Raymond resident to receive ‘Maine Citizen Planner of Year’ award

By Ed Pierce

Hours of volunteer work and attention to detail have paid off for Kaela Gonzalez of Raymond as she is about to honored as “Maine Citizen Planner of the Year.”

Kaela Gonzalez of Raymond will be
honored by the Maine Association
of Planners as 'Maine Citizen
Planner of the Year' in Lewiston
on May 16 for her efforts in helping
to formulate Raymond's new 
Comprehensive Plan.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Gonzalez served as Co-Chair of the town’s Comprehensive Plan Committee and as someone who lives in Raymond and used to work for the town, she played a key role in bridging the gap in building the committee’s outreach with residents and boosting local engagement in developing a new plan for Raymond’s future. She will receive the award during a ceremony at the Lewiston Public Library on May 16.

The “Maine Citizen Planner of the Year” Award is presented annually by the Maine Association of Planners and is given to a citizen who has made a distinguished contribution to planning such as members of planning boards/commissions, zoning boards of adjustment/ appeals, economic development boards/commissions, or other elected or appointed officials.

Gonzalez said her nomination and selection for this honor came as a total surprise.

“Raymond is very fortunate to have a slate of dedicated and hard-working volunteers and committee members across all of the various committees and organizations,” she said. “I am really just one of many that deserve recognition. Our Comp Plan committee was engaging, and everyone had valuable input, and I believe the end result would not have been possible without the whole team. We are all MVPs in my book.”

According to Gonzalez, Raymond Comprehensive Plan Committee members received fantastic support with North Star Planning, who kept them on task. She also praised the work of her committee Co-Chair Peter Leavitt.

“Peter Leavitt is wonderful to work with and comes to every meeting well prepared and with receipts,” she said. “I am very grateful for his leadership on the committee.”

Originally from Owls Head in the mid-coast region of Maine, Gonzalez spent time in the service and hospitality industry as a waitress and then earned a degree in health sciences at the University of Southern Maine. Moving to Raymond and starting a family, she had an epiphany that led to a career change and a desire to go to work for the town.

“Each time they had an opening, I applied for it,” Gonzalez said. “We had started a family and wanted to root here. I kept on applying and I told them at the time that I would continue to apply for openings until they hired me, and it must have worked because they did.”

She served as Raymond’s Communications Director until 2021 when she went to work for the City of Portland in the Housing and Economic Development Department, as ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Program Coordinator.

“I was approached by a neighbor asking if I had an interest in being part of the Comprehensive Plan Committee in 2022, and it was an easy choice,” Gonzalez said. “Even though I was no longer a town employee, I still wanted to keep a connection to the town and be involved. It may be worth noting that I am running for Raymond Select Board this year.”

North Star Planners were just one of a group of individuals who nominated Gonzalez for the award.

“When we encountered early concerns that it was difficult to reach the Raymond community, Kaela took on leadership of the public outreach process,” they wrote in their nomination. “She created a Facebook page and made social media content throughout the process to keep residents informed. She worked with her neighbors, town staff, and key stakeholders. She also led the committee to organize pop-up events on election days at the town office, with fun activities, like voting on different topics with pom-poms, that increased community knowledge of the comp plan process.”

They said that Gonzalez consistently brought positive reinforcement to meetings and asked insightful questions throughout the planning process to ensure the effort stayed on track.

Raymond Code Enforcement Officer Christopher Hanson, Interim Raymond Town Manager Joseph Crocker and Comprehensive Plan Committee members John Clark, Greg Foster, Peter Leavitt, Frank McDermott, Shawn McKillop, Danelle Milone, John Rand, and Jacqueline Sawyer also nominated her for the honor.

“The work was not challenging, especially since we were receiving excellent guidance from North Star Planning. However, community engagement is the part that everyone tends to struggle with,” Gonzalez said. “The goal is to engage as many citizens as possible.”

Raymond’s new Comprehensive Plan is nearing the final stages and Gonzalez says the Select Board should accept the final version in the near future.

“The plan will then be brought to the voters for acceptance, likely at a Special Town Meeting,” she said. “There will still be a great need for involvement for implementation of the plan though.” <

In the public eye: Retiring teacher inspires generations of RES students

Editor’s note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

Imagine working one job in one place for the past 41 years and you’ll realize that Patti Gordan is an exceptional and dedicated individual and an outstanding teacher who students will miss terribly when she retires next month.

Patti Gordan teaches a weekly General
Music class for all students attending 
Raymond Elementary School from
PreK through Grade Four. She is 
retiring at the end of the school year
after working at the school since
1984. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Gordan had completed her first year of teaching in another school district but did not reapply for her position when school started back up in the fall of 1983. She didn’t apply for any others and was leaning toward quitting the profession permanently when something miraculous happened.

“I was a cantor at my church, where Frank McDermott, the Superintending Principal of Jordan-Small School, was a member. One day after a service he came up to me and asked me if I would be interested in applying for a seven hour a week, long term substitute position teaching band,” Gordan said. “The current teacher was going on maternity leave. I started on Jan. 4, 1984. Then, right before February vacation, he came to me again. The band teacher had decided not to come back, and the current General Music/Chorus teacher had resigned. He asked if I would be interested in the entire music position. So, I guess I put in my toe and then jumped into the deep end. Forty-plus years later, here I am.”

Growing up in Scarborough, she played saxophone for the school band and sang with the school chorus. She was also a member of a select show choir and a participant in District and All State honors music festivals. During her senior year of high school, she was awarded the John Philip Sousa Award for band. At the University of New Hampshire, Patti majored in voice and singing and appeared with the UNH Concert Choir and Women's Choir. She also participated in the UNH Wildcat Marching Band as a member of the color guard and for a brief time she was the lead singer in a rock band called "Round Trip." She earned a degree in music education from UNH and was hired as a music teacher out of college for another school, but she wasn’t happy in that job.

“I didn’t think I wanted to be a music teacher,” she said. “My mother advised me to try it one more year in a different place. I was hired by the Raymond School Department in January 1984 and have been here since.”

RES Principal Beth Peavey says the school will not be the same without Gordan.

“After 42 incredible years of inspiring students through the power of music, Patti Gordan, our beloved elementary school music teacher, is retiring,” she said. “For more than four decades, she has filled our halls with song, sparked creativity in young minds, and helped generations of children find their voice – literally and figuratively. As we celebrate her well-earned retirement, we thank Mrs. Gordan for the passion, dedication, and heart she brought to every single note.”

Gordan credits three people for being instrumental in her teaching career.

“Nancy Cash-Cobb was an important mentor. I learned to teach General Music classes by attending workshops that she organized and workshops that she presented herself,” Gordan said. “She has been, and still is, a dear friend. Norma Richard was the principal of Raymond Elementary School for the first decade of its existence. She truly believed that music education was just as important as any other subject. She supported me and encouraged me to reach for the stars and create a music program that was more than typical for most Maine elementary music programs. And Jani Cummings was a dear friend and mentor. She taught in Raymond for over 40 years, mostly first grade. She supported me in every kind of way. When I came to Raymond, I was still a beginning teacher. My skills were, shall we say, survival level. She taught me the art of teaching.”

She currently teaches all students at Raymond Elementary from PreK through Grade 4 in a weekly General Music class.

