Daughters of the American Revolution pay tribute to first WHS valedictorian

By Ed Pierce

Daughters of the American Revolution regents and members gathered at Smith Cemetery in Windham on Sunday to remember the life and accomplishments of Edith Pride Elliot, a lifelong resident who was valedictorian of the first graduating class at Windham High School in 1897.

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution gather
at Smith Cemetery to honor the life and legacy of Windham's
Edith Pride Elliot on Sunday, Aug. 18. She was the
valedictorian of the first graduating class of Windham High
School and went on to found the DAR's Joshua Stevens
Chapter in St. Cloud, Florida, PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

Elliot, who died at the age of 100 in 1977, was honored with a special engraved DAR designation on her headstone at the cemetery, a bouquet of flowers and graveside remarks by the regent of a DAR chapter in St. Cloud, Florida that she helped to found. DAR members from Maine, Vermont, and Florida attended the remembrance event.

Regent Julia Smythe of the DAR’s Elizabeth Wadsworth Chapter in Portland introduced members from the other states and said that Elliot deserves the attention because her legacy is far reaching and relevant years after her death.

“We who continue the work of the National Society and carry the responsibilities have been inspired by the lives of those whose tasks are completed, especially Edith Pride Elliot,” Smythe said.

She also recognized DAR Maine State Regent Elizabeth Calhoun who attended the event and is originally from Windham.

“This is a very special day because it brings together two special things,” Calhoun said. “First, it honors a fellow DAR member and second, the person we are honoring today is from the same town where I grew up.”

Calhoun attended Windham High School and graduated in 1990 before leaving Windham. While doing genealogical research about her family in 2003, she connected with the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania DAR chapter and has been a member ever since.

She said that she didn’t know Elliot when she lived here but was impressed to learn her story. Joining her at the event honoring Elliot was Calhoun's aunt, Patricia Jillson, a 1963 WHS graduate, who now lives in South Paris.

Edith Gertrude Pride was born June 24, 1876, and as a child helped at Windham’s first library which was founded by her mother and grandmother. She attended WHS when it opened in the red brick building that is now the Windham Historical Society Museum on Windham Center Road. She completed her high school studies ranked first overall academically in her class and was among the first group of students to graduate from the school.

In 1899, she married Orin Elliot, yet he tragically died seven months later from tuberculosis and she never remarried. Six years later she earned a teaching certificate and taught for four years at a one-room schoolhouse near her home at Windham Center.

She was a longtime member of the Crossroads Garden Club, the Helping Hand Club, The Windham Library Association, The Windham Republican Club, the Evangeline Chapter-Order of the Eastern Star and was a founding member of the Windham Historical Society. She attended every graduation ceremony and alumni banquet for WHS students through the 1970s.

Every winter Elliot would accompany her father to Saint Cloud, Florida until he passed away at the age of 95. She would continue to travel to St. Cloud each winter until she was 88. While in St. Cloud, she helped to organize a DAR chapter there.

That chapter’s regent, Kim Tennison, flew to Maine to attend the special recognition ceremony for Elliot, and was the guest speaker for the occasion.

Tennison said that when she became regent of the DAR’s St. Cloud chapter last summer, she looked at the first scrapbook of the St. Cloud Joshua Stevens Chapter and found notes, telegrams, letters and journals describing the beginnings of the chapter. In fact, Joshua Stevens was the patriot ancestor of Edith Elliot, born in Falmouth County, Massachusetts and he served as a lieutenant during the Revolutionary War.

“I sat down and poured over them a few hours at a time for days,” Tennison said. “I was especially fascinated by Edith’s handwritten journal she made. I saw a dedicated Daughter of the American Revolution and as I read, she let me accompany her into a time capsule as a DAR member in the 1950s, into a time when women wore hats and gloves anytime when in public and listened to their Sunday church service on the radio. I got a feeling for her servant’s heart, and had we existed at the same time, I would have loved to have been her friend.”

Reading that information and learning about Elliot’s life through a newspaper article in The Windham Eagle posted online prompted Tennison to research where Elliot was buried and she discovered that she did not have a DAR insignia on her grave marker.

According to Tennison, she was also moved by the fact that back in 1976, on Edith Pride Elliott’s 100th birthday, June 24 was proclaimed “Edith Elliot Day” by then Windham Town Manager David Miller and the Windham Town Council. In 1977, a special dedication sponsored by then State Rep. Bill Diamond and the 108th Maine Legislature paid tribute to Elliot for a century of contributions to the educational, cultural, political and charitable life of Windham. And only a week before her death in May 1977, the town and several local garden clubs designated a plot of ground next to the Windham Public Library on Windham Center Road as Elliot Park.

“I found that made me want to place a marker at Mrs. Elliot’s grave,” Tennison said. “It touched my heart that Edith Pride Elliot would have been involved with placing these markers as she continued her visits to St. Cloud until she was 88 in 1964.”

She said Elliot valued the members of the Joshua Stevens Chapter and she worked alongside them on projects focusing on patriotism, historic preservation and education such as presenting Good Citizen Awards and National Defense Awards to students and residents of the St. Cloud area.

“Now we have come full circle as we have the privilege to honor her in this same way,” Tennison said. “I will be forever grateful for all her contributions and endeavor that Joshua Stevens Chapter will carry on her legacy now and in the future.” <

‘Lost River’ temporarily flows again in Windham after 100 years

By Abby Wilson

When a dam malfunction resulted in the emptying of Dundee Pond at the start of the summer, a lost river took its place.

Whitney Falls has reappeared in Windham as part of the 
'Lost River,' a portion of the Presumpscot River which was 
swallowed up when a dam was built creating Dundee Pond
more than 100 years ago. The 'Lost River' returned this
summer when a dam gate malfunction drained Dundee Pond.
PHOTO BY ABBY WILSON  

Located in Windham and flowing past Dundee Park, this “lost river” is part of the Presumpscot River.

Recently the Friends of the Presumpscot River, whose mission is to protect and restore the waterway, held a series of guided walks for the public along the river called “The River That Flows Below: A Presumpscot River Walk & Talk.”

On Sunday, Aug. 18, both Rob Sanford, a Professor Emeritus for the University of Southern Maine’s Environmental Science Department and Michael Shaughnessy, a founding member and the President of the Friends of the Presumpscot River, explored the lost river landscape with more than 50 community residents.

"The town didn't know this was going to happen," said Shaughnessy. “The disappearance of the pond came as a total shock to everyone, but the formation of this river and what was revealed below, even more so.

Sanford who is also the author of “Reading the Rural Landscape” and the editor of “River Voices: Perspectives on the Presumpscot River,” said that the stumps along the path of the river are 110 to 120 years old.

He is skilled in understanding the story and history of a landscape. Standing at Dundee Park and looking out over the lost river, it was difficult not to notice its dramatic features.

This area of the river was the site of an original canal project dating back to the late 1700s. During this time, many dams were being built along the Presumpscot River for hydroelectricity. The pond was not flooded until 1910, however, which means the last time this landscape featured a river was over 100 years ago.

The former pond’s stark delineation and water line is a very dramatic feature. But it’s the tree stumps and fissured soil that resembles a different planet, or perhaps our planet but in an apocalyptic time.

In the flat areas where the stumps were scarce, Sandford said that these would have been fields filled with grazing sheep. During the time before the area was flooded, sheep would have been valuable commodities.

“In the Civil War a lot of wool for uniforms came from New England,” said Sanford.

A “wolf tree” stump was spotted in a clearing on top of a knoll. Such a large tree would have been where farmers rested with their horses.

Much of the dry soil in the area is gray “Presumpscot Clay,” which was in demand many years ago when Gorham had eight different brickmakers.

In minutes, the features of the landscape can be recognized by the human eye, but Shaughnessy questions the environmental impacts created by the dam malfunction.

"A lot of environmental remediation is going to need to happen here," said Shaughnessy.

He pointed out that the freshwater mussels scattered underfoot were at one time living in the benthic zone of the pond, filtering and cleaning the water.

