Windham senior Pelletier third in Pentathlon at Adidas Track Nationals

By Matt Pascarella

Windham senior Tayla Pelletier is a champion and has set nine indoor track and field school records, competed in four Pentathlons since her sophomore year and navigated five championship meets in a row to finish third nationally in the Adidas Track Nationals at Virginia Beach, Virginia on Sunday, March 23.

Windham High indoor track and field coach Jeff Riddle,
left, and WHS senior Tayla Pelletier discuss her strategy
in the Pentathlon at the Adidas Track national at the 
Virginia Beach Sports Complex in Virginia on
March 23. Pelletier finished third nationally in the
Pentathlon at the event.
PHOTO BY SELENA PELLETIER    

She exceeded her goal and scored 3,241 points in the pentathlon; an event which consists of hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and an 800-meter run. Pelletier is the first Windham High School athlete to qualify for a Nationals Pentathlon competition.

“I was definitely nervous,” said Pelletier, about competing in the Adidas Track Nationals. “I wanted to keep a positive mindset because if you think positive, you can do good and you got to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, you’re not going to do good. I wanted to do the best I could do on the given day; I knew I could reach 3,000 points, which was my goal.”

Pelletier’s Pentathlon score from the 2025 New Year’s Invitational at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham on Saturday, Jan. 4 earned her entry to compete in the Pentathlon at the 2025 Adidas Track Nationals.

This season was the first year that Pelletier competed in a national Pentathlon. She likes the Pentathlon because it gives her the opportunity to showcase multiple events while they are all scored together. Pelletier likes to meet new people, and she represented her community while competing against new friends and teammates.

Leading up to the Adidas Track Nationals, she competed in the Southern Maine Activities Association Championships, the Maine State Indoor Track and Field Championships, the New England Indoor Track and Field Championships, and the New Balance Nationals Indoor Championship – all of which she had qualified for throughout the season. Each of these championships were a steppingstone toward the Pentathlon finale, with the competition getting tougher at every level.

“Tayla’s accomplishments and her medals truly represents what no one ever sees behind the scenes,” said Windham High indoor track and field coach Jeff Riddle. “That’s where the magic happens. The symbol of the medal, the place in the podium and the state championships is a validation of all of her hard work put in, her work on her mindset to build that capacity. It was an honor to watch her perform it.”

Training started early in the season and from that point on, the events Tayla entered during the regular season were determined by how she could best contribute to the team, while giving her experience in the five pentathlon events as she prepared for the Adidas Track Nationals.

The week leading up to Nationals, Pelletier had already competed at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Championship in Boston. She was being more subjective to working on high jump, long jump and shot put – she would plan her practices around that. She incorporated 800 workouts to get some speed training in. Pelletier and Coach Riddle would find ways to practice inside Windham High School. She was also able to practice at the University of Southern Maine’s track and field gymnasium in Gorham thanks to the kindness of USM Coach Rob Whitten.

As Pelletier entered the New Balance Nationals Indoor Championships, she set her expectations high and was hard on herself when she did not meet them. She switched up her mindset going into the Adidas Track Nationals and wanted to think positively and not let little things bother her.

Windham High’s indoor track and field team works to create a culture about and for team, always trying to help each other out. For an athlete who has accomplished so much, Pelletier is not boastful and doesn’t expect to win going into a new season. She doesn’t let her previous victories cloud her future progression.

During practices, you’ll see Pelletier working with someone and showing them the first phase of triple jump or the transition, her giveback is there; she’s aware it’s not all about her.

Riddle said attending these championships are among the coolest things that he’s experienced as a collaborator with a multi-faceted, elite-level athlete. He says it was fun, challenging and exciting as a coach for him to be involved. Riddle said he’s never seen someone build and have so much capacity to compete in his 25 years of coaching at Windham High School as Pelletier.

“Getting a medal from Nationals is always a big accomplishment,” said Pelletier. “You got to be consistent; you got to keep working hard and set your mind to the things you want to do. You’ve got to put the work in. If you don't put the work in, you’re not really going to get there. The positive mindset really helps. It’s a reward when you get the accomplishments or the rewards that you’ve been working so hard to get.” <

State unveils upcoming MDOT local projects under Three Year Plan

By Ed Pierce

Some ambitious roadwork and construction projects are nearing for residents of Windham and Raymond.

Varney's Bridge on William Knight Road over
the Pleasant River in Windham will be replaced
by the Maine Department of Transportation this
summer at a cost of $2 million as part of MDOT's
Three Year Plan. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

Earlier this week, State Senator Tim Nangle of Windham, unveiled details of Maine’s three-year transportation infrastructure work plan, and what it means for Senate District 26, including here in the Lakes Region.

MDOT’s Three-Year Plan is released annually with an outline of the Maine Department of Transportation’s strategy for road, bridge and other transportation upgrades and maintenance projects.

According to the Maine DOT, this year’s three-year work plan makes a historic $4.8 billion investment in construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure across the state. It includes 2,716 individual work items for the calendar years 2025, 2026 and 2027.

In 2025 and 2026, the Maine DOT will undertake numerous projects to improve transportation in Senate District 26, including significant investments in paving, safety improvements and planning for expanded transit and pedestrian access across Windham and neighboring communities.

Additionally, there will be improvements to the Frye Island Ferry Service in Raymond.

“As Chair of the Transportation Committee, I’m proud to see meaningful investments coming to the communities I represent,” Nangle said. “Whether it’s paving roads in Windham or improving transit planning in Westbrook, this work plan helps strengthen the connections our families, businesses and towns rely on every day.”

The following are planned capital and maintenance work by MDOT for communities in Senate District 26 in 2025:

Bridge and Structural Maintenance

** Varney’s Bridge: Located on William Knight Road over the Pleasant River. Bridge Replacement.

** Windham [and Gorham]: Great Falls #1 (Long) Bridge (#6210) over the Presumpscot River, located 0.04 of a mile east of the Gorham town line, and Great Falls #2 Bridge (#1529) over the Presumpscot River, located on the Gorham-Windham town line.

** Windham: Pleasant River Bridge (#2676) over the Pleasant River, located 0.16 of a mile north of Hall Road.

Ferry

** Raymond and Frye Island: Capital improvements to the Frye Island Ferry Service between Raymond and Frye Island.

Highway Construction/Rehabilitation

** Windham: Beginning 0.45 of a mile west of Outpost Drive, and extending west 0.14 of a mile, including the roundabout intersection with Route 202.

Highway Paving

** Windham: Beginning at Depot Street and extending north 0.74 of a mile.

Highway Safety and Spot Improvements

** Windham: Beginning 0.01 of a mile south of Swett Road and extending north 0.57 of a mile.

Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner Bruce A. Van Note said that development of a plan of this scope is a complicated endeavor.

“Over the course of months, skilled public servants with hundreds of years of combined experience analyze asset management needs, the availability and use limitations of various funding sources, policy priorities, stakeholder input, project delivery capacity, supplemental funding needs for existing projects, and finally the addition of new work and projects,” he said. “I am humbled to work with the talented and dedicated people who embrace one of the toughest jobs you’ll ever love.”

Of all these tasks, estimating available funding may be the most humbling, Van Note said.

“Until recently, MaineDOT was largely forced into ‘MacGyver mode,’ using flagging dedicated revenues from fuel taxes and vehicle fees and general obligation bonding to do the best we could with what we had, which resulted in us competently managing the slow decline of the transportation system,” he said. “This challenge was exacerbated by historic construction cost increases over the last six years, as evidenced by the 70-percent increase in the national construction price index. This inflation resulted in the need for significantly more funding just to do an inadequate level of work. Thankfully, bipartisan policy action at both the federal and state levels in recent years has allowed MaineDOT to pivot from making do to making progress.”

