Vanessa Paolella

Sun Journal

Vanessa Paolella is a staff writer at the Sun Journal primarily covering local education. Before joining the Sun Journal in 2021, she interned for the paper twice and led the Bates College student newspaper, The Bates Student. Vanessa graduated from Bates College with a bachelor of science in geology in 2021 and wrote her senior thesis on water quality changes in the Androscoggin River from 1930 to 2019.

Latest

Published
July 13, 2023

Paul Beauparlant seeking reelection to Lewiston School Committee

Beauparlant has represented Ward 7 since January 2021.
Published
July 12, 2023

Auburn officials applaud sharp rise in graduation rate

Edward Little Principal Scott Annear said the high school is projected to have a 92%-94% four-year graduation rate for the class of 2024.
Published
July 12, 2023

Free community college program extended, CMCC predicts another record year

Students who graduate in the Class of 2024 and 2025 are now eligible for the program.
Published
July 11, 2023

Lewiston residents pitch solutions for addressing issues at high school sports complex

Superintendent Jake Langlais tallied 65 potential solutions during the discussion.
Published
July 10, 2023

Lewiston to hold public meeting on use of athletic fields Tuesday night

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Lewiston High School cafeteria.
Published
July 9, 2023

Health center in downtown Lewiston sees surge in demand, plans expansion

‘We’ve never seen (this) volume of need,’ said Coleen Elias, CEO of Community Clinical Services. ‘Folks just walking in looking for help. They truly have nowhere else to go.’
Published
July 7, 2023

Western Maine could see flash flooding this evening

A flood watch warning has been issued for northern Oxford and Franklin counties, and central Somerset county.
Published
July 6, 2023

Lewiston, Auburn hit 10-year high for number of homeless students

Other school districts in central and western Maine counted a higher-than-average number of homeless students.
Published
July 2, 2023

Striking Maine gold: Prospectors say they live for the ‘thrill of discovery’

Western Maine is known for its pure but elusive gold. ‘You never know,’ said one prospector. ‘(But) when you find a nugget, it’s pretty darn exciting.’
Published
July 2, 2023

Former inn in Hebron becoming home for pregnant women

In addition to housing, Life House Maine will provide wrap-around services such as counseling; parenting and finance classes; and assistance finding employment, securing long-range housing, continuing their education or making an adoption plan.