Contaminated Keddy Mill in Windham to face wrecking ball soon

By Ed Pierce

Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have met with representatives of the Town of Windham, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and a consulting firm to review final plans for the demolition of the Keddy Mill on Depot Street in South Windham this fall.

Demolition of the contaminated Keddy Mill in South
Windham by the Environmental Protection Agency will
take place this fall and will be the first step in a process
that could take up to four years to remove hazardous
contamination and toxic materials from the site.
COURTESY PHOTO 

Since 2014, the Keddy Mill site has been part of the EPA’s National Priority List, also known as the Superfund, recognizing it as contaminated and hazardous to human health. The site itself consists of a 6.93-acre abandoned mill complex property at 7 Depot St. adjacent to the Presumpscot River.

The site has a long history, with operations beginning in the late 1700s and ending in 1997. The building that will be demolished was used as a grist and carding mill, a pulp mill, a box-board manufacturing facility and a steel mill. Throughout the industrial history, several buildings have been demolished and others added to the mill complex. The site has been identified with contamination from various hazardous substances, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.

Town officials were briefed by the EPA that their demolition and cleanup will include excavation and off-site disposal of about 22,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil; targeted treatment of soil excavation in support of groundwater cleanup; groundwater treatment; excavation and off-site disposal of about 320 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the Presumpscot River.

EPA administrators say that site restoration work will include cleanup of the riverbed, riverbank, wetland and floodplain habitat.

Last summer, EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash said that land-use restrictions to prevent exposure to site-related contaminants in groundwater and fish tissue will be in place until all cleanup levels are met.

Cash said the Keddy Mill site will be subject to EPA inspections and limited operation and maintenance, along with monitoring of groundwater and fish tissue to evaluate the achievement of cleanup levels. The EPA will also conduct Five-Year Reviews to assess the protectiveness of the cleanup remedies.

"EPA is very pleased that after years of assessment and discussion with the community, we are moving into a significant stage of recovery and reclamation of this site," Cash said. “The upcoming building demolition and removal of contaminated materials is an important step in the lengthy process of returning a Superfund site to productive use in a community."

The EPA’s Superfund program was established in 1980 and is responsible for cleaning up some of the nation’s most contaminated land and responding to environmental emergencies, oil spills and natural disasters. To protect public health and the environment, the Superfund program focuses on making a visible and lasting difference in communities, ensuring that people can live and work in healthy, vibrant places.

Maine environmental officials say they support EPA’s efforts to demolish the Keddy Mill structures and subsequent cleanup of the grounds at the site.

“The Maine DEP is pleased to continue working with our partners at EPA and the citizens of Windham to address historical contamination at the Keddy Mill, eliminating the threats to public health and the environment and returning the property to a productive future,” said Maine Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Melanie Loyzim.

Original data was first collected at the Keddy Mill complex during preliminary investigations in the 1980s and included a fuel oil spill there, resulting in two previous EPA cleanup actions performed at the site. In 1997, a project to remove nearly 11 tons of petroleum-impacted soil from the north-central portion of the property was conducted in accordance with Maine Department of Environmental Protection requirements. In 2010, a second cleanup action removed accessible PCB-contaminated fuel oils in piping and PCB-contaminated sludge, dirt, debris, and oil materials within the buildings on the site.

But contamination problems at Keddy Mill led the EPA to complete a thorough site investigation in January 2013 and a Hazard Ranking System package in April 2013. Following those investigations, the Keddy Mill site was placed on the National Priority List Superfund in May 2014. A Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study was initiated there in 2015 to determine the nature and extent of contamination and the risks posed to human health and the environment and evaluate alternative cleanup measures if necessary.

A Final Risk Assessment Report in November 2021, a Human Health Risk Assessment documentation in June 2023, an Ecological Risk Assessment documentation in June 2023 and a Final Report in June 2023 were made available to the public in support of the Proposed Plan for the Site last summer. Following a 30-day public comment period, selected response actions for the Keddy Mill site were finalized on Sept. 28, 2023.

The EPA’s cleanup plan is expected to take between two to four years to design and execute and will be implemented following demolition of the mill complex and associated structures on the property. <

Groundbreaking nearing for new Windham Raymond Middle School

By Ed Pierce

Ground will be broken in September for the new Windham Raymond Middle School which will be built at 61 Windham Center Road in Windham.

Ground will be broken in September for construction of the
new Windham Raymond Middle School at 61 Windham
Center Road. The new school is expected to open in
the Fall of 2027. COURTESY PHOTO

In a referendum last November, voters approved a proposal to construct the new school, which will receive about 77 percent of construction costs paid by the Maine Department of Education’s Major Capital Construction Program.

RSU 14 first applied for the Maine Department of Education’s Major Capital Construction Program in 2016 for funding for construction and it was ranked as the fifth-highest priority among 74 proposed school construction projects statewide each year before eventually gaining approval in March 2021. Once a school district applies for funding, Maine Department of Education reviews and rates the projects based upon need. The State Board of Education then funds as many projects from the list as available debt limit funds allow. Working with the State Board of Education, Maine DOE establishes both size and financial limits with additional expenses financed through local municipal bonds approved by voters.

More than 132 potential 35-plus acre sites were originally identified for review for the new school by the RSU 14 WMS Building Committee and were then ranked according to transportation accessibility, utility availability, environmental impact, and a range of other factors. The Windham Center Road site for the project was finalized in June 2023.

Chris Howell, RSU 14 Superintendent of Schools, said the middle school project continues to be on schedule.

“The district has signed a contract with Shaw Brothers Construction for the site work on the project. This work includes all the roads, parking lots, athletic fields, playground and off-site traffic and sidewalk improvements,” Howell said. “We are currently waiting on two permits to start construction. One permit is from the Army Corps of Engineers and the other is from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Both permits are expected on or around Aug. 1. The public can expect to see a significant amount of activity on site as soon as the permits are in hand.”

Howell said that the bidding process for the new school construction is expected to take place in December or early January.

“In anticipation of the bid process, work is taking place on the construction documents for the final design of the building,” he said. “If all goes well, we anticipate breaking ground on the building structure in late February or early March.”

The school district is also currently working on obtaining traffic permits with the Maine Department of Transportation which will define road improvements necessary for Windham Center Road and River Road and a formal groundbreaking ceremony will be conducted at the site sometime after Labor Day.

Once the school construction is completed Windham Middle School and Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond will be combined into what will be known as Windham Raymond Middle School.

The original Windham Middle School was built in 1977 and was intended for a capacity of 483 students. That number has grown in the last few years to exceed 650 students, with sixth graders being housed for some classes at the adjacent Field Allen School, originally constructed in 1949. Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond was originally constructed as an elementary school in 1960 and currently has about 180 students.

The new school plan calls for students in Grades 5 to 8 for both Windham and Raymond students. Windham fifth graders currently attending Manchester School would attend the new school, as would Jordan-Small Middle School students from Raymond. The maximum capacity for the new school is expected to be about 1,200 students and the building is expected to be viable for at least 50 years.

Lavallee Brensinger Company of Portland is serving as architects for the construction project and Howell said that the school is being designed to accommodate teams of two to four staff members.

“The teaming structure will give students the feel of being in a smaller school within the larger school. Each team will have spaces that are dedicated to each of the core subject areas,” he said. “In addition, the building will be structured to allow for the integration of some of the applied arts within the team. The development of the team structure will serve to bring the best possible facilities to each team. In contrast, the original Windham Junior High School, now Windham Middle School, was built as a departmentalized Junior High School.”

According to Howell, within the current teaming structure, only some classrooms have access to lab classrooms as part of science classes.

“At Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond, the building was originally designed as an elementary school. When the building was repurposed as a middle school, two science labs were created to serve students in four different grades,” he said. “The new building will also incorporate the newer state guidelines for room sizes. Many of the classrooms at WMS are significantly undersized when compared to current standards.”

