Five honored at Safe Voices fall dinner in Auburn

Five community leaders were recognized at Safe Voices’ annual Fall Mixer and Community Partner Awards, part of the agency’s 40th anniversary celebration, on Oct. 5. Pictured, from left, are Ginger Keiffer, of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office; Elise Johansen, Safe Voices executive director; awardee Cynthia Patterson of Safe Voices; Marty McIntyre, executive director of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Services, accepting on behalf of SAPARS; awardee Lt. David St. Laurent of Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; awardee Peter Lasagna of Bates College Athletic Department; awardee Nicole Bissonnette of Pine Tree Legal Assistance; and Tim Gallant of Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s office. Safe Voices is the domestic violence resource center serving Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties. Each year, the agency honors local citizens and organizations who have made remarkable contributions in support of victims and survivors, as well as those engaged in domestic abuse prevention and awarenesess. If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, please call Safe Voices’ 24-hour helpline at 1-800-559-2927.