Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride salutes Maine reservist

By Ed Pierce

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dennis J. Dix Jr. spent his military career helping his fellow soldiers and so it was only fitting that his efforts are not forgotten following his death last fall. To remember Dix for his contributions to the nation, members of the 17th Annual Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride conducted a special ceremony for his family in Windham last Friday as part of the group’s Northern Tier ride.

Carl Coleman of American Legion Post 148 holds the Legion
flag at a ceremony conducted by the 17th Annual Tribute to
Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride
participants for the family of the late Lt. Col. Dennis J.
Dix, Jr. of Maine at the Windham Veterans Center on
Friday, July 24. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

The 17th Annual Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride is a 24-day, cross-country motorcycle journey running from July 11 to Aug. 2, and is traveling from Eugene, Oregon, to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to honor post-9/11 fallen service members. At Arlington, a cart carrying a memorial flame is escorted inside the cemetery and formally extinguished in recognition of every service member honored along the journey.

According to Warren Williamson, the Executive Director of the Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride, the group makes scheduled visits to honor 52 different fallen service members along the way every year and this ceremony held at the Windham Veterans Center was one of those.

“At these Fallen Soldier visits, they present surviving family members with their Memorial Plaque of Distinguished Service to graciously recognize the service members’ sacrifice and to remind each family that their fallen hero hasn’t been forgotten,” Williamson said.

The Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride has been doing this for nearly two decades with 15 riders among the group that arrived in Windham to pay tribute to Dix and his family.

“It’s a mission of love; it’s a mission of dedication and support,” Williamson said.

Dix graduated from Hall-Dale High School in Farmingdale and earned a double major in Psychology and Communication from the University of Southern Maine. He went on to graduate from the University of Maine School of Social Work and worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He was the Director of the Access Center at Kennebec Behavioral Health and served as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps.

He was awarded the Achievement Award as the Combat Stress Team Officer in Charge during Operation Pac-Warrior in 2009 and was honored with the Army Achievement Medal for Access to Behavioral Health Care at Fort Drum Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) in 2001.

At the time of his death last fall at the age of 58, Dix lived with his family in Hallowell. His wife Michelle Dix and four children, Anthony Dix, Kaylee Bickford, Aiden Dix, and Brianna Dix all made the trip to Windham to attend the ceremony along with other family members.

“There is a cost to serve this country if you wear the uniform of the United States,” Williamson told the Dix Family. “The flame is a promise to the family that we have not forgotten Dennis, and it burns 24 hours a day.”

During the ceremony, Williamson read aloud the obituary for Dix and presented the family with a memorial plaque in recognition of his military service and a framed photograph of him.

Williamson pointed out that all the motorcycle riders on this year’s ride are wearing a patch commemorating the ride honoring Dix and he gave a patch to the family so they too can remember the event.

“We hope you will wear it with pride,” he said. “As everyday Americans, we graciously extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families of every fallen soldier, and it’s our pledge to let them know their fallen hero will never be forgotten.”

The Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride was originally created in 2009 to honor the sacrifices of 125 military members from Oregon who have been killed in action through the years defending America. It later expanded to pay tribute to all American military members who gave unselfishly so that all Americans can live in freedom.

“We wanted to do something to make a difference,” Williamson said.

According to Williamson, Windham was the 14th day of 24 planned visits across America culminating the trip with a final stop at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial bell will be rung at Arlington for each of the 52 fallen servicemen with their names read aloud. The event concludes with riders from the 17th Annual Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Torch Motorcycle Ride laying a wreath along with the sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Members of Windham VFW Post 10643 and the American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 also participated in the ceremony for Dix. <

Fuller Center Bike Adventure cyclists to finish cross-country journey in Sebago Lakes Region

By Masha Yurkevich

After pedaling thousands of miles across the United States over the span of 10 weeks, cyclists participating in the Fuller Center Bike Adventure’s Northern Tier ride will celebrate the end of their journey in the Sebago Lakes Region while giving back to local homeowners in need.