The new Windham Raymond Middle School features a 600-seat auditorium, additional bleacher seating and parking space, a larger gym, a walking track, and outdoor classrooms.

The estimated cost of the project is $140 million in state-subsidized construction and about $38 million in local additional costs. Windham will be responsible for roughly 80 percent of the $38 million local costs and Raymond will be responsible for roughly 20 percent.

Howell said that the new school is expected to be open by Fall 2027. <

Emerging artists to be showcased at Hawthorne House Art Show and Sale

A very special showcase of local artists and artisans is coming to one of southern Maine’s most beloved and cherished venues, the newly refurbished Hawthorne House, located at 40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond.

Local artists will be featured at an Art Show and Sale next
weekend at the Hawthorne House, 40 Hawthorne Road in
Raymond. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The show will begin with an Opening Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday Aug. 2, which will offer a chance to meet the artists whose work will be displayed at the event. Thereafter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3 and Aug. 4, with all art available for viewing and sale.

The three-day event is free with donations accepted for the continuing maintenance of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home gratefully accepted.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to open up the newly restored Hawthorne House and give local, emerging artists an opportunity to show and sell their work there,” said Sylvia Sullivan, a long-time member of the Hawthorne Community Association who is coordinating the event. “We’re especially pleased to be showcasing such a wide range of local artistic talent, including painters, photographers, sculptors, and more.”

Among the artists showing their work at the event will be Diane Dunton (landscape painting); Kathleen Gerdes (nature watercolors); Kalee Charette (landscapes and creatures in pen-and-ink); Cole Phillips (wet-plate photography); Bruce Small (landscape and wildlife photography); Elizabeth Lachance (paper-mache sculptures); Trish Kohler (bird watercolors); Cathy Dodge (acrylics, watercolors, and mixed media); Steve Hobson (photography); Kelly Zinckgraf (showing her late father’s work); Mel Mowry (landscape watercolors); and Linda Kranich (pastels).

A portion of some of the artists’ sales will be donated for the preservation of the boyhood home of this great American author.

The Hawthorne House is the boyhood home in Raymond of the legendary author of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1969.

Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts, a descendant of William Hathorne, a Puritan who emigrated with his family from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Hawthorne’s grandfather John Hathorne was a judge who presided over some of the Salem Witch Trials.

Hawthorne’s mother was widowed when he was age 4 and after living for 10 years with relatives in Salem, the family moved to a home near Sebago Lake in Raymond built for them by Hawthorne’s uncles Richard and Robert Manning in 1816. He lived there with his family for three years until being sent to boarding school in 1819, but later in life, said Hawthorne was quoted as saying that the time he spent at his home in Raymond was the happiest period of his entire life.

For more information about the upcoming Art Show and Sale, please contact Sylvia Sullivan at rsssm@maine.rr.com or 207-239-6010. <

‘Clean, Drain, Dry and Volunteer’ helpful advice for Raymond boaters

By Nancy Crilly-Kirk
Raymond Waterways Protective Association

A friend of mine wrote to me this month while unhappily vacationing on a lake in Wisconsin. Her lake, once clear and healthy, was now weed-choked, stinking, and too warm. The culprits? Climate change, erosion, and invasive weeds that went unchecked by boaters and citizens. As Ernest Hemingway wrote in “The Sun Also Rises” about how long it took to go bankrupt, “Gradually, and then all of a sudden,” lakes can seem healthy for a while, but the work of invasives can become swift and seemingly conclusive.

Motorboats enjoy excursions on Sebago Lake
after being inspected for invasive plants by
Courtesy Boat Inspectors from the Raymond
Waterways Protective Association.
PHOTO BY JAN PARMALEE 
 

According to the State Department of Environmental Protection, there are four new invasive plants threatening Maine lakes this summer, bringing the total to 15 and making the work of the Raymond Waterways Protective Association so important.

Courtesy Boat Inspectors

Raymond Waterways is a registered Maine non-profit, and uses some support from the state and town, but is mostly funded through private donations to help protect Raymond lakes, brooks, and ponds. It hires Courtesy Boat Inspectors (CBI) at the major boat-launching sites on Raymond waterways. They will help you check your boat for weeds, help you identify any dangerous plants, and advise you to dry your boat far away from shore if you move between different lakes, especially out-of-state lakes. The inspectors are specially trained to recognize invasives, but they are only at each launch site for about 10 percent of the time that launches are accessible to the public. Please, check your own boats, cooperate with the CBI’s and drain bilge on land far from the waterfront. The simple advice is to Clean, Drain, and Dry.

What Harm Do Invasive Plants Do?

As Down East magazine’s Jesse Ellison wrote: “[Eurasian Milfoil] can wreak havoc. Even a mild current can pull a piece loose and that little piece can drift a long way, sprouting its own tiny roots wherever it lands. Over time, a patch of the milfoil can grow so thick that it blocks out sunlight, choking off natural life cycles, killing native plants and the fish and other aquatic animals that depend on them. In the Midwest, some lakes have grown so thick that recreation [boating and swimming] has become virtually impossible.”

Handy Info available at Local Businesses

Raymond Waterways has distributed free cards at local businesses with advice for summer visitors about how to keep our lakes healthy. The printing was funded by Sabre Yachts, and the cards are available at Aubuchon Hardware, Jar Cannabis, and Dugout Ice Cream in North Windham, Great Northern Docks in Naples, and Krainin Real Estate, Good Life Market, Paris Hardware, Mosquito, and Town Hall in Raymond. Please take a card and put them on your refrigerator, especially if you have visitors this summer. You can also distribute them as party favors to all your lakefront and boating friends, too!

Volunteer Opportunities

Sibyl French is the Regional Coordinator of Invasive Plant Patrolers (or “Ippers” for all the Raymond lakes, under Lake Stewards of Maine, and she works with Bunny Wescott who mentors the 66 ‘Ippers,” people who look for invasives and measure water quality on Crescent and Sebago Lakes and on Panther, Thomas, and Raymond Ponds. By volunteering to help, you can join a congenial group of people who will be glad to have you help insure healthy lakes. Sibyl would be glad to give anyone information about how they can learn more and, possibly, become certified. She can be reached at 207-655-6379.

Volunteer board members Jess Fay and Peter Rowland have just surveyed Dingley Brook and the Jordan River between Panther and Sebago and reported no invasive weeds this year.

For more information about Raymond Waterways, please visit raymondwaterways.org, where you can also make a donation via Paypal or credit card, or by mailing a check to Raymond Waterways, PO Box 1243, Raymond, Maine, 04071. Let’s all protect the lakes we love! <

In the public eye: Career firefighter-paramedic takes public safety duties seriously

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

By Ed Pierce

Shane Taylor is selfless in his dedication to protecting others and saving others through his work.

Shane Taylor has served as a Career
Firefighter-Paramedic in Windham for
more than 23 years and his duties include
fire suppression, search and rescue,
ventilation, pump operation and
overhaul, fire prevention, life safety
inspections, hazardous condition
investigation, motor vehicle accident 
response and providing basic life
support tasks during emergencies.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

As a career firefighter-paramedic for the Windham Fire/Rescue Department, Taylor performs a variety of duties to include fire suppression tasks such as fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation, pump operation and overhaul. He also participates in fire prevention activities, life safety inspections, hazardous condition investigation and motor vehicle accident response.

And as a paramedic responding to emergency medical calls for service, Taylor provides basic life support and advanced life support tasks in emergencies as the individual situations dictate in Windham.

“Additionally, as the senior career member for the department and on my shift, I am responsible for mentoring our newer members, setting a positive example for all others on the shift, assisting the shift captain with ensuring any and all assignments, training, reports and details are completed as directed as well as assigned station maintenance and housekeeping tasks,” Taylor said.

