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Friday, September 22, 2017

Parents perk up Windham Middle School bathrooms with positive affirmations by Elizabeth Richards


When students arrived back at Windham Middle School after their summer vacation, they found the one space they all use a little brighter, a little more pleasant and a little more inspiring. “This summer, a wonderful group of moms came forward and offered to do some work in both the boys and girls bathrooms to make them more positive and affirming places,” said Kim McBride, Assistant Principal at Windham Middle School. 
 
The school was built in 1977, McBride said, and though it’s been well maintained over the years, as any older building does, it’s starting to show its age. 

Tiffany Flibbert, who had the initial vision for the project and organized the efforts, said she has three children and she’s heard complaints about the bathrooms from all of them. The idea for the painting came, like so many things these days, from social media, she said. After seeing a post by a teacher who had done something similar, she decided to take action. 

Flibbert knows the power of positive words. She belongs to a group, Brave Girls Club, which is all about helping women meet their dreams and pursue their goals, primarily through uplifting words. “Young girls need inspiration. They need to feel good about themselves. There are so many things out there working against them,” Flibbert said. “And boys need it too,” she added.

Once the idea had formed, Flibbert spread the word about the project and a group of parents came together to get it done, she said. 

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McBride said the many hours of volunteer work the group put in were very much appreciated by the school. “Anytime we can give more positive messages to students, we want to do it. The bathrooms are an often overlooked place that everyone visits every day,” she said. “It was a wonderful surprise for the students when they came in, and they really appreciated the creativity and the time and attention that went into it.”

Friday, September 15, 2017

St. Ann’s hosts Community Day to welcome new and old friends to church by Michelle Libby



St. Ann’s Episcopal Church at the corner of River Road and Windham Center Road held its third annual Community Day last Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the community at large and the church community were invited to enjoy games, music, visits from firemen and Sparks Ark. 

Mason Marquis from Brunswick
“It’s a nice community church. We’ve been to activities here. We’re so impressed with the church participation,” said Jim Kelley, who lives in Windham, but attends another church. 

“It’s a combination of reaching out to the community and welcoming people back to the church community,” said Rector Fr. Tim Higgins. “We do this as a free offering of grace to the community.” 

Sunday was Welcome Back Sunday and registration for Sunday School. The church held a family breakfast and a barbeque for the congregation after the two services. 

“We’ve seen a lot of new folks from the community, today,” said faith formation director Kate Tompkins. Fr. Higgins called the number of participants “outstanding”. 

The event was planned by Michael Dionne and his committee. “My thought is go big or go home,” he said of the planning. “It’s important. It’s not just a church in the community, but a church for the community.” 

Rye Carpenter from Windham
St. Ann’s opened “Ladybug Playground” to the community once it was built, and it gets a fair amount of use, said Dionne. So many know where the church is. 

The event was not about religion, but about having fun, Dionne said. There was a performance by The Pond Lilies made up of Polly Lawson, Kristin Goodall, Leanne Cooper, Jodee Davidson and Jeanne DiSciullo-Carpenter; also a presentation by Josh Sparks, owner of Sparks Ark, a bounce house, cotton candy, plenty of games and a visit from the ice cream truck. 

Windham Fire and Rescue brought a fire truck and an ambulance for children to explore, as well.
 “It’s a great time to spend time with the St. Ann’s community and the community in general,” said Dionne.

American Legion Auxiliary hosts Naturalization Ceremony funded by grant in honor of National Day of Service and Remembrance by Lorraine Glowczak

*Due to technical layout difficulties, the print version was published in error. This is the correct version. We apologize for the error.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 148 in Windham, received a $1,000 grant through the American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters and funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service to establish a remembrance celebration to commemorate 9/11. 
 
In alignment with and observance of the National Day of Service and Remembrance (established in 2009), the Auxiliary hosted a Naturalization Ceremony on Monday, September 11 at 10 a.m. at Windham High School. The ceremony was attended by many members of the community and high school and middle school students, who witnessed 37 immigrants from 22 countries, become American citizens. 

Also in attendance were public figures that included but not limited to, Senator Bill Diamond, Town Manager, Tony Plante and the National Auxiliary President, Diane Duscheck from Wisconsin. 

