Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing seeks volunteers for first home project

The mission of the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing (SBLFCFH) is to make a difference in the communities of Raymond, Standish and Windham by providing safe and adequate housing repairs for those who are aging in place. The newly established non-profit organization had hoped to begin their projects much sooner, but COVID-19 has significantly impacted their timetables.

The good news is, after ironing out COVID safety protocols, the Fuller Center has scheduled their first project for Friday Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a rain date and perhaps a finishing date scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11.

This project is for an elderly couple located in Windham and will include repairing windows and door trim, caulking and repainting and some tree trimming as well as yard cleanup. SBLFCFH has a professional volunteer with window repair experience to guide the Fuller Center and its volunteers.

“It is so important to have people be able to stay safely in their homes and to know that they don’t have to leave at a time that they just want to have the memories and feel comforted by what’s around them,” said Diane Dunton Bruni, President of SBLFCFH.

The Fuller Center is open to volunteers to help with this first effort and future projects in the making. Any individual can sign up to volunteer and donate any amount of time by helping the organization keep this senior couple (and others in the future) warm during the winter months. The organization is asking for volunteers to work in a timeframe of their choice. To learn more about this project, contact the organization at sebagofullerhousinginfo@gmail.com.

The Fuller Center for Housing was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller, who also founded Habitat for Humanity. The Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing, was established in 2019 and includes board members from area founding partners of Windham Hill United Church of Christ, Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, Faith Lutheran Church, North Windham Union Church, Saint Joseph’s College and Raymond Village Community Church.

To help support their housing repair efforts, the Fuller Center will be hosting a virtual bike ride fundraiser to take place from Sept. 12 to Sept. 26.  In deference to the current COVID experience, this means that any time during this period, the riders can complete the 40-mile route around Sebago Lake (which is a beautiful ride in and of itself). All registrants will get a T-shirt and prize drawings will be given after the event.

If you enjoy biking and want to support this work, this is a great way to do it. All the information regarding instructions, pledge forms, completion form, contact information, is available on the website: www.sebagofullerhousing.org.

Special thanks to following businesses who are sponsoring the virtual bike ride: The Goodlife Market, Gorham Savings Bank, Mulberry Farms, Sebago Technics, Inc., Unity Center for Spiritual Growth and Windham Hill United Church of Christ

“Millard Fuller talked a lot about hope and how hope is essential in life,” Dunton Bruni said. “What we are doing is we are giving hope.”

Be sure to follow the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller for Housing on Facebook and Instagram. <

Horse and Rider Connection launches campaign for permanent facility

Horse and Rider Connection is a nonprofit organization
that offers equine therapy for teens and young adults.
The group had been renting space in Raymond, but is
now launching a capital campaign to work toward
building a permanent home of its own in the Greater
Portland area. COURTESY OF HORSE AND
RIDER CONNECTION.

 By Elizabeth Richards

Horse and Rider Connection, a nonprofit organization offering equine therapy to teens and young adults, has moved a few times since its inception a decade ago and its last two locations have been rented sites in Raymond. Now, it is entering a new phase and launching a capital campaign to work toward building a permanent home of its own.

Executive Director Debbie Little said that HARC is still an active nonprofit organization, but they are in a transition phase.

The mission of HARC, according to their website, is “to pair rescue horses with teens and young adults facing life challenges, to help them develop and improve life skills.” 

While the organization has been working with teens for a long time, board member Laurel Salamone said that they’ve also been interested in offering services to recovery centers, veteran’s groups, and other at-risk populations.  However, there wasn’t the space, enough horses, or enough staff to be able to offer programs like that.

The capital campaign will focus on raising funds to purchase land and build a permanent facility of their own in the Greater Portland Area.

“We want to be able to help more people, and in order to do that we need to be closer to the Greater Portland area,” Salamone said.

She said that they’ve been focused primarily on the Westbrook area, since there is still farmland, and public transportation is available.

Little said they’re looking for something along a bus route, so that when participants have a bad day and just need to get to the barn, they can do so. 

“We’ve seen significant growth in kids, adults and veterans just by letting them come in and hang,” Little said.  Before the pandemic, for instance, she worked with young adults in the MainStay program on a weekly basis. 

MainStay is a program of The Opportunity Alliance that provides residential treatment for young adults ages 18 to 25 experiencing significant mental health symptoms. Working with MainStay helped keep young adults in the program since they looked forward to being with the horses each week, Little said.

