Arrived in 2021
Neighborhood Dunstan
Moved here from… Rangeley, Maine
Grew up in… Bar Harbor, Maine
What brought you here? The schools. One of my childhood friends taught at Wentworth years ago and assured us, “You won’t be disappointed.” She was right. Both of my sons have had a great experience there. I can’t say enough about their teachers. It seems every month they’re doing something new and creative – working in the garden, raising brook trout, learning Rubik’s cube algorithms. It’s a great place.
What has surprised you most about Scarborough? As strange as it may sound, the beaches. I grew up farther north in Maine where the coast is a lot rockier and the water is a lot colder. We spent tons of time on the water but very little in it. I didn’t realize how much of our summer would revolve around going to the beach. We had a lot of catch-up to do that first season – skim boards, surf boards, beach wagons – it was all new. Now I can’t imagine summer without a sandy beach nearby.
Favorite beach? My sons love the waves at Scarborough State Park so we usually go there, but Ferry Beach is a close second.
Favorite walking or hiking spot? Fuller Farm. I love the waterfall area and all the birds, plus the hills. Those are hard to find in Scarborough. It’s also close to our house, which is handy.
Why did you start Scarborough Living? We moved here from a small town with a strong sense of community. As a newcomer, it was harder to connect in Scarborough. It’s just so much larger and more spread out. I wanted to create a space where people from every neighborhood can meet each other – a space to read not just the latest news, but the stories behind the people and businesses that make this town unique.
I’ve also wanted to start a magazine for years. I was about to take over a small publication in Rangeley when COVID hit in 2020 and everything changed. I’ve been thinking about starting something ever since. I love getting to know people in the community and learn what they do. I love hearing how businesses are doing. When we’re out and about, my sons are always asking me to stop talking to strangers. I also really enjoy writing and graphic design. When we moved to Scarborough, I was excited to see a need for a magazine here.
What was it like starting a magazine? It was a lot of work, but I was energized by the support and encouragement I received from the community. When I started emailing people last spring, asking to meet, I really didn’t know anyone. Every person I met loved the idea, encouraged me to do it, and connected me with others who helped. It was a great experience. It made me feel part of the community and I gained respect for all the great people giving their time and energy to help make Scarborough such a special place.
I received great support from the folks at Scarborough Buy Local, Scarborough Chamber of Commerce, Scarborough Community Services, Scarborough Economic Development Corporation, Scarborough Land Trust, and Scarborough Public Library.
I’m also grateful to Nancy Crowell, Catherine Hewitt, Sumitra Preetham, and Leroy Crockett for agreeing to be featured. I loved talking with them and learning about their passions.
What do you do besides the magazine? I started out as an economist and now I do data and policy analysis for Maine organizations as a consultant. Most of my work involves researching and writing about economic and demographic trends. It’s always interesting but requires a lot of screen and spreadsheet time. The more varied tasks involved in publishing are refreshing.
What is your greatest hope for Scarborough? A pool. One of my sons is on a swim team so we spend a lot of time driving back and forth to South Portland. It’d be great to have something in town.
