” Lebel explained. “It’s going to be one of the drivers of their tax, so we want that value to be right. What the tax ramifications are, that will come later. The first thing to do is to say, ‘is the value reasonable given the current market and what other people are paying?’”

As a Raymond resident of 35 years, Laurie Wallace said that property values have changed significantly in the time since the last reassessment, especially after COVID-19, and the updated valuations reflect that.

“I think it is something that is long overdue, and we’re paying for that in a big way,” she said. “It’s been 20 years since the last revaluation, so of course values are going to feel significantly higher.”

While many residents fear a major increase in their property tax bill, the evaluation will not necessarily mean an increase in their annual payment. The reassessment is the first step in the process of determining each property owner’s fair share of the town’s overall tax burden.

The revaluation was done by KRT Appraisals, a Massachusetts mass appraisal firm based in Haverhill, and one that has completed such reviews in almost 30 different communities in Maine. The firm was selected through a Request for Proposal process that invites businesses to submit bids for services to be provided to the town.

“They actually worked on revaluations with Vision Appraisal in the last tax cycle,” Lebel said. “The appraiser who is doing the appraisals for Raymond this year did the appraisal work in 2005. He’s familiar and even has his materials from 20 years ago, so he didn’t come in blind. They knew the town coming in and had a good base of knowledge.”

Once KRT has finalized the valuations, expected to be completed in September, they will be issued to the town, and the Raymond Select Board will then calculate the tax rate for the 2026-2027 year. In late September, tax bills will be issued to residents, with the first payment being due on Monday, Nov. 2.

The town’s tax rate is developed though a simple calculation. The portion of the municipal budget that is funded through the payment of property taxes is divided by the town’s total taxable value, as determined by the town’s Assessors, using the revaluation data, to determine the tax rate.

“At the end, we take the total amount of the school, county and municipal budget that needs to come from property tax, and then we divide that by the total taxable value of the property,” Lebel explained. “That yields a tax rate. And then we apply that tax rate out to the individual property to arrive at their tax distribution.”

Wallace urges residents to wait for the town to establish its next budget and mill rate before attempting to calculate their new tax burden.

“I get the concern,” she said “I’m retired and living on a fixed income with my husband. And I’m not panicking yet. There is no reason to panic, and soon enough we will know for sure. If you look at the letter and the town’s website, you’ll see that they even say that this is not your taxes.

She also encourages people concerned about their new valuation to research how KRT came up with that number and make sure that the firm was accurate as to the characteristics of their property.

“KRT is making reasonable efforts to have people speak to them and work with them on those details if they feel something is wrong,” Wallace said, adding that if the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens or the size of the property is incorrect, it will impact the calculations. “It’s a calculation so the data against which they’re calculating has to be right. If you did not allow them to come in, or they came in and took the wrong notes, if there’s an error on the valuation card, it’s worth talking to them about.”

Residents can also use the KRT website to view their value summary, data, and general revaluation information, and can see the assessments of other similar properties to help compare.

“We can’t know everything about every property,” Lebel said. “If there’s things we need to know about a particular property, sometimes it’s good to have the owners come in and give us the layout of what’s going on that particular property, so we can make adjustments.”

KRT is providing opportunities for concerned residents to discuss their valuations with the firm, both over the phone and in person at the Raymond Broadcast Studio on Webb Mills Road. Informal hearings can be scheduled by following the details provided in the revaluation letter or by calling KRT at 855-228-4033 but representatives will not be able to discuss residents’ potential tax rates at those hearings.

The firm used a mass appraisal method to use data to determine the property values, instead of reviewing each property individually. The analytical tool estimates market value for a type of building, such as single-family homes “by relating sale prices to property characteristics such as square footage, age, location, condition and lot size” according to a presentation prepared by Lebel’s office. “The model is calibrated using recent verified sales … then applied uniformly across the whole population of properties.”

“I think the model that they’ve created is working really well,” Lebel said, noting that KRT communicates with the town regarding issues that residents are raising during meetings with the firm.

The town was required by state law to conduct the revaluation at this time, as property tax laws require that a town conduct a revaluation if its property assessments fall to below 70 percent of market value to ensure the tax burden is spread fairly among residents. In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Raymond’s average assessment was in the range of low to mid 40 percent.

“The Maine constitutional requirement that all taxes be apportioned equally according to just value” Lebel said. “The legislature added standards on the statutory level. During the past few years, especially during the pandemic, the market value accelerated quite fast and the assessments didn’t change so we came out of compliance in terms of the assessment ratio.”

