WHS graduate supplies Team USA with belts for Olympics

By Masha Yurkevich

A small town like Windham and a small and rural state like Maine do not get recognized very often on a national level. However, when Windham High School graduate Michael Lyons and his manufacturing company, Rogue Industries, were asked by designer Ralph Lauren to produce 3,000 leather belts for Team USA for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Maine was put on the map.

Rogue Industries, led by Michael Lyons of
Windham, was given almost two years of
time by designer Ralph Lauren Corporation
to source material and do all the preparation
necessary to produce 3,000 belts worn by
members of the U.S. Olympic Team during
the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in
Paris, France. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Lyons is the founder of Rogue Industries in Standish. The company focuses on manufacturing high-quality leather and wax canvas designs. While they are very well known for their patent and design of the front pocket wallet, they are also known for their attention to detail and the quality of the items they produce. Rogue Industries has a small team of nine people who are very dedicated to what they do under the direction of Lyons.

He grew up in Windham and graduated from Windham High School in 1977. Originally, Lyons was running a small publishing house and injured his back. His doctor told him that his back issues are because of him sitting on his bulky wallet, causing problems with his spine. Lyons set out to find a wallet that would comfortably fit in his front pocket but had no luck. So, he decided to design his own wallet, one that was curved and would comfortably fit in his front pocket.

“We kind of accidentally went into the design world of leather goods,” says Lyons. “Our original design was one wallet and one collar; now, we have more than 100 stock keeping units. We went into women’s tote bags, belts, crossbody clutches, coasters, and many more high-quality designs.”

The company’s designs drew the attention of the Ralph Lauren Corporation, who then called Rogue Industries. Lyons said he was certain that they had the wrong phone number. But Ralph Lauren officials had done their homework and knew exactly who they were speaking to.

“We were given almost two years ahead of time to source the material and do all the preparation which was necessary,” says Lyons. “Ralph Lauren was speaking to Sea Bags in Portland, asking them if they know of anyone who can make very high-quality products, and Sea Bags referred us.”

Lyons says that his first reaction to the order was one of disbelief.

“Did Ralph Lauren really want us to do something with such a huge amount of visibility,” said Lyons. “My second reaction was, we need to get to work. We did this for the Ralph Lauren Corporation, they hired us to do this as a private label effort on their behalf for the U.S. Olympic Team. Our customer here was the Ralph Lauren Corporation.”

Ralph Lauren partnered with many manufacturers across the United States to produce Team USA’s uniform, including Rogue Industries, which assembled and manufactured Ralph Lauren’s Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies Webb Belt.

“What they did is they went out and worked with only eight other companies across the United States such as Rancourt in Lewiston who made shoes for Team USA, so there were two of us from Maine,” says Lyons. “They would then go to different companies for the jackets, for the shirts, and for the pants.”

Every single component, and absolutely every single detail that was used in the making of these belts had to be sourced from the United States.

“The hard part was not so much the as actual production as much as it was finding the right suppliers,” says Lyons.

According to Lyons, the thread, the leather, the cotton webbing, and every single component had to be obtained from a company located in the United States.

“Finding companies that still make product in the United States is incredibly challenging,” says Lyons.

Once all the components were found and once the production of the belts was started, it took Rogue Industries about 120 days to complete the belts for Ralph Lauren Corporation.

If there is a lesson for us to take away from this, it is that hard work pays off, and Michael Lyons and Rogue Industries are proof of that. Their company’s motto is “Quality or Quantity” and that was evident for all to see during the Olympic Games earlier this month in France. <

Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing seeks volunteers for first home project

The mission of the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing (SBLFCFH) is to make a difference in the communities of Raymond, Standish and Windham by providing safe and adequate housing repairs for those who are aging in place. The newly established non-profit organization had hoped to begin their projects much sooner, but COVID-19 has significantly impacted their timetables.

The good news is, after ironing out COVID safety protocols, the Fuller Center has scheduled their first project for Friday Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a rain date and perhaps a finishing date scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11.

This project is for an elderly couple located in Windham and will include repairing windows and door trim, caulking and repainting and some tree trimming as well as yard cleanup. SBLFCFH has a professional volunteer with window repair experience to guide the Fuller Center and its volunteers.

“It is so important to have people be able to stay safely in their homes and to know that they don’t have to leave at a time that they just want to have the memories and feel comforted by what’s around them,” said Diane Dunton Bruni, President of SBLFCFH.

