August, 2009 NEWS
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Man Damages Boat, Nearly Causes
Traffic Accident
Portland police arrested a Portland man twice in one week after
he got drunk and damaged a boat in Portland Harbor, and
nearly caused a traffic accident in the West End.
On July 20th at 11 PM, Conrad Berry, 49, of Portland, who
was lying on the boat’s floor in a fetal position, trying to hide,
when a man boarded the boat and confronted him. Berry
became belligerent and jumped into the water to get away. He
was still in the water when police arrived. He swam for a few
minutes and then hung onto the wharf’s pilings while the Coast
Guard was called and rescued him.
Police arrested Berry and charged him with criminal mischief
and criminal trespass, saying he caused an estimated $1,000
damage to the boat.
When police received a call on July 27th regarding a drunk
individual at the Irving gas station at High and Commercial
streets, it was Conrad Berry once again. They escorted Berry
away from the area, but then received a second complaint
about a man walking in the roadway at York and Fore streets,
almost causing an accident, and yelling at a driver. When police
arrived, Berry ran toward the police cars, once again almost
causing an accident. He was charged with obstructing a public
way and disorderly conduct.
-Marge Niblock
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Winter Attire Betrays Summer
Burglars
Portland police arrested three local teenagers on the afternoon
of July 26th, after neighbors near the Riverton School took
notice of the teenagers because of the way they were dressed
on a warm summer day - they all wore hooded sweatshirts and
gloves.
Detective Sergeant Robert Martin, who was patrolling in that
area, also took note of three young men because they gave him
a "hard stare," which drew his attention to them.
When a burglary on Lane Avenue was reported, and the
description was given over the police radio, Martin realized this
was the trio he’d seen earlier. As he continued to drive and
look for the group, he saw them sitting on some steps on
Riverton Drive.
Julian Mayorquin, 18, of Portland and two brothers, ages 16
and 17, neighbors of Mayorquin, were stopped for questioning.
When a canine unit appeared and the dog began barking,
Mayorquin threw two bags of marijuana down to the ground.
According to police, the three found an unoccupied house,
knocked on the door, and when no one answered, they forced
an entry into the home. They stole jewelry, cash, bottles of
alcohol, and several pounds of unrolled coins, which were so
heavy that one of the backpack straps on their knapsack was
ripped.
Mayorquin had five watches and other jewelry from the
burglary in his possession. He also had more than $300 in cash
from the coins brought to the supermarket coin-counting
machine at the neighborhood Hannaford, where a description
had also been provided to police when they had gone there to
check on recent large transactions of coins.
The two juveniles were also found with burglarized items in
their possession. All three young men were arrested and
charged with burglary and theft.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Suspect Arrested After Car, Foot
Chase in West End
While Officer Christian Stickney was parked near the Casco
Bay Bridge at 11:50 PM on July 23rd, he heard tires squealing
and saw a vehicle lose control while heading east on
Commercial Street.
Jeffrey Orne, 21, of Biddeford, the car’s operator, regained
control and continued in an easterly direction, ignoring the
officer trying to stop the car.
The vehicle headed up Park Street the wrong way, still refusing
to stop. Orne then drove to the rear of an area business and
suddenly stopped and fled on foot. Officer Stickney pursued
Orne on foot and located him at the rear of a house.
Orne was unauthorized to be using the car he was driving, and
was arrested and charged with operating after suspension,
refusing to submit to arrest, unauthorized use of property, and
violation of conditional release.
-Marge Niblock
Saturday, Sunday, July 25-26, 2009
May Street Auto Burglar Runs from
Neighbors
The owner of a car who left a purse in the car in plain view
suffered the consequences of that action when a window in the
vehicle was broken to get to it.
On July 18th at 9:45 PM, police received a call about a burglary
to a motor vehicle on May Street in the West End.
A resident of the street chased one of the burglars, who
dropped the purse but kept the wallet he’d taken out of it.
The suspect was described as a very skinny black male
wearing a long red shirt, who was about five feet six inches
tall, with “long hair worn straight up.”
No one was apprehended and police are investigating the
incident.
-Marge Niblock
Skatepark Donation Honors South
Portland Student
The South Portland High School Class of 2009 has made a
donation of $1,250 for Portland’s skatepark, in honor of Calvin
Peters, who was a student at South Portland High School who
died accidentally during his sophomore year. He was a member
of the Class of 2009.
He had a passion for adventure, especially skateboarding. The
2009 Yearbook has a page dedicated to his memory. His senior
class had a dinner in his memory, where students paid $12 to
attend the dinner, and also made additional contributions. His
mother and other family members attended the dinner and
enthusiastically supported their idea of donating the money in
Calvin's name to Portland's new Skatepark.
New Portland Fireboat Coming to
Port this Weekend
This Sunday, the City of Portland's new fireboat, MV City of
Portland IV, will arrive in port. The arrival marks the end of a
two day journey from Nova Scotia and a nearly two decade
effort to upgrade the marine capacity of the Fire Department.
The $3.2 million boat was funded in part by a $1 million federal
allocation from the US Department of Homeland Security and
$450,000 US Port and Homeland Security grant, with the
remaining $1.75 million allocated by the Cit y from fiscal
budgets 2002 to 2005. The MV City of Portland IV will join the
Cavallaro, commissioned in 1993, at the Maine State Pier.
The new boat, designed by A.F. Theriault & Sons, was
constructed over the last year and just underwent sea trials in
Nova Scotia. MV City of Portland IV was built to provide rapid
fire suppression and emergency services to the community.
The boat can reach seventeen knots in open water and includes
a number of features designed to enhance the delivery of
emergency medical services to the islands. The boat will also
be better able to disperse fire fighting foam, improving the
city's ability to put a waterfront or sea-based fire out quickly.
The MV City of Portland IV is equipped with modern design
components that make it more maneuverable and better able to
direct water at a fire while staying in place alongside a pier or
boat.
On Sunday, the fireboat will enter Casco Bay and weave
throughout the Portland islands and, weather permitting, be
visible to island residents. It will then enter the heart of the bay
where it will be met by the MV City of Portland III for a water
salute.
A dedication ceremony for the boat is planned for August.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Approximately 11:00 AM the MV City of Portland IV will
enter Casco Bay and begin the tour of the islands
Approximately 1:00 PM, the boat will berth at the Maine
State Pier
Portland Police Department Offers
Basic Self Defense Class for Women
Rape Aggression Defense course to offer real
life defense tools and tactics
This September, the Portland Police Department will offer its
Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Training class. R.A.D.
provides women with the tools they need to both avoid
dangerous situations and escape them. The course is
specifically designed to help women survive situations in which
their lives are in jeopardy.
This class is open to all women, ages 13 and older, in the
Greater Portland area who would like to develop real life
defensive tools and tactics. The Basic Self-Defense Course
consists of a series of four classes and one scenario day.
The class is scheduled for September 1, 3, 8, and 10, from 6:
00 PM to 9:00 PM and September 12 from 8:00 AM to 12:00
Noon. All classes must be attended to complete the course.
The classes will be held at the Portland Police Department, 109
Middle Street, Portland, Maine.
A donation of $25.00 for the course is suggested. All donations
support the Amy St. Laurent Fund, which sponsors the R.A.D.
trainings.
To sign up for the class or receive more information about
Portland R.A.D., e-mail ppdrad@portlandmaine.gov or call 874-
8643.
6th Annual Latino Soccer
Tournament Begins
City of Portland's Minority Health Program sponsors
event to improve physical activity and health
The City of Portland will host the 6th Annual Latino Soccer
Tournament on Saturday, July 25th and Saturday, August 1st..
The event provides an opportunity for the Latino community to
come together, not only to celebrate their passion for
entertaining soccer, great food and rich culture, but also to
celebrate the ongoing efforts to improve the health of all
minorities in our community.
