Christine “Christie” Paul, editor of the Gorham Times since December, 2020, has resigned to accept a position with an arts program on St. John US Virgin Island. Lori Arsenault has agreed to serve as Interim Editor until the paper hires a new editor.
Paul became editor during an unexpected period of transition which included challenges caused by the pandemic. During her tenure she helped recruit and train new writers and interns. She sought to enliven the paper with interesting photos. Although trained as a musician and working under difficult conditions, she and the staff came together to bring the news to Gorham.
“We are going to miss Christie,” Business Manager Donna Soper said, “but appreciate all she did for our community paper.”
Photo credit: Mint and Thistle PhotographyChristie Paul, who is leaving the Gorham Times, will be moving with her family to the Caribbean in September.
“The best part of my experience with the Gorham Times,” Paul said, “is all the dedicated volunteers and contributors I had the privilege to meet. I have a newfound appreciation for the local news and the service such resources provide. And I will bring all this learning to my new endeavors.”
This summer Paul will be helping to organize a series of concerts in Maine before moving with her family to St. John in the fall. There she will achieve her dream of a career in music, both by performing and by directing choirs for adults and children as associate director of Sing St. John.
Lori Arsenault, interim editor, started with the Gorham Times in March 2019 and is responsible for the public service section.
“All through my varied career and even into retirement, my work has been about serving organizations and collaborating with other talented colleagues and volunteers toward a common mission,” Arsenault said. She said on accepting the editor position that she hopes “my doing the same for a while with the Gorham Times will serve the community well.”