Triple B event raises record-breaking amount for Riding To The Top

By Kelly Johnson
Special to The Windham Eagle

On Saturday, Oct. 17, more than 325 people attended the 18th Annual Triple B ~ Boots, Band & BBQ and raised a record-breaking amount - over $350,000 - to benefit the clients, horses and programs of Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) in Windham.

Riding To The Top Equine Manager and
Instructor Kristin Meaney, left, joins
RTT client and Triple B speaker
Kelley Handy during the 18th Annual
Triple B ~ Boots, Band & BBQ
fundraiser event on Oct. 17 in
Windham.
PHOTO BY HANNAH CORMIER
RIPTIDE PHOTOGRAPHY

This year’s event paid homage to all the “Shining Stars of RTT” – RTT’s clients, horses, volunteers, long-time supporters, staff, and the evening’s guests and sponsors. Eric Schildroth of Schilly’s Catering served up another delicious and abundant barbeque to the hungry crowd. The record-breaking mission-based auction was led by auctioneer, Elizabeth Ross. Emcee, Michelle Taylor of 99.9 The Wolf kept the program running on schedule. The evening was capped by live music and dancing to the popular local band, Under The Covers.

The true shining stars, of course, are the courageous clients and the horses they team up with at the center.

The evening began with RTT client, Kelley Handy, discussing what RTT means to her. Among her examples, she included, “What happens is, Tuesday morning, that’s the only day I know I’ll have steady legs under me. Because they’re not mine…The independence I feel from riding my horse goes through the week, where I remember that independent feeling. And I know that if anything ever goes wrong in my life, I’ve got a home to come back to.”

Later in the evening RTT parent, Erika Estes, gave the keynote speech, saying, “My daughter has formed such special relationships with her team at RTT, especially with Tracy (her instructor) who we work with every week and Stacie (her volunteer) who has been by Sadie’s side since her first days at RTT. They bring knowledge, experience, compassion, patience, humor and excitement to us every session…It’s because of the comfort she feels here that she has been able to make such great progress.”

As the bidding got underway, Bob Bittenbender, a long time RTT supporter, stepped forward with a special matching challenge of $25,000 for the Ridership Fund, which provides direct financial aid to families in need and he made special mention of how an organization like RTT would have benefited his grandmother, who contracted polio and lived most of her life using a wheelchair for mobility. Bittenbender conveyed to the crowd the importance of keeping RTT’s services accessible to as many people as possible.

Sarah Bronson, RTT Executive Director, reflected that “the outpouring of support felt at this year’s Triple B was absolutely incredible.

“Every year we have many long-time attendees present, but also every year, we have many first timers who get to know more about Riding To The Top and the work we do here,” Bronson said. “Everyone was moved by the speakers who shared their personal stories and event goers are greeted at the start of the night by some of our horses who are the welcoming crew in the barn. This event truly combines fun and fundraising in such a meaningful way. We are grateful to all the people in attendance, the generous donors who support the Ridership and Horse Funds and to all the local businesses who support the event as sponsors.”

This year IDEXX, UNUM, Bangor Savings, Martin’s Point Healthcare and Stone Coast Fund Services employees joined RTT volunteers to help with set up and then again with post event “take-down.” During the event, the St. Joseph’s College baseball team members returned to help with food service, the auction and recycling efforts. In total, over 100 volunteers contributed over 800 hours in the various stages of the event (pre-event planning, set up, night of and cleanup days following the event). 

The Triple B event is RTT’s largest and most important fundraiser of the year, funding nearly a third of the organization’s annual expenses. Since its inception, this event has raised nearly $3 million dollars, while introducing the healing power of horses to thousands of community members. This year’s event was supported by many local business partners led by Grand Champion Sponsor, Portland Volvo, and Reserve Champion Sponsor, Norway Savings Bank.

About Riding to the Top

Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) was founded in 1993. Its mission is enhancing health and wellness through equine assisted services. Located in Windham, RTT is the state’s only PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) Premier Accredited Center solely dedicated to equine- assisted services. More than 250 participants are impacted annually, assisted by certified instructors, a herd of 16 horses and more than 70 weekly volunteers, all specially trained to assist with therapeutic riding, carriage driving and hippotherapy. Riding To The Top is a community-based nonprofit, receives no federal or state funding and provides scholarships to over 60% of its clients. For more details about client services, volunteering, or making a gift, please visit www.ridingtothetop.org or call 207-892-2813. <

‘Misery’ a suspenseful tale of obsession and terror

By Ed Pierce

Two Raymond residents are prominently involved in the Lake Region Community Theatre production of Stephen King's play “Misery” and say the local adaptation of the 1990 psychological horror film retains its highly suspenseful moments.

Mary McCormick of Raymond, left, and 
Chris Madura of Raymond are involved
with Lake Region Community Theatre's
production of Misery running from Oct. 22
to Oct. 25 at Lake Region High School.
McCormick portrays Annie Wilkes in the
play, based on the Stephen King novel
and 1990 film. Madura is the play's
director. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Based upon King’s book and film featuring Kathy Bates and James Caan, Annie Wilkes, portrayed by Mary McCormick of Raymond, rescues an injured author, played by Andy Whetzel of Bridgton, from the scene of a car accident. She nurses him in her remote house but becomes irate when she discovers that the author has killed off her favorite character in his latest book. She keeps him prisoner while forcing him to write a book that brings the character back to life. Brad Wears of Bridgton also appears in the play as Buster and Zoe Silvia of Bridgton is stage manager for the production.

The play is directed by community theater veteran Chris Madura of Raymond and will run for five performances over four days from Thursday, Oct. 22 through Sunday, Oct. 25 at Lake Region High School in Naples. Presenting sponsor for the production is Maine Community Bank supporting Lake Region Community Theatre, a nonprofit organization that stages several musicals and plays each year using Lakes Region residents as talent.

Madura said he was part of a small group who approached the LRCT board about the possibility of producing Misery.

“I’ve been interested in directing for quite a while, so when the opportunity came up, I asked the board to consider me,” he said. “I’ve spent years working on different aspects of theater, and directing was something I really wanted to take on.”

His first experience with Lake Region Community Theatre was back in 2008 playing a Wickersham Brother in the LRCT summer production of Seussical the Musical.

“I’ve been involved with the organization in one way or another ever since,” Madura said. “It’s been a big part of my life for nearly 20 years.”

According to Madura, his first theater experience was in sixth grade when I played John in Peter Pan at Crooked River Elementary School.

