Community rallies to help neighbors losing SNAP assistance

By Ed Pierce 

Windham and Raymond have been known for years as communities willing to step up and help neighbors in need and now that compassion and generosity is on display once more as organizations and individuals are collecting food to offset the loss Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for area residents.

Cub Scouts from Windham Pack 805 will be
at Shaw's Supermarket in Windham from 
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 for a food
drive supporting the Windham Food Pantry
and the St. Ann's Episcopal Church
Essentials Pantry. It is one of many efforts
in the Lakes Region to assist families
affected by the loss of SNAP benefits
during the government shutdown. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

Because of the federal government shutdown, SNAP, benefits ran out on Nov. 1 and threatens to leave already food-insecure people without publicly supported food assistance. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food essential to health and well-being. Benefits from SNAP are typically delivered to Maine recipients between the 10th and 14th of the month but without federal funding, those benefits may not be available this month, affecting a significant number of community residents.

Among businesses and organizations helping are Windham Cub Scout Pack 805. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, Pack 805 will be conducting a food drive at Shaw’s Supermarket, 770 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. The initiative is called “Scouting for Food,” and food collected from the drive will be donated to the Windham Food Pantry and the Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church Essentials Pantry. This theme is “Fill the Canoe,” with a canoe to hold all donations before delivery.

Josh Smeltzer of Cub Scouts Pack 805 says participating in the food drive instills character, citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in young scouts. 

"One way Pack 805 does this is through teaching kids how to not only respect and safely enjoy the outdoors but also respect and give back to their country and their community through projects like Scouting for Food,” Smeltzer said.

This year happens to be the 40th anniversary of the national Scouting for Food program, he said. It was officially implemented as a council-wide project of the Boy Scouts of America in St. Louis. Missouri in 1985. In 1988, Boy Scouts of America adopted the program, rolling it out nationwide.

According to Smeltzer, Windham Food Pantry and Saint Ann’s are in need of canned vegetables and meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, pancake, cookie and muffin mixes, pasta and rice, prepared meals like Hamburger Helper, cold and hot cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and bottled water and juices. The Cub Scouts will also be accepting cash donations on behalf of the food and essentials pantries.

Angela Libby of Windham is holding a food drive over the next two weeks for the Windham Food Pantry. She’s looking for all non-perishable items including boxed pasta; granola or cereal bars; applesauce; cups of fruits; crackers; peanut butter; rice; instant potatoes; jars of sauce; canned fruits, veggies, and soups. Any items you may have can be dropped off at 5 Ward Road in Windham. She is also collecting cash donations via Venmo to Angela-Libby-1 (7563 is last 4 digits) and she will make a trip to the store to purchase items.

She’s also collecting food items for Thanksgiving baskets at the Windham Food Pantry. For that, she’s seeking stuffing; cranberry sauce; gravy; muffin mixes; cream of anything soups; pudding mixes; cake mixes; frostings; brownie mixes; pickles; olives; and oils.

Hailey’s Kitchen, 771 Roosevelt Trail in Windham is offering meals to anyone who needs them due to SNAP benefits being withheld.

“We are the only ones that can keep our neighbors from starving and vulnerable members of our community are looking to us for help,” said Rebecca Willis-Coffin of Hailey’s Kitchen. “Please do what you can.”

Stable Foundations in Windham have started a baby formula drive to help anyone who is struggling this winter. Kasey Suitor of Stable Foundations is trading pony rides for donations so residents in need can purchase baby formula. For more details or to seek help with baby formula, call 802-448-0570.

Tinker Automotive located at 51 Tandberg Trail in Windham is collecting non-perishable food items and diapers to donate to the Windham Food Pantry.

The Refuge Church at 765 Roosevelt Trail, Windham collected non-perishable food items on Sunday, Nov. 2 and will do it again on Sunday, Dec. 7 for the Windham Food Pantry. Shopping carts are available prior to the church’s 9 and 11 a.m. services. The church is seeking ready-to-eat soups/stews; canned pasta meals; jam/jelly; spaghetti sauce; sloppy joe sauce; baked beans; canned tuna/chicken; canned fruit; peanut butter; crackers; cake mixes; kid snacks; paper towels; and toilet paper to donate to the food pantry.

