Surrendered herd of donkeys adjusting to new surroundings at MSSPA in Windham

By Ed Pierce

Five donkeys and two miniature horses have a new lease on life after being surrendered to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham in November.

Surrendered donkeys Kevin and Diane are all ears as they
settle into their new paddock at the Maine State Society for
the Protection of Animals in Windham. The animals were
part of a group of seven equines who arrived for care
and rehabilitation at MSSPA in November.
COURTESY  PHOTO 

Three of the five donkeys went immediately into veterinary care before coming to the MSSPA farm with two of them gelded and one had her hooves worked on while under sedation. All seven of the equines were part of a surrender from a location in Maine and were dubbed by MSSPA staff as “The Thanksgiving Angels.”

Peg Keyser, MSSPA Advancement Director, said that the donkeys and miniature horses had not had veterinary care in a very long time.

“Two donkeys, a mother and son, Olive and Yahtzee, and two miniature horses, Harry and Marv, came directly to the MSSPA and three donkeys, Finn, Kevin and Diane, all traveled directly from the site of the surrender to a nearby vet for immediate care,” Keyser said. “Diane is 15 years old and had terribly overgrown feet. She had not been handled much, and initial foot care needed to be done under sedation at a veterinary hospital. Diane also needed extensive dental care which was also done under sedation.”

Keyser said that Kevin, also 15, needed to be gelded which is something that is more of a major surgery when an equine is older. Finn, only 18 months old, was gelded as well. Both Kevin and Finn had their feet done under sedation as well.

“About five days after the first influx of these angels, Finn, Kevin and Diane also came to the MSSPA from the vet hospital,” she said. “They were officially the first residents of the MSSPA’s new McCulloch Family Barn, A Safe Place to Land, and their arrival marked all seven angels being in residence here at the farm.”

Since their arrival, the little herd is adjusting to life at the MSSPA farm having finished a quarantine period and are being integrated into the MSSPA larger herd. Each equine in the group has their own rehabilitative plan, such as the miniature horses were quite overweight and needed to lose some weight which is not typical of MSSPA’s incoming equines.

“Olive and Yahtzee were weaned, a routine process of separating mother and offspring, and Yahtzee joined Finn together in a paddock,” Keyser said. “They are like two brothers. And they act like two brothers and happily greet visitors at the fence. There is little that is cuter than a ‘baby’ donkey like Yahtzee, and we are pretty sure he knows it.”

She said that Olive is enjoying her new space and is doing well. She now shares a paddock with Kevin and Diane.

“Diane had substantially corrective trimming on her feet, and when she arrived, you could tell it felt different, and good, to be walking normally. However, you can imagine that it will take time for her legs and muscles to adjust which is what is happening,” Keyser said. “Diane, who wanted very little to do with humans when she got here, is slowly warming up to staff and volunteers and quietly shows interest in interacting with humans. Kevin had a more difficult time healing from his gelding surgery as an older equine, and this surgery is harder to heal from. It took him a while, but with patient care, he is now doing beautifully and has fully recovered. Finn and Yahtzee are soaking up whatever sun appears in this cold weather and enjoying each other’s company.”

Keyser said that the donkeys are smart and strong.

“Since this little herd had not been handled much, MSSPA’s staff has worked to halter and lead them which at times has taken two staffers,” she said. “They are all so loveable and staff have wasted no time enjoying their company. They each have lovely personalities. So far, they have settled right into life at the MSSPA. There is a great deal of interest in these donkeys. Their adoption timelines will be different for each one, based on the care and rehabilitation that they will still need.”

According to Keyser, Harry the miniature horse weighed 375 pounds when he arrived, nearly 100 pounds more than he should weigh.

“While most of our arrivals present in various stages of starvation, these two miniature horses needed to lose weight. They both also needed immediate farrier care as their feet had not been attended to in years,” she said. “Both Harry and Marv settled right in, have had their feet done, and are slowly shedding the pounds, although it is hard to tell this with their very thick winter coats currently in place. They have also been moved into the bigger herd and joined matriarchs Cherry and Autumn in their paddock.”

Based in Windham, the mission of the MSSPA is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines. MSSPA does not charge for its shelter services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. Horses cared for by the MSSPA come from Maine law enforcement officials and most of them have been abused or neglected. The MSSPA’s goal for each horse or equine is rehabilitation and a new home, but if no suitable adoption is found, horses may live out their natural lives at the organization’s farm.

Kathy Woodbrey, MSSPA’s Executive Director, said taking in the surrendered donkeys and miniature horses demonstrates the organization’s commitment to preserving equine lives.

“The MSSPA exists to protect equines from abuse and neglect, and this case is a powerful reminder of why that work matters,” Woodbrey said. “Today, these donkeys and miniature horses are safe, receiving the care, training, and patience they need to heal and thrive. Now, that comes with extensive rehabilitative costs – both at the outset and going forward – but because of the generosity of our supporters these equines will have a second chance at futures they deserve. All of us at the MSSPA are deeply grateful to the compassionate community that makes this life-saving work possible.”

She said that if the public wants to help support the rehabilitation of this herd, they can make a donation through the MSSPA website at https://www.msspa.org/give/. <

WHS students explore morality in upcoming play competition

By Dina Mendros

Windham High School’s one-act play entry for this year’s Maine Drama Festival will challenge audiences to reflect on morality, as 25 students bring the classic work “Everyman” to the stage next month.

Windham High School's cast of 'Everyman' gather following
a rehearsal at the school. The late 15th century English
morality play will be directed by CJ Payne and is the
school's one-act play entry for this year's Maine Drama
Festival which will be presented at South Portland High
School on March 6 and March 7.  COURTESY PHOTO    

The cast – supported by student crews handling backstage operations, sound, and lighting – is preparing the late fifteenth‑century English Catholic morality play under the direction of Christopher (C.J.) Payne.

Some 69 schools across Maine will compete at eight regional sites on March 6 and 7. Windham High School will perform at South Portland High School, while WHS itself will host the state festival for advancing teams on March 20 and 21. The New England Drama Festival will follow at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont, from April 30 to May 2.

Payne, who became WHS technical director in 2009 and theater director in 2023, cited the long history of the event. 

"The earliest Maine High School One Act Drama Festival dates back to 1931 and was held at Bath High School,” he said. “Windham has a plaque in the trophy case showing our participation going back as far as 1961.”

The author of “Everyman,” written between 1490 and 1510, remains unknown. Payne describes the play as both humorous and dramatic, using symbolic characters, such as Death, Fellowship, and Cousin, to explore deeper questions of human morality.

“The play centers on Everyman confronting death, which rarely arrives welcomed,” he said. “Because it was written in Catholic Europe, it uses symbols audiences then and now can easily recognize to examine what makes someone a good person and what Good Deeds that they’ve done in their lifetime.”

This production marks a shift for WHS theater.

“The time period of the script is a big departure from the shows we’ve done in recent years,” Payne said. “And this will be the largest cast Windham has taken to the festival in the last five years.”

Junior Ashlynn Cuthbert is assisting Payne as student director. She joined theater in eighth grade and says it has become a major source of joy.

“My primary role is to be a second pair of eyes for our director,” she said. “I weigh in on everything from costumes and sets to acting choices and blocking. CJ and I work together to make the show as powerful and seamless as possible. One of my favorite parts is helping other actors develop their characters.”

Cuthbert appreciates the collaborative nature of the production. “Every detail is discussed and sometimes debated until we find the best option,” she said.

Working on a script originally written in Middle English has also taught Cuthbert some valuable lessons.

“I’ve learned how important it is to truly understand and believe what you’re saying,” she said. “Bringing a character’s emotion into yourself is always important, but with this language, it’s even more challenging – and even more essential.”

She said that she hopes the performance sparks reflection.

“I don’t think it’s art’s job to tell an audience what to think or feel,” Cuthbert said. “Good art inspires people to have conversations with themselves about emotions and morals. I want our audience to leave contemplating what it means to be a good person—and, on a lighter note, thinking our show was really cool.”

According to Cuthbert, she plans to pursue law, specializing in prosecution or civil rights.

“It may sound far from theater, but both involve performance,” she said. “You’re standing in front of people, trying to capture their attention and take them on a journey. Both law and theater help people in different ways.”

Payne said he is excited to see what the students bring to the festival this year. “It’s rewarding to get students excited to perform for other schools,” he said. He chose “Everyman” because he wanted something different. “This show really fits the group of actors we have.”

The goal, he added, is always to deliver a production that exceeds expectations. “We hope to bring a professional‑level performance to the festival. Our actors and technicians always bring strong competition to the Class A sites. Hopefully the judges agree.” <

Windham Wastewater Treatment Plant construction nearing completion

By Ed Pierce

Work on the new North Windham Wastewater Treatment Plant continues and the facility remains on track to open by late April.

