Plants Galore

It’s that time of year again; the Raymond Village Library’s annual plant sale will be held this Saturday, June 8, from 7-11 a.m. There will be a wide assortment of plants at very inexpensive prices including perennials, groundcovers, herbs, flowering shrubs, bedding plants, annuals, and houseplants. In addition, there will be vegetable and herb seedlings to help you grow your own organic food. And don’t forget, the library has an abundant supply of gardening books for you to borrow. This is always a very popular event so be sure to go early for the best selection. For more information, call the library at 655-4283.

Pirates Closing Roads

The Pirate Triathlon, a fundraiser for Camp Sunshine that brings hundreds of triathletes to our area, will take place this Sunday, June 9, at Point Sebago. Participants will swim, bike and run their way to the finish line in a festive pirate-themed atmosphere. The bike portion of the race takes place on Route 302, Tenney Hill Road, Route 11 and Quaker Ridge Road, and there will be road closures from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Expect long delays if you are traveling that way or better yet, take an alternative route. If you are looking for a very fun, inspirational way to spend the morning, come cheer on the racers. There will be several people from Raymond competing and happy to have your support.

UCAN 5K

Speaking of racing, have you registered for the UCAN 5K? This inaugural event will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 8 a.m. at the Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park on Mill Street. The course is flat and scenic and runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate. There will also be a kids run and a lot of prizes. The race is being held to honor Candace Woolston who recently lost her battle with cancer. Among many things, Candace enjoyed running, was a teacher in the RSU 14 district, and was passionate about preserving the playground. Proceeds will benefit the park and the Windham Primary School playground fund. Register in advance by visiting active.com. For more information, contact Brenda Dionne at [email protected].

Yard Sale Extravaganza

and Pig Roast

After the race, don’t forget to head over to the Raymond Village Community Church on Main Street for their Yard Sale Extravaganza being held from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. This huge sale is the result of the effort of the church to include residents in the village, increase attendance and bring one street-long sale to the community. The sale will feature a wide variety of gently used books, clothing, furniture, small appliances, sporting goods, computer equipment, collectables, toys, tools, and many other treasures, as well as handicrafts and homemade food items. They will also have Lovebug the Clown, a silent auction, burgers and hot dogs from Andy’s Grill, and a 50/50 raffle to benefit Sandy Winde.

After a day of bargain hunting, who wants to go home to a hot kitchen? RVCC will be hosting a pig roast that evening from 4:30-6:30 p.m. featuring delectable, fall-off-the-bone spit-roasted pork, baked beans, cole slaw, corn bread and tasty desserts. Hot dog baskets will be available for the kids, and all this will be served on the cool tented patio. For more information on the sale or pig roast, contact Rolf and Brenda Olsen at 655-4670 or [email protected].

Community Garden

One of my favorite things about summer is eating fresh vegetables straight from the garden. If you want to do the same, the Raymond Community Garden still has spaces available for gardeners who are interested in growing organic food for their families. The Garden is also in need of concrete/cinder blocks. If you have any that you no longer need, consider donating them. All donations are appreciated and no quantity is too small. You can drop them off at the garden located behind the library on Route 121 anytime or contact Leigh Walker at [email protected] or at 655-2135 to arrange a pick-up. Also contact Leigh if you would like a space in the garden as they will be given on a first come, first served basis. To learn more about the community garden, visit their blog at http://raymondcommunitygarden.blogspot.com.

Dig into Reading

The Raymond Village Library’s summer reading program is about to begin and this year’s theme is “Dig into Reading.” This is a free program that will kick off with an ice cream social at the library on Sunday, June 23, from 1-3 p.m. The program is for pre-school children all the way through teens. Youngsters can pick up their packets filled with instructions, reading logs and other goodies, and there will be door prizes held throughout the summer. A few special events are planned including making terrariums and going outside to find plants and other objects to use in the terrariums and a special presentation by Sarah Sparks, a 4-H leader who will be presenting a hands-on program about bugs. An awards picnic with prizes will be held on Aug. 19 to honor all those who committed to reading throughout the summer. For more information or to register, stop by or call the library at 655-4283.

Strawberry Festival

Mark your calendars for the Hawthorne Community Association’s Annual Strawberry Festival, which will be held on Saturday, June 29, at the Hawthorne House on the Cape Road. There will be a guest speaker and as always, the infamous homemade strawberry shortcake. The festival will begin at 3:30 p.m. and there is a requested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Please make your reservations before June 23 by emailing [email protected] or calling 655-7660. All proceeds go directly toward upkeep of the historic Hawthorne House.