Three local high school seniors have been named the 2026 recipients of the Chenette Leadership Scholarship, an award recognizing students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service, civic engagement, and leadership.

This year’s scholars represent Thornton Academy, Old Orchard Beach High School, and Bonny Eagle High School. Each recipient was selected based on their proven track record of putting others first and their future aspirations to serve their communities.
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“It is an honor to support these three remarkable young leaders as they transition to the next phase of their lives,” said York County Commissioner Justin Chenette, who started the scholarship. “From mentoring younger students to advocating for policy changes at the school board, these students embody the spirit of service that can give us all hope for our future.”

It was an honor to join fellow leaders and community members at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Town Hall in Hollis. 

This 18,500-square-foot facility didn't just appear overnight. It is the culmination of many years of meticulous planning by the Select Board and countless individuals. It’s a testament to what we can achieve through collaboration across various levels of government, agencies, and committed stakeholders, fueled by strong public support. 

While this certainly reflects modernized infrastructure, this is so much more than just another shovel-ready project or new building. This shared, public space will foster a greater sense of community and connection with one another. Now more than ever, it is important to have a central hub where we can meet face-to-face, shoulder to shoulder, alongside our fellow neighbors. While this structure houses key municipal services, the new large multi-purpose room is for everyone to make their own. During the Boston Post Cane recipient ceremony, we recognized longtime local resident Rita Anderson, and the multi-purpose space will be named in her honor. 

This is a safe, accessible, and energy-efficient sanctuary that will even serve as an emergency shelter during storms, ensuring that no resident is left out in the cold. Perhaps most impressively, this public investment was completed debt-free, thanks to smart fiscal planning. 
No matter what brings you to town hall, whether you are here for a Select Board meeting, engage with a town department, meet up with a service group, or attend a community event, these are merely opportunities to share in the joy of fellowship. This new town hall is a physical representation of the very heart of Hollis; the people.

What truly defines Hollis isn't found in ordinances or property lines; it’s found in the quiet acts of kindness and compassion that happen here every single day. We are a community that looks out for one another, whether it’s checking on a neighbor during a power outage or coming together to raise funds for the parks and rec program during our community day festival. It is that selfless spirit and genuine care for one another that make Hollis such a wonderful place to call home, and this new Town Hall building now stands as a dedicated beacon to keep that culture of neighbor-lee-ness alive for generations to come.

When people drive by, they won't just see a municipal office; they will be filled with an overall sense of pride in a town that invests in its future and its people. This new town hall building represents a multi-generational investment in our community that will pay dividends through public participation and engagement.

​Congratulations to the Town of Hollis for a job well done!

​Participated as a panelist at the 7th Annual Saco Bay Coastal Erosion Symposium at Saco City Hall. Really appreciate SOS: "Save Our Shores" Saco Bay for organizing and the City of Saco for hosting. Every level of government was represented for discussions on how best to move forward collectively to protect our coastline and ensure long-term resiliency for Saco Bay.

York County has entered a new era of proactive, transparent, and compassionate regional governance. The County Commission has redefined its role by prioritizing the safety, health, and dignity of every resident—proving county government is not only relevant, but essential.
 
The Commission has just opened the region’s First Responders Training Center so local police and fire departments can train with state-of-the-art facilities here in York County. We have also modernized operations: every deputy now wears a body camera, and every patrol cruiser carries a lifesaving defibrillator—critical investments in accountability and public safety.
 
When a regional food pantry faced closure, we stepped in within a month to take over operations, protecting access to food for more than 3,000 vulnerable neighbors. No one in York County should go hungry. We are applying the same urgency to the housing crisis by working with the York County Homeless Response Hub on housing placement, eviction diversion to keep families housed, and a Housing First partnership prioritizing permanent, managed housing for chronically unhoused residents without restrictive preconditions.
 
Later this year, we will open a dedicated Substance Use Recovery Center to support a path toward stability for those struggling with addiction. Our regional dredge and dune replenishment efforts are protecting our coastline from future storm damage and erosion.
 
We are also strengthening accountability through unprecedented transparency—launching a modern county website and publishing comprehensive annual reports so residents can easily access initiatives, data, and contacts.
 
York County is no longer the “lost level of government”—we are leading with urgency, innovation, and heart.

​York County Commissioner Justin Chenette has announced he will seek a second four-year term in the 2026 election for District 3, which includes the communities of Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Hollis, and Buxton.
 
Chenette is the first millennial and first openly LGBTQ+ individual ever elected to the commission and was selected by his fellow commissioners to serve a term as vice chair.
 
“Since taking office, county government has become more relevant, visible, impactful, and accountable to the public,” says Chenette. “County government is no longer the lost level of government it had been. I’m proud of the leadership we’ve been able to provide on issues around food insecurity, coastal erosion, public safety, substance use recovery, and transparency.”
 
Chenette cites efforts to save the York County Food Pantry, operationalize a county-run dredge program, construct the first responders training center, fund body cameras for deputies, outfit patrol cruisers with lifesaving defibrillators, create a new county website, and pass the first-ever pride proclamations as key accomplishments.
 
In the past year, Chenette has been recognized for his public leadership, being awarded Maine County Commissioner of the Month by the Spirit of America Foundation, the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Maine at Augusta, and the 40 Under 40 award by Mainebiz. 
 
The Primary Election is set for June 9th and the General Election is set for November 3rd.