Once completed by late April, Windham's new Wastewater
Treatment Plant on the grounds of Manchester School is
expected to remove 25,000 pounds of pollutants being
dumped each year by septic systems into the aquifer and
watershed. Along with the installation of sewers, the 
project is expected to stimulate significant economic
growth in the town.  COURTESY PHOTO  
   

During a Windham Town Council meeting on Jan. 13, Windham Town manager Bob Burns told councilors that the exterior split face block siding installation has been completed and about two-thirds of the rubberized roof has been installed. The project’s concrete subcontractor is now building the foundation for an emergency generator pad and has finished work on the transformer pad along with the blower pads for the building.

“On the interior, subcontractors are applying block filler and painting the chemical, equipment, and Membrane Bio-Reactor rooms,” Burns said.

The new facility is being constructed on the grounds of Manchester School in North Windham. It was approved by voters in 2023 and is expected to remove 25,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants each year being dumped by septic systems into the aquifer and watershed. The installation of sewers is expected to stimulate significant economic growth in Windham and lead to development in the area by industries and businesses not willing to locate here because of associated septic system issues and costs.

Through an agreement between RSU 14 and the Town of Windham, in exchange for locating the new wastewater treatment site at Manchester School, the town has created four new playing fields for youth sports at the school. RSU 14 will also be able to shift its wastewater treatment operations at Windham High School to the new facility.

The new North Windham Wastewater Treatment facility will use Membrane Bio-Reactor technology with innovative drip dispersal and will be the first system to use drip dispersal of this scale in Maine. This technology is designed to improve the quality of local groundwater and local waterways, and was chosen for its reliability, flexibility, and overall cost effectiveness for operation.

As construction proceeds on the wastewater treatment plant, the contractor has installed influent screens and bubble diffuser equipment for the biological nutrient removal (BNR) and sludge tanks. MBR, BNR and sludge blowers were completed in December and the installation of the membranes that will be used to remove the suspended solids is anticipated to occur sometime in February.

Construction crews are also building a control shed for the Manchester Drive pump station with a wet well, valve vault and pumps all having been installed, as well as concrete pads for the shed.

In December, the sewer rate for the new North Windham Sewer District was established by the Windham Town Council at $16 per 100 cubic feet.

Burns said that because the entire sewer system and wastewater treatment plant will operate at first far below capacity, Windham will use TIF funds to buy down the sewer rate, preventing early users, mostly businesses initially, from bearing the full operational cost.

Windham expects to raise $1.3 million with a TIF subsidy during the first year of operation for the wastewater treatment plant and sewer system.

The $48 million project includes a new wastewater treatment plant, new sewer lines and connections to individual properties and businesses around Boody’s Corner as well as to some multi-family residential buildings and a few single-family homes in the area. The new Windham Raymond Middle School will connect to the treatment plant when the school opens.

A Clean Water State Revolving Fund subsidized loan, including $3.25 million in grant capacity will be used to pay for the project, according to PWD Engineering & Asset Management Services Manager Greg Pellerin. He said the project also received several million dollars in grants from Environmental Prevention Agency Congressional directed spending, as well as Cumberland County and town American Rescue Plan Act funding.

According to Burns, residential property taxes will not be used to pay back the loan. Instead, he said, it will be paid back using Tax Increment Finance District funds.

As the project gets closer to becoming operational this spring, Burns says that the town will send out information packages to businesses within the collection system corridor including sewer connection applications, access agreements to allow installation of piping and pumps on the properties, and guidance on what can and can’t be discharged to the sewer.

The new sewer system is expected to launch in North Windham by May. <

Raymond Select Board postpones scheduling election to fill vacancy

By Ed Pierce

To be as fair as possible to potential Select Board candidates, members of the Raymond Select Board voted to postpone a decision on an election date to fill a vacancy created by the recall of former Select Board Chair Denis Morse.

To be fair to potential Select Board candidates, members of
the Raymond Select Board voted to postpone a decision on
an election date to fill the vacancy created by the recall of
former Select Board Chair Denis Morse until the next
board meeting.  PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

During a meeting on Jan. 13, the four remaining Select Board members certified results from the December recall voting removing Morse from office by a 282 to 260 vote tally. Morse, a retired town fire chief who was elected to the Raymond Select Board in 2023, was removed from his seat on the Select Board and declined to challenge the official result by asking for a recount.

Select Board Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez, who retained her own seat on the board during the recall election by a vote of 276 to 265, thanked Morse for his years of public service to the town.

To fill the Select Board vacancy created by the recall of Morse, a special election will be held in Raymond to elect a candidate for that position. Raymond Town Clerk Melanie Fernald said that by town ordinance, an election should be scheduled 30 to 45 days after the Select Board certifies the results of the recall election.

She proposed setting a date of Feb. 17 for the election and a motion was made by Select Board member Chris Hanson to shorten the usual time for candidates to submit petitions and gather more than 25 signatures for nomination petitions and to be placed on the ballot following signature verification by the town clerk.

The window allowing a shortened period for absentee voting would have to be shortened as well, Fernald said.

Raymond Interim Town Manager Glenn Michalowski advised the board that the town attorney has said that waiting until the Town Meeting in June to hold an election to fill the vacancy exceeds state regulations.

Members of the public told the board that an election in February was too soon and would hamper voting, citing extremely slow mail delivery, vacationing residents not having enough time to vote by absentee balloting and a lack of time for potential candidates to become known by Raymond residents.

Hanson said he agreed with concerns raised about scheduling a February election date by the public, and he then moved to table his motion until the next meeting of the board, whether that be at the Raymond Select Board’s next scheduled meeting on Feb. 10 or during a special meeting of the board.

Select Board member Derek Ray said he was in favor of obtaining further legal clarification about the time frame for scheduling the election and reviewing all possible options.

Gonzalez said she believes every candidate for office in Raymond deserves a fair shake and that the normal time frame for candidates to gather signatures and to submit a petition is 40 days. She said she thought this didn’t conflict with the recall election ordinance by waiting until the next board meeting to set an election date, even if it was set for a date in April.

Hanson, Ray, Gonzalez and Select Board member Samuel Gifford voted unanimously to wait until the next board meeting to schedule a date for the election.

Raymond Select Board members exercise the town's executive and administrative powers, overseeing town functions through the appointed town manager, hiring town officials, managing highways, setting town fees, administering public health regulations, dealing with tax abatement appeals, implementing policy and serving town residents' needs. Select Board members are elected on a non-partisan basis and serve three year-terms in office.

Town bylaws specify that the Select Board shall deal with administrative services solely through the town manager and shall not give orders to any subordinates of the manager, either publicly or privately. This does not prevent the Select Board members from appointing committees or commissions of its own members or of citizens to conduct investigations into the conduct of any official or department, or any matter relating to the welfare of the town.

The term for the Select Board position vacated by Morse’s recall runs through June 2027, so the time that the elected candidate would be required to serve would be about 15 months if the board sets the election date for April. <

Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby returning next month

By Ed Pierce

Mark this one on the calendar. The Sebago Lake Rotary Club is once again hosting one of Maine’s most anticipated and beloved winter traditions with the return of the annual Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and Feb. 15.

Registration is now open for the
25th Annual Sebago Lake Rotary
Ice Fishing Derby to be held on
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and
Feb. 15. Shown is the 2025 derby's
togue winner Rob Stoodley with
his 9.29 pound, 32.18 inch fish.
Participants may register online at
www.icefishingderby.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

This will be the 25th year for the popular event that draws anglers and families from across southern Maine and beyond for a weekend of outdoor recreation, friendly competition, and community giving.

The ice fishing derby is open to participants of all ages and experience levels. The derby allows registered anglers to fish any legal ice fishing waters in Cumberland County, including Sebago Lake and surrounding ponds. In addition to species-based prizes, all registered participants are automatically entered into a $5,000 grand prize cash drawing, even if they do not fish during the weekend.

Tom Noonan, a Sebago Lake Rotary Club member, is credited with coming up with the concept for the Ice Fishing Derby in 2001 in cooperation with the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department.

Since then, the event has grown substantially to become the Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s largest annual fundraising initiative and has supported hundreds of charities over the past two decades, with more than $1 million donated to local causes since its inception.

Registration fees to participate are $25 for individual anglers and $35 for families, which includes up to two adults and four children. Early registration incentives are also offered, with select prizes awarded to those who sign up ahead of the event. Participants may register online through the derby’s official website or by submitting a mail-in registration form prior to the derby weekend.

Any or all of the fish caught during the Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby may be brought to designated weigh stations to be entered into prize drawings.

