What to expect Summerfest weekend - By Walter Lunt

There will be many activities at Summerfest on June 25 on the grounds of Windham High School. From the traditional parade and food booths, there will also be activities for the whole family, entertainment from a variety of bands and performers on the main stage. 
 

The committee is still looking for volunteers for the parade, which kicks off at 10 a.m., and a clean-up crew for Sunday. 

Summerfest is not a town funded event. Everything is paid for by donations from businesses and organizations who participate. Donations were down this year, so the committee is doing the whole day on a “shoestring budget,” the committee said.  

There will be a carnival as there has in the past and the fireworks will go off at 9 p.m.

Saturday will kick off with the seventh annual Duane Clark Memorial Car Show with a bonanza of classic cars and over 30 categories of winners.

It’s got doughnuts, coffee, drivin’ and cruisin’ songs and dozens of classic cars. The Duane Clark Memorial Car Show is fast becoming a tradition at Windham Summerfest.

Founder and coordinator Stan Page predicts “The show will be bigger and better than ever,” especially considering that “…it’s the only car show in town this year,” referring to the cancellation of this year’s Windham Boosters Auto Show.

Duane Clark was a 1964 graduate of Windham High School who died in 1971. A committee of his classmates started the scholarship in his memory in the early 70s.

 “For those of us who loved Duane and love old cars, this is a natural marriage,” said committee member and classmate Gary Plummer.

Clark is remembered by his high school peers as an outstanding athlete and all-around great guy who promoted positive school values, sportsmanship and fair play. Committee members said Clark was well liked and highly respected across the entire student body, and that virtually everyone considered him a friend.

“The car show helps to support a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving Windham High School senior by carrying on Duane’s unique qualities,” according to Page. The 2016 scholarship was recently awarded to WHS graduate Sadie Nelson who will major in athletic training at the University of New England.

Page said this year’s auto show, on June 25, features 26 classes of vehicles with trophies awarded to first, second and third place winners. Classes range from antique cars and motorcycles to Corvettes and street rods. Special awards include best of show for both car and truck, best paint and best engine.

The premier Duane Clark Cup is selected by Duane’s classmates who decide which vehicle would be the one picked by Clark to drive away in. The student who won the Duane Clark scholarship the previous year selects and presents the special Scholarship Winner’s Pick.

A number of car show participants join the Summerfest parade, which precedes the start of the Summerfest day activities. The public is invited to visit the car show for free at the Windham High School front parking lot between 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Car Show participants can register between 7 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. For more information, call 892-7389.

Civil War encampment at Village Green

Civil War re-enactors will muster on the Windham Historical Society’s Village Green on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26. In period dress, the soldiers of the 3rd Maine Infantry Volunteers will march with drum and fife in the Summerfest parade and demonstrate drills and camp life at an encampment behind the historical society Town House museum on Windham Center Road.

Saturday, beginning at noon, events include an infantry drill with musket firing, a Civil War era regimental surgeon, field music and an inspection by a civilian Sanitary Commission attempting to promote healthy camp life for the men.

Sunday, at 8 a.m., there will be a special portrayal of Camp Hamlin (named for Vice-President Hannibal Hamlin), which was established near Augusta for the mustering of the 3rd Maine in May/June, 1861 as it prepared to leave for Washington D.C. and three years of federal service in the War Between The States. It includes a fashion presentation, mail call, and the closing of camp around 3 p.m.

On both days guests are encouraged to visit with the soldiers, take a look at the cook stove, tents and equipment and ask questions.

Also on site in the historical society museum will be a display of a home front parlor. The self- guided tour includes hand sewn silk bonnets, a treadle sewing machine, original billboards advertising a traveling minstrel show of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, letters home from Windham Civil War soldiers, needlework, furniture and household items.

The encampment and display are free. Donations to the historical society are gratefully accepted. For more visit, www.windhamhistorical.org.

Although not all of the events are a direct part of Summerfest, the weekend is shaping up to be full of fun and laughter.

The Summerfest Committee is looking for more board members for next year’s event. It’s never too early to volunteer. They are looking for coordinators for entertainment, certain fundraising events and someone to run the parade. 