The success of Monday’s ceremonial event was the result of innovative and creative thinking by members of the Auxiliary and the grant writing abilities of Windham Auxiliary President, Pam Whynot and Vice President, Michelle Libby. 

Anna McGuckin from Russia
The grant was recognized by the National Auxiliary as unique, due to the inclusion of many community members, to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The requirements were to remember 9/11 in a unique way, have a teaching component and have the event during the week of 9/11. 

“Our grant was very unique out of the other grants,” explained Whynot. “The Naturalization Ceremony was a unique idea from us [because] it involved many groups of the community and we had lots of people volunteering their time and service to us. We fit all their [the National Auxiliary’s] requirements into this idea.”

The Naturalization Ceremony not only included many volunteer members of the community but  special guests speakers were selected to share their memories and experiences of that fateful day 16 years ago. The speakers included Steve Hall, a Portland and Windham firefighter, as well as retired Lieutenant Colonel, Wally Clark originally from Calais, but now resides in Windham.

Hall, who lost many of his firefighting friends in the fallen World Trade Center, was called to New York a week after the tragedy. “I was asked to attend the funerals of my fellow firefighters,” Hall began, choking back tears. “I was asked to attend because the NYC firefighters who were still alive were working the pile. Sometimes I attended three or four funerals in a day. After a month, I lost count of how many funerals I attended.”

Clark was starting his second day working at the Pentagon away from his office near Arlington Cemetery, when he was notified of the attacks. “During the morning session, we were called out of a briefing and told that the pentagon had been hit and we were on lock down,” Clark said. “We were finally released to go home late in the afternoon. As I drove home, I could see smoking coming out of the Pentagon. It was a mess.”

There were 125 pentagon staff that died that day. 

Nidhal Alshammaa from Iraq
Keynote speaker, the Honorable Charles Cragin, who served as under-secretary of the Department of Defense during the time of the attack, spoke to the celebration of citizenship, noting that when tragedy occurs the best of American social responsibility takes place; also noting the community efforts of service in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, as a result of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. 

The stories shared by these men honored firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, military members and veterans of the armed forces; while sharing ideals of good citizenship, peace and security to all, especially to the high school students and new citizens alike.

Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, that ended with the presentation of certificates to the new Americans, the song “God Bless the USA” sung by the Windham Chamber Singers and the closing remarks by Kurt Pelletier, Immigration Services Officer, happiness, joy and celebration filled the auditorium as the new Americans embraced their citizenship.

“I am so moved by how the new citizens want to be a citizen of America and how hard they work to make this happen,” stated Whynot. “When their families and friends come to cheer them on, you know that this is the most important day of their lives. It makes me very happy to be a part of this day for them.” 

This special and unique Naturalization Ceremony presented the bravery involved in being an American, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice 16 years ago. And as Christopher Howell, Windham High School Principal added in his welcoming remarks to the new Americans, “Everyone has a story. One day, you will share your story of bravery that it took to become an American. You too, will leave a legacy with the generations that come after you.”



Sunday, September 10, 2017

Dolby Funeral Chapel expands with acquisition of Blais & Hay Funeral Home of Westbrook by Walter Lunt

New name to be Dolby-Blais & Segee

Dolby Funeral Chapel owners, Eric and Kristin Segee, have announced the acquisition of the Blais & Hay Funeral Home of Westbrook. The purchase, which was completed on August 30, occurred less than one year after the Segee’s bought the Dolby Funeral Chapels in both Windham and Gorham through an in-house sale from long-time owner Tim Dolby. The Segee’s had been employed there for about three years.
 
The new institution will be named Dolby-Blais & Segee and “will reflect the continuing legacy of these family-owned and operated homes,” says Eric Segee. New signs will appear on the grounds of all three chapels by mid to late October.

Kristin Segee noted that former owners of both the Windham and Westbrook locations continue to be involved in the day-to-day operations and during various funeral services.
“They provide a level of comfort for people that know them. And it helps assure the same level of service and quality,” she said.

Blais & Hay, located at 35 Church Street off William Clark Drive, formed from a merger in 2001.

