First In Our Books

Congratulations to Marybeth Noonan for placing First Runner Up in the 2015 Miss Maine Pageant. In addition she also won the People’s Choice award, via audience vote, and the Steven Jenson award, which is given to the contestant whoo best exemplifies the ideals of Miss Maine. These include cooperation, enthusiasm, a positive attitude and the ability to get along with others. She was chosen by the production and hostess committee for this award.

All competitors complete an interview with a panel of judges, swimsuit competition and a talent portion, evening gown and on-stage question. For talent, Marybeth performed a tap dance to the overture for “Chicago.”

All competitors are also required to have a platform. Marybeth’s is “Be Their Voice” and is concerned with raising money for childhood cancer research and providing assistance to those affected by pediatric cancer. She has raised more than $1,000 this year and also visits children in hospitals and Camp Sunshine dressed as Elsa from the movie, “Frozen.”

As first-runner-up she was also awarded the title of Miss Maine’s Sweetheart and will compete in a national pageant, Miss America’s Sweetheart in Illinois this September. All 50 states will be represented.

Marybeth was awarded a $2,000 scholarship for her studies at Lyndon State College where she will be returning in September as a junior.

Academic Accomplishment

Congratulations to the following students at Jordan Small Middle School for making the second trimester Honor Roll:

Grade 5

Isabel Adkins, Olivia Adkins, Oliver Backman, Ashley Bell, Emily Bisnette, Logan Campbell, Declan Connor-Schaefer, Mackenzie Daigle, Isabel Dionne, Raymond Dulac, Christian Ferrante, Amanda Foss, Dakota Foss, Aubrey Froisland, Emma Furey, Lucas Gaudin, Samuel Gurney, Hannah Hannes, Sarah Hare, Kaylee Lacasse, Cameron Landry, Sydney Look, Elizabeth Miller, Colby Mizner, Torin Moore, Alice Morrison, Lily Oldershaw, Shae Perratto, Eli Rogers, Emma Rothrock, Alexander Swindler, Sadie Tirrell, Nicholas Vella, Ellie Wilson, Alex Wing.

Grade 6

Keegan Aycock, Liliana Beaton, Dawson Benoit, Alec Brooks, Keegan Brooks, Dominick Campbell, Molly Cochrane, Makenna Colby, Caleb Crockett, Connor Daigle, Kayla Dube, Shyler Fielding, Louden Greene, Niall Gushue, Niklas Lessard, Riley McClure, Reese Merritt, Meghan Messinger, Mia Mizner, Trevor Mizner, Vania Murch, Claire Nelson, Elizabeth Peterson, Jayson Plummer, Nathan Plummer, Aaron Rhoades, Boden Sabasteanski, Caden Theriault, Fritz Van Winkle, Kiana Webster, Kaylee Welch, Ember Young.

Grade 7

Hailey Applebee, Mya Bolk, Savanna Bradford, Benjamin Childs, Michaela Clark, Liam Conner-Schaefer, Biaggio Cushman, Kaleb Decker, Callie Fielding, Ivan Kaffel, James Louko, Lindsey MacDonald, Joshua Marquis, Calum Murray, Caitlyn Nassa, Rainey Pawlowski, Sophey Potter, Brooke Proctor, Kylie Rhoades, Riley Silvia, Austyn Steeves, Isabelle Thomas, Leah Walker, Chelsea Welch, Whitney Wilson.

Grade 8

Hannah Bernier, Magdalene Bradford, Courtney Brown, Blake Colby, Colby Dionne, Elizabeth Donahue, Haley Froisland, Riley Gardner, Sophie Gardner, Danielle Gaudin, Kaitlyn Gedicks, Madison McCune, Justus Pawlowski, Carlee Richmond, Sophie Sangster, Grace Schmader, Victoria Schmader, Alianah Timmons, Stearns Wallingford, Andrew Wing, Deven Young.

PTO Needs Your Help

The Raymond Schools’ PTO is looking for a few wonderful volunteers to be on the board for the next two years. All positions are available. The PTO organizes many activities during the year including holiday party, teacher appreciation days, fun field trips, world community arts day, box tops scholarships for college, plus many others. If interested, please email raymondschoolspto@gmail.com or attend the May 12th meeting at Jordan-Small Middle School at 6:30 p.m. Voting will take place.

Maine Author Series

Award-winning mystery and true crime writer Kate Flora is the author of 14 books, including the true crime story “Death Dealer” and the novel “And Grant You Peace,” both released in the fall of 2014. Her book, “Finding Amy” (true crime), co-written with a Portland, Maine deputy police chief, was a 2007 Edgar Award nominee. Kate’s other titles include the Tea Kozak mysteries and the starred-review Joe Burgess police series, the third of which, “Redemption” won the 2013 Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.

Kate will speak at the Raymond Village Library next week on the intriguing back story of mystery and true crime writers. She will also address how the process of writing about the real world of true crime can in turn influence fiction. The public is invited to this free presentation on Wednesday, May 13, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Raymond Village Library. Please call 655-4283 or email sally.holt@raymondvillagelibrary.org to reserve your seat.

Maine Wildlife Park Pass

Thanks to a generous donation from ECS Inc., a community pass to the Maine Wildlife Park is available for all Raymond Village Library patrons to use. By using the pass each member of the group (no more than seven people) will just be charged $3 each. This is a substantial savings for a family or group. The park has more than 30 species of native wildlife on display. The moose, bears, lynx, cougar eagles, owls, and foxes are especially popular. There are wildlife gardens, nature trails, a fish hatchery and other interactive exhibits and displays. The park is open daily through Nov. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; visitors must leave the premises by 6 p.m. It is a wonderful place to visit, bring a picnic and spend the day! 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.

Mills Street Boat Launch

A huge thank-you to Peter Walton for taking the time to clean the Mill Street boat launch and swimming area.

He has raked the area, moved rocks, hung new rope swings, picked up trash and debris as well as loose branches and trees that had fallen. The area looks beautiful and is ready for the fishing, boating and swim season.

He has put many hours into cleaning it and continues to visit it regularly to keep it looking nice. I am asking for those of us that visit and use that area to help keep it looking nice. Please take your trash out with you including your cigarettes butts and returnables. If we all do this, the area should remain nice for the summer. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and help.

Marybeth Noonan earned first-runner-up for the 2015 Miss Maine Pageant.Photo courtesy of Jane Chipman Noonan