LA Metro Magazine - Autumn 2020

LA

METRO MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2020

JIMBO MARSTON & UNCLE ANDY’S DIGEST A legacy of laughter

Page 25

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LIVING LEGACIES

LA’s oldest churches celebrate tradition

YMCA OF AUBURN-LEWISTON Celebrating its past, eyeing its future

CRAFTSMEN IN TRAINING New England School of Metalwork

FACES of

LA

Written by Sara Poulin Photography by Jose Leiva

THE FACES OF

PAVING THE WAY IN LA

Carrier Lawn & Landscaping 587 College Road, Lewiston carrierlandscape.com Randy Wheeler, Adam Hall, Dustin Carrier, with his dog Rylee, Sam Purcell, Andy Carrier, & Kevin Cunningham

Here to stay Dustin Carrier is proud to introduce his new 9,600 square foot facility at 587 College Road in Greene. Carrier Lawn and Landscaping’s new building and property will house nine trucks, various trailers, tractors, plows and lifts, as well as bulk bins for hardscaping, and the main office of his business.

“Our new building makes a statement,” declares Carrier, “’We’re here to stay!’”

PROMOTION

Luckily, the company’s plans to move and expand were already in the works. Since Spring of 2020, Carrier has seen a 20% uptick in business. “People are at home more,” explains Carrier, “and they are investing in projects.”

metro area with over 45 years of combined landscaping and maintenance experience. Carrier is incredibly proud of the longevity of service and experience of his year-round eightperson team.

Experience counts

A cut above

For the past 12 years, Carrier Lawn and Landscaping has been servicing some high-profile local businesses, providing commercial snow plowing and grounds maintenance to clients including banks, manufacturers, hotels, and call centers.

Carrier Lawn and Landscaping has made a name for itself through reliability and quality work. Clients describe Carrier as “top notch and trustworthy.”

Between Dustin Carrier and his longtime dedicated crew, Carrier Lawn and Landscaping has been providing the LA

Let Carrier Lawn and Landscaping help your business with your maintenance or project needs this winter and beyond.

editor’s note PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE RAND

Wow, it seems like summer just took off without even saying goodbye. Wasn’t it 95° and humid only last week? It really feels like we blinked and the colder weather, changing leaves, and pumpkin spice everything came charging in. I’m 100% not prepared for the new season. I’m 100% not prepared to close up camp. I’m 100% not prepared to have a child off to college in these crazy times.

We are still reeling from the COVID-19 situation as we change seasons. Our kids have to alter the way they learn, businesses are still adapting to constantly changing rules and regulations, and every workplace encounter seems to take place via Zoom now.

It is so easy to get caught up in the negativity and tension surrounding us. People with differing opinions, social media bashing, constant in-your-face media coverage... it all can become so consuming.

LA Metro Magazine is not – and never will be – a publication that joins the negativity. I’m proud to be part of a team that showcases the positive happening in our area. We do so with a professional lightheartedness and sometimes a little humor mixed in.

Our cover story, “A Legacy of Laughter,” highlights our sister magazine, Uncle Andy’s Digest, which is celebrating 25 years in print. The Digest has developed into it’s own brand, perfected by “Jimbo” Marston, providing humor, fun “Out ’n About” photos, all while being the guide to all things local LA. Speaking of legacies, we also feature the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston. They are approaching 100 years in their location on Turner Street in Auburn. They are currently developing a new Outdoor Learning and Education Center (OLEC) right behind the old K-Mart in Auburn. Exciting stuff!

Our stories about the history of LA are always received with such enthusiasm, so we’re bringing you more! Keeping pace with our legacies theme, we focus on the three churches in LA with the oldest active congregations: Court Street Baptist, The Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul, and West Auburn Congregational Church. The rich history provided in this story is so endearing; a great read for sure!

There is so much highlighted in this issue of LA Metro Magazine; really something for everyone. Who’s ever gassed up at Poisson & Sons Auto Care, the only full service gas station remaining in LA? How many of you have taken your fur baby to get some pampering? Or eaten a delicious Chicken Marsala meal at Marco’s? We bring it all to you in this issue, and so much more!

We are proud to be the positive voice of LA, and shine light on its champions. We invite you to join us in our mission to entertain, inspire, and inform. Let’s all stay safe and healthy, continue supporting local business, and remember that a little humor does wonders in every situation.

TYLA DAVIS Editor-in-Chief editor@LAMetroMagazine.com

LA Metro Magazine is proudly printed in Lewiston, Maine at

8 Lexington Street, Lewiston 4

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

www.penmor.com

WELCOME TO THE TEAM! Optometric Associates is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Abigail Heroth, O.D. to our optometric staff. Dr. Heroth is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where she graduated with honors. She then completed a postdoctoral residency at the Togus VA Medical Centers located in Augusta and Bangor, Maine, where she focused on the study of ocular disease and primary eyecare.

Dr. Heroth originally is from Johnstown, New York. She attended Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biotechnology and Molecular Biology in 2015.

Dr. Heroth is happy to provide primary eye care to patients of all ages, as well as comprehensive, state of the art ocular disease treatment and management. Call our office to schedule your appointment today.

Serving L/A for Over 60 Years!

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LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

5

MEET THE

Contributors

BREWSTER Burns

Brewster was raised in Waterford, Maine, attended Oxford Hills High School, then graduated from Colby College. He became an English teacher at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, where he has remained since 1988.

Christmas of 2012, he received his first camera, and quickly developed a love of the lens.

Brewster freelances for some Maine newspapers and local magazines. He resides in Hebron, with his wife and two children.

PEGGY

DeBlois A native of Lewiston, Peggy began writing creatively as a child growing up in a French-Catholic neighborhood. A graduate of Bowdoin College, she began her career in journalism at PC Week in Boston, where she was the ghostwriter for the industry gossip columnist, Spencer the Cat. She has also worked locally as an English teacher and public relations consultant. A resident of Auburn, she recently finished her first novel.

PHOTOGRAPHER 6

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

WRITER

toby

Haber-Giasson Toby hails from the bustling New York City media world, where she promoted live events like payper-view boxing, and published album reviews in Creem and Audio magazines.

In LA, she coordinates events for First Universalist Church of Auburn, hosting the monthly Pleasant Note Open Mic, and staging their annual “Vagina Monologues” benefit against domestic violence.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR & WRITER

DAVID Fuller

On his eighth birthday, David’s favorite aunt gave him a camera.

She couldn’t have known that, from that day, photography would grow into a passion, a career, and a ticket to experiences he would otherwise only have dreamed of.

Fifty years later, David is a successful filmmaker, photographer, and creative director working for national and local advertising agencies, businesses, and educational and government clients. It was, as things have turned out, the perfect gift.

PHOTOGRAPHER

CHELSEA Briggs

Chelsea’s passion for the arts began at a young age. She chased her love for digital and film photography while in high school. She decided to start her own business four years ago and has never looked back.

During her career, she has freelanced for L.L. Bean, and created social media content for many household brands. Among Chelsea’s favorite things to do are create, sing, travel, and spend time with her family.

PHOTOGRAPHER

DONNA

Keene Rousseau A Maine native, Donna has dedicated much of her career to assisting families as they navigate the world of eldercare. Her philosophy is, “Create good by approaching all things with an open mind and a generous, honest heart;” it has served her well, personally and professionally.

Writing is her happy place and her family is her heart.

WRITER

JOSE MICHAEL

Leiva Krapovicky Michael is a freelance writer and musician from Auburn. He graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1999 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

He has submitted stories and articles for various publications, and performs throughout New England as a solo guitarist and bassist. Michael enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending leisure time with family and friends.

PHOTOGRAPHER WRITER

SARA

Poulin

JOSE Leiva

Jose started his photography career while in the Air Force during Vietnam. He moved to Maine in the late 1980s and retired from the Sun Journal a few years ago.

He now works as a freelance photographer and exhibits his art locally.

Jose lives in Lewiston, Maine, with his wife, Linda. Together they have six adult children, and four grandchildren who are a source of photographic inspiration.

PHOTOGRAPHER

NICOLE Rand

Sara is a “County” transplant enjoying life on the Androscoggin River. Most days she can’t be found, hiding away in the woods or mountains, enjoying the quiet peacefulness of the outdoors.

A musician and actress, she enjoys the many diverse cultural opportunities offered in the LA area.

Nicole can’t remember a time when she did not have a camera in her hands. Her passion for photography started when she was little, working with her uncle who ran his own studio.

She writes, she runs, pats all the dogs, loves beer, and plays the ukulele...badly.

Her passion is to show the beauty that is within everyone. She is constantly learning new and inventive ways to capture moments that will last a lifetime.

WRITER

She graduated in 2015 with a degree in photography and digital workflow.

Shortly afterwards, she opened her own portrait studio, Creativeones Photography.

PHOTOGRAPHER

LISA

Mayer

CASEY

Peacock

Lisa is a Clio-Award winning advertising writer from New York City who moved to LA five years ago. Her work has been published in national magazines, and she is currently writing two novels set in Maine.

Lisa is the wife of Rabbi Sruli Dresdner of Temple Shalom in Auburn, and their twins are in the fifth grade at the fabulous Park Avenue School.

Casey, originally from Tampa, Florida, moved to the Lewiston Auburn area in 2018. Her fulltime gig is slinging beers behind the bar at Side By Each Brewing Co., but Casey spends much of her spare time creating travel itineraries for the destinations she wishes to visit, and writing about the places she’s already been.

WRITER

VICTORIA Stanton

WRITER

JAKE

Van Paepeghem

Victoria is a Lewiston resident who settled here after a nomadic childhood in a military family. She graduated from Williams College in 2009, and landed her first “real world” job at an LA nonprofit. She enjoys weaving storytelling into her work at every opportunity.

Jake is a recent transplant to Maine, all the way from Boise, Idaho. A lifelong musician, Jake studied guitar performance at Boise State University before traveling as a professional touring guitarist. Along his travels, Jake fell in love with Maine.

Off the clock, Victoria can be found exploring Maine with her husband and young daughter, and their German Shepherd, Fraulein.

He lives in Portland with his wife (a native Mainer) and collie-lab mix Sara, and spends his days producing marketing videos, podcasts, and written content for the Portland-based marketing firm Energy Circle.

