Around Windham: Cruising into the second half of summer

Can you believe we are halfway through 2025, Bomber Country? July is halfway over; this summer is flying by. July brings to mind feelings of warmth, relaxation and celebration, especially with the Fourth of July holiday. It’s a time for enjoying long summer days, perhaps with a focus on outdoor activities and enjoying the sunshine. Some might also associate July with a sense of letting go and embracing a slower pace.

Here are some exciting events and important information coming up in our little town for the end of July and beginning of August:

Cruisin’ for Cairo

On Saturday, Aug. 2, there will be a parade and car cruise to support Cairo Svonavec in her fight against cancer. Let’s show our support for Cairo, who is now in hospice, and fill her heart with an outpouring of caring and love simply by driving by the American Legion in Windham, starting at noon Aug. 2. Lineup begins at 11:30 a.m. on East Center Street at the old Sparkle plaza parking lot, and the parade will end at Horn Road. Feel free to decorate your vehicle as you like; word has it Cairo loves pink and cats.

Aiden Burns travel baseball experience

Windham Jr. High School student Aiden Burns had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Grand Slam Sports World Series of Baseball Tournament with his travel baseball team in Panama City, Fla. Aiden is on a travel ball team called the Streetsboro Rockets, which has players from Streetsboro, Crestwood, Hudson, Tallmadge and Windham. There were about 125 teams from six age divisions all over the country. Aiden’s team played teams from Mississippi, Florida, Indiana, Georgia, Texas and Kentucky.

Aiden participated in the skills competition and hit targets set up at home plate from center field. Aiden hit the target in two out of five throws. His team came in first place in the “around the horn” competition, in which the ball had to be thrown from the pitcher to catcher, then to second base, to first, back to second, then to left field, and to center field, then to left field and back to home. They had the fastest time at 17.12 seconds.

Aiden’s team went 5-2, won its division and finished third overall in the 13U bracket. Aiden pitched in three games, winning all three with a 1.90 ERA and 14 strikeouts while walking just three. At the plate, Aiden had a triple, three doubles and five singles on the week.

More important than baseball, he created memories with the other 10 players on his team, who will become lifelong friends. Says Aiden, “This was my favorite vacation that I have ever been on because I got to be on the beach with my buddies while still getting to play baseball.”

Congratulations, Aiden, on this incredible opportunity. Thank you for proudly representing our hometown; Windham is proud of you.

Windham PD open house and National Night Out

The Windham Police Department invites residents to the biggest community night of the year from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the new police department building at 9015 Maple Grove Rd. We’re combining two amazing events into one unforgettable evening: Police Department Open House & National Night Out 2025. The event features a tour of our brand-new police department, Touch-a-Truck, bounce houses, games, food, music and community vendors. You can also meet local officers and first responders.

Bring school supplies and receive a free T-shirt while supplies last. This is a night of community, connection and celebration – perfect for all ages. Let’s show what makes Windham.

Want to donate or participate? Call Addy for more info. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and let’s make this the best National Night Out yet!

Fun in the Sun recap

The second annual Fun in the Sun festival was a huge success. The event featured children’s activities, crafts vendors, yummy food trucks and more, ending with a fireworks show that could rival and surpass any big city. It was a beautiful and hot July day. Next year, the festival is aiming to return to its former glory and become a weekend-long celebration.

Windham Bombers PTO Back 2 School Bash

Windham’s PTO will be hosting a Back 2 School Bash for all Windham students on Thursday, Aug. 28. We are looking for donations for the following: school supplies, water bottles, gently used/new clothing, gently used/new shoes, hygiene products (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes) – anything that would be useful for students or teachers throughout the school year. Our goal is to get enough donations to cover all supply lists for the entire district. You can see the supply lists here:

Katherine Thomas Elementary School Supply Lists

JH/HS School Supply Lists

Free health screenings at the RFC

The Renaissance Family Center hosts free blood pressure screenings. Every second Tuesday of the month, have your BP checked while learning from the experts at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna. Annual physical exams and preventative screenings can keep you healthy by finding and addressing potential health issues before they become big problems. Upcoming dates: Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14 and Nov. 11.

Windham Library news

Color Our World Summer Reading Challenge June 2-Aug. 2: Read books, write book reviews and participate in fun activities to earn virtual ticket entries and badges. Grand prizes include Pre-Reader: LeapPad Learning Tablet; School-Age: Amazon Kindle Kids; Teen: Beats Wireless Headphones; Adult: iRobot Roomba Vacuum; All Ages: Mini Projector and Roku Express. Visit the website at www.portagelibrary.org to join.

Windham Bombers Youth Football and Cheer

WB Youth Football & Cheer is selling Windham Bomber-branded, golf-sized umbrellas for $25 and Windham Bomber Croc shoe charms for $6. All proceeds go to the program.

Windham Youth Baseball and Softball end of season party

Attention Windham Youth Baseball & Softball players, parents, family and fans: The 2025 regular season is swiftly coming to an end. With the end of the season around the corner, we are planning our first-ever WYBSO End of Season Party for our players for all the hard work they put in this season. It will be a day full of fun family-friendly events that will take place all day Saturday, July 26 at the park following the boys & girls year-end tournaments. This will be our last hurrah before fall ball begins and football comes knocking. Come out and show your support for our last(ish) fundraiser of the year as we try to get a jump-start for next season.

Concessions will be available all day, and there will be family-friendly events for everyone to participate in. There will also be a 50/50 raffle, cornhole boards (tournament?), a whole lot of laughs and more. The tentative schedule is as follows:

– 10 a.m. to noon: WYBSO Hit-A-Thon event (players only).

– 1 to 3 p.m.: Parents vs. kids kickball and/or tenner ball games.

– 5 p.m. (cash prize): first-ever Windham Adult Home Run Derby; $25 entry fee, a $200 cash prize and a sweet bragging rights T-shirt to the winner.

During these events, we will take time to honor a very special person close to our hearts in Windham with a special Honoree Ceremony – another new tradition we are starting that hopefully continues for years to come. This year’s 2025 WYBSO Special Honoree: Elliot Thompson. We will be officially naming Field #2 after ET for all the time, sweat, hard work and dedication he put into making that ballfield one of the prettiest in Northeast Ohio. Going forward, Field #2 will forever be known as Elliot Thompson Field.

Meanwhile, a sign that reads “Jeff Stanley Field” at Field #1 is currently in the works; we hope to have it done by the day of this event.

Let’s end this year with a bang! The whole community is invited to come enjoy it with us.

Lions Club sausage and steak dates 2025

Save the dates for the upcoming Lions Club Sausage and Steak Booth weekends: Aug. 1 & 2, Sept. 5 & 6 and Oct. 3 & 4. Just $6 will buy you the best sausage or steak sandwich in Portage County. The trailer will be located on state Route 303 in the parking lot next to Circle K. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The Windham Lions Club has been serving the Windham community since 1955.

Don’t forget, the Lions will be collecting soft plastic from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays at their drive-thru at Windham United Methodist Church at 9051 N. Main St. No need to get out of your car, they will do the heavy lifting. They will also take any used eyeglasses and hearing aids to be recycled or shared.

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I look forward to keeping our Windham community up to date with all the information I receive.

Please contact me with anything you may like featured. The Around Windham column runs the third week of each month, and I will need all the information the week prior. You may contact me via text/call at 330-283-2711 or via email at nks1024@icloud.com.