#AugustaME - Thanks to the generous support of The Friends of #LithgowLibrary, we now have a #LibraryOfThings!

"A Library of Things allows you to borrow non-traditional library items such as snowshoes or a sewing machine. More than a 'try before you buy' opportunity, the Library of Things aligns with the mission of our library — to offer a collection of materials that meets the needs, interests, and abilities of our diverse #community. A Library of Things promotes sharing with community members, #sustainability, and trying new things. We hope you enjoy!

Interested in donating? Please let us know what you have in mind and we will see if we are able to add it to our collection. Thank you!

Library of Things Policies

- Eligibility: You must be a Lithgow cardholder for at least 3 months and in good standing (current card, no outstanding fees, etc.). Some Library of Things items are strictly limited to Adults only (18+).
- Availability: The Library of Things items are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Items may not be reserved & are not available through interlibrary loan.
- Borrowing: You may borrow 5 Library of Things item at a time for up-to two weeks. Items may not be renewed.
- Returning: Library of Things items should be returned in-person only (not in the drop box.) Items should be returned on-time and as a complete kit (all parts included.) Failure to follow the return policy may lead to repair/replacement cost and/or impact borrowing privileges.
- Loss or damage: The card holder is responsible for any repair or replacement due to loss or damage. The card holder is responsible for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur from use of equipment."

Learn more:
https://www.lithgowlibrary.org/library-of-things/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineLibraries #LibrariesRule! #BorrowingBeyondBooks #CircularEconomy #BorrowDontBuy

How soon people forget...

A century ago, #FrancoAmericans were targeted in #Maine like today’s #Somali #immigrants

Opinion by Tommy Pinette, March 3, 2026

"Two years ago, I learned the infamous #KuKluxKlan exploded in popularity throughout Maine during its resurgence in the 1920s. Across the United States, the terrorist group amassed hundreds of thousands of new followers in a rather clever dissemblance as a community service and fraternal organization. At one point, in fact, approximately 30% of Maine’s native-born population were enrolled members of the KKK. Yet they did not target Somali-Americans, people on work visas, or permanent residents from Africa — they vehemently attacked the people we now call Franco-Americans.

"Prominent Franco communities in #LewistonME, #RumfordME, #OldTownME, #AugustaME, and #WatervilleME, called 'petits Canadas,' became targets of violence for the #KKK.

"One local history of the Franco-American community of Old Town recounts a horrific stand-off at French Island: holding torches and weapons, a mob of angry klansmen attempted to cross the bridge onto the island in order to burn it down. Only the rapid efforts of men in the community to block the bridge physically kept the island from going up in flames.

"And yet, I hear many of my Franco relatives talk poorly about immigrants. They repeat similar slogans to the ones President Donald Trump spreads about immigrants who come from Africa, particularly those from East Africa: “they shouldn’t be here … Somalia is not even a country” Animus defines how many Franco-Americans understand immigrants, the people who stand in the very same place their ancestors once stood a couple generations ago.

"Do not forget that our #WhitePrivilege came at a great historical cost in the forms of systemic French language suppression, decades of shameful stereotypes, and barriers to higher education. For almost 70 years, the state of Maine had a legislative policy of only offering public education in English. We must remember our ancestors, the memères and pepères who endured the same xenophobic insults immigrants in America face today."

Read more:
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/03/03/opinion/opinion-contributor/franco-americans-targeted-like-todays-immigrants-joam40zk0w/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/83Hi6

#USPol #WorldPol #MainePol #NewAmericans #NewMainers #USHistory #MaineHistory #ICESucks #AbolishICE #Hypocrisy

[1/3] #PineTreeActivism Events for #January16 - #Maine

JAN 16, Fri 12-1:00PM (& every Fri) – #CalaisME
Corner of North St & Main St
#StandUpDowneastMaine – Join in our weekly protest, one block from the border crossing to Canada, for this lively & international atmosphere.