Little is currently working out of Fernwood Cove, a camp for girls in Harrison, under the Natural Horsemanship Center umbrella. Her work isn’t just about riding, she said. 

“It’s about relationship with the horse, and understanding the horse, and being able to read the horse and understand what they’re asking as well, so the kids learn life skills through it,” Little said. 

Meanwhile, HARC is working toward their long-term goal while still offering scholarship money to teens who could benefit from a relationship with horses to attend equine programs that the organization works closely with, including Little’s programs.

Little said she wants the community to understand that the organization is not going anywhere.

“I want the community to know that we’ve had great success with kids, and we want to keep going there, so we’re at a transition period,” she said. I don’t want people to think we’ve disappeared.”

Having a facility of their own would allow HARC to expand and operate the way they want.

“Unless you have your own place it’s really hard to run a program the way you really want to do it,” Salamone said. 

Ideally, she said, they’d love to have someone gift the organization some land and build not only the barn, but a place for a stable manager and, at some point, space for recovery meetings and therapy sessions to allow participants to process what they learned through working with horses.

“It is a huge undertaking – it’s not going to happen in a year,” Salamone said. “It’s probably going to be at least a five-year plan.”

Salamone knows first-hand how valuable the program is, since her daughter participated in the Maine Mustang Project.

“I know it works.  I’ve seen it. It’s magical,” she said. “People don’t know just how much they can get from a horse.”

HARC will kick off the capital campaign by offering a clinic with author Tim Hayes who wrote the book Riding Home: The Power of Horses to Heal. This is not a riding clinic or a horse show suitable for young children, but a clinic focusing on body language, emotions, attitudes, breakthroughs, and both equine and human coping skills.

HARC is excited to offer this clinic because “what he talks about is what we do,” Salamone said. “We’re hoping to draw mental health professionals, social service people, teachers…anybody who works in a healing industry.”

The clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 29 at Ashland Farm in Falmouth. CEUs for PATH professionals are available for both participating and auditing. 

The cost for the clinic is $250 to participate and $25 to audit.

Visit the news and events page at https://www.horseandriderconnection.org/ for more information and to register. <

Maine seeks public's help in checking trees for invasive species

By Ed Pierce

According to state forestry officials, the month of August is the most active time of the year for invasive insects in Maine and a period when adult wood-boring insect life and certain tree diseases can be easily identified.

Representatives of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are asking the public to examine trees in their communities and forests and report any visible invasive pest activity they see.

Invaders such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Spotted Laternfly have made their way into Maine in the last few years and state forestry officials are striving to limit their damage here. 

"Our first defense against invasive species is to prevent their arrival in the first place," said Maine State Horticulturist Gary Fish. “Our partners at USDA APHIS and Customs and Border Protection here in the U.S. and Canadian Food Inspection Agency north of the border frequently stop plant pests before they can gain a foothold in North America. However, the volume of trade and travel prevents them from stopping every pest.”

Forestry officials say that invasive species are non-native organisms and species that when introduced to a new environment lack natural predators or diseases to keep their populations low. Species are considered invasive when they harm the environment, the economy or human health.

Patty Cormier, a Maine State Forester, said that she recognizes the importance that the public can play in protecting trees across the state from invasive species.

“Trees play an important role in our state economy and provide environmental benefits, including clean air and water and wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities,” Cormier said. “The public, our most important partner in detecting invasive species, is our eyes on the ground. We can avoid tree-loss from invasive species by stopping the spread of these pests.”

While checking trees, state officials urge the public to report finding these four invasive species:

• The emerald ash borer, a small metallic-green insect which are deadly for ash trees. They leave small one-eighth inch D-shaped  exit holes in ash bark, and deposit a sawdust-like waste for feeding under the bark. The emerald ash borer has been identified in York and Cumberland Counties and in northwestern Aroostook County in Maine.
• Spotted lanternfly, a colorful planthopper and a hitchhiker that damages grapes, hops, and a wide variety of plants. Adults lay eggs as dull-colored masses and can appear as brightly colored nymphs and adults on plants. Identification is important because while the living spotted lanternfly population dies during the winter, their egg masses of 30 to 50 eggs laid in neat rows remain and survive through the cold to hatch in the spring.
• Asian longhorn beetles feed on maple trees and other hardwood or broadly leaved trees. The public is asked to examine trees for oval to round wounds on the bark where the Asian longhorn beetle females have chewed out an indentation to deposit their eggs, leaving piles of coarse sawdust at the base of trees.
• Oak wilt disease is serious fungal disease affecting oak trees by suddenly wilting red oak trees during summer months.

