Former Cumberland County Deputy Sheriff working on app to locate missing children

By Masha Yurkevich

According to FBI.gov, there were 476,373 missing children (under 18 years of age) in 2012 in the U.S and Michael O’Neal with Keeping Kids Safe (KKS) is on a mission to lower that number.

Michael O'Neal of the Keeping Kids Safe Maine organization
is currently developing a new phone app that will give parents
and law enforcement a quick way to make a missing person
poster and spread information instantly.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

“We are a non-profit 501(c)3 agency,” says O’Neal. “Our mission is to bring together resources for parents, schools and child caregivers to help keep our children safe. In addition to providing valuable information, Keeping Kids Safe also offers educational, safety presentations including Internet Safety, Sexting, Cyber Anti-Bullying Awareness education, Child Sex Trafficking Awareness education, Personal Safety Training, and more.”

O’Neal has been in law enforcement for over 17 years and has served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer, as well as having been a Patrol Deputy Sheriff. He also has a degree in criminology. O’Neal was also a Deputy Sheriff in Cumberland County for 14 years.

O’Neal is currently working on a new phone app that gives parents and law enforcement a quick way to make a missing person poster and spread that information instantly.

“The main function of the app is to have information of your missing child, teen, elderly, or loved one readily available on your phone,” says O’Neal.

While there are similar phone apps out there, O’Neal says that he is adding a few different features to make his app more family friendly and useful.

“When someone goes missing, you will put in all the information into the app and press send, the app will create a missing person poster, which is what the other side will receive from that person; the poster can also be shared to Facebook to widen the audience who sees the poster. Not just law enforcement can create a missing poster, but anybody with the app as well,” says O’Neal. “When you download the app, there will also be sections for training for internet safety, short educational videos, and other sources so that the app can be a one stop shop for parents to receive education, training, and keep track of their child anywhere in the world.”

There are some criteria that a child needs to meet before an Amber Alert goes out, which can sometimes take a while. This app will send out a missing person alert much faster, which is a great alternative.

The app will also have a feature just for law enforcement where all missing person posters can be found with a case number.

Currently, when a child or teen goes missing, an officer shows up, takes the report, and creates what is called a File 6, also known as a missing person report. Unfortunately a File 6 does not always include much detail about the missing person, such as how long they have been missing, a photo, or other personal information, O’Neal said. With the new app, dispatch will have another alternative. The way the algorithm of the app works is with a 100-mile radius; every hour that child is missing, the algorithm will go out another 100 miles, because it is possible to travel 100 miles in one hour, widening the radius every hour.

The app will not only have information about the missing person, but also, once more information is obtained about who the missing child is with, the app will also include details and information about the predator, including any photos.

“Recognition, especially facial recognition, is very important in law enforcement,” says O’Neal. O’Neal is working on the app with Mark McDonald, a former Thompson police officer who now has an IT company that he is working with as well as owner of Ligh Sheild Services LLC, and also Steve Thibeault, a Sagadahoc Deputy Sherriff.

“The three of us are discussing back and forth on what law enforcement really needs to make this very effective,” says O’Neal. “We are currently in the process of getting the ins and outs of the app created, and we are almost at the prototype, testing the app and also talking with law enforcement to see what we can do to make it easier for them.”

Being non-profit, finances are one of the biggest challenges that O’Neal and KKS have come across, but he hopes that the app will fund itself by having a small maintenance fee for law enforcement. Donations are always welcome and can be sent to Keeping Kids Safe at 66 Deering Run Portland, ME, 04103.

Apart from missing children and teens, the app will also be for missing elderly who may wander off, as well as for missing pets.

“It is up to us,” says O’Neal, “to keep our family safe.” <

WCA student earns Good Citizenship Award from American Legion

By Ed Pierce

Never let is be said that Nathan Getchell doesn’t feel love, devotion, and a sense of pride in the United States. His enthusiasm had led him to receive a Good Citizenship Award from American Legion Field-Allen Post 148.

