Archive for July 2013
APD welcomes new K9 officer
Auburn Police Department’s newest officer was sworn in during a recent City Council meeting.
K9 “Rocky” and his handler, Patrol Officer Tyler Ham, took the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor, which was issued by Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonté.
“Rocky,” a two-year-old German Shepherd, is named in honor of Auburn Police Officer Rodney “Rocky” Bonney, who was killed in the line of duty on April 6, 1981. Officer Bonney’s widow, Cherrie, got to meet her husband’s namesake for the first time at the event, proudly ‘pinning’ his badge during the ceremony.
Local para-athlete competes in World Championships
Josh Kennison, an elite para-athlete from South Paris, has been selected to compete in the 100m and 200m sprints at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France on July 21 and 22.
While prestigious, being selected to compete in this event is just one in a long line of athletic accomplishments for Kennison, whose track and field credits include breaking the world record for the long jump in 2013.
A quad amputee who was born missing both of his feet and arms, as well as his tongue and half of his jaw, Kennison is the embodiment of what it means to overcome all obstacles.
Musse wins statewide writing contest
Fadumo Musse, a junior at Lewiston High School, has been selected as one of three winners in the Maine Community College System’s Journey Into Writing Contest and named a 2013 Governor’s Young Writer of the Year.
With the other two winners, Muse was recently presented with an award and a $2,500 check by First Lady Ann LePage and MCCS President John Fitzsimmons in a ceremony at the Blaine House. The other two winners were Emily Evans of Searsport and Arianna Tang of Frankfort, both juniors at Searsport District High School.
Letters: Letter was clear and direct
To the Editor:
Lewiston Mayor Macdonald’s main criticism of Jordan Handy’s Letter to the Editor seems to be its incoherence, but I found it to be clear and direct. (“Enough is Enough: Why is there so much pressure to attend college?,” TCT, July 11, 2013)
The mayor did find an awkward sentence; I’ll give him that. But as one of Jordan’s former English teachers, I feel compelled to point out that the mayor ended his column with this sentence: “The last thing we don’t want to see in the windows of future employers is a sign stating: ‘Lewiston and EL Graduates need not apply.’ ” This is a double negative.
Enough is Enough: Proper foundation needed to create a destination city
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
Last Friday I attended a Board of Directors meeting of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council. During the meeting two things became apparent. First, I really am in need of a pair of hearing aids.
Second, there is a lot more to economic development than bringing businesses and public transportation to an area.
These entities come as a result of creating an area that is not just livable, but also a place that individuals seek out and want to live.
Clean streets, vibrant houses and well-kept properties describe over 90 percent of Lewiston’s current neighborhoods. A mixture of young and older families serve to stabilize neighborhoods, creating a slow, steady turnover of properties.
The condensed area of our city allows residents a short travel to retail and grocery stores, hospitals and doctors’ offices, a variety of restaurants and eateries, as well as nature walks. Then there is my personal favorite: coffee shops.
Upon moving to Lewiston from Boston, one of the biggest amenities found in our community were the abundance of private and public children’s sports leagues covering all sports. No matter the abilities of the youngster, all sports were open to them—unlike larger areas, where a lack of talent precluded you from playing. This is a huge selling point when trying to attract younger families.
Out & About with Rachel Morin: Turner Fourth of July Parade
Text and photos by Rachel Morin
I joined my son and his wife, Gerry and Debbie Bolen-Morin of Turner, to see their town’s annual Fourth of July Parade, followed by events on the green, that they have been enjoying and raving about for years. I’m glad I did. It was a great day. I felt as if I had stepped back in time to be a part of the camaraderie of a small country town.
Over 1,000 spectators lined the street for the colorful parade and applauded as the American Legion Post 111 Honor Guard led the way, followed by a contingent of marching veterans and a veterans’ float. The parade participants included an impressive lineup of fire trucks and emergency vehicles from Buckfield, Canton, Greene, Leeds, Mechanic Falls, Turner and Wales.
Dunn siblings compete in Natl. Championships
Spencer Dunn, 15, Class A State Champion of Edward Little High School, recently competed in the Junior Men’s 10,000m Race Walk at the USA Track & Field Outdoor National Championships at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
In his first appearance on the junior national stage, Dunn placed sixth with a time of 54:35. This earned him a spot on the USA junior team that will compete at the 25th annual USA v. Canada Junior Race Walk Dual in Boston in August. Just one week earlier, Dunn had a second place, All American finish at the New Balance High School Nationals in Greensboro, NC.
Enough is Enough: Why is there so much pressure to attend college?
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
Apparently the mayoral campaign has started and friends of my opponent have begun attempts to discredit me.
In a Letter to the Editor published June 27 in TCT, “Students have a willingness to succeed,” signed by Jordan C.D. Handy, I am accused of negativity towards the Lewiston School System. (Oh, did I mention that his father, James Handy, is the chairman of the Lewiston School Committee and a friend of my opponent?)
Young Mr. Handy’s letter about one of my columns, which was published May 23, comes five editions after the column ran. Why the slow response?
In his letter, young Mr. Handy states that my column was written with a negative flavor. He contends that I implied that “The Lewiston Regional Technical Center is nothing more than a dumping ground for students that can’t succeed academically.” On the contrary, my article praised the program.