Barbecue fundraiser to benefit recent WHS grad stricken with lymphoma

By Ed Pierce

When Austin Woodbury walked across the stage at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on Sunday, June 8 to receive his diploma during Windham High School’s 2025 graduation ceremony, neither he nor his family were aware that he was about to enter a fight to save his life.

Austin Woodbury, who graduated in June from
Windham High School, has been diagnosed with
Stage 3 lymphoma and is undergoing treatment.
A benefit fundraiser and barbecue with live music 
will be held at the Windham Veterans Center from
1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 27 to help Woodbury's
family pay his medical expenses.
COURTESY PHOTO
  

Woodbury, 18, told his parents that he felt ill on Monday, June 30 and had stomach pain and constipation. What Austin’s parents Josh and Rachael Woodbury thought at first was something simple then quickly evolved into something much bigger though.

Following a barrage of testing and examinations at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Austin was initially diagnosed by physicians with renal failure as his kidneys were being blocked by a tumor. That in turn led to a more detailed diagnosis of Stage 3 Mature B-cell Lymphoma which was found extensively throughout his abdomen, pancreas, bowel wall, lower right lung, and femur. He has also had testing performed to see if it has spread to his bone marrow and they are waiting results from that.

To resolve his kidney issues, drain tubes were installed into each kidney and since then, Austin’s kidney functionality has returned to normal.

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, a part of the body's immune system. It's characterized by the uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes which are a type of white blood cell that help fight infection. Stage 3 Mature B-cell Lymphoma indicates that the cancer is present in lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm and may also be present in Austin’s spleen.

This type of Stage 3 Mature B-cell Lymphoma is an advanced form of cancer, and treatment for Austin was started immediately involving chemotherapy. His oncologist may consider other treatments for Austin based upon his age, overall health, and the specific type and stage of his lymphoma.

Mature B-cell lymphomas are a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and account for about 85 percent of all lymphomas diagnosed in America.

Survival rates from this type of cancer are generally listed as good, with the five-year survival rate for Stage 3 Mature B-cell Lymphoma estimated at 65 percent according to mylymphomateam.com. Younger adults tend to have a better outlook when diagnosed with Stage 3 Mature B-cell Lymphoma compared with older adults, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Members of Austin’s family say that he’s currently undergoing intensive treatment, and both his parents have been by his side every step of the way in dealing with his diagnosis, meaning they have missed work, have mounting medical bills, and the additional financial stress of trying to keep things afloat at their home in Windham.

Josh Woodbury’s brother, Jason Weatherby, has been tasked to help them try and raise funds to meet the expenses associated with Austin’s treatment.

“They asked that they focus solely on being with Austin and being available to doctors without interruption so I’m running fundraising initiatives,” he said.

A fundraising goal was established online for a Go Fund Me to help cover medical expenses, transportation, and basic household needs like groceries and keeping the lights on at home while Austin’s parents are with him at the hospital during his medical ordeal.

Along with the Go Fund Me effort, Weatherby said the community is invited to participate in a barbecue and fundraiser from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 27 at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham.

“We’ll have food, a silent auction, and we just locked in “The Only Hope” band to play their first charity event,” Weatherby said. “It should be an amazing day.”

If you are interested in donating items for the silent auction, please contact Weatherby at 207-572-7051.  

The Minervino Family, which owns Long Beach Marina in Sebago, also donated proceeds from their Fuel Up for Charity event on Saturday, July 12 for Austin and his family as he undergoes treatment.

According to Weatherby, Austin remains strong during his treatment, is kind, and full of life.

He said having this happen to Austin at a time when he should be focused on his future and his life ahead is a real shame and it shouldn’t be a time when he is having to fight cancer instead.

“With your help, we can ease some of the burden on his family so they can focus on what matters most – Austin’s recovery,” Weatherby said. <

Animal educator to offer free ecology program for kids at WMS

By Kira Pilot

Reptiles and amphibians and insects, oh my! Andrew Desjardins, the man behind the educational outreach program “Mr. Drew and His Animals Too,” will be bringing some of these creatures to a July 25 presentation at the Windham Middle School.

