Thursday, July 31, 2008
School Committee Wants Community
Input on New Superintendent
Portland’s School Personnel Committee is seeking input
from the community as an initial step in the new
superintendent search, and also looking for community
members to serve on the superintendent selection panel.
The deadline for both is August 15.
The committee has already received input from a
number of community groups and collected names of
residents willing to serve on the superintendent selection
panel.
To share their input and be considered for the
superintendent selection panel, Portland residents must
complete a Superintendent Search Community Input
Form available on the Portland Public Schools website –
www.portlandschools.org.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Rash of Residential Burglaries
Police are investigating a series of North Deering
burglaries considered “disturbing,” because in several
cases the homes were occupied. The burglaries have
taken place in the past two weeks, with entry having
been gained through unlocked doors and windows.
One of the thefts involved almost $25,000 in jewelry. In
others, small electronic devices, alcohol, and firearms
have been stolen.
-Marge Niblock
Cops Say Roommate Didn’t
Like Picture
Portland police say that on n July 14th, shortly before 2:
00 AM, George Abdalla, 30, became upset when he
came home and saw that his roommate had hung a
picture in the living room.
He woke his roommate up, pushed him against a wall,
pointed a knife at him, and threatened him, according to
the police.
When he let him go, the roommate called police, who
arrested Abdalla for assault and criminal threatening
with a dangerous weapon.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, July 29,2008
Parkside Dealing With Drugs
and Prostitutes
Residents of the Parkside neighborhood are considering
the reinstitution of the Parkside Crime Watch to deal
with what they say is an upsurge in prostitution and
drug-related activity in the neighborhood.
About 30 Parkside residents met with Parkside State
Representative Herb Adams, West End City Councilor
David Marshall, and police officials to discuss possible
solutions.
The issue will be a topic of discussion at the next
Parkside Neighborhood Association meeting on August
14th.
Adams Urges Groundfish Aid
Legislation
National fish forum meets in Portland – fish
stocks update grim
State Rep. Herb Adams, D-Portland, has filed a bill to
develop an aid package for Maine fishermen struggling
to survive in the face of dwindling fish stocks,
competition from Massachusetts, and fewer days at sea.
Adams’ bill for a $300,000 short-term aid package
would cover rebates for landing fees at the Portland
Fish Exchange, trucking fees for deliveries, Maine sales
tax on diesel fuel, and for the ice needed to preserve
catches at sea.
The proposal would restore funding to the level
established by a similar bill sponsored by Adams in 2007
that expired on June 30, 2008, the end of the state fiscal
year. Adams serves as chair of the Groundfishing
Subcommittee of the Legislature’s Marine Resources
Committee.
Adams filed the bill in response to information presented
by scientists when the New England Fishery
Management Council gathered in Portland June 3-5.
Scientists said fish stocks remain surprisingly weak and
quotas to reduce harvests in the Gulf of Maine haven’t
worked as hoped. Also, the number of federally
permitted Maine fishing vessels still at sea is at an all-
time low.
The Portland Fish Exchange is the last nonprofit public
fish exchange north of Boston. Declining landings and
increased competition from Massachusetts have
threatened its ability to keep its doors open.
“From 1996 to 2006 the number of federal fishing
permits held by Mainers dropped from 165 to 91, a 45
percent loss, and it continues,” said Adams. “Just 12
years ago, fishing boats lined the Portland waterfront.
Now it’s condos and boutiques. A way of life is at risk
on the Maine coast, unless we give both fishermen and
fish a chance to come back in better days.”
A Legislative Resolve authored by Adams, calling for a
fair cut of permits and landings, was presented to the
New England Forum by Sen. Dennis Damon, D-
Hancock, chair of the Legislature’s Marine Resources
Committee. Both houses of the Legislature unanimously
passed the Resolve on April 18.
Adams notes that only a few shoreside firms in Portland
and Port Clyde still remain to service fishing vessels
with ice and supplies.
“A whole Maine way of life is on the edge,” he said.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Portland Police Looking
for Recruits
The Portland Police Department is starting an entry
level hiring process and has scheduled several test dates
for the required entry level test for police officer. These
dates and times are: Wednesday, August 6th at 1PM,
Wednesday August 6th at 5:30 PM and Saturday August
9th at 9 AM.
Anyone who has already submitted an application for an
entry level position: is automatically allowed to reserve a
day and time to take the police exam. Please call 874-
8588 to set up that appointment and confirm that the
police department has a completed hiring package on
file.
If you have not submitted an application for an entry
level position, send your resume, cover letter and
application (www.portland-police.com) to Human
Resources at City Hall and they will contact you to
schedule the police exam.
All candidates must pass the Maine Criminal Justice
Academy fitness exam. There are two options available:
The PPD will accept recent Maine Criminal Justice
Academy fitness forms. The academy administers their
fitness test on the first Wednesday of each month.
To take the test, call them directly at 877-8000. Once
you have successfully completed the fitness test, you
will receive a document which you may bring to the
department so that you will not have to retest.
If you cannot take the test in Vassalboro, the PDD will
schedule a time to take it at the Portland Police
Department. The next scheduled fitness testing will be
on Wednesday August 6th and Saturday August 9th, the
same days as the written exam. They must have
received the application before scheduling the fitness
exam.
If you have any, questions, contact C. Clarkson
Woodward, Principal Administrative Officer, Office of
Personnel at Police Personnel - 874-8588 or 874-8571.
