Youth author inspires other children with epilepsy

By Erin Rose

A Raymond youth is using his experience with juvenile epilepsy to help others as they learn to live with the condition.

Weston Quinn. 9, of Raymond has written and
illustrated a book called 'Juvenile Epilepsy
Warrior' describing his experience being
diagnosed with juvenile epilepsy at age 7 and
how he's learned to thrive despite the diagnosis.
He will be on hand to autograph copies of his 
book from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at Play
Warriors, 840 Roosevelt Trail in Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Weston Quinn, 9, is the author and illustrator of “Juvenile Epilepsy Warrior,” a book that details his experience being diagnosed with juvenile epilepsy at age 7 and how he’s learned to thrive despite the diagnosis.

“It’s scary to tell the stories,” Weston said, but says that he “loved the ability to talk through my epilepsy journey.”

His mom, Hannah, said that the book has helped Weston communicate with others about the struggles he’s faced.

“It’s been amazing watching Weston use his story to help others,” she said. “He doesn’t realize how powerful his words are yet. When it comes to even talking to his friends about his experience, it made such a huge impact.”

Weston also completed the illustrations in the book, creating images that represent different stages of his diagnosis. One image shows blood in a needle, which represented the first day he had a seizure, Weston said.

Another image shows Kimberly Leighton, the founder of Play Warriors in Windham, as the pair apply electrodes to a doll to help Weston understand how an Electroencephalogram (EEG) would work.

“The artwork helped work through his fears,” Hannah said.

Leighton explained that the book was a result of Weston’s journey through child life therapy, which takes a different approach to helping children through difficult times in their lives, including medical diagnoses, grief, and trauma by providing medical play and therapeutic interventions, coping strategies and relaxation techniques.

“When working with a kiddo, we catalog their time with session notes and some dialogue, images and projects,” she said, pointing out that once a child is nearing the end of their time with the center, they have a mass of accumulated work that can be used to build a book to help others.

“I ask now that we have all of this information, what would you want people to know about what happened to you and what that might feel like,” Leighton said. “For some kiddos like Weston, they want to go on and help other kids, so this is a great avenue for kids that want that sense of agency and get to a point where they can tell their story.”

“Part of telling their story, there is a lot of healing in that,” she said. “That’s why therapeutic expression, whether it’s through art or telling a story, it helps process what you’re going through.”

Weston is one of several young authors at Play Warriors, as this is the sixth book published by the program’s participants, with another four books in progress currently. Other topics covered include childhood cancer, grief and loss.

The books are published by Books That Heal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting children facing medical or emotional battles to publish their stories. Leighton explained that the book’s proceeds are split between the nonprofit and a charity chosen by the child who penned the book.

“It’s going back to the charity forever and will continue to grow,” she said, explaining that Weston chose the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation to receive the funds from his work. “It’s a great way to have the book be a final capstone to his success and his work that he went through.”

The Play Warriors program also helped Weston discover more self-confidence and work through his anxieties around his condition, including going to school and interacting with his peers and friends.

“He was afraid of having a seizure at school,” Hannah said, “His friends knew he was going through something, but they just didn’t realize quite how hard it was.”

Through his child life therapy, Weston has been able to process his anxieties and fears, enabling him to face school and sports with confidence and joy.

“He carries himself with more confidence and self-esteem,” Leighton said. “He’s not looking at his diagnosis as limiting. It’s about ‘what can I still do’.”

Hannah said that Weston’s new sureness is most evident when he is interacting with the world, especially when he is playing point guard on the basketball court or as a striker and forward on the soccer field.

“We get to see his joy when he is either on the basketball court, on the soccer field, spending time with his friends and his cousins and all of his family,” she said. “We get to see him shine when he goes to school and all of the things he’s doing at school, as he had a hard time going to school for a while. He is shy, but once you get to know him, he is an absolute joy to know.”

Weston is a part of Team Impact, which pairs children who are facing serious illnesses or disability with college sports teams. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, located in Standish, participates in the program for their men’s baseball, soccer and lacrosse teams and their women’s volleyball, field hockey, and soccer teams.

Weston’s books may be purchased online from Amazon, and he will be signing copies of his book from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at Play Warriors, the sole child life therapy provider in Maine, located at 840 Roosevelt Trail in Windham.

