Voters to decide fate of five statewide referendums on ballot

By Ed Pierce

There are five statewide referendum questions on the November 2024 General Election ballot and voters across Maine will determine if they pass or fail.

Here in Maine, citizens have the power to initiate state statutes and to veto state referendums. Voters approved a constitutional amendment for initiative and referendum powers in Maine in 1908.

For a citizen’s initiative to make the 2024 ballot as a Maine referendum, the number of valid signatures required for an initiative to make the ballot is equal to 10 percent of votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election.

The Maine Legislature can also place statewide ballot measures in the form of constitutional amendments and state statutes on the ballot. The most common form of this type of referred statute are statewide bond issues.

Maine is one of 16 states that requires a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the Maine House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Maine Senate. These types of constitutional amendments do not require the governor's signature to be placed on the ballot.

Statutes, including bond issues, require a simple majority vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session and the governor's signature to appear on the ballot.

The Maine Constitution also requires that state bonds exceeding $2 million be placed on the ballot for voter approval.

Here are this year’s five statewide referendum initiatives for 2024:

QUESTION 1: An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures. Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?

QUESTION 2: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Research and Development and Commercialization. Do you favor a bond issue of $25,000,000 to provide funds, to be awarded through a competitive process and to leverage matching private and federal funds on at least a one-to-one basis, for research and development and commercialization for Maine-based public and private institutions in support of technological innovation in the targeted sectors of life sciences and biomedical technology, environmental and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials and precision manufacturing?

QUESTION 3: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Restore Historic Community Buildings. Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25 percent local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?

QUESTION 4: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Promote the Design, Development and Maintenance of Trails for Outdoor Recreation and Active Transportation. Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance for nonmotorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide, to be matched by at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?

QUESTION 5: An Act to Restore the Former State of Maine Flag. Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, as the official flag of the State?

The order of referendum questions on the November 2024 General Election ballot was established through a public lottery held by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Maine Deputy Secretary of State for Corporations, Elections and Commissions Julie Flynn in July.

Under Maine Law, questions must be arranged in the following order: carry-over measures from a previous election; people's veto questions; initiated measures; bond issues; constitutional amendments; and other legislatively proposed referenda. Within each grouping, questions must be arranged in a random order determined by a selection process conducted in public. All questions must be numbered sequentially on ballots distributed to voters. <

VFW’s annual essay competition for students opens

By Ed Pierce

Two popular essay competitions for students sponsored by Windham’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 are back and promise up to a $35,000 college scholarship to the national winner.

Windham VFW Post 10643 is sponsoring the Patriot's Pen
and Voice of Democracy essay competitions for students
in grades 6 to 12. The deadline to submit an entry this
year is Oct. 31. COURTESY IMAGE  

This year’s VFW Patriot's Pen and the VFW Voice of Democracy essay competitions are open to any student in the area in grades 6 to 12, said VFW Post 10643 Commander Willie Goodman.

The topic for grades 6 to 8 is "My Voice in America’s Democracy" and the topic for grades 9 to 12 is "Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?"

Goodman said that the Patriot's Pen essay competition is open to all middle school students from Windham and Raymond attending Windham Middle School, Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond, Windham Christian Academy, Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, and other public and private schools and home-schooled students, in grades 6 to 8. Middle school students are invited to write a 300- to 400-word essay about this year's theme and what it specifically means to them.

He said that the Voice of Democracy competition is open to all high school students from Windham and Raymond, in grades 9 to 12, including those who are home-schooled. Students are asked to write and record a 3- to 5-minute essay (on an audio CD) on this year's theme and the meaning it holds for them.

“Students in the Windham area and surrounding towns are all welcome to participate and are given the opportunity to compete in these VFW annual essay competitions with a chance to win thousands of dollars in college scholarships in either competition,” Goodman said. “This VFW-sponsored youth essay competition encourages students to use their minds and knowledge of America’s history and their experience of today’s American society to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme.”

The first-place VFW state winner for Maine in each competition receives a four-day trip to Washington, D.C.

The first-place winner nationally receives $5,000 for the Patriot's Pen winning essay and the first-place winning essay nationally for the Voice of Democracy receives a $35,000 college scholarship.

