Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Cops Ice Drunk Driver at Civic Center
The Portland Police and Fire Departments responded to the
Cumberland County Civic Center for a fire alarm at
approximately 1:49A.M on December 30th and discovered an
intoxicated male trying to operate the Zamboni that had
crashed into one of the interior walls.
Police also observed that two fork lifts appeared to have
been operated and driven into different building structures.
Damage to the interior sprinkler system, interior walls and a
hockey net also occurred during the operation of the three
vehicles. The damage was estimated at several thousand
dollars.
Police arrested Adam Patterson, 22, and charged him with
burglary, aggravated criminal mischief, OUI and violation of
bail conditions.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Theft at American Legion Post
On December 14th, the American Legion at Deering and
Avon Streets in Parkside called police to report the theft of a
propane gas grill valued at $700. The grill was inside, at the
rear of the building.
Police detectives are actively investigating the incident and
anticipate charges will be made in the near future.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Mainers to Throw Shoes at Rally in
Washington
Organizers are collecting shoes in Maine and other locations
in New England to bring to Washington D.C.for the action
'Shoes for Bush' on Monday, January 19th at 11:00am in
Washington D.C.
David Swanson of After Downing Street, Debra Sweet of
World Can't Wait and others are scheduled speakers at a rally
DuPont Circle.
In Portland, shoes will be collected at the Meg Perry Center
on Congress Street on January 15th from 3 to 6pm.
The group will be hurling shoes in the spirit of Mutadhar Al-
Zaidi, the now imprisoned journalist who threw shoes at
President Bush in protest to the Iraq war. The group says
they are also making a statement against President Bush
leaving office and not being held accountable for impeachable
offenses and war crimes.
All shoes in good condition will be donated to the needy and
distributed by the D.C. Statehood Green party in Washington
D.C.
The caravan will be leaving to DC on Saturday, January
17th.
For more information, go to www.shoebush.org
Hinck Named Chair of Utilities and
Energy Committee
New Portland legislators appointed to committees
Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree has appointed
Representative Jon Hinck the House chair of the Utilities and
Energy Committee for the 124th Legislature, which is just
getting underway.
Hinck served as a member of the committee last session,
which was his first term in the Legislature.
The Utilities and Energy Committee considers legislation
concerning energy policy, including energy resources and
efficiency; the electric industry, including supply,
transportation and distribution; the natural gas industry; the
telecommunications industry, including mobile, telephone,
Internet and cable television services; E-911; water and
sewer utilities, including district charters; the Public Utilities
Commission; Office of the Public Advocate; and the Energy
Resources Council.
An attorney, Hinck worked to promote renewable energy
during three years working for the Natural Resources Council
of Maine. He also spearheaded major energy efforts during
the 10 years he worked for Greenpeace.
New Portland legislators also got their committee
assignments. Diane Russell will serve on the Legal and
Veterans Affairs Committee; Peter Stuckey will serve on the
Health and Human Services Committee; Joan Cohen will
serve on the Business, Research and Economic Development
Committee; and Steve Lovejoy will serve on the Education
and Cultural Affairs Committee.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monkey Fights at the Zoo
Cumberland County Jail Corrections Officers In
Silent Protest over One Year Without Union
Contract
Negotiations between Cumberland County and the jail’s
corrections officers have been unsuccessful since September
of 2007. This has resulted in a silent protest among the
officers at the jail. Many officers wear their shirts untucked,
have grown beards, worn dimes with holes drilled through
them (protesting a ten-cents-an-hour raise included in the
contract), and leave protest posters inside their car windows.
Union representative Will Russell indicates that the sticking
point is misappropriation of a $300,000 employee health care
surplus. The union workers feel the money could have been
returned to the taxpayers, but instead it was used for 1- 3%
merit raises for non-union workers.
Mr. Russell has serious concerns about the structure of the
Cumberland County budget. He says, “I’ve seen monkey
fights at the zoo better organized than the county budget.”
Union members were expected to vote down the newly-
negotiated contract on December 22nd. This will initiate a
“fact finding” process.
Union negotiator Michelle Noyes, with 24 year of county
employment says, “I’ve never seen the morale so low and the
unity so high.”
Cumberland County management says the law prevents them
from making comment on ongoing contract negotiations.
Pamela Cragin
pjcragin@yahoo.com
Monday, December 22, 2008
Loughlin, McAfee Initiate New Police
Board Members
New members of the City’s Police Citizen Review
Subcommittee were welcomed to the oversight board on
December 17th and given some insight into the workings of
the police department and the review board by Acting Police
Chief Joseph Loughlin and former Committee Chair Dr.
Robert McAfee. The group currently has six members. The
alternate seat on the board is vacant.
Loughlin discussed current crime trends in the city, reviewed
challenges and problems faced by the police force, and talked
about some of the issues the review board might be dealing
with in relationship to the department and its workings.
McAfee, one of the committee’s founding members and its
longtime Chair, discussed the history of the volunteer group,
its duties and procedures, and some of the challenges and
changes it has faced over the years.
Kelly McDonald, Chair of the committee, said that the group
will meet on the second Wednesday of each month,
beginning in January. The meetings are open to the public and
times and locations of the meetings are listed on the City’s
website.
Local Cable Customers Due Ice Storm
Rebates
Cable customers who lost service during the weekend ice
storm of December 13th-14th are qualified for a rebate for
the time their service was lost, says Parkside State
Representative Herb Adams.
Under a state law sponsored by Adams, Maine cable
customers are automatically due a pro-rated rebate for all
cable-provided services lost for six hours or more.
“The catch is, you have to ask for it,” said Adams. “All cable
customers should call their cable company and report their
service outage, and provide specifics, if you can.” The
rebate is automatic to all who qualify, for both commercial
and residential accounts.
Today many cable services are “bundled” – TV, telephone
and Internet are provided in a single package.
The cable provider for much of southern Maine is Time-
Warner or its subsidiaries. The Time-Warner contact
number for service is 253-2222 or toll free at 1-800-833-
2253. Customers should check their cable bill for their local
company.
A new state law passed in 2007 also requires cable
companies to print reminders of their rights to an outage
rebate on the customers’ bills.
Adams encourages customers with complaints about
compliance, or difficulties in getting rebates, to contact him
at 772-2565, or the Consumer Assistance Division of the
Public Utilities Commission at 1-800-452-4699.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
More Arrests Expected in East End Drug
Bust
Approximately one-quarter pound of marijuana and evidence
of other criminal activity was recovered during the execution
of a search warrant and subsequent investigation which led to
the arrest of Donald Alfreds III, 21, on December 16th He
was charged with Violation of Conditional Release relating to
a previous drug-related arrest.
The Portland Police Department and Maine Drug
Enforcement Agency (MDEA) conducted the search warrant
at 121 Cumberland Avenue. Police also contacted DHHS
because of our concerns for children residing at the location.
The PPD and MDEA investigations are ongoing, and future
arrests are anticipated. Anyone with additional information
regarding activities at this address is requested to contact the
Portland Police Department at 874-8584.
Nominations Due for 2010 Maine
Teacher of the Year
Accepted through January 30
Nominations are being accepted for 2010 Maine Teacher of
the Year. Any certified Maine teacher who is currently giving
daily classroom instruction in a Maine-approved public or
private elementary or secondary school may be nominated.
The Teacher of the Year program does not attempt to single
out any individual as the best teacher in Maine, but rather to
honor one teacher who represents all the excellent teachers in
the State.
Parents, teacher and others can start the process of
nominating a teacher. For detailed information about the
criteria, nomination process, nomination form, and guidelines,
visit: www.maine.gov/education/toy
Police Create Special Calendar
The Portland Police Department has announced the
completion of a poetry and photography 2009 calendar, a
special project between members of the department and the
Arts & Equity Initiative. AEI’s mission is to improve
municipal government and its relationship with the public
through art projects with local artists and city employees.
AEI is a public/private partnership between the City of
Portland and the arts nonprofit Terra Moto Incorporated.
The three-year pilot project began in Portland in 2007, with
Marty Pottenger as the director. Pottenger is a theater
artist/play-wright/director who moved here from New York
City to head up AEI.
The calendar is dedicated to Sergeant Rob Johnsey, who died
in a tragic accident last spring. Two of his poems appear in
the calendar. Proceeds will be shared with the Johnsey Fund,
established in his memory.
Acting Chief Joseph Loughlin described a news conference
on December 17th as bearing “good news,” unlike many
others that have been held at 109 Middle Street recently. He
stated he was “skeptical at the beginning of the project,” but
said of Pottenger: “She pulled it off.”
