Terry Shumaker

The Ballot Law Commission decides election disputes and hears appeals from recounts. It comprises five members, two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two by the senate president and one by the governor.

“I am honored by the confidence placed in me by the governor and I look forward to serving the state in this role,” said Shumaker.

Shumaker received his JD from Boston University School of Law in 1973. He is a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association and the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He resides in Concord, New Hampshire.

About Bernstein Shur

Widely regarded as one of New England’s most entrepreneurial law firms, Bernstein Shur is a multi-service firm with more than 100 attorneys in offices in Maine and New Hampshire. Founded in 1915, the firm provides practical and innovative counsel in the areas of business law, litigation and municipal law to clients throughout the region and around the world. Bernstein Shur is Maine’s exclusive member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. More information is available at www.bernsteinshur.com.

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Susan Doliner, Matthew Charles O’Reilly and Karen Milliken have joined the Piper Shores Board of Directors.

Scarborough, Maine, January 27, 2012 – Piper Shores, Maine’s first and only non-profit lifecare retirement community, today announced the addition of three newly elected members to its Board of Directors.

New Board Members recently elected at the Annual Meeting in October 2011 include:

Karen Milliken – Vice President at R.M. Davis, Inc.

Matthew Charles O’Reilly – Retired Chief Investment Strategist and Senior Vice President from People’s United Financial, Inc.

Susan Doliner, FAHP – Associate Vice President for Development at Maine Medical Center

These new members join existing board members Patrick O’Reilly, Suzanne Austin, Kathryn Barber, Patrick Costin, Mary Keysor, Stephen Larned, Suzanne McCormick, Stephen deCastro, Sylvia Most, Dennis J. O’Donovan, Victoria Kuhn and Mary M. Bertolet. The Piper Shores Board of Directors is focused on completing construction of the Master Campus Plan started in 2011 and in developing a new five-year strategic plan for the retirement community.

“We are very excited to welcome Susan, Karen and Matthew to the Board of Directors,” said Michael Bierley, Executive Director of Piper Shores. “They are each outstanding business and community leaders, and we look forward to utilizing their talent and experience to further the implementation of our 2012 initiatives, most especially the completion of construction of our Master Campus Plan started in 2011.”

About Piper Shores

Piper Shores is the only nonprofit lifecare retirement community in Maine and the first to be recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC) – the nations’ only accrediting body for continuing care retirement communities. Built in 2001 in a style that complements Maine’s architectural heritage, Piper Shores is located on 138 acres of beautiful oceanfront property, situated between Higgins Beach and historic Prouts Neck in Scarborough, Maine. Piper Shores is an innovative retirement community that promotes the long-term wellbeing of its residents through a continuum of activities and lifecare services. Piper Shores’ residents enjoy active, independent lifestyles with guaranteed priority access to on-site assisted living and skilled nursing care, whenever they may need it.

Piper Shores is owned by Maine Life Care Retirement Community, Inc., a Maine nonprofit organization, formed by a group of accomplished local individuals to deliver the shared vision of creating an ideal retirement community on the coast of Maine. Life Care Services, LLC, the nation’s leading development and manager of senior living communities, provides management services for Piper Shores.

For more information, visit http://www.pipershores.org or call 207-883-8700.

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 Portland, Maine (January 5, 2012) – Looking for local events, indoor farmer’s markets, coupon deals, restaurants, stores, and more? Mainers now have a search engine for finding information about all things green, local, and sustainable. What began as a coupon book and green living guide has grown into Maine’s one-stop online green business directory—TheSunriseGuide.com.

TheSunriseGuide cuts through the clutter of busy search engines and distracting sidebars, helping consumers search with ease for everything from green products and services to local events and activities. This new tool helps green shoppers find restaurants that serve locally harvested food, home energy efficiency professionals, salons that use only organic products, local eco-friendly hotels, and so much more. And each business profile includes an interactive map.

“This website is a great tool for Mainers,” says Richard Burbank, President of Evergreen Home Performance, a Rockland-based company that provides home energy efficiency services in southern and midcoast Maine. “It’s like a local green Google®.”