The color green is returning to the landscape, however, and life can be seen all around. Small flowers and grasses are pioneering their way into the bare landscape.

A Great Blue Heron was spotted in the distance. It triggers the memory of birds that once thrived among the shores of this river.

Presumpscot is the Wabanaki word for “many rough places” and prior to colonization, the river may have featured up to 18 waterfalls. Only three falls are now visible including Presumpscot Falls in Falmouth, Saccarappa Falls in Westbrook, and Wescot Falls near North Gorham Pond.

In the rapids of this 100-year-old river near Dundee Park, “Whitney’s Falls” have reappeared and are now the fourth set of modern-day waterfalls in the area.

This name dates back to a time when fish such as salmon, trout, eels and herring dominated the river. Bear, otters, eagles, and osprey flocked here to claim these fish as their meal.

“This is a unique and historic moment," said Shaughnessy. "The Presumpscot River at Dundee has been dammed for well over 100 years. For the first, and possibly last time, a wild river with vibrant rapids and falls is revealed. In addition, the historic lands, eerily barren, cracked and shorn, but so well preserved, are likewise momentarily seen again. What is revealed is indicative of what lays under many of this river's still waters."

The company that manages the dam that malfunctioned unveiling the “lost river,” Relevate Power Management, has estimated that dam repairs will be completed by the end of August and the impoundment will be refilled thereafter, thus reforming Dundee Pond.

Meanwhile, take a walk back in time through this small valley and visualize a landscape that’s more than a century old.

On Sunday, Aug. 25, Friends of the Presumpscot River will be hosting another informational walk along the "Lost River." Meet at Dundee Park at 3 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend.

To learn more, visit the Friends of the Presumpscot River website at www.presumpscotriver.org <

Windham Economic Development Corporation formulates plan for sustainable growth

By Kaysa Jalbert

Windham’s Economic Development Corporation, or WEDC, presented an updated strategic economic development plan crafted by Crane Associates at the July Windham Town Council meeting. The plan, presented by WEDC Executive Director Thomas Bartell, identifies four objectives and strategies to pave the way for sustainable growth and community enhancement in Windham.

Windham's strategic economic development plan identifies
four objectives and strategies to pave the way for
sustainable growth and community enhancement
including developing the town's manufacturing clusters,
 pursuing opportunities in amusement and recreation,
attracting professional and business services to North
Windham, and updating and maintaining its support
system for economic development.
PHOTO BY KEITH MANK        

The four objectives include, develop Windham’s niche in the region’s manufacturing clusters, pursue opportunities in amusement and recreation, attract professional and business services to North Windham, and update and maintain Windham’s support system for economic development

Strategies for developing Windham’s niche focus on bringing in small scale manufacturing, such as biomedical manufacturing, and possibly recreation equipment manufacturers. Another strategy is developing business incubator facilities for manufacturing, entrepreneur innovation co-working space and shared commercial kitchens. It’s the next step in taking one’s personal business out of the home garage.

According to Bartell, during a meeting with Crane Associates, they discussed creating the region’s best trail network as a strategy for pursuing amusement and recreation opportunities.

“We want to figure out how do we make Windham known for that,” he said. “The idea is that we promote the trail so people can use it and when their done, they can head up to North Windham and enjoy dinner or shopping, these sorts of things.”

Bartell said they also discussed the idea of attracting indoor recreation facilities to boost the year-round economy in town.

Objective three focuses at attracting professional and business service to North Windham by implementing the North Windham 21st Century Downtown Master Plan that aims to create a live, work, and play environment and building additional housing.

This also involves a new transportation plan called North Windham Moves, that aims to improve traffic flow through North Windham by providing local access routes. This way people, mostly residents, don’t have to rely on Route 302 to get around Windham.

One access route will come off Route 115 and connect to Franklin Drive. Another extends Manchester Drive to Whites Bridge Road. Route 302 will remain the main route to Raymond and Casco. The new routes will hopefully attract local shoppers and tourists to North Windham but reduce traffic for residents getting around. On both lateral access roads there will be pedestrian bike paths.

“Overall, we are hoping that will allow us as residents to be able to find our way around North Windham and not be afraid to go to North Windham during certain times of year,” said Bartell. “All of this will provide opportunities for businesses to come in and grow and hopefully employ residents of Windham.”

This is a state-led project that Windham received a $25 million grant in federal funding. The state is granting an additional $3 million and another $3 million came from the town, making it a roughly $30-million project.

Lastly, objective four aims to maintain the collaborative efforts of town officials, departments and WEDC, while working with regional agencies and local business groups on attraction initiatives and to expand outreach efforts to state and national business organizations. It also includes initiating appropriate development policy and identifying new and continuing funding opportunities for programming and infrastructure.

Bartell says the town is finally fulfilling objectives from the previous plan, such as the sewer road network improvements in Northern Windham that has also started. The goal is to have the sewer project operating by 2026 and have almost everyone in town who wished to be connected by the end of that year.

“I think it will benefit the community and the residents in a number of ways,” says Bartell. “There’s an environmental consequence of not having a sewer system. That will eliminate the septic system dispersal directly into the aquifer below North Windham and we've noticed over the years that the nitrate and phosphorus levels change. Those are numbers we want to see down, and this will allow that to happen.”

Bartell says the updated plan maintains the vision, mission and core values of the strategic plan when it was created 10 years ago. The vision is to create a business-friendly environment, and a welcoming atmosphere, while preserving rural characteristics and natural resources. The WEDC’s mission is to encourage economic growth and development to increase prosperity in Windham and improve the quality of life for its residents.

“We have to keep going getting the infrastructure in place and then we want to move forward with the economic development strategic plan and work toward these goals,” says Bartell. “I think patience and persistence are the key to economic development.”

The updated plan is expected to undergo more changes and improvements and could be integrated as soon as the end of August. <

Windham converts to new system collection system Sept. 9

By Ed Pierce

A big change is coming to how trash is collected in Windham, and it won’t be very long before new tote carts will be wheeling up and down driveways across town.

Each residence in Windham will be
issued a 64-gallon trash cart and a
64-gallon recycling cart as the town
converts to a new trash collection 
system on Sept. 9.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

Near the start of 2023, members of the Windham Town Council reached an agreement with Casella Waste Systems, also known as Pine Tree Waste, to convert the town to an automated trash removal system. Casella was the only refuse contractor to bid for Windham’s services and told town officials that ongoing labor issues and expenses required a conversion to a system with trash collected curbside by a driver using an automated retrieval system.

Under the current system, trash and recyclable waste is manually collected at the roadside which requires a trash truck driver and a trash laborer for more than 5,400 stops in Windham and also uses the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) system, requiring the purchase of blue bags for residents.

Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said this new collection system will be a big change, but he believes residents will find it efficient and convenient.

“This process began in 2023, when the town was informed by Casella that they were moving away from traditional manual trash pickup to the new automated truck system,” Tibbetts said. “Since then, town officials have been meeting with Casella regularly to coordinate the rollout of the new program, and to ensure that we can make the transition as smooth as possible for Windham residents.”

He said that the blue “Pay As You Throw” trash bags will no longer be needed as of Sept. 9 and thereafter.

“The use of the Windham trash bags has been required as a way of controlling the total volume of trash deposited at the curb,” Tibbetts said. “Once implemented, the cart system will accomplish the same volume control that the trash bags now create and is what Casella has contracted with the town to do.”

The new system was supposed to be in place last fall but was delayed as Casella Waste Systems purchased and waited to obtain new automated trucks with mechanical retrieval arms from an out-of-state manufacturer.

According to Tibbetts, the “Pay As You Throw” trash bag program continued into the Town’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget as Casella experienced a delay in new truck delivery but the revenue from the trash bags went to the town’s fund balance which will assist in reducing expenses and the overall Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Windham blue trash bags are sold at 15 different locations in town and priced at $13.50 for either ten 13-gallon bags or five 30-gallon bags. Tibbetts said residents possessing blue bags after the new system is implemented will be able to sell unused bags back to the town.

