Maine
“Beyond my wildest dreams”: Maine’s Julia Gagnon advances to top 7 on American Idol
(WMTW) – Maine American Idol contestant Julia Gagnon is now in the top seven on on the show after Monday night’s episode.
During the show, fans voted for the top six performers, and then the judges saved one more singer. Julia was the first person announced as being safe.
After advancing, Julia wrote on Facebook “No words. None. To be in americas vote… it’s beyond my wildest dreams, I owe every vote a hug and a kiss, I truly appreciate all of yall, Maine in particular… let’s do this I’m so proud to be repping you, I have a new wind to keep making you proud. Go blow up @americanidol with pine trees and a share of our New England kindness and of course pride!!! Thank yall”
Monday was the Judges’ Song Contest as the judges each picked a song to be performed. Julia wowed the judges with her rendition of the classic “Over the Rainbow.” Judge Luke Bryan, who chose the song for Julia, said after her performance there is no song too big for her.
As the competition moves forward, there are three ways to vote for Julia during the episodes. You can text 4 to 21523, go to Americanidol.com/vote or vote on the American Idol app. You can vote up to 10 times on each platform for a total of 30 votes for Julia.
Maine has rallied to support Julia. A watch party in South Berwick Sunday night was filled with dozens of supporters who came to cheer Julia on as she advanced to the top eight, including one of her former schoolteachers.
”In fifth grade, Julia was kind of quiet,” Shannon Gallagher, Julia’s former teacher, said. “She was an amazing writer. She was very kind, and she was a student who challenged me in all the best ways.”
From family members to people who are just fans of Julia, the crowd at the party erupted when it was announced that she would be moving on to the next round of competition.
“We grew up together,” said Chase Gagnon, Julia’s cousin. “It was always great, and we always knew she could sing, so it’s great to see her kind of soar out here on American Idol.”
Julia will now compete for a spot in the top five Sunday night.
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The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition says over the past two weeks its immigrant defense hotline has seen an uptick in reported ICE detentions.
They say this corresponds with a national shift in ICE activity, including bids for local businesses to cooperate with ICE.
In Maine, the arrests follow a broader trend of targeting Black and brown immigrants, including people navigating immigration proceedings.
The coalition, which represents more than 100 organizations, says it’s ready to protect civil and human rights and is urging immigrants to prepare themselves and their families.
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They suggest having the defense hotline ready in case you witness ICE activity, making sure you have important personal documents in case of detention, and reviewing rights around judicial warrants in private spaces, like your home or workplace.
It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without a stop at the florist.
According to Fox Business, about 154 million flowers are sold during the week of Mother’s Day. So it’s safe to say it was a busy day for stores like Estabrook’s Maine Garden Center and Nursery.
Plenty of families stopped by to pick out flowers on Sunday, looking to choose the perfect bouquet for their moms.
“I think Mother’s Day is tradition, you know, and so it’s great to see families here. We have a lot of new families that have come today for the first time with their young children and their mother. Watching the young kids and seeing how excited they are—their eyes light up at all the beautiful flowers,” Tom Estabrook, president of Estabrook’s, said.
Estabrook says Mother’s Day tends to be a great kickoff to the spring season.
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