More details can be found at the Play Warriors website, www.playwarriorsinc.com, or on their Facebook page. <

Windham resident celebrates milestone 102nd birthday

By Ed Pierce

As a child growing up in the West End of Boston, Concetta “Connie” Parisi always thought her birthday was March 21. It was something that her mother told her but later in life she learned her birthday was really March 22 as she was born at home and her birth certificate wasn’t filed with the city clerk right away. Nevertheless, over the weekend of March 21-22 this year, Connie Parisi of Windham celebrated her 102nd birthday with more than 50 family members on hand to wish her well.

Concetta 'Connie' Parisi of Windham turned
102 last weekend and celebrated at a birthday
party attended by more than 50 members of
her family. She loves to crochet and sing
and playing the game Rummikub.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Born Concetta Mary Tricomi in 1924, she had six brothers and attended Girls High and Latin School in Boston. She was an average student in school and was a member of the Biology Club and led an exercise class during recess. But it was in Chorus class where she developed a love for music that continues to this day.

In the school chorus, students would sing songs written by Sibelius, Mozart, and Ravel and upon her graduation in 1942, she was asked to be a special student at the Conservatory of Music in Boston. There Connie spent an entire year singing opera and decided to go to a new school that offered contemporary music and she also sang at church.

A neighbor named Hayes Gordon was appearing in a show at the Shubert Theater on Broadway called “Finian’s Rainbow” and offered Connie a singing position in the show’s chorus in New York at $100 a week.

“He said ‘Just send me a postcard and I’ll meet you’ but I never did because I knew my mother and father would not approve and I didn’t want to be confined to the theater,” she said. “I was an outdoors person and liked to sail, swim and horseback ride. So, I never told my parents.”

Connie’s mother was an orphan who had come to America from Italy at the age of 9. Her father was also an Italian immigrant and eloped with her mother at 19. They settled in Brooklyn, New York but later moved to Boston, where they raised seven children, six boys and one girl, Connie.

With World War II raging, Connie did what she could to assist, knitting navy blue children’s sweaters for children in England. Her brother Joseph was exempt from the draft because he was married and had children. Her brother Benjamin went to Hawaii to build aircraft for the war. Her brother Salvatore joined the Merchant Marines and died when the oil tanker he was on was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Her brother Tony joined the Navy and served in the Philippines. Her brother John also joined the Navy and served in Europe. Her brother Vincent was too young for World War II but at 18 was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea.

During the war years, Connie sang in the choir at Saint Joseph’s Church in Boston and performed at Fort Devens, the Navy Marine Hospital, and for other smaller military units.

When she was 22 years old, Connie’s brother Ben took her by trolley to her uncle's wake. There she met Sarro, the father of concert pianist Mary Ramirez.

“He invited me to visit. She played songs that I liked to sing and songs that she could play. She also wrote music,” Connie said. “Every Sunday, Ben would take me to visit, and we would practice music together. We would gather and sing. It was the first time I met her, and she was always good to me.”

During a rehearsal, Mary introduced Connie to Michael Parisi, a student at the Boston University School of Law. The couple dated for three years before he proposed to her on Dec. 19, 1948 in front of her father and mother.

“At that time, I was singing at different places,” she said. “I sang at a hotel near Copley Square. It was a small hotel near Copley Plaza. I decided to have my wedding reception there. We got married on Sept. 5, 1949. The wedding ceremony was at Saint Joseph's Church in the West End.”

Michael and Connie were blessed with five children Paul, who is now deceased; Elizabeth; Mary; Carol; and Lillian. Michael had a long career as an attorney and they raised their family in Everett, Massachusetts and would vacation at Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire.

She stayed at home to raise the children but eventually returned to work.

“After a while I went back to work as a key punch operator,” Connie said. “I took many Civil Service tests and worked my way up to a secretary. The last job I worked for was the Department of Education in Quincy, Massachusetts and retired at 66.”

In 2013, Connie moved to Brightview Senior Living in Danvers, Massachusetts where she entertained others with her repertoire of musical scores and performing six concerts there. Her husband Michael died in 2017.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Connie moved to Windham where she lives with her daughter Mary and her husband Roger by Little Sebago Lake. She reads, crochets and likes playing Rummikub.

For her birthday, Connie loved being close to her family on her special day which included a visit from her daughter-in-law Judy, her son Paul’s widow.

As she ate a piece of birthday cake, someone asked her what it felt like to be 102 years old.

