This holiday season, for one weekend only, The Public Theatre, will present its acclaimed adaptation of A Christmas Carol on Dec 8, 9, and 10th. This inventive version, performed by six actors and a fiddler, was developed and written for The Public Theatre by Co-Artistic Director Christopher Schario in 1993, and has since been published and performed by theatres around the world and is now a Lewiston/Auburn tradition. 

“There’s a great reason why this story is told during the holidays and will never go away”, says author Schario.  “It’s unfortunately become too easy for the true meaning of the season to get overwhelmed by shopping sales, but somehow watching Scrooge’s journey in this play always awakens my holiday spirit and gets me ready to celebrate Christmas.”

Another thing worth celebrating, according to Schario, is The Public Theatre’s ticket price of only $15 for children 18 and under.  “With our $15 youth ticket, we are hoping to introduce today’s children to the magic of professional theatre and give them a gift they’ll have for the rest of their lives. 

With all the different versions of A Christmas Carol out in the world, The Public Theatre’s adaptation remains many people’s favorite.  “We stay true to the heart of the story, while at the same time telling it with a sense of playfulness and imagination”, says Schario. “Much of Dickens’ original text is used, as six actors and a fiddler grab a handful of props and your imagination and joyfully bring Dickens’ language and characters to life. Creating a magical atmosphere with live music, a hand-cranked wind machine and a thunder sheet, the audience’s imagination is free to soar, and this classic story comes to life in a way you’ve never seen before.”

The Public Theatre’s version begins with a child reading a copy of Dickens’ novel. As the child reads, five actors and a fiddler magically appear and slowly coax the child into joining the story and becoming the character of Tiny Tim. It’s a marvelous metaphor for the way literature grabs and transforms us.

Leading the cast of A Christmas Carol will be Dale Place in the role of Scrooge.  Dale has appeared on Broadway opposite Mary Louise Parker in Heisenberg and Off-Broadway at Lincoln Center, The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park and Manhattan Theatre Club, among others. He is also a familiar face to Public Theatre audiences having appeared onstage in Human Error, Lend Me a Tenor and Deathtrap, among others. The rest of the cast features Russell Berrigan as Marley, Nicholas Perron as Christmas Present, Sheila Stasack as Mrs. Cratchit, McKenna Canty as Belle and local young actor Simon Golob in the role of the child/Tiny Tim. Fiddle music for the production will be performed by local fiddler Beck Welling.

With a top ticket price of only $30 for adults, and $15 for children 18 and under, it’s professional theatre at a price even Scrooge would love! Gift certificates for any production throughout the remainder of the season are also available for the holidays.

A Christmas Carol will be performed on Friday, Dec 8th at 7 pm, Saturday, Dec 9th at 2 pm and 7pm, and Sunday Dec 10th at 2 pm. For tickets visit thepublictheatre.org or call 207 782-3200. 

Season Underwriters are Platz Associates, Sun Journal and Bennett Radio Group, and the sponsors are Evergreen Subaru, Lewiston Pawn Shop, Dirigo Federal Credit Union and Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice.

Dale Place as Scrooge

LEWISTON, ME – The City of Lewiston announced today that the annual Holiday at the Plaza will take place on Sat., Dec. 2 (rain date Dec. 3), in Dufresne Plaza, 72 Lisbon Street, from 12 noon to 5:30 PM. Admission is free.

In the wake of the Oct. 25 tragedy, the City of Lewiston decided to proceed with the holiday event to continue to heal. It is the hope for the community to join in the Holiday At The Plaza to make memories and establish traditions.

The plaza and adjacent Lisbon Street will be filled with holiday spirit and activities galore complemented by musical entertainment, horse and wagon rides, and the Christmas Tree and Menorah lighting at 5:17 PM. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be on site ready for photo ops and looking forward to letters children may write to them.

Attendees can also ice skate (free skates available), visit with live reindeer, have fun in a giant snow globe, take a Kiddie Choo Choo ride, play games in the KidZone, play Snow Throw, play Slap Hockey, or take selfies with photo op arctic animal props.

And, there will also be a fishing pond, where children can “fish” for a toy, reminiscent of the beloved former Peck’s Department Store that countless residents have fond memories of. The Maine Nordiques mascot and the Lewiston High School Blue Devils mascot will also be mingling with the crowd.

