Raymond Comprehensive Plan process nearing completion

By Kendra Raymond

With the final stages of the Raymond Comprehensive Plan draft complete, committee members will review feedback from residents as the plan progresses into the final stages of completion. A public hearing was conducted Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the regular Comprehensive Plan Committee meeting where residents had an opportunity to be heard, get caught up on the committee’s progress, and review feedback from the recent request for public feedback on the draft plan.

Suggestions from residents about growth,
transportation and conservation were
discussed during the formulation of
Raymond's Comprehensive Plan. Once 
all reviews are complete, the plan will go
to the Raymond Select Board for approval
to put it on the 2025 Town Warrant for
residents to vote on.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND   

The public comment period has now closed and according to the CPC email updates Raymond town staff, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and North Star Planning have been working together since May 2023 to update the town’s comprehensive plan. This draft plan includes Maine State requirements along with goals, policies, action items, and a Future Land Use Plan based on what we’ve heard from the Raymond community through online surveys, workshops, informal polls, and the committee.

The State of Maine Municipal Planning Assistance Program will review Raymond’s plan for completeness and compliance with the state’s Growth Management Act.

Once the public comment period has ended and state review is complete, Raymond staff, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and North Star Planning will make edits and updates to finalize the plan. Then, the plan will go to the Select Board to vote on inclusion in the 2025 Town Warrant, where residents will be able to vote on its approval.

Kaela Gonzalez serves as co-chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee and offered an update about the process.

“We have done some outreach, including handing out fliers at the election to let citizens know about the comment period and the upcoming CPC meeting which will allow the public to comment and share feedback on the draft plan,’ she said. “I would imagine after the meeting that we would have more to say as the next steps hinge on Wednesday's meeting.”

The Comprehensive Plan lists the following Raymond’s Priority Goals and Actions; Building a resilient Raymond; working with Maine DOT to complete an assessment of and work plan to improve town culverts and road infrastructure at risk from increased flooding (priority action), and adding staff capacity to seek and manage grant funding through additional staff, a consultant, or regional partnerships.

It also seeks to protect Raymond’s natural and water resources; develop a process to determine the appropriateness of sites in Raymond for solar development, and incorporate these criteria into Raymond’s Solar Ordinance (priority action); invest in road and traffic improvements; purchase or lease portable solar powered radar speed displays which collect data on excessive speed and traffic volume as well as act as traffic calming devices on Raymond’s roadways (priority action); create a Route 302 Master Plan in partnership with DOT, based on the vision for Route 302 in the Future Land Use Plan.

The plan also seeks to prioritize walking and biking around Raymond; building a trail or sidewalk that spans the length of Raymond Cape Road (priority action); strengthen Raymond’s sense of community; develop a master plan supported by public input to repurpose the Jordan-Small Middle School and determine the future use of other town-owned buildings, including the library and town office (priority action).

Potentially adding sidewalks or a breakdown lane on the Raymond Cape also created some discussion in a local social media group.

Raymond resident Laura Abbott posted, “Just a reminder to all - pedestrians have the right of way and it’s pretty easy (and lawful) to give them space on Cape Road. Especially this time of year when there is no other traffic. Passing close enough to touch is highly illegal. Cape Road improvement is on the Comprehensive Plan, thank goodness. A sidewalk or jogging path was listed as a priority! I’m hopeful there will be one someday.”

Another resident, Kelly Rocheleau responded, “Actually it is not easy to give space on the Cape Road. I understand what you are saying but just because the summer people and Frye Islanders are gone, the Cape Road has a number of new year-round homes and is quite active. I have encountered walkers, bike riders and once a roller blader with poles on the road. Not easy to go around on a curve in the road. I feel it’s a good idea for us to get the town to invest in the Cape Road and give us some breakdown lanes! It would be productive for us Capers to get our road safer! Something needs to be done about this road before another fatal accident happens. A sidewalk or path would be great! The road is too twisty and curvy. More of a police presence isn’t going to help when vehicles take the corners no matter how fast they are going over the line and sometimes in the middle of the road!”

Cape resident April Bisnette chimed in, “I’ve often thought that there should be a sidewalk on the Cape Road for all the runners and pedestrians both in summer mostly, but yearly too. I live at the beginning of the Cape, and it is only 25 mph, but get tailgated like I’m only doing 5mph,” she responded to the post.

Brian Raymond is a resident of Raymond Cape and works in the road construction industry.

“I think the Comprehensive Plan has brought forth a lot of great ideas. It’s good to see these all come together in one place,” he said. “I like the idea of improving traffic congestion on 302 and adding a walking path to Cape Road. But I hope that we don’t overspend on some of these potential improvements. Like many things, they are popular and seem attractive, however we need to remain fiscally responsible with tax dollars. I’m really excited to see what we can accomplish that brings value in a responsible way.”

