The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein are open late tonight for Law Night! If you need legal assistance, call us at 1-800-CALL-JOE

Having been a personal injury attorney for 40 years, Joe has seen too many lives ruined by drinking and driving. To raise awareness about this important issue, Joe holds the Arrive Alive Creative Contest each year. Arrive Alive is open to graduating high school seniors throughout the state of Maine. Seniors may enter by submitting a creative project that sends a message to their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving and/or the dangers of distracted driving. Past entries have included essays, poems, paintings, public service announcements, videos, recorded songs, t-shirts, board games, drawings and more. First place winners receive a new laptop computer, second place winners receive a new iPad, and third place winners receive a new iPod. Everyone who enters the contest wins fun prizes from Joe. Find more about the contest at the official website, and Joe hopes you enter the contest!

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

Like anyone who's been through the grieving process, Joe knows that it can be made more bearable with companionship and support. The Center for Grieving Children, based in Portland, serves more than 4,000 grieving children, teens, families, and young adults annually through peer support, outreach, and education. Offering services for free, for as long as people need them, the Center's mission is to provide loving support that encourages the safe expression of grief and loss and fosters each individual's resilience and emotional well-being. Joe is happy to promote the "Love Really Counts" Gala, CGC's annual fundraiser that generates substantial community support to help keep the Center's services free for children and their families. This year's event will be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay on Friday, February 27th, and will feature auctions, raffles, entertainment and more, all for a noble cause. Joe hopes the event is a great success for a wonderful organization, and urges you to find more about the event here and about the organization here.

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

This could be a tricky message to decipher- we're all familiar with the University of Southern Maine, but did you know that today is USM's job fair? With over 80 employers attending from a wide variety of industries including healthcare, government agencies, technology, arts, and consumer products, the job fair will give job-seekers the opportunity to explore job opportunities, meet with employers, learn about the hiring process, and build professional relationships. The event is today, Thursday February 12th, from 11am-3pm at the Sullivan Gym in Portland. For more information about the job fair, check out USM's career services page. Joe hopes the event is a success and wishes you well in your job hunt!

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. Remember: important local non-profits like MPBN rely on funding from Mainers like you, so please lend them a hand if you can (check out their website to donate), and be sure to tune in for their great programming.

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

This isn't the first time that Joe has used the Time & Temp to promote one of his favorite local non-profits, Simple Gifts. Simple Gifts' purpose is to provide limited financial support and encouragement to patients and their loved ones who are experiencing a medical crisis. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers. Simple Gifts gives assistance in the form of gas and food credit cards, gift certificates, birthday, holiday, and special occasion gifts, as well as other forms of limited financial support. Simple Gifts also helps to facilitate community-based giving to these individuals. The typical "simple gift" has a value of $50 or less. Find more about the organization here.

Simple Gifts has been selected for inclusion on Bangor Savings Bank's Foundation's 2015 Community Matters More ballot. As one of six Cumberland County nonprofit organizations listed on the ballot, and one of 48 statewide, Simple Gifts will receive a $1,000 grant and will be in the running for a top award of $5,000 based on total community voting.

$5,000 would provide 200 $25 gas/grocery cards for in-need patients treated in Maine hospitals and their visiting loved ones.

Voting takes place February 1 through February 28, 2015.

To vote for Simple Gifts online:

Click on "Cast Your Vote Today" at this link: www.bangor.com/cmm
Click "Next" and enter first name, last name, email, zip code
Scroll to Cumberland County on ballot
Vote for Simple Gifts
Click the "Finish" button.

Joe will be casting his ballot for this amazing organization and hopes that you do too!

A longtime fan of stage, Joe likes to promote local theater companies whenever he can. This weekend, Joe is happy to announce the new season of the Mad Horse Theatre Company. Founded in 1986 in Portland as a professional resident theater ensemble, Mad Horse quickly developed a reputation for innovative interpretations of cutting-edge contemporary plays as well as the dramatic classics. Their mission is to produce plays which compassionately examine and illuminate the enduring aspects of the human experience, and their work focuses on areas of social concern, personal transformation and the building of lasting community relationships. Joe thinks you should check these artists out at their home over in South Portland (and on the web by clicking here). To the company, Joe says break a leg this season!

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

Like so many others in our community, Joe has been personally touched by cancer, having seen many friends and family-members struggle with the disease. Any effort to fight cancer has Joe's support, which is why he's happy to promote the Cancer Community Center's 2015 Cycle 4 Care, an event to raise money for cancer support services. The mission of the Cancer Community Center is to support and promote the well-being of people living with cancer, their families and their friends. The Center is a place where people touched by cancer can take part in wellness and creative expression programs, support groups, educational presentations, and social opportunities. All programs are offered at no charge to participants and are made possible through the generosity of the community. The Cycle 4 Care event is a fun way to move your legs, burn some calories, and support a great cause. Find more about the event here, and more about the Cancer Community Center here. Joe hopes the event is both fun and successful!