Raymond student to serve in Maine Air National Guard

Keith Mank of Raymond has joined the Maine
Air National Guard and will be sent to
Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio,
Texas for basic military training once the
COVID-19 crisis has passed.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

By Ed Pierce

The decision to wear the uniform of the United States is a choice that is not undertaken lightly and a commitment to making our nation a stronger and better place than the one we have inherited from previous generations. Keith Mank of Raymond has made such a choice and will be traveling to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas early next year to complete basic military training.

Mank, 19, enlisted in May 2020 as a member of the Maine Air National Guard. He is a 2019 graduate of Hebron Academy and is currently an exercise science major at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

As a member of the Maine Air National Guard, he will train as a Bioenvironmental Engineering Specialist as he continues to pursue his studies in college. His ultimate career objective is to become a physical therapy doctor.

“I like helping people and by serving as a Bioenvironmental Engineering Specialist, I will be able to do just that,” Mank said. “I will be learning about biohazards and many other things that will be of benefit to citizens of this state and this country.”

A friend serving in the Maine National Guard told Mank about what it was like to enlist and suggested he explore the opportunities that are available.

He will serve in the Air Guard for six years and then has a two-year reserve commitment following that.

Since enlisting, he’s attended monthly meetings in Bangor, where the Maine Air National Guard is headquartered. The mission of the Air Guard is to function as the aerial militia of the State of Maine and as needed by the United States. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Maine governor unless federalized by the U.S. president during times of national and international emergencies.

Mank says he’s eager to attend basic training in Texas, but because of COVID-19, it may not be until January when training is resumed there for new recruits.

After completing basic training at Lackland, he will be sent to an Air Force tech school for specialized training in his career field and as a result, he will be taking off the spring semester at UMaine Presque Isle.

“Because of going to basic training and tech school, I’m talking classes this summer and hopefully won’t lose any time,” he said.

This fall, Mank also will be serving as a Residential Advisor at the university where he will be a sophomore.

Although the physical rigors of basic military training for recruits is challenging, Mank said he’s looking forward to it.

“The basic training regimen doesn’t bother me being an athlete,” he said.

He currently plays soccer for the UMaine Presque Isle Owls and played prep soccer, hockey and lacrosse for Hebron Academy while in high school. 

During his time serving in the military, Mank said he hopes to be able to see Europe and said he especially wants to travel to Normandy in France to visit the site of the D-Day Invasion in World War II. 

“We are proud to welcome Keith Mank into the Maine Air National Guard Family,” said his recruiter, Senior Airman Leah Mariel R. Behrman. “Keith will continue to do great things in serving his country and community.”

He’s the son of Niels and Kelly Mank of Raymond and is the only resident of the Windham and Raymond areas to enlist in the Maine Air National Guard so far this summer, Behrman said. <

Peaceful protest inspires education and awareness on social justice

Organizers of the Windham Black Lives Matter
peaceful protest, Zach DeFosse and Celine Baker,
discuss the route of the protest march with
Windham Police Chief Kevin Schofield at
Windham High School on June 25.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIE BUTLER

By Lorraine Glowczak

Over 100 area residents came out to participate in a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest held in Windham on June 25, walking from the Windham High School to the Windham Public Safety Building along Route 202 and back with a 15- to 20-minute opportunity for expressions on social justice.

The event was organized by Zach DeFosse and Celine Baker, both 2017 WHS graduates. Their main goal was to educate and inspire awareness surrounding the current social justice concerns – and to do so without violence.

“Throughout the process of planning our protest, Zach and I agreed that our intention was to educate and bring awareness,” Baker said. “Neither Zach or I wanted any harm, destruction, or violence to come of our protest and thankfully everyone that attended helped us achieve that goal.”

DeFosse, who is concerned about social justice, was inspired to create this event after he attended the peaceful protest in Gorham.

