In the public eye: APEX teacher helps WHS students reclaim their path through alternative learning

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

By Lorraine Glowczak

Some call it a calling. For Windham High School teacher Adrianne Shetenhelm, hers began in elementary school, when she proudly told her class she wanted to be a teacher while answering the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Even a joking warning from her teacher – “There’s no money in it” – couldn’t shake a dream she felt to her core.

Windham High School's Adrianne Shetenhelm,
now in her 19th year of teaching, blends
compassion and steady leadership to lift
her students to success.
PHOTO BY SAWYE GRENDALL

“To me, school was and is my happy place,” she said. “Studying something new, learning from mistakes, and growing is the purpose in life. Now I see that helping others on that path is my purpose.”

Today, she serves as the lead educator behind Windham High School’s APEX program (Alternative Programming for Excellence), a support system for students whose education has been disrupted, who need flexibility in earning credits, or who require a different pathway to graduation. For her, the work is far more than instruction; it’s about helping students reconnect to hope, responsibility, and possibility.

“When I started teaching English, I was eager to share my love of literature,” she said. “Through the students’ writing, I saw the complex lives my students lived. When some disappeared – due to homelessness, transfers, or mental health struggles – I felt powerless to help.”

Her move to APEX changed that. “Here, students can resume classes after a break in education, or a move from a new school, or earn the credits they need to graduate in a small learning community. My job has shifted from solely teaching literature, to helping students take responsibility for their learning and move toward their goals after high school.”

Shetenhelm describes her job as “having one foot in the traditional classroom and one foot in alternative education,” she said. “We support students earning credits or those needing a home base in a large high school. I truly have the best students—talented, unique, and inspiring me every day.”

She also recognized that many educators supporting nontraditional student pathways weren’t connected under a formal department. In response, she proposed creating a new “Alternative Pathways” department, which she now chairs.

“I wanted those teachers to have a voice and a community,” she said. “When adults feel supported, students feel supported.”

Shetenhelm’s core values are rooted in dignity, trust, and growth. She builds relationships by listening without judgment, showing consistency, and creating spaces where students know they matter.

Like many educators, she sees challenges that most community members never witness.

“Some of the biggest challenges are the unseen ones—students who are struggling outside of school, juggling adult responsibilities, or battling anxiety or depression,” she said. “People sometimes think alternative education is a last resort, but it’s not. It’s a course correction. It’s a chance to realign and take control of their learning with support.”

She wishes more people understood the resilience her students demonstrate every day.

“These are young people who want to succeed. They just need the right environment to do it.”

Her educational journey reflects her dedication. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Wheaton College, then worked at a Portland middle school as an in-school suspension teacher before earning her master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Boston College. She taught for six years in Massachusetts before returning to Maine to teach in Sanford High School’s BARR program.

“I randomly saw the opening for the APEX position and knew it was for me,” she said. “I wanted to keep teaching English but also work with students who, in other districts, might disappear from the classroom.”

This year marks her 19th year in teaching and her 11th year of leading the APEX program at WHS.

APEX’s motto reflects Shetenhelm’s belief in resilience and finding direction: “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails.”

“I call my students ‘the APEX crew,’” she said. “Like a crew on a boat, you have to lean on your team and they see success comes from hard work, realigning after difficulties, and sticking with your goal. That’s where growth happens.”

With her blend of compassion, leadership, and unwavering belief in her students, she continues to make APEX a place where young people can rediscover direction – and themselves – one adjusted sail at a time. <

Windham Town Council finalizes committee appointments

By Ed Pierce

With the full contingent of newly elected members taking their seats on the Windham Town Council, committee assignments were determined during the council’s Nov. 25 meeting.

Members of the Windham Town Council meet at Windham 
Town Hall on Tuesday, Nov, 25. From left are Councilors
Katie Cook, Maggie Terry, David Nadeau, Mark Morrison,
Bill Reiner, Doug Fortier and Brett Jones.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE     

Three councilors, David Nadeau, Bill Reiner and Katie Cook, were appointed to serve on the town’s Finance Committee. Nadeau and Cook are At-Large council members while Reiner represents Windham’s West District.

To serve on the town’s Appointments Committee, the council elected councilors Mark Morrison, Maggie Terry and Katie Cook. Terry represents Windham’s North District while Morrison is an At-Large town councilor.

Councilors Brett Jones (Windham East District), Bill Reiner and David Nadeau were elected to serve on the Windham Ordinance Committee.

Two new council representatives were elected to serve on the Windham Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. They are Maggie Terry (North District) and Doug Fortier (South District).

The Windham Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee council representative will be Brett Jones (East District).

The council elected At-Large town councilors Katie Cook and Mark Morrison to serve on the Substance Prevention Grant Committee.

Following a brief discussion, councilors deferred making an appointment for the Windham Natural Resources Advisory Committee. Town Manager Bob Burns said the committee typically deals with issues such as town building energy efficiency and solar panel use but suggested that the council may want to eliminate this committee and place oversight elsewhere during a future meeting.

For the Highland Lake Leadership Team, councilors appointed David Nadeau (At-Large) as the council representative for this group.

Councilors elected Mark Morrison (At-Large) as council representative to the Forbes Lane Neighborhood Park ad hoc Committee.

The council’s representatives to the Substance Prevention Grant Committee will be At-Large councilors Mark Morrison and Katie Cook.

For service on the Windham Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee, councilors elected Maggie Terry (North District), Katie Cook (At-Large) and Bill Reiner (West District).

