Augusta public affairs firm welcomes Lauren LePage, Jamie Logan

Alex Serra, founder and principal of Serra Public Affairs, announced Thursday the addition of two new team members, Lauren LePage and Jamie Logan, to the firm after recently relocating its office to Riverview Terrace on Water Street in Augusta, according to a press release.

LePage, a resident of Waterville and daughter of Gov. Paul LePage, will serve as director of strategic partnerships and political outreach. Logan, a resident of Augusta, will serve as communications director.

LePage is active in her community and local politics. She has worked on numerous successful races, both state and federal, in the areas of communications and outreach. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and is a 2017 graduate of the University of Maine School of Law. LePage is a member of the Waterville Planning Board.

Logan, an experienced political operative and writer, previously worked for the Maine Legislature as a legislative aide and a communications director. In these roles she assisted lawmakers with communications and constituent outreach efforts using both traditional and digital media. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America and a master’s degree from the University of Maine.

Clients of Serra Public Affairs include private companies, advocacy groups, and non-profit organizations. Among them are Central Maine Power, Marsy’s Law For Maine, Sazerac Company, Stevens Commons and Best Buddies Maine.

Augusta law practice honored by magazine

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have named Kozak & Gayer, P.A., as a 2018 Best Law Firm for both Health Care Law and Administrative/Regulatory Law, according to a press release.

The Tier One honor recognizes the law practice as among the nation’s best. Kozak & Gayer has been recognized as a Tier One Best Law Firm since the inception of the award in 2010.

With offices in Augusta and Salida, Colorado, Kozak & Gayer is a multi-state law firm practicing exclusively in health care law.

In addition, attorneys at the firm were listed by the magazine as 2018 Best Lawyers: Steven L. Johnson (5 yrs.), Joseph M. Kozak (25 yrs.), Michael D. Seitzinger (10 yrs.) and Benjamin P. Townsend (10 yrs.).

Western Maine history book for sale

Hometown Memories is wrapping up its publication of local stories in a book titled “A Living History of Western Maine, May Basket Days and Bean Suppahs,” according to a press release from the company.

The hardcover coffee table book will contain tales of bygone years from Mainers who actually lived them. The Western Maine book will be hard bound and coffee table sized (8 ½ by 11 inches) with over 328 pages and hundreds of old photographs. Each copy will be library quality, manufactured to last for centuries. The Mainers who appear in this book are from all walks of life.

Hometown Memories includes a contest for the best stories and for the book’s cover photo. Cash winners we were: M. Eugene “Gene” Thompson of Litchfield; Marilyn Ricker Bolduc of Springvale; and Joann R. Hooper of Rockland. Honorable mention goes to Glenys Miller Ryder of Auburn and Harold L. Ware of Standish. The cash prizewinner for the book’s cover photo goes to Patricia Lyons Buck of Windham.

There are currently over 100,000 copies of other Hometown Memories living history books in circulation. Anyone interested in the book can call toll free, at 877-491-8802, or visit the web site at www.hometownmemoriesonline.com.

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union welcomes new director of financial education

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union in Waterville recently announced the addition of Tanya Verzoni as its new director of financial education and staff development. Verzoni will oversee the member financial literacy program by conducting training for existing credit union members, college students, high school students, and employee groups at local businesses. Additionally, she will assist supervisors to develop staff training plans and new staff orientation.

Verzoni has more than 10 years of banking experience and worked with local high school students teaching them employability skills throughout her career with Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and Central Maine Growth Council.

“Many high school and college students have never received financial education at school or at home,” Verzoni said. “Critical life skills such as: creating a monthly budget, understanding credit and credit scores, the steps to buying a car, or even how to properly write a check are not mandatory education requirements. It can be very confusing and frightening for people to navigate all of these real-life situations. I’m eager to help members and local students make sense of these topics so that they may realize their financial goals and dreams!”

Ryan Poulin, president and CEO of New Dimensions Federal Credit Union said, “The credit union has been providing free financial education services for several years to our members and the communities we serve. We want to offer everyone the tools and guidance to make prudent financial decisions that will impact lives in a positive way. We will now be able to provide this free service even better with Tanya on board.”

New Dimensions is a member-owned, financial cooperative that offers a full array of personal and commercial banking services at locations in Waterville and Augusta. For more information, call 800-326-6190 or visit www.newdimensionsfcu.com.

Caleb Labrie Joins Fontaine Team

Fontaine Family — The Real Estate Leader recently announced the addition of sales agent Caleb Labrie to the Auburn location.

Labrie, who grew up in Greene and attended St. Dominic Academy and Central Maine Community College, has a background in customer service and is a member of the Maine Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors.

When he is not busy working with his buyer and seller clients, Labrie enjoys playing hockey and coaching for the Maine Gladiators.

Labrie can be reached at 207-754-4275 or at caleb@fontaineteam.com.

FairPoint Communications Awards $50,000 to 3 non-profits

FairPoint Communications recently announced winners of the FairPoint Connected Communities program, created to recognize non-profit organizations dedicated to connecting and serving Maine residents and communities. The winning organizations are Area Interfaith Outreach of Rockland, Grahamtastic Connection of Springvale and Sunrise Opportunities of Machias.

FairPoint will provide each organization with a $16,000 grant and a technology package valued at up to $1,000 and customized to help advance its charitable mission. A total of 156 non-profit organizations throughout Maine submitted applications.

“The response to the Connected Communities program was overwhelmingly positive, and selecting only three organizations from so many worthy applicants was difficult for our team,” said Mike Reed, FairPoint’s state president for Maine. “The applications revealed a vibrant, active and dedicated non-profit and volunteer community that works each day to make Maine a better place for all its residents.”

Reed and other FairPoint representatives will visit the three non-profit organizations in the coming weeks to present the grants in person.