“Our families will be in good hands for many years to come, “said James Blais, commenting on the sale. “We are excited that the standard of care we have been providing for years to families in our (Westbrook) community will continue under the strong leadership of Eric and Kristin and their extremely competent and caring staff.”

Both the Blais and the Hays families had passed down their respective businesses to sons.
In an interview with the Windham Eagle in January 2017, Eric Segee observed that both the owners and patrons of funeral parlors “want to avoid acquisitions by big corporations.”

Eric projects the addition of the Westbrook chapel will increase by over 150 the number of families served by the larger institution. He said eight new part-time employees have been added as result of the Blais acquisition.
https://theholydonut.com/careers/The Segee’s say minor changes are anticipated for both the Windham and Westbrook locations. New carpeting, large TV screens and an updated audio-visual system will be added to the Blais chapel. The technology improvements are designed to accommodate slide presentations and musical options for families who wish to design personalized tributes to the deceased. Eric noted that a small building addition is anticipated at the Windham chapel.

The Dolby Funeral Chapel was established in 1946 by Robert Dolby, Tim Dolby’s father, who bought the business from John Nichols. Nichols was the last of three generations dating to the 1860s. Until recently, funeral directors in Windham have been members of just two families: Nichols and Dolbys. The Windham Eagle will trace this fascinating history in the next segment of our “Then & Now” series next month.


A look into Rep. Jessica Fay's first year in the Maine State Legislature by Lorraine Glowczak


Have you ever considered running for public office and wanted to know what to expect? Are you curious about what actually occurs during the legislative session in Augusta as you read the newspapers on the latest bill being considered?


Representative Jessica Fay, a Democrat who represents parts of the towns of Raymond, Casco and
Poland shares her first year as a Maine Legislator.

Fay’s interest in politics began when she was a young child. Growing up in a politically active family she witnessed her mother, Linda Krause, who began her career in the political process as an active member with the League of Women Voters of Connecticut in the 1970s. As a result of her participation in the League and what she learned from that experience, her mother was inspired to become more politically engaged. Her mother’s career included that of being a Land Use Planner and Director of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments as well as Mayor of the Town of Groton, CT.

“As I watched her commitment to the political process, I grew to admire her,” Fay stated. “I was able to observe her activities and the manner in which she approached her constituents; how she listened to them and worked to create a better life for others. I was really proud of her.”

Moving forward many years to 2014: “My mom had to have heart surgery and there were many complications as a result of that surgery,” Fay stated. “She couldn’t speak for herself so I became her medical advocate. I soon realized that I made important decisions about someone I loved. I did it under pressure and I did not panic. This was the impetus, a form of self-discovery. I realized I could do what I had witnessed my mother doing. It was at that this point that I decided to enter into public service.”

Whether you agree with her politics or not, Fay shares her story in a non-partisan manner for everyone; especially for those who may be considering a possible run in local government or beyond. Sharing her own experiences can also be a learning opportunity for anyone who is curious about what a first year is like in the Maine legislature.

“Layers,” Fay began. “I discovered that the political activity of a legislator is one of layers.”
She explains that the “bare minimum” requirement, or the first layer as she puts it, expected of a State Legislator includes being in the chamber to vote yes or no on legislative matters. “I am happy to say, I was in my seat for100 percent of my roll call votes,” Fay stated.

“The second layer is committee work,” Fay continued. “This is where a lot of crafting, vetting and real public policy legislation occurs. It’s at this point, once a bill is introduced and referred to a committee to ‘work the bill’, it is determined whether it will  make it into the House or Senate Floor for a vote.”

The third layer is “Constituent Services”, which means being available to those whom you represent to listen to their point of view, the issues they are facing and trying to simply answer their questions.
One way Fay provides this service is holding office hours at the Raymond Village Library, Casco Town Office and Poland Public Library which she will continue in the next legislative session.

 “I want folks to feel comfortable being involved in their government,” Fay said. “And this is one reason why I provide office hours. This makes government more responsive and accountable.”
“And then,” she began, “the layers continue on within those required three expectations. Layers upon layers.”