“Since then, theater has been a huge part of my life,” he said. “Over the years I’ve been involved in almost 50 productions, both onstage and behind the scenes. I’ve spent a lot of time performing, designing and building sets, stage managing, and helping with different aspects of productions both for LRCT and Lake Region High School. I really enjoy the creative process and seeing everything come together, whether I’m onstage or behind the scenes.”

He says the two biggest challenges in staging Misery have been rehearsal time and creating the play’s suspense.

“LRCT doesn’t have a theater of its own, and while we’re incredibly fortunate to be able to use the Lake Region High School auditorium, we have to work around school events and other activities when scheduling rehearsals,” he said. “We also have a very limited amount of time to get our set into the space and prepare everything before opening night. There’s definitely some pressure that comes with bringing a Stephen King story to the stage, especially here in Maine. With Misery, so much of the tension comes from the actors and the relationships between their characters. We’ve really focused on making those interactions feel natural and believable. Sometimes the quietest moments can be the most unsettling and finding that balance has been an important part of the process.”

Madura grew up in Naples and has lived in Raymond since 2020. He works as a Customer Service Representative at Maine Community Bank in Windham and what he hopes to take away from this experience of directing Misery is learning to trust the process.

“As a director, you have a vision for how you want things to look and feel, but you also have to give your actors the freedom to explore their characters and make their own choices. It’s been a lot of fun working with Mary, Andy, and Brad,” he said. “They’ve each brought something different to their roles, and it’s been really rewarding to watch their characters develop throughout rehearsals. It’s definitely been a learning experience but one I’ve really enjoyed. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity.”

McCormick was born in Boston, grew up in Northern Virginia, and spent her high school years in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended college at the University of San Diego and received a master’s degree in teaching from Santa Clara University. Her family moved to Raymond in 2007 after she graduated from high school, but she moved to Raymond permanently in 2024.

She saw LRCT’s production of Beauty and the Beast in the summer of 2024 and decided to audition for 9 to 5 the next summer.

“Although I was anxious about being new to their community, I was so touched by how quickly they embraced me,” McCormick said. “Misery is my third production with LRCT. I was first cast as Judy in 9 to 5 and this summer I was Atina as well as a tapping seagull in The Little Mermaid.”

Taking on the role of Annie Wilkes, who works outside of community theater as a teacher, has been a significant opportunity for McCormick.

“Annie is a very complex character, and I’ve really enjoyed challenging myself to successfully depict each aspect of her. I hope to do her justice,” she said. “The most difficult aspect of preparing for this show has been the time required to memorize all of Annie’s lines. It has not been difficult with only three cast members because I have worked closely with both individuals as well as our director in other productions, so I have a very strong sense of trust and respect for each of them.” 

Her first involvement in community theater was when McCormick was 9 years old and she says that she continued to participate in shows throughout my whole childhood and high school years. But until the LRCT production of 9 to 5, she had not been in any productions since graduating from high school.

“I look forward to continuing to work with LRCT for years to come in any capacity, on stage or off,” she said. “LRCT is an incredibly loving, welcoming, and supportive group of people and I am honored to be a part of their productions.”

“Each role I’ve had the pleasure of portraying has given me the opportunity to explore and express different types of personalities,” McCormick said.

Show dates and times for Misery at Lake Region High School are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students ages 14 and over. <

To learn more about Lake Region Community Theatre, visit lrctmaine.org <

Windham Trunk or Treat brings families together for a night of Halloween fun

By Masha Yurkevich

Families looking for a fun and family-friendly way to celebrate Halloween will have the chance to gather for Windham Parks and Recreation’s annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Windham Parks and Recreation's popular annual Trunk or 
Treat event for children returns from 5:30 to 7:30 on
Saturday, Oct. 24 in the parking lot behind the Windham
Mall. Trunk hosts can register through Oct. 19 while
families can register through Wednesday, Oct. 21. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO

The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot directly behind the Windham Mall near Hannaford and Renys. Local families can expect an evening filled with decorated vehicles, candy, music, dancing, snacks and Halloween costumes.

Kelsey Crowe, the deputy director for Windham Parks and Recreation, helps to lead the larger community events of the department, including the annual Trunk or Treat. Her responsibilities include coordinating volunteers, managing registration, promoting the event, and making sure the department has enough candy and supplies for the evening.

“It is a big community effort,” Crowe said.

Volunteer organizations, families and local businesses participate by decorating and hosting their own trunks. The Windham Mall provides a parking area, while Windham Fire Rescue and Windham Police help with the event by assisting with the area and keeping things organized. This year, Windham Parks and Recreation hopes to have more than 20 different trunks for children to visit. Each trunk will have its own decorations, and some will offer allergy-friendly treats, toys or other items.

In addition to trick-or-treating, a DJ will provide music throughout the evening, and families can visit the event trailer for snacks, hot chocolate and cider. There will be space for children and families who want to dance and enjoy the music together. For Crowe, one of the best parts of the event is seeing families enjoy the evening together.

“I always like to walk around these events and see families having fun and smiling and kids laughing,” Crowe said.

The event also offers an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Rather than traveling from house to house, families can stay in one central location, making it easier for parents and caregivers to keep track of children. Crowe said the setting also gives families a chance to enjoy Halloween without having to visit unfamiliar homes or neighborhoods.

The event has grown considerably since it began. In its earlier years, Trunk or Treat was held in the back parking lot at Windham Middle School. The event was later moved to its current location. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Parks and Recreation adapted the celebration into a drive-through Trunk or Treat, allowing hundreds of families to participate while remaining in their vehicles. Since then, the event has returned to a walking format.

Pre-registration and time slots have remained part of the process, helping organizers estimate attendance and ensure that trunk hosts have enough candy for participants and this year, Parks and Recreation expects about 400 to 500 children and families to participate.

One new addition this year is a sensory friendly time slot. Crowe said the regular event can sometimes become overwhelming for children who are sensitive to darkness, loud music or flashing lights. The new time slot will take place earlier, while it is still light outside, and will provide a quieter opportunity for children to participate. 

The sensory friendly time slot has limited availability and is not listed on the website. Families interested in participating can call Windham Parks and Recreation to ask about the option.

Families are encouraged to wear costumes, and the department will also host a costume contest following the event. Goodie bags will include information about how families can submit photographs of their costumes for a chance to win prizes. Registration is required ahead of time so Parks and Recreation can plan for the expected number of participants.

