The woods of Rochester really set themselves apart from the rest of Tri-Town. Although the Tri-Town area as a whole is blessed with miles of conservation land trails that border the ocean, fields, and ponds, the woods of Rochester just have that je ne sais quoi – a certain charm, a pleasant vibration that is palpable – a kindness about them.

We came back to Rochester after a few satisfying hikes in all three towns, and it felt good to be back – like visiting a new “old” friend. A walk through the woods of Rochester is better than therapy, my friends.

Within the boundaries of the Delano Memorial Forest there is magic. This woodland has a consciousness, a personality. You can feel its gratitude when a visitor comes to meander through its trails. I felt at home here, I felt welcome. It is a friendly wood.

The tall, slender pines towered over little me, swaying and scraping the sky as I wound my way along the two-mile loop. The trees whispered in the wind, and I found myself stopping every so often to listen to their sighs and look up to where they were pointing.

Each hilly bend before me, every dip and turn along the way kept my mind completely in the moment – wondering what was coming next and forgetting about the world outside the wood.

The trail loop would make a great running path, with very few roots reaching out to trip up your step. A run through the woods can be just as invigorating as a rigorous hike, but the Delano Memorial Forest had me slowing down for my senses to take in everything around me. My feet on the earth below, the feathers and little creatures I passed along the way, the birds and wild turkeys that brought me to a standstill.

Some short, beckoning side trails lead to the riverside, “Sarah’s Rock,” and a memorial stone placed in memory of Stephen Delano, reminding everyone “This was his woodland.”

Almost halfway in, the trail forks and, knowing that the left trail would end abruptly at one point according to the Rochester Land Trust trail guide, my curiosity, which always triumphs, made me follow it anyway and I was glad I did. It was like I had stumbled into the baby pine nursery, with young pine saplings lining the straight narrow path that opened up to a reddening cranberry bog.

I had to retrace my steps back to the loop trail, but it was my pleasure to re-experience the path all over again from the opposite direction.

Along the last leg of the loop, I eventually noticed I was walking along a primitive ancient stone wall overtaken by time and buried in a mossy grave. The leaves of centuries of autumns have it almost completely covered, except for a single obelisk-like rock with a forgotten purpose reaching up from the past and speaking to my sense of wonder.

Who put you there, and what for? Why are you there, I wondered? Was I following an old stagecoach road, the stone wall on either side swallowed up beneath the layers of time?

The Delano Memorial Forest is as mysterious as it is enchanting. From the slender, intimate paths to the widening cart paths of the past, this woodland is a gem in every sense of the word.

The trailhead begins on Mary’s Pond Road, marked by wooden posts and a sign. There is parking off the side of the road and, contrary to the Rochester Land Trust map, the trail does indeed loop all the way around from start to finish. The loop took me about an hour, and I enjoyed each and every one of those 60 minutes immensely.

I’ll be back throughout the months to experience this sacred space in every phase of the season. Put this one at the top of your Take a Hike list for sure.

By Jean Perry

Sippican School was a virtual zoo on the morning of June 5, with fourth-grade “animals” crawling all over the multi-purpose room while the other grades were treated to a virtual safari through the different habitats around the world.

Students greeted classmates and family members while dressed in costumes portraying an animal about which they had selected to learn, or as zoologists knowledgeable in the habitat they studied as part of a cross-curriculum project that encompasses science, technology, reading, and geography, among other subjects.

Fourth-grade teacher Nicole Radke said the students have been researching their selected animal for about five weeks, learning about characteristics, adaptations, habitat, and life cycle in preparation for the two-day Sippican zoo event.

“The kids did it all themselves, with support from their parents at home and it’s been great,” said Radke. “So they can feel proud that it’s their own work.”

Students did all their own online research, created poster boards, and wrote reports on all sorts of different species of insects, spiders, mammals, reptiles, marsupials, and more. Each student also gave a presentation on their animal in front of their class.

“They have been so dedicated and enthusiastic,” said Radke, “even though it was scheduled for the last part of the year.”

Lines of students from different grades snaked up and down the aisles, stopping along the way to engage and interact with one of the animals or zoologists. The students knew their stuff and answered questions while providing a myriad of facts about their chosen creatures.

There were big cats, snakes, a koala, a flamingo, a whale, and even an anteater. Just about every animal one could think of, and a few perhaps one has never heard of, were represented at the zoo.

“We couldn’t be more proud, honestly,” said Radke, speaking on behalf of Kim Souza, Courtney Sheehan, and Mary Jane Menezes, the other three fourth-grade teachers.

This was the second year the Sippican School hosted a fourth-grade zoo, and hopefully, today’s third-graders will get their turn to go wild next year.

By Jean Perry

Some actions speak louder than words.

Jill Houck of Marion is about to make a bold move in support of kids battling cancer that most of us would consider kind of crazy – at first. But talk to Houck about why on Sunday she will allow someone to shave off her strawberry-blonde strands, and you will see that Houck is not just out to raise money for the support of children battling cancer by walking the traditional walk. She is making a sacrifice that will linger for longer than just one day.