At press time, performers booked are Maine Christmas Tree singer Malinda Liberty, the Maine Music Society Chamber Singers, Bates College Crosstones, Josie French of the Monmouth Community Players, local performer Leslie Reed, the Lewiston High School Chamber Singers, and Rabbi Sruli Dresdner and Lisa Mayer from Temple Shalom.

If you are a shopper, we have you in mind as well, as several local crafters will be on site offering many diverse choices for your holiday shopping list. Area shops and restaurants will also be open for shopping and tasty treats. Food trucks will be at the plaza as well. In addition, Rinck Advertising will host a mitten Christmas tree outside their business at 113 Lisbon Street, and attendees may grab a free pair.

Free parking will be available at the Oak Street Parking Garage, One Oak Street, Lewiston. For more information: www.lewistonmaine.gov/holiday2023

LEWISTON, ME – Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice proudly announces the success of its AndroGives program, an initiative designed to honor community generosity and maintain trust in healthcare. The program extends support beyond primary health initiatives, with employees selecting a non-profit organization every year to support through drives and fundraisers that align with Androscoggin’s mission.

This year, Androscoggin is thrilled to have supported Honor Flight Maine, an organization dedicated to honoring veterans. In a ceremony held just in time for Veterans Day, Androscoggin presented a check of $2,597.65 to Honor Flight Maine’s board members, Crystal Guerrette, Matthew Mank, and David Patch.

“We are honored to contribute to Honor Flight Maine and support the veterans. AndroGives program reflects our commitment to community engagement and making a positive impact beyond healthcare services,” said Elif Mogensen, Chair of AndroGives program.

The collective efforts of Androscoggin’s employees, who participated through initiatives like Jeans Day and payroll deductions, resulted in this generous contribution. The funds raised will send two veterans and one guardian on a life-enriching journey, aligning with Honor Flight Maine’s mission to recognize and honor the sacrifices of veterans.

Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice expresses deep gratitude to its employees whose generosity made this contribution possible. The success of AndroGives highlights the organization’s ongoing commitment to community service and fostering meaningful partnerships.

WESTBROOK, ME–WinterKids, the non-profit organization dedicated to helping children stay active, healthy, and happy during the winter months, is in the midst of its annual License to Chill Silent Auction. The auction officially opened on November 13 and will run through December 7 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

This exciting event will lead into WinterKids’ 12th Annual License to Chill community fundraiser at Après, marking the official kickoff to another busy winter season. This year, WinterKids has assembled a remarkable selection of premium goods and services generously contributed by Maine and New Hampshire businesses. The diverse array of items up for bidding includes outdoor equipment and sporting goods, apparel and outerwear, health and fitness memberships, delicious food and beverage experiences, home decor, and much more.

With the holiday season fast approaching, many of these items are perfect for gift-giving, making the silent auction an ideal opportunity for early holiday shopping. Contributing businesses to the License to Chill Silent Auction include well-known names such as L.L. Bean, WMTW, Agren, Sidecountry Sports, Bird & Co., Winterstick Snowboards, Sugarloaf, Adventure Bound Whitewater Rafting, Kittery Trading Post, and Portland Pie Company. The generous support of these businesses has made it possible for WinterKids to offer a broad and impressive range of items for auction. There will also be options to donate to Lewiston/Auburn community funds.

The License to Chill Silent Auction allows participants to bid on and win some incredible products and experiences, all while supporting WinterKids’ mission to help kids across Maine enjoy being healthy, active, and vibrant in the outdoors during the winter season. Every dollar raised through this auction will directly benefit WinterKids programs.

“We are thrilled to host the License to Chill Silent Auction once again and are grateful to the incredible businesses that have come together to make this event possible,” said Sterlynn Marx, Events and Sponsorships Manager at WinterKids. “By participating in the auction, you will have the opportunity to treat yourself or someone you love, and at the same time, you’ll be giving the gift of winter fun and outdoor activity to children across Maine!”

Bidding in the License to Chill Silent Auction opened on November 13 and will close on December 7 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The closing of the auction will coincide with WinterKids’ live community fundraiser at Après in Portland, providing a perfect opportunity for bidders to join in the festivities, which will include guest emcees Blake & Kelly from Coast 93.1, music by TJ Swan, S’mores donuts by Eighty8 Donut Cafe, drinks by Après, food by Meet on the Street, charcuterie by Charcutemarie, door prizes, and more.

To browse the catalog of silent auction items, place bids, buy tickets, and learn more about both the WinterKids License to Chill Silent Auction and Live Celebration, please visit https://winterkids.org/licensetochill/.

