AUGUSTA — Lewiston Democrat James Handy was confirmed the winner of the House District 58 race by the Maine Secretary of State’s Office, following a recount of ballots. Handy and Republican Denise Hurilla were separated by 43 votes before the recount. After the recount, Handy lost four votes while Hurilla gained 1, confirming Handy’s victory. […]
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Posted inMaine
Legislators no fans of term limits
AUGUSTA — The one sure thing about term limits is that the Legislature’s 186 members can’t stick around in the same position for too long. Nobody can serve more than eight consecutive years representing the same district before he’s forced to get out or at least run for a different office. But some politicians say […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Handy announces bid for Maine House
LEWISTON – Saying he will not be a typical first-year legislator, Jim Handy is announcing his candidacy for the Maine House District 58 seat. Handy, a Democrat, is seeking to replace retiring Rep. Michel Lajoie, D-Lewiston, who has served four terms in the House. The district includes parts of Lewiston voting Wards 4, 6 and […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Big school in Lewiston will deliver smaller classes
LEWISTON — In Lindsay Putney’s crowded kindergarten room Thursday at Farwell Elementary School, her 25 students worked on art. Experts say 25 kindergarten students in one class is too many. State regulations call for kindergarten classes to be no more than 20 students per teacher. A growing student population has created overcrowded schools with classes […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston board tweaks grading for new diploma program
LEWISTON — In response to concerns from parents about a new diploma that this year’s freshmen will face to graduate, School Committee members heard an update and made a few changes to the program Monday night. Lewiston High School is in its first year of a proficiency-based diploma for the Class of 2018. This year, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston schools may get veggie volunteers to help serve local produce
LEWISTON — This week is harvest lunch week, when schools across the state serve fresh food grown in Maine — summer squash, zucchini, butternut squash, carrots, corn and potatoes. At Lewiston schools, there’s some local produce, but potatoes are most often made from dried flakes. Carrots are frozen. Corn comes out of a can. “It […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston school committee says no to virtual school, wants smaller kindergarten classes
LEWISTON — When asked to approve a new virtual school in Lewiston at a cost of $50,000, the Lewiston School Committee instead indicated that money should be used for a new kindergarten class at McMahon Elementary School. The committee took no action on creating a virtual school. After hearing a report that recommended a small […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Animal Tales: Students run pet food pantry
Katrina Dailey, transitions coordinator for the Margaret Murphy Center, came up with the idea for the pet pantry after hearing about a pet food charity program in Augusta. The Lewiston-Auburn center already had a relationship with the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society — some students liked to volunteer there — so she approached shelter leaders about […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston school board passes first vote on new sports eligibility
LEWISTON — The Lewiston School Committee passed a first reading of a new athletic eligibility policy that would allow freshmen the ability to recover after “bombing” their first year of high school and eventually play sports. Committee members voted 5-1 Monday night, with Matthew Roy voting against, to approve the request made from Lewiston High […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, The Franklin Journal
Reporters notebook: Fond farewell to Duplissis
LEWISTON — The resignation of Diane Duplissis was accepted May 12 by the Lewiston School Committee — albeit reluctantly. Duplissis is the executive assistant to Superintendent Bill Webster, serving on the front line, compiling reports and handling calls and queries from parents, officials and reporters. She was lauded by School Committee Chairman Jim Handy for everything […]