Public Works looks to November referendum to solve its space issue - By Michelle Libby

This November Windham Public Works department will be on the ballot, looking for $7.7 million to build a new building on the same property to share with the RSU14 transportation department. It is the number one priority for the town at this time. 
 

“We need this to help us maintain the town’s infrastructure to the best of our ability - this building puts so many constraints on us,” said public works director Doug Fortier.

The need for this upgrade was apparent 15 years ago when it was put on the ballot and defeated by a four to five margin due in part to the need for upgrades and expansion of Windham High School, said town manager Tony Plante. “This is not a new need.” 

In 2013 a property condition assessment was conducted and it failed each component. According to the information handed out by the town the obvious issues were, the site circulation conflicts between public works, school and public users, lack of security, lack of storm water management/treatment, inadequate employee/public parking, undersized fuel storage tanks, no indoor vehicle wash bay, not ADA accessible and inadequate storage. 

What the public works crews and the RSU14 transportation team are working with is outdated space for a job that has become more demanding and regulations more stringent. The existing building was opened in 1980 and then had two additional bays built over the next four years. The school transportation office was moved into portables, then trailers, and now is in a modular building. The crews from the two entities shared space where there really wasn’t any space for them. The lunch and break tables are located just inside the public works office door. The public works crew has lockers crammed into a closet sized space taken from parts storage, but nowhere to take off boots or to dry wet clothing after plowing all night. Sixteen employees work out of the public works building presently. 

“This building is basically one-third the size it needs to be,” said Plante. After discussing needs with each department it was determined that a new facility would need to be 23,000 square feet just for public works. The school department adds on an additional 8,000 square feet. The existing space is 11,200 square feet. 

On November 3, 2015, if voters approve the referendum, official plans will be created, the work will go out to bid and then building will begin, according to Fortier. He anticipates the move in date to be in 2017 or 2018. 

“Rebuilding is not an option. Public works can’t take the year off while construction is going on,” said Plante. If construction is taking place on the other side of the lot, then they can continue to operate.

With the new plan, traffic and workflow will be better and the entire property will have a better footprint. The work will meet or exceed current standards, said Plante. There are two retention ponds in the new plan which will help to clean the run off of grease and oils before it goes into the Pleasant River. The new building will also be further away from the river creating a smaller environmental footprint, said Plante. 

“The building was never designed for what it does now,” he said. 

The new building will be a class 4 structure that can withstand hurricanes and tornados. “We still will need to work out of it,” said Fortier. The cost however does go up when building a more structurally sound structure. 

“We realize you’re spending money,” said Nadeau. “This is going to last for a long time.” The Town of Windham only has one debt, a combination of a road bond and the high school project. It is estimated that it will be paid off in 2022. 

“In 1978, when this was built, Route 302 was a two lane road. See how much the town has changed,” said Fortier. In 1980, the population of Windham was 11,000, now it is close to 18,000 residents. 

“We keep putting Band-Aids on it,” said highway maintenance supervisor Mike Constantine. 

Some of the additions in the new building will be drive through bays for the trucks and an indoor wash bay to help keep equipment clean in the wintertime, which in turn will slow down corrosion and rust to hydraulic lines and cables. 

“We do premature maintenance and repairs. We know we’re losing life because we can’t wash during the winter,” he added. “We know it. We can’t put a number on it.” Public works takes care not only of the trucks, but police cars, school buses and town vehicles, a total of more than 50 vehicles.  

“It effects reliability and safety at some point,” Plante added. Broken equipment and trucks are not out on the road. 

“The public doesn’t see how the maintenance and mechanics have to coordinate projects,” said Constantine. The team doesn’t have the space to do routine maintenance, only work on trucks and buses that are broken in some way. 

“We don’t have that luxury here,” said Fortier. 

In the new building, all maintenance workers will be able to share equipment and help one another. The building and ground maintenance team doesn’t fit in the existing building and has a shed and space at the Windham Town Hall during the summer months. 

With the proposed conceptual plan for the new building and garage, trucks will be able to get out on the roads an hour earlier during a snow storm because they can be loaded the night before and left inside, requiring no warm up time for hydraulics and other fluids, said town council chairman Dave Nadeau.

In the new plan efficiency and value, productivity, convenience/public access, safety and security and environmental impact are addressed. The life span of the new building is 50 years and it is anticipated that it will serve the town well. 

“We’re one of the more rapidly growing communities in southern Maine. It has to be built to build the population,” said Plante. “The best option is to replace it.” 

There will be an open house at the public works building at 185 Windham Center Road on Saturday, October 24 and October 31. The public is invited to come to the facility to see the equipment, the space, and imagine where the new building would be located.  

“We want them to see the restraints put on us by the facilities,” said Fortier. “We’re doing the best we can because what choice do we have at this time?”

Triple B Party with a purpose kicked up more than its heels - By Michelle Libby

Last Saturday night, close to 400 people gathered to celebrate Riding to the Top, a local therapeutic riding center that helps people with disabilities reach their highest potential through the healing power of horses. 
 

The Triple b stands for boots, band and BBQ and it lived up to its name. People from all over the area turned out in their western wear, hats and boots included, to eat BBQ from DennyMike’s and dance to live music featuring Under the Covers. In between the dinner and dancing, slide shows featuring the participants in the program and the horses were shown and a mission based auction was held. 

A mission based auction is a different kind of fundraiser where everyone wins for exactly what they want to win for. The biggest winner this night was the riders and the horses. People gave generously starting at $5,000 and incrementally dropping the amount until $50 and lower. 

