Cutline (Tim Driscoll) – Rep. Tim Driscoll, D-Westbrook, welcomes Sharon Sesling-Labonte to the Statehouse in Augusta recently for Banker’s Day. The bankers shadowed representatives, observed House and Senate sessions, and joined their representatives for lunch. Sesling-Labonte is an assistant vice president, fixed income and equity trader for Acadia Trust. Courtesy photo

Free lecture today

As Westbrook struggles to decide whether or not to allow Wal-Mart to build, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. struggles with shrinking rates of growth and sales, the University of Southern Maine is hosting a lecture by an author from 2:45 to 4 p.m. today, April 20, at the university’s Glickman Library, Forest Avenue, Portland.

Liza Featherstone, author of “Selling Women Short: The Landmark Battle for Worker’s Rights at Wal-Mart,” will speak and sign books. Featherstone, who says Maine has the highest number of Wal-Mart stores per capita in the United States, has followed from the beginning the Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. class action suit, representing 1.4 million women.

The Women’s Studies Program and Gender Studies Student Organization at the university, ME NOW, Portland NOW, and the United Food and Clerical Workers are sponsoring the lecture. For more information, call 780-4862.

Cutline: Breaking ground on April 10 for an addition at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church are, left to right, Phil Brown, fundraising; Ed DeLong, pastor; Abbott Mosher, building committee chairman; Sandra Beesley, church moderator; and Eric Mora, project manager for Hardypond Construction of Westbrook. Courtesy photo

Church addition underway

Church officials at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church on Main Street broke ground on April 10 for a $390,000 addition to make the church more accessible for elderly.

The two-floor addition will feature a stairwell, elevator and vestibule. Abbott Mosher of Gorham, who heads up the church’s building committee, said that the 21-by-28-foot addition should be completed by the end of July.

The church has 243 members.

Knights dinner meeting

The Knights of Columbus, Council #2219, will have their monthly supper meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 25, in the parish hall at St. Mary’s Church on Main Street.

The potluck supper is for the Knights of Columbus and their guests.

“God’s Politics” author to discuss book

Why can’t people talk about religion and politics? Why does the “Right” get it wrong and the “Left” doesn’t get it?

Jim Wallis, author of the best-selling book “God’s Politics,” will talk about these topics and more in a free book discussion series at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays from May 3 to June 7 at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 810 Main St.

Described as a “new vision for faith and politics in America,” and written by an author who has met President George Bush and other political and religious leaders around the world, “God’s Politics” attempts to encourage a new kind of dialogue that goes beyond “Red States and Blue States” categories.

Parking is available free in the lot on the Church Street side of the building. Large “God is Still Speaking” banners identify the church from Main Street. Entrance for the discussion series will be through the door at the parking lot level.

For registration or more information, call Wanda Dunlap at the church office at 854-9157.

Free blood pressure, cholesterol checks

VFW Post 832 is sponsoring a health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, at 50 Peary Terrace, South Portland.

The fair will provide patient education information and free blood pressure and cholesterol tests besides a free lunch catered by Ricetta’s. Rene A. Deshene, a representative of the VFW, will be there to answer questions about Veterans Administration issues and benefits.

For more information, call 767-2575.

Rummage sale reminder

The Prides Corner Congregational Church, 235 Pride St., is sponsoring a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 23.

A large variety of white elephant items will also be available.

Cutline: Charlotte Leavitt

Honors Westbrook Woman

Charlotte Leavitt, loan officer at the South Portland-based Homeowners Assistance Corporation, recently received the company’s prestigious Platinum Club Award for outstanding performance.

She was honored for the volume of residential loans she closed during 2004. Working out of the company’s South Portland office, she serves homebuyers throughout Greater Portland. Leavitt has worked in the mortgage industry for nearly five years, most of that time with Homeowners. She and husband, Maurice, reside in Westbrook.

Homeowners, serving customers in Maine and New Hampshire since 1988, is a full-service independent mortgage company with expertise in a wide range of government and private home financing options. In addition to South Portland, it maintains offices in Auburn and Nashua and Bedford.