Urban Garden Celebrated
Dozens of neighbors celebrated the success of the Boyd
Street Urban Garden on Saturday, July 26th with home-
grown produce, healthy snacks and a spectacular raffle,
sponsored by the Cultivating Community organization.
Visitors and kids from Munjoy Hill, Kennedy Park,
Bayside and Parkside declared the eats and the garden 'a
success ! '
Sunday, July 27, 2008
WEST END SPORTS
West End NEWSIES
Retain Softball Title
Team also does a little crime-fighting
between innings.
The West End NEWSIES for the second year in a row
took home the championship trophy at the annual
WMPG Independent Media Softball Challenge, held at
Deering Oaks Park on July 26th.
The NEWSIES built up an early lead with a barrage of
hitting, and had a 12-2 lead after only three innings. But
they had to rely on sparkling defense to hold on for a 19-
14 victory over the persistent WMPG squad.
WEN center fielder Will King not only circled the bases
on his first at bat, he took off in pursuit of two men
who were collecting bottles and cans in the park - but
who also helped themselves to King’s cell phone
between innings. King retrieved his phone and made it
back onto the field in time for the next inning. No
charges were filed.
A slick 4-6-3 double play started by NEWSIE second
baseman Chet Knights snuffed out one WMPG rally.
Knights (owner of Fresh Approach) fielded a ground
ball and flipped it to his son Chris at shortstop, who
relayed it to first base for the twin-killing. (A third
generation of Knights -Terren -covered the outfield for
the NEWSIES.)
First baseman Ed King (Editor of the WEN) ended
another WMPG threat with a spectacular, back-to-the
infield running grab of a bloop hit to right field.
Catcher Katie Brown sent one WMPG batter back to the
bench with a nifty catch of a foul tip.
The game ended in dramatic fashion when Chris
Knights caught a WMPG player in a rundown between
second and third base.
The NEWSIES victory also included contributions from
Portland Forecaster Sports Editor Mike Hoffer,
Republican State Senate candidate Eric Lusk, Strange
Maine proprietor Brendan Evans, Portland gadfly Steven
Scharf, and others.
The championship trophy, which consists of a gold cup
topped with a softball, will be on display at several
locations in town after it is engraved with the name of
this year’s champion. It will be at Strange Maine on
Congress Street, then at the offices of the Portland
Forecaster, before spending the next year on display at
the Fresh Approach Market on Brackett Street in the
West End.
The WMPG Independent Media Softball Challenge has
been hosted by WMPG, Greater Portland’s community
radio station, since 2004. The annual event includes a
cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks, and
a complete spread of other food.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Beetles Released in Portland
to Eat Invasive Plant
On July 23rd, the City of Portland's Public Services
Department released natural control beetles that feed on
purple loosestrife, an invasive plant that poses a threat
to Maine's native plant life. Areas of concern where
beetles will be released include Canco Road, Pleasant
Hill Road, and Maine Avenue.
An invasive plant is a plant that is not native to the area
and has a negative effect on the economy, environment,
or human health. Not all plants introduced from other
places are harmful. The term "invasive" is reserved for
the most aggressive plant species that grow and
reproduce rapidly, causing major changes to the areas
where they become established.
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is easily
recognized by its purple to magenta flowers, composed
of 5 or 6 petals, and its square stems. This species was
introduced as an ornamental from Europe, where it is a
minor component of wetland vegetation.
In North America, purple loosestrife has escaped
cultivation and is abundant in wetlands and other wet
areas (streambanks, lakeshores and ditches) in almost
every state in the U.S. Purple loosestrife forms dense,
single-species stands that cause a decline in plant
diversity, and affect wildlife by reducing food and
habitat for waterfowl and spawning grounds for fish. A
single plant can produce 2.5 million seeds annually, and
these seeds can be transported great distances by
humans, animals, water and wind. Fireweed is a
common native plant that is often mistaken for purple
loosestrife, but can be distinguished by having flowers
with four petals and rounds stems.
The leaf-feeding Galerucella beetle was one of three
insect species from Europe approved in 1997 by the US
Department of Agriculture for use as biological control
agents. This friendly beetle eats only purple loosestrife.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Conservative Caucus Calls for
State Hiring Freeze
The Portland Conservative Candidates’ Caucus
announced on July 24th that it favors a freeze on all
new state government hires, permanent elimination of all
currently vacant state positions, and a comprehensive
review of state government positions to identify those
that are genuinely productive and those that are not.
According to the United States Census Bureau, about
15,000 people are employed by the Maine state
government, about five state government employees for
every 100 people employed in the private sector.
The PCCC says that Maine could save hundreds of
millions of dollars by reducing its state government
workforce to the national average, and could save tens
of millions of dollars by eliminating the 894 vacant
positions reported by the Maine Department of
Administrative and Financial Services.
. The PCCC consists of the Republican candidates for
the state legislative districts that represent the City of
Portland.
Suspect Caught in Someone
Else’s Van
John Chick, 40, of Portland, was arrested and charged
with burglary of a motor vehicle on July 14th.
Officer Vincent Rozzi, while on routine patrol, noticed a
man inside a van on Deblois Street in Deering Highlands
at 1:55 AM. He then saw Chick exit the vehicle, walk
down the driveway, and head toward Brighton Avenue.
Rozzi stopped him and after talking to the subject,
determined that Chick didn’t own the van he’d just
walked away from. -Marge Niblock
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Arrests Made in Old
Port Attack
Two New Hampshire men were arrested by Manchester
police on the evening of July 23rd on warrants charging
them with aggravated assault in connection with the
May 25th attack on O’delmo Robinson of the
Brunswick Naval Air Station.
