On Friday September 27, sixty five middle schoolers walked from Patania/Ryerson Middle School to Main Street, Lincoln Park, to paint fall themed designs on participating store windows. A contest was involved with prizes given to the top three winners. This year the contest occurred the day before the town’s Lincoln Park Day Festival which took place on Saturday September 28.

Local businesses sponsor the event and cover the cost of the T-shirts (which get plenty of painted designs on them too), Wayne Auto, Robbins Ice, Dr Jeff Falduto, Shop Rite Liquors, State Farm, Fixins BBQ & Biscuits, Lincoln 1st Bank and Darmofalski Engineering covered the cost of paints, brushes supplies and T-shirts (printed by Main St business; Riola Design). A&A Fine Foods donated water bottles for all, and the DPW will come after 2 weeks and power wash the paint off. Some impressive talent is displayed each year and several businesses like to keep the designs up through Halloween.

Superintendent Jim Grube viewed the painting in progress, all under the watchful eye of coordinator and Art Teacher, Jolene Gibbs Dempski. The Lincoln Park Police similarly escort the students to and from the school and keep traffic at a respectful pace during the painting. Many smiles are seen on the faces of passing motorists and pedestrians. It is a high energy event filled with youthful exuberance.

The Boro Offices are grateful for the support of all those participating businesses, and for the judges, and especially for the students and chaperones who make magic with paint and water. Teacher Jolene Gibbs Dempski and Principal Mike Meyer get the kids fired up and make it all happen.