Last year's two-day championship drew more than 1,500
spectators and participants in celebration of their passion for
soccer, great food, and rich culture. Information about health
services such as HIV/STD testing and counseling and
substance abuse prevention will be available.
For more information about the tournament, contact Nélida
Berke, Latino Community Health Promotion Specialist at (207)
874-8452 or nrb@portlandmaine.gov.
Saturday, July 25th and Saturday, August 1st
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Steve Harris, Former Ruski’s Owner, Dies
Steve Harris, who with his wife Rose, was the longtime owner
of Ruski’s pub in the West End, and Rosie’s in the Old Port,
died on July 10, 2009, after a long battle with diabetes. He was
63.
Harris was born in Washington, D.C. and worked in the men’s
apparel business before moving to Portland in 1975 and
eventually buying Ruski’s, at the corner of Clark and Danforth,
in 1985. The Harrises sold Ruski’s in 2005 because of his
health, but continued to run Rosie’s.
Harris was active in many local organizations, including the Old
Port Association. The K League Softball teams, the Eagles
Club, and The Elks Lodge in Skowhegan.
Steve and Rose Harris also established Harris Charities, which
ran cruises, auctions and many other fund-raising projects to
help organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, food
shelters, Youth Alternatives and other West End projects.
The Harrises and their staff purchased, wrapped, and
distributed Christmas presents to needy families in the West
End for many years.
A reflection on Steve Harris’ life took place on July 18th at
Jones, Rich and Hutchins at 199 Woodford Street.
He is survived by his wife, Rose Asali Harris, his son Jim
Harris of Raymond, his daughter, Sandra Harris-Batakis, and
her husband, Alan Batakis, of Peabody, Mass., four
grandchildren Steve, Alexis, Samantha and Ashley.
Steve is also survived by a brother and four sisters, along with
25 nieces and nephews, and 26 great-nieces and nephews. He
was predeceased by his parents, his sister Virginia, and
brothers Mitchell, Jeff, Will and Jim.
Donations in his memory may be made to Portland West
Learning Center, 181 Brackett St., Portland, ME 04102,
Morrison Development Center, 70 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough,
ME 04074-9658, or Big Brother/Big Sister Foundation, 85 Main
St., Brunswick, ME 04011.
Truck Break-in on Morning Street
On July 13th, at a few minutes after 2 AM, Portland police
were called regarding a burglary to a motor vehicle in front of
42 Morning Street on Munjoy Hill..
Witnesses reported seeing an individual breaking into a truck
and said that the man had a flashlight and some type of box in
his hand.
Within minutes, police located Felipe Peralta, 20, of South
Portland, further down Morning Street. They discovered
Peralta had a nail gun stolen from the truck and also had a knife
in his pocket. He was arrested and charged with burglary of a
motor vehicle, theft, and carrying a concealed weapon.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Elected Mayor Still Top Issue for
Charter Commission
The issue of whether or not Portland should change its charter
to provide for an elected mayor continues to be - far and away
- the issue most on the minds of Portland residents.
Of the fifteen residents who addressed the Portland Charter
Commission at its first public hearing on July16th, two-thirds
mentioned the issue, most of them favoring an elected mayor.
West End City Councilor David Marshall, speaking as a private
citizen, said that although City Manager Joe Gray is doing a
great job, people should be allowed to vote for a mayor
separate from the City Council.
Robert Haines said he thought that the elected mayor may not
be the issue it was pumped up to be, and preferred that the
Commission focus on issues such as a public vote on debt
issues and on only allowing citizens to have the right to vote.
Munjoy Hill resident Charles Bragdon, who is running for the
District 1 Council seat, called for term limits on City
Councilors, saying that they become too comfortable.
However, former state legislator Harlan Baker called term limits
a sham, pointing out that many elected officials who served in
the legislature with him more than two decades ago were still in
office, despite term limits.
West End resident Jo Coyne, who serves as vice president of
the West End Neighborhood Association, implored the
Commission to address the issue of the relationship between
the City Council and the School Committee. Coyne referred to
the current situation at the Reiche School and Community
Center, where it is unclear who has the final authority on how
the building is to be used.
Other issues raised at the hearing included the size and number
of city voting districts, instant runoff voting, and conflicts of
interest on the Council.
About twenty-five citizens attended the first Charter
Commission public hearing.
Skolnik Furious Over Taser Story
By ED KING
Portland City Councilor Dan Skolnik is outraged over a story
that appeared in the West End NEWS on July 8th regarding
comments he made about the recent Taser controversy.
Skolnik called the writer of the story at her home after the
story appeared, screaming at her and calling her a liar. He also
called the newspaper in a rage, claiming that his words had
been distorted.
The story, by West End NEWS police reporter Marge Niblock,
said in part:
“In a Portland Press Herald editorial that appeared on June
27th, Skolnik wrote that councils in three cities—Baltimore,
Chicago, and Philadelphia—have prohibited the use of Tasers.
His article, however, neglected to mention that this ban refers
to Taser use by private citizens, not police officers. Police in
those cities have been using Tasers for some time, and
Philadelphia’s Crisis Intervention Team, composed of specially-
trained officers who are called to deal with people having
mental health issues, has been provided with the weapons.”
Niblock’s article continued:
“Skolnik also wrote ‘Police technology is regulated at the
municipal level all over the country,’ and refers readers to a
Web site of the Taser manufacturer, titled “TASER Weapons,
Laws and Restrictions,” which he said had been provided to
him after asking the Corporation Counsel’s office for a
breakdown of Taser policies.
“However, the information contained on the website is directed
to individuals who want to purchase Tasers. The explanatory
information deals with shipping, processing orders, and
warnings to potential buyers regarding legal issues they should
be aware of pertaining to the weapons.”
Niblock went on to write that when asked to clarify these
discrepancies, Skolnik responded, “My statement is not false.
It’s not sufficiently accurate.”
Skolnik says that when he talked to Niblock about his essay,
she told him that she was writing a letter to the editor of the
Press Herald, and he told her that he had made a mistake.
Niblock denies that Skolnik admitted making a mistake, and has
produced a polygraph test backing up her version of the
conversation.
Niblock did write a letter to the Press Herald editor, which was
published on July 7th.
Skolnik called the newspaper again on the night of July 20th,
again accusing the newspaper of a “gross distortion”, and
saying that he wanted any recordings or notes taken of his
conversation with Niblock.
Skolnik was on record as being opposed to the use of Tasers.
"Personally, I am opposed to the use of these weapons,"
Skolnik was quoted by Portland Press Herald columnist Bill
Nemitz on July 12th, just two days before the Council’s Public
Safety meeting.
"But that's not going to control the way I vote on this."
However, after Skolnik consulted with Portland Chief of Police
James Craig, he and the two other members of the Public
Safety Committee, of which Skolnik is Chair, voted to support
a three-month trial period of Taser use by the police
department.
Friday, July 17, 2009
No Gun Found in Congress Street
Incident
Shortly after 1 PM on July 16th, police received a call from
someone across the street from 658 Congress Street, stating
that a man had thrown a bottle out of one of the windows in
that building. The caller also alleged that a firearm was
displayed.
Police closed off Congress Street between State and Park
streets. After the area was secured, police made contact with
two people in the hallway of the building involved, one of
whom fit the description of the man brandishing the gun. No
weapons were found on him.
Officers then went to the apartment where the incident was
alleged to have occurred and made contact with person renting
the unit, who gave police permission to search. No gun was
found there.
All individuals involved in the incident were identified and an
investigation will follow.
-Marge Niblock
Police to Hold Open House for Youth
on Sunday
This Sunday, July 19th, the Portland Police Department will
hold an open house for youth and their parents interested in the
newly established Portland Police Athletic League (PAL) and
Explorer Post #2671. Scheduled events during the open house
include presentations of a number of specialties including K-9,
Special Reaction Team, Dive Team and Bomb Squad, a guided
tour of the police station, and a cookout. Police Chief James
Craig and representatives from the Police Department and Boy
Scouts of America will be on hand to talk to youth and their
parents about the new initiatives.
