BIDDEFORD — WinterFest is this weekend, and on the top of folks’ agendas is the Cardboard Sled Derby, which will be held on what organizers have named the Adams Street Summit ”“ a man-made sledding hill in City Square ”“ on Saturday, from 3-5 p.m.
Children and a few librarians gathered at McArthur Public Library Wednesday afternoon to get a jump on constructing their cardboard sleds, which can only be held together with duct tape.
Heidi Whelan sat inside the library’s nearly finished sled ”“ dubbed the Bookmobile ”“ painting it black and adding some personal touches, such as a stickered-on cassette player, while Ashlee Norwood was hard at work drawing the bat-shaped decal that will be glued to its front.
“It’s called the Bookmobile, but it’s made up to look like the Batmobile,” said Whelan.
Whelan and Norwood, two children’s librarians, along with Katie Boucher, will be riding in the Bookmobile come race day.
“We want to participate because the library is such a big part of the community,” said Whelan.
Meanwhile, Emily Morin, a fifth-grader at Biddeford Intermediate School, and her sister Julia, a fourth-grader at the school, wandered into the room, wondering what all the cardboard and tarps were for.
When Norwood told them it was for the Cardboard Sled Derby, the girls immediately wanted to partake.
“I’m making a racing car with green racing stripes,” said Emily.
Julia was less concerned with her sled’s color and more concerned with its dimensions.
“This is gonna be one big sled,” she said. Her color conscience did kick in a bit later, as she opted for a bright pink front with an orange back.
About an hour later, Jordan Hebert, a fifth-grade student from Dayton, joined in the fun, fashioning a sled with a large, sturdy front on which he painted a white smiley face.
Sleds must be registered by noon on Saturday, according to a rules sheet for the event. They can be registered online, at Heart of Biddeford or at WinterFest. They must contain a minimum of two riders.
Teams will be broken into three categories: 12 years old and younger, 13 years old and older, and family ”“ for sleds with both older and younger riders.
Prizes will be awarded to teams in each category; first place will win $75, second place will win $50 and third place will win $25. A $50 prize for best sled design will also be awarded.
For more information and a complete schedule of WinterFest events, see page A4 or visit HeartofBiddeford.org.
— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or [email protected].
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