Kelli's 5K accomplished its mission - By Lorraine Glowczak

Despite the soggy and cool conditions on Saturday morning, August 13th, a large crowd of runners and walkers found their way to the Windham High School campus to donate their time, money and honor the memory of Kelli Hutchison at the 6th Annual Kelli’s 5K. 

This year’s run/walk was a success in many ways. At the time of this writing, $3,500 had been raised thus far. Donations were still coming in and are being accepted. The final dollar amount, less expenses, will be known in a few weeks. 

A portion of this year’s donations were a result of sponsorships from the following organizations: Bob the Screenprinter, Casco Bay Steel Structures, Betty ReeZ WhoopieZ, Capozza Tile & Floor Covering Center, Sebago Trails Paddling Co., Dr. Podhouse at Orthodontic Associates, Grondin, Blue Rock Stone Center, Pike Industries, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, Rowe Westbrook, Homestead Mortgage Loans, Primerica, Titcomb Associates, Joe and Suzanne Joyce.

Congratulations go to the fastest teen male and overall winner of this year’s event - William Chandler with a running time of 18:48. He was followed by the fastest male Eric Martin. The fastest female was Megan Curtis, followed by the fastest teen female, Analyse Harris. 

 

Along with the winners of the event, many others came out in support of this community cause. One such person was George Vooris. George was present because raising awareness and funds for cancer is important to him. He is the organizer of the Second Annual Naples Causeway 5K Walk or Run that will occur this year on August 28th. Proceeds from that event will go towards the Patrick Dempsey Cancer Center and the local food pantry. Originally, George’s intention was to run the Kelli’s 5K but as a result of recently hurting his ankle, he volunteered instead. 

Becky Delcourt of Windham has been a walker for this event since 2008, when it began as the St. Ann’s 5K. Delcourt stated, “I have known Kelli’s family for a long time and my son is a member of the WHS class of 2017.” As a result, she stated that it was especially important for her to participate again in this year’s event since 50 percent of the donations are going to the Windham High School 2017 Project Graduation, of which Kelli was also member. Becky’s friend, Michelle McCartney, joined the race for the first time. She was moved by Kelli’s story and wanted to make a contribution to this year’s cause and to honor the memory of the amazing and loving person that Kelli was known as by her family, friends and the community.

Jeremiah Merrill, a 2016 graduate of WHS, who grew up in the same neighborhood as the Hutchisons shared, “I remember playing with Kelli and her brother Cory. This is the first time I have participated in Kelli’s 5K but it is important to me to be a part of this year’s event. It is a special year since Kelli would have graduated in June 2017.” Jeremiah volunteered as parking attendant and participated as a walker.

Emily Skvorak and Celine Baker, both members of the 2017 graduating class, didn’t let the rain stop them either. Both of the runners were friends with Kelli and expressed how much they miss her presence. They both agreed that it was important for them to “honor and remember Kelli as a member of the graduating class.” They also spoke of Shane Donnelly, another class member who passed away unexpectedly in late spring of 2015. Celine stated that “the passing of Kelli and Shane brought the community and the class together in unexpected and special ways. It’s difficult to go through life without them.” 

Emily continued with that same thought, “Whenever I am doing something for the first time, such as prom, I think it would have been so much more fun to have Kelli here, doing this with me.”

Another Kelli 5K volunteer also shared her story. Beverly Robertson, Kelli’s Aunt, has been volunteering since the Kelli 5K began in 2010. She believed Kelli’s spirit looked down upon Saturday’s event, “Kelli would be very pleased with the outpouring of caring happening today.” It seemed Beverly knew Kelli’s spirit was there as she shared a very special story. “On the day Kelli was laid to rest and as my husband and I were driving home, I asked Kelli for a sign.” Within a few minutes, it seems Kelli honored her aunt’s wishes by displaying a rainbow on a sunny day without a cloud in the sky. Not once, not twice, but three times. Beverly continued, “When I got home, I called Melissa (Kelli’s mother), and told her about my experience. As we were talking, a rainbow appeared just outside the window for Melissa to also see.” 

