Babb's covered bridge repair set for spring - By Walter Lamb

After a meeting on Tuesday between DOT officials and members of Windham and Gorham’s legislative delegations, it was determined that Babb’s Bridge on Covered Bridge Road would not be fixed until spring at the earliest.
 

Babb’s covered bridge, closed to traffic recently due to damage caused by a hit and run driver as well as time and weather. The decision to wait until the snow was gone before attempting to repair the bridge made at a meeting in Augusta on Tuesday. The meeting was requested by Senator Bill Diamond and Representatives Mark Bryant and Patrick Corey after learning the State would not restore thru-traffic until spring. All said the delay was unacceptable. Representative Amy Volk from Gorham was also in attendance. “Having three people there from DOT, including their bridge maintenance guy, shows they’re doing their due diligence,” said Corey.

The fix will involve staging on the outside of the bridge and with the snow, repairing it now would be really hard, according to Corey. The repairs the DOT and the delegation spoke about at the meeting will not historically accurate. 

“What I really want is to get the bridge so it works,” said Diamond. Diamond added that getting the bridge safe to use is the first priority then there will be time to work with the town, DOT and the historical societies in both communities to do historical restoration. 

“I was pleased with their attitude,” said Diamond, who said the weather would be the determining factor when it comes to when the repairs begin. “It will be a couple of months.” 

Once repairs have started it should take between four and five weeks to complete the project.  

Close to 300 cars cross Babb’s Bridge every day, according to Diamond. Commuters in the area now have to detour to other points that cross the Presumpscot River. The damage, involving a support post on the Windham side, rendered the structure unsafe for vehicles but not in danger of collapse, according a state engineer. “It’s not a novelty bridge,” said Diamond.

Diamond said a related issue pertaining to the future of the historic span was also discussed. Local historians and other supporters of preserving historic construction practices have expressed concern over so-called “patchwork fixes” on the walls and roof of the bridge, fearing the approach might promote further deterioration and loss of its historic appearance. “There was no talk of taking it out of service,” said Diamond, after Tuesday’s meeting. 

The current bridge was built as a replica of the original span (ca. 1864) following its destruction by arson in 1973. Rep. Bryant said he has requested the legislative law library investigate the precise language of legislation, drafted after the fire that laid out the monitoring and cost obligations of all parties involved in the rebuilding. 

Windham Historical Society member Gary Plummer said “the covered bridge is an integral part of the histories of Windham and Gorham,” and remembers the dedication and hard work of people from both communities who committed to restoring the span as an exact replica, despite protests from the state that such an approach was too costly. Volunteers from both towns held fund raising events and helped in the planning and construction.

Plummer addressed the Windham Town Council on Tuesday. “It will cost $173,000 to bring it back to the 1976 level. The roof is the most pressing to keep the weather out. It would cost $55,000.” The costs to the bridge renovation ultimately fall to the state, said Plummer. 

Babb’s Bridge is only one of nine covered bridges left in Maine. New Hampshire and Vermont both have approximately 100 left.

Despite the snow, the show goes on for Annie Jr. - By Stephanie Coffin

After multiple cancellations and delays the Windham Middle School performance of Annie Jr. was a success! I was able to attend the last performance of the play and was quite taken by the energy on stage.

Several main characters including Annie were unable to perform the last play of the night due to uncontrollable circumstances. However, the kids stepped up and put on an unbelievable performance. 

Annie is the iconic story of an orphan who lives with in an orphanage under the rule of Miss Hannigan. She is chosen to spend time with millionaire Oliver Warbucks and his unique staff. They all grow fond of Annie and decide to keep her. Deep inside Annie hopes to be reunited with her birth parents, but there is an evil plan hatched by Miss Hannigan and her cohorts. 

The level of talent of the performers in Windham was wonderful to witness. The kids had great singing voices during the group performances and solo songs. Chloe Cyr a seventh grader stepped in to play the lead role of Annie at the last minute due to Denali Dieumegard coming down with the flu. Chloe took charge of the role and put on a wonderful performance with no flaws witnessed on my part. Eighth grader Makayla Malloy was wonderful as Miss Hannigan with her evil looks and sassy behavior. Eleven-year-old Austin Norcia as Rooster played the part great, right down to the greased slick back hair look of a con artist. Davin Farinella played Oliver Warbucks so true character he even went to the extent of shaving his head for the show.

Each middle school child on that stage did a wonderful job and should be proud to have put a smile on so many faces. The audience was entertained by the hard work and dedication to their part in the performance of Annie Jr.

I have never seen a Middle School play before Annie, but I will say I will be attending more in the future. The whole show was a wonderful experience to see. I encourage you to take a break from your everyday life the next time you see a sign at the rotary advertising a performance and to stop into the Windham Preforming Arts Center and watch the talent up on the stage.

Sidewalk slated for Raymond's Main Street in 2016 - By Walter Lunt

Picture caption: Residents and town officials will decide which side of Main Street gets a sidewalk. Concept drawing above shows sidewalks on both sides to help aid in the decision.

