Building a library for all Maine students
Karen and Dan Cashman are the founders of Dirigo Reads. Their goal is to gift books to every Maine student, every month of their first grade school year. Author: Amanda Hill (NEWS CENTER Maine) Published: 8:00 AM EST January 18, 2021 Updated: 8:00 AM EST January 18, 2021
BANGOR, Maine According to Educate Maine s 2019 Education Indicators report, only about 36% of our 4th grade students are at or above proficiency in reading. While there are likely varying factors behind that number, it’s a percentage rate that continues through the 8th grade.
Two Maine parents are doing their part to change that; through a lofty goal of getting books into the hands of every Maine student, starting in the 1st grade.
BSB Kittens: More About This Iconic Commercial
If you know about this commercial, if you remember this commercial when it first came out.you are a Mainer, and well.you are old. I was a kid in Bangor when I first saw this on big old console tv in our living room. Check out this video from Bangor Savings Bank about their classic kittens and well as some trivia.
When I found the original commercial on the Youtube page of Eric Jurgenson it has some other trivia not covered in the video above.like the kittens ended up at a camp in Belgrade, Maine.
Back in 1980, Bangor Savings Bank first aired a commercial that became an annual Christmas tradition, and on it s 40th anniversary, they are donating $10,000 to local humane societies and animal shelters.
Those who grew up in eastern Maine remember this classic commercial and look forward to seeing it every year. It debuted back when Bangor Savings Bank had yet to expand to the rest of the state, so most of us in southern Maine didn t see get the chance to see it.
Why does this ad work? Well, kittens of course!
Playing around a Christmas Tree is always going to get an Awwww! out of viewers. But it also worked because that s all it was. 30 or 60 seconds of kittens playing with only the logo for Bangor Savings at the end.