Hawthorne House to host ‘Evening with Gordon Thomas Ward’

By Kendra Raymond

Events are picking up at Raymond’s Hawthorne House this season and with significant improvements to the facility and regular community activities, there is bound to be something for everyone.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Gordon Thomas Ward
will perform during a benefit concert and dinner for
the Hawthorne House restoration on Friday, July 18.
Admission is $25 per person and includes the show.
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

Fans of folk-rock music will be delighted to hear about an upcoming dinner and concert. An Evening with Gordon Thomas Ward will be held on Friday, July 18 with the doors opening at 5 p.m. and the performance from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Hawthorne House recently announced the upcoming and highly anticipated event featuring Gordon Thomas Ward, whom Skope Magazine hails as “setting the gold standard for singer-songwriters for generations to come.”

Ward is an award-winning alternative/folk-rock artist who has created four Grammy-nominated albums in the last six years. What makes Ward unique is his integration of music, folklore, history, and storytelling - creating a truly immersive experience.

Music Mecca says that “Gordon Thomas Ward is the quintessential modern-day folk troubadour.”

His impressive bio is listed on his website:

“Heavily influenced by his rural roots, and the singer-songwriters of the ’70s, Gordon Thomas Ward is one of those rare artists whose multi-instrumental talents, vivid lyrics, mesmerizing stories, and distinctly personal vocal timbre makes one question whether singer-songwriter is an adequate description. His compositions do not follow the usual songwriter patterns or chase trends, and his lyrics cut deep, exploring love, the passage of time, and a search for meaning.

His compelling performances and albums have endeared him to audiences for many years, and he shows no signs of slowing down with four GRAMMY-balloted albums in the last six years. Currently touring his new album Walking on the Wire, this award-winning, solo, multifaceted artist, author and presenter, has produced four #1 charted songs and other compositions that have charted in the U.S. and abroad.

Gordon has worked with notable musicians such as Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul, and Mary), Eric Troyer and Mik Kaminski (Electric Light Orchestra, and The Orchestra), Kevin Barry (Jackson Browne, James Taylor), Abbie Gardner, and Jud Caswell. He's also shared the stage and billing with Natalie Merchant, Christine Lavin, and Bill Staines. Gordon’s songs occupy a space filled with honesty, imagery, and emotion and walk a line between folk rock and soft country – always thoughtful, always heartfelt.

As audiences often remark, “His music touches my heart, and I feel like he’s singing just to me.” Skope Magazine says, “When you think of the phenomenal storytellers of yesteryear like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, or James Taylor, Gordon Thomas Ward would be in that same vein for today [and] is setting the gold standard for singer-songwriters for generations to come.”

Hawthorne House Association President Tom Ewig is the mastermind behind bringing Ward to Raymond this summer.

“Gordon was youth minister at my church in New Jersey, so I have known him a very long time. I started seeing his social media and I thought that this would be ideal for an evening at the Hawthorne House,” he said. “In fact, I have always wanted to do a cabaret style meal at the Hawthorne House and Gordon seemed to fit the entertainment bill.”

The candle lit evening will include a first-class gourmet experience. It features a selection of chicken, haddock, or ham entree with steamed vegetables. Each table will include a bottle of red and white wine, as well as other beverage options such as soft drinks, beer, and coffee. Dessert is included. Admission to the event is $25 per person and includes the show.

Ewig says that trustees of the Hawthorne House will be providing food and beverages.

“I am confident it will be a fun evening,” Ewig said.

Reservations and payment are required prior to the event by visiting hawthorneassoc.com and clicking on the dinner/concert link. Or you can send a check to Hawthorne Community Association, PO Box 185, South Casco, Maine 04077. Make sure to specify the event you’d like to attend, and how many tickets.

For questions, please call Becky at 207-329-0537 or by email at hawthorne@maine.rr..com

Learn more about Gordon Thomas Ward at: www.gordonthomasward.com or check out his music on Spotify.<

Raymond Village Library expands pass program

By Kendra Raymond

Residents of Raymond can now take advantage of some expanded offerings at their local library.

Raymond Village Library is now offering free
passes for One Longfellow Square performances
and general admission tickets to each Portland
Sea Dogs baseball home games. The passes are
on a first-come first-serve basis.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

For several years, Raymond Village Library has offered passes to various parks and museums providing patrons with discounted or free admission. This program is often under-recognized and serves to provide some valuable benefits for library card holders. Now the library has recently upped its game, offering two new passes to residents.

In a Facebook post the library announced, “We have two of the coolest new library passes around. For music lovers we are offering one ticket, allowing entrance for two, to each One Longfellow Square performance. For sports fans we have two free general admission tickets to each Sea Dogs home game. Start reserving your tickets now!”

These new passes provide some hefty perks for residents. In a press release, the library explained further that the passes will accommodate both music lovers and sports fans.

“Raymond Village Library is thrilled to announce the expansion of its popular Library Pass Program with two exciting new additions: free admission for two to performances at One Longfellow Square and two free tickets to every Portland Sea Dogs home game.”

According to the press release, these new offerings join the library’s current lineup of beloved destinations, including the Portland Museum of Art, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Tassel Top Park, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Historic New England, Railway Village Museum, Maine Wildlife Park, Maine State Park pass, and Southworth Planetarium.

Library Director Richard Dowe says he is pleased with the recent addition and is committed to improving library programs.

“This expansion makes it easier than ever for Raymond library card holders to explore the best that Maine has to offer, whether you’re taking in a live concert, or enjoying a day at the ballpark,” he said. “We’re always looking for ways to bring the community together and make arts, culture, and recreation more accessible. Adding live music and baseball to the mix brings a whole new energy to the program, and we’re excited to see families and individuals take advantage of these opportunities.”

