Premiere Chamber Summit: Networking and education - By Michelle Libby

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce was looking for something to bring the business communities together this time of year, something that promoted businesses and educated its members, hence was conceived the Sebago Summit. The summit, held at Saint Joseph’s College on Tuesday, was a trade show for businesses from the region to put their best foot forward. The event was open to the public and business owners.
 

The day started off with breakfast and a keynote speech by Bill Diamond, who has created an impact with the businesses he started and with his political ties from representing Windham in the senate to his role as secretary of state. “This is the most exciting place to do business in the State of Maine,” Diamond told the group of attendees. He described the specialness of the region because the lakes region is a four season location, offering something for each season of the year. He has run six businesses from a security company to The Suburban News to a company that hires out CNAs and nurses to homebound people. His secret to success is to partner with local businesses and he noted the chamber helps businesses to network. The single most important thing for a business is “recognizing that you’re not alone,” Diamond said. 

Diamond would like to see this chamber be the most active chamber in the state. “I’m so excited about the potential.” 

The lunch speaker was author Jim Bouchard who challenged the audience to “Think like a black belt,” which is also the title of his book. He asked the business owners to think about what it means to be a black belt. It’s the mindset and discipline that makes one successful. 

“Success is the product of having enough. Enough spiritually, emotionally, materially in order to feel success,” he said. Spiritual is the stuff one can’t weigh. Emotionally is what you do when life hands someone lemons and materially is the money and things someone has. He also spoke about gratitude and saying thank you for what one has in life. 

Black belts also have focus. Focus is the process of letting go of distractions. “What’s more important than your customers? Nothing.” 

The subject of perfection came up and he shook his head. “Perfection is not a destination or a location, it’s is a never ending process.” 

Between each speaker, business owners spoke with potential clients and many local politicians were on hand to talk to constituents. Seven towns had booths set up with town employees willing to answer questions about growth and business in their communities. 

The final event of the day was a panel discussion moderated by Diane Dunton of Potential Released Consulting. On the panel were Mark Ouellette, president of Mobilize Maine, Peter Anania, Entrepreneur and Windham town councilor, Wendy Caisse, owner of Bucks Naked BBQ and Richard Dyke, chairman and CEO of Windham Weaponry and owner of 63 companies. 

“As leaders we need to be flexible and persistent in the face of change,” Dunton said. “Seventy-two percent of the American economy is based on consumer spending that puts them into debt.” 

Businesses biggest challenge is attracting work force, Ouellette said. Dyke said Government’s involvement in business. His advice was “know what you know and know what you don’t know. Stay away from what you don’t know.” 

“You need a plan or you’re doing your business a disservice,” said Caisse. She also said she learned to know her audience and the market. 

The strengths of the lakes region are interest and entrepreneurship, Anania said. The ability to collaborate and work together, said Caisse. Taking something abstract and making it practical for everyday use,” said Ouellette.

At the end, each panelist gave a challenge to the business owners in the room. “Everyone of you has a stake in economic development. Leave here inspired to help the region grow,” said Ouellette. 

“See all sides of yourself. If they are not aligning, then you are not moving forward,” Caisse said. 

“Think big. Don’t let someone say you can’t do something. Go for it,” Anania encouraged. 

“Don’t get discouraged,” Dyke said. We’re optimistic. Every day is an opportunity to be an optimist and if not today, tomorrow is another day, he said.   

Although the exact feedback and numbers have not been tallied, chamber executive director Aimee Senatore summed the event up when she told the group, “This has been an awesome first. Today has been a new beginning.”

Halloween screams at The House of Horrors - by Rob McClure

If you are looking for a genuinely scary experience to celebrate your Halloween spirit, you won’t have to drive very far as Friday night marked the grand opening of “The House of Horrors” in Standish.  Located in the Schoolhouse Arts Center, also known as the old Standish schoolhouse, this first annual event promises to be much more than your standard screamfest. That’s partly because the old building is haunted, or at least that is what we were told by several cast members, including one of Maine’s top paranormal investigators and event co-founder Chris Sanders. Sanders, along with partner Josh Talbot, have been working very hard transforming an already spooky looking house into an all out frightening experience. 

Sanders has previously performed “ghost hunts” in the building which led to the idea that it was an ideal set for a haunted house. According to Talbot’s wife Erin, the production team has been working on the set since mid-September. Erin also pointed out that the help and support from family and friends were pivotal to the events success. 

Without spoiling the whole experience, we will say that this is a very unique and creepy haunt experience in Maine. The setting dramatically adds to the scare factor, and the entire cast is motivated and ready to give 110 percent to terrify you. The attention to detail and perfect location should come to no surprise for anyone familiar with the production team. Talbot brings with him 22 years of experience in the horror business working at the old Haunted Hayride in Scarborough. When asked what his motivation was for sticking with the terror business for so long, Talbot replied, “I just love scaring people.” When the Hayride closed down for good last year, Talbot teamed up with Sanders and decided to start a new attraction in Standish. Not only did they bring all of their experience, they also brought their dedicated cast members along with them. 

 

One such cast member, Nicole Holland, who was preparing her creepy nurse costume recalled how she was mysteriously scratched on her neck by what she claims was the “ghost of a child” and even had pictures to prove it. Other cast members seemed to genuinely share her sentiments. Another cast member, Corey Nicholson, aka Doctor Killjoy, shared similar accounts of hauntings related to the old schoolhouse as he menaced a eviscerated cadaver with his bloody cleaver.

And while it is advertised for all ages, parents may be wise to use discretion as it is a dark and scary looking place. If bringing very young kids or easily scared adults, hold them close. You’ve been warned.

The event is located at 16 Richville Rd, Route 114 in Standish at the Schoolhouse Art Center and runs Thursday through Sunday until November 2. Hours are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 cash only, children 6 and under are free. Also, groups of 10 or more receive a discount. For more information, call 207-756-5221. A food vendor is also on site offering hot food and drinks. Parking is free.

Homecoming at WHS draws crowds and spirit - By Michelle Libby

Homecoming week is exciting for high-schoolers and this year was no different. Each day last week, students dressed according to themes and causes. On Monday students arrived in pajamas for pj day, Tuesday the teens showed the pride in their favorite professional teams or as a superhero by wearing a shirt or costume, Wednesday was wacky and Thursday was wear pink in support of assistant principal Deb McAfee who is battling breast cancer. Friday was class day, where students wear shirts declaring their class. First years wore gray, sophomores wore maroon, juniors wore blue and seniors, who traditionally wear white, wore Arctic camouflage.
 

Friday also was an early day for more than 100 students and teachers as they gathered in the gym at 4:30 a.m. to do a school spirit challenge with Channel 13. Another pep rally was held in the afternoon to psych the teams up for the football game.

All week the Windham athletic teams played homecoming games with great attendance from the community. 

Saturday the band, athletic teams, members of each class and players from Windham Youth Soccer Association gathered to march in a homecoming parade. Each class had a float decorated with a theme. There the administration declared the senior class the winner of the school spirit award with their seventies disco themed float and ultimate school spirit. Fourth place went to the junior class with their hip hop float, third went to the freshmen for “the roaring 2017s” float and second was awarded to the sophomores with their Beatle’s inspirited creation. There was a fair held after the parade and finally the week was capped off with a homecoming dance at the high school Saturday night. 

The Kindness Guy visits Windham Middle School - By Michelle Libby

Being kind is a skill that speaker and author Michael J. Chase has perfected. With a background of abuse and a willingness to spread kindness and love to everyone, Chase is a captivating speaker who held the attention of 11-, 12- and 13-year-olds for an hour and a half last Friday. The presentation discussed ways to show kindness, stories about bullies and explained to the pre-teens what it does to a person inside when they give and receive kindness. Chase was introduced by the Friends of Rachel club. Rachel was one of the first people shot in the Columbine, Colorado shooting. After her father came to speak to the school two years ago, clubs were created at the middle and high schools. 
 

Chase’s speaker fee was paid for through an anonymous donor in the community. 

“The ultimate in kindness is to donate something anonymously without getting anything in return,” Chase told the audience. 

He broke the ice by bringing a student on stage and giving him a hug. “Your principal is an awesome hugger, too,” he told the students. 

Chase had two grandfathers, one who was loving and wonderful, and the other who was abusive and unhappy. The second grandfather was mean to Chase in emotional ways that caused scars on him as a young boy, but instead of going down that dark path, Chase chose happiness. 

“He was a very scary man,” Chase told the students. “Growing up around this energy wasn’t pleasant. He did acts of unkindness.” 

 

Chase started to be interested in the science of happiness, he told the audience. He read books and listened to the world. “It’s like a great recipe. If you leave one ingredient out, it’s just not the same,” he said. He was missing one of his happiness ingredients…gratitude, which he learned from a turtle which was in the middle of a road. 

“Kindness creates happiness. A simple act of kindness takes you out of your head and puts it right into your heart,” Chase said. “It’s a real thing. It’s called the helpers high.”

Chase has done 12 hours of random kindness with students at Boston University. He has also done 24 hours of kindness, where he gives hugs, buys people coffee and with his kindness crew makes people happy. 

He also spoke about letting in the energy of the power of receiving. “When someone offers you everything, take it in.” 

 

He read quotes to the students that gave meaning to what he was saying. The same boy who was hugged at the beginning returned to the stage and was given a brick to hold for five seconds with one hand, arm out straight.

The brick represented anger, hurt and resentment. Chase explained that when a person holds onto those feelings it weighs him or her down. The brick analogy demonstrated how hard holding on to bad feelings can be. 

“Simple everyday acts of kindness have a ripple effect,” he said. Negativity works in the same ripple effect. There’s no telling how many people are affected for good or bad by one simple action. 

The Kindness Center, based in Biddeford, can be found online at www.michaeljchase.com and on Facebook at The Kindness Center. Chase’s books are titled “I am being kind” and “Loving Everyone.”

Octoberfest: Free family festival - By Michelle Libby

Octoberfest, the brain child of Sheri Huff, is the culmination of two months of fundraising to donate to food pantries in the 10 towns covered by the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce through the Community Coin Challenge. 
 

Last year the communities raised enough money to feed 1,200 families for 60 days, according to Huff, who runs Lee’s Family Trailer, Sales and Service. “We donated a lot of items not covered like Pampers and health and beauty aids, cat and dog food, not strictly food,” she said. 

So far the 10 communities participating, Casco, Gray, Limerick, Limington, Naples, New Gloucester, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, have raised approximately $13,000, which was about the same as this time last year. 

This year there will be a dance the night before the Octoberfest celebration at Windham Weaponry. Music is provided by Chad Porter and guests and there will be a food and cash bar by Naples Golf and Country Club. Tickets are still available at $25 each at the door or call and leave a message for Laurie at 892-7996 or email lnoel@crossagency.com. 

Saturday is the fun, family day in the parking lot of Buck’s Naked BBQ between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Being the second year of the festival, Huff said that they have worked out some of the logistics from last year.

Helicopter rides will have a required $25 donation for the first 100 people in line. In addition to that ride, there will also be other favorite activities returning like the horse drawn carriage rides, a bouncy house, face painting, hair painting, pumpkin decorating a beer garden, live music and performances by Dancemakers. There will also be apple bobbing, cupcake eating contest, hotdogs, sausages, Pepsi, water, cotton candy…all free. 

“People should come because it’s free. A free festival to give back to them for giving to the coin challenge,” said Huff. “We are hoping a lot of donations will come in that day.” All of the proceeds raised will be donated.

Twenty businesses are donating time and talent to the event, many running the different activities.

The Sebago Lake Rotary Club will host its chili-chowder cook off. Octoberfest is sponsored by Windham Weaponry. 

Huff and her large committee are expecting a large turn out because the weather forecast is positive and word of mouth advertising gets people excited.