WRITER

WRITER

LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

7

CORE

Our

Crew

PUBLISHER & CEO

Jim Marston jim@LAMetroMagazine.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Tyla Davis editor@LAMetroMagazine.com

Jim Marston Publisher & CEO

Jim@LAMetroMagazine.com

ADVERTISING SALES Jim Marston Steve Simard

PRODUCTION MANAGERS Tyla Davis Jim Marston

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Toby Haber-Giasson

Tyla Davis

Editor-in-Chief/Graphic Design editor@LAMetroMagazine.com

WRITERS

Peggy L. DeBlois Toby Haber-Giasson Michael Krapovicky Lisa Mayer Casey Peacock Sara Poulin Donna Keene Rousseau Victoria Stanton Jake Van Paepeghem

PROOFREADERS

Steve Simard Sales

Steve@LAMetroMagazine.com

Keith Davis Kayla Marston

PHOTOGRAPHY Chelsea Briggs Brewster Burns David Fuller Jose Leiva Nicole Rand

COVER

Stephanie Arsenault

Jimbo Marston, Uncle Andy’s Digest publisher Photographer: Nicole Rand

billing@LAMetroMagazine.com

LA Metro Magazine is published four times each year by LA Metro Magazine, LLC

Bookkeeper

Editorial and subscription info: Call 207-783-7039 email: info@LAMetroMagazine.com 9 Grove Street, Auburn, ME 04210

Colby Michaud Multimedia Specialist

Colby@LAMetroMagazine.com

8

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher or staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither LA Metro Magazine nor any of its staff are responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. No establishment is ever covered in this magazine because it has advertised, and no payment ever influences our stories and reviews.

Copyright Š2020 LA Metro Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission, in writing, from the publisher. Printed in Lewiston, ME, USA.

volume five • issue four

AUTUMN 2020

in this issue features

quick reads 10

37

15

Social Hour: Home on the range

32

20 Living legacies

Sound Check: LA’s Black Elvis

44

50

Taste of Italy

Craftsmen in training

57

At your service

Tails of two cities

60

YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston

Nonprofit Spotlight: Rebuilding Together Lewiston/Auburn

ON THE COVER A legacy of laughter

25

Dave Dutil fires at a target at Top Gun of Maine 10

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

SOCIAL H UR

Highlighting great places to go and things to do in our communities.

HOME ON THE

RANGE Written by Sara Poulin | Photography by Nicole Rand

T

op Gun of Maine appears as a fortress, looming over Maine Street in Poland. At 85 feet, it is the longest public indoor shooting range in Maine. With every safety feature imaginable, from steel and concrete walls and a sloped floor, to an anti-ricochet mat at the end of the lanes, it’s hard to imagine a more safety-conscious building.

LAMM spends some time at Top Gun of Maine and R.D. Tactical Handgun Instruction, to learn how they take firearm safety very seriously.

gun Instruction for 12 years, eight of them at Cimino’s range. He echoes Cimino’s words about the use of firearms.

Mailhot believes that you should do, “whatever you can to avoid using your firearm.” He adds, “For your own well-being, your conscience.” He’s speaking not of firing your gun for recreation, but of using your firearm in self-defense, something that he focuses on in his classes.

“We like to get people into a class before they develop bad habits,” Mailhot says. “Get the basics down before you start doing advanced things,” he adds. The classes he offers range from Beginner Pistol to the more advanced Concealed Carry. They cover skills in firearm assembly and cleaning, safe storage, situational avoidance, and range etiquette and technique. All five instructors at R.D. Tactical are certified by the National Rifle Association.

What to expect Top Gun of Maine and R.D. Tactical Handgun Instruction welcome shooters of all experience levels. Beginner shooters are required by the range to bring in a “mentor”– a friend or acquaintance who have proven skills and knowledge in firearms, to help them operate their gun safely and follow the range rules.

Joe Cimino, Top Gun of Maine

Safety first When you enter the shop at Top Gun of Maine, you’ll notice displays of firearms built or restored by owner Joe Cimino. Glass showcases with firearms for sale line the room and trophy animals adorn the walls. The physical space doesn’t feel any different from any other gun shop or shooting range. It’s the people inside who raise it a step above all others.

Beginners fill out a series of forms and waivers which determine if a person meets the criteria for using the facility. If you qualify, you are required to wear protective ear coverings and eyewear.

Shooters must bring their own ammunition. Cameras inside the range allow the staff to keep a careful watch over the lanes.

“Antics are not permitted,” says Cimino. If you are not taking precautions or following the rules, Top Gun’s range staff will ask you to leave, immediately.

Because choosing a firearm on your own can be difficult, Top Gun has rentals available for use inside the range. It’s a good opportunity to see what type of firearm works best for you.

Cimino has owned and operated Top Gun for eight years. Proud of his safety record, Cimino wants everyone who enters his range to have respect for firearms, and to understand the importance of using them safely, only as a last resort for defense.

John Robinson & Joe Cimino “You can’t recall a bullet,” says Cimino, “That’s why we are so focused on educating the people who make firearm purchases from us.” He explains, “It’s our hope that they will sign up for one of the classes that Don offers at R.D.Tactical.”

Don Mailhot, a retired lieutenant and 25-year veteran of the Lewiston Police Department, has been operating R.D. Tactical Hand12

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Don Mailhot, R.D. Tactical

By Sara Poulin | Photography by Nicole Rand | Home on the range There are many factors to choosing your gun, so it helps to have someone to guide you through the process.

A new favorite pastime With federal background checks at an all-time high, about 12 million so far this year, Cimino says they are getting more Mailhot demonstrates a proper shooters in the range handgun grip during a class of all different types: thrill seekers, professional law enforcement, recreational target shooters, serious gun enthusiasts, and people who have never fired a gun before they walked through the door. Cimino and Mailhot both point out that they have seen a larger female population of shooters than ever.

Education is key After 25 years in law enforcement, Mailhot has seen a lot of situations that haven’t ended well, including the loss of his partner, David Payne, in July of 1988.

“Guns are not to be taken for granted,” he says solemnly.

“Firearm use in self-defense should be an absolute last resort.”

Mailhot’s hope is that, by educating people, he can help them understand that.

It’s clear that both Cimino and Mailhot are incredibly passionate about educating people on proper firearm usage and safety precautions. Whatever your skill level or comfort level, the experts at Top Gun of Maine and R.D. Tactical Handgun Instruction will be happy to assist you.

Top Gun of Maine 481 Maine Street, Poland • topgunofmaine.com R.D. Tactical Handgun Instruction rdtacticalhandgun.com

“Women make up more than half of the Beginner Pistol class,” Mailhot observes, a shift in recent years.

Both Cimino and Mailhot say more women are seeking a firearm for protection, but are also enjoying the sport of shooting. Before the cancellation in the spring due to COVID-19, the Ladies Shooting Club was meeting once a month for an hour of classroom training and range time. This was a great opportunity for women to gather, socialize, train, and shoot.

Now more than ever, people seem to be overcoming the obstacles that kept them from enjoying the use of firearms, finding a way to get past the stigma. There’s so much interest in firearm sales and training that Cimino and Mailhot have had to turn people away.

Instructors Matt Callahan, Don Mailhot, & Mike Sasseville

’tis the season.

Your holidays start with Roopers.

Stock up at any one of our SIX convenience package stores.

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686 Main Street - 344-1200 794 Sabattus Street - 783-6353 1420 Lisbon Street - 333-3095

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980 Main Street - 539-6072

LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

13

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LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

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Taste of Italy Written by Michael Krapovicky Photography by David Fuller

S

ince 1978, Marco’s Restaurant has been a fixture in the LA community, offering authentic Italian dishes and a quaint, understated ambiance. Recordings of mandolin and accordion ballads, or crooners like Frank Sinatra and Perry Como, are piped in to serenade their patrons. Each customer is treated as an honored guest, even in parties over 200.

Marco’s mussels appetizer

Current owners Duane Arnold and Steve Taylor outline the evolution of one of LA’s most popular Italian eateries.

LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com 15

Italian roots Marco’s Restaurant was founded in 1978, by Marco Giancotti and his wife, Carmen. The Giancottis emigrated from Calabria, Italy, and Marco worked as a cook and chef until he was able to open his own restaurant at age 40.

The Giancottis established a sixty-seat restaurant at 177 Lisbon Street, market(Submitted by Duane Arnold) ing themselves as a locally owned-and-operated establishment, serving authentic Italian cuisine. Delectable offerings such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Baked Stuffed Haddock, and Steak Sicilian have been available since the restaurant’s inception.

Marco & Carmen Giancotti

Giancotti hired Duane Arnold as kitchen help in 1987. In 1993, Steve Taylor joined the team of chefs at Marco’s.

“I remember hearing stories about how Marco came over on a boat straight from Italy with a dream to start his own restaurant,” recalls Taylor.

“Marco was from Calabria, but he added the flavors of different regions in his traditional Italian cooking,” explains Arnold. “He took the favorites, created his own style, and shared them with us.”

“The Giancottis took their creativity and ambition, and opened Marco’s,” Arnold continues. “Hard work, great personalities, and Marco’s style of cooking helped ensure the success of the restaurant.”

Under Marco’s tutelage, yet with the freedom to develop their own ideas, the team of chefs have brought a fresh experience to those who have been consistent Marco’s customers for years.

“I keep a focus on the flavorful ingredients, and then the presentation for the customer,” says Taylor of his cooking philosophy.

“If you lose the passion for food, you might as well hang it up!”

Photo courtesy of Colby Michaud

Passing the torch Upon hearing Taylor and Arnold had plans to buy their own restaurant, Carmen Giancotti suggested the pair buy Marco’s Restaurant. Although Marco was resistant to sell at first, because of his love for the business, he eventually acquiesced. Arnold and Taylor became the new owners on April 1, 2000. Their admiration for their mentor and friend is evident in the way the pair has sought to retain Marco Giancotti’s legacy.

“I think Marco respected us because he saw the effort we put into our work. We got the job done and took pride in it as well, making his life a lot less stressful,” claims Arnold. “Overall, we learned cooking skills and the value of hard work, and much more!”

Although the Giancottis have retired, they are still integral to the spirit of the business.

“I miss seeing Marco – he’s a special person to me,” Arnold muses. “I do believe that if he still lived in the area, he might have taken a part time job here!”

Steve Taylor

Quality team Like the Giancottis, Duane Arnold and Steve Taylor value quality, pride, honesty, and hard work.

“I have had a passion for cooking ever since I was a kid, working in restaurants since I was 15 years old,” says Taylor. “When I came in to speak with Marco about a job, he only asked me two questions, ‘Do you work hard, and do you love food?’“ Taylor enthusiastically answered “yes” to both questions, and began line cooking the following day.

“Working for Marco was a great experience,” Arnold avows.

“We learned different cooking methods and combined that with our own style.”

16

Duane Arnold

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Taylor cooks with fire

By Michael Krapovicky | Photography by David Fuller | Taste of Italy

Marco’s lit up at dusk

New digs In 2004, a fire destroyed the restaurant’s historic Lisbon Street building. After scouting potential locations, Arnold and Taylor chose 12 Mollison Way as the new home of Marco’s Restaurant.

Although many customers miss the downtown environs, the new building has brought prosperity to the new owners, and captures the true Italian experience Marco’s visitors expect.

“What I like most about the Mollison Way location is that it gave us the opportunity to make Marco’s our own, yet keep it the

same,” Taylor says. The banquet rooms offer an expanded capacity of up to 275. “And ample parking is a luxury we didn’t have on Lisbon Street.”