Raymond residents with questions are encouraged to follow the guidance in the revaluation letters mailed to each property. There is also additional information listed on the town’s website, https://www.raymondmaine.gov/pages/property-revaluation-project-1. <

Seeing double: Raymond twins savor trip to Ohio for ‘Twins Day Festival’

By Ed Pierce

Twins may be God’s way of saying “buy one, get one free” but for Brian and Brandon Mank of Raymond, being a twin has always been a special unique experience.

Identical twins, from left, Brian and Brandon Mank of
Raymond, 20, traveled to attend the 'Twins Day Festival'
in Twinsville, Ohio earlier his month. COURTESY PHOTO 

To that end, the Mank brothers, 20, who are roommates at the University of Maine Orono studying engineering, flew to Ohio earlier this month to participate in the annual Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. Since its creation in 1976, the festival has had more than 91,021 sets of twins and multiples attend and it’s been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Largest Annual Gathering of Twins in the World.”

Organizers of the festival say it provides a way for celebrating the uniqueness of twins and others of multiple birth and is a centralized location for the multitude of twin-related information including but not limited to researchers, studies, photos of twins and associated details.

Brian Mank said when he learned about the “Twins Day Festival” he knew that he had to go.

“I first heard about the festival three years ago from a Facebook pop-up and have been wanting to see what it was like ever since,” he said.

The festival itself is crammed with events such as a “Double Take Parade” with twins marching in themed costumes and multiple-birth military veterans. There’s also a mass portrait session for an Official Group Photo, a Saturday Night Fireworks display, and a “Twins Days 5K & Fun Run.”

“My personal favorite part of the festival was the Twin sync game show” Brian Mank said. “This game show is split into three parts with three teams of twins. The first and second are practically the same; they split the twins up from their counterparts and ask them questions about one another. If the other twin answers correctly then they get points. The third part of the show involves putting a barrier between the twins and asking them to make poses; if the two twins do the same exact pose, then they get points. The twin team with the most points at the end wins, and each gets a $25 gift card to the Twins Day Festival gift shop.”

Just like his identical twin brother, Brandon Mank said he also enjoyed the Twins Day Festival game show.“It was fun and showed how in sync other twins were with each other,” he said.

Brandon Mank said over the years he’s learned to live with being constantly mixed up with his twin brother.

“When people mix us up now, it's less annoying and more like a funny joke that we get to tell them,” he said. “That doesn't mean that there wasn't a time in the beginning when it was annoying. We used to get so annoyed when someone mixed us up.”

The downside to being a twin, according to Brian Mank, is that no matter what, there is no privacy or secrets between you and a twin.

He said something he personally learned about other twins that he didn't know before this trip is a commonly held belief that connections between twins allow them to sense things they experience individually.

“A larger number than I thought of twins don't actually have a connection between each other that allows them to sense each other,” he said.

The Mank twins were among 20,085 twins attending this year’s Twins Day Festival, and they returned to Maine having confirmed that their lifelong bond as twins and dealing with deep emotional closeness, shared milestones, and constant comparison is shared by thousands of other twins.

They came away from the experience being more appreciative of what they share.

Brian Mank says he admires his twin’s ability to look at something and perfectly create it in his engineering studies, whether that be in a CAD program or a drawing on a piece of paper.

Brandon Mank says he believes he is more creative and his twin more analytical.

He suggests simple advice to younger twins.

“Make sure you get along with your twin because you're never sure when you're going to need their help,” Brandon Mank said. <

Murray prepares to lead Windham Chamber Singers as director

By Ed Pierce

He’s stepping into huge shoes to fill, but Ryan Murray is ready to take on one of the most prominent and influential positions in the RSU 14 School district.

Ryan Murray is the new director of choral
activities at Windham High School andc will
lead the Windham Chamber Singers.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Murray has been named by the RSU 14 Board of Directors to succeed Dr. Richard Nickerson as director of choral activities at Windham High School. That position includes serving as the director of the Windham Chamber Singers, a role that Nickerson held for 39 years before his retirement in June after an illustrious career with RSU 14.

During his time at Windham High School, Nickerson led the Windham Chamber Singers as the choral performed at the White House and at Carnegie Hall and won the Prize of Vienna at the 25th International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria in 1996.

Murray is from Scarborough and after graduating from high school at Thornton Academy, he attended the University of Maine where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. He was a recipient of a Tri-City Community Chorus Music Scholarship for college music education studies.

His experiences at UMaine helped prepare him for his new challenge teaching music at Windham High School and touring with the Windham Chamber Singers.

During college, Murray successfully auditioned as a freshman to become a member of the University Singers, a choir in which both of his parents had sung. As a college senior, Murray served as one of two assistant conductors for the University Singers. In March 2025, he was able to conduct the fourth movement of Johannes Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem” for the University Singers’ spring concerts and annual spring tour, which was part of a group tour across Maine and into Quebec.

