RSU 14 budget heads to voters on May 14

By Ed Pierce

The RSU 14 Board of Directors have approved a budget for 2025-2026 of $67,861,394 and the proposal now heads to voters in Windham and Raymond for approval on May 14.

Staff members and Superintendent of Schools Chris Howell
at RSU 14's administrative offices in Windham helped to
formulate the school district's $67,861,394 budget for
2025-2026 that will be voted upon by Windham and Raymond
residents on May 14. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

During a meeting of the board on April 9, RSU 114 Superintendent of Schools Chris Howell said the budget represents a 12.75 percent increase over last year’s budget, with a 6.4 percent increase stemming from the construction of the new Windham Raymond Middle School. Also driving up costs are increases in RSU’s Regular Operating Expenses and a Pre-K expansion program.

“This is an unusual budget this year, with a higher than typical increase due to the initial bonds for the new middle school and an expansion to our Pre-K programming,” Howell said. “Both new projects are coupled with increased subsidies for the district. When examining the budget this year, it is best to look at the increase as being made up of three different parts.”

Howell said that first, the budget proposal contains a 5.6 percent increase in year-over-year expenses with the increase largely being driven by an increase in salaries and benefits contained within negotiated contracts.

“This increase, which is in line with proposed increases for other districts in our region, will result in compensation packages that are competitive and on average with other Cumberland County school districts,” Howell said. “In addition to the increases covered in contracts, the increase is also being driven by increased costs for electricity, energy, equipment and supplies.”

The second factor to consider with this proposed budget is it includes roughly a 1 percent increase for the addition of 59 Pre-K enrollment slots which will result in roughly a $620,000 increase to the budget. Howell said $510,000 of this increase will be offset by additional state subsidy specifically allocated for expanding Pre-K programs.

“The additional Pre-K placement slots will significantly reduce our current waiting list of students who are hoping to participate in the Pre-K program,” he said.

According to Howell, a third factor in the budget proposal is the inclusion of the first bond payment for the new middle school construction project resulting in nearly a 6 percent increase.

“Importantly, 90 percent of the cost of this first bond will be paid by additional subsidy from the State of Maine, significantly reducing the overall cost of the project for local taxpayers,” he said. “The total of the three budget areas represents a 12.75 percent increase over the current year, but it does not represent a similar increase in taxation. Over half of the proposed increase for this year will be reduced through an additional state subsidy and fund balance that will be used to reduce taxation.”

The school district began working on the budget in early November. Howell said that each line of the budget was reviewed to look for any possible savings.

“Current enrollment numbers and projected enrollment numbers for every grade level were reviewed,” he said. “Where possible, classroom positions were reallocated from grade levels with lower enrollments to grade levels with higher numbers.”

The budget proposal includes cutting a Day One teaching position and 3 ½ Ed Tech positions while adding an educational interpreter from Support Services. Manchester School will cut a Grade 5 classroom teacher but add a Grade 4 classroom teacher. Raymond Elementary School will cut one classroom teaching position. Windham Primary School will cut one classroom teaching position but add a Pre-K teaching position and add a Pre-K Ed Tech. RSU 14 Technology will add 1 Grade Level of Computers. Overall, the school district will add a part-time assistant cook.

Howell said challenges in putting together this budget proposal included negotiated contracts; taking increasing valuations for Windham and Raymond into account; a reduction in the subsidy the district receives for economically disadvantaged students; and a new 1 percent salary tax to fund Maine’s Paid Leave Act. Other budget considerations were inflation of goods for purchased services, increased energy costs for electricity and motor fuels and ongoing increases in costs for employee health insurance.

The 2024-2025 RSU 14 budget approved by voters was $60,185,403.

Howell said that the 2025-2026 budget proposal is available for review by the community by visiting rsu14.org or by calling the district office at 207-892-1800.

The district will be holding a public budget meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14 in the Windham High School Auditorium. All registered voters in Windham and Raymond are welcome to attend. The budget approved at the May 14 meeting will be sent to the voters in Windham and Raymond for the June 10 school budget vote. <

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. <

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

By Melissa Carter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lucas agreed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He says he is so proud of the hospital team.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. <

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. <

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

By Masha Yurkevich

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

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

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

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

This is where MARA comes in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windham resident searching for kidney transplant donor

By Ed Pierce

A young Windham woman is optimistic that a kidney transplant will return her life to normalcy and give her back an opportunity at having a future.

