Maine Injury, Accident, & Disability Law Blog : Maine Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Joe Bornstein Law Firm : Portland Bangor Maine

Nearly ten years after first envisioned, Portland’s Bayside Trail is open.

In association with the city of Portland, Portland Trails, Trust for Public Lands (TPL) and the Bayside Neighborhood Association, the Bayside Trail officially opened to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 19th. The 1.2 mile trail runs parallel to Marginal Way and travels through the Bayside Neighborhood connecting the Eastern Promenade with Deering Oaks.

Funded in part by federal grants, city funds and private money, the $2.3 million trail connects some of the city’s most used trails and parks. The paved and lighted trail runs from Elm Street to the Eastern Prom Trail allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to travel from Bayside to the Back Cove trail, East End Beach, or Portland's waterfront. The trail’s design and construction incorporated many green elements including rain gardens, LED lighting, and concrete that captures stormwater and avoids run-off.

The opening ceremony for the trail featured Portland Mayor Nicholas M. Mavodones, US Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Cole, representatives from Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator Susan Collins' offices, as well as Bayside residents and leaders from organizations that helped work on the trail.

While work remains on the trail as plans to connect a pedestrian bridge or a tunnel under Forest Avenue that will link the Bayside Trail to Deering Oaks have begun, after nearly a decade of planning and a year of construction, Portland has a new pedestrian and bike trail. And though it will eventually be connected with other similar trails to make a loop around greater Portland, for now Mainers have a safe route to travel from the East End to Back Cove.

For more information on Portland’s many great trails please visit: www.trails.org.

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Maine State Police will be cracking down on impaired driving from August 20th - September 6th. In association with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the nationwide safety campaign Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest will help educate Americans on the dangers of drinking and driving while attempting to put an end to it.

Each year, nearly 12,000 people die in accidents in which a driver was at or above the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of .08. Recent studies show that 32 percent of fatalities in motor vehicle accidents involve an intoxicated driver, with the highest percentage of alcohol impaired drivers in fatal crashes age 21-24.

Approximately 10,000 police agencies nationwide will participate in this year’s Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. campaign. Police departments in Maine will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers during the crackdown regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day, and setting up roadblocks at random times.

Violators will be arrested on the spot and could face jail time, loss of drivers license, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. In the least severe situation, drunk drivers will face increased insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs and lost time at work. In the most extreme cases, fatalities may occur.

The national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. campaign combines high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity. The educational campaign is supported by $31 million in national and state advertisements.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the effects of tragic accidents involving alcohol on a regular basis. We applaud the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for their efforts in preventing drinking and driving and would like to pass along their safety tips for a safe Labor Day weekend:

• If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.
• If impaired, call a taxi, a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get you home safely.
• Wear a seat while in a car and a helmet and protective gear when on a motorcycle.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys.
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement.

The Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. campaign is designed to keep both Mainers and the Maine roadways safe. So remember, the next time you’re in the precarious position of driving or riding with a driver who’s impaired, don’t be a statistic – Stay Safe and Arrive Alive!

For more information on the national safety campaign please visit: www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

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A new program in Maine is giving newborn babies a $500 grant for college.

The Harold Alfond College Challenge provides a $500 grant to every Maine baby to start a college savings account. Originally started in 2008 on a limited basis, the program is now offered to all newborn babies in Maine to help their families plan for their children’s college education.

Every baby born in Maine is eligible, and there is no income limit or additional money needed to receive the grant. $500 is deposited into a NextGen fund for the newborn and is to be used for education beyond high school. To qualify for the grant, a NextGen enrollment form must be filled out before the baby’s first birthday.

Harold Alfond was life-long Mainer who founded the Dexter Shoe Company and later established the Harold Alfond Foundation in 1950. Alfond’s love of Maine was apparent through his many charitable causes. His giving focused on education and health care, with the Harold Alfond College Challenge his legacy gift to every Maine baby.

To open a NextGen account on behalf of a newborn, the account owner must be 18 years of age. NextGen is Maine’s college savings program (also known as a Section 529 plan) that provides unique tax advantages and other special features to encourage families to save for college. Adopted babies and those whose parents move to Maine before the age of one are also eligible.

Family and friends can add money to the child’s NextGen account at any time. Though additional contributions are not required, it was Mr. Alfond’s hope that families, communities and businesses would rise to the challenge of investing in the educational future of Maine’s children. The Alfond Grant can only be used to pay for accredited post-secondary schools in the U.S., including graduate schools and trade schools, as well as some foreign institutions that participate in federal financial aid programs.

Since 2008, more than $2.5 million has been distributed to the estimated 14,000 babies born each year. And, thanks to the generosity of Harold Alfond, Maine babies will now have a leg up on planning for a their future, which in turn makes the outlook in Maine that much brighter.

For more information on The Harold Alfond College Challenge, please visit: www.500forbaby.org.

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Beginning July 1st, motorists parking in Portland will have to be more vigilant when they park. Once the norm, no longer will the city write off one parking ticket per car every six months.

With a $196 million municipal budget, Portland is forgoing the so-called “forgiveness program” which costs the city an estimated $500,000 a year. Previously, drivers could incur minor parking infractions such as an expired meter twice per year and not have to worry about paying the fine. Now, however, Portland is no longer providing the friendly service to its 1,450 parking meters throughout the city.

Other changes to downtown parking include eliminating the First Hour Free program at the Elm Street and Spring Street parking garages, however, the city does have other ways to save on parking.

The little known Park & Shop promotion offers shoppers a free hour in public parking garages with each purchase at a downtown store. Drivers who park in a garage or lot and take their ticket with them while shopping can get a stamp with each purchase good for one hour of free parking.

 The city of Portland states that their established parking regulations ensure that:

• The City streets remain safe and accessible for the entire community
• There is appropriate turnover and availability of parking for citizens, customers, visitors and businesses
• Parked vehicles do not interfere with street maintenance and operations
• Vehicle traffic works in conjunction with non-auto modes and bus transportation.

The current hourly rate to park in Portland is $1.00 per hour, with meters accepting nickels, dimes and quarters. Parking meters are in effect from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, while parking on Sundays and major holidays is free.

For more information on public parking in Portland, please visit: www.ci.portland.me.us/parking/regulations.asp.
 

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The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein recently helped raise money for the University of Maine School of Law. The state’s only law school was in the midst of collecting donations for their Annual Fund Campaign when they were presented with a unique fundraising idea: The Bornstein/Aronson ’81 Challenge Grant.

The grant challenged fellow law school alumni to donate to the Annual Fund Campaign, only to see their donation matched by the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. With six days left in the fundraising efforts and over $10,000 left to raise, the Bornstein/Aronson ’81 Challenge Grant matched 50% of every unrestricted gift up to $2,500.

With over 3,000 graduates living in Maine and across the country, the University of Maine School of Law alumni serve as leaders in law, government, private industry, civic affairs and education. The alumni network helps law students find internships and clerkship opportunities, as well pair students with alumni who have similar practice interests. Many graduates living out of state have helped arrange interviews and referrals, some even boarding visiting students.

With the help of the Bornstein/Aronson ’81 Challenge Grant, the Annual Fund Campaign reached the school’s fundraising goal. As a result, alumni who had not made a gift in several years sent a contribution and others who have given at a certain level for many years increased their gift. Overall, the University of Maine School of Law’s Annual Fund Campaign raised over $135,000 from generous alumni, as well as the goodwill of the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to give back to Maine’s one and only law school. With seven University of Maine School of Law graduates on staff, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein truly are “Maine Lawyers Working For Maine People.” And that alone is reason to help support the future lawyers of Maine.

For more information on the University of Maine School of Law and the please visit: www.mainelaw.maine.edu.
 

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On June 24, the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness held their annual awards dinner and silent auction. This year’s event celebrated William J. Ryan as the Center’s Person of the Year and raised over $100,000 for the non-profit organization. Ryan is the past Chair of TD Bank and has been a supporter of the Center since its inception.

The Cromwell Center is a leader in disabilities awareness education. The goal of the Center is to inform people without disabilities by teaching them about those who have a disability. The Center strives to make sure that people with disabilities - be it learning, behavioral and emotional, developmental or physical - receive the same respect, recognition and opportunity that every person deserves regardless of physical or mental condition.

By teaching kids, educators, employers and employees, the Cromwell Center has reached more than 25,000 students in over 100 schools since 2004. In addition to hands on education, the Cromwell Center provides public and school libraries with collections of informational books on special needs.

The Cromwell Center is named after Jeremiah Cromwell, a young boy who was institutionalized at the Maine School for the Feeble-Minded in the early 1900s. To this day, it is not known why he was institutionalized or the nature of his disability, but what is known is that Jeremiah Cromwell was alone. At the age of 16, Cromwell died at school with no family member coming to retrieve his body for a proper burial.

It is because of Jeremiah’s hardship, and the hardships faced by many children today, that the Cromwell Center is working on behalf of children with disabilities. Through hard work and dedication, the Center envisions that one day no one will ever again experience the anonymity and suffering of Jeremiah Cromwell.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness for their efforts and achievements in educating the youths of today. As a proud member of the Board of Directors, Joe Bornstein would like to congratulate colleague William J. Ryan for his leadership and hard work. May the Cromwell Center’s hard work today pay dividends tomorrow.

For more information on the Cromwell Center please visit: www.cromwellcenter.org.

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Because of Maine’s mild winter and early spring, tick season in Vacationland will be more severe than in the past. Unfortunately, with the increase in the amount of ticks comes an increase in the amount of Lyme disease incidents. In 2008, there were 780 confirmed and 128 probable cases of Lyme disease in Maine.

Lyme disease was named in 1977 when several children in Lyme, Connecticut suffering from similar symptoms came down with an unidentified illness later found to be transmitted by deer ticks. Over 20 years later, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there are nearly 29,000 cases of Lyme disease annually in the U.S., with the majority occurring in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. It is estimated that more than 75 percent of Lyme disease cases are contracted within 100 feet of the home and that 80 percent of Lyme disease cases occur between May and August.

Suburban sprawl has placed humans closer than ever to white-tailed deer, which are the primary host and main source of transportation for adult ticks. If deer are feeding on vegetation around your property, it is likely that a female tick has dropped off and lay up to 3,000 eggs in the brush. When young, ticks feed on small mammals such as mice and birds in the summer and early autumn. They then become dormant for the winter until the following spring when they feed and mate on larger animals such as deer. It is when they feed on rodents such as mice that they become infected with Lyme disease.

Despite the increased amount of ticks in Maine this summer, preventive measures can reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease.

• Wear full-length garments that are tight around the wrist, ankle, and neck. It is advised to tuck pant legs into socks or boot tops.
• Adults should check themselves and children immediately after going into the woods or brush. Ticks often crawl to warm, moist areas of the body such as the groin area, armpits, neck and scalp.
• Have pets wear repellent collars and stay out of tick infested areas. 
• Keep brush and grass around your home cut short and clear outdoor areas of brush and leaf piles to minimize tick habitats.
• Treat exposed areas with a repellent to avoid getting Lyme disease.

If a tick is spotted on your body, it should be removed by grasping it close to the skin with tweezers or fingernails and pulling steadily. Pull upward with even pressure, careful to not twist or jerk the tick. If the tick brakes or is crushed, infectious parts and fluids may remain in the skin. Never handle ticks with bare hands as infectious agents may enter through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin, and always apply rubbing alcohol to the bite and wash hands afterwards with soap and water.

Known as the Pine Tree State, Maine is covered with many miles of wilderness. It is within this wilderness that resides the ever-present deer tick, but with the right precautions and the right knowledge, we can do our best to avoid ticks altogether and help prevent Lyme disease. And that alone that will make for a more enjoyable summer in and around Maine’s great outdoors.

For more information on Lyme disease and tick prevention please visit: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_prevent.htm.
 

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The Muskie Fund for Legal Services held their 15th annual Access to Justice Award Dinner on June 2nd. This year’s dinner honored Dr. Robert McAfee for his leadership in mobilizing healthcare providers to address the problem of family violence in our community.

Founded in 1995, the Muskie Fund for Legal Services celebrates the commitment of those who work for an access to justice on behalf of Mainers. Named after Maine Senator Edmund S. Muskie, the nonprofit organization supports legal services throughout the state while carrying out the legacy of the late senator who worked on behalf of poor, elderly, and disadvantaged Maine residents.

During his service as Chair of the Maine Commission on Legal Needs, Senator Muskie presided over public hearings designed to give poor Mainers a chance to voice their legal problems. Many were found to be frustrated by the lack of access to representation due to financial problems, and in 1990, Senator Muskie reported his findings alongside Governor John McKernan and Chief Justice Vincent McKusick. For the remainder of his life he worked to improve the situation.

Today, the dinner in Senator Muskie’s name attracts between 300 - 400 guests from Maine's business, legal and civil sectors. The Hon. Edmund S. Muskie Access to Justice Award honors “commitment to the public good, advanced through hard thinking, deep feeling, a voice of eloquent civility and a passion for justice.”

Money raised by the Muskie Fund supports six non-profit legal services providers which assist Maine's low-income and elderly residents:

• Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic 
• Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project 
• Legal Services for the Elderly 
• Maine Equal Justice Partners 
• Pine Tree Legal Assistance 
• Volunteer Lawyers Project

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein would like to extend a warm and heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Robert McAfee. His commitment to helping those in need makes him a worthy recipient and an inspiration to us all. May his hard work and dedication to the problem of family violence throughout Maine continue, and may the access to justice the Muskie Fund for Legal Services helps create give all Mainers equal rights.

For more information on the Muskie Fund for Legal Services and their annual Access to Justice Award Dinner, please visit: www.muskiefund.org.
 