Visitors are encouraged to check in regularly to download exclusive online coupons to area businesses and find out what’s going on. The directory’s “Events” tab includes information on green happenings statewide, including conferences, open houses, networking opportunities, outdoor activities, and more.

Since expanding to the Midcoast last year, both the print edition of the SunriseGuide and the online directory now include an even broader range of information and saving opportunities for people living from the Greater Portland area to Belfast. Check out the SunriseGuide online directory next time you’re looking for a green business at TheSunriseGuide.com/find-a-busines/. If you are interested in having your business included in this growing directory, please email info@thesunriseguide.com.

About the SunriseGuide
The Sunrise Guide publishes an annual resource guide and coupon book for living green in southern and coastal Maine and an online business directory of green and healthy businesses in Maine. The print edition contains 300 coupons for healthy and eco-friendly products and services, plus articles with tips for sustainable living. Topics include food and dining, outdoor living, home and garden, travel and transportation, community and culture, and more. Look for the 2012 edition at school and community fundraisers, natural food stores, bookstores, and other retail outlets. Learn more and find out where to pick up a copy at www.thesunriseguide.com .

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With January traditionally being a month with low levels of blood donations, teens from MYL are encouraging community members in Portland and Bangor to stop by the donation centers to give blood during the drive.  The Bangor American Red Cross Blood Donation Center is located at 73 Hammond St. in Bangor. The Portland American Red Cross Blood Donation Center is located at 524 Forest Avenue in Portland.

For more information, please contact Ben Sprague at 207-852-1405, Frankee Chapa at 207-221-3196 or email info@maineyouthleadership.org.

About Maine Youth Leadership
Since 1980, Maine Youth Leadership has worked with Maine youth to seek out, recognize and develop their leadership skills. Their goal is to motivate Maine’s future leaders and create a network of civic-minded students who will better their communities through volunteering. Through its annual 4-day leadership seminar and other activities, Maine Youth Leadership encourages and assists students at critical times in their quest for self- identification and development, providing give-and-take discussions with thought leaders and role models from across Maine society. For more information please visit the website www.maineyouthleadership.org or email info@maineyouthleadership.org.

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SCALA by ASHLEYlauren is a comprehensive line of prom and pageant gowns, cocktail and evening dresses, separates, as well as mother of the bride (MOB) and bridal gowns that are constructed to accentuate a woman’s figure, providing superior craftsmanship and fit.

Kerr’s “passion for fabulous” led her to create a line that is playful, provocative—and

Shaila Dúrcal wearing SCALA by ASHLEYlauren at the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards

affordable. “I love fashion—beautiful pieces crafted out of rich and luxurious fabrics,” she said. “There is nothing more satisfying to me than seeing a woman enter a room in one of my dresses, looking gorgeous and glowing with confidence. Collaborating with SCALA has opened the door for my designs to be sold to an even broader international market. SCALA’s 26 years of success gives my line instant appeal.”

Tavecchia owner Judith Parker said, “SCALA by ASHLEYlauren meets the level of quality and style that our customers have come to expect from us.  Knowing it was created by a fellow graduate of Waynflete gives me an extra degree of satisfaction.” Seasonal party-goers and fashionistas can view one of Kerr’s dresses on display in the window of the Exchange Street store.

Simply You owner Lori Irving says she’s proud to carry an international line created by a local designer. “Ashley has worked incredibly hard on her new line. Anyone who has seen her products or had a chance to try them on is completely floored by their design, shape, fabric, and colors.”

“I’ve had the privilege to work with designers and clients around the world—from Asia to Latin America—but nothing is more fulfilling for me than seeing my dresses for sale in my home state of Maine,” said the 28-year-old Kerr.

ABOUT SCALA by ASHLEYlauren

Ashley Lauren Kerr recognizes the power of fashion. Immersed in design, intrigued by the latest trends and influenced by classic silhouettes, she takes great pride in creating clothing that allows her customers to match their choice of dress to their unique styles and personalities.

It is her passion for fabulous that led Kerr to create a line that is fresh, provocative, and playful yet, still affordable. Setting the line apart is  Ashley’s special attention to detail, fit and construction that goes into each dress. In SCALA by ASHLEYlauren, women radiate the confidence that comes from knowing they are dressed to the nines.

