“Baxter in the Blaine House”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
MAINE FIRST LADY Ann LePage visited Zippel Elementary School Monday where she read “Baxter in the Blaine House” to the school’s fourth-graders.
Baxter has been with Gov. Paul LePage and the First Lady since March of 2008. The Jack Russell terrier mix was adopted from an abusive home in Florida, and quickly became a member of the family. In “Baxter in the Blaine House,” written by Paula Benoit, the dog offers young readers a tour of the mansion that has been home to Maine’s governors and their families since 1920. Baxter guides children through his daily schedule as supervisor of the rooms, while pointing out historic objects and his own favorite places. Following the reading, LePage took time to answer student questions and gave each one a bookmark and a dog bone-shaped sugar cookie. The book, which was signed by the author, the First Lady and the governor, was donated to the school’s library. Joining LePage on her visit to the school was her mother, Rita DeRosby, of St. Agatha.