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The two-week public safety campaign, Click It or Ticket, recently came to a close, but the effects may well last a lifetime. The campaign helps promote the use of seatbelts and increases awareness of their benefits.

Started in North Carolina in 1993, Click It or Ticket has spread nationwide. A recently approved $30 million grant from Congress for television and radio advertising helped promote the campaign which was observed from May 24-June 6. During the two-week window, police cracked down on seatbelt usage, or the lack there of, in an attempt to help save lives while educating the general public. Fines during the Click It or Ticket campaign for drivers and passengers not using their seatbelts ranged from $70 to $310.

In 1984, New York became the first state to make the use of seatbelts mandatory. By 1990, 37 other states had followed suit. Today, New Hampshire is the only state not to enforce a seatbelt law. In Maine, it is mandatory for drivers and passengers to wear a seatbelt at all times.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the use of seatbelts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,250 lives in 2008. Of those, 714 were in Maine. Studies have shown that men ages 18-35, passengers, and those who drive at night are the least likely to buckle up. The NHSTA continues to say that “Regular seat belt use is the single best way to protect yourself and your family in motor vehicle crashes." In 2009, traffic deaths were the lowest since 1954.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the effects of tragic car accidents. Our advice to you is to buckle up. And in the event that you, a friend, or a loved one is injured in a car accident, call us for a free and confidential consultation. You may be entitled to compensation.

It’s no secret that seatbelts save lives. Now, with the government’s help, everyone is benefitting from Click it or Ticket. And that’s a campaign with real promise for the future.

For more information on seatbelt safety and the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit: www.nhtsa.gov/CIOT.
 

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On May 6, the Maine Civil Liberties Union (MCLU) celebrated their 42nd anniversary with their annual Justice Louis Scolnick Award Dinner. Each year at the dinner, the MCLU honors an outstanding member of Maine’s legal community. This year’s event celebrated Nan Heald for her work with disadvantaged Mainers including Native Americans and young people.

Founded in 1968, the MCLU works to advance and preserve the civil liberties of Maine residents. The organization is the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), whose mission is to assure that the Bill of Rights is preserved for people of all races, colors, and backgrounds. Today, nearly ninety years after being formed, the ACLU defends one’s right to express his or her opinion in nearly 6,000 cases annually.

Established in 1989, the Scolnik Award is named for the first president of the Maine Civil Liberties Union and former Maine Supreme Court Justice, Louis Scolnik. The award honors members of Maine’s legal community who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the protection of civil liberties. This year’s Justice Louis Scolnick Award Dinner honoree has worked tirelessly on behalf of Mainers for over two decades.

And like Heald and the MCLU, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has been protecting the rights of Maine’s injured and disabled for over 35 years. With a statewide practice and a dedication to providing access to justice for Mainers of all socioeconomic backgrounds, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support the MCLU and congratulate Nan Heald. It is through hard work, dedication, and perseverance that equality resonates through our great state.

For more information on the MCLU and its annual Justice Louis Scolnick Award Dinner, please visit: www.mclu.org.

“The liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected.”
- U.S. Supreme Court, Justice William O. Douglas
 

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The 2nd annual Maine African Film Festival (MAFF) was held in Portland April 6th-10th. The festival is a celebration of the people and culture of Africa and helps bridge the gaps between the people of Africa and those of Maine.

In its second year, the non-profit festival screened 15 films at the Nickelodeon Cinemas, including full length features, documentaries, and shorts. All MAFF movies and associated events are open to the general public, and most of the films shown were selected through the New York African Film Festival’s Traveling Series.

An opening night art reception at Mayo Street Arts kick started the film festival and featured African artist, Lemi Ghariokwu, the inventor of “Lagos Afro Pop Art.” Ghariokwu is best known for his original album cover images for the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti and has designed over 2,000 covers, including those for Bob Marley, E.T. Mensah, and Osita Osadebe. During his visit to Maine, Ghariokwu conducted art workshops for children living in Kennedy Park as well students attending Maine College of Art and USM. Ghariokwu’s painting Anoda Sistem, created in 2002, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

The MAFF is the first African Film Festival in Maine and uses movies to:

• Develop knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the people of Africa and their cultures.
• Promote cultural literacy, tolerance, and diversity.
• Build our community by bringing people together to view African-themed films and discuss issues of personal, local, and global significance.
• Provide ongoing cultural education by allocating a percentage of total revenue to fund the MAFF Museum Tour program benefitting children in underserved and rural communities throughout Southern Maine.

Though relatively unknown, Nigeria is the third leading producer of films in the world, behind the U.S. and India. Estimates have “Nollywood” valued at over $500 million with the industry growing annually. With hope, MAFF will continue to grow as result.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is a proud supporter of the Maine African Film Festival. With an ever increasing diverse and ethnic population in Maine, we are happy to help support the many cultures and traditions that have been transported so far from their home. According to the World Affairs Council of Maine, Portland and Lewiston are two of the largest resettlement cities in the U.S. with refugees from Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.

Congratulations to the Maine African Film Festival on another successful showcase. We look forward to next year’s third annual extravaganza and know it will be another “two thumbs up” spectacular.

For more information on the Maine African Film Festival please visit: www.tmaff.org.

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For the 14th consecutive year, over 100 eighth grade girls spent the day at the Maine State House. Organized by the Maine Women’s Policy Center, Girls' Day at the State House is designed to inspire leadership and help shape the future women leaders of Maine.

Girls from across the state had the opportunity to meet with political leaders, explore the State House, engage in a mock public hearing, participate in a mock press conference, and meet other politically active and involved students.

Over 60 volunteers, including lawyers, journalists, lobbyists, professors, students and social justice activists met with the girls, who each wore a T-shirt stating, "Girls Rock the House...and the Senate." The students also had the opportunity to meet Governor John Baldacci and the Speaker of the House, Hannah Pingree.

Girls' Day at the State House is free to eighth grade girls in Maine and helps teach students about the legislative process and the important role women play in shaping the state’s public policy. The day inspires girls to become informed and active citizens while helping develop skills necessary to become a leader in local schools and communities.

In 2010 women account for:

• 6% of elected Heads of State or Country leaders
• 17% of the United States Senate
• 17% of the United States House of Representatives
• 22.2% of the United States Supreme Court
• 12% of State Governors
• 17.6 % of Mayors of cities with populations over 30,000

In the State of Maine women make up:

• 22.9% of the Maine State Senate
• 30% of the Maine State House of Representatives
• 29% of the Maine State Legislature

No woman has ever served as governor of Maine.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support Girl’s Day at the State House. With three female attorneys and over forty other female legal professionals on staff, we are proud to support the efforts of the Maine Women’s Policy Center and hope that every girl has the access to the education and preparation they need before joining the ranks of Maine’s renowned.

From Senator Margaret Chase Smith to Senator Olympia Snowe, Maine has a history rich with political women leaders. For future generations, it is a proud tradition that Girl’s Day at the State House helps make possible.

For more information on Girl’s Day at the State House please visit: www.mainewomenspolicycenter.org/girlsday.html.

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On March 20-25, the Maine Jewish Film Festival took center stage for their 13th consecutive year. The theme to this year’s festival was “Coming of Age” – a play on the Jewish age when a child has his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Hosted at the Nickelodeon Cinemas in Portland, 22 films were screened out of a submitted 150. Though Jewish in nature, the festival includes films for everyone featuring comedies, love stories, thrillers and documentaries. In 2009, over 2,400 people attended the highly acclaimed festival.

Over the 13 years, the film festival has grown in stature and style. In 1998, the festival started in the South Portland Congregation Bet Ha'am with six videos shown on a television set. Since then over 200 films have been screened to nearly 26,000 people in venues throughout greater Portland and selected sites throughout the state. Portland is the smallest city in the nation to boast an independent, professional Jewish film festival.

The festival's opening night included a reception at Portland's Greenhut Galleries, where attendees ate, drank, and mingled among other movie buffs. This year, one of the most popular films was made by Portland native Gary Robinov. “Canvasman,” a documentary depicting the dual life of a local professional wrestler, teaches to “live a full, wonderful life fueled by passion.” The film was the first feature-length premiere by a local filmmaker in the festival's history.

The mission of the non-profit organization is to enrich, educate, and entertain a diverse community about the Jewish experience. The festival also included several director question and answer forums, an artist reception, a women’s filmmaker forum, and a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film forum. For those that attended, it was a good time had by all, regardless of belief or background.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is a proud supporter of the Maine Jewish Film Festival for their vision both onscreen and off it. We commend the Maine Jewish Film Festival for a successful 13th year, to which we say:

Mazel Tov!

For more information on the Maine Jewish Film Festival please visit: www.mjff.org.
 

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On March 25th, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) celebrated their 6th annual CeleSoiree. The event is an evening of fun that raises money to benefit Maine’s immigrants.

The night featured international cuisine from local Portland restaurants, live African drumming and Middle Eastern music, and a silent auction featuring photographs, paintings, fiber arts and jewelry, donated by over 100 Maine artists and businesses. The event filled the Portland Company with all walks of life who came together to support equality and access to justice.

Immigrants have long helped shape Maine’s culture and economy. Today's immigrants from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East follow in the footsteps of those from Africa, Canada, China and Europe who have come to our state for generations. ILAP estimates that there are over 55,000 immigrants living in Maine today.

ILAP provides affordable legal services to low-income Maine residents and works with service providers, policy makers, and the public concerning legal issues unique to immigrants. The non-profit organization conducts outreach trainings regarding U.S. immigration laws, Constitutional rights, and related laws to hundreds of individuals across Maine each year.

ILAP’s goal is to create a society where immigrants are treated with respect and dignity, and are valued for the diversity they bring to Maine.

ILAP serves low-income residents of Maine regarding:

• Refugee issues, including permanent residency, family reunification, and travel documents 
• Family based immigration matters 
• Asylum
• Domestic violence, trafficking, or crime victim issues
• Citizenship issues 
• Removal defense
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Work permits
• Other matters where immigration status is an issue, such as access to driver's licenses or public benefits.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, our goal is to help make access to justice possible for all Mainers. By working on a contingent fee basis – meaning a client pays an attorney fee only when his or her claim is settled and never before – we make it possible for Mainers of all backgrounds to get the justice they deserve. And with five convenient handicap-accessible offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein are truly Maine Lawyers Working For Maine People.

We commend the ILAP for their efforts for equality and congratulate them on another successful CeleSoiree.

For more information on ILAP and their annual CeleSoiree event please visit: www.ilapmaine.org.

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The 5th annual Dine Around the World was held February 11th at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. More than 250 guests were in attendance to sample food from twenty of greater Portland’s best restaurants and bid on gifts donated by local businesses.

The fundraiser is one of the most celebrated in Portland and helps raise money to house the families of those receiving medical treatment at Mercy Hospital or the Maine Medical Center.

Located less than a block from Mercy Hospital and close to Maine Medical Center, Gary’s House provides guests a place to rest and recuperate while dealing with emotional and physical stresses of illness and hospitalization.

In 1989, an eighteen year old from Kennebunk was diagnosed with cancer. For two years he fought to overcome his disease, first by seeking treatment in nearby Portland and then in Boston. During this time, his family faced severe financial hardship due to overwhelming medical expenses.

His mother, determined to stay with her son through thick and thin, often slept on the hospital room floor. It was through her sacrifice that the concept for Gary's House was born.

Gary Pike’s dream was to enable families to be with loved ones when they were faced with serious injury or life threatening illness that required hospitalization. Gary lost his battle against cancer in 1991, yet the dream did not die with him. Over the next seven years his family and friends worked to fulfill his dream.

Gary's House was opened in 1998 in an elegant Federal-style home in Portland. Since then it has welcomed families from all walks of life all across the world. Today, Gary's House stands as a tribute to a young man who dreamed of making life better for others, while fighting to save his own.

As a business that sees firsthand the effects an extended hospital stay can have on both a patient and his or her family, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support Gary’s House and the wonderful service it provides.

Nearly twenty years ago a teenager from Kennebunk wanted families to be able to remain by the sides of loved ones in hospitals without being financially burdened. Today, thanks to his vision and the hard work of his family and friends, Gary Pike’s dream is a reality.

For more information on Gary’s House or to schedule a stay, please call (207) 773-9800 or visit them online at: www.mercyhospital.com/content/garyshouse.htm.
 

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The national non-profit organization Tread Lightly! recently held a seminar promoting proper outdoor ethics. The goal of the seminar was to teach people who love the great outdoors to balance their enjoyment with the need to maintain a healthy environment.

As Mainers, we are fortunate to have an abundance of land and water available for recreation. Be it in the open ocean or on one of Maine’s 6,000 lakes, in the fields or on the trails, or on the mountains or at the beach, the state’s vast outdoors provides endless amounts of adventure. And because we are lucky enough to explore nature’s playground, it’s equally important that we maintain it.

The educational seminar was held at Reynolds Motorsports in Buxton. Attendees were taught to practice proper outdoor ethics while enjoying off-road vehicles or watercraft. The cost of the 8-hour seminar was $25, but graduates are now qualified to teach outdoor ethics on behalf of the company anywhere in the nation.

Founded in 1985 by the US Forest Service, Tread Lightly’s mission is to promote responsible outdoor recreation through ethics education and stewardship. The non-profit’s educational materials include guidebooks, quick-tip brochures, hunting curriculum, an online awareness course, how-to videos, and a line of children’s materials.

Tips on responsible outdoor practices can be found on Tread Lightly’s website, including information on riding, fishing, gaming, hiking, biking, and boating.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the effects of injuries and accidents that occur when Mainers are reckless when in the great outdoors. We feel that by being responsible to the environment you’re in, you’ll not only help preserve it for the future, you’ll help preserve yourself for the future. And that, is a WIN-WIN situation.