He has served as a Career Firefighter-Paramedic in Windham for more than 23 years, starting in March 2001.

“Consistently since 1988, I have been actively engaged in Fire and EMS services, and throughout my career the most rewarding aspect of this line of work has been the sense of accomplishment achieved through service to others, especially in their most dire time of need,” he said. “The work, strength and stamina required when providing Fire and EMS services can be very demanding. Maintaining physical fitness and a healthy state of readiness can be challenging, more so as age-related issues begin to factor in. I try to do my best to stay as physically fit as I can, and over the years have made a number of lifestyle changes to do so.”

He grew up and attended public schools in Monmouth, Maine, graduating from Monmouth Academy in 1988. He started college by going to business school at University of Maine, Machias.

“Not even two weeks after starting my studies, I joined the Machias Fire Department as a volunteer with no experience at all. Before long, if I wasn't in class, I was at the fire station,” he said. “Before the end of my first unimpressive year of college, I had decided that I disliked business administration and loved the fire service. With the guidance of my Fire Chief, I applied, was accepted and transferred in the fall of 1989 to what was then Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute where I earned my associate degree in Fire Science Technology in 1991. I earned my Basic EMT license in 1990, my Intermediate EMT license in 1993 and my Paramedic license in 1996.”

Taylor said that in the beginning of his career, securing a position in one of only a few full-time fire departments was ferociously competitive.

“Though I worked in a number of departments across the state and applied for many full-time opportunities, it was not in the cards for me until I saw an ad in the newspaper that Windham Fire-Rescue was hiring a Firefighter-Paramedic,” he said. “I was living in Auburn with my wife and our first infant daughter and was working for Lewiston-Auburn 911 full time as a dispatcher. I applied and was hired as the newest of only four full-time employees, not counting the Fire Chief, Charlie Hammond. I owe Chief Hammond a debt and unending gratitude for taking a chance on me and opening the door to what has been an amazing career.”

During his career with Windham Fire-Rescue, Taylor says he has been a part of some truly miraculous events.

“While it is difficult to quantify a career full of experiences and memories, the moment that best encapsulates why I do this work; the birth of a healthy baby in the back of my ambulance sitting on the side of the road, taking its first breath in my hands,” he said. “Makes me smile to think about it now.”

He wants the public to know being a firefighter and paramedic is not easy.

“While it is indeed physically demanding, that is by far not the toughest part of the job,” Taylor said. “Not everyone can do this job for long. It demands deep personal, emotional and ideological sacrifice beyond what most people would ever tolerate. In the realm of public safety, our universe is a reality that resembles no other. It is no exaggeration nor in any way boastful when I say plainly that it takes a very special type of person to serve a lifetime in Fire, EMS or Law Enforcement organizations. We are all reluctant heroes.” <

Raymond student earns Mainely Character Scholarship

Kylie Thibodeau of Raymond, a 2024 graduate of Gray-New Gloucester High School, has been awarded a Mainely Character Scholarship for $5,000.

Kylie Thibodeau of Raymond, a
2024 Gray-New Gloucester High
School graduate, has been 
awarded a $5,000 Mainely
Character Scholarship.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

These scholarships are presented annually to Maine high school seniors who demonstrate exemplary concern for others, responsibility, integrity, and courage. Thibodeau was selected from 350 scholarship applicants statewide and her scholarship is sponsored by the Biddeford and Mechanic Savings Charitable Foundation.

Empowered by her grandfather’s story as a Vietnamese refugee, Thibodeau has dedicated much of her life to pursuing her passion for inclusiveness and bettering the lives of immigrants through increasing awareness, particularly of the youth in surrounding communities.

Throughout high school, she has been involved in both her school’s Civil Rights and Model UN Club, and she created two additional organizations called Engaging Diverse Perspectives, and Global Maine. She applied for and received a $10,000 grant to support these programs which seek to increase global engagement from youth in rural communities such as her own and counter xenophobia in rural Maine’s youngest populations.

Approaching public libraries in several rural communities, Thibodeau created story times using children’s books that told honest, accurate, positive stories by and about immigrants.

She has been involved with the Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) throughout high school. The network’s vision is to “foster the healthy development of youth and create a thriving network of engaged leaders.” Thibodeau currently holds a leadership position in MYAN that allows her to put into practice her understanding of group dynamics and organization skills while always remaining respectful and open to diverse ideas and opinions.

As part of an honors curriculum her senior year she researched the effect of immigration on Maine communities, focusing specifically on the job market. This motivated her to submit Letters to the Editors of local newspapers: “Do Immigrants Steal Jobs from Native Born Mainers?” This submission resulted in varying opinions and feedback from the public that further allowed her to strengthen her belief that all opinions matter and free expression is important, and she welcomed the public discussion about the topic.

Those who know her say that Thibodeau sees life through an amplified lens, always seeing the larger picture. She recognizes strength in others and has a broad understanding of the world, atypical of someone her age. She is an active change maker, devoted to ensuring that diverse perspectives are at the table whenever solutions are being developed.

The Mainely Character Scholarship Board of Directors say that they are pleased to recognize Thibodeau as a person upholding its tenets of character: concern, responsibility, integrity, and courage.

Thibodeau will attend Columbia University this fall.

Mainely Character has been awarding scholarships to students of character since 2001. This year, 12 scholarships are being awarded for Maine students entering a higher education institution in the fall.

For more information about Mainely Character Scholarships, visit mainelycharacter.org. <

New Raymond Comprehensive Plan makes steady progress

By Kendra Raymond

After a lengthy and involved process of information gathering, survey distribution and analysis, public workshops, and plan revisions, the Raymond Comprehensive Plan is rounding the corner and coming into the final phases of the project.

The Raymond Comprehensive Plan website says the comprehensive plan is a document with a long-range view that guides municipal policy, growth, and investment over the next 10 to 20 years. The plan incorporates community vision, values, and data analysis on existing conditions in areas like housing, transportation, population, and public facilities.

“The Raymond Comprehensive Plan Committee is currently reviewing our first draft of the plan,” said Committee chairman Peter Leavitt. “The committee began the process of updating our 2004 plan in August 2020. In February 2021 after issuing RFPs the committee selected NorthStar Planning from Gray, Maine to be our consultant contract planners.”

Raymond has not updated its plan since 2004, and the committee recognizes that a lot has changed in the past 20 years, while some things have remained much the same. The Comprehensive Plan Committee is leading the way to decipher these nuances while remaining true to the core values and history of the town.

For towns in Maine, having a state-certified comprehensive plan is mandatory before applying for various grants and loans, or to incorporate various regulations.

North Star Planning, a New Gloucester-based consulting firm, is guiding the committee through the process. Their website explains that their mission is “helping communities chart their own path,” which seemingly fits the circumstances for Raymond, in the capable hands of the committee. The North Star website also says, “We create and sustain the places that make New England special to live, work, and play.”

The Raymond Comprehensive Plan committee is comprised of co-chairs Peter Leavitt and Kaela Gonzalez, along with a cross-section of community members. The group meets regularly to synthesize data and fine-tune the cohesive Comprehensive Plan, which is the citizen’s vision for the future of the town. It is a long-term planning document that incorporates multiple factors such as housing, land use, recreation, and transportation.

The volunteer committee also receives support from town staff. Employees type the meeting minutes and publish the agenda, but the committee creates their own agenda.

Leavitt cites strong community involvement in the process.

“To date we have sponsored two community workshops involving housing, transportation, future land use,” he said. “We established a website for the purpose of disseminating information regarding our activities.”

He says that citizen data collected from these workshops along with two internet-based community opinion surveys and committee polling of Raymond citizens has formed the core of our current plan. The committee has also completed one-on-one interviews of all town department heads, Leavitt said.

