This week’s edition!
News
Governor’s Address: The Legislature’s Coming into Special Session To Take the Easy Way Out
A year ago, House Republicans shut down state government to make sure bad policies did not pass. Now they are giving in because it’s an election year.
Augusta politicians are proving once again that they’re unwilling to make the right choices. As the session neared its end, Democrats sat on their hands, hoping voters wouldn’t notice that they avoided voting on important bills.
They didn’t vote on tax conformity or Medicaid expansion, and they didn’t vote to increase the reimbursement rates for direct-care workers who are usually paid based on the minimum wage.
Bates College Clean Sweep
One of Maine’s largest community tag sales, Bates College’s annual Clean Sweep will take place on Saturday, June 16 at 8 a.m. inside the college’s Underhill Arena, located at 145 Russell Street in Lewiston. Now in its 18th year, the popular event benefits the environment, community organizations, and countless satisfied shoppers. The estimated 5,000 items for sale will include furniture, appliances, camping gear, rugs, office equipment, clothing, kitchenware, electronics, and sporting goods. For more information, call 786-6207.
First Universalist Church of Auburn to ordain new minister
Donna Dolham
The First Universalist Church of Auburn will ordain Donna Dolham into the Unitarian Universalist ministry on Saturday, June 16 at 1 p.m. The church is located at 169 Pleasant Street in Auburn. The service is open to the public.
Donna Dolham has served as an intern and sabbatical minister with the Unitarian Universalist First Church and Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts. Starting in August, she will serve as interim minister at Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Denton, Texas. She holds a Masters in Social Work from Boston University and a Masters of Divinity, with a certificate in Ethics and Justice and a focus on interreligious dialogue, from Andover Newton Theological School.
Student speaker encourages Lewiston Adult Education grads to be determined
LAE Director Bill Grant (l.) and Adult Learning Center Coordinator Laurie Champagne listen as student speaker Joao Massela addresses the graduates.
The student speaker at the recent Lewiston Adult Education graduation ceremony urged his classmates to think of themselves as strong as an elephant when taking on new challenges.
The group of 27 students received their high school equivalency degrees in a ceremony in the Lewiston High School gymnasium. Student speaker Joao Massela stressed the importance of determination.
“Being strong and determined means facing the problem and working to solve it, rather than crying and looking for the easy way,” he said. Massela told the audience that he took inspiration from his middle name, “Zau,” which means “elephant.”
Rotary Club president to present year-end address
Monica Millhime
Monica Millhime will be the speaker at the next meeting of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club on Thursday, June 21, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Village Inn at 165 High Street in Auburn. As the club’s 101st president, Millhime will present her year-end reflections in a talk called “The Next 100 Years and Making a Difference.”
Governor’s Address: There Are Important Issues to Consider Before Going to the Polls
Each June, Maine voters go to the polls to elect local officials and vote on school budgets. The addition of the gubernatorial and congressional primaries, as well as the referendum question on ranked choice voting, makes Tuesday an important day for every voter, not just those enrolled in a party.
I urge all voters to let their voices be heard on June 12. As you head to the polls, there are several important issues I encourage you to consider.
First, I would like to talk to you about clean elections funding.
When I ran for Governor in 2010, I had the least amount of money of any of the other candidates in the Republican primary – but I did have a message.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake
In their third year as an event sponsor, Great Falls Marketing had three teams on the lanes.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine hosted their annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake in May to raise money to support one-on-one mentoring programs for youth facing adversity in Androscoggin County. This is BBBSMM’s largest fundraising event of the year
Their next fundraiser, an 18-hole best ball scramble called Golf Fore Kids’ Sake, will take place on Monday, June 18 at Martindale Country Club in Auburn. For more information, call 653-3857 or email Jennifer@bbbsmidmaine.org.
Training program prepares candidates for construction jobs
Pictured here (l. to r., from front) are Trenton Bellavance, Afonso Augusto, Alexander Clark, Moustapha Mahamoud, John Ferland and Alan Hahnel of Hahnel Bros., Zachariah Haines, Andrew Brown, Oral Bennett, Lukau Sergio, David Cushman of HE Callahan, and Michael Pleau of Northeast Painting and Coatings, Inc. (Photo courtesy of Mike Reagan, Lewiston Adult Education)
The third group of students to complete the WorkReady Construction Training Program celebrated at a graduation ceremony held recently at Community Concepts. Offered through a collaboration of community agencies, the 12-week, 160-hour program features class time on construction skills training and communications, along with 24 hours of job site work each week with local contractors, including H. E. Callahan, Hahnel Bros., and Northeast Painting.
Lewiston Adult Education student tells how motivation, support helped him reach goal
Bryce Smith
Bryce Smith needed to earn his high school credential to hold onto his job at the Auburn-Lewiston Airport. He did it in two months. He took the HiSET exam to receive his high school credential and plans to attend the Lewiston Adult Education graduation ceremony at Lewiston High School.
“I didn’t think I could, but I put my mind to it and got it done somehow,” the 20-year-old said.
Airport Manager Richard Lanman praises Smith as a great addition to the workforce. “Very intelligent young man,” says Lanman. “He just needed a shove in the right direction.”
That push toward a high school credential came from Smith’s job description. It says that, within six months, employees must have their high school diploma or high school credential.
But Smith didn’t just do it for his job. He did it for his 11-month-old son, Connor. “I want him to be proud of me, along with everybody else,” he said.
Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute graduates inaugural class
In the fall, more than 95% of this year’s program graduates will begin higher education, with many attending Maine institutions, including two at Bates College.
The Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute recently graduated its inaugural class of program participants, called Olympia’s Leaders, at Bates College in Lewiston. Forty-five young women, selected from the seven Maine high schools serving Androscoggin County, graduated after participating in the Institute’s three-year program rooted in the themes “My Values,” (10th grade), “My Voice” (11th grade), and “My Vision” (12th grade).
