Pearl Harbor remembrance

On the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the American Legion Field-Allen Post will hold several events to commemorate the occasion. A wreath-laying ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. at the Windham Veteran Center Memorial Garden. Later in the day at 2 p.m., wreath-laying ceremonies will be held at the Veterans’ Monument in front of Windham High School to honor the event and the town’s veterans. At 5 p.m., a Legion Post membership recognition dinner, followed by a guest speaker and membership awards, will be held. The evening will conclude with a brief Post business meeting. For more information, contact 892-1306.

North Pole Hotline

Children in preschool through third grade will be able to talk directly to Santa Claus through a special hotline connected to the North Pole, courtesy of the Windham Parks and Recreation Dept. Forms are available for moms and dads to fill out. Call 892-1905 to get your form and return it by Friday, Dec. 8.

Artisan Fair & Silent Auction

On Thursday, Dec. 8, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the 2016 Bid of Christmas Artisan Fair & Silent Auction will be held at Windham Weaponry, 999 Roosevelt Trail. The Sebago Lakes Chamber of Commerce is looking for artisans/retailers to sell items and gifts. Spaces must be reserved by Dec. 8. Donations for the event are also needed. Contact Robin Mullins, [email protected] for more information.

New business in town
Evan Blakeney has opened Xtreme Performance Inc. at 875 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. The store offers lawn and garden power equipment and parts and services, along with parts and services for motorsports equipment such as ATVs, UTVs and snowmobiles.

Blakeney, a motorcross racer, is the third generation of his family involved in the outdoor power equipment and motorsports industry. The store can be reached at 892-4141.

Teens at the Library

What is the library doing to help keep the kids occupied in the afternoons? Aside from providing study spaces to work on homework, public-use computers to use for research or to play Minecraft, and more books to browse than one could possibly handle, the library also has several ongoing activities that teens – or patrons of any age – can take advantage of during their visits. Activities include  an indoor scavenger hunt; a “Make it!” activity that requires folks to craft, build, imagine, puzzle or create; a Book-In-A-Jar puzzle; an assortment of Nintendo Wii games and several movies available to use with the library’s large TV; sports equipment to use outside; and a variety of board games and card games to borrow while in the library. Most activities are updated monthly. There are occasionally other library programs scheduled too, such as “Tea for You @ the Library” which provides tea, munchies and an opportunity to chat. The Windham Public Library has a lot going on. For more information about any of these activities, call the library, 892-1908.

At the Library

• Monday, Dec. 5, 10:30-11 a.m., Story Time

• Tuesday, Dec. 6, 10:15-10:35 a.m., Books & Babies; 1-3 p.m., Knitters ‘n More

• Thursday, Dec. 8, 10:30-11 a.m., Story Time

For more info about any of these or other events at the library, contact the library, 892-1908, or go to www.windham.lib.me.us/calendar.

Essentials Pantry at St. Ann’s

St. Ann’s Essentials Pantry will be open on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Stop by for essential non-food items like paper products, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene articles. This date is early due to Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve being on Saturdays.

On Christmas Eve, the Windham church will hold the following services: Children’s’ Christmas Pageant and service at 4 p.m., youth musicians will perform at 7 p.m. during the Eucharistic service, carol singing at 9:45 p.m. and Christmas Eve Mass at 10 p.m.

Catered meal for seniors

A catered pot roast dinner will be served at Unity Gardens on Route 115 on Thursday, Dec. 8, at noon. If you or someone you know is 60 or over, this delicious meal is available for $5 – plus Bob Gendreau will provide music following the luncheon. Call 892-3891 for reservations.

Free winter coats

Windham’s Clothes Closet has many winter coats for children and women, and they’re all free. The Closet, at 377 Gray Road, is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Tuesdays. The volunteers at the Clothes Closet are always seeking donations of gently used, clean blankets, towels and sheets.

Veterans Coffee Social

Every Wednesday, a Veterans Coffee Break is held from 9-11 a.m. at Windham Veterans Center. All veterans are welcome to stop by and take a break from the day’s routine, visit with old or new friends and find out what’s new.

Medicare help?

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging will offer a “Welcome to Medicare” seminar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham from 10 a.m.-noon. In addition to the Medicare seminar, there will be one-on-one Medicare counseling with SHIP volunteers available from 9 a.m.-noon. (The one-on-one counseling also will be available from 9 a.m.-noon on Dec. 20.)  The seminar and counseling are intended to help you sort through your Medicare options, answer questions – and to help you enroll. In addition to Medicare assistance, counseling on tax and rent rebate, food stamps and fuel assistance can be arranged. Please call the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to register for an upcoming seminar or to make a one-on-one appointment with a SHIP councilor at 396-6500 or 1-800-427-7411. Seminar walk-ins can usually be accommodated. Further opportunities for these services will occur monthly on the first and third Tuesdays at the same times and location. Go to www.smaaa.org to learn more.

Thanks, neighbors

Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors sends its thanks and appreciation for the recent generous donations from Walmart Windham, Greg and Anita, Matt Piette and Richard Davidson. For information on this community resource, dedicated to keeping all Windham residents warm, visit the website or check them out on Facebook.