“We’re asking people to take 10 minutes to search the trees in their yards, neighborhoods, and forests,” Cormier said. “If you find a suspected invasive pest, take a picture and send us information at bugwatch@maine.gov. Its quick and easy and will connect you with an expert who can help.”

Cormier said that the photographs should show enough detail that an expert can verify or determine if follow-up is needed.

“It can be helpful to include an object, such as a coin or pencil, for scale,” she said.

If it is an insect, Cormier recommends trying to capture it in case a photograph is not enough for forestry officials.

“Otherwise, make sure you can find the affected tree again if needed,” she said. “Captured insects can be stored in hard containers in a cool place. Most will survive in the refrigerator long enough to receive a response from the department.”

State officials say that there are simple actions that everyone can take to avoid introducing and spreading invasive insects in Maine.

They recommend only purchasing firewood where you’ll be burning it or gathering locally on site when permitted. When transporting or moving firewood, they suggest an inspection to detect invasive insects hiding within log piles.

Another suggestion is when driving to a new area in Maine, carefully inspect bags and boxes to ensure they are free from insects or invasive species.

Fish said that we all have a role to play in preventing invasive species movement in Maine.

“Taking just a few minutes to check the trees in your yard can go a long way to ensuring that the forests and trees we rely on now are here for future generations,” he said. <

Windham TV returns to airwaves and moving to Channel 5

Brad Saucier, program manager for
Windham TV, says that the public
access channel is back on the air
after technical issues and COVID-19
restrictions halted broadcasting
in March. The station will be moving
soon to a permanent location at
Channel 5 on Spectrum cable and
is currently dually broadcast on
Channel 7 and Channel 1303.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

 By Ed Pierce

One of the few stations on cable television where Windham residents can find true diversity of opinion, civic engagement, entertainment, children’s programming and spirited community dialogue and discussion is back on the air and looking to become a favorite once again among local viewers.

Windham TV, formerly known as WCCG TV-7, resumed broadcasting in July after being on hiatus since March because of COVID-19 restrictions and technical issues. As the home of long running popular programs such as “Speak Out,” hosted by Representative Patrick Corey, the public access channel had been moved from its traditional site on Channel 7 by Spectrum to Channel 1303 in 2017 but is now being dual-illuminated on Channel 7 while awaiting a permanent move to Channel 5.   

Last year a Maine law was upheld by a federal judge that requires cable television providers to relocate public access channels to their former low-channel positions to make them easier for area viewers to find.

“Our viewers will still be able to find Windham Town Council meetings, Windham Planning Board meetings, RSU 14 meetings and Windham Zoning Board meetings on our broadcasts,” said Brad Saucier, Windham TV program manager. “But want everyone to know that our programming is so much more than merely local meeting coverage.”

Saucier has been working for the public access Windham TV station for the past 18 years and says that the channel’s main programming runs 18 hours each day with a continuously-running Community Bulletin Board filling the overnight hours.

He said at any given time of the day or evening, viewers can tune in to find a cooking show, a children’s program, a spiritual show, a political discussion or a movie.

“I always try and change up the formats of our shows,” Saucier said. “We just don’t want our programming to be all about meetings.”

According to Saucier, public meetings filmed by Windham TV cameraman Bill Burwell are aired for on the channel for a week and then replaced by newer coverage.

“We do accept video from private or public submissions,” Saucier said. “We set the programming about a week in advance and it’s challenging to try and incorporate all of the ideas and put them together in a short period of time.

Some programming comes from a website called pegmedia.com, which airs a verity of shows from across the world. Saucier uses pemedia.com to add appropriate kids, cooking and other informational shows with broad appeal for local viewers.

“There’s really something new for our viewers to find on Windham TV every week,” he said.

The programming schedule for WCCG-Windham TV is posted on the Town of Windham’s website each week at www.windhammaine.us, Saucier said.

Public access programming is a great way to stay informed about issues that matter to the Windham community, he said.

“Windham TV can inform Windham residents about new initiatives put forward by the town and all of the services it offers to the public,” Saucier said.

The station is currently preparing new Bulletin Board items for broadcasting and Saucier said groups or residents wishing to air community announcements can send those to Windham TV by email at windhamtv@windhammaine.us.

"I love the changes and our ability to get information and entertainment out to the public,” Saucier said. “Some people may know that it’s available, but we want everyone to be aware that we’re back and we’re way better and so much more than just meeting coverage.”