About SCALA USA

SCALA USA has a 26-year history of providing beautiful evening wear for all occasions. The retailer’s reputation comes from a stunning and diverse selection of colors, designs, fabrics and fits in prom dresses, evening dresses, cocktail dresses and more.  SCALA designs have been seen by millions around the world, and their dresses are currently sold in 83 countries. You’ll be dazzled by the beauty of SCALA dresses and you’ll quickly discover why they have been such a popular choice since 1985. For more information visit www.scalausa.com. Find SCALA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalausa and Follow them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/scalausa.

 About Ashley Lauren Kerr

Since 2008, Ashley Lauren Kerr, has been a go-to style guru for women of distinction. Her company, AHSLEYlaurenKerr, offers individualized coaching, beauty advice and uniquely designed clothing to an international clientele. Other services offered by ASHLEYlaurenKerr include styling, poise and personality coaching, and makeup and hair training for a variety of high-profile clients including pageant contestants and industry executives. In addition, Ashley authors a high-end fashion blog, ALK Style at http://www.alkstyleblog.com.

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Portland, ME and Portsmouth, NH (December 15, 2011) – Cornerstone Financial Planning teamed with iBec Creative in Portland to launch their new website developed with “responsive design.” This feature allows the site to automatically adjust to a variety of devices used for web browsing, including smart phones and tablet devices.

“With people spending more time on the web via mobile devices, it is essential that companies have sites that are viewer friendly across a wide spectrum of devices, which is why we’re developing all of our new sites with responsive design,” said Becky McKinnell, president of iBec Creative.

Using Responsive Web Techniques, iBec developed a site that will not just resize for various devices, but also prioritize information and design elements so that your experience is optimized for a touch centric device. Using responsive design techniques minimizes the cost of designing and programming a separate mobile site and gives your users access to the full content of the site.

“As financial planners, we have clients that need access to our information quickly, so having a website that adjusts to phones and tablet devices is important. We always want to be within reach for our clients and having a responsive website is one way we can ensure that,” said Jill Boynton, principal at Cornerstone Financial Planning

Cornerstone Financial Planning’s website will also feature a fresh look, designed by iBec Creative’s team, and will provide visitors with information on financial planning and regularly updated insights into the financial world through their blog.

About Cornerstone Financial Planning

Cornerstone Financial Planning has been providing unbiased and client-focused financial planning services in Maine, New Hampshire, and Northern Massachusetts since 2004. As Certified Financial Planner® practitioners and NAPFA Registered Financial Advisors, Cornerstone helps its clients through financial transitions and moves them toward more confident decision making for the long-term. For information, go to www.cornerstoneplanning.com or call (603) 431-1133 in New Hampshire and
(207) 772-8133 in Maine.

 About iBec Creative

Established in 2006 by founder and President Becky McKinnell, iBec Creative is a leading provider of website and traditional design services based in Portland, Maine. iBec Creative brings fresh ideas and an intuitive understanding of technology to its work. For more information, go online to www.iBecCreative.com or call (207) 221-0790.

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Biddeford, MAINE (December 13, 2011)—In a challenging economy, librarians are just as concerned as local politicians with assisting the unemployed and providing a boost to economic development. On Wednesday December 14th from 11 am to 2 pm, McArthur Library will be hosting a training session for a group of displaced workers from Lowe’s Biddeford store. The training will be presented by the Maine State Library, in conjunction with the Department of Labor’s Rapid Response Team and McArthur Library. Individual workers were contacted with an invitation to learn about the assistance libraries can provide. The program is a timely response to the urgent need to provide assistance to displaced workers – for those who are seeking employment or educational opportunities, the online resources provide a wide range of tutorials, classes, tips and skill-building opportunities.

Patrick Therrien, Technology & Education Training Specialist with the Maine State Library, will be providing an overview of resources available on the topics of job seeking, interviewing skills, and an introduction to preparing for job fairs, as well as how job seekers may leverage the latest technologies, including social media, during the job search. These resources are online and can be accessed through McArthur Public Library’s public access internet computers as well as from home.