Police say Robinson was set upon by several men in a
parking lot on Commercial Street after the cruise ship
Casablanca completed an evening cruise.
Christopher Hartt, 22, and Thomas Hartt, 25, were
arrested and charged with being fugitives from justice.
It is not known at this time whether or not they will
waive extradition.
There is a warrant for one other person involved in the
case, and the Portland Police Department is working
with other New Hampshire agencies to effect that arrest.
-Marge Niblock
Mayor Welcomes Students
from Shinagawa, Japan
The City of Portland on July 23rd welcomed a
delegation of sixteen teenagers and two chaperones
from Portland's sister city, Shinagawa, Japan. For the
next two weeks, the delegation will stay with local
families and have the opportunity to explore the city,
including attending a Sea Dogs game.
This year's trip marks the twenty-fourth anniversary of
the international relationship between the two cities.
Brought together by a unique historical link, Portland
and Shinagawa formalized their relationship in 1984.
Portland native Edward Sylvester Morse (1838-1925),
an American zoologist, is largely credited with bringing
the study of archeology and anthropology to Japan in
the 1870's. Morse discovered the Omori shell mound
and collected more than 5,000 Japanese pottery pieces
on exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Since 1984, Portland and Shinagawa have exchanged
delegations to enjoy and explore each other's food,
culture and share in a variety of events. In 1988,
Portland sent a little league team to play its counterparts
in Shinagawa. This event evolved into a mini-Olympics
exchange of athletic teams, which takes place every
four years.
Next year, the City of Portland is planning a major
celebration to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the
sister city relationship. To mark the tenth anniversary,
the two cities exchanged post office boxes.
Shinagawa's post office box is located in Post Office
Park in the Old Port.
Mayor Edward Suslovic welcomed the delegation and
provided a tour of City Hall to kick off their visit.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
West End Republicans to
Caucus for Replacement Candidate
Republicans living in State Representative District 118,
which covers the West End, St John Street and
Libbytown neighborhoods, will be caucusing at the
Victory ’08 headquarters at 11 Baxter Boulevard on
Sunday, July 27th at 6:00 pm to choose a replacement
candidate for the West End State House seat. All
Republicans living in the district are invited to participate
in the caucus.
The nominee would replace James Willard Colston, who
withdrew from the race, and face the incumbent
Democrat Jon Hinck in the November election.
Brothers Arrested in Old Port Fracas
Portland police arrested two brothers on July 11th after
breaking up a melee on Dana Street in the Old Port.
Walking a foot beat at 11:12 PM, Officer Kent Porter
received a report of a large fight in front of Amigo’s
Mexican Restaurant.Reaching Dana Street, he saw 15 to
20 people on the sidewalk, but no one was fighting.
Porter then observed Christopher Bolduc, 25, of
Waterville, who appeared to be injured, lying on his
back on the sidewalk.
As Porter approached, Christopher’s 29-year-old
brother Ryan Bolduc, of Arundel, began accosting
Amigo’s staff members, inquiring as to who had
assaulted his brother.
A confrontation developed, and according to police
“Christopher exploded off the ground and jumped onto
an Amigo’s staff member.” Ryan Bolduc then grabbed
an employee of Amigo’s.
When police attempted to calm the brothers, they
refused to comply and became confrontational with
officers, causing their arrest on charges of assault and
refusing to submit to arrest.
Nicole Lacadie, 31, of Arundel, was also arrested and
charged with obstructing government administration
when she began interfering as officers were arresting
Christopher Bolduc. Ryan was also charged with this
crime when he tried to prevent his brother from being
arrested.
Tuesday, July 22
City to Keep Polling
Places Open
The Portland City Council voted on July 21st to keep all
16 polling places in the city open, at least until after the
November 4th presidential election. Portland's City
Manager had proposed a reduction to six polling places
as a money-saving measure.
Pedestrians Only on
Downtown Sidewalks
Bicycling and roller skating is now prohibited on
sidewalks in the city's downtown business district.
Skateboarding was banned on downtown sidewalks in
August, 2007 The business district runs from State
Street to the Franklin Arterial, and from Commercial
Street to Cumberland Avenue.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Police Respond to Casco Bay
Bridge Emergency
Police and emergency crews responded at about 8PM
on Sunday night, July 20th to two emergencies, one on
the Casco Bay Bridge and another at State and Danforth
Street, just up the hill from the bridge.
In a scene on the bridge, responders appeared to be
talking with a woman in a pink jacket (see photo) who
was outside the rail of the bridge, near the control booth
at the halfway point of the bridge. She eventually
climbed back over the rail.
Just minutes before, State Street leading to the bridge
was blocked off to traffic while authorities dealt with a
separate emergency, a fire in the area of Danforth Street.
-Based on reporting by Michelle Souliere,
strangemaine.blogspot.com
Sunday, July 20, 2008
New Blog Covers Munjoy Hill
A new weblog started in late June will feature stories
about Munjoy Hill and its residents. The blog http:
//munjoyhillnews.wordpress.com/, is written and edited
by Munjoy Hill resident Carol McCracken.
The blog has thus far published stories about the
recent Peaks-to-Portland swim, scooters on the Hill, the
new Freedom Trail marker on North Street, the
Portland Food Co-op, and former West Ender and soon-
to-be Hill resident Cyrus Hagge.
