Community groups place wreaths on Veteran graves throughout Windham - By Michelle Libby

For the second year, Libby Sawyer coordinated local Scouts and Veterans from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion to gather on the first Saturday in December to place wreaths with red, white and blue bows on each Veteran’s grave. The program called Everlasting Gratitude is based on the Wreaths Across America program where wreaths are laid on graves at Arlington National Cemetery. 

Libby, who owns Studio Flora, makes sure that each of the 800 Veteran’s graves in town receives recognition. She teamed up again with Sebago Gardens and The Little Log Cabin Montessori School to raise money to pull off this feat.   

“I’m so thankful that people are willing to do this with us. It’s been amazing all around. There are two Boy Scout Troops and Girl Scout Troops and one troop helped make the bows,” said Sawyer. 

Saturday was a rainy, cold day, but that didn’t stop the boys from Troops 805 and 51 and the girls from Troop 193 from Windham and Troop 1741 of Raymond. 

“I heard it was going on and I wanted to do that. The veterans need recognition even after they’re gone,” said Sophey Potter, from Troop 1741. 

Several girls from the Raymond troop have relatives buried in Arlington Cemetery. “That was very personal for our girls,” said troop leaders Caj MacDonald and Jennifer Potter. 

For those who would like to donate to the cause, visit www.studioflora.me or drop off checks at Studio Flora, 889 Roosevelt Trail in Windham.

 

The girls from GS Troop 1741, Chelsea Welch, Lindsey MacDonald, Mya Bolk and Sophey Potter, whose  great, great Uncle was also buried in the cemetery, clean off the headstone of Barry Lombard, a Veteran who died a year ago.

Boy Scout Troop 805, Girl Scout Troop 1741 and organizers of the event pose after laying wreaths at Arlington Cemetery last Saturday.

Carbon monoxide education vital issue for area fire departments - by Michelle Libby

Last Thursday, fire chiefs from area departments and the local legislative delegation gathered at the Windham Public Safety building to discuss Carbon Monoxide (CO), its dangers and symptoms and ways to keep families safe this winter. 
 

“We want to send out the message for other communities on education and awareness,” said State Senator Bill Diamond, who moderated the press conference. “Carbon Monoxide detectors haven’t caught on like they should.” 

“Any fossil fuels you burn can generate carbon monoxide,” said Fire Chief Brent Libby from Standish. The symptoms of CO poisoning are headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. “Know and respond to the symptoms,” he added. 

There were 170 deaths nationwide between the years 2005 to 2011 due to CO poisoning. Twenty of those deaths were in Maine. Over 800 people were taken to the ER with CO symptoms.

Carbon Monoxide mixes with air and people breathe it in causing them to have symptoms because of the misplaced oxygen. They fall asleep and never wake up. 

 

In 2011, Raymond experienced a double fatality because of CO. The home had a properly installed generator, but it had not been maintained and there were no CO alarms in the home, said Raymond Fire Chief Bruce Tupper. 

Public buildings are not exempt from the danger of CO poisoning. Raymond Elementary School had to be evacuated because of a CO incident last winter, said Tupper. No one was injured in that incident.

Carbon Monoxide detectors can be battery operated, or hard wired if it’s plugged into a wall outlet with the battery backup.   

CO poisoning is preventable if there is a detector in all sleeping areas in a home, said Chief Jason Moen from Casco. “Change batteries every daylight savings time,” he added. It’s not just for smoke detectors anymore. He also recommended that homeowners have their chimneys cleaned once a year and clean power vents in pellet stoves. 

Cars, snowmobiles and other engines should never be left running in the garage. People can quickly be overcome by the CO from the exhaust. Generators should be run outside of a home at least 20 feet from any building. 

South Portland Captain Mike Williams is the second district vice president of the Professional Firefighters of Maine, a group that works with 28 units or departments and personnel, discussed legislature that is being addressed to make CO detectors more regulated in places like hotels and inns, as well as in multi-family dwellings. At this time CO detectors are required to be added to a home before it is sold or if it is a new construction or a rental. 

“Change does not happen until a tragedy happens. Why should we wait until someone dies to take action?” Williams asked. There is a financial cost, approximately $35, associated with purchasing a detector, but putting a price on a life makes the cost justifiable. It is recommended that there be a CO detector on every floor of a home. The legislature plans to use a common sense approach to CO detectors. They don’t want to mandate them for everyone, but strongly recommend them. 

Windham is not without its tragedies. A father and son were using a Salamander heater during a power outage. The CO level in the home was 800 to 900 parts per million. The first responders “rushed in to rescue the victims and were overcome in a short period of time. They were hospitalized overnight,” Windham Chief Charlie Hammond said. “It mixes really well with air. You can’t taste it, smell it or see it.”

Windham has been handing out CO detectors purchased through a grant since last year and still have a few left. “We handed them out to people who can’t afford them,” said Hammond. “What we’re doing today could save a life.” 

