At a recent town council meeting, a good deal of discussion was held among councilors about how someone whose monthly income was Social Security and part-time work, could pay their property tax. To me, this was a hopeful sign that leadership is realizing that for a good-sized segment of our local population, day to day living is a struggle. The job market in Windham doesn’t seem to be booming! Social Security hasn’t seen a Cost of Living increase for two years in a row and many people – not just seniors – are having a difficult time. Food shopping is a challenge; gas and oil prices mean some people have to make extremely difficult choices – go without or get by with less. Seniors from our four senior housing complexes and others are using the “shopping van” much more – nearly two dozen folks a week would take advantage of this if space were available! More people are going to the food pantry; more are shopping at Goodwill and some are discovering that thrift shops offer a terrific alternative to paying full price. Years ago, my friends and I actually planned trips to the Salvation Army store in Raymond, timed to take advantage of the “good clothes” donated by departing summer residents! In Windham we’re lucky to have a dollar store, a great discount bread outlet, a food pantry, clothes closet (free) and a couple of thrift shops run by local groups. This is the time to visit all these places!

Drama festival

Windham High School scored their personal best in a Saturday morning performance March 12 at the Maine Drama Festival at Morse High School in Bath. Windham’s performance moved some to tears and earned a standing ovation from the audience which included Principal Deb McAfee. Benedetto Robinson and Joanna Clarke won All Cast Awards for Acting. Kiki Tringali won a Special Commendation Award for make-up and hair design. Rachel and Matt Scala each won Special Commendation Awards for Musical Composition.

Speakout topic

on new legislation

On Thursday, March 24, Bill Diamond will host Speakout on Windham’s local Channel 7 at 7 p.m. You can 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. This month, Bill’s guests will include members of the criminal justice system who will discuss new legislation pertaining to sex offenders and the sex offender registry. Tune in and be heard!

Thrift Shop bargains

Great bargains of all kinds can be found at North Windham Union Church Thrift Shop, Wednesday and Thursday, 1-3 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. Take a look! It’s downstairs! Not just clothing but items of a wide variety at rock-bottom prices!

Veterans and dependents’ help

Wednesday, March 23, from 9 a.m. noon, Veterans Service Officer Phyllis D’Orsay, will be available to assist veterans, widows of veterans and dependents with questions about benefits and other information, at Windham Veterans Center. She is on hand on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. If you have questions of a military nature, stop in and get some answers. The Veterans Center is off Route 302, on Memorial Drive, between Evergreen Credit Union and Friendly’s. Follow Memorial Drive all the way to the Veterans Center – to the right of Home Depot – a dirt, town road. No appointment necessary.

Cumberland-Oxford Canal history

On Saturday, March 26, Windham Historical Society presents an updated program on the Cumberland-Oxford Canal, hand dug, from Portland to the interior of the Lakes Region, before the trains began to run. Find out how this waterway opened up the “hinterlands” and provided a marketing resource for all. The program starts at 9 a.m. in the public meeting room of Windham Public Library. Refreshments follow the program. Public welcome. There is no fee but donations are always welcome to help keep the Society’s museums open, provide programs and the future living history center called Village Green. Find out all about it on March 26.

Senior group meets

A fledgling group of seniors and those who work with seniors will meet Wednesday, March 30 at 10 a.m. at Windham Town Hall, second floor near the Parks & Recreation office. All are welcome including representation from Raymond, Casco, Naples and Gray so we can make it a regional organization.

Library Book Group

The Book Group at the Windham Public Library will meet on Tuesday, March 29, at 6:15 p.m. to discuss F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, “The Great Gatsby.” All are welcome. Please call Barbara at 892-1908 for more information.

Corned beef

and cabbage

Typical St. Paddy’s Day fare and a welcome to spring on Saturday, March 26, from 5-6:30 p.m. at Windham Hill UCC on Windham Center Road, a wonderful supper of corned beef and cabbage, as well as carrots, onions, turnip, potatoes and dessert. A real New England boiled dinner! Join other community members and enjoy! $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under.

Need information about Medicare?

On Tuesday, April 19, 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 is intended to help you sort through your Medicare options – and to help you enroll. Please call the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to register for the upcoming Seminar or to make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a Medicare Advocate at 396-6500 or 1-800-427-7411. Further opportunities for these services will occur at the same time and location on April 19. Visit the website at www.smaaa.org to learn more about the many other services that are available.

Benefit comedy show

On Wednesday, March 30, the Bob Marley Show will be presented at Windham High School Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. Proceeds will benefit Camp Sunshine and the Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors fuel assistance program that has been of critical help this winter. Tickets for the show are available at the high school, local corner stores and by calling Norma Rogers, 892-5608.

American Legion meets in April

Reminder to all American Legion Post 148 members. The next meeting of 2011 will be held on Wednesday, April 6, at the Windham Veterans Center. Social hour (and food) at 5 p.m. Business meeting at 6 p.m. Any veterans from the Raymond and Windham area that would like to join the Legion are cordially invited to attend the meeting. To date, 11 new members have joined the Legion as a result of this year’sx membership efforts.

Spring cleaning

If you’re cleaning out your garden supplies and don’t know what to do with extra plant pots and equipment, there is an easy solution! Windham Historical Society is planning an open house featuring a plant and garden sale on Saturday, June 4. Society members are collecting old or unique containers, plant pots, birdhouses, garden decorations and most important, plant cuttings and re-potted cuttings of house plants, annuals or perennials. Seedlings of veggies would be most welcome. Proceeds from this sale will support the Society’s plans for handicap accessible expansion of its museum and development of a living history center. For more information, contact Linda Lunt at 655-3421 or Sue Simonson, 878-3417.

Senior Shopping Van

You must call ahead! The Parks & Recreation Department provides a popular weekly “Senior Shopping” trip to North Windham for senior citizens. This is a great help in a winter like this one has been. To reserve a place, you must call by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday for a ride on Wednesday. The new schedule is on Wednesdays, for a $3 fee. Call 892-1905 for reservations and more information.

Free community supper

Food & Fellowship, Inc., began in 1999 with a mission to provide hot meals to people living in Windham and surrounding communities in the Lakes Region. On Monday nights, free “Monday Meals” are served to anyone who would like a hot, nutritious meal. On the first and second Mondays, the site is Windham Assembly of God Church, 1051 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302); on the third and fourth Mondays, meals are served at Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Road and on the occasional fifth Monday, the table is set at Standish Congregational Church, 25 Oak Hill Road in Standish.

Free tax help

IRS-sponsored volunteer tax assistance programs offer free tax help to seniors and low- to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program provides free tax help to people aged 60 and older. Trained volunteers from non-profit organizations provide free tax counseling and basic income tax return preparation for senior citizens. Volunteers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS. As part of the IRS-sponsored TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors help people of low-to-middle income with special attention to those age 60 and older. For more information on TCE, call 1-800-829-1040. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669.