Q&A: Rachael Weyand, outgoing director of the Heart of Biddeford
By Gillian Graham
Staff Writer
After five years as executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, Rachael Weyand is leaving Biddeford for a new challenge as outreach manager for Portland Trails. New executive director Zeke Callanan has taken over, but Weyand won’t be a stranger downtown as she continues to assist with projects on a limited basis.
What’s next for you?
I’m working for an organization called Portland Trails. I’m their outreach manager, so I’m looking for ways to promote the organization and make people aware that we’re the non-profit organization behind the 30 miles of trails. Also, I’ll be doing events and working to help volunteers engage in our outreach activities.
What was your experience with Biddeford before you came to the Heart of Biddeford?
My family always had a summer house here and my grandmother’s family, up until she moved in the 1950s, was from here. So every generation [was here] back to our farmhouse being raided by Native Americans. They were the Jordan family and our farmhouse was where the University of New England is now. There are still handwritten accounts by my great-great-great grandmother and then we always heard family stories. And I grew up in Kennebunk, so we were here a lot. I’ve been eating George’s sandwiches and Alex Pizza since I was really little and coming to the beach every day in the summer.
How did your perceptions of the city change over the past five years as you got to know the city in a different way?
I have more admiration for the city after five years. There’s so much history and so many amazing families that have been here for generations. I think it’s more dynamic than a lot of cities in Maine because it’s bigger than a lot of cities in Maine, but it’s not so big it’s all strangers. Everyone knows each other, especially the downtown community because people have been here for years.
What are the biggest accomplishments for the Heart of Biddeford during the past five years?
The idea that revitalizing the downtown is obtainable and doable is probably our biggest accomplishment. When we first started a lot of people didn’t think it was possible. They thought this is the same, we’ve tried it a million times. I feel we’ve really stuck in there, and although there are people who have dissenting opinions, we’ve kept a positive attitude. There are millions of things we could have done differently, but I think we’re trying to keep a vision and keep a goal while letting people have input.
One of the things I’m really proud of is the fact we’ve been able to show people some of the coolest things they never knew about the community, like the mill caves or the old abandoned theaters. Portland has those places but they’re all built up and not accessible but here we’re at the ground level.
How can people support revitalizing the downtown?
If people are really supportive of activities we do, then make sure you come. If people don’t come to our activities then we can’t do them anymore. Some things like Chalk on the Walk have become really successful and you wouldn’t want to miss them, but there are other projects and events where people say, “Oh, I’ll do it next time.” The same with shopping. A lot of people say they want to shop locally, but then ended up doing to [big box stores] to buy all their Christmas presents. Making the decision to come downtown is big. We try to shift some of their energy downtown. It’s great to support it, but a lot of people kind of support it mentally and don’t actually actively participate in what’s going on. And people live and die. Store owners literally make it or break it depending on how much the community supports them.
What do you hope for the future of Biddeford and for the Heart of Biddeford?
For the future of Biddeford, I hope it becomes a downtown the people of Biddeford are proud of and supportive of. I think a lot of people discount it. I hope people find the resources to fix up some of the most amazing buildings and fill some of the vacant storefronts without selling out. I think it’s really important the businesses are local and independent. I think the locals need to realize what they have and really be proud of it. A lot of people wrote it off a long time ago.
What will you miss about being in downtown Biddeford every day?
The people. I’ll miss being a part of this community. There is such a tight-knit group of people who are really excited about what’s happening here. There’s a lot of camaraderie that goes along with that.
Staff Writer
After five years as executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, Rachael Weyand is leaving Biddeford for a new challenge as outreach manager for Portland Trails. New executive director Zeke Callanan has taken over, but Weyand won’t be a stranger downtown as she continues to assist with projects on a limited basis.
What’s next for you?
I’m working for an organization called Portland Trails. I’m their outreach manager, so I’m looking for ways to promote the organization and make people aware that we’re the non-profit organization behind the 30 miles of trails. Also, I’ll be doing events and working to help volunteers engage in our outreach activities.
What was your experience with Biddeford before you came to the Heart of Biddeford?
My family always had a summer house here and my grandmother’s family, up until she moved in the 1950s, was from here. So every generation [was here] back to our farmhouse being raided by Native Americans. They were the Jordan family and our farmhouse was where the University of New England is now. There are still handwritten accounts by my great-great-great grandmother and then we always heard family stories. And I grew up in Kennebunk, so we were here a lot. I’ve been eating George’s sandwiches and Alex Pizza since I was really little and coming to the beach every day in the summer.
How did your perceptions of the city change over the past five years as you got to know the city in a different way?
I have more admiration for the city after five years. There’s so much history and so many amazing families that have been here for generations. I think it’s more dynamic than a lot of cities in Maine because it’s bigger than a lot of cities in Maine, but it’s not so big it’s all strangers. Everyone knows each other, especially the downtown community because people have been here for years.
What are the biggest accomplishments for the Heart of Biddeford during the past five years?
The idea that revitalizing the downtown is obtainable and doable is probably our biggest accomplishment. When we first started a lot of people didn’t think it was possible. They thought this is the same, we’ve tried it a million times. I feel we’ve really stuck in there, and although there are people who have dissenting opinions, we’ve kept a positive attitude. There are millions of things we could have done differently, but I think we’re trying to keep a vision and keep a goal while letting people have input.
One of the things I’m really proud of is the fact we’ve been able to show people some of the coolest things they never knew about the community, like the mill caves or the old abandoned theaters. Portland has those places but they’re all built up and not accessible but here we’re at the ground level.
How can people support revitalizing the downtown?
If people are really supportive of activities we do, then make sure you come. If people don’t come to our activities then we can’t do them anymore. Some things like Chalk on the Walk have become really successful and you wouldn’t want to miss them, but there are other projects and events where people say, “Oh, I’ll do it next time.” The same with shopping. A lot of people say they want to shop locally, but then ended up doing to [big box stores] to buy all their Christmas presents. Making the decision to come downtown is big. We try to shift some of their energy downtown. It’s great to support it, but a lot of people kind of support it mentally and don’t actually actively participate in what’s going on. And people live and die. Store owners literally make it or break it depending on how much the community supports them.
What do you hope for the future of Biddeford and for the Heart of Biddeford?
For the future of Biddeford, I hope it becomes a downtown the people of Biddeford are proud of and supportive of. I think a lot of people discount it. I hope people find the resources to fix up some of the most amazing buildings and fill some of the vacant storefronts without selling out. I think it’s really important the businesses are local and independent. I think the locals need to realize what they have and really be proud of it. A lot of people wrote it off a long time ago.
What will you miss about being in downtown Biddeford every day?
The people. I’ll miss being a part of this community. There is such a tight-knit group of people who are really excited about what’s happening here. There’s a lot of camaraderie that goes along with that.
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