Cyclists participating in the Fuller Center Bike Adventure's
Northern Tier ride will celebrate the end of their journey
across America starting in Oregon and ending in Maine
while giving back to local homeowners in need in the
Sebago Lakes Region. Cyclists are expected to arrive at'
Saint Joseph's College on Aug. 6. COURTESY PHOTO      

Some 25 riders who departed from Oregon earlier this summer are scheduled to arrive at Saint Joseph's College of Maine in Standish on Thursday, Aug. 6, where they will spend two nights before completing home repair projects in Windham, Standish and Raymond and finishing their cross-country ride with a trip to Portland Head Light on Aug. 8 to dip their bicycle tires in the Atlantic Ocean.

Along the way on their journey across America, these cyclists have stopped in communities across the country to repair and renovate homes while raising money and awareness for The Fuller Center for Housing, whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing by building and repairing simple, decent homes.

"The Northern Tier is special because they are ending their ride in Maine," said Diane Bruni, a founding member, board chair and president of the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing. "The ride has been challenging with riding 100 miles on some days through the Rockies and the smoke-filled days through the Midwest."

At Fuller Center chapters across the country, cyclists have completed projects ranging from replacing roofs, ramps and steps to yard work for homeowners in need.

"In most communities, a church serves as the host," Bruni said. "The cyclists sleep on the floor. It is not a vacation."

The Fuller Center Bike Adventure is celebrating nearly two decades of fundraising rides, with next year marking its 20th anniversary. Cyclists can choose from one-week, two-week or 10-week rides held throughout the year, with fundraising supporting home building and repair projects both in the United States and around the world.

For many participants, Bruni said, the experience is about much more than bicycling across the country.

"For many cyclists, it is a way to see the country, but not by car. It is a very different experience," she said. "The relationships with other cyclists are lifelong. The tie to fulfilling the mission by giving back through raising funds and working on projects is very gratifying. Many cyclists return year after year."

Hosting the final stop of the ride is a significant undertaking for the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center, which has been planning the event for months. This marks the third time the Northern Tier ride has concluded here in Maine. Saint Joseph's College is providing lodging, showers and transportation to project sites, allowing organizers to focus on preparing repair projects, purchasing materials and coordinating volunteers and meals.

"We are so appreciative of their willingness to be part of this community event," Bruni said.

On Aug. 7, cyclists and volunteers will complete four to five repair projects benefiting seniors and veterans throughout Windham, Standish and Raymond. Planned work includes replacing a roof for one family, repairing a deck and steps for another homeowner and clearing overgrown vines that have blocked windows at another home. Since its founding in 2018, the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center has helped 75 families and contributed more than 4,000 volunteer hours. The nonprofit focuses on assisting low-income older adults, veterans and people with disabilities to complete critical home repairs so that they can remain safely in their homes.

"Many people want to age in a place where they feel secure and have fond memories," Bruni said. "The challenge is needing home repairs for safety reasons, but they no longer can afford what is needed."

She said many of the homeowners the organization serves live alone without nearby family members to help, while affordable rentals are scarce and assisted living facilities often have lengthy waiting lists. Unlike a traditional charity model, families contribute toward the cost of materials through affordable payments over time in what the Fuller Center calls the “Greater Blessing” program.

"It is not a hand-out, but a hand-up," Bruni said. "The families help others."

Community members are invited to welcome the cyclists when they arrive at Saint Joseph's College between 2 and 4 p.m. on Aug. 6. Organizers will greet the riders with signs, balloons and snacks before hosting a Maine-themed welcome dinner that evening. The Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center is also seeking volunteers and donations of food for the cyclists' meals throughout the weekend, including the welcome dinner, a celebratory cookout on Aug. 7 and a Maine blueberry pancake breakfast on Aug. 8.

For more information and to donate, please visit the website at sebagofullerhousing.org. Bruni said community support is essential to making the event – and the work of the organization throughout the year – possible. <

Windham High pitcher continues on path to major league baseball

By Ed Pierce

Brady Afthim’s first full season of minor league baseball has accelerated and now that he’s been promoted from Low-A Daytona in the Florida State League to the High-A Dayton Dragons of the Midwest League, he’s expecting even better results.

