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.” <

Abbreviated Sebago Rotary Ice Fishing Derby remains fun for anglers

By Ed Pierce

Sebago Lake wasn’t completely frozen over but there was a great deal of excitement surrounding this year’s 24th Annual Ice Fishing Derby hosted by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club on Saturday, Feb. 15

Rob Stoodley of Rochester, New
Hampshire won first place in the
Togue category of the 24th Annual
Ice Fishing Derby by catching a
9.29-inch, 32 1/8-pound togue on
Saturday, Feb. 15.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Recent cold temperatures allowed portions of the lake to ice over for the first time in several years and although Sebago’s Big Bay was not considered completely safe, the Lower Bay and Jordan Bay were favorable for fisherman to enjoy a great day on the ice, said Cyndy Bell of the Sebago Lake Rotary Club.

Bell said you could hear excitement in the fishermen’s voices as they came to register or to weigh their fish that they were happy to be back out on Sebago Lake this year.

“It appeared that the fish just weren’t biting like they had in past years so fewer fish were brought to the weigh stations on Saturday,” Bell said. “The event had to cancel Sunday in anticipation of the incoming storm.”

The ice fishing contest proved once again to be more than just an excuse to get outside for time spent fishing. Proceeds from the Ice Fishing Derby benefit local charities and nonprofit organizations that the Rotary Club donates to, including “Feed the Need,” which assists with funding for 12 food pantries in the Lakes Region of Maine.

Anglers found that searching for suitable ice was fun and the event brought together people from all walks of life, helping forge new friendships among those fishing and left them with great stories to tell about their experiences that probably will be shared for a lifetime.

Participants also fished in the 20-plus remaining lakes and ponds in the weighing area that had adequate ice to ensure safety and found an abundance of perch and pickerel ready to be caught.

Bell said that as in years past, participating fishermen continued to donate their catches which were delivered to Nova Seafood and will be processed and delivered to assist in feeding the homeless and those facing food insecurity.

Tom Noonan, a Sebago Lake Rotary Club member, is credited with coming up with the concept for the Ice Fishing Derby in 2001 in cooperation with the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department.

Since then, the event has grown substantially to become the Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s largest annual fundraising initiative and has supported hundreds of charities over the past two decades, with more than $1 million donated to local causes since its inception.

“Under the leadership of Sebago Lake Rotarian Toby Pennels, the derby gained additional national notoriety as one of only four fishing derbies in the United States to be featured in a television program filmed for the National Geographic Channel that aired in June 2014,” Bell said.

Here are the 2025 Cumberland County Ice Fishing Derby winners

Top Event Winners

Perch:

1. Travis Lawler, 1.53 length, 13 7/8 pounds

2. Jason Vassillion, 1.5 length, 13 1/2 pounds

3. Heidi Lawler, 1.48 length, 13 9/16 pounds

Pike:

1. Ben Carlin, 3 pounds

2. Mark Beatty, 1 pound

Togue:

1 Rob Stoodley, 9.29 length, 32 1/8 pounds

2. McKae Curran, 8.49 length, 29 1/2 pounds

3. James Guy, 8.22 length, 27 7/8 pounds

Pickerel:

1. Brian Keahon, 4.03 length, 26.5 pounds

2. Brian Rocray, 3.82 length, 25 1/8 pounds

3. Charlie McGee, 3.49 length, 24 1/8 pounds

Through this event, the Sebago Lake Rotary Club raises money for cash prizes and donates to “Feed the Need,” which supports food pantries at the 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. <

Veteran celebrates 100th birthday with Windham family

By Ed Pierce

On Wednesday, the Rev. Robert “Bob” Canfield achieved a milestone that only 0.027 percent of people ever attain when he celebrated his 100th birthday at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough.

Debbie Hutchinson of Windham hugs her father,
the Rev. Robert 'Bob' Canfield, who celebrated
his 100th birthday on Wednesday at the Maine
Veterans Home in Scarborough with a party
attended by his grandchildren and great-
grandchildren. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

Canfield, a World War II veteran, celebrated his big day at a party hosted by his daughter, Debbie Hutchinson and her husband John of Windham. They feasted on cupcakes with relatives from around Maine and out of state, including two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Born in Beloit, Wisconsin on Feb. 12, 1925, Canfield was one of five children in his family growing up during the Great Depression. His father was a World War I veteran, and his mother stayed at home to care for the children.

During World War II, Canfield became what he calls “a dry land sailor,” assigned to a Navy ammunitions depot in Indiana where he worked with 5-inch Navy shells and black powder as a Fireman First Class.

