International Singing

Raymond resident Georgia Noonan will be a junior this September at Plymouth State University where she is part of the college’s elite Chamber Singers. The group goes on an international tour every three years and were able to tour Chile for two weeks this past May. The students flew to Santiago and spent three days exploring the city. From there they took a bus to Vin?a Del Mar and Valpariso and spent three nights in host homes. In those cities the singers went to elementary schools to give concerts and workshops with the children.

The trip then took them to Valdivia, which is in southern Chile. While visiting there they did workshops with students at the Universidad de Chile Valdivia and more elementary schools in the area. The final four nights were spent in Puerto Mont, which is very far south. The Universidad de Austral Puerto Mont paid for the group to stay in a nice bed and breakfast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Georgia is looking forward to another trip overseas during her senior year at Plymouth.

Summer Reading

The summer reading program for students continues at Raymond Village Library. The next activity will be held Wednesday, July 23, where kids can create a volcano and watch it explode. Activities are held outside the library at 10:30 a.m. If the weather decides not to cooperate the activity will be held at the Raymond Public Safety Building. The program is sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank.

Family Stargazing

A grant from Loon Echo Land Trust has made it possible to have two family stargazing nights on Hacker’s Hill on Quaker Ridge Road in Casco. The event is held in collaboration with the Casco Public Library and will be on Tuesdays, July 29 and Aug. 12.

Join Ed Gleason from the University of Maine Planetarium and David Manchester, a member of Southern Maine Astronomers, to view meteor showers and stars. For more information, call the Raymond Village Library at 655-4283 and wish for clear skies!

Successful Fundraising

Raymond Village Library wishes to thank all those who worked at organizing, arranging, pricing and making the annual plant sale happen. The selection was wonderful thanks to all those who contributed. A special thank-you to the Raymond Village Florist and Maple Springs Farm in Harrison for their generous donation of plants. Most of all, thank you to all those devoted gardeners who came and purchased flowers and plants. It takes all of these dedicated people to make this important fundraiser such a success.

The first annual Village Library Bazaar was also a huge hit. Library staff would like to extend a thank-you to the many wonderful crafters and the many volunteers, including the dedicated trustees, Phil and Emily Allen, who provided the live music, and Lisa Davison, who provided the ice cream machine and cotton candy maker.

RVL would especially like to thank the following Raymond businesses for their sponsorship and other organizations for their help. The bazaar was such a success it will be back again next year and likely become an annual event. Thanks also go out to sponsors The Good Life Market, Prime Cut Meat Market, Dunkin’ Donuts, Village Donuts, Chief Bruce Tupper, Louise Lester, Randy Crockett, Raymond Aubuchon, Danielle’s Diner, Raymond Service Center, Raymond Village Florist, Cherries on Top, Maggie’s Hair Salon, A Little Bit of This & That, Jordan Bay Animal Hospital, Fisherman’s Catch, Tassel Top Beach, Hilltop Mini Mart, Angel Nails, Chipman Farms, Essentials, Ray’s Barber Shop, Cricket’s Corner, The Shop, A la Mexicana and The Mosquito.

Park Passes

Thanks to the support of generous library patrons, the Raymond Village Library has purchased a community pass to the Maine Wildlife Park.

The pass is available by request at the library. It is recommended that you ask in advance of the day you wish to visit as the pass can just be used by one party at a time.

Must-See Concert

Pianist Daniel Strange and his wife violinist Ashley Liberty will be in concert, Sunday, July 20, at 2 p.m. The concert will be held at Raymond Village Community Church at 27 Main St. (Route 121 just off Route 302), in the Raymond Village. Daniel and Ashley are regular performers with the annual Windham Chamber Singers Am Fam Concert held during the holiday seasons. The opportunity to see them at this nice small venue is a must. All seats are $15. For tickets or more information, call 939-7947.

Georgia Noonan is pictured with children of Chile during her May visit to the South American country with her singing group from Plymouth State College.