Council members David Nadeau (At-Large) and Maggie Terry were elected to the North Windham Fire Station Repurpose Advisory Committee.

Councilor Mark Morrison (At-Large) was elected as the Town of Windham’s delegate to the Greater Portland Council of Governments General Assembly, which is the policy making body of GPCOG. Councilor Bill Reiner (West District) will serve as the town’s alternate delegate to the GPCOG.

The council appointed Windham Town Manager Bob Burns as representative to the ecomaine Board of Directors with Councilor David Nadeau to serve as alternate town representative for that organization.

Earlier in November, councilors elected Mark Morrison as Town Council chair, with Bill Reiner elected as Vice Chair and David Nadeau as Council Parliamentarian.

Morrison was first elected to the Windham Town Council in 2020 and then was re-elected to a three year At-Large term in 2023. He previously served as the Town Council chair from November 2023 to November 2024 and has lived in Windham since 1990 while working as a financial advisor.

Reiner was first elected to the council representing Windham’s West District in 2021 and was re-elected to the council in 2024. He moved to Windham in 2016 and works in the Critical Care nursing field.

Nadeau was first elected to the Windham Town Council in 2011 and before that served for 10 years as a member of Windham’s Planning Board. He was re-elected to the council in an At-Large role in 2024 and has previously served as the Town Council Parliamentarian and Town Council chair. He is retired from a career in electronics engineering.

Vacancies currently exist on two town committees for residents to serve on.

There is one available seat for a resident on the Windham Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and one seat open on the Windham Summerfest Committee.

Printed applications will be accepted in the Town Manager's office at Windham Town Hall, 8 School Road in Windham, until the positions are filled. Applications may be downloaded online at https://www.windhammaine.us/376/Committee-Vacancies or you may request an application by calling 207-892-1907. <

Surveys poll public sentiment about climate impacts, transportation in Windham

By Ed Pierce

During December, two different public surveys will gauge public opinion in Windham about topics affecting the community’s planning for the future.

Two different community surveys in Windham
will poll residents for their opinions about
transportation in the town and how climate-
related impacts affect infrastructure, public
safety and the town's natural resources.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, a public meeting at Windham Town Hall asked residents to provide feedback to help the town improve existing connections, create new connections, and make walking and biking easier, safer, and more enjoyable. The meeting aimed to enhance Windham's Active Transportation Plan as addressed on Windham’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan update.

Community feedback will help shape the future of walking and biking infrastructure in the town, including planning for new sidewalks and bike lanes for people traveling on foot or on wheels. Meeting and survey input will guide improvements to existing sidewalks and roads, help identify new opportunities, and make walking and biking in Windham easier and safer.

An online public survey will be available at the end of this week on the town website and will augment the public meeting and was created with funding support from the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS), which is the metropolitan planning organization for the Greater Portland region. The Town of Windham is working with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and Sebago Technics to develop a plan to evaluate, analyze and make improvements to the Town’s active transportation infrastructure such as sidewalks, bikeways, and multi-use trails.

The meeting and survey will result in the development of a town-wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan going forward. The transportation survey ends Dec. 24.

Mary Wicklund, Town of Windham Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator, says that the town is also working closely with the Greater Portland Council of Governments on a climate impact survey, with GPCOG taking the lead on the survey and analyzing the results.

“In the State of Maine, much of the vulnerability and impacts resulting from the changing climate impacts has focused on the coastal regions,” Wicklund said. “This project, a collaboration between GPCOG and five municipalities, aims to better understand the climate risks for inland communities. For example, extreme heat and impacts from larger storms (resulting in road washouts and reduced water quality), impact residents across the state.

Wicklund said working with GPCOG will support the town in identifying and prioritizing the next steps to address current needs to enhance our infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and overall community wellbeing.

According to Emma Morgan, Sustainability Program Associate for the Greater Portland Council of Governments climate impact is a key issue in future planning for Windham.

“Climate-related impacts, such as more frequent and intense storms, increased flooding, heat waves, and shifting seasonal weather patterns, are becoming more noticeable each year in the region,” she said. “In Windham, these changes are affecting road conditions, public safety, household energy costs, and the town’s natural resources. Understanding how these changes are affecting the community and its resources is essential to preparing for risks, protecting property and infrastructure, and supporting vulnerable residents.”

Morgan said the climate impact survey is designed to engage with the community and gather first-hand information on how community members are experiencing climate-related changes.

“We hope to learn which impacts people are most concerned about, where residents may already be seeing impacts such as flooding, erosion, heat-related challenges, or storm damage, and how prepared households feel today and what barriers exist to improving resilience,” Morgan said.

She said the survey results will help to inform the town’s climate adaptation and resilience planning.

“They will help to identify priority areas for investment, guide decision making, and shape preparedness strategies,” Morgan said. “The data collected will also highlight where additional outreach or support may be needed. Ultimately, the feedback from the community will help ensure that future planning efforts reflect community needs and that town resources are utilized to make the greatest impact.”

The survey will remain open through Dec. 31.

“Once it closes, we will compile and analyze all responses, and the findings will be shared publicly in the final Vulnerability Assessment Report,” Morgan said. “This report, developed through the Community Resilience Partnership Service Provider Grant, will be published no later than July 2026.” 

Visit windhammaine.us for links. <

Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave updates benefit taxability

AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Labor's Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program has updated its FAQs for employers and employees to help answer questions they may have about the taxability of benefits.

