Franco
Irene Mercier
AUBURN — Irene Mercier passed away Wednesday, Sept. 12. A third-generation Mainer, Irene was born Dec. 5, 1931, to Gerard Morin and Jeanne Bernard Morin. She was educated in Auburn schools and graduated from Edward Little High School. To hear her tell it, she experienced an idyllic childhood. Their home was the epicenter for extended family […]
Franco-American Education Foundation awards scholarships
LEWISTON — The Franco-American Education Foundation awarded $46,000 in scholarship funds to high school graduates from the greater Lewiston-Auburn area at its recent awards banquet held at the Gendron Franco Center. The sum is in addition to the $95,250 being awarded to students presently attending college and in their sophomore, junior and senior years. The […]
Basilica book author speaks in Lewiston
Julie-Ann Baumer, right, a freelance journalist and author of a book about the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston, talks Wednesday to Ruth Linehan of Lewiston after a forum titled, “The Unique Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.” The forum was sponsored by the Franco-American Collection at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College. Linehan said she was married in […]
Lawmakers celebrate Maine’s Franco heritage
AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers celebrated the state’s Franco-American residents and heritage during an annual celebration at the State House on Wednesday. For 15 years now, the Legislature has taken time from its work to acknowledge and celebrate the state’s strong French roots and to induct residents into the state’s Franco-American Hall of Fame. Raymond John […]
Bien fait! Madame Bonneau: Auburn woman named to Franco hall of fame
AUGUSTA — For Auburn’s Doris Belisle-Bonneau all the accolades and honors she received from the governments of the state of Maine and France are not about her. Belisle-Bonneau, who has been a longtime supporter of saving and restoring Lewiston-Auburn and Maine’s Franco-American culture and language, was inducted into the state’s Franco-American Hall of Fame on […]
French sing-along is March 20 at USM LAC
LEWISTON — Community members are invited to participate in a free French sing-along session at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College. It will be part of the many Francophonie Week events and celebrations happening in the community that week. All are welcome to join in the fun. “It’s […]
Auburn man held on high bail on robbery and attempted robbery charges
LEWISTON — A judge on Monday raised the cash bail of an Auburn man to $50,000 during his first appearance in court on charges of robbery and attempted robbery at a local store and credit union. Andrew Franco, 37, was arrested on Friday and appeared in 8th District Court on Monday afternoon. A judge increased […]
French sing-along is Sept. 19 at USM LAC
LEWISTON — Community members are invited to participate in a French sing-along session at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College, 51 Westminster St. Jacynthe Jacques, Aliette Couturier and friends will lead attendees in singing a selection of local Franco favorites such as “La Cantiniere” and “Vive la Compagnie.” […]