“Kindergarten has music class twice a week. We have a music curriculum which aligns with the Maine Learning Results. I plan and teach lessons, assess the students’ knowledge and skills, give them feedback and help them plan their next learning steps,” she said. “They learn singing skills, beat/rhythm skills, music artistry/listening skills, musicianship, and general musical knowledge such as musical terms, styles, instrument identification, music history and the science of music. Second through Fourth grade students also learn basic music literacy. I also teach Third and Fourth grade chorus. We rehearse once a week during the school day and present two concerts a year.”

According to Gordan, whatever songs, activities, or games she teaches to the students, she tries to be sure that they can perform them without me.

“I went to a workshop once where the presenter said that when you give someone a gift, you don’t hold on to the other end,” she said. “You let it go. I will have done no good if my students cannot make music without me.”

Married for 44 years and the mother of two grown sons who live in the area, Gordan has young grandchildren and wants to spend more time with them.

“Also, I want to go on vacation in the fall, when all the kids are back at school,” she said. “Fewer crowds, fewer lines, less expensive, and it will distract me, so I won’t think about how weird it is to not be coming back to school. If I were home, I’d probably wander around in little circles.”

She says that the best thing about being a music teacher is when her students work hard at learning a song or music game and then have a deep sense of pride that they have created something amazing and can perform it independently.

“I love listening to them sing, especially my chorus. Their angelic sound sometimes makes me tear up,” Gordan said. “I love the children’s enthusiastic expressions of affection. When they see me in the grocery store, you’d think I was some kind of star. I love the hugs and little notes, covered with hearts and music notes, that they leave in my mailbox. I always hope that I am ‘that teacher,’ the one that made a difference.”

For Gordan, her own most influential teachers include her fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Murray, who enriched lessons with hands-on experiences and her seventh-grade English teacher, Mr. McIntyre, who used a book called “30 Days To A Better Vocabulary” and showed students that big words could be fun.

“The most influential music teacher to help me did not come into my life during childhood but in the mid-1990s,” Gordan said. “Dr. John Feierabend of Hart School of Music developed a music education method for early childhood and a music literacy education method for elementary students. I attended several of his workshops and took a week-long summer course with him. To say that it changed my professional life would be an understatement. In retirement I plan to get certified as a trainer.”

She says that her most enduring memory that she’ll take away from working at Raymond Elementary School is that it’s a warm, caring, place to work.

“I have taught generations of Raymond students,” Gordan said. “In fact, many of my current students are children of former students. It feels like a large family.” <

Study touts water quality in Raymond lakes but stresses continued vigilance

By Ed Pierce

The first of what is planned as annual studies of the water quality in Raymond lakes and ponds has been completed by the Raymond Waterways Protective Association and the results are hopeful.

A new study has examined water quality in lakes and ponds
around Raymond and found them to be healthy, however
members of the Raymond Waterways Protective Association
say that residents and visitors need to remain vigilant to
keep them that way for future generations.
FILE PHOTO   

The report compiles and explains data collected over the years by volunteers on all the lakes in or surrounding the town.

Steve Craine of the Raymond Waterways Protective Association said that the results are very encouraging.

“While our lakes are considered healthy, ongoing vigilance is necessary,” Craine said. “Our waterways will only remain clean and healthy for future generations if we identify and mitigate problem areas quickly and efficiently.”

Craine said this water quality report is a new initiative in a campaign by the Raymond Waterways Protective Association of education and public outreach to encourage residents and visitors to protect local lakes for the long term.

According to Craine, the study shows that Raymond’s lakes are healthy and are among the best in the state, but few lakes show significant quality declines.

“Water clarity is generally good, but a few areas of decreasing clarity need attention,” Craine writes in the report. “Water clarity decreases are usually an early sign of underlying issues.”

The significance of water clarity is that it is a key indicator of lake health, Craine said.

“It is measured as Secchi disk transparency which denotes the maximum depth at which a black and white Secchi disk can be seen from the surface,” Craine writes in the report. “The greater the depth, the clearer the water. Clarity is also easily observable to anyone who uses the lake for swimming, fishing, or boating – a clear lake is a beautiful sight.”

He says that the main cause of reduced water clarity is suspended algae.

“Algae, in turn, are an indication of excess nutrients – especially phosphorus – in the water,” Craine said. “When algae die in huge numbers at the end of the season, they decompose – a process that consumes available oxygen, leaving less oxygen for fish. Thus, changes in Secchi disk transparency can expose underlying threats such as excess phosphorus and algae, as well as oxygen depletion.

He said that no lake in Raymond has experienced an algal bloom for at least 30 years and most of the lakes are below the state average in phosphorus concentration.

Phosphorus is a naturally occurring element that is essential to all plant and animal life, Craine said.

“In fact, it is a necessary component of every molecule of DNA and other vital components of every living cell,” he said. “Phosphorus is the ‘limiting nutrient’ in lakes in our region. That means algae generally has sufficient other necessities for growth but are limited by the availability of this key nutrient. When phosphorus increases, algal blooms may occur, turning water green, depleting dissolved oxygen, and killing fish and other animal life.”

Other issues that affect lake water quality are chlorophyll and invasive plants.

“Regarding chlorophyll, readings in our lakes are higher than they should be, but well below the levels indicating algal blooms,” Craine said. “Variable milfoil has infested Sebago Lake for at least 50 years but is being held in check in Raymond waters while our other lakes are invasive-free.”

Continued vigilance is needed to keep Raymond’s lakes healthy for all to enjoy, he said.

Ongoing initiatives from the Raymond Waterways Protective Association include

● Self and courtesy boat inspections (provided by individual boaters and Raymond Waterways) to prevent invasive plants from entering our waterways

● LakeSmart Program, free onsite property inspections for shorefront property owners to minimize runoff and erosion

● Water quality monitoring, by volunteers throughout Raymond waterways, lakes and ponds.

● Watershed Stewardship, assistance provided to lake associations in conducting watershed surveys and implementing lake protection projects (e.g. erosion and polluted runoff protection)

● Education and outreach to promote public awareness and education of water quality and watershed issues

For the past 50-plus years, the Raymond Waterways Protective Association has worked tirelessly to preserve and protect lakes, streams and ponds in the town of Raymond. It is a volunteer organization that works closely with lake associations, residents, shoreline property owners, visitors, and state and local agencies to address watershed issues of concern.

Over the years, Raymond Waterways has addressed lake contamination attributed to septic system leakage. Acid rain, non-point source pollution from erosion and runoff, and invasive plants are other factors affecting lake water quality in Raymond.

“We remain vigilant in detecting and addressing threats to our waterways and educating the public and local officials about these issues,” Craine said.

For more details about best management practices and an abundance of water, fishing and boating-related resources, visit the website at https://raymondwaterways.org/

Donations to the Raymond Waterways Protective Association are always accepted and appreciated. Donations may be made online at Raymondwaterways.org or by mail at Raymond Waterways, P.O. Box 1243, Raymond, ME 04071. <

Community joins forces to provide free fishing for veterans

By Kendra Raymond

Veterans in the Lakes Region are fortunate to be part of a community dedicated to providing resources and support for those who served. The Sebago Lake Anglers Association (SLAA) will be teaming up with local businesses and organizations to host the 8th Annual May Veteran’s Fishing Event from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 15 on Sebago Lake.

A veteran shows his catch during last year's
Veterans Fishing Event at Sebago Lake State 
Park. This year's Veterans Fishing Event
runs from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Sebago Lake and is free to all veterans.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Kevin Ronan is president of the Sebago Lake Anglers Association of Raymond and is an active member of American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham. The association he leads is committed to community outreach and conducts the event each year as a way of saying thank you to veterans for their military service.

