WHS students attend youth summit to develop positive leadership skills

By Lorraine Glowczak

About 14 Windham High School students joined 60 other teens from Westbrook and South Portland High Schools in the Third Annual Collective Impact Youth Summit held on Friday, Nov. 18, at the Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church.

Be The Influence, the local drug-free coalition, co-hosted
the Third Annual Collective Impact Youth Summit that
provided teens the opportunity to network about substance
misuse and social/emotional well-being. Fourteen students
from Windham High School attended the event and some
are shown including top from left, Victoria Lin and
Francesca Lomonte. Second row, from left are Jolene Bailey,
Erica Lin, Gwen Kim and Bella Lorenzatti.
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK 

The local drug-free coalition, Be The Influence, which partnered with the Westbrook Partners in Prevention and So Po Unite coalitions, was instrumental in creating this all-day regional high school event. The purpose is to allow teens to network and share ideas with other students about what is happening in their school districts regarding substance misuse with a focus on social/emotional well-being.

During the event, WHS students also had the opportunity to build leadership skills concentrated on helping peers make healthy choices.

All participants had a choice of multiple breakout sessions that included topics such as Yoga and Mindfulness, Using Arts to Build Resilience, Leadership and Advocacy, and Life After High School. They also experienced team-building games and small group discussions.

Freshman Jolene Bailey, a member of the WHS Mental Health Advocacy Club, said that she really enjoyed the Leadership and Advocacy session because she felt she was able to create a bond with students from other schools while learning ways to develop new skills.

“The group consisted of an open conversation and was guided in such a way that I felt comfortable connecting with others,” she said. “I came away from that experience learning the ways of being an effective leader, and I hope to apply what I learned in my life and at school.”

Sophomore Francesca Lomonte, a former BTI member involved in many WHS extra-curricular activities, said that she enjoyed the Yoga and Mindfulness breakout session.

“I really liked the yoga and mindfulness session because it allowed me to chill and reset,” she said. “And it was a lot more fun than sitting in math class.”

The WHS students agreed that the summit was a fun and educational experience that provided a few personal takeaways.

“What I learned the most from attending this summit was the realization that there is a community of students out there other than what I know and experience at WHS,” Lomonte said. “This community of young people is much larger than I realized.”

Freshman Erica Lin attended the event with her older sister, Victoria, who is a senior. Lin shared her own realization regarding a peer-focused community.

“Other schools have a lot in common with us here at WHS in terms of facing the many challenges students meet today, and that makes me feel less alone knowing that.”

As far as developing leadership skills that make a positive impact among friends, the youth summit participants walked away with tools for success.

“In BTI, we create a presentation and talk with middle school students on why vaping is not a healthy choice,” Lomonte said. “Additionally, we can provide positive leadership examples with our peers by being involved in various activities. There are many choices that help people focus on a healthier lifestyle, such as getting involved with theater, robotics club, quiz show group - or any other club that helps you meet people and do something enjoyable with your life.”

BTI Director Laura Morris said that the summit was a huge success.

She said that the event was successful, partly, due to the support of WHS’ Physical Education/Health teacher, Melissa Dubois, and a financial contribution by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club that provided a portion of the summit’s lunch menu.

Morris reiterated the students’ sentiments, stating that she was delighted with the outcome and that students came away with actionable skills.

“Youth are hungry for connection and making a difference,” she said. “It was wonderful to see them embrace the topics and foster strong conversations, taking those experiences and applying them at their schools.”

Morris and Dubois both thanked the Director of Raymond Parks and Recreation, Joe Crocker, for transporting the WHS students to the event.

The BTI vision is to provide support and resources to students as well as communicate a consistent drug-free message, assuring students that they live in a community that cares about them.

The coalition is comprised of various members of the community that include: RSU 14 staff and teachers, local law enforcement, town council members, the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, prevention and counseling organizations, libraries as well as community and business organizations.

For more information about Be The Influence, visit its website at www.betheinfluencewrw.org, or send an email to Laura Morris at btidirector@windhammaine.us. You can also follow them on Facebook. <

Windham Police Department bids a fond farewell to retiring Captain Bill Andrew

Captain Bill Andrew, a 1992 Windham High School
graduate, became a Windham Police Department 
officer in 1996. He credits his long career in
law enforcement to the many mentors who inspired
and encouraged him throughout his youth. Andrew
is retiring and his last day at the Windham Police
Department is Friday, Sept. 16.
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK   

By Lorraine Glowczak

After 29 years of serving and protecting the citizens of Windham, Captain William (Bill) Andrew will provide his final ‘end of shift’ signoff with the Windham Police Department (WPD) on Friday, Sept. 16, at 3 pm. Andrew, who is retiring from law enforcement to pursue a new career as a Project Manager for Tyler Technologies, says people in Windham haven’t seen the last of him as he will still be an active member in the community he loves and calls home.