The Fuller Center is open to volunteers to help with this first effort and future projects in the making. Any individual can sign up to volunteer and donate any amount of time by helping the organization keep this senior couple (and others in the future) warm during the winter months. The organization is asking for volunteers to work in a timeframe of their choice. To learn more about this project, contact the organization at sebagofullerhousinginfo@gmail.com.

The Fuller Center for Housing was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller, who also founded Habitat for Humanity. The Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing, was established in 2019 and includes board members from area founding partners of Windham Hill United Church of Christ, Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, Faith Lutheran Church, North Windham Union Church, Saint Joseph’s College and Raymond Village Community Church.

To help support their housing repair efforts, the Fuller Center will be hosting a virtual bike ride fundraiser to take place from Sept. 12 to Sept. 26.  In deference to the current COVID experience, this means that any time during this period, the riders can complete the 40-mile route around Sebago Lake (which is a beautiful ride in and of itself). All registrants will get a T-shirt and prize drawings will be given after the event.

If you enjoy biking and want to support this work, this is a great way to do it. All the information regarding instructions, pledge forms, completion form, contact information, is available on the website: www.sebagofullerhousing.org.

Special thanks to following businesses who are sponsoring the virtual bike ride: The Goodlife Market, Gorham Savings Bank, Mulberry Farms, Sebago Technics, Inc., Unity Center for Spiritual Growth and Windham Hill United Church of Christ

“Millard Fuller talked a lot about hope and how hope is essential in life,” Dunton Bruni said. “What we are doing is we are giving hope.”

Be sure to follow the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller for Housing on Facebook and Instagram. <

Two Windham residents receive STEM scholarships at Saint Joseph College

Alia Bradley

Two Windham residents have been announced as recipients of the new Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine Noyce scholarships at Saint Joseph College in Standish.

Juniors Alia Bradley and Taelor Freeman, both of Windham, were among six students at Saint Joseph College to be awarded the $25,000 scholarship for the 2020-2021 school year in support of their studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and secondary education.

“Saint Joseph’s College is deeply committed to educating the next generation of STEM teachers for Maine schools,” Saint Joseph College President Jim Dlugos said. “STEM education remains the foundation and the number-one priority for training Maine’s future skilled and educated workforce. By working with SMCC and schools across Maine, this project promises to draw more students into STEM-Ed degrees, provide teacher training with diverse populations, and plant seeds with current high school and middle school students to become future STEM teachers.”

According to Dlugos, scholarship recipients will attend conferences, participate in field experiences, and hear from experts as part of a new deep-dive seminar series. Additionally, they will receive induction support and professional development upon starting their careers in math and science classrooms in high-need school districts.

He said that the Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine Noyce scholarships project was designed to increase the number of secondary STEM teachers in an era when nearly a third of Maine teachers are 55 years old and nearing retirement, and to address the decades-old shortage of STEM teachers in Maine. The program encourages students from high-need school districts to return to their communities as teachers and leaders of the next generation of science and math educators.

Taelor Freeman

“Teaching STEM is more than preparing the next generation of professionals. It is about sharing the wonder and awe that is the natural world, while connecting natural phenomena to our everyday lives,” Bradley said.

She is transferring to Saint Joseph College from Southern Maine Community College in South Portland to complete her Biology and Secondary Education degree.

“Studying life and being alive has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Teaching STEM is more than preparing the next generation of professionals,” Bradley said. “It is about sharing the wonder and awe that is the natural world, while connecting natural phenomena to our everyday lives. I hope to empower my students with the knowledge of the natural system, so they make informed decisions as it concerns their personal health, behavior, and local environment.”

Bradley, a 2007 graduate of Windham High School, said she’s looking forward to meeting other peers in the STEM network and discussing ideas that will help them to develop professionally. She loves to spend time outdoors and, in the future, she hopes to have an opportunity to mentor students in research programs and science fairs.

Freeman, a Math and Secondary Education major at Saint Joseph College, said that the scholarship will assist her in preparing to give back to her community through teaching.

“I want to be a STEM teacher because I not only enjoy math, but I like helping others with it as well,” Freeman said. “I love seeing the moment it makes sense to someone and that I helped in that process.”

She said that the scholarship will provide her the opportunity to develop her teaching skills and to apply them in future experiences through the Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine Noyce program.

Freeman is a 2018 graduate of Windham High School. <

Saint Joseph’s College to announce $1.45 million award to address Maine’s secondary STEM teacher shortage

President James Dlugos is set to announce that Saint Joseph’s College of

Maine has been awarded a five-year, $1,444,983 grant from the National Science Foundation’s

Track 1 Robert Noyce Scholarship and Stipend Program.

