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Danielle McCusker of CMCC scores 1,000th point
In a recent game vs. the University of Maine at Machias, Danielle McCusker, a forward on Central Maine Community College’s women’s basketball team, became only the third woman in the school’s history to surpass the career 1,000 point mark. A South Portland High graduate, McCusker is averaging 14.7 points per game this season while shooting 49.4% from the floor. She joins former USCAA All-Americans Ashley Swett and Lynn Girouard in accomplishing the feat.
L-A joins“One Billion Rising” to stop violence against women
On February 14, several different groups in Lewiston-Auburn will join with activists around the world for “One Billion Rising,” the largest day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.
A collaboration of local agencies will host events at noon at USM-LA College; at 3 p.m. in the Lewiston Public Library; at 5 p.m. at Bates College; and at 5:45 p.m. at Shaw’s in Auburn.
That collaboration includes the YWCA, Safe Voices, The Center for Wisdom’s Women, V-Day aUbUrn, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services, United Somali Women of Maine and Girl Power Fitness. Community members are invited to actively participate or attend and observe as they collectively rise together to end violence against women and girls.
Anyone interested in participating in this exciting event can contact Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services at 784-5272 for more details. To learn more about V-Day activities in Androscoggin County, visit onebillionrising.org and search for local events.
Chamber honored businesses large and small at 125th Annual Meeting
Community Service Leadership Award, presented by Stephanie Gelinas (l.) from Sandcastle Clinical and Educational Services, to Julia Sleeper and Kim Sullivan of Tree Street Youth.
Chamber members and guests gathered at the Ramada Conference Center on Thursday, January 24 for the 125th Annual Meeting and Awards program —The Chamber’s largest event of the year.
The Annual Meeting featured The Chamber Awards program, emceed by Chamber Board Chair Mary LaFontaine of the Lewiston Career Center. Those being recognized include: The Chamber’s new members in 2012; past and present Chamber leaders; and the distinguished community members who will receive The Chamber’s highest awards.
New this year, The Young Professionals of the Lewiston Auburn area presented their annual awards at The Chamber annual meeting. The first will be presented to Travis Dow, who is most notably recognized as the head of sales for Uncle Andy’s Digest. In the past two years Travis has launched two new businesses “The Maine Home Show” and “MenusinLA.com.” Both of these ventures were enormous undertakings that were launched for the principal purpose of helping promote local small businesses.
DEP shuts off fuel surcharge to save Mainers millions
Improved fiscal management at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will save Mainers millions of dollars this year when they fill up on fuel to heat their homes and power their cars.
For the first time in seven years, DEP has turned off the 20-cent-per-barrel surcharge on gasoline imported into the state and the 10-cent-per-barrel surcharge on all other petroleum products—including home heating oil.
That move will prevent an estimated $5.5 million in surcharges in 2013 and is supported by the Fund Insurance Review Board (FIRB), the independent board that oversees the State’s Groundwater Oil Clean-Up Fund, administered by DEP to pay for cleaning up discharges of oil from storage tanks.
The fund is supported by a 38-cent-per-barrel base fee on gasoline and a 19-cent base fee on all other petroleum products. When its balance drops below $5 million for more than a month, by state law the additional surcharges kick on.
“Homeless Youth in Lewiston” debuts to overflow crowd
“If you don’t know where you’re putting your slippers at night, you can’t do algebra,” said Mary Seaman, director of the Lewiston High School STEP Program, following the documentary debut of “Homeless Youth in Lewiston” on January 17 at Lewiston City Hall.
The 30-minute documentary was produced by the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) to build awareness about the approximately 200 homeless youth in Lewiston. Before the video was shown, LYAC members shared what an eye-opening experience making the documentary had been. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, one out of every three homeless persons are under the age of 18, and nationwide, over 1.6 million people under age 18 experience homelessness each year.
