BIDDEFORD — Denise A. LaGasse joins Furman Gregory Deptula’ LLC, with extensive experience in software engineering, business, law and academic research.

LaGasse also works with promising early-stage as well as more mature technology companies to create a path to commercial success. She has worked closely with venture capital groups and private investors, making funding decisions for very early-stage technologies of various kinds.

In the past 10 years, she has closed medical device and biologic deals totaling over $800 million. As director of digital medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, she set the strategy for high performance exoscale data analytics research collaboration between Mount Sinai and IBM’s Watson Healthcare Group.

Previously, she worked for Hewlett Packard in a variety of managerial, technical, business development, and legal positions related to product development of world-class technologies, from early-stage to first customer shipment and support. LaGasse has also been in private practice.

LaGasse received her J.D. from the University of New Hampshire and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Day of Service to help seniors in York County

YORK COUNTY — Getting a home ready for winter can be a challenge for anyone. Taking out window-unit air conditioners and putting up storm windows, removing screens and drain gutters, clearing leaves from the yard, gathering and putting away garden tools and equipment – these and other jobs can be hard to tackle for any family. They can be especially difficult for seniors.

But there is help available for older and disabled residents of York County.

On Oct. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon, York County Community Action Corp.’s Thriving in Place program is hosting a Day of Service to help seniors get ready for winter.

Volunteers from across the county will meet at the YCCAC office complex in Sanford, and from there be dispatched to residences needing assistance with pre-winter jobs.

The towns being served are Sanford, Springvale, Acton, Alfred, Lebanon, North Berwick, Shapleigh and Waterboro.

Residents of any of these communities who are age 60 or over are eligible for assistance.

To sign up to volunteer, call Robin Hewitt Bibber, Thriving in Place coordinator, at 459-2989 or email her at robin.bibber@nassonhealthcare.org.

The Day of Service is the kick-off for a larger, ongoing volunteer network in southwestern York County to be coordinated by the Thriving in Place program.

Thriving in Place serves the towns of Sanford, Springvale, Acton, Alfred, Lebanon, North Berwick, Shapleigh and Waterboro.

Auditions for ‘A Christmas Carol’ begin Sunday

SANFORD — Sanford Maine Stage Theatre Company will hold auditions for “A Christmas Carol,” adapted and directed by Kelli Connors from the Charles Dickens original.

Those auditioning are asked to bring a song in the correct key that shows their vocal ability. They’re asked to choose musical theater songs, praise songs or Christmas carols, but not pop or rock.

As well, those auditioning are asked to prepare one verse and one chorus from a song that shows their vocal range and ability to sell it to an audience. Cold readings will be from the script if asked.

Auditions and rehearsals will be held at Nasson Little Theater, 457 Main St., Springvale. Auditions are 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday (carolers only at 6:30-8:30 p.m.).

Show dates are 7 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and 9-10; 2 p.m. Dec. 4 and 11; and a special school show at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 8. For more information, email mts@gwi.net, check Sanford Maine Stage Facebook page or call 324- 8227 (message machine).

Simon Youth names funding recipients

YORK COUNTY — Two York County college students are the recipients of funding from Simon Malls and the Kittery Premium Outlets.

Madeleine LaBrecque of Biddeford and Nora Burns of Cape Neddick received funding from the Simon Youth Foundation as they began their first semesters.

The SYF is a national nonprofit organization that helps at-risk students graduate high school, and helps fund their college careers.

The two college freshmen are among 26 New England high school seniors who were awarded more than $80,000 in total funding from the SYF. LaBrecque is attending Boston College, and Burns is at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland.