Barb Wentworth – President
Barb Wentworth has been involved with Age Friendly Saco since its inception in 2016 and currently serves as the President of its Board of Directors. Formerly President & CEO at United Way of York County, and after decades of work in the nonprofit sector, Barb left for new adventures supporting local nonprofits as a volunteer and consultant. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and sharing the great work of Age Friendly Saco across the state.
Sheldon Nightingale – Vice President
My wife and I are relative new residents to Saco, moving here in May of 2017. The last 30 years of my working career was spent with an industrial construction company from Maine doing work in the Pulp & Paper sector. This work allowed me to travel extensively throughout the US. In addition to Age Friendly Saco, I am also a volunteer & board member for the Saco Food Pantry and a board member for the Saco Meals Program.
Nancy Drisko – Treasurer
I was brought up in Sanford , raised my family in Scarborough and moved to Saco in 2006. I am a graduate of St. Joseph’s College. Most of my working years were in banking serving as a Vice President and Branch Manager for 29 years with Key Bank . Upon my retirement, I started Drisko’s Bookkeeping Business, LLC and work part time with long standing, trusted clients doing a variety of things including paying their bills and preparing year end numbers for their tax accountants. I joined Age Friendly Saco in July 2023. At that time, I took over as bookkeeper for AFS. I am also responsible for the quarterly Newsletter and volunteer on other ongoing projects as needed.
Lucie Hatch – Secretary
Lucie Hatch‐ Born in Canada, raised in Madawaska and resident of Saco since 1981. Lucie has been a member of the Rotary Club of Saco Bay since 1998, has held an office in this club since 2009 and is the secretary for both the Rotary Club and Age Friendly Saco. Lucie holds a BSN and is a retired RN and former owner/administrator of Winterhaven Assisted Living Facility. Mother of 3, grandmother of 5 and is proud to say, family is my biggest joy.
Teri Arenstam
Teri is a long-time resident of Saco. She received her B.S. in biology from Bates College and her MSEd. from the University of New England. Teri recently retired from her Alma mater, Thornton Academy, where she taught chemistry for more than 20 years. While at Thornton, she shared her commitment to volunteerism with her students in her capacity as the advisor of the Thornton Academy Interact Club, a Rotary sponsored community service group. She has also served on the board of Mary’s Walk, an annual fundraiser for the Maine Cancer Foundation for the last 20 years. She and her husband David have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren.
Justin Chenette – Communications
Justin Chenette is the County Commissioner for the Saco area. He is a former 4-term lawmaker, serving 4 years each in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and served for a term on the Maine State Board of Education. In addition to Age Friendly Saco, he serves on the executive committee of the Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission, Maine Right to Know Advisory Committee, and provides annual college scholarships through his nonprofit foundation. Justin graduated from Northern Vermont University-Lyndon with a B.S. in Broadcast News and went on to earn a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine at Augusta and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Justin works as the Communications & Public Relations Director for Sweetser in Saco.
Brad Paul
Brad Paul – Born in Biddeford, graduate of Biddeford HS, Brad served the City of Saco in its Police Department for more than 40 years, including nearly 15 years as Chief. He currently serves as a York County Deputy Sheriff. Brad is a 20 year Rotarian with Saco Bay and serves as a Sweetser corporator and is also a member of Saco Main Street. Brad enjoys giving back to his community.
Lynn Steed
Lynn has been a Saco resident from 1973-1978 and since 2014. Retired from Army Continuing Education, HQ, Department of the Army after 22.5 years of civil service as Education Counselor, Education Services Officer, and finally Program Manager. Subsequently, she also retired from Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA. Volunteer Coordinator at Saco Food Pantry, Board member there several years. Lynn and spouse, David, have been Age Friendly Saco volunteers from its inception.
