Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Police Chief “Shocked” by Old Port
Saturday Night Scene
Portland Chief of Police James Craig says he was “shocked” by
what he witnessed on his first visit to the Old Port at around
midnight on Saturday, June 27th. Craig says he has “never seen
anything like it”, referring to the large number of intoxicated people
and the fighting that takes place in the city’s nightlife district. Craig,
who served with the Los Angeles police force for over thirty years,
said the problem in the Old Port is patrons being over-served. He
made his comments at the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
annual meeting on June 28th.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Stabbing Victims Won’t Talk to Cops
Assault Weapon Found in Bayside
Two men were stabbed in Kennedy Park in East Bayside in what
may have been two separate incidents at around 1 AM on Sunday,
June 28th, according to Portland police. Police also confiscated a
loaded assault weapon in the same area where the stabbings took
place.
Portland police arrested Christopher Jon Michaels 22, of Portland
for allegedly driving around the city with a loaded AK-47 in his car.
He was released after posting $40 cash bail.
No suspects were arrested in the stabbings, according to Chief of
Police James Craig, who said both victims refused to cooperate
with police. Craig discussed the incidents at the Munjoy Hill
Neighborhood Organization meeting on June 28th.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Robbery Suspect Has Extensive Record
Abdi Awad, 23, Ismail Awad, 20, and Tsegai Biniam, 22, of
Portland were arrested and charged with robbery on June 25th,
after a man reported to a passing police officer that he and a
woman had just been threatened and robbed by a group of men at 1
AM at Madison and Anderson streets in East Bayside. The three
were stopped after police saw the men, who matched descriptions
that had been supplied to police.
Police say a knife they recovered had been displayed by Abdi
Awad during the robbery, during which a wallet, credit cards, and a
cell phone were taken. The stolen items have not been found.
Abdi Awad has been arrested numerous times involving multiple
incidents of the same charges involving assault, disorderly conduct,
refusing to submit to arrest, and violation of bail conditions. He has
also been arrested for aggravated assault and terrorizing.
-Marge Niblock
Friday, June 26, 2009
Local Fishermen to Recycle Fishing Gear
Fishing for Energy is hooking up the City of Portland to
facilitate the disposal of unusable fishing gear from area
fishermen serviced by the Portland Fish Exchange.
Portland is the first fishing community in Maine to partner with
Fishing for Energy, an innovative partnership that provides a no-
cost solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear which is
then turned into energy.
A bin has been placed at 6 Portland Fish Pier and will provide a
cost-free method for fishing gear to be collected and subsequently
converted into clean, renewable energy at a Covanta Energy-from-
Waste facility.
Fishing equipment, if it becomes derelict, can threaten marine
life, impair navigational safety, and have serious economic
repercussions on shipping enterprises and, most importantly,
coastal communities. The program has collected more than 180
tons of old fishing gear since launching in 2008, a significant
portion of which has been retrieved, in some areas, directly from
the marine environment by helpful fishermen.
In 2009, the Fishing for Energy partnership will expand to work
with ports on both the east and west coasts of the United States,
hosting a series of launch events which aim to promote retired or
derelict fishing gear collection through community education and
outreach, and will promote this through a small grants program
later in the year. For more information on the partnership visit:
www.nfwf.org/fishingforenergy.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
City to Look at Motorcycle Ordinance
The Portland City Council’s Public Safety Committee will look
at the City’s ordinance regarding loud motorcycles at its July 14th
meeting.
Committee Chair Dan Skolnik says that although he hates loud
motorcycles, he is “trepidatious” about the City’s taking on the
issue, and pessimistic about the City’s ability to enforce an
ordinance dealing with loud motorcycles.
State Representative Diane Russell, who represents the East End
of Portland in the state legislature, tried to get a state law
regulating loud motorcycles passed this spring, but Russell’s
proposal died in committee.
The City of Boston had an ordinance go into effect on June 21st
requiring post-1982 motorcycles to have EPA approved mufflers,
or face a $300 fine.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Forensic Evidence Leads to Burglar
Police arrested Roland Thompson, 44, of Portland, on June 22nd
and charged him with one count of commercial burglary, two
counts of Class B residential burglary and two counts of felony
theft.
On May 1st, police had responded to an alarm at a Presumpscot
Street business, where they discovered a burglary by means of
forced entry had occurred and items within the business had been
disturbed, and the burglar had attempted to remove them. A flat-
panel TV was recovered outside.
On June 1st and June 11th, forced entries to residences on
Brackett Street during daytime hours were reported.
Forensic evidence linked Thompson to all of the burglaries. He
was arrested by the Southern Maine Violent Crime Task Force.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Gorham Bows Out of Munjoy Hill Politics
Longtime Munjoy Hill activist and former Portland City
Councilor Will Gorham announced on June 22nd that he will
not be a candidate in the upcoming campaign for the District 1
City Council seat currently held by Councilor Kevin Donoghue.
Donoghue defeated Gorham, who was the incumbent, in the
2006 election for the seat. Gorham was elected in 2003.
Gorham, who is president of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood
Organization, said that he would not seek re-election to that post
either.
Gorham said that serving on the Portland City Council is too
much of a financial sacrifice and that he would focus on his real
estate business and on family and home.
Gorham was elected president of the MHNO last year, and has
overseen the re-establishment of the group’s community
newspaper, the Munjoy Hill Observer, which started publishing in
May after nearly a year of inactivity. The group will hold its
Annual Meeting on June 28th to determine Gorham’s successor.
Monday, June 22nd
Kiwanis Pool Opens to the Public Today
Swim classes available for all ages beginning June 29th
The Kiwanis Pool at Dougherty Field opened to the community
today for ten weeks during the summer. Swim classes are
scheduled to begin June 29th.
The pool's open swim hours are seven days a week, 1:30 - 4:30
PM, and Monday-Friday 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Adult lap swim times
include Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
and 6:00 - 8:00 AM, and seven days a week, 4:30 - 6:00 PM.
Pool access fees are $4 for adults and $1 for children. Swim
lessons offered by Portland's Recreation and Facilities
Management Department are available for all ages. People can
register for classes at the pool at the Riverton Pool office. For
more detailed information about the city's Aquatic Program visit
www.portlandmaine.gov/rec/rec.asp or call 874-8456.
Built in partnership with the Kiwanis Club in the early 1960's, the
L-shaped pool is 25 meters long and has six lanes. Recent
upgrades to the facility include a renovation of the pool house
and the addition of a children's splash pad and picnic area.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
New Thriller Set in Portland
A new thriller by Portland novelist James Hayman is scheduled to
be released on June 23rd. The novel is set in Portland and is
about the disappearance of a West End woman.
The book, The Cutting, has been selected for the July ‘09
American Booksellers Association Indie Next Great Reads List.
The IndieNext list is compiled from nominations by independent
booksellers across the country and consists of the fifteen or so best-
liked books published that month in all categories.
According to the ABA website “The Indie Next List, drawn from
bookseller-recommended favorite handsells, epitomizes the heart
and soul of passionate bookselling. Independent booksellers are
and have always been discoverers of the next big thing, the next
great read, the next bestseller, and the next undiscovered gem.”
Author James Hayman is a native New Yorker who lives in
Portland with his wife Sandy. A reading and book signing by
Hayman will be held onThursday, June 25, 2009. 7 P.M., at
Longfellow Books, 1 Monument Way, Portland, 207-772-4045.
www.longfellowbooks.com
Burglar Binges on Lobster and White
Wine
Employees of Portland Lobster Company on Commercial Street
called police after they arrived at work at 8:30 AM on June 19th
and found a man asleep on a bench inside the restaurant.
