Windham Deputy Fire Chief dedicates life to safety, service and professionalism

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

By Ed Pierce

Ask Windham Deputy Fire Chief Steve Hall about his profession and he’ll tell you that firefighters never know what they will encounter on each call but proceed with the same level of commitment and service.

Steve Hall started his
firefighting career in 1991
and serves as Windham's
Deputy Fire Chief leading
the Fire/Rescue
Department's call company,
fire police and junior
firefighter programs.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Hall leads Windham Fire/Rescue Department’s call company, fire police, and junior firefighter programs. He assists with fire training including running the drill school for the new full-time hires and assists Windham Fire Chief Brent Libby with operations involving the call companies.

“I am also in charge of the recruitment and retention of the department,” Hall said. “This is one of the hardest aspects of our job. Less people have the time commitment to give to the Fire/ Rescue Department. I also have one weekend a month to be on call and in the town to provide support for the Fire/Rescue company.”

He began his career in firefighting in Farmington. Maine in 1991.

“I was working as an electrician then. There wasn’t enough work back then and would get laid off during the winter months,” Hall said. “That is when I decided I wanted to pursue a career as a firefighter. I enrolled into the Fire Science program at Southern Maine Community College. I graduated with an associate’s degree in 1995 and moved to Windham and joined the call company.

According to Hall, he was hired by the South Portland Fire Department in 1996 and worked there for two years before joining the Portland Fire Department, where he retired as a Lieutenant after 26 years of service. But once you work in public safety, you become hooked, and Hall subsequently came to work for the Windham Fire/Rescue Department.

“The best thing about the job is working with a great group of like-minded professional firefighter/Emergency Medical Service workers here in town,” Hall said. “When there is a major incident, we all come together to get the job done.”

The most challenging part of his job is recruitment, he said.

“There are less people interested in becoming firefighter/EMTs,” Hall said. “I have attended several different job fairs and getting people interested in the fire service is tough. It is a very big commitment. To become a firefighter, it takes at least 120 hours of classroom and hands-on training. Then to become an EMT it takes another 150 plus hours of training, hospital time, and then ride time with an ambulance service. This is a huge commitment for anyone especially if you have a family.”

His own family is supportive of his career.

“My family understands what I do. My wife currently is a career Firefighter/ Paramedic with the Windham Fire/Rescue Department,” Hall said. “My kids grew up with me not being home on holidays, birthdays, and weekends. We have always worked things around my schedule. Now we are working around my wife’s schedule. It’s a good thing we have a calendar on the wall at home. They also know that I may leave for a call anytime day or night.”

One thing the public may not know about the Windham Fire/Rescue Department is that it has a junior firefighter program and at the age of 15 a person can join the Fire/Rescue Department and learn the skills to become a firefighter/EMT, he said.

For Hall, his most memorable career moment came when he was asked to give a speech to a new group of citizens during their swearing-in ceremony to become citizens of the United States.

“I was asked to speak on my experiences regarding 9/11. I had gone down to Ground Zero a few weeks after the tragedy,” he said. “I knew a Division Chief from New York who was working in Staten Island. A captain from the Portland Fire Department and I drove to New York to attend a few funerals for the fallen firefighters, and the Division Chief drove us down to Ground Zero for their nightly shift change. The devastation was more than anyone can imagine. The smells and the sound are something I will never forget. Over the next few months, we attended well over 50 funerals. It wasn’t that we knew each firefighter, it was the fact that there were not enough New York firefighters available to attend these funerals because when they were off duty, they were digging on the pile at Ground Zero.”

Great at instructing training sessions, Hall believes training is a major part of the job.

“I’m trying to pass on my knowledge and experience to the next generation of firefighters,” he said. “Like they say, leave the job better than when you found it.” <

Community invited to attend Windham Raymond Middle School groundbreaking

By Lorraine Glowczak

A milestone is approaching as the community prepares to break ground on a project that will shape the future of education. At 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Windham Raymond Middle School will be held at 61 Windham Center Road in Windham.

Groundbreaking for the new Windham Raymond Middle 
School will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. The new
school, set to be completed by fall 2027, is 77 percent
state-funded and an opportunity for Windham and Raymond
to get back some hard-earned tx dollars and invest it in the
community. FILE PHOTO 
  

Led by Scott McLean, Chair of the RSU 14 Middle School Construction Committee, and RSU 14 Superintendent of Schools Chris Howell, the event marks a major turning point in the effort to provide students with a state-of-the-art learning environment, one that has been years in the making.

