MDOT project draws mixed reactions at open house

By Ed Pierce

During an open house meeting at Windham Town Hall on June 18, Windham residents and business owners were able to review plans for a $31.25 million road project that aims to alleviate traffic congestion along the Route 302 corridor in town.

Windham residents and business owners got to review 
Maine Department of Transportation's plans for connector
roads and a center median for Route 302 in Windham during
an open house presentation at Windham Town Hall on 
Wednesday, June 18. COURTESY PHOTO    

Maine Department of Transportation Senior Project Manager Ernie Martin briefed those attending the meeting about the timeline and plan specifics for the project, which involves reconstructing about 1.6 miles of Route 302 from River Road to Whites Bridge Road, creating three connector roads to Route 302, limiting left turns through creation of a center median on Route 302, the installation of smart traffic signals in the area, and making corridor and intersection improvements.

Martin said this open house was a courtesy to update Windham residents as to where the projects currently stand. He said the intent is to reduce congestion and improve safety for motorists, citing a high rate of accidents on Route 302. In addition, the project will make improvements to Routes 35 and 115 and will construct about 11,700 feet of new multi-use pathway.

“Some other key project features include repaving existing roads and adding new roads, adding and upgrading sidewalks on Route 302, installing new curbs in some areas and roadway alignments to be modified,” Martin said.

According to a MDOT factsheet distributed during the open house meeting, most of the $31.25 million project’s cost will be paid for through a U.S. Department of Transportation Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE grant. Along with a $25 million federal grant, the state of Maine and the town of Windham will each pay half of the remaining $6.25 million.

MDOT first partnered with Windham in 2019 to study Route 302 improvement and held a preliminary public hearing about the proposed project in June 2024. A final preliminary design report is scheduled to be completed in August and then a final public hearing will be held about it in February 2026 with plans and a cost estimate for the project to be completed by June 2027.

Construction is set to begin in October 2027, and the estimated completion date is June 2030, Martin said.

“Route 302 was never designed to serve as both a local street dotted with businesses and a through-route for travelers heading to Sebago Lake and other western destinations,” Martin said. “Routes 35 and 115 are facing similar challenges. Traffic has increased in recent years while transportation efficiency and safety have suffered. The construction of the numerous safety elements on this project is expected to reduce vehicle crashes by 21 percent. The numerous required and desired safety improvements to be implemented throughout the project area will aid in reducing crashes and injuries in a commercial area that has grown rapidly around outdated safety features, or no safety features at all.”

Route 302 improvements called for in the plans consist of building 1.7 miles of new sidewalks where sidewalks are not present today; rebuilding existing sidewalks that are not American Disability Act (ADA) compliant; installing raised median islands from Boody’s Corner at the Route 35 and Route 115 intersection northerly to the Franklin Drive Intersection; installing raised median islands from Boody’s Corner southerly about 625 feet as well as modifying traffic signals and vehicular movements.

About .33 miles of Route 35 from the intersection of Manchester Drive to the Intersection of Route 302 at Boody’s Corner will be rehabilitated and the pavement surface will be milled off and repaved. For Route 115 about .46 miles from the new intersection at the East Side Connector Road to the intersection of Route 302 at Boody’s Corner will be rehabilitated and the pavement surface will be milled off and repaved.

An east connector road will be built at the Eastern terminal of Franklin Drive and extending southerly about .67 miles to Route 115. This includes intersection connections with Veterans Memorial Drive and Sandbar Road. The connector road intersection of Route 115 will be signalized with appropriate turning lanes. On Franklin Drive about .30 miles will be rehabilitated, and the pavement surface will be milled off and repaved.

A west connector road of 1.01 miles will be built at the northerly terminal of Manchester Drive and extending northerly some .55 miles to Whites Bridge Road. This work includes creating intersection connections with Landing Road, Amato Drive and Trails End Road. The new connection with Whites Bridge Road will not have a signal but will have appropriate turn lanes.

The existing intersection of Manchester Drive and Route 35 will receive improvements, including a new traffic signal. This existing segment of Manchester Drive will be rehabilitated, and the pavement surface will be milled off and repaved. A middle connector road of .14 miles will be built beginning at the Franklin Drive and Route 302 intersection and extending southwesterly to Landing Road some 755 feet.

Not everyone attending the open house supported every aspect of the project.

Bob Hynick, the Operating Partner for KFC/Taco Bell at 755 Roosevelt Trail in Windham says he’s hoping MDOT’s plans can be altered or modified and that MDOT and the Town of Windham will listen to the concerns of local business owners that a center median and bypass roads will be detrimental to their operations by reducing customer access and limiting left-hand turns into and out of their establishments.

