Veterans Day observance nears at Windham Veterans Center

By Melissa Carter

For the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America, a federal holiday recognizing their service and sacrifices to the nation, Veterans Day, is observed on Nov. 11 every year, symbolic of the 11th Hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marking the end of World War I. In Windham, the public is invited to a special event on Veterans Day to remember those who have stepped up and given of themselves in the defense of liberty.

VFW Post 10643 will host a Veterans Day observance at
the Windham Veterans Center at 11 a.m. on Monday,
Nov. 11. The public is invited to attend.
COURTESY PHOTO 

This year’s Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11 at the Windham Veterans Center and will feature guest speakers and the student winners of this year’s local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 essay contest.

The event is part of national celebrations of Veterans Day, which was originally known as “Armistice Day.”

The commemoration of a special day to pay tribute to military veterans was launched on Nov. 11, 1919, one year after the end of World War I. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared “Armistice Day” to take place annually in America on the “11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour” to remember the end of what was known as “The Great War,” now called World War I.

In his original proclamation Wilson was resolute about creating a day to pay tribute to American veterans.

“Reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations,” Wilson wrote in his original proclamation to create “Armistice Day.”

In June 1954, the U.S. Congress officially changed the name of “Armistice Day” to Veterans Day to honor those Americans who perished in World War II and Korea since “Armistice Day” had first been observed. In 1975, U.S. President Gerald Ford designated Nov. 11 as the permanent Veterans Day holiday because of its historical significance for the nation.

Navy veteran Willie Goodman of Windham, the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Goodman knows first-hand how willing veterans have been throughout our country’s history to protect and defend our freedom. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1993 and retired as an E-9, Command Master Chief.

He served on eight different ships in his Navy career including on three aircraft carriers and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Stockton and Oakland, California; Brunswick, Maine and spent two tours overseas. He also served three years in Spain and was stationed in the Philippines for three years.

“For me, Veterans Day is a special day of reflection, both remembering all those we have lost and thinking of, and being thankful for, all those who served who are still with us,” Goodman said. “Being the Commander of Windham's VFW Post 10643, I really appreciate all our members and comrades who come together on Veterans Day along with our supportive community for our program and throughout the year as well as we help out our local veterans.”

The keynote speaker for this year’s Veterans Day observance in Windham will be Ed Pierce, the Managing Editor of The Windham Eagle newspaper and a U.S. Air Force veteran. Pierce is the recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal, and he served eight years as a U.S. Air Force public affairs specialist, stationed at Frankfurt, Germany; at The Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona.

During the Veterans Day observance patriotic songs will be performed by the Windham Chamber Singers and Windham Boy Scout Troop 805 will assist with seating and the Presentation of the Colors.

Goodman will announce the winners of this year’s VFW-sponsored essay competitions who will read their essays for the audience in attendance for the Verterans Day observance. The theme of this year’s Patriot’s Pen contest for students in grades 6 to 8 is “My Voice in America’s Democracy” and for the Voice of Democracy contest for students in grades 9 to 12 the theme is “Is America Today Our Forefather’s Vision?”

Veterans Day is a federal holiday recognized each November to celebrate and honor all U.S. veterans, those who are deceased or living.

No matter what day of the week, Veterans Day always falls on November 11 each year and is recognized as a federal holiday nationally.

Entering 2024, more than 18.6 million veterans live in the United States and a total of 87,443 veterans of World War II are still alive as of Oct. 31, including 99-year-old Carroll McDonald of Windham.

Over the years, Veterans Day has evolved into a day not just for remembering those who served in wartime but also for recognizing all veterans, including those who served in peacetime. It now serves as a time to reflect on veterans' contributions and ongoing challenges, such as health care and employment and the day has become a platform for honoring military service while also advocating for the needs of those who served.

The Veterans Day event in Windham is free and open to the public at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham. <

State grant to enhance outdoor recreation in Windham

By Ed Pierce

During the Oct. 22 Windham Town council meeting, it was announced that the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development’s Financial Assistance Program, in conjunction with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, has awarded the Town of Windham a grant of $163,750 to be used for outdoor recreation economic development.

