An American Family Holiday delights all generations - By Michelle Libby

Last Saturday, the Windham Performing Arts Center in Windham was packed for two sold out shows of the Windham Chamber Singers An American Family Holiday concert. The chamber singers, under the direction of Richard Nickerson, hosts the AmFam concert yearly. The concert ushers in the holiday season in Windham and Raymond and features not only the chamber singers, but also world renowned artists and performers. 

This year Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame took top billing. Stookey did not disappoint his fans. At 77 years old, he still loves the stage and performing for audiences, often stopping to tell stories or involving the crowd in the singing of his songs. 

His gravelly voice and unique scene of rhythmic timing stamped his personal style on O Holy Night, which is a song that is always performed at AmFam by the guest performers and the chamber singers.

One of the highlights for many was when Stookey had everyone help him sing “Puff the Magic Dragon” which was made famous by the trio in 1963. He was accompanied by his friend and musical director Michael McInnis. 

“Technology in its vastness means there’s something to be said for the simplicity of things,” Stookey told the audience. 

Year after year the audience is treated to favorite songs and new tunes destined to become favorites.

“It’s fantastic. There’s always something new, and some continue every year and that I enjoy,” said Dr. Sister Marilyn Sunderman from Sister of Mercy. “I love every year that the Strange’s come up from Florida. The performers have won numerous awards, nationally and internationally. Who would think it in a little town like Windham, Maine?” The chamber singers have consistent quality regardless of how many years have gone by, she added. 

Windham High School graduate and pianist Dan Strange and his wife, violinist Ashley Liberty return every year to delight fans. They keep the show fresh and exciting. This year, host Kim Block from Channel 13, announced for the couple that they are expecting a baby, due in May. 

 

For MaryEllen Doherty and Kathy Buxton, this show was their third and fourth shows respectively. “I started coming because a colleague’s daughter was a chamber singer. It’s a new tradition,” said Doherty.

“I love the show. We’re so fortunate to have so much talent in such a small town,” said Ben Jordan. 

While Strange played “The Christmas Song” solo on piano, it was if the audience took a deep, collective Christmas breath as the notes washed over them. 

The compliments rolled in from everyone in the audience about the amazing quality. Walter Braley and his wife Nina sat in the front row for the first time and were impressed at what the action looked like close up. “When you’re deaf it’s better,” Braley said with a laugh.  

Tickets go on sale on the first of October for next year’s show, so mark a calendar. These shows rival any big stage production and will put families in the holiday spirit.

Tree lightings in Windham and Raymond signal the start of yule season - By Walter Lunt and Michelle Libby

The joyful event at Raymond Village Library had all the ingredients for the official launch of the Christmas season: A 40-voice chorus of favorite yuletide songs, a children’s story time, hot beverages and snacks, a fire truck, a brightly lit Christmas tree and, of course, Santa Claus. The party-like gathering of over 100 adults and children was Raymond’s 16^th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, sponsored by the Raymond Lions Club.
 

Following a read-aloud story time in the library, the Raymond Elementary School third and fourth grade chorus filled the late afternoon air, growing cold in the creeping darkness, with songs of the season: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells and, following Santa Claus Is Coming To Town…he did. First, to the delight of young and old, a raucous countdown from 10, the tree lighting, then Santa, who stepped from Raymond Fire Department’s engine one, merrily chanting Christmas greetings and ringing a bell.

For nearly an hour following his grand entrance (the first from a fire truck, according to the Lions) Santa greeted countless children and their parents promising to bring good cheer and presents Christmas morning.

Choral Director Patricia Gordon, clearly pleased with her group’s performance, said a majority of her singers show up for this event every year and “are always excited to do this.”

Lions Club president Dale Gilman observed that the “Raymond Village Library Christmas Tree lighting is a growing tradition, especially for the village.” Other Lions members, who were helping out at the event, were quick to credit the many who contribute to the affair every year: Bob Payne for donating the tree, CMP for the tree placement, and Raymond Elementary School, Fire Department and public works. All Lions spoke of the need for new members and urged residents to join the organization. The Raymond Lions Club supports numerous library programs and also awards several college scholarships each year to deserving high school seniors. For information on Raymond Lions contact Bob Wallace at 655-2222.

Saturday members of the Windham Land Trust turned out to Black Brook Preserve to string lights on a tree there. At least 15 people came to celebrate the season.

In Windham, the Windham Police and Fire Departments, Windham Public Works, the parks and recreation advisory committee, along with Linda Morrell, the Windham Town Council and the Windham Economic Development Corporation teamed together to put on the first annual tree lighting at the public safety building on Route 202. 

“It was certainly a group effort,” said Linda Brooks, director of Windham Parks and Recreation. “It went wonderfully. We accomplished all we hoped for and more.”  

“How’s your holiday spirit doing?” asked town manager Tony Plante after the Windham Primary School third grade chorus under the direction of Nancy Cash-Cobb sang holiday tunes. 

The tree was lit just before Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a fire truck to great the crowd of adoring children. Santa took pictures with the children and some lucky adults as well. Music was also provided by local musician Doug Elder. 

“People are planning what we can do for next year, the second annual,” said Brooks. Next year, they hope to have even more community involvement.

Photo:

Wendy Lebel, Crystal Notte and Susan Lawson from Cross Church in Portland helped serve hot chocolate and sweet treats.

Project Christmas Love fills a niche in holiday giving - By Michelle Libby

The holidays can be a stressful time. Some families struggle to provide special gifts for their children and many organizations work to help them with those needs. Jennifer White, owner of A Joyful Noise Christian Daycare and Learning Center, saw a different segment of the population that was being missed and she decided to fill that niche with what she is calling Project Christmas Love.
 

