In the public eye: New Windham Deputy Town Clerk steps into role with enthusiasm and commitment

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

By Ed Pierce

Heather Legere may be the newest member of the Windham Town Clerk’s staff, but she is keenly aware that her position as a Deputy Town Clerk is an integral member of the town’s municipal team. At its core, the mission of the Windham Town Clerk’s Office is to safeguard the integrity of governmental processes and Legere has accepted taking on that vital responsibility.

Heather Legere has joined the Windham Town Clerk's Office
as Deputy Town Clerk. She has worked for the past seven 
years in the Tax Collection/Registration Department for
The Town of Windham and has lived most of her adult
life in Windham. PHOTO BY ROGER CROPLEY 

Among Legere’s varied duties, she helps to administer town elections; issues business licenses; the town’s dog registrations; the sales of hunting and fishing licenses; maintaining the town’s vital statistics; overseeing state boat and automobile and ATV registrations; hunting and fishing licenses, issuing concealed weapons permits; and performing genealogical research. She also provides notary service; swears town officials into office; helps collect tax payments for the town; and can serve as the secretary for the Windham Town Council when needed.

To perform her job, Legere must be able to organize work quickly and set priorities. She’s responsible for accuracy, timeliness and thoroughness of her work and must perform tasks in accordance with legal, procedural, and policy guidelines established by the state and the town. The Deputy Town Clerk position requires strong customer service skills and that includes being able to stay calm and polite when dealing with upset customers, working under very busy circumstances at times, the ability to multi-task, exhibiting degrees of flexibility, and she’s able to work with unexpected interruptions.

Legere says one thing that the public may not know about her job is that deputy town clerks can perform marriages and swear in notaries, to name a few, that are done free or by donation.

“All the donation money is saved for that year and then we shop for children at Christmas time with the help from Windham’s Social Services,” she said. “We typically shop for 25 teens and it’s a big deal for us to continue. We have a few residents that will come in each time and have us keep their ‘change’ to add to our Christmas fund. We really do live and work in a wonderful community.”

She was born and raised in Windham and graduated from Windham High School.

“I have lived here most of my adult life,” Legere said. “Windham is my home. I take pride in serving our community and being able to work in the clerk’s office helps me serve the community on a bigger scale.”

For 18 years, Legere worked at Unum in Portland before joining the Tax Collection/Registration Department for the Town of Windham seven years ago. She started her new duties as a Deputy Town Clerk within the past week.

According to Legere, the best thing about her job is the interaction with the residents of Windham.

“Windham is an ever-growing town, but when residents walk in and take the time out of their day to express their gratitude to us and say it is so nice to walk into the town office and be greeted and everyone is so nice,” she said. “It’s nice to hear and be appreciated.”

The most challenging aspect of Legere’s job is understanding people.

“This is not a visit most people want to do,” she said. “So, to do your job, you need to understand they are upset with the process and not you the clerk behind the desk. Yes, we have rules and regulations to follow, but we are here to help with the process, and we try our hardest to not let a customer leave without completing what they came here to get done.”

Having only worked in the Windham Town Clerk’s Office for a short time, Legere says it’s difficult to pinpoint her most memorable moment so far.

“I don’t have one specific moment, but I love how the town rallies around each other in times of need,” she said. “We have seen it time and time again about how our residents do support each other.”

Her family approves of her new position as Deputy Town Clerk.

“They love to have me close to home and working for a town,” she said.

Legere says the most important thing that she has learned while working for the Windham Town Clerk’s Office is basic.

“Every day is different, we see new things each day and continue to learn as a team,” she said. <

Pastor strives to keep church relevant for community

By Ed Pierce

Rev. Brian Donovan of Raymond Village Community Church says that it’s no secret that mainline churches are struggling and closing and to survive, he’s accepted that his church is going to have to adapt to doing things in a new way.

Raymond Village Community Church's
congregation has re-embraced its historic
roots and is focusing on community
relevance and starting to see many great
things happening. FILE PHOTO  

Donovan joined Raymond Village Community Church two years ago and is faced with not only keeping the church afloat financially, but to grow and expand its congregation through renewed relevance and a sense of being part of larger spiritual movement.

“Two UCC churches in Maine closed just this last year,” Donovan said. “As such, the people of Raymond Village Community Church (RVCC) have been trying to discover ways to be there for the community and remain open; because our faith is to follow God and be here for everyone who is looking for a non-judgmental, welcoming community.”

