Library Newsletter

The Windham Public Library has a monthly newsletter with library news, upcoming original events, as well as ongoing programs. Check it out online at www.windham.lib.me.us/newsletter or pick up a paper copy at the library. The library is located at 217 Windham Center Road. For more information, library hours, or directions, call 892-1908 or go to the website at www.windham.lib.me.us.

Public Brunch

The Windham Knights of Columbus will hold a brunch on Sunday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302), Windham. The brunch includes fresh homemade pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, donuts and coffee, tea or juice for $6 per person. The proceeds from the brunch will go to help support men and women who are seeking to become priests and religious community members in the Diocese of Portland. One focus of the Knights of Columbus worldwide has been to assist those seeking to fulfill their dream of serving the Lakes Region in a committed religious life. Tickets are available at the door. FMI contact Dave Spada at 595-8775. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Teen Read Week

All Teen Read Week activities at the Windham Public Library are part of the TNT (Tweens-n-Teens) Club events, and are free to anyone aged 10-18. Tuesday, Oct. 14, Crossword, available 2-5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, Book Group, 2:15 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, Word-Find, 2-5 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 17, I Spy, 2-5 p.m.

VFW Essay Contest

Windham-Raymond RSU 14 students in grades 4 through high school, and homeschoolers in these grades, have an opportunity to compete in the annual essay competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Commander Willie Goodman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 10643 in Windham has announced the kickoff of this year’s VFW Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy essay competitions. Grades 4 and 5 students have the opportunity to compete in the annual essay competition on a local level and win $100 for first place and $50 for second place. Students are invited to write a 300- to 400-word essay on the 2014-2015 theme, “Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans.” Deadline for entries is Nov. 1.

Middle school students in grades 6-8 have the same opportunity, except their competition begins at the local VFW Post and Post winners advance to district level, then to the state competition. State winners compete for $46,000 in awards with the first place award of $5,000. Deadline is Nov. 1. Students must write a 300-400 word essay on “Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans.” High school students compete in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C. The deadline is Nov. 1. Competition begins at the local VFW Post, then advances to district, and then to the state level. State winners receive a four-day trip to Washington to compete with other state finalists. First place is $30,000. Students must write and record a three- to five-minute essay on the theme, “Why Veterans are Important to Our Nation’s History and Future” on an audio cassette tape or audio CD and present their recording, typed essay and entry form at the VFW Post in North Windham by Nov. 1. All homeschoolers in these grades are encouraged to participate. Interested students and teachers should contact their local VFW representative by phone at 228-4329.

Boots on the Ground Day

Field-Allen Unit 128 (Windham’s American Legion Auxiliary) is collecting movies (adventure, western, war) to be donated to the residents of Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough. Also they are seeking donations of sunflower seeds for the “aviary” at the Home. These items will be delivered on Saturday, Oct. 25 – a national day of community service called Make a Difference Day. The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Maine has adopted “Boots on the Ground” as a day of service to coincide with the 20-year-old event. If readers would like to help, donations of old VHS movies, books and DVDs can be dropped off on Wednesdays at the Windham Veterans Center in North Windham. Thanks for making a difference!

Free Harvest Dinner

A free harvest dinner will be open to the surrounding communities from 4:30-6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, and includes roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potato, veggies, salad, casseroles and desserts. Served continuously, buffet style, at Christ Chapel, 37 Northern Pines Road (Off Route 85 Near Crescent Lake), Raymond.

Good Shepherd Visit

Good Shepherd Food-Bank Mobile is coming to the Windham Food Pantry on Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring your bags or boxes for the food items.

Movie Night

Cornerstone Assembly of God will be hosting a Movie Night, featuring “God’s Not Dead”, Saturday, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and free childcare will also be available. There will be a snack bar available accepting donations. The Youth Group will be accepting these donations to raise money for Speed the Light Ministries. Come out for great night at the movies for free! For information, contact Jean at 653-2449.

Smith Cemetery Association

Smith Cemetery Association will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Masonic Hall to review the proposed new bylaws and conduct other business. For a copy of the agenda, contact the secretary at kso48@aol.com.

Detective Discussion

The Windham Public Library has been selected by the Maine Humanities Council to offer “Let’s Talk About It,” a free reading and discussion group with copies of books 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. The series is entitled “Detective Fiction in the 20th Century: a Notion of Evil” and it begins on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6:15 p.m. at the library. There will be five sessions with the last meeting on March 31, 2015. Books to be read and discussed in this series include: “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett and “A is for Alibi” by Sue Grafton. A scholar provided by the Maine Humanities Council will facilitate the discussions.

There is a limit of 20 participants. Please call Barbara at the library at 892-1908 for more information.

Veterans Information

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, Veteran Service Officer (VSO) Matthew Haley will be at the Windham Veterans Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Haley transferred to Maine from Denver two months ago and will be the VSO in the Portland office at the Stevens Avenue National Guard Armory. He can be reached at 430-5143 or email, Portland.MaineBVS@maine.gov, or stop in at Windham Vets Center when he is there. No appointment is necessary.

Land Trust Meets

The annual meeting of Windham Land Trust will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Windham Public Library. A review of the past year’s projects that were completed and what is planned for the following year will be held. Everyone is invited to attend and share their ideas and interest.

Open House at Parson Smith House

There will be an open house and tours at Parson Smith House by Windham Historical Society, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 650-7484 or 892-1433 or email: info@windhamhistorical.org to find out more. This is a rare opportunity to visit this 1764 historic house and it’s the 250th anniversary of its construction. Birthday cake will be served.