Windham and Raymond community invited to Jewish “Shabbat” service this Friday By Larry Wolff

A Friday evening “Shabbat” service will be held at the Casco Village Church located at 941 Meadow Road on Route 121 in Casco on Friday, July 14 at 6 p.m. The service will be led by a guest “cantorial” soloist and refreshments will be served. People of all faiths who are interested are invited.
 

For those who are unacquainted with Jewish practice, the Jewish Day of Rest begins Friday evening at sunset and ends Saturday evening. Typically, there is a service on Friday evening in Hebrew and English and then on Saturday morning. A short prayer book based on Reform and Conservative Jewish practice will be used.

Summer residents living around Pleasant Lake in Casco, organized the first service of this kind in Casco last August 2016. The group, called Kehilah Casco (Kehilah is “community” in Hebrew), plans to have Friday evening services several times each summer. The next service will be Friday, August 18 at the Seeds of Peace Camp. Again, people of all faiths are invited to attend.  

The Casco Village Church and Pastor Joyce Long have graciously provided their premises for this Friday’s service.

Student of the week: Brody Lewis

Brody Lewis, a third-grade student at Raymond Elementary School, is The Windham Eagle’s student of the week. His teacher is Mrs. Susan Crocket

“Brody Lewis has a fun, positive attitude, a caring sense of humor and is a friend to everyone,” stated Crocket. “Brody is always willing to help out, participates in class, and is a dedicated student who always completes work on time. He is a social, academic, and behavioral role model and outstanding citizen. Brody’s eyes and smiles radiate like sunshine!”

Congratulations Brody!

Vendor fair helps family who lost their dad by Michelle Libby

On June 17, the Dodge family from Windham lost the corner stone of its family unexpectedly at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Shane Dodge was scheduled to come home that day, according to his wife Cathy. He was 45 years old. 

Vendor Fair incorporates fundraiser

According to his obituary, Shane possessed many endearing qualities like his big smile, a funny sense of humor with a sarcastic twist, along with being warm, kind and sensitive to those around him. He had just started a new job at Anthem, but his insurance, short term disability and life insurance policies hadn’t started when he went into the hospital. 

“So many people have written so many nice things,” said Cathy. “They said things like he made people smile and laugh.” They would have celebrated their 18^th wedding anniversary in September.

Shane and Cathy have three children, Aaron Wright, 22, who lives in California, Anna Dodge, 16, who just graduated early from Windham High School and will be attending Washington County Community College in the fall, and Abby Dodge, 14, who will be a freshman at Windham High School. 

Cathy has been a distributor for Magic Eraser for a few years. The direct selling industry is a close knit community. The vendor fair was already set for Monday night when Shane passed. After speaking to Cathy’s sister, it was determined that the event would become a fundraiser to help the family with all of their expenses. 

“I knew at some point I wanted to do something for the family,” said LuLaRoe consultant, Tonnya Sayah from Windham, who organized the event at the Windham Veterans Center. “Cathy would do this for any of us. I love giving back.”

Through raffles, a bake sale and each vendor donating their commission on items purchased, the event raised approximately $400 for the family. 

“I’m excited and honored to help out a local family. The 31 company believes in giving back to our local communities,” said 31 representative Barb Maurais from Windham.

Cathy also started a job at Prudential in the disability call center last August, but has been unable to go back to work due to the stress of her job. 

“Shane and I try to live right and help whenever we can. We try to teach our children to do the same,” said Cathy in a post to her Facebook friends and family. “It is humbling and amazing to be on the receiving end of all of this love and support. Please go home and hug your family. Call your friends. Make peace with that person you had a falling out with. Visit your neighbor. None of us knows when the last hug, last word, last call will be.”

To help the family, visit www.gofundme.com/ameer-caring-for-cathy

Legislators announce USDA approval of up to $10 million in Bonus Buys of Maine Wild Blueberries

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved up to $10 million to purchase Maine wild blueberries after the Delegation requested the department take action earlier this year. Bonus Buys help protect American farmers from unexpected market conditions by purchasing surplus goods and distributing them to food banks and other charitable institutions.  “Maine’s wild blueberry industry has been an important part of Maine’s economy and culture for centuries. In recent years, however, the wild blueberry industry has faced increasing challenges from global oversupply of cultivated berries and steeply declining prices,” said Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Poliquin in a joint statement.  “Earlier this year, we urged the USDA to provide relief to Maine growers through a Bonus Buy of surplus frozen wild blueberries, and we are pleased that the department has agreed to take action. This investment to alleviate the supply issue, combined with the industry’s efforts to boost demand, will help create new opportunities for wild blueberry growers and support a bright future for this unique Maine crop.” The price of frozen wild blueberries has dropped below the cost of production by as much as 60 percent in the last five years, creating an unsustainable situation for Maine growers. In February 2017, the Maine Delegation wrote to Erin Morris, the USDA’s Acting Deputy Administrator of the Specialty Crops Program, to express strong support for the surplus commodity purchase of frozen Maine wild blueberries. This Bonus Buy will help stabilize the future market and alleviate the disparity between supply and demand. The funding for the emergency surplus removal of the Maine wild blueberries was awarded through the USDA’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