Due to the extreme divisive nature of the present political atmosphere, when asked about how she handled this, Fay stated that there was a workshop provided at the beginning of the session, by the University of Arizona’s Institute of Civil Discourse that legislators could volunteer to participate.

“It was a great way to start the session,” Fay began, who participated in the workshop. “It was really super helpful [to me] in various ways. For example, I learned ways to understand where someone is coming from that I might disagree with – to more clearly understand their point of view. This helped me to compromise to the best of my ability while at the same time, keeping my constituents viewpoints in mind.”

The most surprising thing Fay learned her first year is how complicated the legislative process can be. “Every day, there is a new twist and everything that seems to be really straightforward almost always never is.”

That complication often makes a straightforward and seemingly clear cut perception on a certain political issue extremely complex. This complexity is what makes it difficult to make the decisions for everyone. Worst yet, sometimes it appears as if you are not listening to your constituents.

“The most difficult part about my first year is discovering that I had to make really difficult decisions that would keep me up at night,” Fay stated. “That black and white or simple point of view isn’t what I had expected. There are various subtleties and issues that need to be considered and as a result, those subtleties can make it really hard to communicate why I voted a certain way.”

The best advice she can give to those who are considering political involvement is to listen. “Listen more than you talk,” Fay suggested.

She also advised that one should contact your representative, selectman, council member, etc. – whoever is doing what you want to do yourself. “Contact them and discover the upside and downside of that position,” Fay recommends. "If someone is interested in getting into public service or elected office, by all means spend some time with someone in the office you are interested in. Spend a day job shadowing and ask lots of questions." 

She thanks her husband for being so supportive her first year. “I can’t imagine not having support from your family, that would make the job so much more difficult,” Fay said of those involved in government.

Despite the challenges, Fay loves her role as State Representative. Although she has learned a great deal her first year, she acknowledges there is more learning to be had. “This is a job that takes a while to learn,” Fay stated. “And I have a lot more to learn and improve upon and will continue  to do so.”

Friday, August 25, 2017

Sister Lucy Kurien to share stories of interfaith love and healing at Unity of Greater Portland by Elizabeth Richards

Sister Lucy Kurien
Sister Lucy Kurien, founder and director of Maher Ashram, an interfaith refuge for women and children headquartered in Pune, India, will be at Unity of Greater Portland in Windham this weekend to share her wisdom and philosophies.
 

Kurien is a Catholic nun who founded Maher after an experience she couldn’t let go. While working in the convent, a pregnant woman came to her for shelter after her husband had threatened to kill her.
The rules and regulations of the convent prevented her from immediately giving the woman the help she requested, and that same night her husband set the woman on fire. Sister Lucy was an eyewitness to the event and took the woman to a nearby hospital, but it was too late. Both the woman and the child she carried died that night. 

“After that I thought it’s time for me to do something, but I was not sure what I was going to do,” said Kurien. “Finally, with the Divine grace I was able to set up a home for women.” 

From that first home, Maher has grown to include 44 homes in three states in India. While the focus was originally on women, Kurien said, with women came children; and there are presently between 850 and 900 children staying in Maher homes. 

http://mulberryfarmsmaine.com/The focus of Maher, she said, has always been on how to unite people. She is committed to bringing people together, regardless of their caste or religion. “All the religions are teaching us to go to the Divine,” she said. “That is what we are teaching the children.”  

Maher focuses on value based education, rather than the teachings of any specific religion. “All religions do what common sense tells you,” said Kurien. “Let us use that and be good human beings!”

The board of Maher has representatives from all faiths and the staff also comes from a broad range of religious backgrounds. “What we are trying to see is how we can get around this caste-ism, and the differences between the religions,” Kurien said. To mark Maher’s 20th anniversary, Kurien launched Maher’s Interfaith Association for Service to Humanity and Nature on February 2, 2017. 

In her talk, she will focus on:  How people can come together and work as a community, interfaith and value based teachings, and what they are doing at Maher. Because they have lived these philosophies at Maher for the past twenty years, there are many beautiful stories to share, Kurien said.

