Happy Halloween

Watch out for goblins and ghosts as you drive around this weekend. Halloween is here and kids will be making their way up and down the roads collecting their treats. The area in the village is the most popular haunting spot with houses decked out and children galore. Thank you to all who contributed candy to the residents in the village who receive up to 400 trick-or-treaters and thank you to the residents in the village who make this night fun and memorable. Before heading out to trick-or-treat, stop by the Raymond Village Library for a special Halloween story time at 4:30 p.m. Your child will enjoy listening to some festive stories before hitting the streets.

Haunted house

Do you enjoy a good scare? If so, while out trick-or-treating in the village, you won’t want to miss visiting the Raymond Fire and Rescue Association’s haunted house. Once again, they will be setting up their scary haunt on Halloween at the Public Works parking lot on Main Street from 5-9 p.m. It takes all my nerve to walk through this and honestly, I close my eyes and grip my kids’ hands much too tightly, but it is really fun and I encourage you to stop by. And be prepared, those dead bodies lying in caskets that look phony might just jump up and reach out for you.

Winter sports ?sign-up night

With temperatures dropping as quickly as the leaves, it is time to register your kids for winter sports. The Raymond Recreation Association will be holding its basketball and ski sign-up night on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 6-8 p.m. at the Jordan-Small Middle School. Both the student and a parent must be present at sign-up night.

Once again, a seven-week skiing program will be held on the slopes of Shawnee Peak and is offered to all students in grades 1-12. Raymond Elementary and Jordan-Small Middle School students will ski on Wednesday afternoons, and high school students will ski under the lights on Friday nights. Volunteers are needed for chaperoning the buses, transporting equipment, and instructing on the slopes.

All Raymond kids in grades 7-12, regardless of where they attend school, are encouraged to participate in the Friday night program. This is a great way to stay connected to your friends attending different schools. For more information, please contact Beth Clark at 627-8771 or LRPMCO@fairpoint.net or Shannon Nassa at 650-4526 or snassa76@gmail.com.

Basketball registrations will also be held that night for players in kindergarten through sixth grade. Three programs will be offered; a K-2 skills and drills coed program and separate boys and girls programs for grades 3-4 and grades 5-6. Volunteers are still needed to make this program run smoothly. Please stop by to learn how you can help. For further information on basketball, please contact Kevin McDonald at 655-4783 or kevin@raymondbaseballsoftball.com.

Winter gear sale

Of course, these winter sports are a lot of fun but require plenty of expensive clothing and equipment. Fortunately, Raymond Elementary School’s fourth-grade class will be holding a winter gear tag sale to help. This will be a great opportunity to outfit your family for the upcoming winter season at a very low price. The sale will be conveniently held on the same night as sports sign-ups: Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 5-7 p.m. at the middle school.

Not only is this a great opportunity to buy gear, but you can also take advantage of selling. Do you have outgrown winter gear that you no longer need? If so, please drop off your labeled and priced items (coats, boots, skis, poles, sleds, snowboards, skates, etc.) on Friday, Nov. 4, before 7 p.m. You will earn 50 percent of your total profit and 50 percent will go toward this year’s fourth-grade field trip. For more information, please contact Erika DuPont at edupont@windhamraymonschools.org?.

Time to vote

I have often said that I was raised to respect our country and taught to appreciate all the freedoms we have and so often take for granted. I clearly understand that the right to vote is a privilege for which others fought for diligently. I am always saddened that such a small number of people vote and even when there seems to be little on the ballot, I still do.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jordan-Small Middle School. Please take advantage of this privilege and take the time to vote. If you cannot attend the election, you can vote by absentee ballot. Simply call or stop by the Town Office to receive your ballot. According to new state law, absentee ballots must be issued no later than Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. and must be returned no later than Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.

Follow the yellow brick road

I love the theater and we are so fortunate to have so much talent right here in town with kids and adults working together to provide outstanding entertainment in many venues. With that in mind, I cannot wait for Windham High School’s fall musical which promises to be outstanding as always. This year, they will be presenting “The Wizard of Oz” and you won’t want to miss this fun and entertaining night full of your favorite songs from the original movie and a few surprises as well.

The cast includes over 40 talented student singers, dancers, musicians, and actors, including many from Raymond. Georgia Noonan stars as the perfect Dorothy, Brad Meader makes a funny Scarecrow and Casey Hutchinson is dazzling as Glinda the Good Witch. In addition, Emily Algeo, Jesse Catir, Jake Desjardins, Emily Gagne, Greg Meader, Marybeth Noonan, Parker Perkins, Maria Sepulveda and Stephen Sepulveda are all part of this outstanding cast and perform fabulously on stage. The fall musical is directed by Rob Juergens with musical direction by Dr. Richard Nickerson. Scott Gordon’s sets and Weslie Evans’ costumes are also nothing short of amazing.

Show dates are November 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 with Friday and Saturday shows at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows at 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $11 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the door or pre-ordered by emailing fallmusical@gmail.com or calling 893-1742. Come out and treat yourself to a memorable night of entertainment while supporting our local talent.