Loughlin said he felt the calendar was a way people might
learn about officers as human beings. “It’s a valuable and
quality product that I’m proud to be part of.”
Rachel Talbot Ross, Portland’s Director of the Office of
Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs, said the AEI
projects are a way to connect city employees to each other
and to communities. It’s also a way to “understand and
express diversity in the city.” Ross continued “Marty has
been a lightning rod. She’s creating connections where none
existed.”
Lieutenant Michael Sauschuck, who was involved in helping
coordinate the officers and artist teams said “Marty put
together a SWAT team of poets and photographers” to work
on this project. He then read one of Rob Johnsey’s poems,
“The Forest,” which is included in the calendar.
The calendars are priced at $15 and will be available at all
major bookstores in the area. The story of life and work
within the police department is what the calendar tells about.
It also addresses challenges faced by the department,
improving the relationship between the public and the
department and improving departmental morale through the
creation of art. –Marge Niblock
Thursday, December 18, 2008
City to Install New Bike Racks
The City of Portland's Health and Human Services
Department unveils plans to install at least twenty new bike
hitches (racks) throughout the city, and is seeking input from
the community for convenient locations. Community
members can submit a request at the City's website, www.
portlandmaine.gov/hhs/bikerackrequest.htm.
This program, part of former Mayor Jim Cohen's Health
Initiative, is designed to encourage people and make it easier
to bike in and around the city. In 2007, the first year of the
initiative, the city installed fifty bike hitches -- 37 two-bike
hitches around the city and 13 larger racks at the schools.
Suggested locations for the racks were solicited from
residents and bikers in Portland.
All requests must be received by February 28, 2009. The
locations will then be reviewed by a selection committee
comprised of city staff and community members. Due to
limited funding, not all requests may be fulfilled. The selected
locations will be announced in March and the new bike racks
will be installed in the spring of 2009.
Businesses, organizations or individuals interested in
supporting this effort can also donate a bike hitch (rack)
through Volunteer Portland, a web-based initiative designed to
allow the people that live, work and play in Portland a chance
to give back by volunteering or donating their time, services
or financial resources. The city-approved bike hitch is
available for $200 and can park two bikes. For more
information, visit http://www.portlandmaine.
gov/donations/giftcatalog.asp.
Adams Appointed to Ocean Energy Task
Force
Parkside State Representative Herb Adams has been
appointed to Governor John Baldacci’s new Ocean Energy
Task Force. The task force, which will look for strategies for
using ocean-based wind energy and tidal and wave energies
had its first meeting on December 10th in the Governor’s
Cabinet Room.
The Legislature passed a bill introduced by Adams in the last
session to help Maine regulate tidal-powered energy products
and promote the state as a pioneer research site in this
growing field. This year, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission approved nine tidal energy permits in Maine,
including one request from Maine Maritime Academy for the
Bagaduce River. When completed, the Maine Maritime site
will be the largest test site outside the tidal facilities in the
Orkney Islands in Scotland .
Adams sees energy potential in numerous small-scale tidal
and wave-action sites along the coast, and potential in larger-
scaled, properly-placed off-shore wind farms.
Adams was appointed to the task force by Speaker of the
House Hannah Pingree. He is one of three legislators serving
on the 21-member task force.
The task force has been charged with making recomm-
endations on issues including siting of offshore wind
generation facilities, fostering in-state growth of diverse wind
energy-related businesses, encouraging ocean-based tidal and
wave energy development where appropriate, and updating
information regarding offshore oil and gas resources, and
evaluating federal initiatives regarding exploration for oil and
gas in the Outer Continental Shelf.
Interim findings from the task force will be reported by April
1st and final recommendations by October 31st.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
OUI Suspect Arrested After Speeding
Through East End
Portland police arrested a Munjoy Hill man after a wild ride
through the East End on December 13th.
Officer Andjelko Napijalo was on routine patrol on at 9:43
AM, when he observed a tan BMW on Washington Avenue
traveling at a high rate of speed.
He then saw the car cross the double center line and begin
passing other vehicles. The BMW turned onto Walnut Street
and the blue lights and sirens on the police car were
activated. The BMW took off eastbound on Walnut Street.
The car made a sudden left turn into the parking lot at 340
Eastern Promenade, and the driver, Nathan Delois, 30, a
resident of the building, jumped out and began walking away.
At this point Delois was stopped and placed under arrest by
the officer, and he was charged with failure to stop for a
police officer and operating under the influence. -
Marge Niblock
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Task Force to Recommend Free METRO
on Election Day
A task force appointed by the Portland City Council to look at
polling places in the city will recommend that the City work
out an arrangement with METRO, which runs the City’s bus
system, to provide free transportation to voters going to the
polls on election day.
The idea was originally proposed after the group voted to
recommend that the polling places at the Barron Center and
Temple Beth El be closed and the voters who use those polls
be transferred to the Woodfords Congregational Church. The
polling place was moved from Woodfords several years ago
when the church underwent renovations.
City officials would have to talk to METRO officials to work
out a citywide plan. METRO currently offers Free Fare
Fridays to encourage riders to take public transportation to
shopping destinations.
Reiche TV Gets Cable Hookup
Ed Bryan announced at the West End Neighborhood
Association’s annual meeting on December 10th that Time
Warner Cable has installed a cable hookup in the Reiche
Community Center's program area. The City’s Parks and
Recreation Department paid the $300 installation fee. WENA
members voted to provide whatever power and cable cords
are needed.
Bryan said he will purchase a DVD player and will pass the
hat at the group’s January meeting for reimbursement
donations.
These developments will make the large-screen TV - donated
last summer by the VFW - available for school and after-
school programming. Private groups may also schedule its
use by contacting Nick Cliche at (874-8873).
Monday, December 15, 2008
BOB SURVIVES!
Bob Crowley of South Portland on December 14th became
the first Mainer and the oldest person to ever win the one
million dollar first prize on the TV reality show SURVIVOR.
This season’s show took place in Gabon, Africa and
premiered on September 25th.
Crowley, 57, a high school physics teacher, outlasted 17
other contestants in the 39-day test of survival, social, and
political skills. He became a finalist by winning a fire-starting
competition against another contestant. He also won an
additional $100,000 by being voted by viewers as the most
popular contestant.
Longfellow’s Gift Box Stolen
A large decorative gift box has been stolen from the statue of
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in Longfellow Square. The
statue has been decorated for the past ten years by having the
box placed in Longfellow’s lap, as well as a cap and a scarf
on his head and neck. A few of Santa’s Portland-based
“elves” have carried out the task. They usually leave it up for
about a month, removing it during the first week of January.
On Saturday, December 6th, the statue received its present.
This year, it was a gold box with red ribbon and long red
streamers coming from the bow. On Thursday, December
11th, it was discovered that the box had been taken. This is
the first time any vandalism has occurred in connection with
the decoration.
Local business owners who can see the statue from their
stores were contacted, but no one had seen the removal of
the package.
-Marge Niblock
Friday, December 12, 2008
Meeting to Address Tax Returns, Fuel
Assistance
West End City Councilor Dave Marshall and community
organizations will hold an informational meeting on Sunday,
December 14th, from 3 to 7PM at the Portland Expo, 239
Park Avenue.
Fuel assistance, income tax preparation assistance, property
tax and rent refund, home energy loans, home down payment
assistance, lead paint abatement, and more will be discussed.
Residents are asked to bring their 2007 property tax bill or
proof of rent paid and 2007 federal and state tax returns.
The informational session has been organized by Councilor
Marshall, State Representative Jon Hinck, the United Way of
Greater Portland and the St. John Valley Neighborhood
Association.
Commissioners to Hold Legislative
Breakfast
The Cumberland County Commissioners will hold a special
legislative breakfast meeting on Wednesday, December 17th,
from 8-10:30 AM at the Holiday Inn West at Exit 48,
formerly Exit 8 of the Maine Turnpike.
Other participants in the event will be the Greater Portland
Council of Governments, Representative Meredith Burgess,
Senator Bill Diamond, the Cumberland County Extension
Association, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation
District, Portland Public Library, Threshold to Maine
Resource Conservation and Devel-opment (RC&D) Area, and
Southern Maine Emergency Medical Services Council.
The meeting will enable participants to:
- Meet legislators, municipal & county officials, business and
nonprofit leaders from throughout the region;
- Hear local issues and priorities generated at previous
community meetings;
- Share ideas and objectives.
Please RSVP by Friday, December 12th to Barbara Buckley
bbuckley@cumber-landcounty.org or by calling 871-8380.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
WENA Elects New Officers
The West End Neighborhood Association held its annual
election on December 10th. Officers elected to serve in 2009
were Rosanne Graef, President; Jo Coyne, Vice President;
Leana Good-Simpson, Secretary; and Larry Davis, Treasurer.
