« September 2024

Welcome to the AREA Newsletter for September 2024






Next MEETING - October 9, 2024

Greem Ladle at LHS

AUCTION

Arrival Time - 9:30 am for bringing goods to the auction

Start time - 10:00am with Auctioneer Extraordinaire Cornelius.


Registration Form


Downloads -  See all the available download for October here.


President's Message

A terrific turnout for our first meeting of the year. Sixty-seven people were there for our first get together. I want to thank board of directors again for their hard work especially Gina and Roger Fuller . Whenever I have questions about what we’ve done in the past or what  makes sense, I always check with them. Thanks to Cindy Peters for all her work on our history and her part one presentation last week. Thanks to Mona Ervin for all the treats that we got and Ruben and Sue Cornelius for our continued raffles. I’m sure I probably forgot someone apologize but if I did I apologize- I look forward to Ruben and the auction – should be fun.


Facebook  - Remember we have BOTH a Facebook Page for MEA-Retired and a Group Page for AREA.

MEA-Retired Facebook Page

Androscoggin Retired Educators Group


Financial Reports

from Gina Fuller


October Financial Report    go.jpg

Financial Overview Report




AREA Day of Caring Project 2024 will be in November


Again this Year we will be helping the The Store Next Door, student program. Students from preschool to grade 12 who are homeless.   Last month Roger put a list of needed supplies in the newsletter.  They can also use Gift Cards to grocery stores … No more than $25 per card.  I will collect items at the NOVEMBER MEETING.  You can drop off or mail items to,171 Montello St. Lewiston. If I am not home just leave by breezeway door in a bag.



From the State House

from Crystal Ward





Legislative News Oct 2024


Your MainePers check in September should have your increase for 2024.  MainePers sent out a mailing on containing this information.


In Washington we are now waiting for up to a week for HR82 The Social Security Fairness Act to be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote. The bill has 327 co-signer.  The next step if we get this passed is to the US Senate.  Make sure to thank Rep. Golden and Rep. Pingree ...........................


“The petition will be live for 7 legislative days, then on the 8th day someone can discharge it, and then the speaker has 1-2 days to schedule a vote. Therefore, we are looking at a total of 10 legislative days. There are not enough remaining legislative days in September and Congress will be out of town in October. The bill will receive a vote the first or second week of November, after the elections “  Stephanie Salvador,  NEA Federal Lobbyist 


Election 2024 is in full swing.  There have been dirty, nasty campaigns in our history and this one is joining them. The major tactic is this propaganda technique:


“Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth”, is a law of propaganda often attributed to the Joseph Goebbels. Among psychologists something like this known as the "illusion of truth" effect.” BBC


This is the same thing advertiser’s often use to get us to buy their produce.


MEA/ NEA endorsed candidates for Federal elections: President Harris, Senate King, Representative Golden and Representative Pingree.  On the MEA web site you can find all of Maines Representatives and Maine Senators and the recommendations. It is very important who controls the Maine House and Senate. 


Early vote begins in October in Maine; you can vote Absentee, early in person or on Election Day November 5, 2024. Contact your local town/city office for information.


Campaigns always need help, phone back, lawn signs, mailings, letters to editors, going door to door, driving the candidate around



Background on the WEP&GPO Bill -

Social Security Fairness Act


BREAKING: Graves-Spanberger Discharge Petition Reaches 218 Signatures, Enough to Force U.S. House Vote on Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate WEP & GPO

The Bipartisan “Social Security Fairness Act” Would Eliminate Two Provisions of the “Social Security Act” That Unfairly Reduce Benefits for Millions of Americans Who Have Devoted Much of Their Careers to Public Service

Washington, D.C., September 21 2024
Tags: WEP GPO

Graves & Spanberger: “Today is a Major Milestone Made Possible by Tireless Advocates Who’ve Made Clear that Congress Must Act”


U.S. Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA-06) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) today announced that their discharge petition for the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act has hit 218 signatures — the number required to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.


Last week, Graves and Spanberger filed a discharge petition to force a vote on their bipartisan legislation that would eliminate both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These two provisions unfairly reduce or eliminate earned Social Security benefits for approximately 2.8 million Americans who’ve devoted much of their careers to public service — including police officers, firefighters, educators, and federal, state, and local government employees.

