Fiddlehead Focus publisher joins regional committee for Le Congrès Mondial Acadien

FORT KENT - Don Levesque, president of the Maine Regional Coordinating Committee of the 2014 World Acadian Congress/ Le Congrès Mondial Acadien (CMA) invited Fiddlehead Focus publisher Andrew Birden to join the committee.

Birden, who is unaware of any Acadian blood in his family, said he was concerned his lack of a genealogical connection might be a drawback to the planning effort.

But Levesque reassured Birden.  "For practical purposes, for the next four years, everyone who lives in the Acadia of Lands and Forests is an Acadian, whether or not they have Acadian genes, and whether they speak French or not," said Levesque.  "We want this to be as inclusive as possible for everyone in the Valley. Even the Anglophone and honorary Acadian editor and publisher of the Fiddlehead Focus is an active member of the Maine Regional Coordinating Committee.   Everyone is welcome."

Birden accepted the invitation, calling it a "deep responsibility and a great honor."

"As a journalist, I cut my teeth in the St. John Valley, exploring the rich culture and celebrating the strength of the people here.  Without a doubt, this is an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime."

Birden worked seven years at the St. John Valley Times with Levesque as his mentor.  During the last two years at the Times, Birden was the managing editor.  He is a recipient of several awards in journalism, creative writing and photography, including the Maine Press Association's Newspapers in Education Award and the Maine Press Association Freedom of Information Award.

Most recently Birden is publishing and operating a local info-journal called Fiddlehead Focus which reports news at the western end of the St. John Valley.  The journal is primarily web-based along with a weekly printed component.