This week’s edition!
Only Steps Forward: Asylum-seeking families benefit from city, community support
By Jonathan P. LaBonte
Mayor of Auburn
Recent news reports have brought up the expenditure trends of the City of Auburn’s General Assistance program. In particular, those reports are calling attention to the mix of current citizens of Auburn to those living here and seeking asylum from their home country.
By making statements like “the budget is up 18% over this time last year,” those reports are attempting to sensationalize the issue.
Rather than feeding into the sound bites, I wanted to offer some context so, as a community, we might discuss this issue.
First and foremost, we must recognize that Auburn does have a poverty problem. While we may often be seen as the “more well to do” of the Twin Cities, the fact remains that we share the demographic challenges of Lewiston.
Enough is Enough: The hatred of personal politics blinds both sides
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
War is a terrible thing—especially if it involves someone close to you.
War is more than a 30-second clip on the nightly news or some sham Hollywood movie loosely based on an actual event with great special effects and loud, scary audio designed to fatten the pockets of Hollywood executives. To many, it’s very personal.
Tucked away and out of sight are the very real casualties of war. Men and women who are no longer whole in either body or mind. Families who will forever bear the absence of a loved one taken from them because of their deceased’s love for their country.
LAE Super Saturday offers new technologies, old favorites
In this 2016 photo, instructor Justin Dimmel shows precalculus students at Lewiston High School how virtual reality connects with math.
The mix of classes featured at Lewiston Adult Education’s Spring Super Saturday on March 18 will spotlight emerging technologies while bringing back some returning favorites.
One of the new offerings will explore the potentials of Virtual Reality. Justin Dimmel, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education and Instructional Technology at the University of Maine, and graduate student Camden Bock will explain how using goggles and remote controls can immerse viewers in a Virtual Reality environment. Children and teens may attend this class with the instructors’ permission.
Pleasant Note celebrates 11 years of Open Mic
Longtime participants toast the popular weekly Open Mic & Poetry Slam at last year’s anniversary program.
On Friday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m., The Pleasant Note Coffeehouse will celebrate the 11th anniversary of its Open Mic & Poetry Slam at the First Universalist Church of Auburn. Since 2006, this free monthly show has drawn people of all ages who share the spirituality of music and spoken word.
Guitars and singers are to be expected, yet Open Mic has welcomed belly dancers, poets, rappers, storytellers and dogs to perform over the years. Karaoke is occasional offered. Participants say they like this monthly show for the excellent sound quality and the focus on the performer.
Local artist to discuss historical tableau at Franco-American Collection
Mercedes Gastonguay’s large oil painting “A la mémoire de nos ancêtres” (“In memory of our ancestors”) is an original work honoring the Canadians who immigrated to the Lewiston-Auburn area.
The Franco-American Collection at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College will provide an opportunity to enjoy tea and a discussion with local artist Mercedes Gastonguay on Friday, March 17, from 1 to 2 p.m. The focus of the discussion will be Gastonguay’s large oil tableau “A la mémoire de nos ancêtres” (“In memory of our ancestors”), an original new work honoring the Canadians who immigrated to the Lewiston-Auburn area.
L-A Rotary plans 100th Anniversary Celebration
Planning committee members include (l. to r.) Peter Kowalski, Monica Millhime, Monique Roy, Sylvia Plourde and Chip Morrison. Not available for the photo were Jan Barrett, John Belisle and Shawn Wright. (Photo by Betsy Sibley)
The Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club, Charter 291-District 7790, will host a formal celebration of its 100th Anniversary on Saturday, April 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn of Auburn. A reception and social hour will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., a seated dinner will be served at 6:45 p.m., and entertainment will follow at 9 p.m. The entrée selections will be lobster stuffed haddock, filet mignon and stuffed chicken breast. Tickets are $50 each with an RSVP deadline of April 1. For more information or to buy tickets, contact Monica Millhime at 753-9040 or monica.millhime@maine.gov.
Governor’s Address: Bad tax policy forces Maine families to flee to other states
As your Governor, I want all Mainers to prosper. Providing opportunities for people to help themselves is the best pathway to success.
Dear Maine Taxpayer,
Unfortunately, liberals believe a bigger government, higher taxes and more spending is going to help Mainers prosper. For decades, they spent millions of taxpayer dollars on welfare programs with no accountability. They increased the tax burden on families and businesses, driving them out of state.
Now Maine has the second-highest income tax in the United States. Some folks have told me they can no longer afford to live here. In a time when we need to attract people into our state, we are driving them away with bad tax policies.
Only Steps Forward: School spirit can connect community to civic activity
By Jonathan P. LaBonte
Mayor of Auburn
Last spring, I was provided an opportunity to visit Edward Little High School for a day to visit with students as part of an effort to connect students with community. My role was to connect the civic activity of Auburn Hall with their daily life.
How to make the position of mayor and what happens in city government relevant to these students, I found, depended on the particular group in front of me and where their questions led.
As they walked in, I recall one particular group of students talking about the baseball team and how the season was going. It was the perfect lead in to speak to this group of students about the role of sports in Auburn’s economic development (as I’ve highlighted in previous reports). But it also allowed me to talk to them about how their efforts, and often their success, can play a large role in developing community, not just purely the dollars and cents of the economy.
Enough is Enough: Lewiston voters to face push for socialist policies again
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
He’s back!
Just when you thought he was gone, he has been resurrected from the dustbin of political has-beens. Yes, Ben Chin will again attempt to rally enough of Bates student voters hoping to attain his dream: changing Lewiston into a liberal clone of Massachusetts.
It was interesting to see the placement of his mayoral announcement in Lewiston Daily’s City Section, Page 1, above the fold. I can’t remember a mayoral announcement getting this type of coverage. Such fanfare is surprising for a job that is defined by city charter as nothing more than a position whose duties include cutting ribbons, running Lewiston City Council meetings and voting to break a tie.
Ratepayers would pay a premium for solar power
To the Editor:
I’d like to respond regarding the cost of solar power that Governor Paul R. LePage was speaking about in his recent address (“PUC decision confirms ratepayers pay twice,” TCT, Feb. 27, 2016). I looked into buying a solar power setup for my home during the summer of 2016. My home is already geothermal heated, and I wanted to double down on the “green life.”
According to www.flatironsolar.com, during discussions with the solar power company, it was determined that I spent about $2,000 per year in electricity (a large portion of that runs the geothermal heat pump). To replace 100 percent of the expended electrical costs, the entire system would cost me just aver $52,000. When you figure in the anticipated half-percent degradation of the panels annually, it would take just about 28 years for the panels to “break even.”
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