Governor Janet T. Mills will officiate at the announcement, which will be made on Monday,

March 16^th at 10:30 a.m. in the Baggot Street Cafe of the Heffernan Center at Saint Joseph’s

College. The event will be open to media.

The Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine (GFSTM) project will provide two-year

scholarships of $25,500 per year to a total of 18 undergraduate juniors and seniors. The program

will provide special supports as they pursue STEM degrees in biology, mathematics, or physical

sciences-chemistry or environmental science, as well as secondary education certification.

Ultimately, Noyce Scholars will work in high-need urban and rural schools across Maine.

GFSTM is a collaboration between Saint Joseph’s and Southern Maine Community College, and

a partnership with 7 school districts.

The seven GFSTM partner schools include: Deering High School, Lewiston High School, and

Westbrook High School as urban schools; Bonny Eagle High School, Windham High School,

Lake Region High School, and Old Town High School as rural schools.

The Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine project is designed to increase the number of

secondary STEM teachers in an era when nearly a third of Maine teachers are 55 years old and

nearing retirement, and to address the decades-old problem of Maine’s shortage of STEM

teachers, in particular. By partnering with a community college and seven high-need schools, the

Noyce project is designed to grow students from within those sites. The project will also

encourage students from high-need school districts to return to their communities as teachers and

leaders of the next generation of science and math educators.

“Saint Joseph’s College is deeply committed to educating the next generation of STEM teachers

for Maine schools,” President Dlugos said. “STEM education remains the foundation and the

number one priority for training Maine’s future skilled and educated workforce. By working with

SMCC and schools across Maine, this project promises to draw more students into STEM-Ed

degrees, provide teacher training with diverse populations, and plant seeds with current high

school and middle school students to become future STEM teachers.”

Maine’s Congressional leaders expressed excitement about the program. “In order for Maine’s

students to gain STEM skills, we need to make sure they have dedicated and well-trained STEM

educators,” said Senators Susan Collins and Angus King in a joint statement. “For decades,

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine has been giving teachers the tools they need to train the next

generation of STEM workers. This funding will help the college expand its efforts and make an

even greater impact on Maine’s students and economy.”

Representative Chellie Pingree said: “As the number of STEM jobs in Maine increase rapidly, we

need our students to be well-prepared for their future careers,” said Pingree. “Increasing the

number of public school STEM teachers will go a long way towards preparing our children for

the jobs of tomorrow. My thanks to the National Science Foundation for recognizing how

important this STEM education is for the future of Maine’s workforce and for funding this

work.”

Representative Jared Golden added: “Saint Joseph’s College does critical work to prepare young

Mainers for jobs in education and other careers, positions we need to fill in our state. This grant

will provide Maine students with opportunities to develop valuable skills that they’ll bring back

to the classroom and help address our STEM teacher shortage. I’m proud to see the NSF

prioritize schools in places like Lewiston and Old Town to provide Maine students with access to

good jobs and a quality education.”

Matthew J. Lokken, Principal of Lake Region Middle School, a project partner, said: “We

appreciate that Saint Joseph’s College will address the shortage of science teachers in our region.

In the last few years, we have not had a large pool of applicants for posted STEM teacher

positions. It is essential that students at the middle school receive rigorous and authentic learning

opportunities in STEM education for not only academic success and opportunities, but to

effectively prepare the next generation of innovators.”

The first Noyce Scholars will be awarded scholarships in Fall 2020. The grant’s investigators

and creators are Dr. Patricia Waters, Assistant Professor of Education, Dr. Emily Lesher,

Associate Professor of Science, and SMCC’s Dr. Daniel Moore, Professor of Biological

Sciences.

“This partnership provides new opportunities for our students who have a passion for math and

science,” said SMCC President Joe Cassidy. “Besides helping our students, the program will

benefit Maine’s educational system by allowing us to do our part in delivering a new generation

of STEM teachers where they are most needed. This builds upon our mission of transforming

lives and communities through education and training.”

For more information about GFSTM, the scholarship criteria and application process, see

www.sjcme.edu/stem-ed or contact Oliver Griswold at 917-617-2103 or ogriswold@sjcme.edu.

Saint Joseph’s College students share lessons learned from mission trip to Uganda

By Lorraine Glowczak

Two senior Saint Joseph's College students, Adrienne Dolley and April Benak, participated in a medical mission trip to Uganda during their winter break, leaving on January 4 and returning on January 19. They participated with the Partners for World Health (PWH) organization, traveling with doctors, nurses, and other students. While in Uganda, Dolley and Benak provided education and training to physicians and nurses on non-communicable diseases, medication administration, wound care education, infection control and emergency care.