Casella officials say that all trash routes in Windham have been evaluated before the new system becomes effective and that includes trash removal for some roads in Windham that Pine Tree Waste does not travel on right now because of truck size limitations or roadway obstacles. It does not expect to make any changes to the current trash collection day schedule.

Chris McHale of Casella Waste Systems said that the company may purchase and deploy a smaller trash collection truck to service roads and streets in Windham that are not accessible by the new automated trash vehicles. He said that the company intends to work with residents to provide the best service possible, but because of rising operational costs and advances in technology, the trash removal industry is converting to automated systems and unfortunately can no longer continue to provide a similar system to the one used in Windham and nearby communities for years.

Tibbetts said that the new trash collection program is available to all single-family residences and all multi-family residences with four or less dwelling units.

“That amounts to about 7,600 dwelling units being able to utilize this program. As for other effects, most people will not see any changes to their collection day or locale,” he said. “However, some roads will see changes to their service. Some narrow, less improved roads, which cannot be serviced with the full-size truck, will receive service with a smaller “Pup” truck, which utilizes the same automated collection system, just on a smaller chassis. Some residences in town may need to place all their carts on one side of the street or gang pile the containers at or near the intersection of their road. As a way of easing the transition, for the first two weeks of the program, Casella crews will be out ahead of the collection trucks, insuring carts are properly placed and leaving educational notes if they are not.”

Each residence in the town will be issued two new durable carts on wheels, one for trash and the other for recycling. The new contract calls for residential pick-up service which is scheduled once a week Monday through Thursday using designated routes and should a pick-up fall on a legal holiday or on severe winter storm days, the schedule would be pushed back one day. Funding was included in the town’s annual budget to purchase the new trash carts and recycling carts for residents.

Around Labor Day, before the new automated trash system begins, residents will receive one 64-gallon trash cart and one 64-gallon recycling cart. Elderly residents using less trash may request smaller 48-gallon carts.

“If you have more trash than the cart will hold it will need to be held into the next week,” Tibbetts said. “If that is not an option, network with your neighbors and see if they have space in their cart. Otherwise, you will need to take the trash to a transfer station or to Ecomaine at a cost. If this is a consistent repetitive problem, contact the Windham Department of Public Works for assistance.”

Discussions have been held with the towns of Falmouth and North Yarmouth to share cart maintenance service costs for the trash carts as those towns are also converting to automated trash pick-up with Casella.

The automated trash system contract between Casella and the town runs through June 30, 2028 with Windham then having an option to renew the contract for an additional five-year period by providing at least six months of advance notice to Casella before the contract expires. <

Dundee Pond water level may be restored by October

By Ed Pierce

As the end of summer nears, Windham residents hoping to go swimming at Dundee Park may have to wait to do that until next year.

Swimming is not allowed at Dundee Park in Windham this
summer as a gate malfunction at the dame there resulted in
the pond being drained in May. The dam's owner expects
the water level at the pond to be fully restored by October.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE    

In early spring, the Dundee Dam at Dundee Park, which is a hydroelectric project on the southern end of Dundee Pond, experienced a gate malfunction resulting in water being drained out of the pond there. Dundee Park is a popular spot in summer for Windham residents to swim, have a picnic or attend free weekly concerts hosted by the town’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Now the New York-based company that oversees the dam at the park, Relevate Power Management, has issued a press release explaining what happened.

“As many residents and recreators on the Presumpscot River in Windham, Maine are aware, Dundee Pond is currently drained, and the performance of critical maintenance on the dam is underway, said Matthew Wenger, Chief Executive Officer of Relevate Power. “The Dundee Dam is owned by Presumpscot Hydro, the licensee of the Dundee Hydroelectric Project, and is operated by Relevate Power Management.”

According to Wengert, on May 17, one of the dam’s two deep sluice gates, used to pass large amounts of water during flooding events malfunctioned, sticking in the open position.

“These gates are original components of this historic 1913 dam, over 100 years old, and while proper maintenance has kept them in service for over a century, one of the gates reached the end of its useful life unexpectedly,” Wengert said. “While the dam was at no risk of failure, the malfunctioned gate caused water levels to drop until the pond was completely drained.”

He said that given the location of the gate at the very bottom of the 52-foot structure, repairs could only safely begin once the pond had been emptied.

“To expedite the repairs, we accelerated procurement, hired local contractors who could start immediately, and put all our Presumpscot River staff on the project,” Wengert said. “Furthermore, while the pond is drained, we’re taking the opportunity to conduct additional preventative maintenance, including completely overhauling the other gates, to minimize the likelihood of other gate-related shutdowns over the coming years.”

Wengert said that the current estimate is that all the repairs will be completed by Aug. 31.

“Upon completion, the impoundment will be refilled. Per our consultations with agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, we expect this to take a few weeks,” he said. “The refill rate being critical to minimize potential negative environmental and structural impacts. If all goes well, we expect the pond to be back to normal operating level by early October.”

In the press release, Wengert said that Relevate Power understands the impact this unanticipated and unavoidable event has had upon the Windham community.

“We know our dams play a central role in both the enjoyment and safety of our waterways and we are working diligently and expediently to return Dundee Pond back to normal operating conditions as soon as safely possible,” Wengert said. “In the meantime, we will provide additional updates should there be any material changes to the plan. We appreciate your patience and support while we get the job done.”

Michael Shaughnessy, Friends of the Presumpscot River president, told The Windham Eagle in July that the surrounding ecosystem will suffer long-term as a result of the pond being drained.

“Biologically it’s set back for years,” Shaughnessy said. “You need to have upstream and downstream remediation.”

He said that the Friends of the Presumpscot River group wants the town to conduct an environmental study to determine the lasting and expansive impacts and determine future costs of infrastructure or programs that are needed for the park, river, and pond to get back to full biological health.

“If they just focus on filling it up and think it will be just like it was and that won’t happen,” said Shaughnessy. “The major concern is the impact on the fisheries by virtue of the water level going down. Other wildlife will be impacted such as turtles, clams, and birds of prey. The biological life that was lake oriented has been destroyed. The silt is going down impacting the lower impoundment. It’s a lake and there’s lots of water over many acres, then it goes down and now it’s all dried mud.” <

Roadside stands ‘honor system’ prevalent in Raymond

By Kendra Raymond

For residents of many communities and small towns, the availability of small independent roadside stands is common. Though we may take these convenient “Mom and Pop” operations for granted, they provide quality products at fair prices.

Tomatoes up for sale to passing motorists and
neighbors are displayed at 'Tomato King' Dan
Pandora's roadside vegetable stand in Raymond.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND

Who hasn’t bought a bundle of “camp wood” from a makeshift hut at the end of someone’s driveway? Or how about a handful of veggies from a homeowner’s over-productive garden? What about farm fresh eggs or even cut flowers?

These goods are often placed with great care, either on a small stand, lawn chair, or on a wooden crate. Some of these business owners even offer complimentary bags or boxes to transport your loot.

Dan Pandora, “The Tomato King” of Raymond, is well-known in his neighborhood for sharing various crops throughout the growing season. Starting with rhubarb in early summer, Pandora segways into tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, and rounds out the season with pumpkins.

“It’s funny, rhubarb is one of the best sellers,” said Pandora. “I just run the stand for entertainment. I price the produce to sell,” he said. With a large garden and plenty of spare vegetables, Pandora said it makes sense to share the produce.

Pandora has one caveat, however, “I’m trying to keep a low profile,” he said.Like most, Pandora’s stand runs on the honor system. That consists of a small receptacle for customers to deposit their cash.

“I find all kinds of interesting things in my Chock Full O’Nuts can,” said Pandora, referring to fun notes and little prizes left by customers. “I really don’t worry about theft. I keep it ‘ghetto’ on purpose,” he said. Pandora’s stand consists of a folding camping chair, a crate tipped up on its side filled with the produce, and an old coffee can used to collect the proceeds.