He said that is the reason that the people of RVCC called upon him to lead them as their pastor and teacher.

“"I have been with and served many churches over the years,” Donovan said. “And though there are wonderful people in every church, I have never seen a community where everyone is loving and supportive of everyone else. They truly are living their faith, not just saying that they believe."

The Raymond Village Community Church building was constructed in 1878 and became chartered with the Congregational Society. At that time, it was part of a multi-church Presumpscot Union Parish. A vestry was added in 1960 and then later an addition was built for classrooms and office space. In 1986, the Presumpscot Union Parish dissolved, and the Raymond Village Community Church affiliated with the United Church of Christ denomination. Under the UCC affiliation, RVCC became a community church that draws its members from a variety of spiritual backgrounds and a wide spectrum of theological perspectives.

When Donovan was hired as RVCC pastor, he says that the original goal was to unify with another church in the local area.

“During my first year, I also served the wonderful people of the First Congregational Church of Gray,” he said. “We discussed merging with this beautiful community; however, it did not feel right for everyone. After this first year, the RVCC tried a more direct approach with North Windham Union Church, which we faithfully tried to unify with over the last year. Sadly, this merger was not meant to happen for a variety of reasons.”

Since that merger didn’t happen, Donovan said the RVCC congregation has re-embraced its historic roots of a community church and has focused on community relevance and has seen many great things starting to happen.

“First, we started sharing our space for a minimal usage cost and below standard cost with Raymond Parks and Recreation, Age Friendly Raymond, and a Rwandan-based church just starting in this area,” he said. “These endeavors are being done to support both the community of Raymond and Christianity.”

Along with that effort, RVCC is continuing to support school programs and the local food pantry with donations and trying out new ways to reconnect with the community.

“We have also begun looking at worship on not just Sundays or in different ways to engage people where they are, not just how it has been prescribed to all of us over the years.” Donovan said. “We continue to support youth and provide them opportunities by seeking high school musicians, so, they have a chance to grow their talents in a safe and supportive way.”

The church is also looking at having community movie nights, dinners, and mission engagements to help bring life to its faith and spirituality in the Raymond community.

“Finally, RVCC is a church open to and accepting of everyone's voice; so, we could do almost anything as long as it is faithful,” Donovan said. “Yes, anything you bring to the community could be what we do over the next year.”

But despite all these new initiatives and efforts, Donovan says RVCC is still facing a future where it may not be here as a church because it is financially struggling.

“More than funding support, we need you to join us in supporting one another, our community, and following our creator,” he said. “We need you to try RVCC out again because we are trying church in a new way, a way that involves hearing your voice and meeting you where you need all of us. I hope you will join us as we explore our faith together in a new way.”

RVCC will host a Traditional Family Friendly Candlelight Service at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24. Donovan said that everyone will be welcome to attend this special service and it will highlight the talents of the church’s former and current student-musicians as well as featuring the vocal talents of two different soloists. <

Windham Library Outreach program provides enrichment to senior residents

By Erin Rose

For more than 50 years, staff members at the Windham Public Library have been working to ensure that residents of local senior facilities have adequate access to reading and other materials.

Sally Bannen is Windham Public Library's Technical Services
Librarian and works with seniors residing in local care
facilities to make sure they have adequate access to
reading and other library materials. FILE PHOTO 

The Windham Public Library’s Outreach Program, founded in the 1970s, allows seniors living at Unity Gardens, New Marblehead Manor, Little Falls Landing, and Ledgewood Manor to request books, DVDs, or other items from the library. Deliveries are made monthly, on the first Tuesday of the month.

Those seeking to participate in the library’s Outreach program should reach out to Sally Bannen, Windham Public Library’s Technical Services Librarian, who works with each person who requests materials to ensure that she provides a variety of items to suit their tastes. Fiction happens to be the most commonly requested genre of items requested, but the requests vary with the person.

“We’ve had folks request non-fiction, movies and even audio books,” Bannen said. “I work with them to determine what they’re interested in.”

Bannen says that she spends a significant amount of time to ensure that the library’s Outreach participants receive a variety of items, without repeats.

“I keep a database of everything I’ve brought them so I’m not repeating what they’re getting,” she said. “I try to find new authors that they may not have tried so I keep it fresh.”

The participants also broaden Bannen’s horizons, as they request items that she may not have considered previously.

