AUBURN, ME (May 18, 2023) — Chief Robert Chase of the Auburn Fire Department announces a series of promotions as a result of a promotional process that started in late 2022 and ended in March of 2023. “I am excited to honor the advancements these individuals have made in their careers, and to promote the qualities of integrity and accountability that they demonstrate. I look forward to seeing the impact they will have on the department in the future.”

Michael Scott- Promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief on January 1, 2023, and assigned to command Shift A. Battalion

Chief Scott has been with the department since February 19, 1996, and was promoted to Lieutenant in February of 2008. He was again promoted on April 26, 2015, to the rank of Captain. During his time with the department, he has been involved with many aspects of the department’s operations and training, and currently assists in management of the department’s fleet of vehicles. BC Scott is the highest-ranking officer of Shift A.

Erik Poland- Promoted to the rank of Captain on February 15, 2023, and assigned to Shift B.

Captain Poland has been with the department since January 7, 2008, and was promoted to Lieutenant on July 8, 2018. Captain Poland who is assigned to Shift B is also a State of Maine licensed Paramedic. Additionally, Captain Poland is the commanding officer of the Fire Department Special Rescue Division.

Tyler Arsenault- Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on March 8, 2023, and assigned to Shift C as the officer of Engine 2 on South Main Street

Lieutenant Arsenault has been with the department since April 1, 2012. Lieutenant Arsenault is part of the training team and is the Station Chief for South Main Street Fire Station. In addition to his other duties, Lieutenant Arsenault assists the department in recruitment activities throughout the state.

Adam Salve- Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on March 8, 2023, and assigned to Shift C as the officer of Rescue 3 at Central Station

Lieutenant Salve has been with the department since October 3, 2017. Lieutenant Salve is a State of Maine licensed Paramedic and is the Officer in charge of our department’s Ice and Water Rescue Teams.

Photo (left to right): Chief Robert Chase, Lt. Adam Salve, Lt. Tyler Arsenault, Captain Erik Poland, Battalion Chief Michael Scott, Deputy Chief Matthew Fifield

AUGUSTA, ME (May 18, 2023) – Rep. Mana Abdi, D-Lewiston, and Rep. Deqa Dhalac, D-South Portland, spoke to their experiences as first-term members in the Maine House of Representatives and called on young Black Mainers to engage in politics during the state’s inaugural Black Voices Advocacy Day at the State House on Thursday.

Rep. Abdi speaks at Black Voices Advocacy Day at the State House.

Rep. Dhalac speaks at Black Voices Advocacy Day at the State House.

AUBURN, ME (May 8, 2023) — Director Becca Tinkham has announced that auditions for the Community Little Theatre (CLT) production of The Little Mermaid will be held Sunday, May 21 at 4:00 p.m. and Monday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. 

With Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater, Book by Doug Wright, The Little Mermaid musical is based on the well-known Hans Christian Anderson story and the Disney animated film. Songs include Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”

Anyone who wishes to audition is asked to fill out the online audition form before May 19 and to include on the form (or bring to rehearsal) a list of all possible schedule conflicts. Rehearsals will begin Sunday, May 28th.

Each person auditioning will be asked to sing a song from the show and—time permitting—read from the script and learn a bit of choreography. All audition details and character descriptions can be found online at laclt.com/auditions. 

Auditions will be held at the theater at 30 Academy Street in Auburn. The performance dates for Little Mermaid are August 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and August 13 and 20 at 2:00 p.m. 

 LEWISTON, ME (May 10, 2023) — The City of Lewiston annually helps to recruit volunteers to place nearly 7,500 flags at individual veterans’ gravestones within Lewiston cemeteries. As Memorial Day approaches, volunteers are again being sought. 

A 2001 Maine State law requires municipalities to purchase and place individual American flags at the gravestone of every veteran buried in respective town/city cemeteries for Memorial Day each year. Lewiston has 13 cemeteries, and community volunteers annually place nearly 7,500 flags. 

For many of the smaller cemeteries, abutting neighbors usually handle the annual flag placement. For the two largest cemeteries, Riverside and St. Peters, service organizations have historically adopted these cemeteries and undertake flag placement for the City of Lewiston. 

As such, for 2023, flag placement will occur as outlined below at Riverside Cemetery and St. Peters Cemetery, and the organizing groups welcome volunteers to assist them: 

Riverside Cemetery, 192 Summer Street, Lewiston Saturday, May 20, 2023, 9:00AM (rain or shine) 

The Knights of Columbus are the coordinators for this location. Contact is Leo Baillargeon at (207) 577-7424 

There are approximately 1,600 flags for this location. 