Saucier said he expects the permanent move of Windham TV to Spectrum Channel 5 to be made by early fall. < 

Windham Raymond Adult Education prepares to offer online classes this fall

Windham Raymond Adult Education will transition to online
classes and online registration because of COVID-19 restrictions.
A digital catalogue of courses offered by the program this fall will
be available for the public at the end of August.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

By Ed Pierce

Across America and even right here in Windham and Raymond, a movement is under way for adults to learn new career skills and knowledge and transform their lives, especially as the country struggles in the age of COVID-19.

Through the years, Windham Raymond Adult Education has been a path taken by thousands of adults by providing a range of instructional services to help them develop skills for further educational opportunities, job training, find better employment, and to realize their full potential as productive workers, family members and citizens of the community. As the fall term nears, many Windham Raymond Adult Education classes will be offered online because of COVID-19 but it hasn’t dampened enthusiasm for the program.

“We provide a safe place for students to learn, to get back on their path. We also help them to continue to navigate that journey, helping them to overcome barriers to their persistence with us. All of which helps to assist with their social and emotional well-being,” said Thomas Nash, director of Windham Raymond Adult Education. “Adult education not only contributes to our adult students’ educational attainment, but their employment options, their health and family development.”

Nash said that the program sees its students as the original ‘interrupted education’ population.

“Adult education supports parents/caregivers role in their child’s education, helps train essential workers, assists in creating digital literacy and equitable digital access, assists with immigrant integration and ‘poverty reduction’ getting adults of all ages the skills they need for new jobs or moving up the career ladder as the economy shifts,” Nash said.

He said that some students take classes to transition to new careers more relevant in the 21^st century, while others are looking to prepare to take the HiSET, the high school equivalency exam. Others have enrolled to better their computer skills, to earn their high school diploma, to complete English as a Second Language classes or for health and recreational purposes.

 

With a staff of about 75 instructors, Windham Raymond Adult Education was offeri8ngt about 300 different classes each year before the pandemic struck.

Nash said that many of those classes will continue to be offered to adult students except during the pandemic, they are being shifted online.

Along with online classes, registration for fall classes offered by the program will be available only online this fall.

“Our entire catalogue of fall classes will be available online at the end of August,” Nash said. “We will not be mailing out a catalogue this fall. We used to conduct in-person registration, but because of COVID-19, we changed that to strictly online registration.”

Because of the shift to online classes and online registration, Nash said Windham Raymond Adult Education is striving to stay as connected as possible to students without seeing them in person every day.

“Establishing relationships during the day and age of COVID is a challenge,” he said. “Some students preparing for the HiSET may not do as well need away from the classroom and need all the support and encouragement we can offer to them. We are trying to do the best we can given the circumstances related to the pandemic.”

Nash also said many in the community enjoy Windham Raymond Adult Education classes, such as yoga, so it’s disappointing to the staff not to see those people. It takes away opportunities people had, but it is a reality that we have to deal with.”

For many adult students, making the transition to online classes won’t be new.

“We transitioned to online classes in the spring because of the pandemic,” Nash said. “Some classes continued that way this summer.”

According to Nash, the feedback Windham Raymond Adult Education has received about online classes has been mixed.

“Some had reservations at first,” he said. A lot depends upon the level of the course they were taking. But other students were accustomed to learning online and were fine with it. The verdict is still out if many of the fall classes will lend themselves to that format.”

He said that the program is doing all it can to provide the best experience for adult students this fall and believes that this could be a genuine opportunity for some students to continue to explore what courses are available at Windham Raymond Adult Education or through other nearby schools online.

“Some students may find classes elsewhere that we do not offer and discover they are able to sign up for those classes through the remote option.” <      

Windham’s accomplishments a reflection of council’s priorities, town manager says

Members of Windham's Public Works Department
work on a drainage culvert on Cottage Road near
Highland Lake on Tuesday. The project is about
75 percent complete and is intended to improve the
drainage runoff in the area, boosting water quality
for High Lake. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

By Ed Pierce

When Windham’s town manager reviews what has been accomplished by the town council in the past year, he sees a lot for residents to be proud of.

Barry Tibbetts assumed duties as Windham Town manager last fall and says he’s been amazed at how prioritized the council has been in getting things done.

“A lot of things have been looked at and worked on,” Tibbetts said. “We’re at a point to make changes for the betterment of the community.”

Led by council chair Jarrod Maxwell, Windham town councilors are focused on resolving longstanding issues despite varying viewpoints and differences, Tibbetts said.

