As part of the Pantry Project of United Way of Androscoggin County, Xerox employees spent four weeks collecting more than 800 non-perishable food items such as canned meats, baby food, vegetables, rice and pasta — totaling 786 pounds of food.  This is the second time that Xerox employees have participated in the Pantry Project to collect food for local people in need.  Mary McCarron of Xerox stated that due to the excitement and willingness to give, employees gathered more food than last year and had lots of fun along the way.  “We tried to have some fun with the food drive by making it a contest in our office.  Our employees were really excited to help.”

United Way of Androscoggin County launched its Pantry Project in 2010 with the goal of increasing food donations from local businesses and community organizations to all 17 food pantries and the food bank that serve the hungry in Androscoggin County.  Since its inception, more than 42 area businesses have participated collecting food totaling more than 17,000 meals.

The 800 food items donated by Xerox employees equaled 786 pounds of food.  According to Joyce Gagnon, Manager of St. Mary’s Food Pantry, that is equal to about $1,600 worth of food and it should fill the need for a week – or 200 families.  “This is a wonderful contribution,” said Gagnon.  “We haven’t seen anything like this for some time.  It is really going to help.”

The St. Mary’s Food Pantry is a United Way Partner Agency.  It is the largest pantry in Maine, located located at the corner of Bates and Walnut Street in Lewiston, it is within walking distance of Lewiston’s most underserved neighborhoods; it serves those people in most dire need of food.  In 2010, St. Mary’s Food Pantry distributed 13,947 boxes of food — enough food for 3-day emergency support for 26,560 people.   The Pantry is open 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) from 9am to 11am.

For more information about United Way of Androscoggin County’s Pantry Project or any of their programs, visit www.unitedwayandro.org.

The Totally Trades events bring professional women, representing various careers together to show Maine’s middle and high school girls the wide range of career opportunities available to them. The Totally Trades event at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center will include hands-on workshops and presentations featuring electricians, cable installation, maintenance engineers, heavy equipment simulators, surveying, police, fire training, CAD, and more. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with, and hear from women already in these fields.

The executive director of Women, Work, and Community, Gilda Nardone says Maine’s young women might be surprised to learn about the opportunities that are before them. “These events should open the eyes of a lot of people. Maine’s career and technical education schools are doing amazing work introducing young women to program areas in non traditional fields such as the building and metal trades, engineering, automotive technology, small engine repair, truck driving as well as green and composite technologies. Events like these provide just a sample of the opportunities available.”

Totally Trades runs from 7:45-12:45, area middle and high schools students interested in attending should consult with their guidance counselor or advisor. For more information call Carolyn May at Women, Work, and Community at 799-5025 or visit, www.totallytradesmaine.org.

To learn more about Women, Work, and Community visit www.womenworkandcommunity.org. This event is co-sponsored by the Maine Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration and the Maine Department of Education.

Released by Appleseed Recordings, Edwards’ new C.D. “My Love Will Keep”, was recorded here in Maine. “This new album grew like a wildflower by the side of the road out of a deep desire to follow the music from the stage to the studio. It was yet another amazing convergence of people, places and timing that happened just as if it were planned. It started with finding this wonderful, comfortable world-class studio right here in Portland; and one day, we started “rollin’ tape” and following the songs that I had written and selected wherever they led us.” says Edwards.

Some of the dozen songs on “My Love Will Keep” will be familiar to many concertgoers, five of the recordings are original songs including “Surrounded”, Johnny Blue Horizon” (inspired by John Denver), Crazy Texas Women,” and the bluegrass romp “How Long”, and “The Lightkeeper”- a celebration of the world’s oceans.

Presented by the Winthrop Education Corp. (www.winthropconcerts.org) and the Winthrop Lions Club, proceeds from the show will support the efforts of both organizations.

Winthrop Education Corp. (WEC) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to raise and provide funds for the Winthrop school system which are not provided by local and state funding. WEC assumed responsibility for the fundraising campaign designed to build a 500-seat performing arts center including an endowment to sustain cultural and educational performances.

For ticket information or to learn more about the Winthrop Education Corp and the Winthrop Performing Arts Center visit, www.winthropconcerts.org.

Jonathan Edwards to play Winthrop Performing Arts Center on October 8. For tickets and information, visit www.winthropconcerts.org.