“Members of the Sebago Lake Anglers Association have close ties to American Legion post 148, as many of our members belong to both groups,” Ronan said. “A number of years ago a dialogue began between the two groups to see how we could help each other.”

He says the concept of the Veterans Fishing Event was the brainchild of retired Air Force Colonel Bob Chapin, who is the President Emeritus of the SLAA. Chapin worked alongside Adjutant David Tanguay of Post 148 in creating the event.

“We use our resources for a day on the lake just for veterans,” Ronan said. “It involves members of SLAA taking veterans out fishing for a day from Sebago Lake State Park. We have a lot of gear in our trailer and sharing it with veterans is something we like to do.”

The day kicks off with free breakfast for the veterans, courtesy of Village Donut Shop & Bakery in Raymond. The bakery will provide coffee and donuts for the fishermen before they embark on their fishing adventures.

“Village Donut is involved in everything good in our community,” Ronan said. “It is a favorite of everyone. The owner gives us two dozen donuts free of charge for our American Legion Post 148 meetings in Windham, which are held behind Hannaford. They’ve gotten to know the veterans and are very supportive.”

What’s more, following a great day of fishing, veterans will be treated to a picnic lunch.

“Once they finish fishing, they eat!” said Ronan. “This year we have been very blessed. Ryan Cormier, the owner of Cormier’s Dog House in Windham, will be preparing and donating lunch for our veterans.”

Participants can choose any combo of two hotdogs and/or hamburgers, chips or French fries, and a drink for their lunch.

Ronan said he expects to host around 40 veterans out on the lake this year. He says that the event is growing exponentially and is a function of outreach.

“We reached out to all the American Legion posts in the northeast, so we will be fishing with local veterans and some from afar,” he said.

Tanguay is a proponent of getting veterans into key positions in Windham’s American Legion post. Ronan says that the involvement and support of the post then translates into getting veterans out and involved in their communities.

Ronan says he also gives a tip of the hat to several SLAA club members who are Registered Maine Guides who are helping out with the event.

“We are lucky that several of our members are Registered Maine Guides who live and work in our area,” Ronan said. “They are an invaluable resource in providing education on public waterways and fish species. Last year we caught 165 fish. The boats actually came in early because they caught their limit.”

Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife also partners with the event, providing one-day fishing passes with the fee waived for participating veterans but the partnership doesn’t stop there.

“If the veterans don’t want their fish, we will donate any discarded fish to the Maine Wildlife Park to feed the eagles and small mammals,” said Ronan. “There is no waste.”

According to Ronan, the Veterans Fishing Event is a great day for many veterans and their families.

“We just want to thank the veterans for their service,” he said. “We’d like to take you fishing and spend the morning on Sebago Lake with you.”

The event will be held at Sebago Lake State Park and leaves from the boat ramp there. It is free and open to all veterans regardless of age, branch of service, or physical abilities. Pre-registration is required, and slots are filling up quickly due to limited boats and gear.

Veterans will be provided with everything needed for a great day of fishing including bait, boats, and gear. Free breakfast and a picnic lunch will be provided.

For more information about SLAA or the Veteran’s Fishing Event, call 207-838-4855 send an email to kronan388@gmail.com

Check out the Sebago Lake Anglers Association page on Facebook for upcoming events and news. <

Mock CSI exercise tests student deduction skills

By Elle Curtis

This past week, Windham High School students participated in the annual Mock CSI exercise and this time it was on the Saint Joseph’s College campus. Students focused on detective and evidence tech work with a combination of curriculum skills and life skills taught through engaging mystery solving.

Windham High School students gathered to participate in an
annual Mock CSI exercise on the Saint Joseph's College
campus on May 2. In the exercise, students focused on
detective skills and life skills taught through engaging
mystery solving. PHOTO BY GARY HARRIMAN  

On May 2, WHS students, alongside Saint Joseph’s Criminology Department, worked together to determine the suspect of a hit and run scenario. Saint Joseph’s Criminology Department helped set up and run the scenario, with many students serving as actors in the CSI exercise.

Students from Windham High School’s APEX English classes taught by Adrianne Shetenhelm, and Tess Hall’s English classes, primarily focused on interviewing suspects and writing reports, while students from Lauren Ruffner’s Honors Chemistry class, and John Ziegler’s Honors Pre-Calculus classes, viewed the case from a different perspective, primarily focusing on analyzing blood samples and calculating a suspect’s speed from skid marks.

“The CSI project is great because it teaches students a combination of curriculum skills and life skills,” said WHS teacher John Ziegler, a coordinator of the event.

“Speaking from a Pre-Calculus perspective, my students apply their knowledge of the law of sines and the law of cosines in order to do cell tower triangulation, and they apply their knowledge of equation solving to calculate speed from skid marks,” he said. “However, it's the life skills that make the unit great. Students learn how to communicate effectively, organize information, and draw conclusions from evidence, which are all skills that will benefit them not only if they decide to go into a law enforcement career, but also in most other careers they might opt to pursue.”

In addition to showing students how the skills they learn in class can be applied in a real-life scenarios, the mock CSI exercise aimed to weave subject areas together in an interdisciplinary fashion. Whereas coordinators used to separate the content areas, now content areas are mixed together, which goes toward creating a more worthwhile experience for everyone.

Their critical thinking skills were challenged as groups crafted their theories through debating and discussing amongst themselves to try to find out who the killer was with evidence including suspect alibis and locations gleaned from cellphone tower data.

“Being able to take disparate pieces of evidence and weave them into a compelling narrative to advance your argument is a skill that students will be asked to use many times in life, and this exercise is a chance for them to begin practicing that skill,” Ziegler said. “That's not to say it's easy. At the beginning of the CSI day, I saw many students making mistakes in how they were questioning witnesses. However, the more they did it, the better they got at it. Critical thinking skills are almost like a muscle.”

This year was the first time a narrative was re-used from a Mock CSI scenario from previous years. The previous one was first used in 2019, however, this year it was updated to better create a sense of community among students so that no one felt left out of any part of the scenario.

Ziegler said the Mock CSI Exercise strives to inspire students, as well as turn them into creative and practical problem solvers that will continue to flourish, even outside of the classroom. <

Windham Town Council reviews warrant for Annual Town Meeting

By Ed Pierce

Members of the Windham Town Council reviewed the Town Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting in June during a council meeting on Tuesday evening.

The proposed budget in the Windham Town Warrant for 
2025-2026 is $50,582-929, a 7.26 percent increase from 
last year's $46,991,715 budget. The municipal portion is
about 36 percent of the budget with Cumberland County
and RSU 14 accounting for the rest. COURTESY PHOTO   

The Town Warrant contains municipal budget specifics for the coming year and will be voted upon by town residents at the Annual Town Meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14 at the Windham Town Hall Gym. Articles contained in the Town Warrant are detailed descriptions of town expenditures and each article is voted on separately at the Annual Town Meeting.

Prior to reviewing the Town Warrant, councilors received a briefing from Assistant Town Manager Bob Burns about the proposed budget that included budget figures from Cumberland County and RSU 14 should voters from Windham and Raymond approve the RSU 14 budget during a public meeting at Windham High School on May 14.

Including the county and RSU budgets, the overall Windham budget in the Town Warrant is $50,582,989 which is a 7.26 percent increase from last year’s $46,991,715 budget, Burns said.

Burns said if the proposed budget is approved, the mil rate for Windham would rise to 12.18, up 71 cents from the current mil rate of 11.47, or a 6.39 percent increase.

