Lobster Dip for Special Olympics

Raymond is such a great place to live, not only for it’s natural beauty but also because it is a town filled with wonderful people who dedicate their time and energy to helping others. Seven teachers from the Jordan Small Middle School are such people. Team Raymond will be participating in the 21st Annual Lobster Dip by joining 300 others and jumping into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day to support the Maine Special Olympics. The team consists of Mr. Carter, Mr. Dionne, Mr. Fitch, Mr. Keller, Ms. Pratt, Mr. Schrkrioba and Mrs. Thornton. They will brave the freezing temperatures of both water and air as they take the plunge to raise money for this excellent program.

The Maine Special Olympics provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This gives them opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Special Olympics believes that through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities benefit physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually; families are strengthened, and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding people with mental retardation in an environment of equality, respect, and acceptance.

On New Year’s Day, I plan to stay warm, dry and dressed but will do my part to help by making a financial donation to this worthwhile cause. Please join me and support Team Raymond by making a contribution. Checks should be made out to Maine Special Olympics and mailed to: John Dionne, 39 B Mill Street, Raymond, ME 04071.

A special thank you and congratulations are in order to Team Raymond for dipping into the icy waters to help others.

Winter arrives with passion

The winter solstice, the moment when the sun is at its furthest distance away thus sitting lowest in the sky, occurred precisely at 7:04 a.m. on Dec. 21, but the dull, damp morning restricted the sun’s rays from our view. The solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year and is often equated with the start of new life. Many celebrate the return of light on this day, but for most, the solstice simply marks the beginning of winter, which arrived this year complete with nearly two feet of fresh snow.

Arriving only a week after the ice storm that left thousands in the dark, and two days after a storm that delivered eight inches of new snow, winter is definitely taking itself seriously. Although I recognize that the weather creates plenty of challenges, I am thrilled that it has arrived in all its glory. We now have an outdoor playground that lends itself perfectly to skiing, sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. We have made it through stick season, the dull time after the fragrant and beautiful days of fall. The rush and hassle of the holidays are behind us. Longer and lighter days are around the corner and opportunities to play outside are abundant. Instead of counting down the days until spring, I hope you discover the child in you and take time to go out to enjoy all that winter has to offer.

Happy New Year!

With the year quickly coming to an end and a new year right around the corner, most of us will take some time to reflect on what we have accomplished over the past year and what we still wish to do. Common goals such as improving our health, careers, and financial situations will top the lists. As I think back on 2008 and set goals for 2009, my focus is on the time I spent strengthening old friendships as well as building new ones. As we celebrate the arrival of the New Year, I prefer to think about all the wonderful moments I did experience rather than allowing my thoughts to dwell on what could have been, but was not. I look forward to another new year, one filled with new beginnings and discoveries as I continue on my path of deeper growth, learning and understanding of myself as well as those around me. Whatever your goals, dreams and wishes, I hope you all have a wonderful new year filled with good health, happiness and prosperity.