Chalk the Trail event raises awareness, spreads happiness through creativity

By Kaysa Jalbert

On a day that provided a perfect balance of sun and shade, about 40 members of the community gathered on the Mountain Division Rail Trail at Gambo Fields in Windham for the Chalk the Trail event sponsored by the Cumberland County Conservation District, Windham Parks and Recreation, and Mountain Division Alliance.

Dave McNutt, Doug Smith and Andrew Walton of the
Mountain Division Alliance take part in the Chalk the Trail
event at the Mountain Division Rail Trail Gambo Field in
Windham July 20. The event was sponsored by the
Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District,
Windham Parks and Recreation and the Mountain Division
Alliance to raise awareness of local trails through creativity.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Families, children, and members of the sponsoring committees attended what was the final Chalk the Trail event held this summer on Saturday, July 20. Trail users passing through stopped to chalk and talk with participants.

Owen Currier, a participant, walked the trail on this day with his mom. On other days, he enjoys using the trail with his siblings. He said he likes to “spread happiness through artwork.” The trail holds lots of memories for Owen. Playing soccer on nearby fields introduced him to the trail and to swimming in the nearby Penobscot River.

“The event brings people to the trail for a different reason than to bike or walk,” said Andrew Walton, Secretary of the Mountain Division Alliance. “The chalking beautifies the trail, and community members can socialize with trail enthusiasts.”

At the event itself, the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District had a booth with the pavement in front of them chalked with the words “Please pick up after your dog.” They handed out dog treats and talked with trail users about the importance of picking up after their dogs and disposing of the waste properly.

Annually, the Soil & Water Conservation District conducts surveys to check how much dog waste is not disposed of properly along the Mountain Division Trail. According to the district, over a two-week period 47 deposits were found, that is equivalent to three daily dog walkers not picking up after their pets.

Chalk the Trails is a community event organized to bring awareness to the Mountain Division Trail and bring community members to the trail for a family friendly event. Chalk is provided and participants are encouraged to use their creativity on every inch of pavement. More opportunities to chalk the trails will come again next summer in the towns of Fryeburg and Windham.

Windham Parks and Recreation has had a long-time partnership with the Mountain Division Alliance, with Windham being one of the first sections of the trail to be developed.

“We love having an opportunity to bring more people to the trail,” says Linda Brooks, Windham Parks and Recreation Director. “The weather was great and there were just a lot of people using the trail already that day. It’s one of those events that we do encourage people to come back and check out every year.”

Walton says he came up with the Chalk the Trails idea from watching a kids television show that showed a “Chalk the Block.”

“I thought we could do the same on our rail trail,” Walton said. “The goal is to grow the event over time and bring awareness to our volunteer organization, the Mountain Division Alliance which is advocating for the completion of the rail trail from Fryeburg to Portland.”

To bring in more participants, the rail trail has hosted running races, and groups like churches and recreational departments use the trail for activities. “The trail has become an important asset to the community,” says Walton.

“You just never know who you’ll meet on the trail,” said Walton. The day of this event I met a gentlemen named Joey and he was bicycling from Seattle Washington to Bar Harbor Maine. It was great to see someone taking on that huge adventure and riding the Mountain Division Trail. He was very appreciative of the event and water. He mentioned he loves going on rail trails because he doesn’t have to worry about cars.” <

Windham’s ‘Trunk or Treat’ promises to be an event full of spooky fun

By Masha Yurkevich

For those who love Halloween, it’s the most wonderful time of the year for fear and if you haven’t already selected a costume, time is growing short as Windham’s annual Halloween extravaganza known as “Trunk or Treat” is approaching.

Windham Parks and Recreation will be hosting its annual
'Trunk or Treat' event for kids from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday,
Oct. 28 behind the Windham Mall in North Windham.
Registration is required for participants at 
North Windham. Registration is required for participants at 
https://windhamme.myrec.com/
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Windham’s Parks and Recreation Department will once again be hosting the spooky and social event behind the Windham Mall from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 and it promises to be an evening filled with fun, treats, and spooky beats.

Trunk or Treat has become a popular event nationwide, either as an alternative to or in addition to conventional trick-or-treating to neighborhood homes. For those who choose to host a trunk, they decorate and serve candy out of the trunk of their vehicles.

For the businesses and community organizations that participate, it is a way to spotlight their mission and give back to their communities. For individual families, it is often their way to give candy to trunk-or-treaters who might not otherwise visit them if their homes are in a rural setting, or they just want to have fun.

In Windham, trunk participants are judged for creativity, originality, and effort, and it is amazing to see what some of the trunks end up looking like.

