SOUTH PORTLAND (WGME) — A week after president Biden’s inauguration, a picture of Sen. Bernie Sanders sitting on a chair wearing a mask and sporting some distinctive mittens is still going viral.
We now know those famous mittens have a Maine connection.
The Vermont creator behind them said it’s all thanks to her former middle school home economics teacher, Jeannette Collett in South Portland, who taught her how to sew.
The now-retired teacher said she is thankful Jen Ellis took the time to remember her.
“It’s the connection is great, and I’m so happy for her that she has a lovely family and she’s doing what she loves,” Collett said.
“It’s great that she used old sweaters. It’s all recycled and I think in this time and day, when we’ve had so many negatives, that it’s nice to have some positives. It’s nice to know that I touched someone’s life,” she said.
Collett has her own pair of the famous mittens which she says she will keep forever.