“They’re asking for things that I might not have heard of, so it enriches my knowledge” she said. “I love interacting with them.”

The process begins when a resident of the senior facility reaches out to the library to state their interest. Bannen will then speak to residents making a request to determine what kind of items they would be interested in and what types of media they would like to receive. Once a month, she will then deliver the items to the resident, to be returned the following month.

Those seeking to participate are not required to have an existing library account, as one can be set up specifically for participation in the Outreach program.

Currently, the program is limited solely to those in the local care facilities, as Bannen runs the service alone without the help of volunteers.

“As much as we would love to, we have to keep it small,” she said explaining that there are safety and liability concerns relating to both the participants and volunteers that require the Windham Public Library staff to be responsible for the deliveries.

The feedback from Outreach Program participants has been overwhelmingly positive, Bannen says, as the library’s monthly deliveries provide residents with the opportunity to not only receive library materials, but also to interact with someone regularly outside of their local care facility.

“Not only are they folks who can no longer get out and about easily, or at all, but also I think they enjoy having an interaction once a month.” Bannen said, “I check in with them, ask ‘how’s it going’, and ‘what’s new’ with them. “I have a special soft spot for older folks and making sure that they’re able to get services that they need. It’s hard when you can’t get out anymore, so it’s nice to be able to have a surprise once a month.”

Any residents of Unity Gardens, New Marblehead Manor, Little Falls Landing, and Ledgewood Manor who would like to join the library’s Outreach program are eligible to receive library deliveries. To make a request from the Outreach program, they should call Bannen at 207-892-1908, Ext. 7. <

NSB donates $1,500 to Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Norway Savings Bank has contributed $1,500 to the efforts of Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a non-profit organization made up of Windham volunteers who provide one-time emergency assistance to Windham residents requiring immediate heating fuel.

In addition to offering emergency assistance, the organization helps individuals find and access long-term resources.

The donation is part of NSB’s “Holiday Helping Hands” initiative that is providing an extra boost to many local nonprofits during the season of giving.

The mission of the Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors is to provide one-time emergency assistance to Windham residents experiencing a critical need for fuel, help direct individuals to appropriate long-term resources, and promote a culture of neighbors helping neighbors.

It is a 501c3 nonprofit and was founded in October 2007 and is made up of Windham volunteers who have come together to provide one-time emergency assistance to those Windham residents who require immediate heating fuel. It assists individuals who have fallen through the cracks and either don’t qualify or are in a bureaucratic process waiting for assistance from other entities.

Neighbors operate on a lot of donations: labor, hours and ideas and funding through contributions of money and goods from concerned individuals and businesses. There is no charge to the recipients. This is as pure a neighborly venture as one could find. It helps people in need negotiate the system in place to provide assistance and during the inevitable waiting period, it provides immediate help networking. Many volunteers are involved including retirees, working moms, legislators and business owners.

Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors is funded totally through donations and 100 percent of funds received go directly to people in need.

To learn more about acquiring assistance or to offer support to the Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors organization, call 207-749-1336 or visit www.windhamneighbors.com.

Founded in 1866, Norway Savings Bank is a leading mutual banking and financial services company headquartered in Norway, Maine. It has received an “Outstanding” rating for three consecutive Community Reinvestment Act Exams from the FDIC. Norway Savings has also received the Best Place for Working Parents designation in 2022 and 2023 and was recognized with the “Best Wellness Employer – Gold Certification” for the fifth year in a row by Wellness Workdays. BauerFinancial has designated the Bank the “Best of Bauer” for earning and maintaining its highest 5-star rating for 34 continuous years. 

For further details about Norway Savings Bank, visit www.norwaysavings.bank

Lessard to serve as interim assistant town manager for Windham

By Ed Pierce

Amanda Lessard will serve as interim assistant town manager for the Town of Windham until a permanent candidate can be hired by the Windham Town Council.

Senior  Planner/Project Manager Amanda Lessard has been
appointed to serve as interim Assistant Town Manager for
Windham until the Windham Town council can interview
and hire a permanent candidate for that position.
FILE PHOTO 

Windham Town Manager Robert Burns appointed Lessard to the role last week. Lessard had been serving as Senior Planner/Project Manager for the town.

Burns became the first person to hold the position of Assistant Town Manager for Windham with his appointment to the role in December 2021 and was named Windham Town Manager by town councilors when Barry Tibbetts stepped down from that position June 30.