Brady Afthim of Windham pitches for the Dayton Dragons in 
a Midwest League minor league baseball game against the
Lansing Lugnuts on July 3. Afthim, a 13th round draft pick
of the Cincinnati Reds a year ago, was promoted from
low-A Daytona Beach to high-A Dayton by the Reds on
July 2. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE    

Afthim, a 2021 graduate of Windham High School, started playing baseball in the Windham Little League, and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 13th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball draft. He briefly appeared in two games last September for Daytona Beach after four years of pitching in college baseball for the University of Connecticut Huskies.

His first appearance for Dayton came on July 3 against the Lansing Lugnuts where he pitched 2.2 innings in relief and was awarded the victory as Dayton won, 6-3. So far, Afthim has gotten into two games for the Dragons, pitching 5.2 innings and striking out five Midwest League opposing batters.

A right-handed hurler, Afthim closed out his college career ranking second overall in University of Connecticut history with 92 appearances over four seasons. He is tied for 8th place overall in UConn team history with 17 career saves and posted the lowest opponent batting average in Huskies’ history at just .211.

The Reds drafted Afthim for his blazing fastball which has been timed in the range of 93 to 95 mph, and he has touched 97 mph at times. Besides throwing a fastball, he also mixes in a changeup and a slider that he uses to offset his fastball.

His parents, Shelly and Phil Afthim, are well-known around Windham for their support of both Brady and his older brother Bryce, who also pitched for Windham High School and played in college for the University of Southern Maine.

According to Brady though, he’s expecting batters that he will face while on the mound at High-A Dayton to be much tougher than those he pitched to in the Florida State League.

“In Low-A hitters generally are aggressive so pitchers can use that to their advantage by expanding the strike zone, but I imagine they will be more selective meaning that pitchers have to be in the zone more,” he said.

Afthim says he’s not exactly sure why he was promoted to Dayton after he appeared in 17 games there this season compiling a record of 1-3 with a 2.33 ERA (Earned Run Average) but is happy to be moving up to another level in professional baseball.

“Whoever makes the final decision on that doesn’t give up all the details, but I’d imagine it came down to strike throwing,” Afthim said. “I did a good job in Daytona consistently being in the zone and being efficient.”

He said he’s unsure how he will be used by Manager Julio Morillo while pitching for Dayton.

“Earlier this year I was doing the high-leverage late inning role but then started to stretch my outings out so I’m not totally sure,” Afthim said. “I’d guess maybe a little of bit of both, but I’m cool with whatever. I like being in at the end when the game is on the line, but I also don’t mind being out there and pitching a little bit too.”

At Dayton, Afthim also will benefit from working with the Dragon’s pitching coach Willie Blair, who pitched for 12 seasons and nine different major league teams during his career.

Under the WHS varsity baseball coach at the time, Cody Dube, who also had grown up in Windham, was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and played minor league baseball, Afthim said he learned valuable insights about the game and made the most of his opportunities while in high school.

He was honored as Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, was selected as the 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. Afthim 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.

His 2026 season started for Afthim back in February when he joined the Reds for spring training in Arizona and made an appearance during a spring training game for Cincinnati against the Cleveland Guardians on March 22. <

WHS students strengthen Spanish skills through trip to Costa Rica

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School students who passed Spanish 3 through Spanish 5 were able to attend a two-week trip in Costa Rica where they had the opportunity to interact with and immerse themselves within the culture there.

All 16 students from Windham High School's Spanish 3
through Spanish 5 classes gather in Monteverde, Costa Rica
on June 22. Students who received a passing grade in
these classes were given the opportunity to spend over
two weeks within the culture of Costa Rica. While there,
they did volunteer work, went sightseeing and had 
interaction with communities while working to improve
their Spanish through engagement with the culture.
SUBMITTED PHOTO     

The 16 students who attended stayed with host families, did activities, attended school and earned one Spanish credit, volunteered and worked on strengthening their Spanish through community interaction from June 14 to June 29.

