BRUNSWICK, ME – The Brunswick Area Interfaith Council will host We the People SING:  All Voices Matter – A Pre-election Community Sing on Sunday Nov. 1 at 3:30 pm at the Gazebo on the Brunswick Mall.

Songs and readings will highlight the promise of our democracy and of our multi faith nation – that everyone participates and that all are valued. Participants are invited to bring a light (candle, lantern…) to use as darkness falls on the first day of daylight saving time.

Familiar and some new easy to learn songs will be shared by a diverse group of song leaders, and lyric sheets will be provided. These are songs for all voices and designed to connect, inspire and unite us in the days just before the election.

One of the song leaders, Rev. Kharma Amos of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick, shares “As we approach the election, we gather in community because we need one another–all of us. Singing together helps us connect with our bodies and with the ever-richer harmonies that emerge when we each simply sing our part. This gathering is not designed for professional voices, nor is it intended to be a polished performance; rather, it is an invitation to be real and rooted in the knowledge that every voice in our democracy matters. Our songs of love and unity testify to a reality many of our spiritual traditions still believe is possible, and we make it more so when we work for it together.”

Participants are also invited to bring a chair if needed for this free gathering, and hot chocolate will be served.

The Brunswick Area Interfaith Council (BAIC) is a non-sectarian, non-profit organization committed to fostering understanding, respect and cooperation among diverse faith traditions in the Brunswick area.  Through collaborative efforts, BAIC promotes the spiritual, moral and social welfare of the larger Brunswick area community.

LEWISTON, ME – St. Mary’s Health System raised more than $100,000 through its Steps for Hope Run/Walk 5K on Sunday, October 11, to support behavioral health services and improve access to care for people in the community.

Held at Bates College in Lewiston, the event brought together runners, walkers and community supporters to raise awareness and funds for behavioral healthcare at St. Mary’s.

“Steps for Hope is a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared need,” said Win Brown, president of St. Mary’s Health System. “The support behind this event helps us continue expanding access to behavioral healthcare and building stronger connections across the care we provide.”

Behavioral health is part of a broader continuum of care at St. Mary’s that includes emergency care, medical and surgical services, primary and specialty care, and long-term and post-acute care. Over the past year, St. Mary’s has expanded its behavioral health services through the introduction of partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, a Behavioral Health Home, increased treatment capacity and additional support for adolescents and adults who need care beyond traditional outpatient appointments.

Funds raised through Steps for Hope will support behavioral health programs and services for children, adolescents and adults at St. Mary’s.

LEWISTON, ME – The ladies of Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International are holding their annual Teddy Bear Fair on Saturday, November 14th from 9:00 to 2:00 at the Lewiston High School gym.  They will be selling baked goods such as cookies, cakes, pies, bread and an assortment of candies and pastries; used books and DVDs. The White Elephant table always boasts lots of  treasures for your home. They have garden harvest items such as jellies, jams, salsas and pickles. They have gently loved stuffed animals; crafts including knitted scarves, hats & mittens, as well as kitchen towels, dishcloths and bowl cozies; and they have hand made Christmas and Thanksgiving decorations. They will also have a raffle table with wide assortment gift certificates among them lobster and gas, local restaurants and many other treasures. Come get a start on your holiday gift buying! They even have a concession stand so you can grab lunch while you’re visiting all the fairs in this area!

Proceeds from the fair goes toward our scholarship funds. Every year we give a scholarship to a graduating senior from one of our local schools who plans to go into education.

LEWISTON, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins attended the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Atlas Structural Systems’ new manufacturing facility in Lewiston. The company, a subsidiary of J.D. Irving, Limited, has transformed the former Steel Service Center property into its first U.S. manufacturing facility. The 44,000-square-foot plant employs approximately 45 people and produces prefabricated building components for construction projects throughout the region.

“This is an exciting new chapter for manufacturing in Lewiston. By bringing new life to a longtime industrial property, Atlas Structural Systems is creating jobs for Mainers and strengthening our state’s manufacturing economy,” said Senator Collins. “I was pleased to join company leaders and members of the Lewiston-Auburn community to celebrate this important investment in the region’s future.”

Atlas Structural Systems operates 11 production facilities in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada. The Lewiston facility designs and manufactures engineered trusses and prefabricated walls, floors, and stair panels.

LEWISTON, ME – Somewhere in Lewiston, the perfect spruce waits for its chance to become the centerpiece of one of the City’s most anticipated holiday traditions.

