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Monday, July 14, 2014

Officer Hudnor reports for duty at Windham PD - By Michelle Libby



Officer Justin Hudnor is getting used to life on the streets of Windham. After a year working as a corrections officer and 18 weeks at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Hudnor is finally doing what he has wanted to do his whole life…be a police officer. 

Hudnor graduated from the academy on May 23rd and is in the process of completing the 14-week field training component of his job, which means he is riding with other officers and trying out different shifts. 



Hudnor was born and raised in Brunswick and is a graduate of Thomas College. “I’d never been to Windham, only driven through,” he said. He had a friend who told him about the Windham Police Department. “He said it was like a big family. It sounded like something I want to be a part of,” he said.
“Eighteen weeks of fun,” is how Hudnor described the academy. The most challenging part was being away from his friends and family including his fiancĂ©e. “Not being able to eat when I want or 20-second showers, I like my showers,” he said. 

“It was a good time. I made good friends from all over the state. For me it is a huge accomplishment,” he added. 

As a corrections officer, he learned how to build a rapport with the inmates. He was able to find out what they had done and why they committed the crime. “It was a good experience,” he said. 

One of his first calls in Windham was an attempt to locate from New Gloucester. Hudnor went with Sergeant Bill Andrew to track a man who cut his mom’s boyfriend’s throat with a sword. “We ended up getting him. It was the most adrenaline rush so far,” he said. Hudnor is a self-professed adrenaline junkie. “I couldn’t imagine sitting at a desk all day,” he said. “Being outside, being a role model in the community and getting criminals off the streets,” is what he likes about being a police officer.
Hudnor noticed over the last few weeks that speed on Route 302 and distracted driving are the biggest issues facing Windham.

In the future, he would like to be a detective working on “big time cases.” For now, he’s enjoying the warm welcome he has received from town employees and the community. “Everybody’s happy to see us. Everyone waves. That’s a good thing,” he said.


Sunday, July 6, 2014

Nutritious, fun lunches for children and teens - By Michelle Libby



A red cooler sitting next to a new picnic table holds the lunches for anyone who drops by the old REAL School on High Street in Windham from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. This past Monday, six kids dropped in for a free, nutritious lunch and conversation about the neighborhood. 

Liza Dalfonso and Stephanie Strout, both employees at Saint Joseph’s College, were the volunteers of the day, passing out milk, PB&J, yogurt and a banana. 

“It’s a fun, nutritious lunch, said Martin Jefferson, a seventh grader.

“It’s free,” said Jack DiBlasi, a sixth grader. The boys liked getting together for lunch and sharing their knowledge of the area. They arrived in groups of two.  

“It’s really close by,” said sixth grader Brandon Davis, who along with the other boys, walked to the site.
Saint Joseph’s College and Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative are inviting children and teens to come for lunch all summer. Last year the program was in a different location and did not attract many people. This year as word gets around Windham and Gorham, they hope that the program will grow. 
 
“In the past three years we have served nearly 12,000 lunches, at nine lake region sites,” said Amy Russell, who coordinates the program.

The summer food program is for anyone one 18 and under. The only caveat is that the food must be eaten onsite.

“Our involvement with the program began four years ago. We joined efforts with The Maine Hunger Initiative to resolve childhood, summer hunger. This is our fourth summer, all of which I have worked on this,” said Russell of Saint Joseph’s College’s involvement.

“I saw it on the website at Saint Joe’s,” said Dalfonso. “I thought it was such a great idea. This makes me so happy. It’s such a great feeling,” she added. 

The lunches will continue until August 22. The meal menu changes each day, from chicken, lettuce and tomato wrap, ham and cheese wrap, chicken tenders with dip to a turkey and cheese sandwich, and includes healthy sides. In Windham, the location is the same, rain or shine. 

The volunteers on Monday brought sheets for picnics. A canopy and a picnic table are there as well.
“This program is 100 percent volunteer run. We rely on the locals to help distribute the meals, as well as entertain the kids. We work with the USM Cooperative Extension to provide nutrition education. We would be interested in anyone with talents or interests to share to come and share with the kids!” Russell said. 

The Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative is a direct action and advocacy program created to meet immediate food needs, offset food supply shortages, and develop long-term solutions to hunger.
The Federal Summer Food Service Program (FSFP) is an equal opportunity provider. Meals will be provided to all children free of charge regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability.

Other free lunch sites are Naples at the town beach or if raining at the Naples Town gym, Casco at the Community Center, 940 Meadow Road, and the Sebago Elementary School lawn, 283 Sebago Road in Sebago. Harrison’s site is at Crystal Lake Park, Norway Road, but is closed July 7 to the 11 for Old Homes Days. 

All sites will be closed on July 4.

For more information contact Catherine’s Cupboard Coordinator Amy Russell at 893-7790 or arussell@sjcme.edu.









Relay for Life participants party all night to fight cancer - By Michelle Libby



The Relay for Life of Sebago Lakes Region raised just over $50,000 during its annual fundraiser which ends with the relay itself where teams gather to walk around the Windham High School track all night because cancer never sleeps. 

There was a good turnout, according to sponsorship and publicity chair Emily Wainwright. “We had some new teams including the Windham Police Department and WHS French Honor Society that did amazing!”
Activities took place all night. The best parts were Zumba at 3 a.m. with Dinah Aldrich, the survivor lap and the luminary lighting, were lights are turned off and bags decorated in memory or in honor of someone were lit from within while names of survivors, fighters and those who lost their battle were read. 

Music was provided by Hicks Productions. New this year, the relay had a bounce house and a jail which brought in over $500 in donations and were a huge hit with both children and adults. Tabitha Leadbetter, an LMT certified in oncology massage from Graceful Awakening did chair massages for volunteers and team members, according to Wainwright.
 
“The weather was great, the generosity and love were flowing in record amounts and there is just something amazing about bringing a community together for such a worthy cause.  Mike Pelletier won the Nancy Tufts Spirit of Hope Award for his never ending energy and support of both the cause and his beautiful wife, and Becky Driscoll won the American Cancer Society’s Sandra C. Labaree Volunteer Values Award for starting up with Sebago Lake Region six years ago this month—both are the most kind-hearted, driven, caring and supportive people you will ever meet.  It was an honor to present them with these awards and there are no two people more deserving,” Wainwright said.




Fifth grader wins essay contest against 20,000 - By Michelle Libby



Nicole Levine, a fifth grader at Jordan-Small Middle School is the State of Maine winner in the InvestWrite Competition with McGraw Hill Financial for the spring essay contest elementary division. Levine and her teacher Jack Fitch were recognized at the school on June 16th

Levine is among 20,000 students nationwide who wrote an essay for the competition. 


The competition is part of the Stock Market Game and is judged by teachers and industry professionals.
Levine wrote about Facebook as a Long-term Investment. “The most important reason for my decision to choose Facebook is that I wanted to select one of the very best and most innovative companies that will lead the future for communicating over the World Wide Web,” she wrote. 

"Teaching students at a very young age the basics of finance and the stock market is essential to their broad education and to being well-informed investors later in life,” said Douglas L. Peterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of McGraw Hill Financial.  “As financial markets become more complex and more global, investors of all ages can benefit from learning how to save, spend and earn money wisely—what we call ‘financial essentials.’ We are delighted to support the SIFMA Foundation and congratulate Nicole on this achievement.”

Levine enjoys playing the piano and recently started violin lessons. She has also participated in basketball and softball for many years and dances competitively in ballet.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Sun and fun at Summerfest - By Michelle Libby



Last Saturday’s Summerfest was a perfect day with great weather, fantastic fun, families gathering together and a wonderful collaboration of organizations. With police, fire, EMTs, the Town, parks and rec, schools and the committee, joining together, the event overcame any obstacles and is prepared to make the necessary changes for next year. 

“We want next year to be bigger, better and make changes,” said committee chair Kelly Mank. “Reach out to us to volunteer next year. Like us on Facebook for updates.” 

The planning for next year will start in September or October. To get involved, email summerfest@TheWindhamEagle.com or make contact on Facebook.