Windham Center Stage Theater trains the next generation of directors - By Michelle Libby

Windham Center Stage Theater (WCST) is known for training actors, singers and dancers both adults and children through its performances held in the gym at the Windham Town Hall. This fall WCST offers “Almost Maine”, a story about a town “that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States.” The play takes place one winter night in a town called Almost. The residents find themselves falling in and out of love with the characters in the play. 

The play, written by Mainer John Cariani from Presque Isle, will be directed by Windham’s own Allison Sample, who after graduating from Sesquehanna University with a degree in Physics, returned to play Sandy in WCSTs summer production of Grease before taking on the title director. 

“Everyone has experienced at least some of the emotions in the show and can connect with some of the scenes. There’s comedy and heart wrenching moments,” Sample said.  

Sample grew up in Windham and performed in many WCST productions. She also worked on plays at Windham High School. She directed short films, but this will be her first time directing a stage show. 

“It all happened in a bit of a whirlwind,” she said. Her plan was to propose a different show to direct for the spring, (Harvy) but when the call came that WCST needed a director, Sample stepped up. 

The cast she is directing has nine actors. She’s also receiving help from another WCST stars Giovan Corsetti and one of Windham’s veteran directors, Rob Juergens.

“Casting was the worst part,” Sample said. She was limited in her pairings because of the cast she had, but she made it work with the help from Juergens. “It was good to have his insight during the casting.”

“(Cariani) is a Mainer. It’s not Downeast…it’s the county,” said Juergens. This show was a good opportunity for a new director because of the show’s flexibility, and low budget. He refers to himself as a consultant offering support when a new director questions herself.” 

 “It’s been a good group to have as my first directing experience,” she said. Sample admits that she doesn’t know all of the answers and she changes her find, but the cast is very flexible. 

The director is responsible for primarily what happens on the stage. “I like to let them run through the scene to see what they want to do before I make corrections. It’s more natural that way,” Sample said. The producer, in this show Laurie Shepard, works with more logistics and keeping the lines of communication open between all of the key people in the play. Juergens and Sample had a three hour meeting before casting the show to discuss the play, Sample’s vision and character development, Juergens said. 

“I enjoy seeing the scenes come together, Sample said. Her theater background also helps when it comes to working with actors. She knows things that will work and won’t work in a certain scene. With years of being up on stage and doing a lot of shows and working with directors she has stored up “What works for them” information. 

Juergens said that Sample will gain confidence as she goes along. “It’s an emotional piece you’re putting on stage. Have confidence that we did it and they’re going to like it,” Juergens said.   

Almost Maine has been easier to costume, she said. They asked people to go home and find their winter clothes to wear on stage. The set was created by Sample’s father, Sample and Corsetti. 

WCST is run by a board of directors and Sample said that they are a little nervous about debuting a new director, but they are very supportive of what she needs.  

The most important thing is for the audience to “feel good about it in the end. It’s really a fun show, although really emotional. It’s not a show you’ll leave down trodden.” 

Sample hasn’t decided what she wants to do with her degree in Physics, but “nothing is off the table at this point,” she said. 

WCST encourages new directors, new actors and want the community involvement in all of their productions. 

The show opens on November 7 and runs for two weekends. For more information, visit www.windhamtheater.org. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors at the door

ALMOST, MAINE: It’s love. But not quite.

Governor LePage makes a visit to Windham businesses

Governor Paul LePage was in town last Friday to visit local businesses, meet with constituents and speak with Republican candidates. His first stop was at Hall Implement, which turned 56 years old this year. The governor also stopped by Lee’s Family Trailer Sales and Service, Windham Millwork and Lighthouse Imaging. From there he headed into Standish to visit places like Pit Stop Fuels, Standish Hardware and South Shore Marketplace. 

“It was a privilege to have him to take time out of his schedule to visit with us. We’re just a small piece of his support system,” said Beth Hall, of Hall Implement. 

Shown with the Governor (L to R) Kaile Warren, Hall Implement owner George Hall, Senator Gary Plummer, Governor Paul LePage, Dennis Welch and Patrick Corey. 

Windham breast cancer survivor shares her experience - By Elizabeth Richards

As breast cancer awareness month comes to a close, Windham resident Heidi Hutchins has a story to share and a milestone to celebrate. Heidi is a breast cancer survivor, who has been cancer free for five years this month.     
    

Heidi’s journey started in late 2008, when she went for a regular physical. She had just turned 40, and her doctor recommended a baseline mammogram. The first showed some suspicious spots, so she had a second, and a biopsy. She was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer, which is an extremely early detection, and in the world of cancer, a good diagnosis. 

At the beginning of 2009, Hutchins had a double mastectomy. “I figured I might as well get it all over with and not have to worry about it,” she said. But a week later, she realized it had only begun. Her diagnosis was very different than the initial one. “Overnight everything changed. It was quite devastating,” said Hutchins.

She was told then that her cancer was actually stage one, which is still early stage, but it was a very aggressive cancer, call HER2 positive. In this form of cancer, protein attaches itself to the cells, and they multiply very quickly. “Everything changed that day and I was facing something very different than I initially thought,” said Hutchins. 