PAL is a youth crime prevention program that utilizes
educational, athletic and recreational activities to create trust
and understanding between police officers and youth. The
program is designed to help young people through participation
in sporting events with police officers develop a positive
relationship with the officers, as well as the neighborhood and
business community.
With sponsorship from the Boy Scouts of America, the
Portland Police Department is also establishing the Portland
Police Explorer Post #2671. The program is open to young
adults, ages 14 to 20, who are interested in the field of law
enforcement as a potential career. Members will attend regular
meetings, participate in a ride-along program, receive situational
training and much more.
Email explorer@portlandmaine.gov to RSVP for the Open
House.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Third Armed Robbery Reported in
West End
On July 15th, Portland police received a report of a third West
End armed robbery that happened at 10 PM on July 14th at
Danforth near Center Street. The couple who was robbed
stated they were confronted by one black male, described as
being around 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a medium build,
wearing a red T-shirt and black pants.
The man pulled out a handgun and demanded whatever they
had of value. They had nothing to give the robber, who fled.
The incident didn’t get reported immediately because both
people were so upset by what had occurred.
At 11:45 July 14th, two other people reported a gunpoint
robbery, with cash being taken from them. That was in the
area of State Street near Congress.
Another report of a robbery involving a gun was given at 12:30
AM July 15th. In that incident, three men said that while they
were heading to a convenience store near Brackett and
Cushman streets, two men approached and threatened them
with a gun, stealing cash and personal items.
The description of the suspects in the last two cases were two
black men about 6 feet tall, wearing dark pants. According to
police one of the men wore a dark shirt and the other had on a
red shirt. Their ages were given as between 18 and 20.
-Marge Niblock
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Police Support Proposed Loud
Motorcycle Ordinance
Captain Vernon Malloch of the Portland Police Department told
the Portland City Council's Public Safety Committee on July
14th that a proposed ordinance to deal with loud motorcycles
would be a lot easier to enforce than current noise ordinances.
The new law would require officers to check motorcycles for
a federally-required EPA sticker, instead of having to
measuring the decibel level of the vehicle.
Malloch said that it would be the same as checking an
inspection sticker on a car, and that the department would
recommend the ordinance's passage by the full City Council.
The Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to
recommend the ordinance to the Council.
Chief: Taser Would Have Prevented
Officer's Injury
Portland Chief of Police James Craig says that a Portland police
officer who was injured while trying to apprehend a suspected
burglar on July 12th would not have been hurt had he had a
Taser at his disposal. The officer is expected to be out of work
for a year, according to Chief Craig.
Craig made his comments on July 14th, at a meeting of the
Portland City Council's Public Safety Committee, which
unanimously approved a three-month testing period for police
use of Tasers in the city.
Burglar Damages Public Library
Portland police arrested Finn L. Murray, 28, of Portland, on
July 10th, and charged him with commercial burglary,
aggravated criminal mischief, theft, and unauthorized use of
property.
Police say that Murray gained entry into the library several days
earlier through a construction area, and once inside the
building, caused damage by discharging numerous fire
extinguishers throughout the first floor. On the third floor,
walls were damaged and windows were broken. The burglar
also ate some food that belonged to the library, and then went
down to the library’s delivery area and stole a delivery truck
worth approximately $20,000. The truck was later recovered.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Public Safety Committee to Tackle
Tasers, Loud Motorcycles
The Portland City Council's Public Safety Committee will
address the issues of Taser use by the City's police department,
and regulating loud motorcycles, at a meeting at City Hall
tonight.
Portland Chief of Police James Craig, who is a proponent of
the use of Tasers by police officers, will appear before the
Committee.
A newly-formed Portland group called CALM-Citizens Against
Loud Motorcycles-will make a presentation to the Committee
proposing a new City ordinance addressing the use of illegal
mufflers on motorcycles.
The meeting will be held at the Portland City Council Chambers
at 5PM.
Neighbors Refine Taylor Street Park
Plan
A final plan for the redesign of the Taylor Street Park is one
step closer after about a dozen neighbors met at the Reiche
Community Center on July 13th to discuss the park's makeover.
Changes to the park will include the removal of part of the
fence on Taylor Street and replacement of the remainder of the
perimeter fence, a new fence separating the playground from
the rest of the park, new and refurbished playground
equipment, a new semi-circular stone dust path, removal of at
least one diseased tree, new plantings, and re-surfacing of the
basketball court.
The plan will have to be approved by the City's Historic
Preservation board and work is expected to be started in the
spring of 2010. About $85,000 in federal funding is available
for the project
Monday, July 13, 2009
Money Stolen from Blue Lobsters
An envelope containing about fifty dollars to pay the director of
the Blue Lobster Troupe singing group was taken from the
front counter of the St. Lawrence Arts Center on July 12th.
Group members say they saw two women and a man in the
lobby at about 7PM, as the group was preparing for its weekly
rehearsal.
There was a lot of activity at the center at the time, as a
theatrical group was unloading equipment from a weekend
show. Police were looking for the three suspects in the East
End neighborhood. They are described as in their late teens or
early twenties. The man is tall and thin, with a shaved head and
face piercings. They may be barefoot.
Supper Bowl Sunday, Community
Potluck in Parkside
Free community potluck dinner on Sherman Street (in the
street) between State and Mellen Streets Sunday,July 26th-
5:00-7:30pm. Enjoy music, great food, community art project,
and fun with neighbors. Bring some food to share, or just
yourself! For more information call 899-2435 or e-mail
erica@newlightportland.org
Voters to Decide on Research Center
Funding
A long-standing plan to rehabilitate the former Naval Reserve
Pier on the Portland waterfront may get under way by the end
of this year. The condemned pier would once again be used for
berthing Coast Guard cutters, as well as research boats and
other vessels. Completion of the repairs also would allow for
future expansion of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute,
which now occupies the adjacent land on Commercial Street.
Maine's Legislature voted on June 13th to include $1.5 million
for the project in a borrowing package that will go before
voters in November. More fundraising is still needed, as is a
second deadline extension from the Coast Guard. But, if
approved in November, work on the pier could begin by the
end of the year, said Donald Perkins, president of the Gulf of
Maine Research Institute.
In 2002, the Navy gave the institute its 3.3-acre Naval Reserve
Center on Commercial Street in exchange for a new, $2 million
reserve center in Brunswick. The site is now home to the
research institute's offices and laboratories.
In 2003, the Coast Guard transferred the adjacent 2.2 acres,
including the dilapidated pier, to the institute. In return, the
institute agreed to rebuild the wharf and bulkhead within three
years and provide space for Coast Guard vessels. The institute
later received an extension until the end of 2009 to raise the
funds and complete the repairs. So far, the institute has raised
$1.8 million toward the project, which is estimated to cost $4
million. The proposed bond, if passed, would leave the group
about $700,000 short. Portland State Senator Justin Alfond
supported the larger funding amount but said the entire bond
package was scaled back during the legislative debate.
Voter approval in November would provide enough funding to
start the project even if other fundraising is still taking place,
according to Perkins. But, because the work would not be
completed by the end of this year, the Coast Guard has to
formally extend the agreement with the institute. The
organization's long-term plan was to build an aquarium there,
although Perkins said it is now more focused on using it for
research.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
WENA Pushing to Have Policing
Center Moved
Members of the West End Neighborhood Association are
pressing City officials to move the West End Community
Policing Center from its current location at Harbor Terrace.
They would like to see it moved to the Reiche Community
Center, but Reiche School officials are hesitant to allow the
policing center at the same location as the school.
