LEWISTON, ME – The City Clerk’s Office would like to inform voters about election details for the November 3 election. There are two ballots for this election – a state ballot and a city ballot.  The state ballot contains races for US Senate, Congress, Governor, State Senate, Representative to the Legislature Districts 93, 94, 95, and 96, Judge of Probate, Sheriff, District Attorney, and County Commissioner Districts 2 and 3.  The city ballot contains races for Mayor, City Council Wards 2, 4 and 6, and School Committee Wards 1, 3, 5, and 7.

In addition, the city ballot contains five referendum questions – a question about amending the syringe service program ordinance, a question to establish a Charter Commission, and three questions regarding housekeeping amendments to the City Charter.

Sample ballots are available on the city’s election website so voters can study their ballot in advance of voting.

Absentee voting for the November 3 election is well underway in Lewiston.  Over 2,000 absentee ballots were mailed out last week to voters who have been submitting requests since August.   Voters have been casting in-person absentee ballots since Monday.  All absentee ballots must be returned no later than election night by 8pm.  Ballots can be returned by mail, in the City Hall Ballot Drop box (red, white, and blue flag design), or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office, second floor of City Hall.  Voters wishing to receive an absentee ballot can order online, call City Hall, or submit an application form. The statewide deadline to order absentee ballots is Thursday, October 29 by 4pm.

The Early Voting Polling Place will be open again for this election.  “This service is a very popular way to vote in Lewiston, people like it because it is a quieter atmosphere than the regular polling places, and there are several chairs so voters can sit down, relax, and study their ballots.”, said City Clerk Kathy Montejo.  The Early Voting Polling Place will run October 13 – 29 (Monday – Thursday) from 9:00am – 4:00pm in the City Council Chambers, first floor. Extended evening hours will be available on Tuesday, October 27 until 7pm. There are 13 voting booths in the City Council Chambers to accommodate voters.

Election questions can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at 513-3124 or by email at cityclerkoffice@lewistonmaine.gov

AUBURN, ME – The L/A Community Little Theatre (CLT) opens its 87th season this weekend with a daring and powerful interpretation of the Tony Award winning musical “Cabaret.”

Set in a seedy Berlin cabaret called the Kit Kat Klub in 1929, the show tells the story of two doomed romances set against the emergence of antisemitism and fascism in Germany. Winner of eight Tony Awards during its original run, “Cabaret” has been revived on Broadway during every decade since the 1970s. Musical numbers include “Willkommen,” “Cabaret,” “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Two Ladies.”

This CLT production of “Cabaret” is based on the 1998 Broadway revival, widely considered the most revolutionary re-envisioning of this innovative musical. It emphasizes the creeping threat of fascism, underscoring the parallels between the rising threat of Nazism in 1929 Berlin and contemporary anxieties about authoritarian resurgence. The show instills a chilling sense of impending doom in between the lively numbers at the Kit Kat Klub. More than anything, “Cabaret” serves as a cautionary tale, denouncing hedonism and highlighting the importance of morality.

The show is directed by Brandon Chaloux assisted by musical director Paul G. Caron, choreographer Adelyn Bell, producer Sarah Chaloux, stage manager Sarah Greaton, and lead costumer Jackie Ahlquist. 

Performances of “Cabaret” will be held on October 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m., and October 18 and 25 at 2:00 p.m. All shows will be held at CLT on 30 Academy Street in Auburn. Tickets are available online at www.laclt.com. Due to the mature themes in this production, parental discretion is advised.

Lead roles in the CLT production of “Cabaret” are played by Owen Lewis as the Emcee and Hillary Perry as Sally Bowles. The show opens Friday, October 16 and will run through October 25. www.laclt.com/. Photo by Aaron Skolfield.

LEWISTON, ME – Central Maine Healthcare, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, will hold a Commemorative Blood Drive on Saturday, Oct. 24, a day before the three-year anniversary of the mass casualty incident in Lewiston.

Quarterly blood drives were established following the Oct. 25, 2023, tragedy to honor the lives of those who were affected.

The blood drive will take place on the lower level of 12 High Street at CMMC in Conference Room ABC from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

LEWISTON, ME – Hundreds of career and technical education (CTE) instructors and education leaders from across Maine gathered at Lewiston Regional Technical Center on Friday, October 9, for the 2026 Maine CTE Fall Conference, a day dedicated to professional development, collaboration and celebrating the educators preparing Maine students for careers in the skilled trades and beyond.