Trunk hosts can register through Oct. 19, while families can register through Wednesday, Oct. 21.

For Crowe, the goal of the evening is simple: to give families a chance to have fun together and create positive Halloween memories.

“I just want families to have a fun night and get some free stuff and be excited for the following year and come back,” she said.

With decorated trunks, music, treats, activities and a growing community turnout, Windham Trunk or Treat is once again preparing to bring families together for an evening of Halloween fun. <

Time remains to attend 154th Cumberland County Fair

By Ed Pierce

If you may have missed a chance to attend the 154th Cumberland County Fair because of last weekend’s nor’easter, there’s still time to experience all the fair has to offer by the time the annual event wraps up Saturday evening at the fairgrounds in Cumberland.

Despite the rain last weekend, the 154th Cumberland County 
Fair continues from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Saturday,
Oct. 3 and offers plenty of live entertainment, livestock
exhibits, food, rides, fireworks and fun for families at the
fairgrounds, 196 Blanchard Road in Cumberland.
COURTESY PHOTO

The schedule of events for both Friday and Saturday are filled with events sure to please just about everyone. There will be plenty to see and do including live music and entertainment, an array of livestock, food, and flower exhibits, carnival rides, a draft horse and pony show, candy making demonstrations, pig races, a truck pull, harness racing and fireworks to close out the fair on Saturday night.

Attending the Cumberland County Fair is a tradition that stretches all the way back to Oct. 7, 1869, when a two-day event was held on the grounds of what is now Greely High School. In 1874, the Cumberland Farmer’s Club moved the fair to newly purchased grounds in West Cumberland that included a fenced-in trotting park. By 1952, the fair was officially renamed the “Cumberland County Fair” and became a popular annual event attended by thousands of Cumberland County residents each fall.

During the final two days of this year’s fair on Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, the fair will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Scheduled events for Friday include the MSTTP Tractor Pull featuring Modified Big Rigs and Semi pulls; musical performances by singer-songwriters Ryan Halliburton and Henry Lowery, The World Famous Grassholes, and The Jack Fossett Band; magic and comedy from Joe Howard; the Nettie Loops Hula Hoop Experience; Sweepstakes Horse Memorial Pulls; and a Draft Horse and Pony Show.

Also on Friday, the fair’s Gillette Midway will be open for carnival rides weather permitting. There will be antique sawmill demonstrations, Maine maple sugar and syrup tasting, harness racing, antique hay press demonstrations, 4-H working steers, a 4-H dairy clipping contest, pig racing, cooking and crafting demonstrations, booths, vendors, and three-horse hitch distance pulls.

Saturday’s scheduled events include a pig scramble; farmer’s horse and ox pulls; MSTTP Truck Pulls; magic from Wes Wonder; a Kids Ox Pull; musical performances by 43 Degrees North, Dark Horse, Chase Jobe, Timothy James & Band, and Julia Gagnon & Friends; comedy juggling and dangerous stunts by Showtime Steve; and the fair concludes with a spectacular fireworks show around 8:30 p.m. by Central Maine Pyrotechnics.

Also on Saturday, fair visitors can watch a Rabbit show, view cooking and crafts demonstrations; farmer’s draft horse, mule and pony events, draft horse log twitches, a calf scramble, 4-H dairy and working steer shows, a youth poultry show, Quilts of Valor presentations, Sheep, Dairy, Swine, Goat and Beef livestock showings, antique sawmill demonstrations, midway carnival rides, booths, vendors, tours of the maple sugar house, and lots of tasty food to experience.

Visitors can stroll through exhibition barns filled with blue-ribbon vegetables, flowers, crafts and pies, cakes and other baked goods, and award-winning locally grown huge pumpkins. Or they can see up close the John Deere display of the latest models of tractors. 

Theodore Googins of Gray is this year’s fair president with Lincoln Merrill of North Yarmouth as vice president and Jeff Steinman of Cumberland serving as vice president and treasurer. Elizabeth Tarantino of Cumberland is fair secretary, Mark Cooper, Sonja Nielsen and Richard Morrill, all of Windham, are serving on the fair’s Board of Directors with Cooper also overseeing the fair’s livestock area.

Admission to the 154th Cumberland County Fair is $15 cash for adults with kids ages 12 and under admitted for free.

The fairgrounds are located at 196 Blanchard Road in Cumberland. Plenty of convenient free parking is available.

To learn more about the 154th Cumberland County Fair and view a complete schedule of events visit https://cumberlandfair.com/ or find them on Facebook under Cumberland Fair. <   

Rocktoberfest returns to Naples

Fall festivities will take over the Naples Causeway when the third annual Rocktoberfest brings live music, fireworks, tethered hot air balloon, food and family activities to the heart of the Lakes Region.

The free event will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, from 3 to 9 p.m. along the historic Naples Causeway. In the event of rain, visitors should check the Facebook page for an updated date.

Timed to coincide with Maine’s colorful fall season, Rocktoberfest will stretch from the east side to the west side of the Causeway between Long Lake and Brandy Pond. Visitors are encouraged to bring their wagons and shopping bags and even dress in their best lederhosen for an autumn evening overlooking the water.

Activities will include live music at multiple locations, artisans, demonstrations, amusements, interactive family activities and friendly competitions. Tethered illuminated hot air balloon rides will add to the evening atmosphere, while a fireworks display will light up the Causeway at dark.

Several Naples businesses and venues will join the celebration with entertainment, food and drink specials and other activities. Music will be a major part of the festival, with performances planned at the Union Stage, Causeway Amphitheatre and participating establishments.

Among the scheduled performers are Julia Gagnon Haven, C-Dot 416, Chase Jobe, Toby McAllister and Road Crew. Rigometrics will perform aboard the Songo River Queen II while it is docked at the Causeway. Other festivities will include outdoor biergartens, competitions, face painting and special menus. Captain Jack’s will serve as an official after-party location, with Road Crew scheduled to perform from 8 to 11 p.m.

The Songo River Queen II, Freedom Cafe, Beacon Bar & Bistro, Brother Flecker’s, Hamilton House, Sun Sports+ and Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza are among the locations participating in the celebration.

Rocktoberfest is designed as a communitywide celebration that combines the feel of an autumn festival and night market with the scenery that has made Naples a popular destination. With peak foliage season underway, organizers are inviting residents and visitors alike to enjoy a sunset along the Causeway before staying for music, activities and fireworks.