Rounding out the Board will be Jadot Bakunda, Crystal
Barone, Ed Bryan, Sarah Colton, Dennis "Chip" Martin,
Deborah McCoy and June Stevenson.
WENA Backs Mercy’s Bid for Federal
Funding
New West End Neighborhood Association President Rosanne
Graef reported at the group’s annual meeting on December
10th that WENA would be providing a “letter of
collaboration” for a project headed up by Mercy Hospital that
is seeking between $50,000 and $100,000 in funding through
the Community Block Grant Development program.
"WE CAN [West End Community Action Network] Leave the
Lights On" is an initiative that is intended to revitalize the
neighborhood by promoting a wide range of programming
and activities at the Reiche School and Community Center.
Among the activities to be proposed in the grant application
are a neighborhood watch, health screening, a gardening
programming, an art festival and a farmers’ market, as well
as a number of programs and activities already in existence
such as the Reiche road race, the WENA yard sale, and the
neighborhood cleanup. The application deadline is December
18th; grants will be announced in the spring..
Mercy Hospital, Community Counseling Center, Portland
West, WENA, Reiche School, Portland Parks and Recreation,
Maine Immigrant and Refugee Association, Central African
Vision (Maine), and McAuley Residence are some of the
groups partnering in the funding application.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Bayside Man Terrorized in Home
Portland police have arrested two people, saying they kept a
Bayside man hostage in his own home for two days.
Police say that on December 4th, a 67-year-old man living on
the 400 block of Cumberland Avenue allowed Belinda Libby,
40, to stay at his apartment because she was “down on her
luck.” The two had met through a mutual acquaintance.
Libby was visited later that day at the apartment by Peter
Sullivan, 45, and when the two became unruly, they were
asked to leave. They refused to leave, then prevented the
older man from leaving, and removed his phone.
During the course of their interaction, police say the victim
was threatened and assaulted. Libby and Sullivan stayed
through the night, still refusing to let the occupant leave.
The following morning Libby and Sullivan left the apartment,
but before doing so, they cautioned the victim not to call the
police, and issued further threats if he were to do so. They
returned later that afternoon, took some items and threatened
the victim once again before leaving the apartment.
At this point, the victim called the police for help. When
police arrived, they decided to have the victim sent to Maine
Medical Center to be checked, because he appeared to be in
poor physical health.
Libby and Sullivan were located on December 6th and were
arrested and charged with kidnapping, aggravated criminal
trespass, assault, criminal threatening, terrorizing, and
obstructing report of crime/injury.
-Marge Niblock
Skatepark Awarded $20,000 Grant
Portland's Skatepark Planning Committee has been awarded a
$20,000 grant by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands for
construction of a $325,000 skateboard and bike park to be
located at the Doughtery Field Complex. The grant will
applied to the $50,000 matching grant received from the Ollie
Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
To date, Portland has donated 28,000 square feet of land at
the Doughtery Field Complex valued at $75,000 and allocated
$75,000 of capital investment funds for the $325,000
skatepark design and construction budget. The Committee is
now just $90,000 away from its goal.
The public still has a chance to own a piece of the park
through the Committee's "Buy A Brick" program. Residents,
businesses and supporters of the skatepark can purchase a
brick that will be used for the construction of the park for
$50 (for tax purposes the purchase is considered a charitable
donation). Each brick can be inscribed by the donor and will
become a permanent part of the park. For more information
on how to purchase a brick, visit www.portlandmaine.
gov/skatepark.htm.
A winning skatepark design was selected in October. Known
as the "crop circle", the design received over-whelming
support from the voting public. The public can view the
winning proposal at www.portlandmaine.gov/skatepark.htm.
Green’s State Chair to Run for Guv
Lynne Williams, a Bar Harbor attorney who is the state chair
of Maine’s Green Independent Party, has become the first
announced candidate in the race for the Maine Governorship
in 2010. Williams made her announcement in a letter to the
Bangor Daily News on December 10th.
Williams, 58, ran unsuccessfully for the Maine House of
Representatives as a Green in 2004. She serves on the Bar
Harbor Planning Board and has been active in environmental
and human rights issues.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Daylight Burglary on Hill
Police responded at 3:20 PM on December 7th after being
called to a Munjoy Hill home on Walnut Street when the
owner returned from an outing to discover a burglary had
occurred during her absence.
Entry was gained by forcing open a basement door. Items
taken included a laptop, jewelry, a sword, and cash.
-Marge Niblock
Fire Damages High Street Apartments
A fire that started in a second floor kitchen in an apartment at
236 High Street on December 8th caused smoke and water
damage throughout the building but no personal injuries.
Portland firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the one
apartment.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Commissioners End Lease Because of
‘Environmental Issues’
The Cumberland County Commissioners have decided to stop
leasing a property near the Cumberland County Jail because
of what county officials call “environmental issues.”
Early this summer, a warehouse at 1000 Congress Street,
adjacent to the jail, and near the railroad tracks, became
available, and County officials were immediately interested.
Their interest stemmed from the county’s strategic plans for
both 2001 and 2006, which identified needs for additional
space as a priority due to continued growth.
In June, Cumberland County moved forward and signed a
letter of intent to lease with the option to purchase the
property. At that time the County was unaware toxins on the
site.
Over the summer, the 9,500 square foot warehouse was used
by the county for storage and office space. However, when
environmental issues within the building became known, the
site became unsuitable for continued county use. According
to Cumberland County, the toxins originate from oil in the
ground on the site.
In Portland, there have been 2,383 oil and hazardous waste
spills and incidents since 1972, according to Maine’s
Department of Environmental Protection Online Report
Service Data Base. These reports range from residential
incidents to airline oil spills at the Portland Jetport. No recent
report of an oil spill at 1000 Congress Street is listed with the
DEP, however, the history of the land includes transportation
use, and the warehouse was built in 1942. At that time,
Maine DEP did not exist.
County Manager Peter Crichton indicates that the property
may be suited for other operations, but because of
Cumberland County’s many considerations, Crichton says,
“We decided to let the lease lapse.”
At the November 24th meeting of the Cumberland County
Commissioners, Portland’s County Commissioner, Ester
Clenott, voted with Commissioners Feeney and Shaughnessy
to take this recommendation. (In January, recently- elected
Jim Cloutier will be replacing Clenott, as she steps down.)
Cumberland County did not release the name of the property
owner or the report including the exact nature of the
“environmental issues” inside the warehouse.
Pamela Cragin
pjcragin@yahoo.com
Parkside Church Starts New Food
Program
Park Avenue Church of God has become a site of the Angel
Food program, a non-profit which offers anyone who is
interested the opportunity to purchase $65 worth of food for
$30 - a box containing food enough for 7 meals for a family
of four.
There are no income restrictions or applications. To order,
call the church at 773-3947 or stop by this Sunday at 12pm.
At Park Avenue Church of God, 28 Park Ave,.
Orders for this month must be received by Monday, Dec 8.
Distribution will happen Dec 20th.
Angel Food Ministries is "a non-profit, non-denominational
organization dedicated to providing food relief and
contributing to benevolent outreaches in communities
throughout the United States." For more info, visit
angelfoodministries.com
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Portland Public Schools Add Late Start
Option for Winter Weather
The Portland Public Schools close when it is unsafe for
children to get to school due to the conditions of roads and
sidewalks. Weather permitting, the district may opt to open
school two hours later than usual, rather than to close for the
entire day.
The late start option may be used on days when a storm is
over but crews need extra time to clear roads, sidewalks and
parking lots. On those days, starting school late will be less
disruptive to student learning than canceling school for a
whole day, said Interim Superintendent Jeanne Whynot-
Vickers.
An informal survey of parents and staff showed
overwhelming support for adding a late start option, Whynot-
Vickers reported. Many parents said that it would be much
easier for them to get to work late than to miss the whole day.
All school cancellations and late starts will be announced on
the school district’s website (www.portlandschools.org), on
TV3 and on local radio and television stations. On days when
a late start is planned but the weather is worsening, Whynot-
Vickers advised parents to continue monitoring news reports
until 9 a.m., in case the district decides to cancel school for
the day.
“Parents should have a back-up plan in place for snow days
and late start days,” said Whynot-Vickers. “Parents also
should provide their children’s schools with current phone
numbers where they can be reached in an emergency.”
Task Force to Recommend Some Polling
Place Reduction
A task force appointed by the Portland City Council to look at
polling places in the city will recommend some polling places
be eliminated, but not the drastic cuts that were considered
during the City’s budget hearings last spring.