Project Christmas Love started last year as a way to bring unwrapped toys and gifts to patients at Maine Medical Center who are terminally ill or very ill and can’t leave the hospital to buy gifts for their children or grandchildren. This is a way for them to pick out gifts for those loved ones. 

“We then wrap each gift for them and put name tags on them. The gifts are left in the patient's room so they can surprise their loved ones for Christmas. The doctors and nurses were so appreciative and supportive of us doing this and really wanted us to continue the tradition this year,” said White. 

This year White and her squad will be going to Maine Medical Center on December 21, to provide the chance for patients to pick out presents. 

“For the last decade Peter Kneeland from Edward Jones in Windham has had a company party where people bring in a toy. They started to bring them to us to find families in need,” White said. Sometimes she found families in her daycare center and other times, she found them in the community. 

The idea came to her to take the unwrapped gifts to the terminally ill patients. The doctors and nurses helped steer her to see the right people. They started on the Gibson floor and then moved on to others who were planning to be in the hospital until Christmas or after. 

“This year we are in need of collecting more toys and gifts along with Christmas wrapping paper, tape, bows and name tags so that we can help bring Christmas love and cheer to even more ill people. For some, this is their last Christmas. To be able to give their children a special gift means a lot to them,” White added. 

Last year White and Barbara Lewis of Maine Real Estate Network went room to room at the hospital. People were so overwhelmed and appreciative, White said. 

One woman told them that she was praying that God would provide a gift for her daughters and granddaughter. Project Christmas Love was the answer to her prayer. 

“Sometimes they are not terminal, but are really having a hard time in life. The doctors know this person needs a pick me up,” she said. 

“I know there are a lot of charities,” White said. She just asks that people think of this project as well.

The project is very special to White. When she was younger her grandmother died of cancer on Christmas Day. “Just before she died, she made my aunt promise she would buy presents for all of her children,” White said. “It’s near and dear to my heart. This makes it even more significant.” 

Global Harvest Outreach is the non-profit organization started by White to help with the community service projects she was doing. “A lot of different projects are through that,” she said. With the non-profit status, she can also provide receipts for businesses and people who donate. 

Project Christmas Love is looking for new toys for kids of all ages, teens, young adults, young kids. Monetary donations and gift cards are great as well. There is also a need for wrapping paper, bows and gift tags. The most popular items are books, Tonka Trucks, construction vehicles, animals, dolls and craft kits. For gift cards, $10 or $15 to Bull Moose, Subway, Game Stop or iTunes are big hits with teens.  

One hundred percent of donations go toward the project. “We ran out of toys last year and could have spent another day at the hospital,” White said. “It makes them feel so good that they can leave something behind.” 

Items can be dropped off at A Joyful Noise, 679 Roosevelt Trail, at the intersection of Route 302 and River Road until Friday, December 18. Businesses are encouraged to be a collection spot or to collect items for this cause. For more information or to speak with White directly, call 712-7371, visit www.projectchristmaslove.org or find them also on Facebook.

Windham's new shooting range draws large crowd for open house - By Anne Libby

The Windham Indoor Shooting Range and Retail Store (WISR) had a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to mark the official opening of the store and range at 999 Roosevelt Trail. This was an opportunity for the community to come into the new space and explore what the company had to offer in terms of the fully stocked store, the twelve shooting bays, the training sessions and the programs it offers. WISR is planning on staying involved in the community with classes for women, letting the youth from the Scarborough Fish and Game Club use their space, and allowing local law enforcement agencies to train in the “largest commercial indoor shooting range in Southern Maine.”

People in attendance were able to see and speak with the highly qualified staff, ask questions and the whole event put emphasis on education and safety. 

 

“We really scoured the state to look for staff that was at the highest caliber out there for the kind of interactions that we need to have at an indoor shooting range,” Warren Dyke, president of WISR. The goal of WISR is to help the community learn safe firearm habits and use that knowledge every time someone handles a gun. The company has a long list of trainings it offers, from introduction to modern handgun and practical handgun to practical rifle, and even an interactive home defense and trauma first aid course. 

As explained by WISR General Manager Peter Joyce, “the way the shooting drills are designed is to educate the students on how to run the gun safely, and be accurate with that, use the proper techniques when their body is under stress or when they're stressed out.”

 

 WISRs Women Shooting Club is another program WISR is running, that stresses the involvement of any women, younger or older, with no experience up to sharp shooters. The women’s club as of Saturday had 32 shooters show up to the handgun class that was offered. They expect upwards of 60 at the next meeting, and safety is stressed there as well. They plan on meeting every Tuesday at WISR. Joyce is also planning on getting a co-ed shooting league up and running to have “competitions, socialization, and fun in a safe environment.”

Theresa Sampson spoke about her relative inexperience with handguns, and her gradual progress and enjoyment of target practicing at WISR. Her daughter-in-law Corinne Sampson wanted to learn more about handguns and how to use them safely.

The range has state of the art equipment to keep the air clean, the lead down range, and the targets just where a shooter wants them. The total containment trap or TCT consists of steel plates at the end of the range that captures the bullet and brings it to a stop, then drops it into a bucket for recycling. 

The air system is known as a HEPA air filtration system. Vents at the far side of the range suck the contaminated air into filters to become purified before being released back into the environment. A blowing system against the wall behind the shooters pushes the air down the range. WISR also plans on recycling the brass casings that are left when someone is done shooting.

WISR offers memberships, classes and open shooting times seven days a week. To find out more, visit www.WindhamIndoorShootingRange.com, find them on Facebook or call 892-0274.