Flags around town and how it started - By Dave Tanguay

It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the American Legion Field-Allen Post under the leadership of Don McCormack started placing flags on the utility pole of the high ways and byways of Windham. In the spring of 2005 Commander McCormack pitched the idea to the Post and approached the Town of Windham concerning the viability of the project. Commander McCormack and Service Officer Dave Tanguay met with the town council and received approval pending agreement from the utility company that owned the poles. In the interim, Post members canvased the business communities for funds and pitched the project. Most local business were more than happy to donate the $35.00 required to place a flag in front of their business. Many gave generously of additional funds to fill in the areas between businesses. 

After a few delays, the first set of flags went up for the 4^th of July 2005 with Don McCormack putting up the first flags. The flags remained up until Labor Day that year. The following year, the Post expanded the number of flags to be set at 100 and formalized the locations to include the South Windham corridor, the Route 115 and Route 35 entrances North Windham, The old parade route along Route 202 to Windham Center Road continuing to the Windham High School, the section of Route 302 from Pope Road to the fire station and the stretch from Whites Bridge Road to Route 35 crossing. Most recently, in 2013, the section in front of the police station and central fire station on Route 202 were added. 

Some of the flag locations in town have been modified due to problems associated with the disproportionate loss or destruction of flags in certain areas. For example, a flag placed on a pole across the street from Dunkin’ Donuts in North Windham would be covered in black soot from the idling big rigs as they waited for the light. So, remove and relocate one flag from there. Along the stretch of Route 202 from the rotary to School Street, the wind damage in the open area was excessive to the point that many flags were lost. So, we scratched that section of road. Most of the current flag damage is due to the flags becoming hung up and torn on the surroundings fixtures on the poles or from high wind damage. Over twenty were lost two years ago during a nasty storm. Flags located at the intersections where there are a large number of boxes and cables on the utility poles take the biggest hits. 

After about three years, the bigger issue for the flag project was sustainable funding. The Post could not afford to continue spend the amounts needed for new flags and hardware. A request and proposal to the town council by McCormack for a shared responsibility for the project resulted in the town agreeing to the purchasing of approximately 30 flags annually for the rotational replacement of the flags. The Post would continue to be responsible for instillation as well as the maintenance of the hardware and replacement as needed. More recently, the town has been using the brackets installed by the Post for the placement of the colorful holiday banners that decorate from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

 Now you have the brief history of the flags around town put up each Memorial Weekend by the Field-Allen Post members. They remain flying until Labor Day except for one location. When Deb McAfee was the principal of Windham High School, she purchased flags sufficient to grace the Route 202 section in front of the high school with the condition that they stay up from Memorial Day to Veteran’s Day each year. The Post has honored that request. 

Now ten years later, a group of about a dozen, slightly aging, Post members with some family support met at the North Windham Fire Barn with ladders and trucks last Saturday at 6 a.m. They broke into teams of two and three and canvased the town’s roadways placing the now familiar red white and blue for all to appreciate. 

It might be noted that several nearby towns also now fly the colors. It is an impressive sight! Please extend a special thanks to Don McCormack on this Memorial Day for his foresight and diligence, and to the legion for continuation of the project. A special note, if you find fallen flag or one in distress, contact a Legion member, by calling 892-1306. Flags from the utility poles, if found on the ground, may be turned into the Windham Town Hall.

Photo: Post members Leon Davies and John Haill steady the ladder for Stan Burke as his places a flag near the rotary on Route 202.

Photo by; Dave Tanguay

Windham Public Works hosts first open house - By Michelle Libby

Last Saturday, Windham Public Works held its first open house at the public works facility on Windham Center Road to help celebrate National Public Works Week. Windham was one of five area towns who held open houses, including Standish, Yarmouth, Freeport and Auburn. 

 

“We want to promote public works,” said director Doug Fortier. “Usually we just go out and do our jobs.”

There were many large pieces of equipment including the new street sweeper, earthmovers, a snow plow truck and a bus, all open for inspection by the smallest visitors and their parents. There were also static displays about the history of Windham Public Works and many of the things they do for Windham.

Fortier tried to greet everyone who stopped by to welcome them and offer them free Lonnie hotdogs, chips and drinks, all courtesy of WPW. 

“The taxpayers own all of this,” he said, and encouraged visitors to explore and see everything.

There was also the opportunity for the approximately 40 people to ask questions directly to Fortier and his crew. He received questions about issues like storm water and paving. He was excited to educate people and let them see what they have for equipment. 

He hopes to do this type of event again.  

Windham Police hire its third ever K9 - Vader - By Michelle Libby

At the end of May, Vader will be fully certified as a K-9 for the Windham Police Department. The one and a half-year-old German shepherd is a ball of curiosity and energy. His trainer and handler is Steven Stubbs a 3-year veteran of the Windham Police Department. Being a K-9 handler has been his dream since he first took his job in Windham. 
 

Vader was born in Belgium in September of 2014. “He’s a green dog. He had no training,” Stubbs said. His breed makes him an easy dog to train. They tend to be more aggressive, more social and still have the drive to work and please. “He has a phenomenal nose on him,” Stubbs said. 

Training has been non-stop since Vader arrived. Every Monday Vader and Stubbs get together with other local agencies to train the dogs together. They also train every day in their off time. “It makes it a fulltime job. It’s an eye opening,” Stubbs said. The most fun part of the job, he said, is hanging out with Vader. K9s need 480 hours of training before they are allowed out on patrol. Drug dogs need an additional 320 or so hours. 