Similar stands can be found throughout area towns. In Casco and several locations in Raymond, and many locations along Route 302 in Windham, bundles of firewood are readily available. Fresh flower bouquets are often for sale on the Egypt Road in Raymond. Farm fresh egg stands are plentiful along the roadways along Route 302 in Casco and Windham and on Main Street in Raymond, to name a few.

A Raymond egg seller who has 18 laying hens and 22 babies said that she has one loyal customer who buys three to five dozen eggs a week, as well as other random buyers. Most of her sales are arranged through word of mouth or on social media. She likes to keep her business quaint, claiming that she is not really a farmer.

One Raymond resident who recently stopped to make a purchase from Pandora is a loyal supporter of roadside stands, more specifically those that sell fresh vegetables. He is always on the lookout for veggie stands and hopes to locate more through word of mouth.

He is skeptical of the younger generation, however, saying that a recent incident where all the vegetables and the contents of the money jar disappeared was shocking. He blames modern parenting and recalls a day when kids were brought up to be trustworthy and work hard and said that he would never steal vegetables.

All things considered, a visit to a roadside stand in the Lakes Region usually promises to be a positive experience. If you keep your expectations realistic and practice good consumerism, things should go swimmingly.

For those a little more ambitious, maybe you’d like to consider setting up a roadside stand of your own. The Team Flower Blog website offers some solid advice: Put up a sign ahead of your stand, provide bags, consider operating on donations, and plan for customers not having exact change. The website says, “What a blessing when you have put your heart into what you do to share with others! They appreciate it and want to make sure they are helping you continue offering beauty to your part of the world.”

The Team Flower website offers some great information if you’re interested in starting your own roadside stand. Despite the focus on selling flowers, much of the information applies to many products that can be sold. Learn more at: https://education.teamflower.org <

Chalk the Trail event raises awareness, spreads happiness through creativity

By Kaysa Jalbert

On a day that provided a perfect balance of sun and shade, about 40 members of the community gathered on the Mountain Division Rail Trail at Gambo Fields in Windham for the Chalk the Trail event sponsored by the Cumberland County Conservation District, Windham Parks and Recreation, and Mountain Division Alliance.

Dave McNutt, Doug Smith and Andrew Walton of the
Mountain Division Alliance take part in the Chalk the Trail
event at the Mountain Division Rail Trail Gambo Field in
Windham July 20. The event was sponsored by the
Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District,
Windham Parks and Recreation and the Mountain Division
Alliance to raise awareness of local trails through creativity.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Families, children, and members of the sponsoring committees attended what was the final Chalk the Trail event held this summer on Saturday, July 20. Trail users passing through stopped to chalk and talk with participants.

Owen Currier, a participant, walked the trail on this day with his mom. On other days, he enjoys using the trail with his siblings. He said he likes to “spread happiness through artwork.” The trail holds lots of memories for Owen. Playing soccer on nearby fields introduced him to the trail and to swimming in the nearby Penobscot River.

“The event brings people to the trail for a different reason than to bike or walk,” said Andrew Walton, Secretary of the Mountain Division Alliance. “The chalking beautifies the trail, and community members can socialize with trail enthusiasts.”

At the event itself, the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District had a booth with the pavement in front of them chalked with the words “Please pick up after your dog.” They handed out dog treats and talked with trail users about the importance of picking up after their dogs and disposing of the waste properly.

Annually, the Soil & Water Conservation District conducts surveys to check how much dog waste is not disposed of properly along the Mountain Division Trail. According to the district, over a two-week period 47 deposits were found, that is equivalent to three daily dog walkers not picking up after their pets.

Chalk the Trails is a community event organized to bring awareness to the Mountain Division Trail and bring community members to the trail for a family friendly event. Chalk is provided and participants are encouraged to use their creativity on every inch of pavement. More opportunities to chalk the trails will come again next summer in the towns of Fryeburg and Windham.

Windham Parks and Recreation has had a long-time partnership with the Mountain Division Alliance, with Windham being one of the first sections of the trail to be developed.

“We love having an opportunity to bring more people to the trail,” says Linda Brooks, Windham Parks and Recreation Director. “The weather was great and there were just a lot of people using the trail already that day. It’s one of those events that we do encourage people to come back and check out every year.”

Walton says he came up with the Chalk the Trails idea from watching a kids television show that showed a “Chalk the Block.”

“I thought we could do the same on our rail trail,” Walton said. “The goal is to grow the event over time and bring awareness to our volunteer organization, the Mountain Division Alliance which is advocating for the completion of the rail trail from Fryeburg to Portland.”

To bring in more participants, the rail trail has hosted running races, and groups like churches and recreational departments use the trail for activities. “The trail has become an important asset to the community,” says Walton.

“You just never know who you’ll meet on the trail,” said Walton. The day of this event I met a gentlemen named Joey and he was bicycling from Seattle Washington to Bar Harbor Maine. It was great to see someone taking on that huge adventure and riding the Mountain Division Trail. He was very appreciative of the event and water. He mentioned he loves going on rail trails because he doesn’t have to worry about cars.” <

Windham Town Manager to chair WMS Repurpose Advisory Committee

By Ed Pierce

With ground about to be broken next month for construction of the new Windham Raymond Middle School, a town committee will undertake the important job of making recommendations to the Windham Town Council about how best the existing Windham Middle School can used once the new school opens in 2027.

Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts will lead the 
Windham Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee
which will make recommendations to the Windham Town
Council about how to best use the school building once
the new Windham Raymond Middle School is opened
in the fall of 2027. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

During the July 9 Windham Town Council meeting, councilors took the step of appointing Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts as the chair of the Windham Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee. By unanimous vote, councilors voted to have Tibbetts fulfill that role as a non-voting and impartial and objective member of the committee.

Council David Nadeau had originally proposed having either a town councilor or the town manager or assistant town manager chair the committee but ultimately withdrew having a councilor as a possible chair for the committee in an amended motion.

“We’ve gone through this before and want to make sure this committee has a little bit of structure and stays on task,” Nadeau said.

Councilor Jarrod Maxfield said having Tibbetts chair the committee makes sense because he is not an elected official.

“I don’t want people to say the council is hijacking it,” Maxfield said.

The purpose of the Windham Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee will be to serve as an advisory body to the Windham Town Council for the analysis of potential re-uses for the Windham Middle School’s renovation design, documentation, construction and its potential benefit as a Community Center for the town.

The committee will provide a comprehensive recommendation to the Windham Town Council for consideration in making a final determination for the school building, which was first opened to students in 1974.

Committee members will use community engagement results from a study conducted in August 2019 which identified the need to create a multigenerational facility for all Windham residents that enhances the quality of life for Windham, provides flexible spaces for a range of activities, and is a self-sustaining site that fosters fun for residents.

It is expected that in repurposing the school building some existing Windham departments, such as the Windham Library, the Windham Parks & Recreation Department, Windham Social Services and Food Pantry and the town’s Medical Loan Closet could be included into new spaces there as well as providing flexible space for the community to engage in various activities.

Currently the Windham Public Library is housed in its own building at 217 Windham Center Road, while the Windham Parks and Recreation offices are at Windham Town Hall on School Road and Windham Social Services is housed in its own building at 377 Gray Road in Windham.

Members of the committee will be asked to evaluate and consider adaptive reuse plans by peer communities as templates when it considers proposing future uses for the facility and develop a conceptual plan using the boundaries of the existing school building. They also will be tasked with reorganizing/repurposing the facility’s space to improve the town employee work experience and customer service experience that encompasses health and safety, access, egress, and security, among other concerns.

The committee will perform a complete review of the condition, strengths and weaknesses of the building and how they relate to current and future town needs, recommend improvements to the building structure as appropriate for initial uses and possible phased uses and provide an operational budget for the facility, including maintenance, manpower, debt structure, and anticipated revenues and expenses.

At the July 9 meeting, three councilors were voted to serve on the Windham Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee including Maxfield, Councilor Bill Reiner and Councilor Nick Kalogerakis.