“All I have to say is I made it,” she said. <     

JSMS students bring history, geography, art and STEM to life with hands-on map project

By Lorraine Glowczak

Rote memorization is quickly falling out of favor in education. Studies show that relying exclusively on repetitive recall limits the student’s ability to apply knowledge in a meaningful way and prevents long-term retention. More importantly, this approach often makes education dull and fails to spark the love of learning.

Nick Thacker and Drew Boulanger stand by a U.S. map that
the Jordan-Small Middle School eighth graders created. In
the project, students learned about teamwork, perseverance
and the power of hands-on, real-life experiences. The whole
map will be completed soon. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

What does seem to foster long term understanding is real world and hands-on experiences. When students engage with curriculum that encourages asking questions, finding resources, and applying the information, they are learning in an interactive way, the results include sustained retention with a greater academic impact.

Project Based Learning (PBL) is an educational approach that has become a staple in most schools across the U.S., including RSU 14. Recently, eighth-grade students at Jordan-Small Middle School (JSMS) participated in an interdisciplinary project that blended art, STEM, geography, and history while encouraging collaboration, real-world problem solving, and deeper learning in all four subjects.

JSMS STEM teacher Jennifer Beaulieu, who collaborates with Social Studies teacher Austin Carr, explained how the project works. “The students first meet with Mr. Carr to study the geography and history of each state with an emphasis on significant features and major historical facts,” Beaulieu said.

Carr said that the Social Studies perspective of this assignment comes from our year-long study of the geography of the United States. “Students have had to research both individual states and iconic locations all around the country. The hope is that assignments like this will help them understand the diverse country we live in and how much a person's home can influence them,” he said.

Once they learn about those details, they apply the knowledge they gain by first collecting facts that they determined to be significant for the state they chose.

“Then they created a design with at least 15 important features of the state they have decided to study,” Beaulieu said. “Once the designs are finished with images and facts, the students’ designs are engraved onto wood using the laser machine that the school’s Spirit Club purchased with funds they had saved last year. The students then used the scroll saws and sanders in the woodshop to cut out the shape of the state.”

Once completed, the wooden states will be assembled to scale to form a map of the U.S. About half of them are now hanging in the hallway known as “Sebago Lake Ave.” The remaining states are currently being processed and will be added to the map when they are completed.

As with most real-life experiences, JSMS students encountered some hurdles along the way.

"The most challenging part of this project was getting each state to be the right size," eighth grader Drew Boulanger said. “It is important to take your time and do it right the first time."

Classmate Nick Thacker agreed. "You shouldn't rush if you want it to be done right. It's not worth it."

Beaulieu explained that facing difficulty is a positive part of the educational experience. Both Boulanger and Thacker took the lead in ensuring that the states were all drawn to scale.

“Challenge is part of the learning process, and our students learned the ‘hard way’ that taking the time to problem-solve and persevere leads to deeper understanding and lasting skills,’” she said.

In addition to the challenges that were faced, humor and bantering between students and teachers played a role.

“The student who chose the state of Wisconsin jovially refused to put the Green Bay Packers on that state engraving because he knows I’m a Packers fan,” Beaulieu said. “But after a few jokes back and forth, he decided to go ahead and engrave the Green G emblem on Wisconsin. He is a Philadelphia Eagles fan. We had so much fun with this little banter.”

As an educator, creating a fun and engaging learning experience requires creativity, collaboration, and the sharing of ideas.

“I had the idea of creating the map of the United States, but I couldn’t envision the whole project,” Beaulieu explained. “So, I reached out to Mr. Carr and my husband, Alan, who like me retired from work at an expeditionary school. He was an instructional coach, and I thought the three of us could meet and discuss details.”

After that initial meeting the three of them developed this unique and active, hands-on project. “And the rest, well, is history,” Beaulieu said.

In the end, the students didn’t just learn about the history and geography of the U.S.

They also learned how to use the Canva platform, and the art and technology needed to create a puzzled map, but more importantly, they discovered the value of teamwork, perseverance, and the joy of learning by doing. <

Distinguished Korean War veteran leaves behind memorable legacy

By Ed Pierce

One of the most beloved members of Windham’s American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 has died at the age of 97. Jerome “Jerry” Black, a U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the destroyer USS Johnston during the Korean War, passed away during the evening of Saturday, March 14.