As a college junior and senior, Murray also served as music director for The Maine Steiners, an all-male a capella music group that is part of UMaine University Singers. During that experience, he chose what music the group would perform, handled scheduling and rehearsals and teaching proper vocal technique.

Beside his involvement with the University Singers and The Maine Steiners while attending college, Murray also was a participant in Camerata Dirigo, a chamber octet based in Orono. In 2024 he conducted Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem,” one of the best-known pieces of all choral music, during a full-length concert.

As a UMaine student, Murray also found time to work with choral students in a classroom setting at Orono Middle School. There he put into practice education skills that he learned and was able to inspire his students and give them confidence to meet greater challenges in music.

In his new position working with Windham High School students, Murray will direct the school choirs and teach elective courses in music. He will also be responsible for conducting the Windham Chamber Singers, scheduling group performances and coordinating logistics for music festivals and other events. Murray also will serve as the Music Director for the school musical.

During a Windham Chamber Singers reunion concert in June, Murray said he admires Nickerson and intends to continue the existing music program at the high school while also starting some new ones. Both of his parents are music teachers and at one point, his mother taught alongside Nickerson after she graduated from college.

The future is wide open for Murray and although he is replacing a legendary music educator in his new job, he is confident and excited to make the job his own.

Murray says that he also plans to work on obtaining a master’s degree in music so he can further his skills and enhance his musical knowledge so that he can offer an outstanding educational experience for his students at Windham High School. <

Voters to determine fate of Windham Middle School repurpose proposal

By Ed Pierce

The Windham Town Council has approved placing a referendum question on the ballot in November for purchasing Windham Middle School for $1 once it is vacant in the fall of 2027 and repurposing the facility into a Community Center and housing town offices and the Windham Public Library.

Windham Town Councilors have approved placing a 
referendum before voters on Nov. 3 to approve issuing 
general obligation bonds of up to $19.5 million to
finance the costs of repurposing Windham Middle School
for use as a community center and moving town offices and
Windham Public Library there. This is an artist's depiction
of the completed project. COURTESY PHOTO     

A motion was passed unanimously during Tuesday evening’s town council meeting to ask Windham voters on Nov. 3 to approve issuing general obligation bonds up to $19.5 million to finance the costs of rehabilitating the Windham Middle School for use as a community center, including the costs of design, engineering, professional services, site preparation, construction, renovation, operating costs, and other improvements and furnishings as may be required in connection with the project. The proposal includes appropriating up to $2 million of the town’s fund balance as the Town Council deems reasonable and necessary to reduce the borrowing amount and directly pay for costs of the project.

Councilors will conduct a Special Town Meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 to answer questions the public may have about the proposal, which addresses shortfalls in the current municipal buildings, each of which carries long-term replacement costs and short-term maintenance and repair costs. The project was developed over the past two years by the WMS Repurpose Advisory Committee and would consolidate town hall offices, parks and recreation, social services, the food pantry, clothing and medical closets and the library to the building, which RSU 14 is vacating upon opening of the new Windham Raymond Middle School in August 2027.

An amendment to the motion advancing the referendum was made by Windham Town Councilor Katie Cook for the council to recommend approval of the referendum.

The existing Windham Middle School building first opened in 1974 and was intended for a capacity of 483 students. That number has grown in the past 52 years to 650 students and some sixth graders being housed for classes at the adjacent Field Allen School, which was built in 1949.

In November 2023, a plurality of voters in the school district, which encompasses Windham and Raymond, approved a referendum to build the new Windham Raymond Middle School with about 77 percent of construction costs paid by the Maine Department of Education’s Major Capital Construction Program. The total project budget to construct the new school is estimated at about $171.5 million, with the state funding $131.7 million of that expense and residents of Windham and Raymond paying the remaining $39.8 million.

As part of the referendum to obtain $131.7 million in state funding for the new middle school, RSU 14 voters agreed that the existing Windham Middle School could not be used as a school again, since the state had already contributed funding for substantial repair costs over decades of the building’s use.

In formulating the proposal as to how best to repurpose the WMS building, WMS Repurpose Advisory worked with an architect and design team and toured the Westbrook and Gorham Community Centers to see how those towns adapted old school buildings for community center facilities.

Determining that the basic structure of the school was sound and that it offered 80,000 square feet of available space, the committee looked at the existing town buildings with long-term replacement costs and short-term maintenance, parking improvements and repair costs and decided that a number of municipal services could be relocated to the site for a fraction of the cost of renovating or replacing current buildings.