For 2026, the official weigh stations for 2026 include Raymond Beach, which serves as the primary headquarters station, the Standish Boat Ramp, and at the Jordan Store in Sebago. Fish must be brought into an official weight station during official weigh-in hours, and caught in accordance with all Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regulations.

Prizes are awarded through the derby’s Fish Pool, which features a wide range of cash awards and gift cards. Categories include prizes for the largest togue (lake trout) by weight and length, most northern pike caught, and largest perch and pickerel. Each fish weighed earns an entry into prize drawings, giving anglers multiple chances to win throughout the weekend.

Beyond the fishing competition, the derby plays an important role in supporting the local Lakes Region of Maine community. Proceeds from the event benefit the Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s charitable initiatives, including Feed the Need, which provides financial assistance to a dozen local food pantries throughout the area.

Another benefit of the Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby is that it also supports fishery management efforts by encouraging the harvest of invasive togue and northern pike and helping maintain healthy fish populations in area lakes. Anglers who donate their catch also help others as it is delivered to Nova Seafood in Portland for processing and then donated for meals for the homeless.

The Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby has become a mainstay every winter in the Lakes Region and brings together families, outdoor enthusiasts, and community members for a shared cause. Whether participants are hoping to land a prize-winning fish or simply enjoy time on the ice, the annual derby continues to combine tradition, recreation, and local generosity. <

Four Chaplains ceremony in Windham recognizes incredible acts of heroism

By Ed Pierce

Drizzling light rain fell as the SS Dorchester left New York harbor on the evening of Jan. 23, 1943, and sailed into the hearts and minds of those who choose to remember, including right here in Windham.

A special interfaith ceremony open to the public will be held
at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Windham Veterans Center to
honor the Four Chaplains who died aboard the S.S. Dorchester
during World War II saving the lives of American soldiers
when that ship was struck by a German torpedo.
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

The Dorchester was part of a convoy of six ships headed for a U.S. Army base at Narsarsuag in Greenland. The other ships in the convoy were merchant vessels the SS Lutz, the SS Biscaya, and the three U.S. Coast Guard Cutters escorting them on the voyage, the Comanche, the Tampa and the Escanaba.

At 12;55 a.m. Feb. 3, 1943, in the open Atlantic Ocean, the SS Dorchester was struck by a torpedo fired at it by German submarine U-223. Dorchester’s damage was catastrophic and all boiler power was lost and that prevented the crew from sending a radio distress signal, and no rockets or flares were launched to alert the escort ships. Because of severe listing, some port side lifeboats of the ship couldn’t be launched, and other lifeboats capsized from overcrowding.

The ship sank within 20 minutes, killing 674 of the 904 servicemen on board. Survivors thrown into the water were so stiff from the cold that they could not even grasp the cargo nets on rescue vessels. The crew of Escanaba employed a new "retriever" rescue technique with swimmers wearing wetsuits swam to victims in the water and secured a line to them so they could be hauled onto the ship. By this method, the Escanaba saved 133 soldiers, although one later died, and the Comanche crew saved 97 others.

Life jackets offered little protection from hypothermia though as the water temperature was just 34 degrees and the air temperature was 36 degrees.

The loss of the S.S. Dorchester was the worst single loss of American military members on any American naval convoy during World War II, but it’s remembered more today more for four incredible acts of heroism.

Four U.S. Army chaplains – a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and two Protestant ministers – remained calm during the sudden panic following the torpedo attack. They worked to distribute life preservers and assisted others abandoning the ship, and then unselfishly gave up their own life preservers and were observed praying as S.S. Dorchester disappeared beneath the waves.

Methodist minister George L. Fox, Reformed Church of America minister Clark V. Poling, Catholic priest Rev. John P. Washington and Jewish Rabbi Alexander B. Goode died that evening and were later honored when the U.S. Congress established Feb. 3 as "Four Chaplains Day" to commemorate this act of heroism. In 1948, the U.S. Post Office issued a commemorative stamp to pay tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of the chaplains. In 1960, Congress authorized the creation of the Chaplain’s Medal for Heroism, which was presented posthumously to the next of kin of each of the four chaplains by the Secretary of the Army.

To remember their brave sacrifice, a “Four Chaplains” ceremony has been offered by a number of American Legion posts in Maine and throughout the country on the date closest to the sinking of the S.S. Dorchester in February. Planning for the original ceremony three years ago was done by the Windham Legion Post 148’s 2nd Vice Commander Yvonne Johnson.

She says she was inspired by the story of the Four Chaplains and wanted to carry the tradition to Windham. Planning for this year’s event started a year ago following the 2025 ceremony.

This year’s Four Chaplains Interfaith Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham. and is free and open to the public. The story of the four Army chaplains onboard the S.S. Dorchester who solemnly gave up their life jackets and seats on the lifeboats so that others might survive will be told during the event.

Religious participation will be from four local churches representing the respective affiliations of each of the four chaplains and there will be refreshments and a social gathering following the ceremony.

Participating clergy this year are Heather Wiedeman, director of clergy support at Maine Medical Center; Chaplain Michelle Bernier of Mercy Hospital; Rabbi Chaim Wilansky of Chadbad of Maine from Portland; and the Rev. Lou Phillips of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Windham.

“The ceremony celebrates the Four Chaplains from very different denominations, a willingness to represent the core value of their respective faiths and to give their lives so that others might survive,” Johnson said. “The ceremony is an inspiration to all who attend.” <

Digital kiosks promoting Windham’s outdoor assets arriving soon

By Dina Mendros

Windham’s abundant parks, trails, lakes, and outdoor amenities continue to shape its identity as a destination for nature lovers. As part of the town’s ongoing effort to elevate its profile among outdoor recreation enthusiasts, new digital kiosks will soon be installed to highlight local fresh‑air activities and natural attractions.

New digital kiosks promoting Windham outdoor recreation
facilities and displaying community announcements,
weather-related trail updates, events and links to social media
will be installed soon at Windham Town Hall, Donnabeth
Lippman Park and Lowell Preserve. The project is funded 
through a Community Outdoor Recreation Assistance
Grant from the Maine Department of Economic and
Community Development. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Final design work is underway for kiosks planned at Windham Town Hall, Donnabeth Lippman Park, and the Lowell Preserve. Delivery of the kiosks is expected within the next few weeks.

“Once the kiosks arrive and have been installed, we will be spreading the word so that people can check them out when they head to one of the three locations,” said Windham Parks and Recreation Director Linda Brooks.

The project is funded through a Community Outdoor Recreation Assistance Grant from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. Windham received $163,750 to support this and other components of the Windham Outdoors initiative, with no local match required.

Windham Outdoors is jointly led by the Parks and Recreation Department, the Windham Economic Development Corporation, and Communications Director Roger Cropley. The mission of the Windham Outdoors initiative “is to connect residents and visitors with outdoor spaces that inspire healthy living, community engagement, and a deeper appreciation of our town’s resources,” he said.

According to Brooks, one side of each kiosk will feature a map of all outdoor recreation facilities in town, complete with QR codes linking visitors to the Windham Outdoors website. The opposite side will include four digital screens capable of displaying community announcements, weather‑related trail updates, event promotions, and links to social media.

Brooks said the digital format will allow the town to keep information current and relevant. “In addition to providing information specific to Windham residents – such as town council meetings or community updates – we can also share details that may interest visitors, like Food Truck Nights, the Summer Concert Series, the Farmers Market, or places to shop, dine, or play.”

She said that the new kiosks will replace traditional wooden kiosks, which are difficult to keep updated. Electronic displays will make it far easier to refresh messaging across the town’s parks and trailheads.

“The kiosks are a promotional tool designed to keep visitors informed about everything available to them,” Brooks said. “Many people using our parks and trails are from outside the region, and we want to take every opportunity to showcase what Windham has to offer. The Mountain Division Trail, East Windham Conservation Area, Lowell Preserve, Donnabeth Lippman Park, and Dundee Park are major draws and have helped put Windham on the map within Maine’s tourism industry.”

Before the kiosks, one of the first steps in building the Windham Outdoors brand was launching https://windhamoutdoors.com/ which features information on parks, trails, activities, events, restaurants, and lodging opportunities.

Windham aims to position itself as a regional hub for outdoor recreation, Cropley said, and the Windham Outdoors initiative is central to that vision. “

As we continue to build the Windham Outdoors brand, we want to enhance our outdoor facilities to improve the visitor experience and gather data that will guide future decisions,” he said.