For more information on Tread Lightly! and for a schedule of their upcoming seminars, please visit: www.treadlightly.org. 

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On January 15th, the Boston Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs teamed up to help “Strike Out Cancer in Kids.”

Sea Dogs players and coaches were joined by Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie for a night of fun at the Wyndham Hotel. The evening, known as the Strike Out Cancer in Kids Hot Stove Dinner, raises money for children undergoing cancer treatment at the Maine Children’s Cancer Program in Scarborough.

The Strike Out Cancer in Kids Program was developed in 1994. Through the program, people and businesses can pledge money for each strikeout thrown by a Portland Sea Dogs pitcher. Many other fundraising opportunities arise throughout the year as well, such as the annual Hot Stove Dinner which includes a silent auction.

In 15 seasons, the Strike Out Cancer in Kids Program has raised more than $3.8 million to benefit children and their families throughout Maine.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is a proud sponsor of the Strike Out Cancer in Kids Program. With the help of local athletes, local sports teams, and local businesses, together we can help Strike Out Cancer in Kids.

And that would be considered a “perfect game.”

For more information on the Strike Out Cancer in Kids program please visit: https://fundraising.mmc.org.

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Mainers who have an outstanding fine or fee due in any of the state’s courts can now conveniently pay online.

Outstanding fine amounts are updated online every Tuesday morning and can be searched by name and date of birth or court docket number. Those that use the new service will be charged a premium service fee of $6.

When paying an outstanding fine or fee online, you will need:

• Your name and date of birth or court docket number
• A valid credit card (Discover, Visa or MasterCard)

It is important to note that the online service may take up to two business days for the transaction to be processed by the state. During this grace period any outstanding warrants and/or license suspensions will remain in effect.

Also, payments made through this service do not cover attorney fees or restitution. Once a fine has been paid in full, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles must be contacted and paid reinstatement fees.

A confirmation of payment will be sent via email and serve as a proof of payment. It is advised to print this email and save it in your records as the court will not send a receipt.

To pay an outstanding court fine or fee online please visit: www5.informe.org/online/courts/fines.

And for any additional questions regarding attorney fees or restitution, and for a complete list of Maine courts please visit: www.courts.state.me.us/maine_courts/district/directory.shtml.
 

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Underinsured and uninsured Mainers are now eligible for free colon cancer screening.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the U.S. among men and women over the age of 50. An estimated 900 people in Maine develop colon cancer each year with roughly a third of them dying from the disease. It is estimated that 90% of these deaths are preventable with proper screenings and follow-ups starting at age 50.

Maine recently received a 5-year federal grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide the free screening as well as educate the public on the seriousness of the disease. One of the biggest problems faced with colon cancer is that there are often no symptoms. Therefore, regular testing and follow-ups are a necessity.

Eligibility for the free screenings is based on both financial and institutional considerations. Those over the age of 50 who earn less than 250% of federal income guidelines will generally be accepted.

For more information on free colon cancer screening or to setup an appointment, please call the Colorectal Screening Hotline at 1-877-320-6800 or visit: www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/index.shtml.
 

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If you earned less than $50,000 in 2009, you may be eligible to have your taxes done for free.

Every year, thousands of Mainers miss out on income tax credits that they would qualify for, often totaling thousands of dollars per family. In 2009, an estimated 25 percent of qualifying Maine residents did not apply for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), missing the opportunity to collect upwards of $5,657.

As a benefit to low and moderate-income Mainers, CA$H Maine and AARP Tax-Aide together have set up statewide tax sites to help ensure residents get their due tax refund. For Mainers who made less than $50,000 in 2009, they can have both their federal and state income taxes prepared for free by IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers at the sites, and, be educated about free programs and services in the community that help make the most of their money.

To participate, Maine residents should gather all of their tax statements from all income received in 2009 (W-2, 1099, 1098, SSA and unemployment), gather Social Security cards for each person claimed on their tax return, and dial 2-1-1 to set up an appointment. Interpreters are available upon request.

In 2009, CA$H Maine and AARP Tax-Aide helped Maine residents get back more than $13.9 million in federal and state refunds, including $3.62 million in Earned Income Tax Credits. The extra refund not only helps the deserving families, it also helps the local economy. And that’s a WIN-WIN situation for the state of Maine.

For more information on free tax preparation in Maine please call 2-1-1 or visit them online at: www.211maine.org.
 

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Two new community outreach vehicles are travelling through Maine providing veterans with health care.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently unveiled a fleet of 50 new outreach vehicles that travel to rural communities to meet with veterans. With many miles of backcountry, Maine was awarded two of the new vehicles, one based out of Caribou and the other out of Lewiston.

The 38-foot outreach vehicles carry Vet Center counselors and outreach workers to the remote areas of the state. The vehicles have space for confidential counseling, portable exam tables, locked storage, and refrigeration for medication. An electronic medical records system connects each vehicle with the VA Medical Center at Togus, a video system allows veterans to talk remotely to a psychiatrist for medication purposes, and each vehicle is handicap accessible.

Veterans who live in Maine have access to health care clinics in Augusta, Bangor, Calais, Caribou, Fort Kent, Houlton, Lewiston, Machias, Rumford, Lincoln, and Saco, but the commute from rural Maine can be long. Which is why the government elected to take the healthcare show on the road.

 The VA awarded Maine a three-year federal grant of $600,000 per year for the operation of the mobile health clinic. The clinic provides primary care, mental health and lab services to veterans on a rotating basis in rural Maine. Overall, the mobile unit is expected to serve about 800 veterans annually. Equipped with a generator, shower, toilet, microwave, and satellite service, each vehicle can also be used during catastrophic events such as a flood or storm.

Currently, across the country, there are 271 Vet Centers that provide treatment for veterans. Now, however, veterans in rural areas will have access to health care without having to make a long trek to bigger towns and even bigger cities. A well deserved honor for those that served.

For more information on the mobile outreach health care program please visit: www.togus.va.gov/visitors/Mobile_Vet_Center.asp.

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Mainers love fishing. This weekend they can do it for free.

On Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th, people can fish for free on Maine’s waterways. The free fishing event is open to all anglers except those whose license has been revoked or suspended. All normal fishing laws and regulations apply.

With over 6,000 lakes and ponds and nearly 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, fishing is one of the most popular activities in Maine. Approximately 286,000 people purchase fishing licenses each year and the sport has a $300 million impact on the state’s economy. The free fishing promotion takes place over Valentine’s weekend as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife continues to promote Family Fishing Days.

Despite the cold weather, many Mainers are expected to take advantage of the free fishing. But with the free fun comes the inherent danger of fishing on the frozen waterways. The following are safety tips that we’d like to share with you to keep you safe and sound while fishing the frigid waters:

• Be sure the ice of a pond or lake is frozen solid and at least six inches thick.
• “Black Ice” is considered the safest kind ice. It is bluish in color, mostly clear, and contains air bubbles. It is also safer than “white ice,” which has been refrozen multiple times while covered with snow. Snow hinders the ability of ice to freeze.
• Ask other fisherman in the area about the quality and thickness of ice. Small bodies of water freeze faster than larger ones.
• Test the ice by drilling a couple holes near the shore where the water isn’t deep. This helps determine the quality and thickness.
• New clear ice is generally stronger than older ice. 
• Ice rarely freezes the same throughout a pond or lake. Just because it is thick in one spot doesn’t not mean it will be in another.
• Do not build a fire on the ice.
• Always bring blankets, first-aid and emergency kits, and rope for safety.
• Wrap ice picks around your neck or place them in pockets in the event you fall into the water. They will help pull you back onto the ice. 
• Do not drive large vehicles on the ice.
• Never ice fish alone.

Fishing is one of Maine’s favorite pastimes. By following a few simple safety tips, it will continue to be for years to come. And when it’s free for a weekend, other than an extra ten degrees, what more can a Mainer ask for?

For more information on Free Fishing Days and a complete list of fishing regulations, please visit: www.mefishwildlife.com.
 

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Operation Keep ME Warm is helping thousands of Mainers this winter cope with rising energy costs.

The statewide energy and heating assistance program is a partnership between government foundations, private contributions, volunteers, and advocacy groups. The goal of Operation Keep ME Warm is to raise money to help those who do not qualify for federal, state, or local fuel assistance.

Operation Keep ME Warm provides household heating and energy assistance, as well as resources for weatherization, energy audits, food, shelter, legal assistance, counseling, childcare, and elder services.

In an attempt to help Mainers save money, Operation Keep ME Warm offers the following energy saving tips:

1. Close storm windows and use drapes and shades at night to conserve heat.
Estimated Savings - $229.46 per year

2. Close flue dampers on fireplace.
Estimated Savings - $227.92 per year

3. Install faucet flow restrictors and low-flow shower heads.
Estimated Savings - $194.04 per year

4. Tune up your heating system.
Estimated Savings - $190.96 per year

5. Insulate, caulk, and weather-strip your home.
Estimated Savings - $187.88 per year

6. Remove and vacuum your furnace filter every month. Replace it when it cannot be vacuumed clean.
Estimated Savings - $141.68 per year

7. Close and reduce heat in all unoccupied areas.
Estimated Savings - $130.90 per year

8. Replace 60W incandescent bulbs with 13W CFLs.
Estimated Savings - $77.20 per bulb over the life of the bulb

9. Set your thermostat back.
Estimated Savings - $77 annually for every degree set back

10. Insulate heat pipes and duct work.
Estimated Savings - $2.25 per foot for hot water pipes, $3.99 per foot for steam pipes, $2.28 per foot for hot air ducts

By following a few or all of these energy saving tips, you will not only be helping your bank account and living conditions, you’ll also be helping the environment. And that truly is a WIN-WIN situation.
 

For more information on obtaining home heating and energy assistance or the other numerous resources Keep ME Warm has to offer, please visit: www.unitedwaygp.org/what_we_do/keep_me_warm.php
 

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On Monday, January 18th, the Portland Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted a breakfast to honor Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. The annual event celebrates the life of the late doctor and his continuing impact on society today.

In addition to keeping King’s dream alive, the 29th annual breakfast recognized the work of Greater Portland’s civil rights community over the past year and featured key note speaker, Melissa Harris-Lacewell, an Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University and best-selling author. Other prominent speakers in the program included Portland Mayor, Nick Mavodones, and Maine Democratic Congresswoman, Chellie Pingree.

The morning also included events designed for Portland’s youths to teach them about King’s legacy and a traditional march down Congress Street to Monument Square to lay a wreath in memory of Doctor King. Over 700 people braved the snowy weather to attend the annual event that has become a long running and renowned fixture in Maine.

First observed in 1986, and officially recognized by all 50 states in 2000, Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrates the life of a man who made equality his life mission. 41 years after he was assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream is not only alive, but also a reality.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support the NAACP Portland Branch and their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. Equality was Dr. King’s dream -- Equal access to justice is ours. Together, we are making Maine a better place to live.

For more information on the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast please visit: www.portlandmlk.net.

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A new website is making finding a new home or apartment in Maine easier.

Mainehousingsearch.org is an online rental listing service that “links people who need housing with the housing they need.” Funded by the Maine State Housing Authority, the Department of Health and Human Services, and 2-1-1 Maine, the website is designed to help Mainers with all of their house hunting needs.

Currently, the website has over 700 listings with over 7,000 units and 450 vacancies across all 16 Maine counties, with the numbers expected to grow. Searches can be done on criteria such as location, price, and accessibility features, and vacancy details are updated daily. Maps and pictures of properties are also available, as well as a calculator to help determine what’s in your price range depending on your income. All property managers and owners who list on the site must abide by Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity regulations that prohibit discrimination.

The website offers a rental checklist that can be printed and brought to properties to track what each has and what each needs, a sample moving expense spreadsheet, a calculator to help figure out exactly how much a move will cost, and a glossary of different housing definitions. The website also acts as a reference for other services that can be helpful when searching for a home, including many educational links.

For homeowners and landlords, the benefits of listing property on the website include a statewide marketing campaign and the ability to update information in real time. The information can be accessed 24-hours a day at the prospective buyer or renter’s leisure.

While the housing website is still new, the state funded programs that started the site are committed to making it the most popular rental listing service in Maine. The centralized information is free, and for those without access to the internet they can call 1-877-428-8844 for a complete housing listing. And perhaps in due time, mainehousingsearch.org will be the place to be online if you’re looking to move in Maine.

For more information about the new housing website and to view all of its resources including available homes and apartments, please visit www.mainehousingsearch.org.
 

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With winter in mid-season form, Mainers are feeling the freeze. Unfortunately, when temperatures drop, oil prices don’t typically follow. There are, however, programs that can help Mainers heat their homes during a cold frigid winter.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists those who cannot afford to heat their home or pay electric bills. The federally funded program aids those in need both throughout Maine and nationwide.

Maine State officials report that over 49,000 households have already applied for help with heating bills this winter, with approximately 46,000, or 94 percent, being approved benefits. On average, families receive roughly $940 for the winter, an increase of $200 from last year. The amount of money a family receives depends on household size, income, and overall energy costs.

The Maine State Housing Authority expects the federal program to assist over 70,000 homes in Maine this winter. Despite the high percentage of homes applying and receiving benefits, it is estimated that only 15 percent of eligible homes take advantage of LIHEAP’s benefits. Even if heat is included in rent, a home or apartment may still be eligible. Last year, 61,000 homes benefited from LIHEAP’s financial aid.

To apply for heating assistance, Mainers should contact the regional agent that serves their county and provide them with the required information, including: names and social security numbers of all family members living in your home, proof of gross household income, proof of present address, and recent copies of utility bills. The list of regional agents can be found on the Maine Housing website: www.mainehousing.org or by calling 1-800-452-4668. The average wait time to be approved for assistance from LIHEAP is six weeks.