 “It’s very important that you build communities of love, peace, joy and communities of acceptance and tolerance of each other no matter where we are,” said Kurien. When people ask her religion, she said, “I will say my religion is love.”
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Darcy Cunningham, owner of the Turning Light Center in North Yarmouth, is very familiar with Kurien and her work. She was asked by a colleague to write a book about replicating the Maher model. She first met Kurien in India, along the banks of the Ganga. Inspired, she returned to India to visit Maher. “All of these people had experienced such hardships, fear, abuse and despair – beyond my imagining – and yet this place was full of love, joy, generosity, playfulness,” she said. 

Cunningham felt compelled to understand how and why such healing transformations could happen.
Cunningham said she is struck by how much Maher does, with so little. There is no maximum stay – women can stay as long as they want or need to. When they are able, Cunningham said, they are given small tasks to do, such as helping to prepare a meal or watch a group of children. “It was amazing to watch a woman arrive looking like the proverbial “deer in the headlights” and see her emerge, begin to connect with people, begin to feel safe. Then on my next trip she would be laughing and happy in this loving community,” said Cunningham. “It’s an incredible model, one I believe we could learn from. We seem to think one must first be fully healed and then one can give to others – yet it’s at least in part through the giving to others like yourself that self-worth is built and healing is supported.”
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Cunningham said she is inspired by Kurien’s story and background. Without college or any kind of formal training, Kurien has built communities where people, who have lived unspeakable trauma, can heal and find happiness and meaning in their lives, said Cunningham. She believes that by listening to and learning from Kurien, people can be inspired to make a difference in the world, be a part of the solution, and recognize that small steps count.

Sr. Lucy Kurien will speak at the 10 a.m. service at Unity of Greater Portland, 54 River Road in Windham, on Sunday, August 27, and hold a workshop at 12 p.m. the same day. Cost of the workshop is $20. For more information on Maher, visit www.maherashram.org.

Brothers Crew MC School Supplies Drive relieves a little suffering for area students By Lorraine Glowczak


Supplies will be delivered to Windham and surrounding schools
As August comes to a close, the countdown to the first day of school begins. It’s a time when parents get their sons and daughters ready for another successful year of education; one of which includes the purchase of required back to school supplies. However, not all young students get the proper start needed and arrive on the first day of school without the appropriate educational materials. This is where Brothers Crew MC comes in and saves the day.
 

Brothers Crew MC, a Windham based motor cycle club, has established in the past few years, a school supplies drive. “From now until mid-September, we will be accepting donations and collecting backpacks and other school supplies,” Steven Huntington, president and founder of Brothers Crew MC said. “Sometime after the end of the month, we will begin delivering the supplies that have been donated to all Windham schools as well as Portland schools, such as Bayside Learning. It is our intention to branch out into Raymond and Westbrook schools, too.” 

http://sabreyachts.com/contactBrothers Crew MC began in 2013 as a group of men who enjoyed riding motorcycles and wished to dedicate a bike ride in the memory of the founder’s brother, Charles “Chucky” Huntington, who died at the age of 42. After the first ride, others were interested in participating in future bike rides. “As it continued to grow, we decided to become an official club with the intention to honor all brothers who have passed and in doing so, relieve a little suffering in the world at the same time,” Huntington explained in a past interview. 

And relieving the world of a little suffering is exactly what the club is doing. “It is so important to help students from low income families succeed with their education in order to help get them out of the cycle of poverty,” Huntington began. “I know because I was one of those students. I came from a really poor family and when I arrived on the first day of school with nothing, it affected my confidence and the level of security I felt. And when you’re young with low self-esteem, you can resort to bullying and other inappropriate behavior. We, as a club, want to prevent that from happening in our community and we want to help those students achieve a better life for themselves by giving them a head start.”
President Steven Huntington

Brothers Crew MC asks for the following supplies that are required by the Maine School system. Those supplies include:
1 backpack
12 #2 Pencils
2 glue sticks
2 pink erasers
1 package of washable felt markers
1 pair of scissors
1 pencil case
10 pocket folders
1 package of lined paper
1 package of plane paper
8 lined notebooks
2 blue pens
1 package of pencil crayons

Huntington wishes to extend a special thanks to other motor cycle clubs, The Outlaws MC and The Raiders MC who both have made significant donations to the school supplies drive. 
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To deliver or mail the supplies, please send to: 514 Falmouth Road in Windham 04062. Brothers Crew MC is also willing to pick up the supplies if one is unable to deliver or mail them. For pick-ups please call 207-310-7901 or message Huntington on their Brothers Crew MC Facebook page.