U.S. Navy veteran Jerome 'Jerry' Black, a beloved member
of American Legion Field-Allen Post 148, has died at the
age of 97. Black served in the Navy on the USS Johnston
during the Korean War and taught at Falmouth High
School for 25 years. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

While attending Farmington High School, Black purchased and restored a 1918 Model T Fire Engine all by himself which is showcased at a museum in Owl’s Head, Maine. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy while in high school and received his diploma from Farmington High while serving as a throttle man on the USS Johnston in 1949.

“While I was going into the 11th grade, I bought a Model T Fire Engine for $45,” he said. “I then spent $45 more on tires that I bought from Montgomery Ward. I fixed it all up and believe it or not, that fire engine is still running today and is on loan to a museum. I have arranged it so that it becomes the museum’s permanently when I’m gone.”

During his four years of military service, Black rose in rank to Petty Officer Second Class and his military career foreshadowed his later success as a high school teacher.

“The USS Johnston spent a lot of time in the Mediterranean Sea,” Black said during a 2022 interview with The Windham Eagle. “The Russians tried to infiltrate ports in Greece, Turkey, Albania, Yugoslavia, and Northern Italy and our job was to block them from doing that and continuing World War II. They say we chased Russian submarines all day and they chased us all night.”

On the ship, Black was known for his knack at cutting sailor’s hair and willingness to pitch in and help solve diesel mechanical problems when challenges arose while at sea. He was also the ship’s master at arms and in charge of drainage control for the destroyer.

With the war over in 1953 and upon his discharge, Black returned to Maine to live with his parents in Farmington and briefly worked side by side with his father who operated a barber shop. He decided barbering wasn’t for him though and Black enrolled at Gorham State Teacher’s College to study industrial arts.

“In my first class, there were 20 students and 11 of us were veterans,” he said. “The toughest part of going to college was transitioning from the military way of life to trying to study for school.”

In 1955, Black met fellow Gorham State Teacher’s College student Mildred Hammond of South Paris, who was two years ahead of him in school. They fell in love and got married that same year. Two years later in 1957, Black graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Gorham State Teacher’s College and was hired as the industrial arts teacher at Falmouth High School.

His wife Mildred also started her own career as a history and social sciences teacher at Windham High School. When Jerry retired from teaching after a 25-year career in 1981, Mildred was still working at Windham High and finished a 26-year career as an educator there before retiring.

After retiring from his work as an educator, Jerry worked as a manager for senior housing in North Windham and both he and Mildred traveled to 36 different countries and across the United States, spending winters in San Diego, California. They were married for 62 years before her death at the age of 84 in 2017.

The couple had no children but in traveling the world, they did have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity while visiting England. Some friends had invited them to join them for a tea party in the courtyard of Windsor Castle for Boy Scouts and teachers hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

“We met the queen and shook her hand as she stood in a reception line,” Black said. “That was an extraordinary experience.”

He had joined the American Legion in Windham in the 1950s and later the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 in Windham and served on a committee building the Windham Veterans Center in the 1990s.

According to Black, his proudest moment came in 2018 when he was honored to be chosen by Honor Flight Maine to receive an Honor Flight that year to fly to Washington, D.C. and he got to see the World War II Memorial and many other memorials there with a group of other Maine veterans.

“I also got to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and that was very moving and humbling,” he said.

Black also remained active in the Windham community well into his 90s, serving in roles as president and vice president of Windham’s Little Meetinghouse, a restored historical building available to rent for public functions and as a member of the Kiwanis Club. He also was honored as the Grand Marshal of the 2024 Windham Memorial Day Parade.

Black also helped five young men to attend college, the latest of those being James Mannette of Windham, who went on to graduate from the US. Air Force Academy.

Mannette says that Black was a great mentor who inspired him to take on bigger challenges in his life.

“Jerry has been an incredible role model to me in that he is like a second father,” said Mannette. “My father passed away when I was in high school, and Jerry helped me learn things that my father would have taught me if he was here.”

Mannette first met Black while attending Windham Middle School when he had a snow shoveling job at the Little Meetinghouse. After that they spent countless hours working alongside each other whether it be in landscaping, wood stacking or other odd jobs, and Mannette says that he is extremely grateful for the relationship they built.

