News Briefs

Log Cabin Republicans Launch New Chapter in Maine

Fair-minded Republicans in Maine have formed a new vehicle to advance the cause of equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans and build a more inclusive GOP. Log Cabin Republicans of Maine, a new provisional chapter of the national organization that serves as the leading voice for fairness, inclusion and tolerance in the GOP. Portland activist Noah Hincks and former chair of Portland Outright along with other civic leaders have established the chapter to work to bring inclusion of gay and lesbian voices within the Republican Party.

Also working on the developing the chapter is Portland activist Steven Scharf who serves as President of the Portland Taxpayers Association and Secretary of the Cumberland County Republican Committee. Mr. Scharf ran for State Representative in 2004 in Portland and worked to recruit openly gay Republican candidate David Babin to run for State Senate that year. Mr. Scharf noted that the Portland GOP was proud to recruit a more diverse roster of candidates than their major party opposition in 2004.

The Log Cabin Republicans of Maine will be meeting regularly to work on common issues and will be making endorsements for the 2006 legislative and executive offices. For more information, please call Steven Scharf at 774-9393, email Maine@LogCabin.org or mail: Log Cabin Republicans of Maine, P.O. Box 4135, Portland, ME 04101.

Homeland Security Task Force to Hold Public Meetings in Presque Isle, Saco, and Bangor

State Senator Ethan Strimling, D-Cumberland County, and Representative Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick, co-chairs of the Task Force to Study Maine's Homeland Security Needs today announced that there will be public meetings in Presque Isle, Saco, and Bangor during the month of January.
The first of the three meetings will be held in Presque Isle, January 6, at City Hall from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Presque Isle panel discussion will focus on border patrol and security issues.

The second meeting in this series will be held in Saco, January 9, at City Hall from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Saco discussion will focus on public health emergency preparedness issues.

The third meeting in the series will be held in Bangor, January 13, at City Hall from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Bangor panel will focus on communications and interoperability issues.

While each regional panel discussion will have a specific focus, the meetings will also provide an opportunity for public comment on other homeland security matters.

Below please find the agenda for the next public a list of agendas for all three upcoming meetings can be found online at www.mainesenate.org/security.

2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Week

The NAACP Portland Branch invites the public to commemorate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a series of events that mark our nation's quest for a just and equal society.

Interfaith Dialogue: Saturday, January 7, 2006, 6 p.m., Portland High School Auditorium, Portland, Free and open to the public. Representatives from multiple faiths including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hindu lead an interactive discussion about the role and responsibility of religion in infl uencing social change and justice.

Music and Gospel Concert

Featuring the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Sunday, January 15, 2006, 6 p.m., Merrill Auditorium, Portland, $7.00 Adult; $3.00 Children twelve and under. The Silver Leaf Gospel Singers celebrate their 60th year performing soulful, jubilant music throughout New England. Joining them will be 9 choirs, 4 performers and 2 instrumental groups including the African International Fellowship Choir, Jewish Youth Choir, Samaki Ensemble, and One Nation Drum Group. Tickets for the concert can be purchased in advance or at the door. Please call (207) 253-5074 for additional information.

25th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Celebration: "Conscience of a Nation" Monday, January 16, 2006, 8 a.m., Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland, $20 Adult; $8 Children, Special Guest Speaker: Victor Bolden, General Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc. (please see bio below) Every year, nearly one thousand guests join the NAACP Portland Branch to refl ect upon Dr. King's legacy and consider its application for our future. Mr. Bolden, our guest speaker, will lead us in a consideration of this year's theme, "Conscience of a Nation." Tickets must be purchased in advance. Please call (207) 253-5074 for additional information, or download a ticket request form from our website, www.naacpportland.org.

Maine Project Learning Tree Introduces New Curriculum

Join teachers, planners, conservation and community enthusiasts to learn about the recently published Project Learning Tree Exploring Environmental Issues in the Places We Live curriculum guide for ages 12 through adult. An introductory workshop, led by trained facilitators and a town planner, will be held on Thursday evening, January 26 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pine Tree State Arboretum.

Project Learning Tree (PLT) is widely recognized as one of the premier environmental education programs in the world. Through hands-on, interdisciplinary activities, PLT provides students in grades PreK-12, with opportunities to investigate environmental issues and encourages them to make informed, responsible decisions. Maine PLT is an education program of the Maine Tree Foundation.

For more information or to register call or e-mail: Pat Maloney, 626-7990 or meplt@gwi.net Cost of the workshop is $15 with dinner provided.

The Public Theatre Receives $5000 Grant from Maine Community Foundation
The arts is an ecomic building block, says Director

The Public Theatre has received a $5,000 grant from The Maine Theater Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to be applied toward its four phase, $2.4 million renovation of the theatre facility. The Public Theatre has already completed two phases of the theatre renovation and recently unveiled a reconfigured lobby box office, and concession area and new restrooms, among other items.

The Maine Community Foundation grant will be applied to Phase III of the renovation which includes extensive work to the exterior of the building, stage and backstage areas. The Public Theatre has raised over $1 million to date with an additional $400,000 needed to begin Phase III on schedule by June, 2006.

The Maine Theatre Fund at The Maine Community Foundation was established in 2005 in recognition of the connection between vibrant communities and support for the arts.

"The State of Maine is very fortunate to have this fund that recognizes the role of the arts as the economic building blocks for our state. We are quite honored to be chosen as one of the Fund's first grant recipients," said Christopher Schario, Artistic Director for The Public Theatre. "This grant will help us to transform The Public Theatre facility into a venue that will allow our loyal patrons to experience live professional theatre in a more beautiful and comfortable setting."

A statewide organization with offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation works in partnership with donors and community groups to strengthen Maine. For more information, visit the foundation's website at www.mainecf.org,

or call toll-free 1-877-700-6800. For more information on The Public Theatre or to inquire about upcoming productions, please call 207-782-2211 or visit the theatre's website at www.thepublictheatre.org