The task force, headed by West End City Councilor David
Marshall, will recommend that all four polling places on the
peninsula – Reiche School, the Portland Expo, Merrill
Auditorium and the East End School - should remain open.
Among the polling places likely to be recommended for
closing are the ones on Cliff and Great Diamond Island, the
Barron Center, and Temple Beth El.
Two members of the group, Ben Chipman and Liz
McMahon, are opposed to cutting any polling places at all.
The budget proposal last spring called for a reduction to six
polling places from the current sixteen.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Armed Suspect Wanted in Home
Invasion/Burglary Near USM Campus
Portland police say that an unknown suspect armed with a .
45 caliber semiautomatic weapon entered a multifamily house
on Payson Street, near the USM campus, through an
unlocked front door, a little after midnight on November 30th.
The suspect, described as a white male in a black ski mask,
entered an apartment on the second floor of the building -
that also had an unlocked door - and stole $50 and two sets
of keys.
At the third-floor apartment, the suspect knocked on the
door, which was partially opened by the resident, and pointed
a gun at the resident’s face, demanding entry to the
apartment. The victim was able to close the door while the
gunman tried to push it open. Once the door was closed,
police were called. There were no injuries and entry was not
gained to this apartment.
The victim further described the suspect as being about five
feet ten inches tall, with a thin build. The man wore a gray,
hooded jacket, black pants, and had a .45 caliber
semiautomatic gun.
-Marge Niblock
Friday, December 5, 2008
Lincoln Middle School Honored for
Recycling Programs
The Maine Recycles Week Steering Committee has chosen
Lincoln Middle School as one of three outstanding schools in
the state for its efforts to promote sustainability. The school
will receive $500 to spend on science, environmental, or
recycling projects that involve students.
Lincoln was recognized because of several projects
underway in classes throughout the school, including
students creating public service announcements about
recycling, and students creating mosaic banners that
promote recycling. The school’s sustainability club also
organized a recycling program for the milk jugs in the school
cafeteria.
In addition to being chosen as an outstanding school, Lincoln
Middle School also had two students’ artwork chosen for the
2009 Maine Recycles Week calendar. Natalie Kudakwashe
and Dominic Averill, both sixth graders, were among the 13
students chosen to have their artwork included in the
calendar - out of the nearly 1,900 posters that were submitted.
Maine Recycles Week, which was held November 8th to the
15th, promotes awareness, knowledge and action for
recycling and waste reduction in the state. The poster
contest gives students an opportunity to express their
understanding of the importance of recycling, buying
recycled goods, and how their actions can encourage the
wise use of resources.
County Struggles to Limit Budget Rise to
2.65%
Cumberland County’s Budget Advisory Committee wants
county government to limit its budget to a 2.65% increase in
the next year.
At its final public meeting on December 4th, members of the
committee, which is made up of municipal officials from
around the county, considered a plan to lay off five
employees from different departments to meet that goal.
Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion opposed that plan,
even though it would have exempted members of his
department from being cut.
The committee agreed to recommend that the county hire
only one new deputy for the sheriff’s department instead of
two, and find other cuts in the budget to reach the 2.65%
figure.
The final decision on the budget will be made by the
Cumberland County Commissioners on December 15th.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Alfond Looking Forward to First Senate
Term
Senator Justin Alfond, D-Cumberland County, was sworn
into office for his first term in the Maine State Senate on
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 for the 124th Legislative
session.
A Maine native, Alfond attended public schools in
Waterville and Dexter before his family moved to Boston,
where he completed his high school education. Later, he
attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana,
where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business
management.
After touring on the professional golf circuit, followed by
jobs in Boston, Orlando, and New York City, he returned
to Maine, where he launched the Maine chapter of The
League of Young Voters.
Though this is Alfond’s first term in the Legislature, his
work with The League of Young Voters helped him to
become familiar with the Maine State House. The 124th
Legislative session officially convened on December 3rd.
The Maine Senate is currently comprised of 20
Democrats and 15 Republicans.
Witness Chases Hatchet-Wielding
Burglar Through West End
Portland Police arrested Jonathan Doyle, 22, of Portland, on
December 1st and charged him with burglary to a motor
vehicle, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, and
possession of burglary tools.
The victim of the burglary told police that he and another
individual observed Doyle entering his vehicle, which was
parked to the rear of 814 Congress Street, at approximately
10:50 PM.
The two approached Mr. Doyle and questioned him regarding
his burglarizing of the motor vehicle. The victim left the
immediate area to call the police while the other witness
watched Mr. Doyle.
The suspect then fled on foot, and the witness chased him up
Vaughn Street. The victim followed behind the foot pursuit,
providing police dispatchers with information regarding the
incident.
Doyle stopped at the intersection of Vaughn and Brackett
Street, removed a hatchet from his belt, and threatened the
witness with the hatchet. He swung the hatchet twice at the
witness, but never struck him, according to police. Officers
arrived at the scene and made the arrest without incident.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Smith to Lead Local Greens
Tina Smith, a well-known community organizer, youth
activist and recent candidate for City Council at-large, was
elected Portland Green Independent Committee Chair on
November 23rd.
Smith said she hopes to bring energy, organization, public
awareness and fun to the Portland Green Independent Party.
Smith received 6,385 votes (20.21%) in the City Council race
against Mayor Ed Suslovic and Dory Waxman, who won the
seat. Liz McMahon was elected Secretary at the meeting.
Man Arrested in Attack at YMCA
Police were called to the YMCA at 70 Forest Avenue on
November 24th, a few minutes before 2:00 AM, and were
met by a victim who told them that he had been struck on the
head with a BB gun that looked like a handgun. He said that
the gun had also been pointed him and he had been threatened.
According to police, the accused assailant and the victim,
who received bruising to his face, were familiar with one
another.
The suspect, Jerry Taylor, 47, was ultimately located in the
YMCA building, where he also resided.
Taylor was arrested by Officer Mark T. Keller, and charged
with assault and criminal threatening with a weapon. He also
had outstanding warrants for operating under the influence
and operating without a license.
-Marge Niblock
December 2, 2008
Man Arrested After Parkside Rampage
Police were called on November 29th at 7:18 PM in reference
to a man bothering people at an apartment building at 131
Sherman Street in the Parkside neighborhood.
When they arrived, they could see the glass in the front door
had been smashed out, and they also heard shouting from
inside the building. As they proceeded up the staircase, they
heard loud banging noises, and then saw Carlos Bosque-
Vega, 19, of Westbrook, who was extremely agitated,
swinging a metal pipe.
Bosque-Vega, between the second and third floor landings,
started swinging the pipe at police as they approached.
Because of his refusal to stop his violent behavior, he was
sprayed with OC spray (Oleoresin Capsicum), commonly
referred to as pepper spray, which had minimal effect on
him, according to police.
Officers struggled with Bosque-Vega as they tried to gain
control of him. He actively resisted arrest and punched
officers, striking Officer Ben Roper in the forearm with the
pipe. Roper also sustained broken bones in his hand, for
which he was treated after the incident.
Bosque-Vega was arrested and charged with assault on a
police officer, refusing to submit to arrest, criminal mischief,
aggravated criminal trespass, and reckless conduct with a
dangerous weapon. -Marge Niblock
December 1, 2008
Duson to be Inagurated as Portland
Mayor
City Councilor Jill Duson will be inaugurated today as the
Mayor for the City of Portland, serving until December 2009.
City Councilors Jon Coyne, Cheryl Leeman and Dory
Waxman will also be sworn-in during the ceremony.
An at-large City Councilor since 2001, Duson served as
Mayor previously in 2005. Duson currently serves on the
Board of Directors for Mercy Hospital, the Institute for Civic
Leadership and the Board of Visitors for the University of
Southern Maine. She earned her Juris Doctor in 1979 from
the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and Bachelor
of Arts from Antioch College.
Duson is currently the Director of the Bureau of
Rehabilitation Services with the Maine Department of Labor
where she is charged with enabling people with significant
disabilities to obtain and retain employment and maintain their
independence. As Director, she manages an annual service
budget of $28 million and oversee s a staff of more than 140
people.
Duson is expected to outline her priorities for the coming
year during her inauguration speech, including her
commitment to economic development projects for the city.
First time City Councilor John Coyne will be sworn in to
represent the city's District 5. Coyne most recently served as
Chair of the Portland School Committee. Dory Waxman will
also be serving on the City Council for the first time,
representing one of the four at-large positions for the nine
member group.
City Councilor Cheryl Leeman will be returning for her ninth
term, representing District 4. Leeman first joined the City
Council in 1984.