Vonnie Sheehan – Governance
I’m a life time Saco resident except for a few years away. I’m married to Richard ,we have three grown children and three grandchildren. I graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and furthered my education at USM,St. Joseph’s College and Southern Maine Community College. I was employed at Southern Maine Medical Center for twenty five years, with my last position being Nursing Director of the ED. I began at Wardwell changing the way care was given by providing education for the staff, Developing care plans, obtaining state licenses etc. I was also involved with the building projects for four years before I became the Executive Director of the Wardwell Retirement Community, a position I truly enjoyed for fifteen years.
Glenn Charette – Operations Manager
Born and raised in the small town of Washburn, which is sandwiched between Presque Isle and Caribou, all of which is in Aroostook County, Maine. My father owned a potato farm that all seven of my siblings worked on, including our mother. Yea——-picking potatoes! I graduated from Washburn High school in a class of 45 students, then went on to earn an Associates Degree in business. After trying a few occupations, not potato farming, I started a General Contracting firm building and remodeling residential and commercial projects. Sold that business after 28 years and went on to become a Maine State Licensed Code Enforcement Officer, Plumbing Inspector and Health Officer. I loved that profession! After twelve years I decided to retire and spend time with my wife Marcia, who had already retired. Marcia and I worked on repairing wood furniture and building new furniture, together, with fulfilling times in my woodshop! Marcia and I raised five children and enjoy seven grandchildren. Sold our house in Alfred and bought a smaller house in Saco, closer to the beach, a past time we both enjoyed.
David Pendleton
David Pendleton was born in Biddeford, raised in the Camp Ellis village of Saco, and attended Saco schools, graduating from Thornton Academy in 1981. He enjoyed growing up near and on the ocean, lobstering from a skiff as a teenager and later working seasonally as a stern man on his father’s lobster boat. David attended the University of Rhode Island and graduated with an associate degree in Commercial Fisheries and Marine Technology. After his inaugural nine-day fishing trip out of Portland Harbor aboard cousin Craig’s ninety-foot dragger, David decided that he preferred firefighting over fishing and like his father Kenneth and brother K.T. before him, chose to enter the fire service with the Saco Fire Department. After three months as a career firefighter with Saco, David transferred to the Portland Fire Department where he worked for twenty-seven and a half years. He was very fortunate to be able to spend many years of service in the Portland Fire Department Marine Division, working on several boats in the fleet and helping with the design, construction, and delivery of the current Fireboat. David was fortunate to be able to return to the Saco Fire Department in 2012 as a Deputy Fire Chief, where he continues to serve the citizens of Saco. David married a Saco girl, Brigitte Morneau in 1987 and they have resided in Dayton since 1990. Their daughter Valerie is completing her Surgical Residency in Fargo, North Dakota. David is the President of the Thornton Academy Alumni Association and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Becky Hadiaris
Becky is a lifelong Saco resident, and Thornton Academy graduate (Class of ’99). She graduated from University of Maine at Farmington with a BA in Psychology in 2003. She went on to earn her Master of Social Work (MSW) from The University of New England in 2005, becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in July of 2012. Becky began her career at Kennebunk Nursing & Rehab Center in 2006, where she was the Director of Social Services for four years. From there, she worked as a hospice Social Worker with Beacon Hospice in South Portland for three years (2010-2013). She then spent the next seven years (2013-2020) at The Wardwell Neighborhood in Saco, where she was the Social Worker and Admissions Coordinator. In September 2020, she began to work for the Brain Injury Association, Maine Chapter, as a NeuroResource Facilitator. In May of 2022, Becky started a new position as the Coordinator of the Family Caregiver Support Program at Southern Maine Agency on Aging. She was promoted to manager of the program in May of 2023. Becky has been a member of the York County Elder Abuse Task Force since May of 2021. She joined the Maine Brain Injury Advisory Council as a representative for the state ADRC’s in June of 2023. She is finishing out a term on the Maine Disability Pooled Trust (trustee since June 2021). Becky lives in Saco with her husband, Troy, and two sons (Zachary- 3rd grade, Alex Kindergarten). She loves being by the water, enjoying a historical fiction novel, running her Color Street side gig, and watching her boys play sports.
