Raymond appoints new interim town manager

By Dina Mendros

The Town of Raymond will welcome a new interim town manager, Glenn Michalowski, who will be starting later this month. He will replace Joseph Crocker, who submitted his resignation as the Raymond Town Manager in early October.

Glenn Michalowski has been appointed as
Interim Town Manager for the Town of 
Raymond and will start his duties on Nov. 17.
Michalowski has served as the Lisbon Town
Manager for the past three years. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

The Raymond Select Board approved appointing Michalowski to the position on Oct. 21 and he will officially start duties with the town on Nov. 17. Michalowski is leaving his position as town manager for the Town of Lisbon, where he has served for three years, to work for the Town of Raymond.

The interim Raymond town manager position is initially for six months but could be extended to a year. To extend the position “the Board would have to be content with his accomplishments and how well he worked with the staff,” said Raymond Select Board Chair Denis Morse. He says that the town has not yet begun the process of looking for a permanent town manager.

Michalowski was one of two finalists out of 42 applicants when the board was originally looking for a town manager earlier this year, Morse said.

Crocker, who had worked for Raymond as the director of the Parks and Recreation Department for about five years, was appointed interim town manager in March and became the permanent town manager in May. He also took over as the town’s finance director in the summer of 2024 when the former finance director stepped down.

“Speaking for myself,” Morse said, “I voted for Joe as he had spent four to five years as our Recreation Department head building our growing recreation program that had been long overdue and looking for a leader.”

Although Crocker is moving to another job, he will still be around Raymond Town Hall for a while and will be helping out with some specific town projects.

“He has been in touch with Glenn and will be coming back to work for us providing help with the web page and hopefully other projects,” Morse said. “I know I can speak for the Board when I state we are delighted to hear Glenn has hired him back for a few weeks.”

In the search for an interim town manager, “We were looking for someone with the energy and passion to move forward with several large upcoming initiatives, such as the re-envisioning of the Jordan Small Middle School and our recently accepted Comprehensive Plan,” said Raymond Select Board Vice Chair Kaela Gonzalez.

Additionally, Morse said, the board was looking for someone with town manager experience and a degree in Public Management. Michalowski has both town manager experience and he holds a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University.

According to his LinkedIn page, in serving as Raymond’s interim town manager Michalowski says that he is “under contract to guide the organization through a leadership transition and strengthen its operational foundation ahead of future recruitment. My work focuses on continuity, fiscal management, and organizational stability – ensuring the town is positioned for long-term success and ready to attract strong leadership.”

In addition, Michalowski said, “I’m passionate about helping municipalities navigate periods of change, build administrative capacity, and modernize systems to deliver more effective, responsive public service - whether in a direct leadership role or as an advisor.”

Michalowski will be Raymond’s fourth town manager in 20 months. He replaces Crocker, who succeeded former Town Manager Sue Look, who resigned in March. Look had previously served as Raymond Town Clerk before being appointed by the Raymond Select Board to the role, succeeding longtime Town Manager Don Willard in January 2024 upon his retirement. Willard had worked as Raymond’s Town Manager for 23 years until he suffered an illness and while recovering chose to retire from the town manager’s role. <

Town of Raymond searching for new Town Manager after Crocker resigns

By Ed Pierce

For the fourth time in 20 months, the Town of Raymond is seeking a Town Manager following the resignation of Joseph Crocker last week.

Raymond Town Manager Joseph
Crocker, who has served in that
position first as interim manager 
since March and then as the
permanent town manager since
May, has resigned and the town
will undertake a new search to
find a replacement.
FILE PHOTO    

Crocker, 37, had formerly served the town as Parks and Recreation Director, and was appointed to the Town Manager position in May succeeding Sue Look, who resigned in March. The Raymond Select Board had then tapped Crocker to serve as the interim Town Manager until a permanent replacement could be hired.

