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Friday, February 20, 2026 Volume 21 • Issue No. 8
Local Educator Chosen for National Iditarod Program ANCHORAGE, AK Marshwood Middle School sixth-grade English language arts teacher Tamarah “Tami” Schoff was recently named one of three teachers nationwide selected as a finalist in the Teachers on the Trail Iditarod program. The other two finalists represent schools in Tennessee and Iowa. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, commonly known as the Iditarod, is an annual longdistance sled dog race held in Alaska in early March. The race runs from Anchorage to Nome. Mushers and teams of 12 to 16 dogs—with at least five dogs on
Left to right: Tami Schiff with friends April Eastman and Beth Glidden at the Can Am International Dog Sled Races in Fort Kent in 2023.
the towline at the finish—cover the distance in eight to 15 days or more. The Iditarod began in 1973 as an event to test the best sled dog mushers and teams and has since evolved into a highly
competitive race. Teachers on the Trail is a highly competitive program that selects a small group of educators from across the country to work alongside Iditarod mushers,
bringing real-world learning, adventure, and storytelling back to their classrooms. Being chosen as one of three finalists places Schoff among an elite group of educators recognized for excellence, innovation, and dedication to students. As part of this honor, Schoff will travel to Alaska from Feb. 28 through March 11, where she will attend educational workshops and work closely with competing Iditarod mushers. The immersive experience will allow Schoff to bring firsthand learning, storytelling, and authentic connections back to her Marshwood students and the community. The winner
of the race will be announced in April. Schoff has been a part of the Marshwood School District since 1993, building a reputation as an educator who inspires, mentors, and challenges generations of students. She sparks curiosity in her sixth-grade students, turning reading, writing, and critical thinking into adventures in learning. Outside the classroom, Schoff encourages students to put compassion into action. She volunteers with area soup kitchens See SCHOFF on page 5 . . .
CFW Brings Back Fairy Forest Candlelight Strolls CAPE NEDDICK The Center for Wildlife has announced the return of Fairy Forest Candlelight Strolls, family-friendly evening events for the public to experience the beauty of nature in winter through outdoor exploration, creativity, and wildlife encounters. Fol lowing t he success of last year’s inaugural event, the strolls will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Friday, Feb. 27, Wednesday, March 4 and Saturday, March 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. The hours offer visitors the opportunity to explore an enchanted fairy forest by candlelight. Guests follow a glowing woodland trail and build their own fairy houses. They can warm up by the fire, meet
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animal ambassadors, and enjoy an evening filled with creativity, curiosity, and whimsy. The experience is designed for visitors of all ages and encourages meaningful connections with nature and wildlife. Strolls are held outdoors along uneven, forested terrain, with sections groomed for stroller and wheelchair accessibility, ensuring an inclusive experience for all visitors. “This event is a wonderful opportunity for families to get outside together, spark creativ-
WELLS As the nation marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit will host a program examining the roles people of color played in the American Revolution. The presentation will explore the contributions of free and enslaved Black individuals, as well as Indigenous people, who served on both sides of the conflict, including many from Maine. The program will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit, 938 Post Rd., Wells. Drawing on years of research into the experiences of free and enslaved people of color in Maine, researchers Vana Carmona and Kathy Ostrander Roberts will present stories con-
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wildlife medical clinic and nature-based education center that treats over 2,500 injured and orphaned wild animals annually and offers hundreds of educational programs to the community. Founded in 1986, CFW is a nonprofit organization that has never received state or federal funding. Center for Wildlife is located at 375 Mountain Rd., Cape Neddick. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.thecenterforwildlife.org.
Discovering People of Color in the Revolution
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ity, meet our animal ambassadors up close, and learn more about the important work we do at the Center for Wildlife,” said Dan Gardoqui, education and outreach director. “The Fairy Forest Candlelight Strolls combine imagination, education, and conservation in a truly magical way.” Tickets are limited and dates fill quickly, and advance registration is strongly encouraged. Center for Wildlife is a
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nected to the American Revolution. Attendees will learn about individuals from Wells, Ogunquit and Kennebunk, as well as the historical sources used to uncover their lesser-known narratives. Carmona is the founder of the Prince Project, a database documenting more than 2,000 people of color who lived in Maine prior to 1800. She also
serves as a docent at several historic sites in the Portland area, including the Maine Historical Society and Spirits Alive at Eastern Cemetery. Carmona is descended from early European settlers who arrived in New England in 1620 and moved into Maine in 1633, many of whom, she has found, were enslavers and complicit in the slave trade.
Roberts is the appointed town historian of Kennebunk, and the author of three books on local history, including the recently published “Unmarked Graves and Forgotten Lives: The Enslaved Persons of Color in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel and Wells, Maine.” She also led the discovery and documentation of the site known as the “Freed Slave Community” of Kennebunk, also called “The Ridge.” The site has been the subject of six archaeological surveys and has yielded hundreds of artifacts related to its former residents. This program is free with a suggested donation of $5, no registration required. For more information, visit www.wellsogunquithistory.org or call 207646-4775.
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