View the entire 2025-2026-2027 Three-Year MDOT Work Plan at www.mainedot.gov. <

WMS Altitude Program teaches students how to make maple syrup

By Masha Yurkevich

While some classrooms use textbooks to teach a lesson, Altitude, an alternative pathway program at Windham Middle School (WMS), used maple syrup collecting to teach its students.

Windham Middle School Altitude students gather during a 
lesson in making maple syrup. Front, from left, are 
Constance Sawyer, Mckenna Grass-Goodwin, Ava 
Atherton, Aliana Richardson, Finn Shinchfield, Logan
Partridge, and Lisa Anderson. Back, from left, are
Autumn Carlsen Cook, Angelina Malan, Elijah Fox,
Caleb Warner, Illijah Veilleux, and Allison Muir.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Altitude is not your typical classroom setting; it is an alternative pathway program at WMS that focuses on service, experiential learning, and community building, aiming to create more hands-on learning opportunities for students who may find the traditional school setting challenging.

As maple syrup season was drawing closer, Altitude teachers Lisa Anderson, Autumn Carlsen Cook and Allison Muir decided to use this opportunity to teach their seventh grade Altitude students a variety of lessons, some of which include science, math, history, and the natural world.

Prior to going outside, students learned about the sugaring process and had guest speaker Scott Dunn from Dunn Family Farm speak to them about the task of collecting and boiling maple syrup. They learned about how to identify healthy maple trees, understanding the timing of sap flow, proper tapping techniques, and basic sap handling and boiling procedures to ensure a good quality syrup.

Then, the students walked around campus, marking off and tapping fifteen maple trees and plotting their locations on a map.

Mathematics was incorporated as the students collected data from the amount of sap they got from each tree and learned about how many taps a tree can have depending on its diameter and size. They had about 22 taps in total.

While outside, Altitude set up a “kitchen,” which consisted of four propane heaters to boil the sap for it to become maple syrup.

A group of students collected buckets of sap from their designated trees, pouring the sap into a 50-gallon barrel, which was then poured into pots and put on the heaters, carefully being monitored by the watchful eyes of another group of students.

Each pot was set at a different temperature, and the students observed the changes that were happening in each pot as the sap began to change color and get closer to the finished product, carefully taking the temperature until it reached 219°F, which is the finishing temperature of maple syrup.

“We wanted to give the students an authentic avenue for them to learn about social studies and culture, how did indigenous people first think to tap trees, as well as some Maine geography,” says Allison Muir, an Altitude teacher. “We compared ancient practices to present day modern practices, and also learned about the ecology of a tree, why does it produce sap, and why do we tap it at this time of year.”

Originally, Altitude wanted to incorporate more classroom curriculum, but once they got started, they quickly found out that they would be spending more time outside working on the sap. Teachers had to improvise, often taking the sap home to finish boiling excess water in order to speed up the process for students to then get to a finished product.

The students were able to be hands-on and used tools to tap the trees and hooked up the hosing to the tree, using teamwork to collect sap.

To see if the syrup was ready, the students either used a hydrometer to test the density of the sugar in the sap or used a thermometer, waiting until the liquid reached a temperature of 219°F.

“Once the temperature gets to 218°F, things happen really fast,” says student Aliana Richardson.

As a temperature reached 219°F, the students took the pot off the heat and filtered the syrup, and they agreed that this was a fun learning experience, and that they discovered many new things.

“Stay focused and pay attention,” said one student, Elijah Fox, to sum up the entire experience.

All the students agreed that attentiveness, hard work and teamwork was essential to making the best quality syrup. While in class the students learned that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup, and while outside they learned that it depends on the type of maple tree from which the sap is taken.

The students also got to make pancakes, learning different measuring skills and cooking techniques, and then enjoyed their hard work of maple-syrup collecting with some fresh pancakes.

Altitude teachers hope to continue this learning experience next year. <

Chamber preparing for ‘Polar Plunge for a Purpose’ in April

By Ed Pierce

It’s a new event at new location, but the bottom line is that it’s same goal to raise money for “Feed the Need” in helping food pantries across the Lakes Region of Maine.

The 2025 'Polar Plunge for a Purpose,' sponsored by the
Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, will be
held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19 at Saint
Joseph's College with proceeds to benefit 'Feed the Need'
which helps 11 food pantries in the Lakes Region.
COURTESY PHOTO 

After postponing the annual Polar Dip at Raymond Beach in February, the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce has announced it will host the Sebago Lakes Region Annual Polar Plunge next month at Saint Joseph’s College and is actively seeking plungers willing to brave the chilly springtime waters of Sebago Lake for a good cause. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Saint Joseph’s College on Saturday, April 19

According to Amber Rankine, the chamber’s President and Executive Director, the new location will hopefully induce more participation from students at the school and the community.

“Dive into the icy waters for a great cause and help support our charitable trust, Feed the Need,” Rankine said. “This exhilarating event promises fun for the whole family and an opportunity to make a difference in our community. We are hoping for more participation due to the warmer weather of mid-April as well as not having to jump through an ice hole but rather running in and out from shore.”

She said that the event will be held in memory of the late George Bartlett, who was a Sebago Lake Rotary Club and Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce member for more than 30 years and worked with the Maine Children’s Cancer Network to start the Polar Dip event as part of the annual Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby.

When interest in the Polar Dip waned after many years, Bartlett approached the chamber in 2021 wanting to restart the Polar Dip event as a fundraiser for “Feed the Need.”

Bartlett passed away unexpectantly in 2023, but the revived Polar Dip and now the Polar Plunge assists 11 different food pantries throughout the year.

The receiving food pantries are Casco Village Church Food Pantry, Casco Alliance Church Food Pantry, Gray Community Food Pantry, Crosswalk Community Outreach, Naples Community Resource Council, First Congregational Church in New Gloucester, Raymond Food Pantry, Sebago Warming Hut, Standish Food Pantry, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church Food Pantry and Town of Windham Food Pantry.

In the spring of 2016, the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Charitable Trust was established to raise awareness of the food insecurity in the region and to donate funds to the local food pantries who support this growing need. The initiative is called “Feed the Need” and the trust raises funds throughout the year via grants, generous donations, and events such as the “Polar Plunge for a Purpose.”

“Brave the cold and take the plunge in your favorite costume,” Rankine said. “Sign up as an individual or gather your friends to create a team. Costumes are encouraged to add to the fun.”

Along with the plungers, the public can attend the event to cheer on their favorite teams and enjoy great food from local food trucks on hand for the occasion. There will also be creative face painting for all ages and music and entertainment for the entire family.

For those who choose to plunge into Sebago Lake that day, portable saunas will be available from Too Haute Saunas for participants to warm up after their excursion into the lake.

Participants can sign up as an individual or form a plunging team and early registration is recommended.

Rankine said that prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed plungers and that Emergency Medical Services crews will attend for participant safety.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to have some fun, meet new people, and support a worthy cause,” she said. “Whether you’re taking the plunge or cheering from the sidelines, your participation makes a difference.”

To learn more details about the “Polar Plunge for a Purpose” or to register, call the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce at 207-892-8265 or visit https://www.sebagolakeschamber.com/

Donations may also be given directly for “Feed the Need” on the chamber’s website. <

Twin girls showcase talent during American Miss National Pageant

By Ed Pierce

No matter what happens in their lives, the bond between twin girls from Raymond remains unbreakable.