Other committee members are appointed by the town council and the town manager (non-voting member); assistant town manager (non-voting member); Parks & Recreation Director (non-voting member); Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Member; Library Director (non-voting member); Library Board of Trustees Member; Facilities & Grounds Manager (non-voting member); General Assistance Administrator (non-voting member); Age Friendly Windham Coordinator (non-voting member); two prior Community Center Ad Hoc Committee members; and two members of the general public.

Windham Town Council Chair Mark Morrison said that the committee will report regularly to the town council at their meetings during the Committee Reports section.

The Windham Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee will be disbanded once it makes final recommendations to the Windham Town Council about the repurpose of the school building. <

Year-round adventures abundant for Raymond's Boy Scout Troop 800

By Kendra Raymond

For Scouts in Raymond BSA Troop 800, involvement and activities are always part of the equation. Area boys ages 10 to 18 can participate in community service and enriching experiences, all while developing strong character, leadership skills, and a commitment to service.

Miles Moreau, a Scout with Troop 800 in
Raymond, shows off a fish he caught during
a Scouting camping activity earlier
this summer. COURTESY PHOTO 

The Scout Motto, “Be Prepared,” plays an integral part in the participation of members of the Raymond-area troop. Scoutmaster Jason Moreau said that this summer, Troop 800 has already completed two camping events, Rangely Lake State Park and hiking Tumbledown Mountain in Weld. Another trip is planned in August where the troop will start planning the upcoming year.

“What we do is highly driven by the scouts themselves; the adult leadership works to help them implement the program,” said Moreau.

Assistant Scoutmaster Matt Engelman agrees.

“To me, one of the greatest things about Scouting is the focus on troops being youth-led. Our meetings as well as our camping trips and other outings are planned by the youth in Troop 800,” he said. “The what-when-and how of our outings are all worked out by the Scouts, right down to preparing the menu, shopping for the food, and preparing the meals. The adults are there to provide support, logistical help, and guidance where needed. I believe Scouts is unique among youth organizations in that regard,” said Engleman.

This summer, the troop attends Camp William Hinds in Raymond. The local spot provides a great resource for the Scouts to attend events such as the Fall and Spring Camporees, and the winter Klondike Derby. Patrols within troops across the state gather to compete in various seasonal outdoor activities that require skill and teamwork.

“Camp Hinds is special in a lot of ways. Having the camp in our ‘backyard’ makes it special to our Troop but it’s also played an important part of the Scouting experience for youth across the state and beyond,” said Moreau. “Camp Hinds has been in operation for nearly 100 years! Many of today’s leaders attended the camp when they were scouts (me included),” he said.

Troop 800 members also visit other camps occasionally. This year, they attended the Spring Camporee at Camp Bomazeen in Belgrade. They have also traveled to other camps in and outside of Maine.

Merit badges are an essential and enriching component of the BSA experience. “Our Scouts just completed many merit badges at Camp Hinds this summer including Archery, First Aid, Lifesaving, Chess, Fly Fishing, Fingerprinting, Rifle Shooting, Bird Study and others,” said Moreau, “We also have merit badge counselors within and outside the Troop who assist the Scouts in earning badges in areas of their expertise. Part of our yearly planning this summer will be to identify merit badges our scouts have interest in or need to achieve the Eagle rank,” he said.

Aside from all the fun, Scouts in Raymond keep true to the Scout slogan, “Do a Good Turn Daily,” by spearheading several community service projects throughout the year.

“Annually, we have a service day to assist our chartering organization, the Raymond Village Community Church. We look for various service opportunities throughout the year. This Earth Day we walked a section of Main Street in Raymond and cleaned up roadside trash,” said Moreau.

Scouts in Troop 800 are fortunate to have a deep bench of support from dedicated and skilled adult leaders. Moreau will be taking the helm as Scoutmaster this fall. He is supported by Assistant Scoutmaster Matt Engelman who has been involved in scouting for a long time and is the parent of one of the oldest Scouts in the Troop. Committee member Mike Case is transitioning into an Assistant Scoutmaster role. Operations are overseen by Unit Commissioner Bill Diffenderfer.

Troop 800 currently has nine Scouts registered. Moreau says that there are three older Scouts working toward their Eagle rank.

“We're always open to new boys to join and try out Scouting,” said Moreau.

The Troop holds regular weekly meetings during the school year at Raymond Village Community Church. While on hiatus from meetings, Scouts plan and participate in assorted events. According to Engelman and Case, the group has hiked Gulf Hagas, climbed Mount Katahdin, and canoed sections of the Allagash.

Looking ahead, Scouts and leaders of Troop 800 are in the early planning phases to attend the 2026 National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel in West Virginia. This exciting opportunity allows Scouts to participate in hands-on activities and adventures along with thousands of Scouts from across the United States and all over the world.

“Scouts BSA provides youth with great outdoor experiences and opportunities to learn and practice life skills. Troop 800 has a long history of providing these opportunities to youth in Raymond and other towns in the area,” said Moreau.

Although he earned his Eagle Scout rank in another Troop before moving to Raymond, 20-year-old Auburn University sophomore Nolan Raymond echoed Moreau’s comment.

“I wouldn’t be who I am now if it weren’t for Scouting. I am much more confident, well-spoken, and harder working than I would have ever been had it not been for Scouts. It has given me a drive to push for the best I can get in all regards,” Raymond said. “I continue to step outside my comfort zone, strive for excellence in all I do, and take safe risks. I have become a big thinker. I learned the importance of facing challenges, giving back, receiving mentorship, teamwork, and trusting myself as a leader.”

Engleman agrees.

“It is incredibly rewarding to witness moments when new Scouts realize they and their peers get to be the decision makers,” he said.

If families are interested in learning more about Troop 800, they can just reach out by email to troop800me@gmail.com

There is presently no BSA girl troop in Raymond, however there are others in the region. Young ladies who are interested can reach out to Troop 800 for more resources.

You can learn more about Scouting at: https://www.scouting.org <

Split decision: WHS senior competes in USA Mullet Championships

By Masha Yurkevich

Was the mullet ever in style or did it never go out of style? No matter the answer, Windham High School senior Eliott Kullman, also known as “Big Redd,” rocks the look. In fact, he wears it so well that he decided to compete in the USA Mullet Championships.

Elliott Kullman, a senior at Windham High School, has
advanced to the second round of competition in the teen
category of the 2024 USA Mullet Championships.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

This all started in 2021, when Kullman and his friends were joking around about mullets, and one of Kullman’s friends tried out the mullet hairstyle and said that Kullman should try to grow one out too.

“At first, my mom didn't want me to get a mullet,” says Kullman. “It took probably a week before my mom actually approved it and from there, I went through four different hair places to get the mullet I wanted.”

It was something very new for Kullman and a lot of people helped him to fully understand the look and how to take care of his mullet.

Later, when he heard about a national mullet competition called the USA Mullet Championships, he decided to give it a shot.

The USA Mullet Championships started in 2020 and is an annual competition with a goal to crown the very best mullets in the country. The competition awards cash prizes and bragging rights to winners in child, teen, and adult mullet categories.

It is the world's largest competition of its kind, with more than 1,000 competitors each year. The competition also raises money for charity and for this year, the USA Mullet Championships is partnering with Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors, a national charitable organization that helps build mortgage-free homes for wounded American veterans. All donations from the mullet competition will go to the Homes for Wounded Warriors charity.

To officially join the mullet competition, Kullman had to send in three photos – a front, a side, and a back – of his mullet, as well as write an essay about the story of his mullet. After a bit of waiting this spring, Kullman received the word that he was approved and was officially in the competition.

Since then, Kullman has been actively trying to raise money for donations and people to vote online for his mullet.

“The winner is determined by the number of votes and donation amounts that each competitor gets,” says Kullman.

As well as raising money for a good cause, winners of the USA Mullet Championships will also receive a Mullet Champ belt, a GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera, and a cash prize.

In the preliminary round ending earlier this week, Kullman came in fourth place in the teen category, and qualified to compete in the USA Mullet Championships second round.