Due to rising oil prices, cold temperatures, and a struggling economy, Congress voted to extend LIHEAP benefits to more families throughout the U.S. and increase the level of benefits. A total of $4.5 billion dollars is being doled out to needy families this winter, with nearly $28 million allocated to Maine. To qualify, a household’s income must fall within 230 percent of the poverty level, or 75 percent of the state’s median income. In 2009, 75 percent of the U.S. was eligible for assistance.

For Mainers who need immediate heating assistance, such as those whose oil tank is dangerously low and cannot afford to fill it, they should call 2-1-1. The toll-free non-profit service directs calls to local resources that can help those who need immediate relief. For those that expect their need to last an extended period of time, they should contact LIHEAP.

Thanks to the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the goodwill services of 2-1-1 Maine, people across Maine and America won’t be left in the cold this winter. And that’s warm news nationwide.

For more information on LIHEAP, please visit: http://www.mainehousing.org/ENERGY
 

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The Maine High School Hockey Invitational was once again a resounding success. The ninth annual tournament featured 38 teams from Maine, New England and Canada, and wowed the locals with some of the best high school hockey around.

Considered one of the leading high school hockey tournaments in New England, the competition consisted of 18 of Maine’s finest teams, as well as 20 schools from New Brunswick, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island. The round-robin tournament takes place in four Southern Maine ice arenas and benefits all teams that participate, as the teams get to play squads they wouldn’t normally, who have different styles of play than they are accustomed to.

The non-profit invitational is a great attribute to teams from Maine who get to showcase their skills against some of the most formidable competition within driving distance. The tournament features some of Maine and New England’s top high school players, and attracts college and professional scouts who may not otherwise make a scouting trip to Maine.

In addition to testing the skills of teams and entertaining the scores of fans, the competition gives back to both the players and community. Scholarships are awarded to the student-athletes who show outstanding sportsmanship, and 100 percent of the proceeds is donated to charities in Southern Maine. In its nine years, the tournament has seen the competition grow from six teams to 38, and hopes to attract as many as 62 in the coming years.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to sponsor a tournament that gives back to the community. Whether it’s on the ice or in the office, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein appreciates team players who "Tell Them You Mean Business!" We congratulate the Maine High School Hockey Invitational on a well played ninth year, and look forward to seeing the tournament grow into its second decade.

For more information on the Maine High School Hockey Invitational please visit: www.mainehshockey.com/mhhi.asp.
 

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The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety has developed a campaign to help make highways safer.

Survive Your Drive was created to inform Mainers on the importance of safe driving and how to avoid behaviors that lead to fatal crashes. The educational campaign focuses on seat belt usage, impaired and distracted driving, speeding, and other unsafe driving behaviors. The underlining message the safety campaign sends is for drivers to be responsible when behind a wheel.

Thanks in part to similar safe driving programs in recent years, driving statistics in Maine have improved. However, these same statistics show that there is still work to be done.

The Survive Your Drive campaign emphasizes four key components:

• Drunk Driving – Though alcohol related fatalities decreased by 33 percent in 2008, alcohol contributed to 24 percent of accident fatalities in Maine last year. 
• Seatbelts – Thanks to Maine’s Click it or Ticket campaign, 88 percent of Mainers currently wear seatbelts. However, 41 percent of accident fatalities in 2008 were not wearing seatbelts. 
• Driving Safety – Crash rates in Maine decreased by 5.3 percent in 2008, with highway crashes decreasing by 15.3 percent. However, accidents caused by inattentive driving were up 8.3 percent.
• Teenage Driving – Though driving fatalities among teens has decreased in recent years, in 2008, 36 Maine teenagers were involved in fatal car crashes.

The Survive Your Drive campaign began on November 12, 2009, and has been educating Mainers via television commercials, radio ads, press releases, and an online presence. The campaign couples with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest. campaign which cracks down on impaired driving during holiday seasons. The current NHTSA campaign runs from December 16, 2009 – January 3, 2010 and plans to spend $7.5 million educating Americans nationwide on the dangers of drinking and driving.

In 2008, fatal crash rates in Maine decreased from the previous year by 5.3 percent, marking the lowest the state has seen since 1959. However, Maine’s fatal crash rate continues to be above the national average. Through educational campaigns such as Survive Your Drive and Over The Limit. Under Arrest. Mainers will continue to learn how to make better driving decisions, ultimately keeping themselves and others out of harm’s way.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the effects of serious motor vehicle accidents. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident by the negligence of someone else, call us today for a free and confidential consultation. In over 35 years of practice, we have helped over 15,000 Mainers get the justice they deserve.

And the next time you’re on the road, follow the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety’s advice:

Be safe and Survive Your Drive.

For more information on the Survive Your Drive campaign please visit: www.surviveyourdrive.org
 

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Lawyers have long donated their time and services to help many great causes. Today, amidst difficult economic times, access to lawyers and justice is more challenging than ever. Which is why the American Bar Association established Pro Bono Week.

The first annual Pro Bono Week was held nationwide October 25-31, 2009, both celebrating the work of lawyers who donate their goodwill, as well as recruiting others to get involved. Though a national initiative, the charitable week attempts to establish relationships in local communities with local lawyers. Across the nation, many Americans are faced with legal issues and cannot afford a lawyer. Through the help of generous lawyers, their legal issues can be resolved.

In Maine, there are many opportunities for lawyers to volunteer and give back to the communities they work in. Some have time and others make it, while at the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, access to justice is our top priority. With a statewide practice and five conveniently located offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is accessible to Mainers of all walks of life. But that’s just the beginning of the firm’s goodwill.

Since its inception in 2005, Attorney Naomi Honeth has been involved with the Volunteer Lawyer Domestic Violence Program representing women (usually) in Protection From Abuse (PFA) cases. The clients are seeking permanent PFA orders to prevent their ex-spouses or partners from having contact with them. The Volunteer Lawyer Domestic Violence Program began as a partnership of Family Crisis Services, the Violence Intervention Project, and Pine Tree Legal Assistance. Currently, there are volunteer lawyer programs in the district courts in Portland, West Bath, and Springvale. In Portland alone, 34 lawyers represent on average 90 clients annually.

Approximately once a month, Attorney Honeth appears in Portland District Court to volunteer under the program. Briefed by a Family Crisis worker and given a file with little time to prepare, Attorney Honeth quickly meets with the client. They discuss what abuse or threat occurred to prompt the client to seek a PFA. The conversations are often emotional, as the client frequently is fearful of confronting her former partner or spouse and nervous about being in court.

After consulting with her client, Attorney Honeth meets with the defendant, asking if he is willing to enter a PFA order without a finding of abuse. This means he agrees to stay away from the plaintiff without a court order saying he abused her. If he agrees, the two parties sign an order which is entered by the Court. If he refuses, there is a hearing. If the judge finds the defendant was abusive or threatening, an order will be issued. If the defendant violates the order, he can be arrested.

The Volunteer Lawyer Domestic Program is just one way Maine lawyers are giving back to their beloved home state.

For a list of charities, communities, and organizations the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein supports please visit: http://www.mainepersonalinjurylaw.com/2009/07/articles/in-our-community/caring-through-charity/.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein - Maine Lawyers Working For Maine People

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The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is supporting a statewide crackdown on impaired driving. The sustained holiday enforcement period runs from December 16th - January 3rd and will attempt to save lives during the holiday season.

Thirty-two local police departments, five county Sheriffs' offices, and the Maine State Police are participating in the campaign, as over $270,000 has been awarded to fund their enforcement efforts. Nationally, more than $7 million dollars will be spent to educate, raise awareness, and curb drinking and driving during the holiday season.

Roadblocks will be set up throughout the state, keeping close tabs on operators of motor vehicles, and ads on television and the radio will inform the general public about the dangers of drinking and driving. This is the second “Over the limit. Under Arrest.” campaign of the year, the previous held over Labor Day Weekend. Statistics show that impaired driving increases by 10 percent over holiday weekends.

Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown that more people are killed in crashes that involve alcohol-impaired drivers on weekends and at night, which is when the major winter holidays fall this year. In 2008, 58 percent of fatal accidents that took place on weekends or at night involved alcohol. On average, more than 16,000 people are killed annually from drunk drivers, with approximately 300,000 more injured.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the effects of drinking and driving accidents on a regular basis. The end results do not end happily ever after. Therefore, we ask our fellow Mainers to stay safe and Arrive Alive this holiday season. Doing so will not only save lives, but also help bring a happy holiday to you and your loved ones. Not to mention a Happy New Year.

For more information on the upcoming “Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” campaign, please visit:
http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/.

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The Portland Community Health Center recently opened in the Parkside neighborhood of Portland, Maine. The healthcare center is a full-service primary care medical facility serving Greater Portland, and is a welcome addition to the area as Mercy Hospital and Maine Medical Center have become overcrowded.

The clinic has the capacity to service 5,000 patients and will focus primarily on the uninsured and those on MaineCare and Medicaid. Those with no insurance will pay on a sliding scale.

The center received $1.3 million in federal stimulus money for start up and operating costs, and is expected to limit the number of emergency room visits in Portland. Currently, there are 40 other clinics in Maine, mostly in rural areas, many of which have waiting lists. The center is the first federally funded clinic in Cumberland County and is expected to alleviate long medical waits in Portland.

Services provided at the clinic include family medicine, pediatrics, counseling, and dental hygiene. The Health Center’s focus is on becoming a primary care provider as well as a “medical home” for those in need of consistent need and services.

Parkside neighborhood is the most densely populated area in Maine and home to a large immigrant community. The center is reachable by bus for those who do not drive and interpreter services are available for those whose primary language is not English. The clinic is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, as well as the growing population of greater Portland.

To contact the Portland Community Health Center or to make an appointment, please call 207.482.5000 or visit them on the first floor at 180 Park Avenue in Portland.

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As the number of people suffering from seasonal and H1N1 flu complications increases, more and more people are contemplating getting vaccinated. The good news is that help is available for Mainers.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services have put together a website to educate Mainers on the symptoms and preventative care for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu. The website passes on tips and information on how to prevent from contacting the flu viruses, how to best treat a sick person, and explains who is most at risk. The website also explains what to do if you feel sick.

Those that should consider getting vaccinated for the H1N1 virus are:

• Pregnant women
• Caregivers for infants
• All children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years
• Health Care Workers
• Young adults age 19-24 due to the proximity of their living quarters

Those that should consider getting vaccinated for the seasonal flu virus include:

• Those age 65 and older
• Children age 2 and under
• People of any age who have chronic medical conditions

Though there is currently a limited number of vaccinations for the H1N1 virus in Maine, more and more shots are being shipped in the near future.

If you or a loved one has contracted the seasonal flu it is recommended to stay home and rest. If conditions persist or worsen, seek medical attention from your health care provider. Your doctor will take the necessary steps in diagnosing your illness. And for those who are interested in getting vaccinated you should speak with your health care provider for availability and locations of treatment.

For more information on seasonal and H1N1 flu treatment and prevention please visit: www.maineflu.gov.

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Two weeks prior, Maine celebrated cancer survivors.

The 11th annual Cancer Survivors Day was held at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta on September 12th. The event celebrated Mainers who have beat cancer, with music, food and fun. Inspirational stories from survivors resonated throughout the attendees and standup comedy by Maine humorist Gary Crocker added entertainment to the free event. This year’s theme was “Inspiration for Life.”

Hundreds of cancer survivors gathered to share stories and celebrate life, and Governor John Baldacci and his wife were in attendance to support the survivors’ strength and perseverance. Keynote speaker, Heather Perry, a cancer survivor, spoke about finding out she had cancer while pregnant. She delivered a healthy baby boy and beat the disease, but the treatment left her unable to have any more children. Her message to cancer patients was to stay strong, and delivered a challenge to doctors to find less harmful treatment for cancer patients.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009. The health campaign is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness. The month long celebration is dedicated to educating the general public on the disease, providing greater access to screening services, and empowering women to take charge of their own health by practicing regular self-breast exams.

Breast cancer forms in the tissues of the breast and occurs in both women and men. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women each year in the United States with an additional 2,000 new cases in men. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. An estimated 40,000 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2009.

Treatment for breast cancer includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. A patient and his or her physician commonly chooses the treatment that is right for him or her based on the location and extent of the cancer, the patient's age and preferences, and the risks and benefits of each treatment. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to our family, friends, clients, and Mainers who have been affected by cancer. Today, it seems as if everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer, which makes it all the more important to remember those that have passed, celebrate those who have survived, and educate those who have been unaffected. It just may saves lives down the road.

For more information on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month please visit: www.mainebreastcancer.org.
 

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The Maine State Bar Association (MSBA) has prepared a booklet to help “prepare young people for some of the legal complexities of adulthood." The free booklet, On Your Own, is the MSBA's guide to law for young adults and is available for high school seniors statewide.

On Your Own is available in booklet form and can be downloaded on the MSBA website or ordered through high schools. The 84-page guide covers the rights and responsibilities of adulthood.

Included in the booklet is information on:

Each year, the booklet is updated with the latest Maine laws, rules and regulations. A volunteer committee of Maine lawyers oversees and contributes their expertise to the booklet, ensuring that the information is up-to-date and accurate. The cost to print and distribute the free booklet is offset by the MSBA, as well as the generosity of law firms and businesses throughout the state with one common goal: to prepare teenagers for adulthood.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we, too, are advocates for preparing today’s teenagers for the complexities of tomorrow. As personal injury lawyers, we see firsthand the affects of drunk driving accidents. Our Arrive Alive Creative Contest asks high school students to come up with a creative message to send to their peers promoting safe and sober decision making. Open to graduating seniors throughout the state and now in its sixth year, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has given away over $20,000 in prizes to graduating seniors, including laptop computers to first place winners who help send the message to “Arrive Alive” and not drink and drive.

