AUBURN, ME — The Great Falls Model Railroad Club has a couple events coming up:

The Club is hosting a Surplus Assets Sale fundraiser on Saturday, July 27th from 9 am to 10 am at the clubhouse at 144 Mill Street in Auburn. The club will have a variety of materials for sale including model railroad equipment in a G, O, HO, and N scales, railroad books, scenery supplies, buildings, and more. All of our layouts, G, O, N, and HO scales, will be open for viewing. Cash and credit cards are accepted. The building is wheelchair accessible. The sale is open to members of the club starting at 8 am.

The Great Falls Model Railroad Club’s annual open house event during the Lewiston Auburn Balloon Festival  will be held at 144 Mill Street in Auburn from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday, August 17th and 18th. Model trains in various scales, built by model train enthusiasts, will be operating all day.

Activities for kids, including running trains as a Junior Engineer, will be going on all day. Club members will be available to answer questions about our layouts and to sell new and used model railroad items, books, and other train related memorabilia.

The Public Theatre in Lewiston will present “JULIA: Here in Maine” on Saturday, September 7, at 7pm.

“JULIA” is Maine’s very own Julia Gagnon, accompanied by Nate Haven on acoustic guitar.

Gagnon rose to fame on American Idol: Season 22, by making it to the top seven finalists.  Following an amazing performance which earned her a “platinum ticket,” the judges proclaimed her “one of the biggest voices of the season.”  Julia grew up in Cumberland and currently lives in Yarmouth with her fiancé Nate Haven.

Julia has recently appeared in theaters, concert halls, and outdoor festivals all over the State of Maine.  The Public Theatre is excited to offer audiences an opportunity to see her indoors in an intimate setting.  With just over 300 seats, every seat is the best seat in the house.

Proceeds from this special concert event provide vital support for The Public’s full season of plays and educational programming.

JULIA: Here in Maine – Saturday, September 7 at 7:00 pm

For tickets, call 207-782-3200 or visit ThePublicTheatre.org

Photo courtesy of Julia Gagnon at New York City’s famed Feinstein’s/54 Below

LEWISTON, ME — The American Heart Association (AHA) has rated Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) among the best in the nation for its care of stroke patients. The hospital also got high marks for its treatment of stroke patients who have diabetes.

The AHA announced earlier this month that CMMC has achieved Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“CMMC is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Angela Dubuc, system director of Quality Services for Central Maine Healthcare. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in our community can experience longer, healthier lives.”

The AHA used data CMMC submitted from 2022 and 2023 to reach its conclusions.

In 2022, CMMC’s stroke team has earned two-year recertification by The Joint Commission, a non-profit organization that accredits U.S. healthcare organizations and programs.

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Maine, stroke is the third leading cause of death and the number one cause of long-term disability.

AUBURN, ME — Director Jennifer McClure Groover has announced her cast for the upcoming Community Little Theatre production of the musical The Prom.

With music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Beguelin, The Prom follows four eccentric Broadway stars who travel to a conservative town in Indiana, to help a student banned from bringing her girlfriend to the high school prom. On a mission to transform lives, these performers join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens, and the result is love and understanding that brings them all together. Winner of the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, The Prom captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever.

“Audiences can expect to see a lighthearted story full of humor! There is a great mix of music, from big splashy dance numbers to power ballads that may make folks choke up,” said Groover.

The Prom will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on August 9, 10, 15, 16, and at 2:00 p.m. on August 11, 17, and 18.  All performances will be held at the CLT on 30 Academy Street in Auburn. Tickets are now available online at www.laclt.com/box-office or by calling 783-0958. Ticket prices (including all fees) are $25.00 for adults, $22.00 for seniors and students, and $17.00 for children ages 13 and under.

The cast of CLT’s upcoming production of The Prom is pictured here at a recent rehearsal. From left in the front row are Moll Brown (on rehearsal block), Jordan Clatchey, Maria Groover, James Vaillancourt, Elijah Middleton, Katie Roy, Mara Dale, Julie Sanborn, Jay Kimball, and Trekk Skeate (on rehearsal block). In the middle row are: Ansley Watson, Tessa Hayashida, Madeleine DuBois, Glenn Atkins, Moira O’Connor, Adry Viles, Genevieve Vaillancourt, Maddy Vaillancourt, Ellie Pfohl, and Lyra Legawiec. In back are Arielle Carver, Connor Davis, Brock Rancourt, Justin Morin, Bee Tyler, Julia Groover, Eden Johnson, Casey Waters, Gregory Judd, Tony Roy, and Sarah Duncan. (Photo by Sophia Wood).

