Schools supplies to be given away by Windham Assembly Rainbow girls this Saturday

Windham Assembly Rainbow Girls will conduct a school backpack giveaway complete with school supplies at the Windham Farmers Market located at Turning Leaf Drive in Windham from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2019. School aged children are encouraged to stop by to take advantage of this opportunity which also helps the Rainbow Girls fulfill their community outreach requirement. The Rainbow Girls are sponsored by Presumpscot Lodge of Masons of Windham.

Music with a Mission receives recognition for donating to the RSU14 Backpack program

This year, North Windham Union Church’s Music with a Mission (MWAM) series supported the RSU14 Backpack program with proceeds from their April 27th concert that featured Travis James Humphrey (a singer-songwriter from Northern Maine). This was the fourth time in the past three years that performers chose to support the Backpack program, including once in 2017 and twice in 2018.  “They do great work for students and families in need -- and MWAM has been delighted to shine the light and share the proceeds as part of our mission with the music,” stated MWAM Board Member, Jim McBride. “The Backpack program is an amazing effort that helps so many kids and families year-round. I would like to think the Backpack program for their ongoing service to our schools and our community! 

In addition to and support of the Travis James Humphrey concert, Zack Conley and his colleague from Modern Woodmen also donated an additional $500 to support the RSU14 Backpack program efforts.

Evergreen Credit Union donates to local lake associations

Three local lake associations, whose mission is to protect and preserve water quality, received donations from Evergreen Credit Union. Recipients included Collins Pond Improvement Association, Lakes Environmental Association and Little Sebago Lake Association. “The work of these and other lake associations need to be supported so that Maine and our waterways remain healthy and continue to make Maine a place to live and thrive,” stated Evergreen Vice President of Marketing Howard Lowell.

Alyson Smith from Lakes Environmental Association receives check From Howard Lowell, Evergreen VP Marketing

Bill Burke from Collins Pond Improvement Association accepts check  from Allie Floyd, Evergreen Marketing Assistant

Pam Wilkinson and Tim Greer from Little Sebago Lake Association accept check  from Howard Lowell, Evergreen VP Marketing

O’Shea Builders has been named by REMODELING Magazine to its 2019 Big50 Class of America’s Top Remodelers

Owner, Warren O'Shea

O’Shea Builders of Windham has been selected by REMODELING magazine to join the REMODELING Big50. Each year since 1986, the REMODELING Big50 inducts 50 remodeling companies that have set exceptionally high standards for professionalism and integrity through exemplary business practices, craftsmanship, and impact in their community or the industry at large. Big50 remodelers run successful, growing companies of various sizes that have taken the lead in raising industry standards.

Since the Big50 program began, REMODELING has selected about 1,600 firms for Big50

status, approximately less than 2 percent of all remodeling businesses in the country today.

“We are honored to receive this distinction,” says Warren O’Shea, owner of O’Shea Builders

“The award recognizes excellence and leadership, and we are privileged to be named to this

select group of remodelers.”

REMODELING editors, columnists, industry leaders, and the companies themselves make the

nominations each year. Following a lengthy evaluation and interview process, the editors select

the 50 individuals who exemplify the best of the industry that year, and who have something to

offer other remodelers in proven practices.

This year’s Big50 includes full-service remodelers, home improvement firms, and specialists in

specific parts of the homes, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Some have a history going back

decades, while others are just a few years old. “There’s no single strategy here and no lack of

competitors for their services,” REMODELING’s introduction to the list declares. “What Big50

firms share is a culture that celebrates employees and customer service above all.”

The Big50 awards will be presented at a dinner at the Remodelers Summit and Awards Gala on

Wednesday, September 24, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. The 2019 Big50 winners are featured in the

July-August issue of REMODELING, a national trade publication read by more than 150,000

professional remodeling contractors. Longer profiles of the winners are posted on the

REMODELING website, remodelingmag.com.

REMODELING, published by Hanley Wood, is the leading publication in the home

improvement industry. REMODELING has and continues to be an indispensable tool that

remodelers cannot do without—delivering the business know-how, product and technical

information that home improvement pros need to help make smart decisions that will shape their success.

It has been more than 20 years since a Maine based remodeler has received this award.

Congratulations O’Shea Builders!

Fay to chair group studying labor shortage among long-term care workers

AUGUSTA – Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, will serve as House chair of a new panel to study the shortage of workers for long-term care services. There is currently a shortage of direct care workers, and the shortfall of qualified workers to care for Maine’s growing senior population is expected to get worse in the coming years.