Even if volunteering isn’t on your agenda, make sure Summerfest is on the calendar for June 25. To volunteer this year or for the board, visit www.windhamsummerfest.com or call Kelly at 894-5600. To make a donation to help fund Summerfest, visit www.gofundme.com/windhamsummerfest.

Photo: Stan Page awards the 2015 Duane Clark Scholarship check for $1,000 to Adam Poitras of Windham, who completed first semester studies at Northwestern University where he majors in Economics.

Windham native Cody Dube drafted by Baltimore Orioles - By David Field

Windham High School 2012 graduate Cody Dube was drafted #301 by Baltimore Orioles last week. Dube just graduated from Keene State College (D3) with a Bachelor’s of Science in safety and occupational health with a 3.28 GPA. 
 

For Keene, Dube earned several awards: Little East Conference First Team, Little East Pitcher of the Year, All Region First Team for New England, All American Third Team, Strength and Conditioning All American, New England Senior All Star. During his senior year he had an ERA of 1.2, with a career at Keene of 2.68.

Dube has always wanted to play professional baseball. He has wanted to go to the next level after stepping up. In 2015, Dube played for Sanford Mainers which is part of the NECBL. In the first month of the season, Dube was seen by several scouts. His success earned him a spot on the NECBL All-Star team and the pro scouts also saw his performance there. 

Dube received an email from Atlanta Braves and did a workout/showcase in the fall of 2015. He then started getting emails from other teams and was asked to complete questionnaires. In total, Dube heard from 25 teams. Although he was excited, Dube took things one step at a time and that meant finishing college at Keene State.

In the last few weeks, Dube received several calls from scouts inquiring about his interest in the Major League draft. He also did three workouts before the draft for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. 

The Orioles first saw Cody play in his first game for Keene State in March while the team was in Florida.

Cody left for Maryland this past Monday. He will be subjected to a team physical exam and then expects to be playing for the Single A Aberdeen Ironbirds. Cody’s opportunity to hit the big fields will occur during spring training 2017. 

Some other interesting facts about Cody Dube:

Best baseball memory: Senior year of high school a 12-4 loss to Scarborough in semi-finals and a great group of kids to play with.

Piece of advice to kids that want to play pro: Work hard and take each step one at a time. Never take anything for granted. Keep the goals small and achievable and success will come.

Growing up favorite professional baseball team? Red Sox. He may have to change his alliances later on, but feels that you don’t lose who your favorite childhood team was.

Cody’s parents, Randy and Andrea are obviously excited and taking a page from Cody’s book, taking each day one at a time. 

“It’s been a whirlwind since last week,” said Randy.

Roadside archeological dig resumes on River Road - By Walter Lunt

A team of archeologists from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission are back on River Road to continue their investigation at the site of Windham’s old Province Fort near the intersection with Anderson Road. Their work is similar in purpose to their mission last fall when the same team uncovered architectural and cultural evidence at the spot where history tells us that the early inhabitants of New Marblehead (Windham) gathered for protection from the Sebago Natives during the latter years of the French and Indian Wars.
 

Lead archeologist Leith Smith said the initial findings may be significant, and could result in a revision of the historic drawing of the fort. The classic rendering, known to virtually all Windham elementary students and many residents, shows a 50-foot square, 2-story blockhouse, topped with two watchtowers at diagonal corners, surrounded by tall palisade fencing.

Smith, however, said current evidence suggests there may have been double fencing around the fortress – an outer wall that would have been the vertical stockade design shown in the traditional drawing. And an inner fence composed of stacked logs set in a rock or wood sill, built with dovetailed corners, and secured with wooden pins. 

Smith says the approximately 12 foot area between the enclosures may contain evidence of trash mounds and/or privies (outhouses) and would have served as an area for watchmen. He said the double fence design was typical of the time period (1740s) in Massachusetts and the province of Maine.

The current investigation, said Smith, may also unearth the rock foundations of the main blockhouse and other smaller buildings within the fort enclosure. He said the presence of multiple structures was also typical of the period. 

“In particular,” he said, “there is the likelihood of finding iron slag, which would indicate the presence of a smithy,” or blacksmith.