McCracken calls the blog a "continually changing
portraiture of a community like no other" and promises
it will be informative and fun.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
WAXMAN MAKES CITY
COUNCIL BID OFFICIAL
Among a crowd of nearly 50 supporters, Dory Waxman
announced on Sunday, July 13th that she is officially
seeking the At-Large City Council seat, a seat currently
held by Mayor Ed Suslovic. The gathering was held at
former Portland Mayor Peter O'Donnell's home.
Waxman's first, campaign event raised more than
$2,000.
Waxman raised her family on Stevens Avenue, sending
all three of her sons to public schools.For twelve years,
she owned and operated Casco Bay Wool Works, a
manufacturing and retail business in the Old Port.
Presently, she runs a small community and public
relations business.
Waxman served one term on the Portland School
Committee in the late 1990s and was Chair of the
Portland Democratic City Committee from 2002
through 2004. In 1994, Waxman co-founded Portland
Community Action, a city-wide organization
devoted to electing community-minded municipal
officials, and she continued to serve on its executive
committee through 2002. Most recently, Waxman is
perhaps best known for her outreach in the
Bayside Neighborhood. As a community organizer, she
built community consensus around a number of
initiatives and organized the Bayside World Market Fair.
Waxman and her husband, Dan reside in the Rosemont
neighborhood and have three grown sons.
She is currently a member of the Southern Maine Labor
Council and serves on the Board of Directors for
Opportunity Maine Campaign, a nonprofit devoted to
education and economic development.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Conservative Candidates Oppose
Polling Place Reduction
The Portland Conservative Candidates’ Caucus has
announced that it opposes the Portland City Clerk’s
proposal to reduce the number of polling places in
Portland from 16 to 6. The Clerk has proposed the
reduction in order to save approximately $13,000 in
costs per election. The proposal is on the agenda of the
July 21st City Council meeting.
The proposal continues a trend of decreasing the
number of polling places available to voters in Portland,
which used to have 26 polling places. The Caucus says
that a reduction would result in longer lines and more
confusion on election day, with the result that citizens
will be discouraged from voting, if they are not denied
the opportunity to vote altogether.
Thursday, July 17,2008
City to Begin Elected
Mayor Process
The Portland City Council is scheduled to begin a
process that would lead to Portland residents electing a
mayor independent of the Council. Currently, the mayor
is chosen from among the nine City Councilors by the
Councilors themselves.
At its July 21st meeting, the Council will decide whether
or not to put a referendum on the November ballot
calling for the establishment of a Charter Commission,
which would look at changing the City’s charter to
allow for an elected mayor.
If a Charter Commission is OK’d by voters, then
another election would be held next spring to elect
members of the Commission. That commission would
then have to approve the change, and a mayoral election
would be held in 2010.
Jail Guards, County Feud Over
Contract
Cumberland County officials and guards at the
Cumberland County jail are feuding over the guards’
new union contract. On July 14th, about 50 of the
guards staged a protest at the Cumberland County
Courthouse, and then marched en masse into the room
where the Cumberland County Commissioners’ meeting
was in progress.
The guards, clad in black tee shirts and carrying picket
signs, encircled the room and their spokesman, Will
Russell, told Commissioners Esther Clennott and
Richard Feeney that they were ready to sit down and
negotiate right there.
A two-hour negotiation was held later in the day, but no
agreement was hammered out.
Car Parts Taken in Marginal
Way Vehicle Burglaries
Vehicles parked in the lot on Marginal Way have
become targets for thieves in recent months, according
to Portland police. Several catalytic converters have
been removed from parked cars.
The latest rash of thefts involved vehicles from the Go
Maine vanpool program which brings people up to
Augusta each day. The drive shaft of one van was
stolen several weeks ago, and some time between July
2nd and 3rd, a taillight assembly was removed from
another van.
The parking lot is well-lit and police have a special-
attention order out for that area.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Parkside Whistler Strikes Again
Residents of the Parkside neighborhood say that an
unidentified woman roamed the area of State Street
between Grant and Sherman on the night of July
12th, keeping residents awake with her whistling. And
two nights later, the woman was reportedly joined by
another woman and possibly others.
The woman reportedly wandered up and down State
Street between 8PM and 3AM, issuing a shrill, loud
whistle at regular intervals. Portland police
interviewed the woman on the second night and let
her go on her way. Neighbors reported that she
resumed her “ear-piercing” activity about an hour
later.
The original whistler is described as a Caucasian
woman, about 5’6” tall, with long, dark blond hair, in
her late teens or early 20s, wearing a plaid tank top
and bell-bottomed jeans. The second woman was
described as having dark hair, and was reported by
neighbors to be accompanied by a short male. They
say that the two women appeared to be signaling back
and forth to each other through their whistling
The ongoing story is being documented by Parkside
residents at strangemaine.blogspot.com
strangemaine.blogspot.com
Whistlin’ in the dark.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Munjoy Hill Board to Decide
Future of Newspaper
August issue suspended while
problems are addressed
The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Board
of Directors will meet in executive session on July
22nd to determine what to do with the organization’s
monthly newspaper, The Munjoy Hill Observer.
The newspaper’s editor, Heather Curtis, resigned after
failing to be re-elected to the MHNO board at the
annual meeting on June 29th.
The Observer’s editorial committee met on July 9th
and elected Randee Bucknell to serve as chair of the
committee. However, that meeting came under
criticism by one of its own members, Frank Kadi, who
questioned the legitimacy of the meeting because
several MHNO members who had signed up for the
committee were not notified of the meeting. Bucknell
said that the committee was not informed about who
those members were, and that sufficient notification
of the meeting had been made with postings in the
newspaper, on the MHNO website, bulletin board and
wall calendar.