Hosted by the Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education (MACTE) in partnership with ACTE Maine, the annual conference brought together educators representing a wide range of technical programs, including construction, automotive technology, healthcare, culinary arts, welding, forestry and many others.

The day began with opening remarks from MACTE President Bill Tracy, followed by an introduction from MACTE Executive Director Consultant Amy Marston and remarks from Maine businessman Shawn Moody. The opening program also included recognition of outstanding CTE educators and leaders whose work is making a difference for students and communities across the state.

“I was impressed by today’s conference and what it brought together,” said Amy Marston, Executive Director Consultant for MACTE. “To have so many CTE educators from all over Maine under one roof, sharing ideas, talking about their programs and learning from each other is pretty incredible. There was so much energy in the building, and you could just see how much these instructors care about what they do and the students they teach. It’s a great reminder of just how much is happening in career and technical education in our state.”

Celebrating Excellence in Career and Technical Education

The conference recognized six individuals for their outstanding contributions to career and technical education:

New Teacher of the Year: Rich Jamison, Automotive Technology Instructor, Hancock County Technical Center, recognized for creating student opportunities through industry partnerships, apprenticeships and automotive program development.

Teacher Educator of the Year: Julie Keblinsky, Director of Teaching and Learning for AOS 91 Mount Desert Island Regional School System and Adjunct Professor in Eastern Maine Community College’s CTE Teacher Certification Program, recognized for her leadership in preparing and mentoring new CTE instructors and strengthening instructional practices across the state.

Counseling and Career Development Professional Award: Hope High, Student Services Coordinator, Hancock County Technical Center, recognized for helping students navigate CTE, college and career pathways.

Carl Perkins Community Service Award: Michelle Cote, Health Occupations Instructor, Hancock County Technical Center, recognized for integrating community service and real-world healthcare experiences into student learning.

Teacher of the Year: Lauren Remington, former Early Childhood Education Instructor at St. Croix Regional Technical Center and current Content Manager for ACTE, recognized for her innovative program development, leadership and commitment to expanding educational opportunities.

Administrator of the Year: Bill Tracy, Director of Hancock County Technical Center and MACTE President, recognized for his leadership in expanding CTE programming, strengthening partnerships and increasing opportunities for students.

Following the opening program, instructors gathered in program-specific technical update sessions, giving educators from similar disciplines an opportunity to discuss curriculum, share best practices, address common challenges and learn from programs across Maine.

Lunch featured food prepared and served by students and culinary programs, including food trucks from Capital Area Technical Center and The Green Ladle at Lewiston Regional Technical Center, providing another opportunity to showcase the hands-on learning taking place in Maine’s CTE schools.

The afternoon featured a variety of professional development sessions focused on helping instructors strengthen their programs and bring new ideas into their classrooms. Topics included transitioning from working in the trades to teaching, engaging students in social media content creation, developing career pathways through apprenticeships, exploring careers in forestry and more.

The annual Fall Conference is one of several opportunities throughout the year for Maine’s CTE educators and administrators to come together, learn from one another and strengthen programs across the state. With Maine employers continuing to face workforce challenges, the work happening in CTE classrooms remains an important part of preparing the next generation of skilled workers.

LEWISTON, ME – With Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period running October 15 through December 7, SeniorsPlus is reminding residents of Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties that free, unbiased Medicare counseling is available through its certified counselors.

As new, for-profit Medicare-focused businesses open across the region, SeniorsPlus wants the public to understand a key distinction: as a nonprofit, SeniorsPlus does not sell insurance, does not represent any insurance company, and does not receive any financial benefit based on which plan a person chooses. Its only role is to provide accurate, unbiased information so individuals can make the choice that works best for their own health needs and budget.

SeniorsPlus Medicare counselors can help people who:

are new to Medicare;

need assistance understanding Medicare;

currently have Medicare and want to review their options;

are concerned about paying for health insurance; and/or

need help understanding when they can change their health insurance, or whether changing is the best idea.

Counselors can answer questions on Medicare, Medicare Savings Programs, supplemental insurance, prescription drug programs, and related health insurance, helping people compare Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans and navigate enrollment.

“Meeting with a counselor helped me understand my options and what plan changes are coming for the following year,” said one person who contacted SeniorsPlus for Medicare counseling. “This helped support me in choosing which plans work for me.”

SeniorsPlus counselors commonly help clients identify opportunities to reduce prescription drug and healthcare costs, in some cases saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year, while ensuring they understand the coverage and provider access that comes with each option.

To speak with a Medicare counselor, call SeniorsPlus at 1-800-427-1241.