A memorial service to remember Black is being planned for Sunday, June 7 at the Little Meetinghouse in Windham. <

Music and generosity unite for children’s hospital benefit

By Melissa Carter

For the fifth consecutive year, Erik’s Church hosted an evening of country music and community spirit to benefit the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, March 4. Presented by Country 99.9 The Wolf and sponsored by Webster Tree Service, the annual concert once again packed the venue, delivering high-energy performances from opening act Chase Jobe and country music star Lauren Alaina.

Stella Axelsen, an 8-year-old from Westbrook, is
the 2026 Champion patient at MaineHealth
Barbara Bush Children's Hospital. A March 5
concert presented by Country 99.9 TheWolf
and sponsored by Webster Tree Service 
featured country singers Chase Jobe and Lauren
Alaina, who helped raise $22, 914 for the hospital.
COURTESY PHOTO

Tickets ranged from $80 to $100 with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting MHBBCH. Kenny Cianchette, owner of Erik’s Church, said this event holds a special place in his heart. “Being able to donate my space for this benefit is truly an honor and having a venue and a team that can bring big names in the country industry is a treasure.” Cianchette puts a lot of planning and behind the scenes work into this event to ensure everything goes off without a hitch and says it’s worth every minute. “The outpouring of generosity from this community continues to blow me away. Seeing the way people show up year after year for this cause is just incredible.”

Jobe opened the night with a dynamic set that blended his original music with beloved classics from artists such as Waylon Jennings and Charlie Daniels. An Ohio native who relocated to Maine to pursue his music career, Jobe has become a familiar face at Erik’s Church, where he frequently performs solo acoustic sets during the popular Sunday Brunch series. His powerful vocals and engaging stage presence earned him a standing ovation.

In between performances, MHBBCH representatives took to the stage to share the story of Stella, their 2026 Champion Patient, an 8-year-old girl who has been living with cystic fibrosis since birth. Thanks to regular visits to the MHBBCH Pediatric Specialty Care cystic fibrosis clinic, along with daily breathing treatments, a nebulizer, and medications, she is thriving and able to enjoy the same activities as other children her age. Her parents say the staff has been incredible over the years, helping them navigate the journey from day one with professionalism, compassion, and unwavering support.

A live auction added to the evening’s excitement, featuring an advertising package from The Wolf, Boston Celtics game tickets, and ticket-and-hotel packages for upcoming concerts including Parker McCollum, Ella Langley and more. Bidders eagerly raised their paddles, with several items selling well above face value. In addition, many attendees contributed monetary donations ranging from $50 to $1,000, simply out of generosity and a shared desire to make a difference.

Then Lauren Alaina, the 31-year-old country music sensation from Nashville, took the stage. She treated the audience to some of her most popular hits, including “Thicc as Thieves,” “Road Less Traveled,” and “What Ifs.”

Alaina, a new mom to an almost 9-month-old daughter, shared how motherhood has deepened her connection to causes like the one she was supporting that evening. “Now that I am a mom, doing benefit shows such as this definitely hits differently. No child should have to deal with illness. It’s just not fair. To be able to support the children and families is incredibly rewarding.”

She spoke candidly about her daughter recently experiencing her first cold and how helpless it made her feel, noting that her heart goes out to parents facing ongoing medical challenges. Alaina also reflected on her own childhood, sharing that a close cousin of hers battled a brain tumor for many years, giving her firsthand insight into how deeply illness affects an entire family.

One piece of advice she offered to families was, “Despite the hardship, it’s important to try and be brave for the kids and allow others to offer support. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – that does not make you a bad parent or weak.”

At MHBBCH, the network of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are committed to including parents and family members as part of the care team to ensure the children and families receive care that’s responsive to their unique needs. They take pride in their extensive suite of advanced specialty services and state-of-the-art technology in comfortable child-centered spaces to ensure every child receives the best possible care in a welcoming setting. MHBBCH contains 116 beds, including 31 Level III NICU Beds, 20 Level II continuing care nursery beds and 8 PICU beds, and as of last Friday 103 were full.

Meaghan McNamara, philanthropy specialist at MHBBCH, said that most of their fundraising is done a dollar at a time and that every event and fundraiser makes a difference.

Funds raised go to the areas of greatest need within MHBBCH and the hospital leadership team determines how donations are spent each year. Some of the recent examples include Pediatric critical care ambulance equipment such as upgraded stretchers and the purchase of a state-of-the art incubator (isolette) for transporting babies to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. They also recently updated the waiting room at the surgery center with more kid-friendly equipment and comfort supplies for patients with Autism to ensure children feel welcome and safe in all the spaces where they receive care.