The Town of Windham has been awarded a grant of
$163,750 by the state to be used to promote and 
enhance outdoor recreation economic development.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

Tom Bartell, Executive Director of the Windham Economic Development Corporation, and Linda Brooks, Windham’s Director of Parks and Recreation, briefed the council about what the grant will be used for and how the funding will be spent.

Bartell said that some of the grant funds will be used for a new campaign to promote and market exceptional outdoor activities available in Windham.

“The Open Space Plan really promoted the notion of connectivity between our trails and that’s the focus of this,” he said.

According to Brooks, a Request for Proposal will be issued to hire a firm to design a connector trail from behind Home Depot in North Windham to Donnabeth Lippman Park.

She said another design will be needed for a proposed 50-acre property owned by the town adjacent to Gambo Park.

Among other projects to be funded by the grant will be to add multilingual signs in town parks and the possible creation of electronic kiosks which detail park information and can easily be updated as needed.

“We are also seeking to update trail signage and have a GIS intern to work with the departments to get the trails digitized for use with a mobile app,” Brooks said.

Brooks said the Maine Community Outdoor Recreation Assistance Program has established a deadline of Sept. 1, 2025 for the funds from this grant to be spent.

“We’ve got a lot to accomplish in a short period of time,” she said.

Bartell said applying for the grant was made easier because of previous work done by the town.

“All the pre-work on our Open Space Plan and the town’s Strategic Plan helped tremendously,” he said.

The idea of applying for this specific grant came up originally when Brooks and Bartell met and discussed ways to promote the new East Windham Conservation Area to those interested in hiking and other outdoor recreational pursuits.

“Linda and I saw an opportunity to enhance our parks and trails through a grant from the Maine EDA,” he said.

Windham currently maintains more than 500 acres of parks and preserves for residents and visitors.

Town Parks include Donnabeth Lippman Park, Windham Town Hall Park, Dundee Park and Windham Community Park on Gray Road. The town also partners with the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust for managing Lowell Preserve and the East Windham Conservation Area.

The Mountain Division Trail has a five-mile paved trail that connects Standish, Windham, and Gorham and the town oversees trails at Claman Sanctuary at Donnabeth Lippman Park, Deer Hollow/Mud Pond, Lowell Preserve and Otterbook Sanctuary.

Councilors John Henry, David Nadeau and Jarrod Maxfield said they were supportive of the grant and the initiative to encourage more people to take advantage of abundant outdoor recreational opportunities locally.

Mark Morrison, Windham Town Council chair, asked Brooks if funding through the new grant will be used to improve gathering areas by adding picnic tables or other amenities.

Brooks said that will be considered as the town looks at ways to improve the experience for those using Windham trails and parks.

Applying for the grant was also facilitated by Windham’s partnership with the land trust in purchasing the 700-acre East Windham Conservation Area and protected lands and trails in September 2023. That recreational area opened in May and is roughly the size of Bradbury State Park and larger than any state park in Southern Maine.

“It put us on the map so to speak,” Bartell said. <

Raymond Village Library offers Audubon Wildlife Survival presentation

By Kendra Raymond

As fall wanes and winter approaches, we find ourselves cozy and snug inside our homes, looking outside often glad we aren’t out there, shivering in the cold. We watch the wildlife flit and scamper around, seemingly oblivious to their challenging surroundings. But do you ever wonder what happens to Maine wildlife during bad weather, especially during the winter?

If answers are what you’re looking for, the Raymond Village Library may just have some great information at an upcoming event presented by Maine Audubon. The Winter Survival for Maine Wildlife presentation will explain the mystery of winter survival of wildlife in Maine. The evening will conclude with some interesting facts and stories.

Raymond Village Library Director Richard Dowe is busy publicizing the opportunity and anticipates quite a crowd.

“The guest speaker for the event is Nicholas Lund, the Advocacy and Outreach Manager at Maine Audubon, where he has worked for over six years,” he said.

Dowe spearheaded the upcoming event. Keeping with their mission to provide valuable local community educational resources and opportunities, Dowe and the library staff remains steadfast in adding regular offerings.

