This week’s edition!
Innovative library outreach program marks 15th anniversary
Kim Beecy
Every Monday afternoon after school, school librarian Kim Beecy heads over to Kangaroo’s Kids Kare in Lewiston. The kids eagerly await her arrival with noses pressed against the glass door. After vying for her attention, each child gets a turn reading a book with her one-on-one. They don’t let her leave for at least an hour.
On Friday mornings, Marilyn Simonds sits down with a group of excited toddlers at Tiger Paws Daycare in Auburn. She sings with them and reads books to them. After she goes, they eagerly dig into the bag of books she leaves behind.
College for ME honors Central Maine Community College
Pictured here at the recent College for ME-Androscoggin awards luncheon are (l. to r.) Roger Philippon, CMCC dean of planning and public affairs; Danielle Wadsworth, Musgrave Scholarship recipient; Jean Blais, Advocate Award recipient; Doreen Dignan, Student Award recipient: and Liz Oken, director of placement and transfer services at CMCC.
A recent alumnus, staff member, and student of Central Maine Community College – and the college itself – were honored recently at the eighth annual awards luncheon presented by College for ME-Androscoggin.
Doreen Dignan was one of three students recognized for their efforts to pursue higher education while juggling the demands of school, families and careers. A resident of East Livermore, Dignan graduated with honors last year with a degree in accounting. While enrolled at CMMC, she maintained a full-time job and a full course load while caring for her ailing husband.
Gipper’s Scholarship winners
Tom Fournier of Gippers, with 2013 Gipper’s Scholarship winners Rachel Gagne (Edward Little High School) Bethany Fox (Saint Dominic Academy) and Natalie Rousseau (Lewiston High School). Rachel is studying biology at Simmons College, Bethany is studying Elementary Education at St. Joseph’s College, and Natalie is studying biology at Florida Southern University. They each received a check for $750 at a reception held for them and their families at the restaurant.
Enough is Enough: Lewiston must provide benefits for asylum seekers
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
New Year. New City Council. Many old problems left over from the prior council. On the horizon await new problems that pose a serious financial threat to our city.
We face the loss of $1 million-plus in revenue sharing because a committee of self-serving politicians who owe their elections to a variety of special interest groups failed in their task to find $40 million in cuts in the state’s budget. So much for the trait of intestinal fortitude.
Soon the political leaders of Lewiston will be asked to make a decision that has the potential of igniting a firestorm.
Babies get new sleep sacks at CMMC
Adam LeClair of Harpswell and Rebecca Brakeley, M.D. help Carter LeClair (l.) and his brother Chase model the Halo Sleep Sack wearable blankets now used at CMMC in place of traditional baby blankets. The sons of Adam and his wife, Melody, the twins arrived on December 5.
Central Maine Medical Center has replaced the age-old infant receiving blanket with a slightly higher-tech and safer “sleep sack,” according CMMC nurse educator Betsy McGrail.
Babies born at the hospital’s Special Delivery Family Birthing Center and infants cared for in its Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit now sleep in HALO Sleep Sack wearable blankets. The HALO Sleep Sack safely envelopes infants, keeping them warm while eliminating chances that the child’s breathing will be obstructed by loose blankets. CMMC is also discharging infants with sleep sacks.
Tragically, between seven and 10 babies die in Maine each year from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a phenomenon not fully understood by medical researchers. SIDS is defined as the sudden death of an infant younger than one year of age that remains unexplained even after a complete autopsy, death scene investigation, and thorough review of the clinical history are conducted.
Bates Museum of Art features collage, shaman objects from Vietnam
Paper masks used in shaman rituals of the Yao people of Vietnam.
In an exhibition believed to be the most extensive of its kind in the United States, the Bates College Museum of Art will present in January an extraordinary selection of painted scrolls, masks and other objects used in the shamanist ceremonies of five ethnic minorities in northern Vietnam.
“How to Make the Universe Right: The Art of the Shaman in Vietnam and Southern China” will open at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, with a talk by Trian Nguyen, associate professor of art and visual culture at Bates, in Room 104 of Olin Arts Center. The exhibition is based upon recent research by Nguyen. A reception will follow the lecture.
LFA, Falcon Shoe donate winter boots
Sonia Taylor of the Jesus Party (2nd from l.), with Lewiston Firefighters Association members (from l.) Jon Demers, Todd LeClerc, and Alan Hodgkins.
Members of the Lewiston Firefighters Association (LFA) recently got an opportunity to keep the feet of over forty people warmer this winter, thanks to a donation of forty pairs of winter boots by Falcon Performance Footwear of Auburn.
Known for its strong tradition of craftsmanship, and innovation, Falcon has been making quality footwear in Maine for over four decades. LFA distributed the boots through Hope Haven Gospel Mission and the Jesus Party.
CMCC, Husson sign major new agreement
Representatives of Central Maine Community College and Husson University sign a major new agreement allowing students to more easily transfer credits between the two schools.
Central Maine Community College (CMCC) and Husson University have approved a memorandum of understanding that will facilitate the transfer of credits between the two schools and provide CMCC students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transition from CMCC to Husson.
The agreement outlines admission and program requirements. It also specifies which CMCC courses can be used to meet general elective and major requirements at Husson. To assist in the advising process, individual course equivalencies listed by program are included in the agreement. Read the rest of this entry »
Enough is Enough: Spreading goodwill and tending to the truly needy
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
Last week, I was unexpectedly out of commission for a few days. Politics and this column was the last thing on my mind.
However, I did learn the value of expanded cable, a DVD player and a VCR. Passing the time with basic cable makes for a long day.
I felt that I had been placed in a re-education camp. News and editorial opinions were being constantly thrown at me. As tedious as this became, in the end, I was able to take time and reflect about what had been reported.
St. Dom’s food drive nets 1000 pounds for food pantry
The fifth grade class at Saint Dominic Academy in Lewiston organized a food drive in recent months to benefit St. Mary’s Food Pantry.
The students challenged their peers to donate non-perishable food items from their own pantries and place them in designated receptacles at the school. They also organized a Halloween dance to help reach their goal of collecting 1,000 pounds of food.
At the end of the community service project, the students loaded a school bus with the collected food and delivered it to the pantry, where they were delighted to learn that they had eclipsed their goal by delivering a total of 1,037 pounds.