"As businesses prepare to implement the Paid Family & Medical Leave program in 2026, we've chosen an option that makes compliance with the recent IRS tax rules as simple and supportive of businesses as possible," said Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman.

Highlights of the FAQs include:

For employees:
Whether Maine PFML benefits are taxable depends on the situation. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the best source of information and has released guidance.
Benefits paid for family leave claims are considered taxable income, but they are not considered wages. You can choose to have withholdings from your benefits for state and federal income taxes. You'll get a Form 1099-G at the end of the year for when you file your income tax return.
Benefits paid for medical leave claims are treated differently depending on who is required to pay the premiums for coverage: the employee or the employer.
When the employee pays all the Paid Family & Medical Leave premiums, their medical leave benefits are not taxable at all. In Maine, employers who have less than 15 workers are exempted from their portion of the premium, so the employee would pay all the premium.
When the employee pays only a portion of the premiums, then only the proportion of benefits corresponding to their contributions are exempt from tax. The proportion attributable to the employer's contribution would be taxable wages.
Even if an employer voluntarily pays a portion of the employee's premium share, the taxation rules are still the same as what is assumed in law for cost sharing.

Generally, this will mean that if an employee takes leave from an employer with less than 15 employees, none of their medical leave benefits are taxable. If they take leave from an employer with 15 employees or more, half of their medical leave benefits will be taxable as wages.

Payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare will be taken out of this taxable part of medical leave benefits. They can also elect to voluntarily withhold state and federal income taxes and will get a Form W-2 for the taxable portion when they file their income tax return.

For employers:
For the portion of medical leave benefits that are subject to payroll taxes, the Department will cover the responsibility of calculating and paying the required employer payroll tax matches. The Administrator will remit payroll taxes and issue Forms W-2 to employees as needed, on behalf of the Department. The Department will assume this responsibility and associated costs during the initial phase of the program to reduce complexity in the tax treatment of benefits. The Department acknowledges that employers already comply with the payroll tax requirements for short-term disability programs and reserves the right to adopt a comparable process for PFML benefits in the future.

In 2023, Maine Gov Janet Mills signed a historic budget that includes the creation of a paid family and medical leave program, making Maine the 13th state to establish one.

Starting in 2026, eligible workers in the private and public sector will have up to 12 weeks of paid time off available to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to bond with a child after birth, fostering or adoption, to care for their own medical needs, to deal with the transition of a family member’s impending military deployment or to stay safe after abuse or violence.

To keep up to date with information on Maine's Paid Family & Medical Leave program, visit https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/ <

Maine residents can now renew REAL IDs online

AUGUSTA – The Office of the Maine Secretary of State has launched online renewal of REAL ID by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has announced
that online renewal of READ ID is now available through
the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. COURTESY PHOTO  

More than 70,000 REAL ID driver’s licenses are up for renewal in the next year. With this new online REAL ID service, most Maine residents with an expiring REAL ID will no longer need to visit their local BMV branch to renew their identification. AAA branches can now also help Mainers renew their REAL ID.

“We know Mainers are looking for easier, more efficient government services, and we are proud to launch online renewal of REAL IDs to save Mainers time by never having to go to the BMV,” said Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. “Online REAL ID renewals will also reduce customer traffic to our BMV branches, helping to open up more availability for in-person services for those who need them and reducing wait times at branches.”

Customers who are up for renewal in the coming weeks should check out the online services at the Secretary of State’s website and can cancel an existing in-person appointment if they have it through the cancellation instructions in their appointment confirmation email or text so that their reserved time will be made available to someone who may need it.

“If you are planning to travel by plane over the winter holidays and need to renew your REAL ID or obtain one for the first time, we urge you not to wait – go online or visit your local BMV soon,” said Cathie Curtis, the Deputy Secretary of State for Bureau of Motor Vehicles. “We have seen record-breaking number of customers visiting our offices since early summer, and we hope that launching the ability to renew your REAL ID online at this time will help ensure that everyone who needs a REAL ID to travel this winter has the option to get one.”

As of May 7, 2025, travelers are required to present a state-issued REAL ID, passport/passport card, or other TSA compliant information to fly commercially as well as to enter select federal facilities. The federal requirement instituted just prior the busy summer travel season led to high volume of traffic at BMV branches around the state and around the country.

According to TSA, as of Aug. 31, 2025, some 93.5 percent of travelers presenting a Maine-issued identification card at a TSA checkpoint were REAL ID compliant. This does not include those travelers presenting a passport, passport card, or other TSA compliant information.

As of the beginning of November, a total of 432,546 Mainers now have a REAL ID, an increase of 131,000 this year. A REAL ID issued by the State of Maine will include an outline of Maine with a star in gold in the upper right-hand corner of the card.

Maine residents with an active non-commercial license, motorcycle license, motor driven cycle restricted license, or a Maine ID card – now including REAL ID – may use the online service to process a renewal or replacement of their driver’s license or ID card. You will need to know your social security number and provide a valid credit card to complete the online transaction.

A driver is required to provide their driver’s license card or a printed copy of their temporary license when requested by law enforcement. A photo or screen capture is not sufficient and failure to present a physical copy could result in a ticket.

If unable to print at the time of the transaction, an applicant may call the BMV at 207-624-9000 Ext. 52114 to have a copy emailed to them.

Applicants using online renewal cannot change any information on their current license or ID card, and not all identifications can be renewed online.