Committee members also reviewed the community center engagement results from August 2019 which identified multigenerational flexible spaces for a range of activities. Members determined the building can accommodate those identified spaces within the current structure and/or future spaces around the facility. They will also further determine any new spaces not in the current building and the phasing opportunities and costs.

The intent of the August 2019 study was to identify the need to create a multi-generational facility for all Windham residents that enhances the quality of life for Windham, provides flexible spaces for a range of activities, and is a self-sustaining site that fosters fun for residents. The 20-member Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee serves as an advisory body to the Town Council and was used to analyze the potential re-uses for the school and a potential benefit as a community center or municipal offices.

Windham Town Manager Robert Burns said the WMS Repurpose Advisory Committee also received guidance from Great Falls Construction, which has assisted the town in other projects, such as reconfiguring and expanding Windham’s Public Safety Building in 2022.

Burns said although the benefits of the Windham Middle School Repurposing Project come with a cost, in the long run it will be cost-effective for the town.

“This building represents an opportunity for us to move forward,” Burns said. “This is still the best way forward for us.” 

He said Windham’s Social Services Office, which houses the Windham Food Pantry, requires more room, as does Windham Public Library. Windham’s Medical Loan Closet was moved temporarily last fall to the East Windham Fire Station stemming from structural issues with its building near the library on Windham Center Road.

Councilor Maggie Terry said she read comments about the WMS Repurpose Project posted on social media earlier this week and said residents need to understand that the cost to maintain municipal buildings continues to grow. She said she doesn’t like spending, but realizes the long-term savings offered by this repurposing project are the lowest costs the town will see.

“This is an opportunity for us we’ll never see at this value again,” Terry said.

The proposal does not include a community swimming pool, but the option is there should future phases of the repurposing project arise. It does include reconfiguring access for residents entering the site from Route 202 (Gray Road) and first-floor access to the Windham Town Clerk’s Office for conducting transactions such as automobile and boat registration, obtaining dog licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, registering to vote, property tax collection, notary service and marriage licenses.

It also would construct pickle ball courts, a redo of property sidewalks and fencing. <

New chorus sings way to ‘Raymond’s Got Talent’ win

By Erin Rose

Newly formed women’s a capella chorus Harmony 207 captured the audience’s votes to win Raymond’s Got Talent on Friday, July 24.

Formed earlier this year, women's a capella chorus Harmony
207 was the winner of the 'Raymond's Got Talent' contest
on Friday, July 24 at the Hawthorne House in Raymond.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

“Everyone had a great time, and it was a great confidence booster, because it was the first time they’ve sung anything in public as a group,” said Denise “D” Dyer, founder of the group. “It was amazing.”

Hosted by the Hawthorne Community Association at the Hawthorne House, the event featured 12 performances from talented members of the local community, including singers, jugglers and comedians. Two acts were given golden tickets, and the audience selected Harmony 207 as the ultimate winner.

Dyer’s sister, Debbie Redmond, helped embroider shirts with the Harmony 207 logo, enabling the group to look the part during the competition.

“We looked put together,” Dyer said, noting that there were about 45 people in the audience. “Everyone had a blast.”

The group performed two songs, including “Christmas Chopsticks,” a song set to the tune of “Chopsticks” with lyrics that begin with “Twas’ the night before Christmas.”

“We figured we could get away with it at the Hawthorne House because it was July 24,” Dyer said. “If you think of Christmas in July, this was Christmas Eve in July. We did that first, and then “Let There be Peace on Earth”, which is universal and good at any time of the year.”

When asked to perform, Dyer said that the group, which was founded on May 5, was unaware that it would be a competition.

“The really cool thing is that some of the members, when we found out we got to perform, they said ‘what if we suck’ or ‘what if we lose?’” she said. “First of all, I explained, it’s just a performance and a chance to sing before a friendly audience.”

“I know we call it a competition; I prefer to call it a performance and someone else has to decide where it ranks,” Dyer continued. “We just do our best and enjoy the performance and our audience will enjoy it as well.”

The win has energized both those who performed and the members who had to miss the event. While the group membership has grown to 19 women, 13 were able to perform in Raymond.

“These ladies are excited to learn more music and sing in public,” Dyer said. “It was shared with the rest of the group who couldn’t go and made them want to be able to go to the next one.”

The next event will be a Christmas benefit concert that will be held at the Windham Hill United Church of Christ where the group rehearses from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights. Songs at the performance will include “Let There be Peace on Earth” and Con Fullam of Windham’s “The Maine Christmas Song.”

“Their chapel is one of those quaint beautiful New England chapels, with wreathes on the door,” Dyer said, adding that the church permits the group to use the space throughout the year without charge. “It’s what you would picture as a Christmas church.”