Attendees included Chase Gagnon, Caleb Hayman, Sean LeBel, Renner Gerrity, Nico Hidell, Maddy Nugent, Ember Good, Maggie Soule, Ella Washburn, Maya Dries, Eilee Saxby, Brenna Small, Denali Momot, Isabella Thibodeau, Caroline Langerman and Sienna Ruth.

“Going into this trip I was very anxious and hesitant,” said Ella Washburn, who graduated before leaving for the trip. “Being sent to another country for 16 days and living with strangers sounds very intimidating. We were all told that the best way to learn a language was to be immersed in it. I learned a lot not only about their culture but also about myself. Volunteering in the local school ... and getting to feed sloths at the animal refuge league (were two of my favorite parts of the trip).”

WHS Spanish teachers Elizabeth Bubier and Tianna Burton were the trip chaperones. Bubier and Burton first heard about the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas or CPI from a language conference they attended years ago. With CPI, students stay with Costa Rican families and attend classes, volunteer, and get to do tourist activities.

Burton said the fastest path to fluency is experiencing the language, food, and music. When taking Spanish in high school, she says students get anxious about making mistakes and believe they aren’t capable of communicating effectively in Spanish. Costa Rica helps them to gain confidence. They are empowered to continue studying Spanish and their path to fluency.

For Burton, that is the most important takeaway from these trips.

“I have so many favorite moments on this trip, but two standout above the rest,” said Burton. “The first is on day two and three when a number of students were awed by the fact they had started thinking in Spanish. We assured them they could do it, that communication would get easier every day, but most didn’t believe us. On our walk to school the second day in country one student said, ‘I woke up this morning thinking about the conversation I would have with my Mama Tica over breakfast and then I realized I was thinking in Spanish instead of in English first only to translate it to Spanish.’ She was so excited and her confidence with Spanish only grew from there.”

The Windham students had school responsibilities with the expectation they would participate in all the activities. With their families, they were required to speak Spanish as well as in the classroom. There were everyday communications to buy snacks at the corner or in the local markets. After four hours of classes each day they went out to lunch at local restaurants. One day they came upon a festival, and many Windham students spoke with some older Costa Ricans and even danced with them.

“For us, the main goal of this trip is never just one goal,” said Bubier. “We want kids to get excited about speaking Spanish as well as experience a new culture and all its parts: family life, new foods, art, music, history, and everything that encompasses culture. We also believe that giving back to the communities in Costa Rica is important as well as having fun while you are doing everything the program offers.” 

Students did volunteer work at an elementary school, two animal rehabilitation facilities and a coffee farm. Windham students went on a city tour of San José, a hanging bridge tour of a tropical forest, zip lining, and a beach excursion to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Ocean.

“This was my first opportunity to go on this trip,” said Chase Gagnon, a WHS junior. “Before going to Costa Rica, my Spanish was alright, but after being there for two weeks I was able to enhance my Spanish by not just our Spanish classes but also being around people who spoke Spanish and learning it from them. The surfing lessons and day at the beach was my favorite experience because surfing was incredibly fun and we were able to swim at the beach with all of our friends afterwards. We got to go to an animal sanctuary and help out. I enjoyed it because I was able to feed a sloth and I thought that was pretty cool.”

According to Burton, taking these trips with students and getting to see the students gain independence, self-confidence, global awareness, commitment to service, and to make new friends is the best part of her job as a language teacher.

“Both Tianna and I love this trip for so many reasons,” said Bubier. “We love Costa Rica, we love our students and we love watching them learn and grow. It is an amazing adventure for all involved.” <

Town of Windham to create Pine Grove pocket park

By Ed Pierce

If everything goes as expected, Windham could have a new pocket park by this fall.