An individual would need to visit a BMV office if they:

* Hold a driver's license from another state

* Are applying for a Maine REAL ID driver's license or ID card for the first time

*First-time applicants must provide one document that establishes identity, date of birth, and lawful permanent residence/lawful status in the U.S.; a Social Security number (card does not need to be presented); and two documents showing Maine residency such as a utility bill, pay stub, etc. Additional documentation may be required if an applicant has ever legally changed their name. please visit the Maine Secretary of State website for additional information and further details: https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/driver-licenses-and-ids/real-id.

* Hold a commercial driver's license.

*Changed their name since last renewal.

* Have developed a medical condition or an existing medical condition has changed since last renewal.

* Wish to remove a restriction to corrective lenses.

* Are not a U.S. citizen.

* Require a vision examination. For information on when a vision examination may be required, visit this link: https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/licenses/vision.html.

During the busy holiday season, Mainers are urged to give themselves plenty of time to receive their identifications, keeping in mind both the time it takes to process the ID cards as well as additional time for receipt via USPS mail. <

Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program pays tribute to Windham’s fallen heroes

By Ed Pierce

Windham’s military veterans gave us our freedom and kept us safe during difficult times. They sacrificed for us, protected us, and defended our liberty during war and in peacetime. They all deserve our thanks for their courage, strength and dedication and supporting Windham’s Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program is a great way to show respect for our local veterans.

American Legion Post 148 Auxiliary members gather during
last year's Everlasting Wreath Gratitude Program at
Arlington Cemetery in Windham. From left are Pam
Whynot, Gail Labbe, Lin Tanguay and Maryann Johnson.
This year the wreaths will be placed on veterans' graves
at Windham cemeteries on Saturday, Dec. 6.
COURTESY PHOTO  

The program was started by Sebago Gardens in 2013 and continues today under the leadership of American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham. Each Christmas season, the Windham Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program provides wreaths adorned with red, white, and blue ribbons for placement on veteran’s graves in town.

Last year, more than 1,000 wreaths were placed in 24 different Windham cemeteries honoring the service of military veterans buried there. Some of these local graves of veterans date back to the Colonial Era and the Revolutionary War. The graves of Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans can also be found in Windham.

Starting in December, the Windham Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program conducts a ceremony honoring the contributions of local veterans and follows that up with the placement of seasonal wreaths adorned with red, white, and blue ribbons. The special ceremony is coordinated with the laying of wreaths at the national cemeteries across America and includes placing a large, decorated wreath at each cemetery entrance in Windham.

“We are still working with Libby Sawyer, the founder of the program. Although now the Legion Post does the funding and labor,” said David Tanguay, Post 148 adjutant, she still is the vendor for the wreaths. Bows were made by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 148 on Nov. 13.

According to Tanguay, the bows will be placed on the wreaths at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2 at the Sebago Garden facility on Architectural Drive in Windham, and volunteer help is always greatly appreciated.

“The wreaths will go out to the smaller cemeteries that week with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 and American Legion Post 148 staff support,” Tanguay said. “Arlington Cemetery with 350 veterans and Smith Cemetery with 210 vets will be done at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. Again, any support will be appreciated and volunteers to place the wreaths at the cemeteries will be briefed by Legion staff at each location/”

He said that thanks to the generous donations from local businesses and many members of the community, Windham’s American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 has been able to sponsor this popular program, but further donations from the public are needed to keep it viable.

“The Legion’s Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program has zero overhead for expenses, and all donations to the program are used to purchase wreaths, ribbons, and hardware,” Tanguay said.

Each veteran’s grave in town will have a shepherd’s crock placed on it in December about 30 inches high to hang the wreath on. These shepherd’s crocks allow volunteers to remove the wreaths easily when it is time to retrieve them rather than having to dig them out from under a pile of snow.

Fundraising for the Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program began in July to raise more than $6,000 every year to support the program and have funds available in September to pay for the wreath order.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Everlasting Gratitude Wreath Program may do so by sending a check marked “Legion Wreaths,” to Legion Post 148 P.O. Box 1776, Windham, Maine 04062. The American Legion is a Federal designated 501 (c) 19 organization. <

Former career inspires retired detective to write police procedural novels

By Dina Mendros

When Bruce Robert Coffin entered college, his dream was to be a writer. Unfortunately, a less than encouraging creative writing teacher squelched that dream, for a time. Instead, following in the footsteps of a relative, Coffin veered on a completely different career path. He became an officer with the Portland Police Department, eventually becoming a detective sergeant supervising homicides and violent crime. During his time with Portland PD, Coffin put his writing aspirations on the shelf.

Retired detective Bruce Robert Coffin, who lives in Windham,
has written his ninth book called "Crimson Thaw" and says
he loves the process of writing and developing a great story.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

However, after about 28 years on the force, Coffin retired and finally realized his longtime dream of becoming a writer. Using his police career as fodder, Coffin, 61, a Windham resident, has now published nine books, many of which feature a police detective as the protagonist.

His latest book, “Crimson Tide,” came out earlier this month. He is working on a second book in his Detective Justice Mysteries series, scheduled to come out early next year and a third is already planned which is set to be published later in 2026.

He’s thrilled with his second career, Coffin said, and loves the writing process.

“The most fun of this is actually sitting down and playing inside your imagination. There should be no other motivation,” he said. “I mean none of us is guaranteed successful publication, but if you enjoy the actual active writing, making things up, entertaining yourself and escaping from the real world, which is what readers do as well, writing might be right for you.”