The present dig is being conducted on both sides of heavily traveled River Road, including the grounds of the historic Parson Smith House. Smith said the remains of ancient River Road can be seen on the south (downhill) side of the current roadway and that the fort very likely spanned the current road bed.

“If our work shows that to be true, we’ll return in 2017 when the Maine Department of Transportation begins the process of widening that section of River Road.”

He said the archeological team will scrutinize the contents of the overturned earth as the heavy equipment works to both lower Anderson Hill by four or five feet and widen the road.

An earlier phase of the archeological study, conducted last fall, revealed stone foundations (probably a chimney base), pieces of flint used in early rifles, ceramic bits, stems of clay pipes and a single cuff link, English in origin, dating from the 17th or 18th century.

The current dig will continue for about another month, according to Smith. He said the safety of his crew is a concern and urges motorists to observe the road signs and cones that warn it is a work area. Speed and limited sight distances create a hazard for the half dozen archeologists working the site.

The Eagle will continue to update progress on the archeological investigation that appears to adding to and changing the information about Windham’s early history.

 Local artist and author publishes fiction book - By Michelle Libby

 Barry Jordan takes his love of little league to the top - By Michelle Libby

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Barry Jordan takes his love of little league to the top - By Michelle Libby

When Barry Jordan posed for a picture for the 1967 Windham Little League team, he didn’t realize that he was starting something that would keep him involved with baseball long into the future. The first baseman, catcher and pitcher, hasn’t played for 30 plus years, but now he has been elected to serve as the New England Regional Commissioner and a member of the International Board of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc. 

Baseball has been part of many boys’ lives over the years. Jordan has an impressive resume when it comes to the league. 

Jordan has umpired four World Series for teams in the Cal Ripkin Babe Ruth league and has been umpire chief for two 13-year-old series, he said. He will be the tournament director for 16-year-old softball World Series at the end of July in Florida. He has also been the press box coordinator for softball tournaments, which includes working with the media, coordinating schedules, stats, trophies and coordinating the choosing of player of the tournament. When the details are for a 15-team tournament, it takes skill to be in charge and Jordan has it. 

In 1999, Jordan was named the State Commissioner of Maine for the Cal Ripkin Division for 5-to 12-year-olds. In 2005, he added on becoming the State Commissioner for all of softball and in 2010 he pulled a hat trick and became the assistant regional commissioner for Babe Ruth softball for all ages. He did all of these jobs at once. 

He also was a volunteer. He did not get paid for any of the work he did. They did help him cover his expenses when traveling. 

“It’s my fulltime volunteer job,” he said with a chuckle. 

His new position is the New England Regional Commissioner for all of Babe Ruth, boys and girls. He was voted in by the 17 member International Board of Directors, which he is now a part of. He is also on the National Rules Committee, he said. 

The road to the new position has been a big adventure. Getting to know others and networking has helped him grow from umpiring regional and state tournaments to being asked to move up.

“Of all the guys in Maine, he asked me,” he said, describing himself as a big advocate for the kids. “We’ve grown every year since we’ve been doing it.” 

He doesn’t have to do all of the work alone. He has three assistant regional commissioners and 20 state commissioners all across New England. 

“I use the chain of command very appropriately and 90 percent is taken care of before it gets to me. It’s not a job you can do by yourself,” Jordan said. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of an organization. You have to listen to them,” he added. 

Recently Jordan helped to run a coaches clinic at Fenway Park in Boston. “I was standing on the first base dugout addressing the coaches at a clinic,” he said. That was one of the perks of being in his position. 

July will be the busiest month for him with five regional softball, six Cal Ripkin regional and four Babe Ruth regional tournaments. Maine will host the 14-year-old regional softball tournament in Harrison and the boys 14-year-old Babe Ruth New England tournament will be in Skowhegan.

Baseball builds teamwork and an overall positive attitude like all sports do. Players learn respect and knowledge of the game, said Jordan. He added that “coaches have a lot of do with a good experience.”

“You’ve got to love the kid when he’s successful and love the kid when he fails. Batting .400 you’re failing 60 percent of the time,” he said. 