“This event is part of the Raymond Village Library’s ongoing commitment to connecting our community with educational programs that foster a deeper understanding of the natural world,” he said. “Maine Audubon, through the work of experts like Nicholas Lund, continues to play a crucial role in protecting wildlife and promoting environmental stewardship in Maine. We are excited to offer this opportunity to residents and visitors alike, encouraging all to join us for what promises to be an informative and entertaining evening.”

The Maine Audubon website and Lund’s LinkedIn profile share some background about Lund.

“Nicholas is also known for his work on The Birdist blog, where he shares his passion for birding and wildlife. His expertise is backed by previous roles at the National Parks Conservation Association. Nicholas holds a BA from Hamilton College and a JD from the University of Maine School of Law, blending his legal knowledge with his advocacy for environmental and wildlife conservation. continuing the library's mission of providing valuable educational resources and opportunities for the local community and surrounding areas.”

Dowe explained what participants can expect at the talk.

“In addition to exploring the fascinating adaptations of Maine's wildlife to the harsh winter conditions, Nicholas Lund will delve into specific survival strategies employed by various species, from birds and mammals to smaller creatures,” he said. “The presentation will highlight the behavioral and physiological changes animals undergo to cope with extreme cold, such as hibernation, migration, and food storage. Nicholas will also share engaging stories and examples from the field, giving attendees a deeper appreciation for Maine's diverse wildlife and the challenges they face during winter.”

Dowe reminds participants that they will have an opportunity to ask questions and as part of a discussion following the presentation.

“Following the presentation, Nicholas will open the floor for a Q&A session,” he said. “This will be a great opportunity for the audience to ask specific questions about wildlife, conservation, or Maine Audubon's work, and to engage directly with the speaker.”

The evening’s event is expected to last around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on audience discussion and engagement and the length of the Q&A section.

Winter Survival for Maine Wildlife will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Raymond Village Library. To register, call the library at 207-655-4283. Dowe says that an RSVP is encouraged to help the library prepare for seating but is not required. Ample seating will be available; however, they are expecting a large turnout, and seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis. <

Volunteers key to student success at Windham Primary School

By Masha Yurkevich

School volunteering is a very behind-the-scenes role and is perhaps one of the biggest sacrifices that can be made for improving the learning of our children and helping our teachers. Volunteerism is often overlooked, but its impacts are priceless.

Windham Primary School has many
opportunities for members of the public
to help make it a better place for
students through volunteering.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

“Volunteerism helps bring our community into our schools,” says Michelle Jordan, Windham Primary School’s Volunteer Coordinator. “It is a great way for students to meet and work with other adults. We have parents, grandparents, high school and college students that volunteer in our building. Volunteering allows our school to extend what we offer our students.”

Having additional help in the school allows for more hands-on projects, helps support students with areas they are struggling with, challenges students who are ready for the next level, and helps build a sense of community.

“Volunteers have a very positive impact on the students that they work with. Students form relationships with volunteers and look forward to working with them,” Jordan says. “It helps a student learn to work with other adults in the community and teaches them that the whole community is supporting them in their learning. For teachers, it allows them to enhance the student experiences by either providing additional one on one or small group instruction or by helping to prepare materials for more hands on and enhanced learning experiences.”

As the volunteer coordinator, Jordan helps coordinate volunteers for school-wide activities. These include picture days, backpack program, the library and other special events.

“I also work with classroom teachers to help find volunteers when they are looking for volunteers to support academic centers in their classroom or special projects,” says Jordan. “Over the years we have had volunteers organize and label books for classrooms, sew felt teddy bears, help build bird houses, lead yoga classes and more. I also help answer questions volunteers have about their role and to present volunteer orientation with new volunteers each year.”

Being a school volunteer can look like whatever works for the volunteer. Some volunteers help once a year on a field trip, some help once a week for a set period of time in a classroom, while others help every once in a while.

The volunteers contribute in many different ways.

“In the classroom, volunteers help provide additional support to students and add to the personalized instruction that we can provide,” says Jordan. They also help our school offer additional events, programs and activities such as our Fall Festival, Book Sales, and Color Dash.”