“I was, and still am, deeply disturbed at the recent events happening in this country, especially after such a long history of racism that still exists today,” DeFosse said. “I had attended a peaceful protest in Gorham that went very smoothly, and I wanted something like that to take place in Windham as well. Since no one else seemed to be stepping up to do something here, I decided I would take it on myself. I reached out to Celine, who is an event planner, to help me make it actually happen.”

To make sure that the walk and protest would remain peaceful, they reached out to the Windham Police Department for assistance.

“Looping the Windham PD into this peaceful protest was important to us because we wanted to ensure the safety of community members,” Baker said. “The Windham PD took this protest seriously and played a vital role in providing safety measures like blocking off the road, watching for vehicle vandalism, and crowd control if needed. Zach and I are very thankful for the cooperation that the Windham PD showed and their support in shedding light on a topic that demands attention.”

Windham Police Chief Kevin Schofield was instrumental in the collaboration and was also pleased with the event and the respect and honor the police department received before and during the walk.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the event,” Schofield said. “It was very peaceful and a perfect example of a productive expression of people’s first amendment rights. The event organizers and many attendees thanked us for our work on and supporting the event. [Zack and Celine] communicated with us throughout the planning process, which was very helpful, specifically for our planning. We also communicated with them of our plans to support the event.”

Attendees had a moment to express their thoughts on social justice during the stopover at the Public Safety Building, which included laying on the ground for nine minutes in honor and memory of George Floyd.

DeFosse began with opening statements to include the following:

“It's important for people to realize that the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ does not mean that black lives are more important than other lives,” said DeFosse. “It simply means that in our society today, people of color are not treated as fairly and justly as white people; therefore, it is untrue and unfair to say that all lives matter until our actions show that black lives matter.” 

Others had a moment to express their thoughts including Portland author Abdi Nor Iftin who was invited to attend and speak at the event. He shared his story on social justice as an immigrant and then asked:

“Where do we start with social justice? We read, we write, we walk, we talk.”

Others who spoke, shared their own stories. The theme of their thoughts on social justice was stated best by Windham resident, Kyron Hobdy.

“Nobody is seeking special treatment; we all want to be treated the same.”

After the event in a recent interview, Schofield shared his thoughts on social justice and how the all officers are selected to honor it.

“I think many terms we are hearing recently have very different meaning to different people, thus it is important for everyone to listen objectively to one another with an open mind,” Schofield said. “The best answer I can give is to quote one of the speakers at the protest, ‘nobody is seeking special treatment, we all want to be treated the same.’ The hiring standards for LE officers are very high, the hiring process include physical agility testing, in-depth background investigations, psychological assessments, poly graph examinations. Also, after 18 weeks of training we put cadets through 14 weeks of field training before being cleared to work patrol. When hiring people, we look for candidates who demonstrated a level of community involvement, civic organizations, volunteer work and other experiences that indicate candidates are community service oriented. I feel our officers excel at this.” 

In this small community of Windham, many people from all walks of life are working to overcome the social justice issues we face today, using their first amendment rights in a proactive and productive way with the hope that one day equality will prevail.

“I think that it’s safe to say that Zach and I have grown up in a world that has faced and overcome many social issues,” Baker said. “As young adults we feel that it is imperative to use our voices now to foster a more accepting and inclusive community for the future. Personally, I wanted to show people of color in the Windham community that they are not alone. The day of the peaceful protest, I stood as an ally. I stood as a member of their community who wants to make sure they are not alone in the fight for racial equality. I stood to support, learn from, and love them.” <

No Empty Bowl Pet Food Pantry II helps keep pets nourished

The No Empty Bowl Pet Food Pantry II is a new
initiative in Cumberland and York counties that assists
pet owners in obtaining food for their pets at no
cost. SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Elizabeth Richards

Backpacks for Homeless Dogs, a project of the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance, has recently expanded its reach to become a pet food pantry for anyone in need.  The name for this new program is No Bowl Empty Pet Food Pantry II.

