Manchester School and the Masons get pumped about reading - By Michelle Libby

The Presumpscot Masonic Lodge #70 in conjunction with teachers Deb Ledoux and Jessica Carle from Manchester School put together a literacy day that celebrated the reading successes students had at school and at home. Eight lucky students were chosen at random to receive bicycles and helmets donated by the Masons through the Bikes for Books program. All students who read and turned in a log sheet were eligible for the drawing. 
 

“This is just the beginning,” said Walter Lamb, head of the Masons in Windham. “I’d love to give (a bike) to every student.”

The energy at the school was electric and teachers were impressed at how well behaved their students were days before winter break. Twenty-six guest speakers, visitors from Senator Susan Collins office and former teachers to our local constituents and Sherriff Kevin Joyce, were asked to read to students and were spread out amongst the classrooms and throughout the day. 

“Today is all about reading and literacy,” said Lamb. “The students were encouraged to read over and above what they read in school. The more they read the more proficient they will be.”

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine A. James Ross was at the school during the day and also read to a classroom. The Grand Lodge matched the funds raised in the Presumpscot Lodge, which will help provide seed money for next year, Lamb said. He would like to see this program expanded to Jordan Small Middle School in Raymond

Other events that took place were a book swap, organized by Jessica Carle’s fifth grade class, which is part of their community day project. Every student in the school received a book. The students also made signs and announcements every day leading up to the literacy day. 

 

The students who received bicycles were fourth grade girls Arianna Woodbury and Julia Kaplan. Fourth grade boys were Colt Riebe and Landon Smuck. The fifth grade girls were Olivia Elder and Anna Becker and the fifth grade boys were Ryan Mendez and Dustin Noonan. 

Walmart also helped with the bikes, Lamb said. They put them together and helped load them before transport. “It was an extremely pleasant experience and people to deal with,” said Lamb. 

Many of the guest readers chose holiday stories, like “Silver Packages” which was read by Sherriff Joyce. Senator Gary Plummer read “The Cremation of Sam McGee” hoping to entice the audience with poetry.

Lamb’s goal for next year is to have 30 bicycles to give away. He admits it’s a lofty goal, but he said, “You’ve got to reach. You can’t do anything if you can’t read.”

Time4Printing buys Brown Fox Printing - By Michelle Libby

Time4Printing, owned by Kelly and Niels Mank, purchased Brown Fox Printing out of Scarborough for an undisclosed amount on January 2. The transition into the merger may take a week to as long as a month to iron out all of the wrinkles, meanwhile customers for both printing companies will barely notice a difference. 

“Our plan is to service their clients and expand the products being offered to them like signage, vehicle wraps, vinyl lettering and more,” said Mank, who also owns Time4Pictures, Time4Wrapz and The Windham Eagle newspaper. “We saw an opportunity to buy another business that was like-minded and had similar ethics,” she added.

Owner of Brown Fox Printing, Russ Burleigh, just celebrated his 75^th birthday and wasn’t really looking to retire, but his wife had other plans for him, he said. 

“It’s a huge transition,” said Burleigh. The company has clients from Wells to Bath and beyond, he said.

“We’re excited about it happening,” said Mank. “2014 should be a big growth year for us.” 

The Brown Fox Printing location will be closed and all business will be relocated to Time4Printing Windham corporate office. 

The distance between Scarborough and Windham is his one concern, but the customers need to see it’s a state of mind with the Internet bridging miles like never before. Burleigh will stay on as a consultant to his customers and he said that he and Mank will be visiting many of the customers. “She’s infectious in her enthusiasm,” he said. 

Time4Printing will be offering delivery service to Brown Fox Printing customers.

“I wasn’t looking for anyone in particular (to purchase the company), but I made new friends in Kelly and Niels,” Burleigh said. “I’m giving up part of my family. I want you to take good care of them,” he told them.

“Service, service and service are my three favorite words when it comes to printing,” Burleigh said. The merger will fit with the philosophy of Time4Printing. 

With the tag lines “Your image is our business” and “Design, print, results.” The Time4 family makes sure they treat every client as if it were their own company. They want results, whether it’s from business cards or direct mailings, said Mank. 

“It’s a very difficult time to expand a business. Most grow through acquisitions,” Burleigh said.  Mank is excited to see what 2014 will bring.

Firefighter Andrew Jordan promoted to lieutenant

Raymond - December 19, 2013- The Town of Raymond Fire-Rescue Department is pleased to announce the promotion of Andrew Jordan from firefighter to lieutenant. Andrew has been a member of the department for nine years, starting as a junior, moving to a live-in student firefighter and then a firefighter. He is the grandson of long time community volunteer and Fire-Police captain Jane Jordan. The promotion took place on December 18 at the department's annual Christmas gathering. Chief Bruce Tupper said, “It has been a pleasure to watch Andrew's progress, and I am confident that he will be successful in his new leadership role.”

Manchester School awarded grant from Mr. Mike's store - By Michelle Libby

Windham’s Manchester School was nominated and awarded a $500 grant from ExxonMibil’s Educational Alliance Program to enhance math and science learning. On Tuesday, Sue Jones from Mr. Mike’s convenience store in Windham presented the check to assistant principal Danielle Donnini, Title 1 math teacher Danielle Burian and fifth grade teacher and science curriculum representative Tracey Butler.
 

“It will really come in handy,” said Donnini. “It’s like Christmas presents for the math and science departments,” she added.

The teachers started brainstorming all of the new materials they could buy. Manipulatives for math, owl pellets for science and white boards for students to use. 

Over 200 schools in New England received one of the grants. Since 2000, ExxonMobil has donated over $18 million to schools through the grant program.

Manchester school was nominated by the former manager of Mr. Mike’s most likely because of its proximity to the school, said Jones. 

“We buy a lot of coffee up there,” said Donnini.

Santa receives help from Windham Police Department - By Michelle Libby

It makes people smile to see police officers in uniform shopping for toys. Not only did it make people smile, it had some digging in their pockets for cash to help at checkout time. 
 

On December 12, the executive board of the Windham Police Association union stopped by the North Windham Walmart to spend $1,000 that was raised through phone solicitations this past year. 

Officer and president Jason Burke, vice president and DARE officer Matt Cyr, secretary and officer Gene Gallant and officer and treasurer Jim Cook all went shopping with the mission to “get as many presents as we could,” said Cyr. They left with bicycles, board games, safety equipment, balls, matchboxes, dolls and iPod shuffles for older children, all to be donated to Windham’s social services program to give toys and gifts to children in need within the community. 

 

“As for the people that walked up to us in Walmart and handed us cash to help at the register, thank you. Your kindness was not unnoticed and will not be forgotten,” said Cyr.

This is the second year in a row the department has done shopping for Christmas gifts. However, according to Cyr, there was a time in the not too distant past that it was an annual tradition. He hopes the project will continue every year going forward. 

As far as there being need within the Windham community, Cyr said. “As police officers we see it pretty regularly. We see when parents’ priorities aren’t where they should be. We also see parents who can’t provide for their kids the extras in the way they want to at Christmas time. We help out through social services.”