Clay Run Studio opens
Clay Run Studio Arts is thrilled to provide the second bookend to the Raymond Shopping Plaza with Center Stage Performing Arts on the west end and Clay Run on the east.

The art studio is also a gallery, a classroom and a place to celebrate local arts. Run by a certified art teacher, it will provide instructional classes for all ages and abilities, exhibition space for local artists and studio space for local artisans to teach their passions to the community, along with offering artisan works for purchase and space for community art events. Now open Friday afternoon through Sunday.

For upcoming classes, artists and art exhibits, check it out on Facebook. This weekend will include the making of community murals.

MAMM Slam
The Rubber Band opened the Saturday, May 14, competition at the MAMM Slam, sponsored by the Maine Academy of Modern Music. Bands made up of teenagers from around southern Maine each had a half-hour to perform their own cover songs. The Rubber Band, whose sounds remind me a little of rock meets the Ramones, is David Young, lead electric guitar and vocals; Seth Martin, guitar and vocals; Devon Young, drums; and Cooper Gaudet, bass guitar. David and Seth are juniors at Windham High School and Cooper and Devon are freshmen. The band members live in Raymond with the exception of Seth who resides in Windham. Although they did not win they were thrilled to make it to the finals and enjoyed the experience. Congrats!

Adult anxiety group
The adult anxiety group is celebrating 10 years of wellness, understanding and support. The group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. at Anxiety Solutions, 104 Webbs Mills Road in Raymond. The free meetings are for adults who are striving to overcome anxiety and all its symptoms, such as headaches, stress, nervousness, etc. FMI call 655-2737

At the Library
• Maine Author Series – Lily King
New England Book Award winner Lily King will be the first speaker in the Maine Author Series this year. She is the author of the best-selling “Euphoria,” a novel set between two World Wars and inspired by events in the life of revolutionary anthropologist Margaret Mead. It is an enthralling story of passion, possession, exploration and sacrifice. This free program takes place at the Raymond Village Library Wednesday, May 25, at 6:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served, and books will be available for purchase and signing. This program is funded by IDS, Innovative Distribution Services. All interested readers are invited, but are asked to pre-register by calling the library at 655-4283 or email sally.holt@raymondvillagelibrary.org as space is limited.

• Book Group
May’s book is Bill Bryson’s “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America.” As soon as Bill Bryson was old enough, he left Des Moines, Iowa. After many years living in England, he returns to America and embarks on a trip of almost 14,000 miles in search of a mythical small town called Amalgam, the kind of place where the films of his youth were set. Instead, his search led him to Anywhere, USA: A lookalike strip of gas stations, motels and hamburger outlets populated by lookalike people in polyester. Traveling around 38 states, Bill discovers he has become a stranger in his own land, a land seemingly lost to itself blighted by greed, pollution, mobile homes and television. All readers are invited to join the discussion at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26.

Liturgical drama May 21
The Raymond Village Church will host a liturgical drama piece designed to be entertaining and refreshing to everyone. Just when you thought it was safe to sleep in the pew, Friends of The Groom Theater Company invites you to experince faith in a new way. The production will be held at the RVCC, 27 Main St., Raymond, on Saturday, May 21, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10. FMI contact 655-7749

Raymond Revitiliation Committee
The Raymond Revitilization Committee is actively planning the Aug. 6 “Everyone Loves Raymond, ME” second annual celebration. The committee meets the second Thursdays of the month at the Raymond Donut Shop at 8 a.m. All business owners and Raymond residents are encouraged to attend. For more information on the committee or event contact Carrie Colby at 232-5497 or email ccolby@maine.rr.com

Clay Run Studio Arts has opened in the Raymond Shopping Plaza.

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