Twin sisters Alexa 'Lexi' Largay, left,
and Alison 'Ali' Largay of Raymond
each competed in the American Miss
National Pageant in South Portland
in December and are already preparing
to compete in that same pageant again
this summer. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Alison and Alexa Largay, known as Ali and Lexi, are 10 years old twin sisters and turn 11 on March 26. They both competed in the American Miss National Pageant in South Portland in December and are preparing to compete again in that same pageant this August.

Lexi competed in the pageant as Miss Western Maine Preteen, while her twin sister, Ali, who is 2 minutes older than Lexi, was American Miss Royalty Preteen. They are the daughters of Julie and Mike Largay of Raymond.

They are both homeschooled and in the fifth grade. Ali’s favorite school subject is Art and Lexi’s is Math.

According to their mother, Julie Largay, entering the pageant was something of interest to the twins.

“Both girls do a lot of theater and were looking for a change,” she said. “Ali heard about other girls doing pageants and decided she wanted to try. After Ali signed up, Lexi decided she wanted to do it too.”

The girls started preparing for their first pageant about 6 months before the competition.

They worked on poise, modeling, walking, public speaking and interviewing skills and were coached by Morgan Wing, who was USOA Teen Maine 2023 and who will be competing in the Miss Maine Woman of Service Pageant in April.

Both Ali and Lexi showcased their abilities in the talent portion of the American Miss National Pageant and Ali also competed in the spokesmodel competition where she had to give a speech about a woman who motivated her.

Ali won both the talent competition of the pageant and the spokesmodel competition. Lexi won the pageant’s Spirit Award, which is the pageant’s most prestigious award and reflects the true meaning of competition, personal growth and character development.

Overall, Lexi received third runner-up in the pageant, while Ali won first runner-up and the title of American Miss Royalty Preteen.

After competing in their first pageant, the girls say they learned a few new things about themselves by participating.

“I learned that no matter what the competition is, you always have fun and even if you don’t win, you always make good friends,” Ali said.

Lexi agreed and said this experience gives her confidence for the future.

“I learned how strong and confident I can be,” she said.

Both Ali and Lexi are active in music and professional and community theater. They are members of the Portland Symphony Orchestra Children’s Chorus and represented by New England Models Group.

Lexi has filmed several television commercials playing now and one commercial with a large pharmacy coming out soon. Ali has done modeling for several companies.

The twins each appeared in the opera “La Boheme” at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, where Lexi sang the children’s solo. They are about to begin their second season with the Maine State Music Theater.

“This year at Maine State Music Theater they can be seen in the main stage production of “Anastasia” in June and in the children’s production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” in August,” their mother said. “They will also be performing in the Carmina Burana at Merrill Auditorium in April.”

They are voice students of Shaunna Siver of Connecticut and have worked with her for almost four years.

During the December pageant, both girls wanted to help the babies in the NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland and made it their platform in the competition.

Lexi’s platform is to donate toys and money for the kids at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital. Ali’s platform is to donate books to babies in the NICU.

“Both girls were NICU babies, and it was important for them to be able to give back to the Barbara Bush Hospital and the NICU,” Julie Largay said.

Ali’s goal is to have enough books for each baby to have one book and asks that anyone interested in helping to purchase the book “I Love You Like No Otter and Toddlers” and mail to her for donation at Ali Largay, PO Box 401, Raymond, Maine 04071.

Lexi’s donation link is https://p2p.onecause.com/bbch-diy/alexa-largay?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1gPxahqh8-Phtw_qOC50-hJpv0QgTgqmoEcguS09y1JmYBq4hsDkNGvA0_aem_UaOMIIff4UKtNOb6LC8HCw

“Competing in a pageant was very fun and super stressful until we finally got started for the weekend,” Ali said. “I made a lot of new friends and will be competing in the next AMP pageant in August and hoping to win the national preteen title.”

Lexi says the pageant was fun and was a huge confidence booster.

“I made a lot of friends there,” she said. “I also will be competing in the AMP pageant in August and hoping to beat my sister.” <

Windham examines sustainable growth while not losing rural feel

By Ed Pierce

For the past decade, a significant question facing Windham residents is how does the town grow at an orderly pace and yet not lose its connection with the past and a more rural way of life that prompted people to move here?

Windham Town Council members says areas of concern
when considering the impacts of growth upon the town 
for the future are how if affects infrastructure, school
enrollment, and an increasing amount of traffic on
Route 302. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

Last fall, a Community Survey was conducted by the town for residents and when asked what were perceived to be Windham's challenges in the next five years, the responses were in order; Pace of Community Growth and Expansion 73 percent; Town Services and Taxes 71 percent; and Affordable Housing 50 percent. Reviewing these results leads to a perception among town residents of too much growth too fast, and a significant desire to grow at a sustainable rate.

In January, members of the Windham Town Council conducted a workshop to discuss town growth. Councilors said this is a multifaceted topic and they reviewed results from the 2024 Community Survey, Maine state law, a downtown traffic evaluation, housing data, and other pertinent information as well as others.

Over a five-year span from 2019 to 2024, there were two condominium projects completed in Windham totaling 49 units. From 2018 to 2024, there were six duplexes constructed in Windham totaling 142 units. Between 2021 to 2023, there were three multi-unit complexes opened in Windham featuring 85 units.

Councilors say that areas of concern when discussing growth are its impacts upon infrastructure, school enrollment and increasing traffic in town.

In a press release issued by the Town Manager Barry Tibbetts, he said that Windham is moving forward with critical infrastructure projects and planned developments designed to support economic growth while maintaining responsible community planning.

Tibbetts said that during a recent Windham Town Council meeting, officials outlined key initiatives to address sustainable growth, including the North Windham sewer implementation, developer agreements, traffic impact assessments, school capacity evaluations, and the financial benefits of controlled growth.

Windham is currently only one of six communities in Southern Maine that has adopted an ordinance addressing growth while there are 22 other communities in the region that do not have any limitations or restrictions regarding growth.

Windham Town Attorney Mark Bower of Jensen Baird has reviewed with councilors the town’s existing growth ordinance and explained how state regulations affect municipal growth, saying that municipal growth ordinances must be consistent with a town’s Comprehensive Plan.

He said state rules mandate that Windham’s growth ordinance can be recalculated every three years to review growth rate details and based upon that information, the town’s growth ordinance can be updated or amended accordingly.

Last summer, the Windham Economic Development Corporation held a meeting in which it defined and outlined its objectives in a plan for sustainable growth in the town. Those steps included developing Windham’s niche in the region’s manufacturing clusters, pursuing opportunities in amusement and recreation, attracting more professional and business services to North Windham, and updating and maintaining Windham’s support system for economic development.

Windham’s controlled approach to growth is expected to generate significant financial benefits as cited in the press release in a few key areas such as new taxable valuation from development, and impact fees, permit fees and additional excise taxes all contributing to offsetting municipal costs and growth.

Tibbetts estimated those initiatives would generate $2.4 million toward sewer improvements, $585,000 for Windham Parks and Recreation, $680,000 for open space conservation, $978,000 for public safety initiatives, including a potential new fire station, and $750,000 in yearly excise tax revenue.

He said that without these planned developments for the sewer district, it’s estimated that Windham would face higher residential tax burdens for the sewer implementation. Growth within that TIF district allows 100 percent of the new development tax revenue to be reinvested into infrastructure, avoiding residential tax increases.

There are no credit enhancements or special pay provisions given to any of the developers, Tibbetts said.