The website lists the Comprehensive Plan project phases as data analysis, an inventory of vision and values, a look toward Raymond Tomorrow, development of an implementation plan, and the adoption of the final plan.

Leavitt provided the projected timeline and completion date for the Comprehensive Plan as follows:

Aug. 7 meeting – A committee review of first draft

August 2024 (date To Be Determined) – A workshop with the Select Board, Planning Board, Code Enforcement and Comprehensive Plan Committee

October 2024 – A review of the second draft of the plan

December 2024 – A final draft Public Hearing

January 2025 – The plan’s submission to the State Planning Board for approval

June 2025 - Town meeting vote on acceptance of Plan

The committee will continue to hold monthly meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Raymond Broadcast studio. The public and press are invited to attend. Virtual attendance is also an option (visit the town calendar for instructions). Attendance at the meetings is a great way to get involved and have your voice heard.

For information and updates, or to sign up for the newsletter, visit the dedicated website at: https://compplan.raymondmaine.org/. There you can submit questions or offer feedback to the committee. Survey reports are available on the website, as well as other resources such as factsheets and workshop reports. <

Windham Council endorses grant applications for sidewalk and culvert replacement

By Ed Pierce

Windham Town Councilors have endorsed a measure to apply for a grant from the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System’s (PACTS) Municipal Partnership Initiative (MPI) to create a sidewalk that will run along Gray Road (Route 202) from Swett Road to the main entrance to RSU 14 in Windham.

The Windham Town Council has
endorsed applying for a grant to
create a sidewalk along Gray Road
from Swett Road to the Community
Park and continue from Conifer
Road to the school campus entrance
across from Tate Road.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE   

PACTS’ grants provide an annual allocation of state money to be matched with a minimum of 50 percent of local funds for road reconstruction or rehabilitation projects. The PACTS MPI program allocates $1.6 million across the entire PACTS region of the Greater Portland area with a maximum of $400,000 per PACTS Subregion. Windham falls in the western subregion.

During a Town Council meeting on July 9, Assistant Windham Town Manager Bob Burns said the town is in the process of designing this new sidewalk which will run for a total distance of more than 4,300 feet. The proposed sidewalk will be 5 feet wide and have granite curbing.

Burns said the sidewalk will be on the east side of Route 202 from Swett Road to the Community Park and then cross over to the west side opposite Conifer Drive and continue on that side to the school campus entrance across from Tate Road.

The application submitted to PACTS under their MPI program includes an estimated cost of $2,4 million with the construction year scheduled for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, he said.

“This gives us a chance to compete with neighboring communities for a $400,000 grant for this project,” Burns said.

Councilors voted unanimously to endorse filing for the grant.

Burns also asked the council to endorse a proposal from Windham Public Works Director Jon Earle to apply to the Maine Department of Transportation for a grant under the Municipal Stream Crossing Program, which offers funding for the upgrade of municipal culverts at stream crossings, with the goal of creating infrastructure that is resilient to future climate conditions and that provides community, economic, and environmental benefits.

If successful, the grant would be used at the Falmouth Road crossing of McIntosh Brook which currently consists of twin 36-inch diameter corrugated metal culverts.

According to Burns, on at least two occasions over the past year Falmouth Road has flooded when intense rainfall events exceeded the culvert capacity and flooded Falmouth Road causing erosion of the road banks and undermining the edge of the road. He said the current culverts are perched about 16 inches above the pool level on the downstream side under normal flow conditions. This condition prevents prevents migration of fish and other fauna between the upstream Little Duck Pond side of the brook and the downstream Highland Lake side.

He said the existing culvert needs to be replaced by a larger culvert structure that is designed to meet Maine DOT Q100 peak flow standards for capacity.

The Municipal Stream Crossing Program grant can provide up to $200,000 per crossing under this program and requires a minimum of $5,000 of local match.

“The preliminary estimated cost for designing and installing a new culvert crossing is $832,000,” Burns said. “We are asking to be granted the full $200,000 in grant funds so our match funds would need to be $632,000.”

Town Councilor David Nadeau said the culvert replacement is necessary and he supports applying for a grant to help fund the project.

“This area floods all the time,” Nadeau said.

Councilors voted unanimously once again to support applying for a The Municipal Stream Crossing Program grant.

The council also voted unanimously to award a contract to Khiel Excavation in the amount of $747,260 for the construction of a multi-use trail at the East Windham Conservation Area, and to authorize the town manager to execute a contract and to take any other necessary action related to the project.

There were two companies that submitted bids for the project and the other company’s bid was $798,000. Burns said that the difference in the two bids appeared to be in funding for tree clearing and he said Khiel Excavation also has a tree clearing business so that may have resulted in their lower bid. About $500,000 has been obtained already through a grant for this multi-use trail creation project.

Burns also briefed the council about a trash collection issue.

“In a review of the Curbside Collection contracts dating back to the inception of municipal curbside collection of trash and recyclables in Windham, it appears that multi-family dwellings of four units or less have been serviced,” he said. “Over time we have learned that the current contractor has collected at some multi-family dwellings of more than four units.”

He said in a review of the town’s Solid Waste Ordinance, it was discovered that “commercial solid waste” is defined as “Acceptable waste generated by a commercial or industrial use or activity located within the town, and acceptable waste generated by occupants of structures within the town which contain more than two dwelling units and which are occupied by more than two household units. Except as provided above, commercial solid waste shall not include household or special wastes.”

In addition, Burns said that in Section 192-9 Curbside Collection from Dwellings, that the “town shall collect acceptable waste and recyclable materials from dwellings in the town as provided in this chapter. The town shall not collect commercial or industrial solid waste and recyclable materials.”

“We have tasked our Town Attorney with recommending amendments to the Solid Waste Ordinance that will correct the discrepancy and continue to allow town trash and recyclable collection at multi-family dwellings with four units or less,” Burns said. “We believe this will disrupt fewer customers and continue with our past practices. We will advise all multi-family dwellings with more than four units in Windham by mail and by advertisement that they must contract on their own with a licensed waste hauler for which we will provide contact information for trash and or recycling services.”

The bottom line is apartment complexes with five or more units in Windham will have to negotiate with a private trash contractor to remove trash. It does not apply to condominiums, Burns said. <   

Applicant withdraws solar farm proposal in Raymond residential neighborhood

By Ed Pierce

An eight-month initiative by residents in Raymond to oppose placement of a commercial solar farm in their neighborhood has resulted in the applicant withdrawing the project from consideration.

In October 2023, Allen Solar LLC proposed installation of a 1MW ground-mounted solar power generation facility on a residential property in the Pulpit Rock Road and Twin Pines neighborhood near Thomas Pond off Route 302. It spurred a months-long controversy between the residents and the solar company, ultimately involving the Raymond Planning Board and the Raymond Select Board.

Nature is rebounding from a
partial timber harvest at the
proposed site of a solar farm
on a residential property in
the Pulpit Rock Road and 
Twin Pines neighborhood 
near Thomas Pond off
Route 302 in Raymond
some 16 months ago. The
solar project developer has
withdrawn his application
to locate there.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Allen Solar, LLC submitted the proposal to the Raymond Planning Board and sought permission to locate the Mainely Solar facility on Roosevelt Trail on a lot owned by Scott and Aimme Allen with access to the project area through a lot owned by Scott Allen using the existing Raymond Marine entrance to Roosevelt Trail. The project was to be situated on 17,817 square feet of land and the company wanted to occupy about 6.8 acres located within the town’s Rural Residential District and portions within the Shoreland Zone, and Limited Residential/Recreation District.

The location itself is hilly, heavily wooded and filled with vernal pools, critical wetlands and streams that run downhill directly into Thomas Pond. It would have required approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for filling a small 325-square-foot wetland to support project access. The solar company planned to fence the property and proposed buffers and setbacks to be deployed to minimize visual impact.