Nathan Getchell, a junior at Windham Christian
Academy, is presented with the American
Legion's Good Citizenship Award by John
Facella, American Legion Field-Allen Post
148 Americanism Officer, as his parents
look on. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Getchell,17, is a junior at Windham Christian Academy, and one of his teachers at the school, Lucy Kindred, says that his favorite school subject is government.

The Legion’s Good Citizenship Award is presented to students who are about to attend the American Legion’s Dirigo State program. Dirigo State is a coed program where high school juniors get to participate for several days in a mock government exercise.

The program was originally only for boys and was launched in 1935 but has since become for both boys and girls. Dirigo State students learn leadership skills, teamwork, and how government works in America. Student participants propose legislation at the local and state levels to address problems and issues in Maine, lobby other “representatives” to get their bills passed, and along the way are able meet many different elected officials.

American Legion Post 148 Americanism Officer John Facella said this is the first year in recent memory that a student from the Windham Christian Academy will be attending Dirigo State.

At Windham Christian Academy, Getchell plays varsity basketball and is involved with the Model United Nations Club. He has a keen interest in aviation and is a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Getchell also participates in a ministry in Buxton called “Propelling the Gospel” that supports teenagers working on planes and helping area churches with specific needs.

Following graduation from high school next year, he plans to attend flight school and become a pilot eventually working for the military or a commercial airline.

Getchell’s parents attended the ceremony where he received the Good Citizenship Award. His father is a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant. <

'MS is BS Gala’ provides support for families in community

By Ed Pierce

When Skylar Welch’s husband Bryan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis three years ago, she could have given up and become just another family member victimized by this tragic disease. But as many people know, Skylar Welch is no ordinary individual, and the former Windham resident helped her family create a gala to support MS families and raise awareness about MS in the community.

Skylar Welch, right, and her husband Bryan Welch, are
hosting the Second Annual 'MS is BS Gala' on Saturday,
June 14 at Moonlit Ride Estate in Otisfield to assist
those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and their
families. Bryan Welch, 42, was diagnosed with MS
three years ago. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

The Second Annual “MS is BS Gala” will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Moonlit Ride Estate in Otisfield with proceeds to benefit ‘MS is BS New England,” assisting those with MS with expenses not covered by insurance.

“I knew the first thing I had to do was to host a gala to raise money for the cause and to raise awareness about MS,” Welch said. “It affects so many people. In everyday conversations I have with others, I hear about cousins, aunts, nieces and hardships faced by those with MS. There are needs that insurance isn’t covering such as some people who can’t get their scooter into their car and need an attachment to do that.”

Through last year’s event at Moonlit Ride Estate, Welch and her family raised $68,000 for “MS is BS New England” at the 300-seat venue.

“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and are excited to build on that momentum this year” Welch said.

Multiple Sclerosis is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the central nervous system and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body attacks itself by mistake. Physicians say that MS is an unpredictable disease that affects people differently. Some people with MS may have only mild symptoms while others may lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted.

The Welch family lived in Windham for five years before moving to Falmouth and she said it was heartwarming to see so many of her former neighbors and friends attend last year’s MS Gala.

“It’s been honestly so amazing to see the support for this and to see so many businesses donating to help,” Welch said. “We know what people are going through. The newly diagnosed are looking for support but find that there aren’t a lot of resources out there.”

The Welchs and their three children ages 7, 10 and 13 are all actively involved in the fundraiser, including making “MS is BS” bracelets.

The formal-attire event features a live and a silent auction with more than 100 items, including a full weekend wedding and planning services and a gorgeous new wedding dress.

There will be live bands and live performers, dessert bars, cocktail stations, an aerialist stilt troupe and a 360-degree photo booth.

Tickets cost $100 and that includes a drink, a food ticket and shuttle service if needed. The Moonlit Ride Estate is 6 miles from Oxford Casino and onsite parking is available.

“It’s very fulfilling to see so many people to love and support us,” Welch said.

To purchase tickets, go to https://givebutter.com/Moonlitgivesback2 or to learn more about the “MS is BS Gala,” call 207-239-3741. <

VFW honors military service of veterans every day

By Ed Pierce

On this Memorial Day, residents of the Lakes Region are taking time to remember and pay tribute to those who gave their lives in defense of freedom.

