LEWISTON – Empower Lewiston’s blog, empower lewiston.blogspot.com, has been launched. After a Blog-o-Thon at the B-Street Community Center’s computer lab, the blog is up and running and is serving its purpose.

The purpose of Empower Lewiston’s blog is to provide a vehicle for residents and businesses to open a line of communication in order to bring positive change in the downtown.

The festivities jump-started with speakers Mayor Larry Gilbert, Empower Lewiston board member Jim Baumer and Sun Journal crime reporter Mark LaFlamme providing advice from their experiences with blogging. Ellen Gilliam from the Lewiston Public Library was on hand to talk about blogging with teens.

Baumer said blogging is simply journaling online and opening oneself up for feedback and open discussion.

LaFlamme said, “Blogging is like the tentacles of an octopus. It starts at one point and the network of people just keeps growing.”

Food and mini give-a-ways were provided throughout the day, including mouse pads and recordable CDs.

Hassan Shaleh, a downtown resident, was visiting the computer lab to find information on Lewiston Adult Education’s College Transition Program, and he ended up going home with a new desktop computer with the latest software.

Hassan entered into the computer give-a-way when he participated in the Blog-o-Thon and created a blog site of his own. He said he is excited to have the new computer for when he decides to get a higher education.

Empower Lewiston and the Downtown Education Collaborative are partnering to create greater accessibility for the computer lab at B Street and at the Lewiston Public Library to further their “Bridging the Digital Divide.”

For more information on computer lab hours or joining Empower Lewiston’s Community Blog or Newsletter Editorial Advisory Groups, contact Hillary Verrill at 777-5144 or e-mail Hillary@empower lewiston.org.