Windham resident Katie St. Pierre was diagnosed
with IGA nephropathy last April. Starting
kidney dialysis immediately thereafter, she
was informed that she required a kidney
transplant and is actively seeking a kidney
donor for transplant surgery at Maine Medical
Center in Portland. COURTESY PHOTO, 

Katie St. Pierre, who will be 34 next month, was diagnosed with IGA nephropathy last April. It is a chronic kidney disease characterized by deposits of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in one of her kidneys, leading to inflammation and damage to the glomeruli, tiny filters that remove waste products from the blood.

“I was first diagnosed with IGA in April 2024,” St. Pierre said. “My case is considered hereditary, and I've probably had it my whole life, although I do not have any close family members with a similar condition.”

The biggest issues St Pierre has been experiencing are the extreme exhaustion that comes with IGA neuropathy and the buildup of fluids it causes.

“Imagine jumping in a pool fully clothed then walking around the rest of the day like that,” St. Pierre said. “I wake up every morning feeling like my limbs are made of lead.”

St. Pierre is a familiar face to many in the area, having worked in the bakery department at the North Windham Hannaford store since 2019. Born in South Portland, she is married and has lived in Windham since she was 5.

Upon receiving her IGA diagnosis last year and immediately starting on dialysis, doctors have advised St. Pierre that a kidney transplant is her best option for survival and to improve her quality of life.

“I was told I needed a transplant on the same day I got my diagnosis. I ended up being hospitalized for a little over a week after some blood work came back,” she said. “During that time, I had many tests done but for a definitive answer they had to do a kidney biopsy, basically taking a small sliver of your kidney and putting it under a microscope to see what's wrong.”

She said at first, she kept telling myself that it wasn't that bad, and she wasn't going to need anything as extreme as a transplant.

“I thought with medication I would be fine and after the biopsy they released me from the hospital,” St. Pierre said. “I hadn't even made it home yet before I got a phone call with the results. My kidneys were over 70 percent scar tissue and at this point I had limited function. I was hovering between 9 and 12 percent functionality and in contrast, the average person is at about 90 percent. My numbers had been rapidly decreasing. This was devastating news. I had been so happy to go home, I felt like I was failing my family, and I was going to be a burden.”

According to St. Pierre, she chose to undergo home dialysis treatment, called peritoneal dialysis or PD for short.

“At first I was doing five days a week but now I am doing a treatment every day,” she said. “I do eight and a half hours of treatment every night. It can be isolating at times knowing that I have to plug myself into a machine every night just to function at a limited capacity and it is extremely depressing. But I'm also very grateful to live in a time where I have these opportunities and the ability to survive.”

Through it all, St. Pierre has been able to continue working with the help of dialysis and other medications but unfortunately that is not sustainable long term, leaving her with no other option than to find a kidney donor for a transplant.

“If you or someone you know is willing to consider being a living kidney donor, I would be deeply grateful,” she said. “A living donation is a life-saving gift, and you could make all the difference in my journey or even someone else's. This experience has shown me the difficulties that so many are going through right now. All potential donors will be fully evaluated by medical professionals to ensure safety for both the donor and the recipient.”

Prior to needing a kidney transplant, St. Pierre loved attending craft fairs, county fairs, and town fairs. She enjoyed taking my dogs for walks around the many beautiful paths and parks in Windham and going to the movies and restaurants.

“Now I spend the majority of my free time sleeping,’ she said. “When I'm not working, I normally have doctor appointments or blood tests to take. I would like to say I'm able to get out there and do things, but right now I rest up for the things that I have to do. I hope that one day I can do the things that I simply want to do. I'm lucky enough to have an extremely supportive husband as well as family and friends. I was reluctant to tell people at first, but I've come to be able to talk openly and honestly about my day-to-day struggles.”

If she’s able to find a donor, St. Pierre’s surgery would be performed at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Recovery time varies from person to person, but she believes the standard recovery time is about two to four weeks, but it can take up to six or more depending on the person.

“I feel it is important to note that the medical coverage for the donor’s surgery will be covered through the receiver's insurance, however it doesn't cover any time lost from work and it may not cover certain aspects,” St Pierre said. “Definitely something to look into beforehand and I encourage everyone to do so.”

Mentally St. Pierre has been trying to remain as positive as possible given her circumstances but realizes it’s not easy to do but is thankful for an amazing support system.

“The most important thing I'd like people to know is that I hate that I have to ask this, and if I didn't have to I wouldn't,” she said. “I'm a private person and this isn't something I ever thought I'd have to do but it's something I need to do to increase my chances at a longer healthy life. While this will increase my lifespan, it's not a cure. I will continue to have this disease throughout my life. Unfortunately, kidney donations only last so long and I very well may need another donation in the future.”