Voting in the second round is underway and ends July 30. If Kullman gathers enough votes and donations, he will compete in the final round from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21. USA Mullet Championship winners will be announced online on Aug. 28.

Kullman is asking the community to vote for him and his mullet, as well as make a donation of any size, if possible. You may place your vote and/or donations on the USA Mullet Championships website at www.mulletchamp.com.

Believe it or not, Kullman is still growing his amazing mullet.

“I'm glad I decided to get a mullet because it's rare to see a ginger with a mullet,” he says. “I get a lot of compliments and I love this hairstyle. Lots of people tell me it looks great on me.”

Over time, Kullman says that he has gotten used to his mullet and taking care of it and gets it cleaned up every four weeks.

“I thought I wouldn't be able to pull it off until a lot of people gave me confidence and I kept going,” he says. “So here I am in 2024 with an awesome mullet and hoping to win the USA Mullet Championship Competition. I love my mullet and I am going to keep it for a long time.” <

Local musicians visit home following Nashville success

By Lorraine Glowczak

What began as three Windham High School friends jamming together for fun has grown into a thriving musical career. David Young (Class of 2017), his younger brother, Deven Young (Class of 2019), and their friend Seth Martin (Class of 2017) have turned their shared passion for music into a professional success story.

With concerts scheduled in Naples,
Rumford and on Channel 6's '207 Show,'
David Young and the Interstate Kings 
are eager to perform a homecoming
show at Lenny's in Westbrook on 
July 31 as it is where they first honed
their performance skills. At left is 
David Young, top is Seth Martin and 
right is Deven Young, all of Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO  

The trio, David Young and the Interstate Kings is now a Nashville-based band that "serves up vintage American music with a modern indie focus." They have recently embarked on their first “Vintage American Tour” which includes a stop in their home state of Maine.

The folk/rock group are performing songs on the tour from their latest album recorded in Nashville entitled “Vintage American.” Upcoming tour dates will see the Interstate Kings play in cities throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York, Illinois, and Kentucky, including a stop in Kansas City, renowned for its blues legacy. However, the stop they are most looking forward to is their “homecoming performances.”

“We are pumped to be coming home to play for all of our friends and family again – all those who loved our music and believed in us,” said David Young, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist.

With concerts scheduled in Naples, Rumford, and on Channel 6’s 207 show, they are eager to perform their homecoming show at Lenny’s in Westbrook on July 31; the venue where the band perfected their performance skills.

“We are especially excited to do the show at Lenny’s,” Deven Young, the drummer, said. “We played there several times over the years, and it was there where we honed our sound as a band.”

Bill Umbel, the owner of Lenny’s, said he is looking forward to their return.

“It means a lot for everybody to have them back,” Umbel said. “The first time they performed for us was over five years ago, they were young high school kids. Our booking manager, Bucky Mitchell, booked them to play a gig for us and I wasn’t sure what to expect. When they began playing, I turned to Bucky and said, ‘Wow! These kids are pretty good.’ Not only were they talented, but they were professional musicians by interacting with the audience, which is paramount in the business of music. I knew these kids were going to go far.”

It was the Interstate King’s biggest fans, Charlie and Peggy Applin, who played a pivotal role in their early success by encouraging Umbel and Mitchell to book the musicians.

“Charlie and I followed David and The Interstate Kings whenever they played in the greater Portland area,” Peggy Applin said. “We often frequented Lenny’s to listen to the music and told Bill he should hire the band to play there. We promised he wouldn’t regret it. And here they are, over five years later and The Interstate Kings are coming home as professionals from Nashville to play at this popular venue again.”

Applin and many other Interstate Kings’ fans say they are looking forward to the band’s homecoming, including Dr. Richard Nickerson, the trio’s former music teacher at WHS.

“All three were in my music theory class,” Nickerson said. “Seth and the brothers had already started their band then, and I got to witness their professionalism and talent at an early age. I saw that they had good chemistry and respected one another. They knew how to have fun, but they also knew how to work hard. It’s very common for youth to start a band while in high school, but very rare to see the same lineup occurring professionally years later. I think their chemistry, hard work, and respect for one another may have something to do with that.”

Nickerson also spoke about their incredible talent.

“David also took my Guitar for Beginners class, but he was already at an advanced level,” Nickerson said. “I wasn’t sure what I could offer him, so we focused on the musical aspects of the guitar instead.”

Nickerson said that David Young’s advanced musical level comes with no ego. “As talented as he is, he is humble,” Nickerson said. “His creativity is genuine.”

Nickerson and other fans of the Interstate Kings agree that Deven Young and Seth Martin also have a creative depth that contributes to the band’s success. Deven’s contribution as a drummer is more about feeling than words.

“I approach our music by asking, ‘How is this song going to feel,’” Deven Young said. “There is a certain feeling the drum gives and I translate that feeling into rhythm.”

Seth Martin’s creativity doesn’t stop at the bass guitar. He is also the band’s marketing master.

“I design our advertisement, posters, etc. that convey our band’s sound,” Martin said. “It’s about visual branding, and since we write and perform old-school sounds of blues, rock, and folk, I work to capture that in vintage-looking posters and images.”

Martin said that music is their passion and dream, but to be successful, they also must be serious about music as a business.

Nickerson said that he is proud of his former students’ professionalism, hard work, and success.

“As a teacher, you always want your students to do well, and to watch these three work hard and flourish in the music industry is the best.”

Umbel echoed that sentiment.

“I look forward to seeing them perform again at Lenny’s.” he said. “And it is quite possible, the next time I see them, they will be bigwigs performing on the big stage.”

To learn more about David Young and the Interstate Kings on their Vintage American Tour, visit www.davidyoungtunes.com <

Puleo settles in as Windham’s new Planning Director

By Kaysa Jalbert

The Town of Windham has a new planning director, Stephen Puleo, who plans to approach his job with transparency and high standards when it comes to reviewing and approving project developments in Windham and aims to help make Windham the crown jewel of the coastal communities in Maine.

Stephen Puleo is the new Planning Director for the Town of
Windham and he is responsible for coordinating Planning
Department activities and overseeing the review and 
approval process for the town's Planning Board and 
ensuring that developments in Windham comply with
the local, state and federal land use laws.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE   

As planning director, Puleo’s role is to coordinate planning and developments in the town of Windham. Puelo says his approach to this new role, “is to bring an open and transparent review and approval process on the planning board and the staff review committee for developments in Windham, and to ensure that all approvals have gone through an exhaustive compliance analysis to comply with the local, state and federal land use laws.”

Puleo’s goal as planning director is to be sure that these laws are implemented and to achieve a very high standard for the projects that are approved by the town planning board and staff review committee.

“I have always felt that’s it is important that we have an open and transparent process that nobody in the community as well as the applicants as well as staff feel like any of the process is being hidden from them, that there are agreements that are being made some place that are not in the light of day, and that all of the standards are being met by the applicants,” he said.

Puleo and the planning board have been working to complete some of the conditions of approval on several developments in Windham, one being the Windham Village Apartments, a 172-unit apartment complex that is on about a 9-acre lot along Tandberg Trail behind the Shaw’s Plaza.

Associated with this apartment complex is going to be a town-owned sewer pump station that will be the collection point for much of the sewer collection system that is currently being installed.

According to Puleo, what's unique about this plan is that the disposal system of this sewer treatment plant is the first of its kind in the state being permitted by the wastewater disposal division. In addition, this system can treat water to a drinkable level when it comes out the other end of the pipe. The plan is not to drink the water, however, it is to drip it into the groundwater of Sebago Lake, stopping uncontrolled wastewater from going into groundwater and replacing it with clean water through the new system.

The Windham Town Council entered into an agreement with Portland Water District in 2021 to design a reliable, technologically advanced wastewater treatment system that will improve and protect North Windham’s water quality. The funding for this project comes entirely from state loans and grants and is set to be operational by January 2026.

