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08/03/2008
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Staff photos by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
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State gains $85M in Homeland Security funds
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from the Morning Sentinel
"This is what makes it work," Constanzer said, taking a quick break from handing out car show ballots. "We just sort of wing it."
As hundreds turned out for the second day of China Community Days festivities on Saturday, Constanzer and Sheaff -- the car show co-organizers -- stood out as a sterling example of collaboration amid a number of activities that encouraged rivals to take out their aggression on each other in a safe, relaxed atmosphere.
Constanzer and Sheaff were making final preparations late Saturday morning at the festival's car show to collect and tally up the ballots that were to determine the voters' favorite vehicle from each era.
Spectators had approximately 40 cars from throughout the ages to choose from on Saturday, Sheaff said. While the number of participating cars dipped slightly from last year's show, Sheaff said, he was still enthusiastic about how the show was running.
"Right now, with the weather and the anticipation and everything, I think we're doing real well," he said as dark clouds loomed overhead.
At the dunk tank, the same could not be said for Justin Hebert and Peter Wilkens. The rivalry between the China Region Lakes Alliance colleagues was coming to a head.
When Wilkens, the organization's director, sat atop the water tank, Hebert tried his utmost to sink his boss. When the three softballs he threw missed their target, he ran up and pushed the target with his own hands to douse his superior.
"He needed to be dunked," Hebert joked. "From just having been in the water myself, I guess I needed to take it out on somebody."
Hebert had, minutes before, completed his time in the dunk tank hot spot.
Wilkens was taking his soakings in stride.
"It's actually quite warm for China Lakes water," he said.
And he did not appear worried about the stewing intra-office rivalry.
"I figured as much," Wilkens said of others' desire to dunk him, "because I'm the figurehead of an organization people use."
Beside the inflatable jousting bed, Kelly Halkyard, of Orlando, Fla., watched another rivalry play itself out as her two nephews from Chicago, Ill., went at each other with the rubber, body-size wands.
"They normally play around like this," Halkyard said of the two boys. "They're very competitive."
A few steps away from the jousting bed, 11-year-old Derick Dumont, of Albion, mustered all the strength he had to pound the hammer and ring the bell on the bell striker game.
He said he was having a good time of taking his aggression out on the contraption.
"It's just fun because you put all your strength on it," he said.
Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, Ext. 435
mstone@centralmaine.com
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