Community News

Poetry Night at the New Gloucester Public Library

April 8 is Poetry Night at the library. We invite those interested to come share one of their poems, a favorite poem, or to just come and listen to good poetry. If you would like to share a poem, please call to reserve your spot.
And, please keep in mind that this is open to poetry lovers of all ages, so keep your poems appropriate.

The program will start at 7 pm. and be out no later than 8:30 pm., and will meet in the Meeting Room. Light refreshments will be served.
If you have any question, or would like to sign up to read a poem, call the library (926-4840) during regular library hours (Tues-Thur 9-noon 1-8 pm; Fri.9-noon 1-5 pm; Sat 9-noon).

Raymond Village Library News
Travel Series

The last of the flying carpet series for 2004 will feature Quincy Van Winkle, who will lead us exploring the Baja Peninsula with the National Outdoor Leadership School. (NOLS).

This slide presentation and talk will describe the 95-day college semester wilderness program on the Baja Peninsula, Mexico. The experience moves through the desert with hiking and mountain and rock climbing to the coast with kayaking and sailboating.

Ms. Van Winkle participated in NOLS while in college. After her graduation, she became an instructor with NOLS and spent 10 years working in the wilderness. Today she is a director of Camp Wohelo.

This exciting presentation will take place at the Raymond Village Library, Wednesday April 21 at 7 p.m. Refreshments will have a Mexican flavor. The public is invited. There is now admission fee. For more information, please call the library at 655-4283.

The library will be closed Sunday, April 11, celebrating Easter.

Can Due Campaign
This is a reminder that in lieu of fines, patrons may return overdue materials, whether it is overdue by 2 weeks or two years with a donation of items that will be given to the Raymond Food Pantry. Especially needed are: soups, jams and jellies, canned meat boxed pasta, macaroni and cheese, shampoo, soap, toilet paper, and paper towels. Please, no canned vegetables or canned fruit.

Murder Mystery Dinner
Tickets for the popular murder mystery dinner will go on sale at the Raymond Village Library on Sunday, April 4. There is a limit of 40 participants, so reserve your space quickly. The library opens at 10 am and closes at 7 pm.

The title of the Murder Mystery Dinner is, "The Auction". It is an English murder mystery set in the early 1980's, which runs for about three hours. Each participant plays a character in the plot. Before the evening is over, you may possess a fortune and/or be the one to solve the murder.

Following the tragic death of the Baroness Audrey von Munchen, her famous artifacts are being sold to the highest bidder. We welcome your presence at this auction and the reading of her will. The event will be held at Little Wohelo Lodge, Raymond, on Saturday, May 8 starting at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $35. per person. Please join us for a fun evening benefiting the Raymond Village Library.

Dr. Seuss Night A Success
On March 3, 2004 over children celebrated Dr. Seuss at a program hosted by Rayond Village Library and the Raymond Elementary School. Dr. Seuss Night has become an annual celebration at RVL but due to the overwhelming turnout at the 2003 event it became necessary to hold the program at a place with more space than the library can offer. Raymond Edlementry School gladly allowed the use of their gymnasium for the 2004 gathering. It was a good thing to have so much space as more than 200 people in total attended!

After the story, children participated in hands on activities at different stations, each run by a different RES teacher.

Many thanks need to be given to Raymond Elementary School, Norma Richard, Principal, all the abovementioned teachers along with Betsy Lepper, RES Phys. Ed. Instructor (dressed as Thing 20, AND Lisa and Allison Schadler for al their help with the Foot Trqacing station and the Dr. Seuss book matching station. Extra special thanks to Mr. Mains for playing the part of Dr. Seuss so well!

Dunn School Student of the Week - March 29
Kellie Sanborn - Ms. Hilfrank
Joshua Broussard - Mr. Skilling
Sam Stauble - Mrs. McFadden
Zachary Dionisio-Caron - Mrs. Staples
Garrett Beesley - Miss Wolfrom
Vincent Beaulieu - Mrs. Burns
Cody Paradis - Mrs. Beriau
Corey Blanchard - Mr. Hodgkins
Corey Sherman - Mrs. Seymour
Anna Johnson - Ms. Gamage
Paul Fotter - Ms. Gamage
Mikayla Pelletier - Mrs. Banton
Taylor Levasseur - Mrs. Banton
Evan Baggs - Miss Gardner
Amber Schade - Mr. Haskell
Zack Carrier - Ms. Driscoll
Jon Boisvert - Ms. Driscoll
Dean Blanchard - Mrs. Merrill
Jessica Mason - Mrs. Merrill
R. J. Lowe - Mrs. Enaire
Shawn Doyle - Miss Murray
Sheena Brinnick - Mrs. Moorhead

New Gloucester Historical Society
The Royal River: Past and Present

"The Royal River: Past and Present" will be the subject ofthe program at the New Gloucester Historical Society's April 15 meeting.

The speakers will be Henry Nichols, Director of the Friends of the Royal River; Ursula Baier, noted North Yarmouth historian, and some others as well. The program will cover the mills and other uses of the river and will include a slide program featuring aerial views of the river from New Gloucester to the Yarmouth estuary.

Again, the date is Thursday, April 15; the time, 7:30 pm; and the place,the New Gloucester Meetinghouse 389 Intervale Rd. (Rt. 231) Please use the side door. A short business meeting and refreshments will precede the program.

All are warmly welcome.

Webber Oil among Maine Businesses Presented With 2004 Governor's Award for Business Excellence
Has office in Gray, Liberty Oil

WATERVILLE, Maine - Gov. John E. Baldacci presented the 2004 Governor's Award for Business Excellence today to six Maine companies during ceremonies at the 53rd Annual Colby Institute for Leadership at Colby College.

The Governor's Award for Business Excellence is distinguished from other business awards because recipients must not only demonstrate success in how they operate their business, but also show a commitment to their employees and the communities in which they are located.

Since 1935, Webber Oil Company has been a leader in home energy sales and service. The company's 776 employees, inlcuding those in Gray, enjoy an average hourly wage of $11.02, plus a full benefits package. Webber and its employees have also long been involved in their communities and more than 10,000 hours each year are dedicated to volunteer organizations. In addition, portions of the profits from the company are set aside annually for a wide variety of projects, mainly focused on education issues.

Webber Oil purchased Liberty Oil from the Ash family in 2003.

Other recipients of the 14th annual award are PATCO Construction of Sanford, Vortechnics Inc. of Scarborough, television stations WCSH 6/WLBZ 2 of Portland and Bangor, Wilbur's of Maine Chocolate Confections of Freeport, and Sea Coast Management of Topsham.