Some new features on the menu – like Chicken and Sausage Siciliano, Shrimp Romano, Seafood Pappardelle Scampi, Stuffed Melanzana and Stuffed Chicken Italiano – have become popular favorites. Marco’s Restaurant offers a full bar; wine and martini menu; several beers on tap; cappuccino, espresso, and latte service; as well as a variety of desserts. All of the soups and sauces at Marco’s are made from scratch.

Marco’s Favorites Chicken Piccata

Veal Calabrese

Tortellini Pancetta w/Shrimp

Chicken Dolce Almara

Tiramisu LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

17

“We will do our best to continue the Giancottis’ traditions here on Mollison Way,” says Arnold. “Making people happy is a great feeling!”

What’s next

Charles Copeland serves a beer

Although we live in uncertain times, and the restaurant industry can be tumultuous at best, Arnold and Taylor are adapting and continuing to innovate, with full faith that their loyal customer base will sustain them.

“Once we get through 2020, and are hopefully back to normalcy, we plan on some new menu items, new beverages, and some changes in our dining area, while keeping the same services as always,” Arnold confirms. “We will continue to provide inside and outside dining, and catering – weddings, funerals, birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers – you name it!”

Arnold and Taylor’s passion for fine Italian cuisine has been recognized by the LA community, and everyone at Marco’s Restaurant is grateful for their patronage and praise.

“We always have been – and will remain – thankful for those who have supported us, and kept Marco’s running since 1978,” Arnold concludes.

Marco’s Restaurant 12 Mollison Way, Lewiston • marcositalian.com

Many types of fine wine are available at Marco’s

•Brewery•taproom•Café•Pinky D’s Food truck•Coffee by Design•

Thank you

for making us your morning coffee stop, ordering growlers of our beer to go, becoming a CSB member, and enjoying a pint & poutine on our patio. We couldn’t do what we love without all of your continued support.

Drink local, friends. Side by Each, we got this!

/SIDEBYEACHBREWING

W W W . SIDEBYEACHBREWING . COM 18

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

1110 Minot Ave. Auburn, Maine 207.689.3030

LA’s Black Elvis “Robert Washington has left the building.”

Written by Jake Van Paepeghem | Photography by Brewster Burns

W

hen Elvis Presley’s former bandleader and announcer, Al Dvorin, proclaimed that Lewiston Auburn’s own Robert Washington had “left the building” after an Elvis tribute event in Indianapolis in 2004, it was more historic than meets the ear. This was the only time that Dvorin had ever used this iconic phrase for anyone other than Elvis, since The King’s very last performance in that same city in 1977.

It was also the only time in history that phrase would ever be used for any Elvis tribute artist. Al Dvorin died shortly thereafter. LAMM explains how LA got its very own Elvis.

Takeoff Boucher would meet Washington in the early 1980s. After Washington performed for his cousin’s 50th wedding anniversary, Boucher began looking for other local opportunities for Washington to bring the magic of The King to the stage. In 1983, Washington began performing on stages around Maine.

At this point, Washington began looking for competitions to showcase his talent. This quickly led him to performing at national and international events, as he gained popularity in the Elvis tribute artist circuit. These include popular conventions like Elvis Week, held every August in Memphis, or the “Original Elvis Tribute,” a traveling show which took Washington all over Europe, touring Holland, Spain, Italy, Poland, Finland, and Belgium. For the longer term, residency-style events, Washington performed three shows a night, for seven consecutive nights. These long performances led him to adopt a special honey and tea blend, to get him through the strain on his voice.

The right era After entering the world of Elvis tribute artists, Washington needed to develop a specialty era: Elvis of the 1950s, ‘60s, or ‘70s. With no formal music training to rely on, he was guided by the other Elvis tribute artists, to help him hone in on which era of Elvis sounded closest to his natural voice. Based on feedback, he settled on Elvis during his comeback, especially since Washington’s voice began to deepen as he got older.

Robert Washington performs at an outdoor concert in Poland Fortunately, Dvorin’s historic announcement was captured for posterity- on a cassette tape. The clip has become a staple of Robert Washington’s Elvis tribute performances, which regularly span over three hours. Other staples include Washington’s arrival in a classic 1970 Lincoln Continental, wearing a fully studded leather jumpsuit, and carrying a few scarves, to be traded for roses carried by women in the audience.

This vein includes classic songs like “If I Can Dream,” “Memories,” and “Trouble/Guitar Man.” Elvis famously performed these numbers in a televised NBC concert often referred to as the “’68 Comeback Special.” This show included many Elvis regulars, like drummer DJ Fontana, guitar player John Wilkenson, bandleader Al Dvorin, and even Elvis’ bodyguard, Sam Thompson – all of whom later developed friendships with Washington through tribute events.

Award-winning Speaking from his hotel room in Memphis, Washington reflects on his 32 years as an Elvis tribute artist, and how he has be-

How it all began “I’d been a fan since I was 10, 12 years old,” says Washington of The King. He even got to see Elvis perform in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1975 – two years before Elvis died. It wasn’t until 1981 that he would be inspired to perform the Elvis catalog in a faithful and impassioned tribute.

One of Washington’s close friends, and sometimes manager of sorts, John Boucher, first heard Washington’s story while working with him at Bath Iron Works over 30 years ago.

“He used to listen to Elvis’ music in the Marines,” recalls Boucher.

“One day his platoon leader asked him, ‘Did you know Elvis died today?’ That’s when it happened. He practiced the movements, the voice, everything.” Washington developed his act on his days off.

“I really got into listening to the music, memorizing songs” Washington says. Back in the service, “I did a couple of Elvis-related performances that really gave me the itch, so by the time I got out and could let my hair grow again, it all kinda took off.”

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LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

John Boucher

Sandy Edgerly brings a rose to exchange for a scarf come the only African American to win the World Championship Elvis Impersonator Award back in 2003, an award judged on vocals, style, stage presence, and overall performance.

“There aren’t many guys that have been doing it as long as I have,” he says. Washington feels he has garnered respect in the Elvis tribute artist world, in part because he is a staple at many annual events, like the Elvis Birthday Bash at the Capitol Theatre in Olympia, Washington.

“You end up seeing a lot of the same people year after year; it’s like a big reunion.” After three decades, Washington, known by his fans as The Black Elvis, has also developed quite the fanbase.

His Facebook fan page, “The Black Elvis: Robert Washington Fan Club,” reveals nothing but love from 1,600 fans from all over the country. Washington is also one of the few Elvis tribute artists to have his own Wikipedia page. His filmography includes two documentaries, “Elvis and the Men Who Would Be King,” and “Almost Elvis,” as well as the Nicholas Sparks book-turned-film “The Notebook.” Although he was eventually cut from the final version, Washington still refers to this gig as a fun experience.

An Elvis for the generations Just as Washington’s own grandkids attend some of his local performances, like the Great Falls Balloon Festival, packed shows at the Ramada Hotel in Lewiston, or at a local campground for their Labor Day festivities, his shows have become multigenerational events. After performing for over 30 years, Washington is now meeting the children and grandchildren of fans who began following him decades ago.

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Fans know what to expect from a live performance from The Black Elvis.

Washington often starts with a James Brown tribute set, then he moves into a set of popular music from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Then he dons the leather jumpsuit and it’s all about The King. As he begins the big finale of “Love Me Tender,” and the scarves fly, keep your ears peeled for the husky tone of gratitude, “Thank you very much.”

The show concludes with Al Dvorin’s recorded announcement that Lewiston Auburn’s very own, award-winning Elvis tribute artist, Robert Washington, has left the building.

Robert Washington www.facebook.com/groups/TheBlackElvis

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LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Jimbo Marston & Uncle Andy’s Digest

A LEGACY OF LAUGHTER

Written by Lisa Mayer | Photography by Nicole Rand with contributions from Tyla Davis & Colby Michaud

A husband and wife were driving through Louisiana. As they approached Natchitoches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town.

They argued back and forth, then they stopped for lunch.

At the counter, the husband asked the lady working, “Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us?

Would you please pronounce where we are very slowly?”

She leaned over the counter and said, “Burrr-gerrr Kiiing.”

T

his is the type of humor you see each and every month in Uncle Andy’s Digest. Now in its 25th year in print, the magazine has provided a mixture of jokes, one-liners, fun photos, and a guide to local business since its inception.

The Digest was founded by Andy Marsh in 1996 and originally owned by Marsh and Gary Dow. Jim Marston, affectionately known as Jimbo, joined the team in 2001, buying the Digest shortly thereafter.

Hot off the press Marston is a life-long Mainer who grew up in Mechanic Falls.

He lost his dad to suicide when he was only 13. His mom, Judy, taught him what a strong work ethic was.

“She worked her butt off,” he recalls, “and singlehandedly raised three kids at the same time.”

Her example led Jimbo to get his first taste of entrepreneurship with a paper route at the age of 13.

“I took it pretty seriously. I was delivering 80 newspapers every day on both bike and on foot. I had to knock on the doors and collect all the money. I saved my money and bought myself a 10-speed bike with baskets... good memories.”

In high school, Marston fell in love with printing and graphics at Edward Little High School and dreamed of owning his own printing company.

“We had a fantastic Industrial Arts program,” he says, where he studied photography, graphics, and screen printing with his favorite teacher, Mike McFadden.

Marston was accepted to college at University of Southern Maine for printing technology, but his first daughter, Jamie, was born three months before he graduated high school.

“I decided it was more important to put food on the table,” he explained.

In 2001, while playing racquetball with friend and Digest coowner Gary Dow, he was served an opportunity to take the biggest swing of his life.

So Marston went to work for Joe Fillion, the owner of Penmor Lithographers, a high-end printing company in Lewiston. Fillion became one of his mentors and Marston stayed at Penmor for 19 years. During those years, Jimbo welcomed his second daughter, Kayla, and later married his wife, Sue. They had two children together: Courtney and Tanner.

“Gary had just pulled another deadline all-nighter, and it seemed he had had enough. He looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t you just buy us?’”

But for some, the entrepreneurial spirit can’t be shaken, and Marston’s ambition of owning his own company had only grown.

Marston spent the next few years purchasing the company and crafting his own brand “Jimbo” brand. And after all these years at the helm of Uncle Andy’s Digest – it’s dang near impossible to

Jimbo’s children: Jamie, Kayla, Tanner, & Courtney 26

Marston with his wife, Sue

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Not so serious business

By Lisa Mayer | Photography by Nicole Rand | A Legacy of Laughter tell him a joke he hasn’t heard.

For Jimbo, jokes mean business.

And business is a laughing matter.

He and his team collect them from everyone they meet. In the early years, they even had their own personal jokemeister – a fellow named Woodrow Evans Page The 25th anniversary issue of the Digest (“Submitted by WEP” for the long-time die-hard fans). Every summer, Jimbo, along with Marsh and Dow, would drive out to Guilford, in eastern Maine, and take Page out for a long lunch.

“He was our joke service,” Jimbo said of Page, who died several years ago.

