I can’t believe it’s over.  After many months of hard work, thousands of doors, and countless volunteer hours, the election is over!  Woo hoo! and Whew!  The feelings of hope and community that have come out of this election are overwhelming.  Thank you so much to all the wonderful friends, family, and neighbors that have gotten involved, supported Mark in this challenge, and that went out to vote last Tuesday.  This has truly been a group effort! 

Election day was filled with excitement, anticipation, and lots of activity.  There were new signs to be pounded in, big signs to be waved, hands to be shaken, smiles to be given, and most importantly votes to be cast.  The hard work was over, it was a day, a LONG day, of waiting.  

As the wife of a candidate, I got to spend a portion of the day with Mark greeting voters at the poles.  Voting ethics prohibits him from saying anything more than his name and to thank people for voting.  It was so much fun to see some of the fruit of so many months labor.  It was great to see how much Mark’s door visits, personal conversations, and personal notes meant to people.  Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike were generous with their kind words of encouragement and support.  It gives me such great hope that we are ready and willing to come together as people, to work together, to compromise, and to make things better.  

Mark knows that the campaign was but a prelude to the hard work to come.  Yet, he is ready.  He is excited to continue the work that started as conversations at your doors and will turn into positive change for Maine!   

 
 

November 4th is quickly approaching.  Most people are ready for the media hype and campaign ads to be over.  However, if we can put aside our frustration with the annoying part of our election process, and focus on what an honor it is to be able to take part and make a difference in this great country of ours, then we can be proud to accept the responsibility of voting for our local, state, and national leaders.  

My mother-in-law was sharing the other day, that when her mother was born women did not have the right to vote.  Mark’s grandmother was born into a United States that did not allow women to vote!  With Hillary Clinton’s historic run for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President we can clearly see we have come a long way.  However, as a woman and a mother, I feel it is important to realize that voting is a privilege and we do have a responsibility to be an active voice in shaping the direction of our country at all levels.  

As I was driving home this evening with my children in the back, I came up over the hill heading toward North Berwick on Route 4.  I was greeted by a HUGE blue and white “Mark Eves” sign.  I knew these signs would be going up today, but I was not prepared for the excitement it stirred in me.  I am so proud of my husband for the campaign that he has worked tirelessly on since this past March.  More than that, however, I am honored to be able to vote for Mark.  I am blown away by his passion and commitment to the people of North Berwick and South Berwick and the State of Maine.  He will do great things for us all if you let him be our voice in Augusta.  

Join our excitement.  Honk when you pass Mark and his numerous volunteers as they stand waving signs on the corners of North and South Berwick.  Smile with me and remember what can be accomplished together from a grass-roots level – every time you see the huge “Mark Eves” signs.  Get out and vote on Tuesday, November 4th!!! 

 
 

That’s unacceptable.  This is just one of many statistics relating to challenges facing Maine’s families.  On Wednesday, September 17, 2008, Mark joined Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe, along with citizens, senators, representatives, candidates, advocates, parents, teachers, and counselors from all over the country as they have met at their state capitals to “Step Up for Kids.”  This was a non-partisan event sponsored by the organization Every Child Matters.  The purpose of the event was to bring awareness during campaign elections to the issues that are impacting our nation’s children.

Attorney General Steven Rowe with Mark Eves in Augusta, ME          for Step Up for Kids Day

This coming week, Mark will be attending another event put on by the United Way of York County and the organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.  The York County Community Conversations on Early Childhood Care and Education will include panel discussions with attendee participation to talk about what initiatives are being taken and what can be done to invest in Maine’s children.  These discussions will address prevention investments that will not only help children succeed, but will also benefit our state financially in the long run.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Maine is an organization of over 125 police chiefs, sheriffs, district attorneys, other law enforcement leaders and violence survivors. Members include Maine's Attorney General, Commissioner of Public Safety as well as the Presidents of the Maine Chiefs and Maine Sheriffs Associations. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Maine is part of the national, bipartisan, nonprofit anti-crime organization of more than 3,500 law enforcement members.
from http://www.fightcrime.org/me/aboutus.php

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids takes a hard nosed look at crime prevention strategies, informs the public and policymakers about those findings, and urges investment in programs proven effective by research. Our organization focuses on high quality early education programs, prevention of child abuse and neglect, after-school programs for children and teens, and interventions to get troubled kids back on track.
from http://www.fightcrime.org/aboutus.php

Mark has dedicated his career to investing in children and families.  He has been in the trenches with families as they struggle to deal with the challenges life has thrown their way.  Mark has chosen to pursue candidacy for Maine House of Representatives precisely because he cares about these issues.  Mark believes that making investments in programs that will help Maine children and their families succeed is not only the right thing to do; it is also the fiscally responsible approach.  Please join Mark in his work for Maine families – vote for Mark Eves this November 4th!

 
 

While Mark has continued to be out and about, knocking on doors, attending his first house party, and reaching as many as he can in District 146 – our family has also been celebrating the milestone of our daughter starting preschool.  

We had a mixture of emotions running through us as we proudly watched our little girl march up to her new school and take that first step in life toward separating from her parents and becoming more of the wonderful individual she is.  She was so excited and happy to be starting her new adventure.  Watching her over the fence of the playground tentatively beginning new friendships, we couldn’t help but be happy and excited for her – and then we had to get in our car and leave and the mom in me cried all the way home!  My baby is in school!  How quickly time passes.