Dowe said that he initiated the program’s expansion.

“I’ve been looking for new ways to expand the library’s reach and strengthen our role in the community. Part of our mission is to provide access to enriching, entertaining experiences, and I saw an opportunity to do that by offering passes to a wider variety of local venues and organizations,” he said. “By connecting more people to all that Maine has to offer, we hope to encourage greater library use and foster a stronger sense of community.”

So how does the program work, you might ask?

First, you will need to be a resident of Raymond with an active library card, and the passes are free to borrow. Each pass offers its own unique benefits. To reserve a pass, just access the Museum Parks & Passes link on the RVL website or simply call the library. Patrons are encouraged to be proactive to reserve passes, as quantities are limited, especially on popular dates.

Each pass benefit is different, so library officials say it’s important to plan ahead for some of the passes you might be interested in reserving.

For instance, Dow said that the Sea Dogs passes include two general admission tickets while the OLS is one ticket that provides entry for two people. Other tickets may provide free admission or a discount.

What’s more, the library has some even more exciting news to share.

“We just confirmed that we will have tickets to the Maine Mariners! Their season doesn't start until October. We will have a limited number of tickets to provide for patrons who can also request a photo op with players after the game! More details will be available as we get closer to the season,” said Dowe.

According to Dowe, the community feedback has been extremely positive.

“So far people have been surprised and excited to learn we offer these two new passes. We are, from my understanding, the first library in the state to offer tickets to each Sea Dogs home game and one of the first few libraries to offer tickets to One Longfellow Square. We hope to expand to other sports teams in the coming months or years,” he said.

For details or to reserve a pass, visit Museum & Park Passes – Raymond Village Library or call 207-655-4283.

The Portland Sea Dogs schedule can be found here: https://www.milb.com/portland/schedule/2025-06

The One Longfellow Square show schedule is available at https://onelongfellowsquare.com/upcoming-shows-events/

Maine Mariners schedule can be found at https://www.marinersofmaine.com/#schedule <

Hot Fiddle concert assists Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing

By Dina Mendros

If you love good music and want to support a worthwhile cause at the same time, look no further than when Hot Fiddle performs in a concert on Saturday July 12 at the North Windham Union Church. The free concert will benefit the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing which provides housing repairs to seniors, veterans and people with disabilities who live in Raymond, Windham and Standish.

Daniel Strange and Ashley Liberty of the 'Hot 
Fiddle' band will perform at a benefit concert
for the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center
for Housing at the North Windham Union
Church on Saturday, July 12. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Hot Fiddle is made up of Daniel Strange and Ashley Liberty, and sometimes with the accompaniment of their children, son Harrison, 12, and daughter Summer, 9. Both children play the violin, like their mother, and will play at the July 12 concert; Daniel plays jazz keyboard.

While the family lives in Miami they are no strangers to the area. Strange, who teaches music at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, grew up in Windham; Liberty, a performer, grew up in Gray; and the whole family returns for most of the summer every year to visit and reconnect with family and friends.

Hot Fiddle has performed in concerts at North Windham Union Church in the past and proved to be very popular, performing to full or nearly full houses. However, the last time they performed there was in 2019.

It was a “no brainer” to ask them back to for a benefit concert for the Fuller Center, said Jim McBride, the treasurer, board member and co-founder of the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing.

“They’re phenomenal musicians,” he said, “and have been local favorites for many years.”

The Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing was founded in 2019 and it’s mission is “to help aging adults, veterans and people with disabilities to age in place safely,” said Diane Dunton Bruni, a founding member, board chair and president of the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing.

The organization, founded by representatives from Raymond Village Community Church, Faith Lutheran Church, North Windham Union Church, Windham Hill UCC, Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church and Saint Joseph’s College “has helped 73 families in Windham, Raymond and Standish,” Dunton Bruni said.

Volunteers have logged more than 4,000 hours replacing decks, flooring, and steps, building ramps, cleaning yards and more in the community.

“The proceeds from the concert will help purchase material for projects,” she said.

Dunton Bruni said she’s looking forward to the Hot Fiddle concert.

There will be “something for everyone really,” said Strange, as they don’t perform one specific genre.

“It was important for us to make sure that there was no genre identifier,” he said. “That everybody who just enjoys a great show is going to be able to hear something that they’ll appreciate and something to be very excited about and recognize.”

Liberty said they started playing together when they were married.

“We began with a lot of classical music and slowly but surely branched off into many styles,” she said. “It’s really fun because they do have Vivaldi on the concert and we also have ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’ on the concert and we have Dan’s original music on the concert.”

When McBride asked them to perform the concert, “we were totally game for it,” Strange said, especially because of “the great work that obviously the Fuller Center does for the community and the North Windham Union Church is special for us. We were married there. I was the minister of music there from 2006 to 2007, so there’s a lot of ties.”

Strange said he and his wife are more than happy to perform in Windham. Over the years, he said, “Maine has continued to support us, and it’s our way of saying thank you. We’re excited to see everybody, and we’re pumped for the show as always.”

Liberty agrees.

“We love playing our music for people because it’s lively and it connects (people),” Liberty said. “It’s just a special thing to be able to share music between audience and performers. It’s what music was made for, making that connection.”

Hot Fiddle will perform at the church starting at 7 p.m. July 12 with the lobby opening at 6 p.m. and doors opening at 6:30 p.m. North Windham Union Church is at 723 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. The cost to attend the concert is free, but the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing asks for a suggested donation of $15; pay by cash, check or PayPal. Seating is general admission.

For more details about the concert, call 207-387-0855 or go to the website sebagofullerhousing.org. <