Pat Niboli has been named Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International’s Region 1 Volunteer of the Year for her work at Riding to the Top. With her is the Horse of the Year, 27-year-old Luke. Contributed / Riding to the Top

Volunteer extraordinaire

Windham resident Pat Niboli has been named Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International’s Region 1 Volunteer of the Year for her work at Riding to the Top. This is a prestigious honor as Region 1 consists of all of New England and the eastern maritime Canadian provinces.

Niboli has been a Riding to the Top volunteer for over 10 years. She is a passionate advocate for the organization, assisting in the barn, working lessons for both therapeutic horseback riding and carriage driving, exercising and training the horses, and she often takes the lead on fundraising efforts. She is also recognized for her kindness to others and her ability to recognize the best in everyone. Niboli’s dedication knows no bounds. She shows up through snowstorms and pandemics, and RTT Volunteer Coordinator Nick Doria notes, “Pat is always ready to lend a hand, wherever help is needed.”

But Niboli is not the only award recipient this year. Luke, a 27-year-old Haflinger Gelding who has been a member of the RTT herd for nearly 15 years, was named the Region 1 Horse of the Year. Luke is known for his calm and steady disposition. His versatility is matched with a larger-than-life personality that endears him to his riders, volunteers and instructors. According to Kristin Meaney, PATH International’s certified instructor and RTT equine manager, “Luke has given confidence and happiness to countless riders. This award is well deserved and we are proud of him!”

From here, Niboli and Luke and will join all the regional winners as they move on to the international competition. Winners will be announced in October.

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber welcomed new member NuLife Wellness Center, which offers regenerative and integrative therapies for a wide range of medical conditions, to the area with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in January. Contributed / Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce

Welcome NuLife Wellness Center

The Sebago Lakes Region Chamber welcomed new member NuLife Wellness Center to the area with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in January at the center’s location at 759 Roosevelt Trail. The business offers regenerative and integrative therapies for a wide range of medical conditions. The NuLife team works to give patients an alternative to the one-size-fits-all approach to health care. To learn more about this unique approach to wellness, call NuLife Wellness Center at 893-8918.

Calling senior artists

If you are 55-plus and enjoy creating works of art in oil or watercolor, the Windham Parks & Recreation department will be holding a painting contest during the month of March. The department will supply you with a canvas and paint as well, if needed. You can create your own masterpiece or, if you are a beginner, a paint-by-number option will be available. You can pick up your painting supplies at the Parks & Recreation office at 8 School Road. The contest runs from March 1 through April 2. If you just need a canvas to get started, there is no charge. If you need both a canvas and paint, the fee is $15. A paint-by-number set is also $15. When finished with your piece, bring your painting to the Parks & Recreation office and they will add it to the gallery they will be setting up in Town Hall. This is a nice way to bring beauty to others on these dreary and cold late winter days.

Meet the authors

Join the Windham Public Library from 7-8 p.m. Thursday, March 4, via Zoom for a conversation between author Susan Conley, who is launching her latest novel “Landslide,” and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo. Call Ray at the library at 892-1908 ext. 5 for the Zoom link.

Winter photo contest

Maine winters are beautiful with the ground covered with snow and the trees shimmering with ice. Children and pets enjoy frolicking in the snow, making for some priceless moments. If you have snapped the perfect photo capturing all of winter’s glory, this is your opportunity to share it with others. The Windham Parks & Recreation department invites you to take part in their winter photo contest. Submit photos in any one of four categories: family, nature, pets or youth photographer (for those under 18). Maximum of three entries per person per category. All entries must be submitted by March 15. Call the Parks & Recreation department at 892-1905 for more information.

Haley Pal can be contacted at haleypal@aol.com.