Civil War speaker
Are you interested in the Civil War? This month’s guest speaker at the Joshua Chamberlain Civil War Roundtable is Patrick Falci, who for 19 years has been the face of General Ambrose Powell Hill. He will speak about “Lee’s Forgotten General: A.P. Hill at the Battle of Gettysburg” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at the Curtis Memorial Library, Morrell Room, in Brunswick.

The Joshua Chamberlain Civil War Roundtable in Brunswick, the only regularly meeting Civil War organization in Maine,  meets once a month with guest speakers from throughout New England and nationally who, in entertaining and informative ways, will add to your knowledge and understanding about the Civil War. If you would like more information about the roundtable or the guest speaker, contact Windham resident Carol Manchester at JKM1863@myfairpoint.net

VFW meets

The Windham VFW Post will meet at the Windham Veterans Center on Wednesday, April 13, at 5 p.m. for a social hour, followed at 6 p.m. with a business meeting.

Lakes Region Senior Center

It’s spring, and time to get out and about! Visit the Senior Center in the Little Falls area of town, 40 Acorn St. in Gorham.

On Monday, April 11, at 11:30 a.m., an Italian luncheon will be served. The menu includes chicken alfredo, stuffed shells, lasagna, meatballs, garlic bread, salads, desserts and beverages. $5 per person. Guest speaker will be Gorham Fire Department Chief Lefebvre at 12:30 p.m. who will speak on fire safety and evacuation plans for the Senior Center and for your home. Everyone is invited; bring your appetite and a friend.

Starting Friday, April 15, A Matter of Balance class will be held on eight Fridays, from 9-11 a.m. at the center. This is a reminder for those who paid $20 and signed up for this class. For more information, call Blanche at 892-5604.

Award given to Parks and Recreation

At the annual spring conference for the Maine Recreation and Park Association, the Windham Parks and Recreation Department was awarded a Facility of Merit Award for the Donnabeth Lippman Park. The award recognizes a facility that has been recently developed, increases the recreational opportunities for a community, and shows innovation, creativity, and a strong local commitment to the project. The Donnabeth Lippman Park met all this criteria – and more. If you have not yet discovered this gem in our community – be sure to stop in. It is just off Route 302 near Sherwin Williams.

Senior trips

The April-June Senior Newsletter is now available on the Parks & Recreation Department website and in various places around town. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list for this, please call the office at 892-1905 and you will receive it with the registration form for upcoming trips.

On Friday, April 22, a trip is planned to Skowhegan to the Somerset Grist Mill for a tour of the Maine Grain Factory. Learn how they manufacture locally grown, stone-milled grains that go into many staple foods in our diets. Maine Grains is reviving this tradition of the stone milling process to include oats, rye, wheat, corn and buckwheat, and we’ll learn how the milling works. Departure time from Windham is at 9:30 a.m. with a return at about 4-5 p.m. Transportation is $7. Lunch will be somewhere in the area. Deadline to register is Friday, April 15. Call 892-1905 for more information.

Democrats meet

Windham Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 11, at the public library. Election of committee officers will be held. All Democrats are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Country music, bean supper

On Saturday, April 16, a baked bean supper and country music concert/dance will be held at Windham Veterans Center, North Windham. The dinner only is $8, concert only is $10, and a “combo” ticket is $15. Supper will be from 5-6:30 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. Here’s a chance to hear some of the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame performers like Al Doane, Bing and Nancy Crosby, Slim Andrews and Lou Mathieu – and enjoy a traditional Maine bean supper – all handmade. This will be to benefit the Windham Veterans Association to maintain the center.

Wednesday for veterans

This informal event, held every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. at the Windham Veterans Center, and provides a great opportunity to “get out of the house,” have a cup of coffee and enjoy the fellowship. All veterans are welcome. This is a regular, weekly event. For more information, call Post Service Officer Chuck Whynot at 892-4720.

Veterans benefits

On Wednesday, April 13, Veterans Service Officer Matt Haley will be available at the Windham Veterans Center from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. to answer questions and provide information about benefits and other topics. If you’ve got questions, stop by at Windham Veterans Center, Memorial Drive, Windham (the road off Route 302 near Friendly’s – go all the way to the end). He can also be reached at his office near the Portland Airport, 151 Jetport Blvd., Room 138W or call 822-2391 or email www.Portland.MaineBVS@maine.gov.

Blood donors

Are you a registered local Red Cross blood donor? Please consider making an appointment to give blood at the Windham Veterans Center on Wednesday, April 27. The drive is co-sponsored by local veterans organizations including the Windham Veterans Association, American Legion Post 148, VFW Post 10643, as well as by Coldwell Banker. Red Cross is accepting appointments for the April 27 event. Call: 1-800 RED-CROSS for more information.

Book talk

Author Susan Poulin, a Maine actress and humorist, will offer a 45-minute reading from her book “Finding your inner moose: Ida LeClair’s guide to livin’ the good life” given in the character of Ida LeClair on Tuesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at the Windham Public Library. There will be time for questions following the reading. Space is limited. Please register with Barbara at 892-1908.

Pancakes for patrons

In honor of National Library Week (April 10-16), Windham’s Public Library will celebrate library users by serving pancakes from 10 a.m.-noon on Wednesday, April 13. Librarian Sally Bannen says, “Join us as library staff members thank you for all you do to support the library.”

At the library

Monday, April 11, 10:30-11 a.m., Story Time

Tuesday, April 12, 10:15-10:35 a.m., Books & Babies; 1-3 p.m., Knitters ‘N More; 6-7 p.m., Author Talk: Susan Poulin; 6-7 p.m., Knit & Listen

Wednesday, April 13, 10 a.m. to noon, Pancakes for Patrons; 2:15-4:15 p.m., Movie Time for Teens: “Back to the Future” (1985-PG)

Thursday, April 14, 10:30-11 a.m. Story Time; 2-3 p.m., Friends of Windham Public Library meeting

Saturday, April 16, 10:30 a.m., Family Story Time; 1-3 p.m., Movie Time for Families: “That Darn Cat!” (1965, G)

For more info about any of these or other events at the library, contact the library (892-1908) or go to http://www.windham.lib.me.us/calendar

Thrift shop

North Windham Union Church Thrift Shop is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon. A $5 bag sale runs through mid-March. Clothing, household goods, children’s clothing and toys and lots more are offered at bargain prices.

Susan Poulin

Every Wednesday morning, you’ll find area veterans taking a break at the Windham Veterans Center in North Windham. All veterans are welcome to stop by around 9 a.m. Above, a recent gathering shows vets engaged in lively conversations from sea stories, recent aches and pains, family and more. “The two hours from 9-11 just flew by”, one veteran noted. Those interested in joining the group need only show up on Wednesday at the Windham Veterans Center and pull up a chair. Organizers say when the weather is better plans are to hit the horseshoe pits in back of the building.