Livermore Falls Town Clerk Doris Austin of Turner has been working on projects to bring the community together. She is currently overseeing the Socktober event, which asks residents to drop off socks to be donated to the Salvation Army. A person had just brought in a bag of new socks, right. Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal
Doris Austin of Turner, the Livermore Falls town clerk, grew up in Livermore and graduated from Livermore Falls High School in 1982.
She married her husband, Ivan, about five weeks after graduation, she said. The couple have been married 41 years and have two children, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She worked at BJ’s Wholesale Club for 26 years, 24 of those at the Auburn store and two at the Portland store. When her position was eliminated, she applied for the sewer clerk position in Livermore Falls. She went on to become town clerk.
Working with the other staff, Austin makes sure the Town Office has a friendly atmosphere as people come in to do town business. She also has been working to bring townspeople together by putting on various events, including a blood drive, a job fair and more.
What made you want to be a town clerk? I actually never intended to, but sometimes things happen and there is a change of plans. But now that I am the town clerk I find it a fulfilling job that keeps me busy and learning every day.
Why are you trying to get the community involved in the town and the town involved in the community? I feel that this town has so much potential. I remember as a teenager in this town that everyone knew each other, and the parents all looked out for each other and their kids. I would like to see the residents be proud of where they live and know that we are here to help them, either in the town office or in the case of an emergency. It is always nicer to know that if one of our emergency vehicles shows up that there is a face that they recognize.
What have you been doing to bring the community together? Last year I requested to do a trunk-or-treat on Halloween. It was very successful with over 200 kids attending. We will also be doing this again on Halloween this year. We have recently had a meet-and-greet here at the office to give the community a chance to meet the people that work for the town and are here to help them. We have put together a successful blood drive and most recently I have been trying to pull the community together to form a farmers market right out by the gazebo. This will help some local people to sell their goods and it will provide fresh goods to our residents.
Are you holding more events? I’m very excited to say we are doing Socktober this month. Socks are the most requested item from the homeless and the least donated, so I am hoping we are able to help many people. . . . I do the general assistance and I am seeing more and more residents struggling, so I am in the process of putting together a food drive from Nov. 1 to Nov. 16 with the proceeds to go to the local food pantry and any non-food items will be sent to the Soap N’ More store (at the First Baptist Church in Livermore Falls).
What other ideas do you plan to work on? This year I would love to bring the magic of Christmas back into the community. I am working with a few people to have a tree lighting ceremony with some special guests.
How many couples have you married? So far, I have married five couples. My favorite was at the gazebo with a local couple who I have become friendly with through day-to-day duties at the office.
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