The story is not over yet, as there’s one more thing to mention. Once the Brothers Crew MC School Supplies Drive is completed, they will begin gearing up for their Thanksgiving Drive in mid-October (last year they fed 927 Maine families.) After that, it will be their Christmas Drive for needy Maine families.

It seems Brothers Crew MC never takes a break. Perhaps this is what one does when their goal is to relieve a little suffering in the world.





Friday, August 18, 2017

First Annual Windham Trails Day creates a sense of community and stewardship by Lorraine Glowczak

The Windham Parks and Recreation Department in collaboration with Maine Alpine Guiding, hosted the first annual Windham Trails Day on Saturday, August 12 at Lowell Nature Preserve in East Windham and Donna Lippman Park on Route 302. The morning consisted of cleaning the trails of natural debris, followed by a free BBQ at noon and a free workshop on subjects such as mountaineering, ice climbing and hiking from Maine Alpine Guiding. Participants also received free t-shirts.
Although one goal was to remove branches, brush and weeds from the trails, there were otherobjectives in mind that included bringing people together to foster community and a love of the outdoors.  “The primary goal was met on Saturday,” stated Linda Brooks, Director of Parks and Recreation . . . that being to have people come together and volunteer for the community and, in return, have some good food and fellowship.”

Molly Bennett, the Park Ranger Intern reiterated Brooks’ sentiments. “Even though there were a small number of people there, there was the sense of friendship and community between the participants,” Bennett said. “When I was out on the trails working with others, people were learning about each other and laughing together in minutes. They were even helping each other identify plants and swapping stories about wildlife sightings in Windham. Some local Girl Scout troop leaders seemed like they enjoyed the event and hopefully will use Lowell Preserve and Maine Alpine Guiding in their own troop activities.”

The idea to have a Windham Trails Day was the brainchild of Rick Charity, owner and guide of Maine Alpine Guiding, a new guiding and eco-tourism company in Windham. “He called us and told us about his company and that he would like to organize a day for trail work and community,” Bennett continued. “I started working on it that same day. We set it on August 12 so that we would have time to publicize the event over the summer, but next year we are hoping to have it in June to
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coincide with National Trails Day.”

For next year’s event, the hope is to expand the offerings by incorporating a 5k race with Baxter Outdoors, a company that does trail races throughout Maine and is also a brewery. In fact, conversations with Baxter Outdoors are already in the works. “Adam Platz, from Baxter Outdoors, is excited about the idea and we are working together to plan a trail race, which should attract outdoor enthusiasts around Maine,” Bennett said.

Maine Outdoor Guiding, an outdoor adventure program that includes advanced expedition style adventures to Mt. Katahdin and ice climbing explorations in Graton Notch and which is also a Licensed/Master Level Adventure Therapy Program hopes to be a part of next year’s event again.
It’s important to Windham Parks and Recreation to include local businesses to be a part of this yearly event. “We will encourage local businesses to join Maine Alpine Guiding in helping to make this a great event,” Brooks began. “And we will hope to collaborate with other entities to expand the offerings next year.”

Both Bennett and Brooks are discussing various ideas that could possibly be part of future trail day events. Thoughts discussed so far include, but are not limited to, mountain bike racing, live music, bounce house and more, to encourage a more community members to have fun while also being a steward to the trails.

One participant, Cindy Murphy, often walks the trails at the 308 acre Lowell Preserve and wanted to help out so others can enjoy the trail too. “I like hiking in Lowell Preserve,” she said. “I like the idea of repairing the trails and keeping it safe for others.”
Bennett stated that the Annual Trails Day Event would also be a good opportunity for scouts to earn
badges and do community service, as well as high school students who need community service hours to graduate.

