Mapleton man takes leap of faith
MAPLETON NEWS
by Jennifer Buzza
Do you consider yourself a spontaneous person? I am willing to admit that I am not, in any way, a spontaneous person. Nor am I brave enough to jump out of an airplane. But I recently spoke with a man that is both … spontaneous and brave. These characteristics came about due to circumstances beyond his control. In a span of 12 months, this Mapleton resident lost six people close to him causing him to rethink the direction of his life and what he wanted to accomplish. That was when Wayne Kennard decided to “grab the gusto” and started making plans to do something “risky and crazy.”
This summer, his plans started with making his way to Sandusky, Ohio to ride seven of the 17 high-speed roller coasters in the country. Perhaps, one would have been satisfied with that adventure, but not Kennard. Using the Internet, he Googled “skydiving” and discovered Skydive New England, located in Lebanon, just south of Biddeford. Admitting that skydiving was on his “bucket list,” Kennard made reservations and received an assigned flight time for Monday, Aug. 30.
Upon his arrival, Kennard, along with several others, attended a 30-minute training session with a flight instructor. In addition to the harness and jump training, those making the jump had a series of liability waivers to sign prior to their flight.
Kennard boarded the plane in his street clothes and heavy boots to protect his foot that had been recently operated on. (Since the temperatures were in the 90s, heavier jump gear was not required). Wanting to document his experience, he opted to pay the extra fee to have his journey videotaped. Before taking off, during a brief interview, he commented, “I’m having a blast!” At 5,000 feet in the air, he looked at the videographer and said, “Everybody should be doing this!”
Noting that there were 23 on the plane from “all walks of life” including those making the jump, flight instructors and videographers, Kennard specifically remembers a gentleman from France, a 74-year-old man, and a gentleman hoping to cure his fear of heights, all making their first tandem jump.
Strapped to his flight instructor, Scott (who had 14,000 jumps under his belt), Kennard made his tandem jump at 14,000 feet. During the seven minutes it took to reach the ground, Kennard was all smiles, giving the videographer two thumbs up. When he had both feet back on the ground, his first words were, “I did it! I feel far better than I thought! Can we go again?” With the camera still rolling, his flight instructor told him he would receive a discount if he made a second jump that same day. What the video didn’t show was that Kennard actually signed up for a seat on the next available plane! Every hour a plane takes off with 23 brave souls on board. Having reservations on site at one of the bunkhouses, Kennard returned to relax for a couple of hours until he was contacted for the next available plane. During his second tandem jump, Kennard was given the opportunity to operate his own chute, gliding himself and a different instructor to the ground. “The scariest part of the whole thing was after our chute was deployed, Scott loosened the straps from over my thighs down to the knee. It feels like you’re falling out of the chute.”
When asked what his wife, Judy, thought of his decision to jump from an airplane, he said, “She thought I was crazy and didn’t want to be there to watch it. She enjoyed the video, but wouldn’t watch it live.” While describing his experience, Kennard told me, “If Bush (George Bush Sr.) could do it (jump out of an airplane) at 84, I can do it at 64!” He admits, “I’m hooked.” He is making plans to jump solo in the future, “hopefully next year.”
His risks don’t stop there. This winter while he is “wintering” in Florida he will be doing some hang gliding. He also has plans to ride a zip line in Grand Falls, then again in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.
Kennard continues to look forward to his future “risky and crazy” adventures. Quoting James Dean, he says, “Dream as if you’ll live forever and live as if you’ll die today.”
Photos courtesy of Wayne Kennard
ALL SMILES as he makes his parachute landing is Mapleton resident Wayne Kennard. Making not one, but two tandem jumps in one day, Kennard said (of skydiving), “If George Bush Sr. can do it at 84, I can do it at 64!” Kennard has future plans to enjoy hang gliding in Florida and riding a zip line in Grand Falls and the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.
MAPLETON RESIDENT Wayne Kennard gives a “thumbs up” during his descent after his first skydiving adventure in Lebanon. Also on the tandem jump is his instructor, Scott, of Skydive New England. Kennard credited his decision to try something “risky and crazy” after losing six people close to him in the last 12 months, causing him to rethink his own life and what he wanted to do.
