Dancer’s Dream

It was a dream and honor for Emma Dyer to dance for and meet Mia Michaels, most known for her choreography on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Emma recently competed a solo contemporary piece at the “Jump” dance competition in Rhode Island where she not only scored well but met Mia Michaels, who was one of the judges and took time to have her picture taken and talk with Emma about her performance and dance dreams.

Emma is 12 years old and a dancer at CenterStage Performing Arts in Raymond where she trains many hours a week in Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop and Contemporary. She is part of their repertory team and this was her sixth competition this season. Emma is hoping to pursue a career in dance some day.

Aging Issues

The Raymond Village Community Church (UCC) invites everyone with an interest in, or directly experiencing, the issues of aging to come to a screening of segments of aging-related films followed by facilitated small-group discussions, on Sunday, June 7, from 4-6:30 p.m. in the Church Vestry, 27 Main St., in Raymond Village Center. Snacks will be served.

“Too often, conversations about aging are dry, analytical, and disconnected from the basic humanity of everyone affected,” says RVCC pastor Nancy Foran. “But films such as the acclaimed Canadian feature; “Still Mine,” bring us face-to-face with aging in a vivid, emotionally powerful way. My intent is to have the film segments we screen catalyze deeper and more human discussions about aging, a major issue of our time.”

Foran hopes to attract an audience of people 60-plus, older and younger family members, caregivers, those experienced in issues of caring for our elderly and those who know that someday they might be caregivers. “That would include just about all us,” comments Foran.

In addition to the remarkable “Still Mine,” the screening may include segments of films such as “On Golden Pond” and “Driving Miss Daisy.”

“Still Mine” is a critically acclaimed film recounting the true story of an elderly Canadian couple as they strive to maintain their dignity and independence in the face of early-stage Alzheimer’s and a battle with an over-reaching local government. The movie stars Oscar nominees Genevieve Bujold (“Anne of a Thousand Days,” “Tightrope”) and James Cromwell (“Babe,” “The Green Mile,” “W”).

Town Newsletter

The town of Raymond is starting a new free town eNewsletter shortly and is looking for subscribers. This will include an update about town events, important dates to remember, community announcements and more. There are two ways to subscribe:

Visit www.raymondmaine.org and enter your email address in the “Raymond Newsletter” box in the left hand column, or

send an email to webmaster@raymondmaine.org containing the email address(es) that you want it to go to.

The town will only use your information for the purpose of sending town information and will not be sold to any third parties or vendors.

Plant Sale

The annual Raymond Village Library plant sale will be held Saturday, June 6, from 7-11 a.m. Annuals, perennials, herbs, veggies and sun and shade plants will be sold. If you have plants to donate, please drop them off at the library on June 5 between 4 and 6 p.m. All proceeds will go to supporting the library and the wonderful things it provides to the Raymond community.

Raymond Garden Tour

Tickets are now available for the Raymond Village Library Garden Tour, which will be held on June 27. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. The tour will include beautiful landscapes that showcase Raymond’s spectacular countryside. You can purchase at the library with cash or check only, or visit www.raymondvillagelibrary.org to purchase via credit card.

Figure Competition Winner

Raymond resident Wendy Brum recently entered a body figure contest – her second one within the last six months. This round, however, her son, Asa, joined her. It was the first contest for this 20-year-old. He competed in Men’s Physique Tall Class and placed fifth, which he was very proud of! Wendy competed in the Masters 40-plus category and placed fourth as well as the Figure Open division where she placed third. She hopes to enter another in the next year with not only her son but with her daughter, Whitney, as well. Congratulations!

Spring Cleaning?

Let Raymond Village Community Church help! They are looking for donations for their yard sale and will take your unwanted items. What can’t be sold they will donate to the Salvation Army. Contact Brenda at 655-4670 for pickup.

Emma Dyer, of Raymond, recently met Mia Michaels, left, a choreographer for the TV show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”Courtesy photo by Michelle Dyer