September ?at the Library

There are a lot of things happening at the Raymond Village Library. The American Library Association has deemed September as Library Card Sign-Up Month, and the Raymond Village Library wants to be sure your family has a library card. Studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning. Kids can go to the library to get homework help and borrow books, and they can also check out music, DVDs and use the Internet all for free. The Raymond Village Library encourages everyone to take advantage of this reminder, especially at the start of the new school year. A library card can be the most important school supply of all and costs absolutely nothing. New residents and those who have not been in for a while are also invited to stop in for a card.

Did you know the library is now on Facebook? To find out about upcoming children’s and adult programs, events and other tidbits of information at the library, simply “like” the Facebook page at Raymond Village Library. If you do not belong to Facebook, you can access it on www.facebook.com/RaymondVillageLibrary.

Also, story time has begun again and takes place on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. The Children’s Room will host this special weekly event which will be a special, informal gathering where babies and toddlers can share library books and toys, and parents can meet other parents. The Children’s Room will be set up with books, interactive toys, puzzles, a playhouse and crawl-through tubes. Treat yourself and your child to a wonderful, fun time with other parents and youngsters every Monday at 10:30.

The library is open on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Stop by or call 655-4283 for more information.

American Family Holiday

It is difficult to believe but the holiday season will be upon us before we know it, and it is time to mark your calendar for the Windham Chamber Singers’ much-loved holiday concert. “An American Family Holiday” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1, with shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The Windham Chamber Singers are conducted by Dr. Rick Nickerson and consists of 40 of Raymond and Windham’s top-notch singers who attend Windham High School. Once again, they will be joined by the incredibly talented and entertaining Daniel Strange and Ashley Liberty, And this year, the special guest star will be American Idol finalist, LaKisha Jones. This concert truly is amazing and always moves me to tears. It is the perfect way to kick off the holidays and I hope you will attend. Tickets for this year’s performances will go on sale on Monday, Oct. 1, at 8 a.m. using a new digital ticketing service. Patrons can now choose and purchase their specific seats from their computer.

In addition, the Windham Chamber Singers will be appearing as special guests this year at the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s Magic of Christmas concerts at Merrill Auditorium. Tickets are now on sale at www.porttix.com. What a great start to their 25th anniversary year.

Roast Beef Anyone?

They Raymond Village Community Church is hosting its fall roast beef supper on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 5-6:30 p.m. The menu boasts tender, succulent pot roast, “to-die-for gravy,” creamy mashed potatoes, veggies, rolls, beverages and a large selection of homemade pies. The cost is only $8 per person, $5 for children and take-out orders are welcomed. If the weather is nice, you can sit outside under the comfortable picnic shelter and listen to music. Joe Foran says, “Those suppers used to draw over 200 people and the Church’s gravy recipe was so highly regarded that people would leave without eating if we ran out of gravy. We’re using the “original recipes” and hope to begin to draw those kinds of crowds again.” So, let it be known, the original recipe is back and you won’t want to miss this supper. For more information, contact Polly Dyer at 892-4301.

Take a Hike

With cooler temperatures and slight color on the trees, it did not surprise me at all to see the parking lot of Rattlesnake Mountain overflowing with cars this weekend. September is a wonderful time to go for a hike and we are so fortunate to have this mountain in our backyard. The Bri-Mar trail is a family-friendly, one-mile hike which provides gorgeous views of the lakes and surrounding hills, and I highly recommend it. The Huntress family, who own this piece of land, enjoys sharing it with the public but have reminded us to please be respectful and adhere to the rules posted at the trailhead. It is a privilege to be allowed on the trail and to enjoy this gem in our town.

And don’t forget, we now have another trail in town, and all members of the community are encouraged to use this new trail. The Frog Pond Trail is easily accessible from the Raymond Elementary School parking lot. While not on a mountain, this trail offers a sense of peace and serenity as you walk through the woods and around the pond. Fitness stations are being built and all this is all the result of a grant the school received last fall to enhance physical activity.

Vote for Camp Sunshine

Camp Sunshine has been nominated for the Chase Community Giving program. The top 196 charities with the most votes will win between $10,000 and $250,000. Voting has begun and will continue until Sept. 19. Please take a moment to vote and ask your friends to do the same. Chase customers can vote by logging in with their account information. Facebook users can vote on Camp Sunshine’s Chase Community Giving Facebook page. Chase customers that are Facebook users can vote twice. By taking a minute to click a few buttons, you could help make a huge difference. Given Camp Sunshine’s large constituent base and national reach, they have a solid shot at winning a substantial donation, but to be successful, they need our support so vote today.