But for members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 in Windham, they honor the military service of American veterans every single day.

Willie Goodman has served as the commander
of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 for
the past 11 years. COURTESY PHOTO 

VFW Post 10643’s Commander, Willie Goodman served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1993 and retired as an E-9, Command Master Chief. He served on eight different ships during his Navy career including on three aircraft carriers and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Stockton and Oakland, California; Brunswick, Maine and spent two tours of duty overseas including three years in Spain and for three years in the Philippines.

He says that the VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War of 1898 and the Philippine Insurrection (1899 to 1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service with many veterans arriving home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pensions for them, and their families were forced to care for them.

Soon, some of these veterans joined together and formed organizations that eventually became what we know today as the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Membership grew to 5,000 by 1915 nationwide and then up to 200,000 by 1936.

The VFW Post 10643 in Windham is part of The Department of Maine VFW organization and continues to play a significant role in improving the lives of veterans locally.

“As Commander of the Windham Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10643 for the past 11 years, I have always been overwhelmed by the great support we receive from our community,” Goodman said. “We provide local veterans who may need assistance with their food, heating oil, installing ramps for easier access to their homes, provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, and assist homeless veterans with housing. We never know what needs will come before us but we’re always there to meet the challenge. The VFW slogan is, ‘No one does more for veterans,’ and our VFW certainly lives up to that motto.”

Nationally, the VFW was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, developing the national cemetery system and leading the fight for compensation for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW championed the passing of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the National Guard and Reserves, who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical center services for women veterans and helped to commission the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials. In 2005, the VFW became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010.

Each year nearly 2 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in the communities across America, including participation in “Make A Difference Day” and “National Volunteer Week.”

From providing over $3 million in college scholarships and savings bonds to students every year through its popular Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests, to encouraging elevation of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the president's cabinet, the VFW is as relevant today as when it was founded.

According to Goodman, Post 10643, remembering veterans on Memorial Day means the community truly cares about those who have served.

“It’s heartwarming throughout the year to feel so many people in our area care about veterans and Memorial Day is a such an important time to reflect and remember,” he said. “On this Memorial Day, I would suggest if you know someone who had a family member or someone close to them who died while on active duty, such as a grandfather, father, husband, brother, sister, son, daughter or friend, reach out to them and tell them you’re thinking of them on this Memorial Day. Some choose not to discuss or relive that painful time while, for others, it may be a special time to share a story or memory of that loved one. The most important thing is to express that you care and remember what Memorial Day truly represents." <

Windham preparing for Memorial Day activities

By David Tanguay

Memorial Day conjures up interesting memories. For some reason I remember Dr Sidney Branson of South Windham, the school doctor, that gave us shots when we were growing up in Windham. A more recent, but still distant memory was of Dr. Branson in his World War II Army uniform as the Grand Marshall of the Memorial Day Parade in Windham.

American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 commander Tom
Theriault welcomes those attending last year's Memorial
Day observance at Windham High School. This year's
activities include a Memorial Day parade, an observance 
and a picnic lunch at the Windham Veterans Center.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE    

I was fresh out of retirement from the U.S. Navy and put on my uniform to join in the celebration. When meeting him again, he looked smaller, and frail. I recall other parades with Don Rogers and Wayne Rogers, and, after Wayne’s passing, Don as the Grand Marshall riding in Gary Plummer’s red 1965 Mustang convertible. Later still, South Windham’s Bob Miele, followed by World War II P-51 pilot Carroll McDonald as the Grand Marshall in the red Mustang. Oh, what memories.

For the 2025 Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 26, the Grand Marshall will be Korean War veteran Don Swander, a longtime supporter of the veterans’ community in Windham and who served for many years as the president of the Windham Veterans Association.

The Memorial Day parade in the past was a town-sponsored celebration of our veterans with dozens of entries from the Windham High School marching band in full uniform to a bevy of antique tractors and other antique vehicles, floats honoring veterans, military vehicles, Shriners with their mini-cars, area team mascots, local and state politicians walking in unity, the town’s Public Works vehicles and Windham Fire Trucks all decorated in Red, White-and Blue banners and flags. Then there were the veterans, some still fitting in their uniforms, others in civilian garb, but all marching proud behind the American Legion colors and Old Glory.