Jeff Cabral, McArthur Library Director, welcomes the opportunity to showcase the resources as well as the abilities of his staff to assist with employment questions. “People are realizing that the library plays an important role in the community, and it’s not just about ‘books on shelves’ anymore nor is it about what is in our physical ‘bricks and mortar’ building. It’s what we know, it’s what we have access to, and it’s the incredible knowledge and expertise of our staff.”

The online resources are part of the Maine Public Library Information Commons Project, and are available to all Maine residents. The project provides Mainers with access to modules on employment, accessing health and e-government information, business start-up and legal assistance, digital literacy, and LearningExpress, a vast collection of classes and study guides. LearningExpress includes modules on topics as varied as software tutorials, reading skills for elementary students, and college prep study guides for the SATs.

The Maine State Library was awarded a grant through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program of $1.3 million – which has enabled the Maine Public Library Information Commons Project to go forward. The project enhances public computer access in 107 public libraries in Maine, establishes 11 video conferencing regional hubs, and creates a partnership between the Maine State Library and the Department of Labor to provide support for job seekers through training and access to online information on a range of relevant topics, including job searches, resume writing, interview readiness skills, and preparing for a job fair.

“Libraries are a critical access point for job seekers who may not have a career center in their community,” said Maine Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass. “In addition to providing online access to unemployment benefits and job search services on Maine’s Job Bank, the broadband grant has provided unemployed workers with practical skills to help them become reemployed.”

McArthur Library is Maine’s oldest tax-supported library and serves the residents of Biddeford, as well as visitors, with its wide ranging collections, resources, programs and technology.

The Maine State Library’s Information Commons page can be found here:

http://www.maine.gov/msl/commons/

About Tilson Fiber Technology, LLC: Tilson Fiber Technology, LLC (TFT), part of the fast-growing Tilson family of companies, is a Portland, Maine based business providing information technology and telecom project management world-wide. www.tilsontech.com

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PORTLAND, Maine (December 6, 2011) —  Mercy Hospital and the Red Claws are proud to kick off the 3^rd annual Best Shot for Youth initiative supporting active and healthy lifestyles for children and young athletes. Funds raised from this initiative through its sponsors will provide free sports physicals at Mercy Primary Care locations for students, grades 6-12 who do not have a primary care physician or who are currently patients of Mercy Primary Care.

The Best Shot for Youth initiative consists of Free Throw Tournaments that are open to all youth. The first tournament is on Dec. 17^th from 1 to 2:30pm at the Portland Expo. Youth of all ages are welcome to try out their skills, learn some new tips and have a chance to win one of 50 free tickets to the Dec. 31 Red Claws game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. There is no cost to participate. Qualifying students will receive a voucher to redeem for a free sports physical for the 2012–2013 school year.

“Sports physicals are as important for youth competitors as they are for elite athletes,” says Dr. Patrick Pierre of Mercy Windham, and the Red Claws Team Physician. “In the industry, we know that young athletes are more prone to injury due to a number of factors. By providing free physicals for students who wouldn’t normally be able to afford them, this program is not just ensuring healthier lives, but may be saving lives.”

For information on how to participate in the tournament, please contact redclaws@mercyme.com or (207) 879-3605. Mercy is the official healthcare provider for the Maine Red Claws.

About Mercy Health System of Maine

Mercy Health System of Maine is a growing community of healthcare providers who provide clinically-excellent, compassionate care.  A recognized leader in quality, safety, innovation and patient experience, Mercy operates campuses throughout southern Maine, offering a broad range of medical and surgical services, as well as primary and specialty care.  The story of Mercy includes Mercy Hospital, Gary’s House, McAuley Residence, Mercy Recovery Center, and VNA Home Health & Hospice. For more information, please call (207) 879-3486 or visit www.mercyhospital.org.

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Emerson has over 25 years of experience working in small businesses overseeing accounting, forecasting and budgeting, financial analyzing, human resources and employee benefits administration,  operations and overall business coaching. Emerson works with clients throughout the Greater Portland area and up to Lewiston/Auburn and Brunswick.

“Small businesses have very unique challenges. I was fortunate to work for a variety of companies throughout my career and have first-hand experience to understand and find solutions to day-to-day challenges small business owners face,” said Emerson. “I am finding that business owners today are busier than ever and need reliable financial information to make good decisions and grow. It is rewarding to be able to make sense of it all for them.”