For five years, Nadine Molloy ran the No Bowl Empty Pet Food Pantry out of her Waterboro home.  Earlier this year, when the undertaking became too large for one person to manage, Pittie Posse Rescue and Sanctuary took over the program. The new No Bowl Empty Pet Food Pantry II is run by Journey, who has no legal last name.

While working with the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance, Journey noticed that several of the homeless, especially in Portland, had dogs – and one woman had a cat. Inspired by seeing a homeless woman who had dogs help a homeless man with his dog, Journey began the Backpacks for Homeless Dogs project.  

“I started thinking if the homeless lady can help the homeless guy with a dog, why can’t I,” she said.  She, and others with the MHVA, began bringing backpacks filled with dog treats, food, and other necessities when they went out to help the homeless. “It snowballed from there,” she said.

Journey began receiving messages from others in tight situations, such as a woman who, at the end of the month, had to decide between buying milk and bread or cat litter.  She also helped families who had been homeless, got an apartment, and were suddenly faced with many bills to pay, by providing dog food for a few months to give them time to adjust.

“It kept getting bigger and bigger, and then the coronavirus hit,” Journey said.  Suddenly, people who never thought they’d have trouble getting pet food either couldn’t afford it, or simply couldn’t find what they needed.  There was a backlog at Chewy.com, and stores were thin on supplies, Journey said. “People started panicking,” she said. 

With three cats, a dog, and a hermit crab rescue, Journey could empathize.  “I just couldn’t imagine if I didn’t have a way to get my animals some food,” she said.  “I would be devastated.”

 “Some other folks who were giving pet food were telling people that if they couldn’t afford to feed their pet, maybe they shouldn’t have it. And they’re supposed to be helping,” Journey said.  “I put out [a message saying] if someone’s telling you that, please, please, contact me and I’ll make sure that you have food.”

News channels began to show interest in what she was doing, so Journey went on several programs and ended up with so many donations her entire living room was filled.

Molloy has been one of the biggest supporters of the Backpacks for Homeless Dogs program, Journey said. When Journey decided to launch a full-blown pet food pantry herself, Molloy offered to help get it set up.  Some donors who had given to Molloy’s efforts had already begun donating to Journey, and people recognized the name. So when Molloy gave her permission to use the No Bowl Empty name, “people loved it,” Journey said.

Molloy also donated a 12x16 shed that her father, a marine, had built more than 30 years ago to house the pantry.  It was hauled to Steep Falls, where Journey is located, and they’re renovating it to suit their needs.  “We’re slowly getting gall of the stuff out of the house and into the ‘Chow Hall’ so that we can sit on our couch again,” Journey said. The goal, Journey said, is to have regular days where people can come and get what they need, though that hasn’t happened yet.

Donations can be made to the project by contacting Journey through Facebook or the Maine Veterans Alliance website.  Monetary donations are best right now to help finish setting up the building and allow her to purchase the pet food brands people are already using to avoid causing stomach issues in the animals. The best way to reach Journey is through Facebook messenger to her personal Facebook page (Journey Ramsey), the Backpacks for Homeless Dogs page, or the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance page. Because the project is through the MHVA it has nonprofit status, and tax receipts for donations are available. <

FOOD4Vets program has first distribution in Windham

David Horne, American Legion Field-Allen Post 148
Americanism Officer, places a box of food into a
waiting vehicle during the FOOD4Vets distribution on June 17
at the WIndham Veterans Center.
SUBMITTED PHOTO BY DAVE TANGUAY

During the FOOD4Vets event on June 17 in Windham, a team of local American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 members assembled to work in collaboration with VA Outreach personnel from Lewiston and Sanford and the 222cares non-profit veterans’ organization to provide boxes of food for needy area veterans.

About 35 boxes were distributed in Windham for those who registered for the program. 

Each box of food is sufficient to support two individuals for seven to 10 days.

For a first-time offering in Windham, Bob Jones, president and organizer of the 222cares non-profit, said he felt that the project was successful. 