City Councilor Kevin Donoghue, against whom
Bucknell has been circulating a recall petition, was
one of those who signed up for the committee but was
not at the meeting. Donoghue writes a column about
City Council issues for the paper.
Kadi also called for the recruitment and training of
more MHNO members to help in publishing the paper.
Meanwhile, the board suspended publication of its
August issue until it can resolve a number of issues,
including advertising revenue, editorial
responsibilities, and the role of the newspaper in the
organization.
-Ed King
Motor Vehicle Burglary Foiled
An employee of Maine Employers Mutual Insurance
Company at 261 Commercial Street called police a
little before 5 PM on July 9th when he saw someone
entering a black BMW convertible and removing items
from the glove box. He knew the person was not the
owner of the vehicle.
The employee detained the individual until police
arrived, when Alan Turnage, 44, of Portland, was
arrested and charged with burglary to a motor vehicle.
-Marge Niblock
Monday, July 14, 2008
Parkside Whistler Disrupts
Neighborhood
Residents of the Parkside neighborhood say that an
unidentified woman roamed the area of State Street
between Grant and Sherman on the night of July
12th, keeping residents awake with her whistling.
The woman reportedly wandered up and down State
Street between 8PM and 3AM, issuing a shrill, loud
whistle at regular intervals.
The woman is described as Caucasian, about 5’6” tall,
with long, dark blond hair, in her late teens or early
20s, wearing a plaid tank top and bell-bottomed jeans.
The story is documented by Parkside residents at
strangemaine.blogspot.com
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Waynflete Shares Growing
Pains with Neighborhood
The head of the Waynflete School and his operations
director met with members of the West End
Neighborhood Association on July 9th to discuss
numerous issues around the local private school’s
growth and its effect on the surrounding community.
School head Mark Segar met with the group at the
behest of the Portland Planning Board as part of a
community outreach effort. Currently the school is in
the process of building a 276-seat auditorium on its
campus, which is scheduled to open this winter. Segar
pointed out that restrictions on the use of the new
facility forbid the school from renting it out to an
unlimited number of users for concerts or other events.
Among the topics of discussion at the meeting were
school expansion, parking, recruitment, student
financial aid, transportation,
Segar said that a big concern of its neighbors is how
much residential property will be converted to school
use, but he said that the school has no plan to
increase enrollment.
The 110-year-old private institution serves students
from pre-school through high school, from age 3 to
18. One-third of the school’s 560 students are from
Portland, one-third from the surrounding
communities, and one third from further away.
Student receive over $2million a year in financial aid
from various sources.
The school runs five buses and a van for students who
come from as far away as Lewiston, Brunswick, Cape
Elizabeth and Kennebunk.
The school held its first neighborhood forum in April
at the Williston West Church, and another one is
planned for September 9th.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Indictment in Downtown
Murder After 22 Years
The Portland Police Department ended a 22-year
investigation on July 11th with the Cumberland
County Grand Jury returning an indictment charging
Roger Roy Bernier, 60, of Manchester, New
Hampshire, with murder.
Bernier had no criminal record prior to the murder he
is charged with, and has not had encounters with the
law since the time of the crime.
Manchester detectives arrested Bernier a short time
after the indictment, and he is being held as a fugitive
from justice. His arraignment should be Monday, July
14th, at which time it will be known whether or not he
will fight extradition to Maine to face murder charges.
Mary Kelley was murdered on April 26, 1986, in her
first-floor apartment in the Lafayette Town House at
Congress and Park Streets in Portland. The cause of
death was asphyxiation by strangulation. She was 33
at the time and had a 7-year-old daughter Myava, who
lived in the Boothbay area with her grandmother.
Myava Escamilla recently graduated from law school
and is a resident of California. She has been in touch
with detectives from Portland over the years.
Roger Bernier was the last person known to have seen
Kelley alive on April 25, 1986, before her body was
discovered by a friend the next day. Bernier lived in a
rooming house in Portland at the time. He and the
victim were acquaintances.
Detective Lieutenant Anthony Ward, a rookie officer
at the time, was one of the first responders to the
murder scene. He had been a police officer for just
eight months. He said that his training helped him to
deal with the death and that it was “a good learning
experience.”
Chief Tim Burton said that “an open homicide case
remains open forever. There is no statute of
limitations.” He stated: “Cold cases are continually
reviewed and reinvestigated” and that today’s events
were the result of “a long-term diligent effort that led
to revealing information. Cold-case work is very
difficult.”
“A combination of many factors led to solving the
case,” Burton said, but he couldn’t get into specific
details. “We feel very confident he was the person.”
Burton said there are six other cold cases the
department has. “We never give up on a homicide
case. There is an incentive to seek justice.”
Detectives Karl Rybeck, Joe Fagone, and Mark
Gibbons, who have worked on the case since 2006,
were at the front of the auditorium at Portland Police
Headquarters with the Chief at the announcement of
the indictment on July 11th. Forensics Technician
John Halpin worked with the detectives, but was not
present. Working with the Maine Attorney General’s
Office, new information was uncovered that, along
with forensic results, led to the case being presented to
the Grand Jury.
Detective Rybeck called the results “satisfying.” He
placed a call to Myava to tell her about the arrest of
the man charged with her mother’s murder, hoping to
tell her in person, but left a message when she wasn’t
home.
-Marge Niblock
Portland Legislators Named
‘Heroes of the House’
Lawmakers get perfect marks from Maine
People’s Alliance
The Maine People’s Alliance has named several
Portland legislators “Heroes of the House” for their
voting records in the 123rd Legislature.
