Sun and fun at Summerfest - By Michelle Libby

Last Saturday’s Summerfest was a perfect day with great weather, fantastic fun, families gathering together and a wonderful collaboration of organizations. With police, fire, EMTs, the Town, parks and rec, schools and the committee, joining together, the event overcame any obstacles and is prepared to make the necessary changes for next year. 

“We want next year to be bigger, better and make changes,” said committee chair Kelly Mank. “Reach out to us to volunteer next year. Like us on Facebook for updates.” 

The planning for next year will start in September or October. To get involved, email summerfest@TheWindhamEagle.com or make contact on Facebook. 

Windham-Raymond Adult Education honors class of 2014 - By Michelle Libby

Not everyone takes the traditional route to graduation because typical high school doesn’t work for everyone. Windham-Raymond Adult Education offers a way for anyone from ages 18 to 110 to earn their high school equivalence certificate or their high school diploma through classes offered at night.

This year, 31 students graduated and 20 of those marched at a ceremony held on June 12. 

“They were a group that grew so much this year - from kids who just wanted to get finished with school to adults with a future focus. It was really exciting to watch as learners worked together to meet their educational goals,” said Lisa Robinson, lead teacher, who also does assessments and placements. 

“Each student is given an individual plan to meet their goals. We have that luxury in having small classes that everything in individualized,” said Tom Nash, director of the adult education program. Older students are given credits toward their high school diploma based on work experience, volunteer experience and educational experience. 

“Many have a hard time escaping their past issues and indiscretion. They’re looking for a fresh start and we’re willing to give it to them,” said Nash. 

Gloria Warrick earned her associates, bachelors and master’s degrees from an online college based in Colorado. She couldn’t make their graduation ceremony, so she asked if she could be involved in the adult education ceremony. She had originally gotten her GED through adult education, said Nash. She was the last one to cross the stage and was given a yellow cord to wear to signify being on the honor roll along with her stole and gown from the university. 

 

Alisha Blumenthal, 19, earned her diploma this year. She grew up in foster care and spent two years on her own. She moved to Florida, then moved back to Maine, had heart surgery and then found Robinson. “Lisa helped get me there,” said Blumenthal. She plans to go to SMCC to be a nurse and possibly get her master’s degree someday. “Lisa helped me stay focused and kept me on track.” Blumenthal would like to encourage student not to give up and not to feel like they won’t be anything.

“It’s the most exciting feeling in the world. It’s my achievement, my motivation. I proved everybody wrong,” Blumenthal said. 

Matt McConnell, 18, loves to work. He has two jobs and working full-time while attending school at night worked for him. “(High school) wasn’t the right scene for me,” he said. His plan is to attend Washington County Community College in Calais to earn an associate’s degree in engine specialist and heavy equipment operation. After that he hopes to move to Florida to find a job rebuilding motors and eventually open his own auto body shop. 

“For people who can’t do regular high school, I’d recommend this all day,” he said. 

 

This year was a transition year for many states, as the trend was to stop giving the GED test and move to the HiSET assessment. 

“This was a transition year from the GED to the HiSET (the Maine State approved testing option for a high school credential). It went much smoother than expected, and the learners have had a really positive experience with the new test,” said Robinson. The company that created the HiSET is the same one that created the SAT test. It is both a paper and a computer-based test, whereas the GED was going to completely computer based, according to Nash. The HiSET test covers Language arts – reading and writing, mathematics, science and social studies. 

Steve McFarland, our College Transitions Coordinator/Advisor stated that about 50 percent of the students say they want to attend some post-secondary program, and about 20 to 25 percent will actually do so.

Raymond native receives two New England Emmy Awards - By Elizabeth Richards

Raymond native and Windham High School graduate Katie Eastman recently achieved what many broadcasters spend years striving for, just a few years into her career. Eastman was recently awarded two New England Emmy awards, outstanding video essay and outstanding video journalist, for compilations of stories she filmed as a multimedia journalist for the Boston Herald.

          

  “Winning an Emmy is something that I always wanted to do,” said Eastman. “I never thought I would get one so young. I was so excited that this was able to happen.”

           

 The accomplishment really starts with the stories, said Eastman. Both compilations included stories from the tragic bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon. The first story in her video essay was filmed on the day of the marathon, a mile away from the finish line. Eastman had been running the marathon with a camera. “I was planning on telling a very different story than what I ended up telling,” she said.

           

 Because they were a mile out, she said, no one knew what was going on, but she captured the confusion and emotion of the crowd. “It was an incredibly personal story for me to tell. You’re not used to being the news when you are reporting the news, but I was the subject of that story,” said Eastman. “I think that’s why it came across so emotional. When I put that story together, I knew exactly what I was feeling, so I could convey that emotion into this piece.”

          

  The other two stories in the video essay were also related to the marathon bombings. One profiled Pete DiMartino, a survivor whose foot was severely injured, during the early part of his recovery at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. The third piece showed Carlos Arredondo interacting with people who had come to say goodbye to the marathon memorial in Copley Square before it was archived.

          

  The compilation that won her the outstanding video journalist award featured a profile of Lee Ann Yanni, who was slated to run her first marathon in Chicago in October of 2013 when she was injured while watching the Boston Marathon. Eastman followed Yanni for six months as she learned first to walk, and then to run again. Eastman was in Chicago with Yanni when she completed 26.2 miles against all odds. “That was a really incredible moment,” said Eastman of watching Yanni finish. “It’s the most joy I’ve had in telling a story, because I was with her for such a long time, and watched her progress,” she said.

           

 The other stories in the video journalist compilation were not related to the bombings. One was a story about a blind stonemason, and the other an 11-year-old campaign manager for a school committee campaign in Cambridge.

           

 Both awards were for categories in which the reporter shoots, writes, and edits everything on their own, said Eastman. “It’s about people who are out with a camera by themselves, which is what I like to do because you get full control and ownership over your work,” she said.

            

 Winning two regional Emmys in the same year was completely unexpected, said Eastman, who was nominated last year, but did not win. She went into the evening thinking it was just great to be nominated, she said. When they announced her name the second time, she was shocked. “It was very nice, and gratifying just to know that all the hard work really did pay off,” she said.

           

 Eastman said she really appreciates that people have taken the time to share their stories with her. “It’s cool that I was able to get these awards, but when I think about it, all of these people are way cooler,” she said. Her job doesn’t really feel like work, she said, and she feels lucky to be doing what she loves.

            

 Eastman is proud of her accomplishments, knowing that she worked incredibly hard to tell the stories in the best way she could. She is also looking forward to the future and what is to come. “I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to see what the next step is, and what will happen next. Maybe I’ll try for the New York Emmys, although those might be tough,” she said.

           

 Eastman began her career at an ABC affiliate in Iowa after graduating from Emerson College in 2011. While in college, she had interned for the Boston Herald, and returned to work for them in 2012. Wanting to get back into television, Eastman recently moved to Albany, New York, to work for Time Warner Cable News.

           

 Eastman said she loved growing up in a small town, and she tells everyone she meets about Raymond. “I absolutely love Maine, and I’m incredibly proud of where I’m from,” she said.