2-1-1 Maine is a statewide directory of more than 8,000 health and human service resources, including information about programs providing assistance with food, shelter, clothing, heating, and healthcare. Visit 211maine.org or dial 2-1-1 for information by phone.

The Wayside Program can help secure food assistance and meals for those in Windham in need. Call 207-775-4939 for help.

The Windham Food Pantry, 375 Gray Road in Windham, is open to Windham residents with proof of residency. Residents are provided with food monthly. Please call to schedule an appointment to visit the Food Pantry. Food and non-food donations are accepted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monetary donations are accepted Mondays to Thursdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Town Manager’s Office, 8 School Road in Windham. Call 207-892-1931 for information.

The Raymond Food Pantry, 1273 Roosevelt Trail in Raymond, is open from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Call 207-655-6594 for more details.

The Standish Food Pantry, located at 410 Northeast Road in Standish at the former Sebago Congregational Church building and is open Mondays from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. They serve everyone, no residency or income restrictions and no ID or other documentation is required. To make a donation visit: www.standishfoodpantry.org

The Gray Community Food Pantry is located at 5 Brown Street in Gray. Distribution is the first and third Friday from Noon to 2:00 p.m. Contact 207-671-4458 for more info or visit their Facebook page.

Casco Village Church United Church of Christ, 941 Meadow Road in Casco distributes food from 2 to 5 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month. Donations may be made from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. For further details, call 207-899-6725.

A Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Windham Food Pantry is seeking grocery gift cards for Hannaford and Shaw’s Supermarket to purchase turkeys and non-perishable items for local families needing assistance. Canned vegetables, canned gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, instant mashed potatoes, crackers, soups, and drink mixes may be dropped off at Paul’s Boutique, 8 Crimson Drive in Windham; Bailey’s Direct Primary Care, 944 Roosevelt Trail in Windham; Seed Sound Herbal Apothecary, 4 Whites Bridge Road in Windham; Black Maple Piercing, 690 Roosevelt Trail in Windham; and Maine’s Alternative Caring, 771 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. <

In the public eye: New Windham firefighter values department’s outstanding teamwork

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

By Ed Pierce

There’s truth to the statement that the community rests easier at night because Windham firefighters such as Cameron Lebel remain ready, courageous, and unwavering on every single call for assistance.

Cameron Lebel has worked for the Windham Fire and Rescue
Department for seven months as a firefighter and Advanced 
Emergency Medical Technician and spent a year as a live-in
student with the department while attending Southern Maine
Community College. He is assigned to work Shift 3 at
Windham's North Fire Station and has experience as a
firefighter for both the Turner and Naples Fire
Departments. SUBMITTED PHOTO      

Lebel joined the Windham Fire and Rescue Department in April as a Firefighter and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician after serving as a live-in student with the department for a year while attending Southern Maine Community College and completing all the necessary training and requirements to be placed on shift. He is assigned to work Shift 3 at Windham’s North Fire Station.

His duties as a firefighter for Windham include responding to emergencies when they arise including fires, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents and an array of other rescue situations. He extinguishes fires using hoses, pumps, and other firefighting equipment and is responsible for keeping fire apparatus and equipment clean, organized, and in sound working order. He also spends continuous classroom and field training in a wide range of fire prevention and emergency situations.

As an advanced EMT, Lebel evaluates a patient's condition and injuries at fire and accident scenes and during medical emergencies while administering assistance, monitoring a patient's vital signs and offering basic and advanced life support for patients until they are transported to the hospital.

“The best part of the job is it's fast-paced nature and the rewarding culture to be there and be able to give care and aid to people who are having some of their worst days,” Lebel said.

Serving as a firefighter and EMT is nothing new for Lebel.

He grew up in Turner and became an Eagle Scout while a member of Scout Troop 187. Being an Eagle Scout is the highest rank and distinction he could earn as a scout and is awarded for excellence in skills development, leadership, personal growth and community service. Lebel also served for a year as Section Vice President of Scouting America’s Eastern Region Section 19 The Order of the Arrow.

After graduating from high school and while attending college, Lebel also worked as a firefighter in Turner and Naples.