To donate a kidney to help St. Pierre or someone else on the kidney transplant list, potential donors can register at mmc.donorscreen.org.

“To donate you must have the person’s full legal name,” St. Pierre said. “Mine is Katelyn St. Pierre, though everyone calls me Katie. Or you can choose to donate without having a specific person in mind.” <

Maine author eager to discuss new novel in Windham

By Ed Pierce

For Maine author Shannon Parker, the process of writing her new novel Love & Lobsters was as she describes it a lot like falling in love, fevered and intoxicated, as the story poured onto the page in under three months followed by roughly a year of editing.

Author Shannon Parker will appear at
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shop in
Windham from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday,
Feb. 8 to meet readers and discuss
her new novel 'Love & Lobsters.' It
is Parker's third book and copies will
be available at Sherman's during the
author's visit. COURTESY PHOTO

It is the third book that Parker has written and a unique take about love of community and friendship and the people and places that shape us here in Maine. She’ll be on hand to meet readers and promote the book from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop in Windham.

The concept for Love & Lobsters came about as Parker was oddly thinking about how lobsters are cannibalistic when trapped together. A friend and I were texting about my weird thought when she made me laugh out loud.

“And in that moment, I was so grateful for hilarious banter with friends,” Parker said. It was really that random, four-minute exchange that inspired the main character and her best friend and the truth about lobsters. If you think about it, Mainers are some of the few who know lobsters aren’t holding claws under the slate sea, forever linked in love. Because of the popularity of the TV show Friends, Phoebe Buffay has spawned an industry devoted to love and ‘you’re my lobster’ devotion. So, I thought about how two friends could expose the world to the truth about lobsters in a funny, uniquely Maine way. I wrote a blog post in the main character’s voice, and then she began to take shape in my head. Her relationship with her best friend became clearer and funnier. And soon the entire cast of characters were crystal clear, as if they’d always lived in my head.”

According to Parker, her goal with this new novel is simple.

“When a reader finishes Love & Lobsters, I want them to hold the book close to their chest for a beat and love it enough to immediately gift it to someone they love,” she said.

She’s previously written The Rattled Bones, published under S.M. Parker, which explores the erasure of Midcoast Maine’s Malaga Island.

“The inspiration for that story came to me nearly 15 years ago when I was listening to a Maine Public Radio segment called: Malaga Island, a story best left untold. I disagreed,” she said. “My debut, The Girl Who Fell, explored how intoxicating first love can too easily become toxic. The idea for this story came to me when I was working with young adults in Rockland and a brilliant teen told me she was going to pass on her college scholarship because her boyfriend was afraid college would make her ‘too smart.’ The book explores how even the most accomplished, driven, intelligent people can fall for the wrong person – and what it takes to recover from a debilitating relationship built on the foundation of gaslighting.”

The most interesting aspect of this new novel though is how the main character tries to make sense of human relationships through the lens of lobsters, but readers have overwhelmingly connected to the community and kindness in the book, Parker said.

“Down East magazine called Love & Lobsters a ‘love letter to Maine,’ and that feels spot-on. There’s rugged beauty. Independence buoyed by community,” she said. “Characters who feel like people you know, or people you want to know. The hardness of life balanced with hilarity. Each reader will connect with the book differently, of course, but I think it would be a mistake for anyone who loves Maine to dismiss this as ‘just a romance’; it’s a novel that explores all the ways Mainers uniquely show up for one another as we live among bounty and beauty, love and wonder – and I hope that feels like a gift to everyone who reads this story.”

A native New Englander, Parker lives in Damariscotta, and didn’t know how to pronounce the name of the town when serendipity dropped her into the little village.

“I saw an old, neglected Greek Revival with its sagging roof, scars of disrepair, and swinging ‘For Sale’ sign and bought it two days later. I think my husband still has whiplash,” she said. “When my mother completed some genealogy work a few years later, we discovered my maternal great-grandparents lived 10 miles from my home. I’ve traveled to 38 countries across five continents but had still managed to return home in a way.”

Canadian author Margaret Atwood is Parker’s favorite author, full stop.

