On Feb. 11, school board members representing Windham and Raymond in the newly formed Regional School Unit 14 met for the first time since the merger of the school districts was approved by voters in November. At that meeting, Toby Pennels of Windham, a veteran of the Windham School Board, was elected chairman. Pennels sat […]

Here at the Hernia Hill Institute of Unquantifiable Econometrics and Daytime Drinking, internationally renowned scholars (mostly me, although my renown has trouble evading the Border Patrol and slipping into Canada) are constantly (except during happy hour) thinking about Maine’s fiscal crisis. From time to time (like almost never), we produce acclaimed studies (one guy in […]

Only a little over a century ago, we weren’t worried about the price of gas since much of day-to-day travel was provided via horsepower, as seen in this old photo. This is Murch’s Stagecoach, circa 1900, in front of Woodbury’s Store, later known as Bailey’s, on Duck Pond Road, just off Route 302 in Windham. […]

After raising seven children, Diane Cross now has the time to spend days snowmobiling with her husband, Richard. With plenty of snow on the ground, this year has been no exception, but Richard Cross said the couple has been going on more trips closer to home instead of traveling up north to sled. They can […]

Loon Echo Land Trust recently awarded environmental education grants to local libraries and schools to help children learn about ecology and the environment. Grants were awarded on Feb. 15 to the Bridgton Public Library, Casco Public Library, Harrison Elementary, Lake Region Middle School, Naples Public Library, Sebago Elementary, Raymond Elementary, and Raymond Village Library. Every […]

Cheryl Page has lived off the River Road in Windham for many years, and she is sick of the potholes, of the plow clanging on the uneven road, and of watching other roads receive state money to pay for repairs. “A lot of people travel this road. We need this road fixed,” said Page, who […]

Meals on Wheels recipients got a special delivery of red roses Feb. 12 in honor of Valentine’s Day. Gray resident Don Hutchings, retired owner of Meloon’s Florist, has purchased and packaged the roses for the Meals on Wheels participants every year since 1995. He worked in the floral business for 42 years before retiring. “Funerals […]

The Bridgton Economic Development Committee invites residents to help with planning and design for the Depot Street district. A Depot Street district community design charrette will be held March 5-7. A community design charrette is a collaborative, multiple-day planning process that harnesses the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a […]

Students at Edna Libby Elementary School in Standish participated in the National Day of Service Monday, Jan. 19, by holding a collection for the local food pantry. The food pantry shelves had been greatly depleted over the holidays, and items that were low in supply and high in demand were suggested for donations. Shopping carts […]

School Administrative District 61 is weighing a plan that could lead to closing schools and sending students to neighboring towns after hearing from concerned parents at a series of public hearings. Opponents of the plan have been outspoken, particularly in Naples, where 67 children would be sent to school in Bridgton or Sebago if the […]