Review the Comprehensive Plan draft here: https://compplan.raymondmaine.org/index.php/review-the-plan/ <

Gonzalez family from Raymond create memories with Halloween costume tradition

This year, the family’s Halloween costume
theme is all about bugs

By Lorraine Glowczak

It all began in 2013 with a simple hand-me down costume. It was Isabelle Gonzalez’s second Halloween and she dressed up as Jessie, a character from Pixar’s “Toy Story” films. What was missing from the costume ensemble, however, was the infamous red hat and red braided hair. That’s when Isabelle’s mother, Kaela, decided to complete the Halloween outfit by making the hat and hair herself. “For Isabelle’s first Halloween, my mother made her a Grover costume. I figured I could at least pull off a hat”, stated Kaela.

“From that point I was hooked on the idea of making costumes, and since, it has morphed into a full-blown Halloween adventure for the whole family, creating a tradition I never intended to begin,” Kaela stated of her exceptional creative outlet.

Now, the whole Gonzalez family gets in on the Halloween fun by dressing up in theme inspired costumes that are cleverly created and hand-made by Kaela and her family. In Halloween pasts, the Gonzalez clan – which has grown to include a son Alex, age six, a daughter, Lilia, age two and Kaela’s mother, Jo-Ann Laggan - have been a family of porcupines, characters from the book, “Where the Wild Things Are” and a family of chickens.

“That costume took a lot of white boas to make up the feathers. I think I bought out the company in Canada that sold them,” Kaela joked about the chicken family costumes. “Lilia was just a baby then, so she was a little chick coming out of a hatched egg.” Dad and husband, Miguel, who was dressed as the farmer carried their “little chick” as the family of chickens walked from door to door along Raymond’s main street.

“I remembered that when we were chickens, I found feathers on the library lawn a week or so later.  So, we left a lasting impression,” Kaela laughed. She has also made the Halloween bags the children use every year.

This year, the family’s Halloween costume theme is all about bugs and will include a butterfly (Isabelle), praying mantas (Alex) and a monarch caterpillar (Lilia). Dad, mom and grandmother will be the entomologists, dressed in field vests carrying their magnifying glasses, insect nets, notebooks and writing utensils – because after all – entomologists always need to be prepared for scientific study.

Kaela admits that the Gonzalez family Halloween tradition can be a bit daunting and overwhelming at times, acknowledging that it takes a village to create costumes of this extent. “I was having some difficulty making the butterfly wings; I couldn’t get the two wings to stay upright and stiff. I asked around to see if anybody had any suggestions and a co-worker suggested using epoxy. And it worked! The wings remain open and stiff – just like I envisioned.”

Kaela’s mother and husband help, too, whether it’s sewing or other creative undertakings. “My husband helped me hand paint Isabelle’s butterfly wings,” she said. “That was a very tedious task so having his help expedited the process and my mother made the green pants and shirt for the praying mantas.”

There are times, between the demands of her job with the Town of Raymond and raising three children, when the intensity that comes with creating the costumes can almost bring her to tears. “One day, I called my husband at work and told him I just didn’t think I could do it this year,” she explained. “This was after we purchased all the material – which can be expensive - and I had already spent a lot of time on them. He told me to take a break and spend some time with Lilia before I made my decision to continue or not. That small break is all it took and was back at it the next day.”

The costumes must be tested before the big Halloween celebration to make sure all parts are in working order. “The other day, we put Lilia in her caterpillar costume so she could walk around on the driveway and the grass to see how the wheels on the lower part of the costume would work on different surfaces,” Kaela explained. “Sure enough, a wheel came off and we had to reattach it more securely. The one thing I didn’t think of when making the caterpillar costume was how Lilia will go up and down steps.”

Despite the sometimes-overwhelming tasks that comes with such an extensively creative endeavor, Kaela stated that seeing her family all dressed up for Halloween is very rewarding and worth it in the end.

“I’m creative by nature and this is one way I get to use my imagination and produce something meaningful to me; creating memories for my family,” Kaela said. “It takes perseverance, the ability to rethink and regroup when things aren’t quite working out as I envisioned and asking for help, but it is all worth it. It’s something my children can look back on and reminisce – sharing their memories of a crazy mom and her need to create - with their own families when they’re adults.”

Kaela also hopes that this Halloween family tradition imparts on her children the importance of making hand-made gifts for others and taking time for those they love and care about. “I hope my children will see the value of giving to others and how it can make others happy.”

So? What will the Gonzalez family’s Halloween theme be next year? Kaela will start thinking about it on November 1st. “As soon as Halloween is over, I begin to think about next year’s costumes. It takes me a couple of months to determine exactly what I want to create and once I do, I begin purchasing the items needed and start creating them. It literally takes a year from conception to a finished product.”

“But,” Kaela quickly added with an exhausted smile. “I just may take a break next year.”