“As an Operating Partner for the KFC/Taco Bell in Windham, I appreciate the investments being made in Windham’s infrastructure but have serious concerns about the proposed installation of a center median divider on Roosevelt Trail that will reduce vehicle access to our restaurant and several neighboring businesses,” Hynick said.

The KFC/Taco Bell location has been part of the Windham community for decades and employs 20 people, he said.

“Eliminating left turns into and out of the property could significantly restrict customers’ access to us and impact our ability to operate,” Hynick said. “We hope to be part of this community for decades more and ask that Windham reconsider this portion of the project to see the impact planned bypasses will have on traffic flow and explore alternative solutions that won’t harm local businesses like ours.”

Kyron Hobdy and Cyndi Ambriz of Windham live off White’s Bridge Road and say improvements there will be helpful.

“I like it,” Hobdy said. “During the summer it will mean easier access for us.”

Ambriz said when the project is finished it will take some adjusting to get used to it.

“Around Walmart you’d have to go down and around and that will take some getting used to,” she said. “In the long run it’s going to be better. 

Use the QR Code below to see detailed plans for the project. <

 <

Windham Town Budget passes during lengthy Annual Town Meeting

By Ed Pierce

In what turned out as a marathon 4 ½-hour town meeting, Windham’s $8.9 million budget was eventually passed through a series of unexpected developments and twists that anyone in attendance just couldn’t make up.

Members of the Windham Town Council and staff gather
before the Annual Windham Town Meeting at Windham 
Town hall on Saturday, June 14. From left are Councilor
David Nadeau, Assistant Town Manager Bob Burns, Town
Clerk Linda Morell, Councilor Mark Morrison, Councilor
John Henry, Councilor Jarrod Maxfield, Councilor Bill
Reiner, and Town Manager Barry Tibbetts.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

With more than 130 Windham residents on hand for the Annual Town Meeting at Windham Town Hall on Saturday, June 14, concerned voters questioned nearly each of the 30 town warrant articles, wanting explanations for increases in spending and sharing their opinions about budgeting proposals put forward by the Windham Town Council.

Having elected former State Rep. Gary Plummer of Windham as Town Meeting Moderator, the first six out of the 30 warrant articles were approved following discussions and clarifications by Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts.

But voters rejected Article 7 asking for approval of a municipal budget of $39.9 million, and that meant votes were required for each of the next 11 articles. Among those, only Article 8, asking for an increase of 11.39 percent and $8.9 million funding general government operations for fiscal year 2025-2026 was defeated by voters as determined by the moderator. Article 8 included funding for Windham Town Hall offices and services and some contractual expenses, such as benefits for town police officers.

All the other warrant articles were approved by voters, except for Articles 24, 25, 26, and 27, those dealt specifically with creating and funding a new public skating rink and playground in North Windham at a cost of $3 million and renovations to Gambo Park with new soccer field, recreational trails and improved parking at an expense of $3 million.

Article 22, a proposal to construct a new North Windham Public Safety Building behind Hannaford Supermarket off Route 302, involved a lengthy discussion and many questions raised by voters about acquiring the site property, housing a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Patrol Office in the building, and the need to replace the current North Windham Fire Station on Route 302, a structure built in 1960. Tibbetts said approving the article would add 5 cents to the town’s millage rate.

“This substation building meets the needs of today and for the future,” Tibbetts said. Voters approved Article 22 agreeing to its $10 million cost through a combination of $4 million in Tax Increment Financing, using $2.4 million from the town’s General Fund, using impact fees of $1.1 million and obtaining a general obligation bond of $2.5 million.

After the 30 articles had been discussed and voted upon, Tibbetts then reviewed what the implications of the rejection of Article 8 would mean, including the difficulty of rescheduling and legally posting another town meeting, shutting down Windham Town Hall on July 1, potentially laying off employees and not having necessary revenue to meet contractual bills and defaulting on town obligations.

By this time, and after four hours, at least half of residents attending had left the meeting. A series of actions then happened that reversed the earlier vote on Article 8. A voter who had voted no previously then formally made a motion to change his vote, and then a second voter who had voted no to Article 8 previously made a motion to change their vote too and seconded the motion on the floor to reopen the article.

The first voter who had changed his vote then made a motion to amend the budget, proposing to reduce it by $600,000. That was also seconded by another voter who had voted no previously. That meant the original proposed $8.9 budget was back on the table.

Before a discussion on that, a voter from the audience moved to adjourn the meeting and it was quickly seconded. A show of hands to adjourn was too close for the moderator to call, and so votes were counted by the town clerk. The vote to adjourn was voted down.

Following a discussion about amending the budget, a vote to amend the $8.9 million was voted down and then Article 8 as originally proposed was then passed by those in attendance.

At each step voters didn't have to do what they did or vote the way they did. And those who left the meeting didn't have to leave and could have changed the voting.

Windham resident J.P. Belanger attended the Annual Town Meeting and said it was both an eye-opener and a civics lesson.

