Annie Get Your Gun premiers on local stage - By Michelle Libby

Last weekend Schoolhouse Arts Center opened the curtain on Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun. The musical featured the tale of Annie Oakley as she became known as the “best shot around” by beating Frank Butler, the featured act in Colonel Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and taking over as the star in the show, hoping to increase the show’s bottom line. A romance between Annie and Frank blossoms, but Frank has a hard time when Annie shows him up with a gun. 

 

If you’re not familiar with the show, you still might recognize songs like “Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly”, “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “Anything You Can Do”. The show is a fun, musical experience in the cool comfort of the recently remodeled Schoolhouse theater. 

Under the direction of Rob Juergens, the show showcases the talent of local residents, especially Dorothy Stickney as Annie Oakley and Ryan Lane as Frank Butler. 

 

“Some people have this idea that the director is a type of dictator that bends the actors and crew to his will, ultimately reproducing his exact image upon the stage. Right…Everyone has his or her input,” said Juergens. 

Stickney played the uneducated and unsocialized Annie with an unapologetic innocence that I only can imagine took some time to perfect. Her song “You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun” had the audience laughing at the fun play on words like “pistol packing mamas”. She made Annie Oakley come alive on the stage so much that my husband went home to look up the Oakley story when we arrived home. 

Lane was terrific as Frank Butler. He conquered his large portion of the songs like a professional with a strong voice. His attitude when he was beat by Annie rang true for the time period. This was his first time performing at the Schoolhouse. 

Other great performances were given by Clare McKelway at Dolly Take, who was in love with Frank Butler and did not like Annie. Chief Sitting Bull played by Michael Wozich provided color and humor. Annie’s siblings were great, often switching out to play other roles, were John Malcolm Lowell Ulmer, Corinne Sophia Ulmer, Phoebe Johnston and Meghan Elizabeth Reidy. Danny Gay also had numerous roles, which he portrayed well.  

All in all I would not hesitate to recommend this show to anyone looking for a night out with great live entertainment. The show will run through August 2 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 5 p.m. Adult tickets are $18. Seniors and students are $16. Visit www.schoolhousearts.org for more detailed information or contact the Schoolhouse Arts Center at schoolhousearts@gmail.com. Schoolhouse Arts Center is located at 16 Richville Road (Route 114) in Standish.

Quarter-gunner Daniel S. Milliken honored - By David Tanguay

July 4^th, 8 a.m., Riverside Cemetery, Raymond. Cars arrive discharging their passengers. Some are in heavy woolen Civil War uniforms with muskets and swords. Some are in bright white US Navy summer uniforms, some in suit and tie, others in more casual attire befitting the summer day. 

The Raymond Fire chief arrived in his official blue uniform and with several firemen, two with gleaming, polished axes. Raymond Boy Scout Troop 800 arrived as do members of the Raymond Select Board and office staff. Veterans were there as well, some in Legion and VFW caps, others in remnants of their service uniforms.

At 9 a.m., the participants form up, and the ceremony begins. What is the occasion? A funeral? Not on that day. Instead it was a remembrance of a Civil War Veteran and Medal of Honor recipient buried in Riverside Cemetery with no flag to indicate his status as a Veteran, or a Civil War Navy quarter-gunner and a Medal of Honor recipient. 

With the ceremony all that changed. Master of Ceremony, US Navy CDR (retired) Dave Tanguay, called the group of approximately 50 individuals to focus on what they were witnessing. US Navy Captain (retired) chaplain, Dana Reed, gave an invocation and asked all to remember those who have gone before us on this 4^th of July, those that have paved the way for the freedoms we now enjoy.

 

Dave Tanguay followed with a brief review of the life of Daniel S Milliken, who was born in Saco in 1841 and served in the Union Navy on the USS New Ironsides as a lad in his early twenties. 

He was a Civil War Veteran and a US flag was place on his grave by Town of Raymond, board member, Sam Gifford, also a Veteran during the Korean Conflict.

Tanguay continued with the history of the Battle of Fort Fisher North Carolina in the winter of 1864 and 1865 where Daniel S Milliken, a quarter-gunner on the New Ironsides, manned an 11-inch Dahlgren cannon that laid crippling fire to Fort Fisher. For his actions he is awarded the Medal of Honor in Aug of 1870. He lived out the remainder of his life in and around Raymond, Maine, marrying twice and having no children. In his early fifties, he was hospitalized with consumption and died at age 58 in 1899. He was buried next to his second wife, Francis, in Riverside Cemetery with a plain, white, VA marker that indicates only his name and the date of his passing.

