AUBURN — U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe was honored with a day of her own in her childhood hometown Wednesday, and Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said he’d like to see the city host a permanent tribute. “Something I am committed to is finding a more lasting way to recognize not only the accomplishments of Sen. Snowe, […]
Jonathan LaBonte
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Androscoggin County wants free AVCOG membership
AUBURN — After years of paying thousands of dollars in dues to the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, the county wants a free pass. Androscoggin County leaders say asking the county to pay essentially bills taxpayers twice. Before Oct. 1, the county was scheduled to pay $6,580 to AVCOG. It didn’t. However, all 14 towns […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
New county fees may save too little money to satisfy Lewiston, Auburn
AUBURN — A county plan to save Lewiston and Auburn taxpayers about $66,000 may fail because some say it doesn’t save enough money. The three-member Androscoggin County Commission voted Wednesday to create a new system of fees to force the county’s 12 small towns to pay for answering and dispatching emergency calls. The two cities […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Stage set for Auburn ice arena vote Monday
AUBURN — The city moved closer to a vote on a proposed dual-rink ice arena Friday with youth hockey leaders trying to rally support and city councilors promising to go over the financial plans. City councilors are scheduled to vote Monday on developer George Schott’s proposal to build the arena on land he owns behind […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Youth Hockey boosters hope to rally support for two-rink arena
AUBURN — Youth hockey supporters are planning a news conference Friday to rally support for building a two-rink ice arena near the Auburn Mall and convince city councilors it’s a good idea. “Some councilors have lost the encouragement to push things forward,” said Thom Labrie, director of the Lewiston Auburn youth hockey player development program. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Flap fizzles: Committees meet to discuss future of ELHS
AUBURN — When you get right down to it, the recent flap over planning for a new Edward Little High School can be boiled down to one line. “What we have here,” Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said Thursday, “is a failure to communicate.” It’s a line from “Cool Hand Luke,” but it fits. On Wednesday, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Some say leadership skipped a generation in L-A. The next wave has arrived.
LEWISTON — As a Portlander, Joshua Shea failed. Metro, the magazine he created for Casco Bay readers in 2003, went belly-up after nine months. The rookie publisher hadn’t figured out how to sell ads or run a small company. And he says the city seemed to care little for a 20-something entrepreneur. “I wasn’t welcomed […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
LaBonte: Auburn deserves say in Lewiston canal deal
AUBURN — Mayor Jonathan LaBonte says his city should have some say in Lewiston’s plan to take over its downtown canals. LaBonte said he has been looking over 1984 agreements between the two cities and Central Maine Power Co. on water rights and property taxes on the electricity-generating Monty Hydro station at the head of […]
Posted inConnections
ALT director to speak at Historical Society April 24
Since 2008, Labonte has been executive director of the Androscoggin Land Trust, which currently conserves 4,850 acres of land and more than 10 miles of river frontage, and in recent years has helped bring the recreational potential of the river to the forefront of state and federal policies. He will describe how the river was […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Mayors discuss housing with Sen. Collins
LEWISTON — Twin Cities mayors made a lunchtime pitch to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Friday, asking for help reshaping the downtown area’s housing. “One of the signature federal programs that support our downtown is the Community Development Block Grant program and the senator has a unique role in that,” Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said. […]