‘The Sevee Experiment’ set to perform at Hawthorne House

By Kendra Raymond

Who doesn’t like a good cover band? Furthermore, how about an immensely entertaining evening of musical classics? You can experience all of this and more at the upcoming “The Sevee Experiment” show at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Hawthorne House, located at 40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond.

Husband and wife musical duo Pete and
Deb Sevee are The Sevee Experiment, 
who will perform in concert at 7 p.m. 
Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Hawthorne
House in Raymond.
COURTESY PHOTO 

Margaret Myatt is a Board of Directors member of the Hawthorne Community Association. She thinks the concert will be a great time for all ages and promises to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

“It should be a highly entertaining concert by a local family band in Cumberland County, Yarmouth, Portland, and the Sebago Region,” she said.

Continuing a wildly successful season of jam-packed community events, the Hawthorne Community Association recently announced their latest concert performance in a brochure that is available around town.

“The Sevee Experiment – a fun concert with your favorite music,” the brochure reads.

Dynamic husband and wife duo Pete and Deb Sevee are The Sevee Experiment. Deb Sevee says that they are excited about the show and are looking forward to being part of the community.

Collectively, Pete and Deb Sevee bring 33 years of marriage and music to the stage. Growing up in musical families, they met while performing for different bands. Through the years, they have created several successful bands together and they also enjoy working in musical theater.

They have performed at weddings, New Year’s Eve events, farmer’s markets, parks and recreation family-focused shows from Somersworth Children’s Festival to Waterville. Additionally, they have performed at the Yarmouth Clam Festival, as well as private parties and church events.

Deb Sevee says that the partnership has evolved over the years, morphing from a cover-rock band performing songs by artists such as Sound City, The Keep, and Band Overboard..

“The Sevee Experiment has been a duo, a trio, and a full band, hence the ‘Experiment’ portion of our name,” she said. “The playlist includes a variety of alternative, rock, pop, folk, country, R&B, and children’s music as well. Some of our favorites for this vocal, guitar, and percussion duo are the Beatles, Eagles, Jewel, Cheryl Crowe, Melissa Etheridge, Martina McBride, Linda Ronstadt, CCR, Jason Mraz and many more.”

She also says that Pete’s father John will be joining them at this concert in playing guitar, mandolin, and helping with vocals, making it a true family event.

During the 2000s, the group shifted to running sound for musical theater, offering their talents to shows including Footloose, Godspell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat, and Pippin. They have also directed more than 20 plays at Yarmouth Middle School. Deb also teaches family music, gives voice lessons and both Deb and Pete serve as professional chorus members.

Hawthorne Community Association President Mary Ann Moeri is the organizer of the evening’s festivities. She said that the concert is the culmination of a record season of popular community events at the Hawthorne House this year.

“This will be our last music event of the year,” Moeri said. “We are grateful to the Raymond Windham community for supporting the mission of Hawthorne House and we look forward to hosting many more community events in 2026,” she said.

Reserved tickets for “The Sevee Experiment” show are recommended but not required. However, Moeri says that space is limited. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by scanning the provided QR code.

The Hawthorne House will offer adult beverages and snacks at the concert. Donations are requested to help defray the cost.

To learn more about this exciting evening, send an email to info@hawthorneassoc.com or call Moeri at 603-494-3246.

For more details about The Sevee Experiment, check them out their page on Facebook. <

Cumberland Fair honors legacy of Lyle Merrifield

The Cumberland County Fair will return for its 153rd year this month, bringing with it a full week of agricultural traditions, family fun, and a heartfelt tribute to one of its most dedicated leaders. From Sunday, Sept. 21 through Saturday, Sept. 27, the Cumberland fairgrounds will once again be filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors that have made this event a cornerstone of Maine’s fall season. But this year, fair organizers and community members alike will pause to honor the late Lyle Merrifield, owner of Merrifield Farm in Gorham, whose vision and leadership helped shape the fair into what it is today.

The Cumberland County Fair runs this year
from Sunday, Sept 21 through Saturday,
Sept. 27 and will honor the memory of the
late Lyle Merrifield of Merrifield Farm in
Gorham, who led the fair and helped make it
the success it is today. COURTESY PHOTO 

Merrifield, who passed away in September 2024, served as the Cumberland Farmers Club president and was widely known as a tireless advocate for agriculture and rural traditions. His contributions to the fair are visible throughout the grounds, from the arenas and barns to the working exhibits that continue to draw families year after year. Organizers say Merrifield’s fingerprints can be seen on nearly every corner of the fair, whether in the Blue Seal Show Arena, the Sugar House, or the pulling arenas that showcase the region’s strongest draft horses and oxen.

“Lyle was more than just a leader of the fair,” one longtime volunteer reflected. “He was a builder, a mentor, and a friend to everyone here. He dreamed big and he worked hard to make those dreams happen.”

