Followers of the Time & Temp Building will recognize this message as familiar-- Joe first spread the word about the Portland Food Co-op during the lead-up to its grand opening. Now, as hard as it is to believe, our beloved local community-owned market is celebrating its one year anniversary. Time flies when you're bringing local producers and consumers together in a member-owned marketplace to grow a healthier community and a more sustainable food system! If you haven't checked out this lovely market yet, Joe urges you to do so- you can find it at 290 Congress Street in Portland. And if you're so inclined, you should also consider attending the market's one-year anniversary party on Thursday, November 19th. At this fun event you'll be able to enjoy free coffee all day long, in addition to samples from visiting farmers and producers. Again, Joe urges you to check out the Co-op, and extends his thanks to Mary Alice, Sasha, Kennedy, Idris, Marion, and the whole crew who provides Joe's family with delicious local food!

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

Having worked as a personal injury attorney for most of his life, Joe has seen countless injured Mainers- he knows how essential the availability of healthcare is for everyday Mainers, which is why he's promoting Enroll207, a project of the Maine Health Access Foundation, the state's largest health care foundation. The purpose of enroll207 is to connect Mainers to certified assisters who can help review new options for health insurance through the Maine Health Insurance Marketplace. The Maine Marketplace is an online insurance store where policies offered by different companies can be compared side-by-side. You can apply for and buy health insurance coverage through the HealthCare.gov website using a single application.

Open enrollment is the time period when most people can pick a plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you or your loved ones don't have insurance, there's good news: the current open enrollment period will continue until January 31, the deadline to sign up for a 2016 low-cost plan and avoid a fine at tax time. There are a variety of plans available this year that fit your needs and can fit into your budget. All of the plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace cover doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, preventive care and more. Health insurance protects you and your family from the unexpected. An accident or injury can happen any day. When it does, the last thing you should have to worry about is how to pay for your healthcare or taking on medical debt.

If you're a Mainer interested in utilizing the open enrollment period, Joe encourages you to visit the Enroll207 website.

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

Another new message, another new non-profit on Joe's radar. Hope Acts is a local organization, based in Portland, that works alongside addicts and alcoholics in recovery and African asylum seekers for a community where all people experience social, emotional, physical, economic, and spiritual well-being. This wonderful organization's mission is to improve the quality of life for persons of the Greater Portland area by addressing needs for healthy living, housing security, and a hopeful economic future, and to strengthen neighborhoods to become safe places of hospitality, hope and healing for all people. This Saturday, November 14, Hope Acts is hosting its Second Annual "Into Auction". Held at Hope Gateway at 509 Forest Avenue in Portland, this event will feature live music, appetizers & desserts, silent & live auction featuring art and donations from local businesses, artists, and supporters, all to benefit this great local organization. Joe hopes the event is a success and hopes you consider attending!

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

As another Veteran's day comes and goes, Joe is thankful for the sacrifices made by those who wear an American uniform and defend our country, and saddened by the challenges they often face when they come home. They deserve to be treated like the courageous heroes that they are. Thanks to everyone who has served and who plans on doing so in the future. Happy Veteran's Day.

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

Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community but felt like you needed help? Joe knows how much being part of a group can empower an individual, and that's why he's proud to promote the Southern Maine chapter of 100 Women Who Care. 100 Women Who Care Southern Maine is a group of local women who are interested in supporting our communities by contributing to Southern Maine charities together as a group to increase the impact. The organization's mission is to reach out and help the community by finding 100 or more women (the count is currently over 150!) to each contribute $50 four times a year in order to give $20,000+ annually to local charities. All charities and organizations up for consideration must be in the Southern Maine area. The idea is to keep it local and have an impact that can be seen in our communities!

100 Women's next meeting is this Thursday, November 12, at the Woodfords Club, 179 Woodfords St, Portland, ME from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Registration begins at 5:45, with time for networking, appetizers and a glass of wine before the meeting. Come find out what a great group of generous and thoughtful women can do when they put their minds to it!

Find out more about this local organization here, and please consider joining the movement!

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

When Joe is on the road, he tunes to 90.1 FM, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network (the station number is different depending on your region- find your local station here). Every day, MPBN connects the people of Maine to each other and to the world through the open exchange of information, ideas and cultural content. On Thursday, November 5th, MPBN is holding its Super Thursday One Day Pledge Drive. Find out more about MPBN and the fundraiser here, and remember: important local non-profits like MPBN rely on funding from Mainers like you, so please lend them a hand if you can, and be sure to tune in for their great programming.

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

Joe prides himself on his decades of work on behalf of injured Mainers. He also has great respect for another organization that works tirelessly on behalf of such people: SARSSM- the Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine. This organization has been providing free and confidential services to victims of sexual assault since 1973. SARSSM has two main foci: to provide support and advocacy to victims of sexual violence, and to provide prevention education and awareness around the issue of sexual violence and exploitation. This Monday, November 2nd, SARSSM will be hosting its annual meeting and leadership award ceremony. With a focus on the issue of sex trafficking in Maine, this ceremony will honor Cathy Lee, an international leader on justice for women. Joe applauds the work done by Ms. Lee and everyone affiliated with SARSSM, and is happy that such an organization exists to benefit victims of sexual violence in Maine. He urges you to find out more about this organization here.

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

Count this message as yet another educational opportunity for Joe, who until recently had been unaware of the United Nations Association of Maine, a nonpartisan nonprofit that engages Maine people in U.N. efforts toward building global peace. This Saturday, October 24th, from 7-9pm at Bowdoin College, UNA Maine will be hosting a 70th anniversary celebration of the founding of the United Nations. Senator Angus King will be in attendance to deliver a presentation on Global Challenges and the Need for International Cooperation. This educational forum is free of charge and open to the public. Find more about UNA Maine here.

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