In addition to Elaina’s new school having a philosophy about education and learning – “developing self-confidence, independence and a love of learning while experiencing social, academic and physical activities.” --  that is compatible with ours, I am also excited that their new building has been constructed using eco-friendly and green technology. I am thrilled that she will be surrounded by an environment that will nourish her mind, body, spirit, and our planet – and teach her to do the same!

 
 

“Sign, sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign”

Signs, by Five Man Electrical Band, 1970.

For some reason I have had this song in my head all day.  The original was from 1970, and there was a remake by the band Tesla when I was in high school.  This song reminds me that one of the things I love about Maine is that there are not billboards “blocking out the scenery”.  After moving to Maine, it took me a while to connect exactly why driving on I-95 was so pretty (as compared to other interstates).  Then it finally clicked, you can actually see the beauty around you! 

Maybe I have signs on the brain because I have boxes full of them in my kitchen.  You may not know this about me, but I hate political signs.  And yet, here I am with boxes full of them in my house and one of them in my yard!!  The funny thing is, when I see this particular sign it makes me smile.  I haven’t developed a sudden love of the political sign, but I have come to see them as a necessary part of the campaign process.  I have to admit, it makes me proud to see my husband’s name on a sign because I know he will do great things for our community and the State of Maine.

The other day, as Mark was coming back from going door to door, one of the neighbor boys came over all excited to ask “Mr. Eves” if he could have a yard sign.  He was so excited to know someone who is running and was asking several questions about the process.  The neat part was, he didn’t stop there, but proceeded to go around and ask more of our neighbors if he could put a “Mark Eves” sign in their yard too.  He said he wanted to talk to all of his friends and their parents about voting for Mark.  I thought it was so great that this boy wanted to be involved and how wonderful that our neighborhood children are excited about knowing their State Representative. 

I believe that the most important part of this upcoming election is going to be getting out the vote.  So, as you are out and about, and you spot a “Mark Eves” sign, take that as a reminder to do your part to be involved in the process.  Talk to your friends about Mark Eves, put out a yard sign, host a house party, send others to our website – get out the vote!

 
 

 Mark and Elaina march in the Mill Field Festival parade with the North Berwick Democrats.

Mark had a terrific weekend at the North Berwick Mill Field Festival.  We watched Elaina and her friend Emma march in the doll carriage parade, we listened to live music, ate yummy food, met new friends, caught up with old ones, we got to pet cute furry animals, the kids bounced and danced, and we all marched in the parade with the North Berwick Democrats.  In addition, the North Berwick Democrats had a booth to hand out information on the Circuit Breaker property tax rebate program and resources for energy efficiency and fuel assistance.  Mark enjoyed talking with those of you he has met when knocking on doors, and he had the chance to talk with many new folks as well.  He really wants to hear people’s concerns.  Mark is excited to let residents know he is running, and he looks forward to being a strong, new voice in Augusta.   

Some resources on the web:

i     http://maine.gov/revenue/taxrelief/tnr.htm

i     http://www.efficiencymaine.com

i     http://www.maineenergyinfo.com/

i    http://www.mainehousing.org/ENERGYPrograms.aspx 


Pure JOY -- Elaina and her friend Emma twirling to the Mike Hashem Banjo Band.

 
 

Hot Summer Nights in South Berwick -- The Scharff Brothers

While it seemed like the rain would never end, that didn’t stop us from getting out and dancing to some fun, live, local music – or at least it didn’t stop our 1 and 3 year olds from boogying.  The music had to move indoors at the South Berwick Town Hall, because of the threat of inclement weather, but the room was full and people weren’t ready to leave when it was scheduled to be over.  To me, that says so much about our community.  It is so nice to see people out, enjoying live music, socializing, children dancing and having fun – that is community.

 
 

When returning from vacation, it always seems to take twice as long to get back into the normal routine of life, than the time you were actually on the vacation.  In our case, it’s taken about a month to start to feel grounded again. 

At the end of July we had the opportunity to take some time off and get away.  We traveled to Washington State to visit with my (Laura’s) family.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins added up to 8 adults and 7 kiddos all in one house – what a lot of energy and what a lot of fun!  Here are a few photos of the our family in Washington. 

We had a very good visit with family and friends, some time to relax and rejuvenate, and now we are happily back in Maine.  Mark definitely hit the ground running upon our return.  He has been busy all of August knocking on doors in both North Berwick and South Berwick and meeting as many of the great folks in our district as possible.  He is even more energized to get out there and talk with everyone he can about our great State and how he can serve District 146!

 
 

Slaid Cleaves starts off this year's free Hot Summer Nights Concert Series tomorrow night (7/10/08) from 6:30 - 8:00pm on the lawn in front of Central School in South Berwick.  This is a great way to enjoy the many joys of summer -- good music, warm weather, fresh air, friends and neighbors.  Click on the photo to visit Slaid Cleaves myspace page to hear a sample of music.  To get a complete schedule for this summer's concert series (as well as other great info on happenings in our community) visit the awesome website:

 http://the236diner.com/2008/07/09/to-do-list-hot-summer-nights-are-back/

 

 
 

"Vote for Change -

 Our Time is Now" Rally

with Special Guest
Democratic National Party Chairman and
2004 Presidential Candidate
Governor Howard Dean



Thursday, July 10th @ 3:15 p.m.
One Longfellow Square - Portland, Maine

General Admission - $10 Discount

Youth Rate (24 and under) - $5
(Checks, cash and credit cards accepted)

SPACE IS LIMITED!!
TO GUARANTEE YOUR TICKET -

RSVP TO ERIN BARNES @
772-4353 OR

EBARNES@MAINEDEMS.ORG





 
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