Riding To The Top receives $2000 match from Modern Woodmen

Zack Conley and Tim Graham of Modern Woodmen of America, visited Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) to present a matching gift of $2000. The organization’s local members participated in RTT’s 3rd Annual Dances with Horses event, which raised a total of

$7,700 for RTT riders and horses. Conley/Graham said, “Modern Woodmen exists to improve quality of life for our members and the communities. One of the ways we do this is through volunteer activities and supporting local non-profits.” 

Modern Woodmen present check to RTT

Sarah Bronson, Executive Director stated, “This generous matching gift will support our riders (and the horses that make it all possible) in the coming months. Hundreds of local people with disabilities will be able to experience the healing power of horses at RTT, thanks to Modern Woodmen’s gift.” Bronson went on to note that, “Dances with Horses has become a popular event for horse lovers of all ages - it showcases the special bond between humans and horses; a bond that riders and horses at RTT celebrate every day!” 

Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial was founded in 1883. Ever since then, they have been helping families fulfill their financial needs and making an impact in communities nationwide. Their main purpose is to help members plan for their financial security through insurance investments. Modern Woodmen fraternalism is about coming together and making a positive impact on each other and on our communities. It’s about being part of something bigger than ourselves. For more information contact Zack Conley/Tim Graham at the Windham office at (207) 892-0302.

About Riding To The Top

Our mission is enhancing health and wellness through equine assisted activities and therapies. Founded in 1993, Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) is located on a 50 acre farm in Windham, Maine.  RTT is a PATH, Intl. Premier Accredited Center (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International).  RTT is the state’s only PATH Accredited Center providing year round year round equine assisted activities and therapies to children and adults with disabilities. Over 250 clients visit annually from over 40 communities in Maine and NH. Certified instructors, specially trained horses and over 160 volunteers assist up to 100 clients each week. Riding To The Top is a community-based nonprofit, receives no federal or state funding and provides scholarships to over 60 percent of its clients. For more information about client services, volunteering, or making a gift, please visit ridingtothetop.org or call 892-2813.

. . . changing lives through the healing power of horses

Student of the week: Lilyanna Look

Lilyanna Look, a sixth-grade student at Jordan-Small Middle School, is The Windham Eagle’s student of the week.

“Because of her hard work and perseverance, this young lady is on her way to becoming a star student,” stated one of her teachers. “Lilyanna Look is the kind of student who takes pride in her work - in doing the best job she can. She is naturally inquisitive, and often times leads class discussions to deeper, more analytical places. The growth we have seen from Lily . . .  well, it is just plain beautiful. We are happy to say she stands out as a student who is motivated, creative, dedicated, and joyful.” 

Look stated that she enjoys school because she finds the teaching staff helpful and nice. In her opinion, learning can be more fun if the subject matters are presented and explained with the help of slideshows and posters.

Look lives at home with her two sisters and their puppy, JoJo

Favorite subject:  English Language Arts (ELA)

Favorite movie:  “The Grinch”

Hobbies & extracurricular activities:  Yard sales and basketball

Drug-Free Community Coalition to host Lunch and Learn for parents

Be The Influence Coalition (BTI), a Windham and Raymond community partnership to create a drug-

free community, will host a conversation with parents and caregivers of today’s youth on Wednesday, July 12 at the Windham Public Library from noon to 1 p.m.

Topics of discussion will include how drugs affect the underdeveloped brain and how to talk to youth effectively and honestly about remaining drug-free. There will be time for questions and feedback.

BTI believes that substance use and abuse is a community-wide concern which requires a

community-wide response. BTI’s mission is to promote community collaboration with the focus on today’s Windham and Raymond youth, assisting them in making good decisions and remaining drug free.

Bring a brown bag lunch and be ready to learn, discuss and offer feedback regarding the importance of preventing youth drug use and creating a drug-free community. 

For more information about this event call the Project Director, Laura Morris at 587-680-0661.