The event is sponsored by Q-Team Tree Service, LRE Electric, Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza, Sun Sports+, The Barn Presents Music Heals, Captain Jack’s, the Town of Naples and the Naples Events Committee.

For information about participating, becoming a market vendor or sponsoring the event, email [email protected]. If you plan to go, RSVP on their official Facebook page to help vendors with their planning.

Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby showcases winners

By Ed Pierce

For yet another year, Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby has wrapped up a summer of fishing on Sebago Lake, creating lasting memories for participants and helping to fund a good cause.

Andries Elburg of Canton, Massachusetts,
right, is awarded first place in the Togue
category for an 11-pound 33-inch fish 
caught during the 11th Annual Sebago
Lake Togue & Pike Derby by Bob Chapin
of the Sebago Lake Anglers' Association
during an awards ceremony on Sunday,
Sept. 13. COURTESY PHOTO 

The 11th Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby was based at Port Sebago Resort’s Main Marina area in Casco on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13 with an awards ceremony conducted at the conclusion of fishing on Sunday afternoon.

Hosted every year by the Sebago Lake Anglers Association, event organizers said this is a community-based fishing derby focused on families and children but experienced fishermen and guides with clients are always welcome to participate.

Cash prizes were paid to the top three places by weight in the event, as well as a prize for the biggest fish caught on Saturday, three prizes for any Togue submitted in the Togue lottery, and one prize for the smallest Togue, caught by hook and line.

All Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife rules for Sebago Lake fishing applied with only fish caught during the derby’s legal fishing hours counting toward prizes.

Participants did not have to fish in the derby both days, and they did not have to be present to win a prize if a fish was legally entered and checked in by staff within the established time limits for the derby. Prizes for those who were not present during the awards ceremony may be picked up at Port Sebago Resort’s Main Marina during business hours for 30 days after the derby.

Some of the fish that derby participants didn’t want to take home were donated for an area church’s fish fry, and a local food pantry.

During the derby, there was no minimum length for togue and no bag limit on togue less than 26 inches. Anglers could possess one togue measuring 26 inches and above and derby participants did not need to fish on both days of the derby to qualify for prizes.

Among this year’s prize winners was Andries Elburg of Canton, Massachusetts who took first place in the Togue category with an 11-pound 33-inch fish.

John Sailhamer of Canton, Mass. was second in the Togue category with a 7.61-pound 30.75-inch fish. Sailhamer also won a prize for the largest togue caught during the derby on Saturday and was last year’s Togue category winner.

Third place in the Togue category went to Jay McMahon of Canton, Mass. with a 7.29-pound 30-inch fish.

All three Togue category award recipients were fishing from Sailhamer’s boat.

In the derby’s Pike category, first place for the most pike caught was Devin Prue of Steep Falls with a total of five pikes. He also won first place in this same category a year ago.

Second place for the most pike caught went to Geoff Sparrow of Windham with one pike. 

The winner of the Smallest Togue caught during the derby was Deane Gower of Standish, having caught one weighing in at .18 pounds. He also won the Smallest Togue caught during last year’s derby and his company, Gower and Son Construction, is a top sponsor of the Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby.

Proceeds from the Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby are used to pay out the prize money for the event and to purchase Youth Lifetime Fishing Licenses for Maine children.

To learn more about upcoming events hosted by the Sebago Lake Anglers Association, visit their Facebook page. <

Library presentation by Windham authors aims to boost family relationships

By Erin Rose

Maneuvering through joining a new family can be tricky, but Windham residents Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport and Teri Rapaport will present tips and tricks to make building relationships easier when they talk about their book at the Windham Public Library from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sep. 16.

Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, left, and Teri
Rapaport, both of Windham, are authors
of the book 'Advice From My Mother-in-Law
That I Actually Want,' and will offer a free
presentation from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday,
Sept. 16 at the Windham Public Library.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

The duo wrote “Advice From My Mother-in-Law That I Actually Want,” to help give guidance to other families as they come together through marriage. Teri joined Wendy’s family after marrying Wendy’s stepson Bruce 25 years ago. Both couples live near Little Sebago Lake.

“We have been talking about writing a book for years. We each had different ideas about how to handle situations,” Wendy said. “It was really fun to always talk, and through the years as we kept on sharing ideas with each other, it just became clear that we needed to share it with others, too.”

One of the most essential elements to both the duo’s collaboration and to building a relationship with a new family is humor.

“We have laughed our way through all of our conversations,” Wendy said. “Humor is a coping mechanism for both of us, and we want it to be for the readers too.”

The presentation will include discussions of one of the methods that can help people relate to other members of a new family, including in-laws or stepchildren.

“We came up with the idea of ‘PEST’ control – persistence, empathy, self-control, and tolerance,” Wendy said, noting that it’s essential to start using the method as the relationship is built through the ‘BEFORE’ approach, ‘healthy boundaries, empathy for oneself and the other, pre-emptive forgiveness of each other, noticing the originality of each other, and resiliency with disappointment and energy, to keep going,” Wendy said. “The other powerful thing that we urge is seeing each other as unique people. “What is your similarity? What do you like about each other? After all, someone that you love also likes both of you, so there must be something in common.”

Not only did the writing process help the two become closer, it also helped them relate more easily to extended members of the family.

“I think it reminded us to treat others as we want to be treated and respected,” Wendy said. “Writing helped us be better people in some situations since we had to practice what we preach.”

That spirit showed in the pair’s collaboration, as they worked to respect each other’s opinions throughout the year-long process of developing the book.

“We discussed and collaborated and laughed and validated each other’s opinions and if we needed to, we took time,” Wendy said, adding that at times, a tossed coin made the decision. “There’s already so much respect between us that if we had a different opinion, then we were going to think it through from the way the other looked at it. That sense of empathy and respect is something so powerful.”

The impact of the book is already being shown through interactions with readers.

“We had one reader that was struggling with her new mother-in-law and decided to use our tools of empathy and began to change the way she looked at situations,” Wendy said. “They’ve been getting along better.”

This is Wendy’s sixth book, as she has written other books in the past during her career as a Clinical Psychologist, and she said the writing process on this book was “profound” because of Teri’s involvement. Wendy is also an Associate Professor at the University of Maine Graduate School. Teri works in the dental field in Portland.

“I loved that it was fun coming up with ideas and talking about our past and looking at old pictures,” Wendy said. “Everything came alive.”

More details about the presentation can be found on the Windham Public Library’s website at https://www.windham.lib.me.us/. Refreshments will be available. <

Windham Hill UCC to celebrate gift of new Allen organ with concert

By Ed Pierce

Having long been admired for its unique architecture, Windham Hill United Church of Christ is about to host a musical event that is sure to be remembered for years to come.