According to Goodman, students begin on the path for a national title competing at the local post level here in Windham. The VFW Post 10643 winners then advance to compete at the district-level. District winners compete in the VFW’s annual state competition while trying to secure a berth in the national competition next spring.

“These scholarships are dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation,” Goodman said.

Each year, more than 72,000 students in grades 6 to 8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society and express their own unique viewpoints.

Established in 1947, the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with a special opportunity to express themselves in a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 48,000 students in grades 9 to 12 from across the country enter the “Voice of Democracy” contest to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

The deadline for all student essay entries in Windham this year is Oct. 31, Goodman said.

Interested students and/or teachers with questions about the contests should contact VFW Post 10643 by phone at 207-228-4329. Entries may be submitted to VFW Post 10643 by mailing them to P.O. Box 1776, Windham, Maine 04062.

Local winners will be announced during the annual Veterans Day Observance at the Windham Veterans Center on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. <

Windham’s annual Trunk or Treat event promises spooky fun

By Masha Yurkevich

As the leaves change color and the weather gets cooler, preparations begin for a social and fun annual event for Windham: Trunk or Treat. This year, the event will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 in the parking lot behind the Windham Mall off Route 302.

This year Trunk or Treat in Windham will be from 5:30 to
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in thre parking lot located behind
the Windham Mall. Participants must register for the
free event at windhamrecreation.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO

“Since 1999 the Town of Windham put together an annual Halloween event for kids called ‘Halloween Adventure’,” says Kelsey Crowe, Deputy Director for the Windham Parks and Recreation Department in Windham. “This event continued until the first Trunk or Treat was created in 2016, and it was a great way to get more families, local businesses and organizations involved in the event as trunk hosts. As the event grew, we moved from Manchester School to Windham Middle School and by 2019 we outgrew Windham Middle School. We had to move the event to the parking lot behind the Windham Mall and each year the event grows, and we continue to add to it to make it fun and excited for the kids.”

As the Parks and Rec Deputy Director, Crowe is responsible for planning and organizing the larger community events for Windham like Trunk or Treat.

“Of course, our events would not be successful without the help of my director Linda Brooks, thee Parks and Recreation staff, local businesses and organizations and volunteers from the community,” she says.

Trunk or Treat has become a popular event nationwide, either as an alternative to or in addition to conventional trick-or-treating at neighborhood homes.

According to Crowe, for those who choose to host a trunk, they decorate and serve candy out of the trunk of their vehicles. For the businesses and community organizations that participate, it is a way to spotlight their mission and give back to their communities. For individual families it is often their way to give candy to trunk-or-treaters who might not otherwise visit them if their homes are in a rural setting, or they just want to have fun.

Crowe said the trunks are judged for creativity, originality and effort, and it is amazing to see what some of the trunks end up looking like. With the arrival of COVID-19 in 2020, they were forced to modify the event to be a Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat at the Windham Mall. Since then, the event has been growing and is guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind event this year.

The evening promises to be lots of fun and participants should expect an enjoyable, family-friendly event with lots of inflatables, spooky trunks and treats for everyone.

“This is a wonderful community event that brings so many different groups together to celebrate Halloween in a safe way,” Crowe said. “We do ask that participants pre-register so we have a better idea of how much candy the trunk hosts will need. Registration and information about the event can be found at https://windhamme.myrec.com/.”

This event is most certainly worth attending, she said.

“Personally, this is my favorite event of the year, not only because of all the lights, decorated trunks, inflatables and its fun for the whole family, but this event brings our community together,” says Crowe. “Local organizations and businesses decorate trucks and pass out candy, such as the Windham Police Department, Fire Rescue, Library, Summerfest, Drifters Snowmobile Club, Windham Raymond SACC, Girl Scouts of Maine, Lions Club, Varsity Cheerleading, Cumberland County Federal Credit Union, Maine Community Bank, and many more. It's a great way for these local business and organizations to connect with their local community members.”