AUGUSTA, ME – On Monday September 28, Maine Public Utilities Commission Staff issued a recommended decision denying CMP’s proposed $70 million temporary rate request.

 The request is part of the company’s broader rate case currently under review, and any revenues collected through temporary rates would be subject to refund if the Commission ultimately approved a different amount.

 This has could have a direct impact on Lewiston and Auburn. There are more than 12,000 customers in the area who receive power from the Deer Rips substation (6,400 customers) and Great Falls substation (6,300 customers).

 Both of those substations are planned for upgrades so they can handle more energy, have more capacity to facilitate growth in Auburn and Lewiston and increase reliability for those customers. The Deer Rips substation transformer overloaded on the July 4th holiday weekend due to extreme heat and we had to bring in a mobile transformer that is still in use at that location to keep the power on for those customers. (WMTW toured the Deer Rips substation with the mobile transformer last week: 15,000 Mainers lost power for heat-related issues this summer – WMTW)

 Without this rate plan, this work could be deferred causing a delay, including upgrading a Great Falls substation transformer that is more than 50 years old and a Deer Rips Substation transformer that is nearly 50 years old.

In addition to capacity needs in these communities, we are preparing the grid for extreme weather and storms. As noted below in excerpts, CMP has now responded to extreme cold, severe thunderstorms and extreme heat all within a span of roughly nine months.

Central Maine Power (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., reported a record number of heat-related grid events across its 11,000-square-mile service territory as Maine experienced its second-hottest meteorological summer on record.

CMP has proposed upgrades to electrical infrastructure to address capacity and extreme weather challenges. The company has publicly highlighted the need for these upgrades as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen reliability and support growing energy needs. CMP is advancing these solutions to improve reliability, increase system capacity and ensure crews can continue providing safe, reliable service to customers.

“We cannot ignore the reality and challenge in front of us when it comes to the strain that extreme heat is placing on aging components of Maine’s electric grid,” said Linda Ball, President and CEO of Central Maine Power. “We must implement solutions like upgraded substation transformers that are ready to handle the energy demand that comes with extreme heat. We’ve also seen the value of having mobile substations ready to deploy as our crews used these to alleviate equipment that either failed or could have failed on these hottest days.” 

High temperatures can increase demand for electricity and place strain on electrical equipment like lines and transformers. CMP grid equipment is designed to operate safely for a limited time above a defined strain threshold. This year, on July 3, prolonged extreme heat on a holiday weekend pushed some of that equipment, like substation transformers in Auburn and in tourism destination Ogunquit, beyond that limit. In several communities, CMP conducted temporary protective outages to prevent damage to critical equipment, an unprecedented measure during periods of extreme heat. Virtually all temporary measures to alleviate demand on these areas of the electric grid were deployed by crews, including the installation of a mobile substation brought to Ogunquit from Augusta with the help of a Maine State Police escort. 

CMP’s grid strengthening plans, currently under review by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC), include replacing two existing transformers at a York County substation with larger units to increase system capacity and backup capability, while upgrading communications technology to support the area’s growing energy needs. CMP’s proposals also include replacing more substation transformers in Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Lincoln, and Penobscot?counties. Additional grid-hardening investments include installing thousands of stronger distribution poles, deploying hundreds of smart devices that enable faster remote restoration, and expanding vegetation management to reduce tree-related outages.

Work to restore power or prevent outages was not limited to teams in the field. CMP Energy Control Center operators and support staff worked around the clock for multiple days, coordinating real-time communications with field personnel and executing critical switching operations to safely manage infrastructure. Previous investments in smart grid technology were instrumental in maintaining service for thousands of customers during periods of extreme demand. This equipment enabled control center operators to find solutions remotely such as shifting how power was flowing on individual lines to alleviate equipment under strain. 

CMP’s plans for continued upgrades come as the company reports that approximately 15,000 customers experienced heat-related power interruptions during the summer of 2026. The company anticipates a final decision from the Maine PUC on its proposals subject to the commission’s review and approval.

LEWISTON, ME – The early Beatles are coming to Lewiston. Studio Two, a four-member tribute band dedicated to recreating the music, look and energy of The Beatles’ early years, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Franco Center, 46 Cedar St.

The band recreates the sound and experience of the Fab Four with period-appropriate instruments, appearance, and onstage banter. The set features favorite Beatles songs from the group’s early years, including music influenced by the raw sound of The Beatles’ Hamburg era.

Stephen Murray portrays John Lennon, while his brother Robert Murray portrays George Harrison.