Town revitalizes former Raymond Road Runner concept to begin October 25 in The Windham Eagle newspaper

Kaela Gonzalez, Community Communication
Coordinator, will be writing and editing
the monthly newsletter that will be the center
of The Windham Eagle newspaper 

By Lorraine Glowczak

The last edition of The Raymond Road Runner, a 20-page monthly newspaper created by the Town of Raymond, was published on June 2008. It was directly mailed to the homes of Raymond residents to provide information about town happenings – including everything from municipal discussions and budgetary matters to local events and calendar items.

However, due to a significant increase in printing and distribution costs, the decision was made by the

Board of Selectmen at the time to discontinue the Road Runner newspaper after ten years of publication. According to the town’s website, “This wasn’t an easy choice, but the cost of producing the newspaper was weighed against two counterbalancing factors: the taxpayers’ need to fund essential town services and the several alternative opportunities Raymond residents have for getting news and information.”

The alternatives included emailed newsletters, reader boards, the website and cable TV. Although the substitutes were available, the direct mailing of the Road Runner was missed by many and, as such, the newsletters, etc. were often overlooked.

Fast forward 11 years and the Raymond Road Runner concept is being resurrected.

The idea began earlier in the year. It had come to the attention of the current Raymond Select Board that residents were not aware of major issues occurring in the town. “People were telling us that they weren’t getting the news they needed to make informed decisions and to be active participants in the community,” stated Select Board member, Teresa Sadak. “We wanted to find a way to bring the news to people so they could be aware of what was happening on an ultra-local level.”

As a result, Select Board Member, Rolf Olsen suggested a doing a survey. Sadak took the idea and put it together with all the different ways people could possibly receive news. The survey included questions on how people preferred to get local news and suggestions as to how to obtain information as it affects the town’s people.

“The feedback we received was varied, but the two most popular responses included: The Windham Eagle newspaper is where most people read their local news and many suggested bringing back the Road Runner,” explained Sadak. “As a result, we are bringing the two concepts together in the form of a monthly newsletter that will be a published as the center two pages of The Windham Eagle.”

The first Road Runner newsletter will be published in the October 25^th Windham Eagle newspaper edition and will be written and edited by Kaela Gonzalez, Community Communications Coordinator, who also works part time in the Raymond Assessor’s Office under the direction of Curt Lebel as well as an assistant to Town Manager, Don Willard.

“Kaela has been a part time employee for the past three years. With the additional ten hours a week dedicated to the monthly newsletter, she will now be full-time,” explained Willard.

Willard went on to state that Gonzalez was chosen to write and edit the newsletter, not only due to her professionalism and experience, but due to the fact that she is an active member in the community who has a passion to serve in a variety of ways to help Raymond continue as a successful small town.

Gonzalez moved to Raymond with her husband in 2014. They have three children. Wanting to get to know the community – especially the school system in which her children would attend, Gonzalez got involved immediately.

An original copy of The Raymond Road Runner

“When we first moved here, I heard that there was a RSU14 Withdrawal Committee, so I joined just to see what it was about,” explained Gonzalez, referring to the first RSU14 withdrawal discussions that occurred six years ago. “It wasn’t that I was for or against the separation. In fact, I didn’t know what it meant. I wanted to find out, so I got involved. There are so many good things happening in Raymond, it is truly a great community to be a part of.” 

You will also find Gonzalez active in the Raymond Parent Teacher Organization, fulfilling the role as Vice President. Being involved in her multiple roles also makes her a great choice to gather pertinent news, informing the citizens regarding the latest happenings in much the same way as the original Road Runner, albeit in a more condensed version.

“We will include public notices, calendar items and reoccurring events,” stated Gonzalez. “Other article items will include municipal issues, school updates and organizations that will offer events of interest to the public.”

Since it will be a two-page newsletter, Gonzalez admits that it will be a challenge to get as much news into the space as possible. This is where The Windham Eagle newspaper will continue to offer larger article and feature stories for the town.

Willard stated that when the Raymond Road Runner newspaper discontinued, there were many disappointed residents. Long-time Raymond resident, John Manoush, was among them. “I remember John, in particular, who told me that he would greatly miss reading the Raymond paper every month,” Willard continued, smiling as he explained further. “He told me that he would even miss the excruciating detail of the Town Manager’s report.”

Manoush admits that he did miss the Raymond Road Runner when the publication ended and is
looking forward to having it reestablished.

“It is a great opportunity for the town,” Manoush said. “I look forward to reading it every month. I’ve always been a big fan of The Windham Eagle newspaper and the way it supports community and organizations who all struggle for attention and membership. This is a big step to help the Town of Raymond get the word out about what is happening in the town, how our tax money is being used and the various community events that occur. And then – of course, it will be great to get an update again on how the Town Manager is doing.”

For all Raymond residents, town offices, schools and organizations who wish to share a brief update or event in the monthly newsletter, contact Gonzalez at Kaela.Gonzalez@Raymondmaine.org or by phone at 207-655-4742, ext. 133. For article length feature stories and news events, continue to contact The Windham Eagle newspaper at lorraine@thewindhameagle.com.