Katie Heller PT, DPT
Katie is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at the Maine Strong Balance Center in Saco. She serves as Saco Clinic Supervisor and Co-Director of Clinical Excellence for the Maine Strong Balance Centers. Clinically, she specializes in balance training, vestibular rehabilitation, and neurologic rehabilitation. She is a passionate advocate for her patients, falls prevention/healthy aging, and equitable healthcare. Outside of her work, she enjoys surfing, hiking, skiing, and all things outdoors. Originally from Maryland, by way of graduate school in Colorado, she lives with her fiancé, Josh (also a PT!) and dog, Callie, in Westbrook. She has so appreciated the warm welcome from the Saco community and is eager to serve Age Friendly Saco!
Jean Saunders – Executive Director
Jean Saunders, RN ,MSN, MPH is originally from the Central Maine area but now lives in Saco and is helping to coordinate the Age Friendly effort for the City of Saco. She spent her career both as a Nurse and hospital administrator in New Hampshire, NYC and most recently at Maine Medical Center helping to initiate such projects as Turning Point, a Cardiac Rehab program. Her interest has always involved building new programs and she became very interested in helping the City of Saco join the Age Friendly Network. Since starting in 2016, Age Friendly Saco has developed multiple service programs such as a program to assist homeowners with small home modifications and repairs in addition to a Technology Handy Helper group that has helped older residents become more digitally connected. In conjunction with the City of Saco, Age Friendly Saco helped produce a video on how a simple echo dot might function as a virtual personal assistant. Most recently Age Friendly Saco has created a volunteer driver program to provide rides to medical appointments for our older residents. In 2018, Age Friendly Saco was able to make their public beach accessible with the support of an AARP Challenge Grant to place beach mats at the beach. She also is on the AARP Executive Council as well as the Lifelong Communities Advisory Group https://mainecenteronaging.umaine.edu/lifelong-maine-advisory-group/ . In addition to her Age Friendly work, Jean enjoys supporting her husband’s electronics manufacturing company as well as spending time with her 3 children, dog, and 2 cats.
Maggie O’Neil
Maggie O’Neil has served as an Age Friendly Saco board member since 2018. Maggie is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law and the University of King’s College in Halifax, NS. Since 2016, she has represented her hometown of Saco in the state legislature. She has worked locally to improve Saco’s senior property tax relief program and in Augusta to develop a statewide home share program. She is a labor and employment attorney at Solidarity Law.
Liaisons to Age Friendly Saco
Amelia Foster
Amelia Foster- Amelia has worked for the City of Saco since 2011 and has a few different roles during her time there. She is currently the Saco Parks and Recreation Community Outreach and Senior Program Coordinator, as well as the City’s Wellness Coordinator. Originally from Colorado, she made her way to the East Coast and graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2010. Amelia currently lives in South Portland with her husband Alex, her son Dean, and dog Freddie. She has been a liaison to Age Friendly Saco since the beginning, she is also a liaison on the Saco Arts Commissions, as well as a board member of Saco Main Street. Amelia is passionate about building community for people of all ages!
Joe Gunn – City Council
Joe Gunn is the Ward 3 City Councilor for the City of Saco, ME. He was first elected in 2019 and is currently serving his second term. In addition to serving as the council liaison to Age Friendly Saco, Councilor Gunn also serves in that capacity for the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, the Long Range Planning Committee, and formally for the Planning Board. An over 30 year resident of Saco, Joe attended Thornton Academy, class of 1999, and the University of Maine, class of 2003. Joe is currently employed in the customer service industry. Prior to his service on the council, Joe was a member of the Dyer Library/Saco Museum Board of Trustees. Away from council, he remains active in local and county politics. Joe is grateful for the opportunity to serve as the link between local government and AFS, and to offer any assistance or advice requested by the board in order to help the organization sustain and strengthen its high level of services and outreach to the citizens of our community.