This week’s edition!
Archive for November 2016
Only Steps Forward: Thankful for our public servants, local businesses, volunteers
By Jonathan P. LaBonté
Mayor of Auburn
The week of Thanksgiving tends to quickly turn most people’s attention to the Christmas season and the blitz of advertisements, gift wish lists and for many the stress of trying to keep up the Joneses. And in Lewiston-Auburn, where the decades of economic stagnation we are battling to turn around has left more families struggling in poverty than generations ago, the holiday season brings all sorts of added pressure.
Rather than let that consumerism get too much control over our thoughts this week, I’d ask you to join me in thinking about what you are thankful for in your life, and in this community, and perhaps put on your “to do” list lending a hand to those in need.
Enough is Enough: Put politics away; Project Healing Waters helps vets
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
Today is Thanksgiving Day. A time for family gatherings. A time to reflect and be thankful for the grace and blessings we have received from the Lord.
We should observe the day in a jubilant, positive manner in order to prepare ourselves for the season of peace, Christmas, which will shortly follow.
This week is time to lock crazy Grandpa and his political rantings deep in a soundproof cellar. The elections are finally over. Television has returned to commercials ranging from the cars we drive to the clothes we wear to the medications that will prevent us from soiling our cars and clothing.
Twin Cities Holiday Celebration set for Nov. 26
At last year’s event, Ben Grenier accepts the window decorating contest trophy on behalf of Rainbow Bikes.
Get ready for a fun filled community event that is free and open to the public! Join the cities of Lewiston and Auburn for their Twin Cities Holiday Celebration! The planning committee has come together with local artists of the Union of Maine Visual Artists-LA Chapter to bring you this special two-part event on Saturday, November 26, including the Festival of Art and Lights from noon to 4 p.m. and the Parade of Lights at 6 p.m.
Rainbow FCU raises $21,500 for hunger relief
Rainbow FCU President-CEO Mark Samson (far r.), Rainbow FCU CFO Kevin Joler (r. front), and ME Credit Union League VP of Governmental Affairs Jon Paradise (r. rear) present donation checks to representatives of local hunger relief agencies.
Rainbow Federal Credit Union of Lewiston helped raise funds for the Maine Credit Union League’s 2016 Campaign for Ending Hunger, recently distributing checks totaling $21,500 to local hunger relief organizations. The funds were distributed on November 15, when leaders of those organizations were invited to the Credit Union to receive donations. Checks ranging in size from $1,500 to $3,500 were given to twelve local agencies, including Rural Community Action Ministry, Trinity Jubilee Center, St. Martin de Porres, St. Mary’s Food Pantry, Poland Community Church Food Bank, Oxford Helping Hands Food Pantry, Hope Haven, New Beginnings, The Root Cellar, Mannafed, Seniors Plus, and Good Shepard Food Bank.
St. Dominic Academy teacher awarded $10,000 grant
Peter Servidio
Saint Dominic Academy has announced that fifth-grade teacher and distance learning coordinator Peter Servidio has received a $10,000 grant from the Foundation of Blended and Online Learning. The award is a result of Servidio’s work on a blended learning partnership between the academy and Holy Savior School in Rumford. Blended learning combines proven teaching methods with the delivery of content via digital and online media. The pace and application of the material is adjusted on a student-by-student basis. Servidio leads the academy’s curriculum oversight for the partnership.
“Just Us” Family Christmas Show at Franco Center
“Just Us” are an eclectic group of family members and friends who have been performing great music together for generations.
The “Just Us” entertainers will present their 16th annual “Just Us” Family Christmas Show on Sunday, December 4, at 2 p.m. at the Gendron Franco Center. Led by Nel Meservier, formerly of the “C’est Si Bon” band, the group will perform non-traditional Christmas songs, along with old favorites.
Governor’s Address: What’s Next for the Referendum Questions
We have a lot of work to do in the upcoming Legislative session. If we are going to make progress, there must be a willingness to work together.
Dear Maine Taxpayer,
One of the first tasks the Legislature must deal with involves the citizen’s referendums. Citizen initiatives certainly have a place in a democracy, but I strongly believe the process needs better checks and balances.
Several of the ballot questions put out to voters have serious, unintended consequences for the people of Maine. Some questions are clearly unconstitutional, one will chase successful people out of Maine and another will drive the elderly deeper into poverty.
Legalizing marijuana goes against federal law, and the question was so poorly drafted it will require millions of dollars and several legislative fixes before it can be implemented.
Enough is Enough: Therapy dogs, coloring books and the emperor’s new clothes
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
When Castro seized Cuba, transforming a prosperous island nation into a poverty-stricken, communist anti-paradise, Alabama’s Democratic Governor George Wallace would remind the press that while the U.S. government failed to realize Castro was a communist, “every cab driver in Alabama knew.”
Well, the nation’s hard-working, middle class that politicians, the press and the self-proclaimed nobility of Hollywood randomly dismissed as a “basket of deplorables” rose up in record numbers and redirected our country onto a road of old-fashioned normalcy.
The “peace-loving” Left has been exposed. Like the story of the emperor’s new clothes, they now stand naked before us. Evidently, love and peace only applies when the population is in lockstep with their leftist beliefs. When President Obama was elected twice, people on the Right accepted the results. There were no protests or rioting. No damage amounting to millions of dollars was inflicted on small businesses, whose only fault was their owners’ trying to make a living for their families.
Only Steps Forward: Mixed messages about how L-A can work together
By Jonathan P. LaBonté
Mayor of Auburn
With the discussion of the merger of the cities of Auburn and Lewiston likely to be a major—and heated—topic in early 2017, as well as the recent news of the resignation of the president of the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, messages continue to be mixed about how much the cities do and should work together.
Unfortunately, you only tend to read about the interactions of the two cities when there is disagreement. Or, in the case of the merger, there are some strong opinions on both the side of merging and opposing the merger.
With that said, it seems prudent to share some ways the two cities, partners, are working together to advance economic opportunity and improved quality of life here in Maine’s largest Twin Cities.
Legion Post 135 issues Blue Star Service Banners
Receiving Blue Star Service Banners in honor of serving family members were (l. to r. from front) Glen and Mary Ellen Allen of Sabattus, Julie Hobson of Monmouth, Dottie Bernier of Sabattus, Tonya Ross of Sabattus, Kaitlyn Ouellette of Sabattus, Jane Hinkley of Wales, Joshua and Jeff Bernier of Sabattus, Dan Pruitt of Sabattus, Don Caron of Sabattus, Elizabeth Ouellette of Harpswell, Addy Ouellette of Sabattus, and Carl Hinkley of Wales.
A Blue Star Banner Ceremony was held recently at the American Legion Harry J. Conway Post 135 in Sabattus. The Blue Star Banner is presented to families with members serving in the United States Military. Nine families from the local area received banners, along with American Legion Certificates of Recognition, in honor of their serving family member.
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