Windham Parks and Recreation and the Windham Public
Library will host a free show for children by animal
educator Mr. Drew at 2 p.m. Friday, July 25 at Windham
Middle School. Kids ages 3 and over are invited to attend.
PHOTO BY CATLIN CREATION 

This free event is coordinated by the Windham Library, Windham Parks and Recreation, and the Middle School itself. Children ages 3 and over are invited to attend and see up close some critter guests as well as learn about responsible pet ownership, rehabilitation, and stewardship of our natural world.

Desjardins, who has assumed the ‘Mr. Drew’ moniker for the past 15 years, takes in and cares for neglected or unwanted pets. Often the animals in his care aren’t the fluffy mammals stereotypically domesticated. Instead, he nurtures exotic insects, arachnids, amphibians, turtles, tortoises, lizards and snakes from around the world. At any given time, Desjardins houses and looks after 300 to 400 creatures at his new facility in Poland. Some animals are responsibly rehomed and others are used in his outreach work after they have been socialized.

Desjardins originally got his start as an educator at a campground one rainy weekend. Noticing the youthful campers were bored, he brought over some pets he was rehabilitating for a show and tell. Parents in the audience inquired if he appeared at birthday parties which sparked the idea for Mr. Drew and His Animals Too. Today, Desjardins as Mr. Drew travels throughout New England, scheduling close to 200 shows in a summer. He is so busy that lately his son Sylas has been stepping in to help him at his summer camp shows.

The content Desjardins presents includes anecdotal stories, ecological facts about the animals he brings with him, humor, and environmental awareness. More than anything, he says he wishes to impart a sense of conscientious care to would-be pet owners.

“Learn about an animal before you buy it, not after,” he said, and he encourages audience members to reach out directly via email with any questions they have about the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Younger generations are increasingly interested in owning exotic pets, perhaps due to social media portrayals. A 2021 study done by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research found that reptile ownership in the U.S. has more than doubled during the previous two decades with an estimated 4.5 million homes currently containing at least one reptile pet. About 79 percent of reptile species trades are unrecorded and thus unregulated, which makes the welfare of these traded species difficult to monitor.

Besides his rehabilitation work, Desjardins is an environmentalist and challenges his audience to participate in his “One Piece Challenge” by picking up one piece of trash and discarding it properly every day for a full calendar year. He points out that if the entire world took on his challenge, we would pick up close to three trillion pieces of garbage.

“Every day is Earth Day – not just one day a year – and it is the one thing we all have in common: this planet we live on,” says Desjardins.

Samantha Cote, a Children’s Librarian at the Windham Public Library, oversees all programming for children up to age 12. Every year the library partners with Windham Parks and Recreation so that youth attending Parks and Rec events can take part in the Library’s Summer Reading Program. Windham Middle School generously provides space for program events such as this one that draw in audiences too large for the library’s event room which has a maximum capacity of 50 people.

This is the second year these three local institutions are hosting Mr. Drew. Last summer this same event drew an audience of 230 people, and Cote is hopeful that the crowd this year may be even larger.

“I think kids are fascinated by the natural world,” Cote said. “This presentation provides them an opportunity to see animals up close that they might not see otherwise, giving them a sense of who we share the planet with. What I love about Mr. Drew is he’s really good with the kids, he’s fun and educational at the same time.”

Mr. Drew’s show will last about 75 minutes and starts at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 25. If you have questions about the event, you can call the library at 207-892-1908 ext. 4. <

Windham presentation to discuss often-neglected subject

By Ed Pierce

Those who’ve had to endure the strain of making funeral arrangements soon after the death of a family member know about the emotional strain and burden of having to make tough choices under duress.

Maine funeral professional
Jeffrey Dobson will offer a
free informative presentation
about funeral planning and 
funeral trusts from 11 a.m. to
1  p.m. Friday, July 25 at The 
Little Meeting House in
Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO 

Forced to make significant personal decisions while grieving takes a toll on all of us and can leave us overwhelmed on the worst possible of days. Yet by giving the subject a little preparation and with guidance, the process can turn out to be meaningful, helpful to healing, and manageable.

To that end, a Maine funeral professional is offering a free informative presentation to alleviate some of the uncertainty from having to plan funerals and make sound decisions during a time of grief and emotional stress. The presentation will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday July 25 at The Little Meeting House, 719 Roosevelt Trail in Windham.