Following his discharge at the end of the war, he completed studies at a junior college in Michigan before transferring to Greenville College in Illinois to obtain a four-year degree. One evening his college roommate told Canfield that the woman he was dating had a roommate who would go to a school dance with him. That evening, he walked to the girls’ dormitory on campus and met his blind date, a student named Helen Anderson who would become his wife a year later.

The couple embarked upon a life of service to others as Canfield entered the ministry as a Free Methodist clergyman and served at Light and Life Children’s Home in Kansas City, Kansas, then at three churches in New York state before moving to Maine and leading a church in Gardiner. They had two children, a daughter, Debbie, who has lived in Windham for more than 50 years, and her older brother, Daniel Canfield, who passed away two years ago. Helen died in 2018.

Always having been handy since he was a child, Canfield remains active at the veteran’s home and his room is filled with spare parts and mechanical gadgets for him to work on his hobbies.

“He paints, he makes box kites, and he works on building models of ships and a truck,” Hutchinson said.

When the weather is nice, sometimes Canfield is brought from the veteran’s home to visit his daughter and son-in-law at their home in Windham and he spends every Thanksgiving with them when he’s up to it.

Canfield has overcome more than a few health issues in reaching his 100th birthday.

He’s hard of hearing, he’s had a leg amputated, and is in a wheelchair, but his mind remains sharp, and his sense of humor is intact. He continues to read, watch television and carry on conversations with other veterans and staff members at the veteran’s home.

“I read the Bible every night until my eyes hurt,” Canfield said. “God is keeping me alive for some reason. Some of that may be to keep my daughter in line and to make sure she behaves.”

According to Canfield, he’s slowed adjusted to living at the Maine Veterans Home.

“They don’t give me what I want because I want everything,” he said. “I’m always working on crafts and projects in my spare time and I drive them crazy asking for everything I need for that.”

He attributes the secret to his longevity to his faith in God and living a clean life.

“I have never smoked, and I have never had any liquor,” Canfield said. “But I believe you never really know. Sometimes the righteous die young and some die old. It’s really all in the Lord’s hands.”

Now that Canfield has reached the milestone being 100 years old, he described what it feels like to be a centenarian.

“Honestly, being 100 years old is just like being 99,” he said. <

Local stylist aims for ‘USOA Mrs. Maine’ pageant crown

By Ed Pierce

A Windham hairstylist vying for the title of “United States of America Mrs. Maine” is seeking to raise awareness about infertility issues affecting women and step outside her comfort zone by entering the statewide pageant.

Nichole Burke will represent Windham in the
United States of America Mrs. Maine Pageant
in August this fall. If she wins the title, she
would like to use her platform to raise
awareness about infertility issues. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Nichole Burke, 41, and her husband moved to Windham in November 2023, and in March 2024, they became the parents of a son.

“Something many people may not know about me is that after four years of struggle, I became a first-time mom at 40, welcoming a beautiful son just 10 months ago,” Burke said. “My husband and I had a whirlwind year – we got married in June 2023, bought our first home five months later, and then, just four months after that, became parents.”

She was asked by the director a few months ago to join the pageant.

“I have some friends who have done pageants, so I talked with them and got a lot of encouragement,” Burke said. “I decided that this experience would be something just for me, where I could step out of my comfort zone and grow personally. A motivation to get back into self-care and regular exercise, something that I miss. Also, an opportunity to get more acquainted with our new community and be of service. Doing service work has been very fulfilling for me, and I am looking forward to it again. Another important part of my journey is that I have been in recovery for almost 16 years, a path that has shaped me into the resilient and compassionate person I am today.”

Originally from Saco, she’s been a hairstylist for 16 years, and she also serves as an independent consultant with Arbonne.

According to Burke, she’s hoping that this new experience of competing in a pageant will help her obtain another level of personal growth, filling her spirit in a new way.

“The motto for the pageant is ‘Empower, Inspire, and Uplift’ and I am hoping to be and share those things,” Burke said, “Personal growth is important to me. This experience is an opportunity for me to build new connections in Windham and across Maine. I want to challenge myself personally, by stepping outside of my comfort zone, to embrace the confidence that comes with being part of the USOA Mrs. Maine Pageant.”

If honored as the pageant winner, Burke hopes to use this platform to amplify the conversation around infertility, breaking the stigma and fostering a community of support for women facing similar struggles.

“I want to advocate for greater access to fertility awareness, mental health resources, and community support,” she said. “By sharing my own experiences, I hope to encourage open conversations, provide comfort to those struggling, and work toward a future where no woman feels alone in her fight to become a mother. I would also like to help young girls and teens with self-esteem and empowerment.”

The 2026 USOA Mrs. Maine Pageant will be held from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12 at the Senator Inn & Spa and the Augusta Civic Center and judges will select the winner based upon an interview, swimsuit, and evening gown categories. The pageant is the Official State Preliminary to the National United States of America Pageant which will be held July 4, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Burke says that her friends and family are excited to see her enter the pageant, and she’s amazed at how supportive and encouraging everyone has been.

