Welcome to winter! To say 2020 was an unprecedented year is an
understatement. I sincerely hope that all of you and your loved ones have
remained healthy through this trying time. I also hope that by the time you read
this there has been significant improvement on the COVID-19 front. So, let’s start
with some happier news!
Ryan Smith has been promoted to executive vice president at Camden National
Bank in Camden. Ryan has been with Camden National Bank since 2012 and
has more than 25 years of banking and finance experience. He resides in Auburn
with his wife, Tanya Downing Smith ’96, who is an elementary school teacher in
Mechanic Falls. Ryan is also a volunteer coach for youth baseball and serves on
the board of the Maine Building Materials Exchange and is a member of the
Commercial Lending Committee for the Maine Bankers Association.
Also celebrating a promotion is Gilbert Thibeault, to VP of construction at
Sheridan Construction in Fairfield. The company noted his skills in engineering,
LEED, and project management as ones he’ll use extensively for Sheridan.
Congrats, Gil!
Moving into a new position is Mark Hatch, who recently became the MSAD 54
(Skowhegan) assistant superintendent of schools. Mark had previously been
principal of Messalonskee Middle School for the past 17 years and is an active
member of the Maine Principals Association. Mark lives in Sidney.
Our classmate, Bonnie Newsom ’99G was recently awarded a fellowship to
conduct research at Acadia National Park. Bonnie is an assistant professor of
anthropology at UMaine. The fellowships are part of the Second Century
Stewardship, which is an initiative of the National Park Service, National Park
Foundation, and Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park.
Lastly, there was a nice article in the Ellsworth American last April about the
renovation of the barn at Bay Meadow Cottages by Stephen Henry and his wife,
Kirsten. The two of them purchased the property located in Bar Harbor’s
Salisbury Cove village in 2017 and were determined to restore the barn, rather
than tear it down. Though the weather didn’t make it easy, the couple finished the
renovation, and I encourage you read the article — they have some stories to
tell! If you get up that way, stop by and see the barn and the cottages they are
renovating on the property.
That’s all I have for now. Until next time!