Look had served as Raymond Town Clerk before succeeding longtime Town Manager Don Willard in January 2024 upon his retirement. Willard had been Raymond’s Town Manager for 23 years until he became ill, and while recovering chose to retire from the Town Manager role. Willard was elected in June 2024 to serve on the town’s Budget and Finance Committee for a three-year term.

Originally from Saco, Crocker attended high school at Thornton Academy and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. He later earned an MBA in sports and recreation management from New England College. Prior to coming to work for the Town of Raymond, Crocker worked in parks and recreation for Saco, Auburn, Kennebunk and Lewiston. In 2020, Crocker was hired to lead Raymond’s fledgling Parks and Recreation Department as director.

Crocker was hired for the Town Manager position after a competitive recruiting and hiring process conducted by HR Maine Consulting, LLC. All told, there were 46 applicants for the town manager position. Nine of those candidates participated in a rigorous essay and pre-screening process, with four candidates moving forward in the panel interview process, consisting of the Raymond Select Board Chair, Vice-Chair, a community member, town department heads, a Town Manager from another community, and Betsy Oulton from HR Maine Consulting.

His contract was for three years at an annual salary of $100,000.

Raymond Select Board Chair Denis Morse posted on the town’s website on Monday that he and all the Select Board members placed “high value” on Crocker as a town employee and that following his resignation, Morse asked him to remain as a town employee “and be a part of our ongoing work to devise a transition plan that included being mentored by an interim town manager.”

Before that could happen, rumors and misinformation began to swirl about Crocker’s departure, Morse said. He says this caused strife, anxiety and discomfort directed at other town employees as well as members of the Select Board.

According to Morse, this behavior, including some public comments made about the situation from former elected town officials “is the opposite of civil discourse and would be unconscionable even if this situation happened to be contentious or controversial, which it is not.”

Morse also posted a letter that the Raymond Select Board had received from Crocker which amended the timeline for his original resignation.

“I will stay on in a capacity to help with the transition to find a Town Manager who will bring experience that will fit the needs of the community,” Crocker wrote in the letter. “If this transition involves a space for me after the search has ended, I would be happy to stay in a different role if it works for everyone involved.”

Crocker said he does not wish any animosity toward the Town of Raymond but prefers to keep the reason he resigned private.

“When you provide services to a small town for so long, they become your friends,” he said. “All I can say is I have given my best effort to make the Town of Raymond better, and all I ask is that our elected officials act in good faith to do the same.” <

Raymond voters to determine van program’s fate

By Dina Mendros

Raymond voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve funding a transportation system that would provide rides to grocery stores, doctors’ appointments and the like. The ride system would provide transportation for seniors, those without licenses and others who find it difficult to get where they need to go.

Raymond voters will decide on June 10 whether to fund a
mini-van for RTP's QuickRide program which would
schedule and provide transportation for local residents
anywhere within the town. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

At the June 10 election, residents will vote on whether to approve $67,500 in funding – Article 19, Referendum Question Q on the Town Warrant – which would be the town’s share for the QuickRide program. The town would partner with the Regional Transportation Program which would provide the service.

Unlike a typical bus service where people wait at established bus stops to catch a bus that drives a specific route, riders using QuickRide would schedule, either via telephone or online, a micro-van that would pick them up at their home and take them where they want to go within the Raymond community.

Raymond Town Manager Joseph Crocker compared the bus to an Uber service that provides door-to-door service.

“The thought is to get people to be transported to groceries or doctors’ appointments, things like that, in the area,” Crocker said. “Use almost like an Uber that comes to your house but through RTP. They have an app or office to call to schedule (a ride). They’ll pick you up at your location and then drop you off at either appointments or groceries. So it’s kind of like a scheduled transportation service. So, it’s a little more customizable than just a regular bus stop.”

The Quick Ride program is needed in Raymond, Crocker said.