For more information on the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein’s Arrive Alive Creative contest please visit: www.arrivealivewithme.com.

And to download your free copy of “On Your Own” please visit: http://www.mainebar.org/images/09oyolo-rez.pdf.

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October 4th-10th was National Fire Prevention Week, a time when fire education spreads through the U.S. like wildfire. This year, however, the celebration hit close to home on a more somber note.

On November 17, 2008, firefighter Michael Snowman of Hartland died while responding to a house fire in Detroit, Maine. Snowman was the lone fatality of the fire, and one of 103 firefighters who passed away in 2008 while on call in the U.S. On October 4, 2009, each was honored at the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security, the tribute draws more than 5,000 people annually, including members of Congress and White House officials. At the ceremony, families of fallen firefighters received U.S. flags that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol and the National Memorial.

Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of October 9, 1871, which killed 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,000 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres. Each year, more than 4,000 Americans are killed by fire, with an additional 20,000 injured. It is estimated that every three hours someone in the U.S. dies from a house fire.

In honor of local firefighter, Michael Snowman, his friends, family, and colleagues, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein would like to pass along some timely information on fire safety and prevention.

When maintaining your home or office be sure:

• You have a well planned escape route that is accessible and clear of clutter. Be prepared to exit your home or office from all rooms.
• Smoke alarms have been tested and work properly.
• Electrical cords are in good condition.
• Appliances and lights are plugged into separate outlets.
• The furnace and chimney have been inspected and cleaned within the past year.
• Portable heaters are turned off when no one is present and remain three feet from other objects at all times.
• When cooking, someone remains in the kitchen at all times. Cooking is the number one cause of home fires.
• To avoid using lighted candles when possible and always keep them three feet away from combustibles. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

In the event that a fire does occur, it’s important to keep both you and your family safe. By making a concerted effort to be prepared, you can help save the lives of those you love, as well as those who endanger their lives to save you. The most dire circumstances in life are often unplanned, which is when planning ahead prepares you.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we have represented clients who have been injured in house fires and helped get them the justice they deserve. If you or a loved one is renting a house or an apartment and have been injured due to faulty wiring, inadequate smoke detectors, defective appliances, electrical systems not being up to code, negligent building maintenance, or electrocution accidents, call us today for a free and confidential consultation. You may be entitled to compensation.

And our heartfelt thanks of gratitude goes out to firefighters throughout Maine for keeping our great state safe, and we salute fellow Mainer and fallen firefighter, Michael Snowman, who put his life on the line to save others. The true meaning of “hero.”

For more information on Fire Prevention Week please visit: www.usfa.dhs.gov/.

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On Saturday September 26th, downtown Biddeford filled with artists, musicians, and locals looking for a day of fun at the 5th annual Chalk on the Walk Festival.

Organized by the Heart of Biddeford, the festival celebrated community as artists covered Main Street with their favorite chalk art renditions with local musicians providing the soundtrack. In addition to the sights and sounds, visitors were treated to the tastes of street vendors and the many delicious ethnic restaurants on and around Main Street.

As a proud supporter of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and a tenant at 193 Main Street, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein was once again in attendance. Our resident artist depicted in chalk the car accident that ultimately closed our Biddeford office for nearly two months early this year. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the accident, and hopefully both the driver, who was intoxicated at the time, and many other locals learned the lesson to Arrive Alive and not drink and drive.

Our heartfelt congratulations go out to the Heart of Biddeford for their hard work and determination on sustaining and building a better Biddeford. And we wish all of the artists, musicians, and participating local businesses a happy and healthy fall. We hope to see you all at next year’s sixth annual Chalk on the Walk Festival.

For more information on the Chalk on the Walk Festival please visit: www.heartofbiddeford.org.

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On Sunday, September 13th more than 14,000 motorcyclists rode to support underprivileged children in the 28th annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run.

The Toy Run, as it’s more commonly known, gathers bikers from across the state for a day of charity. Bikers begin their day at the Augusta Civic Center where they meet before riding in unison to the Windsor Fairgrounds. With toys affixed to handlebars and attached to fenders, the bikers ride one after the other, through the state capital before finishing at the fairgrounds, where the real fun begins.

Fueled by camaraderie, goodwill, and cooperative weather, bikers were treated to a day of live music, food and drink, belt sander races, and seeing who’s wearing the most eclectic outfit, all while basking in their biker glory.

The day is one to remember, but not only for those in attendance. The true beneficiaries of the Toy Run are those on the receiving end. With over 14,000 bikers donating well over that number of toys, many children throughout the state will be happy during the upcoming holiday season. In a time of need, it is generosity like that of the motorcyclists that help make it possible for many Mainers to have a happy holiday season.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein would like to thank those who showed their goodwill while having a goodtime. As proud supporters of motorcyclists statewide, as well as the United Bikers of Maine, we too were in attendance, donating nearly $700.00 worth of toys to the good cause. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, it was heartwarming to see such a steadfast group of bikers, both men and women, boys and girls, come together to help others. We say you can “rev” it up to one of the many reasons that makes Maine such a special place.

So thank you bikers and thank you UBM! We hope to see you next year at the 29th annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run.

For more information on the United Bikers of Maine Toy Run please visit: www.ubm-usa.org.

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Unofficially known as the end of summer, Labor Day is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the American workforce. Highlighted by a long weekend, the holiday is a tribute to the contributions workers have made to the overall well-being of the United States.

Established over 100 years ago, Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. Typical celebrations include Bar-B-Q’s, camping trips, and soaking up the end of the summer sun. But long before the holiday became a well deserved day off from work, its foundation was built by the American workforce.

The first “Labor Day” was celebrated in New York on September 5, 1882. After watching labor disputes in Canada during the 1870’s lead to a Trade Union Act and more favorable conditions for unions, American labor leader, Peter J. McGuire, brought the movement and camaraderie across the border from Toronto to New York. Twelve years later, following the 1894 Pullman Strike in Illinois that culminated a nationwide conflict between American unions and railroad workers, President Grover Cleveland made labor his top political priority.

Six days after ordering federal troops to Chicago to end a 3,000 employee strike, President Cleveland and Congress passed legislation with focus on the American workforce. As a result, Labor Day became a federal holiday. Originally outlined as a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations,” the holiday was a festival for workers and their families. Speeches by prominent leaders followed in ensuing years, as emphasis on the economic and civil significance of the holiday began to grow.

Unfortunately, during the President’s forceful intervention of the railroad strike, there were a number of deaths and injuries among the American workers. President Cleveland would lose his reelection bid for a second term, but out of confrontation came a federal holiday and a newfound respect for the working class. President Cleveland’s hiatus would be short, however, as four years later he was voted back in office, becoming the only U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Today, Labor Day, or a variation of the holiday, is celebrated worldwide. In America, it has come to signify the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. But once upon a time its significance shined bright in honor of the American working class. An honor that should be bestowed upon hardworking Americans once again in these tough economic times.

So enjoy the long weekend Mainers, you deserve it. And be sure to remember our forefathers while doing so, who worked hard to give us the liberty of relaxing as we watch summer set its course south.

For more information on the history of Labor Day please visit: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Labor_Day.shtml.
 

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The tradition of Mainers passing through fairgrounds appeasing their senses is generations old. Between the sights of families together, the sounds of carnies on the midway, the smell of food in the air, and the taste of the good life, fairs and festivals are a longstanding fixture in Maine. And now, through December, those familiar feelings will be on display in the State Capitol.

A new art exhibition showcasing work by some of Maine’s finest photographers highlights one of Maine’s most popular pastimes. Over 60 photographs depicting Mainers' experiences at state fairs and festivals are on display at the State House and Blaine House in Augusta, as well as in the offices of the Maine Arts Commission. The exhibit, known as “On and Off the Midway,” spotlights 26 popular statewide events and captures Maine residents in a relaxed and fun loving state of mind, at a fair.

Sponsored by the Maine Arts Commission, photographs include those of state fairs and festivals, Fourth of July celebrations, fishing derbies, and dogsled racing. Through the photos, local artists have captured a love of social, environmental, and seasonal events that is often found among those of us fortunate to live here.

The goal of the Arts in the Capitol program is to provide Mainers with a unique offering of art. The exhibitions are free to the public and the majority of the pieces are easily accessible on the first floor of their respective buildings. The exhibition is self guided, and if needed, assistance is available.

So as the summer festival season comes to a close, and the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein begins to wrap up our travelling road show, memories carry on in photographs come rain or shine, sleet or snow. But while a picture may be worth a thousand words, nothing beats a firsthand account of the action. So get out there and enjoy what Maine prides itself on. After all, photographs wouldn’t hang on the walls in the capitol building if they didn’t capture the fun that can be found in our own backyard.

For more information on the Arts in the Capitol program please visit: www.mainearts.maine.gov/public/capitol/index.shtml.

And for a complete list of fairs and festivals throughout the state please visit: www.maine.info/events/festivals.php.

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There’s little wonder why Maine is known as Vacationland. From the mountains and the lakes to the beaches and the rocky coast, there’s no escaping our state’s natural beauty.

Home to a renowned national park, a 92-mile waterway, and 35 state parks that span over 600,000 acres, it can be overwhelming when deciding where to go and what to do. Now, thanks to the Maine State Bureau of Parks and Lands, information is just a click away.

The bureau’s new website is designed to help travelers discover and learn about Maine's state parks, public lands, and historic sites. Travelers can search by region or activity, and can download maps and brochures for select locations. The website also lists what features and facilities are offered at each location, and helps plan “single-tank trips” that allow families to find nearby adventures.

Easy to navigate dropdown menus and checkboxes help refine searches, and visitors to the website can view pictures of selected sites, read their descriptions and find all relevant information, including hours, entry fees, driving distances, and weather reports.

Tourism in Maine is a major part of our state’s economy. An estimated 140,000 jobs are generated from the $10 billion surplus in sales, which equate for nearly 17 percent of the state’s total jobs and 21 percent of its Gross Domestic Product. And now, thanks to the Bureau of Parks and Land’s new website, Maine’s natural wonders dangle online like a lure in a lake for all to see. With hope it will keep tourists and money coming into our state for years to come, ultimately helping preserve what keeps us here, our state’s natural beauty.

So the next time you want to take a trip through Vacationland, take a trip online, and know before you go. A little research will go a long way.

To plan your next trip in Maine, or just to see what our great state has to offer, please visit: http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/ 

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As a special service to health care providers and their patients, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to offer our Social Security Outreach Program. The program is designed to teach medical providers knowledge on the federal Social Security Disability program that they can then use to assist their patients. Our Outreach Program is free to health care providers and has been well received in the community.

Led by experienced and specialized Social Security attorneys, our Outreach Program travels to the offices of social workers, psychologists, case workers, and physiatrists to provide community support for Mainers who are prime candidates for Social Security Disability (SSDIB) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The attorneys lead a 20-30 minute power point presentation that covers the essential elements of the federal Social Security Disability program, followed by a question and answer session with the participating group. A typical outreach session lasts about an hour.

Our attorneys travel to the sessions with their own laptop computer and projector screen, which can easily be set up in a conference or lunch room. In addition to the informative presentation, our attorneys provide written materials to help make an often difficult process easy to understand. The efforts of our staff are completely Pro Bono, and are part of our attempt to educate Mainers on their legal rights.

In over 35 years of practice, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has helped over 15,000 clients with their Social Security Disability and personal injury claims. During this time, we have seen firsthand the lack of information available to Mainers who are in need of legal advice. Too often, misinformation is passed along to those who are need of benefits the most, and too often those that are dependent on these benefits are unable to receive them.

Since 1974, it has been our goal to give access to justice to Mainers throughout the state. As specialized injury and disability attorneys, we feel that it is our obligation to disabled Mainers to inform healthcare providers about our clients’ legal rights under the federal Social Security Disability program. Ultimately, it is the provider’s opinion that helps determine whether a client is eligible for disability benefits. This advanced Outreach Program continues our mission to provide access to justice to Mainers of all backgrounds throughout our great state.

Included in the presentation is information regarding:

• The difference between SSDIB and SSI.
• How a provider can help assist a patient apply for benefits.
• When to apply for benefits.
• What to do if denied.
• How to start a claim to appeal a denial.
• How long the benefits process typical takes.
• When an attorney should be contacted.
• What type of information will be required throughout the process.

If you or a loved one has been denied Social Security Benefits, contact the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein today, you may be entitled to compensation. And if you would like more information on our Social Security Outreach Program or to schedule a complimentary session, please contact Sue Gerrish at 207.772.4624.
 

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On Saturday July 25th, The Festival of Nations will celebrate diversity in Maine. Over twenty different cultures and their traditions will be on display at Deering Oaks in Portland offering entertainment, education, and typical food from the representing nations. The day is a hit with all races and religions throughout Greater Portland, and is a showcase of music, dance, performing arts, and cultural traditions from around the world.

The Festival of Nations is Maine’s oldest cultural festival and will be celebrating its 7th anniversary Saturday. The event is free to the public and runs from 2pm - 8:30pm.

Also on Saturday is the sixth annual Latino Soccer Tournament at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. The tournament is from 8am – 5pm and is conveniently held across the street from The Festival of Nations. In addition to the friendly competition, the tournament offers cultural and family activities, food, and educational information.

The focus of this year’s tournament is the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. Educational material will be available to all attendees, as well as free health screening cards to all of its participants. Last year over 1,500 people attended the tournament that continues to grow exponentially.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to celebrate Maine’s growing diversity and will be on hand at The Festival of Nations passing out free gifts to those who stop by and say hello.