Cops Ice Drunk Driver at Civic Center
The Portland Police and Fire Departments responded to the
Cumberland County Civic Center for a fire alarm at
approximately 1:49A.M on December 30th and discovered an
intoxicated male trying to operate the Zamboni that had
crashed into one of the interior walls.
Police also observed that two fork lifts appeared to have
been operated and driven into different building structures.
Damage to the interior sprinkler system, interior walls and a
hockey net also occurred during the operation of the three
vehicles. The damage was estimated at several thousand
dollars.
Police arrested Adam Patterson, 22, and charged him with
burglary, aggravated criminal mischief, OUI and violation of
bail conditions.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Theft at American Legion Post
On December 14th, the American Legion at Deering and
Avon Streets in Parkside called police to report the theft of a
propane gas grill valued at $700. The grill was inside, at the
rear of the building.
Police detectives are actively investigating the incident and
anticipate charges will be made in the near future.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Mainers to Throw Shoes at Rally in
Washington
Organizers are collecting shoes in Maine and other locations
in New England to bring to Washington D.C.for the action
'Shoes for Bush' on Monday, January 19th at 11:00am in
Washington D.C.
David Swanson of After Downing Street, Debra Sweet of
World Can't Wait and others are scheduled speakers at a rally
DuPont Circle.
In Portland, shoes will be collected at the Meg Perry Center
on Congress Street on January 15th from 3 to 6pm.
The group will be hurling shoes in the spirit of Mutadhar Al-
Zaidi, the now imprisoned journalist who threw shoes at
President Bush in protest to the Iraq war. The group says
they are also making a statement against President Bush
leaving office and not being held accountable for impeachable
offenses and war crimes.
All shoes in good condition will be donated to the needy and
distributed by the D.C. Statehood Green party in Washington
D.C.
The caravan will be leaving to DC on Saturday, January
17th.
For more information, go to www.shoebush.org
Hinck Named Chair of Utilities and
Energy Committee
New Portland legislators appointed to committees
Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree has appointed
Representative Jon Hinck the House chair of the Utilities and
Energy Committee for the 124th Legislature, which is just
getting underway.
Hinck served as a member of the committee last session,
which was his first term in the Legislature.
The Utilities and Energy Committee considers legislation
concerning energy policy, including energy resources and
efficiency; the electric industry, including supply,
transportation and distribution; the natural gas industry; the
telecommunications industry, including mobile, telephone,
Internet and cable television services; E-911; water and
sewer utilities, including district charters; the Public Utilities
Commission; Office of the Public Advocate; and the Energy
Resources Council.
An attorney, Hinck worked to promote renewable energy
during three years working for the Natural Resources Council
of Maine. He also spearheaded major energy efforts during
the 10 years he worked for Greenpeace.
New Portland legislators also got their committee
assignments. Diane Russell will serve on the Legal and
Veterans Affairs Committee; Peter Stuckey will serve on the
Health and Human Services Committee; Joan Cohen will
serve on the Business, Research and Economic Development
Committee; and Steve Lovejoy will serve on the Education
and Cultural Affairs Committee.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monkey Fights at the Zoo
Cumberland County Jail Corrections Officers In
Silent Protest over One Year Without Union
Contract
Negotiations between Cumberland County and the jail’s
corrections officers have been unsuccessful since September
of 2007. This has resulted in a silent protest among the
officers at the jail. Many officers wear their shirts untucked,
have grown beards, worn dimes with holes drilled through
them (protesting a ten-cents-an-hour raise included in the
contract), and leave protest posters inside their car windows.
Union representative Will Russell indicates that the sticking
point is misappropriation of a $300,000 employee health care
surplus. The union workers feel the money could have been
returned to the taxpayers, but instead it was used for 1- 3%
merit raises for non-union workers.
Mr. Russell has serious concerns about the structure of the
Cumberland County budget. He says, “I’ve seen monkey
fights at the zoo better organized than the county budget.”
Union members were expected to vote down the newly-
negotiated contract on December 22nd. This will initiate a
“fact finding” process.
Union negotiator Michelle Noyes, with 24 year of county
employment says, “I’ve never seen the morale so low and the
unity so high.”
Cumberland County management says the law prevents them
from making comment on ongoing contract negotiations.
Pamela Cragin
pjcragin@yahoo.com
Monday, December 22, 2008
Loughlin, McAfee Initiate New Police
Board Members
New members of the City’s Police Citizen Review
Subcommittee were welcomed to the oversight board on
December 17th and given some insight into the workings of
the police department and the review board by Acting Police
Chief Joseph Loughlin and former Committee Chair Dr.
Robert McAfee. The group currently has six members. The
alternate seat on the board is vacant.
Loughlin discussed current crime trends in the city, reviewed
challenges and problems faced by the police force, and talked
about some of the issues the review board might be dealing
with in relationship to the department and its workings.
McAfee, one of the committee’s founding members and its
longtime Chair, discussed the history of the volunteer group,
its duties and procedures, and some of the challenges and
changes it has faced over the years.
Kelly McDonald, Chair of the committee, said that the group
will meet on the second Wednesday of each month,
beginning in January. The meetings are open to the public and
times and locations of the meetings are listed on the City’s
website.
Local Cable Customers Due Ice Storm
Rebates
Cable customers who lost service during the weekend ice
storm of December 13th-14th are qualified for a rebate for
the time their service was lost, says Parkside State
Representative Herb Adams.
Under a state law sponsored by Adams, Maine cable
customers are automatically due a pro-rated rebate for all
cable-provided services lost for six hours or more.
“The catch is, you have to ask for it,” said Adams. “All cable
customers should call their cable company and report their
service outage, and provide specifics, if you can.” The
rebate is automatic to all who qualify, for both commercial
and residential accounts.
Today many cable services are “bundled” – TV, telephone
and Internet are provided in a single package.
The cable provider for much of southern Maine is Time-
Warner or its subsidiaries. The Time-Warner contact
number for service is 253-2222 or toll free at 1-800-833-
2253. Customers should check their cable bill for their local
company.
A new state law passed in 2007 also requires cable
companies to print reminders of their rights to an outage
rebate on the customers’ bills.
Adams encourages customers with complaints about
compliance, or difficulties in getting rebates, to contact him
at 772-2565, or the Consumer Assistance Division of the
Public Utilities Commission at 1-800-452-4699.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
More Arrests Expected in East End Drug
Bust
Approximately one-quarter pound of marijuana and evidence
of other criminal activity was recovered during the execution
of a search warrant and subsequent investigation which led to
the arrest of Donald Alfreds III, 21, on December 16th He
was charged with Violation of Conditional Release relating to
a previous drug-related arrest.
The Portland Police Department and Maine Drug
Enforcement Agency (MDEA) conducted the search warrant
at 121 Cumberland Avenue. Police also contacted DHHS
because of our concerns for children residing at the location.
The PPD and MDEA investigations are ongoing, and future
arrests are anticipated. Anyone with additional information
regarding activities at this address is requested to contact the
Portland Police Department at 874-8584.
Nominations Due for 2010 Maine
Teacher of the Year
Accepted through January 30
Nominations are being accepted for 2010 Maine Teacher of
the Year. Any certified Maine teacher who is currently giving
daily classroom instruction in a Maine-approved public or
private elementary or secondary school may be nominated.
The Teacher of the Year program does not attempt to single
out any individual as the best teacher in Maine, but rather to
honor one teacher who represents all the excellent teachers in
the State.
Parents, teacher and others can start the process of
nominating a teacher. For detailed information about the
criteria, nomination process, nomination form, and guidelines,
visit: www.maine.gov/education/toy
Police Create Special Calendar
The Portland Police Department has announced the
completion of a poetry and photography 2009 calendar, a
special project between members of the department and the
Arts & Equity Initiative. AEI’s mission is to improve
municipal government and its relationship with the public
through art projects with local artists and city employees.
AEI is a public/private partnership between the City of
Portland and the arts nonprofit Terra Moto Incorporated.
The three-year pilot project began in Portland in 2007, with
Marty Pottenger as the director. Pottenger is a theater
artist/play-wright/director who moved here from New York
City to head up AEI.
The calendar is dedicated to Sergeant Rob Johnsey, who died
in a tragic accident last spring. Two of his poems appear in
the calendar. Proceeds will be shared with the Johnsey Fund,
established in his memory.
Acting Chief Joseph Loughlin described a news conference
on December 17th as bearing “good news,” unlike many
others that have been held at 109 Middle Street recently. He
stated he was “skeptical at the beginning of the project,” but
said of Pottenger: “She pulled it off.”
