Welcome to the March 2026 Newsletter for Androscoggin Retired Teachers
Association (AREA)
Next Meeting
April 8,
2026
East Auburn Baptist
Church
560 Park
Avenue
Auburn,
ME
10:00 AM to
socialize
This is the same location as our meeting in
February. Our meal will include finger rolls from Mike - who regrets
the increase in price but who faces his own price
increases.
Always feel free to bring a
friend.
Sign
up Form -
OR - use THE
EXCHANGE - If you use The Exchange, you do not need to
mail in a registration form.
View All
the Downloads
Remember
to keep track of your Volunteer Hours - Download
this form
President's Message
I hope everyone
enjoyed the speaker, meeting and the new facility! Jesse Hargrove gave us
a great reminder of why we continue to be involved.
Our April
meeting will feature Marty McIntyre as our speaker. She is the founder of
100+ Women Who Care, mobilizing generosity across our region.
We
will also have a surprise at the end. I look forward to seeing you all in
April!
Take Care
Dave Wing
Treasurer's Report
Treasurers
Overview
Treasurer's
Report
Leadership
from Sue
Conklin
Leadership: I want to thank those who volunteered
to be on the Leadership committee. We now have 6 members with various
avenues of community interaction. This is a well rounded group that I am
really looking forward to working
with.
Getting to Know
You
from Mona Ervin
We certainly are an eclectic group, int our likes in
music, favorite fast foods and favorite desserts. Our taste in music
runs the gamut from classic to hard rock with many other genres in
between. The most popular music form is rock with many specifying
hard rock, soft rock, oldies. Many specified certain decades
such as the 30's to 40's; 60's; and 70's to 80's.
Interestingly, following rock as the most popular genre is classical
music. The third most popular genre of music among our members is
country. Individual likes were easy listening, K-Pop, Scottish
music, jazz, blues and folk. Several people listed specific musicians such
as Peter, Paul and Mary, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Diamond, and The
Everly Brothers. I have albums of all four of these musicians. I
guess I have good taste in music!!!!
Talk about diversity in fast food favorites- wow.
Some people wrote down ice cream as the favorite fast food. To each
his/her own!!!
Pizza was the overwhelming fast food choice. Many listed
MacDonalds as their favorite. Others specified the ¼ pounder, the
Big Mac,and the fish meal. Lots of cheeseburgers and hamburgers were
listed. Arby's is quite popular, again certain meals were specified such
as the Roast Beef Sandwich and the Corned Beef Reuben. Wendy's was
popular and specifically their chili (yes yummy). Listed as a
favorite fast foods were Burger King, KFC, Subway, Sams, Tabors, Panera,
Dunkin Donuts, muffins, Italian Sandwiches, just plain chocolate,
and lobster rolls. Quite an impressive variety, all yummy.
Our dessert likes are amazing, left me drooling.
Interestingly, ice cream was a popular "fast food" and the most popular
dessert!!! Next came chocolate, also listed as a "fast
food"!!!! Many people liked tiramisu and cheesecake. Next in
popularity came a group of mouth watering foods. Pies in general and
specifically pecan pie, custard pie,and lemon meringue pie. Several fruit
desserts were listed such as strawberry-rhubarb tarts, strawberry
shortcake and raspberry cream puff turnovers. Rounding out the list
of favorite desserts were Baked Alaska, creme brulee, and hot fudge
sundae.
What an amazing pot luck we could have listening to an
amazing array of music while eating our favorite fast foods and
desserts!
From
the State House
From Crystal Ward
April AREA Newsletter
We are in the short second session of
Maine’s 132nd Legislature. They are to adjourn on April 15,
2026. Most committees have finished their work and bills are going for
voting in the House and Senate. The supplemental budget is being made.
For retired legislation we have a
bill.. LD111 …passed last session and on the Appropriations Table
waiting for funding. The money was not in the governors proposed
supplement budget BUT the Legislature will now see what of the
governor’s budget they want or do not want and what they want to be
added. By the end of March the legislatures work on the budget
should be completed and HOPEFULLY THE MONEY FOR LD111 IS INCLUDED
($3,000,000) and the voting on the supplement budget will be done the
beginning of April and then to the Governor’s desk for her to sign or
veto.