So get out and enjoy Maine’s many cultures, traditions, and great food this Saturday. Because after all, having fun and enjoying tradition is what summer in Maine is all about.

For more information on The Festival of Nations please visit: http://www.wini.us/festival.htm.
 

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At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we are proud to give back to the communities that our clients come from. With a state wide practice and five local offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, we see the efforts of numerous charities and organizations that support the wellbeing of Mainers. It is with great pleasure that we commend these companies with our respect, gratitude, and financial support.

Here is a partial list of some of the organizations we have supported in the past few years:
  

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The weekend of June 26th marked the first ever nationally coordinated attempt to detect and decrease drinking while boating. Operation Dry Water, as the program is called, was intended to raise awareness on the dangers of drinking and boating, and to facilitate a crackdown on impaired boat operators nationwide.

Boating Under the Influence (BUI) is an all too common occurrence on the waterways of Maine. Each summer, approximately 20% of boating fatalities are caused by intoxicated boaters, as alcohol impairs one’s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. Intensifying the effects of alcohol are sun, wind and motion, all commonly associated with time on the water.

The National Association of State Boating Law (NASBLA), in association with the U.S. Coast Guard, coordinated the event to eliminate boating while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. An increase in policing and more check points were set up to patrol the waterways of Maine. Boaters found with a blood alcohol content level over the legal limit of .08 are subject to severe penalties, including impoundment of vessel, arrest, fines, and loss of both boating and driver’s license.

Impairment among boaters is considered more dangerous than that of drivers, as most people have more experience behind the wheel of an automobile than that of a motor craft. In addition to impairing a boater’s ability to navigate safely, alcohol is also dangerous to passengers, who may slip or fall overboard when intoxicated.

Though Operation Dry Water lasted merely a weekend, it raised national awareness on a national problem, and will continue to carryover throughout the summer and into the upcoming years. So while you’re on the waterways of Maine this summer, remember to boat safely and to boat sober. Doing so will allow you, your passengers, and all other boaters nearby, to have an enjoyable time.

For more information on Operation Dry Water please visit: www.operationdrywater.org.
 

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Summer in Maine is a special time whether you’re a lifelong resident or a weeklong tourist. Be it lounging lakeside, sitting on the sand of your favorite beach, or navigating through one of Maine’s many nature trails, there’s no lack enjoyment in our great state. But when it comes to family affairs, perhaps nothing tops Maine’s historic fairs and festivals.

For roughly four months, fairs and festivals take center stage in “Vacationland.” Be it agricultural, musical or culinary, these summer and fall events showcase all things Maine. From native animals, vegetables and pies, to parades, entertainment and amusements, the fairs and festivals attract visitors from near and far. Lasting anywhere from one day to one week, some towns have seen generations upon generations file through their fairgrounds for over 100 years. Tradition is what keeps the fairgrounds open, fun is what keeps the families coming back.

Proud of our Maine heritage, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein strives to give back and support the communities that our clients come from. For the past three years we have traveled through the state attending some of the largest and most unique fairs and festivals giving away free gifts to those who stop by to say hello. This year, for the fourth consecutive summer, we will be on the road again with plenty of hats, frisbees, pens, pencils, and magnets for our friends across the state.

So if you’re planning on attending a fair or festival this summer, we’d like to recommend a few of our favorites. If you go, be sure to stop by and say hello. We look forward to seeing you there.

June 7 - Old Port Festival - Portland
July 11 - Moxie Festival - Lisbon Falls
July 25 - Festival of Nations - Portland
August 7-8 - Wilton Blueberry Festival – Wilton
August 14 - Beech Ridge Motor Speedway – Scarborough
August 15-16 – Machias Wild Blueberry Festival - Machias
August 21-23 – Great Falls Balloon Festival - Auburn
September 13 – United Biker’s of Maine 28th Annual Toy Run – Windsor Fairgrounds
September 26 - Chalk On The Walk Festival – Biddeford

For more information on the fairs and festivals of Maine please visit: www.maine.info/festivals.

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On June 18, the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness held their annual awards dinner and silent auction. This year’s event celebrated Les Otten as the Center’s Person of the Year and raised over $100,000 for the non-profit organization. Otten has been the Center’s Chairman of the Board of Directors for the past five years.

The Cromwell Center is an innovative leader in disabilities awareness education. The goal of the Center is to change the attitude of people without disabilities by educating them about those who have a disability. Through teaching kids, educators, employers and employees, the Cromwell Center strives to ensure that people with disabilities - be it learning, behavioral and emotional, developmental, or physical - receive the same respect, acceptance and opportunity that every person deserves regardless of physical or mental condition.

In addition to hands on education, the Cromwell Center provides public and school libraries with collections of educational and informational books on special needs. Since 2004, the program has reached approximately 25,000 students in over 100 schools.

The Cromwell Center is named after a young boy, Jeremiah Cromwell, who was institutionalized in the early 1900s in the Maine School for the Feeble-Minded. It is not known why he was institutionalized or the nature of his disability, or whether he had one at all. But what is known is that Jeremiah Cromwell was alone. He died at school at the age of 16 and no family member came to retrieve his body for a proper burial.

It is because of Jeremiah’s hardship, and the hardships faced by many children today, that the Cromwell Center is working on behalf of children with disabilities. Through hard work and dedication, the Center envisions that one day no one will ever again experience the anonymity and suffering of Jeremiah Cromwell.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness for their efforts and achievements in educating the youths of today. As a proud member of the Board of Directors, Joe Bornstein, would like to congratulate colleague Les Otten, a deserving honoree, for his leadership and hard work. May the Cromwell Center’s hard work today pay dividends tomorrow.

For more information on the Cromwell Center please visit: www.cromwellcenter.org.

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The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is pleased to announce that our fifth annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest has come to a close. The contest asks graduating seniors to think creatively and come up with a message for their peers to “Arrive Alive” and not drink and drive. This year’s contest set a record for number of participating students.

Seniors in nine Maine high schools – Biddeford, Thornton Academy, Deering, Portland, Casco Bay, Edward Little, Lewiston, Cony, and Bangor – were invited to participate in this year’s Arrive Alive Creative Contest. Entries consisted of poems, posters, videos, paintings, bumper stickers, and fashion designs. Many of them moving, all of them real.

Five first-place winners won new laptop computers, while second and third-place winners received iPods, and all students who entered the contest took away a bag full of gifts in appreciation of their efforts.

The 2009 first place winners are:

• Athena Andoniades – Lewiston High School
• Jacqueline Cone-Ausiender – Thornton Academy
• Lindsey Giles – Bangor High School
• Ikram Mohamed – Deering High School
• Abbe-Jaye Soohey - Bangor High School

Every year, communities across Maine and America are devastated by drunk driving accidents. At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we see firsthand the end results of these tragic accidents. In the past five years we have given away over $20,000 in prizes to graduating seniors in an attempt to raise awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving. We urge you to help send the message to teenagers to stay safe and arrive alive, and hope that you will encourage your high school to support next year’s sixth annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest.

For more information on the Arrive Alive Creative Contest and to view all current and past winning entries, please visit our website: www.ArriveAliveWithMe.com.
 

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On May 27th, the Muskie Fund For Legal Services held their 14th annual Access to Justice Award Dinner. This year’s dinner honored Charlie and Ellie Miller for their commitment to strengthening Maine’s civil justice system.

Founded in 1995, The Muskie Fund For Legal Services celebrates the commitment of those who work for an access to justice for all Maine residents. Named after Maine Senator Edmund S. Muskie, the nonprofit organization raises money to support legal services throughout the state and carries on the efforts of the late senator, who worked tirelessly on behalf of poor, elderly, and disadvantaged Maine residents.

In 1988, Senator Muskie was called into action to serve as Chair of a newly formed Maine Commission on Legal Needs. During the following year he presided over public hearings designed to give poor Mainers a chance to voice their legal problems. Many were found to be frustrated by the lack of access to representation due to financial problems. In 1990, Senator Muskie reported his findings alongside Governor John McKernan and Chief Justice Vincent McKusick. For the remainder of his life he worked to improve the situation.

Money raised by the Muskie Fund supports six non-profit legal services providers which assist Maine's low-income and elderly residents. The lives they touch are who make our state special.

• Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic 
• Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project 
• Legal Services for the Elderly 
• Maine Equal Justice Partners 
• Pine Tree Legal Assistance 
• Volunteer Lawyers Project

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein would like to extend a warm and heartfelt congratulations to our colleagues, Charlie and Ellie Miller. It is through their commitment to helping those in need that makes them worthy of their award and an inspiration to us all. May their hard work and dedication to justice throughout the state of Maine continue, and may the access to justice they help create give all Mainers equal rights.

For more information on the Muskie Fund For Legal Services and their annual Access to Justice Award Dinner, please visit: www.muskiefund.org.
 

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On May 6, the Maine Civil Liberties Union (MCLU) celebrated their 41st anniversary with their annual Justice Louis Scolnick Award Dinner. Each year at the dinner, the MCLU honors an outstanding member of Maine’s legal community. This year’s event celebrated James E. Mitchell for his “commitment to the vitality of the Constitution.”

The MCLU was founded in 1968 with the purpose of advancing and preserving the civil liberties of Maine residents. The organization is the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), whose mission is to assure that the Bill of Rights is preserved for people of all races, colors, and backgrounds.

Through litigation, advocacy, public education, and lobbying, the MCLU works for the following basic principles:

• The right of free expression.
• The right to dissent.
• The right to religious freedom.
• The right to equal treatment for all people.
• The right to fair play in encounters with government.
• The right to be let alone, to be secure from interference in private matters.

Founded in 1920, the ACLU now has a nationwide network of over 300 affiliate offices. With a staff of over 60 attorneys collaborating with nearly 2,000 volunteer attorneys, the ACLU is the largest public interest firm in the country and appears before the U.S. Supreme Court more than any other organization except the U.S. Department of Justice. Nearly ninety years after being formed to protect the civil liberties of America, the ACLU defends one’s right to express his or her view in nearly 6,000 cases annually.

Now in its 41st year, the MCLU continues to fight for equality and justice in Maine. Representing victims whose civil liberties have been violated by government, helping educate students and organizing events in local communities, and advocating both state and federal legislature, are part of the goodwill the MCLU contributes to society. Coincidentally, on the day of the 2009 Scolnick Dinner, Governor Baldacci signed into law the end of a ban on gay marriage in Maine. Something the MCLU lobbied long and hard for, and is very proud of.

And like the MCLU, that has been working on behalf of Mainers for over 40 years, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has been protecting the rights of Maine’s injured and disabled for nearly 35 years. Supporting the MCLU is a WIN-WIN situation, and for that we are forever grateful. We would like to thank the MCLU for their outstanding work throughout the great state of Maine, and congratulate its 2009 Justice Louis Scolnick Award Dinner honoree, James E. Mitchell.

For more information on the MCLU and its annual Justice Louis Scolnick Award Dinner, please visit: www.mclu.org.

“The liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected.”
- U.S. Supreme Court, Justice William O. Douglas
 

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On May 1st, Law Day was celebrated in the United States. The day is dedicated to highlighting how law and the legal process contribute to our country’s freedom.

Each year, Law Day has a theme. This year’s 31st annual Law Day honored the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln with the theme: A Legacy of Liberty—Celebrating Lincoln’s Bicentennial. Lincoln is long considered one of America’s greatest presidents, however, before elected, he was a lawyer. In January, Barak Obama became the 26th lawyer sworn in as president.

Often referred to as “Prairie Lawyer” due to his modest upbringing, Lincoln worked as an attorney for 25 years before becoming president. During his tenure, Lincoln tried over 5,000 cases, including several in the Illinois Supreme Court and one before the U.S. Supreme Court. Lincoln’s most notable case came in 1858 when he successfully defended his client in a murder trial after citing an almanac as judicial notice. Lincoln argued in accordance to the almanac that the moon was too low on the night of the murder for someone to properly identify the assailant, contradicting the testimony of the witness. Based on his argument, the defendant was acquitted. Lincoln’s work in the now famous Illinois v. Armstrong (1858) was pro bono.

The idea for Law Day initiated in 1957, when American Bar Association President, Charles S. Rhyne, envisioned a special day for celebrating the U.S. legal system. In 1958, his vision became a reality when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day as “a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law.” In 1968, Congress dedicated May 1st as the official date for celebrating Law Day.

Today, Law Day is celebrated by law firms, businesses, and schools alike. While the day is relatively unknown outside the U.S. and is not a national holiday, it acts as an observance. An observance for what is right and what is fair, and for what is just and what we hold dear: America’s Freedom.

And like Lincoln, who fought for justice while uniting a nation, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has been fighting for the rights of Maine’s injured and disabled for nearly 35 years. We are proud to celebrate Law Day, and do so with our forefather in mind. 200 years after the birth of the sixteenth president of the United States, we remember the words of Abraham Lincoln:

“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.”

For more information on Law Day, please visit: http://www.abanet.org/publiced/lawday/2009/home.shtml.
 

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The Maine African Film Festival (MAFF) screened twenty-seven movies last week in what was their first annual celebration of the people and cultures of Africa. The weeklong event aimed to bridge the gap between postcolonial Africa and the U.S., and is the first African Film Festival in Maine.

MAFF is a non-profit arts organization created to provide cultural education, economic development, and community building opportunities in Southern Maine. The festival is committed to using African-themed films to promote cultural literacy, tolerance, and diversity, and showcases the everyday life of Africans – both the good and the bad.