According to Tibbetts, the sewer project in North Windham is proceeding as planned and is an infrastructure investment for sustainable growth and a major step toward improving public health and sustainable economic development.

As approved by town voters in 2022, the project was intended to attract commercial, residential, and retail development while protecting the environment. He said a critical component of this plan ensures that funding for the $40 million sewer bond will come from the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, avoiding any financial burden on residential taxpayers.

The Windham Town Council also has reviewed two key development agreements with NextGen and Gateway. Tibbetts says together, these projects will add 446 residential units in Windham’s designated growth areas, helping meet the demand for local housing while ensuring infrastructure and municipal services can support expansion.

The majority of the new housing from NexGen and Gateway is one- and two-bedroom units and Tibbetts says that the agreements provide a framework for planned development and ensuring timely project completion while protecting the town’s rural character.

Back in February 2021, Windham town councilors unanimously adopted a new Windham Open Space Master Plan to serve as a guide for the town in identifying high priority properties to protect or acquire, providing land stewardship guidance for existing open space lands, identifying opportunities to expand connectivity between open space assets, neighborhoods, and trails and to outline programs, ordinances, and partners that could be instrumental in securing the future of the identified high priority properties.

In adopting the Open Space Master Plan, town councilors agreed that rural character is crucial to Windham’s identity as a community, and it takes a proactive stance regarding preserving community character and ensuring that Windham’s most cherished open spaces will remain available going forward despite strong residential growth pressures.

Tibbetts says that a comprehensive traffic study projects that development-related increases in vehicle trips will remain within manageable levels, with long-term improvements sustaining road capacity through at least 2042.

Additionally, school enrollment trends show a net decrease of 225 students over the past decade, and the RSU 14 school district has capacity for additional students. The planned residential developments in the growth areas are expected to generate only minor increases in student enrollment, well within the available school capacity, Tibbetts said.

“These projects represent smart, controlled growth that balances the needs of residents, businesses, and the environment,” Tibbetts said. “By focusing on our designated growth areas and using TIF funds strategically, we’re ensuring that Windham remains a vibrant, financially stable, and well-planned community.” <

Fundraising event for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital brings big voices and big hearts

By Melissa Carter

Erik’s Church in Windham hosted another successful fundraising event to support MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (MHBBCH) that spanned two days, Tuesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 5. The shows were presented by Country 99.9 The Wolf and sponsored by the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein and Webster Tree Service.

LOCASH band members, from left, Chris Lucas and Preston 
Brust supported Barbara Bush Children's Hospital fundraising
event by donating their time performing for a two-night show 
at Erik's Church in Windham on March 5 and 6.
PHOTO BY MELISSA CARTER

Country duo LOCASH took the stage both nights with performances that had the packed house entertained to the fullest both with their musical talent and their fun, upbeat sense of humor. They of course played their chart-topping hit “Hometown Home.” Special guest Randall King opened Tuesday, while Kelsey Hart began the night on Wednesday.

This event, now in its fourth year, with a total of seven shows, has not only brought in some of the best acts in country music to Erik’s Church, but has also raised more than $120,000 for MHBBCH. This event alone raised $17,966.

Ken Cianchette, the owner of Erik’s Church, said that tickets ranged from $35 to $250, and 100 percent of proceeds went to the hospital.

“Country 99.9 The Wolf, Erik’s Church, and the artists donate their time, airwaves, room, and personnel which is a combined value of about $70,000 in market price donation,” he said.

LOCASH band members Chris Lucas and Preston Brust said giving back by donating their time to help children is what they are all about.

“Being able to contribute to the kids and support the community really fills our cup up and puts life in perspective,” said Brust. “We have families of our own and have been fortunate to have good health, but we know not everyone is that lucky. And anything we can do to help these families is our way of paying back for all that we have been blessed with.”

Lucas agreed.

“Family for us is our number one priority above all,” said Lucas. “They are our biggest supporters and source of inspiration. It’s only natural for us to want to support other families where and whenever we can.”

Kate Richardson, MHBBCH Senior Philanthropy Manager, said the children’s hospital benefits from roughly 36 annual events and programs, not including the many, many community events that are organized on our behalf each year from lemonade stands to swim-a-thons.

“Our goal is to raise $2.3 million dollars to support the highest priorities,” she said.

In an average year, MHBBCH sees more than 100,000 patient visits from across Maine and the region. On the Wednesday night of the show at Erik’s Church, the hospital was almost at max capacity and this is not unusual.

Faye Weir, MHBBCH Vice President of Patient Care Services said the hospital has 51 beds total for its NICU/CCN floor with 31 for intensive care infants and 20 for intermediate care.

“All rooms can be used for the most intensive needs,” Weir said. “That night, we did have a total of 47 infants and this can vary. To ensure we can accept transfers in from across the state, if we have more infants than beds, we use several steps, so we do not have to go on diversion. We'll use beds on CFT1 for overflow, move babies to BBI inpatient for additional space, and other steps.

Weir said they are often at 90 percent or greater capacity. The PICU has a total of eight beds, and it is becoming more typical to be at seven children due to the expanding pediatric cardiology surgical program.

“It helps to keep kids local and not to go to Boston for care,” she said. “We are so proud of the work done and the fundraising because it helps us meet the expanding needs of the babies and pediatric patients in Maine."

According to Richardson each year, unrestricted funds that are raised are allocated to the areas of greatest need within the children's hospital.

“These determinations are made on an annual basis by our Chair of Pediatrics and additional hospital leadership. We cannot stress enough the value of community support in allowing our care team to respond to the greatest needs as they arise,” she said. “Often these funds are used to support the purchase of new state-of-the-art equipment, to pilot new programs or expand existing ones, to fund education for our care team members and the families of our young patients and to allow our children's hospital to remain on the cutting edge of pediatric medicine through participation in national research initiatives.”

Frank Harris, the MHBBCH Nursing Manager of the BBCH Pediatric Inpatient unit and a Windham resident says the being the only children’s hospital in the state, there is an ultimate goal of being able to expand to a bigger, free-standing hospital someday.

“Portland, Windham, and the surrounding areas are growing so fast,” Harris said. “We’re seeing record numbers of babies being born every year, and as those kiddos grow, we know our children’s units are going to need to grow too. We already have to get pretty creative during our busiest times, and while the hospital is awesome about helping us find extra space on adult units, let’s be honest, those just aren’t the best places for kids. There’s a big difference between what adults need and what works for kids and families.”

Richardson and Harris both agree that while the hospital is small, they are mighty and that is thanks to an amazing staff and the fact that the local communities always show up in support of the kids.

“In my travels, there is rarely a week that goes by that I don’t meet someone who has a personal connection the MHBBCH, whether it’s a neighbor, classmate, family member, or colleague and everyone knows someone who has been cared for here,” Richardson said. “It’s an organization that means so much to so many people across our state.”

Harris said seeing the way our community rallies around us through events like this one, means the world to hospital staff.

“That support helps us keep doing what we do best – take care of Maine kids,” said Harris.

He says he is so proud of the hospital team.

“They show up every day ready to make a difference. We focus just as much on supporting families as we do the patients, whether that's through education, emotional support, or just being there during really tough moments,” Harris said. “There’s nothing better than watching a child get to go home feeling better or knowing we made a difficult time a little easier for a family.”

MHBBCH is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, and during that time has helped thousands of children and families.

“Events like concerts at Erik’s Church bring the community together to transform the care that we’re able to provide for families here in Maine and there is no better example of ‘community’ than a room full of people and business owners who have shown up to enjoy a great time, but most importantly, to lend their support to our cause,” said Richardson.