Trees at the site were cut down to accommodate the proposed solar farm prompting project abutters to retain an attorney, and to file a complaint with Maine DEP regarding the clearing of trees inside of vernal pools and wetlands on the proposed project property.

Laurie Wallace, who lives next to the site said concerned residents discussed some of their objections to the project at the Raymond Select Board meeting in February and they voiced environmental concerns and placement of such a project in a residential neighborhood. The group requested a town moratorium on ground-mounted large solar projects but the select board said that was something for the Raymond Planning Board to do. During the Feb. 21 Raymond Planning Board meeting, board members requested more time to evaluate a minor change to the buffer for the project from 20 feet to 50 feet.

A vote during the March Planning Board meeting required that the applicant hire a landscape architect to perform a visual assessment from the perspective of several abutters. That happened in mid-April and the architects promised that the report would be furnished to the applicant within a month. The Planning Board also voted to require third-party peer review of the project to verify or discredit the evaluations performed on behalf of the applicant. Attorneys for the Town of Raymond, the abutters, and the applicant eventually hammered out a mutually agreed upon statement of work.

In an effort parallel to the peer review, a petition was started by some of the solar project abutters which would modify the Town of Raymond’s existing solar ordinance prohibiting commercial solar projects in the Rural Residential District and in Shoreland Zoning, effective July 2023. The petition received more than 500 signatures within 10 days, and it presented the Raymond Town Manager with those signatures on May 21.

Raymond residents had first approved a general solar ordinance in 2022 that allowed commercial solar arrays in residential zones. State law mandates that the proposed ordinance amendment must go before the public for a vote and because the petition was turned in too close to the town’s annual meeting on June 11, it was not able to be added to the town warrants because of mandatory public meeting requirements and printing constraints.

In June, abutters received a letter from Raymond Town Manager Sue Look that Allen Solar LLC had withdrawn its application, citing costs associated with connections to CMP and for Raymond Fire and Rescue's requirements for a robust fire suppression system.

“We support energy sources other than fossil fuels. But placing a commercial solar farm in this sensitive ecosystem can ultimately do more harm than good,” Wallace said. “The Thomas Pond watershed feeds directly into Sebago Lake, the source of drinking water for thousands in the Greater Portland region.”

Following the developer withdrawing the project for consideration, the Raymond Select Board voted Tuesday evening to recommend a vote to change Raymond's solar ordinance to keep commercial solar arrays out of the rural residential district and shoreland zoning.

The public will be able to discuss the ordinance initiative at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Raymond Broadcast Studio next to Jordan-Small Middle School. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.<

Dundee Dam gate failure could have lasting severe environmental impact

By Abby Wilson

Dundee Park is a highly valued gathering space for Windham residents and the surrounding community. The park features sports courts, swings, a picnic area with outdoor grills, and a beach along the Presumpscot River.

The current low water level at Dundee Park
in Windham as a result of a contractor's
dam failure could have a significant 
environmental impact on the area for
year's to come. PHOTO BY
MICHAEL SHAUGHNESSY  

This last attribute makes the park such a vital resource in the summer, but it is also the reason the park was closed last month.

In early June, the Dundee Dam which is a hydroelectric project on the southern end of Dundee Pond, experienced a gate malfunction resulting in extremely low water levels.

“‘I noticed that the river looked like there had been a three-day rain,’ said Mike Parker, a Windham resident downstream from Dundee Dam. “I went to find out where the mud was coming from.”

Parker discovered that the pond levels were very low and during this investigation, the owner of the dam appeared and explained that the dam had malfunctioned.

According to Parker, he was concerned because the park is a public access point to the river. He noticed that putting a boat into the water would be possible, but he said that it would be a nightmare because of the scramble from the water line.

“I visited the muddy exposure and walked it with a fisherman,” he said.

The fisherman told him that the fishing was good because there were many fish in not a lot of water and while on site, he caught a couple of small-mouth bass.

“There has been a change for the worse,” Parker said.

Michael Shaughnessy, the President of the Friends of the Presumpscot River, said the low water level now is troubling.

“It’s like somebody pulled the plug on a bathtub,” he said.

Shaughnessy confirmed that the dam owners went to make a scheduled repair on the upper gate, but the lower gate got stuck in the open position.

“All that sediment goes down and then shoots down the river,” he said.

The water and sediment drain through the gate and into the old rocky riverbed which is used as a trout spawning area.

“Any kind of spawning activity has been decimated by this,” said Shaughnessy.

There have been serious environmental effects but also economic impacts. Shaughnessy voiced his concerns about the resources that Dundee Park provides to the community.

“That’s where the town gives swimming lessons,” Shaughnessy said. He also commented that with a recent drowning in Westbrook, we are all thinking about the importance of learning how to swim.

“It’s important to have access to swimming lessons in a state that has as much water, and as much wild swimming possibilities as we have here. It’s more important than learning to ride a bicycle,” Shaughnessy said.

The community will feel the effects at Dundee Park with swimming closed this summer. but the surrounding ecosystem will suffer long-term.

“Biologically it’s set back for years,” Shaughnessy said.

He is advocating for the town to conduct an environmental study to determine the lasting and expansive impacts.

“You need to have upstream and downstream remediation,” said Shaughnessy.

This survey would also determine future costs of infrastructure or programs that are needed for the park, river, and pond to get back to full biological health.

“If they just focus on filling it up and think it will be just like it was and that won’t happen,” said Shaughnessy. “The major concern is the impact on the fisheries by virtue of the water level going down. Other wildlife will be impacted such as turtles, clams, and birds of prey. The biological life that was lake oriented has been destroyed. The silt is going down impacting the lower impoundment. It’s a lake and there’s lots of water over many acres, then it goes down and now it’s all dried mud. The things that can exist on the lake can’t exist in dried mud.”

The Windham Parks and Recreation Department website describes Dundee Park as “an attractive beach and picnic area with outdoor grills located in a picturesque and unspoiled site along the Presumpscot River.”

While the park reopened with a swimming ban on June 21, the future remains uncertain. Dundee Park may not currently be ‘picturesque and unspoiled’, but community support and environmental studies can help restore Windham’s favorite park. <

Volunteers still sought for Annual Loon Count on Sebago Lake

By Abby Wilson

Seeing a Common Loon is a joy to many, but there is one day each year when over 1,000 people set out onto Maine lakes to catch a glimpse of this bird.

Loons are spotted on Sebago Lake during last year's Annual
Loon Count conducted by Maine Audubon volunteers.
This year's event is Saturday, July 20 and more volunteers
are needed. PHOTO BY ABBY WILSON 

The Annual Loon Count takes place on the morning of the third Saturday of July each year. According to Maine Audubon, the project organizing entity, 1,600 volunteers help out during this 30-minute survey.

Information on the Maine Audubon website says that “observations recorded by our community scientist volunteers provide an excellent ‘snapshot’ of Maine’s loon population.”

Audubon volunteers are tasked to set out on a boat to count loons on various lakes in Maine. But who else is involved behind the scenes to coordinate volunteers and the other aspects of the project?

Brooke Adam, Marley Cloutier, and Anne Heissenbuttel are Loon Restoration Interns for Maine Audubon.

Cloutier is a recent graduate of the University of New England’s Animal Behavior program and enjoys the subjects of ornithology and geographic information systems.

A large portion of this job entails monitoring nesting loons on lakes, which is important for many reasons.

"We have seen an uptick in lead poisoning,” Cloutier said.

“Fish Lead Free” is an initiative that encourages fishermen to stop using lead in tackle by facilitating exchange programs and delivering presentations. According to the Fish Lead Free website, “Lead poisoning is a leading cause of death for adult Common Loons in Maine.”

The Loon Restoration Interns assist nesting pairs of loons by installing rafts which help to mitigate challenges such as wildlife predation and boat wakes.

