Winning the gold

I recently wrote about the incredibly talented 23-year old Amanda Scripture who had been chosen to participate on the USA Cheerleading All-Girl Team, a well-deserved honor. She joined a 30-member squad comprised of people from all over the country and spent the past few weeks training in Louisville and then competing in the World competitions in Orlando. I am thrilled to report that Amanda has returned home as a USA World Cheerleading Champion, an experience she described as “the biggest best day of my life. Hands down.”

She was an excellent gymnast at a very young age and has spent her life learning and perfecting her skills. Having dreamed of winning the gold for years, this past month has been a whirlwind of life-changing experiences as her dreams were unfolding.

Because her coaches quickly noticed that she was a hard worker who embodied this experience and understood the importance of it, Amanda was named the team’s captain and spokesperson. In addition to granting interviews, she has also been selected to appear in an upcoming issue of “Inside Cheerleading” magazine. You can visit Varsity.com and watch the interview she gave as well as videos of her performing.

Never giving up on her dreams, she is a true inspiration to all of us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the summary of her experience and want to share her closing thoughts. “It’s true- if you want something bad enough and you work hard and push yourself to achieve it, it will happen! One of my favorite quotes hangs right above my computer- ‘If there is no passion in your life then have you really lived? Find your passion whatever it may be. Become it and let it become you, and you will find that great things happen for you, to you, and because of you.'”

This is wonderful. Congratulations, Amanda!

Audio library

One of the most rapidly increasing forms of media is audio books. People are listening to books of all types while multitasking or during their long commutes. I am very excited to announce that the Raymond Village Library has recently become a member of Maine InfoNet Download Library, a service which allows you to download audio books to your personal computer, transfer them to an MP3 player, or burn selected titles onto a CD for listening on the go. Not only is this service easy and convenient to use, but it is also completely free. Simply go to download.maineinfonet.org to check out the large and growing number of selections available. Once you have downloaded the free software, you can enter your library number and begin using the service immediately.

Pilates on the beach

Pilates is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise, and it’s a safe, sensible exercise system that will help you look and feel your very best by improving core strength, flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can also help alleviate back pain and other chronic ailments.

What better way to experience Pilates than surrounded by the beauty of Sebago Lake. Classes are now beginning and will be held at Tassel Top Beach Monday and Friday mornings at 10 a.m., as well as Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., just in time to enjoy the sunset.

There is a $15 fee per session which will help to support the beach. Space is limited so reserve your spot by calling 653-9922 or by e-mailing jannaj711@yahoo.com.

Register to swim

Summer is rapidly approaching, and it will not be long before the Raymond Recreation’s “Every Child a Swimmer” swim program begins. This is an excellent program for swimmers 5 and older and is held Monday through Friday during the month of July at Crescent Beach. Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor Jessie Howard is returning for her third summer to help make your children better swimmers. Registration will be held Thursday, May 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jordan Small Middle School. For more information, please call Pat Smith at 655-4657.

Sparks Ark

Do you ever wonder how a skunk sprays or why owls spew up pellets? Come find out at the upcoming Nature Program scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 at 2 p.m. at the Raymond Village Library. Sparks Ark is a fascinating, fun and very entertaining program delivered by David Sparks. A former Animal Control Officer in Westbrook, Sparks now has his own business rehabilitating and taking care of injured wildlife. He will bring some of his live animal friends for you to see up close, he will tell humorous stories of his experiences with them, and he will share interesting facts about their habits and habitats. This program is made possible by a grant from Raymond Village Library partner Cornerstones of Science, a science literacy initiative. Please call the library at 655-4283 to register your child for this program.

School Budget Meeting

It seems like just yesterday we attended Town Meeting and debated at length the town and school budgets, the latter which was rejected and required revisions and a separate vote. A year has passed already, and it’s that time of year again. However, due to our recent consolidation with Windham, the process will be different this year.

The state’s new consolidation law requires a two-step process for the budget: a Budget Meeting and a Validation Referendum vote within 14 days after adoption. The Budget Meeting will be held May 27 at 6 p.m. at the Windham High School auditorium. With so many changes, it is imperative that town residents attend and vote on the Windham-Raymond school district budget.

The Budget Validation Referendum will be held Tuesday, June 9, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jordan Small Middle School. There will be only one question on the validation ballot. A “yes” vote will indicate approval of the school budget and a “no” vote will send the entire budget back to the school board for revision, and this process will be repeated until a budget is validated at a referendum election.