“It is like we have won the lottery with this new school,” Howell said.

The superintendent explained how RSU 14 became the lucky recipient of a building with phenomenally low debt.

“The board submitted an application to the Maine Capital Construction Program in 2017. The application highlighted undersized classrooms, overcrowding, structural issues in the classroom wing and an outdated heating and ventilation system. After reviewing all applications within the state, the school was ranked as number five on the list of schools to be approved for construction.”

Howell said that each year the Maine Legislature designates a certain amount of funding for debt service toward Maine school construction. As older schools become too expensive to repair and/or the student population grows, the allocated funding provides the State of Maine with safer and better educational environments.

Upon receiving the state funding, the school board of directors moved forward to approve the Middle School Construction Committee on March 24, 2021. The first meeting occurred the following day on March 25. McLean, a RSU 14 School Board member at the time, was appointed as the chair.

“I was appointed chair of the project during that meeting due to my experience with serving as Chair of the Facilities Committee for the RSU 14 Board of Directors and my experience as co-chair with Windham Town Councilor Dave Nadeau on the Shared Vehicle Maintenance Facility,” McLean said.

There were several goals and objectives the committee wanted to accomplish.

“We looked to build a beautiful middle school that represents two communities that both towns would be proud of,” McLean said. “We wanted to provide all future middle school students with the same opportunities for learning.”

In addition to ensuring the new school meets current and future needs, McLean emphasized the importance of creating a lasting, impactful learning environment that will evolve with the community.

Howell echoed this forward-thinking approach by highlighting several key successes in the planning process.

“We have worked with an amazing architecture team who designed the building to meet our vision rather than giving us a cookie-cutter package for the school,” he said. “Also, the State is allowing us to build one grade level larger than the original application, so we can now include universal Pre-K.”

Howell also said that the Town of Windham traded 10 acres of property at the building construction site for Andrews School located in South Windham and the five acres it sits on.

“This site will be used as a senior and family housing building,” Howell said. “This is a Win-Win for everyone.”

McLean agreed, saying that he has been extremely pleased with all the participants on this project.

“From Chris Howell to the fine folks on the architectural side, to the feedback meetings with RSU 14 staff members and students, I’ve been impressed with what they would like to see on the design of the building, and the many hours of the folks also serving on the committee.”

Mclean explains why he has always been a supporter of the new building.


“This project is 77 percent state funded and an opportunity for our community to get back some of our  hard-earned tax dollars and invest it into our community. If the RSU 14 School Board would've rejected this offer, then we would've watched some of our tax dollars go toward another community's school and then we still have a Windham Middle School that would require roughly the same amount of money required for renovations.”

The district will move Grade Three students to Manchester School, giving Windham Primary School more space to expand the district's Pre-K program. Once the new school is built, Grade Five students at Manchester School will attend Windham Raymond Middle School.

The current timeline for completion and move-in for the Windham Raymond Middle School building is Fall 2027. At that time, Windham Middle School will become the property of the town of Windham and ownership of Jordan-Small Middle School will transfer to the town of Raymond.

McLean said he is very appreciative of everyone who has participated in this project.

“I’m grateful for the folks who volunteered on the committee, sacrificing many Thursday nights away from their family and friends to stay involved with this project,” he said. “I have always loved working with passionate people, and I can't say enough about how thankful I am for everything that everyone has contributed to this process. It is truly remarkable.” <

Community praises dedication and contributions of Windham Social Services staff

By Masha Yurkevich

During the July Windham Town Council meeting, Rene Daniel, the town’s General Assistance Administrator, and Colette Gagnon, Windham’s Social Services Administrative Assistant, were recognized for their invaluable contributions to the Windham Food Pantry and the Windham Clothes Closet.

RSU 14 Board of Directors member Marge Govoni, left,
presents Collette Gagnon of the Windham Food Pantry and
Windham Social Service Director Rene Daniel with a plaque
for dedication to Windham students during a meeting of
the Windham Town Council last month.
COURTESY PHOTO  

During the meeting, school and community leaders presented Daniel and Gagnon with a plaque commemorating their dedication and service to RSU 14 students. The gesture underscored the town's deep appreciation for their tireless efforts in fostering a caring and supportive environment. The pair has been instrumental in providing essential support to the community, both directly and through their collaboration with the local school district.

