Lemonade for Winter

      A Portland girl is selling lemonade at various locations, including the Tractor and Engine Show this August, for a good cause.

      Leah Hummel, 10, lit up as she explained her plans of helping

“Winter,” a dolphin in Clearwater, Fla., by selling lemonade and bottled

water for a second time. Winter is the star of “Dolphin Tale,” a movie

depicting the struggle of a young dolphin that lost her tail; Winter

receives a prosthetic replacement through the help of strangers.

     Leah played “Dolphin Tale” at the show last year in an effort to let

people know about Winter’s story as she sold lemonade in 3-ounce

cups for $0.25. Hummel said she just wanted to make $20 and she

would be happy. Raising $85 in a few days, the total donation was

brought up to $111. Roughly 340 cups of lemonade were sold and the

remaining $26 came from Hummel’s family when they arrived in

Florida.

     Jennifer Hummel, Leah’s mother, said her daughter wanted to hand-

deliver the donation to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where Winter

calls home.

     The CMA staff invited Leah and her family to the aquarium that day

for free. Leah was able to see Winter, who waved at her.

Sights set higher, Leah hopes to raise even more for Winter this year

by selling a larger cup of lemonade for a slightly higher price. Also, for

her birthday in October, she has asked friends and family to make

donations for Winter instead of receiving gifts.

     Hummel had been interested in dolphins when she learned about

them in school, but they soon became her favorite animal when she

watched “Dolphin Tale.” Hummel decided immediately that she

wanted to sell lemonade and donate all of her earnings to help Winter

     “I would say, just from an outside view, she’s become more

environmentally aware … I’m proud of her,” Jennifer said.

     On Friday, Aug. 23, Hummel will be moving her lemonade stand to a

friend’s house, 169 W. Golf Brook Dr., Portland, and on Saturday, Aug.

24, Hummel plans to sell lemonade at her home at 1108 W. High St.,

Portland.