Kelli’s parents, Melissa and Mike as well as her brother Cory wished to express their gratitude to all who participated and made donations. Overwhelmed with the spirit of community, the Hutchisons are happy beyond measure at this year’s successful Kelli’s 5K. It is their hope that Kelli’s essence remains a presence in the Windham community. Her love for life, her deep passion and caring for others, as well as the joy she had despite the challenges she faced at such a young age. May each individual in this small community see their own rainbows on difficult days and remember to enjoy it all, despite it all, Melissa said.

To make a financial contribution for the playground and 2017 Project Grad, visit the website at www.kellis5k.com.

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Everybody Loves Raymond, ME grows in popularity - By Michelle Libby

On a perfect summer day in Raymond, community members and tourists stopped by the Mill Street Park to sample the wares and listen to the sounds from the New England Jazz Band at the second annual Everyone Loves Raymond, ME day. Organizers worked on the event throughout the year to plan for the affair. Although there were some grumblings, the event was fun for those who attended.

“I think it was a huge success. We had visions of torrential rain all day, but we lucked out. The weather was perfect!” said one of the organizers, Nick Hardy. 

A community parade kicked off the day with pockets of community members dotting the route. The grand marshal was Wayne Holmquist and his wife Anita. Wayne was one of the co-founders of the Raymond Revitalization Committee, which came up with the idea for the festival. Some parade officials rode in convertibles donated by Macdonald Motors for the occasion. 

“I was thrilled to see so many young families and children at the event,” said Hardy. After the parade, the Sheri Gagnon Park on Mill Street was the gathering place featuring local businesses and crafters, food vendors dishing out grilled corn, cotton candy and snow cones. There was also a dunk tank and a few games. 

Representative Mike McClellan joined in the fun by getting dunked. “This is very nice. A nice group of people,” he said. He was excited for an event that showcases Raymond, a town he raised his children in and is proud of, he said. 

“Many of the people I spoke with enjoyed themselves. It was nice to see the community involvement that we are trying to build come together, including all the participants and volunteer efforts,” said one committee member.

“I would like to thank all the help and volunteers that made our event a great success,” said chairperson Carrie Colby. “The band was a great success and a donation from Frank who won them in an auction and donated to our event,” she added. 

“I thought having the New England Jazz Band was a huge plus,” said Hardy. “A huge thank you to our tireless leader Carrie Colby for making the second annual Everybody Loves Raymond Day a huge success.”

The committee will meet September 8 at 8 a.m. at the Village Donut Shop on Route 302 for a review of the event. Going forward the

Concert series at Dundee Park a success - By Elizabeth Richards

The summer concert series at Dundee Park had it all – free music performed by local musicians, swimming, a gorgeous setting and plenty of sunshine.  Opening up the park for this free series attracted many visitors who otherwise might not have experienced all that Dundee Park has to offer.  

In an August 5th memo to the town council, assistant town manager Phyllis Moss said, “The Park[s] and Recreation Summer Concert [Series] was a huge success! It was very well attended and it allowed many people to be introduced to Dundee Park for the first time. Kudos to Linda Brooks and the Park [s] and Recreation Advisory Committee for their efforts in pulling this series together.”

Windham Parks and Recreation Director Linda Brooks said she heard a lot of feedback regarding the series encouraging people to visit the park. “That seemed to be one of the biggest benefits of this concert series, the discovery or re-discovery of Dundee Park,” she said.  “It was nice to be able to showcase this really lovely facility that the town owns.”

Attendance at the concerts grew each week, Brooks said, and by the fourth show, which was beloved children’s performer Rick Charette, the unofficial count was over 400 people.  And they didn’t just come by car, Brooks said.  People watched from canoes and kayaks in the water as well. Those who did come by car sometimes ended up parking all the way back at the gate, but Brooks said despite the walk in, everyone was in a good mood. “For the most part families just seemed to take it in and enjoy the whole thing,” she said.

Windham resident Kristen Kelley said she attended the last two concerts in the series, and the only reason she missed the first two was that she didn’t know about them.  “It was very nice to bring dinner and hang out with friends on the last two beautiful Wednesday nights,” she said.  