“Watching the process unfold gave me a deeper appreciation for how our local government works – and how much our participation matters. I left the meeting feeling cautiously optimistic. The approved budget reflects rising costs but also shows our community’s commitment to progress,” he said. “I was especially encouraged to see long-overdue projects like the North Windham Fire Station moving forward – a crucial investment in public safety. At the same time, I was disappointed by the reconsideration of Article 8 during what became a historic 4 1/2-hour meeting. By the time the article was brought back for a vote, many residents had already left. It raised important concerns about transparency and fairness. When community members make the effort to show up and vote, they deserve confidence that those decisions won’t be reversed once attendance thins out. I also share the concerns voiced by others about the rising tax burden. Even modest increases can strain household budgets – especially for seniors living on fixed incomes. With inflation continuing to drive up the cost of essentials like food, fuel, and healthcare, many older residents are feeling the squeeze more than ever. It’s important that we keep their needs in mind as we plan for the future. Perhaps most of all, I wish more residents had been present. These meetings shape the future of our town, and broader participation would help ensure more voices are heard. I look forward to attending more of them myself – because being informed and involved is the best way to strengthen the community.”

Over the days following the town meeting, many angry residents expressed disappointment over the budget passing and claiming they felt “duped” and “disenfranchised” that the Article 8 budget was brought back up for another vote after many who had voted no had left the meeting.

Windham Town Councilor Bill Reiner said he understands the concerns raised.

“I believe it was the fourth item vote of the meeting that was; “Adoption of the rules of procedure as outlined in MMA Moderators Manual.” Those were the rules accepted by a show of hands vote, and the rules followed. All 27 pages of it, it’s not simple but very black and white.”

Reiner said this was the best turnout for a town meeting in four years he’s served on the council.

“Yes, it’s my personal opinion that it’s a terrible time to have an election, but it is stipulated in the town charter that it be the second Saturday of June. Our hands are tied until a change is made,” he said. “Regarding the Town Meeting versus a Referendum vote; each has its advantages and drawbacks. Most clearly that numbers matter greatly in a town meeting forum or any election that has a low turnout. A Referendum vote and a larger turnout is more representative of the population, but no discussions or explanation would be available for voters and referendum language can be tricky."

According to Reiner, he understands that people had valid reasons to leave before the end of the meeting.

“But the town meeting is a live meeting and continues until adjourned,” he said. “People have asked can any item be brought back to the floor and the answer is yes, but only if motioned and seconded by two individuals that had cast a prevailing vote. This is done usually to reconsider or reopen discussion. I can honestly state that there was no plan in place to proceed as was done to reconsider any failed articles. I say this by a simple fact. The two failed capital projects were supported by both staff, and I believe four other councilors and others in attendance yet failed to pass. The town easily could have suggested that both capital project articles be brought back up for reconsideration by two individuals on the prevailing side but did not. If the ‘town’ orchestrated Article 8 because ‘it was to their advantage’ as individuals left early, it easily could have done the same with Gambo and the Skate Park articles.” <

RSU 14 budget passes, Raymond elects municipal candidates

By Ed Pierce

By a margin of just 200 votes, the RSU 14 annual budget was approved by voters in Windham and Raymond during Tuesday’s election.

Raymond voters have elected Susan Accardi, left, to the
RSU 14 Board of Directors, and Christopher Hanson, center,
and Kaela Gonzalez to the Raymond Board of Selectmen.
Accardi, Hanson and Gonzalez will serve three-year terms.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS   

In Windham, voters rejected the proposed $67.8 million budget, with 651 votes in favor and 676 voting no. But 408 voters in Raymond cast ballots approving the budget and 183 voted no. The combined totals resulted in 1,059 votes to approve the budget with 859 opposed.

The budget represents a 12.75 percent increase over last year’s $60,185,403 budget, with a 6.4 percent increase stemming from the construction of the new Windham Raymond Middle School. To offset that, the school district will receive an additional state subsidy to cover almost half of the increase, resulting in an impact to taxpayers of 6.5 percent. Included in the RSU 14 budget are regular operating expense increases and a Pre-K expansion program.

Voters in both towns approved a question asking if the current RSU 14 budget voting should be continued for the next three years. In Windham, 962 votes were cast in favor of this with 347 voting no. In Raymond, 347 voted to continue the budget voting process, with 183 voting no. Combined totals were 1,457 votes for, and 530 votes opposed.

In Raymond, two new members of the town’s Board of Selectmen were elected for three-year terms.

Christopher Hanson received 350 votes, and Kaela Gonzalez tallied 328 votes to earn seats on the Select Board. Hanson is the code enforcement officer for Raymond and graduated from the University of Maine Orono. He also serves as a member of Raymond’s Budget-Finance Committee. Gonzalez is a program coordinator with the city of Portland and has a degree in Health Science. She has served on various town committees including the town’s most recent Comprehensive Plan Committee and she formerly worked for the Town of Raymond.