Lewiston Public Works (LPW) invites residents to see if they have the perfect Spruce for this year’s Holiday Tree. The Tree will be decorated and lights turned on during Holiday at the Plaza festival on Sat., Dec. 5 at 4:27 PM.

But first, the City needs to find the perfect tree. That’s where you come in!

Lewiston’s City Arborist, Steve Murch says the ideal tree is a Spruce, approximately 30 to 35 feet tall that is free from overhead power lines making it accessible from the road so LPW crews can safely remove and transport it to Dufresne Plaza. LPW hopes to identify a suitable tree in the coming weeks and complete its removal by Thanksgiving. There is no cost for the tree removal.

In previous years, one resident collected cereal box tops to get his Spruce. He waited since the 1970s to finally have LPW display it at Holiday At The Plaza. Another gentleman was hunting in the County when he spotted what he thought was the perfect Spruce. He took it home to Lewiston and waited decades before contacting Murch who presented it for Holiday At The Plaza too.

Think you may have it? Maybe you saw it on your way into work? Ask Steve by contacting him at 207-513-3000, ext. 3443, or SMurch@LewistonMaine.gov.

AUBURN, ME – Many new team members at NSB report that seeing senior leaders at previous workplaces was a rare occurrence. But at NSB’s New Hire Breakfast this week, they had the chance to see the entire NSB Senior Leadership Team all in one room. Having leadership ask them questions about their own path and goals and genuinely looking to get to know them was both meaningful and inspiring.

“I never met a senior leader at my last job. Not once. Only via company-wide email. This is really cool. Go NSB!” said one new team member.

The traditional breakfasts are held several times each year, offering new team members the chance to talk and connect with senior leaders and an opportunity to learn more about different aspects of one of the best places to work in Maine.

Darci Hamm, President of NSB, and Dan Walsh, CEO of NSB, welcomed the group and spoke about the bank’s mission, culture, and how NSB encourages team members to flourish and grow. The morning also featured an icebreaker that helped participants utilize their creativity, make new friends, and have fun.

“It was a puzzle relay. Each table team was given a puzzle that they needed to complete the fastest,” said Dacia Lukas, Talent Acquisition Specialist at NSB. “The twist was that they were not given the picture of what the completed puzzle would look like. Instead, they had to elect one ‘observer’ for the team, and the rest of the team would be ‘builders.’  The observer was able to come up and view the picture of what the puzzle should look like for ten seconds and then run back to their table, describe it, and only guide the team.”

The morning always draws positive feedback from new hires and senior leaders alike, who all leave the Hilton Garden Inn proud and grateful to be part of a special experience and team.

Norway Savings Bank seeks passionate and self-motivated individuals to join our team and there is plenty of opportunity to grow in your career. Our team supports and encourages each other in achieving our professional and personal goals, and we have a lot of fun along the way! Learn more and view current openings at www.norwaysavings.bank/get-to-know-us/careers.

The L/A Community Little Theatre production of the classic musical “Cabaret” continues this weekend, October 22-25.

Since its Broadway debut in 1966, “Cabaret” has captivated audiences with its subversive plot and groundbreaking storytelling. Set in a seedy Berlin nightclub in the final years of the Weimar Republic in Germany, the musical portrays a society on the brink of collapse, using the Kit Kat Club as both a space of liberation and a harbinger of impending authoritarianism. As fascism rises outside its doors, the club’s revelers dance in a haze of sex, cynicism, and cabaret. Costume design has played a crucial role in shaping audience interpretations of the show’s themes, characters, and historical context.

Remaining performances will be held on October 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m., and October 25 at 2:00 p.m. All shows will be held at CLT on 30 Academy Street in Auburn. Tickets are available online at www.laclt.com and will also be available at the door. Due to the mature themes in this production, parental discretion is advised.

Here is the cast of the CLT production of the musical “Cabaret,” which continues this weekend with performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. From left in front are Nexxus Marcoux, Karianna Merrill, Koley True, Lacey Moyse, Hannah Perry-Shepherd, and Meg Walz. Standing are Nex Staples, Roger Philippon, Archer Slater, Elise Christie, Hannah Hanson, Owen Lewis, Hillary Perry, Carly Dillingham, Justin Morin, Phoebe Edwards, Kevin Bolduc, Toby Gouette, Justine Wiesinger, and Ryan Delorme. Photo by Aaron Skolfield.