SymondsFoundations@myfairpoint.netAs for the actual clearing of the trails, a lot was completed at the two locations in the three hour time-frame that was dedicated to the nature paths. “We got pretty much all that we wanted done at Lowell Preserve, although it is a big property with a lot of room for improvement in mapping, signage, and more,” explained Bennett. “Lippman Park got a lot done with trash pickup and brush trimming with help from the Lions Club.  For Linda and me, this event is not so much about the amount of work completed as a sense of community and a celebration of the outdoors.  I was inspired by their attendance and hard work.”




Windham Library to host Solar Eclipse Event by Walter Lunt

Astronomy buffs say the solar show will be less than spectacular, but worthwhile viewing

The moon over Maine will obscure less than 60 percent of the sun on Monday. And although darkening is expected to be minimal, local eclipse fans have made viewing plans at work, from home or at special gatherings.

The Windham Public Library will broadcast live streaming coverage (so to speak) of the solar eclipse for up to 50 people in the downstairs meeting room. Children’s room coordinator Diane Currier said the library’s Solar Eclipse Event will also feature information, activities and safe outdoor viewing of the partial eclipse, utilizing pinhole projections and protective solar eyeglasses. The event begins at 2 p.m.

Safe eclipse eyewear is a must for direct viewing. Most local stores are sold out, but Currier says most visitors to the library event will get to use and keep a pair of the solar glasses.

http://www.windhampowersports.com/An eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon moves into a precise position between the earth and the sun, blocking its light. Even more phenomenal than the event itself is the fact that, at the time of eclipse, the diameter of the moon and the sun, as viewed from earth, is a virtual match. The result, as someone once put it, of sheer heavenly happenstance. 

The Great American Eclipse, as it’s being called, is unique in that it is centered only on the American continent. Totality will occur only in a narrow band, 67 miles wide, from Oregon to South Carolina. It will zoom across the country in 90 minutes. Latitudes north and south of the line will experience varying degrees of partiality. In the Portland area, 58.6 percent of the sun’s surface will be covered, resulting only in a slight dimming. That is, day will not become night and the stars will not come out, as in a total eclipse.

“The dimming will be slight, almost imperceptible,” according to Ed Gleason, Windham resident and director of the University of Maine’s Southworth Planetarium in Portland; who adds, “The planetarium will be open with live NASA feeds of the eclipse starting at 1:45 p.m. and, weather permitting, we will also have someone outside with a scope to enable people to observe the eclipse.”

The slow dimming of the sun, even during a partial eclipse, produces eerie daylighting, unlike the fading light caused by dark clouds passing in front of the sun. As described in a publication by Bill Nye (the science guy) recently, “Filtered sunlight creates alternating bands of light and dark on the ground – it’s otherworldly and spooky.”

http://www.pongratzlaw.com/Looking directly at the sun will damage eyes, possibly leading to blindness. The only safe way to view the eclipse is through special-purpose filters, such as eclipse glasses. Sunglasses or exposed photo film (negatives) are not safe.

Ron Thompson of Southern Maine Astronomical Group, who recently hosted a program on the eclipse at Windham Library said, “A solar eclipse is something you’ll never forget,” but went on to warn sternly and adamantly against watching it with the naked eye. Addressing both adults and children at the session, he added, “I don’t mean to scare you – but I do.”

https://www.egcu.org/homeThompson reviewed safe ways to view an eclipse, including watching it indirectly by constructing various pinhole devices and projecting the image onto a flat surface; #14 welders glass is safe. Other alternatives are solar telescopes and so-called sunoculars (specially filtered binoculars). On-line strategies for safe viewing can be accessed at eclipse.aas/eyesafety.org and tidelandshealth.org/see-it-safely. 

Of recent concern is the sale of counterfeit, or fake, eclipse glasses. One way to test whether solar glasses are safe to use is to make sure they are stamped with an ISO certification label. In addition, the American Astronomical Society recommends an at-home test. They suggest looking through the special lenses – you should not be able to see anything except for the sun or anything significantly bright, like halogen or LED lights. Even those should look dim. Also, check for tears or scratches.
The best viewing time for Monday’s eclipse will be between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. If you miss it, just wait for the next one . . . in 2024.