Attendance for the event is free and all who want to be a part of the Trunk of Treat are asked to register at https://windhamme.myrec.com/.”<

Presumpscot Regional Land Trust celebrates exceptional year in conservation

By Abby Wilson

Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) celebrated an extraordinary year in conservation last month during its annual meeting at Randall Orchards in Standish.

At its annual meeting at Randall Orchards in Standish,
members and supporters of the Presumpscot Regional
Land Trust celebrated accomplishments achieved
by the organization in 2024. PHOTO BY ABBY WILSON

Nearly 70 people were in attendance to listen to PRLT staff and board members speak about the past fiscal year for the land trust and all their accomplishments.

One major highlight is the opening of the East Windham Conservation Area, which is 700 acres, roughly the size of Bradbury State Park and features eight miles of multi-use trails.

Will Sedlack, PRLT Executive Director, said that the opening of this property is a major milestone for our community.

“This was more than just a ribbon cutting,” Sedlack said. “It was the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration, demonstrating what’s possible when municipalities and land trusts work together for the benefit of communities.”

Toby Jacobs, PRLT Program Manager, reviewed trail projects and stewardship of conserved lands saying that with the East Windham Conservation Area work finishing up, the organization’s focus has shifted.

The Rivermeadow Preserve, adjacent to downtown Westbrook, has a trailhead at the Cornelia Warren four season rink on Lincoln Street. Trail construction is underway for a 1.5 mile accessible trail and boardwalk there.

“The first 300 feet of that trail are going to be boardwalk to a viewpoint and that will be a fully ADA accessible trail” says Jacobs.

Deer Woods Preserve in Gorham is another new trail project for PRLT. It is located a mile southeast of downtown Gorham on Day Road. Originally owned and donated to the trust by Kathleen Ashely, the property will feature a short half-mile loop trail.

By the spring, Jacobs said that both of these trail projects will be completed, and grand opening events will be scheduled.

Brenna Crothers, PRLT Community Engagement Manager, reported on the outreach efforts of the organization.

Several programs focused on youth education including story times and vernal pool exploration.

In partnership with Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the land trust created an alewife migration guide.

“The hope for the future is that we will be able to bring that into some of the local schools and get some more field trips out on the trails,” Crothers said.

PRLT’s Summer Trail Challenge numbers reflected an increase in participants. Nearly 250 people completed this year’s Summer Trail Challenge, an increase from the initiative’s first year. In total there were 71 registered families with children, ranging from one to five kids who participated. The ages ranged from infants to 15 years old.

Most of the participants of the Trail Challenge were from Windham, with many others from Portland, Westbrook, and Gorham. Some traveled from as far away as Lewiston, Naples, or Newcastle to participate, Crothers said.

Land trust staff also discussed the organization’s future goals during the meeting.

A Story Walk at Rivermeadow Preserve in Westbrook in partnership with Walker Memorial Library is a future educational project.

“We are hoping to provide some story walks with books in multiple languages which will be a new resource that we have never done before,” said Crothers.

Sedlack spoke of the land trust’s intentions to focus on accessibility. Rivermeadow and Mill Brook Preserve, in particular, were mentioned.

“Our focus on making sure Rivermeadow is accessible ties into one of my guiding principles as Executive Director. Accessible design is good design, that supports us in every stage of our life, ensuring that we can all enjoy nature” said Sedlack.

Migratory fish species will also be a future focus.

“We decided we needed to do more with the alewives. More people needed to know about how incredible it is, how unique it is, how this is a story of reemergence” Sedlack said.

Frame Media is in the process of producing a film about alewives. Currently a trailer can be viewed on the PRLT YouTube page. Stay tuned for the finished product.

With so much going on and many opportunities for conservation, PRLT has asked the community to participate in this ongoing strategic planning process.

At the meeting, an activity was completed where attendees were asked to identify which issues were most important to them. Topics included preserving environmentally and recreationally valuable lands, effective stewardship of land, sustainable impact expansion, and welcoming and responsive community engagement.

This activity and a community survey which ended on Oct. 14, will provide insight for the land trust’s future and its priorities.

“We need your guidance on where to invest,” says Sedlack.