“This mission’s goal was to help educate women and midwives with the intention of preventing complications during childbirth,” began Benak. “We also provided birthing kits, referred to as ‘Mama” kits, that contained much needed items such as diapers, pads, etc. We worked to ensure that the medical supplies given to the organizations were being used properly.”

Their fifteen-day trip included spending time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in the city
of Kampala (Capital of Uganda) as well as in the regions of Gulu and Manafwa. Dolley and Benak assisted medical staff and parents by teaching them about the proper use of CPAPs as well as taking blood pressures and monitoring babies, alerting doctors and nurses when an infant stopped breathing.

“There were no medical monitors like we have here in the U.S., alerting staff immediately when a premature baby stops breathing - so we were the monitors, walking from incubator to incubator to check on each baby,” explained Dolley. During their visits at the three NICUs, Dolley and Benak would monitor anywhere between 75 to 80 babies at one time. “In some cases, NICUs will have at least 100 babies or more to care for,” Dolley added.

As one can imagine, both Dolley, who plans to become a doctor and Benak, who will be entering into the teaching profession upon graduation in May, learned more than they could ever imagine on this medical mission trip.

It all began by volunteering with Partners for World Health, located in Portland. PWH collects medical supplies and equipment from healthcare facilities, manufacturers, other organizations, and individuals. The supplies and equipment are then sorted, evaluated, repackaged, and prepared for distribution to individuals, communities, and healthcare facilities in need.

“Our work limits the impact on the environment by diverting discarded materials from landfills and provides needed health care resources to the developing world,” as stated on the PWH website. “PWH aims to improve health conditions by sending medical personnel on medical missions to developing countries and educating New England communities about global health issues.”

While volunteering at PWH, both Dolley and Benak decided to become a part of the volunteer travel team and go on a medical mission trip with the organization. They immediately got busy to raise the needed funds by collecting recycled bottles, approaching businesses for support and having a “Hope to Help” auction that included special guest speaker, Elizabeth McLellan, the founder of PWH.

“We learned so much, not only with the trip itself, but through the process of reaching our goals - and it started right here in this community,” began Benak. “We discovered how supportive people are – everything from the Pearson’s Café [the campus/student cafeteria] who helped us collect the bottles to the Windham, Raymond, Standish and Brunswick* businesses who didn’t hesitate to help in some way. It is really amazing how supportive and encouraging people are.” *(Dolley is from Brunswick).

The positive response towards the students continued in the southern end of the globe. “All the people we met were ridiculously kind,” explained Dolley about those they met in Uganda. “We were offered food and praise and gratitude. They treated us as if we were family. I don’t think I have ever experienced anything like that.”

The two students admitted that there were some challenging experiences they faced during their medical mission trip. “We were cautioned about some things we might see that we wouldn’t see here in the U.S., so we were prepared,” Dolley said. “And, we also got to debrief with fellow PWH volunteers at the end of each day.”

Some of what they witnessed included but not limited to: three or four babies in one incubator, the lack of electrical outlets needed to power the much needed equipment, the lack of communication between medical staff and mothers and the improper use of CPAPs.

“I think what frustrated me the most was the lack of vital sign monitors,” began Dolley. “A baby could have stopped breathing for a second or for a few minutes but there is no way of knowing – and every second counts when a baby discontinues breathing. It is a matter of life and death. You don’t know if a baby has stopped breathing or if they have died.”

Although there were many challenges witnessed during this trip, Benak is taking from the experience the many positives of the medical mission and plans to convert that into educating her future students. “I want to share and teach students about different cultures and the day to day life of those in other countries,” she said. “And the only way for me to do that well is if I experience it myself.”

On her trip to Uganda, Benak focused on the day to day life of transportation, capturing in photos

how families (and animals, and products) are transported from one point to the next. “I’ve labeled this part of my adventure….’On a Boda Boda’”

Benak explained that a boda boda is a very small motorbike, slightly larger than that of an American
moped. “I have seen a family of five on one bike and at various other times have seen a cow, a baby bed, a couch, chickens and crates of eggs being transported on a boda boda,” she exclaimed. Benak has already shared this cultural experience with the fifth-grade students she taught during her student teaching assignment last semester.

Dolley, who initially wanted to be an anesthesiologist, has changed her mind about the direction of her career as a result of the medical mission. “I now want to be a doctor in neonatology, working with newborn infants, especially those preborn or ill,” she said. “But before I attend medical school, I want to take four to five years and continue to participate in various medical mission trips. Once I return and have completed medical school, I want to live in rural Maine and serve a community where medical needs are not met. I want to help those who cannot help themselves.”