Screenings took place at venues throughout Greater Portland including the Nickelodeon Cinemas, the Children’s Museum of Art, and the Cumberland County Jail, where inmates watched a film about crime and redemption. The inmates then had a question and answer session to discuss what they had seen and how it affected them.

The festival includes feature films, documentaries, animations, and short films. While focusing on Africa, the themes are global and transcend cultures, something no more prevalent than in Maine, where refugees from Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia have resettled. According to the World Affairs Council of Maine, Portland and Lewiston are two of the largest resettlement cities in the U.S.

Though relatively unknown to the average movie goer, film in Africa is a booming economy. Currently, Nigeria is the third leading producer of films in the world, behind the U.S. and India, and the term Nollywood has been favourably associated with the movie culture. Estimates have the Nigerian industry valued at nearly $500 million, and it is with open arms that Maine welcomes the new form of film and its annual festival.

For more information on the first annual Maine African Film Festival please visit: www.tmaff.org.
 

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Each year the University of Southern Maine hosts a lecture regarding genocide and human rights throughout the world. This year’s event featured guest speaker Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier in West Africa, who spoke of his experience in his homeland’s civil war and the overall effects war has on children. Beah is one of an estimated 300,000 kids who were forced to fight as a child in the Sierra Leone Civil War.

The fourth annual lecture was part of the evening’s focus on “War and Reconciliation: from Child Soldiers to Community Healers” and was the latest in the University of Southern Maine hosted Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture on Genocide and Human Rights.

During the 1990’s Sierra Leone was a country divided by war. With his hometown under attack by the rebel army, Beah was forced to flee his home at the age of 12. After running for nearly a year, he arrived at an army base in the southeast region of the country. By the age of 13 he was fighting back.

In his highly publicized book, A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a Boy Soldier, Beah recalls his experiences during the civil war that killed tens of thousands countrymen and displaced two million more. On April 14th, Beah told his story to a capacity crowd at USM’s Hannaford Lecture Hall.

After being forced to fight the rebel army for two years, Beah was removed from combat and sent to a rehabilitation center in the capital city of Sierra Leone. At the age of fifteen, he was chosen to speak about the war to the United Nations, and was later granted the opportunity to study in the U.S. after completing high school. Other than an uncle who was killed in the war, Beah never saw his family again.

The civil war tore apart Sierra Leone for over a decade, as a country abundant in natural resources became the world’s poorest in 1998. The diamond industry was the center of struggle, illegally fueling the rebel army with exploitations of “blood diamonds.” Corruption spread throughout the country, forcing the government to intervene in what would be a long and costly civil war. Nearly twenty years later Sierra Leone remains one of the leading diamond manufacturers in the world. Yet while being better regulated since the end of the war seven years ago, the country remains prone to diamond smuggling.

In addition to Ishmael Beah’s speech, the program featured a film documenting post-civil war Sierra Leone. The movie, Fambul Tok, was made by the Portland-based foundation Catalyst for Peace, a company that supports community based peace building initiatives around the world.

As proud supporters of the Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture on Genocide and Human Rights, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein presented Beah’s bestselling memoir to a group of local students who were honored before the event as “ambassadors against genocide and the abuse of human rights.” The educational night was capped off by a question and answering session and a book signing by the author himself.

Previous guest speakers at the annual Schair Memorial Lecture include Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland, Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of the acclaimed film “Hotel Rwanda,” Judea Pearl, father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, and Akbar Ahmed, a renowned authority on Islam. And the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein salute each and every one of them.

For more information on the Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture on Genocide and Human Rights please contact the University of Southern at 207.780.5331.
 

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Each year, the Maine Jewish Film Festival screens approximately 20 films from around the world. The films, while having ties to Judaism, are enjoyed by movie lovers of all ages, backgrounds, and religions. This year marked the nonprofit organization’s twelfth annual festival held in March.

The nine-day celebration of film takes place at venues in and around Greater Portland, including the Nickelodeon Cinemas, One Longfellow Square, the University of Southern Maine and the Maine Historical Society, as well as select sites throughout the state. In 12 years, the festival has featured more than 200 films to an audience of nearly 23,000 people.

The mission of the Maine Jewish Film Festival is to educate and entertain a diverse community about the Jewish tradition. The festival explores Jewish culture through feature films, documentaries and shorts, each year picking a different theme to spotlight. This year’s theme was "The Diaspora Experience: What it Means to be From Away."

Highlights from the festival include an Opening Night Party to kick start the event, as well as after-film discussions with directors and community leaders. The Maine Jewish Film Festival also organizes seasonal community events including the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Film Project each April.

From Los Angeles, California to Portland, Maine, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support the vision of the Maine Jewish Film Festival and all of its actors, artists, directors, and volunteers. This year’s top movie as chosen by the people was The Beetle, a film about a man’s love for his car, but if it were up to us we’d give the entire festival an Academy Award.

Mazel Tov to the Maine Jewish Film Festival on another successful year on the silver screen!

For more information about the Maine Jewish Film Festival please visit: www.mjff.org.
 

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On March 19, 2009, the Maine Women’s Policy Center invited 100 eighth grade girls to Augusta to participate in the 13th annual Girls' Day at the State House. The students joined nearly 60 volunteers, lobbyists, and legislators for a day of hands-on learning about the intricacies of the Maine government.

The eighth graders had the opportunity to meet with state legislative, participate in a mock public hearing and press conference, explore the State House, and meet other like-minded girls interested in politics.

Held each March to commemorate Women’s History Month, Girls’ Day at the State House teaches young girls about the legislative process and the important role women play in shaping public policy. The underlying theme of the day is to give a diverse group of girls the opportunity to learn how they can have a future impact in the policymaking process of Maine, as well as an immediate impact in their communities throughout the state.

The Maine Women’s Policy Center was founded in 1990 and strives to increase economic, social, and political opportunities for women and girls through public policy and leadership development. With their focus set on economic security, civil rights, freedom from violence, and secure health care and reproductive rights, the center seeks to break down any biases and barriers that still exist against women in society today. Currently, seventy percent of the Maine Legislative is male.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we know well the result of hard work and a good education. With three female attorneys and nearly forty other female legal professionals on staff, we are proud to support the efforts of the Maine Women’s Policy Center and its annual Girls' Day at the State House.

Happy 30th Anniversary Maine Women’s Policy Center. May you continue to influence the young girls of today and help shape the future of tomorrow.

For more information on the Maine Women’s Policy Center and the Girls' Day at the State House, please visit: www.mainewomenspolicycenter.org.
 

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The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is pleased to announce the continuation of its high school scholarship program with our fifth annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest.  The contest is open to graduating seniors who wish to send a message to their peers to “arrive alive” and not drink and drive.

High school seniors can enter by submitting an essay, poem, video, song, public service announcement, t-shirt design, board game, drawings and more. The more creative, the better. 

First prize winners receive a new laptop of their choice, while second prize winners get an iPod and all entrants receive a special gift bag from our law firm.  In the past four years the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has given away over $15,000 in prizes to graduating seniors in the attempt to raise awareness on the dangers of drinking and driving. 

A complete set of rules and all past winning entries can be viewed online at our website: www.arrivealivewithme.com. 

The deadline for the contest is Friday May 1^st, 2009.

Each year, communities across Maine and America are devastated by drunk driving accidents. We urge you to help send the message to teenagers to stay safe and arrive alive, and hope that you will encourage your high school to participate in this year’s Arrive Alive Creative Contest. 

For more information on Joe Bornstein’s Arrive Alive Creative Contest please visit: www.arrivealivewithme.com.

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On February 27, 2009 the Community Counseling Center held its fourth annual Heroes with Heart Awards Dinner and Silent Auction to celebrate their Trauma Intervention Program (TIP). The program trains citizen volunteers to provide emotional and practical support to victims of traumatic events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy. 

The Heroes with Heart celebration recognizes everyday heroes throughout the state of Maine. Awards are given to police officers, fire fighters, paramedics and hospital staff who have been nominated by chiefs, supervisors and TIP volunteers for showing exceptional compassion and kindness to those who have experienced a traumatic event.   

In addition to the Trauma Intervention Program, the Community Counseling Center offers effective and high quality family, individual, and group therapies to help Mainers from all incomes and backgrounds. The center makes a difference in nearly 6,000 children, adults and senior citizens each year through counseling, education, treatment and wellness programs, and volunteers are available to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Each year, the Heroes with Heart award ceremony brings together community leaders, corporate sponsors, TIP volunteers, first responders, and healthcare workers for a night of celebration. At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we see firsthand the result a tragic accident can have on an injured person and his or her family, and are proud to support the Community Counseling Center and their quest to help Mainers in such a dire time.

Congratulations to Maine’s Heroes with Heart award winners, and to the Community Counseling Center for all of the good work they do throughout the state of Maine. 

For more information on the Community Counseling Center and their Heroes with Heart Awards Dinner, please visit their website: www.commcc.org.

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On February 12th, Gary’s House held its 4th annual Dine Around The World Food and Wine Tasting Extravaganza at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. The event featured food and drinks from some of the area’s top restaurants and bars, as well as gifts donated by local businesses for the silent auction.

The fundraiser is one of the most acclaimed in Portland, drawing over 400 people annually, and helps raise money to house the families of those receiving medical treatment at Mercy Hospital or the Maine Medical Center.

While undergoing treatment for cancer in Boston at the age of eighteen, Maine native Gary Pike saw the financial burden his family faced while trying to stay by his side throughout his two and a half year illness. As the teenager’s time in the hospital prolonged, his parents often slept in their car or on the hospital room floor to offset their mounting hotel bills. The battle with cancer would eventually cost Gary his life, but it would be his final wish to see that unlike his parents, Mainers had no such provisions.

In 1998, after seven years of fundraising and donations, Gary’s dream came true, as Gary’s House opened their doors on State Street in Portland. Today, the home offers nine bedrooms, six common rooms, and a place for Mainers to stay while a family member is being treated in either of the nearby hospitals. The cost to stay at Gary’s House is $15 per night, a mere nominal fee for keeping a family together at a most important time, and considerably less than what Gary Pike’s parents once faced.

As a business that sees firsthand the effects an extended hospital stay can have on both a patient and his or her family, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support Gary’s House and the wonderful service it provides.

Nearly twenty years ago a teenager from Kennebunk wanted Maine families to be able to remain by the sides of loved ones in hospitals without being financially burdened. Today, thanks to his vision and the hard work of his parents and the numerous employees, volunteers, and supporters of Gary’s House, Gary Pike’s dream is a reality. A reality we look forward to supporting at next year’s 5th annual Dine Around The World Food and Wine Tasting Extravaganza.

For more information on Gary’s House or to schedule a stay, please call (207) 773-9800 or visit them online at: http://www.mercyhospital.com/content/garyshouse.htm.
 

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On Monday January 19, 2009, the United States celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. The following day’s presidential inauguration proved that the late doctor’s dream is very much alive.

The commencement of Barack Obama’s presidency was historic, as people worldwide tuned in to join the sea of believers in our nation’s capital. With hope as palpable as in recent history, not only do African Americans want change, so does the rest of the world. 

In February, 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in New York. 100 years later the organization took another giant step forward with the swearing in of President Obama. It is with great implication that as the calendar flips to February, Black History Month in America, that our 44^th president begins to write its new chapter. 

The honoring of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the inauguration of President Obama were also celebrated locally here in Maine. Portland’s NAACP branch, which marked its 45^th anniversary this year, celebrated its 28^th annual Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Breakfast Celebration on his national holiday. The event is one of the largest and most diverse events held annually in Maine, and is regularly attended by the Governor, Maine Congressional Delegation, as well as prominent leaders in the fields of business, education, and religion. 

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is a proud supporter of change, progression, and equality, and wishes to offer our sincere gratitude to Maine’s local NAACP branch, as well as those involved nationwide, helping unite our country. To say that the U.S. has come a long way in its history would be an understatement, but perhaps today, more than ever, the late Doctor King can finally rest in peace.

For more information of Maine’s local NAACP branch please visit: www.naacpportland.org.

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Each winter some of New England and Canada’s top high school hockey teams come to Maine to test their skills. This year’s Maine High School Hockey Invitational proved to be no exception.

The round robin tournament is considered among the best in the North East and has grown considerably in its eight years. The exhibition encourages good sportsmanship and showcases top-notch teams and student athletes.

Forty-five teams participated in this year’s eighth annual invitational, with over half traveling from surrounding New England states and Canadian provinces, including Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The tournament was played at four different hockey rinks in Southern Maine: the Biddeford Ice Arena, the Portland Ice Arena, the USM Ice Arena, and Travis Roy Ice Arena in North Yarmouth, each with games running continuously throughout the five days.

Proceeds from the invitational are awarded in the form of scholarships to players from Maine who best exemplify the spirit of the tournament, and The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to support a tournament that encourages good sportsmanship as much as good competition. 

In addition to promoting the good will and competition of high school athletics, the tournament also gives local Maine teams the opportunity to play against some of the region’s best competition. The invitational also attracts college and professional hockey scouts who might not otherwise make the recruiting trip to Maine, therefore missing out on some of the best home grown talent our state has to offer.

And while no true tournament champion is crowned, the competition is fierce, friendships are formed, memories are made, and the spirit of high school hockey continues to grow in Maine. 

Congratulations to all participating teams and players, and best of luck for the 2009 season!

For more information on the Maine High School Hockey Invitational please visit: www.mainehshockey.com/mhhi.asp.

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In an attempt to increase ridership, public transit buses in Maine will be free on Fridays through the end of 2008. 

Free Fare Fridays is a month-long campaign designed to educate Mainers about low-cost transit options available throughout the state. This is the third promotion of free rides, following previous campaigns where ridership was up as much as 38%, as hundreds of new riders got to travel for free in their local communities.