Cumberland County is proposing a 7.2 percent mil rate increase, while RSU 14’s proposed budget asks for an 8.1 percent increase primarily driven by construction funding for the new Windham Raymond Middle School, he said.

According to Burns, under the new budget, taxes on a home with an assessed value of $400,000 would rise $80 a year, or $6.67 per month.

Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said that despite the 71-cent increase, the 12.18 mil rate remains one of the lowest in the surrounding area of Maine.

He said the budget proposal was formulated using many different factors and influences, including slightly increased projected revenues, the town’s general operating budget and fixed expenses, insurance costs, contractual obligations, energy costs, debt expenditures and personnel changes. Fixed expenses for the town included in the budget proposal take into account insurance costs, employee healthcare, contractual obligations for municipal organizations, long-term contracts, debt expenditures and wage adjustments.                

Among items included in the proposed municipal budget are funds to add a part-time General Assistance employee in January, a projected Cost of Living increase for municipal employees of 3.5 percent, and funding for three projects including a new North Fire Station on Franklin Drive behind Hannaford Supermarket and across from Home Depot, renovation work to turn the current Windham Middle School into a community center for the town when it is vacated as construction is completed on the new Windham Raymond Middle School in 2027, and $1.5 million for acquiring land from Portland Water District for expansion of the youth athletic fields at Gambo Park and to build a new public ice rink and playground by the new North Windham Fire Station.

Town Council Chair Jarrod Maxfield said that a misconception circulating on social media is that town taxes are paying for the sewer project underway in North Windham.

“The sewer is not in your taxes,” Maxfield said.

Funding for that $40.4 million project is derived from a combination of grant funding, a $38.9 million award by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, a federal grant obtained by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and North Windham TIF funding supported by North Windham businesses.

Town Councilor David Nadeau said that of the budget that voters will ultimately be asked to approve during the Annual Town Meeting, just 36 percent of it is for the Town of Windham with county and the RSU 14 budgets making up the rest. 

The budget will now have a public hearing during the Windham Town Council meeting on May 13 and a public vote on June 14 at the Annual Town Meeting. 

In addition to reviewing the Town Warrant, councilors also unanimously approved appointments to town boards and committees at the meeting.   

Councilors appointed Yvonne Myer as Chairman of the Voter Registration Appeals Board for a four-year term to expire Aug. 15, 2029, and appointed Gary Lytle to the Board of Assessment Review for a three-year term to end Feb. 15, 2028.

Susan Marean was appointed to the Natural Resources Advisory Committee for a term to expire Aug. 15, 2028, and appointed Geoffrey Sparrow as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term to end Feb. 15, 2028. The council also appointed Peter Forbes to the Board of Assessment Review for a three-year term to end Feb. 15, 2028.

Many volunteer board and committees have vacancies and are seeking individuals to serve.

Open positions include four members for the Assessment Review Board; one position for the Human Services Advisory Committee; three positions on the Natural Resources Advisory Committee; one position on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee; one on the Summerfest Committee; and one alternate seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Volunteers willing to serve are asked to apply at the Town Manager’s Office at Windham Town Hall. <

Windham woman assists in Hurricane Helene recovery effort in North Carolina

By Masha Yurkevich

While many of us may be thinking about taking a vacation, Diane Dunton Bruni decided to visit the area of Black Mountain, North Carolina with a team of 16 other people as part of the Fuller Center for Housing Disaster Rebuilders.

Diane Dunton Bruni of Windham, in orange, spent one week
in North Carolina with the Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders
to help residents there recover from Hurricane Helene. She
was part of a group of 16 other volunteers who worked on
rebuilding homes for families there to move back into.
SUBMITTED PHOTO     

She returned with stories of people being trapped in basements, breaking holes in attics to climb on roofs and trying to stop water rushing in. Every week teams from around the country are giving hope to the most vulnerable by rebuilding their homes.

This part of the organization reaches out to areas hit by natural disasters and started when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region.

“Although I have been part of many cycling rides raising funds for the Fuller Center for Housing, this is the first time I spent a week with the Disaster Recovery Team,” says Dunton Bruni. “A cycling friend of mine, Nancy Fish, pulled together a team from her church along with fellow cyclists to work in the area of Black Mountain. This area was hit so hard by Hurricane Helene. Three days of rain and then 12 inches more when the hurricane hit causing mudslides, raging creaks overflowing their banks and ultimately a loss of at least 100 lives.”

Dunton Bruni was in North Carolina from April 12 through April 18 and was in a team that worked to rebuild three homes.

“I learned how to insulate a home, replace particle board and install vinyl siding. I met the homeowners and prayed with them,” she says. “I met the young leaders - ours were James, Caleb, and Jacob - who were only in their 20s and had five or six houses they were managing. This is under the direction of Tony and Aaron who head up the efforts in the area.”

The Fuller Center for Housing Disaster Rebuilders are working on 22 homes in the area.

“These are the most vulnerable people who do not have the resources to rebuild,” says Dunton Bruni. “I painted, insulated a home, reframed windows and put up siding. Other than painting, I had never done the other tasks before, and I am not sure I want to do insulation again,” she said.

The team was up by 6 a.m. each day, having breakfast and then sharing a devotion and information about their worksite.

“We were split up and at the worksites by 8 in the morning,” says Dunton Bruni. “It was hard work, but we met the families whose homes were so badly damaged. We listened to their stories, and we gave them hope. One family crawled to their roof and stood on it as they watched their car port and cars swept away. Their home was completely damaged inside. The second home was again completely damaged; the owner tried to stop the raging waters flooding into her home to no avail. The third home was a man who lived in the basement and his sons lived above. When the waters came rushing in, the man was trapped; his sons had to break a window to get him out.”

A street that the Fuller Center Disaster Recovery teams are working on is one in which every home was damaged.

“Markings for safety or lives lost are still on the doors,” says Dunton Bruni. “A car sits on the street full of mud. A hole is seen where a family broke through the attic. The waters rose to the eaves in this neighborhood.”

During her time in North Carolina, the team and Dunton Bruni were close to finishing two homes for families to move back into and started work on three others.

While the tasks were difficult, Dunton Bruni says that hearing the stories and seeing the tragedy of the area was more difficult.

“They need more help,” she says. “Teams have been coming every week since September and there is still so much work.”

Even through all the tragedy and disaster, Dunton Bruni still kept a positive view.

“The area is beautiful,” she says. “Flowers are blooming, and the mountains remind me of our mountains. The people were amazing and the team I worked with connected deeply in God's work we were doing to serve others.”

Disaster can hit at anytime and anywhere, says Dunton Bruni.

“We cannot forget the people who need us,” she says. “They are survivors, but they need our help. They need hope.”

As Board Chair and President of the Sebago Lake Region Fuller Center for Housing, Dunton Bruni says that she is committed to keep serving others and giving them hope. She said the hurricane damage in North Carolina is sad but efforts to help the survivors are inspiring.

“I am exhausted, but I learned skills that I can use with our families here in Maine,” Dunton Bruni said. “I feel blessed to have been physically and emotionally able to help these families and give them hope.”

Dunton Bruni says you can support the local effort to help repair homes for seniors and veterans by visiting sebagofullerhousing.org. For more details or if you are interested in working with the Fuller Center for Housing Disaster Rebuilders, please visit the Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders website, or contact Diane Dunton Bruni at prdunton@msn.com. <

Nangle bill to protect consumers by simplifying subscription cancellations

AUGUSTA – On April 24, State Senator Tim Nangle, D-Windham, introduced LD 1642, “An Act to Protect Maine Consumers by Simplifying Subscription Cancellations,” to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development during a public hearing for the bill.

