Next Saturday marks two years since an unthinkable tragedy gripped the Lewiston area. Out of the darkness of that time came a strength and sense of identity and community among Lewiston's people that I've greatly admired.
Two events this week encapsulate that notion of Lewiston Strong.
Maine MILL is holding an opening reception for "Familiar Faces," an installation commemorating the mass shootings. The 35 Canal St. event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Ian Trask's exhibit incorporates bowling balls and pool balls left at the sites of the tragedies.
Also, a gathering of remembrance will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, on the Longley Bridge, near Veterans Memorial Park. Participants are asked to stand together, and those driving by to honk in support, for 24 Hours of Remembrance.
Learn more about both events below.
As always, I encourage you to email me with submissions about upcoming events or other community contributions to be included in this newsletter.
In this week's newsletter: Lewiston City Council censure vote coming Tuesday; School Committee elections; former police chief named next U.S. Marshal; Jane Austen Regency Ball.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
- Alex Lear
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MORE NEWS
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Storm clouds form Oct. 8 over Lewiston looking east, framed through the Bud Form sculpture by Hugh Lassen at the end of the Longley Bridge in Auburn. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
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The Lewiston City Council will vote Tuesday on censuring councilors Josh Nagine and Scott Harriman for using the encrypted messaging app Signal to communicate with a city employee. The communications were discovered during an internal investigation into the employee. Several sources close to the investigation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the employee was former police Det. Joe Philippon, who resigned this month.
Early voting for the Nov. 4 election has begun across Maine. Lewiston residents will vote on four School Committee seats. Voters wishing to cast an absentee ballot may do so in person at the city clerk’s office at City Hall through Thursday, Oct. 30. Here are the candidates.
The K-8 program at the former Holy Cross School in Lewiston will move to the Auburn campus of St. Dominic Academy in January, Bishop James Ruggieri said Tuesday. Pre-K classes will also relocate. Last March, citing declining enrollments and lack of revenue, the bishop said the diocese would close the high school at the Auburn campus. A group of Saint Dominic Academy parents and alumni hope to have a site for a private high school by November and begin enrolling students in January for the 2026-27 school year.
Former Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre is expected to be named Maine’s next U.S. Marshal, a news release from Maine U.S. Sen. Susan Collins stated. St. Pierre’s “steady leadership” during the October 2023 mass shooting was cited as one reason he was nominated for the position. St. Pierre, who retired just last month, awaits U.S. Senate confirmation before taking on the new job.
Several dozen vendors assembled Wednesday in Veterans Memorial Park in Lewiston for the Homeless Veterans Mobile Stand Down, which the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services holds annually. Along with free haircuts, food and counseling, veterans were offered long- and short-term housing opportunities.
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THIS WEEK'S MYSTERY PHOTO
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If you can identify where this photo was taken, contact us at bmail@sunjournal.com with your answer, your name, town and phone number. Correct entries will be put into a drawing for a $25 gift card courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets.
(P.S. Did you guess last week's Mystery Photo correctly?)
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COMMUNITY VOICES/AROUND TOWN
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Just in time for Halloween, The Public Theatre kicks off its 35th season with a stage adaptation of Stephen King's "Misery." The show opens Friday, Oct. 24, and runs
through Nov. 9 at 31 Maple St. in Lewiston. Teri Clark Linden stars as infamous "number-one fan" Annie Wilkes. Learn more and get tickets here.
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SUBMIT YOUR NEWS: Whether it's an upcoming event, municipal update or something else entirely, we're
always looking for local happenings to feature in this newsletter. Send us the details for consideration.
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THINGS TO DO IN LEWISTON
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A No Kings Day gathering will begin at noon today on the Longley Bridge between Lewiston and Auburn. There will be two speakers, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and humorist Tim Sample, along with music by Stan Davis. Email
Pat Fogg of Resist Central Maine for more information, or call her at 207-375-3068.
The Trinity Commons Chamber Orchestra will hold its inaugural concert at 3 p.m. today at Trinity Episcopal Church, 247 Bates St. The orchestra will premiere “Fernweh — Longing for a Distant Land” by Heather Hastings.
Ready to party like it's 1813? The Jane Austen Regency Ball lights up Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St., tonight from 6:30 to 9 p.m. This free event is open to ages 13 and up; no registration is required. Learn more here, and read our story.
The Lewiston Farmers Market runs tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2 Oxford St. The weekly gathering offers visitors a chance to connect with one another and shop for a wide variety of local foods and goods. Learn more.
Maine MILL is holding an opening reception for an installation commemorating the mass shootings in Lewiston two years ago. The 35 Canal St. event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Click here to learn more about “Familiar Faces,” created by artist Ian Trask.
The Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St., will host an adult craft night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at which participants will make Halloween-themed terrariums. Learn more about this free program.
A gathering of remembrance runs from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, on the Longley Bridge, near Veterans Memorial Park. "We Remember" signs will be available, along with a sign-making station, candles and Remembrance Bags. Learn more here.
- The Midcoast Symphony Orchestra’s 36th season-opener, “Heroes: Common and Uncommon,” takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Orion Performing Arts Center, 66 Republic Ave. in Topsham. Get tickets.
- Fitter Happier: A Tribute to the Music of Radiohead takes the stage at Bates College's Olin Arts Center, 75 Russell St., at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Get tickets.
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Every Thanksgiving, we recognize a group of Mainers To Be Thankful For. This year, we're focusing on school workers, and we want your suggestions for the teachers, ed techs, custodians, administrative assistants, nurses, coaches, librarians and more who have touched your lives. Nominate them for our annual Thanksgiving feature.
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THE WAY IT WAS IN LEWISTON
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Oct. 18, 1988: “A five-year-old boy picks up a blood-stained hypodermic needle while playing in a Bates Street driveway.
“Ninety hypodermic needles are stolen from a diabetic working at the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Auburn.
“Both of these incidents occurred in the last week and reinforce what police already suspect - injecting cocaine is becoming the preferred method of use for area drug users.
“And street corners are the preferred places to discard the used needles.”
Click here to read more of this story from 1988. Subscribers enjoy exclusive access to search and browse our digital archives on Newspapers.com.
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Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent about 25 years in journalism, the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, and the rest as the Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal. His long-running
“Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 8-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex. You can support this newsletter by encouraging friends and family to subscribe here. Read more news at sunjournal.com.
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