Running for ?Hacker’s Hill

The rain may have kept many away, but the first annual Hacker’s Hill Preservation Run/Walk was a huge hit. Held last Saturday, runners and walkers began the four-mile hilly race at the foot of Quaker Ridge Road near Cry of the Loon and made their way along the mostly-uphill course that ended atop beautiful Hacker’s Hill. They were greeted by volunteers cheering them on as they made their way up the final steep hill and then were treated to fresh fruit and gorgeous views as the clouds lifted and the mountain and lake vistas revealed themselves.

Mark McDougal of Naples flew over the course and finished with an astonishing time of 28.01. Maude Meeker, also of Naples, was the first place finisher in the women’s division and crossed the finish line with a time of 41:01. Both Mark and Maude are only 17 years old. Several runners from the other end of the age spectrum competed and I cannot express how inspired I was, especially with 76-year-old Chase Rand whose smile never left his face as he ran the entire course, including the final steep hill.

Winners were awarded a delicious home-baked pie generously donated by the Good Life Market in Raymond as well as a free entry to Loon Echo Land Trust’s annual Trek in September. More than a dozen of the other competitors received raffle prizes donated by local business.

This inaugural event was held to help preserve Hacker’s Hill but was such a big hit, it will definitely be an annual event. Loon Echo has recently sealed the deal and now owns this coveted piece of land which will forever be protected from development. The Trust does hold a sizable mortgage, however, so events like this will help pay that down. For more information on the Hacker’s Hill project or Loon Echo Land Trust in general, call 647-4352 or visit www.loonecholandtrust.org.

Village barbecue

What’s better than a barbeque on a warm summer evening, especially when you don’t have to cook? The infamous Raymond Village Community Church’s “Burgers, Brats and Dogs Barbeque” will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18, from 5-6:30 pm. at the church on Main Street. The menu will include charbroiled burgers and brats, fresh from the Raymond Meat Market and complete with all the fixings, hot dogs, fresh tangy coleslaw, spicy baked beans, sodas, bottled water, and a variety of home-made pies. Sit under the cool, comfortable picnic awning next to the church and listen to music from the 40s, 50s and 60s while you eat. As always, the price can’t be beat and take out orders are welcome. For more information, call the church at 655-7749.

Tent book sale

Don’t forget, it’s time for the Raymond Village Library’s first-ever huge end-of-summer Tent Book Sale. This event will be fun for the whole family and will be held on Sunday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Baked goods will be available for purchase, and there will be an activities table for tots to teens. Books of every type, including some rare finds as well as lots of children’s books and puzzles, audio books, music CDs and videos will be for sale at reduced prices. Look for the tent and balloons and get ready to take advantage of some incredible deals. For more information, call the library at 655-4283.

A Little Sebago history

Here’s an invitation to our summer visitors, all those who live on Little Sebago, or simply anyone interested in the history of the lake. The Windham Historical Society will present a program entitled “Little Sebago, A Forgotten Landmark” at the Windham Veterans Center in North Windham (behind Big Lots) on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. There is no fee, but donations are greatly appreciated. The program, presented by longtime historical society member Ray Philpot of North Windham, will explore how the lake levels and boundaries have changed over the years. The PowerPoint presentation will include early water levels, the two great floods that altered the landscape of the region, changing uses of the lake, as well as the formation of “Ditch Brook,” the southern exit of the lake. Early maps of the lake will be available. For more information, contact Dave Tanguay, vice president of the Windham Historical Society at dtanguay46@aol.com.

Free computer class

Last week, Patrick Therrien from the Maine State Library gave a presentation on the digital world of reading at the library, and he will be back at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29, to teach a two-hour introductory class on Basic Computer Skills. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn basic computer terminology and operating computer tasks and also gain an understanding of the Window’s interface and the Internet. Patrick will be bringing 10 laptops for your use. Since space is limited for this free program, please call the Raymond Village Library at 655-4283 or stop by to register as soon as possible.

Calling all Scouts

Summer may be ending, but the fun is just beginning. With the return to school comes the return of Cub Scout Pack 800 in Raymond, a vibrant, busy Pack with lots of activities planned for the coming year including a trailblazer day at Camp Hinds in October, the infamous Pinewood Derby in January, the Blue and Gold Banquet in March and this year’s overnight spring trip when the Scouts will go to Mt. Washington via the Cog Railway. And as always, there are plenty of camping events planned for Camp Hinds throughout the year.

The Scouting year will kick off on Monday, Sept. 10, with a Games and Introduction Night held at Jordan-Small Middle School for new Scouts. Join the boys from Pack 800 and Troop 800 as they kick off the 2012-2013 Scouting year with a night of fun and games. All boys from first through fifth grade are welcome to come see what Scouting can offer. Pack 800 includes boys from Windham, Casco and Naples as well, so don’t miss this opportunity to meet new friends and learn all about scouting while having fun. For more information, contact Adam Gaffen at adamgaffen@yahoo.com.

Copy the Story Link