TOWNSHEND — When a Leland & Gray sophomore and student traveler Aiden McCormack asked his neighbor Archer Mayor for a signed copy of his latest novel as a raffle prize, Mayor went one step further.
“Would you like to raffle off being a character in my next novel?” Mayor asked.
McCormack brought back the offer to his Spanish teacher and trip leader, Jeryl Julian-Cissé, and the response was, “Si, muchas gracias!”
Mayor's series of crime novels has received much critical acclaim over the years, and local folks are sometimes found as characters in familiar territory around Windham County.
Tickets for the character raffle will be available on Friday, Feb. 3, at the “Love Local” event at the River Garden in Brattleboro and hosted by The Strolling of the Heifers during Gallery Walk, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Prices are $5 for one ticket and $20 for 5, according to a news release.
Additionally, the students have a “super raffle” for 15 chances to win souvenirs from Spain (ceramics, paintings and prints, carved wooden boxes) and local products (screen printed kitchen trio and bag, pottery, maple syrup, lift ticket for Mount Snow, Top of the Hill Grill gift certificate and, of course, the signed Archer Mayor novel.) Super Raffle tickets are $1 for one or $5 for 10.
Tickets for both raffles can also be purchased by contacting Julian-Cissé via email: jjulian-cisse@lelandandgray.org, or sending a check made out to “Leland & Gray Spain Trip” to Leland & Gray Middle High School, P.O. Box 128, Townshend, VT 05353. Include a phone number and email so they can contact you if you're a winner. Both raffle drawings will take place Feb. 10.
From Feb. 15 through 27, seven L & G students and Julian-Cissé will travel to Spain to explore and experience the country's history and culture, use their Spanish language skills, and meet and stay with teens and their families. The students travelling to Spain in February with Señora Cissé are: Emily Frost, Emma Bourne, Greg Stolpp, Matt Young, Tino Benson, Aiden McCormack, and Kenny Cashman.