“In my writer-fantasy-mind, we are best friends, and I call her ‘Maggie’ and we laugh a lot. Like, a lot. She was, in many ways, the formative voice of my youth,” Parker said. “I grew up quite poor, in a home without books, and I redeemed cans to purchase tattered paperbacks at tired yard sales. Margaret Atwood has this famous quote, ‘a word after a word after a word is power’ and that woke something in 12-year-old me. It was both a road map and permission to follow that path. One step, then the next. Then the next. And then, a story. A voice.”

Parker calls herself a morning writer, and says she tries to slip away from kids and chores and other work on the days she writes.

“In addition to being an author, I’m an English professor and grant writer. I’m also in my thesis semester of my third master’s degree,” she said. “It’s a full, busy work life, for sure. So, I try to schedule two to three mornings a week to keep momentum. When I’m at the computer, I typically write for three hours at a stretch. But Love & Lobsters was largely conceived while I was kayaking. I’d return to my truck post-paddle and dictate my ideas into my phone. Then, I’d email the notes to myself. When I’d return to my working manuscript, I’d have entire scenes developed. Paragraphs of dialogue. Cures for plot or character holes. It was an amazing experience – unlike any process I’d ever engaged before.”

Simon & Schuster published Love & Lobsters, and it’s something Parker is grateful for.

“I’ve had such a great experience working with publishers and editors and agents. Really, I’ve been so fortunate,” she said. “My first two books were classified as Young Adult and were released by Simon & Schuster. Love & Lobsters is my adult debut, and it didn’t fit into the tidy ‘romance’ category for publishers – which is fair; it is definitely not a traditional romance. Love & Lobsters is my Maine take on romance because I am 1,000 percent in love with Maine’s coast, its tenacity, and its people. So, I took all I’d learned from working within the industry and struck out on my own, betting on Maine for interest in the book. Within days of its release, I had a major studio interested in film rights, as well as a smaller production company. The book’s been a bestseller at Sherman’s since its release. Creating a unique path for this book to be in the world was the best decision I ever made.”

Her family has been supportive of the new novel.

“I live in a house full of boys and they don’t read. They might be allergic. Unless it’s a technical manual, printed words on a page hold exactly zero interest for them. But this book was different,” Parker said. “They rallied around this story. I think it’s because we all see ourselves in one of the characters, or a bit of ourselves in each of the characters. As a family, we have a habit of honoring Big Love and Big Nature, and both are themes in the book. I recently lost my 20-year-old son in a car accident and the sorrow has been unbearable. Deafening and suffocating all at once. Like you’re leagues underwater but somehow, miraculously, you can still breathe. My son came to me in a non-traditional way and our love was fierce. But we had hard shells when we met; we’d both been hurt. We had to trust in the process of trust and keep showing up for each other. And we did, and it was beautiful. It is beautiful. And if I had to do it all over again, I would take the same leap of trust with him. Even now. Even knowing the heartbreak that sits on the other side of loss. Because this is love. It is immeasurable. Expansive. Terrifying. It both makes and breaks us. And it is worth it. Every time.”

She’s excited to meet Windham readers and discuss Love & Lobsters at Sherman’s next month.

“Meeting people is one of the singular joys of living. I love exchanging smiles and stories and dreams,” she said. “And Sherman’s is great. I mean, it’s Sherman’s. And readers should only consider buying a copy of Love & Lobsters if they want to read about love in all its forms – the love for land and sea; the love between grandparents and grandchildren; love found later in life; the love shared by best friends; love for the way the past shapes our present…and future, and the love that we are all capable of. Because love begets love begets love begets love. And who couldn’t use more love?” <

Lost and Found: 'Christmas Miracle’ answers Windham family’s prayers

By Ed Pierce

Christmas presents come in all shapes and sizes, yet for one Windham family this year, the enormity of the gift they have been given simply cannot be measured.

Kristina Atkinson and her son, Rylen, left, helped return
Noodle to his owners Sarah Walker and her daughter,
Eliza Symes last week. The cat had been missing
from his Windham home for more than three months
and his family had about given up hope that he would
ever be found. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

Sarah Walker of Windham and her daughter, Eliza Symes, 8, adopted Noodle, an orange kitten, from the Animal Refuge League three years ago and he rapidly became a beloved member of their family. He grew into a mischievous and friendly indoor cat with a huge personality and a large appetite who likes to perch at the top of the stairs in their home and observe his surroundings or to encourage hugs and attention from Eliza.

But on Saturday, Aug. 31 all of that changed. Sarah and Eliza couldn’t find Noodle anywhere in their home and believed he had somehow slipped out the door and become lost. They spent the remainder of Labor Day Weekend desperately searching for Noodle, walking up and down their street, searching under bushes and calling out his name. They posted on local community boards that he was lost and even notified the Maine Lost Cat Recovery Network praying and hoping someone would find Noodle and bring him home.

