In partnership with Uncle Andy’s Digest, L-A Metro Magazine, and Side By Each Brewing, Maine Event Comedy will present nationally touring comedian Karen Morgan at Side By Each Brewing on Saturday, June 29 at 8 p.m. The show will also feature Steve Scarfo, Luke Hanbury, and Julie Poulin. All proceeds from this special comedy fundraiser will benefit Make-A-Wish Maine.

In a ceremony at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, the Maine College of Health Professions in Lewiston recently graduated 63 students in nursing and 19 students in radiologic technology. The graduates were awarded Associate Degrees in Applied Science in their respective fields. Several graduating students also received awards during the ceremony.

Earlier this week, joined by Democratic and Republican lawmakers and Independent members of the Legislature, I was pleased to sign the state’s biennial budget into law.

The biennial budget is the culmination of months of work by my Administration and by both Democrats and Republicans on the Appropriations Committee and in the Legislature.

I am very proud of the hard work that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have put into this budget process and of the bipartisan agreement we’ve achieved as a result of that hard work.

One hundred and ten female ninth grade students from areas high schools convened at Central Maine Community College recently for a hands-on introduction to a variety of trade occupations. These trades, formerly affiliated almost exclusively with males, are today increasingly open to females, but are still widely considered “non-traditional occupations.”

Auburn Public Library will kick off its 2019 summer programs for kids and teens, themed “A Universe of Stories,” with two events featuring Master Storyteller Odds Bodkin. The first, for children and their families, will be on Monday, June 24 at 6 p.m.; and the second, for teens and adults, will be on Tuesday, June 25 at 1 p.m.

For two years running, the Auburn Fire Department and the Maine Forest Service have worked together with residents of the Taylor Pond area to decrease the risk of catastrophic fire and loss of property around the pond. 

The City of Auburn, Uncle Andy’s Digest, and Maine Event Comedy will present a Make-A-Wish Comedy Show on Friday, July 26 at 8 p.m. at Auburn’s Norway Savings Bank Arena. Prior to the show, there will be a social hour and raffles in the mezzanine area. Admission is $25. All proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish Maine. 

This night of laughs will feature four talented comedians. Headliner Dan Boulger has appeared on Comedy Central, HBO’s Aspen Comedy Show, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He is a winner of the Boston Comedy Festival. 

You know, it’s difficult to speak about death on days such as this, when spring is lifting up dormant life and summer is inviting us to happier times.

Some say that dusk is both the most beautiful and troublesome time of day. That is why the subject of impending death, the dusk of our days, is so difficult. 

This week, we dealt with a bill – commonly called the “physician assisted suicide” or “death with dignity” act – that purports to address decisions relating to end-of-life care, the dusk of our lives.

Some of the basic considerations for and against this bill were:

First, those in the shadows of life – as all of us may be at some time – deserve the highest level of care, compassion, and caution from those in charge of society’s resources, through its rules, laws, and mores.

For those who are unable to care for themselves – of whatever age, ability, or capacity – society has a great responsibility.

By Nathan Tsukroff

That was the lesson of the afternoon at the Ecology School last week at Poland Spring Resort on Maine Street in Poland, the school’s home for the spring and fall of 2019. 

Sixth-grade students from Haverhill, MA spent last week studying agroecology at the expansive resort that has served summer guests for generations. Over 80 students from one school arrived on Monday, with another 60 arriving on Tuesday. They took part in classes through midday on Friday before returning to Massachusetts. 

The Public Theatre in Lewiston and Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick are partnering for the first time to bring the musical “Grease” to The Public Theatre stage in Lewiston June 18 through 30.

“When the possibility of having our two professional theatres collaborate on a musical was presented, we jumped at the idea,” said TPT’s Executive-Artistic Director Christopher Schario. “We think that combining the strengths of our organizations will create a production that will surprise and delight both our audiences.”