Great Falls Recreation and Redevelopment LLC have announced the latest investors to join the team: Colonel (Ret.) James J Tracey Sr. and Elizabeth (Dalton) Tracey.

Col. Tracey, past senior officer of the Maine National Guard and past assistant superintendent of Lewiston Schools, cited his Lewiston roots and veterans as his reasons for joining. “Obviously, this is a tremendous opportunity for Lewiston that the voters have embraced by a 2-1 margin,” he said. “No other casino in Maine gives a penny to help veterans.”

According to the Maine office of fiscal and program review, the Lewiston Casino will give close to $500,000 per year to veterans’ groups (American Legion, VFW, Franco-American War Veterans, etc.) for them to forward to veteran-related charities.

“These fine Maine men and women put themselves in harm’s way to protect the freedoms we take for granted,” Col. Tracey said. “We need to take care of them, and I am proud to be part of a team that made that a priority.”

Elizabeth Tracey, a Bangor-area native, past principal of the Memorial School in New Gloucester and an occupational therapist, spoke of the help for Maine’s seniors. “For most seniors staying independent, in their homes, is their highest priority,” she said. “Maine is the oldest state in the nation. The funding for home health care and Meals on Wheels will provide extra quality of life for our most vulnerable seniors.”

“We are very excited to have the Traceys joining our team,” said Stavros Mendros, manager of the Lewiston Casino project. “They are exactly the kind of hardworking, committed and honorable family we are proud to have support this effort.”

“We are both thrilled to be part of the team that will make this happen for the people of the greater Lewiston-Auburn area,“ added Elizabeth Tracey. “But the clincher for us was the benefit to our seniors and veterans statewide. These people made this country great and kept this country free. They love to play at casinos, and it’s nice to see that at least one Maine casino will finally be giving some back.”

Mendros, former state legislator and former city councilor, is the project manager for Great Falls Recreation and Redevelopment LLC. Investors include Ron Chicoine, chief of anesthesiology at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, and Peter Robinson, a Lewiston lawyer. Other partners in Great Falls Recreation are Mendros’s mother, Florentia Mendros, anesthesiologist Tim Poutre and his wife Wendy Chicoine-Poutre of New Hampshire. She is the sister of Ron Chicoine.

Well-known local businessman Steve Roop, owner of the three Roopers beverage and convenience stores in L-A, has also joined the group as an investor.

Inquiries about the new investors may be directed to Stavros Mendros at 332-4768.