Her original graduation cards and gifts – the ones that got left on the roof of Charity Garland’s car when she drove off from the Lewiston Armory on Sunday – haven’t turned up.

But strangers apparently touched by the Lisbon High School grad’s story have turned out.

“A woman dropped me off a $100 check at the police station” Thursday morning, Garland said. “People were coming into my work and giving me cards and stuff. That was really nice. I’m, like, speechless.”

Garland lost new slippers, pajamas and cards with $450 tucked inside. She was most disappointed that she never got to read the cards and encouraging words. She initially took it as a sign that, along with a tuition shortfall, she wasn’t supposed to go to college in the fall.

Customers at Sam’s Italian Sandwich Shop in Lisbon Falls have slipped her money and a gift card since her story appeared in the paper.

“A woman called from Florida asking if she could send a check to my work,” Garland said. “I was really surprised. I don’t know how someone in Florida would have heard about it.”

– Kathryn Skelton
All-America City delegates get sentiment

When Maine legislators honor Lewiston’s All-America City delegates Monday, everyone who made the trip to Anaheim this year and last will be included.

Legislators are scheduled to adopt a legislative sentiment Monday morning at the State House in Augusta in honor of Lewiston being named an All-America City by the National Civic League.

Lewiston delegates attended the contest in Anaheim, Calif., in 2006 but didn’t win the title. A different group went back earlier this month and did win.

“We felt it was really important that both groups share in this honor,” said Dot Perham-Whittier, public relations director for the city. “We look at this year’s effort as a continuation of last year’s work.”

– Scott Taylor
L-A working to become ‘cool’

Is Lewiston-Auburn cool?

A group of environmentally minded citizens want to make the Twin Cities one of Maine’s “Cool Communities” by taking steps to fight global warming. Four communities in Maine have already become cool, including Portland and Biddeford.

After an initial organizational meeting, a group has formed to get Lewiston-Auburn to become one of the Maine Partners for Cool Communities, said Vi Raymond. “There’s a lot of interest,” she said. “We have 50 people really excited about making a difference.”

Nationwide, 400 mayors in 50 states have signed agreements pledging to meet or exceed global warming reduction targets.

To find out more about the local group, call Raymond at 375-3311, or stop in at 145 Lisbon St.

You also can check out the information at http://maine.sierraclub.org/Maine_Cool_Cities.htm.

– Bonnie Washuk
Snowe: Gas prices draining wallets

Olympia Snowe, one of Maine’s two Republican U.S. senators, has long called on Washington to mandate better gas mileage in vehicles and to reform national energy policy.

On Thursday, she repeated her call for a new policy to reduce foreign dependence and help fight global warming.

“The recent surge in gasoline prices this past spring has imposed an undue burden on small businesses,” Snowe said. “This Congress must take action to reform our nation’s energy policy.” The country must become more innovative and invest in alternative fuel technology that provides savings.

The average household paid $2,277 for gasoline in 2006, up 78 percent from 2001. With Maine gas prices at $3.03, and higher in Aroostook County, some Mainers are paying among the highest prices in the country.

– Bonnie Washuk