“Today is a major milestone made possible by tireless advocates who’ve made clear that Congress must act. From Louisiana to Virginia to everywhere else in America, millions of retired public servants have waited more than 40 years for their elected officials to tackle this fundamental issue of fairness. These retirees deserve the benefits they earned through their hard work — and they deserve to see the WEP and GPO eliminated,” said Graves and Spanberger. “Over the past week, we’ve demonstrated that both Republicans and Democrats — from across the political spectrum — understand that the time is now to remove these penalties. But our work is far from over. We will be dogged in making sure the Social Security Fairness Act passes in the U.S. House, passes in the U.S. Senate, and finally gets signed into law. We must get it done.”


Now that the Graves-Spanberger discharge petition is at 218 signatures, the petition will sit on the U.S. House Calendar for seven legislative days. After that period, Reps. Graves and Spanberger will request that the Speaker schedule it for a vote before the full U.S. House of Representatives. According to U.S. House rules, a vote will be scheduled within two legislative days.

Earlier today, Graves and Spanberger hosted a press conference alongside representatives of retired police officers, firefighters, letter carriers, government employees, and educators from across the country.


The Social Security Fairness Act has 327 cosponsors — far more support than needed for the legislation to pass on the U.S. House floor.

This and That

from Mona Ervin




Just a  bit different than our usual submision from Mona...  Thank you!!!


If you currently have a Medicare Advantage Plan and wish to review other options here is important information:
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), also known as the Medicare Annual Election Period and the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, is a specific fall enrollment period from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 . During this time, beneficiaries can make changes to their current Medicare plan coverage.

Election day is fast approaching - you may vote in person and by absentee ballot.  Check with your town office to see when you can begin to vote absentee.  Election day is Tuesday,  Nov. 5.  

Voter registration cannot be completed by phone, email or text. And most importantly, there are never fees involved. The safest way to register is at an official government location, including on your election division’s website, or by mail.  Inform friends, family members and others who are not yet registered to register.

As with many election scams, avoid clicking on survey links from unsolicited emails and texts, and never share sensitive information such as your name, birth date, address, email, Social Security number or driver’s license number.

Property taxes for Auburn are due on September 16, 2024. 

The cool, then cold weather will be upon us soon.  Remember to change or clean the filters inyour furnace and heat pumps.


Monthly Quiz

from Mona Ervin





Can you name the songs with a woman's name in the title and the singers who popularized the songs?

  1. Ah, look at all the lonely people
    Ah, look at all the lonely people
    ......
    Picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
    Lives in a dream
    Waits at the window
     
Who picks up the rice?
Who popularized  the song?

  1. Every time I think that I'm
    The only one who's lonely someone calls on me
    And every now and then I spend
    My time at rhyme and verse and curse those faults in me
    And then along comes ......................................
     
Who comes along? 
Who popularized the song?

  1. There's a port on a western bay
    And it serves a hundred ships a day
    Lonely sailors pass the time a way
    And talk about their homes
    There's a girl in this harbor town
    And she works laying whiskey down
    They say ... fetch another round
     
Who fetches a round?
Who made the song famous?

  1. You've painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair
    ..., are you contemplating going out somewhere?
    The shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down
    Oh, ...
    Don't take your love to town
  
Who made the song famous?
    
   5. Well, since she put me down, I've been up to it in my head
     I come in late at night, and in the mornin' I just lay in bed
     But ..., you look so fine (ooh, look so fine)
     And I know it wouldn't take much time
     For you to help me ...
     Help me get her out of my heart

Who made the song famous?

       6, Hands
     Touchin' hands
     Reachin' out 
     Touching me, touchin' you
     Sweet ......................................
     Good times never seemed so good
     I've been inclined
     To believe they never would
    
Who is the female? 
Who made the song a ballpark favorite?

  7. Wake up, ..., I think I got somethin' to say to you
    It's late September and I really should be back at school
    I know I keep you amused, but I feel I'm being used
    Oh, ..., I couldn't have tried any more
    
Female? Singer?