Lessard had served as Windham’s Planning Director from 2019 to 2024 when she joined Royal River Conservation Trust in Yarmouth as Conservation Director. She subsequently was rehired by the town and will now assist Burns in his duties on an interim basis until councilors appoint a permanent assistant town manager

As a town planner, Lessard was involved in everything from the creation of Windham’s Comprehensive Plan, handling zoning issues, reviewing subdivision and commercial building plans to the development of the town’s Open Space Master Plan.

As Planning Director, Lessard led Windham to partner with Presumpscot Regional Land Trust to purchase and conserve 661 acres near Little Duck Pond in East Windham. Called the East Windham Conservation Area, the project acquired the forested acreage for recreational opportunities in Windham while also adding 1,545 feet of undeveloped water frontage on Little Duck Pond, the 150-acre Deer Wintering Area for hunting, and Atherton Hill. She helped Windham obtain a $1 million grant from the Land for Maine’s Future initiative for the project. In 2021, voters from Windham approved a $1.8 million conservation bond using open space impact fees and another $400,000 raised privately from public donations. A Land and Water Conservation Fund federal grant of $500,000 also was obtained to pay for the infrastructure improvements at the site and it officially opened in May 2024 as one of largest unfragmented forests in the Greater Portland region.

She also was instrumental and played a key role in the town’s creation of a new $40.4 million sewer and wastewater treatment project for North Windham. Voters passed a 2023 referendum authorizing the project after decades of proposals, studies, and ballot failures and once completed, a new wastewater treatment facility is under construction on the grounds of Manchester School, which will address environmental issues in North Windham by removing 25,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants each year being dumped by septic systems into the aquifer and watershed.

The installation of sewers is expected to stimulate significant economic growth in Windham going forward and lead to development in the area by industries and businesses not willing to locate here because of associated septic system issues and costs. Through a special agreement between RSU 14 and the Town of Windham, in exchange for locating the new wastewater treatment site at Manchester School, the town has created four new playing fields for youth sports at the school this year.

Lessard also has been part of the development of a master plan for the South Windham/Little Falls Village area to bring more focus on what that area will look like in the future. That included adding more available parking in South Windham, the sale of the old South Windham Fire Station, bringing new commerce to the area, along with road improvements and new sidewalks.

Lessard became interested in municipal planning while working for the Maine Department of Transportation. She has a degree in geography and completed community planning classes at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. Lessard lives in Westbrook and is married and the mother of a son. <

Raymond Recall Hearing divides residents over Select Board leadership

By Dina Mendros

Raymond residents voiced both support and criticism of their town’s Select Board chair and vice chair Tuesday during a packed public hearing on a recall election that could remove them from office. A lawyer, however, argued the election would be illegal because the town’s ordinance conflicts with state law.

Raymond Select Board chair Denis Morse, left, and Vice
chair Kaela Gonzalez made statements during a public
hearing on Tuesday about a recall petition to remove
them from office, An election will be held in
Raymond on Dec. 30 to determine if they will lose
their seats on the select Board.
PHOTO BY DINA MENDROS

if they Former Raymond Select Board member Teresa Sadak initiated the recall petition against Chair Denis Morse and Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez. The election is scheduled for Dec. 30. In her petition, Sadak listed four reasons for the recall including failing to put Raymond’s interests first, creating division, micromanaging, and denigrating employees during public meetings.

On Tuesday, Sadak detailed actions she said supported her claims, many tied to the board’s treatment of former Town Manager Joseph Crocker. Crocker, who resigned earlier this fall, had served as director of Parks and Recreation before becoming interim town manager in March and the permanent town manager in May. He continues part-time work on a special project for the town.

Glenn Michalowski, formerly Lisbon’s town manager, was appointed interim town manager on Nov. 18.

During the public hearing, Sadak accused Morse and Gonzalez of violating board protocols, citing emails obtained through a Freedom of Information request and accounts from staff. She said the two Select Board members berated Crocker over a septic issue at a church leased for town programs, their voices loud enough to be heard by staff and residents.

“How is that not denigrating,” she asked.

She also criticized Morse and Gonzalez for contacting staff, attorneys, and other town managers without board authorization. Raymond Select Board members Chris Hanson and Derek Ray acknowledged some of those actions occurred.