Colette Gagnon, Social Services Administrative Assistant, runs the Windham Food Pantry and oversees the Windham Clothes Closet. She takes donations, makes appointments for people to get food, oversees volunteers, makes sure the drive through is ready, and helps prepare Thanksgiving baskets during the fall and Christmas baskets during the winter. During the summer when farmers bring their produce to donate, it is Gagnon’s job to sort all of it and store it, as well as any other donations.

“There are so many aspects to running a food pantry, you cannot even imagine,” says Gagnon.

Gagnon taught in Westbrook schools for 37 years and after retiring, decided to volunteer at the Windham Food Pantry in 2013. After some time, when the position opened up, Gagnon decided to apply for it.

“With the start of the school year, there is more of a demand on the Clothes Closet as well as the Food Pantry. I have had social workers come down from the school to get things for certain children when they see that they have a need for clothing,” says Gagnon. “I have also been having some parents calling and making appointments to go down to the Clothes Closet to get clothing for their children. I have also had many new families sign up for the Food Pantry.”

The Food Pantry is always in need of certain items, such as toilet paper, paper towels, tuna fish, peanut butter, small cans of soup and small cans of beans. As for clothing, donations are welcome as long as they are in season.

“I am not taking any summer clothes, I am looking more toward fall clothing,” she said. “We always accept bedding except for pillows due to federal regulations.”

Gagnon also helps with the Katahdin Program at Windham High School, which also has many families dealing with food insecurity.

Rene Daniel is the Windham General Assistance Administrator and also plays a role in Social Services Department of Windham. He says a typical day for him is hectic.

“There are individuals calling me for different questions, hoping that I can help,” says Daniel. “I deal with mostly emergency situations, such as rental assistance when a landlord presents an eviction, or when seniors are in need of a certain service like a hospital bed or a wheelchair. Anything from birth to death, anyone can call me, and I can help them. If I do not have the answer, I will find the answer.”

Daniel’s says that his goal is for every senior in Windham to come to the Food Pantry once a month.

The Windham Food Pantry is open by appointment to receive food Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We are very lucky with our Food Pantry,” he says. “We feel that we do what any food pantry should do,” he says. “But it is not just us; this is the whole community working together to help each other.”

Receiving a plaque for dedication and service was very humbling and a very pleasant shock to both Gagnon and Daniel.

“We feel that we do what any food pantry should do,” he says. “But it is not just us; this is the whole community working together to help each other.”

Gagnon said the award was totally unexpected.

“We were told that we needed to go to the Town Council meeting and on our way, we were thinking, ‘what have we done wrong, what is going on,’ so we were totally surprised when Marge Govoni presented it to us,” Gagnon said. “Windham is a great community and very generous. Whether it is donation products or donating your time. And we are very appreciative of that.”

Daniel has worked for Social Services in Gorham and Westbrook in the past and grew up in Westbrook.

“Westbrook is wonderful, but I have never seen a more generous, more giving, more resourceful people, that support us 100 percent each and every day,” says Daniel. “Our job sounds difficult, but because of the people who live in Windham, it is a pleasure to do what we do.”

Windham residents can call 207-892-1931 and make an appointment to come to the pantry, and simply show proof of residency to receive food. <

Age Friendly Raymond returns better than ever

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series. The first part highlights the return of Age Friendly Raymond. Part two will feature AFR’s accomplishments thus far, along with some heartwarming multigenerational connections.

By Kendra Raymond

Seniors in Raymond are fortunate to have access to the Age Friendly Raymond (AFR) program right at their fingertips. Returning from a long hiatus following the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, the program has re-emerged with a newly reimagined vision and more opportunities than ever.

Jordan Bay Place residents Joan and Barbara
gather for the arrival of a visit from Age
Friendly Raymond volunteers.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Developed around 2018 to support the mature demographic, AFR operates as its own entity that works closely with the Parks and Recreation Department as well as the Town of Raymond.

Age Friendly Raymond Coordinator Debby Tarr is excited to get the program back on its feet.

“Our mission is to involve all ages and abilities to thrive, work, play, and do business. We are inclusive and respectful of all generations,” said Tarr. “It is the hope of AFR to address the needs of every resident of Raymond in the future. “When our volunteer base grows, we will be able to be more active for more members of our community.”

Tarr said that she is spearheading the effort now and is grateful for the assistance and support from Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker and State Rep. Jessica Fay.