PRLT welcomes the community to be engaged, explore the trails, attend an educational program, volunteer, or donate to make an impact today.

To learn more about Presumpscot Regional Land Trust visit www.prlt.org. <

In the public eye: Social Studies teacher changes lives through work at Windham Middle School

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

By Ed Pierce

It’s said a good education can change anyone, but a great teacher can change everything. Put RSU 14’s Doug Elder in that latter category.

Doug Elder, a Social Studies teacher at 
Windham Middle School, has taught at the 
school since 2016 and also heads up the 
annual 'Taking Back Maine's Future'
spring event at WMS, an innovative
program for seventh graders working to
overcome Maine's Opioid Crisis.  

Elder, the Social Studies Teacher for Team 207 at Windham Middle School, has devoted his life to teaching his students content and concepts related to culture, history, economics, geography, and government and is an exceptional role model and mentor for students entering the formative years of life.

He also heads up the annual "Taking Back Maine's Future" spring event, an innovative program for seventh graders striving to overcome Maine's Opioid crisis. The intent of the program is to empower students to combat Maine’s opioid crisis from every possible angle.

Students use current data analysis and research to examine the impacts of Maine's opioid crisis and make predictions about what the state might look like in the future from two differing perspectives, one where real solutions to the state's crippling opioid epidemic are found and end the crisis before it gets worse, or another with a future in which the current trends of opioid addiction and overdose continue to grow.

According to Elder, the best aspect of teaching at the middle school level is that he has an opportunity to connect with kids and their families in the community.

“I like being part of their lives in a crucially important stage in personal development,” he said.

Originally from Windham, Elder attended Windham Middle School himself and went on to graduate from Windham High School in 1996. He then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education with a focus in American Studies from the University of Maine Farmington.

“Both of my parents spent most of their teaching careers in Windham, so I guess they feel that the apple has not landed far from the tree,” Elder said. “I think that they are glad that I get to teach a good deal of local history, which is truly fascinating and action-packed stuff when you really dig into it.”

He’s taught at WMS since 2016 and prior to that, Elder was a Fifth and Sixth Grade teacher at Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond and he also taught Fifth Grade at Songo Locks School in Naples.

According to Elder, the most challenging part of his job is paperwork, and all the associated record-keeping tasks involved in working for a school.

“The clerical aspects of the job have never been my strong suit,” he said. “The biggest misconception people may have about my work is that we must be crazy and willing to hang out with middle schoolers all day long. Maybe that's only partially a misconception?”

Landing a teaching job at Windham Middle School fulfilled a long-standing dream for Elder.

“Teaching at WMS had been my hope for a long time,” he said. “It's been the place I wanted to land in teaching forever. My alma mater.”

Having worked at WMS for eight years, Elder says he can’t pinpoint one moment that stands out the most for him, rather he values humorous times with his students.

“I don't have a great memory, but pretty much every day I can find a reason to laugh with my students would be memorable,” he said. “As any adult can recall, middle school is a very strange time in life, full of crazy experiences. It's fun to be there to help kids navigate all that weirdness. At least most of the time it is.”

For Elder, one thing that the public may not know about his job is that it’s more than academics.

“As important as academics are, it is really just a vehicle by which good teachers connect with kids, support their growth in building good habits, character traits, and crucial people skills which will hopefully serve them well in all aspects of their future, whatever they choose to do in the world,” he said.

And above everything else, Elder says he has learned one significant thing from his time as a teacher at Windham Middle School.

“There’s a statement ‘nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care’ and I have learned how much truth there is in that,” he said. <

Riding To The Top to celebrate ‘Team RTT’ at Triple B event

The Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center is will hosting the 16th Annual Triple B ~ Boots, Band and BBQ event from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at 14 Lilac Drive in Windham.

A Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding
Center client and her volunteer riding team
walk with a member of the RTT herd, a 
horse called Paxton. SUBMITTED PHOTO   

RTT Development Director Kelly Johnson said that this year’s event will celebrate “Team RTT,” and all the different ways that this manifests at the farm, from riding teams to volunteers to staff to client families to paddock mates.