Emerson received a BA from the University of Southern Maine in Leadership and Organizational Studies. She is a certified Intuit QuickBooks ProAdvisor and a Certified Business, Career and Life Coach.

With the end of the calendar year approaching, Emerson is especially skilled in helping accountants and their clients organize their financial information in preparation for taxes, as well as looking forward to 2012 forecasting and budgeting. Carol is accepting new clients and can be contacted at (207) 557-8080 or carol@customhousebusiness.com

About Custom House Business Services
Started in 2011, Custom House Business Services, located in Portland and Yarmouth, ME provides a full spectrum of services from high level accounting, day-to-day bookkeeping,  human resource management  and operations support. Behind the scenes, Custom House will customize services to a client’s  unique needs –with over 25 years of experience to help businesses focus on financials, work flows and people to improve efficiencies and grow. For more information go to www.customhousebusiness.com or call (207) 557-8080.

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The Franco Center is pleased to announce that Lewiston/Auburn’s favorite ladies of song, the Girls of L/A, will be performing as part of a spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration. The Franco Center’s New Year’s Eve party begins at 6pm on December 31st, and continues in to the early hours of the new year, pulling out all the stops for a complete night of dining, dancing, drinks, and divas!

The Franco Center is offering two ticket options for revelers this year. To take part in the entire night of celebrations, guests can purchase a ticket that includes a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, the performance with the Girls of L/A, and an afterparty with dancing to DJ Greg Curry. This all-inclusive ticket is $50 per person.

For those interested in just the performance by the Girls of L/A, guests can purchase a ticket to the concert for $25 per person.

The Girls of L/A report that this show is a brand-new presentation, including a spectrum of songs that span over 5 decades. Showstopping sounds include a Motown medley (featuring songs by the Supremes, Aretha Franklin, and others) as well as a (gasp!) Rock and Roll medley featuring hits by Heart, Pat Benetar and, and Tina Turner.

Tickets for these divine divas of song are selling quickly and this event promises to be the premier New Year’s Eve celebration in Lewiston/Auburn.  For reservations, call 689-2000 or purchase online at www.francocenter.org .

About The Girls of L/A

Debbie Morin has entertained people in and around New England and Canada for more than 30 years.  She has performed with the 70’s and 80’s band, Good and Plenty, and with the ever-popular country-rock band, Cheyenne. From Maine to Texas, Bette Sanborn has been performing since her early teens in bands like 7th Heaven, Good n’ Plenty, Chameleon and more. Jeannie Martin started singing professionally at age 13 with the rock band, The Travelers.  Jeanne has appeared on the TV show “You Can Be a Star” and recorded an album titled “Just the Way I Am.” Kathy Haley, a life-long musician from Auburn, began her professional music career when she was thirteen as a church organist, choral accompanist, and pianist for many local musical theater productions, as well as a lead vocalist and a founding member of the band Good and Plenty. For almost two decades, Laurie Sidelinger performed with the Lewiston-based band, Horizon, and has traveled from Canada to Boston singing her “songs from the heart.”  In the past 35-plus years of entertaining, Bonnie Edwards has performed throughout the US and Europe. Bonnie has opened for national artists to include Dr. John, Gatemouth Brown, Johnny Copeland,  Jimmy Rogers, Savoy Brown and Eddie Kirkland with her gutsy blues style.

About the Franco Center

The Franco American Heritage Center, now in its 11th year, has become one of Lewiston/Auburn’s most active and highly regarded non-profit organizations.

The mission of the Franco Center is “to celebrate, promote and preserve the rich Franco-American heritage while welcoming the culture of its neighbors.”

The beautiful facility, located in the downtown/Riverfront Island area of Lewiston, is an active and thriving community and arts center with a combination of uses including a state-of-the-art performance hall, a multi-function hall, a learning center, a museum, and a French library. With the addition of the new Heritage Hall, located on the basement level, The Franco Center now features dance parties, theme nights, dining events, cabaret evenings and much more.

Visit the Franco Center online at http://www.francocenter.org.