“Public transportation has definitely been on the radar for people,” he said. “Obviously, being a rural area, it’s kind of tough to get to certain areas for like shopping or anything like that. It’s definitely been something that’s been heard in our community.”

Currently, Age Friendly Coordinator Debbie Tarr has been taking seniors to appointments in her own car, Crocker said. If voters do approve funding for the RTP mini-van program it will take the strain off Tarr and offer the ability to accommodate more people.

If approved, the QuickRide program would run Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It would start sometime this summer and continue year-round. Customers would pay about $3 per ride.

RTP Executive Director Don Libby said if Raymond voters approve funding, RTP and the town would run a 12-month QuickRide pilot program and then reevaluate how the program is working.

The program was started in January 2024 in Windham; it also runs in Gorham and Standish.

“The goal,” Libby said, “is to run in every town up and down the 302 corridor to Bridgton.”

The QuickRide program is working well in Windham, said Windham’s Age Friendly Coordinator Erica Bell-Watkins.

One of the reasons that Windham adopted the program was because transportation was identified as one of the top needs in a community survey, she said.

Anyone of any age can take advantage of the program, but it’s especially important for seniors, Bell-Watkins said.

“As people get older and decide not to drive or people sometimes use it because they’re getting their eyes dilated or getting a colonoscopy so it’s not just for people who don’t drive it’s for people who are not driving that day,” she said. “That QuickRide program has been very helpful. “It’s all been successful.”

She said she shared Windham’s experience with a town staffer in Raymond.

“I told her I thought it would be great for Raymond because it has been a great success here,” Bell-Watkins said.

Election Day voting in Raymond will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 at Jordan-Small Middle School. <

Raymond Story Walk connects books with nature

By Kendra Raymond

What do you get when three dynamic community organizations join forces? The answer is something remarkable and in this case it’s the brand new and much-anticipated Story Walk located at Tassel Top Park in Raymond.

The Raymond Story Walk at Tassel Top Park in Raymond
is a collaborative project between the Friends of the
Raymond Village Library, Raymond Parks and Recreation,
Tassel Top Park and the Raymond Village Library. A total
of 16 stations have been placed along a park trail to relate
a story which will be changed ever few months.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE    

Generously funded with a donation from the Friends of the Raymond Village Library, the project was developed in conjunction with Raymond Parks and Recreation, Tassel Top Park, and Raymond Village Library. Each group recently posted the big announcement on their social media pages: “Raymond Story Walk is complete!”

Raymond Village Library Director Richard Dowe said he is excited about the opportunity and explains how the project developed.

“The collaboration came about through a shared interest in creating more family-friendly, educational opportunities in the community. It was a joint effort between the Friends of the Raymond Village Library, the Raymond Village Library, the Parks and Recreation department and the crew at Tassel Top Park,” he said. “The idea was sparked by the library’s ongoing mission to promote literacy and community engagement, and Tassel Top Park provided the perfect location to blend nature with reading.”

Town of Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker said he thinks that the collaboration is a great idea and wants to spread the word to local families about this new opportunity.

Deb Hutchinson of the Friends of the Raymond Village Library said she is pleased to announce the news saying, “This is an exciting accomplishment for the town of Raymond!”

Dowe mirrored that sentiment, noting the tight-knit sense of community it supports.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!” he said. “The story walk was funded by the Friends of the Raymond Village Library and has been a long time coming! We are excited to offer this activity for everyone who lives in and visits Raymond. Special thanks to Karen Alden, Barry Alden, and Cole Heanssler of Tassel Top Park who set up the Story Walk.”

With all this hype, you may be asking, “So exactly what is a story walk?”

Dowe explains it best.

“A story walk is an outdoor reading experience where pages of a children’s book are displayed along a designated path,” he said. “Families or groups can walk through the trail, reading the story page by page while enjoying nature. It combines literacy, physical activity, and family engagement, promoting both reading and outdoor exploration.”