Days turned into weeks without knowing Noodle’s whereabouts and as the weeks turned into more than a month of the cat being lost, Sarah and Eliza’s optimism about finding him started to fade.

“I felt sad and didn’t think he’d come back,” Eliza said. “It was like losing my friend forever and I cried a lot.”

Sarah says she tried to remain hopeful for her daughter but that wasn’t easy as the weather began to turn colder at night in September and the calendar changed to October, and then on to November and eventually to December.

“After the first couple of weeks, I didn’t think he’d come home,” she said.

The mother and her daughter focused on recalling the good times with Noodle, who is known in their household as sort of a troublemaker.

“He’s very friendly but can get under your feet and trip you,” Sarah said. “I also think it was him who turned on the faucet and flooded our kitchen one time.”

Kristina Atkinson and her family live about a mile, or what amounts to a 10-minute walk, from Sarah Walker off Albion Road in Windham.

She said that on Nov. 8 she told her son, Rylen, 6, to use caution in letting their dog out in the backyard because she had briefly spotted what appeared to be an orange tail in her neighbor’s yard and thought it might be a fox.

Later that same day, Kristina noticed that some leftover chicken sitting on their grill was gone. She saw the orange tail again and observed that it didn’t belong to a fox, rather it was a large orange cat. She said she assumed the cat belonged to her neighbor.

A few days later her sister saw the male cat, sitting in the Atkinsons' driveway. And suddenly he was everywhere on their Ring cameras, showing up at 8 p.m., 11 p.m., 3 a.m. and at all hours of the day and night.

Despite her husband’s apprehension, Kristina started leaving some soft cat food outside her door for what she surmised was a homeless and lost orange cat. The cat would eat the food and leave, and it wouldn’t make eye contact with Kristina or Rylen.

But on Saturday evening, Dec. 7, Kristina opened the door when the cat was eating, and he appeared to be startled and walked about 20 feet away. But he suddenly turned and came back, sitting there still for about five minutes before approaching Kristina and letting her pet him. When she returned inside, he sat outside the door and cried to come inside.

Kristina and Rylen let the friendly cat in and found a warm space inside their garage for him and started to post on social media about finding him and looking for his owner. Her husband fell in love with the cat and thinks it may have found a warm spot in a nearby culvert to survive while lost.

“I had a woman from Raymond contact me and they thought he was their lost cat,” Kristina said. “They drove here and took the cat to their home and thought it was theirs.”

But as it turned out, it wasn’t their lost cat, who was much older and was polydactyl with multiple toes on its paws.

At 5 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, Kristina then read a Facebook post by Sarah looking for Noodle. She contacted Sarah and they agreed to meet later that day at the veterinarian’s office to see if the cat was Sarah’s. It seems Noodle had been microchipped when Sarah first got him, and the vet could determine if the cat found by Kristina was indeed the lost Noodle.

Kristina drove to Raymond and picked up the cat from the family who had originally thought it was theirs. She met Sarah at the veterinarian and within a few minutes, the microchip confirmed that the orange cat was the missing Noodle.

Before meeting Kristina at the vet though, Sarah had picked up Eliza from school.

“She did not know. I picked her up a little early and said I had a surprise, and that Noodle was in the car,” Sarah said. “Then we took him to the vet. I didn’t want to tell her we might have found him and then to have it not be him. She was happy and excited. I think she kind of didn’t believe it was him for a moment.”

Kristina and Rylen say they were pleased to have played a part in returning Noodle to his home after being lost for more than three months and one week.

“I keep telling people I lost my dad a year ago and he was a huge animal lover,” Kristina said. “I think he led Noodle to our house. My hope is this will inspire others to do this too.”

Noodle quickly adapted to being warm and back at his home.

“He had lost some weight but was a big cat to begin with,” Sarah said. “He’s been hungry ever since. I tell Eliza that Santa Paws helped him find Kristina and she knew how to get him back home.”

Sarah said she cannot begin to express her gratitude to Kristina for her kindness.

“We are very grateful for her going out of her way for us,” Sarah said. “It’s nice to know the community will help you if you need it.”

As for Eliza, she rarely takes her eyes off Noodle these days. 

“He hasn’t changed at all,” she said. “He’s my friend and if you ask me, it’s truly a Christmas miracle that he’s back home with the people who love him.” <