Friday, August 11, 2017

Discover the increasing popular practice of Qigong by Lorraine Glowczak

Raymond Hill Community Center (RHCC) located at 7 Raymond Hill Road recently began offering weekly Qigong lessons on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The first class began on Saturday, July 15 with plans to continue the practice into the fall. 
 
Qigong practitioners move in a meditative, calming movement
The classes are taught by Karen Rendall, an instructor from the Maine Center for Taijiquan and Qigong, and they provide an opportunity for the community to experience the relaxation advantages and explore the many reported benefits of the ancient Chinese healthcare practice. Everyone, no matter the level of experience, is invited to participate. The cost is $5 per class. Registrations are not required as walk-ins are welcomed.

https://www.egcu.org/homePronounced “Chee Gong”, the meditative movement practice is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intentions. Often associated with its cousin, Tai Chi (also written Taijiquan), the awareness of Qigong in Western culture began in the 1950’s and has been reported to be approximately 2,500 years. However, archaeologists and historians have discovered qigong-like techniques that are at least five thousand years old.

Qigong has slowly become more popular in recent years. According to the Maine Center for Taijiquan and Qigong website, “Taiji & Qigong practice is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Part of the resurgence in popularity of this fabulous art can be attributed to increased cultural exchange, divergence from traditional teaching methods, evolved scientific understanding of efficacy of methods and growing demand for low cost holistic wellness modalities.”

Many participate in the practice of Qigong due to the reported benefits.

“I was motivated to create it [the Qigong class] as a result of the ‘Healthy Aging Initiative’ happening here in Raymond,” explained Mary-Therese Duffy, one of the founding members of RHCC. “The research and recommendations regarding Qigong practice and aging is striking.”

Multiple scholarly articles can be found that verifies Duffy’s assertion, including scientific studies from Harvard Medical Center and Yale Medical School. 

https://www.egcu.org/auto
According to the Journal of International Society of Life Information Sciences, the positive effect that Qigong practice has on the aging process should not be ignored. “These results show that qigong exercise decrease by about 50 percent the incidence of tota1 mortality, mortality due to stroke, and morbidity due to stroke. At the end of 30 years, 86 patients survived in the qigong group and 68 in the control group, these results clearly show that qigong has significant potential for preventing strokes and extending life.”

Popular magazines have also published articles regarding Qigong, including a Newsweek article published in September 27, 2004 entitled, “The New Science of Mind and Body.” In that and other magazine articles, the additional benefits of practicing Qigong include but are not limited to stress relief, improving asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and headaches.

Those who attend the Saturday classes at RHCC include those who have been practicing Qigong for many years as well as those who are experiencing it for the first time. Participants who have made the practice a part of their daily life claim to experience certain benefits.

Charlotte Engelman and Scott Sutton
Scott Sutton from Raymond stated that his practice creates a level of wellness in his life. “Qigong is taking time to connect my body and spirit to experience greater wellness, peace and joy in the moment,” he said.

Charlotte Engelman, also from Raymond, who has enjoyed the practice of Qigong off and on for 20 years states that it helps her face daily life more calmly. “The centering aspect blocks out the craziness of life and gives me a calm feeling for the day,” Engelman began. “And when I go out into the world, I feel I have more strength and stamina to face whatever comes my way.”

“My practice keeps me mentally grounded, improves my quality of sleep, and keeps me feeling physically strong and balanced,” stated Rendall who has been practicing since 2002 and began teaching in 2011.

For those who are experiencing Qigong for the first time or our new at the practice of Qigong, Rendall calms any apprehensions one might have. “It's challenging to walk into a room full of strangers and participate in something that you might not know much about,” began Rendall. “Every Qigong instructor I have learned from has worked hard to make participants feel comfortable, they have encouraged people to move with respect to their own comfort levels, and to have an enjoyable experience. I encourage everyone who asks me about Tai Chi and Qigong to visit a class to try it out. 

In a basic or beginner class, the moves tend to be simple and are practiced with a slow meditative quality - often people leave class and feel more relaxed.”  

For more information about Qigong (and/or Taiji), contact the Maine Center for Taijiquan and Qigong at www.mainetaiji.com or call 207 780-9581.