At the event RTT pays tribute to the people, horses, businesses and organizations that have helped sustain Riding To The Top since its beginning in 1993, Johnson said.

Organizers for the Oct. 19 event have a goal of raising $200,000 to support Financial Aid for RTT’s clients and Horse Care.

The evening will feature Schilly’s mouthwatering barbecue, a Mission Based Auction, dancing to the live music of local favorite “Under The Covers,” a fantastic raffle, photo booth, boot contests and door prizes. Michelle Taylor of 99.9 THE WOLF will return to emcee and auctioneer Elizabeth Ross Holmstrom will call the unique mission-based auction.

This annual “Party with a Purpose” plays a vital role in RTT’s ability to provide equine-assisted services for local children and adults with disabilities.

Sarah Bronson, RTT’s Executive Director, shared that “this event has become a community favorite. While raising critical funds to support RTT’s programs and most notably our Rider and Horse Funds, it’s also an incredibly fun evening for our guests, including some time meeting our horses, enjoying delicious food, music and dancing!”

This year’s Triple B is supported by many local business partners led by our Grand Champion Sponsor, Portland Volvo, and Reserve Champion Sponsor, Norway Savings Bank.

\
If you’re interested in more information or reserving your tickets today, please visit: https://www.ridingtothetop.org/tripleb

About Riding to the Top

Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) was founded in 1993. Its mission is enhancing health and wellness through equine-assisted services. Located in Windham, RTT is the state’s only PATH International-accredited center (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) solely dedicated to Equine Assisted Services. More than 250 participants are impacted annually, assisted by certified instructors, a herd of 17 horses and close to 100 volunteers, all specially trained to assist with therapeutic riding, carriage driving and hippotherapy.

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 us at www.ridingtothetop.org or call 207-892-2813. <

Oratory Contest to test student public speaking ability

When asked after Ben Franklin left the Continental Congress, “What have you given us?” His response, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” At the 105th American Legion National Convention held in August, one of the hot topics was the lack of education of our youth in the areas of civics and government with 85 percent of students unable to site the three branches of government. Now, the American Legion’s key youth programs of Boys and Girls State and the Oratorical Program are opportunities for our youth to be immersed in our form of government.

Since 1938, the Oratorical Competition has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship.

The American Legion Oratorical Program is a speech contest for students who welcome learning and for the student who looks for an academic challenge and an opportunity to gain scholarship funding, the Legion's High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is a natural fit. Students learn valuable information about our country's Constitution in a contest that has been held by The American Legion for more than 86 years.

The Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham and the American Legion National High School Oratorical Scholarship Program is once again underway. The program is a speech contest centered on the U.S. Constitution that provides winners with scholarship opportunities at all levels (Local-District-Department of Maine- National).

Contestants are asked to speak on a topic of their choice related to the U.S. Constitution for 8 to 10 minutes followed by a speech of about 3 to 5 minutes on a U. S. Constitution topic selected by the judges.

All high school students in Grades 9 to 12 in public high schools, private schools, parochial schools, military schools and home-schooled are invited to compete in the contest.

Contestants initially compete at the local Legion 148 Post level, with winners then advancing to a District contest, with the winner at District advancing to the State Finals in February. The Department of Maine winner will represent Maine at the National Contest in Indianapolis in April 2025 with the National organization funding round-trip tickets and lodging for both the contestant and a chaperone.

At the Post level, the winner will receive a $200 cash prize. At the State level, the first-place winner receives $1,500; second place $500; third place $300; and fourth place $125.

Students who compete in the National Contest will receive at least a $2,000 scholarship with the final competition winner receiving a $25,000 scholarship.

The State Oratorical Contest for Maine will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at Thomas College in Waterville.

The Post and District Contests will be held in December and January, with dates to be determined.

In Windham, the Field-Allen Post 148 will need contest application forms submitted by Dec. 1.

For additional details pertaining to the Legion’s Oratorical Contest in Maine, please contact your Guidance Officer at your school or the Field-Allen Post 148 Americanism Officer, John Facella at 978-799-8900 or visit the Post website at www.mepost148,org. You may also access info and entry forms at Department of Maine Headquarters at www.mainelegion.org <