A depiction is shown of the new Pine Grove Park to be built
on a vacant town lot between the Forbes Lane and Misty
Drive neighborhoods off Varney Mill Road in Windham 
with a Community Development Block Grant awarded
to the town by Cumberland County. COURTESY PHOTO

In January 2025, the Windham Town Council endorsed an application for Community Development Block Grant funding from Cumberland County to create a pocket park for the Forbes Lane and Misty Drive neighborhoods on a town-owned vacant lot off Varney Mill Road. That was followed in April 2025 by the county awarding Windham $40,000 in CDBG funds with a funding match of $10,000 for the grant approved by town councilors and then voters as part of the 2026-2027 municipal budget during the Annual Town Meeting in June.

A pocket park is defined as a small park accessible to residents and the public which can be used for recreational purposes including picnic tables, benches, flower beds and greenery.

Councilors then established an ad hoc community committee to research and explore the development of a pocket park in the Forbes Lane and Misty Drive area. Committee members were asked to develop a concept plan for the 1.33-acre parcel with trails suitable for walking and biking to serve area residents and the public as well as optional picnic benches and recreational amenities suitably sized for the lot.

The CDBG funding from Cumberland County was subject to an environmental review to ensure compliance with the State Historic Preservation Office, local Historic Preservation Ordinances and other environmental regulations. Community Development Block Grants support community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities. Activities may address needs such as infrastructure, economic development projects, public facilities installation, community centers, housing rehabilitation, public services, clearance/acquisition, microenterprise assistance, code enforcement, and homeowner assistance.

During a Windham Town Council meeting in May, committee members made recommendations to the town council for the project including a walking and biking path connecting surrounding neighborhoods, a small wooden playground area for children, picnic tables and benches, and open space for gathering and informal recreation.

Committee Chair Lindsay Conrad told the council that an online survey was conducted in February distributed door-to-door and publicized through social media and on the Town and Parks and Recreation Department's websites. That was followed by a community forum held that same month at Windham Town Hall. Feedback from those community tools along with discussions held by the committee resulted in the formulation of a concept plan for the new pocket park.

The committee was made up of six members who reside on Forbes Lane or Misty Drive; two Windham staff members; and a member of the Windham Town Council. Members included Conrad, Amie Earley, David Joy, Megan Potter, Steve Clauson, Tena Linsbeck-Perron, Windham employees Linda Brooks and Jason Hanken, and Windham Town Council Chair Mark Morrison.

Conrad thanked committee members for serving and helping to create recommendations for the new park. 

“It was really important for us, the residents, to develop what this would look like,” Conrad said.

Windham Parks and Recreation Director Linda Brooks said the new pocket park will be a great addition for both the town and the Misty Drive and Forbes Lane neighborhoods.

“This project was definitely considered part of the Open Space Plan, and a goal of the Open Space Plan is to start developing these neighborhood parks,” Brooks said. “This is a great model to follow because these people are so invested in what’s coming into their neighborhood. I think we can already see they will be great stewards of what gets developed there.”

According to Conrad, the biggest issues that committee members tackled in creating recommendations for the park are a lack of privacy for neighbors whose property borders the park site, a desire to retain the wooded nature of the lot, and a lack of available parking.

She said to address that committee members recommended creating a 10-foot buffer around the property and determined that parking won’t be a significant problem because the park will be mostly used by people who live nearby and can walk there. As many trees as possible will be kept while installing the park.

Windham Assistant Town Manager Amanda Lessard said the development of Pine Grove Park does not exceed the threshold to require a Windham Planning Board site plan review.

“The Board of Appeals will need to review a conditional use application for the outdoor recreation facility prior to the installation of the play structure, hopefully at a ZBA meeting in August,” Lessard said. “The materials and equipment as recommended by the Committee have been ordered with installation expected in the fall. A grand opening celebration will be scheduled after installation.”

Once completed, the park will be maintained by the Windham Parks and Recreation Department. <

Community invited to participate in annual Sebago Lake area loon count

By Ed Pierce

Maine Audubon is seeking volunteers to assist with the 43rd Annual Loon Count to be conducted later this month on Sebago Lake.

