(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

LEWISTON, ME (April 24, 2023) — LA Arts is honored to host an afternoon of music with Lewiston native and musical luminary Buck Curran on Sunday, May 7 from 2:00 – 4:00pm. Curran will be joined by Liam Grant and special guests Shanti Deschaine of the band Arborea and Hiroya Miura, composer, performer and Associate Professor of Music at Bates College. This is LA Arts’ first musical performance in their new space. 

Since 2005, Curran has recorded and performed as one half of the Alt-folk duo Arborea and as a solo artist, receiving accolades from Rolling Stone, Guitar Player Magazine, and many other critics. 

In 2020 NPR published a Tiny Desk Concert recorded at Curran’s apartment in Bergamo, Italy where he now lives with his wife and family. 

Curran has developed his intimate, intense and engaging approach to live concerts through two decades of playing and touring extensively throughout the US, UK, and Europe. His recordings and accomplishments are numerous. 

In speaking of his compositional process, Curran explains “Everything seems to come visually as musical threads or complete melodies in my mind. I hear the music in my head first—usually on walks around town or in nature, or while driving—and then I’m quite anxious to grab my guitar and find out where to best play the notes on the fretboard.” 

Liam Grant is an acoustic guitar player with a punk ethos, cut from the American Primitive cloth. He made his debut in 2021 with his album “Swung Heavy: Gitarr for Fanatics,” released through the Sound-O-Mat label, which was met with seemingly endless touring through 2022. A split 7in single with Mike Gangloff of the veteran improvisers, Pelt, was released in January 2023, and his full-length LP “Amoskeag” is in the process of being released through Carbon Records.  

Grant states that his mission is “to bring fine Country Bluegrass, Ragtime and Blues plus other music for discerning listeners to a modern audience.” He has been praised as a “generational talent” and his music has received accolades in many publications. 

Buck Curran and Liam Grant performance details: L/A Arts, 168 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, Maine on Sunday, May 7 2023. Doors at 1:30pm; Music 2:00 – 4:00pm. Purchase tickets $15. General admission only, open to all ages.

Liam Grant

STATEWIDE (April 26, 2023) – Dozens of Girl Scout troops from all around the state offered their time and efforts this past Earth Day to keep Maine green by completing tasks from the Sustainable Maine Patch Program. From raking leaves, to planting trees, to cleaning up trash, and so much more, the Girl Scouts of Maine made sure to spread awareness and leave their mark on the planet this April.

The Sustainable Maine Patch Program offers several ways for Girl Scouts to cultivate awareness and inspire civic action within their home state. Participants not only learn more about how to create a sustainable future for Mainers to live, work, and thrive, but they also gain a deeper connection to their communities by giving back through a variety of meaningful, lasting eco-friendly activities.

Five Ambassadors from Troop 2300 spent the Earth Day participating in a lesser-known sustainability project: collecting unused paint.

“The girls chose the paint recycling part of the GSME patch and researched the statewide PaintCare recycling program that began in October of 2015. They were astonished at how many gallons of paint goes to waste and gets improperly disposed of,” says Troop 2300 Leader, Pam Irish.

Troop 5030 and Troop 5043 aimed their focus on the great outdoors, taking to trash clean up and groundskeeping. While Troop 5043 completed their Take Action project at Lionel Potvin Park in Lewiston, Troop 5030 took the residential route, cleaning up the yard of a local 88-year-old retired nurse.

“Our girls participated in a community service project sponsored by Powerserve to do projects around Windham. The troop was assigned to rake, trim branches and clean up a resident’s yard […] it was hard, dirty, and tough work, but they persevered and stuck with it because they knew they were helping someone who had helped so many others,” says Troop 5030 Leader, Jessica Bridges.

Tree planting was on the docket for Troop 2096 this Earth Day. The multilevel troop from Vienna spent the day planting two lilac trees at the Vienna Town House in pre-approved locations thanks to DigSafe, a free notification center that prevents digging accidents due to unmarked underground facilities.

“The girls brainstormed types of trees and took guidance from professionals at Fieldstone Gardens who offered a hefty discount. Where’s Your Sign donated the plaque, and each girl took a small balsam fir home to plant with their families,” says Troop 2096 Leader, Kirsten Heck.

Girl Scouts of Maine has programs and opportunities for girls ages 5-17 across all 16 counties in Maine. Interested in joining or volunteering? Visit https://www.girlscoutsofmaine.org to learn about a variety of ways you can get involved with Girl Scouts in your community!

AUGUSTA, ME (April 26, 2023) — Seven Maine community college students were honored for their academic success and campus and community involvement at a luncheon ceremony on Wednesday, April 26, at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell. The event was hosted by the Maine Community College System (MCCS) Board of Trustees. 

The students being recognized are: 

Jessica Clark, of East Waterboro, Southern Maine Community College;

Asma Hassan, of Lewiston, Central Maine Community College;

Aquiles Antonio Lopez, of Millinocket, Eastern Maine Community College;

Owen Martin, of Caribou, Northern Maine Community College;

Aubrey Slater, of Waterville, Kennebec Valley Community College;

Amy Stanek, of Sanford, York County Community College; and

Brandon Vinal, of Appleton, Washington County Community College.

 The seven students honored on Wednesday were selected by faculty and staff at the colleges.

 In addition to being recognized as Students of the Year, they will each receive a John and Jana Lapoint Leadership Award in the amount of $1,000. 

Mr. Lapoint was president of UF Strainrite in Lewiston and a trustee of the Maine Community College System. After his death in 1995, his widow, Jana Lapoint, served on the Board from 1995 to 2006 and helped establish the fund for the annual awards.

LEWISTON, ME (April 25, 2023) – Lewiston joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities is the current focus of the Lewiston Senior Advisory Committee. The Network supports municipal efforts for people of all ages to thrive as they live, work, play, and do business. 

Committee Chair Donna Gallant and Vice-Chair Julie Colangelo presented many of the Network benefits to the Lewiston City Council at its April 18, 2023, workshop. AARP, which recently make a presentation to the Senior Advisory Committee, is the nation’s largest non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. There is no fee to join the Network.   

The Age-Friendly Network is vast in nature and advocates for all ages to remain active and engaged within their community. According to AARP, “In age-friendly, lifelong communities, residents can thrive at all ages, remaining active and engaged and enjoying the best possible health and well-being.” 

An informal consensus of the City Council at the April 18 workshop was extremely positive with favorable comments shared by many councilors to include the City Council representative to the Committee, Councilor Rick LaChapelle, who praised the work that’s been done so far. A resolution supporting the Lewiston Senior Advisory Committee’s application to join the Network will be considered at the May 2, 2023, City Council meeting. 

Chair Gallant also shared a plea for community stakeholders to join them in the age-friendly effort, stating that the multi-faceted work will need more support than just the Lewiston Senior Advisory Committee. 

The Lewiston Senior Advisory Committee is particularly interested in the Network’s process to evaluate the needs of Lewiston’s seniors based on eight aspects of community life that are vital for health and well-being.  The eight areas are:

 Outdoor Spaces and Buildings; Housing; Transportation; Community Support and Health Services; Communication and Information; Social Participation; Respect and Social Inclusion; and Civic Participation and Employment. 

The Network also includes a process to review and evaluate how well seniors’ needs are being met in each of the eight areas.  Chair Gallant said that this is done through the development of an asset inventory and local demographic profile to include engaging with seniors and senior organizations about senior residents’ needs. Information acquired can then be used to review and evaluate how well Lewiston’s policies and programs address those needs and ways to address areas of continuing need.

 Chair Gallant stated that joining the Network will provide the Lewiston Senior Advisory Committee with access to technical assistance and guidance; networking with other member communities—over 80 of which are in Maine—access to potential AARP grant funding; and promotional assistance.

Committee Members who attended presentation (left to right): Julie Colangelo (Vice Chair); Donna Gallant (Chair); Marcia Baxter; Roger Fuller; Susan Charle; and Lewiston Recreation Director Nicole Welch.

AUGUSTA, ME (April 22, 2023) — On Thursday, Sen. Dave LaFountain, D-Winslow, and Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, welcomed Terrence Coley Sr. to the State House to perform the National Anthem.

“To hear such passion and heart during his rendition of the National Anthem was inspiring,” said Sen. LaFountain. “I’m honored that Terrence took the time to grace the State House with his extraordinary gift.”

Mr. Coley is a resident of Lewiston and works at Lawrence High School in Fairfield. He regularly performs the National Anthem before Lawrence High School athletic events and other regional sporting events. However, his rendition of the National Anthem recently landed him the opportunity to perform before an NBA game in Florida.

“It was so wonderful to meet Terrance today, and what a beautiful voice he has,” said Sen. Rotundo. “I thank Terrance for representing the City of Lewiston in such a positive light and I wish him continued success!”

From left: Sen. Peggy Rotundo, Terrance Coley Sr., Cathi Coley, and Sen. LaFountain

LEWISTON, ME (April 20, 2023) – People from various origins, ethnicities, and cultures call the City of Lewiston home.  On May 11, the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council, in partnership with LA Arts, is going to highlight that diversity from 6 – 8 PM.  (A visual is attached) 

Let Diversity Shine, a free event, will be held at LA Arts, 168 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, and will provide attendees with many opportunities to enjoy and learn. 

The scope of the event is as follows:

 ·        Interactive information booths to include Somalia, the Ivory Coast, the Irish, the French, the Hungarians, the Sudanese, and the Gabonese.  More are welcome to participate by signing up at www.lewistonmaine.gov/letdiversityshine; 

·        Booths will feature explanation of practices, memorabilia, flags, books, jewelry, food samples, and words in the respective language for attendees to learn; 

·        A red carpet will be on site for booth representatives to take center stage with a presentation. Maine State Rep. Margaret Craven, for instance, will be provide an Irish demonstration. 

·        Well-known fiddler extraordinaire Greg Boardman will perform a set of French folk music commencing at 6:30 PM.  LYAC member Ava Golder will provide a looping cultural music playlist as a backdrop for the event, and LYAC hopes to book additional musical performances before the event date. 

·        LYAC members will provide historic facts about Lewiston’s five largest waves of immigration:  Irish, French, Greek, Lithuanian, and Somali. 

·        An International Basket will be featured as a door prize, which will be filled with various cultural items, to include books on Lewiston history and ethnic cookbooks.  Lewiston restaurant gift cards will also be part of another drawing. 

·        A post-it area for folks to share what they know about diversity will be available upon arrival, as well as a post-it area to share what attendees have learned during the event as folks exit. 

In addition, although certainly not required, attendees are welcome to come in their own cultural attire, and a few LYAC members will be doing the same in light of the group’s own diversity, which includes the Dominican Republic, Somalia, and China.

AUBURN, ME (April 20, 2023) — The Stanton Bird Club is hosting the last in its 2022-23 lecture series, featuring pollination and behavioral ecologist, Carla Essenberg. She will be presenting an overview of the work she has been doing with Bates students and bird club volunteers to introduce native, pollinator-friendly plants to the Centennial Meadow at Thorncrag to help threatened butterflies, disappearing songbirds and other essential pollinators.

For the past seven years, Dr. Essenberg PhD has been an assistant professor of biology at Bates College as well as a board member of the Stanton Bird Club.

The talk will be held on Monday, May 1st from 4-6pm at the Auburn Public Library. The public is welcome. The lecture series is free of charge. We encourage participants to wear masks.

The Stanton Bird Club, a leader in environmental awareness, manages the Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary as well as the Woodbury Nature Sanctuary in Monmouth and Litchfield. More information about other activities of the Club can be found at www.StantonBirdClub.org and on its Facebook page.

‘Foxglove Beardtongue flowers’ (favored by hummingbirds and bumblebees) – photo by Carla Essenberg

LEWISTON, ME (April 22, 2023) — The Maine Music Society Chorale will perform a collection of songs from movie musicals that originated on Broadway in Broadway meets Hollywood at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, and at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, at the Franco Center in Lewiston. 

The MMS Chorale, under the direction of their Artistic Director Dr. Richard Nickerson, is excited to bring you this inspired assortment of Tony and Oscar nominated selections from the best of music theater.  Picture yourself strutting down the street with The Music Man, exploring traditions with Fiddler on the Roof, dancing with Mamma Mia, or reminiscing to the Sound of Music.  You’ll be moved by the poignant melodies  from The Wiz and Les Miserables; but this is only half of the program!  The surprise final number will have you up, singing along and dancing in the aisles! 

 Since this is also Mother’s Day weekend, give Mom a very special experience that will evoke wonderful memories. This concert has a bit of something for everyone. 

Join us as we take you through decades of music theater celebrating a true American art form. 

Masks are optional. 

Tickets are available online at www.mainemusicsociety.org or by calling our business office at 207-333-3386. 

MMS encourages you to purchase your tickets ahead of time.

 Tickets:

            Adult – $25*; Senior – $23*; Student – $13*

            Children under 12: free when accompanied by an adult.

            Group rates: 20% off price before handling fee for 10 or more tickets to the same performance purchased at the same time.

            * Handling fee:  $2 per ticket 

The Maine Music Society thanks our season sponsors Hardy, Wolf & Downing and the Ladd Foundation, the Event Sponsor Norway Savings Bank, and the Event Co-Sponsors Shukie & Segovias and Austin Associates for making this concert possible.

 The Maine Music Society Chorale is an auditioned, mixed-voice community chorus based in Lewiston-Auburn. Led by Maine Music Society Artistic Director Dr. Richard Nickerson, the 70-plus voice chorale has distinguished itself with an ever-evolving level of excellence and professionalism. Founded as the Androscoggin Chorale in 1973, the group’s diverse repertoire reflects its desire to advance the cultural heritage of Central Maine, to explore a broad range of musical genres — contemporary, musical theatre, classical, opera, oratorio — and to provide its members with opportunities to experience their love of singing.

MMS Chorale at March 23 concert with Director Dr. Richard Nickerson. Photo by Jared Morneau.