By Kevin Robbins

Staff Writer

At the end of May, Buxton Recreation Director Chris Barstow submitted his letter of resignation to the board of selectmen. After a month-long search, Buxton has hired Limington resident Tashia Geaumont, who has been serving as the town’s new director for three weeks. 

Geaumont previously served as recreation director in Old Orchard Beach, where she grew up. She said one of her accomplishments in Old Orchard Beach includes creating a newsletter that showcases all opportunities offered to residents. She also created various programs for skiing, karate, dance, gymnastics and open gym for adults.

After working in Old Orchard Beach, she taught five years of physical education at the Cornerstone Baptist Academy in Scarborough. During her tenure at the academy, she started a cross country and ski club for elementary and secondary student.

Geaumont said she thinks it was a fluke that she got the job as Buxton Recreation Director, after seeing the advertisement in a local newspaper.

“I was kind of surprised that I got the job,” Geaumont said.

Her main goal with recreation programs in Buxton is to make them cost affordable so the community can enjoy them. At the very minimum, she wants to generate enough income for the recreation department so programs pay for themselves, she said.

One of the aspects of her job Geaumont is looking most forward to is working with the community. She believes organization is one of her main strengths.  She also likes variety.

“I am honest and I am frugal. I truly have a passion for recreation and fitness,” Geaumont said. 

Geaumont also believes restoring residents’ confidence in the program will be a challenge. Barstow’s resignation came after he allegedly some town money for personal use. Among other things, Barstow is accused of allegedly using the town credit card to pay for gas for his personal vehicle, according to Buxton police.

A challenge she said she will have to overcome is keeping the public informed about recreation programs. In order to rectify this problem, she plans to create flyers that could be sent to area businesses, schools and the libraries among other places.

“His mistakes were his mistakes. I am mindful of what happened and I won’t put myself in a position that would compromise my reputation or innocence. I am religious enough and have a consciousness to know that even if no one else sees my actions God sees my action. I am persistent. Confidence will be restored,” Geaumont said.

She said she plans to initiate new policies for the department, including a policy stating the childcare program will no longer accept money at the site, meaning all money will have to be collected at the town hall.

Geaumont hopes to improve many of the current programs already offered by the recreation department while adding more innovative programs. For example, she hopes to bring back the ski program this winter. She said the town would most likely charter a bus to take Buxton residents to ski areas such as Shawnee Peak and Sunday River or both.

Another program she plans to offer this fall is a cleat swap, where parents donate their child’s old soccer cleats to the recreation department after the soccer season. The recreation department will then donate the old soccer cleats to lower-income Buxton residents.

“I think some people will see the cleat swap as a blessing because it will allow some residents the opportunity to get cleats who would not otherwise be able to afford cleats,” Geaumont said.

Geaumont also plans to create a weight loss program that would be similar to NBC’s reality show the “Biggest Loser.” She has already solicited the help of two certified personal trainers willing to donate time and equipment to help residents lose weight. She has also ordered pamphlets on healthy eating from the state government. She has asked various corporate companies to donate door prizes for residents who lose the most weight. The program will be free of charge to residents.

“It will be like a fitness boot camp. A lot of people cannot afford to see personal trainers,” Geaumont said.

Geaumont also wants to offer a special program during the Christmas holiday season. She wants to select people with various talents to volunteer time to teach one-hour sessions on how to create low-cost Christmas gifts. She said it would give elderly residents and children with little money the opportunity to give presents.

Geaumont said some programs and trips have been cancelled because of lack of money and number of participants, including planned trips to Cabbage Island and Foxwoods. She said any participants enrolled in trips or programs that have been cancelled would get their money refunded.

One trip operating as scheduled is a trip where residents will be traveling to Toronto for three nights in August to watch the Boston Red Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays. They will also stop at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. and in Rochester, N.Y. to watch the Pawtucket (R.I.) Red Sox play the Rochester Red Wings.

“The trip is fully booked,” Geaumont said.

Geaumont said she couldn’t be happier with her career choice. She has been on the job for three weeks.

“I love my job. It’s right up my alley. Recreation and healthy living is my passion. I get joy from making a program that benefits others,” she said.

She lives on a pond with her husband and four children. In her spare time she enjoys training for triathlons. 

In September, she will participate in Southern Maine Community College’s Tri for a Cure Triathlon in South Portland. She has a bachelor of arts in therapeutic recreation from the University of Southern Maine.