“Our goal is to help the public gain a clearer understanding of how paying for end-of-life arrangements works, and to build their confidence that preplanning can be a secure and beneficial option,” said Jeff Dobson, the owner of Dobson Family Funeral and Cremation Services and Casco Bay Cremation. “Recent funeral home closures, some of which made headlines, have raised concerns, so we hope this event will reassure families by providing accurate, trustworthy information.”

Dobson said that the presentation will cover an array of key topics including:

** How preplanning a funeral works in Maine

** The three types of mortuary trusts allowed under Maine law

** The cost of cremation and what contributes to that cost

** The advantages and disadvantages of preplanning

** An open “Question and Answer” session for families

“We also want to address the common reasons some families avoid preplanning: discomfort discussing mortality, fear of high costs, or concerns about relocating” Dobson said. “Many people don’t realize that arrangements can be easily transferred if they move.”

According to Dobson, he believes it is especially important to educate the public about mortuary trusts.

“For instance, there's a funeral home currently advertising that they accept transferred mortuary trusts at ‘no cost,’ but in reality, there are often fees involved,” he said. “Families deserve transparency so they can make informed decisions that truly serve their best interests.”

Dobson said working with a funeral professional is essential for the public because they help families navigate the complex process of planning a funeral or memorial service for their loved one. They provide guidance, support, and expertise in areas such as arranging for cremations, obtaining necessary permits and certificates, and coordinating with other professionals involved in the funeral process while helping families make important decisions and providing emotional support during a difficult time.

Preplanning can be both a learning and decision-making process, he said. By learning what your available options are, decisions can be made to help balance value and cost. Once decisions have been made about services, a plan can be created to document and share these decisions with the next-of-kin, family and friends.

The process doesn’t necessarily include having to pre-purchase goods or services. But if pre-planning decisions are to be made without purchases being made, pre-planning can result in a clear, well-documented record of an individual’s wishes and selections.

“On a personal note, one of the most challenging parts of this work is the responsibility we carry,” he said. “We always strive to give every family our absolute best. But as humans, we know we may fall short at times, and that pressure to be perfect can be very heavy.”

As the owner and founder of Casco Bay Cremation and Dobson Family Funeral and Services in Arundel, Dobson has worked in funeral service for more than 16 years and started his career in Portland at a funeral home assisting the funeral directors there. It led him to go back to school to obtain his mortuary science degree.

For more details about the presentation in Windham and to RSVP, call 207-747-8240 or send an email to: info@cascobaycremation.com. <

Nangle decries federal court blocking implementation of FTC’s ‘click-to-cancel’ rule

AUGUSTA – Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit blocked the implementation of the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule, citing procedural errors it said the agency made.

The rule aimed to make it easier for Americans to cancel unwanted subscriptions and protect consumers from charges they did not authorize.

State Senator Tim Nangle, D-Windham, released the following statement after he championed state legislation earlier this year to enshrine provisions similar to “click-to-cancel” in Maine law.

“Too many companies count on confusion and delay to keep people locked into services they don’t want and extract more money from them,” Nangle said. “The federal 'Click to Cancel' rule marked a meaningful step forward that aimed to protect consumers and save their hard-earned dollars. This week’s action in the federal courts that blocked implementation of the rule on a procedural technicality is exactly why I introduced legislation to enshrine similar "Click to Cancel" provisions into Maine law.”

He said that he’s proud that his Maine bill was passed this session.

“When the law takes effect, Maine people who sign up for a service online will be able to cancel online, no tricks, no runaround,” Nangle said. “Mainers deserve a system that’s honest, simple and puts them back in control of their own money. Regardless of what happens at the federal level, we secured a win for transparency and fairness in the Maine Legislature.”

Nangle’s bill LD 1642 was introduced in the 132nd Legislature and was signed by Maine Gov. Janet Mills on June 20 and will apply to automatic subscriptions and health club memberships. 