McNamara also added that they have seen an increase in the number of patients with eating disorders. “The support from the community has allowed us to expand services and bring onboard a dietician who can see patients on an outpatient basis. Rather than waiting until patients with eating disorders are hospitalized, outpatient care offers effective and earlier treatment,” she said.

The final amount raised at Erik’s Church totaled $22,912 which is about $5,000 more than last year and makes the total raised over the past five years at these events at over $140,000.

“We are so grateful to Kenny and the awesome team at Erik’s Church for being our incredibly generous hosts for this fundraising concert once again,” said McNamara. “This was the fifth annual concert we’ve held together with Erik’s Church and 99.9 The Wolf, and it’s become such a fun tradition for us and for the community!”

MHBBCH will host their largest annual fundraiser, the “Radiothon” with the partnership of The Wolf and Frank FM radio March 20-21, 2026. If you would like to learn more, visit bbch.org/radio.

For more information about MCBBCH or to make a donation anytime go to their website: www.mainehealth.org/barbara-bush-childrens-hospital <

Local girls earn titles during Maine Women of Service Pageant

By Erin Rose

Raymond twins Alexa and Alison Largay and Windham student Peyton Dore are celebrating after taking home titles from the Maine Women of Service Pageant held in Freeport on Sunday, March 8.

Three girls from the Lakes Region brought home titles after
competing in the Maine Women of Service Pageant held
in Freeport on Sunday, March 8. From left are Alison 
Largay of Raymond, Alexa Largay of Raymond and Peyton
Dore of Windham. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Alexa took the crown as the winner of the Young Teen Division at the state-level competition, with Alison taking home the Ambassador title, meaning both will go on to compete at the national Women of Service pageant in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in July. Windham’s Peyton Dore also took first runner-up in the Little Princess Division and won the overall Most Photogenic and Best Casual category titles.

“This was my first time winning a really, really big title,” Alexa said. “It feels really good. I couldn’t stop crying.”

Both Alexa and Alison agree that the crowns and outfits are bonuses to participating in the pageant, in addition to the community service and other pageant-related activities, but Alison added that meeting new people throughout the course of the pageant is the best part of participating.

“In pageants, you meet the best people, especially the younger kids who look up to you,” she said.

Kristin Dore, Peyton’s mom, said that her daughter’s participation in pageants was inspired by her love of the stage.

“The minute she stepped on the stage, it was something else. She just shined,” she said. “It’s fun as a parent to see your kid shine. She’s got the personality and everything. I could never in a million years go up on a stage and do what she did.”

Instead of a traditional beauty pageant, the Women of Service pageant requires contestants to have community service platforms under which they work to execute projects to help others.

While Peyton is just establishing her platform, she has started building bags to distribute to homeless people in the community. The bags contain granola bars, hand sanitizer, pretzels, gloves, and other small items.

Alexa and Alison both dedicated their platforms to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital located in Portland. The two spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), making the cause personal for them.

Alexa operates “Pages for Premies,” and has donated books to the NICU at the hospital, ensuring that each child has a book when they go home.

“I reach out through social media, including Facebook and Instagram, and ask people to donate,” she explained. “They send me books and as soon as I hit 60 books, I go to the NICU and donate.”

Alison’s platform is “Toys for Tiny Miracles,” which raises funds to purchase toys and other items for the babies. She has donated more than $200 so far.

Alexa and Alison are both homeschooled, so the pageants provide them with an opportunity to be a part of a community and a chance to make friends.

“They’re making friends for life,” said Julie Largay, Alexa and Alison’s mother. “Once you make a friend there, it’s such a strong bond that they will stay together forever. “They are getting poise and elegance and stage presence, and they’re learning to talk to people. They’re learning charity work, what’s important and how to help people. Especially to a homeschool mom, they’re getting so much out of this. It brings so much more to who they are as a person.”

Dore also said that the pageant community is very supportive and helpful, especially for newcomers.

“It’s such a small community and they’re all really supportive of each other,” she said, explaining that the support of her own community of family and friends has helped ease the challenge of taking on pageants.

In addition to the pageant stage, the twins are actors and models who have featured in both local and worldwide campaigns. Alexa has shot three commercials, including an international campaign for CVS’s “Here for Her” program, promoting women’s health. Alison filmed a Jordan’s Furniture commercial for local audiences, where she “lived her best life…and got to jump on couches and jump on furniture,” Largay said.