AUBURN, ME – On Monday, October 26^th from 4:30-6:30PM, teens and their families are invited to Auburn Public Library’s College Night. College Night is designed to assist teens and families looking for information on the college process. This event will feature representatives from a handful of colleges and universities throughout the state. Colleges represented at this event will be: Central Maine Community College, UMaine Augusta, UMaine Orono, Husson, University of Southern Maine, Maine Maritime Academy, and the College of the Atlantic.

This event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a panel discussion hosted by Jessica Whittier of the Finance Authority of Maine. Topics for discussion will include taking appropriate courses in middle and high school, thinking ahead about career areas, costs of college, types of colleges and degrees, and student life affairs. After the panel, there will be a mini college fair where representatives will be available to discuss their school and programs in more detail.

LEWISTON, ME – The City Clerk’s Office would like to inform voters about election details for the November 3 election. There are two ballots for this election – a state ballot and a city ballot.  The state ballot contains races for US Senate, Congress, Governor, State Senate, Representative to the Legislature Districts 93, 94, 95, and 96, Judge of Probate, Sheriff, District Attorney, and County Commissioner Districts 2 and 3.  The city ballot contains races for Mayor, City Council Wards 2, 4 and 6, and School Committee Wards 1, 3, 5, and 7.

In addition, the city ballot contains five referendum questions – a question about amending the syringe service program ordinance, a question to establish a Charter Commission, and three questions regarding housekeeping amendments to the City Charter.

Sample ballots are available on the city’s election website so voters can study their ballot in advance of voting.

Absentee voting for the November 3 election is well underway in Lewiston.  Over 2,000 absentee ballots were mailed out last week to voters who have been submitting requests since August.   Voters have been casting in-person absentee ballots since Monday.  All absentee ballots must be returned no later than election night by 8pm.  Ballots can be returned by mail, in the City Hall Ballot Drop box (red, white, and blue flag design), or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office, second floor of City Hall.  Voters wishing to receive an absentee ballot can order online, call City Hall, or submit an application form. The statewide deadline to order absentee ballots is Thursday, October 29 by 4pm.

The Early Voting Polling Place will be open again for this election.  “This service is a very popular way to vote in Lewiston, people like it because it is a quieter atmosphere than the regular polling places, and there are several chairs so voters can sit down, relax, and study their ballots.”, said City Clerk Kathy Montejo.  The Early Voting Polling Place will run October 13 – 29 (Monday – Thursday) from 9:00am – 4:00pm in the City Council Chambers, first floor. Extended evening hours will be available on Tuesday, October 27 until 7pm. There are 13 voting booths in the City Council Chambers to accommodate voters.

Election questions can be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at 513-3124 or by email at cityclerkoffice@lewistonmaine.gov

AUBURN, ME – The L/A Community Little Theatre (CLT) opens its 87th season this weekend with a daring and powerful interpretation of the Tony Award winning musical “Cabaret.”

Set in a seedy Berlin cabaret called the Kit Kat Klub in 1929, the show tells the story of two doomed romances set against the emergence of antisemitism and fascism in Germany. Winner of eight Tony Awards during its original run, “Cabaret” has been revived on Broadway during every decade since the 1970s. Musical numbers include “Willkommen,” “Cabaret,” “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Two Ladies.”

This CLT production of “Cabaret” is based on the 1998 Broadway revival, widely considered the most revolutionary re-envisioning of this innovative musical. It emphasizes the creeping threat of fascism, underscoring the parallels between the rising threat of Nazism in 1929 Berlin and contemporary anxieties about authoritarian resurgence. The show instills a chilling sense of impending doom in between the lively numbers at the Kit Kat Klub. More than anything, “Cabaret” serves as a cautionary tale, denouncing hedonism and highlighting the importance of morality.

The show is directed by Brandon Chaloux assisted by musical director Paul G. Caron, choreographer Adelyn Bell, producer Sarah Chaloux, stage manager Sarah Greaton, and lead costumer Jackie Ahlquist. 

Performances of “Cabaret” will be held on October 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m., and October 18 and 25 at 2:00 p.m. All shows will be held at CLT on 30 Academy Street in Auburn. Tickets are available online at www.laclt.com. Due to the mature themes in this production, parental discretion is advised.

Lead roles in the CLT production of “Cabaret” are played by Owen Lewis as the Emcee and Hillary Perry as Sally Bowles. The show opens Friday, October 16 and will run through October 25. www.laclt.com/. Photo by Aaron Skolfield.