Cianchette said that as soon as this year’s event was over, they began to look for an artist or band for next year’s MHBBCH event and will usually announce who that artist will be at the start of winter.

Erik’s Church hosts fundraisers throughout the year for many other nonprofit organizations, with their next event scheduled for Thursday, May 22 with the Don Campbell Band appearing to support Veterans Forward.

Organizers of the fundraising event say they are thankful for the contributions, large and small, made to support MHBBCH. In the words of Brust and Lucas, “You should be proud to make this hometown home.”

There are many ways you can support MHBBCH, from volunteering your time and making a toy or monetary donation, to creating your own fundraiser or even purchasing a MHBBCH license plate.

To learn more about the hospital, discover resources or to find out more about the ways in which your dollars contribute to the hospital’s programs, services, and equipment and get involved please visit www.mainehealth.org/barbara-bush-childrens-hospital. You may also mail a check to 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102. <

Raymond to establish selection process for new town manager

By Ed Pierce

A selection process will be set up by the Raymond Select Board in the coming weeks to identify candidates and interviews for the town manager position.

Raymond Town Manager Sue Look, who has been serving in that role since January 2024 has resigned, citing more than an hour’s commute from her home in Richmond.

Raymond Town Manager Sue Look, left, has resigned and 
will be leaving her position on March 21. The Raymond
Select Board has appointed Raymond Parks and Recreation
Director Joe Crocker, right, as Interim Town Manager
until a new permanent Town Manager can be chosen.
FILE PHOTOS

Look had been working as the Raymond Town Clerk when she was appointed by the Raymond Select Board to replace Don Willard as interim town manager in July 2023. Willard officially retired in January 2024 after being out on Paid Medical Leave and Look took over as permanent town manager at that time.

She had worked as Raymond Town Clerk for more than a decade prior to her serving in the town manager’s position. Look was born in Lewiston and has worked for the Town of Raymond since July 2014. She formerly served as the Town Clerk for the Town of West Bath and she was originally hired by Willard to replace longtime town clerk Louise Lester who was retiring at the time.

The Town Manager is a fulltime position appointed by the Raymond Select Board and is responsible for administering the policies as established by the Select Board and the Town Charter. The Town Manager serves as the chief administrative officer and head of the administrative branch of the town’s government.

The position’s duties include executive direction and supervision of the administrative services of the town and overseeing the finances of the town. The town manager also is responsible for implementing all town policies and providing all Town of Raymond staff with clear and efficient operating procedures necessary to conduct their assigned tasks.

Other duties of the town manager are to attend and participate in all meetings of the Raymond Select Board, work with the Raymond Budget and Finance Committee in developing an annual town budget, and work with the Select Board to meet the process requirements in time for the annual Town Meeting and tax bill preparation.

The Raymond Town Manager creates and submits to the Select Board an Annual Town report to distribute at the Annual Town Meeting in June, develops and updates annually a five-year Capital Improvement Plan for presentation to the Select Board, and stays up to date with changes in Maine state regulations that could affect town ordinances, policies, and budget. The town manager is responsible for submission of applications for state, federal and other grants for the benefit of the municipality, as approved by the Select Board.

To fill in until a new permanent town manager can be hired, the Raymond Select Board has appointed Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Joe Crocker as Raymond’s interim town manager.

Crocker, 37, joined the Town of Raymond as Parks and Recreation in February 2020 and essentially built the town’s recreation program from the ground up.

He attended Saint Joseph’s College, where he earned a degree in Exercise Science and then continued his studies at New England College in New Hampshire, earning an MBA in Sports and Recreation Management.

Among his many duties as Parks and Recreation Director, Crocker has managed improvements that the Town of Raymond has made to Tassel Top Park and facilities there and providing recreational activities and overseeing a department budget to meet resident needs.

Crocker said he will be a candidate for the permanent town manager position.

“I plan to apply, and if selected, I would be honored to serve the town in this new capacity,” he said. “If the Select Board decides to hire externally, I will gladly continue serving the community as the Parks and Recreation Director.”

Look’s final day with the Town of Raymond will be March 21. <

Newspaper surpasses 12-year anniversary in community

Whoever said newspapers are dead probably hasn’t looked at a recent edition of The Windham Eagle newspaper.

The newspaper was created by Kelly and Niels Mank and celebrated its 12th anniversary on March 1. With an emphasis on delivering positive and solutions-based news for the communities of Windham and Raymond, the Manks continue to believe their work is essential and remains of benefit to residents.

The first edition of The Windham Eagle newspaper was
published March 1, 2013 and 12 years later the newspaper
is still relevant in the Windham and Raymond communities
and helping local businesses to succeed.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

Its popularity remains strong, as evidenced by the Windham Community Survey last fall which resulted in The Windham Eagle being the top source for community news for town residents with 62.39 percent of survey respondents citing the newspaper as the place they go for news, beating the Town of Windham’s website, Facebook, email and text notifications, Windham Town Hall, television, radio and Instagram.

Based in Windham at 585 Roosevelt Trail, the newspaper publishes 51 weekly editions every year along with a popular Summer Guide for the Sebago Lakes Region and serves as the host for the annual Eagle Choice Awards recognizing top local businesses every summer.

“When we launched the first edition of The Windham Eagle on March 1, 2013, we felt there was a need for a community publication here to tell positive stories about our local residents,” Kelly Mank said. “There are so many negative things about this community that are publicized elsewhere but we feel that having a newspaper that emphasizes positive achievements and solutions-based news is a must for this community and has led to its ongoing success.”

As other weekly community newspapers dwindle in size and experience trouble selling advertisements, The Windham Eagle’s support from advertisers and local businesses is encouraging. In 2024, The Windham Eagle produced 116 more pages than it did in 2023 and advertising sales also set records.

“Unlike most other publications, we are very a small staff. We do not have a large team of employees, but we manage to put out more pages on a weekly basis than any other single newspaper in the state of Maine, and I am proud of our work,” said Melissa Carter, Advertising Director and Designer for The Windham Eagle. “Readers may not realize that 100 percent of the newspaper’s revenue comes from supporting advertisers, which is why we ask all our readers to support the local businesses they see in the newspaper. I appreciate the relationships I have built over the years. My advertisers trust me, and that's a huge honor. ”

She said she is passionate about working with local businesses, new and old, to help them market and brand themselves so they can grow and succeed. As both the advertising director for the newspaper and its designer, Carter says that she can deliver a level of service and expertise not found with other publications.

“Being able to get creative and come up with ideas to contribute to their overall success is challenging and rewarding,” she said. “I am not your average ‘salesperson.’ I went to school for graphic design and that is where much of my passion lies.”

Carter said that The Windham Eagle is the only publication in the area that is direct mailed to every home and business in Windham and Raymond, making it an invaluable resource to the community.

"I have been working in the newspaper business for over 20 years and I believe in what I do because I have seen first-hand the results that consistent branding does for local businesses and for event advertising," Carter said.

Lisa DiBiase, a broker and the owner of Landing Real Estate in Windham, said having an outlet like The Windham Eagle has been invaluable for her company.

“This platform has served as a powerful channel through which we can reach our target audience and effectively communicate our brand message,” DiBiase said. “The Windham Eagle provides us with a local presence, allowing us to connect directly with members of our community. This localized approach is crucial for a real estate agency like ours, as building trust and rapport within the community is essential for attracting clients and closing deals.”

She said The Windham Eagle enhances Landing Real Estate’s credibility and visibility among potential clients.