Cropley says that attracting more outdoor enthusiasts will support the local economy. Outdoor recreation accounts for 3.7 percent of Maine’s economy, making it the sixth‑highest state in the nation for economic impact from outdoor activities. Visitors drawn to Windham’s natural assets often spend money at local restaurants, theaters, lodging, and at other businesses. These businesses can provide incentives via Windham Outdoors that may encourage people to stay longer and spend more.

Additional communication tools are also in development. Brooks said that the town is working on a free app that will help park and trail users access information about amenities, trail lengths, playgrounds, picnicking areas, fishing and boating options, and more.

Meanwhile, Cropley continues to develop new promotional materials to strengthen Windham’s reputation as an outdoor destination. <

Digital safety and wellness event to bring online security awareness to help parents prevent screen-based risks

By Lorraine Glowczak

As technology becomes a larger part of daily life – shaping how students learn, connect, and explore the world – the importance of understanding how to navigate it well has never been greater.

RSU 14 has scheduled a Digital Safety and Wellness
workshop for parents of students in Grade 5 through 12 at
6 p.m. Thursday Jan. 22 at Windham High School to help 
them understand today's online landscape and gain
practical tools for supporting their pre-teen and teen's
safety in an increasingly connected digital world.
COURTESY PHOTO    

To support families in building healthy, informed relationships with technology, RSU 14 will host a Digital Safety and Wellness workshop on Thursday, January 22, at 6 p.m. at the Windham High School library. The event’s focus is to help parents of students in Grades 5 through 12 better understand today’s online landscape and gain practical tools for supporting their pre-teen and teen’s safety in an increasingly connected world.

The event will be led by Christopher Fitzpatrick of Portland, who works in education and community outreach focused on helping parents build understanding around online safety and responsible technology use with confidence.

Fitzpatrick’s presentation will take “an honest and thorough approach to the difficult topic of online child exploitation and abuse. It will include an in-depth overview where the agent describes the threats and trends he and his colleagues see in their investigations.” He will discuss real world case examples to help attendees better understand how children and teens can be victimized online.

Other area schools have taken similar steps, either by hosting workshops led by Fitzpatrick or by developing their own programs through parent–teacher collaborations. These efforts have included digital citizenship workshops and community events designed to inform and empower parents with practical guidance on online awareness and safety.

Several RSU 14 educators have taken part in digital safety and awareness efforts beyond their own district, including Lindsay Hanson, Windham High School’s  Building Assets, Reducing Risks

(BARR) coordinator, and Jennifer Finck, an RSU 14 social worker.

Both educators have been involved as parents in digital awareness initiatives within the Gorham school community, where their own children attend. Hanson is active with the Gorham Alliance for Thoughtful Technology, which is a community group focused on promoting healthy technology habits. The alliance encourages families to delay smartphone and social media use while supporting play-based childhoods and real-world independence through community events and discussions.

Finck has attended multiple workshops and presentations, including sessions in Gorham that have centered on digital citizenship and youth technology use.

They, along with other RSU 14 social workers and district leaders including Assistant Superintendent Christine Frost-Bertinet, wanted to provide opportunities on digital safety and awareness to this district's parents in a way that supports families where they work.

Finck described the workshops she attended as eye-opening, offering clear and practical information for both parents and educators. She said the sessions highlighted concerning trends but also emphasized prevention and education.

“We learned about many opportunities to help empower families and provide meaningful support,” Finck said. “That’s what we want to bring to this school district—access to the same information and support.”

Hanson said a recent Gorham workshop focused on helping adults better understand both the risks associated with technology and the ways children can be supported in developing a healthy relationship with it. She emphasized the importance of play, independence, and introducing technology in age-appropriate ways.

“We need to empower kids to be independent people first,” Hanson said, adding that resilience, problem-solving skills, and mental well-being are built through real-world experiences. She also stressed the role adults play in making thoughtful decisions that support children as they navigate the digital landscape.

Hanson added that concerns surrounding youth technology is a collaborative effort. “This is a community problem, so there has to be a community solution,” she said.

She encouraged parents to work together around shared expectations, noting that when families align – such as agreeing to delay or limit certain social media platforms – students are less likely to feel isolated or pressured. She urged parents to connect with one another and form small groups to help lead and support these efforts within the community.

Frost-Bertinet said building safer digital habits starts with informed parents who understand the online world their children are navigating. Through parent education sessions, shared resources, and open conversations, the district aims to give families practical, up-to-date information — from how social media algorithms work to recognizing early warning signs of unhealthy technology use.

“When parents understand the risks and benefits of different platforms, apps, and devices, they’re better equipped to make thoughtful decisions that fit their child’s age, maturity, and their family’s values,” Frost-Bertinet said. “We’re not offering one-size-fits-all answers, but empowering parents with knowledge and tools.”

Frost-Bertinet emphasized that families should leave knowing their choices around screen time, access, and online safety matter – and that they don’t have to feel pressured by what others are doing. RSU 14, she said, is committed to being a partner in helping families navigate the digital age with intention and confidence.

Childcare will be available at the Jan. 22 event. Some material may be difficult to hear but the discussion will be handled with sensitivity. A future workshop will be offered for those parents of children under fifth grade. <

MSSPA takes in four severely neglected horses from New York state surrender case

By Ed Pierce

Four seriously endangered and neglected horses have found a safe place to land and recover at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA) in Windham.

Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals staffers
Tina Cormier and Danette McGee welcome Gibson, a
16-year-old gelding as he arrives in Windham on
Tuesday, Jan. 6 after being transported from Rood &
Riddle Veterinary Hospital in Saratoga, New York.
COURTESY PHOTO MSSPA 

The Standardbred horses – three mares and a stallion – arrived in Windham during the past week after being surrendered in Rensselaer County, New York by an elderly owner who had become overwhelmed and could no longer provide the care for a group of nine horses that they desperately needed. Four of the nine had been trapped in stalls for years, standing in as much as 5 feet of manure.

Dorset Equine Rescue of Vermont agreed to keep two of the surrendered stallions, a mare and its filly, and another facility, Tomten Farm and Sanctuary of Vermont, is caring for another stallion. MSSPA received three mares on Saturday, Jan. 3 and a stallion named Gibson arrived Tuesday.

“Receiving a horse that has been severely neglected means that horse will likely have profound, expensive medical needs,” said Peg Keyser, MSSPA Advancement Director. “This can strain a single rescue, so when several rescues work together, those costs can be spread out a bit.”

She said the three unnamed mares arrived looking thin and needing attention to their hooves and teeth. One has an eye injury that went untreated and is in desperate need of care.

“Her eye might sadly need to be removed.” Keyser said. “The four stallions were housed in a barn at the location that was some of the most deplorable conditions we have ever seen. They were each standing in stalls, in their own manure that had grown to a level of 5 or 6 feet. They were quite literally standing above the stall walls, on their own manure, which was compacted to the point of being like cement. They had not been taken out of these stalls, possibly for years. The local fire department there had to be called in to use their 'jaws of life' to cut through the stall walls to give rescuers the ability to make an exit the horses could navigate. The stallions were terrified. Imagine the discomfort of standing atop your own manure for years. Imagine that barn in the summer, with all the flies. It was like standing on cement.”

Before arriving in Windham, Gibson was gelded and he also had his hooves and teeth worked on while he was at the veterinarian. He was filthy with an extensively matted mane and technicians at the vet groomed him and got those mats out, Keyser said.

When the mares arrived at MSSPA, they were put into a paddock together at MSSPA’s new McCulloch Family Barn, A Safe Place To Land intake facility for abused and neglected horses and they immediately began to explore. Keyser said that one of them took a good roll in the snow, a sign that she was relaxed enough to enjoy a roll.

“Hopefully they know they have found their way to this safe place to land.” she said.

Based in Windham, the mission of the MSSPA is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines. MSSPA does not charge for its shelter services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. Horses cared for by the MSSPA come from Maine law enforcement officials and most of them have been abused or neglected. The MSSPA’s goal for each horse is rehabilitation and a new home, but if no suitable adoption is found, horses may live out their natural lives at the organization’s farm.

Kathy Woodbrey, MSSPA’s Executive Director, says each of the horses under MSSPA’s care will receive the care and vital treatment that they need to recover.

"For the past five years, MSSPA has partnered with equine shelters across New England to rescue horses from severe neglect,” Woodbrey said. “Horses that come to the MSSPA find safety, compassionate care, and the time they need to heal. Because of these regional partnerships, hundreds of horses have regained their strength and moved into futures defined not by past suffering, but by the bright promise that lies ahead for each and every one."

The three surrendered mares are estimated to be ages 7, 11, and 18, and Gibson, the gelded stallion, is 16.

