Windham Food Pantry needs “Stocking Stuffers” for Windham children and teens

The Windham Delegation is making arrangements to collect donations that will be used by “Gift Certificates” and then given to the Windham Food Pantry who will then give to families as “Stocking Stuffers” for children who will not be getting many presents this Christmas.

For more information on how to contribute to this very worthy cause for Windham children call:

Sen. Bill Diamond. -  207-892-8941

Rep. Patrick Corey – 207-749-1336

Rep. Mark Bryant - 207-650-4086

Any amount is welcome, and all donations are tax deductible. The deadline for contributions is Tuesday, December 18.

Egg money to hatch great things at Riding To The Top

Allie Mannette is an eight-year-old budding equestrian who raises chickens at her family farm in Standish. Every year she sells her eggs and her handmade Christmas decorations at her grandparent’s family hosted craft fair in Gorham and then donates the money to charity.

Allie with Lily the horse and Sarah Bronson

In the past she has donated to the Animal Refuge League and to her school’s Back Pack Project that provide weekend meals for kids in need. This year she has decided to donate all the money she made to Riding To The Top (RTT) because of how highly her grandparents have spoken of the local nonprofit.

Her grandparents -- Mary Jane and Gerry Strumph attended RTT’s annual signature event, the Triple B ~ “Boots, Band and BBQ” in October as guests of their friends, the Vances. It was their first introduction to Riding To The Top and the impact that the organization has on the health and wellness of people with disabilities and their families.

On Thursday, December 6 Mannette visited RTT with her mom, Natalie Hodgdon, as well as with her grandparents and she got to see firsthand how her donation will make a difference. Mannette observed a lesson, toured the farm and met some of the 19 horses at RTT.  “After I heard about the event that my grandparents went to and what it was for, I thought it would be nice to donate here.” 

Mannette’s egg and crafts fair proceeds this year totaled $126 which she presented to Executive Director, Sarah Bronson during her visit.

“In addition to being a budding equestrian, Allie is a budding philanthropist! She personally understands the impact that horses can have, and for her to make this donation to Riding To The Top as an 8 year old is truly heart-warming. We were touched by her gift and visit to the farm and look forward to seeing her back as a volunteer in the future!” said Sarah Bronson, Executive Director.

   

For more information about client services, volunteering, or making a gift, please visit us at www.ridingtothetop.org or call 892-2813.

“Changing lives through the healing power of horses”

Raymond Village Library has seen the light

As winter settles into the Windham-Raymond area, temperatures drop precipitously, and darkness comes early. In order to provide more efficient and cost-effective services to the community, Raymond Village Library has acted to improve their operations and lessen their impact on the environment.

In the past, the library had the opportunity to install three heat pumps to condition the library’s space. This afforded the ability to provide air-conditioned space during the summer months and to lessen the use of an old forced hot air heating system fueled by kerosene. Last winter, the Raymond Village Library only used the forced air heating system as an emergency backup. The library consumed less than 50 gallons of K-1 that season, saving money and reducing their environmental impact at the same time.

This fall, the library finished converting all the indoor and outdoor building lights from fluorescent and incandescent to LED bulbs, which have no glass or mercury. With this upgrade, the library expects to save substantial electricity, to provide uniform and brighter lighting levels throughout the building, and to benefit from the 35,000-hour (or more) life expectancy of the new bulbs.

“The Library Board is looking at replacing the parking lot lighting fixtures next year. These two fixtures now account for a large part of our electricity consumption,” said Mark Jordan, Board member and Building Maintenance Committee Chair. “We are committed to being responsible stewards of our library and the environment. We are all excited about what the future may bring.”

Allison Griffin, Library Director appreciates the way the Board cares for the library building. “Board members repainted the front of the library this summer and volunteers installed a new library sign. With the lighting changes we look great inside and out!”

What will the future hold? “I can’t help but look to the sky. Our move to save energy and install long lasting bulbs not only helps with our operating costs, but also will provide new educational opportunities for our patrons”, said Sheila Bourque, Library Board President. “LEDs use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. According to the Department of Energy, widespread use of LED lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the United States. By 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save about 348 TWh (compared to no LED use) of electricity: This is the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants (1000 megawatts each), and a total savings of more than $30 billion at today's electricity prices. We want to do our small part.”

