Fall Festival returning to Windham Primary School

By Masha Yurkevich

Since 2016, Windham Primary School has been hosting the Fall Festival with the intent of having a safe event early into the school year that everyone could participate in. Featuring a fall theme, the annual event aims to involve staff and the community and will be held this year on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Windham Primary School will hold its annual Fall Festival
with fun games and activities for the entire family from
1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the school.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Hours for the WPS Fall Festival are 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 2 on school grounds with parking limited to the front of the Windham Primary School and the A House Playground lot. Many activities are at no cost and the entire family is welcome to attend and participate.

"We received great feedback the first year that we did this, and so we have pretty much stuck with the same formula,” says Dr. Kyle Rhoads, WPS principal. “It has changed a little bit during the COVID years, but most of the activities that we have are ones that we had the first year; activities like face painting, scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating, and the dunk bucket, which is $1 for three attempts.”

The Windham PTA plays a big role in organizing and hosting the event. Rhoads said that PTA members offer a bake sale with some items that are free and some that you can purchase for a small price as a donation.

“We have a good core volunteer group that we divvy up the roles and responsibilities of getting ready for the Fall Festival, such as contacting someone for pumpkins, corn stalks, bales of hay, crafts, music, the selfie booth, and much more,” says Rhoads.

One challenge that they have had in previous years is long lines of kids waiting for face painting, he said. To alleviate those long lines this year, event organizers have lined up some Windham High School cheerleaders that are going to help with face painting.

According to Rhoads, there will also be a performance by one of the youth cheerleading squads at the Fall Festival as well as a story time reading offered by the Windham Public Library.

All children and families attending Windham Primary School are encouraged to attend this fun and exciting event, Rhoads said. It remains popular year after year because of its affordability, fun games and activities and great snacks. Because the Fall Festival takes place this year before Halloween, many activities involve pumpkins and are designed to embrace cooler weather that fall brings to Maine.

Students and their families who attend can connect with WPS teachers, staff members, school administrators and volunteers on hand for the event.

One of the annual highlights of the WPS Fall Festival is a dunk tank where current and former students will have an opportunity to watch Principal Rhoads get splashed in the tank.

But the said the underlying significance of the festival is that over the years it remains something that everyone can come out and enjoy in a spirit of togetherness.

“I feel that the original intent of the festival has stayed in the sense that we have kept it low cost and in a way that your entire family can come and both the young and old can have a blast,” Rhoads says. “We invite WPS families to come join us for an afternoon of face painting, pumpkin decorating, scavenger hunting, and connecting with the school staff. It is so fun to watch the children enjoy this event and turn our school cafeteria into a pumpkin patch. I assure you that you will not regret coming and will leave with smiles and many new memories.” <

Land Trust offering free hikes and outdoor activities in Windham and surrounding communities this fall

As the crisp autumn air settles in, the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust is thrilled to announce a variety of community events designed to immerse participants in nature, foster environmental awareness, and celebrate conservation efforts across the region.

Falmouth Land Trust and Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
are teaming up to offer a guided hike and bike tour through
Lowell Preserve in Windham and onto the connecting 
Cross Falmouth Trail. COURTESY PHOTO 

From forest bathing to fall foliage hikes, these events offer something for everyone. Mark your calendars and join representatives of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust in experiencing the beauty of Maine’s fall landscapes.

Here’s a listing of some of the upcoming community events on the schedule:

Guided Hike/Bike with FLT and PRLT

Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lowell Preserve & Hadlock Community Forest

Falmouth Land Trust and Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) are teaming up for a guided hike through PRLT’s Lowell Preserve and onto the connecting Cross Falmouth Trail! Greater Portland Northeast Mountain Biking Association will also lead a guided mountain bike ride as well. Choose between a guided hike and a guided mountain bike ride for your morning adventure. The hiking group will go all the way to the parking lot of Hadlock Community Forest for a 7-mile adventure. A shuttle will then take hikers back to the start so everyone can do a fun point-to-point hike. The biking association will lead a medium-paced no-drop 7- to 8-mile ride, as well as a faster-paced (but no-drop) ride of 12 to 14 miles out to Hadlock Community Forest and back.