To learn more about Partners in World Health or to inquire about volunteering or medical mission trips, peruse their website at www.partnersforworldhealth.org/

Sebago Lake Automotive: Celebrating 100 years of life in vehicle sales and service

Brad, Herbert (holding a picture of his father Victor) and
Mitch Woodbrey

By Lorraine Glowczak

Herbert, Brad and Mitch Woodbrey took a moment to share their memories about the life and times of Sebago Lake Automotive. Their beautiful and poignant tales portray a business involving a lot of hard work, extreme dedication, significant family and friends support and happy customers. It is these qualities that contribute to their century long success.

It all began with World War I behind them and the modern auto industry beginning its boom. The time seemed ripe for Victor Woodbrey and his brother Amos to purchase an auto sales and service business on November 30, 1920.

Woodbrey Brothers was the name of the shop and it was located in Sebago Lake Village in Standish. The brothers remained in business together until Victor purchased his brother’s share of the company a couple of years later, changing the name to Sebago Lake Garage and eventually becoming a Chevrolet dealership in 1928.

Victor had buses he ran for the town of Standish and during World War II he used them to run Sebago Lake Defense Lines that transported workers from Fryeburg to White Rock to the Liberty Shipyard in South Portland.

After Victor’s death in 1949, his son Herbert took over the business in 1950 and owned it until he retired in 1996. Now known as Sebago Lake Automotive, located at 847 Roosevelt Trail in Windham, third generation brothers, Brad and Mitch are the current owners.

Herbert not only worked hard at both the sales and service part of the business but continued with using the buses, contracting with MSAD6 school district. He eventually had a full fleet of 18 buses.

Not only did Herbert work hard at the garage, but he worked hard for the community - giving back as much as he could. He was actively involved as a member of the MSAD6 school board, the Kiwanis Club, the Maine Auto Dealers Association, of which he was once a President… and much more. “I was involved in everything - except for the Standish Board of Selectmen – I didn’t do that,” Herbert laughed.

But perhaps one of his noblest highlights of Herbert’s life is when he was honored with the Time Magazine Quality Dealer of the Year Award.

As with all of life, the business had its up moments, too. Herbert’s professional smarts, hard work and good economical years paid off and allowed Herbert to support three brothers and two sisters as well as his two daughters and two sons through college. “It was probably one of my greatest accomplishments,” he choked back tears.

Herbert then stated that owning his business was another achievement he is proud of. “We made it through it all and somehow succeeded, despite the many challenges,” Herbert said thoughtfully, then adding, “I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful wife who was my greatest partner. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Herbert met his wife, Audrey, at a dance in North Windham in 1949 and they married the following year on April 2, 1950. She passed away in 2017.

Herbert officially retired from the business in 1996, stepping back to let his sons, Brad and Mitch continue the Sebago Lake Automotive success. “I now consider myself a member of the Board of Directors,” he smiled.

Brad and Mitch are now the sole owners who were born into the industry. “If you talk to people in car sales, almost everyone will tell you that they grew up in the business,” stated Brad, who heads the sales department. “But we really DID ‘grow up in the business’”.

From the moment the younger Woodbrey Brothers (along with their two sisters) were born, the original location with its garage and car sales lot was just steps outside their home.

They both shared stories of working alongside their dad to help keep the shop organized and cleaned. Whether it was painting the buildings, sweeping the floors or counting the inventory – they began working at a young age.

But that didn’t mean the brothers did not have fun while growing up. “Sometimes we would play on the creepers and have oil gun fights,” Brad shared one of their many childhood shenanigans

After going to college, they returned to help their dad. Brad received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Maine at Orono (UMO). He also attended a six-week course in automotive management at Northwood Institute as well as the Chevrolet School of Merchandising and Management.

Mitch, a graduate of UMO with a degree in Agriculture Mechanization (with a second degree in Business), also attended the Chevrolet School of Merchandising and Management now heads the service department.

He admitted his dream was to become a farmer. “When dad asked me to work at the family business, I hadn’t ‘found’ my farm yet, so – I said, ‘Okay, I’ll try it.’ My mother’s brother, Uncle Allen “Ace” Kimball, was an auto guru and service manager at that time. He taught me everything I know today.”

Much like their father and grandfather before them, Brad and Mitch have seen their own ups and downs as owners of Sebago Lake Automotive. The greatest hardship occurred when General Motors went bankrupt during the recession that began in 2008. It was at this point GM eliminated the contract for franchise sales at many dealerships, including Sebago Lakes Automotive, leaving a huge hole in their income base.

