Windham Hill UCC prepares for return of annual Festival of Trees

By Ed Pierce

It’s a unique Windham tradition as the holiday season officially arrives every December with the return of the popular Annual Christmas Festival of Trees to the Windham Hill United Church of Christ.

The Ninth Christmas Festival of Trees returns to
Windham Hill United Church of Christ's Fellowship Hall
at 140 Windham Center Road in Windham from Friday, Dec.
5 through Sunday, Dec. 7. The popular annual event 
showcases local merchants and organizations and is a
fundraiser for the church. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

This year is no exception when the Ninth Annual Christmas Festival of Trees will be held Dec. 6 through Dec. 8 in the Windham Hill United Church of Christ’s Fellowship Hall at 140 Windham Center Road in Windham.

The much-anticipated event for the community of Windham is a showcase for local merchants and organizations as well as a fundraiser for Windham Hill United Church of Christ, the founding church of Windham and a historic landmark for the town.

Festival hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. On Sunday, Dec. 7, the festival will be open from noon to 4 p.m. with the Grand Drawing of Winners to be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.

The church’s Fellowship Hall will be decorated for the holiday season and refreshments will be available.

There will be 24 beautifully decorated and lighted trees with various gifts on or beneath the trees.

“People always enjoy seeing the trees as a way to kick off the holiday season,” said Heidi Fox, co-chair of the festival. “And there is an opportunity to win a fully decorated and gift-laden tree.”

The trees are sponsored and donated by various local businesses and individuals.

“We acknowledge those businesses that have been with us from the beginning,” said Fox. “They are D’Ameri Acres, Blue Seal Feeds, Children’s Adventure Center, Dolby, Blais & Segee Funeral Chapels, P.R. Webster/NSSR, Spruce Salon, Wildwood Properties and Windham Jewelers.”

Raffle tickets for winning the trees will be sold for 50 cents each. The winner of each tree will be drawn at the end of the event on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. and is always a highlight of the event. All are welcome for the drawing in person or on Facebook Live. A tree winner will receive the fully decorated tree and all the gifts beneath or attached to the tree.

According to Fox, this year there are multiple trees with up to $1,000 in gift cards while other trees have wonderful gifts to benefit your holiday shopping experience. The proceeds from the sale of tickets benefit the church’s many mission projects and annual budget.

In keeping up a tradition, Windham Hill UCC will once again sponsor a special tree to honor the memory of the late Bob Turner, a Windham Hill UCC church member who along with his wife Bonnie came up with the idea to create this popular annual event. Turner, who died in January 2023, based his idea on an event that he participated in when he lived in Brewer.

This year, “Bob’s Tree” contains $1,000 in gift cards contributed by the congregation. Last year’s winner of “Bob’s Tree” sent a note of thanks for winning that tree, explaining that she could not use all the wonderful gifts under the tree, so she gifted some of them to folks in need.

“It’s a gift that keeps on giving,” Fox said.

Tree sponsors will decorate their trees and then put gifts on and around the tree, many from their store or organization. Winners will receive the tree itself, with its lights and ornaments, all the gifts hanging on the tree, and all the wrapped gifts placed under the tree.

At each of the previous Christmas Festival of Trees events, the drawing winners took home everything from toys and gift items to kitchen supplies and jewelry. There’s always great excitement and anticipation when each Grand Drawing is conducted.

Admission to the Christmas Festival of Trees is free and everyone is welcome to visit the church and take in the sights of these decorated Christmas trees with the colorfully wrapped gifts underneath from the event’s tree sponsors. There will be drawing tickets on sale for 50 cents each. A bucket will be in front of each tree display and one ticket will be drawn for each tree at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

The winners do not have to be present for the drawing but will need to claim their tree and gifts by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Visitors will be able to stroll through a wonderland of whimsical trees, while you tap your toes to jolly music, catch up with friends, and feel that warm, fuzzy holiday spirit. Munch on delicious lunch and homemade baked goodies at the Fellowship Hall café and rumor is that Santa himself may pop in for a visit.

Event officials say that by participating, not only do you have a chance to win big, but you'll also be helping to support the church budget and community mission projects, spreading joy where it's needed most. Some Windham UCC mission projects include donations to the Windham Food Pantry, helping the homeless, participating in the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing programs, and providing meals for local families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The church’s charitable work also involves collecting donations for fire victims, hurricane victims and those affected by other natural disasters.

“We are grateful for all who will contribute to the festival this year along with those original companies who will join us again,” Fox said. “Other sponsors this year include Mr. Bagel, On The Docks, Windham Powersports, Barb Maurais of Tick BYTES, A Team Realty, New England Fitness and Athletics, The School House Learning Center, Fielding’s Oil & Propane, Cross Insurance-Portland, Beowulf Security Company, Downeast Appliance, RSVP, Beacon Pizza, Feelz Thrift Shop, Allied Real Estate and “Bob’s Tree.”