Another possible site for the relocation of the policing center is
the storefront at Clark and Spring Street, once occupied by
Pap’s store. WENA officials hope to meet with the City’s new
school superintendent to try to get closer to a solution.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Voters to Decide on Research Center
Funding
A longstanding plan to rehabilitate the former Naval Reserve
Pier on the Portland waterfront may get under way by the end
of this year. The condemned pier would once again be used for
berthing Coast Guard cutters, as well as research boats and
other vessels. Completion of the repairs also would allow for
future expansion of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute,
which now occupies the adjacent land on Commercial Street.
Maine's Legislature voted on June 13th to include $1.5 million
for the project in a borrowing package that will go before
voters in November. More fundraising is still needed, as is a
second deadline extension from the Coast Guard. But, if
approved in November, work on the pier could begin by the
end of the year, said Donald Perkins, president of the Gulf of
Maine Research Institute.
In 2002, the Navy gave the institute its 3.3-acre Naval Reserve
Center on Commercial Street in exchange for a new, $2 million
reserve center in Brunswick. The site is now home to the
research institute's offices and laboratories.
In 2003, the Coast Guard transferred the adjacent 2.2 acres,
including the dilapidated pier, to the institute. In return, the
institute agreed to rebuild the wharf and bulkhead within three
years and provide space for Coast Guard vessels. The institute
later received an extension until the end of 2009 to raise the
funds and complete the repairs. So far, the institute has raised
$1.8 million toward the project, which is estimated to cost $4
million. The proposed bond, if passed, would leave the group
about $700,000 short.
"We had hoped to secure $2.2 million" in the bond package,
Perkins said. "While it isn't everything we need, in this
economic environment we're deeply grateful that we were able
to secure that level of commitment."
Portland State Senator Justin Alfond supported the larger
funding amount but said the entire bond package was scaled
back during the legislative debate.
Voter approval in November would provide enough funding to
start the project even if other fundraising is still taking place,
according to Perkins. But, because the work would not be
completed by the end of this year, the Coast Guard has to
formally extend the agreement with the institute. The
organization's long-term plan was to build an aquarium there,
although Perkins said it is now more focused on using it for
research.
Monday, July 6, 2009
CALM Comes to Portland
A group has formed in Portland to encourage legislation that
would ban motorcycle owners from altering the muffler
systems on their vehicles to make them louder. The group will
be called Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles (CALM). The
group has about fifteen members, and will make a presentation
at the July 14th meeting of the Portland City Council’s Public
Safety Committee.
SERVE Food Program Growing
The SERVE newspapers with July's offerings are at Learning
Works and at the Reiche Library. This month’s offerings are
on-line at www.servenewengland.org .
You can order on-line with credit or debit cards, or you may
order through Rosanne 879-6024 or Sarah at 780-0495 using
cash check or EBT cards. Last date for July ordering with
Rosanne or Sarah is July 8th (the night of the WENA meeting)
—on line orders may be done until July 13. The delivery date
for July is Saturday, July 25 from 7-8:30 at Harbor Terrace at
284 Danforth Street.
Participants must do two hours of volunteering during the
month as part of the program. They may volunteer for the
program itself - distributing newspapers, recruiting order, or
helping at distribution.The program started with six participants
in May, and is now up to eighteen.
Governor Signs Two Environmental
Bills
New laws seek to ensure safe handling of mercury-
containing bulbs and notify residents of pesticide
spraying
Two pieces of legislation to increase environmental protection
sponsored by State Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, were
ceremonially signed on June 22nd by Governor John Baldacci.
One bill will set up a permanent compact fluorescent light bulb
(CFL) recycling program in Maine , the first of its kind in the
nation. The other bill will create a notification registry to inform
people of aerial and air-carrier pesticide spraying in their area.
The new compact fluorescent light bulb recycling program will
be the first program of its kind in the United States . Currently,
CFLs can be dropped off at some Maine hardware stores. A
few municipal transfer stations also accept the bulbs, but most
charge a disposal fee and have low participation. Efficiency
Maine currently pays for the costs of the recycling program at
hardware stores using ratepayer dollars, but bill proponents say
this takes attention away from its sole charge of lowering
Mainers’ electricity bills.
“Many Mainers don’t know that these light bulbs contain
mercury and should not be discarded in the trash,” Berry said.
“It is estimated that only 2 percent of CFLs are currently
recycled, so most of these bulbs are going into the trash where
they can create small mercury hazards in the home and lead to
mercury emissions down the road, when the mercury escapes
into the environment at incinerators and landfills.”
The new law, L.D. 973, "An Act To Provide for the Safe
Collection and Recycling of Mercury-containing Lighting,"
requires the manufacturers of the bulbs to be charged with
picking up the cost of safe disposal. The idea builds on Maine ’
s successful electronic waste, cell phone and mercury auto-
switch and mercury thermostat recycling laws, and directs
producers to finance the collection and recycling program.
Maine ’s e-waste law has become a national model, with 17
states following Maine ’s lead.
The legislation also calls for the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection to submit a report to the Legislature
by January 1, 2010 on the recycling of mercury-added lamps
from businesses, mainly the tube shaped fluorescent lights. The
Legislature would then have an opportunity to review the report
and department recommendations and submit legislation to
address the issues.
In addition, it authorizes Maine to adopt mercury content
standards established for lamps sold in the European Union, a
standard used in California and soon to be used in Vermont .
Maine has already banned a number of products that contain
mercury, which is a known toxin to people and the
environment.
The use of CFLs has risen dramatically in the last five years,
and the United States is expected to phase out most
incandescent bulb use by 2014. The average lifespan of a CFL
is five years.
A second bill, L.D. 1293, "An Act To Require Citizen
Notification of Pesticide Applications Using Aerial Spray or Air-
carrier Application Equipment," was also signed. The legislation
will create a notification registry to inform people of aerial and
air-carrier pesticide spraying in their area.
The new law asks the Department of Agriculture and Board of
Pesticides Control to establish a registry of citizens desiring
additional information when pesticides are being applied using
aircraft or air-carrier equipment. In addition, land managers
must notify abutters at least once every three years of their
right to be included on the registry, and provide information on
the chemicals being used. Those included on the registry will
receive advance notice before each application of pesticides on
neighboring land.
According to Russell Libby of the Maine Organic Farmers and
Gardeners’ Association, the new law will mean that Maine has
the most comprehensive pre-spray notification system in the
country, building on models from California, Texas , and New
Hampshire, and will have one of the strongest registry systems
for people who want to receive notification of specific
pesticide applications. Notification includes both aerial and
aerial blast sprayers, which create the biggest risk of “drift”
due to chemical compounds volatizing rather than settling on
the target area.
Berry’s two toxics-reduction bills were among six “priority”
bills for the Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition in the past
legislative session. The Coalition is made up of 27
environmental, conservation and public health organizations in
Maine , representing over 100,000 members.
Both laws will take effect in September.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Charter Commission Brainstorms for
Public Hearing
The Portland Charter Commission held a brainstorming session
on July 2nd to prepare for its first public hearing, which will be
held at City Hall on July 16th.
Among the issues put on the table for discussion were the
elected mayor issue, the relationship between the City Council
and the School Committee, City finances, immigrant voting
rights, and other issues. Commission Chair Pamela Plumb
stressed that the list of issues was a preliminary list, and that
citizens were encouraged to add to it or change it, so that the
Commission could get a better sense of what issues were most
important to the public.
The Commission will have prepared material at the public
hearing explaining its mission and soliciting public input.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
First Candidates Announce for City
Council, School Board Races
Seven candidates have taken out papers at City Hall to run in
November’s election for Portland City Council and School
Committee.
Both incumbent city councilors on the peninsula, Kevin
Donoghue in District 1 (East End) and David Marshall in
District 2 (West End) have taken out papers. Donoghue has
one challenger, Charles Bragdon, who lives on Munjoy Hill.