I know I have asked before but
everyone's voice helps. Would you please email or write to Senator
Margaret Rotundo , Chairperson of the Appropriation Committee. And
ask her to fund LD111 a bill to increase the amount paid by the State for
our Health Insurance from 60% to 65%,a 5% increase for 2027 Also tell her
why this will be a little help.
Margaret.Rotundo@legislature.maine.gov
or
Senator Margaret Rotundo
446 College St.
Lewiston, Me. 04240
LD1872 Is to reinvest money
into MainePERS retirement . In 2028 the billion dollar bill the State owed
to MainePers (UAL) will be paid, what they were paying was $300 million a
year. We want them to keep paying that $300 million to fix the big
mess made in 2011 and return to pre 2011 rules; a COLA on our whole
pension and allow for a COLA up to 4%! They made the mess they
need to fix it.
If you agree contact the bill the
sponsor is Representative Charles Skold…….. Charles.Skold@legislature.maine.gov
LD1003 An act
establishing the Retirement benefit improvement plan.
When the government books close for the
year there is money left in accounts… all the remaining money together
is called “THE CASCADE”. This bill wants the cascade
money to go to MainePers to help fix 2011 mess.
If you support this the sponsor is
Jan Dodge : Jan.Dodge@legislature.maine.gov
The Legislature needs to know we are
watching and holding them accountable
Crystal Ward, Thank you for
your help
Scam Alert
from Mona
Ervin
Nora Hogan reported on News Center Maine on March 12,
that in the first three quarters of 2025, almost 16 million dollars was
scammed from Mainers. 64% of that money was lost by people over 60.
Scammers know how to exploit seniors. A common technique is to read
the obituary's. Eventually survivors are contacted and their loss,
sadness, uncertainty about the future, and anxieties are exploited. Be
alert to strangers pretending to care about you - they only care about
getting your money.
Senior scams are fraudulent
schemes designed to deceive older adults into giving away money, personal
information, or access to financial accounts. These scams often rely on
fear, urgency, or emotional manipulation, and they can affect seniors
regardless of income level, education, or independence.
For caregivers, families, and seniors themselves,
understanding how senior scams work is one of the most effective ways to
reduce risk and prevent serious financial and emotional harm.
What makes senior scams especially damaging is that they
often come from places that appear familiar or trustworthy. A phone call
that sounds official, an email that looks legitimate, or a message that
seems to come from a loved one can quickly lower defenses.
Red Flags That Often Signal Senior Scams
While the stories may differ, senior scams tend to share
the same warning signs. These include pressure to act quickly, requests
for secrecy, demands for unusual payment methods, or resistance to
verification. Scammers often discourage seniors from consulting family
members or professionals, claiming it will complicate or worsen the
situation.
Feeling rushed, afraid, or emotionally overwhelmed is often part
of the manipulation. Slowing down and stepping away from the situation can
disrupt the scammer’s control.
Key
Takeaways
Any
request involving money or personal information that discourages
verification should be treated with caution.
Safety Note
Avoid blaming or shaming if a scam attempt occurs. Fear
of judgment can prevent seniors from reporting concerns until it is too
late.
Safety Note
Legitimate technology companies do not contact customers
unexpectedly to report security problems or demand payment to resolve
them.
Here
are suggestions for protecting yourself and your loved ones:
Closely monitor your
credit card and bank account activity. Review your account
statements as soon as you receive them and look for unauthorized or
suspicious transactions. If you find any, report them to your bank
immediately.
Protect your personal
financial information. Never give out your bank account numbers,
Social Security number, personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords,
or other sensitive information unless you initiate the contact through a
legitimate webpage or phone number. Also, be aware that scam requests may
come from an unsolicited phone call, text, letter, email, or a person who
shows up at your door.
Keep your checkbook, account
statements, and other sensitive information in a safe place. Shred paper
documents containing sensitive information that are no longer
needed.
Be careful with powers of
attorney. At some point, you may want to have a
power
of attorney, a legal document that authorizes another person to
transact business on your behalf. While powers of attorney can be very
helpful, be careful who you name as your representative.
Review your credit
report. Check to make sure all of the information on your
credit report is
accurate and complete. Check to see if companies you don’t recognize
have obtained your credit report; and contact the credit-reporting agency
if you see anything suspicious.