The 12th Annual WinterKids License to Chill is presented by Mt. Abram Ski Resort & Bike Park. Snowman Sponsors are Kittery Trading Post and PTC, and Snowball Sponsors are Acadia Insurance, Chalmers Insurance, Charcutemarie, Eighty8 Donut Cafe, ReVision Energy, and Sidecountry Sports.

OCEAN PARK, ME – Maine Authors for Lewiston, an informal group of more than 60 Maine authors, have banded together to support the victims of the recent tragedy in Lewiston. The group has organized a series of book signings, all open to the public, so that people can purchase books and meet the authors. There will be fiction writers, children’s book authors, non-fiction writers, and poets among the participants. This is a wonderful opportunity for Maine book-lovers to support local authors, but, most importantly, to help our fellow Mainers as they begin to heal and recover.

All of the participating authors have agreed to donate all, or most, of their proceeds from these events to help the healing and recovery efforts in Lewiston. All are volunteering because they care.

The authors are scheduled to appear at the following venues in the coming days:

Curtis Memorial Library (Brunswick, ME) – Saturday, November 25, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lewis T. Graves Memorial Public Library (Kennebunkport, ME) – Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Belfast Public Library (Belfast, ME) – Saturday, December 2, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Patten Free Library (Bath, ME) – Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

More events are being scheduled. The libraries have generously donated space to the cause as they, too, support those impacted by the senseless tragedy.

The Maine writing community is a small, but vibrant, part of Maine culture. Some writers have been personally impacted by the events in Lewiston, others because they care deeply about Maine and their fellow Mainers. Most do much of their writing in and about Maine. All want to help.

Maine Authors for Lewiston was conceived less than one week ago and is being organized by David Florig, a member of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, author of The Stones of Ailsa Craig, and the past-president of the Pine Tree Curling Club in Portland.

LEWISTON, ME — SeniorsPlus, the designated Area Agency on Aging serving Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties, has immediate openings for volunteer Meals on Wheels delivery drivers in Oxford and Franklin counties. Meals on Wheels volunteers make a difference in the lives of homebound older adults and adults with disabilities, often making the difference for individuals to remain at home safely. 

Meals are delivered Monday through Thursday and various routes. Volunteers are especially needed at this time for deliveries in Canton, Dixfield, Bethel, Phillips, Madrid, and Farmington. Times vary, but generally, drivers are needed between the hours of 9:00 to 11:30 am.  Volunteers may work one or more times a week. They can also work as needed for back up support.

 Working in a team environment, Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers deliver nutritious meals to client homes and combat social isolation through client wellness checks and friendly visits. Volunteer drivers are trained to provide the best possible service. For more information please contact volunteerservices@seniorsplus.org or call SeniorsPlus at 207 753-6148.

LEWISTON, ME – Community Concepts, Inc., in partnership with the State of Maine, City of Lewiston, and community partners, will open the Maine Resiliency Center (previously announced by the City of Lewiston as the Community Resiliency Center) on Monday, November 13th at noon. The Center is located at 184 Main Street in Lewiston, with direct access via the catwalk on the third floor of the parking garage behind the building at 26 Chapel Street. 

The Maine Resiliency Center has been created to offer a place of healing and support to individuals and families impacted by the mass shooting in Lewiston on October 25th and the aftermath of the tragedy. The Center will be dedicated to serving as a resource hub for anyone impacted by the shooting at Just-in-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar and Grille. This includes anyone present at the shootings, family, friends, and loved ones, first responders and medical personnel, and any member of the larger community who feels impacted by these events. 

The Center will initially be open weekdays with walk-in hours from 12-5pm. Additional planned activities, programming, and private appointments will also be offered outside of walk-in hours. The Center can be reached by phone at 207-515-3930 starting at 12pm on Monday, November 13th. A website for the Center is currently being developed. 

The Maine Resiliency Center is staffed by knowledgeable and caring professionals to focus on the longer-term needs of community members in the aftermath of this tragedy. The Center will offer access to service navigation, case management, and behavioral health support among other services based on identified needs. 

The Center will be managed by Community Concepts, Inc., the Community Action Agency serving Androscoggin County. Services for victims’ families had previously been coordinated at the Family Assistance Center (FAC) located at the Lewiston Armory. The FAC closed on Thursday, November 2nd, and ongoing supports will now be available at the Maine Resiliency Center.

 To protect the confidentiality of visitors, media are not allowed to visit the Center without invitation or making arrangements with Center management in advance. 

