This week’s edition!
News
Center for Wisdom’s Women launches campaign to fund Sophia’s House
Members of the Sophia’s House Cabinet, Honorary Council, Advisory Board, and The Center for Women’s Wisdom Board of Directors gathered to launch the campaign. Pictured here (top to bottom) are (along the wall) Cathy Carey, Mike Carey, Kristen Cloutier, Eliza Madden, Sue Sproul, Kate Marble, Peg Hoffman, John Emmerson, Bruce King; (center right) Shawn Yardley, Julia Harper, Judy Maloney, Luanne Rhoades, Lee Myles, Janice deLima, Klara Tammany, Sarah Barton; (center left) Sarah Strong, Hannah Quimby, Karen Krzywda, Audrey Chapman, Barbara Trafton, Paula Marcus-Platz; (along the stair railing) Lindsay Gannon, Gabriella Russell, Elizabeth Keene, Katy Sperl, Tanya Sadler, Peggy Rotundo, Anne Auer, Carl Lakari; (outside the stairwell) Tom Platz (standing), Gary Friedmann (seated).
The Center for Wisdom’s Women has launched a $700,000 fundraising campaign to transform the former St. Patrick’s convent into a long-term residential recovery community for women to be called “Sophia’s House.” More than $199,750 has already been raised, including a significant lead gift from the Sisters of Charity.
Saturday’s Maine Innovation Expo to feature leader on international space collaboration
ELHS graduate Ken Hodgkins is the director of the U.S. Office of Space and Advanced Technology.
Edward Little High School graduate Ken Hodgkins, director of the Office of Space and Advanced Technology in the U. S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science, will be a featured speaker at the Maine Innovation Expo, taking place Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Museum L-A. Admission to the expo is free and open to all; tickets can be reserved in advance at www.museumla.org.
Veterans Council plans Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
L & A Veterans Council members organizing the event include (l. to r., from front) Advisor Bert Dutil, Franco-American Veterans Post 31; Secretary Helen Taylor, Amvets Auxiliary Post 6; Chairman Jerry Dewitt, DAV Chapter 11; Vice Chairman Norm Cote, American Legion Post 22; Treasurer Cecile Burgoyne, Amvets Post 6; Don Dube, Franco-American Veterans Post 31; Maurice Fournier, American Legion Post 153; Albert Landry and Normand Bussiere, VFW Post 9150; Jo Paradis, Military Order of the Purple Heart; Carl Douglas, VFW Post 1603; and Clair Poirier and Charley Paul, Marine Corps League. (Absent from the photo is Donald Gosselin, American Legion Post 135.)
The L & A Veterans Council will host a Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Saturday, May 26. The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. at Kennedy Park in Lewiston, will proceed to Auburn, and will return to Lewiston to end at Veterans Memorial Park on the corner of Lincoln and Main Streets, where the ceremony will begin around 10:30 a.m.
Relevant Radio’s “Fr. Rocky” to speak in Lewiston
Fr. Francis Hoffman
Fr. Francis Hoffman, known affectionately to his listeners as “Fr. Rocky,” will speak at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston on Sunday, May 20, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hoffman, the executive director and CEO of Relevant Radio, has been an on-air contributor since 2003. All are welcome to attend the event, which is sponsored by Presence Radio, Maine’s only Catholic radio network.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be offered prior to Fr. Rocky’s presentation. If you plan to attend, please email info@presenceradio.org.
Relevant Radio broadcasts on nearly 130 stations reaching 38 states and is the top Catholic radio app with 450,000 downloads in 192 countries. The network produces a variety of popular programs to help strengthen the family, solve everyday problems, and raise the hearts and minds of listeners to God.
Governor’s Address: Beware of dishonest politicians this Election Year
Since this year is an Election Year, I must warn the Maine people that politicians have no legal obligation to be honest in their promises, campaign ads, or remarks. Some of them will say or do anything to get elected.
The worst offender is Attorney General Janet Mills, a Democrat who is running for governor. She has already proven to be disingenuous with the people of Maine, and she has already demonstrated a morally flexible relationship with the truth.
She is telling people that I tried to take healthcare coverage away from children and that she stepped up to protect healthcare for 6,000 Maine kids. It’s just not true.
She also claims she took me to court to keep them covered. She is implying that the lawsuit was about healthcare for school-aged children. Folks, it was not. Janet Mills is not telling the truth.
At the 2018 Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Willam Hood, Jr., Raymond DeBlois, Pete Couture, and Carolyn Court hold the plaque honoring their career achievements before their induction into the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame at a banquet and ceremony heldat the Ramada Innrecently. Student athletes and coaches from the Auburn and Lewiston area were also honored. (Photo by PortraitEFX)
Group plans Gold Star Families Memorial Monument for Lewiston
With a vision of establishing Gold Star Family Memorial Monuments across America, Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams created the memorial to honor families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Maine Fallen Heroes Foundation, in partnership with the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, has announced plans for a new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to be located in Veterans Park in Lewiston. A local committee, co-chaired by Dean Barron and John Mixon, is working to raise the remaining $25,000 needed to fund the project. The anticipated date of completion is October 7, 2018.
CLT announces cast of “Twelve Angry Men”
Taking a break during a recent rehearsal for Twelve Angry Men are cast members (from l.) Dan Burgess, Cory King, and Jason Pelletier. The play opens at Community Little Theater on June 8.
Director Jackie McDonald has announced the cast for the upcoming Community Little Theatre production of “Twelve Angry Men.” The twelve jurors will be played by Chris L’Hommedieu, Paul Menezes, Cory King, Bill Myers, Dan Burgess, Sean Wallace, Jason Pelletier, John Blanchette, Phil Vampatella, Dan Kane, Don Libby, and David Moyse. Jim McKinley will play the guard.
Nine years on, Turner Gazebo a popular community center
The 2018 “Music for Mavis” summer concert series at the Turner Gazebo kicks off on Tuesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. with a concert by folk musician Tom Stevens. There is no admission charge, but a suggested $5 “pass the hat” donation helps support the performers.
Music melodies and song lyrics often rouse our senses as we reminisce of days gone bye or days more recent. How those melodies stir our emotions! It has been stated: “Sometimes it’s not the song that makes you emotional, it’s the people and things that come to mind when you hear it.”
So it was with Mavis Varney, inspiration for the Turner Gazebo construction project and for whom its annual summer concert series, “Music for Mavis,” is named.
Mavis sang harmony, played alto saxophone in the school band, told jokes, and always loved to have a good time with friends and community. She and her husband, Paul, actively participated in many community projects, including helping to save the Leavitt Institute Building, supporting the creation of the Androscoggin River Park, and building community baseball fields. She was also a committed participant in church activities and supporter of Paul’s baseball team.
Governor’s Address: Speaker Gideon Kills Good Legislation That Would Benefit the Maine People
The Maine people elect legislators to represent them in Augusta. They expect these elected officials to enact good public policy that benefits all Mainers. But some legislators put politics over people. Unfortunately, too many legislators are more interested in playing political games than doing the work of the Maine people. The worst offender is Speaker of the House Sara Gideon.
I am a tough negotiator, but I am willing to negotiate. I am willing to have a conversation, and sometimes these might be difficult. They should be difficult, because as leaders, we must make tough choices.
