Vaccine free

None of Maine’s congressional delegation has received the H1N1 flu vaccine.

Staffers for Democratic Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree and Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, all confirmed they had not been vaccinated against the pandemic flu.

“She’s not in the so-called “high-risk” group,” wrote Collins’ spokesman in an e-mail.

Pingree’s spokesman said the congresswoman, who represents Maine’s 1st District, has contacted Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding her concerns about the lack of vaccine available to even the highest priority groups, such as children and pregnant women.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, is already back at work after being diagnosed with the H1N1 flu in late October. He is the only member of Congress who has been sick with the disease so far, according to The Associated Press.

— Rebekah Metzler

A blessed cross

The Rev. Lissa Bradford, chaplain at the Hospice House in Auburn, participated in last week’s Veterans Day prayer service at Holy Family Church in Lewiston.

At some point between the time the reverend got out of her car in the parking lot and entered the church, she lost what she described as “a beautiful, sterling silver and turquoise cross” that must have fallen out of her garment bag.

After the service, Bradford searched the parking lot in the dark, but could not find the cross. Although Bradford reported the loss to the church staff, it has not yet been found.

The cross had been a gift to her on the “occasion of my ordination and it has great meaning for me,” Bradford said, and she is hopeful someone may have picked it up and can return it to her.

Bradford can be reached at [email protected], or at the Hospice House, 333-6300.

— Judith Meyer

An affront to veterans

The night before the Veterans Day memorial ceremony was held at Lewiston’s Veterans Memorial Park, someone slipped into the park and stole a white and green cover that had been concealing the 18th memorial stone dedicated in the park Wednesday.

The theft of the cover was a disappointing discovery, according to L&A Veterans Council Chairman Paul Bernard.

The Veterans Memorial Park, Bernard said, “is a tribute to all veterans throughout the nation who have been honorably discharged. But, in particular, to those who have lived and worked and attended schools and were drafted out of the Maine area, and/or have ties to Maine.”

“I am pleading with the citizens of Lewiston and Auburn to please assist us in retrieving our memorial cover.”

According to Bernard, the Council does not want to prosecute the theft. It only wants the memorial cover returned.

It really has no use to anyone else, he explained, with its highly-recognizable L&A Veterans Council emblem on the front.

Anyone having information on the memorial cover is asked to contact Bernard at 225-3285.

— Judith Meyer