First night of Dancing with the Staff full of fun - By Jessilyn Austen

On Thursday night, Windham High School's Project Graduation 2014 along with the RSU14 staff put on an outstanding performance in round one of "Dancing with the Staff". With staff members from a variety of schools and one member of local law enforcement participating, it was a night to remember for those in attendance. Eighth grade teacher Lisa Hodge and Raymond Elementary School Math and Reading Interventionist Brian Rounds kicked off the evening with a bang as they danced to Surfing USA. For their efforts, they received a score of 9, 7 and 7 from the evening's judges, teachers Jennifer Breton, Rob Juergens and Kim McBride.

Throughout the evening's eight performances, the audience was treated to the hysterical commentary from the judges along with their scores on the evening's dances, but ultimately the top-four of round one was decided by those in attendance. Besides school employees, the students also did not miss their opportunity to perform as several students showed off their dance skills with performances from several local dance studios, culminating with a special dance at the end which included students, staff and the audience all dancing to YMCA, the Chicken Dance and the Macarena. 

As the show went on, the audience was treated to a variety of dances from country line dancing by fifth grade teacher Andrea Lavigne and fourth grade teacher Adam Beal to hip hop with second grade teacher Aileen Pelletier and her husband Kurt Pelletier, who is the former Windham wrestling coach, just to name a few. Officer Rob Hunt of the Windham Police Department joined ELL teacher Darcie McDuffie on stage. Officer Hunt was a wonderful sport dressing up in a hula costume for the show but at the end of the night, only four could claim top spots, which will offer them an advantage at the April 10th finale. Claiming the top-four spots in round one were fifth grade teacher Lavigne and fourth grade teacher Beal, teachers Beth Bubier and Tianna Burton, Shelly Cook and Jason Lanoie, and secretary Debbie Hall and Windham Adult Education director Tom Nash. 

Now the countdown is on to the April 10th finale and the wait begins to see who will bring home the trophy and the "Dancing With the Staff" title. This year's WHS Project Graduation 2014, like many before it, would not be able to put on this wonderful production and raise the money needed for this year's Project Graduation without the continued support of RSU14 staff, parents, students and the local community, who put in countless hours with every fundraiser that they put together. The finale is Thursday, April 10th at 7 p.m. Be sure to come out, see the show and support WHS Class of 2014!

Chamber Singers Kick-off tour with Music With A Mission concert - By Elizabeth Richards

The Windham Chamber Singers delighted the crowd in their tour preview performance on March 29^th at the North Windham Union Church. The performance was a part of the Music With a Mission series at the church, with proceeds benefitting Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Dr.  Rick Nickerson, conductor of the Windham Chamber Singers, said that a performance like this is the best example of giving back to the community. “There will be families in Windham who are warm because we sang,” he said. 

The students were excited and proud to be performing in their home community to kick off the tour. “It’s great to be starting off in Windham. We’re not going to have a crowd as supportive as this, or even a crowd as large as this, anywhere else,” said Windham Chamber Singers president Brad Meader. “It’s a really great experience to be able to show what we can do,” he added.  

Emily Gagne, vice president of the group said that the choir puts an emphasis on community and unity, not just among themselves but in the wider community as well. “I think it’s really significant and really important that we put on a performance for the people who support us the most,” she said.

The support of the town was clear.  Just minutes after ticket sales began, the parking lot was full.  “There’s nothing more energizing for the group than seeing a line of people outside waiting to see our concert,” said Meader. “Everyone is so thrilled, we have such a great community to come and support us like that.”

The chamber singers have a stellar reputation, and Saturday’s performance showcased the talent and diversity of the group. The choir displayed great energy and enthusiasm throughout the concert, along with an impressive vocal range. From a haunting chant to an African spiritual, each piece in the first half of the show was performed with animated expression, and the voices of the group blended to create just the right sound. 

The second half of the concert began with a Celtic piece, followed by a beautiful rendition of Caledonia, an Irish song about the love of where we come from. From there, things took a lively turn, with an Irving Berlin medley and two student arrangements that showed the comedic side of the choir.  It’s obvious that the members of the Chamber Singers are no strangers to the stage, and the medleys the students performed were spirited and entertaining. A piece inspired by Stomp and a silly spoof song from Spamalot rounded out the second half, and the choir received a standing ovation.  But they weren’t done yet.  Their final song, a touching rendition of Let There Be Peace on Earth, inspired another enthusiastic round of applause.

The tour is the culmination of a year of hard work. Nickerson said they begin rehearsing for the tour right after Christmas, and this year, the weather has presented some challenges.  Due to storms, the choir lost a lot of rehearsal time.  That didn’t slow them down, however. “The students have really stepped up. They’ve added rehearsal time and met on their own”, he said.  

Meader, who is a senior in his fourth year in the Chamber Singers, said “I think we’re all aware of what needs to happen and what we need to do to get to the performance ready point. So I think if we see something that’s not getting done someone will step up. Usually a lot of people will step up and fill the role that needs to be filled.”  