There’s a reason why jokes and one-liners are the “recipe for Uncle Andy’s Digest,” as Jimbo says. “We believe that smiling and making people laugh puts them in a buying mood. With all the negativity out there, people need a dose of laughter – and it’s WORKING.” Close to 150 different businesses advertise in Uncle Andy’s Digest each month. They advertise everything from job openings to products and services, and food specials. While the ink may have dried up for other print publications, the presses continue to run for the Digest and the magazine can be easily found anywhere its readers are “Out ‘n About.”

Out ‘n About

Dan Dumont, Armand’s Auto Body The “bubble” refers to one of the most beloved parts of the Digest: the “Out ’n About” sidebars. They feature photos comprised of community members, business owners, event goers, and often adorable kids. Many pictures also include quirky voice bubbles.

Cat Tardie from Roopers is outed by her cartoon bubble: “Shh… don’t tell the boss I’m taking a magazine break.”

Another picture features a toddler named Gracie, sitting on the potty. She holds the Digest open, which appropriately hides the fact that she’s wearing her birthday suit. “Do not disturb,” the cartoon bubble says, “I’m reading my favorite magazine.”

Jimbo reminisces, “Our fans always think of the Digest when someone says, ‘Out ‘n About’ – that’s what we do. Looking back, I should have trademarked that term!”

The message is clear: Don’t take life so seriously!

The pages are glossy, bright, and full of pictures, and the ads start right on the cover. In fact, Dan Dumont, owner of Armand’s Auto Body, makes sure he’s always on the front.

“A lot of folks grab it just for the jokes, but it’s something that people actually pick up,” notes Dumont. “I have it lying on my desk, face up, of course, and customers ask, ‘Can I have one?’ and I say, ‘That’s what it’s there for!’”

“But I’ve also had more people tell me, ‘I saw your ad in Uncle Andy’s Digest,’ more than any other publication I’ve been in, including the newspaper.”

Jen Hogan, president and CEO of Community Credit Union echoes Dumont when she says, “We’ve pulled out of a lot of media, but we’ve kept our ad in the Digest, because we find so much value in it.”

Hogan goes on to say, “We’re so used to reading all the bad news, and it’s so nice that the Digest brings light to the positive!

It brings people together in a way I’ve never seen any other print media do. It hits people of all different ages. It’s impactful.”

Both Dumont and Hogan have been advertising in the Digest almost since its inception. Dumont quips, “It’s all local people.

More times than none, you know the folks in the bubble.”

Jen Hogan, Community Credit Union LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

27

Thriving partnership Shanna Cox approves that message. Cox is the president of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the second largest of its kind in the state of Maine. The Digest became a Chamber member in 2001 and is currently, along with LA Metro Magazine, one of the Chamber’s print media sponsors.

“Because both publications are now media partners with the Chamber,” says Cox, “we can offer member businesses discounted rates if they advertise in both magazines – and even offer a free ad consultation!”

Cox, vested in economic development in the community, appreciates the way the Digest brings more awareness to local business.

“The great thing about Uncle Andy’s Digest is that it documents the real feel of our community. Those ‘Out ’n About’ photos are of the people who have a personal relationship to a business – the actual people who make this community great.”

their mission shines through at the annual Uncle Andy’s Digest Summer Block Party.

What started as a 20th anniversary celebration in 2015 for the Digest grew to so much more. Marston had wanted to align the party with a nonprofit organization. One of his advertisers suggested Make-A-Wish Maine. Marston thought it would be “one and done,” but it was not so.

“Several people came up to me after that party and asked if we could do it again next year,“ recalls Marston. “And now it’s six years later.”

And six years later, that “one and done” party has raised over $266,000 and granted 38 wishes to children battling critical illnesses within the state of Maine. The Summer Block Party relies heavily on business and community support to raise that money.

Community Credit Union, along with many other companies, enthusiastically give their support in both financial and creative ways.

“I love the jokes,” laughs Cox. “And I love how Uncle Andy’s Digest always puts a positive spin on things.”

“Jimbo contacted me with a sponsorship opportunity,” Jen Hogan says. “We call it ‘Community Credit Union’ because we build our brand around the community. And we like to get involved – we like to get our hands dirty.”

“They’re right there on the spot,” she notes, “at the Little League game, at the bakery, at the place where you can buy campers,” she says.

Or wet.

Cox is gregarious and spends a lot of her time building and maintaining strong relationships with member businesses.

“The first year we just had an information table and a popcorn machine.” Hogan laughs. “Now we co-sponsor the dunk tank.”

Hogan also has a personal connection to the cause.

“Jimbo is actually quieter than people think,” says Cox of Marston. “He leads with his heart. For him, these publications are not just a business – there’s a purpose. They are grounded in the values of the community.”

“My best friend’s son, Jacob, had his greatest wish granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation – to go to LegoLand,” Hogan says. “That’s what got my heart into it.”

Written in the stars

A helping hand

That purpose is highlighted by his commitment to giving back to his community. Marston has served on the board of directors for Make-A-Wish Maine since 2016. That commitment to continue

Helen Keller once said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”

This value shared and embodied by Marston led him to discover a new way to distribute the Digest.

Jimbo’s friend, Laurie Crane Turton, and her staff at John F. Murphy Homes (JFM) – a nonprofit organization providing residences and programs for people with developmental disabilities – formed a partnership that provided employment to JFM residents within the community.

“Uncle Andy’s Digest gives real jobs to people who have many ‘barriers to employment,’” says Kristin Freeman, employment services manager for JFM. Job coaches from the organization drive “distributors” around as they drop off bundles of the latest issue of the Digest at businesses throughout the LA Metro area.

“When you meet someone, your first question is ‘What do you do for work?’” says Freeman, who is so proud of her ‘UAD Employees.’ “This gives them a ‘title.’”

Shanna Cox, LA Metro Chamber of Commerce president 28

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

She shares the story of Ivan Sheloske, 20, who “really wanted to work,” and started distributing the Digest while he was a senior at Poland Regional High School. His mother is a “huge supporter,” Freeman says, “who would do his deliveries with him.”

By Lisa Mayer | Photography by Nicole Rand | A Legacy of Laughter “Jimbo is our most long-standing business partner,” says Freeman of Marston, who maintains six “employees” from JFM. “He includes the employees at staff meetings, and gives out certificates each year, to thank them and commemorate how many years they’ve worked. It’s really cool.”

“He gives them a better quality of life,” continues Freeman. “I’m very thankful for everything Jimbo does. He goes above and beyond.”

The legacy continues For Jimbo, above and beyond means loving what you do, following your dreams, meeting lots of great people along the way – many becoming personal friends, giving back where you can, and laughing along the way.

When looking back on his 20 years with the Digest and what keeps him going, Jimbo muses, “They say if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s pretty much me. It was a tough decision to leave a solid job after 19 years to chase a lifelong dream of business ownership.”

Marston adds, “Looking back over my nearly 20 years here, I most enjoy the great relationships that have ensued because of that decision!”

Victor Borge once said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” Jimbo has built a brand proving exactly that.

Uncle Andy’s Digest 9 Grove Street, Auburn • www.uncleandys.com JFM employees Ivan Sheloske & Mike Dudley grabbing Digest bundles to deliver

Jimbo and emcee Leif Erickson at the 2019 Summer Block Party

Editor Tyla Davis designs the page layout

Penmor driver Dan Burnham delivers a new issue of the Digest

Marston (front) with the Uncle Andy’s Digest crew: Stephanie Arsenault, Steve Simard, Colby Michaud, & Tyla Davis 30

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Why In 2015 when the Digest had published its 20th annual August edition, they decided to throw a big party. Jimbo felt strongly about connecting with, and raising money for, a nonprofit organization. His short list included Make-AWish. After networking with a few of his advertisers, the next morning they ended up at a Make-A-Wish (MAW) breakfast that happens annually around the state. These breakfasts are designed to grow community awareness and to keep the brand top-of-mind around the state.

At this particular breakfast, MAW had a wish family in attendance. As fate would have it, that particular wish kid struck a chord with Jimbo.

Catching Fire Summer Emery, then age 16, stood up and told her story about beating cancer, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and her wish which was to attend a movie premiere in Los Angeles in 2013. That movie? “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Including meeting many of the actors from the movie: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), plus many more.

Marston happens to be a 20-year survivor of that exact same cancer. Hearing Summer’s story ignited an immediate connection and a passion in Jimbo for the MAW mission that hasn’t diminished to this day.

Summer Block Party is born After successfully raising enough money at the Digest’s 20th Anniversary Bash to grant two wishes, and after the suggestions from many folks, Jimbo came up with the party’s new name: The Summer Block Party (SBP).

“It’s been an amazing ride,” says Jimbo proudly. “The area businesses that have stepped forward to sponsor the Block Party each year continue to blow me away. Our community has literally wrapped their arms around this very special event.”

?

Now in its sixth year, the SBP and its planning committee just finished what is probably the toughest event yet, given all the restrictions on live events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many changes had to be made, including rescheduling the event from August to October, making it a 100-person ticketed event, moving the auction online, and live-streaming a portion of the SBP to potentially reach thousands of people all around the state. The biggest change was to cut the goal from trying to grant 15 wishes to seven wishes. At the time of this writing, the Summer Block Party team was well on their way to hitting that smaller goal.

Unseen benefits Helping children’s wishes come true, especially when they’re battling a critical illness, is important work. A wish coming true empowers those children to fight harder against their illness.

The benefits from Uncle Andy’s Digest’s choice of corporate social responsibility are even bigger than what Marston thought. “Make-A-Wish is our major way of giving back,” says Jimbo, “this has really elevated our brand. It has also increased customer engagement. Many other local businesses have noticed what we’re doing and are choosing to do business with us.”

Marston continues, “The biggest benefit of all is our employees have rallied around this. They love working for a company that has a good public image. I believe this has made us a better team and helps us attract and retain strong team members.”

Attitude is everything Mandy Hale once wrote, “There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.” The team at Uncle Andy’s Digest choose to believe that they can make a difference, one day at a time, one wish at a time.

Editor’s Note: LA Metro Magazine reached out to both Andy Marsh and Gary Dow for this story. We did not hear back from them in time for production. We would like to acknowledge Marsh & Dow for their creativity and innovation to launch the Digest and set the foundation for what is has become today.

LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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Craftsmen in in

Training

Student Dana Plaurd grinds a weld

Written by Michael Krapovicky  |  Photography by Jose Leiva

T

he New England School of Metalwork offers programs in blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and welding, all at its Auburn location. The school provides a year-round selection of experience-based courses, specialty workshops, featured symposiums, and demonstrations.

For enthusiasts looking for masterlevel mentorship, or those seeking a new career, this LA institution has been guiding students toward achieving their goals for the past 20 years.

hobbyists and enthusiasts from all over the United States.

According to Glaser, reality shows and the internet have revitalized interest in the craft of smithing.

