Inside Windham

Chicken dinner

On Saturday, June 2, Windham Land Trust will hold their semi-annual chicken cook-out at Friends Church beginning at 5 p.m. Menu includes half a chicken, homemade potato salad, cole slaw, pie, roll and beverage. Each dinner is $10 – eat in or take out. Proceeds benefit Windham Land Trust, a local non-profit organization.

Recycle electronics

Saturday, June 2, will be the date for an Electronic Recycling Event, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot at Windham Mall. Residents from all towns can participate in this event hosted by Windham Hill United Church of Christ. Donations are accepted to cover costs as well as support the church’s local mission needs. Items acceptable include: television sets of all sizes, computer monitors and hard drives, laptops, printers, cordless phones, cell phones, VCRs, DVDs, audio equipment including stereos and speakers. No household appliances will be accepted. Enter the parking lot at Memorial Drive next to Friendly’s. For more information call Judy at 653-5989 or www.windhamhillucc.org or www.ewastemaine.com.

Bill Diamond ?book signing

Plan now for a book signing at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, at the library. State Sen. and Windham resident Bill Diamond will be signing his newly published book, “The Evil and the Innocent,” which has received a good welcome.

Plant Sale

A plant and garden sale will be held on Saturday, June 9, beginning at 9 a.m. at Windham Historical Society, 234 Windham Center Road. Vegetable and flower seedlings, house plants, containers of all sorts, garden books and recycled tools will be offered at this second annual event. Get the growing season started and find lots of bargains.

Get a free pass

Looking for something to do when summer visitors are here or youngsters get bored? Visit Windham Public Library – it’s more than books! Thanks to the Friends of the Windham Public Library, the library offers passes to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine in Portland, the USM Southworth Planetarium in Portland, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, the Willowbrook Museum Village in Newfield, and several of the Maine State Parks. During the open season, passes are also available to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray and Dundee Park in Windham. Contact the Children’s Room for more information at 892-1908.

Bean supper

On Saturday, June 2, an all-you-can-eat baked bean supper will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. at White Rock Community Club, Wilson Road (off Route. 237) in Gorham. The menu includes baked beans, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, salads and homemade desserts. Adults $7, kids $3.

For parents of Windham school-age children

The Windham Food Pantry is pleased to assist with breakfast and lunch items this summer on a weekly basis. For more information please call Madeline at 892-1931. Assistance is by appointment only.

WPL Teen Group

On Thursday, June 7, the WPL Teen Group (Grades 6-12) will meet from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Windham Public Library. This end of school year meeting topic will be “The Supernatural,” so come share your thoughts about good/bad stories with supernatural characters/events. This is a free meeting, no RSVP necessary. For a booklist of suggestions, go to: http://www.windham.lib.me.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Supernatural.pdf. Depending on the weather, the activity will be an outdoor “Teen Book Memorabilia” scavenger hunt. Yummy snacks will be provided. For more information, call Barbara or Sally at 892-1908.

Help for veterans

On Wednesday, June 6, Dr. Clifford Trott, Clinical Psychologist and combat veteran, from the Portland Vet Center, will offer mental health services to area veterans at Windham Veterans Center. These sessions are one-on-one and strictly confidential. Drop-ins are welcome but appointments are recommended. Call 780-3584. He is available on the first and third Wednesdays. To get to the Windham Veterans Center, enter Veterans Memorial Drive off Route 302 between Evergreen Credit Union and Friendly’s and follow to the end.

Golf Open

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce will hold their 12th annual Golf Open on Friday, June 8, at Point Sebago. This is a benefit for the Chamber. Signature sponsor is Norway Savings Bank. Sponsors and teams are being sought. Call 892-8265 or www.sebagolakeschamber.com.

Yard sale

On Saturday, June 9, Windham Hill Club will hold a yard sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corners of Windham Center, Pope and Ward roads. Rain date is noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 10. Windham Hill Club is a women’s social group founded in 1937 (75 years ago!) by neighbors of Windham Hill. It promotes the preservation and care of this historic area, and assists other local community organizations with their efforts.

Book Sale

On Saturday, June 16, a used book and DVD sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Road. A huge selection of fiction and nonfiction will be available. For more information, call 892-4217.