Her journey took her through four rounds of chemotherapy, 37 radiation treatments, and a year of infusions of a drug called Herceptin which targets the HER2+ cancers. “That whole year, 2009, I spent battling breast cancer,” says Hutchins. And the rest of her life didn’t just stop. She had started a new job in Sept 2008, just before receiving her diagnosis, and she had two young boys, one in kindergarten and one in third grade that year. 

“It’s really hard on everybody. They had a lot of questions,” she said, adding that it became scary to the boys when they saw her lose her hair. “That’s when it becomes real because they see the physical changes in you. It was really difficult,” she said. At the same time, she said she felt like her children kept her normal. “You still have to maintain somewhat of a normal life for them, so it’s not too scary for them,” she said. She learned through it all that it was vital to lean on friends and family. She had great support from her parents, friends, and a church in town that brought meals and helped in any way they could.

Hutchins had a long road ahead, even after the treatments were over. She elected to have reconstructive surgeries, and also had an ovariectomy because the medication she was on wasn’t stopping the production of estrogen. Her breast cancer was fed by estrogen, and she feared it would return. Hutchins also has some lingering side effects from the chemotherapy treatments, including a severe ringing in her ear, called tinnitus, and some neuropathy that includes tingling or aching in her hands and feet. Still, she feels fortunate to be so far out from treatment. “It’s a small price to pay for my life,” she said. 

The effects of breast cancer last far beyond the treatments. “I want people to know that breast cancer is not just about removing your breast, having some treatments and then getting on with your life like nothing ever happened,” said Hutchins. “It truly affects your whole body,” she added. She has been on a journey of holistic healing since the ovariectomy, she said.

Hutchins said people need to know that early detection is key, and she urged women never to ignore a lump or put off a mammogram. “It definitely saved my life, there’s no doubt in my mind,” she said. 

On the other side of her journey, Hutchins is committed to helping others with cancer. That is what she spent the month of October doing, and she said it’s been wonderful. She has shared her story many times, and helped several close friends diagnosed after she went through her treatments. “It feels so good to be there for them, even though sometimes it means it’s another emotional journey for me to go through,” she said. “I feel like it’s important to be there for them.” 

Third annual Octoberfest a tremendous success - By Elizabeth Richards

The Community Coin Challenge sponsored by the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce culminated with the third annual Octoberfest, held in the Buck’s Naked BBQ parking lot in Windham on Saturday, October 18^th. This year’s event was the biggest yet with more vendors, more attendees, and more donations to support ten food pantries in the Lakes Region. 

All festival events were free, with donations accepted, to ensure that anyone in the region would be able to attend. Attendance at Octoberfest grew this year by 15 to 20 percent, said organizer Sheri Huff. There were 16 additional things to do as well, she said. The ultimate goal each year, said Huff, is to have the amount of donations collected rise. As of Saturday, the donations had reached over $17,000, and that was before counting donations received at Octoberfest. A final amount of funds raised was not available before press time.

Octoberfest offered a great range of events, including a pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, cupcake eating contest, children’s games, a mini vehicles parade by the Kora Shrine Log Rollers, chair massages, pumpkin decorating, crafts, bobbing for apples and a very popular dunk tank. There was a wide variety of food to be found, from hot dogs and sausage sandwiches, pizza and subway sandwiches to sweet treats like whoopie pies, caramel apples, cookies and cotton candy. A horse drawn wagon circled the parking lot and a trail out in back, and helicopter rides were offered for $35 per person. 

Children in costume darted excitedly from booth to booth with adults in tow, enjoying the games and two bounce houses and dancing along to the musical entertainment provided by Montgomery Road and deBreeze and Keys.

Sara Yates, from Windham, was enjoying the festival with her three children Riley, Morgan and Devon. “We’re happy to support the Lakes Region,” she said. “They do such a great job with the community coin drive.”

Jen Berry from Naples learned about the festival from her mother. Berry brought her son and a friend after their morning soccer game, and said they were having a great time. “It’s a great way to raise money and have the community come together,” she said.

Christine Stanford, president of the Community Resource Council in Naples was manning the Naples Food Pantry booth. She said the event is all about exposure and educating the community as to what resources exist. “It’s really wonderful to have everyone here together,” she said. And every penny raised counts, she added, stating that 16 cents buys a pound of food at the Good Shepherd Food Bank. “You don’t realize how many people you are helping out when you do this,” she said.

 

Teresa Springer, a cotton candy vendor at the event, said that the sense of community at the event was great, and is what the event is all about. There is a sense of need in the region that is almost palpable, she said, which is why an event like Octoberfest is so important. “Here, it doesn’t matter what green is in your wallet. It’s about a sense of community and being together,” she said.

Huff said the growth of the event has been great, and the support from the community – both businesses and people coming out to participate, has also been wonderful. She wanted to thank the businesses involved for all the support they give, from the coin challenge to setting up booths with free events, for such a good cause. 

Donations in 2012 and 2013 combined totaled $38,039.28. With this year’s tally already over $15,000 without including Octoberfest donations, the chamber’s goal of creating a larger, more successful event each year has been soundly met.