“All horses coming to the farm receive an intake exam with one of our veterinarians,” Keyser said. “The vet does an overall assessment of each horse's body condition, will often draw blood, look at eyes, skin, listen to the heart, lungs, look at the coat, feet – all outward indications of the horses' health. Based on those observations, the vet will help staff create a re-feeding program and advise about care going forward. Most horses coming in have external and internal parasites, those will be treated. They also require routine vaccinations, and these can only be administered when the horse is strong enough. Based on this vet exam, our staff then oversees the care and feeding of each individual horse, for however long it takes to return that horse to optimum health. This can take months or even years. Then, when a horse is healthy, staff will begin assessing and training that horse with an eye to adoption. As you might imagine, each horse presents with different health challenges. Some horses are simply underweight and require hoof and teeth care, and they begin to recover beautifully. Other horses might have chronic conditions that will require supplements and medication – all of that is determined when the vet does the initial exam.”

All horses that come to the MSSPA farm are quarantined for a month for many reasons.

“We want to be sure the horse has had the necessary vaccines, etc. before integrating it with the resident herd,” Keyser said. “Staff are the only ones handling horses in quarantine, visitors do not pet or interact with them so as to not spread any disease. Generally, most horses are done with quarantine after 28 days. Horses for which we have title to/ownership of, those horses that have been surrendered to us, can then be integrated into the resident herd. Horses that are still part of an ongoing court case do not get folded into the herd, in an effort to be sure they are not injured in the normal paddock behavior of horses. So, even when a horse that was seized by law enforcement has completed quarantine, it is still kept separate from the resident herd. These horses can be housed with other horses from their own court case, and certainly in an adjacent paddock to horses in the MSSPA herd.”

Intake exams on the surrendered horses were conducted Thursday to reveal more, but one mare presented with a serious eye injury that has been untreated.

“We will certainly be paying close attention to that, and it might require that the eye be removed. That remains to be determined,” Keyser said. “That might delay her joining the resident herd. Also, Gibson was recently gelded so there will be some healing time for him after that surgery. That might delay his joining the herd, but likely he will be able to do so when his quarantine is completed.”

According to Keyser, the surrendered mares seem to be adjusting beautifully to their new surroundings at MSSPA.

“They are friendly, waiting at the gate when staff attends them, and they seem to be enjoying their new home,” she said. <

Windham Fire Rescue’s Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services loses cancer battle

By Ed Pierce

The Town of Windham has lost one of its most experienced, well-liked and respected public safety officials.

Windham Fire Rescue Deputy Chief John
Kooistra has lost his battle against cancer
and died Monday, Jan. 5 at the age of 56.
FILE PHOTO

Windham Fire-Rescue Chief Brent Libby said that Deputy Chief John Kooistra lost his battle against cancer on Monday and has died at the age of 56.

He has served as Windham’s Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Department Training since February 2019 and was the recipient in 2022 of the Maine EMS Lifetime Achievement Award for notable contributions to the Maine EMS system in their service to the residents and visitors of Maine.

“As a paramedic/firefighter and educator, Deputy Chief Kooistra’s time here has been dedicated to our members and community; ensuring quality, compassionate and modern emergency medical care as well as relevant, fact-based, skill-proficient training and education,” Libby said. “Through his more than 32 years in public safety he has cared for our colleagues, families, and neighbors in Windham, Portland, Westbrook, Wells and United Ambulance. He has taught hundreds of EMS Clinicians, law enforcement, firefighters, and so many others in public safety and health care around the world in trauma and operational K9 care. His impact will be felt for years to come. His genuine concern and care, as well as his quick-witted humor, will always be remembered.”

Kooistra was originally from California but grew up splitting his time between Maine and New York City where his parents each lived. He attended Saint Joseph’s College briefly for pre-med, yet having already worked in emergency medical services, he transferred to Kennebec Valley Community College and became a paramedic.

Since then, he’s worked for several departments and entities over the years in a part-time capacity, but his full-time career prior to his duties with Windham Fire-Rescue came with the City of Portland’s Medical Crisis Unit (MedCU) and the Portland Fire Department where he served for 25 years.

While working for Windham Fire Rescue much of what he did was administrative in nature, but he still responded to calls, cared directly for patients, and created and provided progressive training for the members of a growing department.

During an interview in 2024 with The Windham Eagle, Kooistra said that every day in his job was different and every call for help was different, making his work challenging.

“We frequently deal with people struggling with mental health issues. I say ‘now’ although it’s been an increasing issue for EMS and law enforcement for several years, but I was never taught in medic school how to deal with that,” Kooistra said. “Sometimes we’re called to help someone that needs help but doesn’t want it. That’s hard. People are allowed to make decisions that you or I wouldn’t necessarily agree with, if we deem them to have decision-making ability and explain to a family member why we’re not taking their loved one to the hospital because they’re refusing our treatment and/or transport is almost always a very difficult conversation. Worse than that, however, is when we are called to help someone with a situation and there isn’t a solution for their problem readily available or even at all.”

He described his favorite moment while working for the Windham Fire-Rescue Department in this way:

“I was working with another member, Firefighter/Paramedic Katy Dippolito, to help extricate a deer that had fallen through the ice on Chaffin Pond in the Donnabeth Lippman Park in December 2022,” he said. “We were in Ice Rescue Suits and Helmets and found the deer far out on the ice in an open area of water approximately 20 feet by 20 feet. The open water area had slowly gotten larger as the deer had attempted to get out of the water repeatedly and broke through the ice each time. Due to the cold water and the deer’s exhausted state, it seemed like a reasonably easy rescue, so Katy slid into the water to try and help the deer out of it. Immediately the deer’s fight or flight response kicked in and it tried to escape Katy’s grasp, and the two started to swim repeatedly in circles.”

Kooistra said he stayed on the relative safety of the thicker ice and cheered Katy on until their support team gently pointed out that I was also in an ice rescue suit and that Katy could perhaps use his help.

“Figuring that I could easily reason with a wild animal, I too slid into the water. Things didn’t get better,” he said. “The deer decided that the best defense was a good offense and started going after Katy while blatting loudly. Our shore-based crew suggested putting the deer in a gentle headlock to help to control it while we figured out how to get it back onto the ice. Being familiar with a similar technique to control Police K-9s who require medical aid, I managed to do just that, and the animal suddenly stopped moving. I was then able to control the deer’s legs with my other hand, and Katy and I slowly swam the deer to the edge of the ice. Our initial attempt to roll the deer up and onto the ice resulted in my inadvertently getting between the deer and its flexed legs. It let me know how it felt about the situation by kicking me very solidly in the side of my helmet. We reevaluated our plan. Katy had been connected to a rope that was controlled by our shore team when she first went into the water, so we went to Plan B. Katy rolled up onto the ice, I controlled and lifted the deer onto the ice and, with Katy holding onto the deer, the two were pulled back across the solid ice to the Fire-Department and Warden Team that was waiting on shore. Our ‘patient’ was turned over to the Game Wardens, and we went back to the station to clean up and go back into service.”

A Memorial Service for Deputy Chief Kooistra will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Windham High School Performing Arts Center. <

Year in Review: Part Two

By Ed Pierce 

2025: A year of new opportunities and moving forward

Bill Diamond of Windham, a longtime legislator, educator,
business owner and child welfare advocate, died Aug. 31 at
the age of 80. He co-founded Windham Neighbors Helping
Neighbors to provide heat assistance to those in need and
the Walk A Mile In Their Shoes Foundation to end 
child homicide in Maine.  FILE PHOTO  

JULY

July 4’s top story was about Raymond’s new Code Enforcement Officer Jason Williamson, who had been serving as the town’s assistant Code Enforcement Officer, but was promoted to his new position after Chris Hanson was selected to the Raymond Select Board in June. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a background in carpentry and building, Williamson says he finds his code enforcement job to be both challenging and rewarding. “The biggest challenges, I would say are when you’re dealing with some issues that crop up with neighbors,” he said. “It seems like you’re taking sides … but you’re really trying to be fair and not infringe on anybody’s rights.” Getting people to see the other side’s point of view “can be extremely difficult,” he said. An important part of the job, Williamson says, has to do with enforcing shoreline zoning and protecting the waterways, as much of the building that takes place in Raymond is along or near lakes. “Protecting the water quality, making sure and informing homeowners when they are doing projects in and around the lakes and showing them how to do it in a manner that’s going to be respectful to the lake,” is one of his biggest responsibilities. Williamson said, “Everybody wants to do what they want with their property, but most people understand that there’s a responsibility of being down by the water. When you get people who understand is the most rewarding, I would say.”

