Lisa Trigilio came home this week  to take over the Bent County Economic Development Foundation as executive director.
    She is the youngest daughter of the late James Penn, who owned the Penn Rexall Pharmacy in Las Animas years ago.
    "I attended K through sixth grade in Las Animas," Lisa told the Democrat Monday, her first day at work.
    "I was born in Eads but I always felt Las Animas was home for me," Lisa said, recalling how she used to walk the river and ride horses when she lived here.
    "The old home we lived in was n Fifth and Maple Avenue. I would drive by and see it."
    After leaving Las Animas, she graduated from high school in Eads, where her mother Lillian and two sisters still live.
    Since then she has been "all over," including more than 20 years in California where she worked with risk management and professional liability issues.
    She returned  to Colorado in late 2006 to become executive director of economic development in Eads.
    While at Eads she helped sell some of the lots that are part of an 800-acre area that is designated for residential, light commercial and natural wildlife area.
    Lisa expects to close on a home she is buying in Bent County later this month. She has many relatives in the nearby area. While her youngest daughter is a junior at University of California, Berkeley, a son lives in Colorado Springs and a daughter is in Lamar. In addition  In addition to her close relatives in Eads, she has another sister in La Junta.
    BCDF director Rick Stwalley told the Democrat last week that Lisa has excellent experience to bring to the foundation and the board expects she will do an excellent job.
    Because she is just now settling into her new responsibilities, Lisa is not exactly certain what her mission will be, other than putting more emphasis on housing.
    "I will follow the direction of the board."