Former councilor Will Gorham announced in late June that he
would not be running for that seat. Marshall does not yet have
a declared opponent.
Two candidates have announced their intentions to run for the
at-large city council seat currently held by Councilor Nick
Mavodones. They are Jack Woods, who lives in the West End,
and Anna T. Collins of Deering.
Jenna R. Vendil of Munjoy Hill has announced that she will run
for the District 1 (East End) school committee seat currently
held by Rebecca Minnick, who is not running for reelection.
No one has taken out papers to run for the West End school
committee seat, including incumbent Robert O’Brien. School
Committee member Sarah Thompson will run for reelection to
her at-large seat.
Donations Allow Free Swim at Reiche
Kids under 18 will swim free at Reiche Pool this summer,
thanks to a coalition of local businesses and organizations and
the West End Neighborhood Association. Donations by
Sprague Energy/Merrill’s Marine Terminal, Maine Medical
Center and LearningWorks have made it possible for anyone
under the age of 18 to swim free at Reiche Pool’s weekday
afternoon open swims.
During the past year, WENA has raised more than $7,000 for
its swim scholarship fund, through personal donations and
proceeds from the 61’ 9-1/2” lobster roll created at the Old
Port Festival. The money is used to help students from Reiche
Elementary, King Middle and Portland High School learn to
swim, through lessons offered by Portland’s Recreation
Department.
A small portion of the fund will be used to supplement free
swim program. The open swims are scheduled Monday-
Wednesday-Friday, 1 - 3 p.m., and Tuesday-Thursday, 2:30 -
4:30 p.m., through August 14. For more information, go to
www.wenamaine.org or call Portland Aquatics at 756-8275.
Thieves Damage House to Steal Bike
A silver bike, which was registered with police, was reported
stolen from a Cushman Street residence in late June. The
thieves ripped some shingles off the house to free the bike and
its lock.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Portland Commercial Artists to Hold
Exhibit
An exhibition entitled "Working Artists Show" and organized by
the Maine Illustrators Collective, which includes a number of
Portland artists, will be on display at the Kennebunk Free
Library from July 2nd through July 31st. The Maine
Illustrators' Collective is an informal collective of illustrators
and designers meeting in Portland once a month to brainstorm,
critique new work, give support, share ideas, and offer advice
on promoting each other's work. They also organize events,
talks and shows. The exhibit will feature art by many nationally
known and internationally published artists.
The Collective will be hosting an open reception on
Wednesday, July 8th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the public is
invited to attend. This show, featuring professional commercial
artists, was created to promote public awareness of an art
form usually seen for a few fleeting moments in print or film.
Most consumers are unaware of the background behind
producing commercial art: the time, thought, and skill.
Advertising art, design, and illustration, once considered less
than fine art, is now highly collectible in print and original
form, with some of the best commercial artists' work, such as
Andy Warhol's, Norman Rockwell's, and N. C. Wyeth's, being
in art museum collections around the world.
Man Charged with Breaking Courthouse Windows
These "invisible artists" rarely, if ever, show their illustrations
or design work in original form to the public.
For more information visit the MEIC website http://www.
maineillustratorscollective.org or blog: http://mecollective.
blogspot.com/
Man Charged with Breaking
Courthouse Windows
Sau Tran, 39, of Portland, was arrested at around midnight on
June 26th and charged with aggravated criminal mischief.
Police had received a call about a person breaking windows at
205 Newbury Street, the site of the Cumberland County
Courthouse
Tran was located in Lincoln Park, near the courthouse, with
blood on his hands, arms, and clothing, and a hammer in his
possession. Thirty-seven panes of glass had been broken in the
courthouse.
-Marge Niblock
June, 2009 NEWS
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Man Damages Boat, Nearly Causes
Traffic Accident
Portland police arrested a Portland man twice in one week after
he got drunk and damaged a boat in Portland Harbor, and
nearly caused a traffic accident in the West End.
On July 20th at 11 PM, Conrad Berry, 49, of Portland, who
was lying on the boat’s floor in a fetal position, trying to hide,
when a man boarded the boat and confronted him. Berry
became belligerent and jumped into the water to get away. He
was still in the water when police arrived. He swam for a few
minutes and then hung onto the wharf’s pilings while the Coast
Guard was called and rescued him.
Police arrested Berry and charged him with criminal mischief
and criminal trespass, saying he caused an estimated $1,000
damage to the boat.
When police received a call on July 27th regarding a drunk
individual at the Irving gas station at High and Commercial
streets, it was Conrad Berry once again. They escorted Berry
away from the area, but then received a second complaint
about a man walking in the roadway at York and Fore streets,
almost causing an accident, and yelling at a driver. When police
arrived, Berry ran toward the police cars, once again almost
causing an accident. He was charged with obstructing a public
way and disorderly conduct.
-Marge Niblock
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Winter Attire Betrays Summer
Burglars
Portland police arrested three local teenagers on the afternoon
of July 26th, after neighbors near the Riverton School took
notice of the teenagers because of the way they were dressed
on a warm summer day - they all wore hooded sweatshirts and
gloves.
Detective Sergeant Robert Martin, who was patrolling in that
area, also took note of three young men because they gave him
a "hard stare," which drew his attention to them.
When a burglary on Lane Avenue was reported, and the
description was given over the police radio, Martin realized this
was the trio he’d seen earlier. As he continued to drive and
look for the group, he saw them sitting on some steps on
Riverton Drive.
Julian Mayorquin, 18, of Portland and two brothers, ages 16
and 17, neighbors of Mayorquin, were stopped for questioning.
When a canine unit appeared and the dog began barking,
Mayorquin threw two bags of marijuana down to the ground.
According to police, the three found an unoccupied house,
knocked on the door, and when no one answered, they forced
an entry into the home. They stole jewelry, cash, bottles of
alcohol, and several pounds of unrolled coins, which were so
heavy that one of the backpack straps on their knapsack was
ripped.
Mayorquin had five watches and other jewelry from the
burglary in his possession. He also had more than $300 in cash
from the coins brought to the supermarket coin-counting
machine at the neighborhood Hannaford, where a description
had also been provided to police when they had gone there to
check on recent large transactions of coins.
The two juveniles were also found with burglarized items in
their possession. All three young men were arrested and
charged with burglary and theft.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Suspect Arrested After Car, Foot
Chase in West End
While Officer Christian Stickney was parked near the Casco
Bay Bridge at 11:50 PM on July 23rd, he heard tires squealing
and saw a vehicle lose control while heading east on
Commercial Street.
Jeffrey Orne, 21, of Biddeford, the car’s operator, regained
control and continued in an easterly direction, ignoring the
officer trying to stop the car.
The vehicle headed up Park Street the wrong way, still refusing
to stop. Orne then drove to the rear of an area business and
suddenly stopped and fled on foot. Officer Stickney pursued
Orne on foot and located him at the rear of a house.
Orne was unauthorized to be using the car he was driving, and
was arrested and charged with operating after suspension,
refusing to submit to arrest, unauthorized use of property, and
violation of conditional release.
-Marge Niblock
Saturday, Sunday, July 25-26, 2009
May Street Auto Burglar Runs from
Neighbors
The owner of a car who left a purse in the car in plain view
suffered the consequences of that action when a window in the
vehicle was broken to get to it.
On July 18th at 9:45 PM, police received a call about a burglary
to a motor vehicle on May Street in the West End.
A resident of the street chased one of the burglars, who
dropped the purse but kept the wallet he’d taken out of it.
The suspect was described as a very skinny black male
wearing a long red shirt, who was about five feet six inches
tall, with “long hair worn straight up.”
No one was apprehended and police are investigating the
incident.