“My greatest strength in this pageant is my ability to connect with and uplift others. Through my years of service in the recovery community, speaking, organizing events, and offering support, I’ve developed strong leadership skills and a deep passion for helping people,” Burke said. “However, my biggest challenge will be stepping into a completely new environment and applying these skills in a different way. To overcome this, I plan to embrace the experience with an open heart, lean into my ability to inspire others, and stay true to my mission of spreading hope and resilience.”

Currently Burke is looking for sponsors and seeking ways to be of service to others in the Windham community.

“I would love to partner with local businesses in Windham and surrounding areas,” she said. “Businesses get promotion at the pageant and an ad in the program. Also, social media promotion and media articles are shared by contestants and current title holders. If interested in a sponsorship, or for any questions please contact me at allure.hair@live.com.” <

MARA offers valuable knowledge for creating and maintaining private roads in Windham

By Masha Yurkevich

The Town of Windham is made up of more than 60 miles of private roads and while they are a part of the town, it is every man for himself when it comes to private road maintenance.

The Maine Alliance for Road Associations is a nonprofit
corporation and a valuable resource for information about
private roads for residents seeking to establish a road
association to help maintain a private road and share
maintenance costs. Windham has more than 60 miles of
private roads currently within the town.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Nick Kalogerakis is a Windham Town Councilor representing constituents in the town’s South District and the issue of private roads concerns him.

“I have served on Road Associations and understand the complexities we deal with in keeping them maintained,” says Kalogerakis. “Private roads do not get the benefit of any help from the town or its Public Works Department. We cannot utilize anything from the town even though we pay the same rate in taxes as everyone else.”

This is where MARA comes in.

Started in 1998 by Betsy Connor Bowen, MARA, the Maine Alliance for Road Associations, is a nonprofit corporation with a volunteer board of directors that helps gather information for private roads and are a valuable resource for communities, whether it is providing guidance for starting a road association or providing knowledge of what can or cannot be done on private roads. It is a volunteer public service organization whose purpose is to help Maine homeowners who live on private roads and public citizens who may be considering this possibility.

Its purpose is, in part, the compilation and dissemination of information from many sources to help people living on private roads share maintenance costs and administer their road associations fairly and equitably. MARA is an advocate for fair and equitable laws relating to people living on private roads in Maine.

Anyone with an interest in private roads, their maintenance, shared costs of maintenance through an association of owners, and the environmental impact of such roads and maintenance may find useful information on the MARA website but only individuals, not Road Associations, can join MARA.

It is entirely volunteer-based and MARA’s purpose is to disseminate information to the communities about private roads. The organization has a wealth of knowledge and resources on their website including several discussion forums where you can search for a topic and read through it to gain information.

According to Kalogerakis, MARA is important to Windham because the town has more than 60 miles of private roads and many residents need help forming road associations and assistance in getting them set up and maintained properly.

“When we set up our road association on my private road, we were not doing it right,” says Kalogerakis.

During the 2024 MARA event that Kalogerakis attended he received two free books about private roads.

“These are not just books, but have photos in them that explain how to properly grade your roads, what type of materials to put on, what equipment to use, and how to avoid potholes. There are also photos showing why you see something on your road and how to fix it,” says Kalogerakis. “It is incredible the amount of information that is in these books and it is very helpful; I would love for road associations in Windham to have this knowledge.”

What private roads often look for is what material can they get inexpensively, and unaware that this could end up costing them even more.

“During our meeting, when we started talking about what to look for in a delivery of gravel, I was blown away,” says Kalogerakis. “This man was showing different photos of gravel, how they sift through it, and what to look for to make sure that the gravel you are paying for is the best. All gravel is not the same. You need the correct mixture to keep your road together and in its best condition for the long run. I guarantee that no one is doing this correctly, which is why our private roads have so many of the issues that they do. This would be very valuable information for Windham.”

He said that another valuable source of information about private roads is Peter Kaufmann, who works for the Maine Department of Transportation and is the executive director of Maine Private Roads Chapter for the MDOT, working with Public Works Directors and communities on private roads. Kalogerakis says that he has spoken to the Windham Assistant Town Manager Bob Burns about possibly having Kaufmann come and lead meetings in Windham soon for any road associations that want to learn more about what they can do to care for and to maintain their private roads.

“Kaufmann is a wealth of knowledge with his experience,” says Kalogerakis. “I think that having him talk here in Windham would be very valuable as Windham has over 60 miles of private roads and having information about how to properly care for them would be very helpful.”

More information about MARA can be found at www.maineroads.org <