Prior to working as a municipal planner, Puleo was a tree care specialist, then owned and operated his own small business until moving on to work as an apple orchard manager. Since then, he has held a position as municipal planner in South Portland as well as in Windham for about 20 years.

He has a degree in urban forestry, which is where he fulfilled his tree specialist work, and an environmental science and policy degree from the University of Southern Maine and a masters’ degree in community land use development from the Muskie School at USM.

“I am really excited for the future of Windham. I see us as the top of the crown here in Southern Maine and I want people to see Windham for what it has to offer,” says Puleo. “We have plans to make Windham an even more attractive and beautiful community." <

Gathering in Raymond showcases American freedom for Darfurian immigrants

By Nicole Levine

This summer, Raymond’s Roberta “Bobbie” Gordon and her husband George once again opened their home to Darfurian immigrants for their annual July 4th celebration.

Immigrants from Darfur join friends from America in
celebrating July 4 with a picnic and gathering at the
Raymond home of Roberta 'Bobbie' Gordon, right. Gordon
has been instrumental in helping Darfurians to overcome
obstacles to enjoy a new life in the United States.
PHOTO BY NICOLE LEVINE  

The Gordons have been hosting this gathering most summers on Independence Day since 2008. Bobbie currently runs an independent group that was started by her and her colleague Roberta Zuckerman. The group was originally funded by the National Council of Jewish Women to support Darfurian immigrants in helping them learn to speak English and to assimilate into American culture.

Through Bobbie’s program, members speak locally to spread awareness and raise funds to help immigrants coming to the U.S from Darfur. Through their efforts they have generated support and resources enabling them to provide stoves powered by the sun to Chad, where many Darfurians are living during the ongoing violence in Sudan.

In each annual celebration, Bobbie and George offer their guests traditional 4th of July barbeque food, books and toys for the children, and a place to gather for all Darfurians. Many of the guests in attendance bring traditional side dishes that originated in their country. Together, the group plays games to learn English and sing American themed songs, while the children play in the lake.

Bobbie Gordon explained how her favorite aspect of this event is “everybody’s exuberance and happiness” despite how the country of Sudan is currently in turmoil with tragedies occurring daily. Each of the immigrants in attendance have their own unique story in their journey to America.

“Look at the spirit, despite what is happening in the country right now,” she said.

The atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and gracious. At one point, Arafah, an immigrant from Darfur, who now works as a mathematician, rushes up to hug her, both with smiles on their faces that stretch from ear-to-ear.

In an instant, it is clear to see the effect that the Gordons have had on so many individuals. Throughout the party, many people kept coming up to her to express their gratitude for the influential environment she has been able to create and maintain.

One man in attendance named Abu, had immigrated to the United States from Sudan. He spent two years in Jordan, before coming to America, and has currently been here for eight years. He said that his first year in the U.S. was incredibly difficult for him. He did not speak English very well, and it was an entirely different and foreign culture.

Abu shared how that had all changed when he met El-Fadel Arbab, the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Fur Cultural Revival, and someone Bobbie Gordon had mentored. Following this introduction, Abu was introduced to the community of Darfurian immigrants right here in Maine. He discussed how this group significantly helped him feel more comfortable, and entirely changed his experience in the U.S.

When reflecting on what these July 4th celebrations mean to him, he said, “I feel like one of the people. I feel the freedom and the happiness.”

Since 2003, it’s estimated that 2.7 million Darfuri have been displaced from their homes in Darfur, a region of west Sudan. Hundreds of thousands have sought refuge in refugee camps throughout Africa, after fleeing what has been called a campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide directed at non-Arab groups in Darfur. Some have applied for and gone through the legal process of becoming American citizens, settling here in Maine.

Zahra, another person the Gordons have mentored, talked about how her children have found success in the US. One has graduated from Bowdoin College, another is currently attending the University of West Virginia as a Division 1 soccer player, and two are grade-school students at Waynflete Academy in Portland. Zahra said she is extremely grateful for the opportunity that she and her children have had since being in the U.S.

As for future gatherings, Bobbie Gordon says she will be continuing her inspirational efforts, and has plans to jumpstart a one-on-one teaching program for Darfurian immigrants to learn English and become acclimated to their new lives in Maine. Her group also plans to establish a curriculum for her lessons offered to Darfurian immigrants and is hoping to begin offering swimming lessons.

Gordon said that she believes volunteering to tutor and mentor immigrants is a great way to become one community, while encouraging Americans to find a way to help the cause in any way that they can.

Each individual attending this July 4th celebration in Raymond was radiating with positive energy. The magic of this event transcends cultural differences and has brought people together from another part of the world to appreciate the freedom that we have in the United States. <

Mullins steps down from Sebago Lakes Chamber leadership role

By Ed Pierce

As President/CEO of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Robin Mullins has poured her heart and soul into promoting the community and local businesses but as it’s been said before, every good thing must eventually come to an end.

Robin Mullins is stepping down from
her position as President/CEO of the
Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of
Commerce after five years of leading the
organization. FILE PHOTO

Mullins, who has led the chamber since 2019, will step down from her chamber position to focus on her new role as Marketing Manager for Octagon Cleaning & Restoration in Windham.

“Now seems like the right time to leave my chamber President/CEO role as I was offered a position too good to turn down,” Mullins said. “It was hard turning down no more nights or weekends for a bit more money and a company car. What I love about my current role is all of the relationships I have built and the marketing I have done for the region. In my new position I will do what I love and continue to build and foster relationships, and instead of marketing hundreds of businesses in eight communities, I will be able to focus all of my efforts on just one company.”

She said she has worked for Octagon before, so she knows the business.

“The coolest part is that it is a family business and my family,” Mullins said. “My brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Kathy York, own the business and my dad, nephew and cousin all work there.”

She grew up in Windham and graduated from Windham High School in 1986. Although she earned a degree in elementary education, Mullins has spent most of her career working for Hannaford Supermarkets in both retail and corporate environments. She worked 22 years at Hannaford and the company paid for Mullins to obtain a master’s degree in training and development while giving her experience in every aspect of human resources management.

Mullins left Hannaford to spend more time with her family and then became the part-time HR Director for Octagon Cleaning & Restoration. She later joined the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce as its part-time office manager and in 2019, Mullins assumed the full-time role as SLRCC’s President/CEO. Her last day leading the chamber will be July 12.

SLRCC Board Chair Jonathan Priest said that Mullins has left an indelible positive stamp upon the chamber.

“I am excited for her in her new role, but I know we will all miss her boundless energy, her giant heart, and her passion for the people and businesses of our region,” Priest said. “She has worked tirelessly during her time with the chamber to support our area businesses, grow our membership, expand chamber member benefits, boost attendance at our Business Breaks, and raise money for worthy causes like Feed the Need.”

Priest said that her membership in various organizations like MAACE, the Gray New Gloucester Optimist Club and the Sebago Lake Rotary Club allowed her positive energy, sharp mind and articulate voice to be seen and heard by business owners, state and federal representatives and community leaders. And, he said that Mullins attended many trainings and conferences to make sure she always had the most accurate and up-to-date information for the chamber board and communities she served.

For her efforts on behalf of the chamber, Mullins was honored last fall as the 2023 Maine State Chamber Professional of the Year.

According to Mullins, her family including husband John and daughters Cassidy and Ainsely, are proud of what she’s accomplished during her time working for the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and excited about her new job.

The people are what Mullins says that she will the most about working for the chamber.

“I have an amazing Office Manager, Denise Dyer. I will miss working with her every day. I will miss the SLRCC Board of Directors, especially our Board Chair, Jonathan Priest,” she said. “But you know, as I think about it, I am not going that far away. I will still be in Windham. Octagon is a member of the chamber, so I'll still participate in chamber events. And all of those relationships I have will not go away. They will just change. Don't get me wrong, I do not wish water or fire damage on anyone. However, if it should happen, I know an amazing restoration company that can take care of anyone I have come to know and adore in my role as chamber President/CEO.”

Above everything else, Mullins says the thing she’s learned the most about herself from her time working for the chamber is fundamental.