Windham Hill United Church of Christ's new Allen organ
was gifted to the church by the Prides Corner Congregation
in June when that church closed. A special concert to
dedicate the new organ will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday,
Sept. 11 and the public is invited to attend.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Following a generous gift to the church of a new Allen organ, the community is invited to a dedication service for the organ at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11. The evening will feature a variety of music, including organ selections, piano and organ duets, percussion, hymns, and choral music.

Windham Hill UCC was Windham’s founding church and was built in 1835. Through the decades it has witnessed many firsts in the community. The church was prominently featured in a 1935 edition of National Geographic magazine and in 1964, a carillon was played from the organ with speakers installed in the church belfry.

“The service will be an opportunity for the congregation and community to celebrate the gift of music, and the important role music has played in the life and worship of Windham Hill UCC throughout its long history.,” said Rev. Sharon Rankin, Windham Hill UCC pastor.

She said that featured musicians for the organ dedication will be the Rev. Dr. Peter Stickney and Paul Stickney, along with the Windham Hill UCC Choir and guest singers.

Rev. Dr. Peter Stickney has served several churches in Maine as their organist and choir director including several UCC congregations. He is a minister in the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC) and is pastor and musician at the Newfield Congregational Church in Newfield. He currently serves as the chaplain for the United Church of Christ Musicians Association and writes a monthly blog called Epiphanies from the Mill House on the United Church of Christ Musicians Association website. He also is a member of the planning committee for the United Church of Canada’s new hymnal “Then Let Us Sing!”

Paul Stickney is the Minister of Music for Windham Hill UCC.

New Allen organs produce a rich and lavish sound and are constructed with fine precision by the Allen Organ Company, founded in 1937 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The company is a leading builder of high-quality digital and classical church organs. It pioneered the use of digital technology in liturgical instruments, producing organs known for authentic pipe-organ sound, reliable solid-wood consoles, and advanced acoustic engineering.

These new church organs combine advanced tone generation technology, unique features, build quality, and product longevity.

Windham Hill UCC is at 140 Windham Center Road in Windham.

“We welcome everyone to this special evening of music, celebration, and community,” Rankin said. “All are warmly invited to attend.”

For more details about the organ dedication service at Windham Hill UCC in Windham, call the church office at 207-892-4217 or send an email to [email protected]. <

Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby nearing

By Ed Pierce

For many fishermen, competing in the Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby is the perfect way to wrap up a summer of fishing on Sebago Lake and also help out a good cause as well. This year is no exception as the 11th Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby will be conducted out of Port Sebago Resort’s Main Marina area in Casco on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday Sept. 13, on the weekend following Labor Day.

Last year's First Prize winner winner of the
Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby with a
9.15-pound 29-inch lake trout was John 
Sailhamert, center, shown with members of
the Sebago lake Anglers Association. This
year's derby will be held on Saturday,
Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13 on
Sebago Lake. SUBMITTED PHOTO     

Fishing activity begins at 6 a.m. on both days with the official weigh-in station at the marina area closing at 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. An awards ceremony will be held shortly thereafter on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Hosted every year by the Sebago Lake Anglers Association, event organizers say that this is a community-based fishing derby focused on families and children but experienced fishermen and guides with clients are welcome to participate.

Cash prizes will be paid to the top three places by weight in the event, as well as a prize for the biggest fish caught on Saturday, three prizes for any Togue submitted in the Togue lottery, and one prize for the smallest Togue, caught by hook and line.

All Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife rules for Sebago Lake fishing apply. Only fish caught during the derby’s legal fishing hours will count toward prizes.

Participants do not have to fish both days, and they do not have to be present to win a prize if a fish is legally entered and checked in by staff within the established time limits for the derby. Prizes for those who will not be present during the awards ceremony may be picked up at Port Sebago Resort’s Main Marina during business hours for 30 days after conclusion of the derby.

Fish that derby participants don’t want to take home may be donated for an area church’s fish fry, or to a local food pantry. Receptacles will be available to do that, and a fish-cleaning station will also be provided.

Anglers are reminded that there is no minimum length for togue and no bag limit on togue less than 26 inches. Anglers can possess one togue measuring 26 inches and above. Participants do not need to fish on both days of the derby to qualify for prizes.

Anyone interested in registering for the 11th Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby can do so by picking up a registration card at the following locations: Hilltop Mini Mart on Route 302 in Raymond; Jordan’s Store on Route 114 Sebago; or Dag’s Bait and Tackle on Minot Road in Auburn. Online registration is available in advance at https://tickets.simplederby.com/sebagolaketoguepikederby/tc-events/tickets/

Same-day registration is possible starting at 5 a.m. at Point Sebago Resort by the gas dock. You must have your derby ticket for the official derby weigh-in station.

The cost to participate is $35 for adults and $15 for kids under the age of 16. All anglers on board a boat participating in the derby must be registered to claim a prize. The Weigh-in Station will be located at Point Sebago Resort Dock in Casco.

Proceeds from the Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby are used to pay out the prize money and buy Youth Lifetime Fishing Licenses for Maine children.

To learn more about the 11th Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby, visit the Sebago Lake Anglers Association’s Facebook page. <

Rehearsals nearing for Lake Region Community Chorus

By Ed Pierce

The Lake Region Community Chorus is looking for singers for its new season.

The first rehearsal for the Lake Region Community Chorus
will be held at 6:20 on Monday, Sept. 7 at Bridgton
Academy and anyone wishing to sing is welcome to
to register and participate. COURTESY PHOTO 

This singing group is made up of about 60 members from 12 surrounding towns in the Lakes Region including Windham and Raymond. The first rehearsal for the chorus will be on Monday, Sept. 7, in the Twitchell Chapel at Bridgton Academy in North Bridgton. There are no auditions to participate but some experience in choral singing and reading music would be helpful.

Rehearsals are from 6:20 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday evenings. Registration begins at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7, and there is a $30 registration fee to help cover the cost of the music. Registration will also be held on Sept. 14.

Lake Region Community Chorus is conducted by Jan Jukkola, Susan Stockwell and Charles Oehrtmand and accompanied by Patrick Speckamp. It welcomes sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses with programs made up of a variety of pieces from many musical genres and styles. There is something for everyone and designed so singers and audiences have an enjoyable time at rehearsals and performances.