“There are two different types of rafts” says Cloutier. One is made out of a wire type material, similar to a lobster trap and the other is composed of cedar.

The rafts are floating platforms that contain soil, moss, grass, and sometimes small trees like willows to encourage better nesting productivity of loon pairs.

Some rafts have an avian guard which gives them coverage from birds of prey like eagles, but also to provide shade.

For Adam this year’s loon count is actually my introduction into a career of ornithology.

“This is a really fantastic opportunity to get my foot in the door for conservation,” she said. “We rely on volunteers to know what the pair is up to. They tend to be the first people that tell us when a pair is nesting, when a pair has arrived, when a pair gets on the natural nest or on the raft. A lot of it is up to our volunteers because we’re only a small team and we have this nice network to help us cover lakes all across Maine.”

The 2024 Annual Loon Count is scheduled for 7 a.m. Saturday, July 20. The interns will be helping to survey and coordinate for bodies of water including Sebago Lake- Maine’s deepest and second largest lake.

“Counting a lake the size of Sebago is a lot of work though as referenced by it only having been done twice in 40 years. Every year, the great challenge is to come up with the necessary number of counters,” says Brad McCurtain, the volunteer coordinator for the Sebago Lake Annual Loon Count.

With only two surveys to pull numbers from, there is not yet enough data to understand loon population patterns on Sebago Lake.

McCurtain says it is critical information right now as we’re trying to build a baseline of Sebago’s loon health and population.

“From there, the data can be studied, and we can better assess if what we’re doing now is leading to a growing, stable or declining population on the lake,” he said.

Cloutier said they still have a few spots left to cover on Sebago Lake. The lake has 49 survey areas and at least one counter is required per area.

“We are grateful to have returning volunteers this year on Sebago Lake and to have new interested parties that are enthusiastic about coming out this month. We encourage people to volunteer, get involved- it’s great for the community too. You get to meet a lot of people doing this.” says Cloutier.

Adam said the count is open to pretty much anyone so long as they have a kayak, paddleboard, motorboat, or any way to get out on the lake and survey.

“It’s really wonderful to see how many people really do care about the loons in our state. I sure did not know before I was involved in this project that there were this many people that really love loons and really want to see them succeed in Maine,” says Adam.

There are people that have been monitoring loons since the inception of the project in 1983. But new volunteers are encouraged.

To contact Maine Audubon and sign up to help out for the Annual Loon Count or to inquire about the volunteer needs of a lake near you, email the organizers at conserve@maineaudubon.org. <

Former Windham librarian publishes first book

By Masha Yurkevich

Nutrition is something we all want to work on, but one of the hardest parts is knowing how to prepare it. Is it ripe? Is it ready? Is it even edible? Diana Currier–McInnes is on a mission to change that with her first book called “Simply Produce.”

The former Children's Room 
Coordinator at the Windham
Public Library, Diana
Currier-McInnes, has
published her first book called
"Simply Produce." It offers
essential cooking methods
for vegetables and the best
ways to freeze fruits.
COURTESY PHOTO

Throughout her life, she has had many interests and passions, but throughout all of them, she has always stayed focused on good health, whether it be herself or trying to help other people. She takes a very holistic approach, whether it be essential oils, teas, or, of course, eating well. Most of her spare time is spent reading and researching about food and other holistic health.

“It all started during COVID,” says Currier–McInnes. “I’ve been compiling the information for years and I said it’s either now or never. I took my information from a vast number of reputable books and sources and organized it into a simple, very easy to read guide. I wanted it to be very straight forward for people, because most people are too busy and want a quick answer right away. My goal was to keep it as short and sweet as possible with a lot of good and valuable information.”

Currier-McInnes is the former Children’s Room Coordinator at the Windham Public Library.

Inside “Simply Produce,” readers will discover essential cooking methods for vegetables and learn how to freeze fruits for long-term enjoyment. Seasonal availability charts help you make the most of nature's bounty year-round, while lists of organic and conventional options empower you to make informed choices. Fun tips and intriguing facts add an extra layer of fascination to your culinary adventures. This book will teach you how to select fresh quality vegetables and fruits, store the items properly to maximize shelf-life which includes the process of ripening fruits, options for cutting and preparing produce, and basic cooking instructions for vegetables and freezing methods for fruits.

“Simply Produce is your ultimate guide to selecting, storing, and savoring an array of 77 fresh vegetables and fruits,” says Currier-McInnes. “This user-friendly book, complete with vivid full-color photographs, puts the power of nutritious and delicious eating squarely in your hands.

This book simplifies the art of selection and preparation. With easy-to-follow steps and straightforward techniques, you'll gain mastery over the lifecycle of your favorite produce, ensuring peak flavor, optimal nutrition, and extended shelf life.”

Currier-McInnes knew right from the start that this book was going to be the first of many, a series Spark Health 360.

“I think this is a great way to start for anybody who wants to eat more fruits and vegetables. How do I do that? What does that mean? I want people to use this book for themselves to see that, ‘oh this isn’t so bad; alright, this is how you buy avocados, this is how you prepare bok choy’. I want to make people’s lives as easy as possible. I want to help them help themselves”, says Currier-McInnes.

She is currently working on her second book and there will be 10 books altogether, which will include all the other whole foods, such as grains, nuts, soy products, salts, oils.

“How do you buy them? Which ones are the good ones? Which ones should you stay away from? There are so many ‘wow’ moments that I’ve learned, and I can’t wait to share them with people to educate them,” Currier-McInnes says.

She aims to encourage and empower people to take care of themselves through her writing.

Food is not only about the health aspect, it is to be enjoyed as well, which is why Currier-McInnes is also taking this from a culinary perspective.

“It’s going to be delicious and nutritious,” she says.

But not everybody is ready to take this route, says Currier-McInnes.

“You can’t force something on someone; it’s more important that people take charge of their own lives and start enjoying their food more,” she says.

The “Simply Produce” book is available and can be purchased at all nine Sherman’s Maine Coast Bookshops. <

RSU 14 Backpack Program thwarts childhood hunger through take-home meals

By Masha Yurkevich

Studies have shown that even mild hunger can significantly impact a student’s school performance, behavior, and cognitive development as well as absenteeism, concentration and grades. This need was identified and thus, the RSU 14 Backpack Program was launched in 2011 as an effort to combat childhood hunger in our community.

RSU 14 is grateful for the support of community members
in funding the RSU 14 Backpack Program, which provides
food for children in need when school is not in session.
From left are RSU 14 Superintendent Chris Howell, donors
Bruce and Gail Small, and Marge Govoni of the RSU 14
Board of Directors. SUBMITTED PHOTO

“There are children that leave school on Friday and truly don’t know when their next meal will be, possibly not until Monday morning back at school,” says Ryan Roderick, District Chef for RSU 14. “The idea behind it was that although we may have a robust school nutrition program, there are still many more meals that school lunch doesn’t provide, most notably over the weekend.”

The Backpack Program is aimed at fulfilling that weekend need with nourishing snacks and easy to cook meals. Well–fed children are more energized and feel more secure, and this enables them to be better learners and have more success in school, Roderick said.

“The way the program works is we collect donations from the community, and we use those funds to purchase foods from various vendors. Hannaford has been a great partner over the years,” Roderick said. “We then have local volunteers that come by and pack the bags every week and our RSU 14 school staff help to make sure the bags get distributed to each school and child in need.”

Each bag generally includes some sweet and savory snacks, fruit cups, juice, shelf stable milk, cereals and a heartier meal option like macaroni and cheese, tuna, peanut butter, pasta with tomato sauce, and so on.