“That time was by far the most stressful experience we both had,” Mitch admitted. “Not only did we experience a great financial loss, but it affected our work family, too and that only added to our worries.”

Much as dedication and hard work are a part of the Woodbrey family genetics, giving up when times are tough is not. They, along with their loyal and dedicated employees, customers and friends – Sebago Lake Automotive pulled through and is busy as ever today, continuing trusted auto sales and repair service they have been known for this past century.

Today, in addition to Brad and Mitch – you will always be greeted by their friendly work staff. And, Herbert, too. Herbert is there at least three days a week to spend time with his adult sons and the rest of the Sebago Lake Automotive family.

When asked what advice Herbert offers his sons or others who might be considering opening their own business, he replied, “I try to never give too much advice. Sometimes the best experience is making your own mistakes. Believe me, I have made way too many of my own – and I definitely learned a lot from them.”

Congratulations to Sebago Lake Automotive for serving the community’s automotive needs so well. Happy 100^th!

Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing will help seniors stay in their homes

Board members of the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller
Center for Housing.

By Elizabeth Richards

A bucket list bike ride has inspired the creation of a local chapter of a global nonprofit organization, The Fuller Center for Housing. Sebago Lakes Fuller Center for Housing is a collaboration between six partner organizations, with 12 founding board members.

Several years ago, Bill Turner created a bucket list, which included riding across the US on a bicycle. Looking for possible rides, he came across the Fuller Center Bike Adventure, where participants ride long distances and build or repair houses along the way. His first year out, he rode from San Francisco to Santa Fe via Salt Lake City, Turner said.

The following year, he rode from Portland, OR to Portland, ME, having what he called a “great, uplifting experience” riding 4,000 miles in ten weeks, with six build days along the route. When he returned in the fall, Faith Lutheran Church was undergoing a process to determine what mission they wanted to take on. He suggested launching a Fuller Center, since there were none north of New York.

Turner and Lorraine Glowczak, another member of the congregation, began making presentations to other faith-based organizations to see if they could garner interest in becoming a local covenant partner. The result was six organizations coming together: North Windham United Church of Christ, Faith Lutheran Church, Windham Hill United Church of Christ, Raymond Village Community Church, Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, and St. Joseph’s College.

The next summer, before Turner left for another five-week ride, the founders had a meeting to discuss
the steps involved in becoming a covenant partner. By the time he returned, the group had elected board officers. By fall, the group was up and running, with regular meetings and committees in place.

Board president Diane Dunton Bruni said the group came together quickly, establishing the chapter, writing by-laws and articles of incorporation, and creating committees to reach out to families in need and to find volunteers, all within six months. Now, they’re ready to spread the word about what they’re doing to the community.

“When Bill and Lorraine came and spoke at North Windham United Church of Christ, I knew immediately that I wanted to be involved,” Dunton Bruni said. She has a long history of non-profit
involvement, having worked with the Good Shepard Food Bank for many years. When she heard about the Fuller Center, she said, she knew that it was exactly what she’d been looking for.
Sebago Lakes Fuller Center for Housing will do repairs rather than building homes, at least initially, with a focus on helping older people remain in their homes.

“It is so important to have people be able to stay safely in their homes and to know that they don’t have to leave at a time that they just want to have the memories and feel comforted by what’s around them,” she said.

The Fuller Center for Housing was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller, who also founded Habitat for Humanity. “Millard Fuller talked a lot about hope and how hope is essential in life,” Dunton Bruni said. “What we are doing is we are giving hope.”

Founding members had a range of reasons for getting involved. Nancy Foran, Pastor of the Raymond Village Church, said she had led mission trips centered around housing rehabilitation in Tennessee and other parts of Maine. These experiences were one reason why she was interested in the Fuller Center, she said. “This is an opportunity to do something right in our neighborhood.”

The Lakes Region, she added, is a sort of “dead zone” when it comes to services. “To have an organization that is going to really focus on the Lakes Region, I think it will be great,” Foran said.
With many seniors living in old housing stock, there can be many problems with their homes. “I’m really hopeful that this organization can bridge some gaps there,” Foran said.

Reverend Pat Bessey of the Unity Center for Spiritual Growth said the group decided to focus in the
towns of Standish, Raymond and Windham because these areas don’t have the same level of support as other areas. “That’s where we felt that we could be the most effective,” she said.

Steve McFarland, Director of Career Development at St. Joseph’s College, said “The need is just incredibly obvious everywhere you go in the community.” There are many people unable to maintain their homes at the level they’d like to, he said. “We’ve got a lot of caring people in these communities that want to reach out and help neighbors in that way.”