Those dreams often became tangible improvements. During his tenure, Merrifield oversaw the creation of new exhibition spaces, the addition of antique power displays, and the revitalization of working heritage demonstrations such as the sawmill and blacksmith shop. These additions not only preserved Maine’s agricultural history but also gave visitors a chance to step back in time and experience the skills and traditions that shaped rural life.

For fairgoers in 2025, those demonstrations will take on new meaning. The blacksmiths hammering iron, the sugar house boiling down maple syrup, and the historic sawmill cutting fresh timber will serve not only as entertainment but also as a living tribute to Merrifield’s passion for education and preservation. Organizers say that while Merrifield is deeply missed, his presence will continue to be felt in these traditions carried forward.

This year’s fair promises to be a packed schedule of events that reflect both old and new. Each day will bring a mix of livestock shows, 4-H competitions, and pulling contests, alongside the midway rides and carnival games that younger visitors look forward to all year. The fan-favorite All-American Rodeo as well as the International Pulls return on Wednesday and Thursday nights, harness racing continues to be a staple attraction, while motorized events, live entertainment, and contests ranging from pie-baking to poutine-eating will keep crowds engaged throughout the week. For families, the popular “Bracelet Days” will once again offer unlimited rides for a single price on select weekdays, making the fair both affordable and accessible.

Yet amid the fried dough, Ferris Wheels, and grandstand cheering, there will be a quieter undercurrent of remembrance. Merrifield’s leadership is remembered not only for the projects he championed but also for the way he brought people together. Those who worked alongside him recall his humor, generosity, and the way he encouraged others to take pride in their community and its traditions.

The Cumberland Fair has always been more than an agricultural showcase. It is a gathering place, a reunion of sorts for friends and neighbors, and a reminder of the importance of heritage. This year, as visitors stroll the grounds and take in the exhibits, many will do so with gratitude for the man whose steady hand helped guide the fair through decades of growth.

As the gates open Sept. 21, the community will celebrate not only the bounty of the harvest but also the enduring legacy of Lyle Merrifield. His vision lives on in the fair he helped shape, ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy one of Maine’s most cherished traditions.

For complete information about the Cumberland Fair, and to review the full schedule, visit cumberlandfair.com <

Windham mother and daughter-in-law collaborate to write family relationship book

By Ed Pierce

Through the years, jokes have perpetuated the stereotype that mothers-in-law can be overbearing and cause marriage friction, but two Windham women are disproving that notion and have written a new book for navigating this complex family relationship.

Wendy Satin Rapaport, left, and her 
daughter-in-law Teri Rapaport, both of
Windham, have co-authored a new book
called 'Advice From My Mother-In-Law
That I Actually WANT,' which contains
real-life stories, psychological insight,
and laugh-out-loud humor. The book
is available on Amazon, at Sherman's
Maine Coast Book Shop in Windham
and at On the Docks Gift Shop in
Windham, COURTESY PHOTO

Teri Rapaport and her mother-in-law Wendy Satin Rapaport came up with the idea for the book “Advice From My Mother-In-Law That I Actually WANT,” which is filled with real-life stories, psychological insight, and laugh-out-loud humor. Part conversation, part therapy, and all heart, the book tackles common challenges of family dynamics, including setting boundaries with empathy, communicating without judgment or resentment, bridging generational differences, creating connection through shared experiences, and healing old wounds and preventing new ones.

Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport is a clinical psychologist, and Teri Rapaport works in the dental field in Portland.

They collaborated on the book to show that even with the challenges facing mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships and with associated inherent obstacles that connection, laughter, forgiveness, and empathy is possible in such relationships.

“We have had a happy relationship for 30 years,” said Wendy Satin Rapaport. “I have always enjoyed Teri and every time we had a conversation where she changed my mind, and I changed hers. We kept saying, oh we should write this up to inspire others.”

Teri Rapaport says her objective in writing the book was to show that having a great relationship with an in-law is possible.

“Not outlaw in-laws,” she said. “We honor each other’s differences.”

They said that they have worked on their relationship so that their family can benefit and grow with love and support.

“We joke that it is Pest Control. We are persistent and empathy, self-control, and tolerance are our themes that we want to share,” said Wendy Satin Rapaport. “It came to us naturally, but we do appreciate how hard it can be.”

Having taught at the University of Maine graduate school and performed social work for 30 years, Wendy Satin Rapaport and her husband have rented a home for the last five years at Little Sebago Lake in Windham. Teri and her husband Bruce have lived in Windham for 15 years on the opposite side of Little Sebago Lake and visit Wendy and her husband by boat.

It took them a complete year – summer to summer – to write the book while relaxing on the water of Little Sebago Lake on a pontoon boat, not to mention early mornings and late nights that they worked on copy corrections and wondered how the book would be perceived by readers.