]]> http://www.prmaine.com/2011/09/jonathan-edwards-to-make-return-engagement-to-winthrop-maine/feed/ 0 http://www.prmaine.com/2011/09/jonathan-edwards-suzy-bogguss-highlight-fall-concerts-in-winthrop/ http://www.prmaine.com/2011/09/jonathan-edwards-suzy-bogguss-highlight-fall-concerts-in-winthrop/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:14:55 +0000 Encompass Marketing http://www.prmaine.com/?p=7587 Continue reading →]]> The Winthrop Education Corp. (www.winthropconcerts.org) with support from the Winthrop Lions Club will present folk great Jonathan Edwards and country/folk star Suzy Bogguss this fall at the Winthrop Performing Arts Center.

On October 8th, Jonathan Edwards (www.jonathanedwards.net) returns to the stage in Winthrop (Me.) with his energetic blend of folk and story telling. Edwards, who now lives in Maine, burst on to the music scene 40 years ago with the mega-hit “Sunshine,” a cheerful anthem of defiance written at the height of the Vietnam War era. Edwards will be playing his classics along with new music — his first studio CD in 14 years, “My Love Will Keep”, was released by Appleseed Recordings.

Grammy and CMA award winner Suzy Bogguss (http://suzybogguss.com) comes to the Winthrop Performing Arts Center on November 18. On the heels of the release of her CD and companion songbook “American Folk Songbook,” she will perform the standards that audiences have come to love and helped propel her to the top of the country and folk charts. Bogguss won the 2005 Grammy for Traditional Folk Album, and is a past winner the County Music Association’s Horizon Award and Album of the Year.

The Winthrop Education Corporation (WEC) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to raise and provide funds for the needs of the Winthrop school system which are not provided by local and state funding. WEC assumed responsibility for the fundraising campaign designed to build a 500-seat performing arts center including an endowment to sustain cultural and educational performances.

For ticket information or to learn more about the Winthrop Education Corp and the Winthrop Performing Arts Center visit, www.winthropconcerts.org.

CCFC is an affiliate of Community Concepts Inc., consisting of HomeQuest (www.homequestmaine.org), a Neighborworks Homeownership Center, and The Business Lending Center (www.mainebusinesslending.com).

CCFC’s HomeQuest provides financial products such as mortgage loans, energy improvement and home improvement loans and down payment and closing cost assistance, as well as homeowner services such as mortgage brokerage, homebuyer education and budget and credit counseling. Similarly, CCFC’s Business Lending Center provides business lending to both small and large organizations as well as technical assistance to those seeking to start, expand or strengthen a business.

Dennis Lajoie, of Community Concepts Finance Corporation, says they have been experiencing solid growth and the grant money will help CCFC fulfill their mission of being a community resource. “These fund will help us to secure the resources needed to grow steadily and effectively, to best serve those seeking our services. This money will will allow us to invest in needed resources without detracting from the services we provide.”

The grant will finance an array of activities including the development of a professional market analysis to help CCFC more effectively reach it’s target audience. It will also allow for the purchase and installation of new financial lending software systems to better integrate with the current software systems at Community Concepts, as well as provide CCFC with operational support which includes developing a new board of directors and more intensive training programs for current staff.

Community Concepts Finance Corporation is located at 240 Bates St. in Lewiston. 1-800-866-5588.

Adventure Bound Rafting, Maine’s premier outdoor adventure, camping, and whitewater rafting company, and the Androscoggin Land Trust (ALT), a regional land trust in the Androscoggin River watershed, will be offering the opportunity to view this year’s Great Falls Balloon Festival (Aug 19-21) from the Androscoggin River on rafts traditionally meant for whitewater rafting.

“Everything we do is geared to engaging youth and families and helping them explore the outdoors”, said John Philbrick of Adventure Bound Rafting. Based in Caratunk (Maine), Adventure Bound offers whitewater rafting trips, camping, canoe trips, rock climbing and family fun in an alcohol-free environment. “Normally we’re taking trips on the Kennebec and Dead River. This is the second year of working with the Androscoggin Land Trust and we couldn’t be more pleased to help show off the Androscoggin River.”

Jonathan LaBonte of ALT says excitement around using the Androscoggin River for recreation is growing. “The next generation in Lewiston-Auburn deserve a chance to experience that excitement. For an outfitter like Adventure Bound to recognize our work and to offer to help connect youth to the river is amazing.”

Both LaBonte and Philbrick acknowledge most eyes will be on the sky but they hope to also use this opportunity to talk about the river. “There are a lot of positive things happening with the Androscoggin, from new recreational development and new parks to the revitalization of riverfronts like Lewiston-Aububrn’s. While we know our visitors enjoy the balloons, hopefully they will remember the vantage point of LA from which they saw them,” says LaBonte.

