The plan calls for spurring economic development through installations of public art in each city.

The Maine Arts Commission has awarded the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and L-A Arts a MAC Creative Communities = Economic Development (CCED) Phase 2 Grant of $75,000 for the implementation of Cultural Plan LA. Proceeds will be used to improve the image of Lewiston-Auburn and spur economic development through public art installations in each city.

The Chamber of Commerce serves as the lead organization for the grant; Cultural Plan LA will be implemented by L/A Arts, with support from the Chamber of Commerce, Arts and Culture LA (ACLA), and the municipalities of Lewiston and Auburn.

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A design created by Rumford artist and teacher Brent Bachelder was selected as the winning logo for the 2019 Moxie Festival. The artwork consists of four iconic images, all of them with a bottle of Moxie. DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, Vincent Van Gogh, and a Picasso-esque figure are shown enjoying the distinctively different beverage while the figure from Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” wails because his Moxie bottle is empty.

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Rev. Father Jon C. Emanuelson begins his pastoral leadership of the church on March 1.

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston and the Parish Council and members have announced the arrival of a new parish priest (Proistamenos) to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lewiston. Rev. Father Jon C. Emanuelson will begin his pastoral leadership of the church on March 1.

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The City of Auburn and Court St. Baptist Church are both 150 years old this year. (Photo by David Gilpatric)

Court Street Baptist Church and the City of Auburn share a milestone anniversary in 2019: both the city’s incorporation and the church’s construction took place 150 years ago this year. The church recently celebrated both milestones with a special open house, which also served as one of numerous “cake sites” across the city where the public was invited to come in for a piece of 150^thbirthday cake. Visitors at the open house learned about the history of the church by taking a tour, which included the sanctuary, with its stained-glass windows, murals, and organ, and the classrooms of the newer education wing.

From lowering the cost of health care and health insurance to addressing our workforce shortage, there are many challenges facing our state – but with these challenges also comes the opportunity to chart a new and better course.

In the last several weeks, I have nominated 15 people for cabinet positions, and those 15 people have now been confirmed by the committees and by the State Senate. I presented those cabinet nominees only after a long search and review of nearly 1,000 resumes by a strongly bipartisan committee put together by my team back in November. I am very pleased with the results.

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The Kelly-Laurence Quintet will play dance music from the Great American Songbook and Big Easy jazz.

Genuine Cajun cooking and the Kelly-Laurence Quintet will be the featured attractions when the Gendron Franco Center presents its latest must-experience dinner-dance event, a Mardi Gras party on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m.

In the great tradition of those legendary New Orleans celebrations, Franco Center party-goers will be treated to a great night of dancing to the sounds of the Great American Songbook and Big Easy jazz, accompanied by free-flowing spirits and authentic Cajun cuisine. The menu will include Jambalaya with chicken and shrimp, Andouille sausage with peppers and onions, Cajun-roasted sweet potatoes, and King Cake for dessert.

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Colleen McCauley

Maine Event Comedy will present Boston’s Colleen McCauley at Bear Bones Beer on Thursday, February 21 at 7 p.m. She’ll be joined by Danny Jordan, Julie Poulin, and special guest Chris Fritz. An open-mic will follow the show.

Mouthy and brash, McCauley is a smart-ass voice in Boston comedy and not much different from her role as “Cathy” in the classic film “Good Will Hunting.” She’s played Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun and the Regent Theater in Arlington, Mass. And worked with top New England headliners Juston McKinney, Lenny Clarke, and Steve Sweeney.

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Here at a recent rehearsal are cast members (l. to r., from front) Cody Watson and Ricky, Kay Warren (who plays Gary Coleman), Ashleigh St. Pierre and Lucy, Becca Tinkham and Bear #1, Madison Rozells and Bear #2, Jordan Payne Hay and Kate Monster, Michael Litchfield and Rod, Dan Kane and Trekkie Monster, Michael Pullen and Princeton, and Christopher Hodgkin (who plays Brian). Absent from the photo are Myra Diehl (Christmas Eve) and Maxwell Draper (Ensemble).

Director Paul G. Caron has announced the cast for the upcoming CLT production of the hit musical comedy “Avenue Q.” This puppet-filled comedy, with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and book by Jeff Whitty,is an “autobiographical and biographical” coming-of-age parable addressing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book, Avenue Q is “part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart.”

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A Lewiston Adult Education graduate and children head to the gym for commencement ceremonies in June 2018.

Lewiston Adult Education and Auburn Adult & Community Education are offering free programs for adults seeking to get their high school credential. Both programs give the High School Equivalency test, the HiSET, which has replaced the GED as Maine’s high school equivalency exam. It consists of five subtests on a computer: Language Arts Reading, Language Arts Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Those who are at least 17 years old and not enrolled in school may take the HiSET.

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Earlier this week, I spoke to the Maine state Legislature to deliver my first biennial budget proposal. It was a powerful moment in the presence of the three branches of government as our administration took the first step in planning for a new and better future for our state.

We did this without raising taxes, while preserving the Rainy Day fund for state government, and preserving the sources of revenues that Mainers have come to expect for education and health care.

The budget I presented is about Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education. It is about HOPE.

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