Free clothing

Windham Food Pantry/Clothes Closet has received many donations of used clothing for children, men and women of all ages. The hours have been expanded to Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and all other days by appointment. If you wish to take advantage of the free clothing available, please call 892-1931 if you have any questions. The facility is located on Route 202 (Gray Road) across from Friends Church and next door to the Public Safety Building. Warm, clean jackets, hats, purses and much, much more!

Adult Education

Windham/Raymond Adult Education is taking registrations for the Winter/Spring semester. Among the classes are welding, algebra, zumba, cooking, photography, arts and crafts and exercise. Academic classes start Jan. 9 and enrichment classes begin later in the month. Sign up early. Call 892-1819 or go to www.windham.maineadulted.org.

Dodge ball

Haven’t heard about dodge ball since grade school but Parks & Recreation say it’s back in town as of Jan. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Manchester School. It’s a 10 week program, $50 per eight-member team (over 21 years of age). This is a co-ed program and the “modern” dodge ball is rubber-coated foam – safe for all ages (we won’t miss that sting of the olden days!) Round up a team and send the roster to Windham Parks & Recreation, 8 School Road. Rules and rosters available at that department. Call 892-1905 for more information.

Warm up with chili

Chili makers must register by Jan. 18! The annual Chili Challenge Benefit for Windham Community Garden will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the North Windham Union Church, Route 302. Competitors must register by Jan. 18, at $15 per application. For information and rules, call 892-7192 or www.windhamcommunitygarden.org. For the tasters, adults $7, children under 12, $4. This is payable at the door. All proceeds benefit the Community Garden.

New doctor

Rita Kamra Paquin, M.D., has been hired by Mercy Health System of Maine to practice family medicine at Mercy’s Windham Primary Care practice.

Paquin graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia before completing her internship in British Columbia. Paquin graduated from Maine Medical Center’s Family Practice program and practiced medicine locally for seven years before moving to Michigan. This summer, Paquin returned to Maine with her family and joined the staff at Mercy Windham primary care practice.

Windham Primary Care is located at 409 Roosevelt Trail, and specializes in a full range of first-line medical care. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is currently accepting new patients.

History calendars

Start the year right with a historic Windham wall calendar. See what our town looked like 100 years ago from rare postcard photos. Calendars are $10 each or $12 if it is to be mailed. Call Kay at 892-5381 or email kso48aol.com for information – or mail your order to Kay Soldier, 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062. A percentage of profits will be shared with the Windham Historical Society. They are going fast, so get your order in soon!

Concert at high school

On Saturday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m., the Richard Nickerson Scholarship Concert will be held at Windham Performing Arts Center, 406 Gray Road. The concert features Windham High School alumni performers. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors/students.

Dancing with the Staff

The 2012 edition of “Dancing with the Staff” will happen on Thursdays, Jan. 12 and 26, at the Windham High School auditorium. This event is presented by Windham/Raymond Project Graduation 2012. Ten couples (all teachers or staff members representing each school in the two towns) will compete for Champion. Tickets $10 for adults, $5 for students. Available at the schools or call Sandie at 892-9463.

Social worker ?for seniors

Are you aware that Windham and Westbrook now have a Southern Maine Agency on Aging social worker available for individual appointments in the towns one day a week? For more information or to set up an appointment, call Owen O’Donnell at 396-6500. His presence is made possible by a Community Development Block Grant from Cumberland County and he can address a variety of senior “issues” like Medicare, taxes, insurance, etc.

Senior Center activities

Lakes Region Senior Center, 40 Acorn St., Gorham provides activities for seniors Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Wednesday, Jan. 11, a pot luck or bag lunch is from noon to 1 p.m. followed by hand-writing analyst Henrietta Pearl. Snow date is Jan. 26. A blood pressure clinic is scheduled on Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. Interested seniors can stop in at the Center and check the calendar of events – and enjoy a cup of coffee. For more information, email lakesregion50@gmail.com or call Glenn at 893-9088.

Living Well workshops

Two workshops designed to improve the way you feel will be held at the Southern Maine Agency on Aging in Scarborough, over the next few weeks. Living Well for Better Health runs for six weeks starting Jan. 19, 2012 from 1-3:30 p.m. Matter of Balance, a program especially to combat the fear of falling, runs for eight weeks starting Jan. 18, 2012 from 1-3 pm. Call Jessica LeBlanc at 1-800-400-6325, ext. 583 to register or for more information.

Making sense ?of the Civil War

Beginning Jan. 31, at 6:15 p.m., “Let’s Talk About It: Making Sense of the Civil War”, a free reading and discussion group will be held at Windham Public Library. Copies of books are available through the library. The program is provided by the Maine Humanities Council’s Maine Center for the Book in cooperation with the Maine State Library. There will be five sessions. The program is free, but registration is required and a limit of 25 participants. Call Barbara at the library, 892-1908, for more information.

Historical Society news

The headquarters of the Windham Historical Society will be open by appointment only during the winter months, because of the expense of heating the building. For information or genealogical inquiries, email Kay Soldier at kso48@aol.com and if visitors want to stop in, please call Linda at 650-7484. There are no meetings in December. The next program will be held at Windham Public Library’s meeting room on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. Topic will be “What is this?” The public is invited. Mark your calendar for next June when the Society is planning a Civil War Re-enactor campout in conjunction with Windham Summerfest!

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.

Trip to Ireland

Windham-Raymond Adult Educational trip to Ireland will be April 14-22. An information night will be held Thursday, Dec. 15 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Windham High School, Room 126. The community is welcome. For more information, call 892-1819 or visit the website, www.eftours.com/1065628.