The bill aims to save Maine people money by simplifying the cancellation process for online subscription services.

“With all the new subscription services available online now, it’s easy to fall into the trap of automatic renewal,” Nangle said. “Whether it’s a streaming service like Netflix or monthly grocery deliveries, it can be hard to keep track of it all – and even harder to cancel when needed. Mainers deserve to be able to opt out of subscriptions easily, quickly and without having to sit on a customer service line for hours on end. My bill aims to make this a reality.”

Nangle’s LD 1642 bill would amend the law regulating automatic subscription renewals to clarify the disclosure requirements for sellers offering such subscriptions and require a seller to obtain a consumer’s express consent for automatic subscription renewal prior to enrollment through a check box, electronic signature or other affirmative action. The seller would also be required to provide the option for cancellation using the same method by which the consumer initially agreed to the subscription. The bill would further prohibit a seller from misrepresenting an automatic subscription offer in the marketing of such subscriptions.

The legislation also directs the Maine Attorney General to adopt rules for the enforcement of the law if passed and to bring forward necessary actions for violations of the law. If a seller is found liable, the bill stipulates that, in addition to damages authorized pursuant to the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, the seller is required to provide the consumer with a refund or credit for three times the unauthorized amounts billed or paid.

Nangle said that LD 1642 is supported by Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey.

As written, LD 1642 does not currently apply to memberships requiring in-person cancellation, such as gym memberships. However, Senator Nangle said that he intends to draft an amendment that would make the bill apply to such memberships.

If LD 1642 is enacted, it would only apply to subscriptions that are entered into or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2026, giving businesses time to adapt to the new law.

The LD 1642 legislation now faces further action in committee.

Senator Nangle represents Maine State Senate District 26, which includes Casco, Frye Island, Raymond, Windham and part of Westbrook in Cumberland County. <

Hofstra University recognizes Windham student

During National Student Employment Week, Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York is celebrating the impact and experiences of student workers across campus and in the surrounding community.

Audrey Day of Windham has been
recognized by Hofstra University
for her work on campus.
COURTESY PHOTO

Through the student employment program - whether through Federal Work-Study or other opportunities - students are receiving more than just a paycheck. They're building transferable skills, gaining practical experience, forming meaningful professional relationships, and in many cases, they are engaging with the wider community.

Audrey Day of Windham is among the many student workers at Hofstra. She was the valedictorian of Windham High School’s Class of 2022 and is a junior studying mechanical enginering at Hofstra University.

While attending WHS, Day was in the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, TriM Music Honor Society, Girl Scouts of Maine, Science Olympiad, and Class Office. She also participated in the District II Honors Music Festival and The Maine All State Music Festival on trumpet. The WHS volleyball team she played on reached the state semifinals during her sophomore year.

At Hofstra, Day was recognized for her two jobs, both of which were merit-based offers. She is a tutor for the school's  Engineering department, and a Peer Teacher for the Engineering Design class. 

Supporting student employment is one of many ways Hofstra is advancing its commitment to student success, a key priority of the Hofstra 100 strategic plan. On-campus jobs help students like Day integrate into the university community, while Federal Work-Study positions connect them with meaningful opportunities both on and off campus.

The Office of Student Employment plays a central role in supporting Hofstra's student workforce, which includes more than 1,100 students each year. Amanda Nastasi, manager of the Office of Student Employment, sees firsthand the impact these opportunities have on students' personal and professional growth. "One of the most gratifying parts of my role is meeting a student at the start of their job search and later welcoming them into the office for onboarding once they've secured a position," she said. "It's a privilege to play a small part in students' journeys, and to watch them grow through the student employment program."

Hofstra University's primary mission is to provide quality education to its students in an environment that encourages, nurtures, and supports learning. At Hofstra, new ideas take shape through collaboration, engagement, and interaction. Hofstra students create their success with small classes and dedicated faculty, alongside a beautiful campus, plus all the opportunities of New York City within easy reach. <

Sewer pipe installation underway in North Windham

By Ed Pierce

A significant step to improving public health and sustainable economic development has started in North Windham, as a contractor has begun to install sewer lines there.

Work to install sewer pipes along Route 302 near the Shaw's
Supermarket Plaza and on Route 115 at Boody's Corner 
started on the night of April 20. The installation will be
performed between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and
is expected to be completed by sometime in June.
COURTESY PHOTO 

Windham Communications Director Roger Cropley said the project is a collaboration between the Town of Windham and the Portland Water District with sewer line installation work starting in the Shaw’s parking lot area of North Windham.

Cropley said the sewer line will span the Shaw’s parking lot through the Walmart lot, and over to Landing Road before crossing Route 302 to the Windham Mall. Shaw Brothers Construction also started installing another section of the sewer line April 20 along Route 115 in North Windham, he said.

“The installation will begin on the Gray side of Walgreens, progressing across Boody’s Corner and over to a section of Route 35, eventually connecting to the line being installed through the Shaw’s parking lot,” Cropley said. “That work will run through early May.”

According to Cropley, the sewer line work is scheduled to be performed at night in order to cause as little disruption for motorists as possible.

“Construction will start at 6 p.m. and go to 6 a.m. with start times varying depending on traffic volume,” he said. “Flaggers and police will be set up each night to control and redirect traffic when lane closures are in effect. The sewer work is scheduled to be completed by June.”

Voters approved installation of a sewer system in Windham during a special referendum in June 2022.

By installing a sewer system treating 50,000 gallons per day, Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said that business growth in North Windham will be of significant benefit to the community, leading to economic growth and the creation of new housing, new hotels, new office and retail space and affordable options for small-scale manufacturing development.

Tibbetts said that environmental benefits will also be realized by installing sewers in North Windham including preventing 7,500 pounds per year of nitrogen and 1,000 pounds of phosphorous from entering the aquifer.

“This project will be the first of this magnitude in Maine and can be a model for other communities who lack receiving waters,” he said. “It will be the most advanced micro-filtration system in the state for handling contaminants.”

Along with the sewers, construction of a public wastewater system will result in the removal of about 100 septic systems that are currently discharging into the North Windham aquifer, Tibbetts said. A collection and pumping system over three miles in length will connect businesses and residents to the system and will treat wastewater through the advanced micro-filtration system.

“Current businesses will be able to further grow and expand while new businesses can be situated without further degrading the aquifer and using valuable real estate for septic systems,” Tibbetts said.

The overall estimated cost of the sewer project is $40.4 million. Partnering with the Portland Water District and RSU 14 to create the massive infrastructure project, the Windham Town Council covered the initiative through a combination of grant funding, a $38.9 million award by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and North Windham TIF funding supported by North Windham businesses.

Because of construction costs and materials increases since receiving voter approval in 2022, Tibbetts said that a warrant article approved by voters at the 2024 Windham Annual Town Meeting authorized the town to issue a bond of $4 million through the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. In doing that, the sewer project shortfall will have no impact for taxpayers.

The new system includes the creation of a new pumping station near Windham High School and RSU 14 that would service from the high school campus to a new treatment facility in North Windham and establish a wastewater treatment facility on the grounds of Manchester School and a new pumping station at Windham Middle School. <

In the public eye: WMS special education teacher forges lasting relationships with students

Editor’s note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

Special education teachers are uniquely trained to support the learning needs of students with disabilities and to ensure their educational, behavioral, social, and emotional success. Windham Middle School has one of the best in Adam Deveau.

