Cecile Allen was one of 150 members of Lewiston Adult Education’s graduating Class of 2012 receiving diplomas Tuesday.
A mother of six, Allen works a part-time job at Kohl’s and attended a career fair Friday morning to investigate local job openings.
A woman who says she’s good with figures, she plans to attend college and may pursue a career in accounting.
Allen is 82 years old.
No kidding.
As one of 10 siblings growing up in rural Biddeford, Allen said she never had time to go to school and decided to seek her GED after being laid off from her job at Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corp. three years ago.
“I figured I better finish what I started,” she said of her high school degree.
Cecile Allen is a go-getter. She moved to Lewiston years ago to be near one of her daughters and has held a variety of jobs over the years.
She started working at the shoe shop in her early 70s, and kept busy by taking line dancing classes, joining the local senior citizens group, working out at the gym, gardening and painting, and visiting her husband, who lives at d’Youville Pavilion.
She’s also working on her memoir, and has finished documenting the first 20 years of her life.
“I never stop,” she said.
No kidding.
Cecile Allen is an inspiration.
Congratulations to her — and all others — who embrace love of learning with such vigor.
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Jeannine Oren of Casco filed a civil action against the town of Casco and several public officials after, according to Oren, she was denied access to public documents.
According to the complaint, this former Finance Committee member was denied access to what she calls “auditor’s worksheets.”
She asked for access to the records several times in 2011, and each time the town told her it did not have the requested documents. According to Oren, the documents were given to others in town but not to her. So, she took a step that most Mainers do not take. She filed suit.
It’s the only real recourse citizens have when they’re denied access under the state’s Freedom of Access Act.
Not only did she file suit, she was enlivened enough to seek election to the Board of Selectmen and will be on Tuesday’s ballot.
Not many folks will go to that length in battle for public access because it has not been easy to do.
On Wednesday, it got a little easier for citizens to be their own investigators.
The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting launched its “Be Your Own Watchdog” site, a clearinghouse of public records big enough to inspire citizens to exercise their curiosity about the government’s business — which is the public’s business.
Questions about how elections work?
This site can help.
Want to know how to search ethics filings for financial contributions?
This site can help.
Be Your Own Watchdog is a work in progress and an exciting tool of accountability.
Check it out: http://byowd.pinetreewatchdog.org/
Information on FOAA, including a Q&A for public officials, is also available on the state’s website at http://www.maine.gov/foaa/, and from the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition at www.mfoic.org.
Please, be your own watchdog.
The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of the ownership and the editorial board.
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