KENNEBUNK, Maine — York County Coast Star editor Laura Dolce announced Thursday she would be leaving the paper to become the new executive director of the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce.
Dolce said it was bittersweet to be saying goodbye to the weekly publication after eight years but said she was looking forward to this next chapter. Dolce in recent months also has served as editor of the Star’s sister newspaper, The York Weekly.
“In many ways, my career as a storyteller will continue,” she said. “For several years, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to tell the stories of the people of the Kennebunks at the Star. In my new role, I will be sharing the story of this wonderful community we call home with the rest of the world.”
Replacing Dolce at the Star’s helm will be Jennifer Feals, former Star reporter and current editor of the Exeter News-Letter in New Hampshire.
“In many ways, this will be a homecoming for Jenn,” Dolce said. “She knows and loves this area and its people and has always been respected by the community. I couldn’t think of a better person to trust with the care of the Star and its readers.”
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Feals has worked for Seacoast Media Group — the parent organization for the Star, News-Letter and York Weekly, among other publications — for eight years in various capacities. She has won numerous writing awards in state and throughout New England.
Most recently, she was named weekly News Writer of the Year by Gatehouse Media.
“I was proud to serve as the Coast Star’s reporter for four years and am now honored to take over as editor of the Star,” Feals said. “The Star is a true community newspaper, dedicated to its community and the readers it serves. I look forward to continuing that service, helping to share the important stories and news in our community.”
Feals will be rejoining the Star staff on Jan. 13, and Dolce will leave on Jan. 16, beginning at the chamber on Jan. 20.
Dolce said she planned to continue writing her weekly La Dolce Vita column in the Star.
“I’m so lucky in that many readers have told me over the years that my column has touched them,” she said. “While my poor family might’ve been hoping to have private lives just once in my career, that simply isn’t going to happen.”
Dolce will take over the post held by Executive Director Denise Clavette, who recently announced she would be leaving the chamber after more than a year at its helm. Clavette recently was named Yarmouth’s first economic development director.
“I, as well as the entire board, am excited to have Laura take over the helm of the chamber,” David “Duffy” Cluff, president of the chamber’s board of directors, said. “Laura, who has been a longtime resident of our community and a board member for the past four years, will make this transition seamless. We look forward to Laura picking up where Denise left off without the organization skipping a beat. I cannot think of a better person to take the chamber onward and upward in the coming years.”
Dolce said the chamber’s community-minded values attracted her to the post.
“This is an organization that does everything from put together the annual trick-or-treating event in Dock Square, Lower Village and downtown Kennebunk to raise money for scholarships to support local businesses — the backbone of our communities — with educational offerings,” she said. “I look forward to building on the good work Denise has started and, together with our dedicated board, taking the chamber to a whole new level in 2015.”