-Marge Niblock
Skatepark Donation Honors South
Portland Student
The South Portland High School Class of 2009 has made a
donation of $1,250 for Portland’s skatepark, in honor of Calvin
Peters, who was a student at South Portland High School who
died accidentally during his sophomore year. He was a member
of the Class of 2009.
He had a passion for adventure, especially skateboarding. The
2009 Yearbook has a page dedicated to his memory. His senior
class had a dinner in his memory, where students paid $12 to
attend the dinner, and also made additional contributions. His
mother and other family members attended the dinner and
enthusiastically supported their idea of donating the money in
Calvin's name to Portland's new Skatepark.
New Portland Fireboat Coming to
Port this Weekend
This Sunday, the City of Portland's new fireboat, MV City of
Portland IV, will arrive in port. The arrival marks the end of a
two day journey from Nova Scotia and a nearly two decade
effort to upgrade the marine capacity of the Fire Department.
The $3.2 million boat was funded in part by a $1 million federal
allocation from the US Department of Homeland Security and
$450,000 US Port and Homeland Security grant, with the
remaining $1.75 million allocated by the Cit y from fiscal
budgets 2002 to 2005. The MV City of Portland IV will join the
Cavallaro, commissioned in 1993, at the Maine State Pier.
The new boat, designed by A.F. Theriault & Sons, was
constructed over the last year and just underwent sea trials in
Nova Scotia. MV City of Portland IV was built to provide rapid
fire suppression and emergency services to the community.
The boat can reach seventeen knots in open water and includes
a number of features designed to enhance the delivery of
emergency medical services to the islands. The boat will also
be better able to disperse fire fighting foam, improving the
city's ability to put a waterfront or sea-based fire out quickly.
The MV City of Portland IV is equipped with modern design
components that make it more maneuverable and better able to
direct water at a fire while staying in place alongside a pier or
boat.
On Sunday, the fireboat will enter Casco Bay and weave
throughout the Portland islands and, weather permitting, be
visible to island residents. It will then enter the heart of the bay
where it will be met by the MV City of Portland III for a water
salute.
A dedication ceremony for the boat is planned for August.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Approximately 11:00 AM the MV City of Portland IV will
enter Casco Bay and begin the tour of the islands
Approximately 1:00 PM, the boat will berth at the Maine
State Pier
Portland Police Department Offers
Basic Self Defense Class for Women
Rape Aggression Defense course to offer real
life defense tools and tactics
This September, the Portland Police Department will offer its
Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Training class. R.A.D.
provides women with the tools they need to both avoid
dangerous situations and escape them. The course is
specifically designed to help women survive situations in which
their lives are in jeopardy.
This class is open to all women, ages 13 and older, in the
Greater Portland area who would like to develop real life
defensive tools and tactics. The Basic Self-Defense Course
consists of a series of four classes and one scenario day.
The class is scheduled for September 1, 3, 8, and 10, from 6:
00 PM to 9:00 PM and September 12 from 8:00 AM to 12:00
Noon. All classes must be attended to complete the course.
The classes will be held at the Portland Police Department, 109
Middle Street, Portland, Maine.
A donation of $25.00 for the course is suggested. All donations
support the Amy St. Laurent Fund, which sponsors the R.A.D.
trainings.
To sign up for the class or receive more information about
Portland R.A.D., e-mail ppdrad@portlandmaine.gov or call 874-
8643.
6th Annual Latino Soccer
Tournament Begins
City of Portland's Minority Health Program sponsors
event to improve physical activity and health
The City of Portland will host the 6th Annual Latino Soccer
Tournament on Saturday, July 25th and Saturday, August 1st..
The event provides an opportunity for the Latino community to
come together, not only to celebrate their passion for
entertaining soccer, great food and rich culture, but also to
celebrate the ongoing efforts to improve the health of all
minorities in our community.
Last year's two-day championship drew more than 1,500
spectators and participants in celebration of their passion for
soccer, great food, and rich culture. Information about health
services such as HIV/STD testing and counseling and
substance abuse prevention will be available.
For more information about the tournament, contact Nélida
Berke, Latino Community Health Promotion Specialist at (207)
874-8452 or nrb@portlandmaine.gov.
Saturday, July 25th and Saturday, August 1st
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Steve Harris, Former Ruski’s Owner, Dies
Steve Harris, who with his wife Rose, was the longtime owner
of Ruski’s pub in the West End, and Rosie’s in the Old Port,
died on July 10, 2009, after a long battle with diabetes. He was
63.
Harris was born in Washington, D.C. and worked in the men’s
apparel business before moving to Portland in 1975 and
eventually buying Ruski’s, at the corner of Clark and Danforth,
in 1985. The Harrises sold Ruski’s in 2005 because of his
health, but continued to run Rosie’s.
Harris was active in many local organizations, including the Old
Port Association. The K League Softball teams, the Eagles
Club, and The Elks Lodge in Skowhegan.
Steve and Rose Harris also established Harris Charities, which
ran cruises, auctions and many other fund-raising projects to
help organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, food
shelters, Youth Alternatives and other West End projects.
The Harrises and their staff purchased, wrapped, and
distributed Christmas presents to needy families in the West
End for many years.
A reflection on Steve Harris’ life took place on July 18th at
Jones, Rich and Hutchins at 199 Woodford Street.
He is survived by his wife, Rose Asali Harris, his son Jim
Harris of Raymond, his daughter, Sandra Harris-Batakis, and
her husband, Alan Batakis, of Peabody, Mass., four
grandchildren Steve, Alexis, Samantha and Ashley.
Steve is also survived by a brother and four sisters, along with
25 nieces and nephews, and 26 great-nieces and nephews. He
was predeceased by his parents, his sister Virginia, and
brothers Mitchell, Jeff, Will and Jim.
Donations in his memory may be made to Portland West
Learning Center, 181 Brackett St., Portland, ME 04102,
Morrison Development Center, 70 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough,
ME 04074-9658, or Big Brother/Big Sister Foundation, 85 Main
St., Brunswick, ME 04011.
Truck Break-in on Morning Street
On July 13th, at a few minutes after 2 AM, Portland police
were called regarding a burglary to a motor vehicle in front of
42 Morning Street on Munjoy Hill..
Witnesses reported seeing an individual breaking into a truck
and said that the man had a flashlight and some type of box in
his hand.
Within minutes, police located Felipe Peralta, 20, of South
Portland, further down Morning Street. They discovered
Peralta had a nail gun stolen from the truck and also had a knife
in his pocket. He was arrested and charged with burglary of a
motor vehicle, theft, and carrying a concealed weapon.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Elected Mayor Still Top Issue for
Charter Commission
The issue of whether or not Portland should change its charter
to provide for an elected mayor continues to be - far and away
- the issue most on the minds of Portland residents.
Of the fifteen residents who addressed the Portland Charter
Commission at its first public hearing on July16th, two-thirds
mentioned the issue, most of them favoring an elected mayor.
West End City Councilor David Marshall, speaking as a private
citizen, said that although City Manager Joe Gray is doing a
great job, people should be allowed to vote for a mayor
separate from the City Council.
Robert Haines said he thought that the elected mayor may not
be the issue it was pumped up to be, and preferred that the
Commission focus on issues such as a public vote on debt
issues and on only allowing citizens to have the right to vote.
Munjoy Hill resident Charles Bragdon, who is running for the
District 1 Council seat, called for term limits on City
Councilors, saying that they become too comfortable.
However, former state legislator Harlan Baker called term limits
a sham, pointing out that many elected officials who served in
the legislature with him more than two decades ago were still in
office, despite term limits.
West End resident Jo Coyne, who serves as vice president of
the West End Neighborhood Association, implored the
Commission to address the issue of the relationship between
the City Council and the School Committee. Coyne referred to
the current situation at the Reiche School and Community
Center, where it is unclear who has the final authority on how
the building is to be used.