“I'm currently finishing up a fire science degree at Southern Maine Community College,” he said. “I went to SMCC for fire science while living and working at Windham Fire and Rescue and earning my firefighter 1+2 and advanced EMT license. My family was nervous about my career choice at first and rightfully so. But they are very supportive of my choice, and I can confidently say they are proud of me and my career.”

According to Lebel, he wants to clarify the notion that working as an EMT is different from serving as a firefighter.

“I'd say the biggest misconception is that firefighting and Emergency Medical Service are two separate jobs when in fact here in Windham every member is cross trained to work on both an ambulance and fire apparatus.”

The job is tough and dangerous but it’s one that Lebel says he enjoys because he is helping to protect the community.

“We work 24-hour shifts two days a week instead of the traditional 9 to 5,” he said. “We work 24 hours on shift, 48 off, 24 on, and 96 off.”

In looking back at his time with Windham Fire and Rescue so far, Lebel says he can recall specific memorable moments that stand out for him, but the department’s camaraderie is exceptional.

“I can say is the people I get to work with become a second family and for 24 hours at a time, I get to do the best job in the world with some of the best people in the world,” he said.

Lebel cites his unique experience of being a live-in student with Windham Fire and Rescue and ability to get an inside look into the department before applying for a position here.

“What made me put in an application in Windham were the people I met and their willingness to mentor and guide me as a young individual in the fire service,” he said.

Of everything he’s learned here though, one aspect of his job has been very noticeable for him.

“I'd say working this job has reinforced the cliche of don't judge a book by its cover,” Lebel said. “Just in the town of Windham alone we have many extraordinary people from all different walks of life, and it's humbling to meet just some of these people and hear their stories.” <

Great Falls Bridges reopen after 53 days of repair work

By Ed Pierce

Maine Department of Transportation’s Great Falls Bridges Project has been officially completed and drivers using the bridge linking Gorham and Windham are relieved that they no longer must seek an alternative route.

After being closed for 53 days, the Great Falls Bridges linking
Windham to Gorham have reopened to the public. The project 
cost almost $400,000 and work was intended to improve the
condition of the existing bridge structures while preserving
the existing deck and superstructure longevity of the bridges,
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE   

Scott Construction Corporation of Portland closed a portion of Windham Center Road to complete the rehabilitation of Great Falls #1 and Great Falls #2 Bridges over the Presumpscot River for MaineDOT. The closure started at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26 and crews continued working on the bridges through Friday, Oct. 17.

The bridges are located about 0.5 miles west of River Road and the repair project was first contained on MaineDOT’s lengthy list of road and bridge projects featured in its annual Three-Year Plan in January 2023.

Andrew Gobeil, Director of the MaineDOT’s Office of Communications and Creative Services, said the project is now finished.

In a recent MaineDOT study, the average daily traffic for vehicles crossing the Great Falls Bridges between Windham and Gorham is 1,910 vehicles per day with about 8 percent of that traffic consisting of heavy transport trucks.

The actual bridge wearing surface replacement involved 350 feet of approach work, installation of guardrail transitions and flare terminals, and expansion joint modification. Workers also installed concrete coring connect to the bridge beams and removed a troublesome light pole that conflicted with the new guardrail plans.

The project’s purpose was to improve the condition of the existing structures while preserving the existing deck and superstructure longevity of the bridges.

Scott Construction says it intended to minimize impacts to the traveling public and impacts to adjacent properties and utilities throughout the project and implement a cost-effective solution to fixing the bridge’s wearing problem.

Maintenance of traffic during construction was achieved by closing the bridges and detouring traffic to an alternate route.

All project work for the Great Falls Bridges Project used use specific erosion control measures conforming to the latest version of State of Maine Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges and the Department of Transportation’s Best Management Practices for Erosion and Sediment Control.

Both Great Falls Bridges were originally constructed in 1970 and during its most recent inspections by MaineDOT engineers, each of the bridges showed signs of significant cracking and rutting on deck and paved surfaces.

The bridges are situated near the Great Falls Dam, one of the first sources of hydroelectric power in the Lakes Region of Maine. Use of hydroelectric power was implemented by early Great Falls settler Zebulon Trickey, who built bridges and mills on both sides of the Presumpscot River in the Great Falls area. When a wildfire swept through the Great Falls hamlet in 1872 and destroyed the mills and one of the bridges built by Trickey, settlement of the Great Falls site and residents residing there declined and the property was eventually annexed by the Town of Windham.