Although it took him a while to realize his dream of becoming a writer, Coffin isn’t bitter.

“It’s certainly not what I imagined as a teenager that it would take this long but I think it’s worked out well because it’s about having a life, experiencing things in life,” he said. “The more that you have, I think the better you can be.”

Coffin says he feels fortunate to be having writing success now.

“In a lot of ways, I’m lucky that I waited until I was 52 to actually do this because I don’t know how I would have approached it as much as a young person,” he said. “I feel like this came at exactly the right time for me.”

He says his past experiences inform his books as Coffin writes police procedurals.

“You can write about procedure,” he said, “but I think without the experience having done it it’s harder to write the emotions that are associated with it.”

There is a lot of himself in his first series, Coffin said. The Detective Byron Mysteries are about a Portland police detective, just like he was.

In addition, he said, “I think all my characters probably contain elements of me. … I think it’s impossible to write believable characters if you’re not revealing a little bit of yourself once in a while when you’re writing them. think that was one of the things to learn that it was okay to risk exposing your inner thoughts by putting them into the character that’s not you.”

Coffin said he reads a lot and has several authors he especially admires that provide inspiration.

One of his earliest favorites was another Maine author, Stephen King. He said reading King’s novels taught him a lot about how to tell a story.

As to his writing process, Coffin says he writes every day and always has a plan in mind for the plot of his books and that prevents writer’s block. When he does get stuck, he says he gets up and does something else, and he usually finds answers then.

Coffin credits a lot of his success to his literary agent Paula Munier and his wife of 40 years, Karen.

“I couldn’t have done this without her,” Coffin said of Karen. He calls her his muse and his “right hand” who he bounces ideas off and travels with him to speaking engagements. “She handles pretty much everything other than the writing.”

Despite putting his writing career on hold for decades, Coffin considers himself lucky to have his chance now. “I love this,” he said. “I plan to do this until I can’t do it anymore.” <

Windham Town Council chooses leaders for next year

By Ed Pierce

During the Windham Town Council meeting on Nov. 13, councilors selected new leaders for the coming year and approved appointments to the town board and committees.

Mark Morrison has been elected to
serve as the Windham Town Council
chair for the next year. He was first
elected to the council in 2020 and
was re-elected in 2023. Morrison
previously served a Town Council
chair from November 2023 to
November 2024. FILE PHOTO 

Mark Morrison was elected to serve as Town Council chair, with Bill Reiner elected as Vice Chair and David Nadeau as Council Parliamentarian.

Morrison was first elected to the Windham Town Council in 2020 and was re-elected to a three year At-Large term in 2023. He previously served as the Town Council chair from November 2023 to November 2024. He has lived in Windham since 1990 and works as a financial advisor.

Reiner has previously served as Town Council Vice Chair and represents Windham’s West District. He was re-elected to the council in 2024.

Nadeau was re-elected to the council in an At-Large role in 2024 and has previously served as the Town Council Parliamentarian.

After electing new leaders, councilors also made key appointments of Windham residents to fill vacancies on various town board and committees.

Those appointments include:

** Magnus Dunning to the Windham Board of Assessment Review for a three-year term

** Harold Inman to the Windham Public Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term

** Austin Coco to the Windham Natural Resource Advisory Committee for a three-year term

Councilors also appointed David Joy, Tina Linsbeck-Perron, Amie Earley, Steve Clauson, and Lindsey Conrad to serve on the Forbes Park Neighborhood Ad Hoc Committee.

Elizabeth McDougall was appointed by the council to a three-year term on Windham Public Library Board of Trustees.

Megan Potter received a three-year appointment from councilors to serve on the Windham Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and she also was named by the council to serve on the Forbes Park Neighborhood Ad Hoc Committee. <

Maine DACF launches new statewide food access map

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) has announced the launch of the Maine Food Access Map, a statewide interactive resource that helps individuals and families locate nearby food pantries, meal sites, school-based programs, WIC clinics, and other free or donation-based food assistance services.

"We know that too many Maine people struggle to find nutritious food, and the new Maine Food Access Map is designed to meet this real and growing need," said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal. By consolidating the state's hunger-relief resources into one intuitive platform, we can help individuals and families connect more quickly.

The Maine Food Access Map is continually updated in partnership with local programs and community organizations to ensure that it contains accurate and current information. It complements existing statewide directories, such as 211 Maine, by providing a comprehensive, interactive, location-based view of food assistance resources.

DACF encourages organizations that serve the public, municipal offices, libraries, schools, faith-based groups, nonprofits, and healthcare providers to share the map to maximize access for residents.

The Maine Food Access Map can be accessed at: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ag/endinghungercorps/food-access-map.shtml

The Maine Food Access Map was created by the DACF Ending Hunger Corps team. Maine is the first state in the nation to commit by law to end hunger and is supported by a statewide strategic plan. As part of this effort, Ending Hunger Corps strengthens the capacity of organizations working to increase food security across Maine. Ending Hunger Corps members work behind the scenes to help programs serve more people, more effectively.

Their work includes building and improving systems that support hunger-relief and financial security efforts, developing data tools and analyses, expanding volunteer programs, providing community education and outreach, and supporting special projects that enhance local food access. Together, their efforts create long-term, sustainable impact for communities across the state. <

In the public eye: Being able to make a positive difference is what motivates Windham Firefighter/EMT

Theresa Hall has been with the
Windham Fire/Rescue team since 2002.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Melissa Carter 

Firefighter/Paramedic Theresa Hall has dedicated more than three decades to serving her community, building a career rooted in compassion, public service, and a commitment to helping others during their most difficult moments.