JAN 16, Fri 12-1:00PM (& every Fri) – #FarmingtonME
Post Office, 196 Main St
PEACE & PROTEST VIGIL - Farmington and surrounding area activists gather at noon ON the Sidewalks in front of the post office with peace vigil signs and protest messages to advocate for #peace and protect democracy. Started 21 yrs ago as a #WomenInBlack Vigil, this is now a community event and includes #VeteransForPeace, Western Mtns Third Act, and Indivisible.
FMI: mobilize.us/mobilize/event/879624/

JAN 16, Fri 12:30-1:00PM (& every Fri) – #AugustaME
Lithgow Library, 45 Winthrop St,
WOMEN IN BLACK PEACE VIGIL – Every Friday the Augusta area Women in Black hold a peace vigil in front of the Lithgow Library. Held continuously since 2002.

JAN 16, Fri 1:00PM (& every Fri) – #HoultonME
Peace Pole, Monument Park
Weekly Stand Out for Peace – www.mvprights.org/events

JAN 16, Fri 3-3:30PM (& every Fri) – #BrunswickME
156 Maine St. Opposite Walgreens
VIGIL FOR PEACE – We stand together to bear witness for deeply held beliefs in justice of all kinds and to offer a source of public education not available in mainstream media.
FMI: peaceworksbrunswickme.org/action.html

JAN 16, Fri 4-5:00PM – #WERU 89.9 FM
Listen from anywhere
DEMOCRACY FORUM – CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS: CAN DEMOCRACY SURVIVE #BILLIONAIRE ECONOMICS?
We'll talk about how wealth and income inequality undermine democracy. Does extreme income inequality lead to right wing #authoritarianism? How does that work? Is that playing out in the U.S. right now? In Maine?

Special guests: Garrett Martin, President & CEO, Maine Center for Economic Policy. Susan Stokes, Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Chicago, and author of The Backsliders: Why Leaders Undermine Their Own Democracies. FMI: www.democracymaine.org/civicrm-event/2256

JAN 16, Fri 5-5:30PM (& every Fri) – #PortlandME
Congress Square, High & Congress Sts (across from PMA)
WOMEN IN BLACK VIGIL
A world-wide network of women committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and violence, these weekly protests typically attract a diverse group of folks.
FMI: mobilize.us/mobilize/event/828747/

#MaineEvents #MaineResists
#ResistICE #NoWar #StopICETerror #ICEOut #NoWarForOil #JusticeForRenee
#ICEOutForGood #MVPRights #GazaGenocide

#Maine events so far, via #PineTreeActivism! -

#NationalWeekendOfAction #ICEOutForGood

Sat-Sun Jan 10-11

"On Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, an American citizen was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (#ICE) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This killing is part of a broader pattern of unchecked violence, impunity, and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies against members of our communities.

On this National Weekend of Action we stand to demand accountability, honor the life lost, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions."

Official as listed ICE OUT FOR GOOD events in Maine.
Many weekly events may be themed for ICE OUT, as well.
UPDATED Jan 9, 6:30PM

SATURDAY, Jan 10

#AuburnME: 12-1pm - Longley Bridge, Court St
#AugustaME: 12-2pm - Memorial Circle, Memorial & State Sts
#BangorME: 11am-12pm – Peirce Park, 125 Harlow St
#BathME: 10-11am - Sagadahoc Bridge, 700 Washington St
#BelfastME: 12-1pm - Post Office Square, Church & Main Sts
#BridgtonME: - 5-6pm - Shorey Park, Main St,
#EllsworthME: 12-1pm – 175 High St
#KennebunkME: 1-2pm – Sidewalk in front of 112 Main St
#MachiasME: 12-1pm - 16 O'Brien Ave, bottom of College Hill
#NewcastleME: 12-1pm – #DamariscottaME-Newcastle Bridge, Newcastle
#OxfordHills: 10am-12pm - Fair St, Norway & Main St, #SouthParisME
#PortlandME: 11am-12pm – Monument Square, 456 Congress St
#PresqueIsle: 12noon – Sen Angus King office, 169 Academy St
#SacoME: 10-11am - Transportation Center, 138 Main St
#SouthPortland: 11am-12pm - Erskine Park, 632 Broadway
#WayneME: 10-11am – Bridge on Rt 133, Main St
#WellsME: 1-2pm - Wells Police Department, 1563 Post Rd
#YarmouthME: 9-10:am – Town Hall, 200 Main St

