LEWISTON, ME (July 28, 2023) — Cat’s Meow Comedy presents another First Friday standup comedy show at Rusty Bus Brewing on August 4^th.

Featured comedians include Crystal Bernard, Tim Hofmann, Ben Chadwick, Cory Nicholson, and host Ann-Marie Keene.

Crystal Bernard has been a finalist in New England’s Funniest Comic competition, and a runner-up in Maine’s wicked funny laugh off.  

Tim Hofmann is the original creator and host of the Laugh Shack comedy club in Portland Maine, and performs everywhere he is allowed.

This Pay-What-You-Can show starts at 7pm and is for ages 21 and up. Rusty Bus Brewing is located at 120 Lisbon St. in Lewiston.

LEWISTON/AUBURN, ME (July 28, 2023) — After more than a year of discussion and research, the board of Lewiston/Auburn Senior College made the decision to become a 501C3 last September. We are now a non-profit, financially separate from the University of Southern Maine. We are grateful to the University for welcoming us and working with us for many years. We will still be keeping a presence there, but will also be free to pursue other venues and create a more flexible schedule.

Senior College offers a variety of activities and learning opportunities for people over 50. Classes will be available both in person and on-line, and as a member of L/A Senior College you have the option to participate in the offerings of other senior colleges in Maine.

We have a great line up of classes that will begin at the end of September. Registration begins at 8 AM Sept 5, but you can already view some of them at: https://lewiston-auburn-senior-college.coursestorm.com

In addition to classes we offer group activities such as Art Club, Outsiders, Dine Around, free speakers on Food For Thought, and more.

Join us for some fun at Wallingford’s Orchard on Sept. 6 – more information to follow!!

Meanwhile, check out our new website: laseniorcollege.org. If you have questions, call 207.713.7266 and leave a message or send an email to laseniorcollege@gmail.com

LEWISTON, ME (July 26, 2023) — Just as National Breastfeeding Month is about to begin in August, the popular in-person breastfeeding support groups for new mothers at Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) are up and running again, after being scaled back during the pandemic.

 CMMC’s maternity team has earned a stellar reputation. For the second straight year, CMMC was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as “High Performing in Maternity Care.” The hospital also maintained its “Baby-Friendly” designation from Baby-Friendly USA for providing mothers with the information, skills and confidence to breastfeed their babies. CMH is one of only three healthcare systems in Maine with that distinction. 

August is National Breastfeeding Month which was established to highlight the benefits of breast milk for babies. Among them are stronger immune systems, a reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and physical development. There are also numerous health benefits for breastfeeding mothers.

 Vicky Roy, RN, has worked at CMMC’s maternity ward for more than 50 years. She says when she first started, only about 40 percent of new mothers attempted to breastfeed. Now, she says, that percentage is in the high 80s. 

“There can be a lot of anxiety around being a new mom, but as they’re breastfeeding, they get a really close, intimate connection with their baby,” Vicki said. “It’s like an extension of the pregnancy and it really bonds them. A lot of women have said it’s the most powerful experience of their lives -nursing their babies.”

 CMMC has lactation specialists on hand, seven days a week, including overnights with certified breastfeeding mothers. 

“Breastfeeding can be pretty tricky,” said Lindsay Petty, RN, who also works at CMMC’s maternity ward. “So being able to provide the individual support a woman needs to be successful on her breastfeeding journey is a wonderful experience.” 

Central Maine Medical Center’s breastfeeding support group meetings are held on Thursdays at 9:30-11:30 a.m. at 12 High Street, in the lower level.. They are open to all new breastfeeding mothers in the central Maine region. 

CMMC’s maternity department has also been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center+. This distinction recognizes hospitals that demonstrate more affordable care in addition to quality care, treatment expertise and better overall patient results.

LEWISTON, ME (July 28, 2023) — Nomination papers for municipal office are available for distribution and circulation by prospective candidates. Positions available include Mayor, seven City Council seats, and eight School Committee seats.  The City Council has one representative from each of the seven city wards serving on the Council.  The School Committee has one representative from each ward as well as one at-large position available. All candidates must be at least 20 years old and must be registered voters of Lewiston.