Gagne added, “I think we can all sort of see what we’re aiming towards and what we want to get to, because when we get there it’s absolutely incredible. I think the want to get there is powerful enough to make us step up and do the work it takes to get there.”

The group leaves on Wednesday, April 2^nd for five days of touring. “I think the whole group is just really, really excited,” said Gagne. “Starting in September when the choir first meets, everyone is already talking about tour, and so to be this close is so exciting.” The tour will take the group to New Hampshire, Vermont, and Montreal, Quebec.

Though the evening concerts are the heavily promoted performances, the choir also sings at several schools throughout the tour, sometimes putting on three to four concerts a day. Gagne said she thinks the school performances are some of the most important they do while on tour. “I remember being in third grade and the chamber singers came and performed for us.  I idolized the chamber singers then, and all I wanted to do was be in the group.  They were rock stars to me.  To travel and perform for little children reminds me of what I used to feel,” she said.

           

Summerfest planning is underway, volunteers still needed - by Michelle Libby

Summerfest is officially scheduled for June 21^st on the RSU14 school grounds on Gray Road. The event will kick off with a parade, followed by entertainment, booths supporting businesses and non-profits as well as crafters. The afternoon is filled with activities and as day turns to night, the energy comes alive as people dance and wait for the evening fireworks, a great way to cap off the day long community event.
 

“Last year was phenomenal and we want this year to be even better,” said coordinator Kelly Mank.

Getting involved with Summerfest is easy. Contact someone on the committee or register online to have a booth or to be in the parade. 

The committee is made up of locals who want to see this event succeed. Mank (Time4Printing and The Windham Eagle) is the coordinator again this year, after taking the reins last year. Robert York (Octagon Cleaning and Restoration) and Robin Mullens are coordinating fundraising efforts, while Rick Sanborn (RAS Construction) is heading up the business expo, where business owners will be allowed to sell goods and services with approval, a change from recent years. Ryan Campbell will coordinate the parade and work on making the registration process more streamline. Kathy Varney is again in charge of the booths for non-profits and crafters. The only committee chair they are missing is someone to handle entertainment, which is still being lined up. Volunteers should get in touch with Mank. Meetings are Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. every other week, Mank said. 

“Summerfest has transitioned over the last few years and that’s tough. It’s a town event,” said former coordinator and event founder Ron Eby. “I’d love to see it transition so some groups can see benefits for themselves and the town.”

Fundraising has begun with the mason jars put at businesses around town. The business with the most money in their jars wins a prize. Organizers are hoping that will help spur on donations so that a favorite business will win. 

Summerfest is also looking for event sponsors. 

Eby suggests that organizations that are renting booths use the opportunity to draw a crowd. Offer something to make it a win-win for everyone. 

“It’s great to draw the whole community together. I hope they do it for years to come,” Eby said.

For more information, watch visit www.windhamsummerfest.com for updates or email summerfest@TheWindhamEagle.com.

Maine Maple Sunday was sweet - By Michelle Libby

Mark Cooper, of Cooper’s Maple Products manned the sugar shack on Sunday while hundreds of people filtered past, stopping to ask questions and to look into the large vat of boiling sap.

“We’re still very small,” Cooper said of his 1,800 tapped trees in the area.

The lines were long and people were enjoying the day at Cooper’s Farm on Chute Road as well as other area farms in Windham, Raymond and Gorham. 

Balsam Ridge Farm in Raymond had a good weekend too. “”Everybody gets out there regardless of the weather to pretend that spring is here,” owner Sharon Lloy. “The crop is certainly down from what it normally is,” she said, but in the next 10 days the weather will change. “Rest up now. It’s going to be a sap-a-gedon. We’re going to be busy,” Lloy said. Balsam Ridge, which started with nine taps, has over 1,200 now. “It’s an addiction. It starts as a few, then a bit more and we continued to grow,” Lloy said. 

“We had 3,000 people last year and that was up considerably. Everybody had a huge crowd last year,” said Cooper. 

Each year the Cooper sugar shack makes a few hundred gallons of syrup on average every year. This year because it has been so cold the sap has not been running so Cooper expects an extended season, until April 17 anyway, which has been the latest he’s made syrup in the past. The season is six weeks long on average. 

“We all love making syrup. But there is a point where we want to be done,” Cooper said.

Maine Maple Sunday is in its 31^st year with 94 sugar shacks on the register. Cooper’s has been a part of the festivities since the late 1980s when there were only 17 on the list with only three in Cumberland County, he said.  

Cooper’s had everything on sale from maple lollipops to maple cotton candy and of course, various sizes of maple syrup. 

Balsam Ridge in Raymond ran out of their baked beans made with their maple syrup and hot dogs steamed in sap. Merrifield Farm in Gorham had maple smoked cheeses, maple soft serve ice cream and maple butter. Many of the items are still on sale.