Other issues raised at the hearing included the size and number
of city voting districts, instant runoff voting, and conflicts of
interest on the Council.
About twenty-five citizens attended the first Charter
Commission public hearing.
Skolnik Furious Over Taser Story
By ED KING
Portland City Councilor Dan Skolnik is outraged over a story
that appeared in the West End NEWS on July 8th regarding
comments he made about the recent Taser controversy.
Skolnik called the writer of the story at her home after the
story appeared, screaming at her and calling her a liar. He also
called the newspaper in a rage, claiming that his words had
been distorted.
The story, by West End NEWS police reporter Marge Niblock,
said in part:
“In a Portland Press Herald editorial that appeared on June
27th, Skolnik wrote that councils in three cities—Baltimore,
Chicago, and Philadelphia—have prohibited the use of Tasers.
His article, however, neglected to mention that this ban refers
to Taser use by private citizens, not police officers. Police in
those cities have been using Tasers for some time, and
Philadelphia’s Crisis Intervention Team, composed of specially-
trained officers who are called to deal with people having
mental health issues, has been provided with the weapons.”
Niblock’s article continued:
“Skolnik also wrote ‘Police technology is regulated at the
municipal level all over the country,’ and refers readers to a
Web site of the Taser manufacturer, titled “TASER Weapons,
Laws and Restrictions,” which he said had been provided to
him after asking the Corporation Counsel’s office for a
breakdown of Taser policies.
“However, the information contained on the website is directed
to individuals who want to purchase Tasers. The explanatory
information deals with shipping, processing orders, and
warnings to potential buyers regarding legal issues they should
be aware of pertaining to the weapons.”
Niblock went on to write that when asked to clarify these
discrepancies, Skolnik responded, “My statement is not false.
It’s not sufficiently accurate.”
Skolnik says that when he talked to Niblock about his essay,
she told him that she was writing a letter to the editor of the
Press Herald, and he told her that he had made a mistake.
Niblock denies that Skolnik admitted making a mistake, and has
produced a polygraph test backing up her version of the
conversation.
Niblock did write a letter to the Press Herald editor, which was
published on July 7th.
Skolnik called the newspaper again on the night of July 20th,
again accusing the newspaper of a “gross distortion”, and
saying that he wanted any recordings or notes taken of his
conversation with Niblock.
Skolnik was on record as being opposed to the use of Tasers.
"Personally, I am opposed to the use of these weapons,"
Skolnik was quoted by Portland Press Herald columnist Bill
Nemitz on July 12th, just two days before the Council’s Public
Safety meeting.
"But that's not going to control the way I vote on this."
However, after Skolnik consulted with Portland Chief of Police
James Craig, he and the two other members of the Public
Safety Committee, of which Skolnik is Chair, voted to support
a three-month trial period of Taser use by the police
department.
Friday, July 17, 2009
No Gun Found in Congress Street
Incident
Shortly after 1 PM on July 16th, police received a call from
someone across the street from 658 Congress Street, stating
that a man had thrown a bottle out of one of the windows in
that building. The caller also alleged that a firearm was
displayed.
Police closed off Congress Street between State and Park
streets. After the area was secured, police made contact with
two people in the hallway of the building involved, one of
whom fit the description of the man brandishing the gun. No
weapons were found on him.
Officers then went to the apartment where the incident was
alleged to have occurred and made contact with person renting
the unit, who gave police permission to search. No gun was
found there.
All individuals involved in the incident were identified and an
investigation will follow.
-Marge Niblock
Police to Hold Open House for Youth
on Sunday
This Sunday, July 19th, the Portland Police Department will
hold an open house for youth and their parents interested in the
newly established Portland Police Athletic League (PAL) and
Explorer Post #2671. Scheduled events during the open house
include presentations of a number of specialties including K-9,
Special Reaction Team, Dive Team and Bomb Squad, a guided
tour of the police station, and a cookout. Police Chief James
Craig and representatives from the Police Department and Boy
Scouts of America will be on hand to talk to youth and their
parents about the new initiatives.
PAL is a youth crime prevention program that utilizes
educational, athletic and recreational activities to create trust
and understanding between police officers and youth. The
program is designed to help young people through participation
in sporting events with police officers develop a positive
relationship with the officers, as well as the neighborhood and
business community.
With sponsorship from the Boy Scouts of America, the
Portland Police Department is also establishing the Portland
Police Explorer Post #2671. The program is open to young
adults, ages 14 to 20, who are interested in the field of law
enforcement as a potential career. Members will attend regular
meetings, participate in a ride-along program, receive situational
training and much more.
Email explorer@portlandmaine.gov to RSVP for the Open
House.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Third Armed Robbery Reported in
West End
On July 15th, Portland police received a report of a third West
End armed robbery that happened at 10 PM on July 14th at
Danforth near Center Street. The couple who was robbed
stated they were confronted by one black male, described as
being around 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a medium build,
wearing a red T-shirt and black pants.
The man pulled out a handgun and demanded whatever they
had of value. They had nothing to give the robber, who fled.
The incident didn’t get reported immediately because both
people were so upset by what had occurred.
At 11:45 July 14th, two other people reported a gunpoint
robbery, with cash being taken from them. That was in the
area of State Street near Congress.
Another report of a robbery involving a gun was given at 12:30
AM July 15th. In that incident, three men said that while they
were heading to a convenience store near Brackett and
Cushman streets, two men approached and threatened them
with a gun, stealing cash and personal items.
The description of the suspects in the last two cases were two
black men about 6 feet tall, wearing dark pants. According to
police one of the men wore a dark shirt and the other had on a
red shirt. Their ages were given as between 18 and 20.
-Marge Niblock
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Police Support Proposed Loud
Motorcycle Ordinance
Captain Vernon Malloch of the Portland Police Department told
the Portland City Council's Public Safety Committee on July
14th that a proposed ordinance to deal with loud motorcycles
would be a lot easier to enforce than current noise ordinances.
The new law would require officers to check motorcycles for
a federally-required EPA sticker, instead of having to
measuring the decibel level of the vehicle.
Malloch said that it would be the same as checking an
inspection sticker on a car, and that the department would
recommend the ordinance's passage by the full City Council.
The Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to
recommend the ordinance to the Council.
Chief: Taser Would Have Prevented
Officer's Injury
Portland Chief of Police James Craig says that a Portland police
officer who was injured while trying to apprehend a suspected
burglar on July 12th would not have been hurt had he had a
Taser at his disposal. The officer is expected to be out of work
for a year, according to Chief Craig.
Craig made his comments on July 14th, at a meeting of the
Portland City Council's Public Safety Committee, which
unanimously approved a three-month testing period for police
use of Tasers in the city.
Burglar Damages Public Library
Portland police arrested Finn L. Murray, 28, of Portland, on
July 10th, and charged him with commercial burglary,
aggravated criminal mischief, theft, and unauthorized use of
property.
Police say that Murray gained entry into the library several days
earlier through a construction area, and once inside the
building, caused damage by discharging numerous fire
extinguishers throughout the first floor. On the third floor,
walls were damaged and windows were broken. The burglar
also ate some food that belonged to the library, and then went
down to the library’s delivery area and stole a delivery truck
worth approximately $20,000. The truck was later recovered.
-Marge Niblock
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Public Safety Committee to Tackle
Tasers, Loud Motorcycles
The Portland City Council's Public Safety Committee will
address the issues of Taser use by the City's police department,
and regulating loud motorcycles, at a meeting at City Hall
tonight.
Portland Chief of Police James Craig, who is a proponent of
the use of Tasers by police officers, will appear before the
Committee.
A newly-formed Portland group called CALM-Citizens Against
Loud Motorcycles-will make a presentation to the Committee
proposing a new City ordinance addressing the use of illegal
mufflers on motorcycles.
The meeting will be held at the Portland City Council Chambers
at 5PM.