Also receiving votes for the Raymond Select Board were Frederick Miller (239 votes) and Mark Meister (204 votes). All 30 municipal approval questions asked of Raymond voters were approved, including spending $67,500 for a partnership with the Regional Transportation Program to establish a QuickRide program. Once created, local riders using QuickRide will be able to schedule transportation to pick them up and take them where they want to go within the Raymond community for a nominal fee.

Raymond voters also elected three members to the town’s Budget Finance Committee for three-year terms. Karen Lockwood (443 votes), Shawn McKillop (392 votes) and Deanna Lee (375 votes) were elected to serve on the committee.

Susan Accardi received 366 votes to Diana Froisland’s 272 votes to serve a three-year term on the RSU 14 Board of Directors representing Raymond. Accardi is a retired registered nurse and served as a school nurse with RSU 14. She has been a member of the Raymond Budget-Finance Committee for two terms, been a member of various short-term town committees, has served as a town ballot clerk and sits on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Raymond Village Library.

The Annual Town Meeting for Windham will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14 in the Town Hall Gymnasium on School Road in Windham. During the meeting, voters will be asked to approve the municipal services budget for fiscal year 2025–2026 as approved by the Windham Town Council.

The Windham budget proposal of $50,402,149 is a 6.39 percent increase from last year’s $46,991,715 budget and includes funding for several significant capital improvement projects in the town.

Should the budget pass, Windham will construct a new North Windham Public Safety Building housing firefighters behind Hannaford Supermarket on Route 302, design and construct new playing fields at Gambo Fields, build a new public ice rink and playground in North Windham, and continue funding for the North Windham Moves and sewer projects. <

MSSPA launches campaign to build new intake barn

By Ed Pierce

The future is now for the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham and a new $1.5 million fundraising campaign will help the organization build a new intake barn for abused and neglected horses to heal and recover.

The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals is
conducting 'A Safe Place to Land' fundraising campaign to
raise $1.5 million to build a new eight-stall intake barn
at their facility on River Road in Windham. The project
includes improved paddocks and better footing for healing
horses. Shown is an artist's depiction of the new barn.
SUBMITTED PHOTO     

Kathy Woodbrey, MSSPA’s Executive Director, said that plans for the “Safe Place to Land” intake barn have been carefully weighed and discussed for the past two years, and the fundraising campaign has already reached more than halfway toward its $1.5 million goal.

“This will such a huge upgrade for us,” Woodbrey said. “Our current facilities, while functional, no longer meet the needs of our mission. This new barn is so much more than a barn, it’s a promise. A promise to every horse that has a safe place to land, to recover and to start life anew. Everything about the new barn has been discussed, from how the stall doors open to how the fencing is to be configured.”

MSSPA Advancement Director Peg Keyser said that in the last five years, the number of horses arriving at MSSPA has surged with many coming from cases of severe neglect, abuse, or with significant medical challenges. As the complexity of these cases grows, so does the urgency for a dedicated space where incoming horses can receive the care they desperately need.

Keyser says that the “Safe Place to Land” Capital Campaign is an opportunity to create that space, an intake and quarantine barn designed to offer every horse a safe and supportive beginning to their journey of healing.

“This vital facility, along with secure paddocks and necessary footing improvements, will provide the foundation for every horse’s recovery,” she said. “By working together, we can ensure that incoming horses are cared for in an environment that protects their health and wellbeing from the moment they arrive.”

For 152 years, the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA) has been a sanctuary for Maine’s most vulnerable horses including those rescued from abuse, neglect, and heartbreaking circumstances. Its mission is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines. MSSPA does not charge for its shelter services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. Horses cared for by the MSSPA come from Maine law enforcement officials and most of them have been abused or neglected.

According to Keyser, the MSSPA’s goal for each horse is rehabilitation and a new home, but if no suitable adoption is found, horses may live out their natural lives at the organization’s farm.

The “Safe Place to Land” campaign has already a matching gift of $500,000 from the McCulloch Family of Southern Maine who will be extended the opportunity to name the new barn. MSSPA also has been fortunate to receive donated thousands of feet of fencing and run-in sheds from the Dyke Horse Farm site in Windham, and RSU 14 now that the school district is building the new Windham Raymond Middle School at the Dyke farm site.

The site for the new intake barn sits on 7 acres of MSSPA’s 124-acre property on River Road in Windham. Plans call for the intake barn to be open-air with eight wooden stalls. The contractor for the intake barn project will be J.M. Brown and sitework will be completed by Shaw Brothers Construction.