Police say Paul Bruneau, 49, had forced his way into the business
through a secured window and stole money from the cash box
inside the cash register. He also ate approximately $300 worth of
lobsters, and consumed a bottle of white Lagaria wine.
Not content with this meal, police say Bruneau also tampered
with the restaurant’s expo station, which stores uncooked meat
and seafood. This act caused a loss of $1,000.
Bruneau was arrested on the premises and charged with theft,
burglary, criminal mischief, and violation of conditional release. -
Marge Niblock
Friday, June 19, 2009
Former Mayor Elected to Chair Charter
Commission
Former Portland City Councilor and Mayor Pamela Plumb was
elected unanimously on June 18th to chair the city’s recently-
elected Charter Commission. The 12-member commission also
elected another former mayor, Jim Cohen, to serve as the board’s
vice-chair. Political newcomer Jim Gooch was elected secretary of
the group.
Cohen’s election came on a second ballot after a first ballot
ended in a 6-6 deadlock between Cohen and another political
newcomer Naomi Mermin. Cohen was elected by a 7-5 vote. The
voting was held by secret ballot after a motion by East End
commission representative Ben Chipman was passed.
Plumb served on the Portland City Council and as president of
the National League of Cities during the 1980s, and is one of
three commission members who was appointed by the current
City Council to serve on the board. She also served on the last
City Charter Commission in 1986. She is the founder of Pamela
Plumb & Associates, which serves a wide range of non-profit
organizations, businesses and government organizations with
process design, facilitation, training and organizational
development. She is known internationally for her process work
and training in municipal governance.
The Charter Commission, which will study the city’s charter and
recommend possible changes to it, will hold its next meeting on
July 2nd and its first public hearing will be held on July 16th.
Both meetings will be held at City Hall at 7PM.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Police Chief to Talk Crime in Parkside
Parkside residents will meet with Police Chief James Craig
tonight regarding crime in the community, which has been an
ongoing problem in Portland’s Parkside neighborhood.
Residents will address specific concerns and discuss how to better
work with police in combating crime. They will also be
introducing the new Neighborhood Watch program, which will
allow residents to take an active role in creating a safer
community.
Thursday, June 18th, 7pm, 85 Grant Street, corner of Mellen
LEARNINGWORKS TO GET ITS
LARGEST GRANT EVER
LearningWorks will announce at a press conference today the
details of a substantial federal grant-the largest grant ever
received by the agency. Local lawmakers, social service advocates,
and LearningWorks clients will gather to hear the details of the
grant.
The nonprofit social service agency on Brackett Street, formerly
known as Portland West, announced in May that it will receive a
$957,000 federal grant over five years to expand its after-school
programs. That grant was awarded by the Maine Department of
Education. The expanded programs will begin this fall at Reiche
School and at the East End Community School.
LearningWorks also announced on June 10th that they will
receive $88,000 in stimulus funds to hire twenty-two young people
to weatherize housing stock this summer. The funding comes
from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, through a
contract with Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, who
made the grant.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
City Looking at Stop Sign Policies
City officials are looking at the procedures the City uses for
determining how, why and where stop signs are installed around
the city.
Mike Bobinsky, Portland’s Public Works Director, presented some
preliminary proposals to the City Council’s Transportation
Committee on June 16th. He said that safety was the first
consideration in stop sign placement. City Councilors Kevin
Donoghue and John Anton favor neighborhood petitions for
initiating stop sign requests. Donoghue, who represents District 1
(Munjoy Hill, Downtown, and Bayside) also thinks that stop sign
inquiries may be initiated by a city councilor, which Anton, an at-
large councilor, does not.
Western Prom Neighborhood Association President Anne Pringle
told the committee that more “on-the-ground” analysis of the
need for stop signs in any particular neighborhood is preferable to
the City’s sometimes long and costly process for determining stop
sign placement. Other residents pointed out how improper stop
sign placement can sometimes cause more problems than it
solves, and can be costly in terms of time, increased fuel expense,
and increased air pollution.
Bobinsky will bring the committee a more developed version of
his department’s proposal later this summer.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
WENA Looking for Reiche Pool Donations
The West End Neighborhood Association is looking for co-
sponsors to help kids swim free at the Reiche Pool during all 40
days that the pool will be open this summer.
Reiche will have a two-hour open swim every weekday afternoon
from June 22nd through August, but many families cannot
afford the $1/person entrance fee. The amount needed to provide
free swimming at Reiche this summer for any child is $1600 ($1
x 40 days x 40 kids, the maximum allowable in the pool). WENA
will pay half of the amount needed, or $800.
WENA has been actively raising money to provide free swimming
lessons at the Reiche Pool for any K-12 student from the West
End/Parkside/St. John-Valley neighborhoods who is eligible for
free-or reduced-lunch. The recent World’s Longest Lobster Roll
event raised over $6400 for swim lessons.
Contributions of any size, large or small, with checks made
payable to WENA, may be sent to: WENA – Open Swims, Box
120 – Harbor Terrace, 284 Danforth Street, Portland, Maine
04102. The summer swims begin on June 22nd.
Pingree Announces New Small
Businesses Lending Program
Interest-free loans will give businesses “breathing room”
Many local small businesses may soon be eligible for interest-free
loans under a new program created by the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
has announced.
Starting June 15th, the “America’s Recovery Capital” (ARC)
program allows small firms to take out loans of $35,000 to pay
down existing business debts. Borrowers pay no interest on the
ARC loans and repayment does not begin for one year. The loan
program was established through the Recovery Act, which the
President signed into law in February.
To qualify for the ARC loans, small companies must demonstrate
they are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the
economic downturn, but are otherwise deemed by the Small
Business Administration to be viable. The loans will be made by
commercial lenders and can be used for payments of principal
and interest for existing, qualifying small business debts like
credit card obligations, mortgages, lines of credit, and balances
due to suppliers, vendors, and utilities.
Pingree said that, in addition to the ARC loan program, the
Recovery Act contained other measures aimed at helping small
firms access credit. For instance, the new law increases the
percentage of a loan that the SBA can guarantee, makes SBA-
backed loans more affordable and provides tools to unfreeze the
small business credit markets, helping small companies access
capital at affordable rates.
To apply for ARC loans, businesses should visit their local SBA-
approved small business lenders. The loans will be available
through Sept. 30, 2010, or until appropriated funding runs out.
Additional information about the ARC loan program is available
at
http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html
A list of local SBA lenders can be found here:
http://www.sba.
gov/idc/groups/public/documents/me_augusta/me_participating_le
nderlist.pdf
Drunken Burglar Kicks In Door
Patrick J. Maloney, 20, of Cumberland, was arrested and charged
with attempted residential burglary and criminal mischief on
June 5th.
When police arrived at 240 Harvard Street at 3:20 AM, the
complainant and the suspect, who had been drinking, were
outside the building. Police noticed a freshly broken door, and
were told by the victim that he was asleep when he heard someone
kicking in his door.
-Marge Niblock
Man With Stun Gun Arrested in Parkside
At 2:19 AM on June 6th, police responded to a disturbance on
Grant Street, where they found Yannick Mulongo, 21, who was
shouting. When approached by officers, he began yelling at them
to shoot him or beat him, according to police. After officers told
him to quiet down, he continued his disruptive activities, and was
arrested.
Police found a stun gun in his pocket, and he was charged with
carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct, failure to give
correct name and date of birth, and violation of conditional
release.
-Marge Niblock
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Legislature Unanimously Enacts Hinck’s
E-Waste Law
Legislation would add printers, game consoles to existing law
The Maine House of Representatives and Senate both voted
unanimously on June 10th to enact legislation introduced by
West End Repesentative Jon Hinck that would strengthen the
state’s landmark electronic waste recycling law.