State Reps. Herb Adams, Jon Hinck, Charlie Harlow,
Anne Rand and John Brautigam all received 100
percent rankings from the advocacy organization for
both sessions of the two-year legislature.
The Maine People’s Alliance ranks legislators each
year on how they voted on issues it considers to be “of
concern to all Mainers,” according to its Web site.
Among the issues that the group has championed are
affordable housing, single payer health care,
successful implementation of the Dirigo program,
increased voter participation and a ban on harmful
chemicals.
Adams worked to propose and build legislative support
for a bond question that voters overwhelmingly
approved to allocate more funding to the Land for
Maine’s Future program. He also worked to pass a bill
to protect consumers from calling card rate changes.
Hinck also sponsored many bills of interest, including
a journalist protection measure and anti-idling law.
He also sponsored a bill that will protect children in
rental properties from the harmful effects of lead, by
requiring advanced notification of renovations in
buildings where lead is suspected to be present.
The full scorecard can be found on the Maine People’
s Alliance Web site, www.mainepeoplesalliance.org.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Second Annual 'Portland
Peace Festival' Saturday
Helicopter Will Film & Record
Portland's Human Peace Sign
The Second Annual Portland Peace Festival is
planning for thousands of participants at this year's
Festival. The Portland Peace Fest will take place on
the East End Prom, July 12th, from 1-4 PM, with a
rain date of Sunday, July 13th. More information
can be found by calling 207 772 0680 or by visiting
www.portlandpeacefestival.com or www.peaceactionme.
org.
Last year, over 1500 participants took part in the
event. Local artists, businesses and non-profits will be
in attendance, and people will be invited to take part
in yoga, children's activities, face painting and the
making of a human peace symbol on the promenade.
The festival will also feature the well- known band
Miss Fairchild, who have recently been featured on
MTV and have been touring nationally.
The festival is coordinated by volunteers and residents
of Portland, and this year food and refreshments will
be sold by Local Sprouts Cooperative Catering, with
the proceeds going to help support a local school
lunch program for Portland students this summer.
Greens Nominate Linnell For
State Senate Run
Energy Activist Bill Linnell to Run in
District 8 Race
The Cumberland County Green Independent Party
nominated Captain Bill Linnell on July 2nd to run
for State Senate, representing Portland’s District 8.
Linnell replaces Kevin Gardella, who chose not to
run. Senate District 8 includes Stroudwater,
Libbytown, the Peninsula from the West End to
Munjoy Hill, and the Islands.
Linnell, spokesperson for Cheaper, Safer Power, led
the successful fight to close the former Maine Yankee
Nuclear Plant twelve years early. He will square off
against Democrat Justin Alfond and Republican Eric
Lusk in November.
Linnell was twice elected a town councilor, led the
successful fight to close the Maine Yankee Nuclear
Plant, and represented Maine on the National League
of Cities Committee on Energy and Environment. He
has been a small businessman, lobsterman and
substitute teacher at Long Creek Youth Development
Center.
Linnell plans to run as a Clean Election candidate.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Friends of Reiche Want Big
Screen TV
A new neighborhood group known as the Friends of
Reiche are working on a plan to acquire a large screen
TV for the Reiche Community Center where
neighborhood residents could gather to watch sporting
events such as the Olympics, movies, and other
programming. The TV could also be used by the
Reiche School for school programming.
West End resident Jo Coyne discussed the idea with
members of the West End Neighborhood Association,
saying that it would bring more people out to make
use of the community center and get involved with
other community activities.
WENA Concerned About Being
Left Out of Library Planning
Literacy Project No Substitute for Overall
Planning
Some members of the West End Neighborhood
Association are continuing to express concern about
not being included in the overall planning process by
the Portland Public Library’s Board of Directors, and
what effect that could have on the future of the
Reiche branch library.
The concerns were raised at the latest WENA meeting
on July 9th, during discussion of a neighborhood
literacy partnership that the library board is working
on with several organizations, including Portland
West, the Waynflete School, West End Community
Policing and others.
Some WENA members are concerned that the library
board is starting the literacy project in lieu of
involving the Reiche neighborhood and other
neighborhoods in the city in a more comprehensive
planning process. They fear that Reiche will get left
out of that process, resulting in its eventual closing as
a neighborhood library.
John Navarra of Portland West said that the literacy
project is in its very early stages of planning and that
nothing is set in stone. He said the idea for the project
is to eliminate a duplication of services by the
different groups offering such services.
The Reiche branch library was spared from being
closed this spring by a last-minute $30,000 allocation
from the Portland City Council, with the
understanding that the library board would take a
comprehensive, 12-month look at the citywide system.
But WENA members said that two months had
already passed in the year-long planning process
without any neighborhood involvement. They plan to
send a letter to the board expressing their concerns.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
MARSHALL BACKS LOCAL
ACTIVIST FOR CITY COUNCIL
West End City Councilor David Marshall has thrown
his support behind Tina Smith, a community
organizer and youth activist, who has announced that
she will be running for the At-Large Portland City
Council seat in this November's election.
Smith will place "Equality for All" at the heart of her
platform. Smith is a member of the Green
Independent Party and an activist with the League of
Young Voters. She joins Democratic activist and
former Portland School Committee member Dorie
Waxman in the race for the seat currently held by
Portland Mayor Ed Suslovic. The Portland City
Council is officially non-partisan.
Smith plans to take her "Beacon for Change"
campaign to every neighborhood in Portland with a
focus on supporting the local economy, investing in
public transit, and equality for all.
