Winter in Windham by Rep. Mark Bryant

It was great to see so many friends during the Town of Windham’s Tree Lighting at the Windham Public Safety Building and at the Sebago Lakes Chamber of Commerce Tree Lighting in the Windham Shopping Plaza. What fun and magical events!

 

As the days get colder and snow starts to fall, there are so many great activities to do in and around Windham. Our parks and trails are available year-round for all sorts of activities. The Parks and Recreation Department grooms cross-country skiing trails and even has snowshoes to lend; free to use, so you and your family can continue being active outdoors. They offer men’s, women’s and children’s sizes.

On Saturday, Jan. 6, the Windham Parks and Recreation Department is having its annual Winterfest. The event is beach-party themed and will have a photo contest, games, dancing, prizes and so much more. Learn more on their website at www.windhammaine.us/155/Parks-Recreation.

The recreation department is also hosting two ice skating nights: On Friday, January 19, at the Donnabeth Lippman Park skating rink and on Friday, February 2, at the Manchester School skating rink. Enjoy s’mores and skating with these two free events that are open to the community. 

As always, the Windham Public Library has many events and programs open to all ages. Look at their website at www.windham.lib.me.us to find activities for the whole family. 

If you haven’t already cut down your tree, the Maine Christmas Tree Association is a non-profit organization composed of family farms that produce real Christmas trees and wreath products for retail, wholesale, mail order or choose-and-cut during the Christmas Season. 

Maine’s forty-eight state parks and historic sites offer year-round recreational opportunities. Winter is a great time of year to walk the beaches, trek the woods and observe signs of wildlife - a tracker’s paradise. Winter Family Fun Days and the Ski & Snowshoe Trailer offer families and outdoor enthusiasts ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. These events will be released on the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s website soon. 

On New Year’s Day, some of America’s state parks offer free, guided First Day Hike Programs. These hikes provide a means for individuals and families to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, exercising and connecting with nature. In Maine, there are four locations where you can enjoy guided hikes on Jan. 1, 2018. Learn more at the Department of Agriculture’s website. 

With recent weather, it’s hard to deny that winter is here. Prepare your family and home for the season with winter safety tips from Maine Emergency Management Agency, including information on preventing hypothermia and staying safe in the event of a power outage. Learn more at maineprepares.com.

Please don’t forget to stay safe when snowmobiling and spending time out on the ice. Visit the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website for safety tips and how to determine the thickness of ice.

It is an honor to continue to serve as your state representative. As always, please feel free to send me a letter at 166 Albion Road in Windham, call me at 892-6591 or email anytime at mark.bryant@legislature.maine.gov.

 I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

Rep. Mark Bryant serves in the Maine House and represents part of Windham. He serves on the State and Local Government Committee and the Committee on Transportation.