The bill, LD 536, adds desktop printers and video game consoles
to the existing law. It also requires manufacturers of those items
and computer monitors and televisions to pay an annual
registration fee of $3,000. The fee will help make the program
self-sustaining, Hinck said.
Maine’s e-waste recycling law was initially passed in 2004 and
requires consumers, municipalities and manufacturers to share
responsibility for ensuring that electronic wastes, or e-wastes, are
properly recycled and hazardous toxics are not released into the
environment.
Electronic waste is a rapidly growing problem as technology
continues to change and new products are developed. Products
such as TVs and game consoles contain toxic substances
including lead, mercury, lithium, cadmium, brominated flame
retardants and PVC plastics that can create dangerous dioxins
when incinerated.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Chipman, O'Brien Win Charter
Commission Seats
Green Party activist Ben Chipman and school committee member
Robert O'Brien will represent the Portland peninsula on the
newly-elected Portland Charter Commission.
Newcomers Jim Gooch and Anna Trevorrow, and former
Portland mayors Nathan Smith and James Cohen won at-large
seats on the board.
COMPLETE RESULTS HERE
Police Chief Announces New Police
Department Initiatives
In a public letter, Portland’s new Chief of Police James E. Craig
has laid out a series of changes in the department that he would
like to institute in the coming months.
The initiatives include an enhancement to community policing,
establishing youth initiatives, and reorganizing the police
department in order to be more efficient and more responsive.
Among the changes are the following:
-Community Police Advisory Board
The Portland Police Department will be launching the Chief's
new Community Police Advisory Board later this month. The
board (originally announced in the June 1 issue of the West End
NEWS) will be comprised of a diverse mix of local residents and
community stakeholders. Members will include, but not be
limited to, the business community, the religious community, the
media, local youth community, and educators.
Board meetings will be open to all who wish to attend, with the
goal of working with the police department to identify issues and
concerns that are most critical to the city of Portland. This will be
the board's main priority and the essence of community policing,
according to Chief Craig, where the police and the community
develop strategic responses in addressing community concerns.
-Community Relations Office
The Chief is looking to establish a Community Relations Office,
in order to provide greater access to the Department and better
facilitate the Police Advisory Board meetings and various
Community Forums.
-Two New Youth Initiatives
The police department is working to establish two new key youth
initiatives involving a PPD Explorer Post and a Police Athletic
League (PAL). The department will have to find the monetary
and staffing resources needed to support the youth initiatives.
-Change in Police Work Schedule
Future plans include a dynamic change to the department’s work
schedule that will increase effectiveness in addressing community
concerns and responding to calls for service. One strategy will be
to restructure the present beat plan by dividing the city into
neighborhood districts staffed by a Senior Lead Officer (SLO)
who will be a point of contact for residents.
The SLO will be an integral part of our community policing
efforts and will play a key role coordinating policing strategies,
which include addressing quality of life concerns in many
Portland neighborhoods. The new schedule will also provide
police officers and civilians a more balanced work schedule that
will give employees time off without compromising the level of
service to the community, according to Chief Craig.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
House Approves Hinck’s Solar Energy
Bill
Legislation would protect use of clotheslines, solar
collectors
The Maine House of Representatives has given preliminary
approval to a bill introduced by West End Representative Jon
Hinck that would ensure homeowners’ and renters’ rights to use
solar energy devices.
The bill, LD 73, would prohibit local governments, and
homeowner and condominium associations from adopting new
rules or covenants that would prevent residents from installing
solar energy devices, including solar collectors and clotheslines or
other equipment for the drying of clothing outdoors.
The bill would apply only to property owned or leased by an
individual; prohibitions would still be allowed for common areas
or areas of shared ownership. Restrictions would also be allowed
to protect public safety, historic buildings and shorelands.
Existing bylaws or ordinances would be grandfathered under the
law.
At least 10 states, including Massachusetts and California , have
adopted similar laws protecting the right to install solar devices.
Hinck, who is House chair of the Utilities and Energy
Committee, said that in Maine there have been incidents in
Scarborough and Thomaston where residents have tried to use
solar energy but were prohibited due to deed covenants or
neighborhood association bylaws.
Hinck said the legislation would reduce utility bills, air pollution
and dependence on fossil fuels while producing clean energy and
reducing strain on the power grid. According to the Community
Energy Center , the clothes dryer is second only to the refrigerator
for household appliance energy use. The average family spends
$85 a year on electricity for drying clothes.
The bill still faces further votes in the House and Senate before it
would go to the governor for his approval.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
World Lobster Record Set in Portland
Photo by Marge Niblock (SEE MORE PHOTOS)
A Maine lobster roll 61 feet, 9.5 inches long, and containing 48
pounds of lobster meat,was assembled by volunteers at the Old
Port Festival on Sunday, setting a new world record. The roll was
baked by Amato's bakery and delivered to the site on Commercial
Street on a flatbed truck, then carried the last few hundred yards
by a contingent of Maine roller derby girls.
After being assembled and measured, the giant lobster roll was
cut into 4-inch segments, and sold as a fundraiser for the West
End Neiborhood Association's swim lesson scholarship fund. The
180 individual lobster rolls, complete with a certificate of
authentication, sold out within an hour
Saturday Night Shooting at Gorham's
Corner
Portland Police closed the area around Gorham's Corner
(Pleasant and Center streets) at around midnight on Saturday as
they searched for a man who shot another man. The victim's
wounds were not life-threatening, and he was able to give police a
description of his assailant.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Police to Patrol on Segway Vehicles
The Portland Police Department has a new Segway PT (personal
transporter), and is expecting to receive another one within the
next week. The Segway is an electric self-balancing transportation
device with zero emissions, which was unveiled by Segway Inc. of
New Hampshire at the end of 2001, and first went on sale a year
later. It is now used by over 1,000 police and security agencies
worldwide for patrol operations.
The vehicles are being lent by the company for testing and
evaluation as to their possible use here; they will be used for
roughly a month before the department decides whether they
want to buy them for full-time use. A three-wheel Segway will
also be
Photo by Mary-Ellen Welch
WEN Crime Reporter Marge 'Scoop' Niblock with
Portland's first Segway officer Andjelko Napijalo.
tested. Those are being used by the LAPD.
Segways give police high visibility and also gives officers the
ability to see well, due to their elevation on the vehicle.
Two-wheel Segways can travel 25 miles on a single charge, go up
to about 12.5 miles per hour, and be used on all types of terrain.
The three-wheeler gets up as high as 25 miles per hour. It’s
bigger, making it harder to maneuver, but it is safer due to its
size, and it has storage compartments. The price is approximately
$10,000 for the larger one and $7,000 for the one with two wheels.
Lieutenant William Preis, commander of the Day Directed Patrol
Unit, says the planned usage for the Segways at the present time
is limited to the downtown area of Portland, which encompasses
the Bayside neighborhood, the Congress Street corridor, and the
Old Port.
Officer Andjelko Napijalo was the first policeman to use the
vehicle on the job. At a fraction under six feet four inches, he is
already a towering figure before stepping onto the Segway.
Napijalo came to Portland nine years ago from Serbia, and he’s
been on the force for five years.
He made his first arrest with the vehicle in Bayside on June 4th,
which was not even his second full day on the vehicle. Another
officer was called to transport the prisoner to jail. Napijalo said “I
went to the jail with the Segway and booked the guy.”
Napijalo said the vehicle has good maneuverability. “You can
make quick turns and you can turn in small spaces.” However,
he feels a certain vulnerability in traffic. “You need to be careful
going past driveways; someone might be pulling out.” He doesn’t
see any problem as far as the time spent on a Segway. “I could
easily ride eight hours on it,” he said. “It’s fun to ride.”