The Memorial Day parade over the past few years has been more modest with maybe two dozen floats and entries. Many previous supporters now have entries in the Summerfest parade and other celebrations.

But the Memorial Day activities, although more modest, still recognize the sacrifice of our fallen Windham veterans with a parade, a ceremony and the placement of flags on the graves in local cemeteries of our departed. We still remember.

There are opportunities for the community to join the American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 and the Town of Windham to honor our lost comrades.

On Saturday, May 17 at Arlington Cemetery and Smith Cemetery, local veterans will start at 9 a.m. to place flags on the graves of our veterans. Community groups and the public are welcome to join in this simple remembrance.

Those wishing to join in the Windham Memorial Day parade as a walking unit or with a vehicle or float may do so by contacting the parade coordinator at 207-892-1306. The parade will depart at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 26 leaving from the Windham Town Hall, continuing down School Street, turning south onto Gray Road and ending at the Windham High School’s lower parking lot.

Following the parade there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Flagpole and Town’s Veteran Memorial with this year’s guest speaker, Lee Humiston, the funder and curator to the Maine Military Museum in South Portland. During the ceremony there will be the traditional tolling of the bell for each of the Windham veterans who have passed this year followed by a ceremonial burning of the flags removed from the veteran’s graves and a wreath ceremony, rifle salute and taps.

At noon, at the Windham Veterans Center there will be a ceremony in the Memorial Garden to dedicate a granite bench in memory of our beloved Korean War veteran, Walter Braley, who passed last year. Following the dedication there will be the traditional wreath-laying ceremony and rifle salute. The community is welcome at an open house and picnic luncheon at the Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive in Windham, sponsored by the Legion Family.

Please join the American Legion as we honor our town’s heroes at one or more of the scheduled Memorial Day events this year. <

Windham educator reflects on Costa Rica experience

By Lorraine Glowczak

"We are excited to share that you have been selected to participate in the Educator Invitational in Costa Rica in April 2025. Educate Maine and the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School are thrilled to host you for this program."

RSU 14's Lorraine Glowczak was one of 10
Maine educators selected for the 2025
Educator Invitational in Costa Rica,
hosted by Educate Maine and the Hurricane
Island Outward Bound School. Here she
joins a group taking a break from a hike
and enjoying the view from a hill.
COURTESY PHOTO 

This message popped into my inbox the morning of Jan. 16 like a golden ticket to a grand adventure. The email was from Jason Judd, the Executive Director of Educate Maine. I think that if it wasn’t for the computer screen to protect him, my squeal of excitement might’ve shattered his eardrums and my elated hug would’ve left him with a bruise or two.

As a former participant in Educate Maine’s year-long program known as the Education Leadership Experience, I was invited for a chance at this Central American experience. I’m told about 100 Maine educators applied for the coveted 10 free spots. By some stroke of luck, I was selected to be one of those 10. (I will bow to the person who declined the offer, opening a space for me.)

But let me be clear: this wasn’t a relaxing Spring break with flip-flops, fruity pool-side drinks, or stays at seaside hotels. Instead, it was a week-long plunge into bold adventures with complete strangers, an experience that ignited both personal growth and a sense of wonder.

There were far too many unforgettable moments to capture in just a few lines – and honestly, I hardly know where to begin. Each day brought long, often steep treks through the lush rainforest, starting under sweltering, humid skies and ending with sheets of pouring rain. Along the way, we crossed roaring rivers – not by bridges, but in narrow cable cars that held just two or three of us at a time. I squealed with a mix of excitement and fear, thrilled by the adventure yet nervously hoping the fast-moving cable wouldn’t leave me with rope burns.

We spent our nights in “homestays” – the homes of welcoming farmers and shamans who offered us shelter, nourishment, and a glimpse into their way of life. Their houses, open to the rainforest with half walls, allowed the breeze to drift in as we ate or journaled. At night, the sounds of the jungle lulled us to sleep, only to be gently stirred awake by the sound of quiet rain.

