Spirituality remains prominent element in Boston Post Cane recipient’s life

By Ed Pierce

Pearl Grant believes that every life has a spiritual purpose, and that every person plays a role in the spiritual development of others. It’s a philosophy that has guided Pearl throughout her life and now as the oldest resident of the town after she was presented with the Boston Post Cane by the Town of Windham.

Windham Town Clerk Linda Morrell, left,
presents a replica of the Boston Post Cane
to Pearl Grant on Tuesday, April 22 at her
home in Windham. Grant turns 100 on June 2
and Morrell presented the cane to her
signifying that she is the oldest living
resident of the town.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

Grant will turn 100 on June 2 and remains an active churchgoer and hosts a bible study group at her home every week. She graduated from Windham High School in 1943 and says that her family and God are key elements of her life as she’s about to reach the centenarian milestone that only 0.027 percent of Americans live to.

“Now that I’ve lived this long, I honestly can’t see a big difference from being 99 and being 100,” Grant said. “It’s about the same to me. God has certainly blessed me to live this long.”

Windham Town Clerk Linda Morrell visited Grant at her home on Tuesday morning and presented her with a replica of the town’s Boston Post Cane before a gathering of friends and family.

Morrell read a citation recognizing Grant’s longevity and Pearl recalled that she was present when Morrell gave the cane to her mother Ethel in 2001. Ethel Verrill had the cane as Windham’s oldest resident until she passed away in 2007.

The history of the Boston Post Cane is a story that has long outlived its creator, Morrell said.

“On Aug. 2, 1909, Edwin A. Grozier, the publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, forwarded to the Board of Selectmen in 700 towns in New England an ebony cane with a gold-head with the request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male resident of the town.”

Launching the Boston Post Cane as a gimmick to promote his newspaper, Grozier mandated that no cities were to be involved, only towns, and that the recipient of the cane was to use it as long as he lived or moved away. Upon the death of the town’s cane recipient, Grozier said that the honor should be handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. That way, the cane would come to be a symbolic representation of the town and not the individual who received it.

The original Boston Post Canes were manufactured by J.F. Fradley and Company of New York and derived from ebony that was shipped in 7-foot lengths from the Congo in Africa. The ebony was cut into suitable cane lengths, seasoned for six months, and then turned on lathes to just the right thickness, and then coated and polished.

Each original cane had a 14-carat gold head some 2 inches long and decorated by hand with a ferruled tip. The cane’s head was engraved with the inscription — Presented by the Boston Post to the oldest citizen of (name of town) — “To Be Transmitted.”

At its inception, 700 towns received the canes. By 2020, more than 510 towns were still participating. In 1930, the Boston Post Cane tradition was modified to include women recipients and in 1956, the newspaper stopped publication, but its legacy and tradition endures to this very day.

Windham’s first Boston Post Cane recipient was Elijah Cook in 1909, and now that distinction belongs to Grant, who succeeds the late Hazel Gilman as the cane recipient. Gilman died last October at the age of 106.

The original Boston Post Cane for Windham is displayed at the Windham Town Hall. Morrell said a replica cane to be passed from recipient to recipient was created in 1999.

“Lloyd Murphy designed and created the showcase to display the original cane at no cost and Bruce Pulkkinen of Windham Millworks donated the wood,” Morrell said. “Ed Kimball of Classic Impressions in Portland was the artisan of engraving the replica cane, brass plates for all past recipients and history of the cane. Frank Sennett of General Machine was the artisan of the brass head and stainless tip of the replica cane, and he spiffed up the original as well. The ends were looking beat up.”

Families sign a document agreeing to return the replica cane when the time comes, Morrell said.

Grant was born on June 2, 1925 to Fred and Ethel Verrill in Windham and grew up on the family farm on Highland Cliff Road. After graduating from high school, Pearl found a job working for Blue Cross on Exchange Street in Portland.

In March 1947, she married Stanley Grant, and the couple were the parents of three children. Stanley died in 2014.

Of all the inventions that Grant has witnessed in her lifetime, she cites television as the one she thinks has had the most impact upon her life.

“I gave up driving at 96, so watching TV fills the time and gives me something to do,” she said. <

Maine Mobile BIOLAB ignites JSMS student science interest

By Ed Pierce

Creativity may just be the secret sauce to unlocking interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, and if that’s the case, Jordan-Small Middle School students received a hefty dose of it last Friday when the Maine Mobile Biolab paid a visit to the Raymond school.

The Maine Mobile BIOLAB visited Jordan-Small Middle
School in Raymond last week and students were able to
participate in laboratory activities and a variety of
classes ranging from sample testing and data analysis
to basic chemistry and environmental science.
COURTESY PHOTO

The Maine Mobile BIOLAB is part of Educate Maine’s larger strategy to connect students and educators with career pathways within the life sciences sector and develop a larger and career ready workforce in Maine through educational investments. This high-tech mobile laboratory brings scientific tools and techniques right to the schools it visits, allowing students access to experiences far beyond what many schools can provide.