Public reaction to the Segway was a plus. “People have responded
to it positively. It’s much easier to communicate with people. And
kids love it.”
-Marge Niblock
Friday, June 5, 2009
$41,000 Reward Reissued in James
Angelo Murder
Portland police have reissued a $41,000 reward in a nine-month-
old unsolved Portland murder. James Angelo was shot to death
while working as a security guard at Mercy Hospital on
September 7, 2008. Angelo’s brother Alfred appeared at a news
conference on June 4th with Portland Chief of Police James E.
Craig and Captain Vernon Malloch, who is heading the
investigation into the unsolved crime. The reward offered shortly
after the tragedy was reissued because the previous reward had
reached its expiration date.
Chief Craig said "We cannot solve these cases without the
community’s help." It is felt the reissuing of the reward will
stimulate interest in the case, with someone having knowledge of
the guilty parties coming forward to give police information. "I
am certain and confident someone’s going to talk to us," stated
Craig.
Alfred Angelo talked about the difficulties the family has had
since losing his brother. He said "It’s been very hard. We know
that all we have is each other."
The murder occurred before the arrival of Portland’s new chief,
who said "Investigators have worked very hard to try to bring
closure to this case."
He discussed the possibility that Angelo’s murder may be related
to drug trafficking in the West End, but said "I stress that James
Angelo wasn’t involved in any drug activity." He referred to
Angelo as "an innocent victim." He mentioned new
developments in the case, but couldn’t give out those details.
Craig spoke about narcotics activity in the area being investigated
in cooperation with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency
(MDEA). He then deferred to Captain Malloch, who has longtime
familiarity with the drug situation in the city. Malloch said the
drugs in question are "crack and powder cocaine. For the better
part of a year, there has been increased trafficking."
Chief Craig made a plea to the community to assist police in
solving this crime. He said the police/community partnership is
critical to public safety, and cooperation can lead to solving this
and other crimes.
Anyone with information about the murder is urged to call 874-
8524. To relate information about drug trafficking, the number
is 874-8550.
-Marge Niblock
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Suspect Caught With the Goods - and
More
Portland police responded to a call on May 29th at 9:40 PM and
arrested Samuel Collins, a 40-year-old Portland resident, on
Portland Street in Bayside.
Police say Collins had gained entry to a Jeep Wrangler at the Big
Apple at 2 Park Avenue by cutting the material window, and had
stolen multiple items. After police searched Collins, all the victim’
s stolen goods were recovered. They included a wallet, a cell
phone, and expensive sunglasses.
Collins was also found to have schedule W drugs on him - which
were not taken from the burglarized Jeep. He was charged him
with burglary of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, theft, and
unlawful possession of schedule drugs.
June 3, 2009
West End Resident Donates $59,000
Worth of Food to Preble Street
Jim Buchanan, West End resident and chairman and CEO of
Zone Labs Inc., has donated 23,000 nutrition bars to Preble
Street in Portland to help feed the growing number of hungry
families and individuals in the community.
His donation of Zone Bars, with a value of $59,000, was delivered
Friday, May 15th and will be distributed in the coming weeks at
Preble Street’s Food Pantry, Teen Center, Women’s Shelter, and
The Lighthouse Shelter for homeless youth. The Zone Bars will
help to provide nutritious food for the 440 individuals served by
Preble Street each week.
Both Buchanan and Zone Labs Inc. – a leading functional foods
and nutraceutical company based out of Danvers, Massachusetts
– have long been dedicated to supporting the local community
through donations and events. Living in Portland, Buchanan
recently had the opportunity to meet with Preble Street’s directors
and after hearing about the organization’s mission and need for
food supplies, he was moved to contribute.
Maine is one of the most food-insecure states in the nation, and
at Preble Street—the largest emergency food provider in Maine—
the demand for food assistance has increased dramatically. With
increased unemployment, the number of people faced with
cutting back on food to pay for other urgent needs (rent,
medicine, fuel, or childcare food) has also increased.
"We've seen about a thirty percent increase in visitors to the food
pantry, and more and more they include families and senior
citizens with homes or apartments who find themselves needing
help; people who have to decide between buying food and paying
their rent," says Mark Swann, executive director of Preble Street.
June 2, 2009
Knife and Taser Found in West End
Drug Bust
Portland police arrested a man who was out on bail on May 27th
in the West End, after he was found to be in possession of a Taser
in his pocket, a knife on his hip, and marijuana in his pocket.
A witness reported that a hand-to-hand drug transaction had
occurred near Vespucci’s Market at Clark and Danforth Street at
around 2PM, and gave a description to police of the man thought
to be selling the drugs.
At Clark Street, near Dermot Court, the responding officers found
Eric Gould, 24, who was searched, arrested and charged with
carrying a concealed weapon and aggravated trafficking in
schedule Z drugs.
-Marge Niblock
Legislature Rejects Alfond's Non-Citizen
Resident Voting Bill
The Maine Legislature on May 28th overwhelmingly defeated a
bill sponsored by Portland State Senator Justin Alfond.
LD 1195 “An Act to Allow Noncitizen Residents to Vote in
Municipal Elections” would have allowed municipalities, at their
discretion, the option of granting non-citizens the right to vote in
municipal elections. The Maine House defeated the bill 131-9
and the Senate defeated it 33-2, with only Alfond and fellow
Portland Senator Joseph Brannigan supporting it.
Local legislators Jon Hinck and Diane Russell supported the
legislation. Parkside representative Herb Adams voted against it.
June 1, 2009
New Municipal Website Details Recovery
Funds
Homeless prevention, combined sewer overflow projects, and a
health center for the underinsured are a few of the Portland
programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The City of Portland on May 15th unveiled a new website that
provides detailed information about the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 and funded projects and grant
opportunities for Portland. The website, www.portlandmaine.
gov/recovery, identifies current projects funded by the ARRA, as
well as grant applications and opportunities the City is pursuing.
People can also learn about the projects, expected environmental,
economic and sustain-ability outcomes, and potential contractors
or vendors who have been hired to complete the work.
To date, the $2.06 million Clifton Street Sewer Separation Project
has created more than twenty full-time jobs.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant has
allocated $684,700 directly to the City for efficiency programs.
The City must submit the projects that will be funded by this
block grant by June 25th, and the City Council’s Energy and
Environmental Sustainability Committee was scheduled to meet
on May 26th to discuss potential uses.
NEWS for May, 2009
Police Chief “Shocked” by Old Port
Saturday Night Scene
Portland Chief of Police James Craig says he was “shocked” by
what he witnessed on his first visit to the Old Port at around
midnight on Saturday, June 27th. Craig says he has “never seen
anything like it”, referring to the large number of intoxicated people
and the fighting that takes place in the city’s nightlife district. Craig,
who served with the Los Angeles police force for over thirty years,
said the problem in the Old Port is patrons being over-served. He
made his comments at the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
annual meeting on June 28th.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Stabbing Victims Won’t Talk to Cops
Assault Weapon Found in Bayside
Two men were stabbed in Kennedy Park in East Bayside in what
may have been two separate incidents at around 1 AM on Sunday,
June 28th, according to Portland police. Police also confiscated a
loaded assault weapon in the same area where the stabbings took
place.
Portland police arrested Christopher Jon Michaels 22, of Portland
for allegedly driving around the city with a loaded AK-47 in his car.
He was released after posting $40 cash bail.
