“Saturday Night Live” impressionist Tina Fey’s got nothing on Lewiston High senior Athena Andoniades.

When the school competed in the state mock trial finals Tuesday, Andoniades, 18, played the role of a witness: a right-wing, religious-type teacher. Andoniades was struck by the similarity of the make-believe witness to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, so the teen adopted Palin’s persona in court. Andoniades donned a red business jacket and dark glasses and put up her brown hair.

When she took the stand and testified, she spoke with that folksy Palin twang. Her testimony was rife with “You betcha” and “I’m a hockey mom.”

I wanted to laugh out loud, but the mock trial was in a dignified Cumberland County courtroom. On the bench in their black robes were Maine’s chief justice, the law school dean and the head of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.

After Andoniades’ performance, a man came up to her, laughing. “I was waiting for you to throw out ‘maverick’ up there,” he said.

In her remarks congratulating students on their performances, Chief Justice Leigh Saufley said, “We were honored to have Sarah Palin with us.”

Saufley called Andoniades’ presentation “very extraordinary” and added, “I understand ‘Saturday Night Live’ is calling. If you can get that kind of money … “

– Bonnie Washuk
‘A five-part friendly letter’

When we visited Washburn Elementary School’s second-grade class last week for a story on students writing to President-elect Barack Obama, we got to watch a letter-writing lesson.

“If you can name the five parts of a friendly letter, will you raise your hand?” teacher Barbara Carson asked. Gabrielle Merrill answered correctly: heading, greeting, body, closing and signature. As little Gabrielle spoke, the teacher touched her shoulders, her head, her feet.

“Do you think (the reporter) wonders why I’m doing this? Should we show her why?”

Yes! the students said.

They demonstrated how they learned the five parts by associating letter parts to body parts.

“Miss Carson says, ‘Touch your heading.'” Students touched their heads.

“Miss Carson says, ‘Touch your greeting.'” Students touched their shoulders.

“Miss Carson says, ‘Touch your signature.'” Students touched their feet.

If that wasn’t enough to provoke smiles, the teacher asked second-graders to name what they call the first draft. They answered in unison: “Sloppy copy!”

You can watch the video second-graders sent to Obama on the school’s Web page early next week. It will be at www.auburnschl.edu/washburn

– Bonnie Washuk
Trolling for bagel buyers

As part of its nationwide push for franchisees, Einstein Bros. Bagels is eyeing Maine. Its closest shops are in Boston and New Hampshire, according to Kevin Kruse, vice president of franchise development for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group.

Kruse described Einstein’s as the “largest bagel-based restaurant in the world.” No deals have been inked in Maine.

“We’re kind of ripe for the whole Northeast. Certainly, Maine and Lewiston would be a good territory for us,” Kruse said this week.

He’s looking for people to sign for multiple stores in a territory and he thinks the Twin Cities could support two. The bagel shops employ between 15 and 20 people.

The cost to get one Einstein’s up, including franchise fee: $600,000, on average, he said. The return, or first year’s sales, would average $900,000, he said.

– Kathryn Skelton