The Maine Women of Service Pageant is part of the International and American Women of Service Pageant organization. It is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to empowering girls and women through a commitment to service, education and leadership development. The pageant has nine age divisions, ranging from girls as young as 5 in the Little Princess division to over 50 in the Classic division. <

Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce celebrates growth, leadership and community at Annual Meeting

By Ed Pierce

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce wrapped up another successful year and honored top business leaders and entrepreneurs during a gathering in Casco last week.

Jaime Anderson, the owner of On The Docks gift store in
Windham, was presented with the Sebago Lakes Region
Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur of the Year Award
during the chamber's Annual Meeting at Camp Sunshine
in Casco on Feb. 26.  COURTESY PHOTO

Chamber officials hosted its Annual Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26 at Camp Sunshine in Casco, bringing together members, business leaders, community partners, and local officials to celebrate a year of growth, collaboration, and renewed momentum across the region.

The evening highlighted the chamber’s commitment to strengthening its member businesses while fostering meaningful partnerships throughout the Sebago Lakes Region, including Casco, Gray, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish, and Windham.

Participants celebrated and honored the accomplishments of the following award recipients during the meeting:

Frank Koenig Businessperson of the Year – Thomas Bartell of the Windham Economic Development Corporation. This specific award is presented to an individual who has set an example in leadership, innovation and quality, and/or has provided noteworthy economic opportunity to the people of the Sebago Lakes Region.

 
Volunteer of the Year – Barbara Maurais of Tick BYTES. This award is presented to someone who as a volunteer strives to foster and sustain economic growth and prosperity throughout the region by promoting commerce.

 
Community Service Leadership Award – David Pollard of Spring Meadows. The Community Service Leadership Award recognizes a civic-minded individual or group that has made a significant contribution to the quality of life in the Sebago Lakes Region.

 
Entrepreneur of the Year – Jaime Anderson of On The Docks. The Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented annually to a chamber member operating in the Lakes Region whose innovation and creativity have succeeded in starting their own successful business while opening new economic opportunities for the Sebago Lakes Region.

 
Chamber Hall of Fame Recognition (posthumously) – Bill Diamond. This honor is awarded to an individual whose commitment of time, resources and talent has made the Sebago Lakes Region a better place to pursue one’s livelihood and dreams.

Newly elected to the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are Ramsey Pulkkinen (A Team Realty), Kenny Cianchette (Erik’s Church), Shannon Heacock (Northista Scent Bar) and Britt Barton (Town of Gray). As his term, expired, Jonathan Priest (J Priest Insurance) becomes Immediate Board of Directors Chair. New Board Chair is Diana London (Primerica) while Dan Emerson (Allagash Waste) is Vice Chair and Sara Thomas (Androscoggin Bank) is Treasurer. Board Secretary is Barb Maurais (Tick BYTES).

The program was made even more memorable by an engaging and highly entertaining performance from local magician Phil Smith, whose dynamic stage presence and interactive illusions brought energy and laughter to the evening. His performance added a unique and memorable touch to the chamber’s signature annual event.

“These award recipients exemplify the resilience, innovation, and generosity that define our region,” said Amber Rankine, President & CEO of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. “Our chamber is strongest when our members are connected, supported, and empowered to grow.”

The evening also recognized outgoing leadership, welcomed new board members, and celebrated the chamber’s continued evolution toward a more member-centric, collaborative organization. Over the past year, the chamber has focused on strengthening partnerships, expanding programming, and increasing meaningful opportunities for businesses of all sizes to engage and thrive.

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce extends sincere appreciation to its sponsors, partners, volunteers, and host venue Camp Sunshine for making the evening possible, Rankine said.

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce was launched 62 years ago by a group of innovative business owners and was called the North Windham Business Association and is now made up of 14 Board Directors and seven officers whose mission is to foster economic growth and prosperity throughout the region. It is comprised of business members ranging from young entrepreneurs and “mom and pop” shops to the largest employers in the Lakes Region of Maine area.

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the chamber’s scenic region and it is the top vacation destination in Western Maine. The chamber constantly promotes the region and recommends our businesses to visitors through special events, trade publications, information centers, the internet, and by phone and mail. It is also a collective voice for local business in municipal and government affairs and is engaged in economic development and legislative issues that affect the quality of life and the business climate in the region.