The contracted amount for the 2025 Great Falls Bridges Project was $398,567. <

Windham Medical Loan Closet moving to new temporary home

By Erin Rose

The Windham Medical Loan Closet will be moving to a new temporary location at the Windham Fire Department’s East Station at 47 Falmouth Road on Monday, Nov. 10.

The Windham Medical Loan Closet is moving on Monday,
Nov. 10 to a temporary location at the Windham Fire
Department's East Station at 47 Falmouth Road in 
Windham. The current facility at 221 Windham Center
Road has no running water and requires structural repairs.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

Once the Windham Raymond Middle School, now under construction on Windham Center Road, is completed, the loan closet will settle into its permanent home in the repurposed existing Windham Middle School.

The move was prompted by the state of the organization’s current building, located at 221 Windham Center Road, next to the Windham Public Library. The medical loan closet building’s accessibility ramp requires repair and there is no water access or bathroom facilities at the site.

“The building is unsafe,” said Lynda Murphy, the Loan Closet’s director and a volunteer there for nine years. She said the new temporary site “has worked out well.”

The fire station will provide a safe, accessible facility that meets the needs of both those in the community that are served by the Medical Loan Closet and the volunteers who support the organization. The group will also be able to use a conference room and room in one of the building’s vehicle bays to organize and store items.

Anyone who has borrowed equipment or is seeking to donate to the organization should be aware that drop-offs will be made at the new location as of Nov. 10, Murphy said.

Residents of Windham and Raymond can reach out to the Medical Loan Closet to borrow medical equipment, such as crutches, knee scooters, and wheelchairs, and receive other donated items necessary to care for themselves or their loved ones. There is no time limit on the loans, but the group asks that items be returned once they are no longer needed so that they may be provided to others in need.

“We used to say three months,” Murphy said. “Now we say short term, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. Some items never come back.”

Items are provided and picked up on an appointment basis, with requests filled by a rotating group of volunteers who monitor the organization’s voicemail, responding to calls for both needs and for those seeking to donate.

“We’re quite a service,” Murphy said. “We’re bleeding hearts and will do the best we can for just about everybody.”

She praised the volunteers that make the work possible, recounting how one member has been with the organization for at least 20 years.

“She goes way above and beyond to where people know to call her directly when they need things,” she said. The group has “a lot of years and a lot of history.”

The loan closet is always in search of new volunteers to help those in need in the community. The time commitment is less intense, Murphy explained, as each member is expected to commit to answering calls for service for one week in a rotating schedule based on how many volunteers they currently have.

As of right now they have 11 volunteer members, and for example, each person covers one week out of every 11. There is flexibility as well if life circumstances require volunteers to switch weeks with others. Appointments with community members are set as per the volunteer’s schedule, allowing for people to volunteer as their schedule allows. Currently, they answer an average of 35 calls each week, between donations and requests for items. The group also holds two overall meetings per year.

“I never turn away volunteers,” Murphy said, emphasizing that the town supports the group’s mission as well.

Windham provides a grant of $600 annually to help fund the organization. The town’s Public Works Department also assists in disposing of damaged or unusable equipment, while Tammy Hodgman with the Town Manager’s office provides support with the Medical Loan Closet budget and ordering supplies.

The community itself has played a major role in the organization’s success.

“Donations by beautiful people surpass” the amount given by the town, Murphy said. “People are just so grateful.”

In addition to donations of equipment, the group also purchases items as needed from Partners for World Health in Portland.

“We depend on Partners for World Health as a main resource for purchasing good quality used equipment to meet the community’s needs,” Murphy said. “It’s a wonderful resource for purchasing used equipment.”

In the event a member of the community is seeking an item the Medical Loan Closet does not possess, including any battery-powered items or heavy pieces of equipment that are difficult for volunteers to manage, they are directed to Partners for World Health as they frequently have specialty or more complex items at a better cost.

Murphy said that while a wheelchair might cost $175 from a major retailer like Walmart, Partners for World Health might have one that is still in very good condition but used for $40.

“It’s a wonderful resource for purchasing used equipment,” she said.

The Medical Loan Closet was started by Windham medical professionals who saw members of the community in need of equipment when facing infirmities. It grew into the Windham Health Closet, which became the Windham Medical Loan Closet.