Volunteering is a collaboration between the school and volunteers. There is no minimum amount of time that needs to be volunteered, and all volunteers look different in their roles.

“We will work with the volunteer to determine what the best arrangement is for the time they have to give and what they are interested in,” says Jordan. “Every minute of volunteer time is appreciated and valued. If someone is interested in volunteering, they can reach out to me at wpsvolunteer@gmail.com or your classroom teacher if you have a student in the building.”

All volunteers must complete a Volunteer Application that includes an annual background check. Volunteer applications do have to be completed each year. First-time volunteers are asked to attend the Volunteer Orientation in late September. If they start volunteering after that, they are then sent materials to review.

There are also volunteer opportunities that can work from home. A lot of what goes on at an elementary school often involves making and preparing things, such as cutting out shapes, starting a project that the children will need to finish, or other things.

“Volunteers help make our school a better place for learning,” says Dr. Kyle Rhoads, the principal of Windham Primary School. “Our teachers have a very hard job, and we have learners that can benefit from their learning being supported or extended because of the actions of volunteers. It takes a team for all of our learners to have success.”

There is so much more that teachers want to do with their students to provide them with the best education possible, but it is more than they can do alone. Volunteers often do things that free the teacher and allows them to do other parts of their job that may be more directly related to supporting the students, Rhoads said.

Anyone can be a volunteer as long as you have the time, the passion, and the desire. Whether you want to read aloud to children, or help with a hands-on activity, your time will make a difference to the children and teachers.

“If you like working with young children, we have opportunities for you to help make our school a better place through volunteering,” says Rhoads. <

Windham High student creates school's first-ever Bible Club

By Jolene Bailey

Across the world, many different people hold many different beliefs, making it a beautiful place full of diversity and uniqueness. Taking that message to heart, Windham High School freshman Clayton Johnson has used his voice to advocate for the importance of spirituality to high school students.

Members of the new
Windham High School 
Bible Club gather outside
the school after the club's
first meeting on Oct. 21.
The club is open to all
WHS students.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Since the beginning of his school journey this fall, Johnson has used his opportunities and creativity and well-known passion for life to help create Windham High School’s first-ever Bible Club. The club’s first meeting was held in Room 302 at WHS after school on Oct. 21.

“I believe that my motivation comes from the lack of understanding in our school of any religion. I see all these kids in our school who are searching for a higher understanding, and I believe that it is a calling to do something like this,” said Johnson.

While Johnson is tackling a leadership position in running the new Bible Club, he is also participating in an Extended Learning Opportunity in religious studies.

ELOs take a passion or an idea and transform it into a hands-on way for students to gain knowledge, community connections and high school credit. ELO’s are out-of-classroom experiences that are highly personalized.

They tackle a mix of academic instruction with weekly reflections and are rubric-based but are also conducted by students completing internships, project-based learning, or job shadows with topics they would like to pursue.

Johnson says he is excited about the potential for the new WHS Bible Club.

“Everyone is invited, all are welcomed. The biggest thing I hope students take away from this club is just the higher understanding of who and what greater good is watching over them,” he said.

According to Johnson, the WHS Bible Club’s main mission is to band together to build stronger connections with high school peers and their inner beliefs.

He says that the point of extra-curricular high school clubs is to allow students to build their own skills and create new ones based on interests that are beyond the focus of a typical academic classroom environment.

“I am looking forward to finding out who, like me, is a Christian in my school and who is searching for that understanding that I’ve mentioned,” said Johnson.

Students who are interested in joining the WHS Bible Club can expect to hang out reading passages of the Holy Bible and then discussing what members take away from the story told. Students are encouraged and welcome to bring their own bible to club meetings but can also be provided with one if needed.

“Religion means worshiping God and studying the word. However, there are common misconceptions that go unaddressed with Christians all around the world,” Johnson said. “Jesus came down from heaven so he could have a relationship with you, that's all he wants.”

For more details about the new WHS Bible Club, send an email to Clayton Johnson at cejohnson2028@rsu14.org or to WHS club advisor Melissa Dubois at mdubois@rsu14.org <