Loughlin said he felt the calendar was a way people might
learn about officers as human beings. “It’s a valuable and
quality product that I’m proud to be part of.”
Rachel Talbot Ross, Portland’s Director of the Office of
Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs, said the AEI
projects are a way to connect city employees to each other
and to communities. It’s also a way to “understand and
express diversity in the city.” Ross continued “Marty has
been a lightning rod. She’s creating connections where none
existed.”
Lieutenant Michael Sauschuck, who was involved in helping
coordinate the officers and artist teams said “Marty put
together a SWAT team of poets and photographers” to work
on this project. He then read one of Rob Johnsey’s poems,
“The Forest,” which is included in the calendar.
The calendars are priced at $15 and will be available at all
major bookstores in the area. The story of life and work
within the police department is what the calendar tells about.
It also addresses challenges faced by the department,
improving the relationship between the public and the
department and improving departmental morale through the
creation of art. –Marge Niblock
Thursday, December 18, 2008
City to Install New Bike Racks
The City of Portland's Health and Human Services
Department unveils plans to install at least twenty new bike
hitches (racks) throughout the city, and is seeking input from
the community for convenient locations. Community
members can submit a request at the City's website, www.
portlandmaine.gov/hhs/bikerackrequest.htm.
This program, part of former Mayor Jim Cohen's Health
Initiative, is designed to encourage people and make it easier
to bike in and around the city. In 2007, the first year of the
initiative, the city installed fifty bike hitches -- 37 two-bike
hitches around the city and 13 larger racks at the schools.
Suggested locations for the racks were solicited from
residents and bikers in Portland.
All requests must be received by February 28, 2009. The
locations will then be reviewed by a selection committee
comprised of city staff and community members. Due to
limited funding, not all requests may be fulfilled. The selected
locations will be announced in March and the new bike racks
will be installed in the spring of 2009.
Businesses, organizations or individuals interested in
supporting this effort can also donate a bike hitch (rack)
through Volunteer Portland, a web-based initiative designed to
allow the people that live, work and play in Portland a chance
to give back by volunteering or donating their time, services
or financial resources. The city-approved bike hitch is
available for $200 and can park two bikes. For more
information, visit http://www.portlandmaine.
gov/donations/giftcatalog.asp.
Adams Appointed to Ocean Energy Task
Force
Parkside State Representative Herb Adams has been
appointed to Governor John Baldacci’s new Ocean Energy
Task Force. The task force, which will look for strategies for
using ocean-based wind energy and tidal and wave energies
had its first meeting on December 10th in the Governor’s
Cabinet Room.
The Legislature passed a bill introduced by Adams in the last
session to help Maine regulate tidal-powered energy products
and promote the state as a pioneer research site in this
growing field. This year, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission approved nine tidal energy permits in Maine,
including one request from Maine Maritime Academy for the
Bagaduce River. When completed, the Maine Maritime site
will be the largest test site outside the tidal facilities in the
Orkney Islands in Scotland .
Adams sees energy potential in numerous small-scale tidal
and wave-action sites along the coast, and potential in larger-
scaled, properly-placed off-shore wind farms.
Adams was appointed to the task force by Speaker of the
House Hannah Pingree. He is one of three legislators serving
on the 21-member task force.
The task force has been charged with making recomm-
endations on issues including siting of offshore wind
generation facilities, fostering in-state growth of diverse wind
energy-related businesses, encouraging ocean-based tidal and
wave energy development where appropriate, and updating
information regarding offshore oil and gas resources, and
evaluating federal initiatives regarding exploration for oil and
gas in the Outer Continental Shelf.
Interim findings from the task force will be reported by April
1st and final recommendations by October 31st.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
OUI Suspect Arrested After Speeding
Through East End
Portland police arrested a Munjoy Hill man after a wild ride
through the East End on December 13th.
Officer Andjelko Napijalo was on routine patrol on at 9:43
AM, when he observed a tan BMW on Washington Avenue
traveling at a high rate of speed.
He then saw the car cross the double center line and begin
passing other vehicles. The BMW turned onto Walnut Street
and the blue lights and sirens on the police car were
activated. The BMW took off eastbound on Walnut Street.
The car made a sudden left turn into the parking lot at 340
Eastern Promenade, and the driver, Nathan Delois, 30, a
resident of the building, jumped out and began walking away.
At this point Delois was stopped and placed under arrest by
the officer, and he was charged with failure to stop for a
police officer and operating under the influence. -
Marge Niblock
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Task Force to Recommend Free METRO
on Election Day
A task force appointed by the Portland City Council to look at
polling places in the city will recommend that the City work
out an arrangement with METRO, which runs the City’s bus
system, to provide free transportation to voters going to the
polls on election day.
The idea was originally proposed after the group voted to
recommend that the polling places at the Barron Center and
Temple Beth El be closed and the voters who use those polls
be transferred to the Woodfords Congregational Church. The
polling place was moved from Woodfords several years ago
when the church underwent renovations.
City officials would have to talk to METRO officials to work
out a citywide plan. METRO currently offers Free Fare
Fridays to encourage riders to take public transportation to
shopping destinations.
Reiche TV Gets Cable Hookup
Ed Bryan announced at the West End Neighborhood
Association’s annual meeting on December 10th that Time
Warner Cable has installed a cable hookup in the Reiche
Community Center's program area. The City’s Parks and
Recreation Department paid the $300 installation fee. WENA
members voted to provide whatever power and cable cords
are needed.
Bryan said he will purchase a DVD player and will pass the
hat at the group’s January meeting for reimbursement
donations.
These developments will make the large-screen TV - donated
last summer by the VFW - available for school and after-
school programming. Private groups may also schedule its
use by contacting Nick Cliche at (874-8873).
Monday, December 15, 2008
BOB SURVIVES!
Bob Crowley of South Portland on December 14th became
the first Mainer and the oldest person to ever win the one
million dollar first prize on the TV reality show SURVIVOR.
This season’s show took place in Gabon, Africa and
premiered on September 25th.
Crowley, 57, a high school physics teacher, outlasted 17
other contestants in the 39-day test of survival, social, and
political skills. He became a finalist by winning a fire-starting
competition against another contestant. He also won an
additional $100,000 by being voted by viewers as the most
popular contestant.
Longfellow’s Gift Box Stolen
A large decorative gift box has been stolen from the statue of
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in Longfellow Square. The
statue has been decorated for the past ten years by having the
box placed in Longfellow’s lap, as well as a cap and a scarf
on his head and neck. A few of Santa’s Portland-based
“elves” have carried out the task. They usually leave it up for
about a month, removing it during the first week of January.
On Saturday, December 6th, the statue received its present.
This year, it was a gold box with red ribbon and long red
streamers coming from the bow. On Thursday, December
11th, it was discovered that the box had been taken. This is
the first time any vandalism has occurred in connection with
the decoration.
Local business owners who can see the statue from their
stores were contacted, but no one had seen the removal of
the package.
-Marge Niblock
Friday, December 12, 2008
Meeting to Address Tax Returns, Fuel
Assistance
West End City Councilor Dave Marshall and community
organizations will hold an informational meeting on Sunday,
December 14th, from 3 to 7PM at the Portland Expo, 239
Park Avenue.
Fuel assistance, income tax preparation assistance, property
tax and rent refund, home energy loans, home down payment
assistance, lead paint abatement, and more will be discussed.
Residents are asked to bring their 2007 property tax bill or
proof of rent paid and 2007 federal and state tax returns.
The informational session has been organized by Councilor
Marshall, State Representative Jon Hinck, the United Way of
Greater Portland and the St. John Valley Neighborhood
Association.
Commissioners to Hold Legislative
Breakfast
The Cumberland County Commissioners will hold a special
legislative breakfast meeting on Wednesday, December 17th,
from 8-10:30 AM at the Holiday Inn West at Exit 48,
formerly Exit 8 of the Maine Turnpike.
Other participants in the event will be the Greater Portland
Council of Governments, Representative Meredith Burgess,
Senator Bill Diamond, the Cumberland County Extension
Association, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation
District, Portland Public Library, Threshold to Maine
Resource Conservation and Devel-opment (RC&D) Area, and
Southern Maine Emergency Medical Services Council.
The meeting will enable participants to:
- Meet legislators, municipal & county officials, business and
nonprofit leaders from throughout the region;
- Hear local issues and priorities generated at previous
community meetings;
- Share ideas and objectives.
Please RSVP by Friday, December 12th to Barbara Buckley
bbuckley@cumber-landcounty.org or by calling 871-8380.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
WENA Elects New Officers
The West End Neighborhood Association held its annual
election on December 10th. Officers elected to serve in 2009
were Rosanne Graef, President; Jo Coyne, Vice President;
Leana Good-Simpson, Secretary; and Larry Davis, Treasurer.
