LIMSTONE, Maine — It’s too early to advertise next year’s Winter Fun Day, but organizers might want to save 8-year-old Abigayle St. Peter’s advertising pitch.
“You should actually try this out. It’s really fun and it’s where you get to go play activities. It’s called Winter Fun Day and there’s different activities — inside activities and outside activities” she said in the cafeteria of the Limestone Community School on Saturday.
St. Peter and others attending the social winter event sought the cafeteria’s shelter, food and those activities the eight-year-old was keen on mentioning, warming up after an afternoon of cross country skiing, sledding and laser tag outside.
Helping folks shake winter’s chill was a chili cook-off, coordinated by the Limestone Chamber of Commerce, and the spicy competition saw great participation.
Patsy Poitras won the mild category, while Roz Mulherin won the medium category and Gayle MacDougal won the extra hot category.
Director of the Limestone Chamber of Commerce Michelle Albert said that Winter Fun Day saw a good turnout this year, thanks to the cooperation of multiple community entities. Albert said that it was a group effort between the Limestone Rotary Club, the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, the Limestone Recreation Department and the Limestone Library, the Chamber of Commerce, Project Grad, TAPIS and more.
“It’s just an annual day that’s here for the community where parents can come out and have some fun with their kids, and spend the day outdoors to break up being inside all winter,” Albert said.
The chamber usually provides arts and crafts activities throughout the last six Winter Fun Days, but this year’s arts and crafts project took the cake — or more appropriately, the marshmallows.
“I’m actually surprised by how many kids actually liked the marshmallows,” said Limestone Librarian Jessica Givens.
She arranged for the kids to craft edible snowmen out of the marshmallows, frosting and candies.
“Most of the kids left the table with the snowmen intact — I don’t know how long they lasted after that,” the librarian said with a smile.
If youths eagerly ate their sugary craft projects, it may have been for some extra energy to hit the cross county ski trails.
Coordinated by the Limestone Rotary Club, a Maine Winter Sports trailer was on site with skis for folks of all ages — and all ages gave the sport a shot.
Longtime ski instructors Ron and Barb Gallagher were on hand at the trailer to lend a hand where needed — and occasionally help a skier back on their feet.
Some traversing the ski trails, like 14-year-old Dustin Wallace, were familiar with the sport thanks to the Gallagher’s after school ski program. Others were trying out skis for the very first time — like little St. Peter.
“I made it half way out to the track,” she said proudly.