The stone that was dedicated on the fourth of July as a memorial is set as a foot stone. It is white granite with a depiction of the USS New Ironsides flanked by an image of the 1861 Medal of Honor. Below the ship is the name, “Daniel S. Milliken” with the date he received the Medal of Honor.

Milliken was given honors long past due. James Bunting Sr., a WWII veteran and his son James Jr., from Wilmington, NC (and Raymond), were escorted to the memorial stone to place a blue and white Medal of Honor Flag in the holder. Members of Boy Scout Troop 800 of Raymond followed and placed a blue and white carnation wreath at the stone in remembrance.

Raymond select board chairman Mike Reynolds read a town proclamation recognizing Milliken as a Raymond Town Hero and recognized the contributions of the Field-Allen Post in the ceremony. He then presented the proclamation to the American Legion Post 148 Commander, Mel Greenier, who accepted on behalf of the post.

A brief prayer by Chaplain Reed followed. Tanguay then turned the program over to Third Maine Captain David Gowen who rendered military honors from the Civil War period. 

The Fire Department stood at attention with axes at present arms. The veterans in uniform saluted and the remaining crowd uncovered and placed their hand or hat over their heart as a token of honor and remembrance. The Civil War clad infantry rifle squad fired a 3-volley musket salute and was followed by the haunting sound of taps.

Quarter-gunner Daniel S Milliken is now part of the history of Raymond, Maine and will be remembered.

The crowd mingled, and thins; the chairs were quickly swept up. Stillness returned to Riverside Cemetery with a bright blue and white wreath and flag to catch the eye.

All photos by Bob Christie, Post Historian

Windham student attends Congress of Future Medical Leaders - By Elizabeth Richards

In late June, students from all around the country came together for the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, MA. Among those attending was Chantai Chevannes, who recently finished her freshman year at Windham High School. 
 

Chevannes was nominated to represent Maine at the congress by Dr. Connie Mariano, the Medical Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists, which sponsors the congress. Chevannes said the nomination came as a big surprise. 

 

“I got a letter in the mail,” she said. “It was totally out of the blue. I never knew I was actually good enough for something like that until now.”

A press release described the congress as an honors-only program for high school students interested in becoming physicians or going into medical research fields. Its purpose is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct these students to stay true to their dream, and also to provide a path, plan and resources after the event to help them reach their goal.

“This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard Rossi, Executive Director, National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. “Focused, bright and determined students like Chantai Chevannes are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance we can give her.”

The rigorous schedule included hearing Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science winners speak, advice for participants from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what to expect in medical school, inspiring stories told by patients considered to be modern medical miracles, and teen medical science prodigy speakers, opportunities for questions, and other group activities. 

Chevannes said she enjoyed meeting people from all over the country, and was impressed by the speakers she heard. One of these, Dr. J. Craig Venter, was someone she had written a science report about in eighth grade. 

“It was really cool to see him in person,” she said. Another portion of the Congress that made an impression on her was watching surgeons in action via video chat. This taught her how surgeons use teamwork to perform surgery, she said. 

Chevannes said she has thought about becoming either a genetic engineer or a surgeon. She said she was a little surprised to be selected for the congress, she said that it felt great. “I’ve always known I wanted to do something in the medical field, but after this congress I really feel like I can,” she said. 

On the final day of the Congress, participants took the Hippocratic Oath. “After taking it, it just felt like my future locked into place,” said Chevannes.

New indoor shooting range and retail store under construction in Windham - By Michelle Libby

Starting this fall, area residents and gun enthusiasts can bring their shooting inside at the Windham Indoor Shooting Range & Retail Store, located in the Windham Business Park adjacent to Windham Weaponry just off Route 302.

Starting around Labor Day, the retail store will open, selling parts, handguns, rifles and other gear for shooting and hunting sportsmen and women. The new indoor range will feature “state of the art” Action Target Total Containment Trap (TCT), HEPA air filtration, and target retrieval systems. The 12-lane range split into two separate bays is slated to open in October. The range will be open to the public and will offer classes on everything from which firearm is best for a certain person to advanced technique classes. 