Raised in Raymond and a graduate of Westbrook High School, Hall did not initially plan on entering the firefighter/EMT service field. That changed in 1993 when she witnessed an accident and later questioned whether she had responded in the best way possible. Wanting to learn more, she enrolled in an EMT class, joined the Raymond Fire Department, and began what would become a lifelong dedication to emergency services.

When Hall moved to Windham in 2002, she applied and was hired and has been with Windham Fire/Rescue ever since. Her duties as a Firefighter/Paramedic include protecting the public from fire hazards, providing emergency medical care, and offering safety education to the community. Although the tasks of the job are broad, what matters most to her is the ability to bring comfort, emotionally and physically, to people experiencing a crisis. “I take pride in knowing that even brief interactions can make a meaningful difference during someone’s hardest day.” Hall said.

Hall acknowledges that the work comes with challenges, and for her, heights have always been among them. “I am not a fan of ladders. The older I get the more I do not like heights,” Hall admits. This does not deter her commitment to serving the public and she responds wherever she is needed even if it makes her nervous. This attitude reflects the dedication and professionalism she brings to every call.

One aspect of the job she wishes the public better understood is the reality of staffing levels in a growing community. Many assume that a large number of firefighters and paramedics are always available, but Windham operates its two stations with a minimum of just five responders on duty each day. As call volume approaches more than 4,000 annually, the workload continues to grow. Hall emphasizes how essential the town’s per-diem staff, call company, live-in students, and mutual aid partners are in maintaining consistent emergency coverage. The department’s ability to meet demand relies heavily on teamwork and regional cooperation.

Throughout her years in emergency services, Hall has accumulated countless memorable experiences, but the moments that stay with her most are the conversations that happen in the back of the ambulance. “Patients often share personal reflections during transport, offering insight into their lives during vulnerable moments,” Hall said. “These conversations have provided lessons and made a lasting impact that have helped shape my approach to both my work and the people I serve”.

Beyond her duties on calls, Hall plays an important role in training future emergency medical providers. She teaches EMT classes twice a year through United Training Center at Windham’s Central Fire Station. With Maine experiencing an ongoing shortage of EMTs, she considers it meaningful work to prepare new providers to enter the field. “Helping students gain knowledge, confidence, and skill is a responsibility I value,” Hall said. She views education as another extension of her commitment to public safety.

Hall’s connection to the fire service also runs through her family. Her father is a retired South Portland firefighter, and her husband, Steve, retired from the Portland Fire Department before becoming the Call Company Deputy Fire Chief in Windham. A nephew also serves with Portland Fire. With such strong family ties, her two children, Jack and Grace, grew up immersed in the rhythms of the fire service lifestyle, viewing it as a natural part of daily life. “Over the years, our entire family has learned to balance schedules, holidays, and the unpredictable nature of emergency work, offering support for one another along the way,” Hall said.

Another aspect of Windham Fire/Rescue that Hall wants residents to know surrounds their live-in student program. The town currently hosts seven students enrolled in Southern Maine Community College’s Fire Science program. These students live in the firehouse while attending school, responding to emergency calls, training alongside career staff, and gaining hands-on experience that extends far beyond classroom learning. “Over time, they become an important part of the crew and contribute significantly to the department’s daily operations,” Hall said. “We couldn’t do it without them”.

Looking back on her career, Hall reflects on one lesson that stands above the rest: the importance of treating everyone with kindness and empathy. “Emergency calls involve people experiencing a range of emotions, and not every individual is calm or appreciative when responders arrive,” Hall said, “but I believe every call offers an opportunity to make a positive difference. I love my job, the people I work with, and I love the town of Windham. This is truly the greatest job in the world”.  <

Jordan-Small Middle School pilots innovative outdoor education program through science curriculum

JSMS’ outdoor education pilot program students bird
watch as one of their recent activities. 
This program not only meets science standards
and encourages life building skills, but the
outdoor activities make learning fun and engaging.
Photo by Lorraine Glowczak

By Lorraine Glowczak 

 At Jordan-Small Middle School (JSMS), teacher Jed Bloom’s science classes no longer end at the classroom door. This fall, sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students are stepping into the woods on district property as part of a pilot outdoor education program that blends science instruction with nature-based exploration, hands-on projects, and plenty of fresh air.

Bloom said this outdoor education approach reflects a growing body of research showing that outdoor learning increases academic achievement, strengthens critical thinking, and supports students’ personal development.

According to the North American Association for Environmental Education, outdoor, hands-on learning backs up Bloom’s own research on the subject, adding that “personal growth and life-building skills including confidence, autonomy, and leadership” becomes an essential part of their lives.

Bloom said these findings inspire him to bring science outdoors in a meaningful way.

Outdoor education naturally encourages the core practices of science: asking questions, making observations, forming hypotheses, and testing ideas.

“You can certainly do that inside a lab, in a classroom surrounded by four brick walls,” he said. “But outside, there’s so much more to observe. You see it, you hear it, you smell it — it activates all the senses. That sensory experience leads to more questions, deeper thinking, and better science.”