“It’s the perfect setting to do Christmas music, including “The Maine Christmas Song”,” she said.

The group continues to grow as the Christmas concert approaches, and Dyer reminds anyone still interested to attend a rehearsal and join in.

“If you know someone who wants to sing but they worry that they’ll feel like they are behind, they shouldn’t worry,” she said. “We’ll help them prioritize what to learn, what to work on, and they’ll learn right along with us when we get the new stuff.”

The upcoming rehearsal on Tuesday, Sept. 1 will present a great opportunity to join, as they regroup after the busy summer. Members will bring food for a potluck, allowing them to reconnect over a meal and share the tales of their summer adventures before setting goals and beginning rehearsals for the Christmas concert.

“Singing and rehearsing through the summer has been difficult with rotating vacation schedules, so we’re doing a potluck welcome back from summer on Sept. 1,” Dyer said. “Anyone who is interested in singing with us is welcome to come.”

“My goal is that people remember that family comes first and we’re singing because we love to sing, not because we want to compete or because we want to win,” she added. “Right now, the expectation is that people are coming to sing and learn Christmas music to do the concert on Dec. 12.”

As the group grows, Dyer has accelerated her plan to join international parent organization Harmony Incorporated, as a chapter charter, citing the benefits of the extensive resources provided by membership. Founded in 1959, the organization represents 2,000 women, and more than 65 chapters of choruses in the United States and Canada.

“There are a lot of resources available from Harmony Incorporated,” she said. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, we can join and be able to reap the benefits of the resources that are available.”

The focus is currently on the Christmas concert, but Dyer said that future goals will likely not be to compete. While the group may ultimately join competitions, the goal is to perform as a way to raise funds to purchase music and other items to support the chorus.

“Competition is expensive,” Dyer explained, accounting for event passes, hotel rooms, food, and transportation to the event. “Music costs money, music tracks cost money. If we want to perform more than Christmas music, which we do, it’s best if we can raise money by doing singing than by having extra events or selling things.”

Dyer continues to seek out new members via the group’s Facebook page, Harmony 207 Windham, Maine, reminding anyone who may be nervous that the group exists to support all singers.

“The voice is an intensely personal thing,” she said. “People are reluctant to put that out there because they fear criticism. There is none of that. This is a place for everyone to sing.”

“If you can sing “Happy Birthday” in tune, you’re welcome to sing with us,” she said.

The Windham Hill UCC is located at 140 Windham Center Road in Windham. More information about the group or meeting can be found on its Facebook page or by reaching out to Dyer at [email protected]. <

Windham Swing Dancing to close summer with gala event

By Erin Rose

Windham Swing Dancing will wrap up its summer of dance lessons and free dances with the Summer Gala for local high school students from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Windham Town Gym.

Audrey Knowles and James Orasky swing dance during an
event hosted by the Windham Swing Dance group. The
summer of dance lessons and free dances concludes with
the Summer Gala dance for local high school students
from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Windham Town Gym.
PHOTO BY HEATHER PAULDING

“It’s going to be a fantastic time,” said Greta Paulding, a 2023 Windham High School graduate who founded the group in 2024 with the help of Greely High School graduate Elsa Knowles. “We want to get as many people as possible and see some of the faces we haven’t seen in a while.”

“If anybody has danced with us, even if they’ve since graduated, or if they’ve never danced with us before, they are more than welcome to come,” she said.

While the group’s events are typically free, due to the scale of the gala, there will be a $5 charge to help cover expenses decorations and the baked treats that will be available.

“Usually, we try to keep everything free, but because we had to rent the space from the town and with all of the decorations, it’s a lot of expense,” Paulding said. “If $5 is too much, put on whatever you have that’s fancy and come have some fun.”

Paulding’s mom, Heather, has been a major help to the group during its time and is working to prepare the decorations by hand for the gala.

“She’s making 20 to 30 feet of bunting from scratch,” Paulding said. “Our house is literally covered in fake wisteria and muslin, and fake flowers are coming out of the walls.”

The group has been preparing for the gala all summer, with lessons in ballroom dance styles, such as Viennese waltz, foxtrot, and cha cha during their weekly Wednesday meetings.

“Part of the fun of this gala is for them to be able to ballroom dance,” Paulding said.

They also did a lot of country swing dancing, which allows partners to pair off but does not require full body contact, which can help nervous teens.

“The nice part of country swing dancing, it’s more open and fluid,” Paulding said. “It’s only really hand contact for the most part, which means you can take someone by the hand, spin them around, and have a great time without feeling super close.”

Paulding also says that all the members of the group have been novices at one time, so they also understand the challenges of learning the different steps.

