FARMINGTON – Celebrations to welcome back Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott to Franklin County are already in the works.
Both Farmington and Carrabassett Valley are planning something special for Wescott, 29, the world champion snowboarder who made history Thursday in Italy when he won the snowboardcross event, the first time it appeared as an Olympic sport.
Wescott spent the majority of his grade school years growing up in Farmington before going to the private ski and snowboard school Carrabassett Valley Academy as a senior.
The Farmington Downtown Business and Professional Association, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the town of Farmington are teaming up to put on a parade to celebrate Wescott’s success.
The town is having some banners made and also having some “Hometown of Seth Wescott, gold medalist 2006 Winter Olympics” to hang on the “Welcome to Farmington” signs, Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis said Friday.
“We really couldn’t ask for a better representative for our town,” Davis said. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing the first time, he’s really put Farmington on the map.”
Seth Wescott’s mother Margaret Gould Wescott lives in Farmington and has been an assistant professor at the University of Maine at Farmington for 25 years.
Mike Blanchet, president of the Farmington Downtown Business and Professional Association, said Friday that they’re in the process of finding out when Wescott will arrive back home. Blanchet, also a board member of Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, said he’ll be discussing it with members Tuesday at the monthly board meeting.
Carrabassett Valley Academy, Sugarloaf/USA and the town of Carrabassett Valley will be working together in northern Franklin County to honor Wescott when he returns.
Wescott is building a home in Carrabassett Valley and is co-owner of a bar on Sugarloaf.
“It’s in the works,” Carrabassett Valley Town Manager Dave Cota said Friday. “We’ll be planning some sort of Seth Wescott Day.”
He’s talked to the fire chief, some of the selectmen and plans to talk to others including representatives from Sugarloaf and Carrabassett Valley Academy to put it together as a collaborative effort.
“We’re all interested in doing something,” Cota said, “We just don’t know what it is yet. We’re elated up here. We’re very proud of Seth and his accomplishments and Seth as a person, the way he handled himself. It’s as big as the gold. He’s a real gentleman.”
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