Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The fifth annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest will be held in Presque Isle Aug. 21-24, and a number of downtown business owners are doing their part to help promote the event.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
FIVE-YEAR-OLD Gunnar Carter of Chapman paints a window at Gary’s Furniture & Appliance in Presque Isle Saturday during the window-paining contest held in conjunction with the upcoming Crown of Maine Balloon Fest, which will be held Aug. 21-24.
For the second consecutive year, children of all ages participated in a window-painting contest Saturday aimed at drawing interest in the upcoming festival.
“I would say we had at least 40 people paint windows,” said Karrie Brawn, contest organizer. “There were some kids who came in on Friday who wouldn’t be here this weekend who painted a couple windows early for businesses that conveniently weren’t going to be open Saturday, so it worked well all the way around.
“There was a lot of different people throughout the community who had gotten in touch with me and talked to me about doing it,” she said. “Some were Girl Scouts, others were friends, boys and girls … it was a good mix.”
Brawn, a member of Girl Scout Troop 677, organized the window-painting contest last year as a community service project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn.
“It was so much fun last year and it was something that I really, really enjoyed doing,” she said, “I knew I wanted to do it again.”
Thirty-two windows in nine businesses were painted.
“I think it went very well,” said Brawn, a senior at Presque Isle High School, “and that Main Street looks fantastic. The painters did an awesome job.”
Brawn said the Balloon Fest Committee agreed to purchase discounted paint she found on the Internet.
“Dunkin’ Donuts donated boxes, and inside we put containers of paint, as well as a plate to mix paint on, newspapers so they wouldn’t make a mess on the businesses’ floor, as well as a brush in case they didn’t have any,” said Brawn. “Participants were also encouraged to bring a bar of soap with them so they could draw their design on the window.”
Eleven-year-old Krystal Kingsbury of Presque Isle painted a window Saturday at Dwight’s Barber Shop with her sister, Molly.
“I thought it was going to be fun,” said Kingsbury. “I didn’t know they did this last year, so I definitely wanted to take part.”
Kingsbury said she had an idea of what she wanted her balloon-themed window to look like.
“I thought about it last night,” she said. “I like lots of colors, so the balloon is going to be very colorful. We’ll have blue, red, and probably pink, plus we’ll mix some colors. Our window has the sun, plus a windmill. My sister thought the basket should have a wildcat paw since Presque Isle is home of the wildcats.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Kingsbury. “It was a really fun experience, and I would like to do it again.”
Gary Moreau, owner of Gary’s Furniture & Appliance, once again agreed to have his storefront windows painted.
“It’s a lovely project … look at these kids having fun,” he said. “They’re clever and creative, plus it attracts a lot of attention to my store when it’s all done. Why wouldn’t I? Those windows are important to my business, but they’re doing just as much right there as if I had a pretty set in the window.
“I’ve received 100 percent positive comments from everybody, and I would absolutely do it again,” said Moreau. “Donating a little window space is really no big deal. I get a lot out of it in return.”
Brawn said the window art will be up through the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest.
Winners of the contest will be announced in an upcoming issue of The Star-Herald.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
MOLLY KINGSBURY, 7, left, and her sister, Krystal, 11, of Presque Isle, paint a colorful balloon at Dwight’s Barber Shop in Presque Isle Saturday during the window-painting contest held in conjunction with the upcoming Crown of Maine Balloon Fest.