Four Seasons Walk with Wild Seed Project

Thursday, Oct. 26, 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Black Brook Preserve, Windham

Explore native plants and how they change throughout the seasons with Nell Houde, Wild Seed Project’s education lead at PRLT’s Black Brook Preserve in Windham. This leisurely one-mile walk is the third in a four-part series, allowing participants to deepen their knowledge of plant identification and native ecology. This event is free, but registration is required due to limited space.

Around the Hill Hike

Sunday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to noon

East Windham Conservation Area

Led by experienced hike leaders Natalie and Casey Skovran, this 5-mile hike will explore the beautiful East Windham Conservation Area. With views of the White Mountains and Little Duck Pond, this hike offers a challenging climb through the forested and hilly landscape. East Windham Conservation Area is owned by the Town of Windham with a conservation easement held by PRLT.

Wednesday Walk at Little River Preserve

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Little River Preserve, Gorham

Explore the rolling hills and diverse plant life of PRLT’s Little River Preserve on this guided walk. Wednesday Walks are held monthly, focusing on local flora and fauna. Registration is required for this free event.

To learn more or to register for any of these events, visit prlt.org/ <

Before the memory fades: Dundee drawdown – disappointing for some, an experience with history for others

By Walter Lunt

“It’s like a landscape from another world,” exclaimed an early June visitor to the near empty impoundment that was, only days earlier, Dundee Pond. In May, a sluice gate at the Dundee dam stuck in the open position and drained the 200-acre artificial impoundment leaving only a section of the ancient Presumpscot River and the eerie magnificence of a barren terrain.

The flat, barren landscape left by the summer drawdown
at Dundee Pond is shown in Windham. Disappointing
for swimmers but a boon for the citizen historian.
PHOTO BY JASSON WILLIAMS

The list of disappointed entities climbed. Thousands of Dundee Park patrons would miss out on swimming and swimming lessons. Windham Parks and Recreation mourned the loss of revenue gained from its various Dundee programs. Fishing and boating were curtailed. Shorefront camps along the pond would lose access to the water. The conservation group Friends of the Presumpscot became concerned about the ecological impact.

Less disappointed were the naturalists, archaeologists, treasure hunters, curiosity seekers, metal detectorists and history buffs.

Visitors witnessed the geography and culture of an earlier time, most notably the re-emergence of the Presumpscot River, free-flowing again after nearly 125 years and acres of stumpage – old forest land that preceded the flooding of land that made way for construction of Dundee dam in the early 1900s. Nearby was the site of the 1800s Shaw family farm: the home, the barn, and orchards, all showing ample evidence of being burned in preparation of advancing water. Shaw Road, an ancient beaten-down remnant of the horse-and-wagon days, runs parallel with the canal and disappears into a wooded area.

Some parts of the landscape were less obvious to interpret. Craters, approximately 4 feet in diameter and several feet deep, dotted an area near the canal. Leith Smith, archaeologist from the Maine State Historical Commission, theorized they were “prospecting pits,” dug in search of clay deposits for making bricks.

Arguably, the most unique and historic feature of the newly unveiled landscape was the mile-long section of the Cumberland & Oxford Canal, the watery hand dug thoroughfare of the 19th century that transported goods between Long Lake and Portland, and the eroded remains of at least three locks used to raise and lower the barge-like freight boats along the channel’s 20-mile route 150 years ago. The Whitney Locks, located directly across the pond from Dundee Park, is a double system consisting of two concave ditches with vertical tree trunks positioned against the banks to avoid cave-ins (as noted by the archaeologist Smith, “… the quality of construction was not amazing.”)

Here, the canal followed the course of the Presumpscot on the Gorham side of the river – a 5-foot deep ditch stretching from the river to the canal which circumvented the two Whitney locks. Its purpose was to replenish water into the canal.

Visitors were able to walk on the hard-pack surface of the tow path where once young men led horses pulling canal boats loaded with cord wood, lumber, molasses, and countless other goods up and down the channel. Several visitors were observed standing within the confines of the canal and its locks trying to imagine a time long ago when men and boats traversed this course, carrying on the commerce of the 19th century.

Hiking the tow path from the crippled dam to a point opposite Dundee Park, one tramples dead freshwater mussels. In the lazy flow of the Presumpscot, fish could occasionally be observed breaking the surface sending forth concentric circles; a lone heron standing motionless nearby waiting, hoping for a meal near the water’s edge. Off the trail on both sides of the river was a meadow of barren flat land, caked with slimy, cracked sediment accumulated from over a century of river flow becoming arrested by the dam. Sounds in this remote area were confined to Canada geese and crows; an occasional eagle surveyed the landscape overhead. Essentially, the drawdown created nearly 200 acres of sterile, empty land divided by a thin ribbon of water.