Families, nature, and reading – that could just be the perfect combination. Coincidentally the current book for the Story Walk gives a nod to the unique connection with nature.

Dowe said that the library team chose the book and will continue to rotate titles from time to time.

“Currently, the book is ‘Over and Under the Snow’ by Kate Messner and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. This book was selected because of its appeal to children and its ability to engage readers with an outdoor theme,” said Dowe, “It’s an endearing story about a daughter and father cross country skiing and has facts about the different animals they spot along the way. The book will change periodically, hopefully twice a year, to keep the experience fresh and exciting for returning families.”

For those wishing to visit the Story Walk, head over to Tassel Top Park in Raymond, across from the shopping plaza on Route 302. Before you get to the gate, look for the parking lot on the left. There you will find the first page of the Story Walk.

Dowe says that participation is open to everyone during the park hours.

“We would like to ensure the Story Walk is always freely available for the public to use. We encourage schools and other organizations to use the story walk whenever they want,” he said.

Looking ahead, Dowe said that the group’s hope to expand the Story Walk in the future. Plans are in the works to incorporate seasonal books. Eventually, they hope to include some interactive elements such as activities or questions along the trail.

To learn more about the Raymond Story Walk, visit the website https://www.raymondvillagelibrary.org/raymond-story-walk-at-tassel-top-park/

It is also listed under the Programs & Events menu on the library’s website.

Story Walk fans are also encouraged to visit Raymond Village Library, Raymond Parks and Recreation, and Tassel Top Park on Facebook for updates. <

Eagle Scout builds information kiosk at Tassel Top to benefit park and trail users

By Lorraine Glowczak

Jonah Martin stands beside the informational
kiosk he built for the Raymond Parks and 
Recreation Department as his Eagle Scout
Service Project. The kiosk, located at Tassel
Top Park off Route 302 just after the gated
entrance there, will provide trail information
and post town news and events.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

It has been said that Eagle Scouts will say the most rewarding requirement of becoming an Eagle - the highest achievement attainable in BSA (Boy Scouts of America) – is their service project. Although considered the most rewarding part of the BSA experience, very few members work toward the honorable rank. Jonah Martin of Raymond’s Troop 800 is among the special few, choosing to serve the Town of Raymond to fulfill his Scout Project requirements.

“Only about 8 percent of Scouts in the U.S. received their badge and became an Eagle Scout in 2019,” said Martin, who is a member of the 2021 graduating class at Windham High School.

Not only did Martin want to reach the Eagle rank because he was inspired to do so, but he lightheartedly admitted there was a little competition involved.

“Both of my brothers received the rank of Eagle, so I had to show them that I could do it too,” Martin said.

Although Martin speaks with jest about his service project, the process of obtaining an Eagle rank is an arduous one. Not only must an Eagle demonstrate proficiency in many different areas to include a leadership role within the local troop, but the Scout must also work on the project while continuing with schoolwork and other school-related activities.

The decision to reach out to the Town of Raymond was an easy one for Martin, first approaching the Public Works Department. “I wanted to do a project that would benefit Raymond because my experience living in this town has been a very positive one for me,” Martin said.

The public works department directed Martin to the Raymond Parks and Recreation Department’s (RPR) Director, Joseph Crocker. Since the RPR is newly created, becoming an official department of the town early last year in February 2020, officials at public works thought that recreation could benefit more from Martin’s Eagle Service proposal.

“There are a few small projects we have been considering, so I was very happy that Jonah reached out to the town,” Crocker said. “Public use of the trails through the wooded areas at Tassel Top have been extensive and we wanted to improve the user’s experience. After Jonah and I discussed some possibilities, we agreed an informational kiosk that could provide trail information and post town news and events would be beneficial for both Raymond and people who use the trails.”

Once the decision was made, then Martin quickly got to work which included raising funds needed for the building materials. “Jonah did a remarkable job with his fundraising efforts,” Crocker said. “We certainly worked together to bring the vision of a kiosk to life, but other than that – he did all the fundraising and physical work. He successfully made the kiosk happen and we are very happy with the outcome.”