Rounding out the Board will be Jadot Bakunda, Crystal
Barone, Ed Bryan, Sarah Colton, Dennis "Chip" Martin,
Deborah McCoy and June Stevenson.
WENA Backs Mercy’s Bid for Federal
Funding
New West End Neighborhood Association President Rosanne
Graef reported at the group’s annual meeting on December
10th that WENA would be providing a “letter of
collaboration” for a project headed up by Mercy Hospital that
is seeking between $50,000 and $100,000 in funding through
the Community Block Grant Development program.
"WE CAN [West End Community Action Network] Leave the
Lights On" is an initiative that is intended to revitalize the
neighborhood by promoting a wide range of programming
and activities at the Reiche School and Community Center.
Among the activities to be proposed in the grant application
are a neighborhood watch, health screening, a gardening
programming, an art festival and a farmers’ market, as well
as a number of programs and activities already in existence
such as the Reiche road race, the WENA yard sale, and the
neighborhood cleanup. The application deadline is December
18th; grants will be announced in the spring..
Mercy Hospital, Community Counseling Center, Portland
West, WENA, Reiche School, Portland Parks and Recreation,
Maine Immigrant and Refugee Association, Central African
Vision (Maine), and McAuley Residence are some of the
groups partnering in the funding application.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Bayside Man Terrorized in Home
Portland police have arrested two people, saying they kept a
Bayside man hostage in his own home for two days.
Police say that on December 4th, a 67-year-old man living on
the 400 block of Cumberland Avenue allowed Belinda Libby,
40, to stay at his apartment because she was “down on her
luck.” The two had met through a mutual acquaintance.
Libby was visited later that day at the apartment by Peter
Sullivan, 45, and when the two became unruly, they were
asked to leave. They refused to leave, then prevented the
older man from leaving, and removed his phone.
During the course of their interaction, police say the victim
was threatened and assaulted. Libby and Sullivan stayed
through the night, still refusing to let the occupant leave.
The following morning Libby and Sullivan left the apartment,
but before doing so, they cautioned the victim not to call the
police, and issued further threats if he were to do so. They
returned later that afternoon, took some items and threatened
the victim once again before leaving the apartment.
At this point, the victim called the police for help. When
police arrived, they decided to have the victim sent to Maine
Medical Center to be checked, because he appeared to be in
poor physical health.
Libby and Sullivan were located on December 6th and were
arrested and charged with kidnapping, aggravated criminal
trespass, assault, criminal threatening, terrorizing, and
obstructing report of crime/injury.
-Marge Niblock
Skatepark Awarded $20,000 Grant
Portland's Skatepark Planning Committee has been awarded a
$20,000 grant by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands for
construction of a $325,000 skateboard and bike park to be
located at the Doughtery Field Complex. The grant will
applied to the $50,000 matching grant received from the Ollie
Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
To date, Portland has donated 28,000 square feet of land at
the Doughtery Field Complex valued at $75,000 and allocated
$75,000 of capital investment funds for the $325,000
skatepark design and construction budget. The Committee is
now just $90,000 away from its goal.
The public still has a chance to own a piece of the park
through the Committee's "Buy A Brick" program. Residents,
businesses and supporters of the skatepark can purchase a
brick that will be used for the construction of the park for
$50 (for tax purposes the purchase is considered a charitable
donation). Each brick can be inscribed by the donor and will
become a permanent part of the park. For more information
on how to purchase a brick, visit www.portlandmaine.
gov/skatepark.htm.
A winning skatepark design was selected in October. Known
as the "crop circle", the design received over-whelming
support from the voting public. The public can view the
winning proposal at www.portlandmaine.gov/skatepark.htm.
Green’s State Chair to Run for Guv
Lynne Williams, a Bar Harbor attorney who is the state chair
of Maine’s Green Independent Party, has become the first
announced candidate in the race for the Maine Governorship
in 2010. Williams made her announcement in a letter to the
Bangor Daily News on December 10th.
Williams, 58, ran unsuccessfully for the Maine House of
Representatives as a Green in 2004. She serves on the Bar
Harbor Planning Board and has been active in environmental
and human rights issues.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Daylight Burglary on Hill
Police responded at 3:20 PM on December 7th after being
called to a Munjoy Hill home on Walnut Street when the
owner returned from an outing to discover a burglary had
occurred during her absence.
Entry was gained by forcing open a basement door. Items
taken included a laptop, jewelry, a sword, and cash.
-Marge Niblock
Fire Damages High Street Apartments
A fire that started in a second floor kitchen in an apartment at
236 High Street on December 8th caused smoke and water
damage throughout the building but no personal injuries.
Portland firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the one
apartment.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Commissioners End Lease Because of
‘Environmental Issues’
The Cumberland County Commissioners have decided to stop
leasing a property near the Cumberland County Jail because
of what county officials call “environmental issues.”
Early this summer, a warehouse at 1000 Congress Street,
adjacent to the jail, and near the railroad tracks, became
available, and County officials were immediately interested.
Their interest stemmed from the county’s strategic plans for
both 2001 and 2006, which identified needs for additional
space as a priority due to continued growth.
In June, Cumberland County moved forward and signed a
letter of intent to lease with the option to purchase the
property. At that time the County was unaware toxins on the
site.
Over the summer, the 9,500 square foot warehouse was used
by the county for storage and office space. However, when
environmental issues within the building became known, the
site became unsuitable for continued county use. According
to Cumberland County, the toxins originate from oil in the
ground on the site.
In Portland, there have been 2,383 oil and hazardous waste
spills and incidents since 1972, according to Maine’s
Department of Environmental Protection Online Report
Service Data Base. These reports range from residential
incidents to airline oil spills at the Portland Jetport. No recent
report of an oil spill at 1000 Congress Street is listed with the
DEP, however, the history of the land includes transportation
use, and the warehouse was built in 1942. At that time,
Maine DEP did not exist.
County Manager Peter Crichton indicates that the property
may be suited for other operations, but because of
Cumberland County’s many considerations, Crichton says,
“We decided to let the lease lapse.”
At the November 24th meeting of the Cumberland County
Commissioners, Portland’s County Commissioner, Ester
Clenott, voted with Commissioners Feeney and Shaughnessy
to take this recommendation. (In January, recently- elected
Jim Cloutier will be replacing Clenott, as she steps down.)
Cumberland County did not release the name of the property
owner or the report including the exact nature of the
“environmental issues” inside the warehouse.
Pamela Cragin
pjcragin@yahoo.com
Parkside Church Starts New Food
Program
Park Avenue Church of God has become a site of the Angel
Food program, a non-profit which offers anyone who is
interested the opportunity to purchase $65 worth of food for
$30 - a box containing food enough for 7 meals for a family
of four.
There are no income restrictions or applications. To order,
call the church at 773-3947 or stop by this Sunday at 12pm.
At Park Avenue Church of God, 28 Park Ave,.
Orders for this month must be received by Monday, Dec 8.
Distribution will happen Dec 20th.
Angel Food Ministries is "a non-profit, non-denominational
organization dedicated to providing food relief and
contributing to benevolent outreaches in communities
throughout the United States." For more info, visit
angelfoodministries.com
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Portland Public Schools Add Late Start
Option for Winter Weather
The Portland Public Schools close when it is unsafe for
children to get to school due to the conditions of roads and
sidewalks. Weather permitting, the district may opt to open
school two hours later than usual, rather than to close for the
entire day.
The late start option may be used on days when a storm is
over but crews need extra time to clear roads, sidewalks and
parking lots. On those days, starting school late will be less
disruptive to student learning than canceling school for a
whole day, said Interim Superintendent Jeanne Whynot-
Vickers.
An informal survey of parents and staff showed
overwhelming support for adding a late start option, Whynot-
Vickers reported. Many parents said that it would be much
easier for them to get to work late than to miss the whole day.
All school cancellations and late starts will be announced on
the school district’s website (www.portlandschools.org), on
TV3 and on local radio and television stations. On days when
a late start is planned but the weather is worsening, Whynot-
Vickers advised parents to continue monitoring news reports
until 9 a.m., in case the district decides to cancel school for
the day.
“Parents should have a back-up plan in place for snow days
and late start days,” said Whynot-Vickers. “Parents also
should provide their children’s schools with current phone
numbers where they can be reached in an emergency.”
Task Force to Recommend Some Polling
Place Reduction
A task force appointed by the Portland City Council to look at
polling places in the city will recommend some polling places
be eliminated, but not the drastic cuts that were considered
during the City’s budget hearings last spring.