Right now Vader is working on tracking, apprehensions and building searches.

“He comes with me every day to work, so he gets used to the sounds and other people around,” Stubbs said. He is not yet patrol ready, so he stays in the car and enjoys the environmental exposure.

Stubbs wasn’t the only one up for the K-9 handler position, he said. He was given the position last September. “I was just lucky enough to come out at the top,” Stubbs said.  Stubbs had volunteered for different training opportunities with other K-9s and handlers and often stepped in to be a decoy for the dogs. 

“Steven has shown an interest in the K9 program and wanted to have a police canine before he was even a police officer. We are excited that he has the opportunity to be a part of a program that has such a positive impact in both the public and law enforcement communities,” said Sergeant Bill Andrew from the WPD. 

 He travelled to New York City to pick out Vader, who was purchased for around $7,500. Stubbs grew up with dogs and is fascinated by the ability to bond in a unique way. He was looking for a dog that would work for him and the department. At this point, what calms Vader down is his toy or the promise of his toy, of which Stubbs has a big supply of, just in case. 

Vader responds to both English and Dutch commands. According to Stubbs, it doesn’t matter which language he uses, the association with the word and command are the same. “Reading your dog – body signals and relay back to them what you want them to do in a clear way,” he described. 

In the three years with Windham, Stubbs has been on the bicycle patrol, MARC self-defense team, an instructor with the Criminal Justice Academy and a physical fitness instructor at the academy.

“You can’t ask for a better job. My best friend comes to work with me every day. It’s the best partner,” he said. 

Stubbs does have another, older dog, named Bosco.

On May 16^th, Vader will be at the Vacationland Dog Club to show off his skills. “He knows what he’s doing,” Stubbs said. 

On September 27^th, Vader will join K9 Grinko and Andrew at Summerfest. 

The average working span for a dog is seven to nine years as long as the drive and willingness to want to work is still there.

Local stroke survivor raises awareness through advocacy - By Elizabeth Richards

Caryn Pillsbury never anticipated that she would have a stroke. She was 29, in good health, and had not had any previous signs of problems. But on Christmas Eve 2008 she suffered an ischemic stroke in the basal ganglia region of her brain, caused by a blood clot.

Pillsbury, a lifelong Windham resident, is dedicated to sharing her story to build awareness of strokes, particularly in young women.

 

Pillsbury had no symptoms prior to the stroke. She just dropped to floor suddenly, unable to feel her arms, legs, or anything on her right side. Her son, who was seven at the time, was home with her but she was unable to communicate clearly with him. “I didn’t think stroke. That didn’t even cross my mind for a second,” she said. When her son asked if he should call someone for help, she told him no, thinking her symptoms would go away with time. After several hours, she was transported to the hospital via ambulance. 

This is a vital piece of the story, she said, because if she’d known the early signs of stroke and sought treatment within three hours of the first symptoms, there is a possibility that a clot busting shot could have helped. But by the time she was treated, so much time had passed that the shot could have caused more damage than good. 

Pillsbury spent seven days in the intensive care unit and another month at New England Rehabilitation Hospital, where she dealt with right side paralysis and aphasia, which is a loss of speech. She could clearly know the words she wanted to use, but they would not come out correctly when she spoke. For instance, once she thought she was asking for a coat hanger, but the words she was saying were “paper towel.”

Pillsbury has come a long way, but is still recovering. “I think I’ll always be recovering,” she said. Outwardly, people may not know something had happened to her, but she knows just what her challenges are. She still attends occupational and physical therapy regularly, “I take it one day at a time, doing what I can do and that’s all I can do,” she said. Pillsbury said the support of her family, the therapy she’s received, and the American Heart Association has played an integral role in her recovery. 

The stroke has affected Pillsbury’s life in many ways, including ongoing difficulties with memory, speech and motor functioning. But rather than focusing on the negatives, she has chosen instead to have a positive attitude, becoming an advocate and spokesperson. In a recent speech, Pillsbury said, “In the blink of an eye, your life can change due to a disease or an affliction. Your goals, your dreams, and your priorities are forced to take a different turn. You are grateful for the little things, and worry less about big things. You leave behind the history of yesterday and determine how you will use today's energy.”

One of the most important messages Pillsbury is trying to spread is that stroke can happen to anyone, and everyone needs to know the signs to look out for. “The reason why I do this is that young people are really not aware that this could happen to them,” she said. “People need to know that it can happen to you, and these are the signs you need to look out for,” she said.

 There’s a simple acronym that can help people identify a stroke. F.A.S.T. stands for Face drooping; Arm weakness; Speech difficulty; Time to call 911. “That’s super important. If there’s one thing that people can walk away with from reading this, if they remember F.A.S.T., then the job is done,” said Pillsbury.

Pillsbury’s efforts to build awareness have included You Tube videos, sharing her story with a news crew, making a commercial for the Heart Walk, and acting as a spokeswoman at the 2015 Go Red Luncheon. 

She is participating in the Southern Maine Heartwalk, which will start at AAA of Northern New England and walk around the Back Cove path on Sunday, May 17^th. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with educational displays, heart health education, family friendly activities and a heart healthy breakfast. The walk itself begins at 9:30 a.m, and festivities continue after the walk with activities at the celebration site, including a heart healthy lunch. Anyone interested in participating can register at www.southernmaineheartwalk.org.