Topsham attorney to be honored

Sheldon J. Tepler of Topsham, a partner in the Lewiston office of Hardy, Wolf & Downing, will be honored with the Peter J. DeTroy III Award by the Campaign for Justice on March 28 for the volunteer work he has done in Mid-Coast communities.

The award, to be presented to Tepler by Gov. Janet Mills, was created in 2017 to recognize individuals who have worked to remove barriers for people who are vulnerable or have worked to advance justice in Maine, and exemplify the same selfless spirit as DeTroy.

“Sheldon Tepler has, for decades, been a tireless advocate for the most underserved populations of our state,” said Devin Deane, chair of the Campaign for Justice Steering Committee. “From his pro bono work with Pine Tree Legal Assistance, including his instrumental involvement in the reopening of its Lewiston office, to Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers, Big Brother Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention, New Beginnings, Seeds of Peace, and his volunteering lawyering …  Sheldon’s drive to do good has impacted so many lives.”

The Campaign for Justice is a fundraising campaign of the Maine Justice Foundation that raises funds from Maine’s legal community to help meet the civil legal aid needs of low-income individuals and families in need.

Atlantic Credit Union to merge with York County CU

Members of York County Federal Credit Union have agreed to merge with Atlantic Federal Credit Union, which serves the communities of Brunswick, Topsham, Freeport and Cumberland. When the merger becomes official, Atlantic branches will also include Saco, Biddeford, Sanford, South Sanford and York.

Two additional steps are required to make the merger official. Final authorization from the National Credit Union Association is expected by the end of March. The operating systems of both credit unions will then be unified by June 3.

Atlantic CEO/President, Roger Sirois and York County CEO/President, Scott Chretien issued a joint statement, saying, “We have always believed that our two successful credit unions would be stronger together. It is about continuing to provide our members with the latest in technology and help them do better. Atlantic and our members have a fantastic future ahead of us.”

After final approval from the NCUA, Chretien will assume the role of CEO and Roger Sirois will be the president of Atlantic.

Atlantic Federal Credit Union will be the largest credit union in the state, with more than $712 million in assets and over 47,000 members who live, work and/or worship in Cumberland, Sagadahoc and York counties. 

Hires, promotions, appointments

Robert F. White, who is a member of the Class of 1977, has been elected chairman of the 42-member Bowdoin College Board of Trustees, effective July 1. He was elected unanimously by his fellow board members during their campus meetings on Feb. 8. He will succeed Michele G. Cyr, who will continue as chair through June 30, and will then remain on the board.

TeplerPetty Officer 1st Class Joseph Bongiorno, a Topsham native and 2003 Mt. Ararat High School graduate, is serving at the U.S. Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Bongiorno has served for 11 years and works as a Navy electronics technician on submarines in the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Sarah Legare is expanding EllieAnna Gift Shop in Lewiston by opening a second location in Freeport, slated to open this month at 114 Main St. in the former home of Coastal Maine Popcorn, across from L.L.Bean.