Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Laura Fortman, Maine's former commissioner of labor, addressed a small gathering this evening inside the visually entrancing Angela Adams store in Portland. The party was hosted by Emerge Maine to celebrate Women's History Month and raise funds for the Democratic organization's campaign training program for women.

Congresswoman Pingree talked about the need for more women to join her in the halls of government. She also told us she had pictures of her granddaughter Elsie, who was born March 20 to the Congresswoman's daughter and the former speaker of the Maine house Hannah Pingree and her husband, Jason Mann. Having seen the photos on the Congresswoman's iPhone, I can tell you that little Elsie is absolutely darling.

When the former head of Maine's labor department took the floor, Laura Fortman talked about the determination and accomplishments of Frances Perkins, who was the nation's first woman cabinet member, serving as the head of the labor department under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She also noted that this week marks the 100th anniversary of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, which killed more than 100 women who were unable to escape. Perkins witnessed women throwing themselves out of the factory windows and this experience inspired her to do something about the working conditions that created the tragedy. Today the Perkins family homestead in Newcastle, where Frances Perkins often vacationed, is a center devoted to preserving her legacy and fostering interest in her ideas.

I'll have more details from the party and snapshots of who was there in the March 27 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Until then, I'll see you out and about.

About the Author

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Avery Yale Kamila dishes about southern Maine's hottest parties.

Avery can be contacted at 791-6297 or akamila@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @AveryYaleKamila

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