Raymond town officials are putting safety and sense of community on the fast track for joggers and other pedestrians on Main Street. Plans for the installment of a sidewalk along Main Street from the stop light at the Route 302 intersection to Meadow Road (Route 121) have entered the engineering stage following state and town meeting approval and a public hearing on the project.

Project manager Danielle Loring unveiled an engineer’s proposal this week showing sidewalks on both sides of Main Street. She was quick to point out that public input and recommendations from the project’s engineer will help decide which side of the road the walk way will be built. Loring says “there are pros and cons with both sides.” Less personal property intrusion on the west (Sebago) side, fewer drainage issues on the east (upland) side.

Loring said there was no clear preference from testimony at a recent public hearing, so right now “it’s 50/50 (as to) which way we’ll go,” but adds one big advantage to construction on the east side is that the sidewalk will link up to existing sidewalks on Route 302. “Pedestrians won’t have to cross over,” she explained.

Laurie Brown, of 55 Main Street, says many vehicles turning from Meadow Road on to Main Street, especially during morning hours, ignore the stop sign and don’t slow down. She says it’s a dangerous area for pedestrians and that her neighbors don’t often let their children ride bicycles along the road way.

Sally Holt, director of Raymond Public Library on Meadow Road, said the proposed sidewalk “…makes sense. It’ll make it easier and safer” (for library patrons). Some residents at the public hearing were worried about encroachment on their property and, for some, the possible loss of front yard trees. Loring said the town is looking into replacing any mature trees claimed by the project. Asked about the rock retaining wall fronting 7 Main Street near Route 302, Loring said that, should the sidewalk be built on that side of the road, it would abut the wall and the wall would not have to be disturbed.

Funding for the project has been approved by the Maine Department of Transportation, which bears 80 percent of the approximately $159,700 cost. The Town’s portion, about $32,000, was approved at Raymond’s 2014 town meeting. The money is part of a federal Transportation Enhancement grant, administered by the Maine D.O.T.

Town Manager Don Willard said the addition of a sidewalk to the area promotes a sense of village center, a concept that’s been discussed for many years. And sidewalks, he added, can have a calming effect on traffic.

The addition of the sidewalk, which will be an asphalt top with concrete curbing, expands Raymond’s sidewalk from Sebago Water Sports/Chipman’s Farm Stand to Meadow Road. Future plans call for sidewalk extension from Meadow Road to the Raymond Fire Station. That portion of Main Street, however, is not under State jurisdiction and would have to be locally funded. Loring said it is not part of the current project.

Budget is not a dirty word in my household - By Elizabeth Richards

Ten years ago, I stumbled across a message board on Babycenter.com called Family Finances. I knew we had issues with how we managed our money, and I was looking for help. It was there that I first learned that simply having a list of bills and when they were due was not the most effective way of managing our money. A real budget is essential to meeting the goals we set.  
 

We have always paid our bills on time. We have great credit scores. From the outside, it probably looks like we have it all together. But despite the fact that I have a spreadsheet detailing a daily projected cash flow for the next month, this isn’t always the case. When I relax too much, have extra money coming in, and ignore the budget I have set, things begin to unravel. Suddenly, we’ll have eaten out six times in two weeks, and the cash in our checking account is dropping alarmingly fast. That’s when I know it’s time to reign in the spending, to revisit the budget, and to make my money work for me.

A complete budget is much more complex than just knowing when the bills are due and whether or not we have the money to pay them. A budget is a plan, a map of where we want to go. Having a complete budget allows us to avoid unpleasant “surprises” (which are never really surprises, just things we forgot to plan for). Following a budget frees me from the anxiety of wondering how the next bill will be paid.

My family is fortunate, and I am grateful for everything we have. We have never had to worry about a roof over our heads or food on our table. We have health insurance, and while it’s not great coverage, I know that a medical crisis won’t send us into bankruptcy. We have everything we need, and much of what we want. But when the budget falls by the wayside, we aren’t able to meet some of the bigger goals we have – like saving for retirement, saving for our children’s education, saving for the next great vacation.

             

Our income is variable. I’m partially self employed, which means that some months we have a lot of money flowing through our account, and some months we don’t. Though my husband has a full time job, his salary alone will not cover all of our obligations. Creating a detailed household budget allows us to make it through my slow times, and keeps us on track in the times when we have more. 

A budget is slowly helping us dig our way out from under a mountain of consumer debt. We bought a house too soon, took vacations we couldn’t really afford, and sometimes spent far too much on entertainment. We didn’t delay gratification when we should have. It’s hard to say no to the kids when they want to experience something, and sometimes we used money we didn’t yet have to pay for those things. With the help of our detailed budget, we have learned to really examine whether or not we can afford something. Often, the answer is no.

