MEXICO – Newly hired general manager of Black Mountain of Maine, Terrie Bennett, brought a message of expanded facilities and programs now offered at the mountain to selectmen Wednesday night.

With the purchase of the ski resort last year by the nonprofit Maine Winter Sports Center has come a major renovation project along with an outreach program aimed to encourage a healthy lifestyle and re-establish skiing as a lifestyle in the River Valley area, she said.

Bennett is visiting many of the River Valley towns to bring the message of the new programs, and to ask for funds to help buy junior ski passes for youngsters who cannot afford them. The program, known as the “Need to Ski Pass,” requires youngsters, ages 6 to 16, to write an essay on how they can make a difference in the community and how a Black Mountain ski pass will affect them.

Also new this year is a program aimed at businesses that want to reward employees with low-priced tickets that allow use of the skiing and tubing facilities at the mountain.

Along with a variety of ski lessons, Bennett said a communitywide New Year’s celebration is being offered at the mountain this year.

“There are many new and exciting things at the mountain,” she said.