ICYMI Video of the June 22 Meeting with the Restorative Justice Panel

This month’s main program included a panel on restorative justice practices in Lincoln County featuring local law enforcement leaders and restorative justice practitioners. Speakers included Natasha Irving, District Attorney for Lincoln, Knox, Waldo and Sagadahoc counties; Todd Brackett sheriff for Lincoln County; and Drew Himmelstein, manager of the Lincoln and Knox County Justice Hub for Restorative Justice Project Maine. The discussion was moderated by Barbara Cray, an attorney, mediator and volunteer facilitator with the Restorative Justice Project Maine. Watch the video below. A copy of the slides that Drew shared are available here.

In committee business highlights, we gave a short recap of the HD45 special election, an update on Outreach initiatives including a call for  participation at the Pride Walk and Rally on Saturday, June 24 (see below), and asked everyone to save the date of Sunday, August 6 for our annual Family Fun Day Lobster Bake in Waldoboro.

Other local committee announcements and items shared during the chat appear below the video.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, July 27 (4th Thursday of the month). This will also be a hybrid meeting and will include a legislative update and a discussion on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) committees at the state and county Dem committee levels. Sign up for the Zoom link and updates here. Pre-registration is not required for voting members but it will help us plan and you will receive updates with the final details.

Other Items Shared During the Meeting

A link to the book that DA Irving mentioned, Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair by Danielle Sered

A Lincoln County Unity Pride Walk and Rally, co-hosted by LCDC takes place on Saturday, June 24. The program begins at 10 AM at Veterans Park in Newcastle, rain or shine. The street will be closed for the parade, with escorts from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Damariscotta Police Department. The walk ends at Rising Tide with speakers, tabling, and music. Join the LCDC to walk with our Democratic banner and show your pride!

Westport Island Democrats invite everyone to their annual Labor Day Picnic to enjoy entertainment, hot dogs, camaraderie, etc. It’s free to attend. Check the calendar for details.

Boothbay Regional Democrats invite everyone to join them in the Windjammer Days Parade in Boothbay Harbor on Wednesday, June 8. Please line up at 3 PM at the high school. Contact Lee Pander with questions.

Nobleboro Democrats are working with the Nobleboro Republicans to add on to the success they had in collaborating on this winter’s chili fundraiser that raised money for home heating assistance. They are meeting in July to plan a fall 2023 event. Contact Winslow Myers to get involved.

LCDC Member Barbara Cray shared that there will be a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the original proposal of the ERA from July 21-23. As part of the commemoration, Barbara’s film Votes for Women will be shown at the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta on July 23 at 2 PM with guest speakers to follow. Contact Barbara if you have other ERA ideas.

LCDC Member Gary Lawless shared that all are invited to a reading of the new book In Other Words, Leadership – how a young mother’s weekly letters to her governor helped both women brave the first pandemic year by Shannon Mullen. It’s based on the correspondence between a young Maine mother, Ashirah Knapp, and Gov. Mills and the Governor’s journals. Speakers will include the author and the governor. The event will be at the Curtis Library in Brunswick, on Thursday, July 6, at 7 PM.

LCDC Member Marianne Pinkham shared that the public is invited to the Rotary Club of Damariscotta/Newcastle meeting on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:15 AM at the Central Lincoln County YMCA where they are hosting Maine Commissioner of Labor Laura Fortman of Nobleboro as their guest speaker.