“You don’t have to be a great dancer or be good at this. It’s your first day,” she said. “If you can manage to spin in a circle and not fall down, you’ve already done better than I did on my first day.”

The gala will also be one of the group’s final events for Paulding, as she is engaged to fellow Grove City College student Caden Schipani, and will be moving to Pennsylvania once she graduates in the spring. As to the group’s future, it remains unknown.

“There is interest from the kids to keep it going, but there is nobody who is stepping up to lead,” she said, citing difficulties teens have in planning future summers, with internships, beginning college, or finding work taking priority. “We’re praying it continues in some capacity.”

“Right now, there are no good answers, which is why we are celebrating everything that we have done and all of these great people we have brought together,” Paulding said.

The Windham group was founded after Paulding started attending college at Grove City, where a school club helped Paulding discover her interest in dancing. That interest helped Paulding overcome mental health challenges.

“When I was a freshman, I had a lot of different mental health things that I was struggling with, including anxiety and depression. I’m also on the spectrum too, so I was dealing with a lot of stuff,” she said. “Even so, I said ‘it’s swing dancing, how bad could it be?’”

“It’s only loud music and lights and crowds and physical touch, all the things that would set me off,” Paulding continued. “For the first month probably, I would have pretty frequent panic attacks after going swing dancing because my body was not used to that.”

“I just kept going back because I was making these new friends, getting more active and getting more healthy. I was even miraculously slowly getting better at it,” she said. “It was so much fun, and the community was so wonderful.”

Not only has dancing improved her physical health, it quickly made long-lasting changes to her mental health.

“All of the anxiety symptoms that had kept me away from social spaces disappeared and didn’t come back,” Paulding said. “They haven’t come back.”

Seeing how dancing helped her anxiety helped inspire Paulding, with the support of co-teacher Knowles, to provide the same opportunity for local teens.

“All through high school, I was watching all of these other kids struggling with things that were so much worse than what I was dealing with and they had no outlet,” she said. “I came back and said, ‘I have one year of swing dancing under my belt. How hard could this be?’”

“I asked my friend Elsa, who is the coolest person I know, who also had not really done much dance,” Paulding said. “Elsa is phenomenal.”

The group started small in 2024.

“If we had 10 people in the room that year, it was a miracle,” Paulding said. “But we had a really fun time.”

A marketing major and a graphic artist, Paulding used her expertise to help grow that number to 25 for 2025 after an Instagram post found popularity.

“We had one post that reached 16,000 views, which was really exciting,” she said. “We got reposted by all of these different organizations as examples of building community. It was awesome.”

The post also helped bring new members from far afield to attend the group’s meetings.

“We had a whole group of kids that came from New Hampshire after they saw us on Instagram and drove two hours to find us,” she said, adding that a Grove City graduate who lives in Bath, Jack Herman, has been driving an hour weekly with his sisters to attend and help teach. “He’s been holding down the fort for us on ballroom styles.”

“We have a huge cohort out of Yarmouth, with one friend group who keeps pulling new people in, and one girl who comes all the way from Durham by herself every week,” Paulding said. “It’s been wonderful.”

Now, the group has over 30 members who attend regularly, but summer schedules make it challenging for everyone to attend every week, so there are usually 20 to 25 people dancing each week. Their final regular meeting will be on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

For more details, visit the group’s social media pages on Instagram and Facebook. <

Historic trees at Windham Public Library receive long-awaited identification tags

By Masha Yurkevich

Visitors to Windham Public Library can now learn the stories behind several trees that have quietly grown on the library grounds for decades. The Friends of Windham Public Library recently completed a tree-tagging project, installing identification bracelets on historic trees planted on the property.

New identification tags at Windham Public
Library tell the stories behind three historic
trees, including a tulip poplar, a ginkgo and 
a Princeton elm, connecting visitors to the
library's history and community partnerships.
SUBMITTED PHOTO    

Jennifer Alvino Wood, director of the Windham Public Library, said the project helps identify trees that were planted in honor of the groups that donated them.

"This project has been a way to identify the trees on the library property that were planted in honor of the groups that donated them," Wood said.

Three trees on the property are now tagged, including a tulip poplar, a ginkgo and a Princeton elm, which was planted by the Windham High School Class of 1962. The tags identify the type of tree, where it came from, who donated it, who planted it and the date it was planted.

The Friends of Windham Public Library identified the trees and created the tags.

For Laurel Parker, a member of the Friends of Windham Public Library and co-president of the Longfellow Garden Club, the project has been decades in the making. The Longfellow Garden Club purchased the two historic trees planted at the library in 1995. The club, established in 1924, continues its mission of supporting gardens and community beautification projects throughout the region.

