One tough soldier

Please take a minute and send a card to Ralph Johnston, one of Windham’s most venerable citizens, devoted to his community, a leading protector of our environment and a retired soldier, who helped protect us all. The veteran is at Maine Medical Center recovering from surgery.

Veterans Benefits

Veterans Service Officer Phyllis D’Orsay will be at the Windham Veterans Center on Wednesday morning, June 27, 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.

Art Sale

Original watercolors by local artists will be for sale at the Windham Public Library through the summer. All proceeds will benefit the library. Students in Charlene Lee’s Windham/Raymond Adult Education Intermediate/Advanced Watercolor Thursday morning class have each donated original matted ready-to-frame 5×7-inch watercolors to the library. The watercolors will be available upstairs at the library near the circulation desk for $10 each beginning at noon June 18. Artists contributing are Dick Anzelc, Michele Aronica, Richard J. Babine, Judith Braun, Carole E. Hines, S.A. McPhail, Win Reed, Robin Scott, Pat van Loan, Sue Walker, Ginger Wallace, Marty Weatherhead and Lynda M. Wilson.

Speakout

On Thursday, June 28, Bill Diamond will host Speakout on Windham’s local channel 7 at 7 p.m. This month’s topic is a one-on-one discussion with Town Councilor Scott Hayman. You are welcome to call with your questions during the show at 892-0546. You are also welcome to come to the Windham Town Office, Council Chambers, and be part of the audience.

Summer

at the library

Windham Public Library is open every day at 9:30 a.m. and is open until 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, until 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and until 5 p.m. on Friday. On Saturdays from June through August, the hours are 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Books & Babies is offered in the Children’s Room on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. This is a program for ages 6-24 months and is about 20 minutes long. Preschool Story Time is held on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. This is for children up to age 5 and their parents/caregivers are invited to join the group for stories and sons. Story time is about 20-30 minutes.

Frog Jumping Contest

B.Y.O.F. – Do not forget to bring your own frog and enter the Summerfest Frog Jumping Contest on Saturday, June 23, and see how far your frog can jump. The time is 3 p.m. behind the Windham High School in field 2. Catch your frog in your back yard, local swamp or in a local pond. Prizes are awarded by the Ice Cream Dugout in Windham. All ages are welcome from 4 years old to adults. The contest is sponsored by the Windham Parks and Recreation Department. Please remember to place your frogs back in their natural environment after the competition.

Special caregiver meeting

This month’s Windham Cancer Support Group meeting will be devoted to caregivers. Last fall the first special meeting just for caregivers was held and the response was gratifying. The meeting is for caregivers who wish to express themselves without their loved ones being present. A relaxed and private atmosphere will be provided. The meeting will be held on Monday, June 25, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Windham Public Library, 217 Windham Center Road. For directions or questions, please call 892-7750.

Bean supper

A baked bean supper will be held at Tuttle Road United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 30, from 4:30-6 p.m. Three kinds of beans, hot dogs, American chop suey, mac and cheese, coleslaw, homemade rolls, pies and beverages. $8 for adults, $5 for youth 12 and under. Call 829-3766 for more information. The church is nearby on Tuttle Road in Cumberland.

Need Help Sorting through Medicare?

On Tuesdays, July 3 and 17, 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 are intended to help sort through Medicare options, answer questions – and to help people 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 the upcoming seminar or to make a one-on-one appointment with a Medicare Advocate at 207-396-6500 or 1-800-427-7411. Walk-ins can usually be accommodated. Further opportunities for these services will occur at the same times and location in August and September. Visit the website at www.smaaa.org to learn more about the many other services that are available.

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.

Church Thrift Shop

At North Windham Union Church Thrift Shop, in the basement of the church on Route 302, near the corner of Rte. 115 is open from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday or 10 until noon Saturdays. Check out the bargains.

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.

Windham Community Garden

This year, the garden has 62 garden beds and a large area dedicated to the Windham Food Pantry. The Garden committee wishes to thank all of the businesses, residents, organizations and gardeners, who have helped make this a very successful venture. The motto of “Grow Local-Eat Well” is serving the community well. Some of the organizations and departments helping this year include the town of Windham for the use of the land. Public Works for the wood chips, Water Systems for helping supply the water lines, the Fire Dept for the water. Tractor Supply, Home Depot and Lowe’s for donations of tools and equipment, the Boy Scouts from Troop 805, residents who helped till the soil and donated their time or material and the wonderful person who donated the tent shelter. For more information, check the website, www.windhamcommunitygarden.org and drop in and check out the gardens – next to the Public Safety building.