Weather permitting, balloon launch viewing trips on the Androscoggin River will launch from the Little Andy Park boat access on Second Street in Auburn. Launch times and further details will be available at www.facebook.com/advbound, and www.androscogginlandtrust.org

HomeQuest, a NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center, and an affiliate of Community Concepts, provides foreclosure counseling services for homeowners delinquent or struggling to make mortgage payments. Dennis Lajoie, of Community Concepts says it is important for homeowners to realize they have options, but not wait until it is too late. “Everyone has a different story, every situation is unique. We look at the big picture and recommend a plan based on the individual or family.”

HomeQuest is able to work directly with lenders to negotiate loan modifications, short sales, forbearance and revised payment plans to get homeowners back on track. Beyond foreclosure counseling, HomeQuest also offers Home Buyer Education courses for future home buyers, budget and credit counseling and even mortgage and home improvement loans.

For more information on HomeQuest or to learn more about their services visit www.HomeQuestMaine.org or call 1-866-221-4383.

“This loan program is a great opportunity for those who have hit a rough patch and need assistance getting back on their feet”, said Ron Knott, Director of HomeQuest. Only homeowners who have been unemployed or underemployed due to the economy or a medical condition, and are at least 90 days past due, are eligible to submit their information into a lottery to apply for potential assistance. Homeowners who are entered into the lottery will be notified by the beginning of August of their selection or placement on a waiting list.

Knott advises that due to fast approaching deadlines and the criteria an applicant must meet, interested applicants should get in touch with HomeQuest quickly. “The EHLP Pre-Applicant Screening worksheet is available on our website, www.homequestmaine.org and we are more than happy to sit down with potential applicants to be sure they meet the criteria and are entered into the lottery.” Additional program information can be found at the national EHLP Web site, www.findehlp.org The Pre-Applicant Screening worksheet may be emailed to info@homequestmaine.org, mailed to HomeQuest at 240 Bates Street, Lewiston, ME 04240 or completed in person. Call 1-866-221-4383 for an appointment.

Adventure Bound offers white water rafting trips on the Kennebec River, camping, canoe trips, rock climbing and outdoor family fun in an alcohol free environment. John Philbrick the owner of Adventure Bound says their business philosophy is based on three simple principals, “Our staff is chosen and trained on their desire to work with young people. We focus on adventure programs that kids and their families will enjoy but also learn from, and the facility we stage our trips from would be geared to a younger audience.”

Located on Route 201 in Caratunk Maine (less than a two hour drive from Lewiston-Auburn, 90 minutes from Augusta and 3 hours from Portland), Adventure Bound’s amenities includes an indoor rock climbing wall, bunk houses, tent sites, swimming pool, hiking trails and more. While most visitors of course come for the thrill of rafting on Maine’s Kennebec River, guests can also chose remote camping expeditions, or rock climbing, canoe trips, ropes courses, and orienteering.

Over the years Adventure Bound has been a sought out destination for High School Project Graduation programs, scouting camps and families looking for a rafting and camping adventure appropriate for younger adventure enthusiasts. “Since 1998 we have been providing family friendly fun and adventures. Admittedly there are other rafting companies, but we do it with a twist, everything we do is done with the whole family in mind,” say Philbrick.

For more information about Adventure Bound Rafting & Camping or to book a family vacation, visit www.adventureboundrafting.com.

Alan Stone says that one of the most important elements to come from the MPUC decision is the integrity of the process. “When consumers have a complaint or an issue about a public utility act or practice they believe deserves to be reviewed, with the right guidance, there are mechanisms in place that provide the opportunity for a fair hearing.”

Skelton, Taintor & Abbott represented a group of customers in a complaint against CMP, and convinced the MPUC to order CMP to offer customers the option of opting out of the smart meter program and retaining their existing electromagnetic meters. Stone proved that because of unresolved concerns relating to health, privacy and cyber security resulting from the installation of wireless meters on their homes, customers should have a choice concerning the installation of those meters. CMP argued vigorously that customers should not be allowed to opt out, and the MPUC found that position to be unjust and unreasonable.

Considered by many to be a “landmark” case, this is the first time any state has ordered an electric utility to permit customers the choice to opt out of a smart meter program. “ These individuals expressed health, privacy, security and other concerns about these wireless meters being put, against their will, on their homes,” Stone said. “We all have the right to feel safe and secure in our home. The MPUC agreed.” The case has been followed by other Public Utilities Commissions and utility experts around the country, and will serve as precedent for others in the determination of how to resolve what has become a growing debate about customer choice and smart meters.

Alan Stone is also chair of the trial practice group at Skelton, Taintor and Abbott, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in the area of Energy Law.

Media Note:

Mr. Stone is available for media interviews. For scheduling contact:

Will Fessenden/Encompass Marketing

(207) 755-9445 ext. 101

will@encompassmarketing.com