Sixth grader Jack Sawyer’s curiosity was sparked during a routine visit to the Frog Pond across the street on the Raymond Elementary School’s campus. What began as a simple observation quickly grew into a bigger question about the natural world. “The first day when we went to the Frog Pond all the grass and cattails were standing up, but through the year they started to fall down. I wonder why they did that.”
Part of the pilot’s design, Bloom emphasized, is that both he and the students are learning together.

Bloom said that this program is a work in progress, adding that he and the students are figuring out what works and what doesn’t. “The students get to see that learning is a collaborative process. We’re exploring, experimenting, and improving the program for next year.” 

In addition to meeting science standards, JSMS outdoor education program meets all of Maine’s 21st century standards - skills that the State expects students to have upon graduating high school. These include:
Self-Directed and Lifelong Learner “Applies knowledge in new contexts”
A Creative and Practical Problem Solver, “Frames questions, makes predictions, and designs data/information collection and analysis strategies”
A Responsible and Involved Citizen, “Demonstrates awareness of personal and community health, wellness, and the environment around them.”
An Integrative and Informed Thinker, “Gains and applies knowledge across disciplines and learning contexts to real life situations with and without technology.
A Clear and Effective Communicator, “Demonstrates organized and purposeful communication in English and at least one other language. (i.e.journaling, the language of nature.)

For many students, it goes beyond curriculum and standards set by the state. They recognize that being outside blends learning with play while observing the natural world. Whether that is observing birds, trees, wind, or frogs hopping or singing at the Frog Pond, being outdoors and the lesson it teaches is beginning to take hold.

Seventh grader Carly Herman said that she finds the hands-on, outdoor activities makes learning engaging.

“The best part is going out and having fun,” she said. “Right now, we’re making a fire pit and building forts. When it gets really cold, the fire pit will help keep us warm and the forts will keep us dry during rain and snow while we do our observations and journaling.”

Classmate Jamar Banton agreed, adding that the outdoor journals the students keep while on their exploratory adventures have helped him notice things he never paid attention to before.

“When we sit and listen, we take notes on everything happening around us,” he said. “One time I heard a buzzing noise, and it turned out to be a bee nearby. I even heard cars in the distance — sounds you don’t think about being in nature, but they’re there.”

While JSMS academics are the heart of this pilot program, Bloom said there is another component that is just as essential to the lives of JSMS students, and that is the art of playing.

“Twelve and thirteen-year-olds need to move their bodies and play together,” he said. “They’re learning social skills as much as science skills. Many kids today have packed schedules filled with school, sports, and evening activities. Add in the pull of cellphones, and there’s not much unstructured time outdoors.”
Outdoor education, he said, gives students space to breathe, move, collaborate, and reset.

As the pilot program continues, Bloom hopes this new initiative will become a model for future outdoor learning at Jordan-Small Middle School, and hopefully the whole school district. For now, students seem more than happy to trade fluorescent lights for sunshine, textbooks for field journals, and worksheets for the rustle of leaves, and very soon, the snow beneath their feet. <

Raymond Lions Club dedicates park benches in memory of club founder at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park

By Ed Pierce

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, Raymond Lions Club members
dedicated one of four benches in memory of founding
member Bob Jones. His family attended the dedication, from
left, Elaine Jones, daughter Wendy Jones, son-in-law Jamie
Anderson, and daughter Kathi Anderson. COURTESY PHOTO

Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park in Raymond has become more comfortable this fall, thanks to a generous gift from the Raymond Lions Club.  

On Wednesday Oct. 29, Raymond Lions Club members dedicated four new benches to the Town of Raymond for use at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park. The benches are located at the park’s new Pickleball and Tennis courts, as well as at the Basketball court. 

Construction of the Pickleball and Tennis Courts was recently finished and dedicated to the memory of the late Brenda Olsen.

“The Lions coordinated with Joe Crocker, who at the time was the town’s Parks and Recreation Director,” said Laurie Wallace, president of the Raymond Lions Club. “He then arranged with Nathan White, Raymond Public Works Director, to build and place the benches. Their support was greatly appreciated. It was a great partnership, and the Town of Raymond needs some unity right now.”

Each bench includes a plaque acknowledging the bench donations by the Raymond Lions Club, but Wallace says that one of the plaques holds even greater value. 

“It reads "In Memory of Bob Jones, Founder of Raymond Lions Club,” Wallace said. 

The Raymond Lions Club was first chartered in September 1995, sponsored by the Windham Lions Club, and Bob Jones of Raymond coordinated activities associated with chartering the new club. Jones was also active in several other Lions Clubs over the years before his death in May 2024.

His widow, Elaine Jones, daughters Wendy Jones and Kathi Anderson and her husband Jamie Anderson were on hand to witness the dedication and try out the new benches at Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park. Kathi and Jamie Anderson were also members of the Raymond Lions Club.

Current Lions Club members Laurie Wallace, Bob Wallace, Dale Gilman, Caryl Gilman, Barbara Brown and Gil Brown also attended the dedication event.

Lions Club International’s mission is to empower Lions clubs, volunteers, and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives locally and globally, and encourage peace and international understanding.

Members of the Lions Clubs across the world believe in changing lives by serving the needs of local communities. In all, more than 1.4 million Lions Club members internationally are responding to difficult local and global challenges with kindness and caring.

The Raymond Lions Club was formed in 1995 and is an active group of service minded men and women who want to make Raymond a better place to live by serving the community in a variety of ways. It is a part of the world's largest, and most active service club organization, Lions Club International.

Along with other Lions Club members worldwide, the Raymond Lions Club works with their fellow Lions in more than 170 countries and geographical areas to seek out and help the needy in their own communities, their country, and the world.