Crocker and Martin wish to thank the Raymond Public Works Department for expanding the parking area near the kiosk, which is located off Route 302 and immediately after the gated entrance to the park.

Not only did Martin create a project that will be enjoyed by those who live in the area at the present time but will be appreciated for many generations to come.

“I had a running joke with Jonah,” Crocker said. “I told him that one day he will leave to explore the world and eventually meet that special someone. He will get married, have children and come back to Raymond to live, visiting Tassel Top from time to time, proudly and constantly reminding his children every time they visit, ‘Yep - I built that kiosk when I was a young.’”

After graduation this June, Martin will join the U.S. Coast Guard, and attend basic training this summer. He also plans to obtain his Emergency Medical Technician certification and be trained to work in the health services division of the Coast Guard.<

Raymond Parks and Recreation seeks equipment donations for winter sports loan program

Raymond Parks and Recreation is asking for donations of 
used skis, ice skates and aluminum snowshoes so they can
offer an equipment loan program to residents. Donations
can be dropped off at the Raymond Town Office, 401 Webb
Mills Road during business hours. COURTESY PHOTO  

By Lorraine Glowczak

Raymond residents who enjoy winter sports but do not have easy access to equipment can plan to soon take advantage of a sports equipment loan program that will be offered through Raymond Parks and Recreation.

But before lending out winter gear becomes a reality; the department needs to acquire the equipment first. As a result, they are reaching out to the community for used winter equipment contributions.

“We are asking for donations of used skis, ice skates and aluminum snowshoes so we can offer a winter equipment loan program to residents,” said Joseph Crocker, Raymond Parks and Recreation Director. “We want people to enjoy all the outdoor possibilities Raymond has to offer and we are making it our goal to create opportunities for those who do not have the skis, snowshoes or skates to make that happen.”

For those who appreciate the peaceful and rhythmic feeling ice skating can offer, Raymond Beach off Route 302, is the perfect place to hone those senses.

“As soon as the waters are frozen, we will prepare Raymond Beach for ice skating,” Crocker said. “And we want as many Raymond residents as possible who do not own ice skates to have that experience and visit the [Sebago] lake during the winter months.”

There are also two hidden gems often overlooked during the winter – Tassel Top Park and Raymond Community Forest.

“What a lot of people do not know is that Tassel Top offers more than summertime fun,” Crocker said. “The established trail located there is perfect for beginning snowshoers and cross-country skiers.” 

Tassel Top Park has a 0.90-mile flat trail that beautifully meanders through acres of Maine woods and is clearly marked with points of interest and has benches to offer moments of relaxation. The park is located off Route 302 in Raymond across from the Raymond Shopping Center, and behind Jordan Bay Veterinary Hospital.

The Raymond Community Forest is a 356-acre preserve owned by Loon Echo Land Trust. According to
its website, the community forest contains four miles of multi-use trails and offers exceptional views of and from Pismire Mountain. 

“There are four trails to choose from at Raymond Community Forest, two of which are perfect for snowshoeing and offer opportunities for the more advanced cross-country skier,” Crocker said.

The two trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing that Crocker refer to include the “Spiller Homestead Loop” and “Grape Expectations”. Both are about 1.1 miles in length.

“To have a winter equipment loan program is a great way for Raymond residents to explore outdoors and enjoy the natural recreation Raymond has to offer,” Crocker said. “The benefits are many - fresh air, quiet time in nature while providing a low impact workout. All we need is the equipment to make the lending program happen. We hope people in the area who are no longer using their skis, snowshoes or ice skates would consider donating them to us so others can have opportunities to do so.”

If anyone is interested in donating used (or new) skis, aluminum snowshoes or ice skates, they can do so by dropping the equipment off at the Raymond Town Office, 401 Webb Mills Road during business hours.