The Free Fare Fridays campaign is a partnership between the Maine Department of Transportation, the GO MAINE commuter assistance program, and the Greater Portland Metro Services. In addition to the increase in transit riders, more and more commuters are visiting the GO MAINE commuter website in search of carpooling and vanpooling options. Since 2008, the GO MAINE database has increased by more than 100% and has had over one million hits to its website.

For more information about Free Fare Fridays, the GO MAINE commuter assistance program, and a complete list of participating transit services, please call 1-800-280-RIDE or visit: www.gomaine.org.

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This Thursday, November 20, 2008, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein will be extending our business hours once again for Mainers who do not have access to a phone during the daytime. Our office will remain open until 10pm to give Mainers throughout the state the opportunity to call us with their legal questions and speak directly with one of our experienced legal professionals.

Our staff will stand ready to answer your questions about:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Personal Injuries
• Social Security Disability
• Medical Malpractice
• Worker’s Compensation
• Maritime Injuries
• Injuries Related to Certain Prescription Drugs

We are the only law firm in the state of Maine to extend our business hours into the evening in an attempt to give Mainers an even greater access to justice. “Law Night” is a free service provided by The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein and a regular fee schedule is applied to all accepted cases.

Of course our office is open every day, Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm. With a statewide practice and five convenient offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, you can be sure there’s a Law Offices of Joe Bornstein near you. And in the chance that you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.

So give us a call this Thursday Night and be part of Maine’s only “Law Night,” brought to you by The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein – Maine Lawyers Working For Maine People

Now After Dark On Law Night!

Law Night:
When: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Time: 5pm - 10pm
Phone: 1-800-CALL-JOE (1-800-2255-563)
 

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a website for consumers to compare hospitals and the medical procedures they provide.

Visitors to the website: www.hhs.gov, can view data, graphs, and tables comparing and contrasting different hospitals and the surgical and medical procedures they offer throughout the U.S. The data is derived from surveys to both hospital staff and patients, and is available free to the general public.

Medical conditions that can be researched on the website include:

• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Chronic Lung Disease
• Pneumonia
• Diabetes
• Chest Pain

Surgical procedures that can be researched on the website, each containing one or more procedure, include:

• Heart and Blood Vessels
• Abdominal
• Neck, Back, and Extremities (Arms and Legs)
• Bladder, Kidney, and Prostrate
• Female Reproductive

When researching medical conditions and surgical procedures, consumers can learn which hospitals in their area offer the proper care they require, the number of patients treated for similar conditions, and the average cost to the patient. Consumers can also find out about the overall wellbeing of a hospital thanks in part to former patient and employee surveys. Information learned from these surveys includes, whether the nurses and doctors were accessible and helped properly educated the patient, whether patient questions and concerns were answered and addressed in a timely manner, whether the rooms were clean, quiet and comfortable, and whether former patients would recommend the hospital to others.

The information provided on the website is meant to help assist consumers in finding the hospital and medical procedure that is right for them. All prospective patients are advised to consult with their physician before making any medical decisions.

For more information and a complete set of medical conditions, surgical procedures, and list of hospitals that can be reviewed online, please visit: www.hhs.gov.
 

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As the number of senior citizens in Maine continues to grow, fewer and fewer elders can afford to pay for assisted living, congregate housing, or nursing home care. And when compared to staying at home in one’s local community with natural supports in place, the costs of the alternative living situations are astonishingly high to both seniors and the taxpaying public. 

Founded in 2003, Keeping Seniors Home is a statewide program designed to assist Maine’s low-income elders who would like to stay in their homes throughout the aging process. The program focuses on making homes safe, energy efficient, accessible and affordable, and partners with other community support services to ensure the health and well being of senior citizens.

The organization provides inspections of homes, a repair plan to bring them up to standards, and loan and grant packaging to make repairs. Services provided include:

• Home repairs and modifications for accessibility
• Energy conservation
• Falls risk assessments and prevention education
• Fire safety and fire risk assessments 

In addition to their hands on assistance, Keeping Seniors Home also gathers information about the elderly across a wide range of issues using what is known as the “Fallon Survey.” The study learns about seniors’ housing situation, socialization, medication costs, activity levels, and anticipated future needs. 

Since 2003, Keeping Seniors Home has renovated over 800 homes, completed over 700 Fallon Surveys, and leveraged over $5 million in elder housing investments throughout the state. To be eligible, Maine residents must be at least 65 years old and qualify for the fuel assistance program: LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assitance Program).

For more information on Keeping Seniors Home, and all of its eligibility requirements, please call the Western Maine Community Action toll free at 1-800-645-9636, or visit them online at: http://www.wmca.org/keeping_seniors_home.htm.

And help keep seniors where they truly want to be: Home Sweet Home.

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In celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Southern Maine Medical Center and Leavitt’s Mill Health Center will be hosting free healthcare screening days for women ages 40 to 64 who have limited or no insurance. The screenings will include mammograms, pap tests, and clinical examinations. 

Two free clinics will be offered to the general public:

• The first on Thursday October 16th from 9am to 3pm, starting with exams at the Leavitt’s Mill facility in Buxton, followed by the breast exam at the SMMC Diagnostic and Therapy Center in Saco.
• The second on Saturday November 1^st from 8am to 12pm at the SMMC Women’s Center in Biddeford. 

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 184,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year, with approximately 1000 in Maine alone. The Southern Maine Medical Center is encouraging all women to be screened, and is generously donating their time and resources to help educate women of all ages.

For more information on the free healthcare screening, please visit www.smmcvisitingnurses.org, or to schedule an appointment call 985-1028.

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Each year local artists and businesses join together in Biddeford for a day of art, music, and fun in the annual Chalk On The Walk festival. Organized by the Heart of Biddeford, this year’s fourth annual festival took place on Saturday October 4^th, as artists of all ages converged on the downtown sidewalks to showcase their favorite chalk renditions.

Attendees of the festival were privileged to the sights of local artists, the sounds of local musicians, the tastes of local restaurants, the generosity of local businesses, and the excitement of Zabby’s Traveling Farm Animals, a petting zoo and Pony ride that is always a favorite among kids.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein took part of the festivities once again, as our resident artist showed festival goers that we mean business when it comes to chalk art, by portraying the Lady Justice on the sidewalk in front of our office located at 193 Main Street. As a proud member of the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce, we are pleased to help support the arts and community of historic downtown Biddeford.

For more information on the Chalk On The Walk festival and all other activities happening in and around the town of Biddeford please visit: www.heartofbiddeford.org.

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The twenty-seventh annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run took place September 14, 2008.  Motorcyclists from around Maine gathered at the Augusta Civic Center with new toys in tow and rode in unison to the Windsor Fairgrounds, where their toys were pooled together and donated to the Salvation Army.

Despite a steady rain, thousands of bikers took part in the annual Toy Run, as participants wanted to help less fortunate families by ensuring that their children would receive gifts during the upcoming holiday season.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein was also on hand to join in the festivities.  We donated two large trash bags full of toys, and gave away custom bandanas to those who braved the rain and went for a ride.

Each year thousands of toys are collected by the good deed of the United Bikers of Maine, and because of this, each year many less fortunate families have a happy holiday season.

So for all you bikers out there, join the fun and join the cause, and take part in next year’s twenty-eighth annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run. 

And for those who ride, be sure to keep Joe Bornstein by your side.

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Summer is officially over and that mean it’s time for school. The Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offer the following advice for all parents to help assimilate their kids back to school:

First Day Jitters:

• Remind your child that he or she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
• Point out the positive aspects of starting school: Your child will see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh his or her memory about previous years, when he or she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits after having fun.
• Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school or ride with on the bus.

Back Pack Safety:

• Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
• Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments and pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's body weight.
• Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.

School Bus Safety:

• Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
• Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing.
• Do not move around the bus and always make sure to remain in clear view of the bus driver.

Eating During The School Day:

• Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.
• Try to get your child's school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines.
• Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60 percent. Restrict your child's soft drink consumption.

Developing Good Homework and Study Habits:

• Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Children need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy and inspiration.
• Set aside ample time for homework and establish a household rule that the TV stays off during homework time.
• If your child is struggling in a subject, speak with his or her teacher and seek out additional help. Teachers will be happy to assist those who take the initiative. 

School should be an enjoyable learning experience for children of all ages, and with proper precautions and preparation, the future of tomorrow will learn today. So teach your kids to enjoy school, because by excelling in school they will be setting themselves up to excel in life.

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With the oldest of the baby boomers reaching the age of 62, more and more Mainers are now collecting Social Security.

To find out how much Social Security you will receive in retirement, go to:
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator and calculate your estimated earnings.
 

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Maine residents of Androscoggin and Oxford counties can now apply for home heating assistance.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was created to help low-income homeowners and renters pay for heating costs in the upcoming 2008-2009 winter.

To apply, Mainers must fill out an application and set up an appointment with Community Concepts by the end of August. 

When calling, be sure to have ready:

• The names and social security numbers for all who live in the household
• Proof of gross household income for the last 12 months.
• Copy of recent electric bill
• Oil company and account number
• And if renting, the phone number of landlord.  

To set up an appointment, residents of Oxford County should call 743-7716, and Androscoggin County, 795-4065.  More information is available online at: www.community-concepts.org.

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With five convenient office locations and a statewide practice, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein provides Mainers from across the state with access to justice.  But helping Mainers get the justice they deserve is just the tip of the iceberg for our law firm in trying to make the great state of Maine even better.

In addition to providing thoughtful and quality representation to over 15,000 clients in 34 years of practice, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to give back to its fellow Mainers through philanthropic and charitable donations.  We see firsthand the hardships and disabilities some of our clients have, and it's both a blessing and pleasure for us to be able to give back to our community.

In 2007, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein donated to 48 separate organizations, including:

• The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)
• American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org)
• American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org)
• The Boys and Girls Club of Portland (www.bgca.org)
• Brewer Youth Sports (www.brewerme.org)
• Campaign For Justice (www.campaignforjustice.org)
• Cedars Nursing Care Center (www.cedarshealthcare.com)
• The Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness (www.cromwellcenter.org)
• Good Shepherd Food Bank (www.gsfb.org)
• Jewish Family Services (www.mainejewish.org)
• Literacy Volunteers (www.lvmaine.org)
• Maine Bar Association (www.mainebar.org)
• Maine Bar Foundation (www.mbf.org)
• Maine Civil Liberties Union (www.mclu.org)
• Maine Trial Lawyers Association (www.mtla.org)
• March of Dimes (www.marchofdimes.com)
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org)
• The United Way (www.liveunited.org)
• WMPG (www.wmpg.org)

We see each day that not everyone is as fortunate as we are, and that's why we make it a point to give back to our community.  In addition to charitable donations, our employees have also volunteered their time serving warm meals at the Preble Street Resource Center and reading to students at the Reiche School in Portland. 

The charitable giving of one law firm can make a small impact in a community, but together we can make a substantial one. We hope everyone takes the time to help those less fortunate, and to help make Maine the state we know and love.

Charitable giving feels good, but more importantly it does good! 

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The 4th annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest sponsored by The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has come to a consummate close. 

The contest asks graduating seniors from local Maine high schools to think creatively and come up with a message that warns their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving.  Students may enter the contest by submitting an essay or creative project of their choice that urges teenagers to stay safe and Arrive Alive. 

The 2008 First Place Winners are:

Harrison Kenning - Thornton Academy - Video
Lacy McMoarn - Thornton Academy - Board Game
Rachel Roberts - Bangor High - Video
Kassim Sembatya - Deering High School - Poem

First place winners receive a brand new laptop computer, second place winners receive a new iPod, and all students who participate receive a gift bag from The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. 

In four years, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has given away nearly $20,000 in scholarships and prizes to graduating high school seniors, including nine laptops and thirteen iPods.

For more information on the Arrive Alive Creative Contest, including a complete set of rules and to view all current and past winning submissions, please visit our website: www.arrivealivewithme.com

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Perhaps you've seen us on the Maine Turnpike or the local roads of your hometown.  With two custom shrink wrapped vehicles, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein can be found traveling the great state of Maine, helping Mainers get the justice they deserve.

With five convenient offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein maintains a statewide practice and provides Mainers from all geographic locations with access to justice.

So the next time you're traveling on the Maine Turnpike, Route 1, or even the backroads heading south, be on the lookout for one of our custom shrink wrapped vehicles, and know that the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is on its way to help another Mainer get the justice they deserve.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein - Maine Lawyers Helping Maine People

On every highway and byway in the state of Maine.

(photo taken at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine)

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iVillage.com  has compiled a list of the top ten safest states to raise children.  Our beloved State of Maine scored a favorable ranking of sixth, and was heralded for passing laws with the safety of teenage drivers in mind. 

The report went on to say, "Maine law limits the number of passengers a new driver can have in the car, restricts cell phone use, and can point to a graduated system in which drivers are not able to obtain a full license until their 17th birthday. Maine law is one of only nine states that stipulates all three.”

However, even with the precautionary laws in place, people ages 16-24 make up only 13 percent of all Maine drivers, but are responsible for more than 33 percent of all the fatalities on Maine roads since 2003 (www.onlinesentinel.com).
 

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the dangers young drivers face everyday.  We urge parents to prepare their teens for life on the road, and have created a school sanctioned creative contest to warn teens about the dangers of drinking and driving.  To learn more about this special contest and to view all past winning entries, please visit our website: www.arrivealivewithme.com. 

Top Ten Safest States to Raise Children:

1. Connecticut
2. Rhode Island
3. New Jersey
4. New York
5. California
6. Maine
7. Pennsylvania
8. Massachusetts
9. Maryland
10. Oregon

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