The documentary featured Kat Borghoff and Kendra Sprague, both previously homeless teens, who received life-changing support from New Beginnings and Volunteers of America Northern New England. Borghoff and Sprague shared elements of their personal journeys, which included living in a car and sleeping on a kitchen floor.
LePage: Paying hospitals is the right thing to do, and Maine’s economy demands it
By Governor Paul R. LePage
Many Mainers know what it is like to juggle their bills until payday arrives. Imagine waiting four years.
That’s the reality for Maine’s 39 community hospitals. It is difficult to believe, but hospitals in dozens of Maine communities have not received payment from the State for Medicaid services they provided dating back to 2009.
Central Maine Medical Center is owed $50.2 million; St. Mary’s Medical Center, $28.9 million; Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, $15.4 million; Stephens Memorial in Norway, $6 million; and Bridgton and Rumford hospitals, $4.2 million apiece.
That’s more than $100 million in outstanding debt owed to the hospitals in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties and a substantial portion of the total $484 million due statewide.
Governor LePage to pay hospitals, issue $205 million in bonds
Because the State of Maine is addressing its hospital debt, Governor Paul R. LePage said he will support $205 million in bonds, including issuing all those authorized by Maine voters.
Governor LePage said the state’s hospitals will be paid the $484 million they are owed. By issuing $205 million in bonds, that is a total direct investment of nearly $700 million into Maine’s economy in 2013.
The state owes Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston $50.2 million, and it owes $28.8 million to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Lewiston.
The Governor announced Tuesday he has submitted emergency legislation to the Revisor’s Office that will authorize the state to immediately issue a revenue bond on its future liquor sales when enacted. The state will retain operational control over liquor sales starting in the summer of 2014 when the current 10-year private contract expires.
Governor’s budget focuses on education, skills gap, criminal justice
While much focus has been placed on Governor LePage’s proposal to suspend revenue sharing payments to municipalities in order to balance the state’s budget, several important aspects of the proposal have gotten less attention.
Gov. LePage’s proposal prioritizes education, maintaining funding for Maine schools after they received a $63 million boost in the last biennial budget. The Baldacci Administration cut education funding by $100 million in its final three years.
The budget proposal also addresses the workforce skills gap by restructuring the apprenticeship program and increasing funding by over $1 million for Jobs for Maine’s Graduates. Furthermore, schools will receive an additional $15 million in incentives to improve efficiency and accountability.
Chamber to honor businesses large and small at 125th Annual Meeting
Chamber members and guests will gather at the Ramada Conference Center on Thursday, January 24 for the 125th Annual Meeting and Awards program —The Chamber’s largest event of the year.
The Annual Meeting will feature The Chamber Awards program, emceed by Chamber Board Chair Mary LaFontaine of the Lewiston Career Center. Those being recognized include: The Chamber’s new members in 2012; past and present Chamber leaders; and the distinguished community members who will receive The Chamber’s highest awards.
YPLAA to present awards at Chamber Annual Meeting
New this year, The Young Professionals of the Lewiston Auburn area will present their annual awards at The Chamber annual meeting. The first will be presented to Travis Dow, who is most notably recognized as the head of sales for Uncle Andy’s Digest. In the past two years Travis has launched two new businesses “The Maine Home Show” and “MenusinLA.com.” Both of these ventures were enormous undertakings that were launched for the principal purpose of helping promote local small businesses.
CA$H Coalition to provide free tax prep, EITC assistance
For the 10th year in a row, IRS certified volunteer tax preparers under the direction of Site Coordinator KC Geiger will provide free Federal and State tax preparation and e-filing for low- to moderate-income workers (those earning $50,000 and under).
The phone line opens January 17, and Lewiston-Auburn-area residents may call 513-3160 to schedule their free appointment. Jacklyn Holt will be one of those calling.
“When I went to the free tax prep site and saw what my refund was after getting tax credits that I was eligible for, I cried,” said Jacklyn Holt who spoke at a January 8 press event sponsored by the Lewiston-Auburn CA$H Coalition.
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