The curriculum features laboratory activities appropriate for a variety of classes ranging from sample testing and data analysis to basic chemistry and environmental science. All BIOLAB activities are focused on problem-based learning with real-world applications that align with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Maine Learning Results and include common bioscience techniques such as DNA extraction and agarose gel electrophoresis, and relevant themes such as aquaculture, bioengineering, and forestry.

Each Maine Mobile BIOLAB activity goes beyond textbook learning and offers students a firsthand look at the world of bioscience and the multitude of career possibilities in the field.

Kellie Ouellette, a Science and Math teacher at Jordan-Small Middle School, said the BIOLAB visit was an exceptional method to spark interest in STEM-related fields among her students.

“The Maine Mobile BIOLAB brought in a series of high-tech laboratory experiences for students to participate in that we just do not have the materials or resources to carry out in a small school,” she said. “They brought all of the equipment and had well-designed lab experiences that gave the students hands-on experience with water testing for ph and turbidity, with connections to ecosystem health.”

Ouellette said another lab that JSMS students were able to participate in was called "Where Did the Sugar Go?" and was an exploration of how sugar travels through the human body, and how diabetes can interfere with that process.

At another station, students ran tests on simulated blood to determine which patient was the diabetic patient, and they were then tasked with designing a meal plan that would work based on the units of insulin the person had brought with them.

The Maine Mobile BIOLAB approach emphasizes the practices of science and engineering, building the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that are vital for success in STEM fields. In addition to learning new skills in a hands-on environment, participants gain a holistic understanding of the bioscience industry and opportunities available to them.

The biolab curriculum was co-developed with input from Maine bioscience employers and industry stakeholders. Public school teachers also provided feedback to inform the program through an educator survey. The Maine Mobile BIOLAB launched last spring with an initial focus on grades 5 to 8 and the entire program is available at no cost to schools.

Across America and in Maine, employment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations has grown substantially in the past 35 years, rising from 9.7 million in 1990 to 17.3 million this year, according to research complied by the U.S. Labor Department.

Having a STEM-related degree can also boost potential earnings as students explore potential careers. Statistics show that the average STEM worker earns $54,745 annually while a non-STEM worker typically earns $40,505.

The Life Sciences field happens to be one of the fastest growing industries in Maine and in the past five years, high-paying bioscience jobs in Maine have risen by 42 percent. With more STEM graduates, it is expected that in the future Maine could become a busy biotech hub, so the mobile lab might foster more interest among students who had not previously considered these types of careers.

“The novelty of having lab sessions in a giant RV with four large lab stations was fun,” Ouellette said. “In class we are following up on the labs we completed by looking at the data collected and continuing our learning.”

She said that the Maine Mobile BIOLAB’s “Where Did the Sugar Go? connects well with material her students were studying such as human body systems and structures and the functions of cells, tissues, and organs. We also can connect it to photosynthesis and respiration, and other chemical processes that occur in the cells of organisms.”

The BIOLAB is an initiative of Educate Maine which believes that all Maine people must have access to a high-quality education that provides them with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for career and economic success. It is committed to addressing inequities across the state and believes that the mobile lab will increase access and decrease barriers and create unique experiences for middle school students in Maine. Educate Maine champions career readiness by increasing the educational attainment of Maine residents, enabling all students to succeed in postsecondary education and in the workplace. As a business-led education advocacy organization, Educate Maine also administers four signature programs with key partners: Maine Teacher of the Year Program, Project>Login, Education Leaders Experience, and Maine Career Catalyst. <

Television drama series plans season premiere in Windham

By Ed Pierce

If success is the result of hard work, opportunity and talent, Justin Fortin has all of those and more.

Cast members of the television series 'Hearts
of New England' gather after filming a scene
for the show at Windham Billiards on April 6.
The third season of the series, which is based
in Maine and features local actors, will
premiere with a special 'Meet the Cast'
party at Smitty's Cinema in Windham
this summer. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Fortin is the creative mastermind behind “Hearts of New England,” a television drama based in Maine and filmed using Windham locations with an all-New England cast. The series is about to debut a third season on Amazon Prime later this year and has drawn rave reviews for its authenticity and depiction of life in the Pine Tree State.

“Hearts of New England” is created, written, and directed by Fortin and he also stars as a soldier who returns to his Maine home after serving in a war, only to become embroiled in a war at home as he learns that his father is deeply connected to the mob. He’s also caught in a love triangle between characters played by Caitlynn McCauley and Kris Salvi, and it seems like his quest for peace in his life turns out to be a never-ending war.