“People become so intrigued by the shows that they say, ‘I gotta try it,’” Glaser comments. “They show up here for the beginner class, taking that initiative to explore something new.”

High-profile tradesmen from Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, champions from the History Channel show “Forged in Fire,” and others, are frequent guest teachers at NESM.

Dereck Glaser demonstrates a forging technique while student Jim Coelho looks on

Origins The New England School of Metalwork (NESM) was established in 2000, under the auspices of Maine-Oxy Acetylene Supply Co., and the direction of Dereck Glaser.

Glaser grew up in Ohio, outside of Cincinnati, and received a degree in industrial arts education from Ohio University. His search for a hands-on industrial arts program at the middle- and high school-level led him to a teaching position at Winthrop High School in 1997, and he moved his family to Maine.

Maine Oxy was Glaser’s vendor for hard gas and industrial supplies, and they developed a professional relationship. He was approached by Bruce Albiston and Dan Guerin, the former and current CEOs of Maine Oxy, about starting a small school to teach welding, blacksmithing, and other metalwork classes.

“Maine Oxy’s initial goal was to offer their customers a more supportive approach from the education sector of customer service, for when customers needed training on new equipment or had technical issues, as well as supporting their sales force with training,” explains Glaser. “In 1999, we set about creating a plan for the initial building, and we opened with the first blacksmithing night class on February 1, 2000.”

Glaser, himself a journeyman blacksmith, and his instructors, each with at least 30 years’ experience in their field, developed the curriculum. They collaborated to create the most comfortable and motivating atmosphere possible, with a commitment to student success.

“We cover the core fundamentals of each trade,” instructs Glaser.

“As seasoned veterans of these trades, we know what an employer depends on with a new hire, and we utilize these areas as the foundation skills for any course we design.”

NESM administers a journeyman performance test through the American Bladesmithing Society (ABS), the first step to a Master rating.

NESM is one of only four metalwork schools in the nation accredited by the ABS. “The cross-section Student Jack Whipple of professions repforging on an anvil resented, wherein people have that fascination with smithing, is really amazing – doctors, engineers, and others wanting to set up a small shop at home,” effuses Glaser. “It’s one of the things that will really keep smithing alive.”

In contrast to the hobbyist smiths, the welding students are nearly all seeking a new career path.

NESM’s welding program also offers certifications through the American Welding Society, the world’s largest agency for testing and code enforcement in the welding industry.

“Dozens and dozens of companies in Maine, and around the world, are screaming for anyone with welding skills,” affirms Glaser. “By week 10 of our 12-week course, many of our students are interviewing for new potential careers, at a nearly 80% placement rate.”

Veteran appreciation Since 2002, the Maine State Department of Labor has approved nearly 75% of NESM’s courses for VA benefits such as the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bill. On average, two out of every dozen NESM graduates are veterans.

“NESM fosters a very hands-on, self-directed skill set, which fits our veterans very well,” says Glaser. “As an example, a recent student took our 12-week welding course after the military,” Glaser relates. “He had his pick of five different positions in the workforce, by the end of his training here.”

Smithing and welding

Secondary education

Both NESM’s blacksmithing and bladesmithing programs are populated mostly by

NESM offers an abbreviated training at the high school level. Students from Edward Little High School and Franklin Alternative School are able to attend classes at NESM, as electives.

Forged metal

“We do small satellite exploratory programs through morning sessions,” Glaser explains. “They get a glimpse into the trade and many come back to it, completing the 12-week courses, and becoming employed as a result.”

As with the veterans, the benefits to these student attendees can be life-changing and affirming.

“Public schools have, in many cases, lost the industrial arts programs – the exposure to hand skills that can be viable and employable in trades,” asserts Glaser. “Our school can fill that gap.”

Set a spell NESM has offered dormitory facilities for 8-12 students since 2009, from May through October. Approximately 75% of them are out-of-state residents.

“Dorm life works for a lot of the younger welding students from out of state – they live here Monday through Thursday, then

go home on the weekend,” says Glaser. “Also, when we host high-demand guest instructors, we can attract people from across the country and offer them an inexpensive place to stay.”

Forging the future To retain relevance in the digital age, NESM has recently hired longtime apprentice and metalsmithing advocate Isaiah Washington, owner of Zay Knives, to teach, and to handle the school’s social media presence. They have developed a long-standing relationship since Washington became intrigued with bladesmithing at age 17.

“My official title is ‘resident instructor’, but my job is more like ‘right-hand man’ to Dereck,” Washington confides. “I feel like they’ve been grooming me for a position since we met.”

NESM is offering classes for 2021, following COVID-19 guidelines, and continuing their record of excellence and innovation.

The foresight of Albiston and Guerin, and the supervision of Glaser and his team, has gifted LA with an institution supporting a vital and reinvigorated industry.

New England School of Metalwork 86 Washington Street, Auburn newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com

Student David Nutting forging in fire

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LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

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LIVING LEGACIES LA’s oldest churches celebrate tradition Written by Victoria Stanton | Photography by Jose Leiva

T

he histories behind LA’s oldest active churches are more than theological.

They are reflections of the cultures that gave rise to them, and they provide a compass for their faithful.

At their cores these churches provide a space for like-minded people to create community within the LA community. And each one is a living legacy to the traditions and people who founded them.

Lewiston Auburn is a community in intimate conversation with its history. Entwined in LA’s faith communities are social, geographic, and cultural identities that have emerged and evolved since the first settlers of European descent began arriving here in the late 1700s.

LAMM looks at the three oldest active churches in LA: West Auburn Congregational Church, Court Street Baptist Church, and the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

A church by any other name

Ministers Bill Hiss & John Williams

West Auburn Congregational Church The distinction of “oldest congregation in LA” goes to West Auburn Congregational Church (WACC). Curiously, it was not always known by that name, nor was it originally located in Auburn.

A group of Congregationalists began meeting for worship in 1790, in what was then known as East Minot.

Bill Hiss, licensed minister and moderator at WACC, says the original congregation was made up of families “who were hewing out farms from the wilderness.”

Much is unchanged about the pragmatic, rural character of both WACC and its Protestant congregation. Described by Minister John Williams as a traditional New England “country church,” the church espouses a broad message that is aligned with “common sense Christianity.”

Of course, some change was inevitable. In 1842, the East Minot Meeting House hosted a meeting wherein some enterprising leaders discussed the redrawing of town lines around what would become the city of Auburn. Hence, in 1844, the church reestablished itself as the West Auburn Congregational Church.

“The congregation’s no-frills practicality ties into the architecture of the building,” says Hiss. The church, which has occupied the same spot off Perkins Ridge Road since 1805, was originally built with two levels. However, the congregation opted to remove the second story in 1846, recognizing that the church was too large for the congregation. To do this, builders dismantled the steeple and suspended the roof, while the second story was removed piece by piece.

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LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

The church met the congregation’s needs in many ways. Behind the church, visitors can still access the subterranean horse stalls where congregants stabled their horses during the coldest months. And to this day, formal worship services run from September through May, a nod to the agrarian calendar where long summer days are best spent in the fields, to ensure a good harvest.

The little church that could Former Minister John Ellis once dubbed WACC “the little church that could,” in admiration for the congregation’s solidarity and generosity. That fortitude was put to the test in 2018, when it became apparent that the church’s steeple and bell were badly in need of repair.

These features, says Williams, “are what makes a New England Congregational church what it is.” Unfortunately, he notes, due to the expense of renovation, many churches have been removing steeples and not replacing them, thus altering the historic skylines of our regional communities.

Congregational churches are largely community-centric, with very little in the way of a centralized

The WACC church steeple construction in 2018 Photo courtesy of Bill Hiss

By Victoria Stanton | Photography by Jose Leiva | Living legacies and distant governing body. Whatever WACC needed for its steeple renovation would have to be raised locally.

“To a person, people wanted to see that steeple remain,” says Williams. The effort ultimately received a boost from nearly $40,000 in grants from the Maine Community Foundation’s Maine Steeples Fund, in addition to contributions from congregants and local community members. By the fall of 2019, the refreshed and reinforced steeple was back and, today, the bell rings on.

From two, one Head into downtown Auburn, and you’ll find Court Street Baptist Church, which arose from the merger of two congregations: the Freewill Baptist Church and Society and the Spring Street Baptist Church.

The Freewill Baptists, who took the view that humans are largely in control of their choices and destinies, were part of an emerging movement in opposition to the more Calvinist view, espoused by the Spring Street congregation, that all human endeavor is pre-ordained by God. After decades of coexisting essentially across the street from one another, the two churches embraced their common ideology and merged in 1930.

Like WACC, the Court Street Baptists can trace their origins to the earliest European settlers, though by the time this congregation formed in the mid-19th century, it reflected the more urban and socioeconomically diverse community that sprang up along the Androscoggin River.

The character and values of the congregation today are not demonstrably different from the time of its founding, notes Doug Hodgkin, local historian and member of the Court Street Baptist

Doug Hodgkin, holding the book he wrote about the CSBC, The Baptists of Court Street Church (CSBC). He cites the “Four M’s” of the church: message, missions, music, and meals.

The message is “not a fire and brimstone” kind of preaching, says Hodgkin, but it does follow a conservative interpretation of scripture. That, and the welcoming nature of the congregation, is what drew Hodgkin in.

The sense of mission, Hodgkin says, traces back to the church’s founding. “The early Baptists were part of the abolition movement, and of the temperance movement. The methods of outreach have changed over time, but you get that consistent concern for community.”

Community outreach activities include an on-site clothing closet for those in need, and funding mission work locally and internationally, a tradition established by the women’s Social Circle as early as 1864.

Meetings at CSBC frequently center around food. Every Wednesday evening, the church vestry hosts “The Gathering,” a homecooked meal that is free and open to the public preceding the regularly scheduled prayer meeting.

More than meets the eye The original structure of CSBC mirrors the style of its red-brick neighbors, the Androscoggin Historical Society and Androscoggin County Superior Courthouse. The interior is largely unadorned, with one concession to opulence being the nine stained glass windows lining the church and above the doorway to the main entrance.

Court Street Baptist Church

“Previously it was held that this was too gaudy,” says Hodgkin, as such displays were thought to “emphasize decoration over message.” More than 12 feet high, the stained glass treatments were installed in the early 20th century. Wealthier families could purchase a window to honor the memory of a loved one.

LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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A foundation of faith Illuminating the Lewiston skyline for miles around, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is among the most recognizable structures in Androscoggin County. But this grand church had humble beginnings.

The French Canadian immigrants who established this Catholic congregation in 1870 demonstrated, in the words of church historian Robert Gilbert, “tremendous tenacity and faith” to establish themselves in LA, often in the face of anti-immigrant hostility.

The original church, known simply as St. Peter’s Catholic Church, was built in 1873 at the corners of Bartlett and Ash streets, where the Basilica sits today. By 1905, the congregation had outgrown St. Peter’s 1,500 person capacity.