No suspects were arrested in the stabbings, according to Chief of
Police James Craig, who said both victims refused to cooperate
with police. Craig discussed the incidents at the Munjoy Hill
Neighborhood Organization meeting on June 28th.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Robbery Suspect Has Extensive Record
Abdi Awad, 23, Ismail Awad, 20, and Tsegai Biniam, 22, of
Portland were arrested and charged with robbery on June 25th,
after a man reported to a passing police officer that he and a
woman had just been threatened and robbed by a group of men at 1
AM at Madison and Anderson streets in East Bayside. The three
were stopped after police saw the men, who matched descriptions
that had been supplied to police.
Police say a knife they recovered had been displayed by Abdi
Awad during the robbery, during which a wallet, credit cards, and a
cell phone were taken. The stolen items have not been found.
Abdi Awad has been arrested numerous times involving multiple
incidents of the same charges involving assault, disorderly conduct,
refusing to submit to arrest, and violation of bail conditions. He has
also been arrested for aggravated assault and terrorizing.
-Marge Niblock
Friday, June 26, 2009
Local Fishermen to Recycle Fishing Gear
Fishing for Energy is hooking up the City of Portland to
facilitate the disposal of unusable fishing gear from area
fishermen serviced by the Portland Fish Exchange.
Portland is the first fishing community in Maine to partner with
Fishing for Energy, an innovative partnership that provides a no-
cost solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear which is
then turned into energy.
A bin has been placed at 6 Portland Fish Pier and will provide a
cost-free method for fishing gear to be collected and subsequently
converted into clean, renewable energy at a Covanta Energy-from-
Waste facility.
Fishing equipment, if it becomes derelict, can threaten marine
life, impair navigational safety, and have serious economic
repercussions on shipping enterprises and, most importantly,
coastal communities. The program has collected more than 180
tons of old fishing gear since launching in 2008, a significant
portion of which has been retrieved, in some areas, directly from
the marine environment by helpful fishermen.
In 2009, the Fishing for Energy partnership will expand to work
with ports on both the east and west coasts of the United States,
hosting a series of launch events which aim to promote retired or
derelict fishing gear collection through community education and
outreach, and will promote this through a small grants program
later in the year. For more information on the partnership visit:
www.nfwf.org/fishingforenergy.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
City to Look at Motorcycle Ordinance
The Portland City Council’s Public Safety Committee will look
at the City’s ordinance regarding loud motorcycles at its July 14th
meeting.
Committee Chair Dan Skolnik says that although he hates loud
motorcycles, he is “trepidatious” about the City’s taking on the
issue, and pessimistic about the City’s ability to enforce an
ordinance dealing with loud motorcycles.
State Representative Diane Russell, who represents the East End
of Portland in the state legislature, tried to get a state law
regulating loud motorcycles passed this spring, but Russell’s
proposal died in committee.
The City of Boston had an ordinance go into effect on June 21st
requiring post-1982 motorcycles to have EPA approved mufflers,
or face a $300 fine.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Forensic Evidence Leads to Burglar
Police arrested Roland Thompson, 44, of Portland, on June 22nd
and charged him with one count of commercial burglary, two
counts of Class B residential burglary and two counts of felony
theft.
On May 1st, police had responded to an alarm at a Presumpscot
Street business, where they discovered a burglary by means of
forced entry had occurred and items within the business had been
disturbed, and the burglar had attempted to remove them. A flat-
panel TV was recovered outside.
On June 1st and June 11th, forced entries to residences on
Brackett Street during daytime hours were reported.
Forensic evidence linked Thompson to all of the burglaries. He
was arrested by the Southern Maine Violent Crime Task Force.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Gorham Bows Out of Munjoy Hill Politics
Longtime Munjoy Hill activist and former Portland City
Councilor Will Gorham announced on June 22nd that he will
not be a candidate in the upcoming campaign for the District 1
City Council seat currently held by Councilor Kevin Donoghue.
Donoghue defeated Gorham, who was the incumbent, in the
2006 election for the seat. Gorham was elected in 2003.
Gorham, who is president of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood
Organization, said that he would not seek re-election to that post
either.
Gorham said that serving on the Portland City Council is too
much of a financial sacrifice and that he would focus on his real
estate business and on family and home.
Gorham was elected president of the MHNO last year, and has
overseen the re-establishment of the group’s community
newspaper, the Munjoy Hill Observer, which started publishing in
May after nearly a year of inactivity. The group will hold its
Annual Meeting on June 28th to determine Gorham’s successor.
Monday, June 22nd
Kiwanis Pool Opens to the Public Today
Swim classes available for all ages beginning June 29th
The Kiwanis Pool at Dougherty Field opened to the community
today for ten weeks during the summer. Swim classes are
scheduled to begin June 29th.
The pool's open swim hours are seven days a week, 1:30 - 4:30
PM, and Monday-Friday 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Adult lap swim times
include Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
and 6:00 - 8:00 AM, and seven days a week, 4:30 - 6:00 PM.
Pool access fees are $4 for adults and $1 for children. Swim
lessons offered by Portland's Recreation and Facilities
Management Department are available for all ages. People can
register for classes at the pool at the Riverton Pool office. For
more detailed information about the city's Aquatic Program visit
www.portlandmaine.gov/rec/rec.asp or call 874-8456.
Built in partnership with the Kiwanis Club in the early 1960's, the
L-shaped pool is 25 meters long and has six lanes. Recent
upgrades to the facility include a renovation of the pool house
and the addition of a children's splash pad and picnic area.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
New Thriller Set in Portland
A new thriller by Portland novelist James Hayman is scheduled to
be released on June 23rd. The novel is set in Portland and is
about the disappearance of a West End woman.
The book, The Cutting, has been selected for the July ‘09
American Booksellers Association Indie Next Great Reads List.
The IndieNext list is compiled from nominations by independent
booksellers across the country and consists of the fifteen or so best-
liked books published that month in all categories.
According to the ABA website “The Indie Next List, drawn from
bookseller-recommended favorite handsells, epitomizes the heart
and soul of passionate bookselling. Independent booksellers are
and have always been discoverers of the next big thing, the next
great read, the next bestseller, and the next undiscovered gem.”
Author James Hayman is a native New Yorker who lives in
Portland with his wife Sandy. A reading and book signing by
Hayman will be held onThursday, June 25, 2009. 7 P.M., at
Longfellow Books, 1 Monument Way, Portland, 207-772-4045.
www.longfellowbooks.com
Burglar Binges on Lobster and White
Wine
Employees of Portland Lobster Company on Commercial Street
called police after they arrived at work at 8:30 AM on June 19th
and found a man asleep on a bench inside the restaurant.
Police say Paul Bruneau, 49, had forced his way into the business
through a secured window and stole money from the cash box
inside the cash register. He also ate approximately $300 worth of
lobsters, and consumed a bottle of white Lagaria wine.
Not content with this meal, police say Bruneau also tampered
with the restaurant’s expo station, which stores uncooked meat
and seafood. This act caused a loss of $1,000.
Bruneau was arrested on the premises and charged with theft,
burglary, criminal mischief, and violation of conditional release. -
Marge Niblock
Friday, June 19, 2009
Former Mayor Elected to Chair Charter
Commission
Former Portland City Councilor and Mayor Pamela Plumb was
elected unanimously on June 18th to chair the city’s recently-
elected Charter Commission. The 12-member commission also
elected another former mayor, Jim Cohen, to serve as the board’s
vice-chair. Political newcomer Jim Gooch was elected secretary of
the group.
Cohen’s election came on a second ballot after a first ballot
ended in a 6-6 deadlock between Cohen and another political
newcomer Naomi Mermin. Cohen was elected by a 7-5 vote. The
voting was held by secret ballot after a motion by East End
commission representative Ben Chipman was passed.