The 2023 city election is the first year the city is implementing staggered terms for elected officials.  The voters approved this change in 2021.  The Mayor’s position will be for a three-year term as will the City Council seats for wards 2, 4 and 6 as well as the School Committee seats for wards 1, 3, 5, and 7. The positions of School Committee At Large, City Council wards 1, 3, 5 and 7 as well as School Committee wards 2, 4 and 6 will all be for a two-year term of office.  The municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

All terms will commence on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. 

Candidates for Mayor must submit nomination papers signed by not less than 100 or more than 200 qualified voters of Lewiston.  Persons interested in the at-large seat on the School Committee must submit completed nomination papers signed by not less than 50 nor more than 100 qualified voters of Lewiston. Candidates for all other positions must submit nomination papers signed by not less than 50 nor more than 100 qualified voters of the respective ward.

Per the City Charter, all candidates for the position of Mayor must have registered and qualified to vote on or prior to February 24, 2023.  Residents interested in running for the School Committee At Large position must have registered and qualified to vote on or prior to May 24, 2023.  Candidates for all other positions must have registered and qualified to vote in their respective ward on or before May 24, 2023.

Completed nomination papers must be filed with the City Clerk’s Department no later than Thursday, August 24, 2023, by 4:00PM. All candidates are requested to file their nomination papers early in order to provide sufficient time to obtain additional signatures if necessary. 

Nomination papers may be picked up at the City Clerk’s Department located on the second floor of City Hall, 27 Pine Street.  Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 4:00PM.  Questions regarding the procedures for nomination papers or the municipal election process may be directed to the Clerk’s Department at (207) 513-3124.  Additional information is available on the election page of the city website at www.lewistonmaine.gov/elections

AUBURN, ME (July 21, 2023) — Mackenzie Richard as Ariel and Scotty Venable as Prince Eric practice some dance moves at a recent rehearsal for the upcoming Community Little Theater production of the musical The Little Mermaid, based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the classic Disney animated film. Show dates are August 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and August 13 and 20 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets and more information are available online at https://www.laclt.com/the-little-mermaid-2023 or by calling 783-0958.

Scotty Venable as Prince Eric and Mackenzie Richard as Ariel rehearse dance moves for the upcoming CLT production of the musical The Little Mermaid.

AUBURN, ME (July 21, 2023) –The City of Auburn’s Communications Department launched a new podcast earlier today, entitled Absolutely Auburn! Hosted by Downtown Coordinator Jennifer Boenig and produced by Communications Assistant Abby Borron, the Absolutely Auburn podcast aims to give residents the opportunity to hear from city staff and officials in an in-depth and informative way.

For the inaugural episode, Boenig chatted with Auburn City Manager Phil Crowell and Assistant City Manager Brian Wood on why the city is starting a podcast, what the day-to-day of their jobs looks like, how residents can get involved in local government, and more.

Listeners can find the Absolutely Auburn podcast at https://absolutelyauburn.buzzsprout.com, as well as auburnmaine.gov and goauburn.me, or on their favorite podcast app, such as Spotify or Amazon Music. The city plans to release a new episode every two weeks.

The guests on Absolutely Auburn’s inaugural episode: L to R – Assistant City Manager Brian Wood and City Manager Phil Crowell proudly display their “golden microphone” thank you gifts for appearing on the podcast.

LEWISTON, ME (July 21, 2023) — A new health care pathways apprenticeship class is scheduled to begin at Lewiston Adult Education in August. 

Testing and interviews will be held for the candidates through July. English language learners will receive health care certification along with English language immersion. 

The Health Care Pathway program is divided into three sections, beginning with Health Care Foundations, continuing with Personal Support Specialist (PSS) training and ending with Certified Nursing Assistant training. All include English language immersion as part of the curriculum.  Successful students will have the opportunity to apply and become apprentices at local healthcare facilities.

Earlier in July, students in the ongoing health care pathways apprenticeship class celebrated earning their Personal Support Specialist certification. Their class began in May. Students are scheduled to finish in September and will have earned the certified nursing assistant certification.

To register for new the August session, students must be 18 years old, take the CASAS exam and have started the process to receive their work permit in order to be considered for the class.