“When individuals see our name and listings regularly in a reputable local publication, it reinforces the perception that we are a reliable and reputable real estate agency worthy of their consideration,” DiBiase said. “The Windham Eagle serves as a positive and reliable source of information for community events, news, and developments. By being present in such a publication, we not only promote our business but also demonstrate our commitment to staying informed and engaged with the local community. The Windham Eagle has provided us with a platform to effectively promote our business, showcase our listings and agents, and engage with the community. It has been instrumental in driving awareness, generating leads, and ultimately contributing to the success and growth of Landing Real Estate.”

Linda Manchester, the owner of The Good Life Market and Swift River Coffee Roasters in Raymond, says the newspaper has been a huge supporter of her businesses since they first opened, publishing feature stories about them to let the community know what and who we were, and consistently coming up with creative and beautiful content for their advertising.

“The personal connection we’ve had with the staff at the paper has been amazing, it feels like they are truly in our corner, wanting to see us succeed,” Manchester said. “It’s meaningful that The Windham Eagle gives back to the community by doing fundraising ads, and highlighting the achievements of local people, organizations, and businesses. The fact that the paper shows up in every mailbox gives readers an effortless connection to each other, to the community, and to a simpler time, and reminds us that we’re all still here for each other. I love working with your paper, because I know and love this region, and I truly believe The Windham Eagle does, too.”

Chris McDonald, the owner of Windham Powersports, says he’s a believer in what The Windham Eagle newspaper does for his business.

“You can have the best product in the world and if no one knows about it, it won’t sell,” McDonald said. “The Windham Eagle has helped me get my brand out to their huge local audience. Customer service is key in business and Melissa at The Windham Eagle has provided top-notch service for me and my business. She has offered unique and creative advertising on a weekly basis for nearly a decade. Melissa and The Windham Eagle are like having an ace up your sleeve, helping you win with sales and customer relationships. Thank you to Melissa, and The Windham Eagle, for all you’ve done for Windham Powersports over the years.”

Managing Editor Ed Pierce became the third editor to lead The Windham Eagle when he joined the staff in May 2020, following Michelle Libby and Lorraine Glowczak in that role.

Pierce will surpass the 50-year milestone in his career in journalism in May and says working for The Windham Eagle is reminiscent of his early days as a reporter for a community newspaper in New Mexico.

“I’ve worked for large daily newspapers and some smaller weekly papers, and I truly enjoy telling stories that might not be published anywhere else,” he said. “Being a veteran myself, I especially like writing about our local veterans and other human-interest articles.”

He said that because the newspaper’s policy is not to cover crime or politics as those issues are covered by other media entities, it allows the newspaper space to tell other stories that wouldn’t otherwise be published.

“The other aspect of the newspaper I love is when we sponsor advertising initiatives specifically intended to raise funds for local nonprofits and various charitable activities,” Pierce said. “That happens a lot and it truly benefits local nonprofit organizations who are in need of a little help.”

The newspaper’s annual Eagle Choice Awards, where readers cast votes for their favorite and most trusted businesses in the region, remains as popular now as when it started in 2015. Last summer’s Eagle Choice Awards celebration held at Erik’s Church in Windham drew its largest crowd ever and votes cast online set an all-time record.

Kelly Mank said she’s pleased that residents like the newspaper and accept its positive and solutions-based focus.

“Many people were skeptical at first that such a newspaper could be sustainable,” she said. “They told us that newspapers across America are dying, and that positive news isn’t real news and couldn’t work. We wanted to create a publication that all ages could find something of interest in, and that would contain positive articles focused on the communities of Windham and Raymond.”

She thanks the communities for supporting The Windham Eagle newspaper through the years.

“The newspaper’s success did not come easy or without debt and sacrifice, however, it has proven to be a positive tool and resource for our towns, schools, families, non-profits, and businesses,”
she said. <

Windham captures second straight state boys’ basketball title

By Matt Pascarella

Windham boys’ basketball faced off against South Portland for the second time this season during the AA state Championship on Saturday, March 1 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland and this time the Eagles prevailed to win a second straight state basketball championship.

Windham High School won a second consecutive Gold Ball
by defeating South Portland, 55-52, and winning the 
2024-2025 Class AA State Boy's Basketball Championship
on Saturday, March 1 at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

South Portland had led most of the game but late in the fourth quarter Windham turned things around and showed a packed house who was hungrier. The Eagles took the lead and at the buzzer had captured another Class AA state title, 55-52.

“It would have meant a lot (to my dad),” said junior AJ Moody. “I know he’s proud and he was on the court helping me taking charge. I would never take charge, and he would practice and get close, and I felt that here today. Energy, adversity, staying composed, and leaning on each other led to the win. We could tell we had the chemistry flowing through us and we knew we were going to win this game.”

Windham senior Conor Janvrin opened the game with a three-pointer. Windham offense rebounded and junior Tyrie James forced a turnover he then took to the hoop.

“I think it honestly says something about the program,” said assistant coach Geoff Grigsby, about winning two consecutive state championships. “We lose seven seniors from last year’s team and three starters. Key guys come off the bench and we’re just as talented, if not maybe a little more talented at least from an offensive standpoint and showed we could be mentally tough as well. Tyrie getting hurt and us losing three games in a row, and having to figure things out, really helped this team ... get motivated. The one team we lose to at full strength we end up playing in the championship game. It was such a mirror image to last year’s run, but it was such a different team and such different dynamics at play. It makes it so much sweeter at the end.”

Creighty Dickson of Windham said he was humbled to win another state championship.

“It feels amazing, obviously, to come out on top as a senior and for all the senior guys – we just work for it all year,” said Dickson, who scored 16 points and surpassed 500 career rebounds. “We were willing to fight throughout the whole game. Adversity hits sometimes and we just kept playing through. We communicated really well, we worked hard on defense, and we did what we needed to do which was stop Manny (Hidalgo). Last year we were the underdogs and this year we were the team getting hunted every game. We’re the best team. I’ll remember all the practices, all the work we put in in the offseason, always coming together and going out to eat together. Our community is just the best community in the state – it gives us energy and something to play for.”

South Portland led 34-31 at the half. But in the second half, Windham wasn’t far off from the heels of South Portland and a foul shot from Dickson tied the game at 47-47.

As the clock ticked away Windham tied the game at 52-52. James then made two crucial free throws to give Windham an edge.

“At the Edward Little game I missed four free throws,” James said. “In practice I started taking them more seriously, working on my breath; I had the coaches help me with that. Last year we started off strong and then Gorham came back, this year I felt like we were behind and kept moving the ball ... we just kept going. The only difference (between last year’s team and this year’s) is people are stepping into different roles. The week leading up we each had to focus, and I feel like we did that. I feel like in the second half, we boxed out more and got more rebounds ... we started to understand where they were getting their points, and we started to stop that from happening.”

For senior Braycen Freese, this season was extra special because last year he primarily played on the WHS junior varsity. This year, he earned a spot with the varsity guys. He stepped up as a leader to help the team win more. He said he’ll remember winning this last game with his best friends.

“I’m just super happy for our kids,” said Windham coach Chad Pulkkinen. There’s so much pressure on these guys and they so badly wanted to win it all for Pat. As a longtime resident of Windham, I’m just really proud of the young men ... we get to coach every day. South Portland ... didn’t want to go away ... we knew they weren’t just going to lay down for us – we wanted it the hard way, the guys enjoy those challenges and was just a testament to what this group is capable of. These guys had to answer the bell every night ... and that’s really hard to do as a teenager and really hard to do when the target is on your back. It was a collective effort, and we take a lot of pride in that.” <

MDOT prepares for Great Falls Bridges Project in Windham

By Ed Pierce

After a meeting in Windham in February about the upcoming Great Falls Bridges work and receiving public comments about the project, the Maine Department of Transportation is preparing to launch wearing surface replacement work for the bridge starting later this spring,

The Maine Department of Transportation will be reducing 
traffic to one lane crossing the Great Falls Bridges connecting
Windham and Gorham for wearing surface replacement 
work later this spring. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

The project was first unveiled on MDOT’s list of road and bridge projects in its annual Three-Year Plan in January 2023.