“The department had been hosting Windham’s Halloween Adventure for a number of years at Manchester School for children in third grade and below,” says Linda Brooks, Director of Windham Parks and Recreation. “In 2016, in an effort to expand upon this event, we moved it to the Windham Middle School, opened it to grades 8 and under and in addition to the Trunk or Treat, added a haunted house, games, refreshments and a Costume Contest.”

In 2016 there were 10 trunks and by 2019 the number had grown to 24 trunks with an estimated 700 children in attendance, so the Parks and Recreation staff knew that they had outgrown the Middle School and the format for the event. With the arrival of COVID-19 in 2020, Parks and Recreation was forced to modify the event to be a Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat at the Windham Mall. By 2022’s Trunk or Treat, the number of trunk hosts had grown to 32.

“Our event is always held the Saturday evening before Halloween so that it doesn’t interfere with anyone wishing to go Trick-or-Treating in their neighborhoods,” says Brooks.

While the event is free, people do need to register in advance, both to host a trunk or to attend as a participant. Registration can be done by visiting https://windhamme.myrec.com/ or in person at the Parks and Recreation Department at Windham Town Hall. Registration for Trunk Hosts ends Wednesday, Oct. 25 and children and families must pre-register for a specific time frame to visit the Trunk or Treat event through Thursday, Oct. 26.

Brooks said the event will be held in Windham but is open to residents outside of Windham, as long as they register in advance.

“This year we will return to a walk-thru event which allows more direct contact by both the participants and the trunk hosts,” says Brooks. “If the weather is poor, the event will move indoors at the Windham Mall. This is a wonderful community event that brings so many different groups together to celebrate Halloween in a safe way. The event is co-sponsored by the Sebago Lakes Chamber of Commerce and Smitty’s Cinema, and we will have entertainment provided by the Maine Dance Center.”

According to Brooks, among the comments received from one of the 2022 trunk hosts when asked what they like about the event, they replied, “The kids and how happy they were plus the comradery amongst the trunk hosts. Music's playing, everyone singing along. So much fun!”

Although attendance is free, participants are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to Trunk or Treat or to make a monetary donation to the Windham Food Pantry.

For event registration to host a trunk or to attend the event as a participant, go to https://windhamme.myrec.com/ <

WMS Chess Club promotes critical thinking skills

By Ed Pierce

The game of chess has many benefits for young minds and educators at Windham Middle School are tapping into its resurging popularity to help students to tackle the academic challenges ahead.

Windham Middle School Chess Club members Bryce
Rogers, left, and Cooper Fournelle, both sixth graders,
play a game of chess during a recent club meeting after
school in the WMS Library. The club meets once a week
under the direction of school librarian Sienna Tinsley.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

The WMS Chess Club is being led this year by School Librarian Sienna Tinsley and each Wednesday after school club members gather to play against each other and share their mutual appreciation for the strategic game.

Studies have shown that chess improves concentration and memory for students while enhancing reading and math skills. It also fosters the development of logic, critical thinking among students and encourages creativity.

“I think kids like chess because it can be played at many levels. It isn't hard to learn the basics, but there is so much depth that they don't get bored of it,” Tinsley said. “I also think they like the fact that it is such a popular game throughout the world and through the years. When they learn chess, they can play or talk about it with other people in their lives and most will already have some familiarity with it.”

Student participation is free and the number of student participants in the Chess Club varies by the week, but Tinsley said WMS has set as few barriers as possible to allowing kids to attend and enjoy this strategic activity.

“I hope kids take away an understanding of being a good sport and respecting their opponent by trying their best, focusing on the match, and responding graciously whether they win or lose,” she said. “I also hope that kids will come away with a feeling of belonging and being an important part of a team, as well as skills in critical thinking and planning ahead.”

To assist WMS students in mastering basic strategies and learning to play the game the right way, the school library has copies of the book "How a King Plays: 64 Chess Tips from a Kid Champion" by Oliver Boydell readily available and also has eight or nine chess sets on hand for games each week. Chess boards and game pieces are provided to participants and usually after a short club meeting for announcements or to answer any questions that may arise, students begin play between 2 and 2:45 p.m. every Wednesday.

WMS seventh grader Malcolm Morey says that he was introduced to chess a few years ago by his father and he wanted to be a member of the Chess Club at school this year for several reasons.

“I like the complexity of this game,” Morey said. “I like how you have to use your brain a lot and learn what to do when an opponent makes a certain move.”

He says he’s made some new friends through participation in the club and it’s also helped him to become a better sportsman playing many different opponents each week.

