RTT Equine Manager Kristin Meaney and surprise Triple B guest, Champ. Contributed/Jennifer Bechard

Triple B returns and raises $20o,ooo for Riding to Top

Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center’s 14th Annual Triple B – Boots, Band & BBQ on Oct. 22 raised more than $200,000 to benefit RTT’s clients, horses and programs.

The event, held for the first time since 2019 because of the pandemic, comes amid a rise in demand for services this year, RTT said in press release.

“The continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental and physical health of both children and adults, coupled with the closing of the second-largest therapeutic riding center in Maine earlier in the year led to more people seeking out RTT’s services,” RTT said in press release. “As RTT works to get people off their wait list and into activities, support from the community is more vital than ever.”

Haley Pal, a Windham resident and active member of the Windham Historical Society, can be contacted at haleypal@aol.com.

Fair thee well

We’re coming up on the most wonderful time of the year and to get you in the holiday spirit, Friends Church and the Windham Historical Society invite you to their joint Holiday Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. The Friends Meetinghouse at 374 Gray Road in Windham will be filled to the brim with all sorts of holiday gifts. There will be a jolly selection of snowman crafts, holiday gnomes and Christmas angels. You’ll also find pillows, jewelry, knit goods, ornaments and Christmas stockings. And for those of you with visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads, there will be a delicious assortment of the baked goods and candy for which the Historical Society is famous. This is a great way to kick off the season and get a jump on your holiday shopping.

Take a trip to the casino

The Windham Parks and Recreation Department is taking a trip to Oxford Casino on Wednesday, Nov. 2. The bus leaves the Town Hall parking lot at 8 School Road at 9:30 a.m. and will return at 3:30 p.m. You’ll be able to try your hand at games of chance, with hourly drawings and special promotions thrown into the mix. The cost is $15 per person. You’re on your own for lunch. This could be your day to be a big winner! Contact the Windham Parks and Recreation Department at 892-1905 for more information.

LGBTQ social group

The Windham Public Library is hosting a social group for LGBTQ teens and their allies. Anyone 13 or older is welcome to attend. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month from 4–5 p.m. You can attend the meeting in person in the library’s Meeting Room or join the group via Zoom. This is a good way to make new friends and to feel free to express your feelings. For more information, contact the library’s teen desk at 892-1908.

Support services for local veterans

The Windham Veterans Center will host an informational session about benefits and services on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at their headquarters behind the Windham Hannaford. The meeting will be held from 9–11 a.m. as an addition to the traditional Vet Coffee they have every Wednesday morning. John Brinzow from the Veterans Administration’s Togus Office will be on hand, as will Mark Lionettie from the Portland Veterans Center. They will be available to answer questions about VA benefits and to provide referrals as needed. Stop by, have some doughnuts and coffee, enjoy good conversation and make sure you are taking advantage of all the benefits your military service entitles you to receive.

It’s nifty to be thrifty

The North Windham Union Church UCC Thrift Shop, 723 Roosevelt Trail in North Windham, is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The shop will also be open Saturday, Oct. 29, and again on Nov. 5, also from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for a bevy of bargains on clothes for people of all ages, housewares, books, toys, and more. You’re sure to find a treasure to take home with you proving that it’s nifty to be thrifty.