Residents create a community vision in first of two forums - By Michelle Libby

Approximately 50 people attended the first of two forums to help provide vision and a direction for the Town of Windham last Thursday night at Manchester School. 
 

“After the charter, the comprehensive plan is the second most important document a town can have,” said town planner Ben Smith. With a population of 17,000, Windham’s growth is slowing, but it’s still going up. By the year 2020 it is estimated that there will be over 19,000 people living in Windham. 

The night was about getting ideas out on the table of what Windham needs and things Windhamites want to protect through four worksheet exercises in small random groups.

Knowing where the town has been is important to know where it should go. 

From the last census there has been a population age shift, but not a lot of movement in or out of the community. The growth has been of the 20- to 40-year-olds who are in the “family mode”. Children under 10 also grew in numbers. Single family homes dominate. 

“Housing is just like before, but more so,” said Smith. In 2000, about 20 percent of the town’s valuation was commercial and industrial. Today it’s about 16 percent, according to census information. 

The top five jobs in Windham are in retail, restaurant and hotel, healthcare, public administration (corrections) and manufacturing.  

Windham can not control global impacts, but it can control future housing and commercial building. “We’re starting with a blank slate,” Smith said. 

The information gathered at this vision forum and the one on Saturday, November 22 will be sent to the review team and was held to give the community the opportunity to tell the committee what they think. The purpose isn’t to answer questions, Smith said. “I was surprised at how many people I know here,” said resident Michelle Jordan. “It’s rewarding to feel like you’re part of the process.” She also liked that the mixed groups gave new insight to the various demographics that Windham serves, from the elderly to the working family. 

The plan is scheduled to be completed by early 2017. Before then there will be many opportunities for the community to weigh in with their opinions, said Smith. In a year, all of the information gathered to that point will brought together and the top 20 issues will be presented at community forums and the top five or 10 things to focus on will be discussed. After that it must go through the town council and their vetting process, he added. 

Mark Eyerman from Planning Decisions in Portland acted as the moderator for the evening. The attendees were broken into small groups, each with a facilitator from the review committee. “We listen to what the community has to say and take that under advisement. It’s up to the review team. There will be other opportunities to talk,” said Eyerman, in response to a resident who wanted to know how the information gathered would be used. 

After the first exercise, Shaun Morrison, facilitator for one table, told them, “In 20 minutes a group of seven is not going to solve everything.”

Top issues at this forum, which will be checked against the one on Saturday, were that people liked the schools and educational system, the rural feel, the convenience and accessibility (close to Portland, but not Portland), access to recreation and the opportunities for an active lifestyle, and community spirit and involvement.

Things to improve or change are infrastructure issues, business issues including filling vacant stores, community center, traffic/congestion/curb cuts, library services, protect farms and open space and recreational facilities. 

“It’s similar to 10 years ago. People have the same concerns,” said David Tobin, who has been involved in four comprehensive plans over the years. “Small town feel, rural, how to get through North Windham in the summer. In our group, everyone participated. Everyone had their oar in the water.” 

There is still time to be involved in this first step. The Community Vision Forum will be held on Saturday, November 22 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Town Hall gym. Be heard!

Veteran's Day honors those who serve and all Veterans - By Michelle Libby

On Tuesday at 11 a.m., Veterans from the area, state legislature members, town officials and community members gathered at the Windham Veteran’s Center to honor those who currently serve and those who have served. The event, sponsored by the VFW Post 10643, was attended by more than 200 people.

“Fewer than 10 percent of Americans can claim the title ‘Veteran’,” according to the VFW Post.  

After the presentation of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 805, the Windham Chamber Singers sang the National Anthem. Master of ceremonies Willie Goodman recognized the many Veterans in the audience.

VFW chaplain Roger Timmons gave the invocation. The keynote speaker was Chief Master Sergeant John Herrick who spoke about his experience with civilian soldiers in the Air National Guard. He himself started his career in the Air Force in 1986. In our state 12 percent of citizens are Veterans, which is above the National average, Herrick said. “We should stand proud. Our state’s citizens are and have done their part.” 

Herrick concluded his speech with a quote from Joshua Chamberlain. “The power of noble deeds is to be preserved and passed on to the future.” That was what Veteran’s Day is all about. 

Each year the Veterans of Foreign Wars hosts a writing contest that gives students to write about topics having to do with patriotism and Americanism. The winners all earned cash prizes. 