Concerts for the upcoming winter season featuring the Lake Region Community Chorus are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Lake Region High School in Naples.

The chorus is a vibrant and dynamic non-profit organization providing choral programs for the Lakes Region of Maine community. Its history is short because it’s a relatively new organization. The chorus had its first meeting in February 2013 to discuss the possibility of forming a choral group in the Lakes Region.

It was amazing how quickly everything seemed to come together, and with Laurie Turley as its original conductor, chorus members performed their first concert in June 2013. Since then, the original group of 36 singers has grown with each season.

The LRCC is a community of voices joined together in song and its purpose is to provide an opportunity for individuals with an interest in singing to share their love of choral music through regularly scheduled rehearsals that will culminate in community and outreach performances. It also strives to enhance each member’s ability to sing by teaching vocal exercises and techniques and to enrich their choral experience by providing a wide variety of musical selections that will increase their knowledge and appreciation of choral literature.

Each year the Lake Region Community Chorus performs two concerts with one in early December and features seasonal holiday music, while the other is a springtime concert generally falling in mid-May.

With the generous support of Bridgton Academy, the concerts are performed by the chorus in the Twitchell Chapel on the Bridgton Academy campus in North Bridgton. All the chorus members would like to thank Bridgton Academy for their help and support and providing them with rehearsal space and a concert venue. They would also like to thank their enthusiastic audiences and local sponsors for making this such a worthwhile experience. 

Each Lake Region Community Chorus concert is free but donations to help cover the expense of music and operating costs will be gratefully accepted.

If interested, come and join the Lake Region Community Chorus, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. as they lift their voices in song. This year’s Winter Concert is sure to be remembered long after the final chords sound.

To participate, contact Jukkola for more details by email at [email protected] or call 207-647-2584 or visit the Lake Region Community Chorus website at lakeregioncommunitychorus.org <

Free outdoor concert features Polished Brass ensemble

By Ed Pierce

Great ideas live on forever and that was the inspiration for a new brass concert coming to Camp Timanous in Raymond.

Polished Brass, a nine-musician ensemble of the Maine Pops
Concert Band, will present a free concert called 'Echoes
Across the Water' at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 
Camp Timanous in Raymond. COURTESY PHOTO

Polished Brass, a nine-musician ensemble of the Maine Pops Concert Band, will present a free concert at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Camp Timanous called "Echoes Across the Water." Music played during the concert features Americana favorites, Broadway and movie tunes, big-band-era selections, and several classics.

The free outdoor concert will offer a unique opportunity to enjoy live music from the shore or from the water. Guests may arrive by land and bring a lawn chair or blanket, or by boat and anchor in the cove. Picnic suppers are welcome; attendees are asked to carry out what they carry in. Golf cart transportation will be available from the parking lot to the grounds near the beach for those needing accessibility assistance.

Audience members are welcome to come by land or by water: people can sit near the beach or bring their boats to the cove to listen. In case of rain, the concert will move indoors to the camp's barn.

“The ‘come by land or come by lake’ idea is partly inspired by the ‘boat concerts’ I participated in the late 1960s as a camper at Amherst Summer Music Center, now the site of Kingsley Pines,” said Arthur McClanahan of Raymond, who manages Polished Brass along with his wife Diane. “People would arrive by boat, drop anchor, and listen to an evening of the ASMC band and orchestra.”

Polished Brass consists of musicians performing on trumpet, trombone, French horn, euphonium and tuba. In 2025, the Maine Pops Concert Band took a major step in expanding musical opportunities for its musicians and created the Polished Brass ensemble.

According to McClanahan, the small ensembles program is designed to allow increased opportunities for individual and group musical performance while also increasing band outreach to smaller venues, regional and town events, and community groups.

“My wife, Diane, and I are Raymond residents and we live on Panther Pond,” he said. “Echoes Across the Water also celebrates a piece of Panther Pond’s musical history when the Amherst Summer Music Center was then located adjacent to Camp Timanous.

That connection never faded. When Diane and Art began looking for a vacation spot after they married, they returned to Panther Pond to see if they could find a place to rent near ASMC. In 1980, they found one, a cottage at Plummerville Cottages, and they kept coming back every summer after that. In 1992, they bought a place of their own on the lake, locking in Panther Pond as their summer home for good.

They always dreamed of eventually retiring there, and that dream came true in 2020. The timing brought its own challenges, though: they retired right in the middle of the pandemic, when community involvement of any kind was hard to come by.

Music became their way back into community life. The couple had originally met through music years earlier in college, and it seemed a natural fit to pick it up again together in retirement. After attending a Maine Pops holiday concert, they joined the band in January 2023, marking the start of what is now three full years of playing together, she in the French Horn section, he on trumpet.

As Maine Pops grew to more than 100 members, the band became too large for some of the smaller venues it once played. The board's solution was to form smaller ensembles that could perform in more intimate settings — and, just as importantly, provide an entry point for musicians on the waiting list who hadn't yet been able to join the full concert band.

Today there are eight active ensembles under the Maine Pops umbrella, spanning flute, woodwind quintet, saxophone, clarinet and brass groups that perform throughout the greater Portland area.

The Camp Timanous site is located at 85 Plains Road in Raymond on Panther Pond and has a long and distinguished history. Its tradition as pioneers in youth education can be traced to 1886 when Dr. Luther Gulick and his wife, Charlotte, launched a children’s camp in Connecticut. They believed every child benefits from camping and founded the Camp Fire Girls organization in 1910.

Gulick had gained notoriety for introducing the first physical education programs for the New York City school system and he also developed the triangle logo for both Springfield College and the YMCA. The Gulicks moved their children’s camp to Sebago Lake in Maine in 1907.

Camp Timanous relocated to its present site on Panther Pond in Raymond in 1920.

The 100-plus-members of the Maine Pops Concert Band have a mission to “bring people together through the joy of live music” and McClanahan says this "Echoes Across the Water" concert fits that purpose. The Maine Pops Concert Band is directed by David Watts.

“Whether you come by car or by boat, ‘Echoes Across the Water’ promises an evening of brass music, summer scenery, and a distinctive Panther Pond experience,” McLanahan said. “Polished Brass is grateful to Camp Timanous director John Suitor for the opportunity to offer this musical evening.”

For further details about the Maine Pops Concert Band program and the Polished Brass ensemble, visit www.mainepops.org. <

Fanfare Concert Band ready to perform in Casco

The Fanfare Concert Band will present a series of concerts in the Casco Days Park in Casco Village on Thursday evenings in August.