Adam Deveau is now in his eighth year as
a special education teacher at Windham 
Middle School and provides specialized
instruction to support students when
they are challenged or struggling.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Deveau is now in his eighth year working at WMS and says he considers himself fortunate to be part of the RSU 14 team. In his job, Deveau is challenged to find specific interventions that fulfill the needs of his students, kind of like trying to solve a new puzzle every day.

“My responsibilities vary a bit from year to year. This year, my main responsibilities include providing specialized instruction and supporting students throughout the day when they are challenged or struggling,” Deveau said.” Since starting at WMS, I have taught reading, writing, math, and science on the academic side as well as social skills, social-emotional learning, and executive functioning. I also create and manage educational plans and positive behavior support plans.”

At the middle school, special education teachers work with fewer students than their general education counterparts and they also work with the same group of students over the course of several years they attend classes there. The smaller class sizes in special education coupled with the increased time of working with the same students at WMS gives him the opportunity to forge strong relationships with his students and their families.

“The best thing about what I do in my job is that I am in a unique position to help improve the quality of life for students and help them enjoy and benefit from their time at school,” he said. “I get to help shape their overall experience at Windham Middle School and when I do my job well, I see amazingly positive outcomes in the way they feel about school in general.”

But the most challenging aspect of Deveau’s job is the fact that he can only be in one place at a time and sometimes there are many things that he would like to be doing and many people he would like to be supporting.

“People don’t always understand that special education is not just a service to address academic needs, but it also can help students that struggle in many areas including behavior, daily living skills, and social skills,” he said.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Deveau’s family moved to Maine when he was just an infant. He has spent much of his life living in Bridgton and graduated from Lake Region High School. He originally studied philosophy at the University of Southern Maine but when I graduated, he found out that “philosopher” is not exactly a job in high demand. He enrolled at USM again and earned enough additional credits to become a special education teacher.

According to Deveau, he first applied to work at WMS when the school that he was working for moved to a new location further away.

“I have taught nearly every subject in special education. I started my career in a private day treatment program for students with emotional and behavioral health challenges,” Deveau said. “After that I came to WMS, and have worked as a functional academic teacher, a resource room teacher, and a behavior support teacher.”

He says he’s enjoyed many memorable moments working for WMS.

“Some of my favorite memories include seeing them perform in talent shows, participate in door decorating contests, and other moments where they chose to step up to the plate to show us their unique skills and talents,” Deveau said. “The moment that stands out the most is when I worked with a group of students who came into my room almost every day to learn how to sing three or four songs. Our goal was to bring some joy and entertainment to the residents of Ledgewood Manor, a local assisted living facility. On the day they performed, my students showed courage, compassion and kindness in so many ways, and I was honored to help them.”

The most important thing that Deveau says he’s learned working for WMS is that all students want to do well.

“If we create the right conditions for student success, they will almost always meet us halfway,” he said. “They communicate their needs with not only their words but their actions, so we need to listen to them on so many different levels to be effective educators.” <

Windham Historical Society to host Victorian Tea Party at Little Meeting House

By Masha Yurkevich

The Little Meeting House in North Windham will be decorated in a Victorian style setting for a special High Tea at High Noon on Saturday, May 31. This event is being held in honor of the passing of the Windham Historical Society’s Secretary Karen Lougee in January.

A special 'High Tea at High Noon' event will be held on
Saturday, May 31 at the Little Meeting House in North 
Windham to remember Windham Historical Society
member Karen Lougee, who died in January.
COURTESY PHOTO

Haley Pal is one of three Event Coordinators for High Tea at High Noon with the other coordinators being Susan Simonson, the Society's President and Carol Manchester, the Membership Chair.

“This is the first time we are doing a tea,” says Pal. “It was inspired by the passing of our Secretary Karen Lougee in January. Lougee loved all things British, was an avid reader and Steward of the Windham Center Library on the Society's Village Green. Her favorite flowers were lilacs, so we decided to host an event in her memory during lilac season.”

Lougee’s love of books and history came together when she joined the Windham Historical Society after retiring from Unum. She joined the Society’s Board and served as Secretary and on the Programs Committee. Lougee enthusiastically helped and led in the restoration of the original Windham Center Library building for the Society’s Village Green, proudly completing this large and complex project in the fall of 2024.

She also worked hard to restore the library and has left this piece of Windham history as her lasting gift to the community.

“Lougee’s first exposure to Windham Historical Society was at a fundraiser held in 2017,” says Susan Simonson, President of the Windham Historical Society. “As a way to encourage more membership and exposure of the society, we held a History Tour around Windham, highlighting the historical sites and building while providing local Windham history. Lougee and her husband, Gerry, were on that tour. It was not long afterward Lougee showed interest in becoming an active member of the society. She ran and was elected Secretary the following year. It did not take long for her to blend into the fabric of the historical society, helping in any way she could. Lougee was retired from Unum’s legal department, and her administrative and professional skills were much welcomed by the organization. She was able to juggle many hats, and most importantly her love for her family.”

High Tea at High Noon will start at noon on May 31 and run about two hours long. It will open with a greeting from Simonson. Then, a buffet luncheon will be served with the meal consisting of quiche, tea sandwiches, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, mini muffins, scones, and a large assortment of delicate desserts.

“During lunch, Ray Marcotte and Elle Kanner of Teafarers will do a talk about the history of tea and talk about some of the teas that guests will be sampling with their lunch,” says Pal. “Dessert will be served by Society members and be delivered to each table. Desserts range from cupcakes to mini cheesecakes, to tea breads to cream puffs, plus cookies and mini lemon tarts.”

Tickets are $25 per person with 60 seats available. People can purchase tickets by emailing Haley Pal at haleypal@aol.com.

“Lougee was the steward of the Windham Center Library which had not been open for several years” says Simonson. “She has put a lot of time, energy, and research into getting the library open to the public as part of the society’s Village Green. The building had a major structural issue and took a year or two to get it addressed. Once those repairs were completed, the roof was re-shingled, windows were puttied, the exterior painted. The next step is to get electricity brought over to the building. The funds raised by the tea will help to offset the electrical costs, remaining interior painting, and other small miscellaneous projects.”

If you are looking to enjoy a high tea in an historic old building, you are highly encouraged to join this event.

“The Little Meeting House will be decked in Victorian style using china teacups and porcelain and glass plates,” says Pal. “Tablecloths will be color-coordinated, and it should make for an elegant, but fairly inexpensive way to spend a couple of hours.”

This event is also an opportunity to meet Society members and learn about some of the things that they do for the community.

“It is also a wonderful way showing those who attend that the Windham Historical Society truly does know how to ‘have fun with history’ which is our slogan,” says Pal.

Lougee’s unexpected passing had a major effect on the society board members. She was very much a part of their team, always lending a hand where needed.

“The fundraiser in her memory is a way for us to heal and let the community know how much she meant to the society,” says Simonson. “The society has been fortunate to have Becky (Plummer) Delaware step in as the new steward of the Windham Center Library. Becky is a retired schoolteacher and grew up in Windham. Her knowledge of Windham and as an avid history buff will provide the tolls needed to continue Lougee’s vision while adding her own touch to displays on Windham’s organizations of the past.” <

Lions Club honors volunteer work of Windham resident

By Ed Pierce

When Evelyn Brissette’s husband passed away from lung cancer in 2016, she decided that she had more time on her hands to do some of the things that would make her happy and be able to help others. She joined the Windham Lions Club, and that decision has led Brissette to be awarded the highest form of recognition possible for a Lions Club member.