Smith registered with the City Clerk's office and took
out petitions on Monday, July 7th. For more
information, contact Tina Smith at (207) 615-9760 or
e-mail: beaconforchange@gmail.com.
Cruise Ship Season Begins
Portland's cruise ship season will begin today with the
Royal Caribbean ship Explorer of the Seas' visit to the
Port of Portland. Throughout the summer and fall.
more than thirty other cruise ships will also call to
port.
The Explorer of Seas, carries 3,114 passengers, the
most of the cruise ships berthing in Portland this year.
Having begun its nine day sail in Cape Liberty, New
Jersey, the Explorer of the Seas will head south to
Portland after a visit to Bar Harbor and at the end of
the day, disembark for Boston.
Christened by Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 2000, the boat
has a unique partnership with The University of
Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric
Science which provides the school state-of-the-art
laboratory space to conduct oceanographic and
atmospheric research.
With a length of 1020 feet and weight of 138,000 tons,
the boat's cruising speed is 23.7 knots. Voyager-class
ships like the Explorer of the Seas are the third largest
passenger ships in the world.
Mayor Ed Suslovic and City staff will greet the boat
upon its arrival and welcome them to Portland.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Police Looking for Hit-
and-Run Driver
The Portland Police Department Traffic Unit is
investigating a hit and run accident that took place
on July 6th at about 1:40 AM, and is seeking the
assistance of the public in identifying the driver of the
suspect vehicle.
Officers responded to a report of a traffic accident at
the intersection of Franklin Arterial and Middle
Street. A black 2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible,
operated by Louie Morales, 26, of El Paso, Texas,
had been struck.
Evidence at the scene indicates that Morales had been
struck by a white Acura 4-door vehicle. That vehicle
was last seen traveling outbound on Franklin Arterial
toward Congress Street. The Acura should have
sustained damage to the rear of the vehicle.
The Portland Police Department requests that anyone
with information regarding this accident, or the
suspect vehicle, please contact the Portland Police
Traffic Unit at 874-8532.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Munjoy Hill Man Attacked in
Front of Home
A resident of Howard Street was attacked in front of
his house at about 1 AM on July 5th by would-be
robbers who fled after neighbors heard the man’s
screams. The attack occurred several hours after the
city annual fireworks display on Munjoy Hill.
The victim told police that he was attacked from
behind by the men, who had followed him for several
blocks. He said that one of the men grabbed him from
behind and threw him down several steps to the
sidewalk, where the men started kicking him and
demanding his wallet. Neighbors who were having a
Fourth of July party in the back yard heard the
commotion and came running to the scene, causing
the attackers to flee.
The victim was not able to give police an
identification of the attackers, but another neighbor
witnessed the attack from a window across the street
and gave police a description.
The victim declined medical treatment at the scene,
but received multiple facial bruises and injuries to his
hands, chest and ribs.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Low Interest Loans for Energy
Efficiency Upgrades Available
$325,000 available through City of Portland's
Division of Housing & Neighborhood Services
for qualifying homes
The City of Portland has announced the availability
of low interest loans for Portland home owners for
energy efficient renovations.
The Owner-Occupied Residential Rehabilitation
Program offers loans of up to $15,000, to be paid over
a period of up to twenty years. Interest rates range
from zero to three percent and can be forgiven in
certain circumstances. Income eligibility ranges from
$38,200 for an individual to $54,550 for a family of 4.
The federally-funded program encourages renovations
designed to make a single-family home more energy
efficient, such as window replacement, insulation,
sealing air leaks, and repair or replacement of
inefficient heating systems. To help homeowners
access the loan program, the city's Housing &
Neighborhood Services Division now has a state-
certified residential energy auditor on staff.
Loan applicants can also receive help from the City's
Housing & Neighborhood Services Division in
locating a contractor, preparing any paperwork
necessary for the loan, and managing the
construction. The Program requires correcting any
building or safety code violations that may need to be
fixed in the home. For more information visit the
City's website at http://www.portlandmaine.
gov/planning/housing.asp or call Mary Davis at 874-
8698.
Nightly Crosswalk Painting
Underway
During the summer, the Department of Public
Services' Traffic Division will be engaged in nightly
crosswalk painting throughout the City of Portland.
Pedestrians are reminded that the glass bead used to
facilitate the painting process is slippery, and people
should use caution while walking across newly-
painted crosswalks.
Motorists should also take care not to slam the brakes
when driving over freshly painted crosswalks and
center lines, as they too can be affected by the glass
beading. The glass bead will wear off quickly, once
morning traffic begins.
The painting process will be ongoing for the next two
months (weather permitting), beginning with
pedestrian walkways, followed by directional arrows
and center lines.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Suspect Sets Fire in Police Van
During Arrest
Police responded to 223 Cumberland Avenue at 12:40
PM on June 20th after being called by the victim of a
domestic assault. Sol Bolton, 22, of Portland, was said
to be the assailant, and he was still there when police
arrived.
Police say that Bolton had previous injuries to his
arm, which were aggravated while he resisted arrest.
He was taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment
of his injuries.
When police went to remove him from the arrest van
upon arrival at the Cumberland County Jail, they
smelled smoke and saw a smoldering handkerchief on
the floor of the van. This led to a charge of arson, in
addition to those of assault and refusing to submit to
arrest.
-Marge Niblock
No Curbside Trash/ Recycling
on July 4th
The Department of Public Services Solid Waste crews
will not collect trash or recycling on the 4th of July.