The Fanfare Concert Band under the direction of Stan
Buchanan will present a series of concerts in the Casco 
Days Park in Casco Village on Thursday evenings
during August.  SUBMITTED PHOTO    

As the days grow shorter, the concerts will start earlier with the following schedule – 7 p.m. on Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 20 and 6 p.m. on Aug. 27.

Band director Stan Buchanan has chosen an audience-pleasing variety of music from movies, television and Broadway shows. In addition, each concert will include Fanfare Band’s featured vocalist, Patty Buchanan, singing “Over the Rainbow” from the original “Wizard of Oz.”

She will also lead the audience in singing “America the Beautiful” as a tribute to America’s 250th anniversary.

At each concert, a free-will offering will help to support a local non-profit organization. The concerts on Aug. 13 and 20 will be for the benefit of the Casco Village Church Food Pantry. This volunteer organization provides food for about 65 families every month.

The final concert on Aug. 27 will be a very special one. It will be a Remembrance Tribute to Fanfare Band member Bob Travis from Casco and will include the low brass performing group, Locomotion (Euphoniums and Tubas).

The Fanfare Concert Band has been entertaining audiences since 1987 when it was started with three members by Al Cochrun and rehearsed at the George E. Jack School in Standish. It recently provided music for the Lake Region and Fryeburg Area Adult Education and Training graduation ceremony and participated in the annual celebration of Maine composer, R.B. Hall at the Westbrook Community Center.

Members of the band hail from a wide geographical area including Buxton, Bridgton, Hiram, Sebago, Sweden, Casco, Naples, Gray, Auburn and Raymond. In everyday life, band musicians include current or former music educators, elementary, middle school and high school teachers, students, financial advisors, doctors, nurse practitioners, veterinary technicians, Bath Iron Works workers and others.

The band now has more than 30 members and come together to perform under the direction of Stan Buchanan.

He has had a 44-year military career and a 48-year career as a music teacher, with 40 years in both roles simultaneously. In the Maine Army National Guard, Buchanan was a Senior Chief Warrant Officer and the director and commanding officer of the 195th Army Band.

In public music education, his Nokomis Regional High School Band won numerous state and national awards and performed twice at the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He also directed a 200-member marching band during President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.

At present, in addition to conducting and performing in three Maine community bands, a low brass octet (Euphoniums, Tubas), and a jazz band, Stanley Buchanan has served on the MSAD 61 Lake Region School Board for 13 years.

He and his wife Patty, also a musician and former Maine Army National Guard band member, are cat show judges certified by the Cat Fanciers’ Federation. 

Patty Buchanan received her musical training at the Navy School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia and the University of Maine, Orono. She retired as Sergeant First Class after 28 years in the 195th Army Band where she was a vocalist and Drum Major and played saxophone and bassoon. In retirement she continued as a science educator and educational innovator, developing an award-winning program for training Medical Assistants at the University of Southern Maine.

Retired as a professor in the Maine college system, Patty continues her musical interests by playing in two community bands and a jazz band where she plays tenor sax and is a vocalist. She is also a Basic Life Support instructor.

The concerts in Casco are outdoors on the green next to the Casco Community Center at 940 Meadow Road (Route 121). Bring a chair or blanket for comfortable seating.

In case of rain, concerts will be held in the Great Room of the Casco Village Church across the street at 941 Meadow Road in Casco. <

Third Annual Art Show & Sale showcases painters, photographers, sculptors, textiles at Hawthorne House

A very special showcase of local artists and artisans is coming to one of southern Maine’s most beloved and cherished venues, the newly refurbished boyhood home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, located at 40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond.

The Third Annual Art Show & Sale will be heled at the
Hawthorne House in Raymond from Friday, Aug. 7 to
Sunday, Aug. 9 and showcases paintings, photos,
sculptures and textiles with all art available for viewing
and sale. SUBMITTED PHOYTYO  

The show will begin with an Opening Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, which will offer a chance to meet the artists. Thereafter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, with all art available for viewing and sale.

The three-day event is free, with donations for the continuing maintenance of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home gratefully accepted.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to open up the newly restored Hawthorne House and give local artists an opportunity to show and sell their work there,” said Sylvia Sullivan, a long-time member of the Hawthorne Community Association who is coordinating the event. “We’re especially pleased to be showcasing such a wide range of local artistic talent, including painters, photographers, sculptors, and more.”

Among the artists showing their work at the event will be Kathleen Gerdes (nature watercolors); Monica White (watercolors and acrylics); Kalee Charette (landscape and creatures in pen and ink); Cole Phillips (wet-plate photography); Trish Kohler (bird and wildlife watercolors); Marylyn Clegg (oil and acrylics framed); Bruce Small (photographer, landscapes and wildlife); Traci Loftus (Watercolors); Laura Kouba (colorful art using complex, ultra-saturated Birmingham inks); Don Willard (“Found Objects” assemblage metal sculpture, influenced by Steampunk artistic aesthetics); Steven Brook (fish and other playful wooden art using recycled materials); Holly Russell (animal drawings in graphite, colored pencil, pastels and watercolors); Sue Snell (free-standing embroidered lace); and Kitty Delano (Watercolors and acrylics).

A portion of some of the sales from the Third Annual Art Show & Sale will be donated for the preservation of Hawthorne’s boyhood home in Raymond.

The Hawthorne House is the boyhood home in Raymond of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the legendary author of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. It has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1969.

Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts, a descendant of William Hathorne, a Puritan who emigrated with his family from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Hawthorne’s grandfather, John Hathorne, was a judge who presided over some of the Salem Witch Trials.

Hawthorne’s mother was widowed when her son was just 4 years old and after living for 10 years with relatives in Salem, the family moved to a home near Sebago Lake in Raymond built for them by Hawthorne’s uncles Richard and Robert Manning in 1816. He lived there with his family for three years until being sent to boarding school in 1819, but later in life, Hawthorne was quoted as saying that the time he spent at his home in Raymond, Maine was the happiest period of his entire life.

For further details about the Third Annual Art Show & Sale, contact Sylvia Sullivan at [email protected] or 207-239-6010. <

Primo Cubano band to perform at Hawthorne House

Enjoy Maine-made Cuban music as presented by the popular Maine-based group, Primo Cubano, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 in Raymond. This musical event will be held at Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home, 40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond, Maine.