Some of what has been achieved in the past year includes establishing and clarifying town policies dealing with growth, marijuana and the use of town facilities.

To that end, Tibbetts said councilors have explored problems associated with growth in Windham by revising town permit fees and subdivision ordinance, addressing illegal subdivisions, implementing a growth ordinance along with new impact fees along with new impact fees and specific design standards.

“Growth affects everything we do in our community,” Tibbetts said. “It affects everything from traffic and water quality to the size of our schools and the council wants to ensure we grow in the right way. We can now do that with these new policies and ordinance in place.”

He also said councilors resolved questions about the town’s marijuana ordinance by examining revisions to existing state law, comparing Windham’s rules with other Maine municipalities and then revising its ordinance accordingly. As such, the town is now entering the application phase for adult-use marijuana businesses and that process will be completed by early fall.

“This is a huge accomplishment for the council,” Tibbetts said. “This has been a point of contention for some time and it’s great to see the council reach a consensus regarding this ordinance.”

The other major policy issued that councilors have addressed is about the utilization of operational space by the town following studies conducted in 2013, 2014 and 2019 for several buildings. It resulted in space better used by Windham Police and Fire Departments, Tibbetts said, and a recommended expansion of operational space for the town hall.

“As far as the police station goes, previous engineering studies showed a building built for 22 in 1989 now houses more than 45 people,” he said. “Through efforts of the council, bonding for renovation of the police facility was approved by voters at the annual town meeting. The design and construction phase for that work is now starting. The same approach took place for the Fire Central Station with the renovation for that facility built to the latest standards and providing growth space for the department in the future.”  

Tibbetts said that councilors also are examining how to resolve traffic issues through the town, including North Windham.

According to Tibbetts, funding has been obtained for smart traffic lights to interconnect on Route 302 to assist traffic in flowing better in Windham and the town has also entered into a study with the Maine Department of Transportation regarding access roads to keep traffic moving smoothly on Route 302.

“The council is also engaged with the Portland Water District to find a sewer solution for the North Windham area. This project has been stalled for many years,” Tibbetts said. “We now have an agreement with the Portland Water District to determine the feasibility of using new sewer technology and determining, as cost will allow us to make a better-informed decision. Prior to this approach we were held captive to a $55 million expense to Westbrook now due to inflation closer to $75 million, but this new approach with advanced technology will yield a much lower long-term cost. No waste will be pumped to Westbrook.”

Other projects that have been accomplished over the past year in Windham include funding of sidewalks on Route 35 at Route 302; the installation of LED streetlights that will save Windham roughly $65,000 a year in operational costs; creating a new turn lane from Route 302 and paving of Brand Road; creating additional parking and improvements at Lippman Park; separating the TIF budget from the municipal budget; a thorough review of all town fees to reflect a more accurate reflection of service costs; moving Public Works into its new facility; implementing a Code of Ethics for town councilors and adopting a town social media policy.

Ongoing projects that should be completed soon include reworking the drainage system along the east side of Highland Lake to adhere to storm water compliance; entering Phase 2 of improvements to the Windham Skate Park; and issuing a Request for Proposals to developers for their best approach to creatively reusing the Southwest Fire Station.

“Windham has been looking at all of these issues for some time but hasn’t been able to get them over the finish line,” Tibbetts said. “This council has done a commendable job in working together to get these completed for the town and we all can take great pride in what has been accomplished this past year.” <      

             

IIA participants stay engaged during COVID by making and donating “Connectivity Quilt” to hospice

By Lorraine Glowczak

Saint Joseph’s College Institute for Integrative Aging (IIA) was officially launched last May 2019 and its mission is to provide rural older adults access to a creative, age-friendly and intergenerational learning environment with the goal to combat social isolation and loneliness. Since then, a number of Sebago Lake Region area residents have become involved in the variety of on-campus activities provided by IIA.

The institute’s goal and mission, however, have required extra innovative actions during the past six months when social isolation has taken on a new spin during the pandemic. To maintain social connectedness while adhering to COVID-19 safety precautions, IIA has created several online Zoom-based projects and gatherings.

The Institute for Integrative Aging
participants chose a Maine theme
for the 'Connectivity Quilt' since
this is the state's bicentennial
year. Upon completion, it was
donated to Gosnell Memorial
Hospice House in Scarborough.
PHOTO BY HEATHER DIVENNO

“We have tried a number of online activities and found what works and the best times/days that seems to be the most popular,” IIA Director, Heather DiYenno said. “We currently provide a weekly ‘Coffee and Conversation’ on Tuesday mornings, a monthly book group, online Ukulele sessions as well as Silver Sneakers® exercise programs.”

