Tigers, Wolves and Bears Oh My

If you missed the informational night and registrations for Cub Scouts, it is not too late to join. Raymond Pack 800 is a very strong Cub Scout pack and they are currently looking for all boys interested in joining the program. Cub Scouts is a multi-year program for boys from first through fifth grades, running from Tiger Cubs to Webelos and on into the adventures in Boy Scouts. Come explore the activities they have planned for 2011-2012 including an overnight at Sebago Lake State Park, the ever-popular Pinewood Derby, and an overnight spring trip to Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts. In the summer, boys enjoy a week-long day camp, an overnight Fun Pack Weekend, and a four-day/three-night Webelos Camp which all take place at Camp Hinds right here in Raymond.

This is a fun and life-changing program and all age-appropriate boys are welcome to join. Den meetings are held on Monday nights and the first den meeting will be held this Monday, Sept. 19, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Jordan-Small Middle School. I encourage you to attend simply to learn more about what Scouting is about and enjoy some time with friends. The first big trip of the year will be an overnight camping trip to Sebago Lake State Park on the last weekend of September and kids will need to be signed up in advance.

For more information, contact Committee Chairman and Tiger Den Leader Adam Gaffen at 627-3324 or adamgaffen@yahoo.com.

American Family Holiday

It is technically still summer, but the cooler temperatures are a reminder that the holiday season will be upon us soon, and it is time to mark your calendar for the Windham Chamber Singers’ infamous holiday concert.

“An American Family Holiday” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, with shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The Windham Chamber Singers is conducted by Dr. Rick Nickerson and consists of 40 of Raymond and Windham’s top notch singers who attend Windham High School. Once again, they will be joined by the incredibly talented and entertaining Daniel Strange and Ashley Liberty and this year, Broadway star Norm Lewis will also be performing. Granted, I have a son in the choir and am biased, but this concert truly is amazing and always moves me to tears. It is the perfect way to kick off the holidays and I hope you will attend.

Tickets for this year’s performances will go on sale on Oct. 3 at 8 a.m. and are expected to sell out within two weeks. Don’t miss out, call 892-1810, ext. 275 to purchase your tickets then get ready to sit back and enjoy.

Pretty as a picture

My parents save everything and still have stacks of outdated magazines, telephone books, volumes of encyclopedias and every town report ever issued. I still enjoy spending time browsing through those old town reports and looking at the photos to see how the town in which I grew up has grown and changed. Town Clerk Louise Lester is gathering photos for the 2011 Raymond town report and needs your help. Raymond is such a picturesque town. If you have any photos you would like to submit which could be featured in the town report, please submit them by Oct. 1. You may bring them to the town office or simply email them to her at louise.lester@raymondmaine.org.

Play hockey

I was fortunate to grow up in an area similar to ours with an abundance of lakes and hills. Those lakes froze in the winter and I would don my skates, glide and twirl while dreaming of becoming the next famous Olympic figure skater. The neighborhood boys startled me from my dream with the slap of their hockey sticks and soon, we were all engrossed in backyard game of hockey. Now, hockey is such a popular sport and Windham will have a team in the Southern Maine Middle School Hockey League this winter beginning in November. This program will be open to all sixth- through eighth-grade students from Windham, Raymond and Sacopee Valley.

An informational session for players and parents will be held in the Windham High School cafeteria on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. where you will receive details about the upcoming season, have a chance to meet the coaches, and ask questions. There will also be a player’s assessment on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine ice arena for all skaters interesting in playing on the team. The cost of the season is $225 per player, plus optional practices. If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please contact Steve Pock at pockst@roadrunner.com.

Golf tournament

The cooler sunny weather is perfect for playing golf and there are still spaces left in the upcoming golf tournament. The Windham High School Class of 2012 Project Graduation will be holding a scramble/best ball golf tournament on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m. at the Naples Country Club. The entry fee of $100 includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, dinner, generous prizes which will be awarded and raffled, and of course, the great feeling you get from playing the game while helping our upcoming seniors have a safe and fun graduation event. Form a team of four people or enter alone and they will add you to a team. For more information, contact Jon Cummings at 329-8729 or Jim Cummings at 310-8818.