This week’s edition!
Archive for September 2012
Enough is Enough: Extremist liberals widen the divide with Somalis
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
I don’t know about you, but the occasional news stories about the poor treatment of Lewiston’s Somali population are becoming annoying.
I’m sick of hearing the Somalis don’t feel welcome here. I’m sick of hearing Lewistonians must understand their culture and make exceptions towards them if their actions clash with American customs and laws. I’m sick of hearing about their lack of employment. I’m sick of hearing about phantom victimization.
But what frosts me the most is these complaints are coming almost exclusively from boo-hoo white do-gooders and their carpetbagger friends.
Since becoming mayor, I have met with groups of Somalis on several occasions. I have found the overwhelming majority to be kind and very hospitable. The majority express their appreciation for having been afforded the chance to live in a place that is safe and offers unlimited opportunities in which to better themselves.
LETTER: Why Maine needs welfare reform
To the Editor:
Mainers are tired of out-of-control welfare spending. The most recent data (2010-National Association of State Legislators) shows Maine’s welfare budget to be 30% of the total expenditures made each year. That ranks us second in the nation among the 50 states and District of Columbia.
We rank third in TANF-enrolled households, second in households receiving food stamps and third in Medicaid eligibility. It became clear that changes must occur and the eligibility must be curbed back closer to federal standards—not where it currently fell.
With that in mind, the Republican majority in Augusta spent considerable time reviewing all aspects of welfare spending and made changes that the majority will appreciate, despite the loud complaints from a few in the minority. Perhaps it’s time to understand why these changes were made and how Maine compares to the rest of the country with regard to usage and eligibility.
TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) is a federally mandated program that requires participants to participate in jobs or training and allows them five years of benefits to do so. Participants are assigned a case worker (in addition to their DHHS primary caseworker) and must sign a commitment letter to meet certain goals during the program.
Tickets are just $15 for a “Night at the Tony Awards”
General seating tickets for only $15 are now on sale for Community Little Theatre’s “A Night at the Tony Awards–A CLT Reunion” on Saturday, September 8 at 7 p.m. Premium Seating tickets are also still available for the evening which includes a concert featuring some of the theatre’s favorite performers, a silent and live auction, appetizers and a cash bar.
The doors will open at 5:30 p.m.; the concert begins at 7 p.m. at Great Falls Arts Center at 30 Academy Street, Auburn.
The night of music and fun, with old and new faces is one that cannot be missed. Guests will be able to top off the evening with musical performances of Broadway hits from Tony Award-winning and nominated shows. The entire evening will hosted by Chip Morrison, president of the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce and a long-time performer at CLT.