     8,  ..., ...
          Oh how my heart yearns for you
          Oh ..., my ...
          Oh well I love you gal, yes, I love you ...

Who made the song famous?


     9. ......................................,...,...,...
         I'm begging of you please don't take my man
         ...,...,...,...
         Please don't take him just because you can

Who made the song famous?

10. Here's my story, it's sad but true
        It's about a girl that I once knew
        She took my love then ran around
        With every single guy in town

       Whoa (hey, hey, bum de hey, de hey, de hey, hey)
       (Bum de hey, de hey, de hey, hey)
       (Bum de hey, de hey, de hey)
        Ah)

       Yeah, I should have known it from the very start
       This girl'll leave me with a broken heart
        Ah, listen people what I'm telling you
       A keep away from a ..., yeah
Who made the song famous?


11. Hooray for, ... she put me down
   Hooray for,  ...she made me her clown
   Hooray for, ... she's up to her tricks
   Hooray for, ... she's getting her kicks
   ... been in love with many a guy
   She tells them that she loves them and then says goodbye
   Hooray for, ... I'm now on her list
   I'm just another fool that couldn't resist

Who made the song famous?

12. Hello ...
        Goodbye heart
        Sweet ...
        I'm so in love with you
        I knew .......................................
        We'd never part
       So hello ...
       Goodbye heart

13. I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
        I saw the flickering shadows of love on her blind
        She was my woman
        As she deceived me I watched and went out of my mind

       My, my, my ...
       Why, why, why, ....
       I could see, that girl was no good for me
       But I was lost like a slave that no man could free

Who made the song famous?
14. ..., ma belle
       These are words that go together well
       My ...
      ..., ma belle
       Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
       Tres bien ensemble
        I love you, I love you, I love you
       That's all I want to say
       Until I find a way
       I will say the only words I know that you'll understand
Who made the song famous?


15. ..., ..., men have named you
        You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
       Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you?
       For that ... strangeness in your smile?

Who made the song famous?

Answers:
  1. Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles, written by Lennon and McCartney
  2.  Mary - The Association
  3.  Brandy - Barry Manilow
  4.  Ruby- Kenny Rogers, lyrics by Mel Tillis
  5.  Rhonda -The Beach Boys, lyrics by Brian Wilson and Mike Love
  6. Sweet Caroline song and lyrics by Neil Diamond
  7. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
  8. Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly
  9. Jolene, by Dolly Parton, words by Dolly Parton
  10. Runaround Sue - by Dion DiMicci
  11. If you know me and my dog, my baby has this name - Hazel!! By Tommy Roe and lyrics by Tommy Roe
  12. Mary Lou - Though recorded by others, the song became a mega hit for Ricky Nelson - lyrics by Gene Pitney.
  13. Delilia by Tom Jones
  14. Michelle by the Beatles, lyrics by Lennon and McCartney
  15. 15. Could not resist this one - Mona Lisa by Nat "King" Cole

EEEZEE KWEEZEEN


Cheesecake with a box mix!

Now, this one I haven't tried, but it sure looks EEZEE enough.  It will be my next culinary adventure.

From https://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/31/Cheesecake_with_Cake_Mix42027.shtml



ingredients

1 package (15-17 ounce size) yellow cake mix
4 eggs
2 tablespoons oil
2 packages (8 ounce size) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
pie filling (cherry, pineapple, blueberry, strawberry, etc.)


directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Measure out 1 cup of dry cake mix; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together remaining dry cake mix, 1 egg, and oil (mixture will be crumbly). Press crust mixture evenly into bottom and of the way up the sides of a greased 13"x9"x2" pan. (I just put it on the bottom.)

In the same bowl, blend cream cheese and sugar together. Add 3 eggs and reserved cake mix; beat 1 minute at medium speed. At low speed gradually add milk, lemon juice, and vanilla; mix until smooth. Pour into crumb crust. Bake at 300 degrees F for 45 to 55 minutes, or until center is firm.

Cool to room temperature. Spoon pie filling over cheesecake; cover and chill 1 hour before serving. Store in refrigerator. Baked cheesecake can be frozen with a covering of foil.

cook's notes

You can use a springform pan if desired. Increase cooking time to 1 hour 10 minutes (or until center is almost firm)





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