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Jordan’s fulltime job is as a mortgage loan officer for a bank. He travels to Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but calls Sebago home. 

Babe Ruth President/CEO Steve Tellefsen said in an interview in February, “Babe Ruth volunteer board members serve countless hours working to make sure our participants are provided with the very best educational, sports experience possible. They develop policies and ensure that all decisions made help our youth develop into successful and productive adults. We are proud to have Barry Jordan join our board. His actions alone have taught many people, young and old the value and importance of hard work, community pride, honor and integrity.”

Local artist and author publishes fiction book - By Michelle Libby

Author Vincent Bruni is an eclectic mix of artist, author and animal lover. The 75-year-old penned his first book while he was losing Panda, his beloved dog. Combining the love of his dog and his love for carousel horses, he wrote a book “that offers hope to every man, woman, and child who share their life with a cherished animal.”


“The TearDrop Garden” is a labor of love for Bruni. “I’m not a writer, I’m a storyteller,” he said.

In January of 1992 he began carving StarDuster out of wood. The project was finished in 1999 at Christmas. The detail in the carousel horse makes one think he has been carving wood his whole life, but this is only his second horse project. The wing on the face of the horse took six months to carve, Bruni said. “[StarDuster] inspired the book. I always liked carousel horses. I wanted to do wall art. The head, neck and shoulders are the best part of the horse,” he said.  

“In The TearDrop Garden, “with the assistance of an old man, a carousel and a little boy and his dog, the angels are finally able to put a plan into motion - a plan by which man and his devoted animal friends will never again be separated, even by death.” The main character is modeled after his grandson and Panda, the dog.

In January of 1997, Bruni began writing the book. He worked Panda into the book to give him solace while Panda was getting close to his time. 

 “I want to awaken the child in every adult,”Bruni said. Although is book is geared toward adults, it would be a good story to share with children as well. “Children believe in fairy tales.” 

Bruni describes the story as fantasy based on reality. “The horse gives it more authenticity,” he said. “It brings solace to people who have lost their animals that they will see them again.” The book is approximately 100 pages with a few pictures that relate to the story. There is a picture of Panda in the first few pages and pictures of the whole body of StarDuster. 

 “It’s not just some book about hiking, it appeals to everyone who has an animal,” he said. “I’m trying to get people to get emotionally involved with it,” he said. 

The foreword of the book was written by Marilyn Goodreau and Meris Bickford from Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals. 

“The TearDrop Garden is an instant classic that generations of parents will share with their children and grandchildren. It will comfort those who have experienced the death of a loved one and intrigue those who do not fully appreciate the strength of the bond between human being and those they love,” they wrote. 

An animal rights activist, Bruni has seen how the movement has changed from the 1950s, when there were not a lot of veterinarians and if animals got sick, they died. Now, “people are more aware of animal rights,” he said. He has clipping of animal stories that go back decades.  

Bruni has always loved carousels. As a boy he used to go to Old Orchard Beach to listen to the carousel music. The structure burned down around 1968. “To me it was devastating,” he said. “As a kid I would sit and watch and listen to the organ music. It just took you somewhere else.” At one time there were 2,500 wooden carousels in the country, not only 100 are left, he said.  

Bruni carved another horse, an armored horse, before he attempted StarDuster. He had replicas made out of resin and he painted them to sell at various art galleries. He hopes to do the same with StarDuster, although for this horse, which takes a week to paint and do the gold and silver leaf, he expects there to be a limited number. He does plan to sell posters of the cover, and replicas of the bust of StarDuster, he said. The book will also be available as a hardcover and paperback book later in the year.  

“This is a book to read again and again. Kids will love it, too,” he said. 

Bruni has been a musician for 50 years. The High Ryder Golden Oldies Show plays a handful of gigs a year. Bruni started in the band in 1966 and is the drummer and lead vocalist. 

The TearDrop Garden is available from Cobble Hollow Publishing at www.cobblehollowpublishing.com, on Amazon and iBooks.

 Veterans honored at Memorial Day ceremoney in Windham despite call for rain - By Michelle Libby

 Naturalization Ceremony welcomes 22 new citizens - By Michelle Libby

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