Keyser said that the 3,000-square-foot barn will be built on the other side of the MSSPA property from where other horses being cared for are kept. The new barn will feature space for equipment and the project also will include the installation of an electronic security gate at the property.

The new barn will feature dedicated stalls for each equine arrival, reducing potential disease transmission and offering a dry, warm space for horses to heal. Its secure paddock areas and improved footing will allow horses to slowly acclimate to their new surroundings and room for veterinarians to perform health assessments. Because of its location away from the MSSPA herd, the new barn also will have separate grain and medication stations to prevent cross-contamination of food and medicine and streamlines operations for MSSPA staff.

Woodbrey said there is tremendous interest in this project and MSSPA’s engaged donor base consists of horse lovers willing to help.

“We welcome people to make a donation of any size,” she said. “We’re happy to give donors a tour and we really want to make it easy to support this project. The tens of thousands of dollars and donations we’ve received so far represents the best of this community and we could not be more grateful.”

To make a donation online, visit msspa.org/asafeplace or in person at MSSPA, 279 River Road in Windham.

Donations may also be made using the QR code:

 

Extensive search leads to ‘miracle’ animal rescue in Raymond

By Ed Pierce

Rob Russell and Carmen Brothers aren’t superheroes, but it would be tough to convince Dawn Elwell of Raymond otherwise.

Rob Russell of 2A TAC Air Ops Drone Services, left, and 
K9 Finely and Carmen Brothers of Professional Pet Trackers,
helped to find Pearl, a 2-year-old dog who became lost
in Raymond earlier this month. COURTESY PHOTO

Elwell was desperate to find her lost dog Pearl, who had escaped from a groomer in Raymond and had disappeared on April 30. After four days of searching for Pearl and running out of hope, Elwell hired Russell’s 2A TAC Air Ops Drone Services of Barrington, New Hampshire to see if he could do something to help.

He is a former police officer and U.S. Army infantryman who was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. He now owns a drone equipped with thermal technology that can be used in searches for missing people and pets. Russell holds a FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone License, and he launched his business several years ago with a desire to assist people in searches and inspire them to not give up when all appears hopeless.

“I realized I was on to something nobody else was doing in New England,” he said. “Our fees are based on hours flown and distance driven.”

Russell contacted Brothers of Professional Pet Trackers of Virginia to assist in the search for Pearl, and she brought along her almost 2-year-old black lab named K9 Finley whom Brothers had trained and has been working on cases with her since December.

“While I was aware of Rob and his company 2A TAC Air Ops Drone Services, we did not meet or work together until March 2025 for a Yorkie named Leo that was lost in Greenville, Maine,” Brother said. “Throughout the search for Leo, we found that his drone abilities paired with my tracking dogs provided a larger, more complete picture to lost pet owners. What the drone may be unable to see or pick up, if an animal is under something or has left the area entirely, a tracking dog would be able to pick up on and pinpoint the location an animal may be hiding in. Or at the bare minimum, a tracking dog can give you a direction of travel which will allow a more thorough action plan to be put in place and may even help determine a new area for the drone to cover.”

She has been helping reunite lost pets for roughly 15 years.

“I volunteered for a rescue, City Dogs Rescue in Washington, D.C., and they lost a dog,” Brother said. “I was assisting in search efforts such as flyers, community outreach, and eventually brought in a K9 tracker to assist in locating Maddie. Once Maddie was located, I continued to serve as one of their two lost dog coordinators. In 2015 I began volunteering with a non-profit based in Baltimore, Maryland where I was able to learn more about utilizing K9 tracking dogs to locate lost pets. Roughly one year later I was approached by National Geographic Wild and offered a featured role in their upcoming docuseries, Trackers, however I would have to quit my fulltime job in Human Resources and commit to filming fulltime. I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so accepted their offer, and never went back to Human Resources after that.”

The search for Pearl presented unique challenges to both 2A TAC Air Ops Drone Services and Professional Pet Trackers.

“When Pearl initially went missing there were many people out searching and calling for her which while that is people’s first instinct to do, it actually hinders the search,” Brothers said. “When dogs go missing, they go into what is known as flight mode, meaning that everything and everyone is predatory. Their animal instincts kick in and their goal is food, water, and staying away from perceived threats, which can unfortunately even apply to their owners. While at home they typically come running when called, in flight mode all they hear is a loud noise and that can scare them out of the area even further. The community wanted to help, which is amazing, but we had to redirect their efforts into a productive task, such as hanging flyers rather than driving around and actively searching for Pearl.”

Russell said that initial efforts to find Pearl revealed that she kept coming back to an area in Raymond with foot traffic.

“We needed the dog to settle down and get comfortable, but she kept running into people creating a higher state of anxiety for her,” he said.

