Thank you

A few winters ago, when I was still driving to an office each day, I awoke to find about three feet of snow filling the driveway. This was beyond shoveling and I had to go to work. I had just moved into the apartment and didn’t know anyone around who plowed driveways. Who could I call? Peter Busque’s business was not far away. I didn’t know him but thought he would know who was in the business of plowing and I called him. He answered his own phone, which was a surprise. I told him who I was and where I lived, and that I needed to find a plowman for the winter. Within a half hour he came over, cleaned out the driveway and was gone! I called to see what I owed him – he said “that’s okay, don’t worry about it”, and for the rest of the winter, the driveway was cleared! He would never accept any money, either. I know Peter provided materials and labor at the Windham Veterans Center and helped Windham Historical Society when a local young man was working on his Eagle Scout project to restore the marker for the first lot in Windham. It was wonderful when those of us who are parents of BMX enthusiasts learned Peter was working on a much needed track for the kids.

I’ll bet there are dozens of similar stories being told about Peter Busque’s acts of kindness which was just one facet of this unique man. He was one of those who personified what some of us call The Windham Way – doing good deeds because it’s the right thing to do. We’re going to remember him.

Chicken cookout

Windham Land Trust will host their annual Autumn chicken cookout on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. at the Friends Church, Route 202. This is across from the town’s Family Resource Center and Public Safety Building. The cost is $10 and includes a half chicken, homemade potato salad, cole slaw, roll, pie and beverage. Eat in or take out.

Thanksgiving baskets

If you want to sign up for a Thanksgiving basket from Windham Food Pantry, forms are available at the Food Pantry. The deadline is Nov. 4 and it must be adhered to because of the increased use and anticipated increase in requests this year. You must be a Windham resident and if you are not a current client of the Pantry, you must provide proof of residence in the form of a utility bill in your name. Questions may be directed to Madeline Roberts, 892-1931.

Winter’s coming – help is needed

Last year, Windham Food Pantry helped an average of 160 families per month. This year, the first three weeks of September showed 195 families. Donations of food and funds are needed more and more. Whether it’s a bag of canned goods, a carton of paper towels or a check – it all helps. Call Madeline at 892-1931 for more information.

Garden yard sale

Windham Community Garden will hold a yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. sharp at the field on Roosevelt Trail (Route 302) next to Pinelyne Furniture and My Sister’s Garage. Spaces are available to rent to anyone for $10. Call Marge Govoni at 892-7192 if interested. This fundraiser will help the Community Garden in their efforts. During this growing season, hundreds of pounds of produce were donated to the Windham Food Pantry. Find out more about the community garden at the website, www.windhamcommunitygarden.org.

Veterans help available

Veterans Service Officer Phyllis D’Orsay will be at the Windham Veterans Center on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 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. 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 is needed.

Land Trust meets

Windham Land Trust will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Windham Public Library. The public is invited. Find out about this group’s purpose and accomplishments.

Open House, sale

A Fair Trade Open House will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Faith Lutheran Church on Route 302 in North Windham. Items for sale include handmade baskets, toys, clothing, puzzles, books, and much more. Lunch and baked goods will also be available. The majority of the proceeds will directly benefit the artisans of developing nations. For more information, call 415-9742.

Bingo

Bingo games are held on Mondays, 6:30 p.m. at the Windham Veterans Center, hosted by American Legion Post 128 of Standish. Bingo games pay out up to the state maximum of $1,400, depending on attendance. A winner-take-all game, as well as pull-tabs and a 50/50 drawing will be offered. Food and beverages provided by the Legion Auxiliary will be sold. Proceeds from the games will go towards the building fund for a future home for Post 128 which currently meets at the Kiwanis Building, Route 25 in Standish.

7th Annual Lions Club road race

On Sunday, Oct. 30, Windham Lions Club is sponsoring the 7th annual 5K Charity Road Race and Walk beginning at Windham High School where registration will be held from 8-9 a.m. You also can register online at: www.active.com. Another link is located at www.windhamlionsme.lionwap.org. The run begins at 9:30 a.m.; the walk starts at 9:45 a.m. Participants are encouraged to collect pledges, due on the day of the run. Any participant who collects $100 or more, receives free registration. The registration fee is $12 if registered by Oct. 21; $15 on race day. Children under the age of 12 are free. All proceeds benefit Relay for Life of Sebago Lakes Region and Windham Lions charities.

The good old days!

Windham Historical Society is open to the public this fall on Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, through November. Visitors will have a glimpse of the way life used to be through many displays of Windham’s past; check out the many maps, books and even T-shirts in the gift shop and find out more about that elusive ancestor who lived here. Our genealogy files for Windham families is extensive. For more information, visit the website, www.windhamhistorical.org or better yet, stop in and say hello to Dave Tanguay, Lou Woodis, Penny Loura, Kay Soldier and many other volunteers. And don’t forget – the annual Old Fashioned Christmas Fair will be held on the second weekend of November offering a wide assortment of exquisite hand made gifts in a true holiday atmosphere.

Thrift shop

North Windham Union Church Thrift Shop is located in the basement of the church, on Route 302 near Boody’s Corner, regular hours are 1-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday.

Windham Middle School participated in LIVESTRONG Day for the
first time on Friday, Sept. 30, as a way of supporting the fight
against cancer. All students and staff were encouraged to wear
yellow to school that day. Mrs. LeRoy’s 8th grade Health classes
led the effort to get everyone in the school involved. Students and
staff were also offered the opportunity to write the names of
people they know who have fought cancer or are fighting cancer on a
huge yellow LIVESTRONG poster, which is on display in the
cafeteria. Members of the Windham Middle School Livestrong Day
Committee, seen above, included Hannah Odom, Melanie Aldrich, Ally
Smith, Katlyn Lambrecht, Colby Duncanson, Jason Neilson, Jonathan
Bernier, Zach Hough, and Michael Dubois. (Courtesy photo by Lee
LeRoy)