The Raymond Village Library is looking forward to sharing their future plans with the community and hope that they can count on your support as we move toward a future that will benefit their patrons, community and planet!

Windham and Gorham open new water pump station

By Matt Pascarella

Early this fall, construction was finished on the Wards Hill water pump station in Gorham as the old station, built in 1895, will be slowly phased out in the next two to three years years. It is important to note that the older water pump station is not unsafe, but it is not big enough to meet the demands of the growing communities. As a result, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at 69 Ward Road on Thursday, December 6 to officially bring the new station into the forefront. 

Ribbon cutting ceremony at new pump station

Joel Anderson, Water Services Plant Chief Operator for Portland Water District, explained that the new Gorham pump gives both Windham and Gorham increased flow capacity from the old 600 gallons per minute into the Gorham system to the now 1,200 gallons per minute.

Pride’s Corner in Portland pushes water into the Windham Center system. A new water tank storage facility will be built on the Windham Center side, behind town hall and extend a water main from the Little Falls bridge, back to Windham Center. Right now, the current water tank holds 200,000 gallons, but once the new tank in Windham is completed, it will hold up to 2 million gallons. This added storage in the new water tank on Windham Center, near town hall, will aid in reserve for fighting fires. 

Having the additional storage gives the ability to run the Gorham pump station in a more effective manner. When the pump runs nonstop during peak hours and uses more energy, more money is spent. Having reserve storage during non-peak hours saves energy and money.

“The project was identified by a Comprehensive Strategic Plan put in place twenty years ago,” added Anderson. “It’s something they’ve been working on for a while. A lot of pipe had to be put into the ground. Upgrades began in 2006 with the installation of water mains to Fort Hill Road, Huston Road and Wards Hill Road in Gorham; this improved water pressure to residents in the area.”

Over the next few years, improvements will be made to connect the Gorham and Windham distribution systems and allow the Wards Hill pump to be the primary feeding station for Windham. Once the systems are connected, Windham and Gorham can operate as a single, combined system. In “an emergency, the Windham tanks will be a backup, sending water to the point of least resistance, and vice-versa,” continues Anderson.

“We’ve already spent $8.3 million to build the piping and build the pump station in Gorham and will apply $5 million over the next five years for the new tank site and piping in Windham,” stated Chris Crovo, Executive Director of Asset Management and Planning for the Portland Water District.

 Design planning begins in 2019 and construction starts in 2020. They’ll be more investment for piping in Windham over the next five to ten years.

Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors receives donation

Vickie McMullen and Bill Diamond

Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors received $5000 from the Windham Branch of Mechanics Savings Bank. Vickie McMullen, Vice President, Banking Center Manager of Mechanics Savings Bank handing the $5000 check to Bill Diamond, President of Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a 501 C3 charity organization that provides emergency heating fuel assistance to Windham residents.  www.windhamneighbors.org.

Festival of Trees announce winners

The second annual Festival of Trees began Friday, November 30 and ended Sunday, December 2 at Windham Hill United Church of Christ. The church’s Fellowship Hall was a Winter Wonderland as it was home to 20 trees, all decorated and with gifts which were donated by local businesses. Many families and their children will have a very Merry Christmas as a result of this year’s Festival of Trees.

Tree donors and winners are as follows:

Aubochon Hardware won by Carol and Mike Waters

Hall Implement won by Christen Deschenes

Wildwood Properties won by Jeff Patridge

Spruce Salon won by Sara Rulman

Friends of Windham Hill UCC won by Fiona Dempstee

Halledge Farm won by Mary Dugans

Windham Jewelry won by Jessica Fortin

Time4Printing won by Carol Meader

MGM Builders won by Robin Norton

Patman’s Redemption Agency and Liquor won by Jessica Eaton

Greater Windham Business Exchange won by Madeline Boure

PR Webster won by Misty Hodgton

Windham Barber Shop won by Tim Graham

Kathie Hazel and Susan Moore won by Steve Hurdley

Cabinetry Concepts won by Angela Burnham

Blue Seal Feeds won by Diane Whittman

Hope Harbor Animal Society won by Sally Phipps

It Takes Two Farm won by Megan Dvilinsky

Dolby, Blais & Segee Funeral Home won by Barry Babb

The Dental Office of Dr. Leslie Elston won by Robin Norton

The 2019 WHUCC Festival of Trees will be December 6 through 8.