It would take every ounce of that tenacity and faith to construct a new church. Begun in 1906, work was interrupted by World War I, the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic, and the Great Depression. Thus the basement, otherwise known as the “lower church,” was the site of worship services for some time, until the grander upper portion could be completed.

The CSBC organ, built in 1870 Another jewel in CSBC is its organ, a creation of the renowned organ maker, Hook & Hastings Co., in Massachusetts. The original 1870 instrument is still in use today.

The post-World War II baby boom strained the capacity of the church, particularly its Sunday school. In 1951, CSBC constructed an addition to accommodate an expanded children’s space, full-immersion baptistery, and meeting rooms for Bible study, art, and other activities, which is still in use.

The Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul 40

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Parishioners spent those years hosting suppers and bazaars to raise the necessary funds.

“They called it ‘the cathedral built with nickels and dimes,’” says Gilbert. By the time construction was complete in 1938, those nickels and dimes totaled $625,000 – equal to about $12 million in today’s dollars.

Becoming the Basilica By the 1990s the need for structural repairs forced the congregation to choose between demolition and a costly campaign to

By Victoria Stanton | Photography by Jose Leiva | Living legacies National Historic Landmark, the four-story building included a school, a performance hall, and retail space.

Father Francois H.M. Drouin, who served the church during in the 1940s and 50s, built upon the congregation’s commitment to education with the creation of a Catholic high school, Saint Dominic’s Academy. The school’s arena continues to host sporting and other community events under the nome de bâtiment Androscoggin Bank Colisée.

Other contributions included the creation of a social service organization that would become Tri-County Mental Health Services, as well as Saint Peter’s Credit Union, now Community Credit Union.

“Drouin,” says Gilbert, was “a man ahead of his times.” When Father Drouin died in 1986, more than 1,000 people attended his funeral.

Frames of reference

Basilica historian Robert Gilbert

Membership at the Basilica reached a peak of more than 14,000 in the middle part of the 20th century. Numbers today, though still strong compared to smaller neighboring churches, have ebbed in recent years, part of a very real downward trend in church affiliation across the country.

renovate. They chose to conduct a multiphase renovation that would span the better part of two decades.

In the midst of that leap of faith emerged the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, putting Lewiston on the map as home to one of just 85 minor basilicas in the United States.

To become a basilica, local leaders underwent a detailed application process that included approvals from local and national bishops, before making its way to the Vatican in Rome.

The five components of the application are the architecture of the church itself, the historical significance of the congregation, service to the community, the quality of the liturgy, and educational opportunities – all of which are submitted in Latin.

Gilbert remembers getting the call in October 2004 that the application had been accepted. The news was an affirmation of the years he and other leaders had spent advocating to preserve and restore the church to its original glory.

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul was officially inaugurated in Spring 2005.

Francos make their mark Gilbert, who recently retired after 27 years of giving tours for visitors from around the world, says today’s structure, with its vaulting granite spires, a stained glass rose window, and an altar made of Italian marble, is an expression of the congregation’s gratitude to God. The architectural history of the Basilica could fill volumes, but Gilbert says, “The church’s story is really a history of a people.” Few groups have influenced LA’s social and cultural identity as deeply as the Franco Americans, and those contributions weighed heavily in the church’s elevation to a basilica.

Several of LA’s best-known institutions originated with the early congregants of the Prince of Peace Parish. The most notable may be the Dominican Block on Lincoln Street. Today a designated

The Basilica interior LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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Once the social and political hubs of their communities, churches in all denominations have seen a marked decline in membership. Fifty percent of Americans identify as members of a church, down from 70% two decades ago, according to a 2018 Gallup study.

In short, congregations are getting grayer as fewer Americans link their spiritual identities to brick and mortar institutions.

At WACC, Williams believes attendees’ loyalty and the future of the church will depend on the flexibility and openness of leadership.

“The reality is we have to adapt to the way people are moving forward with their faith,” he says. “When I speak to them from the pulpit, I’m talking to them with their frame of reference.”

No doubt those frames of reference will continue to change. But for now, shaped by the vision and adaptability of their congregations, these historic churches endure.

West Auburn Congregational Church 811 West Auburn Road, Auburn facebook.com/TheLittleChurchThatCould Court Street Baptist Church 129 Court Street, Auburn courtstreetbaptist.org Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul 122 Ash Street, Lewiston princeofpeace.me/basilica-of-saintspeter-paul-1

A stained glass window at Court Street Baptist Church 42

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

Parishioner Phil Roux gazes up at the grand Basilica

Poisson & Sons Auto Care Center

At Your Service Written by Casey Peacock | Photography by David Fuller

Don Poisson cleans a windshield while gassing up a car

O

n the outside, Poisson & Sons Auto Care Center is like any other neighborhood repair shop and gas station. Cut through the oil-coated surfaces, and you’ll find a generation whose roots run deep in this community.

For nearly 52 years, Poisson has been keeping a sense of community alive through hard work, a little hope, and good faith.

Don & Dan Poisson

Then and now Brothers Dan and Don Poisson are second-generation owners of Poisson & Sons Auto Care Center – often called “Poisson’s” – a full-service gas station and repair shop. Their father, Henry Poisson, a man of kindness and integrity, purchased the business back in 1968. At the time, it was just a gas station. Henry worked hard building up his newly acquired gas station to include repair services as well.

Back then, you could find full-service stations on every street corner. You’d pull your station wagon up to the pump, and the attendants would come out to pump your gas, check your tire pressure, clean your windshield, and do whatever else you needed. Customers would often drop their dollars into a tin can that sat above the gas tanks.

tion ever since. Their loyal base of clients know they can always go to the Poissons for honest opinions and reasonable prices. The customers who come to them for a full tank of gas every week and a windshield cleaning also choose Poisson & Sons when they need repair work done on their cars, whether it be a yearly state inspection sticker, a new set of brakes, or a simple tire alignment.

The brothers go above and beyond for their customers, and are equipped to fix almost any vehicle that comes through their shop.

They check every car that enters their garage to see if an issue can be covered by the vehicle warranty. They even offer a pick-up and drop-off service if a vehicle will take an extended amount of time to repair. If they are unable to fix a vehicle themselves, they will point the owner in the direction of someone who can.

Fast forward to 2020: full-service shops are few and far between.

Poisson is the only full-service gas station left in the Lewiston Auburn area, since most full-service shops have given way to self-service. One customer tells the Poissons they hold the “golden ticket” because they’ve held out the longest.

“There was a need for it, at the time,” Dan Poisson says of full-service. “It used to be real common around here; there used to be tons of ‘em.”

Poisson & Sons still has some regular customers who don’t care to pump their gas, and those same people wonder what would happen if Poisson’s stopped offering full-service.

“It’s hard work. That’s for sure,” Don Poisson added. You’ll see him out there pumping gas for his customers, whether it be rain, snow, or shine.

A place you can trust Dan and Don Poisson grew up working in the shop since they were just boys, aged 10 and 12. The brothers, as adults, took over the business officially in 1997, and have held up their father’s reputa46

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

The Poisson brothers check the suspension on a car

By Casey Peacock | Photography by David Fuller | At Your Service

Dan Poisson diagnoses an engine problem Over the years, some cool cars have come through their shop, including some street rods including a 1969 Chevelle, and a European Mini Cooper.

Their workdays are long, and finding vacation time is difficult because their customers rely on them. The Poisson brothers take pride in their work and that shows through the customers who frequent Poisson’s to fill up their tanks, then end up returning when they need vehicle repairs.

When times get tough Like most businesses operating amid the current pandemic, Poisson & Sons Auto Care Center was pretty quiet in those first weeks. Few people on the roads meant little activity at the pumps or in the shop. But as restrictions started to lift, and people went out and about again, the shop was busier than before.

Customers began to realize the benefits of Poisson’s being the only full-service gas station around, with their contactless gas pumping. People didn’t have to touch the pumps, let alone get out of their cars. Whether it be Don or Dan Poisson themselves, or one of their three employees, someone will come to your window, take your payment, pump your gas, and send you on your way.

the ice storm of 1998, people also found comfort in knowing the Poissons would be there for them.

“One guy asked if he could come up and get kerosene,” recalls Don Poisson. “So I opened up that Saturday for just four hours.

That way, folks would have access to oil and kerosene.”

The Poissons are always willing to lend a helping hand in the community. They donate their tips to local organizations like the Auburn School Committee and the Lewiston Police Department.

They’ve sponsored baseball teams and meals for senior citizens.

Their customers sometimes leave a little extra tip because they know it’s going toward a good cause, and the Poissons often match those tips.

Generations to come The brothers aren’t sure how things will play out in the future.

The way the business is run may change with the times, but with 11 children and 33 grandchildren between the two of them, there is little question of whether or not there will be a next generation at Poisson’s.

“We try to do what we can for people around here,” Dan Poisson says, “especially now during these times.”

For now, though, one thing is for sure: as long as the Poisson brothers are still around, you can find them at the top of South Main Street in New Auburn, serving their community and their customers the same way they have been for the last 52 years with an honest opinion and an abundance of generosity.

“We handed out toilet paper, because we were able to score some when it was hard to find,” his brother laughs.

Poisson and Sons Auto Care Center 260 S. Main Street, Auburn • facebook.com/PoissonsAutoCare/

This pandemic isn’t the first time the community has looked to Poisson & Sons in a time of trouble. Nearly 22 years ago, during LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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of Auburn-Lewiston

Photo courtesy of YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston

Celebrating its past, eyeing its future Written by Toby Haber-Giasson | Photography by Brewster Burns

T

he letters “YMCA” are synonymous with physical fitness (and yes, a certain disco hit from the 1970s). Yet this organization’s mission seeks to strengthen community in a much broader sense.

The YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston, 150 years strong, will soon mark 100 years at its iconic downtown Auburn location at 62 Turner Street. LAMM explores its traditions of the past, myriad programs in the present, and its future form in LA.

Athletics were also a key facet. In fact, the national YMCA organization (now Y-USA) invented many of our most popular forms of recreation in the 19th century. The Y-USA first promoted fitness via gymnasiums in 1869, and coined the term “bodybuilding.”

In the 1890s, Y-USA developed basketball and volleyball as team games suitable for indoor play during the winter. And it launched the institution of summer camp in 1885. Later, in 1909, Y-USA pioneered group swimming lessons with the first indoor pool.

Iconic building

CEO Steve Wallace The YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston (known as the “Y”) logged 90,000 visits last year. Every day, hundreds of people pass through the doors for child care, fitness classes, and sports.

But, as the Y’s Chief Executive Officer Steve Wallace likes to say, “The Y is not a building; it’s a cause. And the cause is out in the community.” Indeed, the Y continues the social legacy of the original YMCA organization, by meeting the needs of LA today.

Social movement The original YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston dates back to 1868.

LA’s local club took inspiration from a movement that started in England, in response to urban industrialization.

The first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was established in London in 1844, to provide safe housing and wholesome activities for rural folk who flocked to cities for factory jobs.