AUBURN, ME — Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks and participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new Police Activities League (PAL) Community Center in Auburn. Senator Collins secured $3,000,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) through the Fiscal Year 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill to build the new center, which, in addition to hosting the activities league, will serve as a hub for supervised after-school and summer youth activities and mentoring.

Senator Collins was joined at the event by Auburn City Manager and PAL Board Member Phil Crowell, Auburn Mayor Jeffrey Harmon, Auburn Police Department Lieutenant Anthony Harrington, and PAL Secretary Rita Beaudry. Also in attendance at the event was Auburn City Councilor Leroy Walker.

“For more than a decade, the PAL Center in Auburn has provided local children with a safe, structured environment to play and learn after school; receive food, clothes, and school supplies; and build relationships with law enforcement officers who protect the local community,” said Senator Collins. “As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion federal investments that allow successful community organizations like the Auburn PAL Center to expand their capacity, allowing more children and families to benefit from their great work.”

This year, Senator Collins secured nearly $11 million in CDS for community center projects in six additional communities throughout Maine in the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.

The youth camp musical of James and the Giant Peach, Jr. will be presented on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The teen camp production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr. will take the stage on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

These two musical productions culminate four weeks of intensive and performance-based programs. Campers were responsible for mastering the material (lines, staging, choreography, and singing), and participating in rehearsals. The youth camp is for children in grades 4-7 and participants in the teen camp are in grades 8-12. Maddy DuBois and Maria Groover directed the youth camp and Linda Vaillancourt led the teen camp. Jackie McDonald is the producer for both shows.

Tickets are available online at laclt.com/box-office-1 and may also be purchased at the door. Costs are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and students, and $17 for children under the age of 13. Prices include all taxes and fees. All productions will be held at CLT on 30 Academy Street in Auburn. More information about the summer camp shows is also available online at laclt.com/camp.

Pictured here are the five seniors who are in the cast of the CLT teen camp production of Beauty and the Beast, Jr., which will be performed this weekend along with the youth camp production of James and the Giant Peach, Jr. From left in front are Genevieve Vaillancourt and Tessa Hayashida. In back are Jack Desrosiers, Brock Rancourt, and Julia Groover.  (Photo by Sophie Wood Photography).

 LEWISTON, ME — SeniorsPlus, the designated Area Agency on Aging serving Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties, announces the election of a new member to its Board of Directors, as well as a new slate of officers. 

Holly Zielinski of Poland replaces Robert Kirchherr of Norway as the Chair of the Board of Directors of SeniorsPlus. Zielinski has more than 20 years of experience working with older adults and has held numerous senior management positions in senior living and healthcare in Maine, Florida and Missouri. 

Other appointments to the slate of officers of the Board of Directors of SeniorsPlus are Dustin Ward of New Gloucester to Vice Chair, Marie Samson of Auburn to Treasurer, and Don Berry of Sumner to Secretary.

 Joining the Board is Shawn Wright of Monmouth. Wright is a financial advisor in Lewiston. She has been an active member of numerous community organizations including the Auburn-Lewiston Rotary Breakfast Club and the Community Little Theatre of Auburn.

 Established in 1972 and headquartered in Lewiston, SeniorsPlus is the Western Maine designated Area Agency on Aging covering Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties. The overall program goal of SeniorsPlus is to assist older people and adults with disabilities in its tri-county area to remain safely at home for as long as possible.  The mission of SeniorsPlus is to enrich the lives of older people and adults with disabilities, their families and communities, and to support them to make informed choices. SeniorsPlus envisions a future where all older adults and individuals with disabilities are engaged and respected while living quality, independent lives in the communities of their choice. Last year, SeniorsPlus served a diverse population of almost 8,000 clients and fielded 101,000 phone inquiries.

Robert Kirchherr passes the gavel to Holly Zielinski, the newly appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of SeniorsPlus, Western Maine’s designated Area Agency on Aging.

LEWISTON, ME – The Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival, hosted by the City of Lewiston and in partnership with the City of Auburn, announced today that the State of Maine Office of Tourism awarded festival organizers with $60,000 in grant funding to support marketing and managing the iconic three-day festival in the twin cities.

