AUBURN, ME – The First Universalist Church of Auburn, will hold its  annual Water Communion ceremony on Sunday, September 7 @10am. The Rev. DC Fortune, who began leading worship at Auburn UU on August 10, will preside over this annual event.

During this traditional UU service, participants gather in Auburn UU’s historic sanctuary and share small vials of water to symbolize their travels- geographic, spiritual, or both. The water is purified and used for a communal blessing. Afterward, refreshments will be offered at Coffee Hour.

“We are excited to start this new chapter with Rev. Fortune” says Angela Foss, president of the Auburn UU Board of Directors. “He will ‘be present’ in the life of the congregation and also in the larger community,” Foss notes, “to craft meaningful worship, support staff and programming like Music and Religious Exploration, and serve as a clear voice for Unitarian Universalism in the Lewiston-Auburn region.”

Foss notes, “Rev. Fortune brings experience and skills that reflect and support the essential elements of our mission: ‘Rooted in the sacred, strengthened by our diversity, we equip ourselves to minister through the transformative power of love.’”

Maine Roots

Rev. Fortune grew up in Windsor, Maine. A graduate of Erskine Academy, he attended the University of Maine at Farmington, where he founded one of the earliest gay/straight alliances for students at UMF.

Fortune first found Unitarian Universalism in the early 1990s at the UU Church in Waterville, and has also attended congregations in Portland, Ellsworth, and Belfast, where he was ordained in 2015. Rev. Fortune trained for ministry at Bangor Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, where he graduated in 2014. He served an internship in Fremont, California and has served congregations in suburban Saint Louis, southern New Jersey and central Pennsylvania.

Serving the Unitarian Universalist denomination at the national level, Rev. Fortune is a member of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee and the General Assembly Planning Committee.

Rev. Fortune has been active in progressive and queer politics since the 1980s and is passionate about social justice work. Before becoming a minister, he worked as a newspaper reporter, a radio disc jockey, a bus driver, and a variety of jobs in construction. For fun, he enjoys forging knives and swords, as well as trout fishing in brooks and streams.

To learn more about Rev. Fortune and Auburn UU visit www.auburnuu.org or call 207-783-0461. Sunday worship is held in person at 10 a.m. at 169 Pleasant Street (across from Dairy Joy), as well as over Zoom. Parking; accessible.

Rev. DC Fortune will lead Auburn UU’s ingathering on Sept. 7.

LEWISTON, ME – Lewiston City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath outlined today how the city will begin its search for a new police chief, a process that will include a broad search, community participation and guidance from a community advisory committee.

“We are committed to transparency in fulfilling this very important position,” Kaenrath said. “As a part of that commitment, we are adding a public input session to this very important conversation.” Kaenrath noted that community input plays an important role in shaping the qualities and priorities sought in the next top law enforcement official for the City of Lewiston.

Residents were invited to a community input session hosted by City Administrator Kaenrath on Tue., Aug. 26.

Another key component to the search will be the driven by a five-member Advisory Search Committee. Representing the Advisory Search Committee will be the City Administrator; a representative of Lewiston Public Schools; a representative with a law enforcement background; and two community members reflective of the city’s diverse population. The committee will be tasked with helping to review applications and provide feedback throughout the process.

“As we look ahead, we intend to cast a wide net — across the country, throughout the State and here in Lewiston — to find a leader who will bring integrity, compassion, and sound judgment to the role,” said Kaenrath. “One who can further strengthen the trust between the department and the community.”

The decision to name the new Lewiston Police Chief comes at a time when Chief Dave St. Pierre announced his retirement after serving 33 years in the department. “Chief St. Pierre served with great distinction,” said Kaenrath. “As Chief St. Pierre concludes his tenure, we are committed to selecting a Chief who can continue advancing the department’s work and continue strengthening its role in serving Lewiston.”

Under Lewiston’s City Charter, the city administrator appoints the police chief.

MAINE – St. Mary’s Pediatrics has achieved Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), joining all other St. Mary’s primary care practices in meeting national standards for patient-centered care.

The PCMH model is designed to improve how primary care is delivered. It focuses on building ongoing relationships with patients and families, coordinating care across different providers, and making services easier to access. Practices must meet specific standards that cover areas such as communication, care planning, and use of health data to guide decisions.

St. Mary’s Pediatrics meets PCMH standards by working closely with families, improving access to care, and coordinating with specialists, schools, and community resources. These efforts help ensure children receive timely and appropriate care at every stage of development.

For more information about St. Mary’s Pediatrics, visit stmarysmaine.com/pediatrics.

LEWISTON, ME – Central Maine Healthcare will soon have some new certified nursing assistants (CNAs) among its ranks.

Earlier this month, eight CNA candidates graduated from CMMC’s Earn to Learn Program. It’s an eight-week state-approved training regimen and is free to the students. The program includes classwork, a skills lab and clinical experience.

All eight graduates have passed the state CNA Competency Exam and have been offered positions within Central Maine Healthcare which includes CMMC, Rumford Hospital and Bridgton Hospital.

“You are the eyes and ears of the nurses,” Kaitlyn Smith, RN, director of Acute Care Nursing at CMMC, told the graduates. “You are often the first person a patient comes across. You’re often the person who helps them into their car when we discharge them. You are the face of Central Maine Healthcare. Just remember why you wanted to go into the healthcare profession: to take care of patients.”

The next Earn to Learn program starts in October. Those interested can email gervaich@cmhc.org or call (207)795-7526.

LEWISTON, ME – Central Maine Healthcare is pleased to announce the arrival of a new provider. Eric Benson, MD, is now practicing at Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics.

Dr. Benson attended Princeston University before receiving a Master of Science in Physiology at Georgetown University. He attended the Georgetown University School of Medicine before completing an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of New Mexico and a fellowship in shoulder, elbow and hand surgery at the Roth/McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Center in London, Ontario.

Prior to joining Central Maine Healthcare, he practiced at New Mexico Orthopedics, specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery.

“I chose orthopedic surgery and shoulder and elbow surgery in particular because I have the opportunity to work with and help a wide range of patients with different interests and activity levels and at different stages of life,” Dr. Benson said.

Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics offers a full spectrum of treatments and services, from fracture care and casting for broken bones to complicated surgical procedures, rehabilitation and therapy services, allowing delivery of comprehensive, whole-person care from one location, to help patients get back to the activities they love.

MAINE – St. Mary’s Vein Care will host a free screening event for varicose veins and circulation concerns on Tuesday, September 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Appointments are required, with time slots available every 10 minutes. During the visit, the expert vein care team will perform a quick, painless screening, review results, and discuss any next steps or treatment options if needed.

Varicose veins can be more than a cosmetic issue. They may signal circulation problems that can worsen over time. This event is an opportunity to get answers and learn about treatment options in a comfortable and convenient setting.

To schedule an appointment, call (207) 777-4469.

LEWISTON, ME – Join us at the Lewiston Public Library’s Jane Austen Regency Ball on Saturday, October 18th in Callahan Hall. Doors will open at 6:30pm, and the dance will run from 7 to 9pm. The ball will include English Country Dancing and light refreshments. This is the Lewiston Public Library’s first annual literary ball, commemorating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.

English Country Dancing is a style of social folk dance that has been around for over five centuries and was popular during the Regency era. It is an approachable style of dance that utilizes a caller who teaches each song’s dance and calls the figures as the song progresses. This is a beginner-friendly dance, so participants do not need any prior experience to attend.

This free, after-hours event is open to participants ages 13 and up. No registration is required. Regency attire and fancy dress are encouraged.

The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street. More information on this program is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3134 or LPLCirc@lewistonmaine.gov.

LEWISTON, AUBURN, ME – The Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club recently inducted five new members who are pictured below along with their club sponsors and officers. From left are outgoing president Larry Delhagen; new members Scott and Elaine St. Pierre and their sponsor Stephanie Gelinas; new member Nishant Patel and sponsor Roger Philippon; sponsor Christine and new member Amy Sanchez; and President Peter Arsenault. Absent from the photo is new member Jeffrey Harmon, mayor of Auburn.

Scott and Elaine St. Pierre are the owners of SPS Property Inspections of Lewiston, which offers comprehensive home inspections, testing, and handyman services. Nishant Patel, the owner of Future Foods Supermarket in Mechanic Falls, is actually a transfer member from his previous club in Boston, MA. Amy Sanchez is creator and executive director of Kommunity Kritters in Lewiston, a grassroots resource to assist Lewiston residents to care for their animals.

The Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club has been serving this community since its founding in 1917. In addition to various volunteer activities, the club raises funds to support local service agencies and to provide yearly scholarships to graduating seniors from area high schools. The club meets every Thursday at noon at the Village Inn Restaurant in Auburn. Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to come to a meeting and visit the club website at lewistonauburnrotary.org/.

Up, pup, and away! Get ready for tails waggin’ and frisbees flyin’! Pups In The Air lands at the 2025 Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival!

These paws-itively amazing Disc Doggers and their talented four-legged friends will leap, spin, and soar on the Main Field at Simard-Payne Park, 46 Beech St., Lewiston. Catch their high-flying fun: Sat., Aug. 16 at 11:00 AM and at 1 PM Sun., Aug. 17 at 9:30 AM and 12:15 PM.

This year’s “cast” is full of seasoned pros from national competition qualifiers to top notch disc champs from all over New England.

Bring the kids. Bring your friends. Get ready to be fur-tunately amazed!

This year’s “cast” is full of seasoned pros from national competition qualifiers to top-notch disc champs from all over New England.

Everybody loves a parade! Whether you’re for the music, the balloons, the vintage cars or just to see who’s wearing the most sparkles, the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival parade has something for everyone. Make sure to hunker down in your front-row seat on Sat., Aug. 16 at 10 AM.

Here’s how the parade will roll:

Kickoff at Elm & Main in Auburn

Cruise down Main Street through New Auburn – wave like you mean it!

Float over the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge into Lewiston via Cedar Street – keep it zen in the Quiet Zone (from Cedar in Auburn to Lincoln Street in Lewiston).

Trek on through to Lincoln Street

Wrap up at Beech Street or just keep rolling down Lincoln if the energy’s too good to stop.

Wanna be in the parade instead of just watching? Drop a line to hamlyn300@gmail.com and join the fun!