John Bernier, president of the board of directors for the Cornelia Warren Association, presented a check for $10,000 to the Westbrook Arts and Culture committee last week. A native of Westbrook, Bernier, 61, is a Realtor and broker for Home Sellers of Maine and sits on innumerable committees in town. Though Bernier only spends part of the year in his hometown – the rest he splits between South Carolina and his camp on Little Sebago Lake in Gray – he’s been deemed “Mr. Westbrook” by City Hall staff because of his involvement in the city. On Sunday, he sat down with the American Journal to talk about the Cornelia Warren Community Association, its recent donations to city groups and his commitment to Westbrook.
Q: What does the Cornelia Warren Community Association do?
A: Cornelia Warren was the daughter of S.D. Warren, and for some reason, she just loved Westbrook. In 1925, she left $100,000 to the city of Westbrook to be administered by the Cornelia Warren Community Association. For quite a few years, the Cornelia Warren Community Association was the recreation department for the city of Westbrook. They had what was called a river bath, which was the first makings of a swimming pool, and tennis courts. They bought Cumberland Gym. They had summer camps. They built and refurbished Riverbank Park.
Q: What are some of its more recent projects?
A: We’ve once again refurbished Riverbank Park. We put thousands into a monument recognizing our war heroes. We put benches and trash receptacles along the riverwalk. We did the riverwalk. We put $100,000 into lighting the Little League field. The Little League lighting is probably one of the highlights recently, primarily because it fits into everything Cornelia Warren was all about. She was into recreation. She was into women’s and equal rights. We’re the first lit softball field in the state. It’s a legitimate Little League softball field. It so fits into everything she was about.
Q: Why did the association recently donate $10,000 to the arts and culture committee?
A: They came to us because the Maine Arts Commission granted them $10,000. We like to be a matching organization. They asked if Cornelia Warren would match that so they could expand the arts community in Westbrook. We thought it was a good idea. They want to get a consultant in to see where this could all go.
Q: How did you get involved with the association?
A: I was asked to join in 2005. They asked me last year if I’d be president. I think it’s a big honor. I really do. I think it’s an important trust fund in the city. We can be seen all around town. Her $100,000 has gone a long way.
Q: Why do you think the mayor refers to you as Mr. Westbrook?
A: I have no idea. I’m very involved. I was on the Mission Possible board for six years. I was on the chamber of commerce for eight years. I’m very involved with Kiwanis. I’m involved with the soup kitchen, Westbrook Together Days, Halloween on Main Street. If they ask me to do something, I do it. And they keep asking. I speak up and I tend to move things along.
Q: Why is it important to you to be so involved in your community?
A: I enjoy it. I really do. I would keep doing it until I felt I wasn’t accomplishing anything. As long as I’m accomplishing something, and others feel like I’m accomplishing something, I’ll help. I was on the road as a salesman for 20 years, and I wasn’t able to give back. Now I can, so I do.
Q: If you were a kitchen tool, what would you be?
A: I would guess a knife. I do cut right to the chase. Cut away all the fat and, “Bam,” get it done.
A CLOSER LOOK
Donations to Westbrook by the Cornelia Warren Community Association over the past 10 years include:
Defibrillators for city $12,000
Mission Possible Teen Center $100,000
Legion Hall exterior improvement project $70,000
Prides Corner playground project $50,000
Little League lighting project $96,000
Benches and trash cans Riverbank and Parkway $12,000
Arts and Culture Committee seed money $10,000
Women in the Arts Project $7,000
John Bernier, president of the Cornelia Warren Community Association, presents a check for $10,000 to Mayor Bruce Chuluda last week, to go toward expanding the city’s arts community. Chuluda refers to Bernier as “Mr. Westbrook” because he is involved with countless organizations and committees in the city.
John Bernier, president of the Cornelia Warren Community Association, is called “Mr. Westbrook” by Mayor Bruce Chuluda because he is involved with countless organizations and committees in the city.
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