This year marks one hundred years of Acadia, Maine’s only national park. Born ‘officially’ on July 8, 1916, Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island has brought joy to generations of people the world over. Today we speak with David MacDonald, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia, Cookie Horner, co-chair of the Acadia Centennial Task Force, and her husband, Bill Horner, president of the MDI Historical Society.
Guests
David MacDonald
David MacDonald currently serves as President and CEO of Friends of Acadia, not-for-profit organization with more than 4,500 members and a 30-year history as a philanthropic and community partner of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. David joined Friends of Acadia in 2012 after a twenty-year career in land conservation at Maine Coast Heritage Trust. A long-time resident of Somesville and 1982 graduate of Mount Desert Island High School, David has been exploring the trails, woods, and waters of Acadia for most of his life. He volunteers with many local organizations, including the Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve, the Pleasant River Wildlife Foundation, the Schoodic Institute, and the Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary. David loves spending as much time as possible on boats, bikes, skis, and skates (and very occasionally a skateboard or snowboard), enjoying the outdoors and the great State of Maine with his wife, Caroline, daughter Eliza, and son Jesse.
Nina “Cookie” Horner
Cookie Horner moved to Mount Desert Island in 1975. She is co-chair of the Acadia Centennial Task Force, and she is also on the Acadia National Park’s volunteer trail crew.
Cookie Horner moved to Maine from Philadelphia in 1972 and to the MDI area in 1975. She worked at the MDI Hospital in Labor and Delivery from about 1975 until 1991 and then she was the school nurse at MDI High School for 17 years. Since retiring, she volunteers for Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County and has served on the board of Friends of Acadia for the past six years. She also works on the volunteer trail crew in the park except for the past year when centennial duties have kept her too busy.