“We know it’s not perfect, but it’s perfect enough for us,” they said. “Once we mastered the computer challenges of writing, we actually enjoyed ourselves and it was wonderful to label what we did naturally and then learn new methods for the things that we saw were bigger differences than we had realized. We became closer, laughed our way through the whole process because that is one of the key skills that we both naturally have and that we do believe can be learned by everybody.”

“Advice From My Mother-In-Law That I Actually WANT” is now available at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop in Windham and at Sherman’s location across the state. On the Docks Gift Shop in Windham is also selling copies of the book with special bracelets featuring locked pinky fingers as a bracelet charm. The book’s cover shows Teri and Wendy Satin Rapaport connecting with pinky fingers while out boating on Little Sebago Lake. It’s also available on Amazon.

“The connecting pinkies shows us as connecting together as mother- and daughter-in-law, but also as friends and women,” Wendy Satin Rapaport said. <

Windham Lions Club offers free 'Touch A Truck' event for families

By Ed Pierce

No matter what age you are, the opportunity to explore vehicles of all types with hands-on interaction fascinates us all and once again the Windham Lions Club will offer a free “Touch A Truck” in North Windham next weekend.

The 6th annual Windham Lions Club 'Touch A Truck' event
runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in the parking 
lot behind Hannaford's off Route 302 in North Windham.
The event is free and area families are encouraged to attend
and explore large vehicles with their children.
COURTESY PHOTO 

The 6th annual Windham Lions Touch A Truck event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in the parking lot behind Hannaford’s off Route 302 in North Windham. Although admission is free, donations will be greatly appreciated as proceeds benefit a variety of Windham Lions Club programs year-round in the Windham community.

At this year’s ‘Touch A Truck” event, children and families will be able to climb into the cab of a fire truck, see the inside of a police car, watch a police K-9 demonstration, explore land excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, snow plows, cement mixers, and much more. There will be many large vehicles on hand from throughout the community for kids to inspect, climb into the driver’s seat, and honk the horn.

Free water will be supplied by Poland Springs to “Touch A Truck participants and snacks will be available. Special ice cream treats will also be sold at the event, and a prize raffle will be conducted.

“As with all events we hold, all profits are returned to our Windham community,” says Bob Simmons of the Windham Lions Club. “One of our local businesses started us off with a gift to raffle off and others joined in. This added feature will hopefully help us to raise more money. Our intentions have always been that our Touch A Truck adds enjoyment to the children and their families that come to our event. However, the raffle could help us raise more funds as we try to help as many families as possible through our Adopt-A-Family program during the holidays as well as other activities throughout the year.”

Simmons said that members of the Windham Lions Club are grateful for the participation of Windham agencies and local businesses that have helped make this event possible.

“The Touch A Truck event provides a hands-on educational community event to see and touch the trucks and machinery used in the community and to meet the men and women who operate these machines,” Simmons said. “Participating vehicles will be displayed in a safe, supervised environment and it’s the perfect venue for exploring the machinery while learning about the people who build, protect and serve Windham.”

The idea for hosting ‘Touch A Truck’ staged by the Windham Lions Club came from an idea that former Windham Lions Club President Evelyn Brissette had a few years ago.

“I had done some research online and it seemed like ‘Touch A Truck’ would be a fun way to interact with kids and people in our community,” she said. “We also want our community to be aware that the Windham Lions Club does exist and with everyone’s help we can make life a lot brighter for those less fortunate.”

Brissette said that the Windham Lions Club staged its first ‘Touch A Truck’ in 2022 and since then, it has exceeded expectations in terms of participation and the Windham community’s willingness to help others.

According to Simmons, the Windham Lions Club works throughout the year to uplift the community, such as providing Christmas gifts for local students and families in need and contributing donations for worthwhile school activities such as Odyssey of the Mind.

When Windham residents take an interest in their own community, and work together for a cause, they can make a significant difference, Simmons said.

All proceeds from this year’s Touch A Truck event, coupled with the annual Windham Lions Club’s Craft Fair in October, and money donated at the club’s annual “Stuff-the-Bus” event in November will go a long ways to helping those in need in Windham, Brissette said.

Since its inception, the Windham Lions Club has played a significant charitable role in the community, supporting a variety of causes and issues affecting the lives of residents.

Some of those include purchasing and manning Windham’s first rescue van in 1968; donations to the Windham Public Library; helping with expenses related to eye exams and eyeglass when they meet the Lions Club criteria; assisting with expenses related to hearing tests and hearing aids when they meet the Lions Club criteria; conducting RSU 14 eye screening with more than 5,000 students screened so far; sponsoring the “Student of the Month” program in local schools; Breakfast with Santa; Stuff-the-Bus with more than 10,000 pounds of food collected for those in need; supporting the Windham Veteran’s Center; and collecting used eye glasses and hearing aids. <