Looking back, I remember the afternoon we wandered through the forest, being shown the medicinal plants directly beneath our feet, or spotting a toucan for the first time, or embarking on a nighttime frog hunt – carefully watching our step in hopes of avoiding snakes.

I fondly recall one evening as we were quietly preparing for our nighttime routine, the spontaneous eruption of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” was led by the more musically gifted among us, until the rest of us couldn’t help but join in. We were no longer strangers but friends for a lifetime.

There was also the breathtaking moment as I bathed under a pounding cool waterfall, and the joy of learning to make cheese, empanadas, and sugar cane treats.

Yes, I experienced all these things – and more. While this journey was an adventure, it was equally an educational experience on both a professional and personal level.

Here are a few lessons I took away.

LESSON 1

“The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one.”
– Benjamin Franklin

If I had mentioned the phrase “retail therapy” or an addiction to cell phones and social media to any member of our host families, I’m certain they would question our culture’s approach to mental and spiritual well-being.

I witnessed the truth that very little is needed to make a happy life. In a language I could not understand, I heard them sharing laughter, stories, and warmth in their open-air kitchen while baking bread and our meal atop a wood-burning stove.

They had everything they needed: food from the land, fresh water from a nearby spring, wood for the fire, and a home with half walls, where the forest itself became their living artwork. They lived hours from the nearest city, yet what I witnessed was pure content.

Simplicity can be incredibly rich. This idea isn't new or groundbreaking—but at that moment, I didn’t just understand it. I felt it.

LESSON 2

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."
– Aristotle

As educators, learning and growing is an innate part of who we are. We understand that the journey to knowledge looks different for everyone – and that each path, no matter how winding or unconventional, holds its own truth and value.

One powerful reminder of this came during a tour of a farmer’s land, where the farmer who taught us how to make cheese and sugar cane treats explained how he had diverted fresh spring water to supply his home.

One of our group members remarked, “You’re not only a farmer – you’re also a plumber, an architect, a builder, and an electrician.” They then asked, “How did you learn to do all of this?”

“A traves del fracaso,” the farmer answered.

Henry, our Outward Bound Costa Rican guide, translated it as: “Through failure.”

The farmer continued through Henry. “We don’t have enough money to go to college, so we must learn by doing. The Universe is our university.”

LESSON 3

“I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude.”

– Brene Brown

After experiencing the Pura Vida of Costa Rica, I’ve begun questioning my own approach to living. Although the direct interpretation of Pura Vida is “Pure Life,” Costa Ricans live the phrase as a mindset – gratitude, simplicity, and presence.

As a result, I’ve become hyper-aware of my personal pura vida. I’ve noticed that when I chop vegetables for dinner, I do it more slowly, without rushing it or feeling like it is a burden because my to-do list never ends. When I go on my morning walks, I have noticed my pace has changed. Yes, it is also slower, but it feels like I’m more aware of the walk itself and my thoughts are less demanding and scattered.

Still, I’m beginning to feel the Costa Rican Pura Vida slowly drifting away into the folds of memories to be cherished. But I hold on to one enduring hope: that I will continue to notice the seemingly ordinary moments right in front of me – moments that, when fully appreciated, offer a truly pure life. And as I move forward, I hope to help my students discover their own Pura Vida – a life shaped by presence, simplicity, and authentic gratitude. <

Before the Memory Fades: Windham Historical Society offers students a look at town’s past

By Walter Lunt
Special to The Windham Eagle

Windham Historical Society’s Village Green opens its season of history tours to students who experience an old-fashioned school day, shop in a country store and dance around the long-forgotten Maypole.

Students visiting the Windham Historical
Society's Village Green revive the tradition
of a Maypole dance during their May 1
history tours. PHOTO BY SUE SIMONSON 

Maypoles and May baskets have gone the way of the typewriter, the encyclopedia and phone books. But not for the group of home-schooled students who visited Windham Historical Society’s Village Green site on May 1, May Day.

The eclectic assembly of about 20 elementary aged scholars hailed from several Cumberland County communities including Gorham, Poland, New Gloucester and South Portland. Their two-hour visit included tours of four museum buildings that place an emphasis on the history of Windham and the way people lived in the 19th century.

