As a proud graduate of Deering High School, Joe offers his best wishes to the Class of 2020-- go Rams!

As the proud son of a Bulldog (Class of 1940), Joe offers a heartfelt congratulations to the Portland High School Class of 2020!

Since graduating high school seniors aren't getting the senior year they deserve, Joe wants to give them some special love on the Time & Temp this week. Joe is sorry that they can't get the same kind of senior experience he fondly remembers having at Deering High School, but hopes that being highlighted in the city's skyline will bring a smile to their faces. Congratulations seniors-- you've earned a chance to celebrate and go leave your mark on the world!

Joe offers his heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Blain Alves, who tragically passed away recently. Joe joins the rest of Portland in wishing the Alves family and the entire Deering community comfort during this difficult time.

You can read more about this impressive young man here.

Readers of this blog are by now familiar with the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, New England's largest horse shelter. The Society is caring for many horses in various stages of recovery from abuse or neglect. Some are healthy, trained, and awaiting adoption into a new permanent home; others will live out their days at the Society’s Windham farm.

It takes 20,000 bales of hay to feed The Society's horses for a year. The 2020 Buy a Bale fundraiser gives everyone a chance to help the horses. A $5 donation can purchase a bale of hay and feed a horse for an entire day. Learn more about the cause here, and donate to Buy a Bale here.

Joe offers his thanks to the folks at MSSPA for the great work they do, and his appreciation to the readers of this blog who lend a hand to this great cause.

                 Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

In these uncertain times, we're all looking for ways to help our fellow Mainers. Well, Joe wants you to know about one such effort. Educate Maine, a local nonprofit that advances education policies and practices that prepare Maine students to be the next generation of productive, engaged citizens, is running the 2,020 Maine Books Challenge, the purpose of which is to support local students and businesses during this period of remote learning by getting books in the hands of as many Maine children as possible. Educate Maine is working with its network of County Teachers of the Year and Education Leaders Experience alumni to distribute books in all 16 counties. They are also supporting Maine’s independent bookstores. Joe has been proud to participate in this noble and timely effort and encourages other local businesses to do the same.

Learn more about Educate Maine here and more about the 2,020 Maine Books Challenge here.

Readers of this blog will recognize this familiar message. Farm to Table Kids, Inc. is a local farm and nonprofit based in North Yarmouth that also operates a summer camp for kids. The mission of the camp is to inspire children & families to play in kitchens and gardens through healthy, happy, hands-on learning experiences. Showing children the power of a seed, healthy earth, and an educated mind, the wonders of growing - from SEED TO PLATE. Farm to Table Kids shows children how to plant, grow, harvest, and prepare healthy foods at their organic farm and solar powered greenhouse STEAM Lab.

Learn more about this great camp, including how to register, here.

                    Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Having been a personal injury attorney for over 40 years, Joe has seen too many lives ruined by dangerous driving. To raise awareness about this important issue, Joe holds the Arrive Alive Creative Contest each year for graduating high school seniors throughout Maine. Now in it's 16th year, seniors may enter by submitting a creative project that sends a message to their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving and/or distracted driving.

Past entries have included essays, poems, paintings, public service announcements, videos, original songs, t-shirts, board games, drawings and more. The more creative, the better! First place winners receive a new laptop computer, second and third place winners receive a new iPad, and everyone who enters wins fun prizes from the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein.

A complete set of rules and all past winners can be found at ArriveAliveCreativeContest.com. The deadline to enter this year's contest is in just 4 days. Joe encourages any and all high school seniors in Maine to submit an entry into the contest, and more importantly encourages everyone on the road to practice safe driving techniques.

                 Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.