Neighborhood  Oak Hill

In Scarborough since… The beginning. Pretty much all my 54 years. In 2000 I moved to Saco for a while but I didn’t like it. Too city-like. I craved the hometown feel of Scarborough so I moved back within a year. When I was young, we moved away for a few years and I begged my parents to come back. My grandparents were here and I really wanted to be with them. My grandfather finished off the upstairs of their home and we moved in. That solidified Scarborough as my home.  I lived in that house for most of my life until selling it about six years ago. I still drive by it with fond memories and enjoy seeing how much the new owners have upgraded it. 

Why have you stayed? Community. It’s just a great place. You can walk down the street and always see someone you know.

Do you have a memory that to you represents the best of Scarborough? When I was a high school freshman, we won the cross-country state championship. As the bus got off the interstate, we were greeted by two police vehicles and firetrucks. That type of community support is powerful for a kid. I’ve always remembered it. Until a few years ago, it was the only time the cross-country team won states. I can still look at the banner in the gym and remember that day. I’m still proud of that team and what we accomplished. We had started the season as total underdogs.

What do you remember fondly about “old” Scarborough? Less traffic. There were a lot fewer cars on the road and you could get anywhere pretty quickly. In fact, when I was growing up the town had only two police cars (Volvos). The town was much less developed then. It looked more like Buxton does today. I rode my bike day and night until it got dark. I’m not sure kids could ride bikes on that road today.

What’s something you like about “new” Scarborough? There are a lot of interesting things to do now, like many walking paths, great beaches, and many other amenities. There are a good variety of opportunities for everyone.

You’ve held lots of public service positions. What inspires you? My grandparents were very active volunteers and they would take me along with them. They helped with community events and non-profits that support those in need. I remember going with them to Pineland, Amvets Post 6, Togus, and other veterans hospitals. My parents were very involved as well. It was just part of our family culture. I hope that continues with younger generations. I know people are busy but it’s so rewarding. It feels good to be help shape the place you live. I see a lot of groups like the Rotary and Kiwanis struggling to get new members. These groups do so much for our community and have helped it the great place it is today. I’m still proud to call it my hometown.

What has been your favorite community service job? Coaching. I loved watching kids progress, especially ones who’d never played a sport before. To me it was always about learning and improving, not winning. Once when I was a basketball coach, it was the end of the season and there was a small girl on our team who’d never scored a basket. I talked with the other team’s coach and he agreed to give her some space. We kept passing to her and she kept trying. She never made a shot but it was such a great experience for her and the whole team. Those are great memories.

You were just elected to the Portland Water District Board of Trustees. Can you explain this position? The Portland Water District is responsible for getting water from Sebago Lake to most towns in Cumberland County, including Scarborough. They also provide wastewater removal for many towns. All 11 towns the district serves have a representative on the board, which sets rates, oversees maintenance, and basically makes sure everything runs smoothly. If you live south of 95 in Scarborough then you probably get water from the district.

What do you do outside of work and community service? I work part-time for the Seadogs as a ticket-taker. It’s a great job because you get to watch the game after your shift. One of my favorite memories is talking with Jacoby Ellsbury about whether he’d move up to the Red Sox the very day before he got the call. I also volunteer for many civic and town organizations.  

What is your greatest hope for Scarborough? That it keeps its character – everyone knowing each other, the concerts, Summerfest – I hope we always have that. I hope we maintain sustainable growth and are able to conserve some of our great assets within the community. 

What’s something no one in town knows about you? Well, many people don’t know I was called “Buddy” as a kid. I didn’t like the name Leroy because of the song “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and my grandmother called me her “Little Buddy”. So when I got to school, I told everyone, even the teachers, to call me Buddy. It stuck and that was my name all through high school.