The office hours are as follows:

Tuesday - 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday through Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, Saturday and Sunday – Closed

Once established, the equipment loan program will be free of charge. There will be a deposit required in an amount yet to be determined and the deposit will be refunded if equipment is returned in the same condition after use.

For more information about donating winter sports equipment, contact Crocker at joseph.crocker@raymondmaine.org or 207-655-4742 option 2. <

Tassel Top to offer more services as part of new Raymond Recreation plan

From left, Tassel Top Snack Shack employees
Eliza Trafford of Windham and Alyssa Howard
of Gray/New Gloucester meet with new Raymond
Recreation Director Joseph Crocker. Discussions
are underway for adding new activities at the
park to possibly include outdoor movies, summer
camp programs for youth, a new gazebo for outdoor
music venues and much more.
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK   

By Lorraine Glowczak

There are many hidden gems in the Sebego Lakes Region and one of those treasures can be found in our own community’s back yard. Tassel Top Park and Beach is located in Raymond and situated on 35 acres of Sebago Lake’s east shore off Route 302, across from the Raymond Shopping Center and behind Jordan Bay Veterinary Hospital.

“A stand of mature pines and hardwoods grace the entrance to the park and the park road leads you to a graveled parking lot,” The Town of Raymond website states. “The beach has a secured swimming area marked by buoys; picnic tables, outdoor grills, changing rooms, a Snack Shack with ice cream, charcoal, candy, drinks, snacks, and beach toys….”

And – this list is just the beginning of everything that the state park has to offer. Currently, plans to increase outdoor services at Tassel Top is the focus of the newly established Raymond Recreation Department. Raymond’s first Recreation Director, Joseph Crocker began his position on Feb. 18, and has created his position as well as the newly established department from ground zero under the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have been working diligently the past couple of months to create more options and outdoor services here at Tassel Top while at the same time keeping the doors to the beach open while adhering to social distancing requirements,” Crocker said. “We are preparing the park to possibly provide a number of new activities in the next few summers. The discussions include outdoor movies, more variety of hot foods at the Snack Shack, summer camp programs for youth, a new gazebo for outdoor music venues as well as an event space for weddings, family gatherings, etc.”

Tassel Top Park is owned by the State of Maine and operated under a long-term lease by the Town of Raymond.

“Tassel Top was originally a privately owned property that was donated to the state,” Crocker said. 

“Twenty-five years ago, the Town of Raymond entered into a 100-year lease. We are doing are best to prepare for the future while at the same time maintaining the backwoods Maine feel that is well-known of this state and is what brings visitors to this area.”

Visitors from all over the U.S. have been enjoying the shore-line beauty of Tassel Top for more than 25 years. Tourists and locals alike continue to come in full force and, this year, they are able to do so while keeping safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have measured out the beach front so guests can enjoy Sebago Lake and Tassel Top without having to worry about COVID,” Crocker said. “Unfortunately, we can only allow approximately 45 vehicles in at a time – depending upon the number of individuals in each vehicle. We are operating under a first come, first served basis.”

Another enjoyable feature of Tassel Top is a walking trail, covering about 0.90 of a mile that meanders through acres of Maine woods. The clearly marked trail has points of interest marked by signage and benches for quiet meditation or rest. The trail is maintained by park staff and is handicapped and stroller accessible. This path is for foot traffic only. No bikes or other motorized vehicles are allowed.

To enjoy all that Tassel Top has to offer for this summer, Crocker advises to call ahead for availability at 207-655-4675. 

For more information, visit the Town of Raymond website at: www.raymondmaine.org/community-resources/recreation/tassel-top-park, <

Raymond welcomes new Recreation Department and Director

Joseph Crocker (right)

By Briana Bizier

Raymond residents are eagerly anticipating the latest addition to their town: a new Recreation Department headed by a new Recreation Director. Joseph Crocker, the Town of Raymond’s most recent hire, will begin his tenure leading Raymond’s newly-created Recreation Department later this month.