St. Peters Cemetery, 217 Switzerland Road, Lewiston Sunday, May 21, 2023, 10 AM (rain or shine) 

Meet at the Mausoleum, St. Peter’s Cemetery, Switzerland Road, Lewiston. 

The L/A Veterans Council are the coordinators for this location. Contact is Jerry Dewitt at (207) 576-0376 

There are approximately 4,000 flags for this location. The plan is to assign teams of 5-10 volunteers to an area of each cemetery and to cover the cemetery in a grid fashion in order to not miss any stone. If military service is listed on the stone, a flag will be placed there. 

Volunteers do not need to sign up in advance; they are welcome to show up on the date/time of the event and will be provided instructions by the on-site coordinator. The City of Lewiston is also noting the following helpful logistics for volunteers who participate. 

1) Work gloves are optional but encouraged. 

2) Volunteers may bring their own hand sanitizer. 

3) Wear sneakers or boots in case the grass is wet. 

4) Bring a screwdriver to poke a hole in the grass; it is much easier to place a flag’s wooden dowel into the ground if a hole is first made. 

5) Plan to bring a water bottle if it is a hot day. 

6) Bring bug spray, hat, and sunscreen. 

7) Be mindful of ticks. 

8) Children/youth are encouraged to participate but must be accompanied by an adult. 

9) Wearing company or organization t-shirts is welcome. 

Jerry Dewitt, on behalf of the L/A Veterans Council, expresses appreciation to volunteers for their efforts, “Thank you for your support of veterans to remember their service on Memorial Day.” Questions about the process may be directed to the Lewiston City Clerk’s Office (207) 513-3124, or volunteers may directly reach out to event coordinators.

 Nate Cheever, Lewiston building maintenance employee, helping to store flags at Lewiston City Hall in anticipation of placement.

LEWISTON, ME (May 12, 2023) — The Public Theatre presents entertaining family fun for ages 4 and up with their production of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical playing May 20 and 21. This delightful musical featuring Broadway veterans, combines catchy songs with the humor of a Pixar film to tell the empowering story of 8-year-old Lily Polkadot. When Lily moves to a new town, she faces the challenge of being the first Polkadot in an all Square school and shows everyone how our differences make us awesome, not outcasts. Aside from its catchy songs and choreography that will leave you dancing in the aisles, the show also has a perfect message for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical is playing at The Public Theatre, Lewiston/Auburn’s Professional Theatre, May 20th and 21st with two performances each day at 1:00 and 4:00 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for anyone 4-18. Tickets can be purchased online at thepublictheatre.org or by calling 782-3200. The Public Theatre is located at 31 Maple Street in Lewiston.

LEWISTON, ME (May 12, 2023) — The Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute (CMHVI) opened in May of 2003 at the Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) campus, to bring skilled medical specialists and innovative treatments to the people of central Maine and beyond, including rural areas where residents previously had limited access to high-quality care. 

The motto for the institute, when it opened, was “For the heart, from the heart,” and with its focus on individualized care for each patient, that same spirit prevails today. 

Services range from conservative medical care and rehabilitation to surgery for common, and sometimes complex, heart and vascular conditions. The institute also focuses heavily on educating the community and preventing disease before it develops. Outpatient care is delivered from CMHVI’s Lewiston offices and at other locations throughout central and western Maine. 

“The skill set among our surgeons and interventionalists is on par with top cardiovascular programs in the country,” said Michael Berlowitz, MD, MBA, FACC, chief of Cardiology, Central Maine Healthcare. “We have outstanding doctors who chose to come to Maine to live and work and have found a home right here at CMHVI.”

 CMHVI was recently reaccredited for its stroke treatment and prevention programs. It has also been recognized by The American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain, the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for echo lab and vascular lab. The department has also been accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Administration.

Felecia Jinwala, MD, performs vascular surgery at Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute.

LEWISTON, ME (May 5, 2023) — The Public Theatre presents entertaining family fun for ages 4 and up with their special production of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical playing May 20 and 21. This delightful musical combines catchy songs with the humor of a Pixar film to tell the empowering story of 8-year-old Lily Polkadot. When Lily moves to a new town, she faces the challenge of being the first Polkadot in an all Square school. Overcoming her obstacles, she challenges the minds and hearts of her peers showing everyone that our differences make us awesome, not outcasts.

The entire staff of The Public Theatre fell in love with this funny and charming new musical for children and were committed to producing it at the high artistic standard that Public Theatre audiences have come to expect, featuring professional actors and singers, some of them even Broadway veterans.

