Help needed

On Memorial Day, the American Legion would like to recognize all the veterans that passed away this past year and read their names at the Memorial Day observance at the Windham High School. It would be a great help if readers of this column who know of a late veteran with a Windham connection, or who is buried in Windham, from June 1, 2010 forward, would contact David Tanguay at 892-1306 or dtanguay46@aol.com.

Wall of honor

As one of its many ongoing projects, Windham Historical Society continues the Wall of Honor, a display of photos of those who have served in the military at any time in our history. If readers would like to honor a relative or friend, the Society will arrange to copy the photo “while you wait.” if preferred. E-mail Kay Soldier, kso48@aol.com or Dave Tanguay, dtanguay46@aol.com for more information or stop by the Society when you see the open sign, usually on Thursday mornings.

New to Medicare?

On Tuesday, April 19, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) will offer a Medicare seminar and counseling for the Lakes Region at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham. A “Welcome to Medicare” seminar is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon. In addition to the Medicare Seminar, there will be one-on-one counseling with volunteer Medicare advocates available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seminar and counseling is intended to help you sort through your Medicare options – and to help you enroll. Please call the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to register for the upcoming Seminar or to make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a Medicare Advocate at 396-6500 or 1-800-427-7411. Further opportunities for these services will occur at the same time and location on April 19. Visit the website at www.smaaa.org to learn more about the many other services that are available.

Local business honored

Lee’s Family Trailer Sales & Service of Windham is one of 15 finalists in the 12th Maine Family Business Awards, by the Institute for Family-Owned Business, a non-profit orgnization dedicated to supporting family-owned businesses, representing 80 percent of all businesses in the state. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 16, at the South Portland Marriott. The Awards is open to the public.

Veterans and dependents’ help

Wednesday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, Veterans Service Officer Phyllis D’Orsay, will be available to assist veterans, widows of veterans and dependents with questions about benefits and other information, at Windham Veterans Center. She is on hand the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. If you have questions of a military nature, stop in and get some answers. The Veterans Center is off Route 302, on Memorial Drive, between Evergreen Credit Union and Friendly’s. Follow Memorial Drive all the way to the Veterans Center – to the right of Home Depot – a dirt, town road. No appointment necessary.

Democrats meet

The Windham Democratic Party and the Bring Our War $ Home Coalition will hold a community meeting in the Windham Library Community Room on Tuesday, April 26, from 7-9 p.m. Panelists representing a broad cross section of Windham and surrounding communities will present their findings on federal budget cuts and there will be time for public discussion. For more information, contact Sally Breen at sallybreen@roadrunner.com.

Springtime walk

Over the past 25 years, 52 homes have been built in the Greater Portland area through Habitat for Humanity. Some of those homes are in Windham. This is the 25th Anniversary for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland Springtime Walks. Windham’s 5-mile walk will take place Saturday, April 30. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Road. The walk begins at 9 a.m. Register online at www.firstgiving.com/habitatme.

Local contacts for the Windham Walk are Manuel at 893-1926 or Terri, 892-5049. The Springtime Walks are some of the key events held each year which help Habitat raise critical funds allowing the building of homes for Maine families in need of decent, affordable housing. The mission is to draw prospective Habitat families and communities together with volunteers and resources to build homes for families whose income is above public housing assistance guidelines but who are unable to qualify for conventional mortgages. Habitat is committed to the development and uplifting of families and communities, not just to the construction of houses.

Spring fair

A Spring Fair will be held on Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 988 Roosevelt Trail. Tables are available, call Mary at 627-7007 or Marcia at 892-3769. Lunch will be available and many items offered including seedlings, books, baked goods, crafts, games, candles, homemade soaps and authentic windofriz demonstrations.

Maybe Bingo

On April 5, the Standish American Legion Post 128 Bingo Committee visited the Windham Veterans Center to measure, plan, and gather information needed for space usage, equipment storage, and kitchen use for holding Bingo games on Monday nights, perhaps as early as April. License fees have been submitted to the State Gaming Commission to have the WVC licensed as a Bingo Hall. WVC manager Don Swander said there has been much interest and as soon as more information is available, it will be announced. For more information, contact Swander at 892-1159.