Exploring the expansive tract of “blank-gray,” earth, as he called it, was citizen historian and metal detectorist Al Farris.

“It’s a fascinating walk back in time and more than I expected,” he said.

Farris spent days documenting the locations of stone walls, farmhouses, clay pits, old roads, and spots where he found cultural treasures. Operating a drone, he took still pictures and shot video. He compared his discoveries with old maps. In addition to coins, a musket ball, a Civil War era bullet, and bits of hardware, one of his more interesting treasures was a button bearing the image of an Asian warrior riding on top of a carp (a fish). Researching this curious find, Farris learned the image probably depicted a Japanese man named Kintaro, a legendary figure of the 1800s based on a real Samurai warrior. The discovery leads to more questions regarding who would have lost these buttons and what was their purpose in being there.

During this activity, Farris said he spoke with a group of visitors who said they were making plans to produce a documentary.

Farris plans to someday display many of his cultural discoveries at the Windham Historical Society’s Village Green.

Today, as we read this, Dundee has returned almost to full pond, too late for summer recreationists, but leaving behind a season of fascination and discovery. <

Pumpkin season brightens landscape across Lakes Region

By Kendra Raymond

Once the leaves begin to change, pumpkins seem to appear on doorsteps, porches, as table center pieces, and as spooky jack-o-lanterns. The fall harvest is an iconic season filled with coziness and color, and pumpkins can be the most eye-catching part of any fall décor.

Raymond resident Kris Raymond and her dog
Songo look for the perfect pumpkin at a
local patch in the Lakes Region.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND  

Cathryn Anderson is the Education Department director at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester. She says that it’s a good year for pumpkins and that demand can vary a lot. The pick-your-own patch yields about 600 pumpkins a year and is popular with the residents.

“We see lots of groups and people coming in as a family. Fall is a busy time and there are a lot of activities related to the season,” she said.

Because pumpkins are so plentiful in the fall, often many go to waste or are discarded after Halloween. Aside from the typical uses of pumpkins, there are many varied uses of the crop, which is technically a fruit, and is not a vegetable. Cucumbers, gourds, melons, and squash are also part of this family.

For those of you interested in finding creative uses of your fall pumpkins, fortunately there are many options.

Cooking

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin 4176 says, “The deep yellow to deep orange colors of pumpkin and winter squash show that they contain carotene, which your body turns into the antioxidant vitamin A.” Pumpkins are also rich in vitamin A, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and are good source of fiber. Just make sure you use pie pumpkins or sugar pumpkins.

Based on all these health benefits, cooking with pumpkins sounds like a pretty good idea. Bread, pie and pumpkin chip cookies are always considered a classic standby. How about something a little less traditional?

Anderson reminds everyone that pumpkins are loaded with fiber and a healthy component of many recipes.

“A lot of our staff eat pumpkins in pies, puddings, or breads,” she said.

Food.com website suggests “Dinner in a Pumpkin,” a creation that includes cooked ground beef, mushrooms, and a variety of spices, all baked inside a pumpkin. Pumpkin soup can be a delicious addition to a fall meal. Even simply roasting pumpkin sections with a little olive oil, brown sugar, rosemary, and walnuts can make a fall-inspired side dish.

Pumpkin puree can be easily prepared by roasting pumpkin pieces and pureeing it in a food processor. The puree can be used in recipes or frozen.

Pumpkin seeds are easily roasted and can provide a healthy snack for you or your pet.

Pets

Pumpkin is a popular and wholesome component of many pet foods. It supports good gut health and keeps your pets regular. Pumpkin can be used to make homemade dog treats, or the puree can simply be added to your pet’s meal – but make sure to check with your veterinarian before making any dietary changes.

According to Anderson, discarded or pumpkin “seconds” can make great livestock feed.

“We work with other farms to share off-grade products to feed to critters,” she said. “Pumpkins can help feed animals after the season.”