“I am slowly adding more volunteers, so if we hear of a need in our community, we can help,” said Tarr. “Our goal now is to find more seniors who would be interested in what we are providing, as well as volunteers to help us make this happen!” said Tarr. “We are also looking into transportations options – which is a top priority.”

The Age Friendly Raymond website details that “Raymond is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization.”

Tarr is busy in her role.

“I am a retired Raymond teacher, and after subbing for 6 1/2 years after retiring, I wanted to help our community in another way,” said Tarr. “In February 2024, a group of four of us met to start it back up.”

On any given day, Tarr is bustling here and there, attending to the needs of Raymond seniors.

“I'm basically on my own right now, but I'm picking up a volunteer here and there,” Tarr said. “I just have to remind myself that this has only been up and running again for 6 months! I’m encouraged about what AFR has accomplished so far.”

Crocker provides support for the program and is encouraged about its resurgence.

“The Parks and Recreation Department helps AFR with promoting existing programs and creating new ones,” he said. “We have helped coordinate Bingo with Debby Tarr, the Age Friendly Raymond Coordinator, who runs the programs. We are looking to partner up to provide All Ages Bingo and a Senior Day Trip to the Fryeburg Fair.”

Crocker and Tarr work in conjunction to develop AFR programs.

“Joe and I have been working closely together. He has his focus mostly on the younger ages, and I have sought out seniors, because I knew the group used to run bingo at our senior housing building, Jordan Bay Place,” she said.

According to Tarr, AFR is starting bingo back up on Sept. 30 for seniors who would like to attend. Bingo will be held on the last Monday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Jordan Bay Place on Levy Lane in Raymond and prizes are awarded.

Rev. Brian Donovan, Raymond Village Community Church pastor, is supportive of the revamped program.

“They are going to be doing some really great things. We will be holding All Age Bingo, which a lot of people are excited about,” said Donovan.

Tarr believes in inclusivity for all residents, so she created the All Age Bingo program for everyone to feel welcome. It runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Raymond Village Community Church and started Sept. 11.

Some of the other programs offered by AFR include an age friendly garden and senior library hours. Tarr is also running a cribbage program which has been meeting this summer. The group meets every other week for a couple of hours at a resident’s home. For upcoming dates, refer to the AFR Facebook page.

Looking ahead, Crocker says he is pleased with the exciting upcoming events.

“These programs will be available on our website,” he said. “The best way to hear about new offerings is to create an account on the Parks and Recreation website and click yes, to receive email updates.”

AFR will host a trip to Senior Day at the Fryeburg Fair on Oct. 1. The van will leave Raymond at 9:30 a.m. and leave the fair at 2 p.m. The trip is free for Raymond residents and just $5 for non-residents. Register early as space is limited.

There are eight “domains of livability” highlighted on the AFR website. The program aims to determine the needs of residents while developing appropriate programs to serve the community. These include outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, affordable housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, community life, communication and information, and community and health services.

Tarr is dedicated to the program and encourages community members to help if they are able.

“Please consider volunteering. Community service is so rewarding, and so appreciated,” she said.

To sign up for the AFR newsletter send an email to: agefriendlyraymond@yahoo.com

Volunteers are welcomed and there are many opportunities available. For more information about volunteering, just email the address listed above.

Visit the website at: http://www.agefriendlyraymond.org or check out Age Friendly Raymond on Facebook.

To sign up for events such as Bingo and the Fryeburg Fair trip, visit Raymond Parks and Recreation at: raymond.recdesk.com <

Field of candidates for elections in Windham and Raymond finalized

By Ed Pierce

The names on the ballots have been finalized, and the candidates are ready to convince residents they should be elected as voters across Windham and Raymond will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Ballots will be cast to fill seats in local and state races and determine the outcome for five statewide referendum questions.

The slate of local candidates for the Nov. 5 election has
been finalized for Windham and Raymond with races
for State Senator, State Representative, Windham Town
Council, RSU 14 Board of Directors, and Cumberland 
County Commission on the ballot. COURTESY PHOTO 

In Windham, there are three individuals running for two Windham Town Council seats. Incumbent William D. Reiner is unopposed in seeking a three-year term representing the town’s West District. Competing for an At-Large council seat for a three-year term are incumbent David Nadeau and former town councilor Clayton Haskell.