Ongoing club projects include collection of used eyeglasses to reuse for people in Third World countries. There is a club collection box in the Raymond Village Library and at the Raymond Town Office. The primary fundraising activity for the Raymond Lions Club is its continuing bottle drive. They have two bottle collection sites, at the Raymond Town Hall parking lot at 401 Webbs Mills Road, and at the Jordan Bay Animal Hospital driveway at 1242 Roosevelt Trail.

Half of the proceeds from the bottle drive fund the Raymond Lions Club Scholarships and the other half goes to multiple Raymond-based organizations such as the Raymond Food Pantry, Raymond Village Library, Veterans Memorial Park, Raymond Fire & Rescue, as well as many other regional non-profit groups. 

The club meets monthly in Raymond and is active in many worthwhile community service projects in the Raymond and Casco areas. For further details about the Raymond Lions Club, please contact Wallace at 207-415-3901. <

 

Erik’s Church Fall Golf Tournament raises funds for RSU 14 Backpack Program; January Event Planned

By Melissa Carter 

Kenny Cianchette, owner of Erik’s Church, is presented
with a plaque of appreciation for his ongoing support
of the RSU 14 Backpack Program by founder
and organizer of the program, Marge Giovini and 
volunteer Franny Etheridge. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Community support for local families was on full display this fall when Erik’s Church hosted its annual golf tournament, raising $7,000 for the RSU 14 Backpack Program. This contribution builds on more than $20,000 raised at a winter event earlier this year and reinforces the restaurant and entertainment venue’s growing role as a committed partner in supporting students and nonprofit organizations locally.

The RSU 14 Backpack Program began during the 2011–2012 school year to address gaps in food availability for students over weekends and school breaks. While meals are available during the school day, many children leave school on Friday with uncertain access to nutritious food until they return on Monday. The program discreetly provides weekend food bags filled with kid-friendly, shelf-stable items that students can prepare independently. Bags are packed weekly by volunteers at Windham Middle School and distributed by school personnel to maintain privacy. The program was launched serving about 50 children and now supports more than 150 students districtwide, reflecting increased need as many families face rising food and grocery costs.

Each bag costs roughly $10 to assemble, and while that seems modest, the program estimates that supporting one student for the full school year can cost around $300. It is filled with kid-friendly, nutritious foods that are lightweight enough to carry home in their backpacks. Because the Backpack Program does not receive funding through the district budget, it depends entirely on contributions from individuals, community groups, and area businesses. Volunteers, rather than paid staff, handle all planning, purchasing, and packing, ensuring that donations are spent directly on food for students. Organizers say this makes the program particularly impactful, because every contribution goes directly toward providing consistent nourishment to local children.

Erik’s Church owner Kenny Cianchette said he supports the Backpack Program because it meets a visible need and does so with remarkable efficiency. He noted that the all-volunteer structure allows the program to serve children without administrative costs typically associated with nonprofit organizations. “I support the Backpack Program because the need for the program is, unfortunately, there and the dollars given to the team who run it are 100% used for the purpose,” Cianchette said. “There is no waste by the organization since it is volunteer-run and financially backed by contributions. Many organizations have overhead to make their missions a reality, but this program is entirely operated professionally, based on my experience, by amazing volunteers.”

Cianchette added that the ability to organize events that bring the community together is the most effective way Erik’s Church can contribute. He explained that while some businesses donate services or professional expertise, his team’s strength lies in creating experiences that people enjoy while supporting a meaningful cause. “Worthy causes need both labor and money to be successful,” he said. “Our team is particularly good at creating enjoyable events, and so the best use of our time is to create enjoyable events that can help half of that equation. Much like a lawyer could donate their legal services to an organization, or a newspaper donate ads or columns to raise awareness, Erik’s Church donates our ability to put on enjoyable, and profitable, events.”

The September golf tournament drew support from many local businesses and residents who participated not only for a fun day on the course, but also to help ensure students in their own community have what they need to return to school prepared each week. Organizers with the Backpack Program say that participation from local businesses, civic groups, and individuals is responsible for the program’s growth. They emphasize that volunteers are vital; groups gather every Tuesday to pack bags that are then distributed to schools for pickup and delivery. The quiet reliability of the program means students facing food insecurity over the weekend and during school breaks can receive support without feeling singled out.

Erik’s Church will continue its fundraising efforts this winter with the second annual Duel to Fight Hunger event, scheduled for Wednesday, January 14. The evening, held at Erik’s Church, will feature a dueling piano show, along with an all-inclusive night of food and beverages. Tickets go on sale next Friday and will be available on Erik’s Church website and Facebook page. Individual tickets and corporate tables will be offered, and more information may be requested by emailing ken@erikschurch.com

Those wishing to volunteer for the Backpack Program can contact Marge Govoni at: mgovoni@rsu14.org. The program accepts only monetary donations to ensure nutritional items and menus are similarly based and meet the needs of each child.  Online donations can also be made at https://www.androgov.com/org/index.php?structureid=88 - Select “all other student activities,” fill in your information, for a specific school, select “School Nutrition.” For *Payment Description* write “Backpack Program.” For additional information visit www.rsu14.org or send an email to Ryan Roderick at: rroderick@rsu14.org

Community rallies to help neighbors losing SNAP assistance

By Ed Pierce 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Ed Pierce

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great Falls Bridges reopen after 53 days of repair work

By Ed Pierce

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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