Maine Softball Champions

The Rayham Mayhem is a Raymond Little League team comprised of seven Raymond students and five Windham students who have worked together to become the 2014 Maine State Champions in the Juniors Softball League. They will be representing Maine in the Junior League Regional Championship in West Haven, Conn., the weekend of Aug. 1 playing in double elimination. The tournament consists of teams from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania with the winner advancing to Kirkland Washington and representing the East for the Junior League World Series.

The team is coached and supported by three fathers of the players. Prior to becoming champions in Maine they won nine straight games. Over the last three games they outscored their opponents 58-7. This is the second season for the Rayham Mayhem. The team was started by Joe Troiano last year to give his daughter and the other girls in the community more opportunity to play softball and improve their game. Last year they were state runners-up and have made it to the regional tournament in only their second year together. The team is sponsored by Mike Meyer of Island Cove Building and Development.

Outside Movie Night

The upcoming eighth grade will be starting their fundraising efforts with an outdoor movie night on Friday, Aug. 15, starting at 7 p.m. Movies shown will be rated G “Frozen” followed by “Meatballs” starring Bill Murray which is rated PG. Admission is $5 with all proceeds going to support the JSMS class of 2015 graduation celebration in May. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and bug spray. Refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase. Rain date is Aug. 16. FMI or to make a donation, contact Brenda Dionne at 615-2379.

Raymond Village Library

As part of the summer reading program, the Raymond Fire Department will present a Fire Safety Program outside the Raymond Village Library at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, Family Star Gazing Night will occur after dark on Hacker’s Hill, off Quaker Ridge Road in Casco. Join Ed Gleason from the University of Southern Maine’s planetarium and David Manchester, a member of Southern Maine Astronomers, who will be available for help and to answer questions. We are all wishing for beautiful clear skies to view the meteor showers and gaze at stars.

This summer’s reading program will end on Sunday, Aug. 17, with a Dog Safety Program at 10:30 a.m., outside the library, followed by a party with games and prizes.

RVL wishes to thank the Gorham Savings Bank for sponsoring the Summer Reading Program and the Loon Echo Trust, which made the star gazing program possible.

In case of inclement weather, the library programs will be held at the Raymond Public Safety Building. For more information, call the Raymond Village Library at 655-4283.

Annual Book Sale

The book sale, which began in July, will be ending on Sunday, Aug. 24. Until then, the library is filled with books of all kinds. There are books for light beach reading, some recent fiction, great non-fiction and classics to add to your collections, as well as cookbooks, books on gardening, sewing, carpentry, as well as children’s books for all ages. Be sure to come in often because we receive new items throughout the sale.

Book Group

The book group will meet at the library on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. to discuss the novel, “The Burgess Boys,” by Maine author Elizabeth Strout.

This is a novel of family relationships and the effect of guilt and redemption. It is a novel of character rather than plot. It is also a novel whose beautiful prose is to be savored and enjoyed. The book is available upon request at the library. For more information, call the library at 655-4283.

Help Your Library

One way to financially benefit your library is to pick up the green Clynk bags available at the desk (ask for them if you don’t see them) and fill them with your recyclable cans and bottles. Once filled, just bring them into the local Hannaford Supermarket. The library will receive the money from the deposit to benefit the library’s material and services.

Rayham Mayhem are the Maine State Champions in the Junior Softball league. Pictured from left in front is Maddy Mooradian, Carlee Richmond. Second row, from left, are Joe Troiano, Jessie Meyer, Suzanna Butterfield, Kora Hunter, Lauren Talbot, Alex Morang, Taylor Tibbetts, Katelyn Troiano, Dani Tardiff and Megan Joy.  Back row, from left, are Travis Demmons, Pat Tardiff and Todd Hunter.