He said that based on needs, there could be a follow-on delivery of food. 

The key, he said, is to have local veterans who may be food insecure to register on the website, 222cares.org.  

VA outreach personnel also were available in their mobile office truck to sign up veterans for other programs and benefits that veterans are entitled to receive.

For additional information or assistance in registration, please contact Dave Tanguay at 207-892-1306 or by email at [email protected]

Windham Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge goes virtual

By Elizabeth Richards

The Windham Public Library is presenting a full slate of summer reading activities for children, teens and adults this summer.  This year, all programs will be held online. The summer reading program, with the theme “Imagine Your Story,” runs from June 22 to Aug. 22, 2020.

The reading program will use an online platform called Beanstack, as well as the library’s Facebook page, You Tube channel and, for teens, Discord.

In Beanstack, participants can find activity lists and track their progress to receive virtual badges that qualify them to be entered into prize drawings at the end of the summer. Paper copies of the activity ideas and reading trackers are also available.

For children, there is a program for kids who are not yet school aged and another for kindergarteners through sixth graders. Participants need to complete a set number of tasks to receive a prize at the end of the summer. 

Younger children will need 15 badges, while the older children need 25 to receive the prize bag, which will include a book and some other small items, said Children’s Librarian Samantha Cote.

Children’s programming will also include the typical preschool Storytime on Monday and Thursday mornings, as well as Books and Babies on Tuesday Mornings. 

Other special activities for children are also offered in the summer.  On Tuesdays, Lab Coat Adventures will feature science programs.  Wednesdays will alternate between a craft program and building challenges.  Finally, on Saturdays, the library offers the Calm as a Critter program, which features calming activities like breathing exercises, simple crafts, relaxing activities and a personal challenge.

For the interactive programs, Cote said there are some make and take bags available at the library. 

“We tried to plan them all to use materials that people would commonly have at their house,” she said, but if families need them, the bags contain all the supplies needed for the entire summer. Those bags are available for all the programs except the building challenges. 

For building, Cote said, “I’ll probably be using Legos, but people can use whatever they have at home.”

The make and take bags can be picked up at the library, either inside or as part of their curbside service, which can be requested by calling the Children’s Room.

Two stand-alone Zoom programs for kids will also be offered this summer.  On Monday, July 6, Sharks4Kids will present a program on the world of sharks, and on Thursday, July 30, Marine Mammals of Maine will present one about seals. To participate in these programs, contact the Children’s Room for the Zoom link.

A Beanstack account can be created at windham.Beanstack.org.  Families can create one account with multiple readers in the account. There is also a smartphone app available. 

Designing an entire summer program online had challenges, Cote said. In the summer, they’ve historically offered a lot of interactive programming.

“Trying to figure out how to still make an active and engaging program without the personal contact was hard,” Cote said.

It was important to keep up the summer reading challenge tradition, she added, to provide some sense of normalcy and give families new ideas.

“If you’ve been quarantining for a while, you might have gotten into a routine and maybe you’re starting to get a little bit bored,” Cote said. “Now, through our different programs you can get ideas of new things to do and try.”

One popular summer activity in the month of July has been to hunt for the rubber chicken hidden throughout the library.

“This year we partnered with Parks and Rec and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust and our chicken is being hidden at some trails around Windham so people can still get the joy of hunting for the chicken while also enjoying some of the trails we have,” said Cote.

This is just one of the activities that can earn a badge in Beanstack.

The teen program includes tracking reading, writing book reviews, and Blackout Bingo.  Summer Reading program events for teens will be held on Discord. Teens must sign up for the Discord server by filling out a form at http://www.windham.lib.me.us/teens.  Discord events will include Make it Monday, Teen Movie Tuesdays, Wellness Wednesdays, Teen Anime Thursdays, and Escape for the Weekend Fridays.  Details can be found on the library website.

“I tried to balance out social screen time and active time with activities teens could learn and do quickly at any time,” said Teen and Emerging Technology Librarian Cassandra Lull.

