Ethan Gets Local

Corey Hascall, Portland

Ethan Strimling’s campaign for U.S. Congress has always been and continues to be focused on the lives of real Maine people. People all over Maine have shared their concerns about the stagnant economy that is squeezing middle class families, the lack of access to quality affordable health care, global climate change, and the war in Iraq’s negative impact on all of it. Ethan has heard their concerns loud and clear.

Over the past few months, Team-Ethan has been “getting local” all over the 1st District. What do we mean by “get local?” Basically, Ethan spends the day talking with Maine families and enjoying their community with them.

Today, we wanted to share just a few of the photos we’ve snapped along the way.

Ethan and Ruth talk over cookies and coffee in Ed and Ruth Benedikt’s living room in Bath. We were thankful for a much-needed warm up that chilly day after walking up Front Street in Bath.

Rep. Stan Gerzofsky, Ethan and Gary Lawless pose for a picture after a day of talking with small business owners on Maine Street in Brunswick about what it’s like to do business in Maine. Gary and his partner, Beth Leonard, own the Gulf of Maine Bookstore and have a long history of social activism.

Team-Ethan poses for a snap shot at the beginning of Mary’s Walk in Saco. If you live in York County, you know all about this 2.5 mile walk that has happened every year for the past decade. All of the money goes to fund cancer research here in Maine. This year, over 3,000 people participated, including the Ethan Strimling for Congress Team, and in total the event raised $200,000.

The Harvie/Kirsch girls in Kennebunk show off their Ethan snowman. The girls worked all morning to put the snowman together to greet friends and neighbors attending their family’s house party for Ethan.

The folks in Biddeford at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church work hard to put on a first rate fish fry every Friday afternoon. Biddeford Mayor, Joanne Twomey, showed Ethan the ropes and introduced him to the people who make it happen- the cooks and volunteers! Thanks for a great time.

But no trip to Biddeford is complete without a trip to the Palace Diner. The diner first opened its doors over 80 years ago when it was trucked up from Lowell, Massachusetts. Team-Ethan decided to duck in to the diner for breakfast and some good conversation around the counter.

The Freeport Elders Association meet regularly to make an outstanding pancake breakfast for the locals. The Association’s activities have a permanent home in the Community Center and have become an important part of life for many of the area’s senior citizens. We were thrilled to meet everyone and thankful they let us into the kitchen!

We’ve decided that West Gardiner has one of the finest recycling and transfer stations we’ve ever been too (and trust us… we’ve visited many over the past few months!) It is clearly a hopping gathering place. We were there one very snowy morning but the snow didn’t stop anyone! Team-Ethan brought coffee and donuts to share with folks and volunteers helped unload recyclables from their vehicles so that they could spend a few minutes talking with Ethan about what they want him to do when he gets to Congress.

Ethan jumped behind the counter to take orders and serve beverages at the popular Red Barn Restaurant in Augusta. In this photo, he’s taking a minute to talk with regulars at the Red Barn who have been coming there for years to eat owner, Laura Benedict’s, fried seafood fare.

No walk down Old Orchard Street in the downtown would be complete without stopping in at Dickinson’s Candy Store. Mr. Dickinson was making something fabulous this past weekend when we stopped in- Almond Butter Crunch. Our Old Orchard Town Chair, Niki Norman, says it’s her favorite!

We’ve held over 100 house parties across the district and are looking forward to many more in the final weeks of the campaign. Sincerest thanks to all our friends and supporters for putting together our travels and making it happen. We’re excited about all of the great people we’ve met over the past few weeks and months out on the road.

We especially appreciate the openness and willingness that Maine people have showed us- they’ve opened up their homes, stores, restaurants and hearts to us and shared their stories. We hear you.