The changing of the guard - By Michelle Libby

Last Thursday after all of the parties had been had and the training was done, Windham Police Department and Chief Rick Lewsen turned over command to incoming Chief Kevin Schofield at a formal change of command ceremony. 

Having never attended a change of command ceremony I was moved and impressed by the attention to detail and the emotion of the day. After 38 and a half years of law enforcement service, Lewsen was given a proper send off. 

“Rick Lewsen has seen his fair share of challenges and change,” said Town Manager Tony Plante. He pointed out the men and women in front of him. This, he said, was Lewsen’s legacy. 

When Lewsen spoke, he pulled out a note written by Plante in 1996. Lewsen said the look on Plante’s face was worth keeping that letter. He also quoted a letter from Plate dated April 27, 2015. “Thank you for your service, guidance, council and trust.” 

Lewsen wanted to leave three core values with his troops: Professionalism, courtesy and trust. “When you pin your badge on to come to work, remember the three core values – they served me well,” he said.

Sgt. Jason Andrews, who arranged the ceremony, spoke about the company flags that military men carried into battle. He who held the flag, held the power. So when the Windham Police Department flag was handed to Lewsen, who passed it to Schofield, I was very moved by the symbolism of it. 

“You should have a great amount of pride. The torch has been passed on. Please enjoy your well-deserved retirement,” Schofield told Lewsen. 

After Lewsen shook hands with everyone including Grinko the K-9, he was driven home in a line of police cars with blue lights flashing, and under the ladders and flag suspended over the road put there by the Windham Fire Department. During the procession, people stopped to wave, the Hall’s stood on the side of the road across from Hall Implement to say thank you. 

I was lucky enough to ride in one of the cars behind the chief with Windham Public Library director Jen Alvino who said, “I appreciate the respect and the ceremony.” 

When the chief arrived at home where his wife Karen was waiting for him, he gave one last sign off on the radio. It was broadcasted back to the police station. “Windham one to county. Windham one is 10-7.” And with that, he was officially off duty. 

Congratulations Chief Lewsen. Thank you for your service and sacrifices for our community.

 

Windham Primary School gathers a crowd for its grad re-opening at the new playground - By Michelle Libby

Hundreds of people and children turned out last Saturday to celebrate the completion of the outdoor play area portion of the new Windham Primary School playground. With music by the third grade chorus and local musician Rick Charette, singing to the delighted squeals of the children playing on the equipment.

The project was completed with money from the school and through fundraising efforts from the playground committee. In total $50,000 was raised through many individuals and organizations over a 13 month period. It took 18 months to build both playground “pods”. 

A granite bench was donated by the family of Candace Woolston along with money for the playground. Candace was a former teacher at WPS who passed away from cancer. Her parents, Bill and Barbara Wills, drove from upstate New York for the ceremony and were joined by many family members, including Woolston’s husband and two sons. 

“Candace was all about being a teacher and very resilient,” said her father who will turn 92 in June. “I want to teach she said, and she did. She’s a great loss for us.” 

“It’s a special moment in time,” Barbara Wills said. 

Eagle Scout candidate Josh Libby presented a check for $700 that he raised to build a sandbox on the playground as his Eagle project for Boy Scouts. “It has been a big hit,” said principal and master of ceremonies Kyle Rhoads. 

When the students saw the playground for the first time, “It was like a miracle had happened,” said playground committee member Michelle Jordan.

Aubuchon Hardware helped to sponsor the event. There were drinks, cotton candy and popcorn for all who attended. Superintendent Sandy Prince addressed the crowd, and other dignitaries from Windham and RSU14 were on hand to celebrate with the primary school. 

The last phase of the primary school project will be to create a basketball court, put in a grass field, a baseball diamond and fence the entire area in. “It will require funding through the budget process,” said Jordan. The playground fund hopes to use money they raised and will raise for more seating and a backstop for the baseball field. Another Eagle project will happen over the summer, Jordan said. This one will involve painting new games on the tar.

 

Names in bench picture:

Green dress: Sarah Weigel

Son Will Woolston

Jack Woolston - husband

Ben Weigel – glasses back –

Pat Weigel blue – sister

Parents Barbara and Bill Wills

Bob Wills – leather jacket – brother

Kathy Wills – sister

Tyler Woolston – glasses in white – son

RSU14 Art Show puts the talent of its students on display - By Michelle Libby

From the live music to the artists classroom demonstrations, there was a new energy to the art show this year. The art teachers attribute some of that to new hire Joe McLaughlin at Windham High School.

“A new art teacher – that makes a difference. He brings a new energy. He’s excited about the program and the students like what he’s doing and offering,” said art teacher Jeff Bell. 

The format for the art show was the same with the majority of the high school art in the front lobby and the kindergarten through eighth grade in the hallways and auditorium of Windham High School (WHS). Opening night on Monday featured the third grade chorus and the Windham Chamber Singers. 

“Every single possible period [the art teachers] can teach, they are,” said WHS principal Christopher Howell. “They have built a program to meet student needs in every type of class.” Next year the school will offer a wood sculpture class. 

“I like to see the progression K to 12,” said McLaughlin. “My projects are very student centered.” He encourages the students to use their pets, camps and more for inspiration and as a way to engage them.

This year there were more instillation pieces and audio visual art from the AP studio art class. Three columns painted and designed by senior Tegan Bradley took center stage in the foyer. The new way collections were presented gave the show a fresh feel, like the work displayed in a cabinet lined with candles by artist Abigayle Hodgman. 

“It’s a true celebration of young artists together with performing arts. It’s the community coming together to show support for the arts,” said Windham Middle School art teacher Heather Libby. “It showcases dedication and talent from grades kindergarten to 12^th.” 

Two pieces of art by Holden Willard and Abigail Connor which were displayed at the Portland Museum of Art were back in Windham in time for the show. Lauren Barrett had a talented collection of drawings and pictures of horses. Other new displays were clay cactus pots and ceramic plates. 

Manchester art teacher Angelika Blanchard worked for 25 hours to get the show ready for opening night. “We’ve got to be the biggest art show in the state,” she said. 

WHS art teacher Kim Chasse noted the tattoo work photographs, anchored by artist statements about the work. “With the explosion of body art, we wanted to create an awareness around the idea of tattooing,” Chasse said. In those pieces there is photography compositional skills and photography as art as well as making the artist think about what they are doing, which is an important skill for those who are going into art programs in college, he added. 

“I love the art show,” said parent Megin Hatch. “It’s like the most wonderful time of the year for me.”

Artists Yelani Stieg – a senior (blonde) and Melanie Clark, a freshman, show off their skills at the annual RSU14 art show.

Chamber singers Will Wheaton and Sam Barry practice in front of quilling done by second graders.