Evelyn Brissette of Windham was presented 
the Melvin Jones Award for her humanitarian
efforts and devotion to the community. It's
the highest honor that a Lions Club member
can receive. From left are Gene Tanguay,
Windham Lions Club President Camille
Swander, Evelyn Brissette, and Patricia
Tanguay. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Windham Lions Club presented Brissette with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award during its April meeting for her humanitarian qualities such as compassion, concern, and generosity to the Windham community. The award is named after the original founder, secretary and treasurer of Lions International who established the organization to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives locally and globally, and encourage peace and international understanding.

Brissette served as president of the Windham Lions Club for several years and created the club’s Adopt-A-Family program that provides Christmas gifts to families in need in the Windham Community. She also has participated in community meals and the RSU 14 Backpack Program and volunteers for the Windham Parks and Recreation Department and at senior citizen luncheons. She’s active in the Lions Club’s eyeglass screening, Touch-A-Truck, the Windham Lions Annual Craft Fair, Stuff the Bus, and many other community activities.

“I saw an article in The Windham Eagle, I think that first summer, that the town was looking for volunteers to give out lunches to the children at Dundee Park,” Brissette said. “I thought I can do that and totally enjoyed it. When they stopped distributing food at the park but did it at the middle school one summer with parents picking up a much larger quantity of food, I joined to help there. I heard about the weekly backpack program, so I joined our Tuesday morning group of fellow volunteers at least four or five years ago at this point. We started at Windham Primary School and have been at Windham Middle School for several years now. During COVID when the children were home, I made home food deliveries.”

She joined the Windham Lions Club in 2019 after being invited by longtime friends Gene and Patty Tanguay.

“I have always enjoyed doing whatever I can to make life as good as possible for others,” Brissette said. “The Windham Lions Club has given me the opportunities that I needed to get out there and do even more.”

Receiving this award means a lot to Brissette.

“I did not do what I have done for the past several years to be rewarded but just to help others in need,” she said. “I feel very fortunate that my family and children have never gone without. We were never rich, but we always managed. Knowing how hard some families have it today really concerns me when the children’s needs are not met, especially when it comes to food.”

Originally from Portland, Brissette and her husband moved to Windham in 2012.

“We needed a more accessible home with one floor living only,” she said. “Stairs are not my friends anymore. As much as my husband liked to keep busy, he had to cut back on keeping up with our big, older home. Moving to Windham was the best move we could have made, especially since I became a widow a few years afterward. I have met wonderful people through the Windham Lions Club and the businesses, and others that I have established relationships with while organizing our Lions Club events. I also enjoy working with the Parks and Recreation Department as a volunteer and participating in their events.”

Working at Shaw's Supermarkets for 29 1/2 years, Brissette spent the majority of her career in the Payroll and Human Resources departments and she helped to organize in-store United Way fundraising drives and was a United Way Loan Executive twice.

“When I left Shaw's, I became a companion/caregiver with Home Partners for 12 years, a job I truly enjoyed,” Brissette said. “At 73 years young I thought I finally deserved to spend more time to pursue other interests as well. As it happened, I left Home Partners and joined the Windham Lions Club that same year.”

According to Brissette, besides organizing United Way campaigns in the Shaw’s store, she was occasionally asked to solicit volunteers to donate blood for Red Cross blood drives.

“The personnel and training coordinators would sometimes set up a little competition between ourselves and other stores to see who could convince the most associates to donate blood,” she said. “One year I convinced and really begged 40 associates to donate. That was one out of every three or four of the associates in my store, including me. I have no shame for a good cause. Our store ended up having the most associates that donated blood. The joke in the store afterwards was to watch out if you see Evelyn coming. She will be asking you for either your money or your blood.”

The Windham Lions Club was formed in 1969 and is a small but active group of service-minded men and women who want to make Windham a better place to live by serving the community in a variety of ways. It is part of the world’s largest and most active service club organization, Lions Club International.

Windham Lions Club members work with their fellow Lions in more than 170 counties and geographical areas to seek out and help the needy in their own communities, their country, and the world.

The Windham Lions Club meetings are held at the Windham Hill United Church of Christ, 140 Windham Center Road in Windham Maine on the first Wednesday of each month.

For more details about the Windham Lions Club send an email to windhamlionsme@gmail.com or visit http://sites.google.com/site/windhamlionsclubmaine/announcements <

Town of Raymond property tax revaluations ongoing

By Kendra Raymond

The Town of Raymond is currently conducting property tax revaluations and anticipating a steady process while asking for cooperation from residents as they move through the process, which should wrap up during the summer of 2026.

Town of Raymond property revaluations for
the area included in this map are currently
underway by KRT Appraisal and the Town
of Raymond. The revaluation process for
the entire town will stretch into 2026.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

KRT Appraisal of Haverhill, Massachusetts has been contracted to collect data by making a site visit to each property in the Town of Raymond. Employees will measure buildings on each property and perform a quick interior inspection, which allows for accurate determinations of value.

Raymond Assessors Agent Curt Lebel says that things are going smoothly so far. His role is to implement the program as the town moves through the steps.

“Right now, probably for the next five months or so we will be in the data collection phase,” he said. “KRT staff will be visiting every property in town measuring every house through the summer into the fall.”

With over 4,000 properties to visit, Lebel said that KRT staff are focused on working area by area. If property owners are not at home, a letter will be sent to schedule a return visit.

Lebel says that obtaining solid information on each property will allow the town to build a valuation model for the appraisal process. Currently, KRT staff members are visiting homes in the Mill and Main Street neighborhoods as well as the first part of Webbs Mills Road.

KRT continues to send out batches of post cards for various neighborhoods. Once you receive a card, you can plan on a visit within the next 60 days. KRT employees are working through a methodical process street by street. Unfortunately, homeowners are not able to pre-schedule appointments. If the property owner is not home, a letter will be sent requesting an interior inspection appointment.

Property owners can be reassured that KRT personnel will clearly identify themselves with name badges and signage on their vehicle, Lebel said. They will also present a letter from the Raymond Contract Assessor and Raymond’s Town Manager.

So far, Lebel says that the data collection has been sporadic, but residents are becoming more aware of the visits.

“Overall, residents know what is going on. Most of our feedback will be later in the process,” he said. “Right now, like a lot of towns, our average assessment is 40 to 50 percent of the market value. Valuations can double but there could be a corresponding decrease in the tax rate."

The KRT Appraisal in Raymond website provides the following FAQs:

What is a Full Revaluation?

The Town of Raymond has hired KRT Appraisal (KRT) to complete a Full Revaluation. According to Maine Revenue Service, “Revaluation” means the development of new property valuations by a firm through the introduction of new grading and pricing schedules, the updating of existing grading and pricing schedules, or the maintenance of an existing valuation system.

A “Full Revaluation” includes measuring and listing all properties to verify existing assessment data. The end goal is for assessments to be adjusted to reflect market value as of April 1, 2026. This creates equity and ensures a fair distribution of the tax burden across all property owners. The last Revaluation was implemented in 2005.

Stages of a Full Revaluation

KRT will be updating existing grading and pricing schedules for property valuations and maintaining the existing valuation system by performing a Full Revaluation of assessment values. To accomplish this, KRT will complete five phases: (1) Data Collection, (2) Sales Review and Validation, (3) Market Analysis/Valuation, (4) Field Review, and (5) Informal Hearings. During these phases, many tasks will be completed to ensure the Full Revaluation is successful. Below is a general outline and explanation of each phase of the project.