Aside from its catchy songs and choreography that will leave you dancing in the aisles, the show also has a perfect message for our community or anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.

The Public Theatre’s commitment to family friendly prices of $15 for adults and $10 for children 4-18 years old, makes high quality entertainment affordable for most families. Student matinees are also scheduled for this production and over 2,200 students already have a ticket to attend with their school!

The Public Theatre has put together an incredible cast of New York based singers and actors including Annell Moya as Lily Polkadot, Yale Langworthy as Sky Square, Mia Goodman as Penelope Square and Allison Briner Dardenne as their teacher Ms. Square and Momma Square.

Director Adam P. Blais has been humming the songs and creating the choreography while working with Musical Director (Katy Cavanaugh), preparing his design team to bring this joyful musical to life. Set design is by Tricia Hobbs, Lighting Design by Erin Fauble, Sound Design by Jacob Pribilsky and the unique Costumes representing the Square and Polkadot world are being designed by Kaylee Carroll and Reyna Higgins, a team of MCI students being mentored by their teacher Debra Susi.

To hear an example of one of the many catchy songs in the show visit https://thepublictheatre.org/polkadots-musical

Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical is playing at The Public Theatre, Lewiston/Auburn’s Professional Theatre, May 20th and 21st with two performances each day at 1:00 and 4:00 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for anyone 4-18. Tickets can be purchased online at thepublictheatre.org or by calling 782-3200. The Public Theatre is located at 31 Maple Street in Lewiston.

‘Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical’ is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank, Berube’s Complete Auto Care, Napa Coastal Auto Parts and presented with generous support from the Maine Arts Commission.

WINTHROP, ME (May 5, 2023) –The Bailey Public Library in downtown Winthrop will continue the popular “Bookey Readings” poetry series at the library’s 39 Bowdoin Street location on Saturday, May 13th at 1:00 p.m.

The “Pondtown Poets,” founded in 2003, will be the featured poets at the event. The group was founded by Winthrop native Susan Parks and takes their name from the history of Winthrop. The Pondtown Poets have met monthly, in-person and virtually, for all of their 20 years together.

The current group consists of Sally Joy, Susan Parks, and John Seksay of Augusta; Anne Carter of Hallowell; and Dean Lebel of South Carolina.

The Bookey Readings poetry series was started by Ted Bookey at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell over 25-years ago. Bookey was well known for his poetry workshops at UMA through UMA’s Senior College. Local poets Claire Hersom and Jay Franzel took over organizing the series in 2015 and the series moved to the Bailey Library in Winthrop in 2022.

Refreshments are served.

The Pondtown Poets. Back row L-R: Anne Carter, John Seksay, and Susan Parks; Front row L-R: Sally Joy, Dean Lebel

(May 2, 2023) — Utilizing monies received through fundraising efforts and donations, the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine was able to make 50 Care Baskets to distribute to cancer patients located in western Maine who could use some extra help. The Care Baskets contain cleaning supplies, paper products and personal hygiene items.  This is the third year of the project, which began during the COVID 19 pandemic as a result of many cancer patients not being able to purchase these items with their food stamps. Several volunteers came in to help put the baskets together. 

Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine Volunteer Margie Bartlett with the Care Baskets.

LEWISTON, ME (May 5, 2023) — On Friday, May 19th, The Lewiston Public Library will host Suzanne Farrell Smith to discuss her book of essays entitled: Small Off Things. This free, public program will take place at 2 PM in the Jeanne Couture Room at the Lewiston Public Library.

Small Off Things is about the upsets of life, observed and managed by the author, who lives with multiple anxiety-related disorders. Each essay focuses on a painful moment or event that threatens her equilibrium and shows how she makes meaning from what she experiences. Suzanne will talk a little about what prompted her to put together this collection and how she arranged it, then read from her book.

After this reading, Dave Bilodeau will talk about Lewiston’s Project Support You, and how this program aims to help our community support those in need of mental health resources. Contact information and other materials will be provided. A Q&A will follow both presentations.

Suzanne Farrell Smith is the author of The Memory Sessions, a memoir, and The Writing Shop: Putting Shop Back in Writing Workshop. Her work has appeared in Kenyon Review, Fourth Genre, Post Road, River Teeth, and Creative Nonfiction, as well as several anthologies. Her essay “If You Find a Mouse on a Glue Trap,” published in Brevity and republished in The Best of Brevity: Twenty Groundbreaking Years of Flash Nonfiction won a Pushcart. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and sons.

The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street. More information on Friday’s program is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or LPLReference@lewistonmaine.gov.

For further information, contact: Caitlin Ramsay, 207-513-3135