Parker’s connection to the trees dates back to 1995, when she led Girl Scout Troop 705. The troop was part of the National Historic Tree Project, which distributed seedlings connected to historically significant locations across the country for communities to plant.

"It is always said that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years before you want it to grow," Parker said.

Working with the Longfellow Garden Club, the troop planted two historic trees on the library grounds in May 1995. Although the trees have continued to grow for more than 30 years, they remained unidentified until this summer, when the Friends of Windham Public Library completed the tagging project.

One of the trees is a tulip poplar grown from a seedling connected to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's home in Hyde Park, New York. The other is a ginkgo descended from one of architect Frank Lloyd Wright historic properties.

The identification plaques are attached to each tree in the form of what Parker described as a “tree bracelet.” The 4-by-6-inch plaques are secured with a spring that expands as the tree grows.

Parker said the bracelets were designed so they would not damage the trees as they mature. A protective plastic sleeve covers part of the spring, allowing the bracelet to expand as the trunk grows without cutting into the bark. The design ensures the tags can remain in place for years while continuing to identify each tree for library visitors.

"I thought it was important that the trees be tagged so everybody knew who they were," Parker said.

The library was chosen as the planting site because of the involvement Parker had with both the Girl Scouts and the Longfellow Garden Club, along with her longtime connection to the library. Parker served as the children's librarian for 25 years and said the project reflected a desire to improve the library grounds while encouraging environmental awareness.

"I hope that people realize that it does make a difference when you make a planting like this," Parker said. "It connects history and people."

She summarized the purpose of planting and identifying the trees with just one word, "Connection."

Wood said the tagged trees are only part of the library property history.

"We have many types of trees, plantings, and other items on our property donated and planted to recognize groups or volunteers and library supporters who have passed away," Wood said. "The library is a place where people can come, see the items, and remember the people and groups who are honored by them."

Wood says she encourages residents to explore the grounds and discover those stories for themselves. "Take a walk around our property," Wood said. "There is a lot to see and a lot of history here."

More than 30 years after the first two historic trees were planted, the new identification tags ensure visitors can better appreciate the history, partnerships and community connections rooted throughout the grounds of Windham Public Library. <

WHS art teacher expands his creativity beyond classroom with goal of community through murals

By Sophia Atherton

Art has always been a part of Joe McLaughlin’s life, and he wanted to share the love of creativity by becoming an art teacher. But little did he know how far his love for painting would take him. McLaughlin, who currently teaches painting, street art, printmaking, and drawing at Windham High School, has broadened his canvas beyond the classroom and onto walls of businesses throughout Maine.

Windham High School art teacher Joe McLaughlin finds
artwork, including murals, to be a rewarding opportunity
to create transformation and change the way people
experience the world. Here he shows a mural he painted
for Big Swing Golf Sim in Windham.
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK 

Recently, you’ll find McLaughlin’s talented artwork at a few businesses in Windham including the Big Swing Golf Sim. He explains how that opportunity took place.

"My first public mural came about unexpectedly,” McLaughlin said. “While visiting Flight Deck Brewing in Brunswick, I noticed a large white wall at the entrance and immediately wanted to fill that blank space with artwork. I asked the owners what they planned to do with it. When they told me they didn't have any plans, I suggested a mural.”

That project led to a second mural for the brewery and showed McLaughlin the power of community connections and word-of-mouth recommendations. He not only enjoys painting for businesses and community members, but also the relationship that art creates.

“I've met incredible people and have been given opportunities I never would have expected. I enjoy the interactions with the owners and patrons and seeing their excitement at the outcome, watching their business and space grow from just a shell of a room to an art installation."

He said that he has painted subjects that he never imagined doing, from aviation scenes to bees and golf courses, and his murals have taken him to places he otherwise might never have visited.

One of McLaughlin's favorite parts about creating murals is watching the pieces come together.

“Seeing the progress each time I complete the next step is very rewarding to me,” he said.

McLaughlin also finds artwork rewarding because it has the power to create transformation and change the way people experience the world.

"Art has always been a part of my life. I've been teaching art for 25 years at every grade level, from kindergarten through high school, but my passion for drawing and painting began long before I ever stepped into a classroom,” he said.

When McLaughlin was in high school, he said he was always creating, and that passion eventually grew into painting murals. His parents gave him the freedom and the space to paint a wall in his bedroom. At first, it was just one wall that featured a mural of Jerry Garcia, then before he knew it, every wall in his room was painted. The support of his parents gave him more than just a spark for mural painting but in changing the way he looked at blank walls.

Although painting, drawing and street art come naturally to McLaughlin, he admits that some things do not come easily while creating murals professionally.