The top story for July 11 reported on the Town of Raymond’s intention to apply for a grant later this summer to help the town prepare for climate change. The Raymond Select Board conducted a workshop where residents and Select Board members discussed priorities of how the grant, if approved, could be best be put to use. During the workshop, which was led by Lucy Perkins of Siler Climate Consulting, community members were invited to share their thoughts about how the town could use grant funding to make the town more resilient in planning for climate change. Funds can be used to support projects that reduce energy use and costs and make communities more resilient to climate change effects, such as flooding, extreme weather, drought, and public health impacts. The town of Raymond has contracted with Siler Climate Consulting, together with North Star Planning, for assistance in enrolling in the Community Resilience Partnership, a program under the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and applying for a Community Action Grant that would range between $50,000 and $75,000. The grants are funded through a mix of federal and state sources. According to Perkins, so far 263 Maine municipalities have enrolled in the program, which encompasses about two-thirds of the state’s population; and a large percentage of those communities have received funding.

July 18’s top story was about Windham High School graduate Brady Afthim, who has dreamed of playing Major League Baseball since he was a child competing in Windham Little League. His dream took a step closer when the Cincinnati Reds selected him in the 13th round of the 2025 MLB Draft with the 384th pick this week. A right-handed pitcher who dominated opponents while playing for Windham High School, Afthim, 22, was the closer for the University of Connecticut Huskies after graduating from WHS in 2021. At Windham, he was honored as Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, was USA Today Player of the Year in Maine, and was recognized as First Team All-Southern Maine Athletic Association as both a pitcher and a catcher. He also won the John Winkin Award designating him as the top senior high school baseball player in Maine in 2021 and he was named as the recipient of the 2021 Mr. Baseball in Maine Award. This year as a senior, Afthim closed out his college career as second in UConn history with 92 appearances. He was tied for 8th place overall in team history with 17 career saves and he posted the lowest opponent batting average in Huskies’ history at just .211. Afthim also had a career-low 2.45 ERA, earned nine saves and had two wins as the team’s closer. In 22 appearances, he racked up 53 strikeouts. Afthim signed with Cincinnati and played for its Rookie League team in Goodyear, Arizona and was promoted to its Single-A affiliate at Daytona Beach in the Florida State League by the end of the season.

The top story for July 25 was about Mason Hall, 11, a skilled artist who has been honored as the first-ever winner of the Finance Authority of Maine’s (FAME) “Design Your Dream Money Contest.” The contest was created this spring and intended to help raise awareness of the importance of teaching financial skills to younger students in partnership with the Alfond Scholarship Foundation. Students in first grade through sixth grade were invited to create their own $500 bill using a template created by FAME. Hall was a student in Lynne Latham’s fifth-grade classroom at Jordan-Small Middle School this past spring and he joined his classmates in learning about basic financial education, capped off by the students entering FAME’s “Design Your Dream Money Contest.” During a school assembly before classes let out for the summer in June, Jordan-Small Middle School students cheered when Hall was announced as this year’s “Design Your Dream Money” contest winner. For his winning design, Hall received an Amazon gift card and a box of prizes including a T-shirt with his $500 bill design printed on it. “I was really surprised by winning,” he said. “I truly felt like I accomplished something.”

AUGUST

Aug. 1’s top article told the story of Brysen Sheridan of Raymond, 10, whose dream of building his own boat and taking it out on the water came true. He spent more than 10 months designing his own boat and working to pay for materials to build it. The son of Rob and Chanelle Sheridan of Raymond, Brysen came up with the idea for a small boat last fall. “I just had the idea and wanted to make it happen,” he said. “I thought of the idea before bed one night and I drew it out and started making it the next day.” He first had to figure out how to pay for the building materials he needed to construct the boat and then saved to purchase them. Throughout the winter, Brysen shoveled snow from driveways and sidewalks for his neighbors and helped them with yard work. As the weather slowly warmed up this spring, he earned some additional money from mowing lawns and stacking firewood. Working steadily in his family’s garage and outside in his yard from his initial design, the boat project began to take shape. The project was wrapped up on July 11 and resulted in a vessel measuring about 6 feet by 2 feet. He named his new boat “the unsinkable” and tested it out with his family watching to ensure it was safe to be out on the water. During the summer, Brysen has taken his younger brother Bennett (Benny), 5, out on the water for a fishing trip on “the unsinkable” on a small cove near Jordan Bay in Raymond. “You can do whatever you put your mind to,” he said. “I’d tell other kids wanting to build a boat to stick with it even if it’s hard.”

The top story for Aug. 8 reported how a Windham family had their faith tested and strengthened their resolve when their 22-year-old son, who was working as an electrician and was installing solar panels on a roof in Kingfield, suddenly fell 20 feet to the ground and sustained multiple breaks in his T-11 vertebrae which smashed and put pressure on his spinal cord. It left him paralyzed and struggling to cope while his parents did their best to lift his spirits and motivate him to go on. “One of the hardest things for me is not being able to make things better for him,” said his mother, Kathleen March. “I can't heal his broken heart. I can't promise or even tell him he will get better because it's an unknown of time and faith. It's been hard to see our son who was just beginning his life in his chosen career, enjoying it and doing well to lose it all, including the possibility to be able to return to that job as he did it.” Parishioners at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Windham rallied to help and support Brian and Kathleeen March and so did American Legion Post 148 in Windham. The couple’s son, Ethan, is doing better now and in a motorized wheelchair and aiming to become a pilot.

Aug. 15’s top story was about Greta Paulding, a 2023 Windham High School graduate, who has found swing dance to be her way of not only coping with stress, but also noticed improvements physically, mentally, and socially. This is the second year that Paulding has served as president of the Windham Swing Dance Club, a group she founded. When she left for college in the fall of 2023, she decided to join a swing dance club for an extra-curricular activity and found that she not only enjoyed it, but also noticed improvements in her life mentally, physically, and socially. She decided to bring the idea back home when she came to Windham for summer break and started a high school swing dance club, open for incoming students, current high school students, and recent graduates. “We started off very small withia group of around eight people,” says Paulding. “It was small, but the people who attended were loyal and would invite other people; we had a lot of fun. Coming back this year, we have grown to between 20 to 30 regulars and about 20 attendees each event.” Since the club’s inception students from South Portland, Durham, and even students from New Hampshire have traveled to swing dance with the Windham Swing Dance Club.

The top story for Aug. 22 was about a Windham attorney, Katie Winchenbach, who won the National United States Mrs. 2025 Pageant. After winning the title of United States of America’s Mrs. Maine for 2024, Winchenbach was crowned National United States Mrs. 2025 at the National United States Pageant, held in Hershey, Pennsylvania from July 28 to Aug. 1. “In 2024 I competed for the United States of America (USOA) pageant system. This time I competed in the National United States pageant,” Winchenbach said. “I chose to switch to National United States because the pageant has a significant community service focus through the ‘Crowns Making an Impact’ initiative and I felt that it was more closely aligned with my personal values and goals.” Beside winning the national title, Winchenbach was honored at the pageant with the Diamond Crowns Making an Impact ™ Award for her dedication to volunteering and community service. She is passionate about advancing women’s leadership, breaking barriers, and inspiring confidence in women of all ages. Winchenbach is the founder of Lead Fearlessly, a movement and podcast dedicated to elevating women’s voices, sharing stories of resilience, and providing actionable strategies for personal and professional growth. She is also the designer behind a new clothing line created to inspire confidence through bold, empowering designs. “This title means more than a crown and sash. To me, it’s a platform to encourage women to embrace their full potential, trust their intuition, and step boldly into leadership,” Winchenbach said. “I’m honored to represent the National United States Pageant system and to connect with women across the country who are ready to lead fearlessly.”

Aug. 29’s top story reported about the new Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour featuring eight important local historical sites which will be open to the public with free admission. The self-guided auto or bike tour includes open houses and some guided tours and stretches all the way from Westbrook to Harrison along the historic Roosevelt Trail. Brochures are available throughout the area and include a list of participating historical sites and museums, a trail map, and museum profiles and missions. Margaret Myatt is the publicity coordinator for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home and the Hawthorne Community Association in Raymond and says that she is looking forward to the tour and hopes to spread the word to the community. “It should be a fun event if we can get people out there. I hope it is a well-received event,” she said. “It is sort of an open-house road show of history sites, informal, but easy. I think Windham Recreation caught wind of it and may do a van or bus.” Myatt also said that they plan to distribute brochures at adult recreation and assisted living facilities in the area. She said that the tour is perfect for all age groups from youngsters and teens to families and seniors.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 5’s top story covered the death of former Windham State Senator and State Representative Bill Diamond, who died Aug. 31 at the age of 80 following a hard-fought battle with cancer. He spent more than 40 years in politics and Diamond also served as Maine’s Secretary of State from 1989 to 1997. He left behind a legacy few will equal. Diamond grew up on his grandfather’s farm in West Gardiner and came to Southern Maine to study to become a teacher at Gorham State Teacher’s College, earning a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education. He married his wife Jane in 1968, and the couple raised two daughters, Kristin and Karyn, in Windham and now have eight grandchildren. He taught from 1968 to 1986 in Windham schools and was the first principal of Windham’s Manchester School. He went on to lead Field-Allen Junior High School and Windham Middle School as principal and was Superintendent of Schools for Raymond. As the cost of heating homes rose in the early 2000s, Diamond co-founded and served as president of Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors in 2007, an all-volunteer effort which raised money to provide emergency heating oil to community residents in need. He also served as a board member for the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham and Hospice of Southern Maine. In 2023, Diamond launched the “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes Foundation,” a non-profit dedicated to preventing child homicides and the abuse of children who are under the supervision or direct care of the State of Maine or who are or have been associated with the state’s Child Protective System.

