To all my friends and neighbors in Maine House District 116, a very sincere “thank you.” I asked them for a fourth and final House term, and they resoundingly showed their approval of my work. I have spent six years listening to their ideas and fighting hard to bring our blended viewpoints to Augusta. Our […]
Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
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Posted inConnections
Community briefs for Tuesday, Nov. 10
Veterans plaza dedication to go virtual due to virus BRUNSWICK —The Veterans Plaza Organizing Committee has announced a major change to the Veterans Day, Nov. 11, dedication ceremony. To conform to the new COVID-19 regulations, the celebration will go on as planned, but will be staged off site and with no audience. Instead, starting at […]
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Trinity Jubilee Center receives Avangrid $20,000 grant
LEWISTON — The Trinity Jubilee Center has received a $20,000 grant from the Avangrid Foundation in partnership with Central Maine Power. The grant will support the center’s soup kitchen and food pantry. These programs are seeing increased need during the COVID-19 pandemic: more than 25,000 meals, 4,000 bags of groceries and 28,000 diapers have been […]
Posted inConnections
Averi Beaudoin selected Monmouth Academy student of month
MONMOUTH — Averi Beaudoin, class of 2022, was selected Monmouth Academy September Student of the Month. Beaudoin is a member of the varsity golf team, varsity softball team and Future Business Leaders of America. In presenting the award, Alyssa Littlefield, English teacher, remarked, “Averi is someone who defines consistency and effort, is curious, dedicated and, […]
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Creative ideas, applications sought for affordable housing challenge
FARMINGTON — The LEAP Explosion Fund Committee is seeking creative ideas for affordable housing. The LEAP building exploded on Sept. 16, 2019, and the LEAP Explosion Fund was created within an hour by the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area. Many donors made contributions to help those affected totaling over $218,000. Over $164,000 has been […]
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Mahoosuc Land Trust awarded $200K grant for Shelburne Riverlands
SHELBURNE, N.H. — Mahoosuc Land Trust (MLT) has received a $200,000 grant for the Shelburne Riverlands Project from the Randolph Area Conservation Opportunity Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The Shelburne Riverlands project is an effort to permanently protect a series of islands and mainland parcels totaling 853 acres located along an 8.7-mile stretch of […]
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Central Maine Community College opens food pantry for students
AUBURN — The “Mustang Food Pantry” at Central Maine Community College has opened its doors to students in need of food assistance. Sponsored by the Hannaford Charitable Foundation and supported by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the food pantry is stocked with such staples as rice, pasta, sauce, beans, canned goods and frozen potatoes. […]
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Literacy Volunteers awards honors at annual meeting
FARMINGTON — Literacy Volunteers of Franklin and Somerset Counties (LVFSC) held its annual meeting on Oct. 28, using “smart” television technology and the internet in all three of their learning center locations, Farmington, Livermore Falls and Phillips, following the Maine CDC guidelines. The meeting, open to the public, featured poetry readings from four of the […]
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UMF and UMA announce new nursing partnership
FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington and the University of Maine at Augusta announce the UMF/UMA Nursing Partnership, a new collaborative program on the Farmington campus offering the UMA pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to help meet Maine and the nation’s increasing demand for skilled and effective healthcare providers. Slated to […]