Winners of the Patriot’s Pen wrote about “Why Veterans are important to our Nation’s history and future”. The winners are Alexander Momet, Alyvia Earle, Owen Flibbert and Harrison Boyle. Gardner Reed won the Voice of Democracy with his speech about the theme “Why I appreciate Americas Veterans. Each recipient read his or her entry out loud. 

Post teacher of the year was awarded to Patricia Gordan from Raymond Elementary School. 

After a final prayer, the audience retired to the Memorial Garden to dedicate a granite bench to Retired Colonel Stuart “Toby” Pennels and to recognize Veteran Fred Scott. The shining sun set the content and happy moods that surrounded the event. Boy Scout Dean Preston to conclude the event by playing Taps on the bugle. The American Legion Auxiliary provided refreshments.    

World War II Veteran visits his memorial as part of Honor Flight of Maine - By Michelle Libby

World War II Veteran and Raymond resident Pat Lawler, had an amazing experience recently when he was chosen to travel to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial. 
 

“It was the nicest thing I’ve ever experienced,” Lawler said. The all-expenses paid trip was sponsored by Honor Flight of Maine, which is available for any WWII, Korean or Vietnam Veterans. “I never spent 10 cents on anything,” Lawler said. 

Lawler, 88, was stationed on the USS Intrepid on the flight deck servicing airplanes for the Navy. He also worked for the fire department, called “damage control”. The Intrepid was the most hit ship in the fleet with seven suicide dives, he said. 

Lawler’s wife, Joan, traveled with him as a companion. She paid only $400 for her trip and it was considered a gift for the Honor Flight Network. 

Honor Flight Maine was started by Earl Morse to give Veterans a chance to visit their memorials. 

“According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 600 WWII Veterans died every day. Our time to express our thanks to these most senior heroes is rapidly running out.

Your help is urgently needed to make their last hopes and dreams of finally visiting their memorial a reality.”

Once the Honor Flight reached Baltimore, the fire department extended ladders over the plane to welcome them as they taxied to the gate. Then the veterans were treated to a motorcycle escort from the airport to the hotel, which Lawler described as “gorgeous.”

“It was a wonderful, wonderful thing,” he said. “They took us to all the war memorials and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Lawler said his favorite part of the trip was seeing the World War II Memorial because he was in that war. “Arlington is shockingly beautiful,” he added. 

Lawler said he had been to Washington before the WWII Memorial was built, but said that experiencing and traveling with a group of Vets made a lot of difference. 

There were wheelchairs available for all Veterans whether they needed it or not and there were attendants watching out for them all of the time, Lawler said. “There were men with no legs and all kinds of situations – they were right there for them,” he said.    

When the plane landed in Portland, the fire department was there to guide them to the terminal and before they exited the plane, there was a mail call and the 50 or so soldiers on the plane were given a pre-arranged packet of letters from their family and friends. “I had tears coming down my face,” Lawler said. 

The Honor Flight Network sponsored a total of 18,000 veterans for similar trips to Washington D.C. last year. For more information or to register a Veteran for a trip, visit www.honorflightmaine.org.

Manchester students honor WW I Veterans - By Michelle Libby

To celebrate the 100^th anniversary of World War I, Sabrina Nickerson’s fifth grade class made and put 96 red poppies in the ground at Manchester School to represent the Veterans from Windham who served in the Great War. 

“My class has been reading about what is was like to live during the time of WWI and what it must have been like for the soldiers who fought in the trenches in the “War to End All Wars.”  We have read  and recited the poem “In Flanders’ Fields” Readers Theatre as well as two other books on the actual experiences of the author of the poem, John McCrae, and why and how he came to wrote this poem,” said Nickerson.  

Pam Whynot, a former kindergarten teacher, was asked to volunteer with the poppy project, along with Foster Grammie Polly Dyer, because Whynot’s granddaughter Grace is in Nickerson’s fifth grade class. After the students cut and assembled the poppies, Whynot wrote one name on each of the 96 poppies for in remembrance of a Windham World War I Veteran. 

At a ceremony held on Monday, the students stood in a line and took turns reading the name of a veteran and sticking the poppies in the ground in front of Manchester School. 

“What an impressive ceremony,” Whynot said. 

The class had studied the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, and read it out loud, a different group of students reading each paragraph. 

They concluded the ceremony by singing “God Bless America”. Whynot gave each student a small poppy of their own to take home. She also donated money to the American Legion Auxiliary, of which she is the president, in honor of the class. 

“It was awesome, so moving,” Whynot said. “The kids were so engaged with their poppies.”