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]. <