Happy Saturday, Auburn!
I love this time of year. With Halloween around the corner, there's nothing better than telling spooky stories around the fire. As a huge family history buff, I love regaling my daughter with tales from my grandmother about cryptic occurrences around her 19th century childhood home.
Speaking of which, it's also great to visit purportedly haunted houses. My parents took me to one at Funtown when I was probably about 8. As Dad and I inched our way down the dark, narrow, cacophonous hallways, around every corner a shadow would leap out to scare me. Since Dad was always a practical joker who loved to get a rise out of people, I assumed he'd gotten in on the act when I heard a spooky voice from behind.
"Stop it, Daddy," I giggled nervously.
"This ... is ... not ... Daddy," the bodiless voice croaked back.
I still enjoy being scared like that. If you're the same, check out the L/A Community Little Theatre's "Shadows on Stage" haunted house, which runs the next two weekends. You can learn more 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: Education Department denies Upward Bound appeal; Greenline commuter bus expands; YMCA extends child care hours; and letters from Auburn residents.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
- Alex Lear
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The U.S. Department of Education has denied an appeal seeking to restore promised federal funding for a program at the University of Maine at Farmington supporting low-income students in Oxford and Androscoggin counties. The agency on Sept. 12 informed UMF and the University of Maine System that the grant for River Valley Upward Bound would end two years early, claiming the program includes diversity and social justice programming that runs counter to Trump administration priorities. The program serves six high schools, including Edward Little in Auburn.
An Auburn man was behind bars Wednesday, charged with attempting to ram two police cruisers during an early morning chase through three municipalities. The 44-year-old, who owns the former medical marijuana business Fire Pharms on Center Street in Auburn, is also accused of twice attempting to escape after his capture following the Tuesday morning chase from Turner into Lewiston.
Almost every night for the whole summer, an Auburn woman named Jen was seemingly visited by a ghost. The ghost came gliding down the sleepy sidewalk in the wee hours, a slender waif in a white evening gown that flowed out behind her. But then one dark night not long ago, this revenant in white came inside. It turned out she wasn’t a ghost from the realm of spirits, but a wandering young woman, estimated to be in her late 30s, with significant mental health problems.
Western Maine Transportation Services expanded its GreenLine commuter bus schedule Oct. 1, increasing to six weekday round trips between Farmington and Lewiston-Auburn. The GreenLine links Farmington with Wilton, Jay, Livermore Falls, Livermore and Turner, with southbound runs beginning at the University of Maine at Farmington’s Olsen Center and northbound service turning at Lewiston’s Oak Street Bus Station.
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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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The United Methodist Church of Auburn is offering a Community Prayer Request drive-up station, located at the edge of its 439 Park
Ave. property. "All those in need of prayer are invited to drive up or walk up, fill out a brief form, and deposit it in a locked slot," writes Wanda Sprague, pictured above with fellow Worship Committee member Peter Keniston. "Prayer recipients will be prayerfully remembered during worship and for the duration of the following week. The names of those to be remembered can be noted by their first name only and the person requesting the prayers has the option of remaining anonymous." Email Sprague for more information.
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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
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The Auburn Public Library will feature the short film "#how2life :) A Guide on How to Support Your Mental Health," followed by a facilitated discussion and mindfulness activities, today from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at 49 Spring St. This film was created by the Milkwalkers, five local teens passionate about mental health awareness. Click here to learn more about this free event, which includes complimentary refreshments.
The Rave-Ons, a Buddy Holly tribute band including the music of Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, takes the stage at the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center, 77 Harris St. in Auburn, at 7:30 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. tomorrow. Learn more about this Maine State Music Theatre presentation.
The Great Falls Comedy Club, 34 Court St. in Auburn, features Brian Plumb tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Adam Hatch and Ryan Waning take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Get tickets for all shows here.
Starting Monday, Oct. 6, the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston, 62 Turner St. in Auburn, is extending morning operating hours for child care. Care for infants to age 5 will now begin at 6:30 a.m. Additionally, all child care families will receive free YMCA memberships, which are good for the entire household. Learn more or book a tour here.
Enrollment has opened at the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston for Skills & Drills (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten), and Biddy Basketball (first through sixth grades). Click here for evaluations dates and locations, as well as registration and
financial aid info.
The Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St., will host a Fall Slow Flow Yoga series for adults from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7. Subsequent sessions are at the same time on Oct. 14 and 21. Registration for each class closes at 4:30 p.m. that day. Learn more here.
The L/A Community Little Theatre will host "Shadows on Stage: A Haunted House," from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10 and 11, at 30 Academy St. in Auburn. This fundraiser for CLT returns Oct. 17 and 18. Promotional materials note that "This is not a guided tour — this is your journey into fear. Follow a marked path through the theater’s most haunted spaces. Beware: scare-actors and unexpected jump scares lurk around every corner. No one can shield you from the terror waiting in
the dark." Learn more here, and get tickets here.
All aboard! The Great Falls Model Railroad Club will hold its 2025 show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Edward Little High School, 77 Harris St. in Auburn. Admission costs $5, but children younger than 12 get in with adult admission. Learn more here.
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| VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR
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Oct. 3, 1950: “Plans for a sub-fire station at upper Cook and South Main Street in New Auburn were tabled, Councilman Roland Juneau of Ward Five was asked to resign, North and West Auburn citizens asked better fire protection and
better water service and the Auburn Fire Department and its chief were critized (sic).
“All this happened at the ... Auburn City Council meeting last evening.”
Click here to read more of this story from 1950. 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. 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 and sign up for the companion newsletter, Lewiston
Now. Read more news at sunjournal.com.
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