Community Tree Lighting
It is time to start enjoying the holidays and to help kick off the season, the annual tree lighting will take place on the library lawn this Sunday, Nov. 27. The event will begin with a special story time held at 4:30 p.m. inside the library followed by carols performed by the Raymond Elementary School chorus. The tree will then be lit as the community stays warm feasting on cookies and hot chocolate while a special visitor is sure to delight the younger children. This fun night is sponsored by the Raymond Lions Club in conjunction with the Raymond Village Library and is sure to get you in the holiday mood.
Pictures with Santa
With the holidays upon us, I am so pleased with the outpouring of generosity Raymond residents continuously make to all those in need. With that in mind, we also must not forget our four-footed furry friends this season. Julie Chouinard, owner of Dog-Gone Grooming, will be hosting a special “Pictures with Santa” on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at her shop at 1311 Roosevelt Trail. She has been doing this fundraiser every year since opening in 2007 and chooses a different local nonprofit organization related to animals, mainly dogs and cats, as the beneficiary. This year, being a board member and recognizing the difficulties nonprofits face, she has chosen Harvest Hills Animal Shelter.
The event is set up to help raise awareness of the shelter and the animals that are up for adoption as well as raise money to meet the needs of the shelter. “Pictures with Santa” is mainly for the dogs and their families but children wanting their picture with Santa are also welcomed. If you would like to donate food, treats or supplies that are needed to operate Harvest Hills, there is a drop-off donation box at Dog-Gone. For a list of specific needs, please visit their website at www.harvesthills.org. There will also be a bake sale during the event with profits going to the shelter.
Dog-Gone Grooming opened in the spring of 2007 and is a full-service grooming facility for dogs of all ages and sizes. They have recently expanded to add Emily’s Place, a small doggie daycare for dogs 40 pounds and under. They are in the process of working with a dog trainer and will be offering different types of training classes for dogs in the spring. For more information, please contact Dog-Gone Grooming at doggonegrooming.net or 899-9315.
Holiday fair
I love this time of year and especially enjoy attending the local craft fairs. The Raymond Village Community Church on Main Street will host its annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and promises to offer something for everyone. To satisfy your sweet tooth, choose a plate of cookies at the cookie walk or select holiday treats from the baked goods table including homemade maple syrup. Pick up some unique treasures at the table full of handmade, knitted craft items or bath and gift items. Visit the wreath shop for the perfect decoration for your home. You can also take a chance on a variety of raffles. Breakfast and lunch will be available throughout the day so be sure to stop by.
Swimming in citrus
The Raymond Recreation Association’s 18th annual citrus fruit sale is still going on and what better way to stay healthy than stocking up on Vitamin C. Small and large cases of delicious oranges, grapefruit and a combination of both are available at prices from $19 to $28. All the proceeds from this sale will go to “Every Child a Swimmer!,” the program that teaches our kids to swim each summer. Help support this program by treating yourself to some delicious fresh fruit or purchase a case to donate to the holiday food basket programs, which benefit many of our local families. Please call Pat Smith at 655-4657 or 329-3614 to place an order. Sales from neighboring communities are also welcomed and delivery will be arranged. The fruit will be available for pick-up on Dec. 10.
Free flu shots
Do you need a flu shot but cannot afford one? The Public Safety Department has free vouchers made available by a local pharmacy for anyone who does not have insurance and cannot afford to pay for the vaccine on their own. Supplies are limited so please contact Cathy Gosselin, Raymond Health Officer at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Welcome home
Life has returned to its normal pace at Raymond Village Community Church as the Reverend Nancy Foran has completed her four-month sabbatical covering a route from Peru to Canada to Scotland and hundreds of hiking miles in between. She and her husband Joe were fulfilling her award from the Lilly Endowment Foundation, which she won by describing her plans for seeking sacred spaces.
Foran was one of four pastors in Maine who won awards for herself and her congregation. Parish members, too, were able to take a journey and visited Peru, Maine, this summer where they explored the notion of expanding the sacred spaces of the church grounds and buildings located on Main Street. Speakers were brought in to share their expert knowledge with the congregation all of which helped to lay the groundwork for possible improvements in future years. The chosen sabbatical minister, the Reverend Anita Miller White, lent her support and leadership to the congregation as Foran carried through with the travels of her adventure with her family members.
As the early fall set in and the magical summer months were over, the sabbatical drew to a close and the church family celebrated the return of their pastor and departure of Miller with a homecoming/farewell potluck dinner as experiences of the summer both here and abroad were shared, and all agreed that this sabbatical was a sublime experience.
Rev. Nancy Foran was welcomed back to Raymond and her sabbatical
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