“Reuniting Pearl with Dawn was truly a team effort,” Brothers said. “Dawn had done everything we recommended and then some. She had flyers posted in the community, she was working on actively maintaining feeding stations and following up on all sightings. Between her dedication, K9 Finley giving us the area that Pearl was hiding in, Rob giving us the eyes in the sky ensuring that we were not missing anything, and Jess Jackson with Lake Region Animal Control providing boots on the ground trapping support, we knew it was only a matter of time until Pearl was safe at home.”

Russell said during their extensive search they had to figure out where Pearl was bedding down and hiding.

Pearl was ultimately recovered roughly 18 hours after they finished the tracking activities, and the drone was landed.

“While Pearl was not physically recovered while on the actual track, she was recovered directly on K9 Finley’s track,” Brothers said.

Both Brothers and Russell say finding Pearl was a team effort and they thanked Jackson for her help, Maine Lost Dog Recovery and the community for their assistance.

“No one person is the hero here, we were all just cogs in the wheel,” Russell said. “The bottom line for me is if I’m part of the team involved in a rescue, it’s one of the best feelings in the world, and it’s amazing and it’s why we do this.”

Brothers said that every successful reunion with a lost pet is different, but each one brings a deep sense of purpose and gratitude for her.

“Seeing the moment of reunion – when a scared, tired pet is reunited back into the arms of their family – is something that never gets old,” she said. “It is like watching a miracle unfold right in front of you, you can literally feel the heartbreak turn into joy and it is amazing to know you were a part of that story.”

Elwell said she could not be more appreciative for Russell and Brothers and K9 Finley’s work in bringing Pearl back home.

“This was probably one of the most distraught and scared I have been in my whole life,” she said. “I was lucky to have Carmen as well as 2A TAC Air Ops Drone Services recommended to me. Carmen, Finely and Rob never faltered from compassion, reassurance and more so skill and knowledge.”

On Sunday, May 4, she received a phone call informing her that Pearl had been found in a trap using Elwell’s sweatshirt.

“That feeling was something I had dreamt about for the longest five days of my life,” she said. “I do not believe I could have done this without this team of experts.”

To see photos of the search for Pearl, visit 2A TAC Air Ops Drone Services on Facebook. <

2025 PowerServe volunteers power through rainy conditions

By Ed Pierce

As steady rain fell and damp conditions persisted, the enthusiasm and willingness to help others of more than 200 PowerServe volunteers was evident on Saturday, April 26 in Windham.

Members of Windham High School's varsity and JV baseball
teams were among 200 volunteers from throughout the
community who pitched in to assist with various projects
to help neighbors and the town during the 2025 PowerServe
event on Saturday, April 26. PHOTO BY CHRIS DOUGHTY 

PowerServe was created in the memory of Windham High School sophomore Shane Donnelly, who was 16 when he passed away unexpectedly in May 2015. Shane’s family says he was passionate about helping others and he cared deeply about his community.

To show their love for Shane, his family helped to create and organize the very first PowerServe in 2016, It was intended to be just a one-day event where volunteers served Windham area organizations and individuals who needed assistance by performing various tasks ranging from painting to yard work to household repairs and few other projects benefiting the town.

But because of an outpouring of volunteers willing to donate their time to help their neighbors, PowerServe has become an annual event held in Windham every April that completes dozens of meaningful projects and tasks throughout the community.

“Despite the rain, we had over 200 people turn out to do almost 30 service projects this year,” said Kim Donnelly, Shane’s mother. “A couple of them had to be moved to another date when it wasn’t pouring out, but we were so excited at how positive the volunteers were and how happy the recipients of the projects were. There were great connections made between the volunteers, getting to know not only the homeowner, but those people on their teams that they worked alongside that day.”

She said the number of projects that PowerServe volunteers worked on this year were the most since the event started in 2016. Some of their projects included building bridges and performing a trail clean-up at Black Brook Preserve. Past projects performed by PowerServe volunteers include work on the community basketball courts/skate park, building conduits for the 302 Rotary holiday lights, at the Historical Society Community Gardens, on RSU 14’s Cross Country trails, at Manchester School and various plantings at Windham High School.

Volunteers were organized into teams that went out from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to work together on the projects and then they all met back on the Windham Historical Grounds to share stories and enjoy a free barbecue for their work.

“The majority of our projects are for Windham residents who are in need of spring clean-ups, outside light stain or painting, spring plantings and mulch, power washing, and more,” Kim Donnelly said. “These are people with disabilities, sickness, who are elderly, an educator or public servant that we want to show our thanks for or just don't have the help and support needed to take care of these projects around their homes. Each year we go out to the town, community, and local businesses requesting nominations for projects for Windham residents to help with.”

She said PowerServe was fortunate to have Chuck Daigle serve on its planning committee this year.

“He quickly secured the Windham Town Hall gymnasium for our registration and the free barbecue afterward for PowerServe volunteers.