On the flip side, a budget helps me see the light at the end of the tunnel. This plan, along with my projected cash flow, allows me to adjust as necessary. No one budgeting method works for every family, but I firmly believe every family needs to have a plan. 

And the whole family should be involved in this plan. Windham resident Chrystie Vachon, who runs a blog at www.moneysavingsisters.com and is a former TLC Extreme Couponer, said, “It's never too early to introduce children to money and sticking to a budget. Getting the children involved will not only give you a sense of accountability - you can't fail in front of your children - but also a great opportunity to show them responsibility.”  

            You should have a budget category for everything, and children should be aware of what is available to spend in each category that relates to them. “In our household, the children are well aware of our food and entertainment budget, so if they want to do an extra-curricular activity they know ahead of time whether it's in our budget or not,” said Vachon. “It helps them make smarter decisions about what they want to do with the designated 'fun' money.”

 
Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. Luckily, the internet offers a plethora of information, and a Google search for “household budget tips” brings up many resources to get you going.  On his website www.daveramsey.com, the well known financial guru Dave Ramsey says “you don’t have time not to make a budget!”  A budget shouldn’t be scary, or viewed as confining. A budget is just a plan, according to Ramsey, and a plan offers freedom.

Some of the top pointers on Ramsey’s site include giving a budget time to work – don’t give up too quickly; “spending” every penny on paper before your month begins; and, if you have a spouse or partner, working on the budget together.

There are some simple ways to begin. Sit down with records of where your money has been going – bank statements, credit card statements, receipts. Make a list of every expense you can anticipate in the coming month or year. Don’t forget quarterly payments, or expenses that you know will happen, even if you don’t know when (like car repairs or vet bills). Designate which items are most important until all available money is accounted for. 

Don’t ignore big expenses (saving for retirement or college) or little ones (those candy bars and sodas from the gas station add up). You may not be able to fund them all right now, but at least you will know what areas you need to work on. Put aside money whenever you can for these anticipated expenses. You can see clearly what you have to spend on needs (food, clothing, housing, transportation), and how much you have left over to spend on wants.

A budget won’t make up a money shortfall, but knowing ahead of time where you need to cut or bring in more income can offer peace of mind and take the stress out of dealing with your money.

A very special evening for local Raymond Couple - By Elizabeth Richards

Raymond businesses and community members rallied last week to help a daughter present her parents with a night to remember. Just minutes after Rae-Anne Nguyen put out her plea, a plan was in place to give her parents a night on the town, including a limo ride, dinner out and tickets to the Alan Jackson concert on Saturday, January 24^th.

Raymond resident Dale Southard, who owned and operated Tailfeathers Upland Store first in Windham, then in Raymond, was diagnosed with colon cancer in October of 2013. The family put their best efforts into keeping the business open and helping Southard get to treatments, but complications after a surgery in April of 2014 meant that he had to close the shop for good. “Through all that he’d made a lot of great friends,” said Nguyen. “The customers he had turned into good friends.”

Since Christmas week when Chipman Farms, where her mother worked, closed for the season Nguyen said her mother’s focus has been on taking care of her dad and making sure he’s getting to treatments and getting well. On January 11^th, Southard went back into the hospital and spent nine days there. When he came out, said Nguyen, “I wanted them to be able to do something fun together, because everything they do is always focused on the hard stuff right now.”  

Knowing that people in the community had been extremely supportive, and kept asking if there was anything they could do to help, Nguyen came up with the idea to put something together so her parents could get to the Alan Jackson concert. “They love country music, and they had never seen Alan Jackson in person,” she said.

In the early afternoon on Tuesday, January 20^th, she sent a message to family members, old friends, and other people they have met along their journey, asking if anyone wanted to chip in and help her make this night happen. The response was immediate and positive. Within minutes, she said, someone told her they were ordering floor tickets to the concert. Then came a gift certificate to Café Sebago and monetary donations so that her parents could ride to and from the show in a limousine. “Everyone was just so excited and happy, and glad to be a part of something like that for my parents,” said Nguyen.

The night was amazing for her parents, she said. It was a chance for them to have an evening where everything was arranged for them, and they knew how much love and support they had in the community.

Nguyen said that there were many local business owners who helped make the night special. Pam Hartig, owner of Ultimate Tanning and Hair Salon in Raymond; Jessica Fay, owner of Raymond Village Florist; and Bill and Kim Hines, owners of Café Sebago all played a large role in donating towards the event. Many other individuals also donated money, even after the fact, purchasing additional gift certificates to Café Sebago, where Nguyen’s parents like to eat. 

When someone is in need, members of the Raymond community band together. “That’s what’s incredible about this community,” said Hartig. 

Nguyen said she could see that every day when the shop was open and people came in to lend their support. Even after the closing of the business, she said, they receive many messages and phone calls from people offering help. But seeing it first hand was special. “I think it’s great for my parents to realize that they’re not alone, they’re not forgotten because Dad’s business isn’t there anymore. The support is still there and people are still really pushing for him to get well,” she said.