“Windham is a wonderful place to live and work,” he said. “The community has strongly supported the police department and public safety. Although the larger society’s perception and support of law enforcement have become divided over the years, the Windham community has remained incredibly united in its support. I have always appreciated that.”

A 1992 Windham High School graduate, Andrew began his career in the public safety field while attending high school, participating in the Junior Firefighter Program. Upon graduation, he began working as a dispatcher for the WPD and worked in that position for three years. In 1996, he decided to become a police officer and attended the Maine State Justice (Police) Academy.

Upon becoming one of WPD’s finest, Andrew quickly moved up the ranks of law enforcement; first becoming a Sargent of Patrol in 2007, an Administrative Sergeant in 2015, a Patrol Captain in 2017, and, in his latest - and last role, a Support Services Captain in 2020.

Andrew said that he has enjoyed all his work at WPD and loves many aspects of his career. However, he shares one of his favorite experiences.

“By far, the best part of my career was starting up the canine unit at WPD,” he said. “I had the vision of creating a canine program while working in dispatch. Once I became an officer, the first thing I wanted to do is to implement that program and I worked hard to make it happen.” 

Andrew explained why he understood and then pursued the need for a canine program.

“As a dispatcher, I observed many individuals in crisis and how each emergency was handled,” he said. “In circumstances where we needed to calm people, we reached out to find a dog from other police departments to help subside the anxiety-filled situation. I witnessed over and over again that having a dog present often diffused the apprehension at the scene so the police could do their job effectively while also offering a positive, safe service to the individual.”

When Andrew developed the program, it was presented to Windham’s Town Council. The canine program was voted upon and approved in 2000. It is still an integral part of the WPD services today.

There are many reasons why having a canine unit is vital as part of a law enforcement agency.

“It breaks down any barriers that often occur while dealing with people in stressful situations,” he said. “Everyone has a story about their dog growing up or the pets they have now, and these stories create a commonality between the public and the police. It is a calming tool when people are dealing with tragedies.”

Andrew credits his long career in the ‘serve and protect’ occupation to the many mentors who have inspired and encouraged him throughout his youth.

“I have so many people to thank for their guidance and support as I explored a career in law enforcement,” Andrew said. “First, I must credit WPD’s former Chief Hammond. He was my first introduction to this career because I used to go on calls with him and former firefighter Ernie Nichols.”

Andrew said that while growing up in Windham, he had a childhood friend whose father, Greg Hanscom, was a WPD Police Chief. 

“Greg was the first police chief in 1976,” Andrew said. “His son and I spent a lot of time together while attending Field Allen School [the current Windham Middle School]. Getting a first-hand look at this man I admired, I knew I wanted to grow up to be like him.”

Captain Andrew’s contributions to the community have not gone unnoticed. He has worked in various capacities, including the role as a leadership team member with Be the Influence Coalition, an organization that raises awareness and addresses concerns caused by substance misuse in youth and educates about and prevents substance use disorder as one becomes an adult.

Laura Morris, the Director of Be the Influence, shares her praises of Andrew.“I cannot thank Bill Andrew enough for helping to create and make Be the Influence a reality, but also serving on our leadership committee,” Morris said. “Bill provided wisdom, passion, expertise and vision. He helped us to grow in the past six years to make a difference in the lives of our youth, parents and community. BTI will miss him and his guidance.”

WPD Chief Kevin Schofield echoed Morris’ sentiments.

“We most certainly appreciate all his work for the department and dedication to the town,” Chief Schofield said. “In over 36 years in this business, Bill has demonstrated the most dedication to this town and to the department that I’ve ever seen. We will miss him greatly, but we are happy that he will stay in the area and be a part of the department as a retiree moving forward.”

Morris shares the WPD and community’s thoughts about Captain Andrew as an individual.

“He is simply a wonderful person all the way around. We wish him the best as he goes about his new adventure.” <

New project coordinator connects with area youth through personal experience

By Lorraine Glowczak

Nicole-Raye Ellis

It is one thing for an adult to encourage youth to make wise choices in terms of alcohol and drug use, but the message has much more impact when it comes from an adult who made choices as a teenager that led her into a life filled with hardships and the death of loved ones – not one, not two, not three – but many loved ones.

Nicole Ellis was hired on Wednesday, October 3 as the new Project Coordinator for Be The Influence Coalition – an organization with the mission to promote community collaboration and positive choices in reducing youth substance use in Windham and Raymond.