Take your time when
deciding on a major financial decision or investment. Make sure
you understand the transaction and ask questions. Consider getting a
lawyer or financial advisor to help you understand the documents and
discuss what is best for you. Walk away from anyone who says you must
decide or otherwise do something right now.
Remain
alert. Finally, here are additional tips:
- To reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive,
consider signing up for the national Do Not Call Registry. If you
are on this list, be suspicious of calls from any company or organization
that you have reason to believe is not eligible to contact you under the
registry’s rules.
- Do not comply with requests from
strangers to deposit a check into your account and send some or all of the
money back to the person. For more information on fake checks, visit FDIC
Consumer News: Beware
of Fake Checks.
- If you use social
media, many security experts advise against posting the names,
addresses, birthdates, and daily activities of relatives, because a thief
can use that information. Grandparent scams are on the rise. This type of
scam involves con artists who look for personal information on the
internet that they can use to call or email an older person and pretend to
be a relative in distress — such as a grandchild being injured, in jail,
or lost in a foreign country — and needing money to be sent fast. For
more on these types of scams, visit FDIC Consumer News: Beware,
It's a Scam!
The
above information is from AARP and FDIC.
Quiz
From Mona
Ervin
Can you fill in the blanks from
these literary sayings? Poetic license has been taken in several sayings.
Each month is used only once.
There are two
seasonal diversions that can ease the bite of any winter. One is the
..................... thaw. The other is the seed
catalogues.
So many species burst
forth in ... especially the bugs.
... is a suitable
month for dying. Everything around is dead, the trees black and
frozen so that the appearance of green shoots two months hence seems
preposterous, the ground hard and cold, the snow dirty, the winter
hateful, hanging on too long.
Dull ... brings the
blast,
Then the leaves are whirling fast."
... , is when the dark half of the year
relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at
sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little
longer in the sky each day
... is a month
of considerable frustration - it is so near spring and yet across a great
deal of the country the weather is still so violent, with strong winds and
changeable that outdoor activity in our yards seems light years
away."
The world's favorite
season is the spring, when all things seem possible and flowers begin to
abound.
"All your renown is
like the summer flower that blooms and dies; because the sunny glow which
brings it forth,
soon slays with parching power."
"There is no season when such pleasant
and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect
on the feelings, as now in ... when all things seem
possible.
Oh, for the month of
showers.
Hot ... brings
cooling showers,
Apricots and gillyflowers."
The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells
to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books,
erasers
Chalk, and such.
Answers
January -
attributed to Hal Borland.
June -
attributed to Also Leopold.
February - Anna
Quindlen, One True
Thing
November - Sara Coleridge
March - Thalassa
Cruso
May - Edwin Way
Teale
August - Alighieri Dante
October - Nathaniel
Hawthorne
April - folk
lore.
July - Sara Coleridge, Pretty Lessons in
Verse
September - John
Updike, September
Book Review
From Mona Ervin
The book entitled The Last Thing He Told
Me, was a Christmas gift. The information from the jacket
states that "before Owen Michaels disappeared, he managed to smuggle a
note to his beloved wife of one year, Hannah. The note said "protect
her." Owen's wife knows to protect her snarky
teenaged step-daughter but from whom? Why? Will Owen ever return? Why
has he disappeared? Hannah begins to uncover Owen's past and meets
many individuals, but who to trust, who to fear and why? This story
takes many twists and turns and is a page turner. The final twist
was at the very end. I wanted more to the story and I was not
disappointed as the author, Laura Dave has penned a sequel. I was
so thrilled to learn that a sequel was available that I went to the Auburn
Public Library to put my name on the reserve list. Apparently I am not the
only reader who loved the first novel as I am number 35 on the wait list
for the second.
The
second novel is The First Time I Saw Him. The first
chapter of the second is a repeat of the last chapter in book one and then
jumps ahead five years. Owen has briefly reappeared. The life Hannah and
her step-daughter have forged is good. But with a sighting of Owen,
Hannah and her stepdaughter must go into hiding but from whom and
why? Owen has brought them into more danger, can he protect all of
them? These two books are real page turners. I almost
stayed up all night reading. Cannot go wrong with these books. Must
be read in order.
Please send reviews of your great books to Mona or Roger.
Mona's email is mjervin1@outlook.com.
Thank you to all the contributors - David, Crystal, Gina, Sue, and
Mona
It's a new
day.