Maine-based band Primo Cubano will perform a concert of
traditional Cuban dance music at the Hawthorne House, 
40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.
Tickets are available online at www.hawthorneassoc.com
COURTESY PHOTO

Primo Cubano, which means Cuban cousins in Spanish, plays traditional Cuban dance music dating back to the turn of the 20th century. The “Son” style of music is the most popular style to come out of Cuba and is the primary contributor to the blend of Latin styles today known as Salsa. It was first a music of the country people of Cuba and eventually migrated to Havana, where it was urbanized and began to draw a wider audience.

Cuban music is a collection of many cultures including Spanish, European, African, and from the indigenous people of Cuba such as the Arawak, Taíno, and the Ciboney. These unique influences helped to create various musical styles such as Son, Bolero, Danzón and Cha Cha Chá.

Danzón music originated in 1879 and became popular in Cuban dance halls. The style combines classical rondo form, an orchestra-like instrumentation known as Orquesta Típica, and the cinquillo rhythm to add an African element. Cha Cha Chá musical attributes feature simple melodies with an easy-to-remember chorus, simple and repetitive harmonic progressions, and repeated rhythm section parts.

Son music developed in eastern Cuba during the late 1800s and arrived in Havana in the early part of the 20th century as a sextet featuring voice, tres, bass, maracas, clave, and the bongo. Son groups traveled to New York City in the 1920s to perform and record and in the 1940s and 1950s, the smaller Son groups grew into Banda Gigantes (Big Bands) and Conjuntos, which eventually helped influence Salsa and Latin Jazz in America and beyond.

The Primo Cubano band has been practicing and performing traditional Cuban music since 2009 in Maine. Their music is well-received wherever they play and earlier this year, they performed in Cuba at the 40th Annual 2025 Havana Jazz Festival. The experience performing at that prestigious event has inspired the group to keep learning and practicing this music they love and to share it with salsa dancers and those who appreciate Cuban dance music in New England, including at the Hawthorne House.

Admission to the Primo Cubano concert is $25. Reservations and payment are required prior to the event.

Space is limited. Tickets are non-refundable.

To order your tickets, please go to www.hawthorneassoc.com events page, scroll down and follow the links to Primo Cubano Concert.

You may also send a check to Hawthorne Community Association, P.O. Box 185, South Casco, ME 04077.

For questions about the concert, call Rebecca Tracy at 207-329-0537 or by sending an email to [email protected] <

Rockin’ Raft-Up concert returns to benefit Camp Sunshine

By Ed Pierce

To help a cause worthy of support, the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Raft-Up for Camp Sunshine is returning with a one-of-a-kind raft-up benefit concert on Sunday, July 26 on Sebago Lake.

Doin Campbell, right, of the Don Campell Band, and Andi
Fawcett of the After Dark band will perform during the 2nd
Annual Rockin' Raft Up benefit concert for Camp Sunshine
at Boaters Beach, also known as Rich Memorial Beach, in
Standish at noon on Sunday, Aug. 10.
COURTESY PHOTO 

The event brings hundreds of boaters together on the water to enjoy live music while also raising funds to support Camp Sunshine in Casco and its mission to provide hope, joy and community through unique experiences for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. More than 60,000 children, siblings, parents and caregivers from all 50 states and 27 different countries have attended fun-filled, year-round sessions at Camp Sunshine with other families just like theirs and thanks to the generous support of donors and fundraisers such as the Rockin’ Raft-Up concert, its program remains 100 percent free for participants.

According to organizer Kristen DeQuattro, during this year’s Rockin’ Raft-Up, the Don Campbell Band and the After Dark band with popular singer Andi Fawcett will perform.

Assisted by members of the Sebago Boating Club, the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Raft-up concert will be held at noon at Boaters Beach, also known as Rich Memorial Beach in Standish with donations welcomed to benefit Camp Sunshine.

This family friendly, and entertaining concert asks boaters to raft up, float, and enjoy an afternoon of live music, lake vibes, and giving back all to support Camp Sunshine.

“It’s a chance for the Sebago boating community to come together for a great cause while enjoying what they love most which is being on the water, connecting with friends, and great live music,” said DeQuattro.

Camp Sunshine programs are 100 percent free for participants. Camp Sunshine is where families can focus on recharging, together, in a safe space with medical support available and a place where families discover a community who understand, and families find family, DeQuattro said.

With decades of dedication and expertise, Camp Sunshine staff and volunteers at each session put families at ease. Families can set their worries aside knowing that there is a physician on site. Camp Sunshine is a place where families can really relax and let staff and volunteers take care of every member of the family.

​Meeting with other families who face the same issues, large and small, is a unique benefit of the Camp Sunshine experience. While attending one of the year-round sessions offered at Camp Sunshine, families can enjoy a wide range of activities with up to 40 other families. Whether it’s reaching the top of the climbing wall, swimming in the lake, or enjoying a horse-drawn wagon ride during a winter session, there is fun for every member of the family.

As a musician, Don Campbell’s mandate is to “Always perform for the audience, never at them.” He pleases listeners, venue buyers and event organizers with well-attended and memorable concerts and shows continued strength in music sales.

Campbell is a highly talented multi-instrumentalist and plays acoustic guitar, piano, B3 organ, bass, electric guitar, nylon string guitar, mandolin and harmonica in recordings. His music has been described as feeling like a friend, a natural extension of the singer-songwriter.

He performs nearly 200 shows per year and resides in Portland but says he is grateful to be able to give back to others through the Rockin’ Raft Up concert.

Fawcett is a seasoned performer and powerhouse vocalist who has been captivating audiences for over two decades.

Known for her dynamic stage presence and versatile vocal styling, she has fronted a number of beloved acts, including funk-soul favorite Sly Chi, indie-pop outfit Doubting Gravity, and her latest venture, After Dark – a premier party band that blends cover tunes and soulful originals with a modern edge.

While Fawcett has a deep passion for writing original music, the foundation of her long-standing career lies in her live performances. Her solo act features a wide-ranging set of popular covers—from current hits to timeless classics. Whether it’s an intimate venue or a lively festival, Andi brings fresh energy and connection to every stage.

The Rockin’ Raft-Up concert on Sebago Lake is free to attend by boat and donations are encouraged and will be collected that day or by pledging an amount in advance at www.campsunshine.org. Every dollar raised goes directly to Camp Sunshine’s programs, providing hope and healing to families when they need it most.

To make a donation, for specific event details, and concert updates, go to https://charity.pledgeit.org/rockin-raftup or visit www.doncampbellmusic.com. <