“My role in the program is to coordinate with Marge Govoni and purchase some of the food items from our other vendors,” Roderick says. “I also coordinate with our RSU 14 courier, Phil Hebert, to pick up and deliver the large orders from Hannaford. I also work with Marge to create our cycle menu; we wanted to make sure it has as much variety as is feasible in order to keep the offerings interesting. We often tweak it throughout the year, making sure to keep the costs as low as possible while still offering healthful and hearty foods that kids will eat and can feel confident in preparing themselves if necessary.”

The community can help in two very simple ways. The first is by donating; the rise in food cost over the years has been crushing for everyone and this program is no different.

“We do not accept food donations in an effort to be consistent and equitable with our offerings to the children” says Roderick. “We like to remind anyone who donates that every single cent goes directly to purchasing food and bags to put the food in, this program is run entirely by volunteers and there are no administrative fees or costs applied.”

Volunteering is another way that the community can help. If you are interested in volunteering to help pack bags on a weekly or intermittent basis, please reach out to RSU 14 volunteer coordinator Michelle Jordan at Mjordan@rsu14.org.

“The Backpack program is mostly in need of funding, we are currently looking for more regular donors, ideally local businesses looking to sponsor us and our kids,” says Roderick. “For reference, it costs us about $10 to fill a bag for one child for one weekend. It costs about $300 to fill bags for one child for the entirety of the school year. We currently help about 120 children across the RSU 14 school district.”

To be deemed eligible, a family can self-identify on the Free and Reduced form or directly, via phone call or email to the school nutrition program or their child’s school, teacher, counselor, administrator.

“We also have a team of RSU 14 staff that are trained and have experience identifying signs of hunger that can recommend a child for the program,” says Roderick. There is always an opt-out letter for recipients in the case that their circumstances change, or they feel they don’t require any additional help.”

Roderick says that he has learned a lot from being a part of this amazing program.

“I think it’s a wonderful example of the strength of our community and our school district and how much they care for the future of our children,” he said. “I think it also opened my eyes to a bigger lesson, even when it appears our towns may be thriving, growing, improving, there are still plenty of people and families that are just getting by, that could use just a little bit of breathing room in order to really succeed. And often it is those people, and those families that were given a lift that can then turn around and help the next person because they understand and appreciate how much it means.” <

In the public eye: Deputy Fire Chief a key component to public safety in Windham

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

By Ed Pierce

Windham Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Chief John K. Wescott never knows what he will encounter on each call but proceeds with the same level of commitment and service every time.

Deputy Fire Chief John K. Wescott has
served with Windham Fire Rescue for
22 and a half years and his job is to
oversee department operations,
provide town fire prevention and
inspections and to manage the
schedules of department personnel.
SUBMITTED PHOTO    

Wescott has served as a fulltime firefighter in Windham for more than 22 years and is tasked with overseeing department operations, fire prevention and inspections and scheduling of department personnel. It’s a tough assignment, but one Wescott continues to embrace with professionalism and expertise

“In my opinion being firefighter/AEMT is the best job in the world. I love what I do,” Wescott said. “Having a career as a firefighter is very rewarding and some may say it’s more of lifestyle than an occupation. There are many things that I enjoy in fire service, however, helping people when they need it the most is the most rewarding part of the job.”

He says working with the Windham Fire Rescue team is gratifying.

“In command school they always emphasized that your human resources are the most challenging part of leadership,” Wescott said. “In the Windham Fire Rescue Department, we have an outstanding group of men and women, and they make it easy for me in this respect. However, in command school they never taught scheduling. Scheduling folks in a combination fire rescue department is as challenging as it gets. There are many moving pieces to it.”

Born and raised in Westbrook, Wescott graduated from Westbrook High School in 1982. He went on to attend Southern Maine Vocational College where he earned a diploma in Machine Tool Technology. In 1996, he earned an Associate of Science degree in Applied Fire Science from Southern Maine Technical College and in 2014, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University.

“At the time I applied to the Town of Windham I was working at the SAPPI paper mill in Westbrook as a sergeant in the plant protection department,” Wescott said. “My older brother was a call firefighter in Windham, and I always heard good things about their progressive department. I caught wind that they were creating a fulltime Deputy Chief position, so I applied.”

The time he spends on duty is demanding and his job is 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days every year.

“It’s a lifestyle that is not for everyone. You have to be committed and all in,” Wescott said. “I’m without a doubt certainly one of the lucky ones. I am wholeheartedly supported by my wife and our three daughters. My wife Jennifer grew up in a firefighting family that goes back two generations. Her father was the Chief of Westbrook Fire Department, and her three brothers were all in the service as well, so she understands the demands of the job. I’m very lucky and fortunate to have these folks in my life, and they are my support team. This includes their spouses and our 4 grandchildren. These are the ones that keep me grounded.”

According to Wescott, the biggest misconception people may have about his work involves fire inspections of commercial properties.

“Some may think that a fire inspection violation will lead to properties being closed or some type of fine,” he said. “This notion is far from the truth. Quite the contrary, the Windham Fire Rescue inspection model is to communicate, educate and help our partners in commercial business to make their properties fire safe. We want every business in the town to succeed but we also want the businesses to be fire safe. We will work with these businesses to solve their fire safety issues.”

Wescott says that through the years he’s learned that a job as a firefighter will humble you very quickly, and to succeed there must be a team effort, and not individualism.

“In the HBO series Band of Brothers, Dick Winters made the comment in his interview with the cast and said someone asked him ‘Are you a hero?’ and his answer was ‘no, but I served with a bunch of hero’s.’ The same metaphor holds true here in the Windham Fire Rescue, I work with a bunch of heroes every day.” <

Youth 'small business' concept thrives in Raymond

By Kendra Raymond

With temperatures climbing into the 80s recently and our thoughts wandering to all things summer: barbecues with family and friends, days near the water, and staying cool, what better way to find refreshment than a visit to a kid’s lemonade stand? Or how about a friendship bracelet or two? Raymond residents are in luck; several such small business stands are sprouting up all around our community.

Raymond children Addy and Olly Neal 
showcase their friendship bracelet
inventory at a roadside stand near
their home.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND  

“Eat, Pray, Love” author Elizabeth Gilbert said, “If life gives you lemons, don't settle for simply making lemonade - make a glorious scene at a lemonade stand.” Even if you aren’t a lemonade fan, stopping in at a stand can be a positive experience for all involved. Why not take a minute out of your busy day to visit with the young entrepreneurs, give a donation, or make a purchase? Likely, you won’t regret it. Beyond buying a great product, you might just learn something new, make some new acquaintances, or even end up with a treasure you never knew you needed. Plus, it’s a great feeling to support youth development.

A set of young businesspeople in a Raymond neighborhood seem to have the system streamlined pretty well. The brother-and-sister duo can frequently be seen set up at the mouth of their driveway selling the most delicious ice-cold lemonade and sometimes packaged snacks. They have great signage and a lot of curb appeal. Customers are always impressed with their impeccable customer service skills. Plus, the youngsters are polite and friendly. What’s not to like?

At another location along the route, people often come across an industrious young lady and her younger brother selling some well-made loom band bracelets. Knowing that you can never have enough friendship bracelets, many make the stop. The bracelets are presented well, and in a variety of color combinations – something for everyone’s taste. I am always impressed with the proprietor’s commitment to maintaining an inventory, handcrafting skills, making change, and her polite and efficient interactions with the customers. Seems like a win-win to me.

“The best part about my bracelet business is hanging out with my brother,” said Addy Neal. She added that her three-year-old brother Olly is a great addition to the bracelet stand, lending a hand with setting it up. “He also yells, ‘Bracelets for sale’ which makes people stop,” she said. Their father Jake Neal agrees that the kids make a great team. He said that he is proud to see them working together.

In a different area of town, an iced tea, lemonade, and baked goods stand serves as a fundraiser for a local animal rescue group. The seller said that he’s been running the stand for a couple of years and that all money raised goes directly to help animals. He said that every little bit helps, and he drops off the donations about once a month.