The nonprofit aligns very well with the mission and values of St. Joseph’s College as well, McFarland said. “Community and compassion are the two values that I think it most closely connects to…I think it just very much aligns with who we are as an organization, and it gives us that opportunity to get out there and do it,” he said.

Gwen Rogers of the Windham Hill United Church of Christ said the church was excited when they were approached about the Fuller Center. “Giving back to the segment of the population, the seniors who are trying to remain in their homes, was an untapped segment that I think we thought we could help with,” she said. “If you just drive around the roads of Windham and Raymond you see homes that you know need a little sprucing up, and people just need some help doing that.”

Bessey said that she saw getting involved as an opportunity to broaden their cooperation with other faith-based organizations. “Also, part of our mission is service and creating community. This fit that
criteria so well, because not only are we going to have an opportunity to do service through volunteering, but we’re also going to be creating community because we’ll be interacting with people from other organizations.”

Dunton Bruni said the organization will partner with town offices, churches in the area, and any other organizations that can help them find people in need of help.

Initial funding for the nonprofit came from each partner organization contributing a set amount, a matching contribution from the Fuller Center for Housing, and $5,000 raised from Turner’s most recent Fuller Center Bike Adventure. The group is also discussing having their own one-day bike ride around Sebago Lake in September to raise funds.

One of the things that is different about the Fuller Center, Turner said, is that some smaller renovation projects are done through their “Greater Blessings Program,” where recipients of the work commit to
paying back what is spent on their project over a time period they can afford, with no interest. In this way, the initial money raised can become a revolving fund for future projects, Turner said.

“Our mission is going to be simple,” Dunton Bruni said. “It’s giving hope to others, and carrying on the legacy of Millard Fuller and being able to help others feel safe in their homes and giving them dignity. It is done with an opportunity to pay it forward in a way that they can. When you have hope, then you look to the future.”

Cool kids on the block: Raymond shines brighter with new LED streetlamps

By Lorraine Glowczak

By the time The Windham Eagle newspaper hits mailboxes this Friday, the Town of Raymond will be the first municipality in the greater Windham/Gorham and Standish communities to be lit up by Light Emitting Diodes streetlamps – otherwise known as LEDs. A total of 110 pole mounted cobra head streetlamps will be converted to the new technology by the weekend. The 69 decorative lights along Route 302 are not a part of the present project but are under review for a future technology upgrade, cost permitting.

These highly energy efficient streetlamps not only produce double the energy proficiency than the

older standard compact florescent lamps but their lifespan lasts much longer - 100,000 hours to be exact – thus being more cost-effective and requiring less maintenance.

But that’s not all. LED streetlamps are known to reduce carbon emissions and do not contain toxic chemicals like mercury that is found in traditional sodium and mercury vapor lamps. This makes it a Win-Win situation: a win for the residents of Raymond to keep cost to a minimum and a win for the environment.

In addition to cost savings and energy efficiency, LED lights provide directional lighting which puts the actual light where it is needed for public safety and also reduces night sky light pollution. Another major factor is that the new lights are programmable. “We will be able to program a specific streetlamp for light intensity or perhaps to blink at the location of an accident.” Town Manager Don Willard stated in a previous interview. “I don’t know if we will want or choose to do all that, but the point is, we could if we want to with an LED lighting system for additional energy savings or public
safety.”

Known as “smart controls technology”, there are many other ways in which LED lighting can work to the benefit of municipalities like Raymond. Some towns and cities use a number of techniques and capabilities such as increasing in brightness when a pedestrian walks by, getting traffic counts at intersections, and even taking pictures of street surfaces to alert municipalities where pavement and sidewalk improvements need to take place, thus creating a more effective pavement maintenance program and elevating personal safety.

Willard explained that Raymond has been working in conjunction with Windham, Standish and Gorham to provide more cost effective and energy saving street lighting by installing the LED lighting. “As a part of the cost saving efforts, we have been working with consultant REALTERM Energy, a company that works closely with municipalities to install reliable and affordable LED lighting upgrades, often providing the service to groups of towns working together.” In this case, the collective buying will be a result of the collaboration between the four Lakes Region towns. The cost of the project for the Town of Raymond is $78,936 with a payback period of 4.8 years.

In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon, Willard couldn’t contain his excitement regarding this latest, cost-effective and environmentally friendly upgrade. “The streetlamp outside of my office [at Raymond Town Hall] was converted today,” he began. “It will be coming on in a minute and I can’t wait to see what it looks like.”