Contact Josee Castonguay at jcastonguay@lewistonpublicschools.org for more details about the August health care class.

Students interested in other workforce classes can look for updates on Lewiston Adult Education’s website, www.lewiston.maineadulted.org, about future training programs. They include:

—Workplace technology certification, which will focus on computers, is set for a September start.

—Construction/manufacturing will begin later in the fall.

—Today’s Teller, a banking program, is scheduled to begin in October.

For more information about the fall workforce classes, email Mike Reagan at mreagan@lewistonpublicschools.org.

Health care apprenticeship students show off the Personal Support Specialist certification they earned in July as part of their training at Lewiston Adult Education.

LEWISTON, ME (July 21, 2023) — This is the Festival’s 29th year! The theme is “Boo-Loon Bash,” and the Festival will be held at Simard-Payne Park, 46 Beech Street, Lewiston. Save the date!

AUBURN, ME (July 14, 2023) — Rehearsals are well underway for the Community Little Theatre (CLT) production of The Little Mermaid, which will open August 10th.

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and  book by Doug Wright, this “fishy fable” includes such popular songs as “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”

Mermaid princess Ariel is fascinated by the world and lives of people on dry land, and longs to someday join them, though her father, King Triton forbids contact. When she falls in love with human Prince Eric from afar, she makes a deal with her father’s sister and enemy Ursula: she is temporarily transformed into a human and may remain so if she wins the kiss of true love from her prince within three days. The dangerous mission leads to a showdown between good and evil forces which only love can remedy.

Director/choreographer Becca Tinkham has assembled a large and talented cast for the show, led by CLT veteran Mackenzie Richard as Ariel. Other principal and supporting cast members are Scotty Venable as Prince Eric, Chris Cifelli as Grimsby, Jayson Bray as King Triton, Germaine Robinson as Sebastian, Leslie Reed as Flounder, Zack Balkcom as Scuttle, and Justin Morin as Ursula.

Playing featured roles are Greg Lambert, Ansley Watson, Maria Groover, Makenzie Finnegan, Anna Sargent, Samantha Melquist, Maddy Vaillancourt, Brian Pfohl, Ellie Pfohl, and Heather Pape. In the ensemble are Eddie Angelo, Birdie Gay, Hannah Hanson, Valorie Lake, Karen McArthur, Iver McLeod, Mary Melquist, David Moyse, Lacey Moyse, Brock Rancourt, and Cody Watson.

Tinkham’s production team includes music director Paul G. Caron, assistant director/stage manager Brandon Chaloux, and producers Jennifer McClure Groover and Justin Morin.

The Little Mermaid will be performed at CLT at 30 Academy Street in Auburn at 7:30 p.m. on August 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and August 13 and 20 at 2:00 p.m.

Ticket prices (including all fees) are $22.00 for adults, $19.00 for seniors, and $14.00 for students. Tickets are available online at www.laclt.com/box-office or by calling 207-783-0958.

Members of CLT’s production of The Little Mermaid are pictured here rehearsing a scene from the show. From left in front and center are Cody Watson, Ellie Pfohl, Leslie Reed, Germaine Robinson, Mackenzie Richard, Lacey Moyse, and Mary Melquist. In back are Karen McArthur, Birdie Gay, Brian Pfohl, Iver McLeod, Brock Rancourt, and Scotty Venable.

BRIDGTON, ME (July 14, 2023) — Amy Dugas, director of primary care and specialty services at Bridgton Hospital, has earned the professional designation of Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) by the American College of Medical Practice Executives. 

Established in 1956, the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE) is the standard-setting and certification body of the Medical Group Management Association. ACMPE offers board certification and fellowship in medical practice management. 

The journey wasn’t an easy one. After meeting the requirements to become board eligible, Amy prepared for and completed two proctored exams, and completed 50 hours of continuing education. In all, it took her just over 12 months.

 “I am incredibly proud of Amy for achieving this certification,” said Stephany Jacques, interim president of Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital. “It exemplifies her commitment to continuous advancement in education and utilizing expert resources to drive successful results for our practices. “

 Amy will celebrate her tenth anniversary with Central Maine Healthcare in September.