As the chamber looks ahead to 2026, its focus remains clear: driving value for members, fostering regional collaboration, and creating impactful opportunities for businesses to connect and grow, Rankine said.

For more details about the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce or a list of upcoming chamber events, visit sebagolakeschamber.com or send an email to [email protected] <

Local author to discuss his noir fiction novel at Windham Public Library

By Erin Rose

Author and longtime Windham resident Charles J. Pickelhaupt will give a talk about his novel, “One Week of Romance and Murder,” at the Windham Public Library at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.

Longtime Windham resident and author
Charles J. Pickelhaupt will appear at
the Windham Public Library at 6 p.m..
Wednesday March 18 to discuss his
noir fiction novel 'One Week of
Romance and Murder."
COURTESY PHOTO

During the presentation, Pickelhaupt will read some of the book’s chapters and give attendees an insight into how he decided to embark on his writing journey.

The book, which was published in 2023, is the first in a trilogy, with the second installment being written currently. It is a noir fiction book, following seven days in the journey of World War II and United States Army Air Force veteran David Gardiner as he works to rejoin society in 1946 and falls in love. However, his trajectory is altered when a murder in Boston brings a detective into his life.

“It’s a guy who’s a former pilot trying to make his way through life. He’s 30 years old and he’s had numerous affairs with women but is looking for something more solid, and he finds it,” Pickelhaupt explained, saying that bringing the detective and the main character together “is the crux of the story.”

Noir fiction, which features heavier storylines and more gritty details than a mystery book, appealed to Pickelhaupt, as movies from the same genre are particular favorites. The time period was also selected because of the state of post-war America.

“I am a fan of 1940 noir movies, like Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart,” he said. “I think it’s a fascinating time, when America was together, for the most part.”

The book was a sudden revelation made one Sunday afternoon in 2022 while watching television, the author said, and the first three chapters were written by hand the same day his inspiration hit.

“This idea popped into my head. ‘Oh my god, I want to write a noir novel, with a hard-nosed detective or soldier or something,” he said. “I went to our office, grabbed some paper and all afternoon, I wrote three chapters.”

The entire process of writing the more than 120,000-word novel took about a year, as it was all written longhand before being transcribed slowly into a computer, and Pickelhaupt admits, “I’m not a typist.”

“I was very much aided by my wife, as far as spelling goes,” he said, praising his wife Nancy for her guidance in engaging technology to help his writing, in addition to her continued encouragement. “I would say ‘how do you spell this’, and she would say ‘doesn’t your spell check work?’”

He says that, “you have to get reasonably close in spelling for spell check to have it pop up.”

The sense of accomplishment has been the best part of the writing process for the novel, as it was an unexpected goal in Pickelhaupt’s life.

“The best part of writing a book is accomplishing something I never thought I would,” he said. “I never in my whole life said, ‘I’m going to write a book.” But somehow, that Sunday afternoon, I started writing a couple of chapters and I said, ‘by God, I’m going to do this. And it developed. As you start writing a book, you start out with some ideas and then you enlarge it and add detail.”

Some of the details in the book are particularly familiar to the author, as his father was a member of the Air Force, working as an electrician on B-17 bombers, which are also known as “Flying Fortresses” in North Africa and Italy. Pickelhaupt also spent time in his childhood moving through Air Force establishments in Germany, Italy and England before returning to the United States. His father was also stationed in Detroit, giving Pickelhaupt personal insight into the city that he used in the pages of the novel.

“I know Detroit, I know Michigan. It’s my home state,” he said, noting that his hometown is Port Huron, Michigan. “Detroit is a big city, and a lot of people were gathering there at that point.”

“And I wanted to get them out of Maine,” Pickelhaupt said.

The author, however, made it to Maine and never looked back, as he met his wife of 56 years while his father was stationed at Dow Air Force Base, located in Bangor before closing in 1968. The pair have two children, Charles and Kathryn, and five grandchildren.

“My son and his wife have encouraged me to reach out to the world,” Pickelhaupt explained, saying that he is hoping to give talks at the Gorham Public Library and possibly some senior facilities in the area.

“One Week of Romance and Murder” is available for purchase on Amazon. Copies will also be available for purchase during Pickelhaupt’s presentation at the Windham Library. <