Student ski season

The Windham/Raymond 2021 Alpine Ski team included, from left, Isabella Messer, Jaden Kennedy, Lydia Marden, Ashten Golebiewski, Wesley Theriault, Nick Davenport, Tuckerman Roy, Preston Stretch (back), Riley Brooks (front), Carter Engleman, Olivia Smith and Abbie Dumont. Contributed / Karyn McMullin

Dinner is served

Raymond Village Community Church will begin holding its Pot Roast Suppers beginning May 8.

The same good food will be served: pot roast and gravy, potatoes, green beans, carrots, a roll and a brownie for $12. Meals will be takeout only. RVCC is taking orders for meals for pickup between 5 and 6:30 p.m. Cash or checks only. Order in advance by calling the RVCC office at 655-7749 or email office@rvccme.org with name, number of meals and time of pickup.

Stress-reducing series

EmpowerME will be holding its next session in a series on health empowerment from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 21. The program is entitled “Overcoming Stress Through Art.”

Today’s culture has created heightened anxiety, depression and stress for students of all ages. As a result, self-medication, substance misuse, suicide and other adverse ways of coping are at an all-time high. With this in mind, the session includes a 50-minute program examining the life of Vincent Van Gogh and how he used art to overcome adversity through expression.

Attendees will create a piece of art using color, stroke patterns and other techniques to create their own expression. An RSVP is required through director@betheinfluence.org.

Burn permit information

Open burning permits may be issued for fires after 5 p.m., depending on the fire danger classification, according to the town. The exception is day burning, which may be allowed if it is raining.

The time of year allows for rapidly changing conditions and fire spread due to dry and dead plant material, winds intensifying and lower humidity during the day, allowing fires to escape. After 5 p.m., winds typically die down and humidity rises, making it safer to burn with a lower risk of spread. This typically ends at the end of May when the environment greens up.

Virtual book club

Join Raymond Village Library for a virtual literary discussion of “The Other Einstein” by Marie Benedict at 6 p.m. Monday, April 26, via Zoom. Contact the library, or Melanie, the book club facilitator, at mechampn@outlook.com for Zoom meeting web link and password.

Summer park memberships

Opening day at Tassel Top Park is set for May 29. Season memberships are now available to purchase online at raymond.recdesk.com by clicking on the membership button, creating an account and following the steps to register. An emailed receipt will be sent with information on the upcoming season. For additional information, contact Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker at joseph.crocker@raymondmaine.org or 655-4742.

Town scholarships deadline

The deadline for Raymond town scholarships is April 30. For more information, contact Town Clerk Sue Look at 655-4742 ext. 121 or visit raymondmaine.org/town-office/town-clerk/town-scholarships. Applications can be mailed to Sue Look, Town of Raymond, 401 Webbs Mills Road, Raymond, ME 04071.

Alissa Messer can be contacted at alissamesser@gmail.com.