Although Ellis holds associate degrees in both liberal studies and education from Southern Maine Community College, graduating in the top ten percent of her class and was a member and Vice President of Service with Phi Theta Kappa, the real contributing factor to her new role as Project Coordinator is her personal experiences that Be The Influence relies upon to encourage local youth to make wise decisions.

Ellis, a 2006 graduate from Gorham High School, knows all too well about how life’s adversities make choosing the path of mind-altering substances a way to escape and deal with the many harsh realities that come our way. “Although it is true that I was experimenting with various drugs and alcohol in my early teens, it was the result of being prescribed pain medication after a serious car accident that began my downward spiral at the age of 15,” Ellis explained. “It’s where my addiction began. Because I was feeling the regular teenage emotions combined with my family history of alcohol and drug abuse, I became addicted. I look back now and wonder why the medical professionals didn’t take a closer look at my family’s history with addiction before prescribing them to me.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Opioid painkillers are highly addictive. After just five days of prescription opioid use, the likelihood that you'll develop long-term dependence on these drugs rises steeply — increasing your risk of eventual addiction and overdose.”

Ellis explained that she was born into a family of substance abuse and alcoholism. Having the genetic make up and being prescribed a highly addictive painkiller, Ellis eventually fell into a crowd of friends who used and abused drugs which lead to both overdose and death of those she loved dearly.

She explained about her teenage experiences, “I witnessed many of my friends die from addiction. I saw my friend who was much like a brother to me, die of an overdose. I also had a few friends who died while drinking and driving,” she stated. This story does not include her step-dad who also died while he was drinking and driving. “And this is only the beginning and a snapshot of my young life,” Ellis reiterated.

Ellis eventually left Maine for two years, spending a year in Florida and a year in California before returning to her home state. Having some time away from her friends plus the announcement her brother made that he was going to have a daughter, Ellis made a conscious decision to move in a different direction. “I wanted to be a part of my nieces’ life, but my brother disowned me due to my life choices with drugs and alcohol, which I never blamed him for” Ellis stated. “Having a niece was the motivation for me to become healthy.”

In 2010, Ellis checked herself into Mercy Rehab. “The year 2010 is a special year for me. It is the year I became clean and the year my niece was born.”

As with any change one makes in life, it was not an easy journey. “I was lonely for the first four years after I became sober,” Ellis said. “I purposely chose not to be with all the contacts I had before who might pull me back into that lifestyle as well as any events that would remind me or had any association with drug and alcohol use. The thing is, I still loved my friends and I missed them a lot.”

She sought out new friends who had no experience with drugs to not only help her remain healthy but to see what life was like for those who didn’t participate or had very little experiences with mind-altering substances. “I was curious,” she said. “My experiences thus far had been so involved with nothing but drugs and alcohol, I had to see for myself what the other side was like.”

By choosing to take this path, she got to meet her daughter’s father who helped her on the road to sobriety and continues to do so. Together, they gave life to their daughter, Annabella, who was born in 2013. They continue to work jointly to provide a wholesome and productive life for their daughter.

In addition to the births of her niece and Annabella, another contributing factor that turned Ellis’ life around was the decision to be of service to others. “I began volunteering for organizations who help others such as Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House. Serving others was a real-life changer for me and helped ease the pain of loneliness.”

Now, Ellis’ focus is to help area youth learn from her life experiences and is one of the reasons why the Director of Be The Influence, Laura Morris, chose Ellis to fill the Project Coordinator position. “I chose Nicole because of her passion from personal experience and understanding of addiction and how it can ruin your life,” Morris began. “She saw this position as an opportunity to share her story in hopes of helping others to make healthy decisions. She is also the ying to my yang and able to help with some efforts behind the scenes with accuracy and structure. This relates directly to our mission and will definitely have a positive impact of the youth we serve.”

Together, Ellis and Morris are working on a variety of innovative, fun and creative efforts to adhere to the BTI mission and to invite local youth involvement. One of those endeavors include creating a video.  

“Right now, we have a Public Service Announcement video contest established,” explained Ellis. “We are inviting all students ages 13 to 18 in the Windham and Raymond community to submit a one to two-minute video on why it is important to be a positive influence in living a drug-free life.” Ellis also explained that there will be chances to win first, second and third place prizes that will be donated by local business. The prizes will be announced soon.

For more information regarding other activities, projects and the organization, explore the Be The Influence website at www.betheinfluencewrw.org or contact Laura Morris at director@betheinfluencewrw.org. Donations for the video contest can be directed to nicolerayeellis1227@gmail.com.

As for Morris’ belief in Ellis’ contribution and fulfilling Be The Influence’s mission, Morris had this to say, “She is going to rock this – and blow it out of the water.”