Four candidates are vying for two seats in Windham on the RSU 14 Board of Directors for three-year terms. The top two candidates in this race receiving votes will earn seats on the board. Candidates include Frances Etheridge, Virginia Woodman, Jessica Bridges and Kathleen March.

All seats on the RSU 14 Board of Directors and the Windham Town Council are non-partisan.

For Maine State Senate District 26 representing Windham, part of Raymond, Casco, Frye Island, and part of Westbrook, incumbent Tim Nangle of Windham, a Democrat, will be opposed by Republican challenger Kenneth J. Cianchette of Windham.

Two candidates are seeking the Maine House of Representatives District 106 seat representing part of Windham. Incumbent Barbara Bagshaw of Windham, a Republican, is running for re-election and is opposed by Democrat challenger Doris Poland of Windham.

Three candidates are running for the Maine House of Representatives District 107 seat representing part of Windham. Incumbent Democrat Jane Pringle of Windham is opposed by Republican challenger Mark Cooper of Windham and Independent challenger and former State Representative Patrick Corey of Windham.

Only two local candidates are on the ballot in Raymond and are vying for the Maine House of Representatives District 86 seat, representing part of Raymond, part of Poland, Casco and Frye Island. Longtime incumbent Jessica Fay, a Democrat, is term limited and instead two Raymond residents are seeking the position. Republican Rolf A. Olsen is challenged by Democrat Craig Messigner in the race.

For the Cumberland County Commissioner District 1 seat, former State Representative Tom Tyler of Windham will challenge Democrat Jean-Marie Caterina of Scarborough. Tyler is unenrolled, meaning he has no party affiliation at this time.

The five statewide referendum questions on the November 2024 General Election ballot include:

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

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

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

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

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

Local voters can request absentee ballots through their respective town clerk’s office. Maine law allows voters to request ballots up to three months before Election Day. Absentee ballots will be issued to voters who have requested them in October and available 30 days prior to Election Day. <

Camp Sunshine to receive grant from the TramutoPorter Foundation

By Ed Pierce

The TramutoPorter Foundation, a non-profit organization co-founded in 2001 by author and philanthropist Donato Tramuto and Jeffrey Porter, has announced its 2024 Compassionate Leadership Award recipients and local nonprofit Camp Sunshine has been honored as a grant recipient for this year.

Camp Sunshine in Casco has received a Compassionate 
Leadership Award grant from the TramutoPorter
Foundation and will use it to launch a new camp
session for families who have a child who has
experienced hearing loss due to a life-threatening
illness. COURTESY PHOTO   

The Maine-based TramutoPorter Foundation maintains an unwavering commitment to making the world more compassionate and kinder by making resources available globally to individuals and communities in need. Award Grants will be presented during National Compassionate Leadership Week, Sept. 8 to 14.

"Our 2024 award recipients exemplify the spirit of compassionate leadership that the TramutoPorter Foundation stands for," said Donato Tramuto of Ogunquit, co-founder of the TramutoPorter Foundation. "By supporting these outstanding individuals and organizations, we are not only recognizing their remarkable efforts but also reinforcing our commitment to fostering a kinder, more compassionate world. Each of these recipients has shown incredible dedication to making a difference in their communities, and we are proud to help them continue their vital work."

Established last year, the 2024 Compassionate Leadership of The Year Award grant is awarded to organizations that not only help to solve challenges in business, education, politics, and within families, but also have demonstrated leadership with compassion and kindness.

Camp Sunshine in Casco was just one of five applicants to receive a Compassionate Leadership Award grant this year and will use it to launch a camp session for families who have a child who has experienced hearing loss due to a life-threatening illness.

In 2024, Camp Sunshine celebrates 40 years of providing hope, joy and community through unique experiences for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Its year-round program is always 100 percent free for families and a transportation stipend is provided.

Since 1984, more than 60,000 ill children, siblings, parents, and caregivers from all 50 states and 27 countries have come to Camp Sunshine. It provides retreats combining respite, recreation and support, while enabling hope and promoting joy, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through the various stages of a child's illness.

Camp Sunshine is genuinely a place for all seasons; families from all over the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world make the trek to our unique retreat on beautiful Sebago Lake in Casco. Greeted by volunteers in yellow shirts and mascots Sunny, Chip Chip, and Lupi, family members enter through one of Camp Sunshine’s three yellow doors. Right away, they know that we have each family member’s needs in mind.