Creative uses

The Texas A&M University Today publication “Creative Uses for your Pumpkin Beyond Halloween” lends a multitude of suggestions for anyone looking to think outside of the box. Specialists at the university recommend composting used jack-o-lanterns to provide nutrients for future crops. Other uses include leaving them out for wildlife – remember the beloved children’s book “Mousekin’s Golden House” by Edna Miller? They suggest that a hollowed pumpkin can be used as a planter for a plant or dried flowers. Speaking of animals, how about finding a local farm that has chickens? Evidently, they enjoy eating the pumpkin meat out of the shell, which could provide a green option for the disposal of your pumpkin.

The Lakes Region offers plenty of resources to obtain a fall pumpkin (or more). Just head over to Chipman’s Farm Stand or Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Windy Hill Farm Market in Windham, farmer’s markets, or look for roadside stands. Pumpkins can even be purchased right at local grocery or big box stores.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension offers a quick video entitled, “How to Harvest and Store Pumpkins” offers some tips. If harvesting your own, make sure to cleanly cut the stem from the plant with a sharp knife. Pumpkins can be stored in a cool, safe place until ready for use. Green pumpkins can be picked and will ripen off the vine. Pumpkins can last quite a while if harvested correctly.

To learn more about pumpkins from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension visit https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4176e/ <

Hundreds turn out for fun with history. The Windham Historical Society’s harvest festival on the Village Green

By Walter Lunt
Special to The Windham Eagle

It was mostly sunny and the temperature hovered on both sides of 70 degrees – one of those perfect fall days that greeted between 400 and 500 attendees at the Windham Historical Society’s 2nd annual Harvest Festival which featured three music groups, community booths, local vendors, antique autos, relay races, games and tours of the Society’s historical museum buildings, including Windham’s 19th century “Old Grocery” mercantile store, the Windham/Little Falls library, Windham Center Library and the replica of Windham Center’s one-room schoolhouse.

Visitors tour the 2024 Harvest Festival held on the Village
Green and hosted by the Windham Historical Society on
Saturday, Sept. 28. PHOTO BY WALTER LUNT 

A throng of lively ukuleles opened the festival in the Village Green gazebo. The Sebago Lake Ukulele Association played an array of popular and historical tunes that were easily recognizable and set the tone for a fun and interesting day.

Later, the Windham 8th Grade Band kept things upbeat with several numbers, including one by John Phillips Souza.

Throughout the five-hour festival, a multitude of patrons could be seen milling about, talking, and enjoying the dozens of events and booths while reconnecting with friends and neighbors. One family “from away” told a museum docent, “We just moved back (to Maine) and this makes it feel like a real home town.” Another commented, “What an impressive turnout. People (are) casually milling about, coming together, and celebrating their hometown history.”

In addition to the community booths, which included Friends of the Presumpscot River, Maine Insurance Benefits Group, Windham Public Library, Windham Adult Education and Age Friendly Windham, seventeen vendor tables attracted scores of visitors who pored over a vast array of creations including crafts, fabric art, totes, crocheted and needle-felted items, books, photos, paintings, and jewelry. Many folks were observed carrying away bags of treasures from the white elephant sale area.

But make no mistake, one of the most popular spots at the festival was the food booth: hamburgers, hot dogs, cider, and baked goods.

One of the most poignant moments of the day, as relayed by a docent at the South Windham/Little Falls library museum, one patron was brought to tears by the memory of the small library building of her youth – the books, the scent and fond remembrance of a special librarian she loved. “Quite moving,” said the docent. Another reminder of what we do here. And why we do it.

Similar sentiments were heard throughout the day. It was opening day for the Windham Center Library, following years of structural and code issues with the building. It was the town’s first public library and was formerly located across from Corsetti’s Store at Windham Center. Several visitors recalled checking out books there before it closed in the mid-70s. One commented, “Quaint and beautiful, I’m delighted that you saved it.”

Among the busy museum buildings were the Old Grocery and one-room schoolhouse where the docents elaborated on the historical contents and practices of the 1900s. It was observed that those tour guides did not go on break all day.

The musical high note of the day came at the end of the day as the highly entertaining Saco River Jazz Band enthralled festival goers with the music and the history of the late 1800s, followed by the booming big band sounds of the 40s and 50s. Toe-tapping and knee slapping were observed throughout the performance. Said one patron following the band’s rendition of In the Mood, “I could close my eyes and see Glenn Miller leading them.”

As one Windham third grader once said of the historical society’s efforts, “We had fun with history.” <