Beautifying the community
Jun. 15—WILLIMANTIC — With the next chapter of their lives around the corner, a small group of Windham High School seniors recently left a special mark on their community.
The students painted two murals on Main Street — one on an electrical box at Dairy Queen and another on the Trolley Pub building.
Windham High School art teacher Marisa Copley, who is in charge of the group, said the project shows that the students have pride in their community.
"They're using their skills to beautify their community and that's really important," she said.
The work was done by students in the "Art Out Loud" club at Windham High.
"Who better to do a picture of Willimantic than the kids who live here?" Trolley Pub owner Brian Pinchette, who grew up in Willimantic, said while viewing the mural. "I'm excited about it."
Pinchette and his business partner, Tim Bryant, enlisted the students to create a mural featuring several former Windham businesses and unique features of the town.
After about a week, students finished that mural on Monday, the day before their graduation.
"It was an amazing experience," Windham High senior Sheskalay Pastrama said. "Painting kind of relaxes me."
Copley said there are a lot of negative situations in the area to "combat," such as a recent incident involving young people who rode dirt bikes through the East Brook Mall.
The mural project, she said, is designed to bring some "light" to the community.
"I hear a lot of people complain so I try to find something good to redirect their conversation," Copley said.
The Trolley Pub owners bought paint from O.L. Williard Co., a hardware store on Valley Street in Willimantic. Pinchette said the business gave them a discount.
"It was a collective effort," he said, referring to the project.
Ideas for the mural at Trolley Pub came from the owners, who wanted the piece to feature several Windham landmarks.
Former businesses included in the mural are Benny's, a former hardware store in Willimantic, Gil's, a restaurant, and Nassiff's, a sporting goods store.
It also features the Windham Town Hall building, Trolley Pub, YMCA, O.L. Willard Co. and Bench Shop, as well as several frogs and whippets.
The frogs are a nod to the famous "Battle of the Frogs" legend.
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