Dividing into small groups, the children and their chaperones toured each building and listened to volunteer docents who showcased the archives and told stories of the town’s past.

The Old Grocery Museum is presented as the Walmart of the 19th century. Patrons bought cooking ingredients like molasses and flour by the pound, and picked over fresh, locally sourced vegetables and fruits. Some produce, it was pointed out, was bartered. A farmer, for example, might bring in eggs to be traded for sugar or apples.

Tucked away in a back room or a corner of the building was the village cobbler who made and repaired boots and shoes, or the telephone switchboard where an operator flipped switches and plugged in patch cords while nasally inquiring “number please?”

Also featured in this building is a re-creation of an old farm kitchen. The centerpiece is a stately, antiquated woodstove with overhead warming ovens; beside the tea kettle are several irons that will be heated for pressing clothes. Hanging within easy reach are colorful quilted potholders. Mounted on a nearby counter is a hand pump that draws water into a metal sink. Also handy are flour sifters and hand grinders for processing meat; and various sizes of crocks to store liquids such as cooking oils and molasses. Some country stores even accommodated a post office – patrons would access their mail through a corner window.

A particular favorite building for the young visitors on the Village Green is the one-room schoolhouse. Schoolmarm Hawkes puts her scholars through their paces, lining them up in girl-boy lines, exchanging bows and curtsies. Upon entering she demands, in a respectful manner, tight discipline. One girl is wearing trousers, which is unacceptable. “Are you wearing your brother’s britches today, Mary? barks Miss Hawkes.

The 45-star American flag hangs next to a chalkboard at the front of the room; it is saluted with a pledge slightly different from the one we recite today. The scholars are reminded that wood for the school’s pot-bellied stove and the water in a large wooden bucket was supplied earlier by an older student. Each student has a personalized metal cup hanging near the water bucket.

Miss Hawkes is upset today. She eyes the scholars warily while announcing that someone has pilfered the ink used for handwriting lessons. She checks everyone’s fingers for telltale smudges.

Next is arithmetic. The students are not allowed to use their slates – this is a mental exercise. “If Arthur picks 3 bushels of apples and Molly picks 5 bushels, then they give away 2 bushels, how many bushels are left? The scholar who responds with the answer is instructed to repeat the problem while supplying the correct answer. A bell sounds, the school day is over, and Miss Hawkes dismisses the girls first.

The children are next escorted to the replica South Windham railroad depot where they wait on a platform for an imaginary passenger train to arrive. Inside the building is a scale model of Cumberland & Oxford Canal boat that once traversed lake, river, and canal waters between Long Lake and the Portland waterfront. That the canal was hand-dug astonishes the young visitors.

Windham’s first public lending library was located across from Corsetti’s store on Windham Center Road. The building was eventually moved to the Village Green and is now open as a museum and displays early book collections and the histories of past clubs, civic and fraternal organizations. The young visitors learned that the first library was in a closet in the home of a farm family. This was, of course, inconvenient for both the family and the borrower. A group of lady librarians raised the funds needed to buy the building at Windham Center where it served the community and the schools for many years.

Library docent Rebecca Delaware showed the group a set of encyclopedias. Most of the group knew how to find information online but had never heard of or seen an encyclopedia. One youngster wanted to know, “Does it tell about Minecraft?” The library also introduced the kids to a typewriter, a rotary phone (“How does this work?) and a telephone book.

Now their tour of Village Green was over, but since it was May Day (unfamiliar to most of the group), volunteer docent Paula Sparks decided to resurrect the tradition of the Maypole. With the help of her husband, David, the pole was put up next to the schoolhouse with brightly colored ribbons extending from the top. Students and chaperones each held a ribbon fully extended and on cue from a recording of bouncy Celtic music began to “go-round” the pole, keeping time with the tune. The movement soon turned into a dance, of sorts, with Sparks directing the participants to weave over and under until the pole was transformed into a colorful braid; an exercise that will be conducted only one day a year.

It was a day for history tours that concluded with an even more historical tradition. <