Kelley and her children particularly enjoyed the Rick Charette show.  “Rick Charette was awesome as usual, and got the kids moving and dancing with him on stage,” she said. “The beach was packed and so was the water, and all the kids seemed to have a blast.”  A highlight for her kids, she added, was being able to take a picture with Charette after the show.  

Free entry to the park for the concerts made the series accessible to all. “We love great, free, family fun,” Kelley said. 

The Parks and Recreation Department increased accessibility for senior citizens by providing van transportation, said Brooks. “The combination of plenty of sun and plenty of shade at Dundee made it really suitable for all ages,” she said. 

Becky Ireland, Director of the Be The Influence Coalition, a Windham-Raymond Collaborative which aims to reduce teen substance use, said that community events like the concert series are important because they build connections outside the home.  “Young people who feel that their community cares about them and who are engaged with family and community activities are less likely to experience a variety of things which can impact their safety and success- such as substance use, violence, problems in school and mental health issues,” she said.

The coalition was represented at all four concerts, displaying their "Teen Brain: Under Construction" educational materials.  “We aim for the community to have consistent information that they can use to help support teens in making healthy choices - after all- they are the future parents, neighbors, and workforce which will help keep our communities strong,” said Ireland.

A few community organizations stepped forward to run the concession stand at the concerts, including a local dance studio, Boy Scouts and the American Legion Auxiliary.  Brooks said this was a good model that they plan to continue with for next year, encouraging other community organizations to get involved. Though the concessions are a fundraiser for the organizations, “It’s not just about the money, but also to be able to promote what they are all about,” Brooks said.

The committee wants to build upon the success of the series this year in future years, Brooks said.  The four bands were local performers, each with a different style of music.  They plan to follow the same four concert format for next year, Brooks said.

Brooks said the Dundee Park staff did an amazing job, especially on the hot nights when as many people were watching the concerts from the water as from shore. 

“The concert series was an excellent way for diverse community members to come together and enjoy a variety of music in a beautiful place that they otherwise might not think to go to,” said Ireland.  “I heard many people say they had not been to the park in years or had never been but that they plan to come back to enjoy it again soon.”

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21st Century Downtown Plan creates community for Windham - By Lorraine Glowczak

The 21^st Century Downtown Plan that began as a spark of community imagination is inching closer toward reality. The collaborative planning phase that began in 2011 and adopted in 2013 may see the physical transformations begin in two to three years. Of course, baby steps are what it is going to take to reach the fully implemented vision. It’s difficult to determine the exact amount of years it will take, but Ben Smith, Windham Planning Director, stated that when completed, the new North Windham will be “a center of social and economic activity and it will shape the lives of the next three generations” in the most positive way. 

As it stands now, North Windham is a place of convenience. Need groceries? Need that new lawn mower, or make that hasty dash into the bank? Then North Windham is there for you. But what about a sense of community? Where are the parks? Where are the children playing? Do you see people walking to their favorite shop or eatery and supporting local businesses? Is there an easily accessible place for our elderly to gather? And, when you have guests from out of town, where in North Windham do you take them? Unfortunately, North Windham lacks atmosphere, aesthetics, community, and a place to gather with neighbors and friends. As a result, many individuals choose not to move to Windham for these very reasons. Ben Smith stated it best when he refers to the plan, “We want to create a healthy, enjoyable and residential community. To create a habitat for people.”

 

What exactly is a healthy community? As stated in the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization identifies a healthy community as such: “one that continuously creates and improves both its physical and social environments, helping people to support one another in aspects of daily life and to develop to their fullest potential. Healthy places are those designed and built to improve the quality of life for all people who live, work, worship, learn, and play within their borders - where every person is free to make choices amid a variety of healthy, available, accessible, and affordable options.”