Plumb served on the Portland City Council and as president of
the National League of Cities during the 1980s, and is one of
three commission members who was appointed by the current
City Council to serve on the board. She also served on the last
City Charter Commission in 1986. She is the founder of Pamela
Plumb & Associates, which serves a wide range of non-profit
organizations, businesses and government organizations with
process design, facilitation, training and organizational
development. She is known internationally for her process work
and training in municipal governance.
The Charter Commission, which will study the city’s charter and
recommend possible changes to it, will hold its next meeting on
July 2nd and its first public hearing will be held on July 16th.
Both meetings will be held at City Hall at 7PM.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Police Chief to Talk Crime in Parkside
Parkside residents will meet with Police Chief James Craig
tonight regarding crime in the community, which has been an
ongoing problem in Portland’s Parkside neighborhood.
Residents will address specific concerns and discuss how to better
work with police in combating crime. They will also be
introducing the new Neighborhood Watch program, which will
allow residents to take an active role in creating a safer
community.
Thursday, June 18th, 7pm, 85 Grant Street, corner of Mellen
LEARNINGWORKS TO GET ITS
LARGEST GRANT EVER
LearningWorks will announce at a press conference today the
details of a substantial federal grant-the largest grant ever
received by the agency. Local lawmakers, social service advocates,
and LearningWorks clients will gather to hear the details of the
grant.
The nonprofit social service agency on Brackett Street, formerly
known as Portland West, announced in May that it will receive a
$957,000 federal grant over five years to expand its after-school
programs. That grant was awarded by the Maine Department of
Education. The expanded programs will begin this fall at Reiche
School and at the East End Community School.
LearningWorks also announced on June 10th that they will
receive $88,000 in stimulus funds to hire twenty-two young people
to weatherize housing stock this summer. The funding comes
from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, through a
contract with Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, who
made the grant.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
City Looking at Stop Sign Policies
City officials are looking at the procedures the City uses for
determining how, why and where stop signs are installed around
the city.
Mike Bobinsky, Portland’s Public Works Director, presented some
preliminary proposals to the City Council’s Transportation
Committee on June 16th. He said that safety was the first
consideration in stop sign placement. City Councilors Kevin
Donoghue and John Anton favor neighborhood petitions for
initiating stop sign requests. Donoghue, who represents District 1
(Munjoy Hill, Downtown, and Bayside) also thinks that stop sign
inquiries may be initiated by a city councilor, which Anton, an at-
large councilor, does not.
Western Prom Neighborhood Association President Anne Pringle
told the committee that more “on-the-ground” analysis of the
need for stop signs in any particular neighborhood is preferable to
the City’s sometimes long and costly process for determining stop
sign placement. Other residents pointed out how improper stop
sign placement can sometimes cause more problems than it
solves, and can be costly in terms of time, increased fuel expense,
and increased air pollution.
Bobinsky will bring the committee a more developed version of
his department’s proposal later this summer.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
WENA Looking for Reiche Pool Donations
The West End Neighborhood Association is looking for co-
sponsors to help kids swim free at the Reiche Pool during all 40
days that the pool will be open this summer.
Reiche will have a two-hour open swim every weekday afternoon
from June 22nd through August, but many families cannot
afford the $1/person entrance fee. The amount needed to provide
free swimming at Reiche this summer for any child is $1600 ($1
x 40 days x 40 kids, the maximum allowable in the pool). WENA
will pay half of the amount needed, or $800.
WENA has been actively raising money to provide free swimming
lessons at the Reiche Pool for any K-12 student from the West
End/Parkside/St. John-Valley neighborhoods who is eligible for
free-or reduced-lunch. The recent World’s Longest Lobster Roll
event raised over $6400 for swim lessons.
Contributions of any size, large or small, with checks made
payable to WENA, may be sent to: WENA – Open Swims, Box
120 – Harbor Terrace, 284 Danforth Street, Portland, Maine
04102. The summer swims begin on June 22nd.
Pingree Announces New Small
Businesses Lending Program
Interest-free loans will give businesses “breathing room”
Many local small businesses may soon be eligible for interest-free
loans under a new program created by the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
has announced.
Starting June 15th, the “America’s Recovery Capital” (ARC)
program allows small firms to take out loans of $35,000 to pay
down existing business debts. Borrowers pay no interest on the
ARC loans and repayment does not begin for one year. The loan
program was established through the Recovery Act, which the
President signed into law in February.
To qualify for the ARC loans, small companies must demonstrate
they are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the
economic downturn, but are otherwise deemed by the Small
Business Administration to be viable. The loans will be made by
commercial lenders and can be used for payments of principal
and interest for existing, qualifying small business debts like
credit card obligations, mortgages, lines of credit, and balances
due to suppliers, vendors, and utilities.
Pingree said that, in addition to the ARC loan program, the
Recovery Act contained other measures aimed at helping small
firms access credit. For instance, the new law increases the
percentage of a loan that the SBA can guarantee, makes SBA-
backed loans more affordable and provides tools to unfreeze the
small business credit markets, helping small companies access
capital at affordable rates.
To apply for ARC loans, businesses should visit their local SBA-
approved small business lenders. The loans will be available
through Sept. 30, 2010, or until appropriated funding runs out.
Additional information about the ARC loan program is available
at
http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html
A list of local SBA lenders can be found here:
http://www.sba.
gov/idc/groups/public/documents/me_augusta/me_participating_le
nderlist.pdf
Drunken Burglar Kicks In Door
Patrick J. Maloney, 20, of Cumberland, was arrested and charged
with attempted residential burglary and criminal mischief on
June 5th.
When police arrived at 240 Harvard Street at 3:20 AM, the
complainant and the suspect, who had been drinking, were
outside the building. Police noticed a freshly broken door, and
were told by the victim that he was asleep when he heard someone
kicking in his door.
-Marge Niblock
Man With Stun Gun Arrested in Parkside
At 2:19 AM on June 6th, police responded to a disturbance on
Grant Street, where they found Yannick Mulongo, 21, who was
shouting. When approached by officers, he began yelling at them
to shoot him or beat him, according to police. After officers told
him to quiet down, he continued his disruptive activities, and was
arrested.
Police found a stun gun in his pocket, and he was charged with
carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct, failure to give
correct name and date of birth, and violation of conditional
release.
-Marge Niblock
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Legislature Unanimously Enacts Hinck’s
E-Waste Law
Legislation would add printers, game consoles to existing law
The Maine House of Representatives and Senate both voted
unanimously on June 10th to enact legislation introduced by
West End Repesentative Jon Hinck that would strengthen the
state’s landmark electronic waste recycling law.
The bill, LD 536, adds desktop printers and video game consoles
to the existing law. It also requires manufacturers of those items
and computer monitors and televisions to pay an annual
registration fee of $3,000. The fee will help make the program
self-sustaining, Hinck said.
Maine’s e-waste recycling law was initially passed in 2004 and
requires consumers, municipalities and manufacturers to share
responsibility for ensuring that electronic wastes, or e-wastes, are
properly recycled and hazardous toxics are not released into the
environment.
Electronic waste is a rapidly growing problem as technology
continues to change and new products are developed. Products
such as TVs and game consoles contain toxic substances
including lead, mercury, lithium, cadmium, brominated flame
retardants and PVC plastics that can create dangerous dioxins
when incinerated.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Chipman, O'Brien Win Charter
Commission Seats
Green Party activist Ben Chipman and school committee member
Robert O'Brien will represent the Portland peninsula on the
newly-elected Portland Charter Commission.
Newcomers Jim Gooch and Anna Trevorrow, and former
Portland mayors Nathan Smith and James Cohen won at-large
seats on the board.