Letters entered into the record echoed support for the recall, including one from town staff members declaring “no confidence” in leadership and citing low morale. Crocker himself wrote a letter that constant questioning of his decisions from certain board members contributed to his resignation.

Despite the support for the recall, many Raymond residents defended Morse and Gonzalez during the public hearing, praising their efforts to address longstanding town issues and urging that Morse and Gonzalez not face a recall vote.

Morse’s attorney, Scott Dolan of Petruccelli, Martin & Haddow LLP, warned that he would sue if the recall election proceeds, arguing the town’s 2012 recall ordinance violates state law. He said that state statute allows for a recall only if an official is convicted of a crime committed during their term that victimized the municipality.

Dolan cited a similar case in the Town of Limerick earlier this year where a judge halted a recall vote saying that an election would violate state statute.

Raymond’s town’s attorney, Philip Saucier of Bernstein Shur, holds a different view, and Gonzalez said he should meet with Dolan to discuss what the town should do.

When given the chance to speak, Gonzalez, nearly in tears, said, “I love this town, I love the people in it. This is not going to change no matter the decision. I do believe in democracy, I will accept the results.”

She said that she never intended to push Crocker from the position of town manager.

Morse, a longtime volunteer and former fire chief, rejected Sadak’s allegations. He said his proposal to appoint an interim manager was meant to support Crocker through a difficult period.

“I actually admire Joe,” Morse said. “I’m proud to have done the things I’ve done for the town of Raymond.”

Morse was elected to the Raymond Select Board in 2023. Gonzalez, a former Raymond town employee, was elected to the Raymond Select Board in 2024. <

School district begins work on 2026–2031 plan, invites community feedback

By Lorraine Glowczak

As RSU 14 approaches the close of its 2021-2026 strategic plan, the district is already looking ahead – inviting community members to help shape what comes next. Work is now underway on the 2026-2031 plan, and district leaders are launching a broad outreach effort to gather fresh perspectives and set new performance goals that reflect the needs of today’s learners.

District stakeholders that include educators, families, high school students and community members – are at the heart of this process. “We want as many people as possible to be a part of the new guiding framework,” RSU 14 Superintendent Christopher Howell said. “The more voices we gather, the more meaningful the input, leading to the best plan possible.”

Over the next four weeks, community members will be invited to share their perspectives through ThoughtExchange, a digital platform that gathers and analyzes community feedback. A QR code printed in The Windham Eagle newspaper will link readers directly to the survey, making it easy for anyone to participate.

“This online platform differs from traditional surveys,” Howell said. “It allows participants to anonymously share their thoughts, read and rate others’ ideas using a one- to five-star rating system, helping people learn from each other and make better decisions.”

In a recent email to parents, Howell shared the following regarding feedback and the ThoughtExchange process:

● Share as many thoughts as you'd like, just one distinct idea per submission

● Your thoughts will be visible to other participants, but your identity remains anonymous

● Read and rate thoughts from others using a 5-star scale (5 = strongly agree, 1 = strongly disagree)

● Return anytime while the exchange is live to rate new ideas

● We recommend rating at least 30 thoughts to help identify community priorities

Although strategic plans are not required, most school districts incorporate and reexamine a guiding framework on a five-year basis in order to support and improve student achievement and educational outcomes.

Howell said that strategic plans create a process for continuous monitoring and adaptation to make sure goals are met and hold the district accountable.

“With a clear vision, measurable goals, and actionable plans, we make sure resources are used wisely, operations run smoothly, and everyone is working toward the same objectives,” he said.

Once the survey is complete, focus groups will be established to gather the feedback and work on a cohesive next step that leads to creative and fresh perspectives.

“High school students will be invited to the table so that decision-making includes the insights of the students who live the experience every day,” Howell said.

Surveys and focused groups that included student voices were also the case when the 2021-2026 strategic plan was developed. From that work, the current framework consists of six core beliefs that the schools have been working diligently on and have either completed or are in the process of completing. From that framework, community engagement has increased and more alternative pathways have been created, helping students succeed.

“Every school in the district has now built strong partnerships with community organizations that support real-world, hands-on learning and provide meaningful service opportunities,” Howell said. “These collaborations range from professional development that connects teachers with local businesses to Extended Learning Opportunities, which let students earn academic credit while exploring careers alongside community experts.”

A full view of the current strategic plan can be found on the RSU 14 website at www.rsu14.org under the “district info” tab.

