Winslow U-14 travel soccer team member Owen Axelson takes control of the ball during a recent game with Dirigo Soccer Club, on September 10. Winslow won the game, 4-0. Photo by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine Photography staff
Winslow U-14 travel soccer player Justin Sardano, left, works for control of the ball during a recent game vs. Dirigo. Photo by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine Photography staff
Winslow Junior High field hockey player Nevaeh Duplessie (24) and Devyn Lively (27) team up against Skowhegan in their opening game of the season on September 13. Photo by Tawni Lively, Central Maine Photography staff
Winslow U-12 girls travel soccer team member Kaylyn Bourque playing against Oxford on September 10. Oxford won the game, 6-2.
Photo by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine Photography staff
Castleton University, in Castleton, Vermont, is excited to welcome Heather Kervin, of Winslow, to the Castleton community. Kervin is one of more than nearly 600 new students who have registered for the fall 2017 semester!
Tyler Martin wearing his medals at the Pine Tree State Karate Championships
Huard’s Sports Karate team member Tyler Martin, 17, of Winslow, captured first place in fighting and third place in forms at the Pine Tree State Karate Championships on September 9, in Freeport.
Winslow summer track and field 13-14 year old 4×100 boys team won the state title recently. From left to right, Gabe Katz, Trey Goodwin and Levi Olin. Absent from photo is Riley Toner. Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff
Winslow summer track and field 11-12 year old 4×100 girls team won the state title recently. From left to right, Allie Kimball, Kaylyn Bourque, Madisyn Niles and Paige Goodwin. Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff
Edson ‘Skip’ Small observed 50 years with the Winslow Fire/Rescue Department in June. Ed monitors calls as a dispatcher for the Winslow Fire Department. Photo by Dan Cassidy
by Dan Cassidy“Fire equipment, gear and vehicles have changed dramatically over the years,” Small said. “We had rubber coats and plastic helmets that would melt down over your ears if you got too close to the fire.”
Laws have also changed over the years and the firefighters of today have state of the art gear that will protect them from heat, cold, chemicals and a lot of other things, according to Small.
“The fire trucks and equipment are also more technical than we had back then,” Small said. “I think my favorite truck to drive was the Buffalo. It was a combination pumper and hand ladder truck.”
During the early years as a fire fighter, Small helped form the first Rescue department in Winslow. Norman Woodbury, of Woodbury Motors, in Winslow, donated a second hand Plymouth station wagon.
The vehicle was modified and equipped with rescue gear to assist in emergency calls. Small said that he was asked to take over the dispatch position in 1991, the job that he has held since.
As with any department that has volunteers, there have been some light moments that have been remembered, according to Small. “It was a beautiful mid-fall evening when the fire bell rang and a truck was ready to be dispatched. Ed Langevin and Pete Lizotte happened to be at the station playing a game of cards when the call came in. “Fire No. 3, a fire on the Albion Road.”
Langevin and Lizotte quickly jumped into the truck and with siren blaring and the red lights on, they raced in the direction of the fire. They could see a huge orange/reddish glow in the night sky. As they proceeded, the glow got brighter and brighter. Their hearts were pumping, when all of a sudden, they came into contact with a large harvest moon cresting over the horizon! They called back on the radio simply stating it was a false alarm.
Small said that when they were fighting woods fires or grass fires they had hip boots folded down. While walking next to another fire fighter with a pump can on their backs, one would lower the hand pump and fill the boot cuff with water. When he pulled the cuff of his boots up, the water would fill his boots! You can’t make these stories up!
Since these early days, the Firefighters Association was formed in 1991, according to Small. “We have raised a lot of money to help buy equipment, help people who have been burned out of their homes, help school organizations and needy families at Christmas time.”
Small was a state licensed EMT and Paramedic until 1985 and firefighter until 1991, when he became dispather. He resides in Winslow and has been married to his wife, Joan, for 51 years. They have two children, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. “This would not have been possible without my wife by my side,” he said.
Ross Poulin
Ross Poulin, of Winslow, was recently promoted to Cadet Sergeant at West Point Military Academy, in New York. Sensei Ross also received a special award for having the highest average of both semesters in calculus II out of all who took the class at West Point. His leadership role will now be as a Platoon Sergeant starting on July 8.
The Winslow High School boys track and field team recently claimed the class B state championship. The team also won the Community Cup and the KVAC title. They last won a state crown in 1966. Pictured are the athletes who qualified and competed in the state meet at Yarmouth on June 3. Front, Jake Warn. First row, from left to right, Nelson Reynolds, Alister Piccini, Max Spaulding, Adam O’Conner, Ryan Fredette and Tyler Martin. Middle, Josh Olin, Ben Dorval, Nick Tiner, Jake Witham and Jake Bisson. Back, Nate Gagnon, Ben Abbott, Spencer Miranda and Jamie Sears.
Dancers from Stage Presence For Dancers, in Winslow, under the direction of Heather Vigue-Beaster, performed in the school’s 17th annual spring production entitled “Movement Speaks,” on April 28-29-30, at the Messalonskee Performing Arts Center, in Oakland. Graduating seniors Amica Jolicoeur, Shelby Stanley, Juliana Vanegas, Madison Grass and Jordan Jabar perform in a special piece with instructors Heather Vigue-Beaster and Ashley Roberge.