No school on Tuesday; blizzard means many closings

MORE STORM COVERAGE: Lewiston, Auburn schools canceled on Tuesday | Maine utilities bracing for potential outages from snowstorm | This week’s expected blizzard has folks buzzing

ALSO ON THIS PAGE: Transportation cancellations

Governments, businesses and organizations also began planning Monday to close their doors during Tuesday’s storm. As we get information, we will share it here:

AUBURN — The city has declared a parking ban on all roadways from 8 a.m. Tuesday until 3 p.m. Wednesday. The city says it will tow all vehicles parked in violation of this ban.

AUBURN — There will be no trash or recycling pickup on Tuesday. A special trash and recycling pickup is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31. The same rules for pickup will apply; trash and recycling must be out by 7 a.m.

AUBURN — Schools have been canceled Tuesday.

AUBURN — The Androscoggin County Courthouse will be closed all day on Tuesday.

AUBURN — The Androscoggin County Commission Office will be closed on Tuesday, reopening on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

AUGUSTA — The Legislature is canceling its work session and planning to close its offices. House and Senate sessions scheduled for Tuesday have been canceled, and all legislative offices will be closed.

A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Paul LePage said he’s getting updates from the Maine Emergency Management Agency but isn’t expected to make a decision about whether to close state offices until late Monday or early Tuesday. The governor is urging Mainers to take precautionary measures and stay safe.

FARMINGTON — The stakeholders meeting connected to the Franklin County tax-increment financing agreement has been postponed until Thursday, Jan. 29.

The meeting is to allow input on new projects or expansion of current projects for a possible TIF amendment. It is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sugarloaf Inn in Carrabassett Valley.

FARMINGTON — Franklin Savings Bank will be closed Tuesday and will re-open Wednesday morning.

FARMINGTON — The Regional School Unit 9 school board meeting has been postponed until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Mt. Blue Campus.

LEWISTON — School has been canceled for Tuesday.

LEWISTON — All non-emergency departments will be closed Tuesday. The city has issued a parking ban begining at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The ban will remain in effect until noon Wednesday. For snow-related and parking alternative info, residents may visit www.lewistonmaine.gov/winter.

LEWISTON — Central Maine Medical Center will remain open Tuesday, but most of its affiliated physicians’ offices will be closed. Patients are encouraged to call to confirm appointments before traveling.

LEWISTON — Camden National Bank branches and offices will be closed on Tuesday and will reopen at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

PORTLAND– The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office and application support center will be closed on Tuesday.

Customers with scheduled appointments should not attempt to come to the USCIS offices. USCIS will notify all customers of new, re-scheduled appointment dates.

SABATTUS — The town office will be closed Tuesday.

SABATTUS — Loaves & Fishes food pantry in Sabattus will be closed Tuesday afternoon. It will be reopen Wednesday at 9 a.m. For more information, call Faye at 754-1229.

SUMNER — The Board of Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed until Monday, Feb. 2, at 6:30 p.m.

WILTON — The free coffee social at St. Luke’s Church scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, will be rescheduled due to the storm.

Transportation cancellations

BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — All flights are canceled Monday.

CONCORD COACH LINES — Bus service in Maine and New Hampshire is canceled Tuesday.

DOWNEASTER — Rail service is canceled Tuesday.

L/A TRANSIT — No bus transit operations in Lewiston and Auburn from 8 a.m. Tuesday through noon Wednesday.

Portland International Jetport — The Portland Jetport says it is not closed Tuesday, but all departures from the airport have been canceled. The Jetport advises checking with individual carriers about scheduled flights and rebooking them:

Post by US National Weather Service Gray ME.

Tips from Central Maine Power

Central Maine Power is predicting strong winds may knock out power to customers during the storm. The utility offers the following tips for customers to follow before the storm hits:

* Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand, along with supplies of drinking water and nonperishable foods.

* Make sure that cellphones, tablets and other mobile devices are fully charged.

* Fill your car’s fuel tank.

During a power outage:

* Contact CMP at 1-800-696-1000 to report a power interruption. Our telephone system automatically creates a work order and sets the stage for dispatch of crews to the outage location.

* When using an emergency heating source like a wood stove, fireplace or kerosene heater, keep fuels away from the flames and be sure to ventilate properly.

* Never use grills or camp stoves indoors — they can give off dangerous gases.

* Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. Most food will last 24 hours or longer if you minimize the opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.

* Stay clear of any downed power lines.

For customers with generators:

* Hire a licensed electrician to install permanent generators and transfer switches.

* Properly ground all portable generators

* Carefully read and observe all instructions in your generator’s operating manual.

* Never run a generator indoors, even in an open garage.

* Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it’s running.

* Refer to CMP’s webpage on generator safety: