This week’s edition!
Modern Woodmen support Pettingill School Park
Pettingill School Park in Lewiston was the beneficiary of a check for $1250 from the Modern Woodmen of America Chapter 8228. The money will go towards various park improvements. The Modern Woodmen issued the matching donation following the Friends of Pettingill Yard Sale, which raised an equal amount of money in sales and contributions. Here (l. to r.) are Art Chamberlain of the local Modern Woodmen chapter, with Friends of Pettingill committee members Margaret Craven, Heather Hunter, and Ted Walworth.
A Christmas Message from Governor LePage
At this time of year, we gather with loved ones to celebrate Christmas, count our blessings, remember the past year and look forward to next year.
Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.
This holiday season, I ask that we reflect on where we are. Our state has reached an all-time high in private-sector job growth, and our unemployment rate is hitting record lows.
Wages are rising at the fastest rate in decades, and I am told we have one of the highest percentages of our population working than ever.
For the past seven years, my goal has been to make our state prosperous, and I hope you are seeing the benefits of this economic growth in your community and in your wallet. Growth means opportunity, and that opportunity will encourage our children to stay here—living, working and prospering in Maine.
Enough Is Enough: Winning an election take more than getting your name on the ballot
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
You win some, you lose some. For now, mayoral candidate Ben Chin, is a 0-for-2 in his quest to bring a Berne Sanders/Bill DiBlasio style of socialism to Lewiston.
Two years ago in 2015 I had decided not to seek a third term as mayor. I was content to fade into Lewiston political history. Then Ben Chin, Bates College graduate and political director of Maine People’s Alliance, stepped to the podium and announced he was running for mayor. The crowd, consisting of Bates College students and professors, local activists and many of the great unwashed, cheered wildly.
New Year’s L-A to feature “Dinner, Dance, Drop, and Draw”
Critics have called Portland-based band The Substitutes “5-pieces of pure rock ‘n’ roll charisma that people seem to dig.”
The Gendron Franco Center in Lewiston will host its annual New Year’s L-A celebration on Sunday, December 31. This fun and elegant evening will feature a buffet dinner, including appetizers, two main course choices, and assorted desserts, prepared by the center’s staff and served from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. After that, guests will dance to the music of Portland-based rock ‘n’ roll band “The Substitutes” from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. The doors and bar will open for the evening at 7 p.m.
Androscoggin Readers Theater
The group includes members (l. to r.) Joanne Sabourin, Faith Towle, Joel Goodman, Judy Webber, Nancy Daniels, and Curt Webber. Absent from the photo are Bob Gardner, Linda Jackson-Washburn, Chris Lansley, and director Naomi York. (Photo by Rachel Morin)
Members of Androscoggin Readers Theater enjoyed a Christmas Luncheon at DaVinci’s in Lewiston recently. The group visits local retirement communities in the spring and fall to present performances of their original, humorous scripts that explore the quirks, peculiarities, and idiosyncrasies of senior life, all in good fun.
Mr. Drew and His Animals Too at Auburn Public Library
Mr. Drew and His Animals Too will visit Auburn Public Library for the first time on Thursday, December 28, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Come learn about animal rehabilitation and a variety of different animals with Mr. Drew. This family-friendly program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at 333-6640, ext. 3.
Students read work from Senior College Poetry Workshop
The poets were (l. to r.) Linda DeSantis, Nancy Orr, Harolyn Zaldumbide, instructor Bill Frayer, Diane Clay, Darlene Glover, and Eloise O’Neill.
Ten members of the Poetry Workshop at USM LAC’s Senior College recently invited friends and family to listen to their work. Before they read, each poet summed up their feelings about poetry. “People evolved,” said Nancy Orr, who had taken the course before. “We had to dig deeply to get across images we conceived,” observed Eloise O’Neil. “Poetry channels life experience in a positive direction,” noted Linda DeSantis.
Governor LePage’s Letter to Legislative Leadership Outlining Principles of Medicaid Expansion
By Governor Paul R. LePage
Medicaid expansion, as passed by the voters on November 7, 2017, will become law shortly. The Legislature must now step up and identify a way to fund this, and it is your duty to the people of Maine to identify a way to pay for expansion that is both fiscally prudent and sustainable.
Implementation and funding of Medicaid expansion must be based on the cost estimates of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and it must meet the following principles:
1. No tax increases on Maine families or businesses.
2. No use of the Budget Stabilization Fund or money that will be directed this year to the fund with the goal of reaching $300 million; diversion of these funds would drain a key budget stability resource and only provide funding on a one-time basis.
3. No use of other one-time funding mechanisms or budget gimmicks.
4. Full funding of our Section 21 and 29 waitlists, and no reduction of services or funding for our elderly or disabled populations and prioritization of our fiscal obligations.
Enough is Enough: Politics today involve more mud-slinging than skill
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
Never nod when you can wink, never speak when you can nod, never write when you can speak and never discuss sensitive issues with more than two people in the room to maintain deniability.
This is effective if the other person is not wearing a wire. Good common sense advice. But in today’s world, common sense is no longer practiced.
In days long gone by, politics was a skillful art, practiced by above-intelligent individuals familiar with foreign and domestic policies. Those desiring a career in politics would hitch their wagon to a successful politician. This allowed them to be groomed on the finer points of politics.
Success dictated you had the ability to carefully listen to the information and not only make a clear decision, but also justify it using your acquired skill in public speaking.
Central ME Detachment 810 donates Toys for Tots
In conjunction with Bedard Medical of Auburn, Central Maine Detachment 810 of the Marine Corps League recently presented over 100 new toys to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines of Brunswick for the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program. Pictured here (l. to r.) are Commandant Charlie Paul, Ben Nadeau, Mike Nadeau, Annette Nadeau, and Marine Sgt.-at-Arms Cliff Plourde.