The new law strengthens consumer protection in Maine by requiring:

** Clear disclosure of subscription or membership terms before enrollment

** Affirmative consent before charging for automatic renewals

** Online cancellation using the same method as sign-up

** Advance notice before long-term renewals.

As non-emergency legislation, the bill will take effect on Sept. 24, 2025, some 90 days after the First Special Session of the 132nd Legislature adjourned sine die. <

Norway Savings Bank appoints Windham native as CFO and Treasurer

Norway Savings Bank has announced that Richard St. Pierre has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Executive Vice President.

Windham native Richard St. Pierre has been
named Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Executive Vice President for Norway Savings
Bank. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

St. Pierre succeeds the retiring Brian Shibles, who has served at NSB for over 23 years, including 20 years as NSB’s CFO and 12 years as Treasurer.

St. Pierre arrived at Norway Savings Bank in December of 2023 as Senior Finance Officer SVP and has since overseen the overall management of the bank’s financial accounting, budget, investments, facilities management, and project management.

He possesses more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, including over a decade in community banking.

“In his time at NSB, Rich has proven to be a tremendous addition, working closely with Brian and the Finance and Facilities Teams to prepare for his transition as well as overseeing the implementation of Norway Savings Bank’s new Online and Mobile Banking platform earlier this year,” said Dan Walsh, President and CEO of NSB. “He has an extensive finance background and that prior experience combined with his calm and respectful demeanor make him the perfect choice as the bank’s new CFO and Treasurer.”

A Windham native, St. Pierre earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine and later earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. His extensive knowledge and experience in financial reporting, budgeting, strategic planning, asset liability management, investment management, regulatory reporting, insurance, new branch development, business continuity planning and vendor management make him a valuable asset to the NSB team.

In his free time, Rich enjoys watching New England Sports (Go Pats!) and spending time with his family at their camp. He is also a year-round outdoor enthusiast.

Besides his leadership role at NSB, St. Pierre currently serves on the board of Kennebec Valley Community Action Program as well as the board and loan committee of Southern Maine Finance Agency.<

In the public eye: RSU 14’s Katahdin Program administrator essential to student success

Editor’s note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

Rich Meserve considers himself fortunate to work with a team of talented colleagues that help students find their way in school after having struggled in other settings.

Rich Meserve has led RSU 14's 
Katahdin Program as its Head of
School since 2016 and will be 
entering his 15th year this fall
of working for the school district.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

As the Head of School of the Katahdin Program, RSU 14’s alternative high school program, Meserve says that seeing students embrace the opportunities and challenges that they are presented with at Katahdin is inspiring.

“In one way, shape or form, I am almost always thinking about the students I work with and how I can best support them,” Meserve said.

His duties as school administrator include supervising and evaluating all professional and support staff, helping to plan, organize and directly implement all school activities, assisting in the development, revision, and evaluation of the curriculum, and establishing and maintaining an effective learning climate in the school. He also prepares the Katahdin program’s budget, monitors expenditures, and coordinates school transportation and logistics.

The upcoming 2025-2026 school year will be Meserve’s 15th year working for RSU 14.

“I first started with RSU 14 in 2004 working as a teacher at the REAL School for a number of years,” Meserve said. “I then served as the assistant principal for REAL School until becoming the Katahdin Head of School in 2016. I served in that capacity for almost three years and then left to take a position as Director of School and Student Supports at the Maine Department of Education. I then returned for a year at Windham Middle School assisting with starting their Altitude Program and I am now back in my role as Head of School at Katahdin.

According to Meserve, the most challenging aspect of his job is breaking down the stigma of what an alternative program is.

“The Katahdin Program has the same graduation requirements as Windham High School, but we are small enough that we can tailor school to be a bit more individualized as well as having the flexibility in our schedule to incorporate experiential learning into the mix,” he said.

He was born in Augusta and graduated from Falmouth High School and has lived all his life in Maine except while attending college and eight years that he spent in the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts. 

“I moved back to Maine over the summer of 2004 and had three jobs offered to me, from three different districts, on the same day,” Meserve said. “Weighing all three offers, I felt the most comfortable with the position at RSU 14. This initially had to do with the three people at my interview, Pender Makin, Lillie Hanlon and Rod Nadeau, and the way they painted a picture of what working with them would be like. Since that time, I have been incredibly impressed by the leadership of the district from the members of the superintendent’s team to the school board.”