One project that drew excitement and participation with IIA members was the making of a quilt.

“The college sponsored the cost of the fabric and over 10 individuals joined in to create two squares each,” DiYenno said. “We had participants as far away as Yarmouth and even had a few individuals who never made a quilt before, so we had a very good time creating together and connecting with each other.”

And thus, the purpose of the quilt project and the project’s name, “Connectivity Quilt.”

“The participants opted on a Maine theme since this is the state’s bicentennial year,” DiYenno said. “Each individual made what they wanted so we had a variety of patches that included images of chickadees, moose, buoys, lobsters and pine trees to name just a few.”

One of the quilt creators was Judy Davis who currently lives in Gray and is a Saint Joseph’s College alumna.

The “Connectivity Quilt” helped her stay engaged with others during the recent loss of her husband as well as after time spent in cardiac rehabilitation.

“We would have been married 59 years this month,” Davis said. “Everything has been a challenge in recent months and to be able to participate in this project has made all the difference.”

It took three weeks from the start of the quilt project to finish. Once the individual quilt patches were completed, DiYenno collected all the squares and machine- quilted them together. It was decided among the Connectivity Quilt participants to donate the finished project to Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough on July 9, 2019.

In addition to Davis, others who participated in the “Connectivity Quilt” project included Stef Bubier, Jeannine Plourde, Becky Thompson, Judy Heggeman, Nancy Fowles, Julie Smythe, Dianne McCarthy, Bonnie Hawkes, and IIA Operations Assistant, Jen Greslick.

For many IIA participants, much is gained as a result of the weekly and monthly programs and workshops.

“I began exercising in December in the Silver Sneakers® program and was just beginning to get involved with the Institute for Integrative Aging before COVID began,” Davis said. “They were so compassionate and supportive. It is a place where you can be you – no matter what. They offer so much, and you get to do things at your own pace. If people are afraid to join in – they really shouldn’t. I would really encourage people to join all that the Institute has to offer.”

There is a discussion among IIA members to create another quilt. There is also discussion about creating a Pen Pal project, too. If you are interested in taking part in one of these ventures, or if you have ideas for other similar projects, please let Director Heather DiYenno know at iia@sjcme.edu.

RSU 14 proposes hybrid plan for school reopening

By Ed Pierce

In the wake of COVID-19 restrictions, RSU 14 Schools Superintendent Christopher Howell has recommended that the school district adopt a hybrid model for the start of the school year for students in Windham and Raymond.

To comply with Maine CDC social distancing requirements
during the pandemic, only 26 RSU 14 students can be transported
to school on board a district school bus. That and the number
of students allowed inside a classroom at any given time are
factors that has led RSU 14 Schools Superintendent Christopher
Howell to recommend starting school under a hybrid plan
next month. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

In a Zoom presentation made to the RSU 14 Board of Directors on Wednesday evening, Howell proposed starting in-person instruction for students in Grades 1 to 9 on Sept. 1, with students in Grade 10 through 12 starting in-person classes on Sept. 2.

Using the hybrid model, students would be grouped alphabetically with last names from A to K having in-person classes in school on Mondays and Wednesdays and those with last names from L to Z attending in-person classes in school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On the days when students are not in school, they will be following up online with their teachers to the best extent possible,

Howell told the board that making the decision about proposing a hybrid model was not easy and took into account that Maine Center for Disease Control health restrictions limiting the number students on school buses to 26 and no more than 50 students in a group factored in this decision. Typically, about 60 students are transported aboard each bus for the trip to school.

“When the state announced its model for reopening schools, it was released prior to health considerations issued by the Maine CDC,” Howell said.   

On July 31, Maine’s Department of Education recommended that all school districts in the state could reopen for in-person instruction if health and safety guidelines were adhered to.  

The RSU 14 board is expected to vote on Howell’s proposal at its Aug. 19 meeting.

Besides proposing how and when to bring back students to school, Howell said many other issues had to be examined, including how exactly to transition students back into in-person instruction after spending the spring receiving instruction from teachers online using Zoom.

“Our challenges mean every student and every staff member has to wear a mask,” he said. “We’ve also had to undertake the challenge of managing and ensuring that the district has a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment ready and available.”

