Last month, as the leaves of the maple trees turned as bright red as the barns in Alfred and Dayton, I took a tour of the district. It wasn’t my last trip ever, but it was my last as your state senator. I began at Saco Falls, next to the mill apartments. I felt the cool mist on my skin and listened to the roar and thunder of the cascading waters.

The mills there, like in Biddeford, have undergone many changes over the years. First, there were sawmills that produced lumber for the growing nation, which was expanding endlessly and restlessly westward. Then, factories rose, and Biddeford produced clothing, shoes and textiles. People my age can tell you the stories of their dads and moms working hard all day long inside those old brick buildings. They worked hard, they were paid fairly for their labor, and they were proud of what they made. Today, the mills house small families, young Mainers and start-ups.

The mills are historic monuments that help us respect the past while always innovating for the present and future.

Biddeford is my home; it’s where I grew up. That’s why my next stop was my two-story childhood home on Porter Street, located next to the commercial laundry that my family owned and operated. When I pulled my car in front, my mind took me back in time. There are too many memories for me to share. It’s where I said goodbye to my mom and raised my son. Just a few blocks away, I saw the old grammar and St. Joseph’s schools. I won’t tell you when I graduated from there, but I remember walking to and from school as a girl. The nuns were strict. The boys had classes on one side of the school, and the girls on the other.

Next up, I drove by the Biddeford Police Station, where I was the first woman to be appointed to serve as Biddeford’s Police Commissioner. Throughout my career of public service, I have defended and supported the police. These brave men and women put their lives on the line so that our communities are protected and safe. I’m grateful for their sacrifices and service each and every day.

I said goodbye to Biddeford and drove to Dayton. I passed Andy’s Agway, and then the rain began to drizzle on my windshield. It didn’t matter. The farms and fields in Dayton, Lyman and Arundel took my breath away. Golden grains and brilliant orange, maroon and yellow leaves for as far as the eye could see.

In Arundel, I met with Sheriff King and the 2022 American Jail Association Corrections Officer of the Year Lori Marks at York County Jail. It reminded me of my 40 years working as a corrections caseworker. Of course, I then had to stop in at Mike’s Diner. The food was delicious and the service was friendly and warm.

After Mike’s, I turned down Log Cabin Road toward Kennebunkport. Although I never knew very many people who lived there, they opened their arms and homes to me when I first ran for office eight years ago. I’ll never forget their kindness and their big-hearted welcomes. There were tourists streaming up and down the sidewalks downtown like there was a carnival. I drove down Ocean Avenue past the Nonantum Resort and The Colony, then along Shore Road.

I never get tired of the seeing the ocean, especially at Cape Porpoise. There’s something about the rocky shores and salty air that soothes the soul. I ended my tour at the University of New England. It was St. Francis when I went there, and I was one of the few women inside the classroom at the time. It’s a beautiful campus, and I am so proud of all the students who enroll there now. I hope they stay and work and raise a family in Maine.

Thank you all for taking this one final trip with me. Serving as your state senator has been the honor of a lifetime. This whole community made me who I am, and I’ve tried to never forget that.

Susan Deschambault represents Senate District 32, Alfred, Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Kennebunkport and Lyman. She can be reached at Susan.Deschambault@legislature.maine.gov or 207-287-1515.

 

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