“Some challenges that I face include scaling up a small drawing,” McLaughlin said. “When designing the golf ball, for example, I sometimes need to make changes on the wall adjusting the size from the original sketch. I will need to scale and proportion the artwork, so everything doesn’t appear too massive or too small.”

McLaughlin also takes a lot of photographs and will look at them at home to discover how things can be improved, learning to deviate from the original sketch.

“I also receive a lot of help from my wife, Kristin, and sometimes we work as a team to improve the artwork,” he said.

McLaughlin's view on the value of public art in the community was formed from traveling nationally and internationally.

“Sometimes public art can change the landscape of downtrodden communities and become a tourist attraction,” McLaughlin said. “Even changing the energy of a space. When things are so divisive these days, art can act as a universal language to bring people together."

McLaughlin’s love of art is more than a creative and teaching endeavor and, as a result, he hopes to add more art in the Windham and Raymond areas.

“Ultimately, I hope my work inspires others to see the value of art,” he said. “Murals have the power to transform businesses and strengthen communities.”

For his next mural, McLaughlin has been commissioned to provide artwork for a private individual in Casco. <

Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride salutes Maine reservist

By Ed Pierce

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dennis J. Dix Jr. spent his military career helping his fellow soldiers and so it was only fitting that his efforts are not forgotten following his death last fall. To remember Dix for his contributions to the nation, members of the 17th Annual Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride conducted a special ceremony for his family in Windham last Friday as part of the group’s Northern Tier ride.

Carl Coleman of American Legion Post 148 holds the Legion
flag at a ceremony conducted by the 17th Annual Tribute to
Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride
participants for the family of the late Lt. Col. Dennis J.
Dix, Jr. of Maine at the Windham Veterans Center on
Friday, July 24. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

The 17th Annual Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride is a 24-day, cross-country motorcycle journey running from July 11 to Aug. 2, and is traveling from Eugene, Oregon, to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to honor post-9/11 fallen service members. At Arlington, a cart carrying a memorial flame is escorted inside the cemetery and formally extinguished in recognition of every service member honored along the journey.

According to Warren Williamson, the Executive Director of the Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride, the group makes scheduled visits to honor 52 different fallen service members along the way every year and this ceremony held at the Windham Veterans Center was one of those.

“At these Fallen Soldier visits, they present surviving family members with their Memorial Plaque of Distinguished Service to graciously recognize the service members’ sacrifice and to remind each family that their fallen hero hasn’t been forgotten,” Williamson said.

The Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride has been doing this for nearly two decades with 15 riders among the group that arrived in Windham to pay tribute to Dix and his family.

“It’s a mission of love; it’s a mission of dedication and support,” Williamson said.

Dix graduated from Hall-Dale High School in Farmingdale and earned a double major in Psychology and Communication from the University of Southern Maine. He went on to graduate from the University of Maine School of Social Work and worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He was the Director of the Access Center at Kennebec Behavioral Health and served as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps.

He was awarded the Achievement Award as the Combat Stress Team Officer in Charge during Operation Pac-Warrior in 2009 and was honored with the Army Achievement Medal for Access to Behavioral Health Care at Fort Drum Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) in 2001.

At the time of his death last fall at the age of 58, Dix lived with his family in Hallowell. His wife Michelle Dix and four children, Anthony Dix, Kaylee Bickford, Aiden Dix, and Brianna Dix all made the trip to Windham to attend the ceremony along with other family members.

“There is a cost to serve this country if you wear the uniform of the United States,” Williamson told the Dix Family. “The flame is a promise to the family that we have not forgotten Dennis, and it burns 24 hours a day.”

During the ceremony, Williamson read aloud the obituary for Dix and presented the family with a memorial plaque in recognition of his military service and a framed photograph of him.

Williamson pointed out that all the motorcycle riders on this year’s ride are wearing a patch commemorating the ride honoring Dix and he gave a patch to the family so they too can remember the event.

“We hope you will wear it with pride,” he said. “As everyday Americans, we graciously extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families of every fallen soldier, and it’s our pledge to let them know their fallen hero will never be forgotten.”

The Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride was originally created in 2009 to honor the sacrifices of 125 military members from Oregon who have been killed in action through the years defending America. It later expanded to pay tribute to all American military members who gave unselfishly so that all Americans can live in freedom.

“We wanted to do something to make a difference,” Williamson said.

According to Williamson, Windham was the 14th day of 24 planned visits across America culminating the trip with a final stop at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial bell will be rung at Arlington for each of the 52 fallen servicemen with their names read aloud. The event concludes with riders from the 17th Annual Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride laying a wreath along with the sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Members of Windham VFW Post 10643 and the American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 also participated in the ceremony for Dix. <