Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library Board of Trustees

 President: Savannah Sessions (2025)
Prior to becoming a Data Architect, Savannah was a school librarian and educator for more than a decade. She has a passion for YA and graphic novels, information access and literacy, and library advocacy. Savannah works tirelessly to promote the notion that libraries are so much more than buildings full of books - they are community hubs. Though she is new-ish to Lovell, she's no stranger to western Maine having grown up in Norway. Outside of her professional life, Savannah has a great interest in historic preservation/conservation (especially of historic windows and gilded objects!), good food, and mountain biking. Savannah, her partner Sabastian, and their beloved pit bull Lexi Mabel live in Lovell Village.

Vice-President: Christine Rothman (2027)
Christine Rothman recently joined the library board in January 2021.  A part-time Lovell resident for over 25 yrs. Christine, her husband Don, and their three children spent summers and winters enjoying Heald Pond, Kezar Lake, Shawnee Peak and Sunday River, and hiking all over the region.  “As a family, we spent many hours utilizing the library services and social and educational programs and we were able to meet so many summer and full-time residents that have made our time in Lovell special.” 

Treasurer: Gilson Riecken (2027)
Gilson’s connection to Lovell dates to 1968, when his parents bought a lot on Lake Kezar Lake, where they built a house in 1975. His mother had her ceramics studio there, and she sold her pottery at the Arts and Artisans Fair for decades. She also participated in the Library’s Writers’ Group. The house became Gilson’s in 2012, and is used by him and his extended family – sisters Anne in Tamworth, NH and Susan in Washington, DC, along Susan’s daughters. All of them have used the Library and watched it grow from the original building through multiple additions. In his professional life, Gilson practiced both architecture and construction law; in retirement he volunteers as a mediator in court-ordered mediations.

Secretary: Joe Ferigno (2027)
Joe retired in 2015, after more than thirty years as a special education teacher in MSAD 72 and prior to that as a special education teacher at the residential school of Sweetser Children’s Home in Saco. Joe and his husband, Eric, have lived in Fryeburg Harbor for nearly 39 years, where they own Fryeburg Harbor Antiques and Fine Arts, selling both Joe's paintings as well as Eric’s ceramic arts. Joe came to Maine as a long-time summer resident of Harrison, spending summers in the family cottage on Long Lake since the early 60’s.

Kurt Schreiber (2025)
Kurt joins the board from Chatham, New Hampshire. He recently retired from a 38 year career overseas in the insurance and risk management industry. Kurt grew up in Connecticut and is an avid hiker, gardener and beekeeper. He lives with three happy English labs and a rescue cat.

Mary Atkinson (2026)
Mary is a retired teacher and educational consultant who has also published poetry and novels for children. She lives with her husband Steve Lewis on the “frog” of Horseshoe Pond. Steve and she go back and forth between Stoneham and Portland where their daughter and her family live and occasionally to California to visit their son. Besides reading and writing, Mary enjoys painting, knitting, gardening, cooking, hiking and now Mah Jong at the Charlotte Hobbs Library!

Amanda Albert (2026)
Amanda is from central Maine. Her family recently moved to Lovell after spending a few years exploring the beautiful mountains of western NC. Amanda brings with her a background in teaching, much volunteering and fundraising experience, and a deep appreciation for community, nature, and her family. Parents of three children, Amanda and her husband Ken consider it a luxury to soon be living within walking distance to the library. When she is not chasing sunsets, Amanda enjoys learning new things, fitness, and being in nature. 

Peter Ellison (2027)
Peter Ellison retired from his position as Professor of Human Biology and Anthropology at Harvard just before the pandemic, and he and his wife, Pippi, began living full time in Lovell shortly after that. They have owned their home here since 1987, however, and have been spending time year-round for all the intervening years. They have been lovers and supporters of the library during all that time, combing the old children’s room with their two sons and the adult stacks for summer and vacation reading. Like everyone, they are delighted with the new library and its increasing role as a center for social exchange of all sorts. As a former academic Peter brings his love of learning and discussion to the library board, as well as his administrative experience as a former dean.

Lizzy Echard (2027)
Lizzy is new to Maine having moved to the area in September of 2023 from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She works in Lovell for the Greater Lovell Land Trust as their Education & Community Engagement Coordinator. With this role, she works closely with the library to bring events to the community. Prior to moving to Maine, she worked for various environmental and agricultural education non-profit organizations and for the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks. She also spent several years on the Board of Directors for the Adams County, PA chapter of 4-H. Lizzy is excited to bring over a decade of experience working with nonprofits and fundraising to the board. 

Deirdre Harwood (2027)
Deirdre works remotely for a pharmaceutical company with offices in MA. Along with her husband Niall and two sons, they have been full time residents in Lovell since 2020 and part time residents since 2009, when her husband built their home. 
Deirdre is interested to help engage teens in all the library has to offer within our community. In her spare time Deirdre loves exploring GLLT trails and outdoor activities. 

Lela Smith (2027)
Lela is retired after being President of an analytical testing lab in Cambridge, MA as well as a QC Technician for RCA/GE developing and testing military electronics equipment for major military contracts. Lela is the Ham radio “safety” document editor for the Boston Marathon as well as the Information Manager of the Safety Committee for the B.A.A. Lela is a volunteer for the Lovell Area Food Pantry. Lela moved to Lovell at the height of the Covid pandemic in 2019 with her husband Lyman and two cats. Lela is the parent of two high functioning special needs adults. Lela is a beekeeper, gardener, genealogical researcher, ham radio operator, singer, cook and nature lover.