Happy birthday, Julia

There’s a special meaning to 10-10-10 this year! On Oct. 10, Julia Reeves, a Windham native, will be 100 years old! Ever since I became involved with Windham Historical Society, I depended on Mrs. Reeves to provide me with details and information about the Windham Center part of our town. Family and friends will fete this very special lady as she crosses the century milestone. Please join others in congratulating her by sending cards to Julia Reeves, 86 Holiday Drive, Portland, ME 04103.

Texas Hold’em

Saturday, Oct. 9, is the next date for the charity poker games at Windham Veterans Center. Registration starts at noon and the game begins at 1 p.m. The player buy-in is $100 and there is a $4 chair fee to help offset the cost of the license. The player pot is always 75 percent of the player buy-in and is paid to the top players who make it to the final table of eight. Snacks, food and non-alcoholic beverages are available and 50/50 tickets are sold throughout the afternoon. Games have been ending by 6:30 p.m. These games help support the Veterans Center and provide increased services for veterans. The center is located off Route 302, via Veterans Memorial Drive in back of Windham Mall. Enter between Evergreen Credit Union and Friendly’s. Games are held on the second Saturday each month.

Walk/run fundraiser

The annual Windham Community Benefit 5K Walk/Run will be held on Oct. 31 to raise more than $15,000 to directly benefit the community. Proceeds will be used to provide heat and other essential needs to residents. Team up with neighbors, friends and co-workers and have fun – costumes are encouraged! It is, after all, Halloween – and going without fuel can be a scary thing! Help keep Windham warm. For information, visit www.windhamneighbors.org.

Holiday food baskets

Thanksgiving and Christmas food basket request forms are available at the Windham Food Pantry, 377 Gray Road (next to the Public Safety Building). If you are in need, please stop and complete an application. Due to the ever-increasing request for help during the holidays, application deadlines must be strictly adhered to. If you are not a current client, you must provide proof of residency (only utility bills accepted).

Electronic recycling

On Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Windham Hill United Church of Christ will conduct an electronic recycling opportunity at the Windham Mall on Veterans Memorial Drive. For a donation to the church, you can get rid of your old TV monitors, computer monitors, CPUs, cordless phones, VCRs, DVDs and audio equipment. No stoves, refrigerators or microwaves will be accepted. Funds derived will help continue the preservation of the historic church on Windham Hill. For more information, call Judy at 653-5989.

Driver safety ?for 50+

An AARP driver safety class for drivers age 50 and older will be presented from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Windham Public Library at 217 Windham Center Road. The registration fee is $12 for AARP members, $14 for others. Advance registration is required as class size is limited. To register, phone John Hammon at 655-4943.

Veterans help

Wednesday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon, Phyllis D’Orsay, a seasoned Veteran’s Advocate from Portland, will be available to assist veterans, widows of veterans and dependents with questions about benefits and other information, at Windham Veterans Center. If you have questions of a military nature, stop in and get some answers. The Veterans Center is off Route 302 in back of the Windham Mall on Memorial Drive.

Tea for you

Every six weeks the Windham Public Library hosts an informal tea in the meeting room. Folks are encouraged to drop in, share conversation and enjoy tea and goodies. The tea is open to anyone who would like to stop by that afternoon. The next tea will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Auction benefits school

To help cover a $45,000 shortfall in the school supplies budget, a live auction and rummage sale, as well as a bake sale, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. at the Windham Primary School gym. To make a donation to the effort, contact Kelly Keenan at 894-5523, e-mail auction5@roadrunner.com, or drop off your item on Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the gym.

Medicare questions?

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging 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 seminar, there will be one-on-one counseling available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, call SMAA at 396-6500 or 1-800-427-7411. Visit the website at www.smaaa.org to learn more about other services that are available.

Chowder and chili

Saturday, Oct. 23, from 5-6:30 p.m., a chowder and chili supper will be served at Fellowship Hall, Windham Hill UCC. Along with several kinds of chowder and chili, cornbread, crackers, tossed salad and assorted pies will be included. Adults $8, children $5.

Be a Santa

The Windham Food Pantry is seeking help with the Toy Workshop again this year, to be held on Dec. 11. Last year there were requests to help 216 children from Windham, of which 65 were teens. The expectation is to see 25-30 more children this year. If you can help by adopting a child or family or providing a gift card to an area store you would be serving the community well. Please contact Madeline Roberts at 892-1931 as soon as possible if you can help.

You’re invited – every Monday

Food & Fellowship Inc. provides 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, 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.

Holiday fair

Windham Hill United Church of Christ will hold a holiday fair Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair features wreaths, cemetery boxes, baskets, crafts, toys, and lunch, too.

Are you a veteran?

Veterans may want to consider joining one of the veterans’ organizations in Windham. The Veterans of Foreign Wars requires service in a recognized combat area or conflict (World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Gulf War, Iraq, etc.) Contact Don Swander at 892-7243. The VFW meets the second Wednesday each month, 6 p.m. social hour, meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The American Legion requires only that the veteran must have demonstrated honorable service in the Armed Forces, Reserve or National Guard components included. The group meets the first Wednesday each month, social hour at 5 p.m., meeting at 6 p.m. Contact Barry Lombard at 653-5349, Don McCormack at 902-3931 or Dave Tanguay at 892-1306. Windham Veterans Association requires its members to belong to either the local VFW or American Legion. All meetings are held at the Windham Veterans Center and start up on a regular basis in the fall.