The announcement follows notable developments earlier, where balloon festival organizers named Emerson Toyota in Auburn as presenting sponsor of the event and appointed former Lewiston Mayor Mark Cayer and former Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque as co-chairs of the festival’s sponsorship committee.

“We’re excited to support the cities in their work with community partners, nonprofits, businesses, and past organizers to revitalize this important event”, said Hannah Collins, Deputy Director, Maine Office of Tourism. “The efforts of the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival team to make the 30th anniversary event a success will benefit the entire region.”

The Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival applied for and was awarded a Maine Office of Tourism Special Event Grant. The intent of the Special Event Grant is to provide marketing funds to existing, well-established events for the expansion and progression of marketing strategies to attract new audiences and increase overnight visitation and length of stay. Special events can strengthen Maine’s brand and image nationally and internationally, have a direct economic impact on the state economy and attract visitation in Maine’s shoulder season.

“On behalf of the sponsorship committee, I express our deep appreciation to the Maine Office of Tourism for approving our application and committing to partner with us in promoting such an iconic annual event for our community,” said former Lewiston Mayor Mark Cayer, sponsorship committee co-chair. “It’s also important to recognize the city staff and the LA Metro Chamber for identifying this opportunity and writing a competitive grant application. With this award, we are over 2/3 of the way to securing our fundraising goal to help ensure this a successful, memorable event.”

The Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival, scheduled for August 16-18 at Simard Payne Park in Lewiston, with complimentary events at Festival Plaza in Auburn, is expected to bring over 100,000 visitors to the event. Festival organizers are planning a series of announcements of specialty balloons, additional sponsors, music performers, amusements, non-profit vendors, crafters, family-friendly activities and more in the coming weeks.

More information on the event, balloon rides, donations, and volunteer opportunities can be found at: www.LABalloonFest.org or www.VisitMaine.com.

WISCASSET, ME – The collection of homes featured on Wiscasset Homes on Tour, Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 11am to 4pm, embody elegance, country-living, and a Village way-of-life. Together they decipher the historic components of a small, self-contained community by representing wealth, commerce, and agriculture.

Not far out of Wiscasset Village is a 2.5-acre estate with lawns and plantings that sweep down to the Sheepscot River. Owners of this magnificent homestead have brought the 1898 home into the 21st century with a high-end kitchen made for entertaining, a billiard room, a swimming pool, and a gracious patio with river views immediately behind the house. The effect is luxurious and stunning!

In a different compass direction, but not far from Wiscasset Village, is an 1889 farmhouse with Victorian details. The original modest structure has expanded over the last hundred years and now features six bedrooms and six bathrooms. A rolling lawn, suggesting a mown field, leads to the Sheepscot River.

In the heart of Wiscasset Village, a stately and handsome Federal-style home, built in 1799, is representative of the early merchant class who chose to live in the community’s center where residents provided the labor and ingenuity that drove the commercial life of the town. Today, this well-loved home is filled – inside and out – with the owners’ many personal collections.

Additional homes and gardens, including afternoon tea and home-made sweets in a native plant-rich Village garden, await tour-goers.

Tickets for Wiscasset Homes on Tour are $30 each with an optional pre-ordered lunch at $18. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance of the tour. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour, July 13, from 10am to 3pm, at the parking lot at 36 Water St., Wiscasset, ME. All tickets will be picked up at this location. Cash, checks, and plastic accepted.

More tour details, ticket purchase, and the lunch menu for pre-order can be found on www.WiscassetCreativeAlliance.org. For questions, call 214-232-3699 and please leave a message which will be answered promptly.

‘Homes on Tour’ is a fundraiser for Wiscasset Creative Alliance to support the Alliance’s community programs.

Wiscasset Homes on Tour’s collection of fascinating homes and abundant gardens tells the story of life in early Wiscasset, Maine. Saturday, July 13, 11am to 4pm. (Photo courtesy Wiscasset Creative Alliance.)  

LEWISTON, ME – Andwell Health Partners (formerly Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice) will host its annual Butterfly Release Celebration on Sat., July 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Geiger Elementary School in Lewiston.  Light refreshments will be served. 

At the core of this special occasion is the solemn reading of names, where we honor those for whom the butterflies have been dedicated followed by the release of nearly a thousand butterflies, symbolizing the transformation of life and providing a truly breathtaking sight.

Dedicate your butterfly online at https://andwell.org/get-involved/butterfly-release/ or call 207-795-9402.  Each butterfly can be purchased for $30.  All proceeds from the event benefit Andwell Hospice.