“I hate to sound like a broken record, but it is all about relationships. I have learned how much relationships mean and how the relationships I formed in the past continue to benefit me today,” she said. “I have always told my girls to be nice to everyone and to never burn bridges. You never know when someone will come back into your life and how you might need them or they you. So many of the people I have known from other roles in my life have proven to be extremely valuable in my chamber President/CEO position and will continue to be in my new role as Marketing Manager at Octagon Cleaning & Restoration.” <

Windham athlete finishes seventh nationally in Triple Jump competition

By Kaysa Jalbert

Many are familiar with the term “adulting” to describe the mundane responsibilities that make up the daily life of an adult, but there’s not a term to describe the lives of teenagers whose days are packed with classes, homework, practices, and work, while maintaining a social life and preparing for their futures full of adulting. Some call this overachieving, but in the eyes of most teens today, it’s simply what it means to be a teen.

Tayla Pelletier of Windham High School
finished seventh in the nation in the triple
jump at the Adidas Nationals at North
Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University in Greensboro, N.C. in June
after winning the Maine state
championship and the New England 
championship this spring. She will be
a senior at WHS this fall.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Tayla Pelletier is one of these busy teens, as a soon-to-be senior at Windham High School, an honors student, working two part-time jobs and on top of it all, a competitor in the National Track and Field Championships. To her, all of this is what it means to be trying your best.

Earlier this spring, Pelletier won the Triple Jump event at the Maine State Championships at Thornton Academy on Saturday June 1 and went on to win the New England Championships at the University of New Hampshire on Saturday June 8 in the triple jump.

She then traveled out of state to compete in the Adidas Nationals at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina where she competed in the 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles and the triple jump events.

“Competing in sports has definitely shown how hard I can be on myself,” Pelletier said. “I set very high expectations and always strive to do my best.”

Leading up to competing for a title, Pelletier said she focuses her thoughts on trying her best and staying patient in the air and not getting upset with herself over a bad jump, but to instead focus on the next one.

When she’s not in school, or practicing her triple jump, she can be found at one of her two part-time jobs. Somedays she is serving scoops at the Ice Cream Dugout in Windham, and on other days she works at Beacon Pizza in Raymond.

Pelletier started working at the age of 15 during the summer of her sophomore year. She has held her job at the Ice Cream Dugout for three years and started working at two different jobs last year.

“I wanted to get my first job because I liked the idea of having my own money and being able to get the things I wanted by myself without parents help,” she said. “I wanted to be more independent and to rely less on my parents for everything especially with having five siblings.”

At this point, Pelletier says that she’s undecided in what she wants to do as a future career, but she is certain she wants to continue participating in track into college while studying.

Pelletier started competing in the triple jump during the spring season of her freshman year.

“What interests me most about track is the environment. The team supports one another, and even those you compete against are super friendly,” said Pelletier. “What I like most about being an athlete is the goals I am able to set for myself, and the team and coaches who push me to and support me with achieving these goals.”

Pelletier says that balancing two jobs, school and sports can be a lot at times, especially while taking anatomy and physiology, and honors classes, and there is a lot of work that comes with it.

“My weeks are busy, and nights can be long but it’s all worth it in the end,” she said. “Having a busy schedule can be exhausting, but you just have to find a way to manage it all. And when you get days off then you need to enjoy them and use them as a day off and one to relax.”

Ever since she got into track Tayla has started watching past Olympic competitions or world track and field meets. Through this, she said she gathers a sense of how she can improve on her form and gain inspiration to keep working and never stop giving it her all.

“I enjoy competing because it allows me to not only prove myself but it’s something I can control,” said Pelletier. “I enjoy the competition and have found a lot of joy in this sport and am always looking forward to meet days, especially when it comes to the competition. This fuels my energy and as long as I have the right mindset, I know I can perform.”

She says competing at the Adidas Nationals was a great experience, and she was happy with her times in both the 100-meter hurdle and 400-meter hurdle events, considering it was her first time running the 400-meter hurdles. As for her triple jump, she started the event seeded ninth and came out of finals placed seventh overall. Pelletier attended the Adidas Nationals in North Carolina accompanied by her mom and grandmother.

At home, Pelletier’s hard work makes her a role model for her two sisters and three brothers, all younger than she is.

“My siblings are extremely supportive and are always excited to know how I do,” she said. <

Racing remains at forefront for Windham’s Derek Kneeland

By Ed Pierce

For Windham auto racer Derek Kneeland, the only way to define your limits is by going beyond them.

Kneeland, 38, continues to be a busy man in auto racing this year, trying to find time to race his own car at local tracks, driving part-time for Mike Bryant Racing in super late model select events, and serving as a spotter for Kyle Busch, Austin Hill xfinity, Nick Sanchez trucks in NASCAR events.

Derek Kneeland of Windham has been racing since he was
8 and now works for Richard Childress Racing as a 
spotter in NASCAR events. He also finds time to compete
on local tracks in his super modified racecar, finishing fifth
in a race at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire
on June 22. COURTESY PHOTO   

Racing runs in Kneeland’s blood as his father Jeff competed in the 1970s and his grandfather was the general manager of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough at one time. Derek started racing go-karts when he was 8 years old, and it ignited a dream of one day taking the checkered flag at a NASCAR race.

As costs to compete in NASCAR rose sharply, Kneeland found another avenue to become involved at that level and he took on the job as a spotter during a race in Pennsylvania 16 years ago. Those spotter duties grew over time and Kneeland now has served as a spotter for drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series.

“Bristol is my favorite race as a spotter,” Kneeland said. “It’s busy, there’s a lot going on, a lot of information, it’s loud and an exciting environment. Keeping up with the differences in divisions I spot is the hardest thing, different drivers, different vehicles, the job itself is still the same, give info, and try to describe the things I see the best way I can to be a valuable asset to my drivers and teams.”

He is currently working for Richard Childress Racing as a spotter and typically is out on the road for 38 weeks every year. That can be an exhausting schedule and doesn’t leave much time, but he is planning on racing his own car this summer at Lee Speedway in New Hampshire on July 26, Oxford Speedway in Maine on Aug. 4, Berlin Raceway in Michigan on Aug. 7, and possibly the Oxford 250 on Aug. 25 and the Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Florida.

As a NASCAR spotter, Kneeland relays information to the driver of the team he works for, keeping them alert of what is occurring on the track. To get a complete look at the racetrack, he is usually positioned on top of one of the grandstands or support buildings.

“For me I think the hardest part is I don’t get to race weekly like most do because of traveling around the country working my NASCAR duties, so there are a few things I need to clean up to figure out such as how to go faster and be better as a driver. And money obviously, it takes a lot of money to race these cars and be competitive.”

He said racing his own car is more of a hobby than something he calls his career.

“I love it, done it since I was 8 years old,” Kneeland said. “I’m just fortunate to be able to do it a handful of times a year with my busy schedule.”

According to Kneeland, his greatest fans are his family, including his wife, Carley, his two stepsons Kolby and Logan, his parents Jeff and Kelly Kneeland, and his sister, Tasha.

He said all his family and friends have been supportive of his life in racing.

“My dad and my cousin Rusty Poland and my good buddy, Nick Brown, we all work together on my car and Rusty’s,” Kneeland said. “It’s definitely a family sport. My parents and my wife every weekend tune into the NASCAR app to listen to me spot for my drivers as well. They love it all whether it’s getting to watch me behind the wheel or listen to me do my job on a weekly basis.”

His proudest moments in racing include his first Cup win at Michigan with Kyle Larson, being a part of an Xfinity championship with Tyler Reddick and a Superspeedway win with Kyle Busch.

His career as spotter has taken him to NASCAR tracks all over the nation and as a driver, Kneeland has raced in Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, North Carolina, and Florida. He says the biggest race he’s competed in is the Oxford 250 because he raced against NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski in that event.

“I still have a couple things left to check off my list,” Kneeland said. “And they are tough ones. A cup championship and a Daytona 500 win.” <