He said right now RSU 14 has obtained 600 gallons of hand sanitizer and thousands of masks.        

“Like everyone else this summer, we’ve been thinking about what school will be like this fall and will students be safe,” Howell said.

Students attending classes in-person will start at school each day with hand sanitizer, but temperature checks and self-health assessments will be performed at home by families. 

During his presentation, Howell shared results with the board of a survey of RSU 14 parents about how to best instruction this fall.

“Over 80 percent of parents said that they want their children back in school,” Howell said. “They also said they will accept other models if necessary.”

According to Howell, RSU 14 also is planning to offer students a remote-only learning option if families do not feel comfortable with the proposed hybrid plan for the start of fall classes.

He said that the foundation of the reopening proposal is to ensure the safety, equity and accessibility for all Windham and Raymond students.

Because of additional cleaning requirements for schools as a result of COVID-19, some additional daytime custodians will be deployed to help cleanse hard common surfaces. The district also is exploring different scenarios for student lunches, ranging from eating in the classroom to finding larger spaces in the schools for lunchrooms to accommodate social distancing mandates. For some schools, RSU 14 has purchased additional picnic tables for students to eat lunch outdoors.

School administrators also are looking at giving students multiple mask breaks during the school day and how to best do that.

“We recognize kids can’t spend all day in the classroom,” Howell said. “We’ve also looked carefully at classroom space to keep students 3 to 6 feet apart and only 10 students in a classroom.”

Howell said many of those social distancing mandates will be met by adopting the hybrid model until such a time when COVID-19 restrictions are eased to allow for all students to resume normal in-person instruction at some point in the future.

At the RSU 14 main office building, plexiglass barriers have been installed to limit COVID-19 transmission.

Howell said he’s aware of the uncertainty regarding the virus and that like countless others across the country, RSU 14 staff is doing it all it can to keep everyone as safe as possible during the pandemic.

“We’re all feeling the strain of distancing requirements and we’re all trying to return students to school safely,” he said. “It will definitely be a different school setting than what we’ve come to expect.” < 

Windham student receives UCU scholarship

Each year, University Credit Union (UCU) awards scholarships to students from each University of Maine System institution and Maine Maritime Academy to support students’ pursuit of their higher education goals.

Samuel Medina

"We continue to be inspired by students as they pursue their education, especially overcoming the challenges of 2020,” said Renee Ouellette, president and CEO of UCU. “Congratulations and good luck to the recipients.”

For 2020, the following students received a $1,000 scholarship from University Credit Union:

• Samuel Medina, of Windham, will attend the University of Maine at Machias to study Secondary Education.
• Christopher Ireland, of Lincoln, will attend Maine Maritime Academy to study Marine Engineering Operations.
• Sergei Bing, of Hinckley, will attend the University of Southern Maine to study Cybersecurity.
• Samantha Seder, of Houlton, will attend the University of Maine at Presque Isle to study Exercise Science.
• Loren Plourde, of Madawaska, will attend the University of Maine at Fort Kent to study Nursing.
• Portia Hardy, of Winthrop, will attend the University of Maine at Farmington to study Earth and Environmental Science.
• Adriana Richard, of Franklin, will attend the University of Maine at Augusta to study Public Administration.
• Maija Overturf, of Corinth, will attend the University of Maine to study Elementary Education.

For more information about the UCU Scholarship, visit www.ucu.maine.edu/scholarship/.

Established on the University of Maine campus in 1967, University Credit Union is an innovative, full-service financial institution with a mission to actively advance the financial well-being of our members in every stage of their lives. UCU is the sixth largest credit union in Maine in terms of total assets and total members. UCU has eight retail locations across the state located in Orono, Bangor, Farmington, Gorham, Portland, and Presque Isle. For more information visit ucu.maine.edu. <

 

2020 fall prep sports season: What we know so far

Voluntary conditioning for Windham High athletes
and coaches starts Aug. 24 with athletes socially
distancing in groups of no more than 10.
Tryouts for the fall prep season will begin
Sept. 8. Above, Morgan Proulx competes in
a prep volleyball match last fall.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

By Matt Pascarella

With summer winding down, people might be asking: “will there be a fall sports season and what will that look like?”

While the entire state was classified green by the Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) on July 31, meaning it is safe to reopen schools, a lot remains up in the air. This classification does not eliminate health and safety requirements and change can occur at any point.

Windham athletics will begin voluntary conditioning with players and coaches face-to-face on Aug. 24. Athletes will practice socially distant in pods of no more than 10. Tryouts for the fall season will begin on Sept. 8. The regular fall season will begin on Sept. 18.