According to MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce A. Van Note, the state’s Three-Year Plan is the primary way the department delivers on its mission to support economic opportunity and quality of life by responsibly providing residents with the safest and most reliable transportation system possible, given available resources.

Van Note said that the preliminary scope of work for this bridges project consists of replacing the wearing surfaces on the Great Falls Bridges. The east and west bridges span the Presumpscot River between North Gorham and Dundee Ponds.

The replacement of the wearing surfaces will preserve the longevity of the bridges’ existing deck and superstructure, Van Note said.

According to an MDOT study, the average daily traffic crossing the Great Falls Bridges between Windham and Gorham is 1,910 vehicles per day with about 8 percent of that traffic consisting of heavy trucks.

The reason MDOT cites for the project is to improve the condition of the existing structure while preserving the existing deck and superstructure longevity of the bridges. The project intends to minimize impacts to the traveling public and minimize impacts to adjacent properties and utilities during the project and implement a cost-effective solution to fixing the bridge’s wearing problem.

Maintenance of traffic during construction will be achieved either by using a closure and detour or by using staged construction.

The closure and detour alternatives would require all traffic to detour around the site on by using an alternate route.

Van Note said that the staged construction alternative would have one-half of the bridge under construction at a time, while a single lane of alternating one-way traffic would use the other half of the bridge.

“Transportation will always be a big job in Maine. Our state is almost the size of all five other New England states combined, yet our small population, about 1.41 million people, is about the same as that of New Hampshire, making us the least densely populated state east of the Mississippi River,” Van Note said. “Maine’s natural features and weather, while varied and beautiful, present additional challenges from an infrastructure perspective. To connect us all, Maine has an extensive, statewide, multimodal transportation system. That system includes 8,800 miles of state highways, 2,800 bridges and minor spans, six commercial airports, more than 1,300 miles of active railroad, 15 bus transit providers, passenger rail service, a state ferry service, three major seaports, and miles of active transportation corridors. Simply put, Maine has more transportation infrastructure per capita than most other states do.”

The Great Falls Bridges are located on Windham Center Road over the Presumpscot River and connect Windham to North Gorham.

Both bridges were constructed in 1970 and following recent MDOT inspections, they both show signs of cracking and rutting on deck and surfaces.

The bridge site is located near the Great Falls Dam, which was one of the first sources of hydroelectric power in the Lakes region of Maine. Use of hydroelectric power was implemented by early settler Zebulon Trickey, who constructed bridges and mills on both sides of the Presumpscot River in Great Falls.

When a fire swept through the Great Falls area in 1872 and destroyed the mills and a bridge built by Trickey, and settlement of the Great Falls site declined.

Estimated Funding for the Great Falls Bridges Wearing Replacement Project is $500,000. Work is expected to be finished by this summer. <

Second consecutive state title in sight for Windham basketball

By Matt Pascarella

For the second year in a row, the Windham boys’ varsity basketball team is headed to the AA state championship with a record of 17-4 where they will take on South Portland with a record of 16-5. The Windham community couldn’t be prouder and more excited for this game.

Windham High School's boys' basketball team will play
South Portland at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Cross
Insurance Arena in Portland for the 2025 Maine
Class AA championship. WHS won last year's title
game and is seeking a second consecutive Gold Ball. 
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

But this is a different matchup. The South Portland coach is Kevin Millington, who teaches social studies at Windham High School, and also coached varsity boys’ basketball at Windham for 18 years.

South Portland edged Windham 55-54 in just the third game of the season, but Eagles coach Chad Pulkkinen says that he welcomes the opportunity to face a team that got the best of WHS. Windham’s team belief is unwavering.

“True strength within a team is revealed through adversity –

how you face challenges and overcome them together,” said Pulkkinen. “We've certainly had our share of those moments, and our guys have done an incredible job of regrouping, learning, and growing from them ... their resilience, hunger, and commitment to representing Windham as student-athletes set them apart.”

Windham was the team to beat since the start of summer ball. Teams went hard and wanted to beat the champions. Windham had to be ultra prepared; they needed to remain hungry and play like they were the underdogs.

Team members say that they are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of the community. The passion and energy brought to every game – home and away – fuel the players and make a lasting impact. Windham’s team extends their appreciation to high school staff and administrators for providing student-athletes with the opportunity to proudly represent Windham.

For Windham senior Levi Hayman, going after another Gold Ball means a lot. He said the kids are like brothers to him and to witness their determination and chemistry is astonishing. They are great role models for underclassman and youth of the community.

The late Pat Moody has been an inspiration for the team and his presence is felt without anyone saying anything. Moody is looking down, watching this team succeed. It’s tough not having Moody here, but Pulkkinen leads the team that he and Moody love. Moody continues to inspire the team after making Windham basketball what it is; Pulkkinen is lucky enough to lead the team and encourages his players to play with joy.

“As a parent it’s not just about the victory on the court,” said Sherma Moody. “It’s about all the hard work, dedication, coaches support and teamwork that have led to this point. One of Pat’s greatest joys was watching his son play. There’s a sense of pride in knowing how much they’ve overcome to get here, and excitement for what’s to come. It’s a proud moment for our family, and one that we’ll hold close to our hearts, especially knowing how much joy it brought to Pat.”

Longtime Windham announcer and resident Bob Witham said he thinks that it's absolutely fantastic that the boys are going for their second straight Gold Ball.

“The past two years have been unbelievable in Windham High School's gym; always packed with excitement from the crowd,” he said. “It's so much fun to watch this team; you can tell how much they care about each other, Windham High School and the community.”

Windham’s varsity boys’ basketball coaches want their players to be mentors to the younger kids. They want to develop a culture in Windham of basketball done right. They tell their guys, “There are people watching you; there are kids watching you, so act right. Do the right thing, be the right kid on the court and off the court.”’

WHS Students are proud of how this team represents them.

“As a fan and a person apart of this unreal and supportive community, I think it would be thrilling knowing those boys were able to bring home a Gold Ball for a second year in a row,” said Windham senior Stella Jarvais. “The pride this community and the fans already have for this team is unmatched to any other community I’ve seen. There isn’t a selfish player out there, and you can tell by watching them play. They know what it takes to get another Gold Ball.”

The Maine Class AA Boys’ Basketball Championship Game tips off at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland with Windham facing South Portland. The game will be televised live on Maine Public Television and streaming on mainepublic.org. <

Iconic Babbs Bridge reopens following crash repairs

By Ed Pierce

One of the most iconic structures associated with Windham is back open again, six months after sustaining damage when an overloaded truck barreled through its floor crashing into the Presumpscot River below.

Former State Rep. Gary Plummer of Windham was the first
to drive across the newly reopened and repaired Babbs 
Bridge connecting Gorham and Windham on Hurricane
Road. The bridge had been closed since September when
an overloaded truck crashed through the floor.
COURTESY PHOTO

Repair work by the Maine Department of Transportation for the covered Babbs Bridge off Hurricane Road linking Windham and Gorham was completed Thursday, Feb. 20 and former State Rep. Gary Plummer of Windham was first to drive across the bridge when it reopened.