“There are not enough people who can provide long-term care services, and this is a very serious concern.” said Fay. “There are many cases of people going without the help they need because workers can’t be found to fill the jobs.”

The Commission to Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues, which was created as part of the state budget, is tasked with determining current demand for direct care workers, projecting future needs and developing strategies for meeting those needs. They are also tasked with developing strategies to improve the quality of long-term care jobs.

Fay is serving her second term in the Maine Legislature and represents parts of Casco, Poland and Raymond. She serves on the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee, the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and is House co-chair of the Legislative Caucus on Aging.

Long standing challenges of Gore Road in Raymond coming to an end

By Craig Bailey

In the April 12th edition of The Windham Eagle an article was published providing background information and an update related to the progress being made towards addressing the long-standing issues of Gore Road in Raymond and Gray. (see online article: news.thewindhameagle.com/2019/04/long-standing-challenges-of-gore-road.html

In summary, the length of Gore Road included sections of ownership and maintenance by the Town of Raymond, residents of Raymond, residents of Gray and the Town of Gray. As stated by Nathan White, the Town of Raymond’s Public Works Director, “We have over 200 miles of private roads in Raymond and Gore Road was the only private road connecting Raymond to another town.”

Don Willard, Raymond’s Town Manager, reinforced, “Gore Road has long been a public safety issue as it was almost impassable. The privately-owned portion of the road (part of a through way between the two towns), known as “no man’s land, had long since deteriorated beyond the residents’ ability to implement the necessary improvements”.

In fact, White explained that last winter a plow truck fell through a culvert on Gore Road.

Raymond resident Bob King, one of the driving forces behind getting the issues addressed stated, “This road has been a mess for over 40 years, so much so that I find a lot of car parts in my yard.”

White explained that securing the necessary funding to address the Gore Road issues, with ownership spanning the two towns and their residents, resulted from a cooperative (quid pro quo) arrangement with the Town of Gray.

As stated by Deborah Cabana, Gray’s Town Manager, “This has been a very unique, long-standing issue between the two communities. We were able to come up with a creative way for the communities and residents to resolve the issues, with no tax impact. It took a lot of people willing to come to the table and think outside the box, including: Public Works, Board of Selectmen, Town Council as well as residents. This has made numerous members of both communities extremely happy.”

Willard stated that another driving force to affect the long-awaited result was the Town of Raymond’s Selectmen Teresa Sadak.”

“Improvements are now underway. This has included tree work, excavation, putting in place proper drainage and finally paving, all of which should be complete by the middle of September,” White stated.

Willard emphasized, “As a result of this work we now have a public road connecting the two towns: a win-win for residents of Raymond and Gray.”

King was compelled to offer a big thank you to Willard, White and the Public Works crew “for the great work being done!”

VFW supports the NAVY SEALs Swim for Camp Sunshine

Windham Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 10643, was proud to again support the Navy SEALs Swim for Sunshine Challenge. Five Navy SEALs swam 16 miles from Bridgton to Casco to raise money for military families who have children with life threatening illnesses to attend Camp Sunshine. 

Mike Wisecup, a retired Navy SEAL, originated this challenge six years ago and the VFW has been honored to provide assistance to these SEALs events since its inception. The SEALs for Sunshine events are a highlight of the year for VFW members including having one of the VFW members in the lead boat each year, members placing flags at the finish of the challenges, and it's a proud moment for all when the VFW members line up to salute the SEALs as they enter the Gala, the culmination of the annual two day event. 

"Each year, we're in awe of, and inspired by, these men who perform incredible athletic feats to raise funds to enable military families to go to Camp Sunshine.  We are honored, and humbled, to be able to join with the SEALs each year," stated Willie Goodman, Commander of the Windham VFW.

 

In addition to joining the SEALs on the beach at the end of their challenge, the VFW members donated $1,000 and many members attended the Gala event, a memorable night for all.

Camp Sunshine, founded in 1984, is nestled on the shores of beautiful Sebago Lake. It’s mission is to provide a retreat - combining respite, recreation and support, while enabling hope and promoting joy, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through the various stages of a child’s illness.

Camp Sunshine's program is offered year-round and has the distinction of having been designed to serve the entire family in a retreat model. The program is free of charge to families and includes on-site medical and psychosocial support. Bereavement sessions are also offered for families who have experienced the death of a child from a supported illness.