Phase 1: Data Collection

The first phase, Data Collection of all property, began in February 2025. During this phase "Data Collectors" go to each property in the Town to measure the exterior of each building and attempt to inspect the interior if the owner is available at the time of the visit. These Data Collectors note the buildings’ location, size, age, quality of construction, improvements, topography, utilities, and numerous other characteristics both inside and out. They may also ask the homeowner a few questions regarding the property. To confirm that a home was inspected, the homeowner is asked to sign a data collection form. The data collected is subject to verification by the Town Assessor and a KRT Supervisor. KRT Field Representatives will carry Picture IDs, Municipal Letters of Introduction, and have their vehicles listed with both the Assessor’s Office and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department.

Prior to starting the data collection in your area, a postcard will be mailed to each property as notification that the property will be visited in the next few weeks. Data Collectors will arrive at your property unannounced shortly after the postcard is mailed and ring the bell and knock on the door. If someone is home, they will explain who they are, with their KRT badge visible, and ask for an interior and exterior inspection. Due to the large volume of properties to be inspected, we are unable to conduct this portion of the project on a pre-scheduled appointment basis.

If no one is home, they will assume it is ok to measure the outside of the building and proceed to do so. A letter will be mailed out towards the end of the project (early spring of 2026) asking for a phone call to schedule an appointment for an interior inspection. The visit from KRT should not take more than 15 minutes from start to finish. Data Collectors will not visit a property posted “No Trespassing.” Posted properties will receive a letter asking for permission to visit the property at a scheduled time convenient for everyone.

Phase 2: Sales Review and Validation

During this phase, KRT appraisers will field review each property that sold between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026, to verify the information on the property record card for data accuracy. The appraiser will make notes regarding the property location, size, condition, quality of construction, and numerous other characteristics that may affect value. The goal is to gain a clear understanding of what sold and for what price. In conjunction with the Assessing Office, KRT will begin the process of qualifying sales as “arm’s length”. Only sales with market exposure between a willing buyer and willing seller (in other words, an “arm’s length” sale) will be used in the analysis.

Phase 3: Market Analysis/Valuation

A variety of resources are used to analyze the real estate market. KRT will be analyzing property sales that occurred between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026, to determine which market factors influenced property values. KRT will gather and use information from Maine Multiple Listing Service (MLS), property managers, developers, and local real estate professionals. Once all the data is collected and reviewed for accuracy, the appraiser will determine land values and delineate neighborhoods, which rate the desirability of locations throughout the town as determined by actual market activity.

During this phase, individual characteristics of the buildings are analyzed using information gathered in both Phases 1 and 2. Each property is compared to other comparable properties with similar characteristics. Then the market values of the improvements are added to the land value that was previously determined. This value is the final estimate for each parcel of property, building and land.

Valuation is done using one of the three recognized appraisal methods: Cost Approach, Income Approach and Sales Comparable Approach. Mass appraisal uses a market adjusted cost approach to generate assessments. The income approach will be used for all income producing property and will be reconciled with the market adjusted cost approach.

Phase 4: Field Review

Field Review is the method of checking and re-checking both the values that have been determined and the accuracy of the data used. During this phase, properties are viewed in the field by experienced appraisers to ensure that the appraisal methodology established from the sale properties is consistently applied to the entire population of properties within the town.

Phase 5: Informal Hearings

Once the Field Review is completed and the values are approved by the Assessor’s Office, a notice stating the proposed value will be mailed to each property owner. The goal is for this phase to be completed in July of 2026. At that time anyone with questions concerning the revaluation process or the value established for their property will have an opportunity to meet with a member of KRT’s staff. After the five phases are completed, all data, files and records used in the revaluation will be turned over to the Assessor’s Office for retention.

Lebel explained the logic behind the property valuations.

“The goals in Maine property valuations are used to apportion property taxes. The total tax includes schools, town, and county budget,” he said. “The values determine who pays what share. Over time, old models become less accurate. The new model better fits the current sales market,” he said. “Some folks will see no change, but some may see increases depending on how the market sees the property. It’s the appropriate sharing of tax with more fairness to distribute it.”

Raymond residents with questions are welcome to contact Lebel at 207-655-4742 to discuss the process.

To keep up to date on the current neighborhoods where data is being collected, or to learn more, visit the KRT website at: https://www.krtappraisal.com/dist/raymond

Visit the Town of Raymond website for additional information or to view the current map at https://www.raymondmaine.org <

Windham Public Works sets dates for residential leaf disposal site

By Ed Pierce

After a long and dreary winter of removing ice from the driveway and shoveling snow from sidewalks, Windham residents are now taking a long look at their yards and once again collecting leaves and brush that may have built up on their property since last fall.

The Windham Leaf and Brush Disposal
Site will open starting at 7 a.m. Saturday,
April 19 and will close for the season at
6 p.m. Sunday, May 11. The facility is at 
the end of Enterprise Drive off Route 302
behind the self-storage building in
Windham. COURTESY PHOTO  

This week Windham’s Department of Public Works has announced the window of availability and hours for dropping off leaves and brush for disposal after spring residential clean-ups. The Windham Leaf and Brush Disposal Site will be open starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 19 and will close for the season at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 11.

The site will be open only for the disposal of leaves and brush and is located at the very end of Enterprise Drive off Route 302 behind the self-storage building in North Windham.

Windham DPW officials ask that residents dropping off items for disposal separate leaves from brush and place them in the appropriate areas where the marked and posted signs indicate.

For those transporting leaves to the site in paper or plastic bags, DPW requests that the leaves be removed from the bags and the bags taken back home for proper disposal. They also ask that residents not take any brush or branches larger than 12 inches in diameter to the site for disposal. Grass clippings are allowed but large heavy tree stumps are not.

As a reminder, residents are not allowed to dump garbage, metal trash, used televisions or appliances at the town’s Leaf and Brush Disposal Site.

Windham DPW reminds town residents that leaves are not collected at the curb by the town, and bags of leaves should not be placed in recycling bins for collection.

Typically, about 400 to 500 yards in cubic feet of leaves and unwanted brush are collected each spring at the town disposal site every year during the spring season.

To use the service, load up your vehicle and take it to the site, which is located behind the self-storage units on Enterprise Drive to the left. It will be open 24/7 to town residents.

While Windham's Public Works department once handled both spring and fall brush disposal services, the town now is assisted in this bi-annual collection by R.J Grondin and Sons, a family-owned construction company.

Larry Grondin, vice president of Grondin and Sons, said that it was a "good fit" to offer the town assistance with brush disposal.

"After we helped with Public Works' new building, the initial plan was to just help out while construction was taking place,” he said. “Though we settled on us taking over with the brush disposal entirely since they no longer had the room for it. It's worked out so far for us both and we like working with them."

All materials gathered during the spring and fall brush seasons are given new life through Grondin and Sons.

Instead of burning the leaves and brush like residents in the past once would, Grondin and Sons instead repurpose the organic materials. The leaves are composted, and wood-based materials go toward creating heating materials.

Grondin said it’s great knowing that the leaves and brush gathered are repurposed rather than sent to a waste facility. The disposed materials gain a new purpose, and it also provides residents with a local site place to self-dispose of leaves and brush free of charge.

For further details about Windham’s Leaf and Brush Disposal Site, call the Windham Public Works Department at 207-892-1909 or visit www.windhammaine.us. <