Roast beef dinner

Enjoy a traditional roast beef dinner on Saturday, April 30 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Road. $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Line dancing

On Tuesdays through May 3 (no class on April 19) from 6:30-7:30 p.m., you can have fun (and exercise) doing The Good Time, The Electric Slide and more! Join others at Manchester School Cafe? as instructors Flamin’ Raymin’ and Sizzlin’ Suzzin’ teach some new line dance moves – so bring your dancin’ shoes and a smile! Fee is $24 per person. Register through Windham-Raymond Adult Education by calling 892-1819, stop in at the WRAE office at Windham High School or by going to: www.windham.maineadulted.org

Alumni banquet

The 100th annual Windham High School Alumni Banquet will be held on Saturday, May 13, at Windham Middle School cafeteria. Announcements and reservation forms have been mailed and e-mailed. If you are an alumnus and need more information or would like a reservation, contact Sam Simonson at 878-3417 or ssimons3@maine.rr.com. Cost is $10 per person. Deadline for reservations is May 6. Many events are planned including announcement of the 2011 Alumni award and the Pleasant River Grange scholarship. T-shirts for alumni will be available as well as many raffles to help fund activities of the Association. A chicken dinner will be served. Donation of items for the popular raffle table are welcome. Call Norma at 892-5608 for information.

Poker May 14

Nearly 50 players regularly participate in Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament sponsored by Windham Veterans Association and held at the Veterans Center monthly. The next tournament is Saturday, May 14. Registration begins at noon, play begins at 1 p.m. $50 buy in plus $2 chair fee. Players limited to first 100 to register. Pot consists of 75 percent of total buy-in registration All players making the final eight table will share in the pot. Food, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available, reasonably priced. 50/50 tickets available throughout the game ($5 each or five for $20. Proceeds support Windham Veterans Center.

Babysitting course

Windham Parks and Recreation will hold an American Red Cross Babysitting course on Saturday, April 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Windham Public Library. This is for ages 11 to 14, and cost is $60 for a resident, $70 for non-resident. Participants will learn how to act in an emergency, play with children of different ages, supervise children, how to diaper and feed babies, and more. A manual will be provided. An ARC babysitter’s training and first aid certification will be awarded on successful completion. Sign up now. Payment deadline is April 26. Class size is limited to 14. For more information, call 892-1905. First paid, first served.

Thrift shop

Savings galore at North Windham Union Church Thrift Shop, Wednesday and Thursday, 1-3 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. Bargains for you on a variety of items. Check it out!

Freedom is not free

Bob Akins, Cdr. VFW Post 10643 has a message for the military: You served or are serving the people of Maine and your Nation, now how do you know if you are eligible for Veterans of Foreign Wars membership? The VFW began on Sept. 29, 1899 and there is a Post right here in Windham. The Windham VFW Post 10643 meets every second Wednesday at the Windham Veterans Center with a 5 p.m. social hour, and a meeting at 6 p.m. We need you as a member, so here is how you know whether to visit a meeting to see if you want to join us in our important service to local Veterans and their families. If you are honorably discharged, or on active duty, are a U.S. citizen who served overseas in a combat zone and been awarded a campaign medal or service medal, served at any time in Korea or received Imminent Danger pay/Hostile Fire Pay, you qualify. Come to a meeting, enjoy the camaraderie, or call local 892-1159, leave a message, we will call you back. Should you want to talk to the Commander directly, call Bob at 627-6013 and leave a message. Either way we could use your membership and help right now with our Buddy Poppy campaign coming up on the Memorial Day weekend.

Supper’s free on Mondays

Food & Fellowship, Inc., began in 1999 with a mission to provide 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 Church, 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.

Barn tour

A barn tour is one of the many events planned by Windham Historical Society for this season. The guided tour of some Windham barns will take place on Saturday, June 11 (rain date, June 12) beginning at 1 p.m. Reservations are required by calling Linda at 650-7484. Featured barns cover a wide array of time periods and styles from early English-influenced hand-hewn timber frames to modern 20th century structures. Don Perkins, an expert on barns will provide information. Those attending will meet at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 at the Windham Historical Society, 234 Windham Center Road. Donation is $10 for non-Society members, $8 for members. The Society is a non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.