The task force, headed by West End City Councilor David
Marshall, will recommend that all four polling places on the
peninsula – Reiche School, the Portland Expo, Merrill
Auditorium and the East End School - should remain open.
Among the polling places likely to be recommended for
closing are the ones on Cliff and Great Diamond Island, the
Barron Center, and Temple Beth El.
Two members of the group, Ben Chipman and Liz
McMahon, are opposed to cutting any polling places at all.
The budget proposal last spring called for a reduction to six
polling places from the current sixteen.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Armed Suspect Wanted in Home
Invasion/Burglary Near USM Campus
Portland police say that an unknown suspect armed with a .
45 caliber semiautomatic weapon entered a multifamily house
on Payson Street, near the USM campus, through an
unlocked front door, a little after midnight on November 30th.
The suspect, described as a white male in a black ski mask,
entered an apartment on the second floor of the building -
that also had an unlocked door - and stole $50 and two sets
of keys.
At the third-floor apartment, the suspect knocked on the
door, which was partially opened by the resident, and pointed
a gun at the resident’s face, demanding entry to the
apartment. The victim was able to close the door while the
gunman tried to push it open. Once the door was closed,
police were called. There were no injuries and entry was not
gained to this apartment.
The victim further described the suspect as being about five
feet ten inches tall, with a thin build. The man wore a gray,
hooded jacket, black pants, and had a .45 caliber
semiautomatic gun.
-Marge Niblock
Friday, December 5, 2008
Lincoln Middle School Honored for
Recycling Programs
The Maine Recycles Week Steering Committee has chosen
Lincoln Middle School as one of three outstanding schools in
the state for its efforts to promote sustainability. The school
will receive $500 to spend on science, environmental, or
recycling projects that involve students.
Lincoln was recognized because of several projects
underway in classes throughout the school, including
students creating public service announcements about
recycling, and students creating mosaic banners that
promote recycling. The school’s sustainability club also
organized a recycling program for the milk jugs in the school
cafeteria.
In addition to being chosen as an outstanding school, Lincoln
Middle School also had two students’ artwork chosen for the
2009 Maine Recycles Week calendar. Natalie Kudakwashe
and Dominic Averill, both sixth graders, were among the 13
students chosen to have their artwork included in the
calendar - out of the nearly 1,900 posters that were submitted.
Maine Recycles Week, which was held November 8th to the
15th, promotes awareness, knowledge and action for
recycling and waste reduction in the state. The poster
contest gives students an opportunity to express their
understanding of the importance of recycling, buying
recycled goods, and how their actions can encourage the
wise use of resources.
County Struggles to Limit Budget Rise to
2.65%
Cumberland County’s Budget Advisory Committee wants
county government to limit its budget to a 2.65% increase in
the next year.
At its final public meeting on December 4th, members of the
committee, which is made up of municipal officials from
around the county, considered a plan to lay off five
employees from different departments to meet that goal.
Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion opposed that plan,
even though it would have exempted members of his
department from being cut.
The committee agreed to recommend that the county hire
only one new deputy for the sheriff’s department instead of
two, and find other cuts in the budget to reach the 2.65%
figure.
The final decision on the budget will be made by the
Cumberland County Commissioners on December 15th.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Alfond Looking Forward to First Senate
Term
Senator Justin Alfond, D-Cumberland County, was sworn
into office for his first term in the Maine State Senate on
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 for the 124th Legislative
session.
A Maine native, Alfond attended public schools in
Waterville and Dexter before his family moved to Boston,
where he completed his high school education. Later, he
attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana,
where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business
management.
After touring on the professional golf circuit, followed by
jobs in Boston, Orlando, and New York City, he returned
to Maine, where he launched the Maine chapter of The
League of Young Voters.
Though this is Alfond’s first term in the Legislature, his
work with The League of Young Voters helped him to
become familiar with the Maine State House. The 124th
Legislative session officially convened on December 3rd.
The Maine Senate is currently comprised of 20
Democrats and 15 Republicans.
Witness Chases Hatchet-Wielding
Burglar Through West End
Portland Police arrested Jonathan Doyle, 22, of Portland, on
December 1st and charged him with burglary to a motor
vehicle, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, and
possession of burglary tools.
The victim of the burglary told police that he and another
individual observed Doyle entering his vehicle, which was
parked to the rear of 814 Congress Street, at approximately
10:50 PM.
The two approached Mr. Doyle and questioned him regarding
his burglarizing of the motor vehicle. The victim left the
immediate area to call the police while the other witness
watched Mr. Doyle.
The suspect then fled on foot, and the witness chased him up
Vaughn Street. The victim followed behind the foot pursuit,
providing police dispatchers with information regarding the
incident.
Doyle stopped at the intersection of Vaughn and Brackett
Street, removed a hatchet from his belt, and threatened the
witness with the hatchet. He swung the hatchet twice at the
witness, but never struck him, according to police. Officers
arrived at the scene and made the arrest without incident.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Smith to Lead Local Greens
Tina Smith, a well-known community organizer, youth
activist and recent candidate for City Council at-large, was
elected Portland Green Independent Committee Chair on
November 23rd.
Smith said she hopes to bring energy, organization, public
awareness and fun to the Portland Green Independent Party.
Smith received 6,385 votes (20.21%) in the City Council race
against Mayor Ed Suslovic and Dory Waxman, who won the
seat. Liz McMahon was elected Secretary at the meeting.
Man Arrested in Attack at YMCA
Police were called to the YMCA at 70 Forest Avenue on
November 24th, a few minutes before 2:00 AM, and were
met by a victim who told them that he had been struck on the
head with a BB gun that looked like a handgun. He said that
the gun had also been pointed him and he had been threatened.
According to police, the accused assailant and the victim,
who received bruising to his face, were familiar with one
another.
The suspect, Jerry Taylor, 47, was ultimately located in the
YMCA building, where he also resided.
Taylor was arrested by Officer Mark T. Keller, and charged
with assault and criminal threatening with a weapon. He also
had outstanding warrants for operating under the influence
and operating without a license.
-Marge Niblock
December 2, 2008
Man Arrested After Parkside Rampage
Police were called on November 29th at 7:18 PM in reference
to a man bothering people at an apartment building at 131
Sherman Street in the Parkside neighborhood.
When they arrived, they could see the glass in the front door
had been smashed out, and they also heard shouting from
inside the building. As they proceeded up the staircase, they
heard loud banging noises, and then saw Carlos Bosque-
Vega, 19, of Westbrook, who was extremely agitated,
swinging a metal pipe.
Bosque-Vega, between the second and third floor landings,
started swinging the pipe at police as they approached.
Because of his refusal to stop his violent behavior, he was
sprayed with OC spray (Oleoresin Capsicum), commonly
referred to as pepper spray, which had minimal effect on
him, according to police.
Officers struggled with Bosque-Vega as they tried to gain
control of him. He actively resisted arrest and punched
officers, striking Officer Ben Roper in the forearm with the
pipe. Roper also sustained broken bones in his hand, for
which he was treated after the incident.
Bosque-Vega was arrested and charged with assault on a
police officer, refusing to submit to arrest, criminal mischief,
aggravated criminal trespass, and reckless conduct with a
dangerous weapon. -Marge Niblock
December 1, 2008
Duson to be Inagurated as Portland
Mayor
City Councilor Jill Duson will be inaugurated today as the
Mayor for the City of Portland, serving until December 2009.
City Councilors Jon Coyne, Cheryl Leeman and Dory
Waxman will also be sworn-in during the ceremony.
An at-large City Councilor since 2001, Duson served as
Mayor previously in 2005. Duson currently serves on the
Board of Directors for Mercy Hospital, the Institute for Civic
Leadership and the Board of Visitors for the University of
Southern Maine. She earned her Juris Doctor in 1979 from
the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and Bachelor
of Arts from Antioch College.
Duson is currently the Director of the Bureau of
Rehabilitation Services with the Maine Department of Labor
where she is charged with enabling people with significant
disabilities to obtain and retain employment and maintain their
independence. As Director, she manages an annual service
budget of $28 million and oversee s a staff of more than 140
people.
Duson is expected to outline her priorities for the coming
year during her inauguration speech, including her
commitment to economic development projects for the city.
First time City Councilor John Coyne will be sworn in to
represent the city's District 5. Coyne most recently served as
Chair of the Portland School Committee. Dory Waxman will
also be serving on the City Council for the first time,
representing one of the four at-large positions for the nine
member group.
City Councilor Cheryl Leeman will be returning for her ninth
term, representing District 4. Leeman first joined the City
Council in 1984.