Education is a second career for Meserve.

“I first got involved working with students as a part-time tutor in Massachusetts in my early 30s. Shortly after that I went back to school at UMass Amherst and became an Ed Tech for two years and then a classroom teacher,” he said. “I have been a regular ed as well as a special education teacher/case manager. I have served as Assistant Principal, and Head of School, as well as in a director position at the Department of Education. I have volunteered for a number of education-related boards and committees and have been a member of the Teacher of the Year State Review Team for the last 11 years.”

His most memorable moments in his career with RSU 14 involve connecting with students a few years after they have graduated.

“They are so thankful for the opportunity that the Katahdin Program provided them to not only earn their high school diploma but also the many other skills and experiences they were afforded by being part of the program,” he said.

Meserve says the most important thing he has learned while working for RSU 14 is simple.

“Every human being has potential and supporting all students is paramount to giving everyone the best opportunity to live a happy and successful life,” he said. <

Raymond to apply for community resilience grant

By Dina Mendros

Raymond will apply for a grant later this summer to help the town prepare for climate change. The Raymond Select Board held a workshop on Tuesday where residents and Select Board members discussed priorities of how the grant, if approved, could be best put to use.

The Town of Raymond intends to apply for a
grant through the Community Resilience
Partnership that supports projects to reduce
energy use and make communities more
resilient to climate change. FILE PHOTO  

During the workshop, led by Lucy Perkins of Siler Climate Consulting, community members were invited to share their thoughts about how the town could use grant funding to make the town more resilient in planning for climate change. Funds can be used to support projects that reduce energy use and costs and make communities more resilient to climate change effects, such as flooding, extreme weather, drought, and public health impacts.

The town of Raymond has contracted with Siler Climate Consulting, together with North Star Planning, for assistance in enrolling in the Community Resilience Partnership, a program under the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, and applying for a Community Action Grant that would range between $50,000 and $75,000. The grants are funded through a mix of federal and state sources.

The Community Resilience Partnership “helps towns plan for and fund projects that improve energy efficiency and local resilience,” according to Ben Smith, the founder of North Star Planning. The program, he said, “provides technical assistance and grant funding for community priorities and those could be town facilities, emergency preparedness, open space and trails, broadband access and a number of different kinds of projects related to resiliency, economy, public health and infrastructure.”

In the most recent grant awards that took place during the spring, some of the projects which received funding included modernizing municipal facilities through energy efficiency upgrades in Acton, conducting a municipal energy assessment in Alfred and a resilient outreach and education plan in Bath.

According to Perkins, so far 263 Maine municipalities have enrolled in the program, which encompasses about two-thirds of the state’s population; and a large percent of those communities have received funding.

There’s no guarantee Raymond will receive a grant, Smith said. However, he said, “priority is given to communities who haven’t received grant funding yet.”

The town learned about the grant opportunity, according to Town Manager Joseph Crocker, when “two members of the Comprehensive Plan Committee brought this to our attention in partnership with North Star Planning.”

In addition to Tuesday’s workshop and completing self-assessment forms, to enroll in the program, Crocker said, “the Select Board will need to pass a municipal resolution (written by the state) agreeing to join the partnership. … Raymond should complete enrollment by July to apply for a grant in August/September.”

During Tuesday’s workshop, several residents as well as Select Board members, named some of the priorities they thought the grant could go toward.

Select Board member Kaela Gonzalez said some of the priorities for the town that she would like to see the town address include weatherization and solar energy for town buildings, more community gardens, to incentivize energy efficiencies for new building and placing more EV chargers around town.

Shelter and disaster preparedness were mentioned by Age Friendly Raymond Coordinator Debby Tarr.

Increasing conservation and open space were noted by Loon Echo Land Trust Executive Director Matt Markot, as well as ensuring that use ordinances were aligned with community goals of where development should take place.

School Board member Grace Leavitt emphasized that communication and education were also important.

The benefits of enrolling in the Community Resilience Partnership, Smith said, are twofold. “The biggest payoff will be a successful grant award,” he said. “The other reason I think is that it starts some community conversations about resilience broadly (and) … how does Raymond balance community needs around facilities and infrastructure with open space and rural character and making improvements around housing and transportation.” <