If individuals are in need of immediate support, The Maine Crisis Line can be reached by dialing 988 or 1-888-568-1112. Free and confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Text and chat lines are also available.

LEWISTON, ME – The City of Lewiston Mayoral Runoff Election will be held on Tue., Dec. 12, and absentee ballots for this election are currently available for Lewiston residents who would like to vote early. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Thu., Dec. 7.

Registered voters needing an absentee ballot may call the City Clerk’s Office at (207) 513-3124; may mail in an application form which can be downloaded from the City’s website; or can come into Lewiston City Hall, 27 Pine Street. Office hours are Mon. – Fri., 8:30 AM – 4 PM. 

The Runoff Election is between Jonathan Connor and Carl Sheline – the candidates who placed in the top two positions during the Nov. 7 election. According to the City Charter, the Mayor must be elected by a majority vote. Since neither candidate received a majority during the Nov. 7 election, the Runoff Election has been scheduled.

“Absentee voting is increasingly popular with each election,” said Lewiston City Clerk Kathy Montejo. “Voters are interested in absentee voting because they can avoid the crowds at the polls and voters simply enjoy the convenience of voting by mail or voting early, and due to a December election, many voters will want to avoid going out in bad weather if it is snowy or cold on election day.”

The City’s web site, www.lewistonmaine.gov/elections, contains a sample ballot, absentee ballot application form, and other information that voters may find useful.

Voters are encouraged to contact the City Clerk’s Office at (207) 513-3124 with any questions they may have regarding the election process.             

LEWISTON, ME—The Franco Center will host an Elvis tribute concert featuring Robert Washington at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. Facebook fans of World Champion Elvis Impersonator, Robert Washington, who is sometimes known as The Black Elvis, say that Washington is “the best Elvis Impersonator on the planet.”  

Washington is the first black man to win the “Elvis Impersonator World Championship” title, and he did it in the heart of the South: Memphis, Tennessee. Winning that title was a historic event for Washington and other black Elvis impersonators. The championship was won in Elvis’s hometown, “where a black man with a voice like a 747 engine beat out 100 other white contenders, some who had $30,000 worth of plastic surgery to look like Elvis,” according to his fan page.  But not Washington; he is the real deal. He will also perform a few James Brown tunes. 

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door day of show.  

Tickets can be purchased through the Franco Center’s box office in person from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays or call 207-689-2000. Ticket purchases can also be made online at www.francocenter.org/shows.  

Doors and cash bar open at 6 p.m. Concert is at 7 p.m. The Franco Center is at 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston. Parking is in the mill lot across the street. Handicap access is on the Lincoln Street Alley side of the building. 

Fans have posted videos of Robert Washington performing as both Elvis and James Brown, such as this one https://youtu.be/cMdAuRMd65Q by Stéphan Beauregard. 

“We are grateful for our concert sponsors. Our Season Underwriter is Maple Way Dental Care; Media Sponsors are Sun Journal, Turner Publishing, Uncle Andy’s, Bennett Radio Group,” said Jake Hodgkin, production manager. “The show sponsor is Platz Associates.” 

The Franco Center will host an Elvis tribute concert featuring well-known local entertainer Robert Washington at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. Tickets can be purchased online at www.francocenter.org/shows or 207-689-2000. Submitted photo. 

AUBURN, ME — As the dust settles after the most heinous crime spree in Maine history, allegations have arisen about the cooperation of agencies responding to the incident. It is disappointing to hear this as we mourn for the victims and their families. In the weeks to come, there will be after-action reviews done to see how our agencies responded and take lessons learned from the incident and apply them to improve our tactics and strategies in the hope we never have to respond to an incident like this again.

In any incident of this magnitude, the initial response is going to be chaotic, especially with multiple scenes involved. Once an incident command system is established and logistics become manageable, everything becomes more organized.

In this incident, the suspect was identified within the first hour of the incident and suspect and vehicle information was broadcast out on a state-wide level rapidly thereafter. Once the incident shifted to the manhunt phase, a large command post was set up. Auburn Police Command Staff were present within the command post several times a day receiving briefings from the Maine State Police on the status of the investigation and the manhunt. This information was then passed onto our staff for their situational awareness.

At no time did the Maine State Police withhold information from us at any point. At times there was simply no update to give because there was no new information that had been generated.

The Auburn Police Department enjoys a good healthy cooperative relationship with the Maine State Police and will continue to do so.