“As a trained musician, I never expected to be playing in a Beatles tribute band, but it has been an amazing experience,” Stephen Murray said. “I am humbled to have an opportunity to portray John Lennon, who is one of the most talented musicians and composers of all time, and I am thrilled to bring Beatles music to a multitude of different generations. Best of all, I get to do this with my brother and best friends.”

Robert Murray said authenticity is an important part of the Studio Two experience.

“Playing George Harrison and re-enacting Beatles’ performances from the early years has been a thrill,” he said. “I love the vintage equipment and raw sound of the Beatles’ early era, and we take special care to ensure the look and sound is as close to authentic as possible.”

Studio Two’s musicians are part of a new generation keeping The Beatles’ music and fan culture alive for longtime fans and those discovering the band for the first time.

“Studio Two has been an amazing journey, and every day I look forward to meeting both old fans of The Beatles and new fans of Studio Two!” Robert Murray said.

Franco Center Executive Director Theresa Shanahan said the organization appreciates the support of Androscoggin Bank, sponsor of the concert.

“We are grateful to Androscoggin Bank for sponsoring Studio Two and supporting live music at the Franco Center,” Shanahan said. “Local business support helps us continue to bring a variety of performances to our community and gives audiences another opportunity to enjoy live music in this historic building.”

Doors and the cash bar open at 6 p.m. The concert begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door on the day of the show. Tickets are available at francocenter.org, by calling 207-689-2000, or in person at the Franco Center box office from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Franco Center is accessible to people with disabilities from the Lincoln Street Alley entrance. Parking is available on Oxford Street when spaces are available, at the lot at Cedar and Lincoln streets, and at the Lincoln Street lot across from FX Marcotte.

Studio Two is sponsored by Androscoggin Bank.

Studio Two, a four-member tribute band dedicated to recreating the music, look and energy of The Beatles’ early years, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., Lewiston.

AUBURN, ME – The Drop-In Center in Auburn is looking for volunteers! We are especially in need of kitchen volunteers on Wednesdays and Saturdays to help with preparing meals, cooking, serving, and keeping things running smoothly in the kitchen. Come join a great team of volunteers and give back to your community in a meaningful way! Whether you can help regularly or occasionally, we’d love to hear from you! For more information or to volunteer, please contact the Drop-In Center at 207-200-4869 or visit www.thedrop-incenter.org.

LEWISTON, ME – The City of Lewiston invites residents to learn about the past, present and future of the Red Shop during a Community Conversation on Mon., Oct. 5, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM at the Hampton Inn, 15 Lincoln St. The City will conclude with a tour of the nearby building.

The city is holding the conversation to explain how it plans to activate Simard-Payne Memorial Park and hear what residents would like to see and do there. Participants will learn about plans for the former Bates Mill complex machine shop, including how it could support community events and concerts.

Built in 1938, the Red Shop served as a machine shop for the Bates Mill complex and helped control water flow in the canal system. Its location at 38 Water St. connects Lewiston’s industrial history with the riverfront’s growing role as a gathering place.

Residents should bring ideas for activities that would draw them to the building and park. The tour will give participants a closer look at the Red Shop and its relationship to the surrounding public space.

What:     Community Conversation about the Red Shop, followed by a tour.

When:     Mon., Oct. 5, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM

Where:    Hampton Inn, 15 Lincoln St.

RSVP:     hello@lewistonmaine.gov.

AUBURN, ME – Cast and crew for Community Little Theatre’s upcoming production of the musical “Cabaret” have been busy lately getting fitted for costumes, no small task for a show like this.

Since its Broadway debut in 1966, “Cabaret” has captivated audiences with its subversive plot and groundbreaking storytelling. Set in Berlin in the final years of the Weimar Republic, the musical portrays a society on the brink of collapse, using the Kit Kat Club as both a space of liberation and a harbinger of impending authoritarianism. As fascism rises outside its doors, the club’s revelers dance in a haze of sex, cynicism, and cabaret. Costume design has played a crucial role in shaping audience interpretations of the show’s themes, characters, and historical context.

Performances of “Cabaret” will be held on October 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m., and October 18 and 25 at 2:00 p.m. All shows will be held at CLT on 30 Academy Street in Auburn. Tickets are available online at www.laclt.com.

“Cabaret” director Brandon Chaloux, at left, is pictured here with cast member Nex Staples, who plays one of the Kit Kat Boys. Nex has just tried on a possible addition to his wardrobe for the show. “Cabaret” will open at CLT on October 16.