Never let it be said that Windham has “nothing to do” – just take a gander at the following offerings and be sure to let me know what your organization, church, family is doing this fall. We’ll be glad to include it here. Any reunions in the planning stages? Spring isn’t far away, you know. Already I’ve had questions about next year’s Windham High School Alumni Banquet which is always the Saturday after Mother’s Day.

Bean supper

Friends Church on Route 202 in Windham is hosting a baked bean supper on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Baked beans, brown bread, salads, pies, coffee and punch will be served. Cost is $6 for adults, $1 for children under 12. For more information, call 892-8469.

Mushroom walk

Have you ever wondered if the mushrooms you see are edible? How many varieties grow locally and when and where can you harvest them? You can find the answers to all those questions by joining members of the Windham Land Trust along with mushroom expert Max Jacobs on a walk through the Black Brook Preserve Sunday, Oct. 3, from 9-11 a.m. Learn about medicinal and edible mushrooms. Meet at the Windham Center entrance to Black Brook Preserve, off Route 202 near School Road.

Land trust

free program

On Wednesday, Oct. 6, the Windham Land Trust hosts a free program on geocaching by Windham resident Gary Hatch at the Windham Public Library at 7 p.m. The public is invited. If readers have programs they would like to see presented, e-mail the land trust by going to the website http://www.thewindhamlandtrust.org and clicking on the contact button or call 892-5787 for more information.

American Legion Post 148

The next regular meeting of American Legion Field-Allen Post #148 will be Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 5 p.m. at Windham Veterans Center. A social hour will be held featuring Amato’s pasta and meatballs, followed by guest speaker Phyllis D’Orsay, veterans service officer. She will provide an overview of her job as VSO and respond to questions about benefits. The business meeting will follow at 6 p.m. All members are encouraged to attend. New members are always welcome.

Windham Child Care Providers

The monthly meeting of Windham Child Care Providers will be held on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Windham Public Library. This will be the annual planning meeting with election of officers. Call 892-7412 for more information.

Texas hold’em

Saturday, Oct. 9, is the next date for the Charity Poker Games at Windham Veterans Center. Registration starts at noon and the game begins at 1 p.m. The player buy-in is $100 and there is a $4 chair fee to help offset the cost of the license. The player pot is always 75 percent of the player buy-in and is paid to the top players who make it to the final table of eight. Snacks, food and non-alcoholic beverages are available at reasonable prices and 50/50 tickets are sold throughout the afternoon. Games have been ending by 6:30 p.m. These games help support the Veterans Center and provide increased services for veterans. The Windham Veterans Center is located off Route 302, via Veterans Memorial Drive in back of Windham Mall. Enter between Evergreen Credit Union and Friendly’s. Games are held on the second Saturday each month.

Electronic recycling

On Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Windham Hill United Church of Christ will conduct an electronic recycling opportunity at the Windham Mall on Veterans Memorial Drive (next to Friendly’s). For a donation to the church, you can get rid of your old TV monitors, computer monitors, CPUs, cordless phones, VCRs, DVDs and audio equipment. No household appliances such as stoves, refrigerators or microwaves will be accepted. Funds derived will help continue the preservation of the historic church on Windham Hill. For more information, call Judy at 653-5989.

Driver safety

for 50+

An AARP driver safety class for drivers age 50 and older will be presented from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Windham Public Library at 217 Windham Center Road on Saturday, Oct. 9. The registration fee is $12 for AARP members, $14 for others. Advance registration is required as class size is limited. To register, call John Hammon at 655-4943.

Tea for you

Every six weeks the Windham Public Library hosts an informal tea in the meeting room. Folks are encouraged to drop in, share conversation, tea and goodies. The tea is open to anyone who would like to stop by that afternoon. The future tea dates are Oct. 12, Nov. 23 and Jan. 4.

You’re invited – every Monday

Food & Fellowship Inc. provides hot meals to people living in Windham and surrounding communities in the Lakes Region on Monday nights. Free “Monday Meals” are served to anyone who would like a hot, nutritious meal. On the first and second Mondays, the site is Windham Assembly of God, 1051 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302); on the third and fourth Mondays, meals are served at Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Road; and on the occasional fifth Monday, the table is set at Standish Congregational Church, 25 Oak Hill Road in Standish.

Joint fundraiser

The annual Windham Community Benefit 5K Walk/Run will be held on Oct. 31 to raise more than $15,000 to directly benefit the community. Proceeds will be used to provide heat and other essential needs to residents. Team up with neighbors, friends and co-workers and have fun – costumes are encouraged! It is, after all, Halloween – and going without fuel can be a scary thing! Help keep Windham warm. Learn more at www.windhamneighbors.org.

Volunteer directors sought

The Windham/Raymond School Age Child Care Program board of directors is looking for volunteers from the Windham/ Raymond area to serve on the board. The directors meet four or five times a year. Duties are to oversee finances, staff, and scholarship applications and general direction of the program. If interested or if you have more questions, call 892-2002.

Holiday fair

Windham Hill United Church of Christ will hold a holiday fair Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair features wreaths, cemetery boxes, baskets, crafts, toys, and lunch, too.

Are you a veteran?

Veterans may want to consider joining one of the veterans’ organizations in Windham. The Veterans of Foreign Wars require service in a recognized combat area or conflict (World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Gulf War, Iraq, etc.) Contact Don Swander at 892-7243. The VFW meets the second Wednesday each month, 6 p.m. social hour, meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The American Legion requires only that the veteran must have demonstrated honorable service in the Armed Forces, Reserve or National Guard components included. The group meets the first Wednesday each month, social hour at 5 p.m., meeting at 6 p.m. Contact Barry Lombard at 653-5349, Don McCormack at 902-3931 or Dave Tanguay at 892-1306. Windham Veterans Association requires its members to belong to either the local VFW or American Legion. Don Swander is the president of the WVA. All meetings are held at the Windham Veterans Center and will start up on a regular basis in the fall.

Be a Santa

The Windham Food Pantry is seeking help with the Toy Workshop again this year, to be held on Dec. 11. Last year there were requests to help 216 children from Windham, of which 65 were teens. The expectation is to see 25-30 more children this year. If you can help by adopting a child or family or providing a gift card to an area store you would be serving the community well. Please contact Madeline Roberts at 892-1931 as soon as possible if you can help.

Food pantry for seniors

The Windham Food Pantry is open on the first Monday each month, for senior citizens from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Last year, senior hours were on Thursday. Madeline Roberts is changing the day this year so seniors can receive fresh fruit and produce which is available only on Mondays. If seniors cannot make it on Monday morning, they can come in the evening.

New day for van

The Parks and Recreation Department provides a weekly “Senior Shopping” trip to North Windham for senior citizens. The trip is now on Wednesdays, for a $3 fee. Please call 24 hours ahead of time to reserve a seat. Call 892-1905 for reservations and more information.

Thrift Shop

North Windham Union Church Thrift Shop is open Wednesday and Thursday 1-3 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. until noon. The shop is downstairs at the church near Boody’s Corner.

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