Windham Hill United Church of Christ is an Open and Affirming church, welcoming all who would come. The church was founded in 1743 and has been central to the life of Windham throughout Windham’s history as a town. <

Students aspire to be members of talented and community-adored Windham Chamber Singers

By Lorraine Glowczak

Within two hours after tickets officially went on sale this past Monday, Oct. 3, the American Family Holiday Concert sold more than 1,000 tickets. This popular annual holiday tradition, locally referred to as AmFam, is performed every year by the Windham Chamber Singers (WCS) and draws in audiences from all over the state and beyond. This highly motivated group of vocalists will again provide two performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Windham High School (WHS) auditorium. Kim Block will host the event, and special guest performers will include Susie Pepper, Daniel Strange, and Ashley Liberty.

The Windham Chamber Singers will once again perform
their popular American Family Holiday Concert on
Saturday, Dec. 3 and tickets are now on sale for that event.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

The WCS are known for winning the Prize of Vienna at the 25th International Youth and Musical Festival in Austria in 1996, as well as being highlighted on national and public television and having performed at major venues, including Carnegie Hall and the White House. As a result, the singers have not only inspired adults with their musical finesse but have motivated youth to be a member of a group known for more than just their ability to harmonize. Many of the current WCS have long waited for the opportunity to perform, along with famous musicians such as Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) and Dougie MacLean, and to perform once again to sold-out performances of AmFam. A few students share why they dreamed of being a part of such an inspiring group of individuals.

WHS Sophomore Bella Bragdon is a second-year member of the WCS. She had yearned to be a member since she was 7 years old when she was in Windham Primary School (WPS) and was a member of former WPS music teacher Nancy Cash-Cobb’s chorus.

“When the WCS came to sing with us, I knew I wanted to be a part of their group,” she said. “Throughout my childhood, I heard stories about the WCS tour, AmFam, day-to-day rehearsals, and how much fun it is. So, when I signed up to audition in the spring of my eighth-grade year, I wanted to be a part of something normal. The pandemic had taken so much away, and I didn’t want it to take away this too. I was struggling with my mental health and just wanted to have a safe place, free of judgment where I could be myself.”

When Bragdon got the opportunity to audition, she said she was very nervous and didn’t think she would make it. But Bragdon is very happy to have been selected.

Senior Sophie Koutalakis, WCS’ Wardrobe Manager for this season, has been a member of all four high school years. She knew she wanted to try out for the group when she was a student at Windham Middle School (WMS) and saw their performance at a WMS assembly.

“Auditioning had been in the back of my mind at the start of middle school when I was a student there but seeing the Chamber Singers perform ‘Ready for The Storm’ by Dougie MacLean solidified my decision,” Koutalakis said. “I was absolutely blown away, and I knew I wanted to be a part of the group ever since.”

In addition to watching that first performance, there were many other reasons why she longed to be a part of this musical ensemble.

“I am passionate about music, and I knew that being a part of the Windham Chamber Singers would help me work on my music skills while being surrounded by a group of talented, like-minded peers,” she said. “I loved the performance opportunities that come with being a Windham Chamber Singer, and two of my role models were former members. Janelle LoScuito, who I take voice lessons from and is a Chamber Singer alumnus, along with Tony-nominated Robyn Hurder, who I look up to a lot.”
Annaelle Kirezi is a WHS senior, and it is her first year as a WCS member. She was impressed with the WCS skills as performers and knew she wanted the chance to be a part of the energy they exude on the stage.

“The one thing I have discovered is that I am fully myself with this group,” Kirezi said. “I enjoy singing so many good songs with fellow chamber singers, and I especially love when Dr. Nickerson [Director] introduces a piece of music that we all know and like. It’s really fun to see the excitement on

the faces of others, and that makes the experience even more meaningful to me.”

Entering its 35th year, WCS Director Dr. Richard Nickerson, who founded the current group in 1988, shares Kierezi’s excitement.

“It is so inspiring to work with these amazing students and share in their enthusiasm,” he said. “As we get ready for AmFam, we are committed to enjoy the process of preparation as much as the performances. Every layer provides a unique opportunity for learning.”

The WCS will go on their spring tour throughout New England from April 12 to 16, 2023. Not only is it the experience of performance in and travel to other locations that students enjoy, but it is the life-long bonds that are created among its members.

“Being in the Windham Chamber Singers means having a group of people I trust, people who will always encourage one another,” Koutalakis said. “I have so many fun memories from being in this group, but my favorite one so far is when we performed for the Providence Bruins. Not only did I perform in front of a huge crowd, but we got to watch the game afterward, and it was so fun seeing all my friends get so involved with the game. Tour as a whole is such a fun time because we were able to sing in new places as well as solidify our bond.”

Bragdon agreed and said, “I’m thankful every day that I was selected to be among such an amazing group of people. I will be forever grateful.”

For more information or to purchase tickets for the WCS’ American Family Holiday Concert, go to their website at www.windhamchambersingers.com/.

“But hurry, the tickets are running out fast,” Nickerson said. <