She also created a teens’ only closed Discord server to provide a safe place to chat, discuss interests and host online programs, as well as creating a teen specific Instagram account so they see information that only pertains to them.

“I hope to start cultivating the idea that the library isn’t just for kids and adults, but teens have a place here, too,” she said.

For the adult reading challenge, Reference/Technology Librarian Ray Marcotte has designed five tasks that incorporate the theme and Maine’s Bicentennial.  There will also be three online events and attending one of these is one of the five tasks.

On Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m., New England Author and Humorist Tim Caverly will present “So You Think You Know Maine” via Zoom.  This presentation will also be aired on the library’s Facebook page.

On Wednesday, July 29, a Maine Bicentennial Concert featuring Bilodeau Family Music will air at 6 p.m. via their YouTube channel. A link will be posted on the library website on the day of the event.

Finally, on Wednesday, Aug. 5, USM History Professor Libby Bischof will offer a visual history of Maine via Facebook Live on the library’s Facebook page.

Marcotte said it was a challenge to figure out how to present the events, but it’s working out.  “It’s definitely not the same, but we’re making it work,” he said. 

Marcotte has been doing virtual book group and Socrates Café for months now, he said, with decent participation.

For more information about any of the summer reading challenges and events, visit http://www.windham.lib.me.us. <

Raymond Village Library offers curbside pickup

Raymond Village Library has
launched a new curbside pickup
program for books, audiobooks,
and movies. PHOTO BY
BRIANA BIZIER

By Briana Bizier 

Whether your're heading to the beach, enjoying your backyard hammock, or just trying to ignore the daily news, now is the perfect time to pick up a good book. Happily, the Raymond Village Library is here to help.
This month, the Raymond Village Library started a new curbside pickup program for books, audiobooks, and movies. Library patrons can check out books or movies by calling the library at 655-4282, emailing [email protected], or visiting the library’s website at raymondvillagelibrary.org. 

The library’s entire catalogue is online, so Raymond residents can browse from the comfort of their own home.
As my 9-year-old daughter Sage discovered last week, the librarians are also happy to offer their suggestions for reading materials.

Librarian Karen Perry suggested that Sage read a book called Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof. After being book-deprived since COVID-19 forced the Raymond Village Library to close their doors in March, voracious-reader Sage was delighted to have a new fantasy novel to devour.

“It was so good,” Sage told me. “It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.”

Of course, we called the library the next day to reserve a new stack of books recommended by the librarians.

Once library patrons have placed their orders, either online, through the website, or over the phone, the books or movies they have reserved are placed in a labeled bag by the north-facing handicapped entrance for a safe, contact-free pickup. On the morning we returned Epoca, several other library orders were awaiting pickup by the backdoor.

“The curbside pickup has been very popular,” said Library Director Allison Griffin.

In addition to the Raymond Village Library’s books, movies, and audiobooks, children’s librarian Karen Perry has created special activity packs for young children who have been missing the library’s regular baby and preschool story time. The Baby Time Bundles each include three board books, an index card with a song or bouncy game, and a second card with a related activity parents can do with their child.

Karen’s Story Time Sets, made for preschool-age children, have also been very popular. These weekly pre-packaged sets focus on the alphabet and include activities like making an ABC dinosaur or a FeedMe paper bag puppet. Older children, like my six-year-old Ian, love the library’s activity backpacks that are filled with Legos, building sets, robots, or everything you need to be an outdoor explorer. The Baby Time Bundles, Story Time Sets, and activity backpacks are also available for curbside pickup. They can be reserved by calling or emailing the library.

Finally, for library lovers with limited mobility, the Raymond Village Library is also offering limited home delivery service. Please contact the library for more information about their home delivery program, or to schedule a delivery.

Despite all the changes COVID-19 has brought to our little corner of the world, it’s encouraging to know that we can all still relax with a good book thanks to the efforts of the Raymond Village Library. <