Anyone seeking equipment, to donate, or for more information about volunteering can call 207-894-5999 and leave a message. <

Nangle to introduce bill to keep Maine veterans housed

AUGUSTA – When the 132nd Maine Legislature reconvenes in January, State Senator Tim Nangle, D-Windham, will introduce legislation to help Maine veterans stay in their homes and prevent homelessness.

State Senator Tim Nangle

Nangle proposed legislation, “An Act to Keep Maine Veterans Housed,” was approved for introduction in the 132md Maine Legislature’s Second Regular Session by a majority of the Legislative Council at its Oct. 23 meeting. All Democratic members of the Legislative Council voted in favor, while all Republican members opposed admitting the bill.

“Too many veterans who have served our country with honor are still struggling to find and keep stable housing,” said Senator Nangle. “At a time when federal programs are being cut or delayed across the country, it’s more important than ever to strengthen the local partnerships that are working. This bill will ensure Maine’s veterans can continue to count on the proven support that keeps them housed and connected to their communities.”

The legislation will support the Veterans Flex Fund – an already successful program led by Preble Street and the Maine Homeless Veterans Action Committee, which includes the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, Volunteers of America, Vets Inc., Bread of Life Ministries and others.

The program provides small but critical assistance to help veterans overcome barriers to stable housing, such as covering unexpected rental costs, offering incentives to landlords and conducting outreach to connect veterans with safe, affordable homes.

New legislation in the Second Regular Session of the Maine Legislature must be approved for introduction by the Legislative Council, which is made up of the Democratic and Republican leaders in the Maine Senate and House of Representatives.

The Maine Legislature is set to reconvene for the Second Regular Session on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. <

Windham candidates head into final weekend of campaigning

By Ed Pierce

This is the final weekend for Windham candidates to convince voters to cast ballots for them in Tuesday’s election.

Voting in Windham's municipal election will take
place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday,
Nov. 4 at Windham High School's 
Auxiliary Gym, 406 Gray Road in Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO

Five candidates are vying for two available RSU 14 Board of Directors positions to serve for three-year terms representing Windham on the school board. The top two candidates receiving votes will be elected.

RSU 14 candidates include incumbent Christina R. Small, Matthew S. Irving, Destiny J. Johnson, Megan N. Potter, and Adam G. Zajac. Small currently serves as RSU 14 Board Chair and Caitlyn Downs is not seeking re-election for another term on the RSU 14 board.

The Board of Directors for RSU 14 is composed of nine members with three representing Raymond and six representing Windham. The board concerns itself primarily with broad questions of policy rather than with administrative details. Application of policies is an administrative task performed by the Superintendent of Schools and his/her staff, who shall be held responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the entire school system. Members of the RSU 14 board have authority only when acting as a board legally in session and all RSU 14 board positions are classified as non-partisan.

Board members are involved in policy making, choosing the schools superintendent, planning, setting goals and appraising results, approving and adopting financial resources, negotiating and approving collective bargaining agreements. The board also sets clear expectations/standards and adopts policies regarding instructional programs; determines school building needs; communicates with various constituencies; advocates for the needs of the students; establishes procedures for the operation of the board; reviews and evaluates board operations and performance; choose board officers; approves the annual school calendar; establishes and maintains effective board-superintendent relations; and works along with authorizing school administration to work with town, county, and other government and non-government officials and agencies.

For Windham Town Council, three candidates, including for the North District, South District and At-Large, will be elected for three-year terms.

In the Town Council North District, candidates are Deborah L. DeVou and Margaret A. Terry. Incumbent Jarrod Maxfield is not seeking re-election.

Town Council South District candidates are Douglas R. Fortier and Michael R. Russin. Incumbent Nicholas Kalogerakis is not seeking re-election.

For the Town Council At-Large position, the candidates are Joseph A. Campbell, Katie P. Cook and Clayton W. Haskell. Incumbent John Henry is not seeking re-election.

The Windham Town Council has seven members, three are elected at-large and four are elected from the four defined geographic areas of the town (north, south, east, and west). Voters throughout the town elect all members of the Town Council, both At-Large and by district. As outlined in the Windham Town Charter, all Windham Town Council positions are non-partisan.