COMPLETE RESULTS HERE
Police Chief Announces New Police
Department Initiatives
In a public letter, Portland’s new Chief of Police James E. Craig
has laid out a series of changes in the department that he would
like to institute in the coming months.
The initiatives include an enhancement to community policing,
establishing youth initiatives, and reorganizing the police
department in order to be more efficient and more responsive.
Among the changes are the following:
-Community Police Advisory Board
The Portland Police Department will be launching the Chief's
new Community Police Advisory Board later this month. The
board (originally announced in the June 1 issue of the West End
NEWS) will be comprised of a diverse mix of local residents and
community stakeholders. Members will include, but not be
limited to, the business community, the religious community, the
media, local youth community, and educators.
Board meetings will be open to all who wish to attend, with the
goal of working with the police department to identify issues and
concerns that are most critical to the city of Portland. This will be
the board's main priority and the essence of community policing,
according to Chief Craig, where the police and the community
develop strategic responses in addressing community concerns.
-Community Relations Office
The Chief is looking to establish a Community Relations Office,
in order to provide greater access to the Department and better
facilitate the Police Advisory Board meetings and various
Community Forums.
-Two New Youth Initiatives
The police department is working to establish two new key youth
initiatives involving a PPD Explorer Post and a Police Athletic
League (PAL). The department will have to find the monetary
and staffing resources needed to support the youth initiatives.
-Change in Police Work Schedule
Future plans include a dynamic change to the department’s work
schedule that will increase effectiveness in addressing community
concerns and responding to calls for service. One strategy will be
to restructure the present beat plan by dividing the city into
neighborhood districts staffed by a Senior Lead Officer (SLO)
who will be a point of contact for residents.
The SLO will be an integral part of our community policing
efforts and will play a key role coordinating policing strategies,
which include addressing quality of life concerns in many
Portland neighborhoods. The new schedule will also provide
police officers and civilians a more balanced work schedule that
will give employees time off without compromising the level of
service to the community, according to Chief Craig.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
House Approves Hinck’s Solar Energy
Bill
Legislation would protect use of clotheslines, solar
collectors
The Maine House of Representatives has given preliminary
approval to a bill introduced by West End Representative Jon
Hinck that would ensure homeowners’ and renters’ rights to use
solar energy devices.
The bill, LD 73, would prohibit local governments, and
homeowner and condominium associations from adopting new
rules or covenants that would prevent residents from installing
solar energy devices, including solar collectors and clotheslines or
other equipment for the drying of clothing outdoors.
The bill would apply only to property owned or leased by an
individual; prohibitions would still be allowed for common areas
or areas of shared ownership. Restrictions would also be allowed
to protect public safety, historic buildings and shorelands.
Existing bylaws or ordinances would be grandfathered under the
law.
At least 10 states, including Massachusetts and California , have
adopted similar laws protecting the right to install solar devices.
Hinck, who is House chair of the Utilities and Energy
Committee, said that in Maine there have been incidents in
Scarborough and Thomaston where residents have tried to use
solar energy but were prohibited due to deed covenants or
neighborhood association bylaws.
Hinck said the legislation would reduce utility bills, air pollution
and dependence on fossil fuels while producing clean energy and
reducing strain on the power grid. According to the Community
Energy Center , the clothes dryer is second only to the refrigerator
for household appliance energy use. The average family spends
$85 a year on electricity for drying clothes.
The bill still faces further votes in the House and Senate before it
would go to the governor for his approval.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
World Lobster Record Set in Portland
Photo by Marge Niblock (SEE MORE PHOTOS)
A Maine lobster roll 61 feet, 9.5 inches long, and containing 48
pounds of lobster meat,was assembled by volunteers at the Old
Port Festival on Sunday, setting a new world record. The roll was
baked by Amato's bakery and delivered to the site on Commercial
Street on a flatbed truck, then carried the last few hundred yards
by a contingent of Maine roller derby girls.
After being assembled and measured, the giant lobster roll was
cut into 4-inch segments, and sold as a fundraiser for the West
End Neiborhood Association's swim lesson scholarship fund. The
180 individual lobster rolls, complete with a certificate of
authentication, sold out within an hour
Saturday Night Shooting at Gorham's
Corner
Portland Police closed the area around Gorham's Corner
(Pleasant and Center streets) at around midnight on Saturday as
they searched for a man who shot another man. The victim's
wounds were not life-threatening, and he was able to give police a
description of his assailant.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Police to Patrol on Segway Vehicles
The Portland Police Department has a new Segway PT (personal
transporter), and is expecting to receive another one within the
next week. The Segway is an electric self-balancing transportation
device with zero emissions, which was unveiled by Segway Inc. of
New Hampshire at the end of 2001, and first went on sale a year
later. It is now used by over 1,000 police and security agencies
worldwide for patrol operations.
The vehicles are being lent by the company for testing and
evaluation as to their possible use here; they will be used for
roughly a month before the department decides whether they
want to buy them for full-time use. A three-wheel Segway will
also be
Photo by Mary-Ellen Welch
WEN Crime Reporter Marge 'Scoop' Niblock with
Portland's first Segway officer Andjelko Napijalo.
tested. Those are being used by the LAPD.
Segways give police high visibility and also gives officers the
ability to see well, due to their elevation on the vehicle.
Two-wheel Segways can travel 25 miles on a single charge, go up
to about 12.5 miles per hour, and be used on all types of terrain.
The three-wheeler gets up as high as 25 miles per hour. It’s
bigger, making it harder to maneuver, but it is safer due to its
size, and it has storage compartments. The price is approximately
$10,000 for the larger one and $7,000 for the one with two wheels.
Lieutenant William Preis, commander of the Day Directed Patrol
Unit, says the planned usage for the Segways at the present time
is limited to the downtown area of Portland, which encompasses
the Bayside neighborhood, the Congress Street corridor, and the
Old Port.
Officer Andjelko Napijalo was the first policeman to use the
vehicle on the job. At a fraction under six feet four inches, he is
already a towering figure before stepping onto the Segway.
Napijalo came to Portland nine years ago from Serbia, and he’s
been on the force for five years.
He made his first arrest with the vehicle in Bayside on June 4th,
which was not even his second full day on the vehicle. Another
officer was called to transport the prisoner to jail. Napijalo said “I
went to the jail with the Segway and booked the guy.”
Napijalo said the vehicle has good maneuverability. “You can
make quick turns and you can turn in small spaces.” However,
he feels a certain vulnerability in traffic. “You need to be careful
going past driveways; someone might be pulling out.” He doesn’t
see any problem as far as the time spent on a Segway. “I could
easily ride eight hours on it,” he said. “It’s fun to ride.”
Public reaction to the Segway was a plus. “People have responded
to it positively. It’s much easier to communicate with people. And
kids love it.”
-Marge Niblock
Friday, June 5, 2009
$41,000 Reward Reissued in James
Angelo Murder
Portland police have reissued a $41,000 reward in a nine-month-
old unsolved Portland murder. James Angelo was shot to death
while working as a security guard at Mercy Hospital on
September 7, 2008. Angelo’s brother Alfred appeared at a news
conference on June 4th with Portland Chief of Police James E.
Craig and Captain Vernon Malloch, who is heading the
investigation into the unsolved crime. The reward offered shortly
after the tragedy was reissued because the previous reward had
reached its expiration date.
Chief Craig said "We cannot solve these cases without the
community’s help." It is felt the reissuing of the reward will
stimulate interest in the case, with someone having knowledge of
the guilty parties coming forward to give police information. "I
am certain and confident someone’s going to talk to us," stated
Craig.
Alfred Angelo talked about the difficulties the family has had
since losing his brother. He said "It’s been very hard. We know
that all we have is each other."