SUNDAY Jan 11
#WatervilleME: 1-2pm – Bridge by CVS, 1 Kennedy Mem'l Drive

Source:
https://bsky.app/profile/pinetreeactivism.org/post/3mbzola2d422i

#ICEOutForGood #JusticeForRenee #MainePol #Resist #MaineResists #MaineEvents

[1/4] #PineTreeActivism Events for #January9

JAN 9, Fri 12-1:00PM (& every Fri) – #CalaisME
Corner of North St & Main St
#StandUpDowneastMaine – Join in our weekly protest, one block from the border crossing to Canada, for this lively & international atmosphere.

JAN 9, Fri 12-1:00PM (& every Fri) – #FarmingtonME
Post Office, 196 Main St.
PEACE & PROTEST VIGIL - Farmington and surrounding area activists gather at noon ON the Sidewalks in front of the post office with peace vigil signs and protest messages to advocate for peace and protect democracy. Started 21 yrs ago as a Women in Black Vigil, this is now a community event and includes #VeteransForPeace, #WesternMountainsThirdAct, and #Indivisible.
FMI: mobilize.us/mobilize/event/879624/

JAN 9, Fri 1-2:00PM (2nd Fri every month) – #FarmingtonME
Old South Church, 235 Main St.
#ThirdActMaine Western Hub – Monthly Meeting – Our seasoned generation holds unparalleled power to enact real change. Using our life experiences, skills, and resources, we unite to tackle the unfinished work of our lifetimes and ensure a safe and stable planet for generations to come.
We meet the 2nd Friday of each month at 1pm at the Old South Church. Enter by the rear door from the small parking lot on the north side. FMI: thirdact.org/maine/

JAN 9, Fri 12:30-1:00PM (& every Fri) – #AugustaME
Lithgow Library, 45 Winthrop St.
#WomenInBlackPeaceVigil – Every Friday the Augusta area Women in Black hold a peace vigil in front of the Lithgow Library. Held continuously since 2002.

JAN 9, Fri 1:00PM (& every Fri) – #HoultonME
#PeacePole, Monument Park
Weekly Stand Out for Peace – www.mvprights.org/events

Source:
https://bsky.app/profile/pinetreeactivism.org/post/3mbyljz7qas2h

#MaineEvents #MaineResists
#ResistICE #NoWar #StopICETerror #MayDay #ICEOut #NoWarForOil #JusticeForRenee #ICEOutForGood

#AugustaME - #VoicesForHumanity, an alumni group at #UniversityOfMaine at Augusta, is planning a #Palestine standout across the street from the #MaineStateHouse in Augusta.

Saturday, January 17, 2026
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Across from Maine State House 33 Union Street Augusta, ME, 04330 United States

Source:
https://www.mvprights.org/events/augusta-stand-out-pl9ta

#MaineEvents #FreePalestine #Genocide #Gaza #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #HumanRights #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal #MaineVoicesForPalestinianRights

#NoKings 2.0
(10/18/2025)

#NoKingsMaine
#AugustaME
#KennebecCountyME

https://bsky.app/profile/mary1086.bsky.social/post/3m3ijzjcass2k

2025 - 2025 #WarmingShelters

On September 23, Governor Janet Mills and MaineHousing announced $2.3 million in state grants to support the operation of 12 overnight emergency warming centers in seven Maine counties this winter. The following warming centers will operate during the 2025 - 2026 winter season:

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter - #BangorME
City of Portland - #PortlandME
City of Sanford - #SanfordME
Healthy Acadia - #EllsworthME
Homeless Services of Aroostook - #AroostookME
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter - #WatervilleME
New Beginnings - #LewistonME
Seeds of Hope - #BiddefordME
Augusta Emergency Overnight Warming Center - #AugustaME
State Street Church - #PortlandME
Tedford - #BrunswickME

Source:
https://www.mainehousing.org/news/public-notices/2025---2025-warming-shelters

@newsbot

#Unhoused #Homeless #ArcticBlast #WarmingCenters #Maine #ExtremeCold #Houseless #PolarVortex