Typically, WMS Chess Club players try to squeeze in as many games as possible during the time the club meets in the school library and play against opponents of different skills levels.

“I believe that the more games that you play, the better you’ll get,” Morey said.

Twins Madison and Matthew Cole are eighth graders who are now in their second year as members of the WMS Chess Club.

As a girl, Madison said she takes pride in playing and winning against boys, but mostly enjoys being a Chess Club member because it helps her meet new people in other grades at the school.

“It’s really interesting getting to know some of the other students in the club, make new friends and I’d say winning chess games also helps boost my confidence,” she said.

Her brother Matthew said he has a small chess set at home but likes playing in the club after school because he’s able to match up against more experienced players.

“It has helped me to solve problems and being a member of the Chess Club has really helped improve my game,” he said.

Tinsley said since the start of school this fall, more students are learning about the WMS Chess Club, and she welcomes any student who wishes to participate.

“I appreciate families' willingness to come pick their students up, so they can stay late for chess club,” Tinsley said. “If we have community members with particular expertise and interest in chess, I would love to welcome guest speakers, so the kids can hear more perspectives than just mine.”

WMS Principal Drew Patin says having students participate in chess is an ideal activity.

“Chess club allows our students to have fun and grow social skills while developing strategy and patience,” he said. “Students learn to lose and win with grace. It also gets students off technology, so it is a win all around.” <

Homemade 'Christmas Star' illuminates Raymond backyard

Cheryl Blanchard of Raymond created a Christmas
Star for her backyard to remind us all how blessed
we are in this time of year. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

By Ed Pierce

In one of the most enduring stories of the Bible, the three wise men known as the “Magi” travel to Bethlehem for the birth of the infant Jesus and are led to his doorstep by a shining celestial light known as the “Christmas Star.”

The tale of the “Christmas Star” and the Magi has been depicted for more than 12 centuries as part of Nativity pageants in churches and portrayed by generations of schoolchildren and in films and television programs. Partly inspired by the Bible story and using her creative ability, a local woman has made her own “Christmas Star” for this year for everyone driving by her home on Route 85 in Raymond to see.

“I created a star to represent us all far and near,” said Cheryl Blanchard of Raymond. “It’s to help remind us all of how blessed we are in this time of year.”

Blanchard said she’s always been very creative and engaged in a variety of arts and that her homemade star is an expression of what she is feeling for everyone this Christmas season.

“It's been a very emotionally hard year for all who I know and my dear loved ones,” she said. “There
are so many memories that are not happening this year due to the pandemic. I was thinking it would be so nice if I could send out a special message to everyone.”

She said that she drew inspiration for the star from having performed for the past 15 years in the production Christmas Nativity/Christmas Pageant with the City of Portland at First Parish Church on Congress Street. She’s also been involved through the years with holiday community dinners, horse and buggy sleigh rides up around the Christmas Tree at Monument Square in Portland, caroling with her sisters and sharing her special Christmas memories with her grandchildren.

“I'm truly blessed. I'm so grateful, Blanchard said. “I often drive through the streets and see so many people in the lines at local food pantries and so many children who sure could use a nice warm coat. Christmas brings back memories that I wrote about in my book 236 Cumberland Avenue Portland Maine. I created a star to send out a very special message of hope for you all this Christmas. 

“I made this star with some coat hangers and light silver tinsel,” Blanchard said. “But where was I going to put this very big star so it could be seen by all.”

Her husband, Moe Blanchard, who works at First Baptist Church, had an idea.

The Christmas Star created by Cheryl 
Blanchard can be viewed about three
miles north of Raymond on Route 85.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

“He thought we should put it up as high as we can,” she said. “He boosted my star up in the sky as high as he could, and when he did that, we stood back and saw the most amazingly beautiful creative star.”

Since her husband first put the star up in the couple’s back yard between some tall trees around Thanksgiving, there have been two serious storms, one was a significant windstorm with gusts reaching 60 mph and the other was a snowstorm last weekend accompanied by strong winds that knocked out power in the area for many and toppled trees.

Yet despite the destructive winds and snowfall, Blanchard’s “Christmas Star” has stayed put.

“Can you believe it, it’s up in the open air where the wind can blow really hard and believe me it did,” Blanchard said. “So maybe it's a message for all to see in our beautiful holiday season. It serves to remind us just remember how truly blessed we are. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and to hold your loved ones and to reach out to those less fortunate with kindness and love in your heart.”

If driving, Blanchard’s “Christmas Star” can be viewed three miles north on the left side of Route 85 from Raymond. <