For the riders, who could be anyone between the ages of three and 83, the attendees raised close to $36,000 and for the 16 horses the total was close to $37,000.  The average cost to take care of the horses, just for well care, is $75,000 for one year.  

A signed, authenticated Tom Brady Patriots jersey was auctioned off in the traditional auction manner and raised $2,100. 

Auctioneer Elizabeth Holmstrom has been holding auctions for Riding to the Top for 15 years. “It’s my absolute favorite event because of the lives they touch and the lives the horses touch,” she told the audience. Her energy, passion for what she was doing was obvious from the creative songs she sang and the jacket she created covered with lights so people could see her better. 

RTT parent Bo Bigelow spoke about his young daughter and the therapy she has received at the farm. “With a child with special needs, there are so many curveballs and because of those never ending curveballs the constants are the parts of life that are not curveballs and we build around those fixed points. RTT is one of those constants.” 

When Tess started at RTT, she could not walk, was non-verbal and each day her father carried her out of the ring. “Gradually something clicked,” he said. Now, a year and a half later, the 5-year-old is walking independently. 

“What are the right words to say to the people who have taught your child to walk?” Bigelow asked. “Thank you for being a constant and a star to navigate by. For seeing my daughter as a whole person, seeing that she has a will and a talent you can tap into.” 

For this one story, there were more families in the audience with their own story, ready to share with anyone who asked. 

There was a boot contest and raffles featuring a Thos. Moser rocker, trips to Sugarloaf, Migis Lodge and more. 

The evening raised close to $115,000.  

“The Triple B is our largest fundraising event of the year. We receive no federal or state funds - our events, volunteers and donors keep our doors open and riders in the saddle. I am humbled by the generous support of our sponsors, donors and volunteers who gave so generously of their time, talent and treasure to make this year’s Triple B the best ever!” said executive director Sarah Bronson.

Donations can be made year round at www.ridingtothetop.org/support.

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The Windham Eagle wants all of our readers to take care of their health. 

The Daytime Players present second weekend of performances - By Elizabeth Richards

This weekend brings an opportunity to see the Daytime Players in action at the Schoolhouse Center for the Arts. The group presents their second weekend of “The Days Are As Grass,” a collection of eight short dramatic comedies about time, aging, forgiveness, sex and the human spirit. 
 

The Daytime Players began at the Schoolhouse Center in 2003, with four original members, including this show’s director, Jerry Walker. Originally, he said, the group performed short plays and excerpts from larger works in nursing homes, senior centers, and for church and other groups. The Daytime Players had grown to include more than 20 people before disbanding a few years ago.  

With multiple directors and performers, Walker said “There were sometimes two or three shows going on at the same time, or rehearsing at the same time. We met during the daytime, and it was a lot of fun.”

The group came back together last winter, performing “The Days Are As Grass” at the Magic Lantern in Bridgton. They decided to reprise the performance at the Schoolhouse Center for the Arts with many of the same cast members, as well as a few new additions. Walker said that since that first performance, with performers spending more time with the pieces, the cast have grown in their roles. “It’s a delightful show,” he said.

Rehearsals for the show, which has several short pieces that involve only one or two performers, have been primarily independent. 

“This is what’s great about the Daytime players,” said Walker. “You don’t have to set up an eight week schedule and go five nights a week. We depend upon the actors to come prepared and it really works out quite well for all of us.”

This show has revived interest in restarting the Daytime Players on an ongoing basis at the Schoolhouse Center for the Arts. There will be an organizational meeting on October 21^st from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The group is looking for new members to be involved in all aspects of theater, including performing, technical crew, lights, and more. The only requirements for getting involved are to have an interest and time available during the day. “If you have no experience, you’ll have experience by the time you’re finished with us because we have a great group of people to instruct and help people get started,” Walker said. All ages are welcome.

“The Days Are As Grass” will be performed at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 17^th and Sunday, October 18^th. Tickets, available at the door or by calling 642-3743, and are $10.

Lions Club hosts fourth annual craft/vendor fair - By Michelle Libby

The Windham Lions Club is raising money to help with their programs which include purchasing glasses and hearing aids for kids, eye screenings for all incoming kindergarteners and participating in the “Speak-Out” student presentations. For the fourth year they will hold a craft/vendor fair at the North Windham Union Church, 723 Roosevelt Trail. There will be crocheted items, repurposed kitchen items, bird houses, tote bags, dog treats, Avon, Halloween treats, jewelry, Scentsy, quilts, handmade cards and more, a total of 14 vendors. 
 

In addition to the craft items, the Windham High School Leo Club will have a table of items to raise money for the Madsen family, whose 4-year-old daughter is in treatment for a rare form of leukemia.

“We do eye screenings for incoming kindergarten students, close to 250 of them. We take pictures of their eyes and a doctor looks at it,” said Eileen Frost, the coordinator of the craft fair. 

There will also be a raffle for many items and gift certificates from the community and the winners don’t have to be present to win. There will also be a 50/50 raffle for that day.  

Admission is free, but donations of non-perishable food items are appreciated. 

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be a hamburger and hot dog luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

The Lions Club has 22 members and is always willing to accept new members. Their future fundraisers and community events are the breakfast with Santa at the Windham Veterans Center on December 12^th and Stuff the Bus at Windham Hannaford on December 5^th. 

For more on any of the events or to join the Lions, call Eileen Frost at 892-7530 or visit them on Facebook.