“Lemonade Day” is an innovative program designed to support youth in starting their own lemonade business. It aims to develop skills in the areas of problem solving, communication, self-esteem, goal setting, philanthropy, and math.

The Lemonade Day website says: “Starting a lemonade stand can help kids develop important entrepreneurial skills, such as financial management, marketing, and communication. Through this experience, children can learn to create a business plan, set prices, manage inventory, and promote their product. These skills can be applied in future endeavors and serve as a foundation for a successful career in business. These are all key in knowing how to start a lemonade business.”

The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) website is filled with resources to support financial wellness in youth and provides education and programs to help parents teach kids about healthy use of money.

To learn more about getting started with a lemonade business, visit the Lemonade Day website: https://lemonadeday.org/blog/how-to-start-a-lemonade-stand

Visit the FAME website to access resources to help kids learn about money: https://www.famemaine.com/financial-wellness/grow-your-students-or-childs-financial-wellness/elementary/ <

Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing continues to assist local residents in need

By Masha Yurkevich

We’ve all heard that giving is better than receiving, but do we actually practice what we preach? Since 2019, the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing People has been serving our community and asking nothing in return.

Since its inception in 2019, the Sebago Lakes Region
Fuller Center for Housing has completed 45 projects and
currently has 14 ongoing projects for those in need in the
area. All of the labor is performed by volunteers who 
want to give back to the community.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jim McBride and Diane Dunton Bruni are founding members of the Fuller Center, which started in 2019 with five participating churches and Saint Joseph's College. The goal was: to repair homes for senior, veterans, and people with disabilities so that they can remain in their homes safely.

McBride is a board member and treasurer for Sebago Fuller Housing, and he coordinates the project work and work with the families that they help.

Bruni is the chair and board president, and she is responsible to pull all the pieces together, family committee, volunteer committee, executive committee, public relations and marketing. Her role is to make sure that all of the pieces are working well together as well as speaking and telling the story and responding to requests of anyone who needs their assistance. Each day is new and very different and comes with its own challenges.

Since their start in 2019, the Fuller Center has completed 45 projects and currently has 14 ongoing projects. Their biggest project is to help a family whose 19-year-old son was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down and he has no way to get in and out of the house.

“There had to be a ramp put on, but before a ramp could be put on, the deck of the house had to be raised seven inches,” says Bruni. “So, we tore the old deck down, built a new deck that was raised seven inches, and then worked with Alpha One to get the ramp. We then put the railings back on and painted the deck for them, but there is still some work left to be done on this project.”

They’ve also been doing lots of roof repairs as well as inside work.

More and more people are finding out what the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing People is doing for our community.

“As we are getting our name out there, we are receiving more and more requests from people every day,” says Bruni. “The awareness continues to build; more people are telling others about who we are and what we do.”

As the Fuller Center receives more applications, they work to prioritize which projects need to be done first.

“The young man who needed the ramp was in Boston Hospital and coming home, so that project moved up on our priority list because of the immediacy,” says Bruni.

All of the labor for all of the projects is free, unless there is a contractor or special expertise needed.

“The families that we support give back to the community by contributing what they are able to contribute to the cost of material,” Bruni says. “It’s called a greater blessing; it’s not a hand-out, it’s a hand up. They are paying it forward to help with another project.”

There are many ways that the community can help.

“We are currently raising funds for a $20,000 community campaign to raise funds for materials,” says Bruni. “We also have a gala celebrating our fifth anniversary on Oct. 1, and we are looking for action items for that gala, as well as advertisers for our program and donations. We are always in need of volunteers and someone who can refer a contractor to us; there are many needs and many ways that the community can help out.”

Bruni says that she is very proud of the team that has been working together since 2019 and is thankful for everyone who has helped.

“We are continuing to build the organization, continuing to raise awareness, and we are truly making an impact in the Windham, Raymond, and Standish communities,” says Bruni. “I feel so blessed to be a part of this.” <

Raymond-Casco Historical Society to present rattlesnake lore event

By Kendra Raymond

When you think of rattlesnakes, the mind wanders to southwestern areas, deserts, but mostly how to avoid them. Believe it or not, the term “rattlesnake” holds a significant piece of lore in the Town of Raymond history. Timber rattlers presumably inhabited the area in abundance prior to 1900 and one could even say the area was infested with the reptiles.

A presentation at the Raymond-Casco
Historical Society at 6:30 p.m. July 8
will discuss rattlesnakes and their
relevance to Maine's past.
COURTESY OF NEILY RAYMOND

The Raymond-Casco Historical Society will showcase that connection in an upcoming event entitled, “Rattlesnake: A Western Maine Story” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 8. The free event will feature guest speaker Mike Davis, Assistant Director of the Bridgton Historical Society, who will tell stories of the past and chronicle the eradication of the timber rattler (Crotalus Horridus) in Maine.

RCHS president Frank McDermott says that Raymond had a large number of rattlesnakes in the past, so many that businesses were built around it.

“Most of the rattlesnakes were on Rattlesnake Mountain,” McDermott said. “The timber rattlers were so abundant that people actively trapped and milked them. They made medicines from it and ran entire businesses selling the products.”

He explained that so many people were actively selling things made from rattlesnakes that the practice eventually killed them off and they disappeared. The last known capture was in 1870. The decline is attributed to trapping practices, forest fires, and timber harvesting.

Local historian the late Ernest H. Knight chronicles several such stories in his book, “Historical Gems of Raymond and Casco.” Knight provides the history of the mountain and delves into the local fascination and use of rattlesnake oil. He wrote that Casco and Raymond were once a prime habitat for the critter.

Passages from the book explain: “At the time of the first pioneer settlers it was infested with this feared reptile and was the home base of those inhibiting the surrounding area. Some of the early citizens, notably “Rattlesnake Ben” Smith and John Cash who both lived on Raymond Hill, became proficient in the capture and usage. Ben Smith liked them and kept them as pets to carry about with him to show anyone who was interested, while John Cash caught them for their oil which he rendered from their carcasses and peddled to those needing a palliative care for rheumatism. Ben claimed to have found the way to remove the fangs to render them harmless. He removed fangs with the pincers he used in repairing his shoes and tested his protective theories on small animals, while peddling his snake oil liniment for rheumatism and other ailments of the hard-working settlers throughout the local area and at militia musters.”

Smith eventually married and raised a family on Raymond Hill. His children were adept rattler hunters and often kept pets in their bedrooms and used the skins as toys. Granddaughter Margaret Pummer actually had her own crotched snake pole and joined her grandfather on trips up the mountain. Despite his propensity toward herpetology, Smith eventually perished one night in the bed he shared with his beloved pets.

McDermott shared that Crescent Lake was originally called “Great Rattlesnake Pond” and Raymond Pond was referred to as, “Little Rattlesnake Pond.” He also shared the fact that Ben Smith, an original Raymondtown settler, ran a business selling rattlesnake oil, presumed to provide cures for medical ailments. Smith sourced his oil from rattlesnakes on the mountain near his farm, which he later named “Rattlesnake Mountain.”

As development progressed, the names of the lake and pond were changed as lots weren’t selling well on water bodies with such “unwelcoming” names.

McDermott said that event guests should plan to arrive early as a large turnout is expected and seating is limited.

“It should be a fascinating lecture lasting about 30 to 45 minutes,” he said.

RCHS offers an exciting visit including local history exhibits, demonstrations in the Watkins Blacksmith Shop, tours of the one room schoolhouse, and views of the classic vehicles collection.

The Raymond-Casco Historical Society is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. and admission is free. Donations are always welcomed.

The RCHS is located at 1 Shadow Lane in Casco, just off Route 302.

Check out the Raymond-Casco Historical Society and the Watkins Blacksmith Shop on Facebook or on their website at: https://raymondcascohistoricalsociety.org <