Because of the weather, Kim Donnelly said that there were two projects that PowerServe needed to push off until last weekend.

“Both have been completed with the help of Fuller House volunteers and then a larger project at Dundee Park with the help of Andrew Daigle, Sean McGuire and his team from McGuire Home Services was finished,” she said. “This included a new stage for entertainers at the Dundee Park Concert Series in the summer.”

Many of the homeowners and recipients of PowersServe projects were so surprised that the volunteers showed up despite the rain.

“I think that added to a feeling of pride from the volunteers that come rain or shine, they committed to helping these individuals and they showed up to do it, like a real Mainer would do,” Kim Donnelly said.

With the success and even bigger outpouring of volunteers and projects to be completed, the organization has already scheduled next year's PowerServe event, which will be its 10th year anniversary. The 2026 PowerServe will be conducted Saturday, April 25, rain or shine.

“My family and I feel so blessed to live in such a kind and compassionate community that gives back and supports its neighbors in need,” Kim Donnelly said. “Shane would be so touched by the outpouring of love and support for those around us. This is a life lesson for all of the youth in our community who volunteer. I bet they received so much more than the few hours they gave that day.”

To see more photos from the 2025 PowerServe, visit their Facebook page or go to www.powerserve.me. <

WHS graduate dazzles in leading role in new Broadway musical

By Ed Pierce

Robyn Hurder is a shining example of someone who has worked hard to achieve her dreams and is now dazzling audiences in a starring turn in a hit Broadway musical in New York City.

Robyn Hurder, a 2000 graduate of Windham High School,
is the star of the new musical "Smash" which debuted on
Broadway in April. She started taking dancing lessons at
a young age and expressed a desire to appear on Broadway
stages as a young girl.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY AND PAUL KOLNIK   

Growing up in Windham, Hurder leads the cast of the new musical “Smash” that opened at the Imperial Theatre on April 10. It’s a role that secures her place in Broadway history after years of performing in the cast of 22 Broadway shows and receiving a Tony Award nomination in 2020 for her part in “Moulin Rouge.”

Hurder graduated in 2000 from Windham High School and is a former member of the Windham Chamber Singers and studied dance at the Maine State Ballet.

Her mother enrolled Robyn at age 7 in a dance studio in Scarborough. She says that she liked the tap and ballet lessons there but by age 8, she wanted out to spend time playing with her friends from school. Robyn’s mother was adamant that she continue her training in dance, and when the dance studio added jazz dance that spring, her interest in choreography intensified.

When she saw the musical “CATS,” Hurder says she figured out her life’s path.

“I’m that girl – who saw ‘CATS’ and said, ‘I’m gonna do that for a living.” she told Dance Magazine in 2020.

Dr. Richard Nickerson, the director of the Windham Chamber Singers, said Hurder was a special talent.

“There are some students that, from the moment you meet them, you know they are destined for greatness,” Nickerson said. “Robyn was one of those students I knew that she could do whatever she set her mind to.”

He said that Robyn was no different in high school than she is now and that's one of the things that makes her unique.

“She is as genuine a person as you will ever meet,” Nickerson said. “She has a positive energy about her that lights up a room. She always worked incredibly hard yet never complained. She is the kind of person that everyone wants to be around because she always makes you feel like a better person. I remember her singing voice, but what really sticks out in my memory is her laugh. She truly loves life.”

According to Nickerson, while Robyn is what he calls a triple threat for acting, singing, dancing, he believes that her greatest strength is her personality.

“She works in an industry that is extremely competitive, yet has remained positive,” he said. “That's not to say that she hasn't had struggles. She hasn't let those struggles define her. It has been inspirational to watch her hard work be rewarded.”

RSU 14 Superintendent of Schools Chris Howell had Hurder as a student when he taught Biology at Windham High School.

“She was a fantastic student who worked really hard in my class to be successful in mastering the content,” he said. “It has been exciting to follow her career over the years and see how far she has gone with her talents.”

After graduating from WHS, Hurder attended the University of New Hampshire for two years before moving to New York City and auditioning for Broadway shows. In 2003, she landed a part in a national tour of “Starlight Express” and her professional career was off and running.

She was a member of the original Broadway cast of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in 2005. That was followed in order by parts in productions of “Spamalot,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Chicago,” “Grease,” and “A Chorus Line.” During a tour of “A Chorus Line” Hurder married her castmate and Broadway actor Clyde Alves.

By 2010, Hurder was a veteran performer and appeared in 12 more productions over the next decade before originating the role of Nini in “Moulin Rouge” at the Al Hirschfield Theatre on Broadway in 2020. That performance earned Hurder her first Tony Award nomination for Best featured Actress in a Broadway Musical.

In her next role, she won a Chita Rivera Award for Dance and Choreography as Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show when she appeared as Neil Diamond’s second wife, Marcia Murphey, in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” in 2023.