The 43rd Annual Loon Count will be conducted on July 18
by Maine Audubon and volunteers are still needed to count
Maine loons and chicks. The count is part of a statewide
initiative to track loon population changes and assess the
impacts of loon conservation efforts for the future.
COURTESY PHOTO    

The Sebago Lake count is part of a statewide initiative to count Maine loons and chicks and track the population changes and trends in the population by Maine Audubon. The information collected during the annual count helps assess the impacts of loon conservation efforts and to address any significant changes in the population and offer better management solutions in future years.

Loons are large, tuxedoed birds swimming about in the lake and can be very vocal and easy to locate, as the yodeling of one loon will often elicit a chorus response from other loons in the area. They are water birds, only going ashore to mate and incubate eggs.

On Saturday, July 18, a contingent of volunteers will gather at Sebago Lake early in the morning for the count. The deadline to sign up for the Annual Loon Count is July 10, so volunteers are asked to reach out as soon as possible.

The volunteers collect and submit data about the number of loons they observe between 7 and 7:30 a.m. which gives Audubon researchers a “snapshot” of the loon population across the state. The count allows Maine Audubon to monitor how the number of loon adults and chicks have changed over the past 40 years and to make sure it is known how to best protect the loon population.

For years, counting Sebago Lake’s 100-plus miles of shorefront on nearly one trillion gallons of fresh water and at 49 different survey areas presented a significant challenge to Maine Audubon. And despite the efforts of many volunteers, the entire lake was never fully counted.

In 2022, volunteer counters were recruited from each of the seven municipalities that border Sebago Lake and other volunteers signed up as well who wanted to be part of the count. What resulted was the first-ever full Sebago Lake count thanks to more than 50 volunteers who participated and covered more than 30,000 acres of water.

Every single number recorded during the Annual Loon Count was higher in 2025 than it was in 2024 – the number of adult loons, loon chicks, lakes counted, and volunteers – and scientists at Maine Audubon say it’s a great indication that the Common Loon population is healthy in Maine. A healthy loon population is good for many reasons, as it also means enough clear waters, healthy fish populations, and breeding habitat to support a stable loon population.

Based on its calculations, Maine Audubon estimates a 2025 population of 3,174 adults and 568 chicks for the southern half of Maine. In comparison, in 1983, when the count first began, we estimated a population of 1,417 adult loons and 176 loon chicks in the southern half of Maine, suggesting the population has more than doubled since then.

“We’re cautiously optimistic after seeing two years of growing chick numbers,” says Maine Audubon Wildlife Ecologist Tracy Hart. “But it will take several more years before we know if that is a real upward trend, or just two really good years.” Maine has the largest population of loons in the eastern United States, which makes the breeding success of loons here critical to the regional population. In comparison, there were 56 pairs counted in Massachusetts in 2024, about 100 pairs in Vermont, and 514 adults recorded on a subset of lakes in New Hampshire in that state’s 2025 census.

Most loons nest within one foot of the water’s edge, so they are especially vulnerable to washout from arge waves. All motorboats on Maine lakes are required to travel at no-wake speeds when they are within 200 feet of shore or islands. Boats that facilitate wake surfing create even larger waves and can impact loon nests even when operating as far as 500-600 feet offshore. In 2024, a new state law was implemented to address wakesurfing and it restricts individuals “from operating a motorboat in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline when the motorboat is engaged in a wakesurfing activity.”

The Common Loon faces all kinds of threats including those from boat strikes, nest flooding, tackle made from lead, eagle predators and despite that with the help of an ever-growing volunteer base, the population remains robust.

Audubon officials say that if you can’t make it to volunteer for the Annual Loon Count on July 18, or if one day just isn’t enough for you, you can still monitor loons throughout the summer. Through its Loon Pair Monitoring Project, volunteers can submit observations of breeding loon pairs over several months to help them better understand nest and chick success across Maine.

For further details about the Maine Audubon Annual Loon Count, the Loon Pair Monitoring Project, or to volunteer, contact [email protected] or visit maineaudubon.org/loons. <