Second of three public forums to discuss proposed Windham Community Center held on Monday

T-shirts will go on sale soon as part of a fundraising effort

By Lorraine Glowczak

Approximately 20 Windham residents attended the second of three scheduled public forums to discuss the planning and development of a Windham Community Center on Monday, December 3 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall Chamber Room. The forum also included those who attended remotely on Facebook Live.

The evening began with a welcome by Pat Moody, Chair of the Windham Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee who introduced members of the design firm working with the recreation committee, Harriman.

Mark Lee, Sharon Ames and Emily Annis, all of Harriman, presented the results accumulated by participants from the first public forum that occurred in September. Among the findings from that first public forum - a gym track, large and small swimming pools, adult wellness area, youth wellness area and a senior space were among the most popular requests. Secondary requests included a ball field, a space for a Headstart program as well as room for the local food pantry. Outside space such as a playground, athletic field, parking lot and a walking path were also among the requests.

Also examined and discussed were the varieties of activities that would take place at the community center with a high concentration of those events to occur during the school year. There would also be opportunities for annual one-time events as well as activities that would require rental space such as birthday parties, etc.

The proposed location for the community center is the Morrell property located near the rotary and Smith Cemetery at the intersection of Routes 302 and 202. This property is owned by the town.

After the brief presentation, participants had an opportunity to look at three concept designs.

Concept Design One is a 20,000 square foot building with two floors that would include all the critical items such as a 2-court gym and indoor track, two locker rooms, pool, lobby and adult fitness area.

The second design is considered the “phase” approach which would entail constructing the center in phases. It would contain a 2-quart gym and indoor track, two locker rooms, a lobby, a 365 square foot kitchen, two multi-purpose rooms, a teen room, a senior room and administrative offices. This center’s design is also 20,000 square feet.

The third all-purpose design is a 60,000 square foot building that would include a three-court gym and indoor track, large pool, small pool, two locker rooms and a 625 square foot kitchen.

All designs would include outdoor space of an athletic field, playground and parking spaces.

The participants then had an opportunity to fill out a form to choose their preferred concept design. The form asked the participants to explain why they chose the design and provide specific details that would help Harriman fine-tune the next concept design that will be presented in March.

Concerns expressed after receiving all pertinent information included entry into the community center property from Route 302, the need for a larger kitchen space as well as the possible hindrance to the Smith Cemetery expansion.

“The land where they are proposing to build the community center was purchased by the town as an expansion to Smith Cemetery,” stated Clarence Wisecap. “I have concerns about this. The community center is a great idea and I’m for it, but what about the cemetery expansion?”

Pat Moody addressed the concern regarding the cemetery expansion. “The planning process takes into consideration that the ‘Morrell Property’ could encompass both a community center facility and space for Smith Cemetery expansion. This collaborative approach would synchronize the planning of both functions and take into account the environmental impact as well as the traffic safety aspect of entering and exiting the facilities.” 

Of those present, there was excitement filling the room for the proposed recreational center that would encompass all age levels, providing services for preschool students up to and including senior citizen events. “I was really excited to see so many people rooting for a center. I was also proud to see so many familiar faces that are vested in the community and came out to this planning session,” Moody stated.

Harriman will take in consideration the concerns express as well as the results of the form filled out by participants. A third public forum is scheduled for March and the final presentation of the proposed community center based upon feedback will be available and discussed.

T-shirts were created and worn by Recreation Committee and Town Council members who were present at Monday’s meeting. The t-shirts one part of many fundraising efforts and will be available for sale at the Windham Parks and Recreation Department in the near future.

For more information about each concept design and to obtain a form to or to obtain to choose your preferred community center concept design, contact the Windham Parks and Recreation Department at (207) 892-1905 or ljbrooks@windhammaine.us.