Birthday wishes this week go out to Wayne Ireland, T.J. Winslow, Jeff Winslow, Scott Hoffses, Kevin Kinney, Brad Boyles, Michael Hamilton, Andrea Melton, Mike Beaulier, Ewan Thomas Brewer, Mitchell Longley, David Raymond, Carolyn Doyen, Michele Morrison, Richard Brown, Paige McEachern, Roger Stephenson, Dale McHatten and Penny LeBlanc.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS recently gathered at the Mapleton Lions Hall to celebrate Murrey Boyles’ 75th birthday. Attendees enjoyed sports-themed décor, buffet, cake and music. The children and grandchildren also created a photo display that was projected on a screen for everyone to view throughout the evening.
Happy anniversary wishes this week to Bill and Jayne Parker on the 30th; Bob and Mimi Lewandowski on the 31st; and Tracy and Lisa Simpson Nov. 2.
Mapleton Brownie Girl Scout Troop 1133 invited special guest, Nancy Watson, to their troop meeting Oct. 16. Watson, a teacher at the Presque Isle Middle School, also teaches a toddler sign language class at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library. With Watson’s help, troop members and some of their parents learned the basics of ASL, including the alphabet, numbers, colors, seasons, family members and short phrases. Watson also played a game with the girls, teaching signs for certain animals. By the end of the morning, the girls were able to sign their own name, as well as some of their “favorites.” The Troop greatly appreciates Watson taking time on her Saturday morning to share her love and knowledge of American Sign Language!
Mrs. Christi Doyen’s fourth-grade class from Mapleton Elementary School devoted an entire day in September to an all-day field trip. They spent the morning at the Doyen Farm. Students learned the important aspect potatoes have to our economy. They also toured a potato house and were able to pick a bag of potatoes. The students were given the opportunity to climb and explore the tractors and a harvester. The tour concluded with a brief presentation at the shop. The class then visited the Haystack Historical Society. The students viewed the exhibits upstairs including old photography by local photographer, Voscar. They listened to the Jim Cullen story as told by Historical Society member, Darlene Nelder. Retired schoolteacher Mabel Desmond helped the students experience what class was like in an old school room while they sat in the antique desks. According to Mrs. Doyen, “It was a great day!”
CHRISTI DOYEN’S fourth-grade class from Mapleton Elementary School recently visited the Haystack Historical Society Museum. The children were introduced to some old camera equipment by Voscar Nelder and Darlene Nelder gave a great accounting of the infamous “Jim Cullen Lynching” which piqued the interest of the class. Darlene gave a copy of Dena Winslow York’s book, “They Lynched Jim Cullen,” to Mrs. Doyen for her classroom library. The students sat at the antique schoolroom desks and listened and participated in a very interesting lesson taught by retired teacher Mabel Desmond. Desmond and the students compared some of the things from four decades ago to what we do today, including games, transportation, electronics and chores. Before departing, Desmond gave each student a pencil to remember the field trip. Pictured are, kneeling, from left: Liam Woodworth, Luke Mitchell, Thomas Patenaude, Michael Berube, Dakota Morrow, Abbigayle Quirino and Hannah Steenwyk. Middle row: Elexis Lunn, Mason Bushey, Meagan Turner, Jaidyn Blake, Elizabeth Collins, Sasha Kilroy, Carson Gagnon and Shane Baker. Back row: Kristi Greaves, student teacher; Jason Dumais and Christi Doyen, teacher.
The Mapleton United Methodist Church will be holding its annual craft and food sale this Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be a food sale, crafts, “Grandma’s Attic,” as well as coffee and muffins for sale starting at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m., a luncheon will be available including cream of broccoli soup, chicken stew, biscuits, and apple crisp.
If any teacher would like to bring their class to the Museum for a field trip, they are encouraged to call President Diane Pratt at 764-6085 or Secretary Myrna Gardner at 764-0290 to make arrangements.
The United Methodist Church will be hosting its weekly luncheon Friday, Oct. 29 at 11:30 a.m. There is no charge for the luncheon, but donations are accepted. All are welcome to attend.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115, or by e-mail at jbuzza@ainop.com.