The top story for Sept. 12 reported on significant progress made on the construction of the new Windham Raymond Middle School on Windham Center Road, including moving the horse barn on the property for future use as an outdoor classroom. Christopher Howell, RSU 14 Superintendent of Schools, says that construction costs for the school have remained constant and the project continues to be on schedule for a planned opening of September 2027. The new school will be a free-standing multi-story building with more than 260,000 gross square feet of new construction for learning space, an auditorium, gymnasium, and dining facilities. Howell says that the new school will use a team-teaching concept where students will be divided into 12 teams to provide personal connection and then broken up into smaller instructional teams. It will incorporate Integrative Project Based Learning through team teaching, a method of instruction where a group of teachers work together to plan, conduct, and evaluate learning activities for the same group of students and the school’s design takes all of that into account with the team areas of the building allowing for a science teacher, math teacher, social studies teacher, and an English teacher to be in the same teaming area. “It’s just been an amazing process to watch and see the large precision of this process,” Howell said. “We are $16 million under the original budget and expect things to remain that way.”

Sept. 19’s top story was about Tia’s Prom Project, an initiative to memorialize the late Tatiana “Tia” Morrell of Windham, who tragically died at age 28 in a moped accident. She was a real estate agent and business professional who loved proms. Her friends and family say that they wanted to find a way to remember Tia in a meaningful and lasting way because of the type of person she was. Tia’s Prom Project will provide dresses to high school and middle school students in Cumberland County for prom, homecoming, or any other formal or semi-formal school events at no cost to the student. The inspiration for remembering Tia through Tia’s Prom Project stems from an event that took place when she was just in eighth grade. A new girl started school in Windham and Tia, her mother said, wanted to help the girl by buying her a dress to attend a semi-formal dance cruise that eighth grade students were attending at the end of the school year. Tia enlisted the assistance of her mother and together they bought a dress and on the day of the dance cruise, Worthing helped the new student with her hair and makeup. Her mother said that story helped inspire this new initiative.

The top story for Sept. 26 detailed the opening of the Space to Thrive non-profit childcare organization’s new facility, located on Pope Road in Windham. The 6,000-square-foot facility welcomed families, community members, and local and state leaders for a music-filled event to celebrate the grand opening. Colorful chalk decorated the sidewalks, as families enjoyed music, snacks and an opportunity to explore the new building. The building’s five classrooms are welcoming spaces, with activity-specific areas dotted around each, and doors leading directly to a new playground. Each teacher assembled and arranged their classrooms to fit their students’ needs, ensuring that children will find enrichment wherever they turn. The event was attended by Maine Gov. Janet Mills and State Senator Tim Nangle. “Parents across the state need consistent, affordable care for their children, not only so they can go to work, but so their children can have a great place to learn and grow,” she said, while touting her administration’s accomplishments in helping to expand childcare access in Maine. As someone who raised five daughters and as someone who is now a grandmother to five, I deeply appreciate the work that childcare providers do every day, and I know it isn’t easy,” Mills said.

OCTOBER

Oct. 3’s top story was about the resignation of Joseph Crocker as Raymond Town Manager. Crocker, 37, had formerly served the town as Parks and Recreation Director, and was appointed to the Town Manager position in May succeeding Sue Look, who resigned in March. The Raymond Select Board had then tapped Crocker to serve as the interim Town Manager until a permanent replacement could be hired. Look had served as Raymond Town Clerk before succeeding longtime Town Manager Don Willard in January 2024 upon his retirement. Crocker was hired for the town manager position after a competitive recruiting and hiring process conducted by HR Maine Consulting, LLC. All told, there were 46 applicants for the town manager position. Nine of those candidates participated in a rigorous essay and pre-screening process, with four candidates moving forward in the panel interview process, consisting of the Raymond Select Board Chair, Vice-Chair, a community member, town department heads, a Town Manager from another community, and Betsy Oulton from HR Maine Consulting. His contract was for three years at an annual salary of $100,000. “When you provide services to a small town for so long, they become your friends,” Crocker said. “All I can say is I have given my best effort to make the Town of Raymond better, and all I ask is that our elected officials act in good faith to do the same.” <

The top story for Oct. 10 reported on the return of the Presumpscot River Revival Race after an absence of three decades. The race is sponsored by the Friends of the Presumpscot River at Dundee Park for a day of friendly paddle competition and celebration. The 2.5-mile race and festivities at the river will span several hours to include paddling, food trucks, leaf-peeping, and more. The goal of the event is to “bring awareness and community to the river,” says Leah Zwain of FOPR. The organization has been increasing its outreach efforts to help build connection with the river and to each other. It provides that opportunity to connect through Community Paddle and Grill events and Evening Paddles on the Presumpscot and hosts conversations and presentations at local libraries or yacht clubs, partnering with other nonprofits such as Friends of Casco Bay. Some of the proceeds from the races will help with the FOPR school outreach program which is designed to get students in Gorham, Westbrook, Windham, Portland, and Falmouth out on the water, and the program introduces children to the river. Students are taught paddling techniques and learn about the Wabanaki and industrial history of the waterway, while also discussing the river’s future.

For Oct. 17, the top story unveiled plans for the final segment to extend the Mountain Division Trail from Windham to be added to Maine Department of Transportation’s Three-Year Plan. During a meeting of the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System’s Advisory Committee, PACTS members voted to recommend the project to be included on MaineDOT’s Three-Year Plan spanning 2026-2027-2028. Aubrey Miller, Senior Transportation Program Manager for the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), said that following the Draft Plan’s adoption by the committee, the GPCOG Policy Board will review and consider adopting the Regional Trail Plan on Oct. 23. The $16.2 million project will extend the Mountain Division Trail from its current end at Main Street (Route 202), in Windham, and extend the trail about 5 miles south to Bridge Street in Westbrook. Doing this will create a continuous, nearly 10-mile off-road bicycle and pedestrian transportation link running from Standish to Westbrook. Once funded by MaineDOT, project work will include new pavement, gravel, curbing, drainage, signing and striping, retaining walls, fencing, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons located at the trail crossings on Bridge Street in Westbrook, Depot Street in Windham, and Main Street (Route 202) in Windham.

Oct. 24’s top story covered the induction of Windham High School boys’ basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen into the Saint Joesph’s College Athletics Hall of Fame. He has led Windham High School to consecutive state boys’ basketball championships and competed for Saint Joesph’s as a player in the 1990s. In his freshman year at Saint Joseph’s College, Pulkkinen tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Less than a year later, he tore his ACL again in what he described as “extremely dark moments” for his first two years playing college ball. Being injured was a life lesson for him. It took away everything he loved. He said he thought it was the best thing for him because he looked at the game differently; he appreciated it differently, especially after the second injury. He overcame that adversity and finished his college career strong and eventually went on to play professionally in England for the Northampton Neptunes in the European Basketball League. “I want Windham alumni to be proud and hopefully my experiences including failures and successes can help my current players,” said Pulkkinen.

