Mayor Larry Gilbert

Mayor's Corner: New Mainers Workforce Partnership L/A Graduates a Dozen

Twin City Times- Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Mayor's Corner #84

 I was honored and privileged to be invited to attend the New Mainers Workforce Partnership – L/A Celebration Luncheon this past Friday at the Lewiston Public Library.

The graduates were most justifiably proud of their achievement in their participation in this program to enhance their employability.  They were at this graduation ceremony with their family and friends wearing their finest clothing.  Many photos were taken by the classmates and those in attendance to remember this proud moment in their life.

The local graduates were from Peru, Morocco, Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan. They all were so very expressive of their appreciation for this program that has given them a hand up in securing employment and becoming contributing community members while enjoying the American dream.

Some of the people I noticed in attendance were Jane Gilbert (no relation) Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor, Mary LaFontaine, Director of the Lewiston Career Center, and Alyson Stone, Director of Empower Lewiston.

Allow me to share with you information I received from Eva Giles, Director of the Lewiston Adult Education Program, about the New Mainers Workforce Partnership which is made up of community partners that offer a 140 hour ready-to-work program based upon the “WorkReady” model and curriculum. It is developed specifically towards participants with limited English proficiency, little or no work history, and limited basic skills, particularly those related to the workplace in the 21st century.

Mayor Gilbert Attends 100th Birthday of Marie Comeau

A 100th birthday celebration was held in honor of Marie Jeanne Comeau at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Stuart R. Cohen at 30 Buttonwood Lane, Lewiston, Maine on Saturday afternoon, April 18th.  Marie was born in Auburn, Maine on April 18, 1909 and was the youngest of 17 children.  On January 20, 1931, she married Arthur N. Comeau, and they raised three children, Gerard, Carmen & Cecile.  Her husband passed away in 1963 and she resided with her daughter in Auburn until she reached the age of 96 and is currently a resident at Montello Manor, Lewiston.

Marie has always been very devoted to her family and a hard worker.  She was an excellent seamstress, loved gardening, did lots of canning, and enjoyed crocheting.  She was well known for the raspberries she grew and her raspberry squares were a real treat!   She worked several years as a spinner at the Contenental Mill in Lewiston and following the mill's closing in 1961, she worked in the housekeeping department at Bates College, retiring at age 72.

Attending her party were her son, Gerard of N. Branford, Ct., her daughters Carmen and her husband Stuart Cohen, and Cecile and her husband Paul Nadeau, of Auburn; grandchildren, James Nadeau and Deb Roy of Bangor, Carmen Jeanne Evrard and her husband, Sam, of Poland Spring, Todd Comeau and his wife, Carla, of Pittsfield, Mass., Gregory Comeau and his wife Suzanne, of Southington, Ct.,  Drew Comeau and his wife, Emily of Middletown, Ct; and great-grandchildren, Allison, Melanie, Giorgia, Evan, Amber and Ashley Comeau, and Sara Nadeau.  Also in attendance was Melena Cavallero of Pittsfield, Mass and Jennifer Cohen of Chestnut Hill, Mass.   Daughter-in-law Sallie Comeau of N. Brandord, Ct. was unable to attend as she is currently recovering from a broken hip.

Marie and her entire family were honored to have been visited by Lewiston Mayor, Laurent Gilbert on her special day.

Mayor Gilbert Featured on CBS Evening News

Mayor Gilbert was featured in a national news story on the CBS Evening News, April 11, 2009.

Jim Axelrod reports for CBS on Lewiston's acceptance of all cultures as a city.

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Mayor's Corner: Heart disease is the # one killer of men and women in Maine

Twin City Times- Thursday, April 16th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #83

On Tuesday of last week I was invited to attend the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association’s 2009 Central & Western Maine Heart Walk Leadership Breakfast at Fish Bones Restaurant.  In attendance, were a number of leaders from various organizations and businesses from Lewiston and Auburn to include my counterpart, Mayor John Jenkins of Auburn.

In the package of handouts that were given to us at the breakfast, was the description of the mission the AHA/ASA which is building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. It was through this publication that I learned that heart disease is the # 1 killer of men and the # 1 killer of women in Maine. It also stated that heart defects are the # 1 birth defect in Maine. Cardiovascular disease kills more people than the next five causes of death. 

As I was sitting at the breakfast, I also had in my mind the fact that it was my older brother Maurice’s 72nd birthday.  It brought to mind that at age 57 he suffered a heart attack. I remember the day when I received the call from his wife and I rushed over and called 911.  Thank God he received immediate care and is now wearing a stint in one of the arteries to his heart.  Research has developed such an item that is truly a life saver.

At the breakfast, a young lady who is a nurse at Maine Medical Center and who studied nursing at the University of Maine at Orono, spoke of her heart disease.  Alicia Drake of South Portland, a young lady in her mid 20’s, appears to be a perfect picture of health. In looking at her, one would never imagine that she has suffered from heart disease, but yes this disease can afflict anyone.  After the breakfast I asked her if I could re-print her testimony in this my weekly column to share with my readers.  She willingly obliged me and I share it with you below:

Mayor's Corner: Maine Legislature Must Close Gun Show Loophole

Twin City Times- Thursday, April 9th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #82

 As I write this week’s column, it is on a weekend from hell.  Yes, the hell that comes from gun violence.  We have witnessed the killing of 14 people and the wounding of several others.  As if that wasn’t enough, on Saturday we saw the killing of three Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania police officers, again as a result of gun violence. 

The proliferation of guns in this country is what has lead to this type of madness.  Surely the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was never intended to allow for this type of lunacy. 
Strangely enough, as you read this column, I will have already testified on a gun bill before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee of the Maine Legislature.

The published summary of the gun show loophole bill reads as follows: This bill requires that a national instant criminal background check be performed prior to the sale or transfer of a firearm at a gun show. The bill makes a gun show operator responsible for any failure to perform a required background check and subject to a fine up to $10,000 for each such failure. The bill also requires gun show operators to post signs at gun shows and notify exhibitors of the background check requirement and to provide unlicensed seller and transferors with access to licensed sellers and transferors who will undertake the required background checks.

Mayor's Corner: Downtown Neighborhood Action Plan Needs Endorsement

Twin City Times- Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
Mayor's Corner #81

The new Downtown Neighborhood Action Plan was delivered to the Lewiston City Council on February 27, 2009.  The 93 page report is the product of 24 months of work by the Downtown Neighborhood Task Force (DNTF) that was created by the City Council. The report can be accessed in its entirety on the city’s website. 

As mayor it was my responsibility to appoint the DNTF members.  The members were Mike Lecompte, Zam Zam Mohammed, Barbara Rankins, Rachel Rodrigue, Ari Rosenberg, Kim Wettlaufer, Alyson Stone (Empower Lewiston representative), Craig Saddlemire (The Visible Community representative) and Adilah Muhammed.  The task force members selected Adilah Muhammed as Chair and Craig Saddlemire as Vice-Chair.

The city staff person for the task force was Mark McComas, Deputy Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development for the City of Lewiston.

I first wish to commend all task force members for their dedication and hard work in developing an outstanding report that focuses on the residential sector of the city and will serve as a guide to implement its recommendations.  The residential downtown can no longer be ignored.