In exchange for donations to benefit the children and their families touched by cancer, Houck promises to completely shave her head on June 8 during the Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off happening at Gillette Stadium.

Participants in the buzz-off raise money and have their heads shaved in honor of all children going through cancer treatment who did not choose to lose their hair, showing that bald really is beautiful – especially from the inside.

This move is just one for Houck in a year that she has dedicated to enriching her life through helping others.

“I’ve decided to do a year of service and trying to do better at giving back,” said Houck, who had her own brush with cancer over two years ago when she found a lump in her breast. “It led to a lumpectomy, but it ended up not being cancer … I was lucky.”

Houck wanted to set an example for her children by giving back to the community and demonstrating how thankful she is to be healthy.

“Healthy, and thankful, and grateful,” said Houck. “Those are powerful things.”

Houck learned about the Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off last year, and she said she felt tempted at the time to participate, later deciding to go for it this year and set a challenging goal of raising $800 for the cause. Houck has met her goal, raising $1,200, and still going.

“This is something simple that I can do, so I thought I’d do it,” said Houck. “There have been so many generous people so it’s great.”

Houck was hoping her children might be inspired by her bold move and willingly have their own heads shaved in solidarity, but they left it up to Mom who is preparing herself mentally for the first time she looks in the mirror on Sunday and witnesses a harsh reality that is part of the challenge of battling cancer for many people.

“I am a little bit nervous,” said Houck. “Mostly because people might think I’m sick. And I don’t want that.”

She said she has asked herself the question several times, “Can I be bald?”

But if there is a bright side, Houck will find it, and she pointed out that, hey – it is summer, and what better time of year to be bald?

“I feel like it’s a small price to pay,” said Houck, “compared to what all these kids have to go through.”

If you would like to support Houck by sponsoring her in the buzz-off, you can visit the event’s official webpage at www.buzzforkids.org, click on where it says, “Sponsor a Buzzee,” and enter Jill Houck in the individual search bar.

By Jean Perry

Last Friday, forty-six students from Old Rochester Regional High School spent the day in New York City. The group departed from the school at 6:30 am and arrived at the Museum of Natural History in NYC around 10:30 am. The students and chaperones enjoyed the museum’s abundance of exhibits before spending the remainder of the day in Central Park and Times Square.

“I think it’s very important to have education outside the classroom, and experience teaches,” said Merrideth Wickman, an English teacher and chaperone on the NYC trip.

The other chaperones agreed wholeheartedly. “When you get out into a world beyond our Tri-Town, it just opens your mind and you learn through osmosis,” said Nurse Kim Corazzini.

This is why the AFS club organizes a trip to NYC each year. With “just a taste” of the city, Corazzini says she hopes the students will feel more able to explore and learn on their own in the future.

This year, the senior class was invited on the trip along with AFS club members. On the ride home, many of the students expressed disappointment that they didn’t get to spend more time in the Museum of Natural History. Four hours simply wasn’t enough to see the ocean life exhibit, the African mammals exhibit, and everything in between.

These two examples of exhibits were among the students’ favorites. “The most memorable part would probably be going through the museum where all the taxidermy animals were, because they looked so realistic and in habitat,” said Nancy Pope, a senior student on the trip. “They did such a nice set up and you felt like you were with a living creature.”

Emily Hyde, another senior student, preferred the dinosaur exhibit. “I have not seen dinosaur bones before, so I really liked that experience,” she said happily.

One of the most interesting exhibits the group visited was the poison exhibit. The museum had elaborate displays, fascinating videos, and captivating speakers to describe the composition of poison and its uses throughout history. The exhibit also analyzed the use of poison in literature, covering everything from Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

            After exploring the Museum of Natural History, the group enjoyed a long walk through Central Park and into Times Square, where the students were given some free time to shop. Many students simply enjoyed walking through the streets, taking in the unique culture of the city life around them.

“My favorite part of [the trip] was probably when we were walking through Central Park,” said Cate Feldkamp, a sophomore student on the trip. “We started walking through the fashion district and we went over to Rockefeller Center. I thought that was really cool.”

While many students said the curious characters they saw in Times Square were their favorite part, Corazzini said she was just happy to get everyone on the bus at the end of the day. After a full head count, the trip was deemed a success.

In other news, Old Rochester Regional High School’s drama club held their annual cabaret and banquet this past weekend. Saturday’s cabaret was a night of talent, consisting of singing, dancing, and acting performances by student members of the club.

At Sunday’s banquet, every member of the cast and crew was recognized. Those who have participated in four shows earned their ORR letter and a drama club pin. Director Paul Sardinha announced that next fall’s show will be the radio version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” After a vote, the drama club selected “Sweeny Todd” as their 2015 spring production, pending approval by the school committee.

By Renae Reints