“We’re really excited about this opportunity,” said Don Willard, Raymond’s Town Manager. “It’s an

enormous step forward for the town.”

Originally from Old Orchard Beach, Joseph attended Saint Joseph’s College, where he earned a degree in Exercise Science. He then continued his studies at New England College in New Hampshire, earning an MBA in Sports and Recreation Management. Although he grew up on the Maine coast, Joseph has always felt a connection to the Lakes Region.

“My family has been camping in the Lakes Region for 28 years,” Crocker said. “It’s been a special place in my life. I love the area and the community.”

After graduating with his MBA, Crocker went on to teach a Business in Sports Management class at Saint Joseph’s. He also worked for recreation departments in Saco, Auburn, and Kennebunk. Most recently, Crocker held the position of Program Coordinator for the City of Lewiston.

“Coming from an urban environment might seem like disparate experience,” Don Willard explained, “but I believe he will fit well with the Raymond municipal ethic. Raymond prides itself on doing a lot with a little as would likely be the case in a small city. We have a fiscally responsible attitude, while also striving to maximize the effectiveness of our programs. Joseph will have that ability.”

Crocker’s time in Lewiston also taught him how to coordinate with the community’s volunteer groups in order to create new programs. “We’ve grown things organically by connecting with outside groups who don’t have the means to grow by themselves,” Crocker explained. As an example, he has helped to coordinate the Lewiston Sparks recreational cheering team, which has become an affordable, entry-level program thanks to the combined efforts of community members and the Lewiston Recreation Department.

Working in Lewiston, Crocker regularly relied on volunteer support. “You definitely have to work as a team,” Joseph said as he explained his plans to work with and strengthen Raymond’s existing recreational programs.

“Raymond seems very involved,” Crocker continued, “and the town wants to have someone to be a resource to help with these programs.”

Preserving Raymond’s existing programs is extremely important to Town Manager Don Willard as well. “We really want to support our active and committed volunteers,” Willard said. “We are depending upon keeping our strong group of volunteers across all our programs fully engaged. This position, and the Recreation Department, will provide program and administrative support as well as
upgrading and maintaining our facilities and working cooperatively with other towns.”

“We are also planning to create new programs for adults,” Willard continued. “We want to network with the already active Raymond Age Friendly group and Windham-Raymond Adult Education to get enhanced programming for adults and particularly older adults, as they are a large component of Raymond’s demographic.”

One of the first responsibilities for Raymond’s new Recreation Department is overseeing Tassel Top Park, which is owned by the State of Maine and operated under a long-term lease by the Town of Raymond. “We want to maintain the rustic woodsy aesthetic,” explained Willard, “while possibly creating a new children’s play area at Tassel Top Park. We’re going to expand the opportunities there without compromising the natural beauty.”

For Crocker, there is also a personal connection to Tassel Top Park. A resident of Windham, he and his family have held a seasonal pass to the beach for the past two years. “Tassel Top Park is a real hidden gem,” Crocker said. “My daughter is nine months old, and I’m excited for her to grow up near a beach like that.”

Willard acknowledges that starting a Recreation Department from ground zero is a big job, but he feels confident that Joseph Crocker is up for the task. “He’s got a lot of experience, and he’ll have a lot of input from other active and retired area recreation professionals” Willard said. “Not only does he have the proper qualifications, he has shown tremendous enthusiasm already. I think he is going to be great.”

Crocker echoes Willard’s optimism for Raymond’s new Recreation Department. “It’s very exciting for everybody,” Crocker told me. “As soon as I said yes to the job, I’ve been approached by multiple people reaching out and being excited about the position and the department. That’s definitely what you want when you take a job!”

Joseph Crocker will begin his position as the Director of Raymond’s new Recreation Department on February 18.