Hall Sawyer Memorial Banquet

On Saturday, June 16, the Covered Bridge chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold the Hall Sawyer Memorial Banquet in Gray at Spring Meadows, Route 100 across from Cole Farms. Doors open at 5 p.m. and a buffet meal will be served. Raffles, an auction of conservation memorabilia and other activities will be held. Proceeds go to wildlife habitat improvement projects in Maine. Hall Sawyer was the local pioneer in the restoration of the wild turkey in Maine. His work began in the 1960s. Hall, along with many volunteers from the Windham Covered Bridge chapter of the NWTF, partnered with staff from the Maine IF&W in relocating birds to Maine from other states. Currently, there is an estimated 60,000 birds in Maine. Tickets are available at Sawyer’s store in Little Falls; by email at dedbird0@gmail.com or call Robb Cotiaux at 926-5392.

All about the American flag

To kick off Windham Summerfest, marking the 275th birthday of our town, the Historical Society will host a program on Friday, June 22, at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium, titled “One Nation Under God.” Woody Miller who developed this program will present music, history and drama as 38 area citizens in appropriate costumes tell the story of our flag and its many changes. The program opens with patriotic songs from the Primary School’s Third Grade Chorus. Admission is free but reservations are needed. These tickets will be available beginning in June at the historical society, Thursday and Saturday mornings, by emailing Kay Soldier at kso48@aol.com or calling 892-1433 and leaving a message.

Church supper

On Saturday, June 30, an Italian supper will be served at Windham Hill UCC from 5-6:30 p.m. The church is located at 140 Windham Center Road. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Understanding spirituality

Unity Church of Greater Portland is offering a class designed to expand the understanding of spirituality, facilitated by Jack Seery. Classes are from 6:45-8:30 p.m., Monday, June 4-23. For more information call 893-1233. Unity is located on River Road, Windham.

Senior Center events

The public is invited to participate in the following events at Lakes Region Senior Center, 40 Acorn Street (former Little Falls School), Gorham: Thursdays at 10 a.m., Bingo (6 cards/$1.); daily, Pickleball is available at 10 a.m. for any wishing to play; Wednesday, June 13, a blood pressure clinic sponsored by Gorham Health Council will be held at 10 a.m. New members are welcome to join. The Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Daily activities for members include game room with table tennis and air hockey; WII games including bowling, tennis or baseball; needlework; card games including poker. Find out more by stopping in and visiting.

College graduations

The following students have recently graduated from Husson University: Bruce Shields, A.S. Accounting, magna cum laude; Jacob D. Durgin, B.S. Business Administration; Diane R. McDevitt, F.S. Business Administration, magna cum laude; Joyce L. Sherburne, A.S. Accounting, summa cum laude; Sheri M. Chandler, A.S. Accounting; Andrew G. Hartig, B.S. Business Administration; Kyle R. Morrell, B.S., Business Administration; Tyler R. Hews, Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Amy Rose Fecteau, M.S., Human Relations.

Veterans benefits

Veterans Service Officer Phyllis D’Orsay will be at the Windham Veterans Center on Wednesday morning, June 13, from 9 a.m. until noon, to assist veterans, widows of veterans and dependents with questions about benefits and other information. If you have questions of a military nature, stop in and get some answers. No appointment is needed. To get to the Windham Veterans Center, enter Veterans Memorial Drive off Route 302 between Evergreen Credit Union and Friendly’s and follow to the end.

Benefits for seniors

A one-on-one counseling session with Owen O’Donnell, a volunteer Benefit Specialist is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Find out about tax and rent rebate, Medicare, food stamps, fuel assistance and other benefits you may qualify for. Call Southern Maine Agency on Aging, 1-800-427-7411, to make an appointment.

Music on the Hill

Fifteen years ago, Windham Hill UCC began to hold “Music on the Hill,” a series of July Saturday concerts featuring all style of music. Again this year, the lineup includes blues, jazz, fiddling and country stylists. Every Saturday in July, shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or from a committee member prior to the concerts. Visit www.windhamhillucc.org or call 892-4217 for more information. This column will include details as time draws near.

Contact Kay Soldier with happenings at?kso48@aol.com

(207) 892-5381

Kay Soldier, a lakes Region Weekly columnist, was recognized at the American Legion Field-Allen Post 148’s open house on Memorial Day for her resolve in bringing veterans’ issues to the forefront and for her support of local veteran organizations. Presenting the award was local Legion member Brig. Gen. Don McCormack and Legion Commander Barry Lombard.
Teamwork does the trick, as groceries are unloaded at Windham’s Food Pantry. The local American Legion held a “Fill the Truck” food drive at Walmart on Memorial Day weekend to help stock the shelves of Windham’s food pantry. Thanks to shoppers and the Legion crew for their generosity and help, the pantry is off to a good start for the season.