What does a healthy habitat for North Windham look like and in what ways does the 21^st Century Plan create and improve both its physical and social environment? First, it all began when city officials listened to its community members. Ben stated, “According to the community survey that was conducted in the fall of 2014, among the top things that people love about living in Windham is the proximity to Portland, the convenience of having a wide range of goods and services available right in Windham. They also noted traffic problems and the need for infrastructure improvements are among the top disadvantages to living in Windham. Residents also feel that the top threat to Windham’s quality of life was development and congestion in the North Windham commercial areas.”

As a result of that survey and many hours of research, the physical improvements of the 21^st Century Downton Plan consists of significant pedestrian upgrades including the addition of new sidewalks, wider shoulders for bicycle use, placing electrical lines underground, and the addition of trees and broadband Internet. Additionally, a more efficient use of available land will create higher land value for the home and business owner. This will draw new businesses to the area such as lawyers, accountants, specialty shops, art, restaurants, and local pubs where music abounds. Most importantly and for all this to become a reality, the addition of waste water disposal is a must. But in doing so, present town ordinances need to be addressed and changed that include residential and commercial properties residing together in what is now a central business district. The present ordinances and changes needed will be discussed this fall in a community town hall meeting. The time and date is yet to be determined.

There are always concerns by members of the public when facing transformation and change. Ben Smith reiterates that the community and government officials have worked together to discuss the various concerns and goals by meeting the public on a community and individual level. Without a doubt, funding is high on the list of apprehensions to the 21^st Century Plan. Smith stated that there are a number of funding sources to include but not limited to grants, matching funds, public and private partnerships, as well as “adopt a green space,” and “adopt a tree” programs. Additionally, funding will be provided by the Department of Transportation improvement program. 

As with any transformational and progressive goal, changes will be implemented slowly. It is possible that the community can begin to see the transformation take place in as early as two to three years. The whole completed project could foreseeable be finished in 15 to 20 years. As Smith stated, “the next big phase of North Windham is upon us.” And no matter how long the 21^st Century Plan will take to reach full completion, North Windham will be buzzing will social and economic activity. It will be a true habitat for people and it’s going to be a wonderful community adventure.

For detailed information on the 21^st Century Downtown Plan, visit www.windhammaine.us/220/21st-Century-Downtown-Plan

REAL School returns to the district with a new principal, but the same philosophy - By Michelle Libby

This fall the REAL School is relocating from Mackworth Island in Falmouth to Camp William Hinds in Raymond. The school was divided into two entities at the end of the last school year, according to new principal Rich Meserve. The students who attended the school from out of the RSU14 district will be incorporated into the Brunswick school system and the students from Windham and Raymond will move to the new location in the walkout basement of the new dining hall at Camp Hinds on Plains Road.

“It will be strictly for kids from Windham and Raymond,” said Meserve. “It will be the same mindset and approaches, social, emotional, and environmental that we did before.”

Between 20 to 30 students will attend the program which features experiential learning taught by a seasoned staff with over 50 years of REAL School teaching experience combined. “There’s lots of opportunity for experiential adventure-based curriculum,” Meserve said. 

With Panther Pond, the Tenney River and the existing facilities at the camp like a low ropes course,

the students will be able to continue their lessons while engaging in physical pursuits like paddling on the river, said Meserve. 

There is also a plan for the students to build mountain bike trails to use and that can also be used in the summer for the Scouting program. The school’s hoop house will be relocated. These reciprocal projects will be used jointly by the Scouts and the students, Meserve added. 

“We will have all sorts of new activities to showcase their talents. It’s a fresh start in a beautiful spot,” Meserve said.   

The school on Mackworth Island was antiquated and had many issues that the new space at Camp Hinds will not have, said Meserve. There will be a little change in staff, but “the students know all of us well.” Those transferring with the school are three senior drivers, the administrative assistant, the counselor, three teachers and many of the AmeriCorps volunteers.   

“We believe in the child first philosophy. Smaller class size and increased engagement translates to bright futures for our students,” Meserve said. “It’s a big change and it’s hard to be away from those we’ve worked with. As we move forward we provide a great opportunity for kids in the district. We’re thrilled,” he said. 

Superintendent Sandy Prince toured the facility last week and was excited to have the school located back in the district. 

The space should be completed before school begins in less than a month.