The top story for Oct. 31 was about the Windham Town Council choosing Anthony Blasi to succeed longtime Windham Town Clerk Linda Morrell, who is retiring. Blasi will be sworn in Nov. 4 and understands that he has big shoes to fill. “Linda is a tough act to follow. I can only hope to command the love, respect, and trust that the people of Windham have bestowed upon her,” Blasi said. “Linda is so helpful. You see the way she interacts with people, and she is always willing to help. If she cannot do something or is not sure, she always finds out the answer. I learned more about resourcefulness from her and hope to be as resourceful as she is.” Blasi is originally from Auburn and graduated in 2015 from Edward Little High School. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Maine Farmington in 2019. Before coming to work in Windham, Blasi served as the Town Clerk of Woolwich for about a year and a half, and he applied for the Windham job because it posed more of a challenge. He is a Certified Municipal Clerk by the Maine Town and City Clerks Association and is a Notary Public.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 7’s top story reported on the Nov. 4 municipal election in Windham as three new Windham Town Councilors and two members of the RSU 14 Board of Directors will be sworn in following the election. In Windham’s North District, Margaret “Maggie” Terry defeated Deborah Devou, while in the South District, Doug Fortier beat Michael Russin for the council seat. In a race for an At-Large council seat, Katie Cook defeated Clayton Haskell and Joseph Campbell, and a recount challenge confirmed her victory. In a five-candidate race with the top two vote tallies earning seats for three-year terms on the RSU 14 Board of Directors, incumbent Christina Small and first-time candidate Matthew Irving received the most votes and won seats on the school board, over candidates Adam Zajac, Megan Potter and Destiny Johnson. Voters in Windham and Raymond were among state residents casting ballots in Tuesday’s election to decide the fate of two statewide referendum questions. Question 1 about requiring voter identification and eliminating two days of absentee voting failed statewide, while Question 2 prohibiting individuals posing potential harm to others from having dangerous weapons was approved statewide.

For Nov. 14, the top story covered the 2025 Veterans Day observance hosted by VFW Post 10643 at the Windham Veterans Center on Veterans Day. Featuring guest speaker Elizabeth Cormier of Honor Flight Maine, VFW Post 10643’s new commander Jeffrey Cook served the master of ceremonies and local essay winners for the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen for grades 6 to 8 and Voice of Democracy audio essay contest for grades 9 to 12 were announced. The Patriot’s Pen winner was Windham Christian Academy eighth grader Elsa Pearson with second place awarded to Annaelle Kawaya. The Voices of Democracy winner was Windham sophomore Shea Carey. Pearson spoke of the importance of volunteering and how when she was in fifth and sixth grade, she volunteered at the local food pantry setting up Thanksgiving baskets. She said helping our community is one step closer to making our country better. She and her class have also traveled across southern Maine to perform juggling acts for nursing homes and spread the gospel, while visiting with the residents of these homes. Carey’s essay was about the many ways to display patriotism. Her version of patriotism involves the simplest acts of kindness and integrity. She values being a kind person and hopes those who heard her essay take those words and strive to make a difference where they can.

Nov. 21’s top story was about a Windham parent who enlisted teens and members of the community for a food drive that raised more than $500 to purchase food items for the Windham Food Pantry, along with collecting additional food donations from Windham residents. Angela Libby spent a little under two weeks collecting funds and donations, ending up with more than four shopping carts full of food for the food pantry. She assembled a group of teens from Windham High School to help with both collecting donations and with a shopping trip to Market Basket in Westbrook. “I wanted to help, and I wanted my youngest daughter to be involved and see that there are people who are less fortunate than us” in the community, she said. “Having the kids hear about how many are in need, how many people come [to the Food Pantry], and what is available was really eye opening for them, which is exactly what I was looking for.” Libby said that hearing from a food pantry volunteer that there are 38 families from the Windham Primary School seeking help from the community organization really hit home for the kids. Upon hearing about recent cuts to SNAP benefits, the mother of three daughters used a group chat from a group of teens who attended Homecoming together to reach out to parents and their kids to see if any would be interested in participating. “Everybody of course said yes,” she said. “Some kids came over with boxes of food they had collected, and others collected money.”

For Nov. 28, the top story reported on a Windham veteran who was surprised by every aspect of her Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. earlier this year and describes it “as an experience of a lifetime.” Alola Giffin Morrison, 88, grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Coast Guard captain, and lived in eight different cities ranging from New Orleans to throughout the Northeastern U.S. and as far north as Agentia, Newfoundland in Canada growing up. After earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in nutrition and home economics in 1959 from the University of Maine, she completed a one-year dietetic internship at Beth Israel Hospital in Massachusetts, qualifying her to become a registered dietitian in 1960. Later that same year, she became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) in Boston and was sworn in by her father as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. She married her University of Maine classmate and sweetheart Joe Morrison in November 1961 at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts and resigned from the Public Health Service in June 1962 to move to Orono, Maine to start her family in August 1962. Resuming her military career by re-enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps (USARMC) as a captain in 1974, she was assigned to the 1125th Medical Unit out of Auburn, Maine and Section 1 in Bangor for 12 years as a registered dietitian. She retired from the USARMC in 1986 having obtained the rank of Major. The Honor Flight experience was very humbling and Morrison said going to the Women’s Military Memorial was her favorite. Her military story was officially entered into the Women's Military Memorial. She was one of 77 veterans from Maine and was the only female veteran on this trip.

DECEMBER

For Dec. 5, the top story was about the Maine Dance Company and the Maine Dance Center’s upcoming new holiday dance production, Christmas at the Castle, premiering Dec. 20 at the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center located at Edward Little High School in Auburn. Dancers of all ages from the Maine Dance Company and the Maine Dance Center, located on Roosevelt Trail in Raymond, will take the stage to help the Sugar Plum Fairy retrieve her lost wand to ensure Christmas magic will carry Santa Claus across the globe. “If Sugarplum Fairy doesn’t have her wand, Christmas is in jeopardy,” said Adrienne Pelletier, one of the two authors of the show’s storyline, when detailing the adventures the cast will face. Pelletier, along with her sister and co-author, Rhiannon Pelletier-Guerrette, worked to develop the show for almost two years, after a performance at Windham’s Summerfest in 2023. Once the duo founded the company in 2024, they realized they had talented dancers to fill the roles and develop a full performance. They began writing in January of that year and spent almost two years finishing a script and patching the music together. Both Pelletier and Pelletier-Guerrette are each principal dancers with the Maine State Ballet. Family support will be essential as the Maine Dance Center expands in a new location in the North Windham Shopping Center behind Windham Jewelers in February 2026.

Dec. 12’s top story was Raymond residents voicing both support and criticism of their town’s Select Board chair, and vice chair during a packed public hearing on a recall election that could remove them from office. Former Raymond Select Board member Teresa Sadak initiated the recall petition against Chair Denis Morse and Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez. The election is scheduled for Dec. 30. In her petition, Sadak listed four reasons for the recall including failing to put Raymond’s interests first, creating division, micromanaging, and denigrating employees during public meetings. Sadak detailed actions she said supported her claims, many tied to the board’s treatment of former Town Manager Joseph Crocker. Crocker, who resigned earlier this fall, had served as director of Parks and Recreation before becoming interim town manager in March and the permanent town manager in May. He continues part-time work on a special project for the town. Glenn Michalowski, formerly Lisbon’s town manager, was appointed interim town manager on Nov. 18. During the public hearing, Sadak accused Morse and Gonzalez of violating board protocols, citing emails obtained through a Freedom of Information request and accounts from staff. She said the two Select Board members berated Crocker over a septic issue at a church leased for town programs, their voices loud enough to be heard by staff and residents. She also criticized Morse and Gonzalez for contacting staff, attorneys, and other town managers without board authorization. Raymond Select Board members Chris Hanson and Derek Ray acknowledged some of those actions occurred. Crocker himself wrote a letter that constant questioning of his decisions from certain board members contributed to his resignation. Despite the support for the recall, many Raymond residents defended Morse and Gonzalez during the public hearing, praising their efforts to address longstanding town issues and urging that Morse and Gonzalez to not face a recall vote.

For Dec. 19, the top story was about Amanda Lessard being designated to serve as interim assistant town manager for the Town of Windham until a permanent candidate can be hired by the Windham Town Council. Windham Town Manager Robert Burns appointed Lessard to the role last week. Lessard had been serving as Senior Planner/Project Manager for the town. Burns became the first person to hold the position of Assistant Town Manager for Windham with his appointment to the role in December 2021 and was named Windham Town Manager by town councilors when Barry Tibbetts stepped down from that position June 30. Lessard had served as Windham’s Planning Director from 2019 to 2024 when she joined Royal River Conservation Trust in Yarmouth as Conservation Director. She subsequently was rehired by the town and will now assist Burns in his duties on an interim basis until councilors appoint a permanent assistant town manager. As a town planner, Lessard was involved in everything from the creation of Windham’s Comprehensive Plan, handling zoning issues, reviewing subdivision and commercial building plans to the development of the town’s Open Space Master Plan. As Planning Director, Lessard led Windham to partner with Presumpscot Regional Land Trust to purchase and conserve 661 acres near Little Duck Pond in East Windham. Called the East Windham Conservation Area, the project acquired the forested acreage for recreational opportunities in Windham while also adding 1,545 feet of undeveloped water frontage on Little Duck Pond, the 150-acre Deer Wintering Area for hunting, and Atherton Hill. She helped Windham obtain a $1 million grant from the Land for Maine’s Future initiative for the project. <