Residents who normally receive collection services on
Friday will have their trash and recycling collected the
following day, Saturday, July 5.
If residents have further questions about their
trash/recycling collection, they can contact the
Recycling Hotline at 756-8189. The Riverside
Recycling Facility will be closed on July 4, 2008, and
will resume normal business hours on Saturday, July
5, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Please note - Household Hazardous Waste Collection
at the Riverside Recycling Facility will resume July
5th and will continue every Saturday until November
22, 2008. For more information, contact Riverside
Recycling Facility at 797-6200.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
City Set for July 4th Fireworks
and Celebration
The City of Portland will host its annual 4th of July
celebration and fireworks show Friday at the Eastern
Promenade Park. Portions of the Eastern Promenade
will be closed to traffic to allow for a variety of
vendors offering 4th of July souvenirs, entertainment
and food and drink. The fireworks show will last
approximately twenty minutes.
Public restrooms will be available at the East End
Beach, Tuner Street and the top of Cutter Street. The
East End Boat launch will be open during the day
from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM (launch fees for residents
are $5 and nonresidents $10). Parking at the boat
launch will be not available for boaters.
Attendees are reminded to throw their trash away in
appropriate receptacles or take it with them when they
leave the park.
The following parking restrictions that go into effect
from 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM, July 4th:
Eastern Promenade (both sides) from Vesper to
Washington Avenue;
Fort Allen Park (both sides);
Walnut Street from the Eastern Promenade to
Washington Avenue;
Mountfort Street (both sides);
Cutter Street (both sides).
The upper and middle parking lots on Cutter Street
will be closed to the public.
Handicapped parking is available on a first come first
served basis along Cutter Street, and clearly marked
handicapped vehicles will be allowed to pass the
barricades until 8:00 PM. Drivers must approach
Cutter Street from Fore Street to enter.
The Portland Trail at the Portland Water District and
the bottom of Cutter Street will be closed to the public
at 7:00 AM, July 4th.
Suggested viewing spots for the fireworks include:
The Eastern Promenade Park - limited parking on
Munjoy Hill. Attendees are advised to arrive by 8:00
PM to ensure seating space.
Back Cove Trail - limited parking available at Baxter
Boulevard parking lot (across from Hannaford),
Payson Park, Baxter Boulevard and the hillside at
Cheverus High School
Peaks Island -view the fireworks at the ferry terminal
Casco Bay - boaters should anchor in the northeast
section of the bay facing Portland. Boaters are also
reminded to adhere to water safety regulations
including making sure that each passenger has a
floatation device; the boat has working lights, and is
equipped with a safety kit.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Noon: Vendors open to the public along the Eastern
Promenade
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Munjoy Hill closed to traffic
8:00 PM Munjoy Hill closed to handicapped parking
and East End Boat Launch closed
9:00 PM - 9:15 PM (approximately) Fireworks show
begins
Portland Buy Local
Publishes Guide
Portland Buy Local has published its first printed
local business directory. With an initial print-run of
15,000 copies, the "Find Your Independents" directory
includes information on member businesses and
nonprofits - grouped within 18 major categories. It
will be available for free at Portland Buy Local's 190
member businesses.
The official launch of the directory will take place on
Wednesday, July 2nd, at the Farmers' Market in
Monument Square. In addition to picking up a copy
of the directory, people will have an opportunity to
sign the Declaration of Independents, which declares
Portland to be a city of independent businesses and
pledges our mutual support for local enterprise.
The event is part of Independents Week, Portland Buy
Local's annual celebration of independent businesses,
and the second anniversary of the campaign's launch.
This year, the Portland City Council has officially
declared July 1-7 to be Independents Week through a
proclamation sponsored by Mayor Ed Suslovic.
Since its start in 2006, Portland Buy Local's
membership has grown to 190. The group's mission
is to build awareness of why independent businesses
are essential to maintaining Portland's unique
character and local economy. With posters, t-shirts,
tote bags, bike and bumper stickers, and educational
events, the campaign is more visible than ever, and
consumers as well as business owners say it is
changing people's shopping habits.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Couple Attacked in East Bayside
At 11:40 PM on June 29th, police were dispatched to
the corner of Madison and Anderson Street at the foot
of Munjoy Hill, after being told that three young,
black males were attacking a couple walking a dog.
According to police, during the course of the assault,
one man broke off a piece of wood from a fence and
began using it as a weapon.
The male victim was able to detain one of the
attackers until police arrived.
Abdi Awad, 22, of Portland, was arrested and charged
with aggravated assault, assault, and violation of bail
conditions. Police are still investigating the case,
trying to identify and find Awad’s accomplices.
-Marge Niblock
Griffin Awarded for AIDS Work
Frannie Peabody Center awarded Tom Griffin the
Kerry A. Carson Award at their annual Bring Light to
Life Summer Solstice event.
For more than 21 years, Griffin, a teacher at
Scarborough Middle School, has organized the Ed
Wimert Bike/Walk-a-Thon for AIDS, which has raised
more than $135,000 for local AIDS services.
The award is named for Kerry Carson, whose life was
impacted by AIDS at a very young age when she was
diagnosed HIV positive at the age of 15. Carson
worked as an AIDS educator, speaking in classrooms
throughout New England and across the country, and
to legislators on Capitol Hill, until she died in 1995 at
the age of 22.
The Kerry A. Carson Award is presented annually to
an outstanding community member, selected by
Frannie Peabody Center staff, who continues to carry
out Carson’s commitment to AIDS awareness and
services in Maine.
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