Hello Summer!

Summer is finally here and I would like to welcome all our visitors and seasonal residents. It’s good to have you back. I think it is fabulous that the place you call vacation, I get to call home. I hope you all enjoy the summer season in Raymond. If you haven’t already done so, pick up a copy of our new “Welcome to Raymond” brochure, which is available at the town office, library or just about any business located in Raymond. This brochure includes lists of places to visit, churches, businesses and other community resources.

Music Lives On

I am thrilled to congratulate Georgia Noonan, daughter of Tom and Jane Noonan, for receiving the Zach Smith Memorial Music Scholarship. Georgia will be attending Plymouth State University in New Hampshire to study Musical Education and Choral Director.

Georgia is a 2012 graduate from Windham High School where she was a member of the Windham Chamber Singers, most recently serving as assistant conductor, and she participated in many musical and drama performances through the years.

The Zach Smith Memorial Music Fund was created in honor of Zach Smith, a Raymond resident who had a passion for music before his untimely death at the age of 19. The fund provides scholarships to Raymond students pursuing post-secondary education in music. The fund also purchases and donates numerous instruments to help Raymond Elementary School and Jordan-Small Middle School students pursue music education regardless of their ability to afford an instrument.

Tolman Named Athlete of the Year

Congratulations are also in order for Zach Tolman, son of Jed and Kathleen Tolman, who just graduated from Hyde School and was named Male Athlete of the Year. Zach was captain of varsity football and varsity lacrosse and was selected as Most Valuable Player for both teams. This was his first year wrestling and he learned a lot from the experience. He was also a member of the Hyde Leadership Society, Dorm Captain, and he received Honorable Mention at the Baccalaureate ceremony for Honors Government. He had a great senior year and will be attending Springfield College in the fall to pursue a career in physical therapy/athletic training. Congratulations and good luck.

Hawthorne Week and Strawberry Festival

The Hawthorne Community Association is excited to present a Bicentennial Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 30 at the Hawthorne House located on Cape Road. The festival will start at 5:30 p.m. with special guest speakers, followed by dessert and social hour. A donation of $10 per adult or $5 per child 8 and under will include the world’s best homemade strawberry shortcake and beverages with all proceeds going to preserve and maintain this historic home. This year’s speaker is Gorham builder David Johnston who has repaired the Hawthorne House and will speak about trends in home building techniques over the last 200 years. David is a “Renaissance man” with interest and knowledge in a wide variety of topics. There will also be a mystery guest who will speak about what life was like in Raymond back when the Hawthorne House was still new, and this talk promises to be very entertaining. Please make your reservations before June 23 by contacting John Manoush at jmanoush@fairpoint.net or 655-7660.

The town of Raymond has designated June 24-30 as “Hawthorne Community Association Week,” in honor of the 200th birthday of one of the oldest and most historic homes in Raymond/Casco. The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1969. The Hawthorne House does not get any town, state or federal support or grants and is supported entirely through volunteer efforts and donations. Come out and enjoy this special event while supporting the Hawthorne Association.

Interact Club 5K

Calling all Raymond runners. The Windham High School Interact Club will be hosting a 5K road race on Saturday, June 23, at 8 a.m. at the high school track. The first 100 entries will receive technical T-shirts, and awards will be given to overall winners and age group winners. All proceeds from this race will go to local charities. There will also be a kids’ fun run starting at 7:45 a.m. featuring prizes. This race will be held in conjunction with the Windham Recreation Department’s Summerfest, and runners are encouraged to stay after the race and enjoy the Summerfest activities. Registration and more information can be found by visiting: www.windhamsummerfest.com.

Yoga Retreat

The Casco Recreation Department will present “Peace is Every Step,” on Saturday, June 24, from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Casco Community Center. This yoga retreat will be led by Debbie Goldstein and will begin with watching homage to one of the world’s great peace activists and Buddhists. “Medication in Action: The Life and Work of Thich Nhat Hahn” will be shown while participants enjoy a healthy cup of yogi tea and some other delicious snacks. Bring your yoga mat for an hour of yoga from 10-11 a.m. which will be followed by a 15-minute guided mediation. The retreat will finish with questions and a group discussion and costs only $10. For more information, contact Debbie at 693-5247 or debbiegoldsteinyoga@gmail.com

Changes at the library

After serving on the Raymond Village Library Board of Trustees as Treasurer for nearly 10 years, I have decided to step down; therefore, we are looking for someone interested in serving the library in this capacity. This volunteer position requires managing accounts payable and receivables as well as payroll and payroll taxes. If you have basic bookkeeping skills and a few hours you could donate to the community, please contact me at 655-4434 or cmeader1@yahoo.com.

Much bigger news is the retirement of long-time devoted director Barbara Thorpe. Barb will be finishing up her time with the library in early July, and I encourage you to stop by, thank her and wish her well. She will be missed very much. Sally Sambor-Holt, former teen librarian at the Auburn Public Library, has been hired to replace Barb and will start the first of July.

Georgia Noonan happily accepts the 2012 Zach Smith Memorial Music Scholarship, a huge honor she greatly deserves and will undoubtedly use to keep music alive. (Courtesy photo by Jane Noonan)