Married and the father of five children, Fortin was born in Lewiston and attended high school in Poland. He started acting professionally in 2016 after auditioning and landing a role in the film “Paper City Burnout.” In 2018, Fortin came up with the idea to create “Hearts of New England” produced by his company Maine Event Films. He has also appeared in leading roles in several other films and has directed a vampire film called “My Co-Worker is a Vampire.”

When not filming “Hearts of New England,” Fortin works as the Assistant Director for Shaw’s Supermarket in Windham and formerly worked for the Windham Walmart as a manager.

“We film in Windham all the time. Local businesses here in Windham have been very good to us,” Fortin said. “Filming here honestly feels like returning home. I have lots of friends here between the Walmart in Windham that I previously worked for, and the Windham Shaw’s I currently work for.”

Those familiar with Windham and areas throughout the Lakes Region will recognize many locations used in the television series. Previous seasons included filming at sites around Sebago Lake including at beaches in both Windham and Raymond, and a scene at the Windham Barber Shop on Roosevelt Trail.

“Most recently we filmed a mob scene at Windham Billiards,” Fortin said. “We also filmed a scene at the Pat's Pizza in Windham that will be airing in the Season 3 premiere episode.”

Many of the actors appearing on “Hearts of New England” are ones who’ve done theater and community plays before and over the years, the cast has grown from six speaking roles in the first season to dozens now.

“But in filming year-round as we do for this series, a lot of people have jobs and it’s tough to get them during the week,” Fortin said. “We try to film whenever we can and accommodate their schedules.”

He says the third season of the series will bring in some new additions to the cast who will be helpful to the show.

“Recently I recruited one of the most talented actresses that I know from New Hampshire, KJ Traynor. I also recruited three women to play detectives in Caral Rose Dubois, Kayla Fanum, and Megan Salisbury, as well as adding actors Adam Griswold and Corey Wells and expanding David Wells' role as Mickey. They all bring something special to the team,” Fortin said.

According to Fortin, the “Hearts of New England” series has been very popular with Maine viewers since its inception, originally airing on Great Falls TV on YouTube, and now has found a nationwide audience when it was selected to air on Amazon Prime in 2023.

“I’m glad we are still standing, especially after COVID,” Fortin said. “A lot of productions fell apart during that time, but I refused, and we managed to make it happen. I would have never thought the show would win over 160 awards or that I would be a 91-time award-winning filmmaker. It’s very rewarding to see the progression of starting with five people to now working with close to 200 people. There is nothing more rewarding than watching the progress from Season 1 to Season 3 because there is so much more experience now from when we started, making it much better.”

A total of five seasons of 10 episodes each are planned for “Hearts of New England.”

The length of time required to complete an episode of the series depends on several factors.

“It varies on how complex the scene is because we don’t film in episode order, we film based on the people and location we have on said days,” Fortin said. “Technical stuff has gotten a lot better. Especially with the addition of Christopher Fyfe. He is a genius, and the show transformed night and day with his expertise. Filming in Maine is good because most businesses are very supportive, especially right here in Windham. The biggest thing that can be problematic in Maine is the weather. It can be nice out, and then it snows but we’ve worked around that pretty well.”

Friends, family and coworkers are very supportive of the show, Fortin said.

“It’s funny because they often say they can barely recognize my character. My persona in the show is very different from the real me,” he said. “This series has a very good following in New England. I always wanted to act and started as a kid doing skits with my best friend Joshua Harris, but I got my first real opportunity in a movie called ‘Paper City Burnout’ and since then I’ve been grinding. Filming is my happy place. None of which could be done without my amazing behind the scenes team of Christopher Fyfe and Stephen Conicelli.”

Maine Event Films has booked Smitty’s Cinema to debut the Season 3 premiere episode on the evening of July 19. The show will start at 7 p.m. and cast members will be on hand at 6 p.m. to meet the public and fans. It is open to the public, and tickets are currently on sale on Eventbrite. Tickets can also be purchased on the Maine Event Films Facebook page.

“The public should attend to support all New England especially considering 80 percent of our cast is Maine talent,” Fortin said. “They will see people they know and businesses they've been to or restaurants that they’ve eaten at. It's a good way to support the arts and meet a lot of local talent. The show is on the rise and in the future, you will want to say you attended this premiere and got to meet all these talented people.” <

PowerServe 2025 a lasting community tribute to late WHS student

By Ed Pierce

Perhaps our greatest legacy in life is what people remember about us and do in our memory when we’re gone. For Shane Donnelly, his legacy is one of love for his community and the inspiration for an annual event that continues to help neighbors and the town years after his death.