The company is not owned by Windham Weaponry, but is a sister company to it, with Windham Weaponry being one of the investors. This will not change the Windham Weaponry business, but it “gives us another avenue for growth as an investor in this project,” said Allen Faraday, project manager.

“Several years ago we looked at the possibility of looking at having a range,” said Faraday. “We are a manufacturing company, primarily the AR- platform. It’s a fairly narrow product line and is susceptible to market fluctuations. More even in terms of seasonality of the business, we really became convinced there was a need [for an indoor range] in Southern Maine.” 

Faraday toured ranges all over the country and worked with Action Target out of Utah, that sells and designs range equipment and has helped with the range development on the Windham project. Initially it was thought they might build a new building, but then decided that they had the space for the 25-yard range in an existing building that was being used for storage. 

“We realized we had room for a very professional, large range with state of the art equipment,” Faraday said. Also because it was an existing building they skipped the planning board stage. They have worked with code enforcement. “Working with Windham has been pleasant and agreeable,” Faraday said. 

 

Eight Windham Weaponry employees are working on the project to help with building and smaller jobs. When it comes time to hire employees, trained professionals through the NRA and certified range safety officers (RSOs) will be brought in, as well as adjunct instructors. All of the contractors have been local businesses, Faraday said.

Last week, Peter Joyce, owner of SRT Concepts, LLC, was brought on as the general manager of Windham Indoor Shooting Range & Retail Store. Joyce has an extensive background in the firearms training industry. He is a retired veteran of the Portland Maine Police Department and co-founder of the department’s Special Reaction Team. He founded and operated Weaponcraft for 14 years until he sold it in 2007. 

“Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone, if they let their guard down. That is why training is so important. It’s a huge responsibility that goes along with holding and handling a firearm,” Joyce said. 

Faraday also attended a two day seminar on handling lead in indoor ranges put on by the NRA. Windham Weaponry was already certified in lead handling and disposal because of their current work. In the range there will be a bullet trap, which will funnel the ammunition into a deceleration chamber and then drop into a plastic bucket, then be recycled. 

“The entire design is based on being comfortable for new customers, existing customers and very experienced customers, and it’s designed around safety,” Faraday said. The range stalls, targets, steel plates, HVAC exhaust and containment system will all come from Action Target. 

Safety will be a huge part of Windham Indoor Shooting Range & Retail Store. From the sound barriers to the background checks, every detail has been thought out by the team and Action Target. 

“We will be a full service operation. Every employed RSO, everyone will know what we expect for safety,” said Faraday. Security will also be ramped up on the premises with additional cameras on the exterior and 14 cameras within the range and retail complex to have visibility to see what’s going on everywhere. 

Windham Police Chief Kevin Schofield will also be giving his input about the safety of the complex, according to Faraday. 

At the range, people will be allowed to bring in their own firearm as long as the safety requirements of the range are being met. Ammunition, up to .50 caliber including full automatic, can be purchased at the retail store. 

The curriculum for classes is still being developed as is standard operating procedures and safety requirements.

Walk-ins are welcome and trainings will be held regularly on tops like gun safety, rifle safety, women’s only, youth classes, elective courses and private lessons in a special classroom. There will also be competitive leagues, Faraday said. There will also be classes on maintaining firearms and a gun smith on site for servicing firearms. There will also be the opportunity to rent firearms.

“When training, you have to train in the proper techniques so that if you have to use that firearm in a defensive situation at a high degree of stress, you’re prepared,” Joyce said. 

RSOs will be looking for what will be the best fit for what a customer is looking for and if they are “not comfortable selling to someone, we certainly won’t,” Faraday said. 

There will be a viewing area and lounge with level 8 ballistic glass. The HVAC system is state of the art and makes sure that the lead residue will not harm the shooter or anyone outside of the range.

“Everything is really well thought through for cleanliness and safety for not only for customers, but employees also,” said Faraday. It took several months developing the plan, the current one they are working with is the tenth version, he added. 

“Their demand for quality and customer service is great to see. They’re doing everything the way it’s supposed to be done,” Joyce said. 

 

The rates will be competitive and there will be memberships with some benefits. The controlled environment will always have someone on duty and will be clean, bright and welcoming. The hours are anticipated to be seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, email Faraday at afaraday@windhamweaponry.com. For more on Windham Indoor Shooting Range & Retail Store visit, www.windhamindoorshootingrange.com.