The murder occurred before the arrival of Portland’s new chief,
who said "Investigators have worked very hard to try to bring
closure to this case."
He discussed the possibility that Angelo’s murder may be related
to drug trafficking in the West End, but said "I stress that James
Angelo wasn’t involved in any drug activity." He referred to
Angelo as "an innocent victim." He mentioned new
developments in the case, but couldn’t give out those details.
Craig spoke about narcotics activity in the area being investigated
in cooperation with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency
(MDEA). He then deferred to Captain Malloch, who has longtime
familiarity with the drug situation in the city. Malloch said the
drugs in question are "crack and powder cocaine. For the better
part of a year, there has been increased trafficking."
Chief Craig made a plea to the community to assist police in
solving this crime. He said the police/community partnership is
critical to public safety, and cooperation can lead to solving this
and other crimes.
Anyone with information about the murder is urged to call 874-
8524. To relate information about drug trafficking, the number
is 874-8550.
-Marge Niblock
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Suspect Caught With the Goods - and
More
Portland police responded to a call on May 29th at 9:40 PM and
arrested Samuel Collins, a 40-year-old Portland resident, on
Portland Street in Bayside.
Police say Collins had gained entry to a Jeep Wrangler at the Big
Apple at 2 Park Avenue by cutting the material window, and had
stolen multiple items. After police searched Collins, all the victim’
s stolen goods were recovered. They included a wallet, a cell
phone, and expensive sunglasses.
Collins was also found to have schedule W drugs on him - which
were not taken from the burglarized Jeep. He was charged him
with burglary of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, theft, and
unlawful possession of schedule drugs.
June 3, 2009
West End Resident Donates $59,000
Worth of Food to Preble Street
Jim Buchanan, West End resident and chairman and CEO of
Zone Labs Inc., has donated 23,000 nutrition bars to Preble
Street in Portland to help feed the growing number of hungry
families and individuals in the community.
His donation of Zone Bars, with a value of $59,000, was delivered
Friday, May 15th and will be distributed in the coming weeks at
Preble Street’s Food Pantry, Teen Center, Women’s Shelter, and
The Lighthouse Shelter for homeless youth. The Zone Bars will
help to provide nutritious food for the 440 individuals served by
Preble Street each week.
Both Buchanan and Zone Labs Inc. – a leading functional foods
and nutraceutical company based out of Danvers, Massachusetts
– have long been dedicated to supporting the local community
through donations and events. Living in Portland, Buchanan
recently had the opportunity to meet with Preble Street’s directors
and after hearing about the organization’s mission and need for
food supplies, he was moved to contribute.
Maine is one of the most food-insecure states in the nation, and
at Preble Street—the largest emergency food provider in Maine—
the demand for food assistance has increased dramatically. With
increased unemployment, the number of people faced with
cutting back on food to pay for other urgent needs (rent,
medicine, fuel, or childcare food) has also increased.
"We've seen about a thirty percent increase in visitors to the food
pantry, and more and more they include families and senior
citizens with homes or apartments who find themselves needing
help; people who have to decide between buying food and paying
their rent," says Mark Swann, executive director of Preble Street.
June 2, 2009
Knife and Taser Found in West End
Drug Bust
Portland police arrested a man who was out on bail on May 27th
in the West End, after he was found to be in possession of a Taser
in his pocket, a knife on his hip, and marijuana in his pocket.
A witness reported that a hand-to-hand drug transaction had
occurred near Vespucci’s Market at Clark and Danforth Street at
around 2PM, and gave a description to police of the man thought
to be selling the drugs.
At Clark Street, near Dermot Court, the responding officers found
Eric Gould, 24, who was searched, arrested and charged with
carrying a concealed weapon and aggravated trafficking in
schedule Z drugs.
-Marge Niblock
Legislature Rejects Alfond's Non-Citizen
Resident Voting Bill
The Maine Legislature on May 28th overwhelmingly defeated a
bill sponsored by Portland State Senator Justin Alfond.
LD 1195 “An Act to Allow Noncitizen Residents to Vote in
Municipal Elections” would have allowed municipalities, at their
discretion, the option of granting non-citizens the right to vote in
municipal elections. The Maine House defeated the bill 131-9
and the Senate defeated it 33-2, with only Alfond and fellow
Portland Senator Joseph Brannigan supporting it.
Local legislators Jon Hinck and Diane Russell supported the
legislation. Parkside representative Herb Adams voted against it.
June 1, 2009
New Municipal Website Details Recovery
Funds
Homeless prevention, combined sewer overflow projects, and a
health center for the underinsured are a few of the Portland
programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The City of Portland on May 15th unveiled a new website that
provides detailed information about the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 and funded projects and grant
opportunities for Portland. The website, www.portlandmaine.
gov/recovery, identifies current projects funded by the ARRA, as
well as grant applications and opportunities the City is pursuing.
People can also learn about the projects, expected environmental,
economic and sustain-ability outcomes, and potential contractors
or vendors who have been hired to complete the work.
To date, the $2.06 million Clifton Street Sewer Separation Project
has created more than twenty full-time jobs.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant has
allocated $684,700 directly to the City for efficiency programs.
The City must submit the projects that will be funded by this
block grant by June 25th, and the City Council’s Energy and
Environmental Sustainability Committee was scheduled to meet
on May 26th to discuss potential uses.
NEWS for May, 2009
| “If it’s not here today, we’ll have it tomorrow.” The “GREAT JUNQUE” Shoppe 570 Brighton Avenue, Portland 615-6295 c 772-9156 h Collectibles, Furniture, Antiques, “Stuff” 11-5 Tuesday by Chance Wed-Sat |
A Traditional Neighborhood Pharmacy in the Old Port Easy Transfers From Other Pharmacies All refills and new prescriptions CALL OR EMAIL US! (207)-772-2164 • fax : (207)-774-1958 email: info@oldportrx. com • www.oldportrx.com | Mon-Fri 7:30am – 6:00pm Karen & Paul Chace, R.Phs, Owners ALL MAJOR INSURANCES ACCEPTED • ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS 195 MIDDLE STREET, PORTLAND, ME 04101 between Tommy’s Park and Nickelodeon |
| Fresh Approach “The West End’s Meat Market” M-F 8-7 Sat. 9-7 Sun. 9-5155 Brackett Street 774-7250 WHOLESALE MEATS 774-7250 www. freshapproachmarket.com |
| FREE WIFI at COYNE’S LAUNDROMAT 88 DANFORTH STREET (AT HIGH & DANFORTH) OPEN 7DAYS 8AM to 8PM WASH & FOLD ‘Home of the 2 minute laundry- 1 minute dropoff- 1 minute pickup!’ 871-5744 |
| Fix-It Man "Your Problem Solver" Repairs-Improvements- Maintenance 61 Sherman St. Portland www.fix-itman.com 771-0202 |
FREE MOVIE NIGHT AT REICHE SCHOOL EVERY MONDAY NIGHT 6:30-8:30 Every Monday a different movie will be shown~ PLEASE JOIN US! *We will not be walking youth home~ they need to have plans to get home safely* *No babysitting: if the child is under 10, they need to have a responsible chaperone* ***SPONSORED BY THE WEST END NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION*** If you have any questions, please call Sarah @780-0495 |
| What’s your ideal living situation? The Cumberland County Community Development Office is looking for women, 25-65, who live alone or with roommates to participate in a grant- funded study on women’s housing preferences. Interviewees will receive a gift card to a local merchant and be entered in a drawing to win $50.To participate, go to: www.cumberlandcounty. org/CD/Women/ or call 871-8380 and ask for Elizabeth |