Rep. Mark Bryant has seen the effects of CO poisoning in our community. “We’re here to support that legislation. It’s not just a little town problem,” Bryant said. “It’s a silent killer.”

A CO detector is equally as effective as a smoke detector as long as it is plugged in. 

Fire departments have brochures to help educate the public and will continue to encourage other districts to spread the word about the dangers of this gas. 

All of the chiefs agreed that awareness and education are the key ingredients to keeping residents safe this heating season.

Raymond tree lighting ushers in Christmas cheer - By Jim Beers

Last Sunday Raymond residents gathered at the Raymond Village Library for the annual Christmas tree lighting. Braving the chilly temps, about 150 people came out to revel in holiday cheer. The Raymond Elementary School chorus was all present and leading the large crowd in several Christmas carols, with hopes of seeing Santa by night's end.

The evening got started with a Christmas-themed story time inside the library, before moving outside for the tree lighting festivities. Raymond Village Library Director Sally Holt, in her third year, was overjoyed at the outpouring of "community" the evening displayed. "It's such a great way for the residents to gather, and the library is the perfect place fo

The Lions Club played a big role in helping the library put this night together. "We couldn't have done it without the Lions Club. They donated $200 to help us with the extra electricity the tree will use, and for large print books for the library. They also provided the refreshments for the evening, they are very special to us and we appreciate them a lot. I hope this tradition goes on forever," added Holt.

Raymond resident and Windham High School student-athlete Ryan Plummer, a junior, was on hand with his family and enjoying the night's events. "It's an awesome way to start the Christmas season. I was here singing just like them when I was in the elementary school chorus. Every year more and more of the community comes out for this, and to be here with my little brothers and family is real special," said Plummer.

After the singing of a few popular carols, the scene shifted to mingling and getting some refreshments. The cold was not a factor as the crowd's Christmas cheer provided the warmth for all. And as anticipation mounted, Santa made his appearance and the kids went wild at the sight of the jolly man in the bright red suit. Sitting down with each of them, he listened intently as they all gave their lists of wished-for presents. Of course they all had to answer if they had been naughty or nice as well. A very successful evening is just what the town was looking for and it couldn't have gone any better, prompting residents Mio Pichardo and Daryl Gurney to both exclaim, "great night for Raymond!". Let the Christmas season begin!

 

Windham's newest police officer - By Michelle Libby

Rookie officer Paul Dubay is just finishing the field training portion of his employment at the Windham Police Department. However, he is no rookie having been involved in police work for many years. Dubay is on his second career, as he called it, after retiring from the Air Force where he served 29 years. For the last eight of those years he held the position chief of military police. 
 

“This was the plan,” Dubay said about his civilian police work. He was employed at Gorham Police Department for three and a half years before taking the position of animal control officer before being hired as a police officer. His employment was considered a lateral move. 

“I was looking for a little bit more busyness. I have heard great things about the Windham Police Department,” he said. He was looking for a “military-like” structured department. Windham was that place because of how it’s structured and organized. The officers are supervised much like they are in the military, but they are still allowed to make decisions. 

Dubay grew up in Little Falls in Gorham and volunteered as a junior firefighter at the South Windham Fire Department. “It’s almost like old home days,” he said. It was at the fire department that he first announced he was going into the Air Force. Not only was he police chief, he also acted as the flying crew chief on a B-52 during his tenure. 

“I want to do my job. I have a lot to learn here,” he said of Windham. “My short term goal is to become an expert in patrol duties, and get involved with the community.” 

Community policing is something Dubay learned about while in the Air Force and would like to see that implemented here. Other agencies have started their own community policing teams. 

“Interacting with the community, everybody is human and everyone makes mistakes. I like approaching things from a human level. I like to be fair, but firm,” he said. He looks to establish a rapport with people, whether they are suspects or victims. He said that some officers are aggressive and that’s their approach. Having both his philosophy and others on a shift is a good mix. 

“Windham has grown immensely since I left. As the animal control officer I was shocked by the volume of traffic in the North Windham area,” Dubay said. During the summer, Dubay found it challenging to deal with people from out of state the same way he deals with residents. He found the people from “away” tend to think the officers are treating them differently, he said. Nevertheless, he works to gain their trust for a positive outcome. 

Dubay enjoys the calls that involve fact finding, interviewing and investigative evidence gathering. “It challenges the mind and is a great way of gathering information for future calls,” he said. 

In the future, Dubay would like to channel his love of motorcycles into a position with Sergeant David Bonneau on the motorcycle patrol. “I’ve been riding motorcycles all my adult life and have taken the Experienced Rider Course. 

Dubay has two sons, 22 and 18. His interests range from riding his Harley and scuba diving to downhill skiing and other outdoor pursuits. 

Dubay is finding his footing in the community and has plans for how he can serve Windham and the police department in the future.