Archive for July 2012
“Source to the Sea Trek” now underway
Hundreds of paddlers will take in the scenery, wildlife, history and downtowns along the Androscoggin River during the 17th Annual Source to the Sea Trek, which is being staged as 18 separate day-trips through August 4. Paddlers may join the Trek for one day or many.
The Trek, organized by the Androscoggin River Watershed Council, began with a sunset paddle near Lake Umbagog, the source of the Androscoggin River, will meander through northern New Hampshire and Western Maine, and will end in Brunswick, where the river enters Merrymeeting Bay.
The local legs of this year’s Trek will take place on Friday, July 27 (Twin Bridges to Center Bridge in Turner), Saturday, July 28 (through Gulf Island Pond) and Sunday, July 29 (a round-trip paddle along downtown Lewiston-Auburn).
Canoe and kayak business comes to riverfront
As the Androscoggin River continues to gain momentum as a recreational destination in the heart of the Twin Cities, city officials from Auburn and Lewiston have welcomed Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground’s newest venture, Lewiston-Auburn Canoe and Kayak Rentals you can also rent a soft top stand up paddle board, to Downtown Auburn on a temporary, trial basis.
Representing the cutting edge of recreation on the Androscoggin River, Lewiston-Auburn Canoe and Kayak Rentals will, over the next few weeks and possibly months, rent canoes and kayaks for use by the public from its trial location behind Festival Plaza. The service will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Canoes will rent for $20 per hour and kayaks for $15.
Vote July 10 on LMS renovation
Lewiston voters will decide July 10 if they want to spend $9.1 million to renovate and expand Lewiston Middle School at 75 Central Ave.
Lewiston property taxpayers would foot the bill for the School Construction Bond to renovate the school. The bond would add about $25 a year on a Lewiston home valued at $100,000. That cost could go down if Lewiston received more money from the state for education.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. All voting will take place at the Multi-Purpose Community Center, 145 Birch Street (Longely School building). Parking is available in the Colisée lot.
Collins: Healthcare law isn’t the answer
By Senator Susan Collins
(R-Maine)
By a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to uphold much of the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.” I voted against this law, and I continue to believe that President Obama and Congressional Democrats overreached their authority when they enacted this partisan law.
I am concerned that the law ultimately will hurt our senior citizens and health care providers, increase health care costs, impose billions of dollars in new taxes and penalties and greatly expand the role of the federal government. This law will lead to fewer choices and higher insurance costs for many middle-income Americans and most small businesses—the opposite of what real health care reform should do.
The truth is that Congress failed to follow the Hippocratic Oath: “First do no harm.” The Court has decided that the law is constitutional, but that ruling does not make it good policy or affordable.
Enough is Enough: “We hold these truths to be self-evident”
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
This week we celebrate the birth of our great country. A country blessed and guided by Divine Providence, who provides our people, people bearing the designation of American, unbridled freedom to pursue one’s dreams.
Unlike many countries, status and rank does not guarantee success. Instead Providence experimented and created a nation where a dream, hard work and desire enabled her citizens the ability to ascend the social ladder from dire poverty, upward to success and the heights of distinction, importance, fame and wealth.
Providence further blessed our land with boundless beauty from sea to shining sea. Beautiful coastlines where waves crashing ashore symbolize not only our strength, but a calming way of life. Golden prairies that appear limitless as they extend to the horizon, symbolizing the unlimited opportunities offered by our land.
LETTER: Craven disputes Republican reforms
To the Editor:
After reading Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello’s recent editorial in the Twin City TIMES, I feel compelled to respond to its claims and assertions. (“Legislature Adjourns after Enacting Historic Reforms,” page 3, June 21, 2012)
Her logic is often misleading, if not outright wrong. The three areas I’d specifically like to address are taxes, social services and healthcare. On each front, the senator has painted an inaccurate and often unfair picture.
Senator Snowe-Mello implicitly claims that lowering taxes for the bottom 70,000 income earners will restore future prosperity. That can’t possibly be true. Why? The 136,000 lowest-income households will realize an average income tax savings of $1. Under no conditions will having an extra dollar in your pocket yield better results for the economy.
Maine Association of Planners (MAP) convenes in L-A
The Maine Association of Planners (MAP) held their annual conference at the Bates Mill Atrium in Lewiston on Friday, June 22.
With over 65 members from across the state in attendance, panel and group discussions focused on the theme of “Collaborating to Create Vibrant, Healthy Communities.” Keynote speakers included Ed Cervone from the Maine Development Foundation, Joanne Joy from Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, Christian MilNeil from the Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation, and Jonathan LaBonte, Auburn City Mayor and Executive Director of the Androscoggin Land Trust.
The conference covered a wide variety of topics, including economic development and redevelopment plans for the Twin Cities. Lewiston City Planner David Hediger made a presentation on Lewiston’s Riverfront Island Master Plan and led a downtown walking tour with Roland Miller, Auburn’s Economic and Community Development Director. The tour highlighted aspects of the Riverfront Island Master Plan and recent downtown and riverfront improvements in both Lewiston and Auburn.