A town councilor’s responsibilities are varied and include legislative and policy making in setting town policies; budget and finance in approving the annual budget and setting the town's tax rates; planning and development by approving, rejecting, or modifying plans proposed by the Windham Planning Board; directing the Town Manager by providing oversight for the Windham Town Manager and town staff; making appointments by choosing members and residents to serve on various town committees and boards; conducting investigations into the affairs of the town and its departments; and exercising statutory powers concerning legislative, financial, borrowing, and other powers given by state statutes to town officers.

Two statewide referendum questions will also appear on the ballot for voters for either a yes or no vote.

Question 1 is “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

Question 2 is “Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?”

Voting will take place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 at Windham High School’s Auxiliary Gym, 406 Gray Road in Windham. <

 

 

‘Fire Prevention Month’ activities keep Raymond firefighters busy

By John Facella
Special to The Windham Eagle

Members of the Raymond Fire & Rescue Department have been kept busy with fire prevention activities throughout the month of October.

Throughout October, Raymond Fire & Rescue Department
was busy promoting Fire Prevention Month. Firefighters 
also visited Raymond Elementary School to congratulate
poster contest winner Kirra Irish, who received a ride to
school for her and her father in a fire truck. From left are
Raymond firefighter Ryan Long, Eric Irish, Kirra Irish,
Raymond Elementary School Principal Beth Peavey, and
Raymond Lt. Paramedic Carol Dennison.
SUBMITTED PHOTO     

At Raymond Elementary School, 251 students were visited by a Raymond fire truck. RES students received training, depending on their grade about stop-drop-and roll, a fire safety technique to extinguish flames on their clothing. Students were also able to see what a firefighter looks like in full response and turnout clothing and gear, learned about kitchen fire safety, and received some tips for how to escape your bedroom at night in the event of a fire.

As in recent years, a fire safety poster coloring event was held, and RES teachers judged the students’ submissions.

The top winner this year in the fire safety poster contest was fourth grader Kirra Irish, who won a ride to school in a Raymond fire truck with her dad, Eric Irish.

Other student poster contest winners were first grader Phyllis Horeth, who won a fire extinguisher and kindergarten student Henry DiSilvestro, who won a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm. Second grader Maple Hall, third grader Weston Quinn, and Pre-K student Tanner Chase, all won Raymond Fire & Rescue Department frisbees for their entries.

During the month, Raymond Fire & Rescue Department members also visited the Raymond Village Library, and four nursery schools, seeing a total of another 100 children. At each of these visits the children got a tour of a Raymond fire truck, were able to see a Raymond firefighter dressed up in turnout gear and were read a story by a Fire Department member about Sam the Firehouse cat, who apparently could slide down a fire pole.

Despite some rain, Raymond Fire & Rescue Department’s Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 22 was well attended by the community. Everyone enjoyed a free meal of hot dogs while reviewing demonstrations about CPR, squirting water for the children, a touch a truck, and fire extinguisher demonstrations. Of special interest this year was the symbolic “push in” of Raymond Fire & Rescue Department’s new rescue pumper, which is about to go into service.

The American Red Cross brought their disaster van to the Raymond Fire & Rescue Department’s Open House and explained their home fire alarm safety program.

On display at the Open House was a table devoted to lithium-ion battery safety, which was a focused theme for this year from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Also shown during the event was a mock 911 telephone experience from the Cumberland County 911 Center, and explanations about home fire escape ladders, fire extinguishers, and tips for wildfire prevention.

Fire officials say that it’s important for local industries to have employees trained in the use of fire extinguishers and Raymond Fire & Rescue Department successfully completed extinguisher training for about 70 employees of Sabre Yachts.

October is recognized nationally as Fire Prevention Month and is a crucial time to raise awareness about fire safety and prevention. This observance serves as a reminder for individuals and communities to take proactive steps in reducing the risk of fire-related incidents.

Fire can often spread quickly and result in devastating damage to homes, businesses and lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments respond to over 350,000 home structure fires each year. These fires result in thousands of injuries and fatalities, making fire prevention a critical public safety issue and fire prevention education utterly essential.

In Raymond, the goal of participating in Fire Prevention Month activities every year is to raise fire safety awareness and help protect homes and families in the town. <