The idea spread to America, where mill towns like Lewiston and Auburn were drawing country dwellers downtown for work in LA’s textile mills and shoe shops.

Bible study was a strong component; today, the modern YMCA sets an educational focus, rather than a religious one, promoting the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

The gymnasium basketball court – then and now Photo on left courtesy of YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston

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LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

The early YMCA had opened two dorms in LA: one on Lisbon Street in Lewiston, and one on Court Street in Auburn. After World War I, the Chamber of Commerce initiated an effort to create a new YMCA building as a resource for returning war veterans. Funds raised from within the LA community realized this dream in 1922.

This new building, at 62 Turner Street in Auburn, provided dormitory space for 40 men. In 1927, 20 more rooms were added, plus a banquet hall for up to 300. Upgrades in 1951 included a gymnasium, swimming pool, meeting rooms, ping-pong tables and bowling lanes. The Y frequently hosted regional tournaments and neighborhood sock-hops.

With a gift of waterfront property in the Town of Poland, in 1968, from board member Charlie Connor, the Y established its summer day camp program. Camp Connor operated there for 50 years, until the lease expired.

Evolving needs “The Y has always changed to the meet needs of the community,” observes former Executive Director Jim Lawler. He cites several examples.

As local manufacturing declined, and the need for dorm space ebbed, the Y expanded swimming and volleyball, alongside the well-established basketball program.

When the aerobics craze swept the country in the 1980s, the Y’s bowling alley was converted into the region’s first fitness center for group exercise. As more women entered the workforce in the 1990s, and the need for childcare grew, more dorm space gave way to a preschool center and teen program. Later, the teen space became an afterschool daycare.

By Toby Haber-Giasson | Photography by Brewster Burns | YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston

Men’s bowling at the Y in the 1950s

Photo courtesy of YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston

Community Impact A wide variety of activities fall under three main efforts in the Y’s Community Impact Statement, prioritizing “cause-driven services focusing on families, youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.”

Youth Development Sports: In a typical year, 400-500 children participate in the Y’s basketball, swimming and gymnastics programs. Biddy basketball is, by far, the most popular, attracting 300 players, and supported by 60 volunteers this year. This league, for children in grades 1-6, has been a Y tradition for 50 years.

Child care: Parents value the YMCA’s Early Childhood Education program. While most daycare starts at age 3, the Y accepts infants and toddlers through age 5. Registration at the Y’s two centers is always maxed out. Parents also value the Before and After School program, offering snacks, activities, and transportation to and from school.

Summer day camp: The Y’s popular program boasts sports and traditional camp activities, while building character through cooperative games and teaming.

For 50 years, the Y made this magic happen at Camp Connor.

Since 2018, the Y runs its summer camp programs in Auburn, at its Outdoor Learning & Education Center.

Healthy Living Fitness: Members can access the Y‘s weights and circuit equipment, plus a variety of group exercise for every ability level. Classes ranging from yoga to bootcamp build cardio, aerobic, balance and core strength. Among the most popular are Strength Train Together, a full body workout using weights, and Fit and Fun for active older adults, building balance, core strength, and mobility. Special programs like Couch to 5K and Lose it with the Y offer coaching in healthy habits from personal trainers.

Corporate wellness: The Y helps businesses improve employee health through prevention and intervention. Over 600 employees from the Cities of Auburn and Lewiston, and Tri-County Mental Health Services, are enrolled.

Onsite services: The Y operates the fitness center at Central Maine Medical Center, where 750 hospital employees have become members. This center logged 40,000 visits of its own last year.

Social Responsibility Under an overarching ethos of social responsibility, the Y responds to the community’s needs by offering a multitude of special services, plus scholarships and free memberships to deserving and at-risk populations, through partnerships with the local hospitals and nonprofits.

LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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YMCA 2.0 How does all this programming fit into one building? It doesn’t.

After nearly 100 years, the Y building has reached its limits, and is pursuing other solutions.

“Typically, Ys are built for 60 years,” notes Wallace, “so this place has definitely given us everything it could. This commuJim Lawler nity needs a bigger Photo courtesy of Pandora Lawler Y, with a competition-size pool, assets for childcare and school-age programs, and adult health and wellness.” Market research indicates a need for a facility to serve 5,000 area families, with all the amenities, including a swimming pool and a multi-use gym.

The Y has been looking for a new home for many years. Back in 2008, Lawler tried to broker a partnership with two LA institutions. Now Wallace is considering two options.

One is a plan to turn the iconic Bates Mill #5 into a state-of-theart health and wellness center, with a new Y as its centerpiece. A downtown Lewiston facility could serve the 10% of Androscoggin County residents who live and work here. The idea is still in play, says Wallace, but needs the right partners. If a decision isn’t made by the end of this year, the Y will actively pursue other plans.

Another option is building a new facility at their Stetson Road property in Auburn. The Y owns 95 acres of land that lie between Center Street and River Road, with plenty of room to build a 55,000 square foot Y, a project estimated at $15 million.

And when the Y gets a new home, LA can still count on the downtown icon as a youth center.

“It will give us a great opportunity to partner with other organizations serving youth and families,” says Wallace.

Outdoor Learning & Education Center (OLEC) “OLEC (Outdoor Learning & Education Center) is our biggest ‘work in progress,’“ says CEO Steve Wallace about the Y’s 95acre land parcel on Stetson Road in Auburn, stretching behind the former K-Mart location on Center Street down to River Road.

“Each year we upgrade the property, to add more features.”

Since 2018, OLEC has been the new home for the Y’s summer day camp. Chris Shea, executive director of youth development, is excited about this new chapter.

“Camp Connor has its place in our history. The secluded, wooded location, and the waterfront program on Lower Range Pond, offered a very unique experience for kids from downtown LA,” says Shea. “But the challenge there was operating a program for 150 kids in about 2.5 acres of space. Now we have 95 acres at OLEC, with much more opportunity.”

Given OLEC’s size, multiple activities can run simultaneously. This year, OLEC was prepared to welcome 200 campers; even with restrictions, 50 children enjoyed the program.

OLEC is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. What can you find there? OLEC offers a variety of features and terrain. A pavilion greets visitors at the Stetson Road entrance. Turn right for the Y’s Ireland Lodge and the Aquatic Center. Kids love the Ga-ga pit, archery field, and low ropes course. Wallace is proud of the huge all-sport field, 70x120 yds long. This field, and a parking lot, can be easily accessed from a River Road entrance created by the Maine National Guard’s 262nd Engineering Company in 2016.

Slip into the tranquil woods alongside the babbling Bobbin Mill Brook, and it’s hard to believe you’re in the middle of Auburn.

Relax in the Mindfulness area beside the brook, for yoga and meditation. Community partners use the space for programs serving families with trauma, including PTSD and cancer recovery. Other groups, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, and Lewiston Public Schools’ 21st Century programs, use OLEC in exchange for service hours.

Another jewel in this crown is an accessible wooded trail, giving LA a safe place for families of all abilities. OLEC hopes to lengthen the 1.5 mile loop in the future.

Counselors Sophie Charest, Ally Kennedy, and Joel Stubbs (right) play games with children attending camp at OLEC 54

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

The OLEC all-sport field at the River Road entrance “An outdoor pool gets us back into the swim business,” notes Wallace. OLEC has installed a 15x60 foot accessible outdoor pool that will be ready for lap swim and instruction next year, as well as splash parties for campers, water walking for seniors, triathlon training, and weekend rentals.

“Teaching families to be safe around water,” Wallace says, “saves at least one person per year from drowning.” The Y will be able to expand their swim instruction program to include children with disadvantages in learning, and groups that prefer a more intimate setting to learn.

Commitment How do you know your programs work? Jim Lawler recalls being asked this question.

“We see generation after generation come through our doors, and we see people get involved in the organization.” That’s how

Lawler, himself, got started. “Kids from day camp coming to work for us as college students, eventually becoming members, bringing their children. This cycle of generations showed we were doing something right.”

The Y nurtures participants, makes them members and advocates, and eventually ambassadors. Case in point: Mary Murphy, who came to the Y at age 16.

“I started working at the front desk,” she recalls, “when this place was still a boarding house.” And 33 years later, Murphy’s still there, although she’s moved up the ladder to Chief Risk and Human Resources Officer. “I’ve seen it transform into a modern day Y, to better serve the community. Someday we will have a new building, but this one will always have a special place in my heart.”

The Y acknowledges significant commitment to its mission through its Hall of Fame. Fifteen honorees have been cited, since 2015, for contributing “extraordinary and tangible” support to the Y. “They rolled up their sleeves,” explains Wallace, “and made good things happen for the community.”

Paid memberships subsidize the Y’s mission programs, along with funding from United Way, and many foundations, donors, and partners. Wallace somehow juggles it all.

“We‘ve earned a lot of good will, over the years,” says Wallace.

“As the current steward of this organization, that’s on my mind every day.”

Of the future, Wallace says, “I’m not retiring till I get a new Y built.” For the benefit of the LA community, let’s hope he doesn’t have to wait too long.

YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston 62 Turner Street, Auburn • www.alymca.org

Chris Shea & Mary Murphy LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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LA dog groomers see of two cities a revolution in pet care Written by Peggy DeBlois | Photography by Chelsea Briggs

D Vegas getting her fur trimmed

ogs used to be kept primarily for work purposes such as hunting, fishing, and farming. Now, our dogs are pets, “kept as a companion and cared for affectionately” (dictionary.com).

Wherever you go in Lewiston Auburn, you will likely encounter at least one dog walking with its owner, riding in a shopping cart, or even sitting in an outdoor eating area.

As the roles of our dogs have changed from work to companionship, the pet grooming industry has seen tremendous growth.

According to IBISWorld.com, revenue in this sector has nearly doubled over the past decade, reaching $9.2 billion. The growth is attributed to rising pet ownership, improved disposable income, and changing consumer preferences in pet care. Two local groomers tell LAMM how their industry has changed in LA in the last several years.

Lil’ Grooming Shop offers spa services “Grooming has become a lot more popular,” states Tara Aube of Lil’ Grooming Shop in Lewiston. “Dogs are now more a family member than a pet.”

Tara Aube, with Stella

Aube has been a professional groomer for 15 years. She started as a bather, enrolled in dog grooming school, and moved to Maine to start her career, opening Lil’ Grooming Shop in 2011.

Pampered dogs A self-proclaimed “dog nerd,” Aube has seen a swing in customer expectations toward spa services. A client at Lil’ Grooming Shop can choose from the basic list of services: bath, blow-dry, brush out, ears, nails, breed cut and style. Aube says she and her staff notch up the basic bath and cut to include more of these spatype services. For example, during the bath, the dog will be massaged and offered a blueberry facial. Yes, you read that right! The blueberry treatment removes the gunk that collects in their eyes.

Lil’ Grooming Shop is also committed to using the best equipment and high-end products, to make sure the clients go home looking and smelling their best. The staff particularly enjoys getting fun requests.