Prior to Sept. 8, the Maine Principal’s Association (MPA) will release further guidance for the 2020 fall season. Coaches are currently being prepped as to what socially distant conditioning will look like.

Coaches and players must wear masks. The only times a player does not need to wear a mask is during high intensity aerobic activity, like being on the field or track. Masks will be available to athletes on athletic sites.

Governor Mills has increased the masked outdoor number of spectators to 100. The indoor amount is 50. RSU14 will follow CDC guidelines as well as recommendations made by the governor, but at this point RSU14 athletic director Rich Drummond said he’s not 100  percent sure that fans will be able to attend games.

RSU14 Schools Superintendent Chris Howell said they are looking at a streaming service, that initially would have two cameras at Windham High School. One would be on the athletic field and one would be in the gym. A link would be provided where spectators could watch the games in real time. Nothing is definite as of yet.

Drummond is looking at reduced game schedules, and though nothing is finalized, he’s looking at the possibility of regionalized scheduling. This means RSU14 could play teams in proximity to the district with less time spent on buses (that now allow only 26 students at a time).

“We have to follow the guidelines and directions that’s going to put us in a place where we’re healthy enough to get kids out there,” said Drummond. “Nothing’s better in my opinion than an athletic contest, but we have to get there.”

Drummond said it was positive that York County and Cumberland County school superintendents gave the go-ahead for optional conditioning on Aug. 24 and that the MPA said it’s okay to start tryouts on Sept. 8.

Windham High field hockey coach Cory DiDonato has been meeting with her girls on Zoom and doing workouts together.

“I know the athletic department is prepping for athletics to start on Sept. 8 and we are hoping for the best,” said DiDonato. “We all know COVID-19 has created so many unknowns and concerns. Kids need extracurricular activities and we all know the benefits and are praying sports can happen this fall. But being patient with the process is very important.” 

The key words for the school year and athletic season are flexibility and ability to be nimble, said Howell.

They will receive updates from the Maine DOE, CDC and the MPA every two weeks assessing the state level of virus transmission, so things could change quickly depending on results.

“We’re doing all we can to make the school year the best it can possibly be for our students; everyone’s goal is to get us all back safely,” said Howell.

Please stay tuned. We’ll do our best to keep you as updated as possible with as much information as we can. <

'Operation Summer Snacks' establishes new record for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish

"Operation Summer Snacks,” an initiative of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Windham, annually collects food for children in need who receive bags of food from the “Backpackers” program during the school year but, in many cases, do not have the snacks during the summer.

After collecting more than 2,500 snack items last year, organizers of “Operation Summer Snacks” didn’t know what to expect this year with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting communities across the state and country.

Volunteers for Our Lady of Perpetual
 Help's 'Operation Summer Snacks'
gather items in the Walmart parking
lot to be donated to the Windham Food
Pantry. The program set a new record
this year in the number of food items
donated by area residents.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

“In this time of uncertainty, we didn’t know whether this program would work out of our house instead of being based in the parish,” said Jill Russell-Morey, a parish catechetical leader who helped create the initiative in 2016.

Gratefully, it has.

“We have collected and donated 3,853 snack items which surpassed our donation number last year by over 1,000. This is incredible,” Russell-Morey said. “All of those tiny bags of pretzels, crackers, fruit snacks, juice pouches, granola bars, and fruit cups turned into an amazing offering to the food pantry.”

“Operation Summer Snacks” works with Windham Food Pantry to deliver the donations to those in need. Through the program, each child receives various individual-sized snacks like raisins, crackers, fruit cups, granola bars, and other items.

One big change this year is that the food pantry requested that the donations not be bagged by the volunteers, which enabled the operation to be conducted by Russell-Morey, her family, and friends out of her house.

“They want all original packages which allows for less handling of the packages and easier storage,” she said.

In addition, the generosity of the community shone through with checks, cash, and Venmo donations. One parishioner even had a large box of snacks sent directly to Jill’s house from Sam’s Club.

“Our young friends in this community have reaped the benefits of this generosity and we are so thankful for the people who responded to this call for what they have to provide people with what they need,” Russell-Morey said.

“Operation Summer Snacks” has entered its final week for 2020 and anyone wishing to still contribute money or snacks toward this initiative should email Russell-Morey directly at jill.russell-morey@portlanddiocese.org.

The last day for the initiative will be Monday, Aug. 10. <