“Babbs Bridge is now open to traffic. Yes, I got to be the first vehicle to drive through the newly repaired bridge,” Plummer posted on Facebook. “I am beyond elated.”

At about 12:45 p.m. Aug. 23, 2024, police say a Ford F750 truck loaded with 36,000 pounds of crushed gravel attempted to cross Babbs Bridge from Gorham east into Windham on Hurricane Road. The truck’s excessive weight caused planks on the wooden bridge floor to collapse and sent the truck crashing into the Presumpscot River below.

The posted weight limit for traveling across the Babbs Bridge span is 3 tons, or 6,000 pounds, and police said the truck weighed roughly six times the legal limit for crossing the bridge. The truck was owned by The Driveway Guys Company of Biddeford and was driven by Joshua Polewarzyk of Limington, 37, who was able to free himself from the truck in the water and sustained minor injuries in the crash. He was cited for excessive truck weight in crossing the bridge and was fined $2,500.

Maine Department of Transportation engineers were tasked with evaluating the structural status of the bridge for public safety and come up with a plan for repairs and restoration of the structure.

MDOT crews began working to restore the bridge in January and the project cost $110,000. Along with structural and floor repairs, MDOT replaced the deck and the bridge’s ornamental doors. Work was performed ahead of schedule as favorable weather conditions for repairs including specially milled lumber from Gorham matching the existing bridge dimensions were available much sooner than expected for repairs to commence.

A previous wooden covered bridge at the site stood for more than 100 years having reportedly been built by local farmers around 1840. The bridge is said to have been originally named for a family living on property nearby and before its destruction was said to be the oldest covered bridge in Maine.

The original Babbs Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in America but was burned by unidentified arsonists in 1973. Using donated lumber milled exclusively in Gorham and with work performed by community volunteers, the bridge span was rebuilt as an exact replica of the original Babbs Bridge and reopened to the public in conjunction with America’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976.

It is a single-span queenspost-style truss bridge, with a total structure length of 79 feet and a width of 13 feet, 9 inches. The bridge end portals have a posted height limit of 10 feet and the bridge is covered by a gabled roof, with its side and end walls finished in vertical board siding.

Vandals cut a hole in the bridge’s roof in 2014 which was subsequently repaired but damages that were caused by a snowplow truck in 2015 required the bridge to be closed again temporarily. In 2016, MDOT authorized a near-total $160,000 makeover of Babbs Bridge based upon its original design.

Work performed at that time included the installation of cement stone blocks for the bridge abutment. Other renovations in 2016 featured stripping off the bridge’s roof and replacing it with rough cut boards and plywood before topping it with cedar shingles. Work was also completed on the bridge’s sides and entrances at that time. In 2021, the Windham Town Council announced that the National Register of Historic Places had removed its designation for Babb’s Bridge because it is now a replica of the original historic structure.

The historic crossing typically carries more than 360 vehicles per day over the river. During the summer months, the property surrounding the bridge is popular with swimmers and picnickers.

The driver who crashed through the bridge last summer is no longer employed by The Driveway Guys company. Its owner has apologized for the incident and pledged to assist in community efforts to repair or replace the bridge.

For safety purposes, Babbs Bridge is inspected by MDOT at least every two years and the last inspection of the bridge for safety took place in July 2024. <

New K9 team enhances capabilities of Windham Police Department

By Ed Pierce

A valuable new officer has joined the Windham Police Department and it’s a responsibility he can really sink his teeth into.

K9 Zeus, a 16-month old Belgian Malinois, has joined the 
Windham Police Department and is paired with his handler,
Officer Sam Pattee. They are currently training for Zeus to
become a fully certified patrol dog with expertise in
tracking, searches, apprehension and narcotics detection.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

K9 Zeus is a 16-month-old Belgian Malinois who is partnered with his handler, Officer Sam Pattee, a four year-veteran of the department. They are currently involved in training for Zeus to become a fully certified patrol dog, meaning he'll be certified in tracking, article searches, apprehension work and narcotics certification.

“I grew an interest in being a K9 handler almost as soon as I got started on the road with Windham PD,” Pattee said. “I assisted K9 handlers from Westbrook PD, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Portland PD on tracks in Windham for everything from locating elderly citizens who had wondered away to Domestic Violence suspects who had fled from the scene. I quickly realized that Windham needed to have a K9 asset and wanted to be the one to provide it. I was also excited by the idea of assisting officers on a variety of calls and improving the department’s capabilities.”

Pattee said that K9 Zeus came from Boston Police Department’s training barracks and was selected by him with the help of K9 trainers from both the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Scarbrough PD.

“I was looking for a dual purpose K9, meaning a K9 fully capable of patrol work and narcotics detection,” he said. “I viewed multiple possible K9s but when I met Zeus, I quickly knew he was the one. He was full of energy, fearless and I felt a bond with him from the start.”

Becoming a K9 handler was almost second nature for Pattee.

“Growing up, my family always had dogs. There’s an obvious difference between them and K9 Zeus, those three were pets and farm dogs while K9 Zeus is a working dog, he said. “K9 Zeus is full of more energy than any one person could ever use in a day, but he is also incredibly smart and capable of solving his own problems without needing much of anything from me. K9 Zeus loves tracking and can go all day, being just as excited about it when he’s finished, as he was when he started.”

According to Pattee, K9 training is not an easy task.

“It takes a lot of time, dedication and patience. It takes a level of commitment that you can’t truly understand until you’ve done it yourself. I train with the group called Law Enforcement Dogs of Maine (LEDME) and it requires at least 480 hours of training with a certified trainer before a K9 team can be certified in patrol work,” he said. “In training we work on tracking, article searching, which is locating items that someone may have dropped or thrown, and suspect apprehension. We also conduct scenario-based training which puts both the K9 and the handler through real world situations and helps us be better prepared to make the right decisions on real deployments. The group has a great team of trainers with years of combined K9 experience to learn from and I appreciate everything they’ve taught me.”

The Windham Police Department last had a K9 team about four years ago, but since then has had assistance from other agencies when a K9 is needed or would be helpful.

“Time can play a big factor during certain calls and an available team may be too far away to be effective,” Pattee said. “With Windham gaining a K9 team again, we can improve are response times to situations as having the resource a K9 brings. For example, if an elderly citizen with dementia has wondered away from home and gotten lost in the woods, Windham now has a K9 nearby to pick up that person’s trail and locate them much quicker than waiting for a team from an outside agency.”

Pattee spent his early childhood in Westbrook and then moved to Windham, where he graduated from Windham High School. While still in high school, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and he continues to serve in the reserves, where he’s been enlisted for 11 years with one mobilization overseas.

He says his girlfriend has been a huge supporter of his efforts to become a K9 handler, which is not easy.

“Being a K9 handler is what you make of it,” Pattee said. “It takes a lot of dedication, and you have to love what you’re doing to make the most of it. You have to be ready to continuously learn and improve your skills as well as being able to understand what your K9 partner is trying to tell you.”

The greatest misconception the public may have about K-9 police dogs is that although patrol certified K9 teams have the ability to apprehend a suspect with force, that is not the primary goal of a K9.

“K9s are a locating tool. This could be locating a suspect who has fled a scene or vehicle, to find a missing person, or helping officers identify where a suspect is hiding inside a building which improves safety for all involved,” Pattee said. “K9 Zeus is a very happy dog and full of excitement every day. He’s not just a tool but also my partner. We are both very excited for the opportunity to serve the Windham community and its citizens. When you see us around town, K9 Zeus may be barking but know he is there ready to help serve and protect the same as every officer from the Windham Police Department is.” <