Other towns in Maine that have converted to or are in the process of converting to LED lamp lighting include Presque Ise, Biddeford, Portland, South Portland, Wells, Dover-Foxcroft, Fort Kent, Houlton, Rockland, Falmouth and Caribou to name just a few. All these municipalities worked with REALTERM Energy.

In a previous interview, Kaela Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant to Willard,  joked “All the cool kids use LED and I think we should consider using it, too.” Well, it seems Raymond has moved forward and is now one of the cool kids on the block.

Saint Joseph’s College officially launches Institute for Integrative Aging

Donato J. Tramuto with SilverSneakers participants
95 year old Shirley Saunders, right, and her daughter Judy Alepeter

By Lorraine Glowczak

The Baggot Street Cafe at the Heffernan Center on Saint Joseph’s College campus was host to over 50 Lakes Region community members on Friday, May 10 for a breakfast reception that included locally sourced food. The purpose of the celebratory event was to recognize the successful launch of SilverSneakers®—the first phase of the college’s innovative program, the Institute for Integrative Aging (IIA).

SilverSneakers® is an exercise series specifically targeted for older adults and is initiated by Tivity Health®, an organization with the mission to work hand-in-hand with members, clients and healthcare partners to create everyday opportunities for long-lasting health and vitality. CEO of Tivity Health®, Donato J. Tramuto, was the guest speaker for the event.

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In a recent press release announcing the launch, Tramuto is quoted as stating the following regarding the reason and purpose of SilverSneakers®: “Loneliness is the new epidemic of the 21st century. I have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and have met tens of thousands of SilverSneakers® members. Fifteen million adults are eligible for this program. Sixteen thousand gyms participate. And it all started with the desire to train gyms on how to treat mature adults in exercise classes who may have chronic conditions. I applaud Saint Joseph’s College for establishing this program on campus. It takes leaders to move us forward so that we never forget the senior community. Thank you for making it easier for older adults in rural Maine to age with dignity.”

There are a multitude of reasons for establishing SilverSneakers® and the Institute for Integrative Aging on the 500-acre campus – and aging with dignity is one important aspect. “Everyone is going to age differently,” said Peter Nielsen, executive director of Mission-Aligned Business at Saint Joseph’s College who oversees the IIA program. “The purpose of the Institute for Integrative Aging is to support individual agency, empowering each person to choose their own path to longevity.”

As Tramuto referred to in his talk at the event, rural isolation is another big factor to adding this new program. Social seclusion is a serious concern in the U.S. and beyond but especially so in rural communities and the aging population. Shirley Saunders, a 95-year-old participant in SilverSneakers®, joined her first class a little over a week ago. “My first class was so enjoyable. I barely got out of my home all winter because it was so icy. I went a long time without being around people. SilverSneakers® is wonderful. I like being in a room full of people and even more so when they’re close to my age. Participating in the class was the highlight of my winter.”

Saunders’ daughter, Judy Alepeter is also a participant and explained one purpose for her attendance is because the program gears the exercise components toward the older age group. “It respects us and the fact that we can’t do things at the same speeds as our younger counterparts,” she said. Alepeter, who is a two-time cancer survivor, added that the program keeps her energy up and adds friendships and socialization in her life.

Nielsen pointed out that the word ‘integrative’ is the key point in this campus-wide endeavor. Besides the fact that Saint Joseph’s college is the largest privately-owned property that sits along the shore of the second largest lake in Maine, the program is unique in the fact that it incorporates many facets of the community and individual needs. “The program ties together socialization and food security as well as sustainability and wellness,” Nielsen said, adding that it supports economic development and improved quality of life for Mainers.

Incorporating SilverSneaker® exercise program into the IIA encourages older adults to visit the campus, and Nielsen stated that it is one way to get to know the older population and discover the continuing needs they have. “By having them on campus, we can talk with them and ask them what they want and need,” he said. “We can only move forward successfully with their input.”

Nielsen and other Saint Joseph leaders realize that not all the aging population of the Lakes Region community can easily travel to campus to take advantage of the many services that are available at low or no cost. “Our next step is to discover a way to connect with those who are unable to travel to campus so they, too, can be connected to the community at large.”

One next step in the process that may solve some of the travel concerns is the plan to build housing for the older population to live on campus in the near future. “This will provide an opportunity for intergenerational connectivity,” Nielsen began. “And is another example of the intentional word, ‘integrative’.”

When introducing Tramuto at last Friday morning’s event, President Jim Dlugos, who coined the term “integrative aging” said, "We want you to think of Saint Joseph's as your college.  Know that we are here for you and for everyone in the Lakes Region. Please come back often and take advantage of all we have to offer at this beautiful place on Sebago Lake."