Student volunteers work on a project at the
302 Rotary during a previous PowerServe
event in Windham. The 2025 PowerServe
will be held Saturday, April 26 and is a 
one-day event with volunteers helping
organizations and individuals in the
community who need assistance in
performing various tasks such as 
painting, yard work and home repairs.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Shane Donnelly was just 16 and a sophomore at Windham High School when he passed away unexpectedly in May 2015. His family says that he cared deeply about his community and to show their love for him, his family helped organize the first PowerServe in 2016, a community event where volunteers served Windham area organizations and individuals who needed assistance by performing various tasks ranging from painting to yard work to household repairs and major projects benefiting the town.

The first PowerServe was supposed to be a one-time event in Shane’s memory but following an outpouring of volunteers willing to donate their time to help, it evolved into an annual event growing to include hundreds of volunteers and dozens of projects each year.

“Since that time, we have done hundreds of service projects for the community and residents in need with the help of over 150 volunteers each year on our PowerServe day,” said Shane’s mother Kim Donnelly.

This year, the PowerServe event will be held on Saturday, April 26.

“For this year, we have 160 volunteers signed up so far and 34 projects scheduled to work on,” Kim Donnelly said. “We are looking for more volunteers to meet the need. The day is truly about students and adults in our community giving back to help those here in Windham while serving together.”

PowerServe brings Windham students, coaches, educators, business leaders and residents from all walks of life together to help neighbors, friends and family in Windham on this one day of giving back to our community and those in need who live here.

The volunteers are organized into teams that go out from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to work together doing projects to help residents and organizations in the community.

“Everyone meets back to share stories at the free barbecue at the Windham Historical Society grounds,” Kim Donnelly said. “This gives everyone time to share their experiences. It is a great opportunity to come together to help their neighbors and to meet new people from all ages and walks of life here in Windham.”

According to his mother, Shane loved the peace and beauty of the outdoors. She said he was a good student, a gifted athlete, a kind young man and a loving son.

“When he passed away unexpectedly at the age of 16, it was not only a shock to our family, but to the community and students at school,” Kim Donnelly said. “Nothing can fill the void from Shane’s passing. However, being able to materially see the impact that this event has had on the students, individuals and our larger community does help to feel that he left his mark on this world. Having past classmates of Shane’s and current students come back to Windham to support one another and our neighbors is so heartwarming. The projects that we do mean that our volunteers are working outside together to do good. It’s wonderful to see these students volunteer alongside local business teams, church members, teachers, friends, and families. It truly shows that Windham residents support one another.”

For 2025, PowerServe has 34 projects lined up at this time, the most since it started in 2016. For the larger Windham community, this year volunteers will be doing work at Dundee Park, moving the performance pavilion, building a stage and an overall spring clean-up. They will also build bridges and perform a trail clean-up at Black Brook Preserve.

Past projects performed by PowerServe volunteers include work on the community basketball courts/skate park, building conduits for the 302 Rotary holiday lights, at the Historical Society Community Gardens, on RSU 14’s Cross Country trails, at Manchester School and various plantings at Windham High School.

“The majority of our projects are for Windham residents who are in need of spring clean-ups, outside light stain or painting, spring plantings and mulch, power washing, and more,” Kim Donnelly said. “These are people with disabilities, sickness, who are elderly, an educator or public servant that we want to show our thanks for or just don't have the help and support needed to take care of these projects around their homes. Each year we go out to the town, community, and local businesses requesting nominations for projects for Windham residents to help with.”

As a lifelong volunteer, and Shane’s mother, Kim Donnelly said that in volunteering, you come to understand that simple actions can have a big impact.

“The old adage ‘it is better to give than receive’ or ‘the more you give, the more you get,’ holds true,” she said. “There are many opportunities to volunteer in Maine. PowerServe gives us as Windham residents the opportunity to give back to our own neighbors in need, alongside other Windham residents of all ages. Of course, for me and my family, this is an act of love in memory of Shane, who is remembered by students, teachers, coaches, friends and family for being a kind, loving young man who was accepting of all.”

Volunteers can sign up at PowerServe Windham’s FaceBook page or by visiting www.powerserve.me.

“Volunteering offers invaluable life lessons, a sense of purpose and gratitude for our own life,” Kim Donnelly said. “For our youth, it may take you outside of your comfort zone, but it can develop leadership, communication skills, confidence, and new relationships. This event was originally created in memory of one of our community’s young people. Its success is driven by student involvement in the Planning Committee, outreach to the high school teams and student groups and ultimately the pride our youth feel giving back to their community the day of the event. I would be remiss in not thanking those community members who continue to volunteer year after year. It gives you an amazing feeling of giving back to the community and those around us. You will also meet some wonderful people in your community who are volunteering alongside you.” <

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. <

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.” <

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. <

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. <

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.” <

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. <