Happy Saturday, Auburn!
The weekend my parents and I moved to the quaint Waldo County town of Morrill, I noticed a gathering next door of mostly white-haired people sitting outside an 1805 one-room schoolhouse.
I walked over and asked if I could join this group, which turned out to be the town's historical society. Its members warmly welcomed me to join their discussion circle, glad to see a 9-year-old take an interest.
I've always loved seniors – friends, family and new acquaintances alike. They offer riches in wisdom, and it's vital that they live their later years the way they see fit, with the resources they need.
On that note, I invite you to check out our ongoing Aging in Maine series, which "explores ways to prepare for retirement, navigate the challenges of growing older and deepen community connections." These are tips my mother, now 75, can certainly use.
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: St. Dom's moving all K-8 classes; council candidates; county tax hike; and Trawl-o-Ween.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
- Alex Lear
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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.
The first of 18 market-rate apartments along the Androscoggin River will be available for lease next month at 186 Main St., one of three housing projects built along the river in Auburn in the past five years.
Early voting for the Nov. 4 election has begun across Maine. Auburn residents will decide all seven City Council seats. Voters wishing to cast an absentee ballot may do so in person at the city clerk’s office at Auburn Hall through Thursday, Oct. 30. Here are the candidates.
The proposed 2026 Androscoggin County budget, nearly $4 million more than the current spending plan, would increase the county tax by 14.9%. The Androscoggin County Budget Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday, Oct. 22, and finalize the preliminary budget before sending it back to the commissioners for final approval.
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Readers' pick: The most-clicked story in last week's newsletter was about an Auburn man, driving a stolen SUV, who died in a Turner crash.
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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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Auburn Mayor Jeffrey Harmon recently presented the 2025 John Jenkins Hearts & Hands Leadership & Service Award to longtime city employee and resident Rita Beaudry. Beaudry, Auburn's grant manager, "is deeply concerned about our city and the people of our city, especially the youth," Harmon said. "Rita has worked tirelessly for years to promote the PAL Center, from its inception to today. Without Rita, it never would have happened."
(Courtesy photo)
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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 AUBURN
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A No Kings Day gathering will begin at noon today on the Longley Bridge. 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 city of Auburn seeks vendors for its fourth annual 2025 Hilton Holiday Hangout. Participation is free, and this craft fair offers handmade goods, holiday treats, gifts, live music and a cash bar. The event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, 14 Great Falls Plaza. Spots are limited; apply here.
The Great Falls Comedy Club, 34 Court St., features Erik Scott tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Charcuterie and Comedy Night follows on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. After the one-hour charcuterie creation session, comedian Johnny Ater takes the stage, featuring Crystal Bernard. Then swing into Super Secret Party Night from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Get tickets for all shows and learn more here.
The L/A Community Little Theatre will host "Shadows on Stage: A Haunted House," from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight at 30 Academy St. Promotional materials for this CLT fundraiser 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.
Unlocking the Myths of Grief, a talk given by Susanne Murphy, will be held at the Auburn Public Library from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20. Murphy — a grief recovery specialist, life coach and founder of Whole Heart Coaching — shines a light on the most common myths of grief, revealing why they hold people back and how to break free. Click here to learn more.
The Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St., will host its final Fall Slow Flow Yoga session for adults from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Registration for each class closes at 4:30 p.m. that day. Learn more here.
Activist singer/songwriting duo Emma's Revolution brings their "We Are the Power" tour to the First Universalist Church of Auburn, 169 Pleasant St., at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Pat Humphries and Sandy O. are joined by guest Women In Harmony, an affirming and inclusive community of women singing for social justice. Get tickets here.
The "Curtain Call: Wonderland" dance workshop will be held at L/A Community Little Theatre, 30 Academy St., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Emma Tompkins is the instructor, and contemporary jazz is the style. Learn more here.
The third annual Trawl-o-Ween party rocks Lost Valley, 200 Lost Valley Road, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24; doors open at 4 p.m. There's no cover, and all ages can hear music from Trawl, Ouvre and Re:Vision. The best Halloween costume gets a $100 prize. Learn more.
The Auburn Public Library Chess Club will host a tournament from 9 to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. This Swiss-style (points-based) event offers approximately five rounds of play in the Androscoggin Community Room at 49 Spring St. Click here to learn more.
An Angel's Wing's eighth annual gala, "Toil and Trouble at the Midnight Masquerade," runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Learn more about this gathering, which takes place at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, 14 Great Falls Plaza.
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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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Oct. 17, 1928: “Jeanette Royal, after a neck and neck battle with Millie W., the Auburn horse, won the opening heat of the free-for-all New England pacing championship at the Maine State Fair Grounds, Lewiston on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a battle royal with any one of the three horses likely to win the heat altho Silver Weather was not making the showing of the other two. The time was 2 min. 9 seconds. It was estimated there were 10,000 present.”
Click here to read more of this story from 1928. 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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