“We’ve given dogs colored mohawks and even extensions,” says Aube. “We like to celebrate seasons and holidays by adding cute accessories like bows and bandanas, to make the owners smile when they pick up their pups.”

Lil’ Grooming Shop now has three full-time groomers, Aube, Cass Lord, and Audrey Morin, plus a bather, Charlene May. Aube says what sets her business apart from chain grooming shops is the personal attention given to furry clients.

“We know what they like, what scares them, how to comfort them if they miss their people,” explains Aube. “You can often come into our shop to see dogs sitting in our laps as we make appointments, getting belly rubs, or playing with all the fun toys we have here for them.”

She shares the story of Sassy, a dog with major anxiety issues who started as a petrified client, holding herself stiff as a board.

“It took me about a year to gain Sassy’s trust,” says Aube.

Consistent appointments and time invested in making Sassy comfortable eventually led to success. “The first time she came in running, tail wagging, happy to see us, both I and her mother got teary-eyed.”

Styling Dog offers affordable grooming options Mary Mawhinney, of Styling Dog in Lewiston, attended A+ Pet Grooming Academy in New Gloucester, then worked for several years in Bath while building her clientele in Lewiston Auburn.

Mawhinney started Styling Dog in 2013, with a lot of help and support from her husband, Lucas. Now the business has an additional full-time groomer, Brook Begin, and a bather/brusher who doubles as the scheduler, Dallas Curtis.

Tara Aube with Joy, Cass Lord with Riley, & Audrey Morin with Coconut, all working to pamper pooches at Lil’ Grooming Shop 58

LA METRO MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2020

By Peggy DeBlois | Photography by Chelsea Briggs | Tails of two cities

A day in the life of a groomer Both groomers agree that any day in the dog grooming business is far from “typical.”

Aube’s day at Lil’ Grooming Shop starts with returning phone, email, and Facebook messages, then grooming 14-19 dogs a day. Styling Dog’s walk-in toenail trimming service attracts an additional 10-25 dogs each day.

Conscientious care “People take much better care of their animals now,” she says. “Owners are a lot more conscientious and educate themselves on their dogs.”

Mawhinney says that most clients ask for a breedspecific cut, which makes her job more interesting.

Many customers research different cuts and styles, and bring in photos for ideas. Mawhinney says that doing something new is always exciting, as she gets to use her training and skill in a new way.

Mary Mawhinney, with Riggs

“Our personal dogs get more bathroom breaks than us!” claims Mawhinney, who also says having an odd sense of humor goes along with working with animals. “It is a dirty job getting the pups clean and smelling wonderful!” she says. “By the end of the day, we smell and look way worse than the dogs.”

How does the groomer’s day end? Aube shares the story of one large client, a 180-pound Leonberger.

“I used to have to climb in the tub with cheese, to coax him up the stairs,” she laughs. “One day he lay on the floor and wouldn’t move. When a 180-pound dog doesn’t want to move, that’s it, you’re done.”

Lil’ Grooming Shop 12 Hogan Road, Lewiston • www.lilgroomingshop.com Styling Dog 984 Sabattus Street, Lewiston www.stylingdogs.wix.com/stylingdog

Her staff grooms repeat customers every 4-8 weeks, on average. Styling Dog also offers walk-in toenail trimming, for dogs, cats, rabbits, even guinea pigs.

“One little boy brings his guinea pig in regularly for toenail trimming,” says Mawhinney. “It’s cute to see how seriously he takes the care of his animal.”

Mawhinney started Styling Dog with the intention of being lowkey and affordable. In fact, she sells low-cost accessories at her shop.

Start grooming young Both Aube and Mawhinney agree that the dogs who do the best during grooming services are the ones who start young.

“The more you socialize your dog, the more scenarios you can show them when they are young, the better adjusted they will be,” says Mawhinney.

She recommends that having a puppy groomed right after the first set of shots is best.

“We have lots of dogs that have been coming to Styling Dog since they were just weeks old,” she explains. “They are the ones who are happy to see us. They ‘know the drill’ and enjoy the process.”

Brooke Begin and Mary Mawhinney primp a smiling Willis at Styling Dog LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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Lewiston/Auburn Written by Donna Keene Rousseau | Photography by Russ Dillingham

T

he English proverb, “Many hands make light work” is as true today as when it was first written in the 1300s.

Rebuilding Together Lewiston/Auburn is the embodiment of that proverb. This LA nonprofit makes repairs to homes of those who, due to finances and/or disability, are unable to make repairs themselves. In 18 years, approximately 127 homes have been repaired, with the help of many hands across the Lewiston Auburn community.

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Highlighting the good work of nonprofit organizations in the LA community.

Connor Hunt & Julien Nicolas haul materials for a roofing job LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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RTLA Treasurer Alan Hahnel guides a team of workers on a project

The work began…

Rebuild Together Lewiston/Auburn (RTLA) has its roots in Midland, Texas, where, in 1973, people came together to help neighbors whose homes were in disrepair. That kindness grew to become an annual event called “Christmas in April.” The effort expanded slowly and, in 1988, Rebuild Together opened its first national office, with Patty Johnson as president. It was 2002 when Johnson’s son, then a Bates College student (John) Scott Johnson, organized the first RTLA chapter in Lewiston, as part of his volunteer community service project.

“Scott was very good at organizing,” says Jim Dowling, secretary of RTLA. “He marshaled the students, and even [then] Dean of Students James Carrigan. He generated enthusiasm for RTLA

and, along with Carrigan, arranged face-to-face meetings with area businesses to propose partnerships.”

Lewiston’s Hahnel Bros. Co. was one of those businesses. “Dean Carrigan believed a partnership between Hahnel Bros. and RTLA was a natural fit,” recalls Alan Hahnel, now RTLA Treasurer, who lent his company’s resources and roofing expertise to the effort.

…with many hands Currently, RTLA’s board of directors consists of professionals wielding a wide range of expertise including real estate, banking, marketing, construction, and volunteer development. Members include Alina Burke of Bangor Savings Bank, Linda Churchill of Mahan Design, Russ Dillingham of the Lewiston Sun Journal, Jim Dowling, formerly of Lewiston Housing Authority, Todd Gagne of Nason Mechanical Systems, Shanna Green of Bates College, Fred and George Greenwood of Keller Williams Realty, Alan Hahnel of Hanhel Bros. Co., Rollie Heckethorn of Tim Dunham Realty, John Ouellette of Precision Builders General Contractors, and David Trask of MPX. “Diverse board expertise serves RTLA well, for several reasons,” confirms Dowling. “Contractors or companies connected to home repairs are familiar with building challenges. It is beneficial to have professionals with experience in project costing and evaluation, grant writing, and fundraising.”

In-kind donations of material and labor come from board members Precision Builders, Nason Mechanical, Hahnel Bros. Co., and Landry & Sons. Other local businesses pitch in, too. Green, who also serves as RTLA president, notes, “The paint we use is donated by Lewiston Paint and Wallpaper; the food for Rebuild Day in April is provided by Dunkin’ Donuts and Subway. Our shirts for that day are from Varsity Lettering, and Almighty Waste provides dumpster service when needed.”

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Monetary donations are crucial for covering unexpected costs.

Says Hahnel, “While the labor is free, sometimes the work requires hiring a contractor to look at the project. The goal is always to complete the project with no expense to the homeowner.”

By Donna Keene Rousseau | Photography by Russ Dillingham | Rebuilding Together L/A

The work is….

When considering a project, ensuring safety and integrity are key. Qualifying criteria include tripping hazards, steps in disrepair, poor lighting, as well as a need for grab bars and smoke detectors. Another important factor is the homeowner’s desire to remain in the home. Once projects are selected, the planning for Rebuild Day, or “Christmas in April,” begins in earnest.

“It’s pandemonium!” laughs Hahnel of Rebuild Day. “Everyone meets on the Bates campus; shirts are distributed. Board members serve as team leaders. Within a half-hour, we have our volunteers assessed for their skill levels and divided among the different teams, with a balance of skilled and unskilled labor.

Tools are dispersed and by 9 a.m., it’s time to ‘Get ‘er done.’”

Volunteers are among the most important tools in the RTLA toolbox, from the first swing of the hammer to the last sweep of a broom.

“It’s rewarding,” says Hahnel, “seeing all these people from different walks of life coming together for a common purpose.”

Board member John Ouellette repairs a rain gutter RTLA is grateful for the generous donations received from the Maine Association of REALTORS, Androscoggin Valley Council of the Mountains to Shore Board of REALTORS, Mechanics Savings, and Bangor Savings Bank, and from their newest donors, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, TJX Companies, Inc., and Spectrum.

Board member David Trask, who works closely with Green in volunteer recruitment and fundraising, explains, “Through a $15,000 Spectrum Housing Assist grant, local Spectrum employees partner with RTLA board members to provide critical repairs to one home identified by RTLA. In addition, we distribute hundreds of Safe & Healthy Home Kits free, during the event.”

Still, the RTLA’s projects cannot be completed without the invaluable resource of volunteer sweat equity. As administrative manager for the Bates College Office of College Advancement, Green works with the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates College to amass 75% of RTLA’s volunteer base, tapping coaches, faculty, staff, students, and past volunteers.

Board members and their families round out the crew.

…never done Over the years, one somber point remains clear. “The need out there is eye-opening,” says Hahnel. “We are but a band-aid to the human suffering some pay to stay in their homes. Mainers are proud. For some, staying in their homes is so paramount to them and yet they don’t have the means.”

Green recalls one home where the homeowner was heating with kerosene from her kitchen stove and sleeping on a lawn chair.

“She had nothing,” confirms Green. “We were at least able to make her home livable so she could live her last years in dignity.”

Hahnel drives in the final nail. “The community may not know it, but the need is here.”

Rebuilding Together L/A rebuildingtogetherla.org

To Apply or Donate Applications are available for pick up/drop off at: Keller Williams Realty 195 Center Street Auburn

Board member Jim Dowling on site at Rebuild Day

To make a donation, visit rebuildingtogetherla.org or mail to: Rebuilding Together L/A P.O. Box 7161 Lewiston, ME 04243-7161 LA METRO MAGAZINE digital edition @ LAMetroMagazine.com

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Thank you to all Direct Support Professionals for your caring during this pandemic.

www.jfmhomes.org

7 0 L I N C O L N S T. , L E W I S T O N , M E Reservations by phone or online at: (207) 333-3663 | www.fishbonesgrill.com

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Supporting Maine Tourism Tourism is at the heart of Maine’s economy, but when Covid-19 prevented tourists from visiting, Mainers stepped up, and so did we.

Poland Spring and the Maine Tourism Association co-founded the Tourism Relief Fund, which has given over $100,000 to Maine businesses and to workers who need help.

During difficult times, Mainers have always pulled together. Even if “together” is a little farther apart than it used to be.

Proud to partner with

© 2020 Nestlé Waters North America Inc.

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