She’s also appeared in dramatic roles on television in such shows as “The Equalizer” and “Fosse/Verdon” and been interviewed on “CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley,” “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” and “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Now she is currently starring as Ivy Lynn, who plays actress Marilyn Monroe in the new Broadway show “'Smash.”

The Broadway musical “Smash” with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman is based on the 2012-2013 NBC television series “Smash” created by Theresa Rebeck. It includes songs from the TV series and original songs written for this new production. Like the television series, the musical follows the creation of a musical about the life of actress Marilyn Monroe.

Nickerson and his wife saw “Smash” last week and he said it is outstanding.

“Robyn's performance was unlike anything I've seen,” he said. “Her performance filled me with an enormous amount of pride.” <

RSU 14 budget heads to voters on May 14

By Ed Pierce

The RSU 14 Board of Directors have approved a budget for 2025-2026 of $67,861,394 and the proposal now heads to voters in Windham and Raymond for approval on May 14.

Staff members and Superintendent of Schools Chris Howell
at RSU 14's administrative offices in Windham helped to
formulate the school district's $67,861,394 budget for
2025-2026 that will be voted upon by Windham and Raymond
residents on May 14. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

During a meeting of the board on April 9, RSU 114 Superintendent of Schools Chris Howell said the budget represents a 12.75 percent increase over last year’s budget, with a 6.4 percent increase stemming from the construction of the new Windham Raymond Middle School. Also driving up costs are increases in RSU’s Regular Operating Expenses and a Pre-K expansion program.

“This is an unusual budget this year, with a higher than typical increase due to the initial bonds for the new middle school and an expansion to our Pre-K programming,” Howell said. “Both new projects are coupled with increased subsidies for the district. When examining the budget this year, it is best to look at the increase as being made up of three different parts.”

Howell said that first, the budget proposal contains a 5.6 percent increase in year-over-year expenses with the increase largely being driven by an increase in salaries and benefits contained within negotiated contracts.

“This increase, which is in line with proposed increases for other districts in our region, will result in compensation packages that are competitive and on average with other Cumberland County school districts,” Howell said. “In addition to the increases covered in contracts, the increase is also being driven by increased costs for electricity, energy, equipment and supplies.”

The second factor to consider with this proposed budget is it includes roughly a 1 percent increase for the addition of 59 Pre-K enrollment slots which will result in roughly a $620,000 increase to the budget. Howell said $510,000 of this increase will be offset by additional state subsidy specifically allocated for expanding Pre-K programs.

“The additional Pre-K placement slots will significantly reduce our current waiting list of students who are hoping to participate in the Pre-K program,” he said.

According to Howell, a third factor in the budget proposal is the inclusion of the first bond payment for the new middle school construction project resulting in nearly a 6 percent increase.

“Importantly, 90 percent of the cost of this first bond will be paid by additional subsidy from the State of Maine, significantly reducing the overall cost of the project for local taxpayers,” he said. “The total of the three budget areas represents a 12.75 percent increase over the current year, but it does not represent a similar increase in taxation. Over half of the proposed increase for this year will be reduced through an additional state subsidy and fund balance that will be used to reduce taxation.”

The school district began working on the budget in early November. Howell said that each line of the budget was reviewed to look for any possible savings.

“Current enrollment numbers and projected enrollment numbers for every grade level were reviewed,” he said. “Where possible, classroom positions were reallocated from grade levels with lower enrollments to grade levels with higher numbers.”

The budget proposal includes cutting a Day One teaching position and 3 ½ Ed Tech positions while adding an educational interpreter from Support Services. Manchester School will cut a Grade 5 classroom teacher but add a Grade 4 classroom teacher. Raymond Elementary School will cut one classroom teaching position. Windham Primary School will cut one classroom teaching position but add a Pre-K teaching position and add a Pre-K Ed Tech. RSU 14 Technology will add 1 Grade Level of Computers. Overall, the school district will add a part-time assistant cook.

Howell said challenges in putting together this budget proposal included negotiated contracts; taking increasing valuations for Windham and Raymond into account; a reduction in the subsidy the district receives for economically disadvantaged students; and a new 1 percent salary tax to fund Maine’s Paid Leave Act. Other budget considerations were inflation of goods for purchased services, increased energy costs for electricity and motor fuels and ongoing increases in costs for employee health insurance.

The 2024-2025 RSU 14 budget approved by voters was $60,185,403.

Howell said that the 2025-2026 budget proposal is available for review by the community by visiting rsu14.org or by calling the district office at 207-892-1800.

The district will be holding a public budget meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14 in the Windham High School Auditorium. All registered voters in Windham and Raymond are welcome to attend. The budget approved at the May 14 meeting will be sent to the voters in Windham and Raymond for the June 10 school budget vote. <