Howell stated that the district is committed to establishing a safe, supportive, and inclusive community; developing strong partnerships in order to support every learner as they gain knowledge, skills, and character to thrive and contribute in an ever changing, diverse world; and fostering learner aspirations through engagement in authentic learning experiences.

“Your perspectives and priorities are essential to creating a roadmap that reflects our community's values and serves our students well,” he said. “Our students deserve an educational framework that leads to success and your input is instrumental in providing that success.”

The deadline to participate in the survey is Jan, 21, 2026. Provide input HERE (direct link) or QR Code below. <

  

Donations assist Age Friendly Windham in assisting residents

By Ed Pierce

Older and homebound residents are among the most vulnerable in Windham when storms strike the area but through a new initiative, real help for them may be on the way.

Age Friendly Windham and Windham Raymond Adult
Education have teamed up with Levinsky's at 693
Roosevelt Trail in Windham to locate a donation box
at the store for collecting new, store-bought or
handmade blankets and socks for Age Friendly
Windham and adult and children's hats, mittens,
gloves and scarfs for Windham Raymond Adult
Education families in need. COURTESY PHOTO  

According to Erica Bell-Watkins, Windham Age Friendly Coordinator, Levinsky's at 693 Roosevelt Trail in Windham has teamed up with Age Friendly Windham and Windham Raymond Adult Education to locate a donation box at the store for collecting new, store-bought or handmade blankets and socks for Age Friendly Windham and adult and children's hats, mittens, gloves and scarfs for Windham Raymond Adult Education families in need.

Bell Watkins says the AFW disaster preparedness program was started earlier this year

“It is only sustainable through donations as a grant was used to create the first 100 bags, but my goal is to distribute 150 more in 2026,” she said. “I have partially met the goal, but am looking for businesses to donate things like hand sanitizers, first aid kits, multi tools and battery-operated radios and lanterns.”

Businesses are welcome to brand donated items so that community members recognize their generosity, Bell-Watkins said.

“I am asking the community to help supplement the bag with a cozy item like lap blankets and warm socks,” she said. “Of course, cash donations are always welcome as well.”

The first AFW disaster bags were distributed at community events like the spring AFW luncheon and the Windham Food Pantry drive-through, but AFW continues to find families to distribute them to by word of mouth.

“Do you have a neighbor or know a family that doesn't have transportation or the means to create a bag for themselves with the items they would need to stay safe at home or evacuate in case of emergency? This is an effort to keep our community prepared and safe in inclement weather or prolonged periods without electricity,” Bell-Watkins said.

This project was coordinated with the Windham Fire and Windham Police Departments and Age Friendly Windham was able to get the Community Connect app added to the town’s safety plan.

“I hope individuals and families take advantage of this excellent program to help communicate with safety response teams for individual and community wide events,” Bell-Watkins said.

In 2019, Maine was designated as an Age Friendly State, joining many cities and communities across the globe who are committed to becoming more inclusive of people of all ages. Maine is part of the AARP Network of Age Friendly States and Communities and the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age Friendly Cities and Communities.

Being designated as an Age Friendly state means communities such as Windham are encouraged to plan and implement strategies that best fit the assets and opportunities of their state and community, as well as embrace and assess multiple domains of livability and these disaster bags are part of that.

Age Friendly Windham is a diverse group of dedicated volunteers working to help members in the community to live and age in place and is dedicated to maintaining the independence of our town’s residents and helping them thrive. Its mission is to partner with local and regional organizations and volunteer groups to increase services and programs that make it possible for residents of all ages and abilities to live and thrive in Windham; provide activities geared toward keeping people healthy, active, and engaged in our community; and advise the Windham Town Council about infrastructure and policy that will make it easier and safer for Windham residents to live in our community.

The Age-Friendly Committee was spearheaded by the late Human Services Advisory Committee member, Deb McAfee, when the town enrolled in AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities in January 2019. McAfee, who passed away in May of 2022 following a lengthy battle with cancer, was the driving force behind establishing this committee. The committee formed and completed a public survey in October 2019. It was voted upon and granted by the Windham Town Council in 2020 that Windham would be a part of AARP’s Age-Friendly Community, and Age-Friendly Windham was officially launched in the town.

Donations will be collected through Jan. 31 at Levinsky's.

To learn more about Age Friendly Windham programs and activities, call 207-892-4649 or visit https://agefriendlywindham.org/ <

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 SAWYRE GRENDELL

“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. <