​With decades of dedication and expertise, staff and volunteers or about 75 in each session put families at ease. Families can set their worries aside knowing that there is a physician on site. Camp Sunshine is a place where families can really relax and let staff and volunteers take care of every member of the family.

​Meeting other families who face the same issues, large and small, is a unique benefit of the Camp Sunshine experience. While attending one of the year-round sessions offered at Camp Sunshine, families have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of activities with up to 40 other families. Whether it’s reaching the top of the climbing wall, swimming in the lake, or enjoying a horse-drawn wagon ride during a winter session, there is fun for every member of the family.

Because of its emphasis on families and showing kindness toward everyone is a strong reason why Camp Sunshine was chosen for this honor.

"These awards highlight the incredible potential for compassion to drive positive change," said Jeffrey Porter, co-founder of the TramutoPorter Foundation. "We are investing in a future where compassion and kindness are the foundations of strong communities and impactful solutions."

About TramutoPorter Foundation

Since 2001, the Tramuto Foundation and its subsidiary program, Health eVillages, has helped scores of people across the globe realize the mission of creating a brighter future through student scholarships, health access, as well as financial grants to organizations worldwide whose vision is to help right the wrong and make this world a better place for all. The Foundation has served as a voice in creating partnerships that have a sustainable and measurable impact in making the world more compassionate and kinder.

For more details about Camp Sunshine, visit www.campsunshine.org <

Windham Cancer Support Group honors memory of Rachel Phinney

By Jeanne Curtin

Special to The Windham Eagle

The first time Rachel Phinney attended the newly formed Windham Cancer Support Group (WCSG) back in 2006, she wore a silk scarf around her head. Though she was gaunt and slight of build, it became evident that she was made from a special type of fabric. She had a strong sense of loyalty, love, and determination that would inspire others.

The late Rachel Phinney helped found the
Windham Cancer Support Group. Here she
is shown with her husband, Allan PHinney.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Being a consistent member of the group, Phinney formed friendships. The cancer support group is a welcoming place where people gather to share their hardships, challenges, and successes. Strong bonds often form.

Phinney became one of six Sistahs that grew out of that group. The others consist of Janet Copp, Rosie Jarry Hebert, Connie Hodgdon, Kim Murray, and Mary Toppi-Beane.

In describing this special bond, Murray says, “Despite all our struggles and our worries, we know we have a core group of Sistahs to rely on through good times and bad.”

Hebert said, “We lift each other up.”

With Phinney’s strength of character and devotion to the group, it was not surprising that in 2009, when the need for a new WCSG leader came to be, she accepted the responsibility. She ran the meetings, scheduled speakers, held fundraisers, attended the Relay for Life and Making Strides rallies.

She also checked in on those who had missed meetings to make sure all was okay.

Phinney’s initial diagnosis was breast cancer. That later returned with ovarian cancer that spread to her intestines. And though the going was rough, she put her head down and charged forward.

Her license plate which read NVRKWT (never quit) and spoke volumes.

Allan Phinney, Rachel’s husband of 54 years, was her primary caregiver.

“She was handed a lot of awful things, and she handled it with grace and dignity,” he said. “She was the toughest, bravest person I’ve met.” Murray agreed.

“Despite being as sick as her body was, Rachel rarely complained or let it show,” she said. “She hated the attention on her and wanted us to assist others.”

In addition to running the Windham Cancer Support Group, Rachel was known for volunteering extensively in the Windham community and was a long term member of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce member.

After 18 years of struggling, Rachel Phinney lost her battle to cancer on Aug. 13.

Members of the Windham Cancer Support Group feel that although her loss creates a huge void, her memory serves as an inspiration for all.

In lieu of flowers, Rachel instead requested donations for the Windham Cancer Support Group, 45 Whites Point Road, Standish, ME 04084 or for donations to be made to the Maine Lab Rescue, 10 Tamarack Lane, Windham, ME 04062.

Windham Cancer Support Group

The Windham Cancer Support Group welcomes all those experiencing any type of cancer and their caregivers. The group meets at the Windham Public Library on the last Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. In addition to being a supportive group, the group is there to help in many other ways. According to member Mary Toppi-Bean, the group has cleaned homes, made meals, and raked yards to assist families of those experiencing cancer.

There is also a caregiver group that meets separately at the Windham Public Library. The next three meetings are scheduled for Mondays on Sept. 16, Oct. 21, and Nov. 18. These meetings are typically scheduled as needed.

Want more information? Contact: Mary at 207-776-9674. <