Neighbors Refine Taylor Street Park
Plan
A final plan for the redesign of the Taylor Street Park is one
step closer after about a dozen neighbors met at the Reiche
Community Center on July 13th to discuss the park's makeover.
Changes to the park will include the removal of part of the
fence on Taylor Street and replacement of the remainder of the
perimeter fence, a new fence separating the playground from
the rest of the park, new and refurbished playground
equipment, a new semi-circular stone dust path, removal of at
least one diseased tree, new plantings, and re-surfacing of the
basketball court.
The plan will have to be approved by the City's Historic
Preservation board and work is expected to be started in the
spring of 2010. About $85,000 in federal funding is available
for the project
Monday, July 13, 2009
Money Stolen from Blue Lobsters
An envelope containing about fifty dollars to pay the director of
the Blue Lobster Troupe singing group was taken from the
front counter of the St. Lawrence Arts Center on July 12th.
Group members say they saw two women and a man in the
lobby at about 7PM, as the group was preparing for its weekly
rehearsal.
There was a lot of activity at the center at the time, as a
theatrical group was unloading equipment from a weekend
show. Police were looking for the three suspects in the East
End neighborhood. They are described as in their late teens or
early twenties. The man is tall and thin, with a shaved head and
face piercings. They may be barefoot.
Supper Bowl Sunday, Community
Potluck in Parkside
Free community potluck dinner on Sherman Street (in the
street) between State and Mellen Streets Sunday,July 26th-
5:00-7:30pm. Enjoy music, great food, community art project,
and fun with neighbors. Bring some food to share, or just
yourself! For more information call 899-2435 or e-mail
erica@newlightportland.org
Voters to Decide on Research Center
Funding
A long-standing plan to rehabilitate the former Naval Reserve
Pier on the Portland waterfront may get under way by the end
of this year. The condemned pier would once again be used for
berthing Coast Guard cutters, as well as research boats and
other vessels. Completion of the repairs also would allow for
future expansion of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute,
which now occupies the adjacent land on Commercial Street.
Maine's Legislature voted on June 13th to include $1.5 million
for the project in a borrowing package that will go before
voters in November. More fundraising is still needed, as is a
second deadline extension from the Coast Guard. But, if
approved in November, work on the pier could begin by the
end of the year, said Donald Perkins, president of the Gulf of
Maine Research Institute.
In 2002, the Navy gave the institute its 3.3-acre Naval Reserve
Center on Commercial Street in exchange for a new, $2 million
reserve center in Brunswick. The site is now home to the
research institute's offices and laboratories.
In 2003, the Coast Guard transferred the adjacent 2.2 acres,
including the dilapidated pier, to the institute. In return, the
institute agreed to rebuild the wharf and bulkhead within three
years and provide space for Coast Guard vessels. The institute
later received an extension until the end of 2009 to raise the
funds and complete the repairs. So far, the institute has raised
$1.8 million toward the project, which is estimated to cost $4
million. The proposed bond, if passed, would leave the group
about $700,000 short. Portland State Senator Justin Alfond
supported the larger funding amount but said the entire bond
package was scaled back during the legislative debate.
Voter approval in November would provide enough funding to
start the project even if other fundraising is still taking place,
according to Perkins. But, because the work would not be
completed by the end of this year, the Coast Guard has to
formally extend the agreement with the institute. The
organization's long-term plan was to build an aquarium there,
although Perkins said it is now more focused on using it for
research.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
WENA Pushing to Have Policing
Center Moved
Members of the West End Neighborhood Association are
pressing City officials to move the West End Community
Policing Center from its current location at Harbor Terrace.
They would like to see it moved to the Reiche Community
Center, but Reiche School officials are hesitant to allow the
policing center at the same location as the school.
Another possible site for the relocation of the policing center is
the storefront at Clark and Spring Street, once occupied by
Pap’s store. WENA officials hope to meet with the City’s new
school superintendent to try to get closer to a solution.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Voters to Decide on Research Center
Funding
A longstanding plan to rehabilitate the former Naval Reserve
Pier on the Portland waterfront may get under way by the end
of this year. The condemned pier would once again be used for
berthing Coast Guard cutters, as well as research boats and
other vessels. Completion of the repairs also would allow for
future expansion of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute,
which now occupies the adjacent land on Commercial Street.
Maine's Legislature voted on June 13th to include $1.5 million
for the project in a borrowing package that will go before
voters in November. More fundraising is still needed, as is a
second deadline extension from the Coast Guard. But, if
approved in November, work on the pier could begin by the
end of the year, said Donald Perkins, president of the Gulf of
Maine Research Institute.
In 2002, the Navy gave the institute its 3.3-acre Naval Reserve
Center on Commercial Street in exchange for a new, $2 million
reserve center in Brunswick. The site is now home to the
research institute's offices and laboratories.
In 2003, the Coast Guard transferred the adjacent 2.2 acres,
including the dilapidated pier, to the institute. In return, the
institute agreed to rebuild the wharf and bulkhead within three
years and provide space for Coast Guard vessels. The institute
later received an extension until the end of 2009 to raise the
funds and complete the repairs. So far, the institute has raised
$1.8 million toward the project, which is estimated to cost $4
million. The proposed bond, if passed, would leave the group
about $700,000 short.
"We had hoped to secure $2.2 million" in the bond package,
Perkins said. "While it isn't everything we need, in this
economic environment we're deeply grateful that we were able
to secure that level of commitment."
Portland State Senator Justin Alfond supported the larger
funding amount but said the entire bond package was scaled
back during the legislative debate.
Voter approval in November would provide enough funding to
start the project even if other fundraising is still taking place,
according to Perkins. But, because the work would not be
completed by the end of this year, the Coast Guard has to
formally extend the agreement with the institute. The
organization's long-term plan was to build an aquarium there,
although Perkins said it is now more focused on using it for
research.
Monday, July 6, 2009
CALM Comes to Portland
A group has formed in Portland to encourage legislation that
would ban motorcycle owners from altering the muffler
systems on their vehicles to make them louder. The group will
be called Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles (CALM). The
group has about fifteen members, and will make a presentation
at the July 14th meeting of the Portland City Council’s Public
Safety Committee.
SERVE Food Program Growing
The SERVE newspapers with July's offerings are at Learning
Works and at the Reiche Library. This month’s offerings are
on-line at www.servenewengland.org .
You can order on-line with credit or debit cards, or you may
order through Rosanne 879-6024 or Sarah at 780-0495 using
cash check or EBT cards. Last date for July ordering with
Rosanne or Sarah is July 8th (the night of the WENA meeting)
—on line orders may be done until July 13. The delivery date
for July is Saturday, July 25 from 7-8:30 at Harbor Terrace at
284 Danforth Street.
Participants must do two hours of volunteering during the
month as part of the program. They may volunteer for the
program itself - distributing newspapers, recruiting order, or
helping at distribution.The program started with six participants
in May, and is now up to eighteen.
Governor Signs Two Environmental
Bills
New laws seek to ensure safe handling of mercury-
containing bulbs and notify residents of pesticide
spraying
Two pieces of legislation to increase environmental protection
sponsored by State Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, were
ceremonially signed on June 22nd by Governor John Baldacci.
One bill will set up a permanent compact fluorescent light bulb
(CFL) recycling program in Maine , the first of its kind in the
nation. The other bill will create a notification registry to inform
people of aerial and air-carrier pesticide spraying in their area.
The new compact fluorescent light bulb recycling program will
be the first program of its kind in the United States . Currently,
CFLs can be dropped off at some Maine hardware stores. A
few municipal transfer stations also accept the bulbs, but most
charge a disposal fee and have low participation. Efficiency
Maine currently pays for the costs of the recycling program at
hardware stores using ratepayer dollars, but bill proponents say
this takes attention away from its sole charge of lowering
Mainers’ electricity bills.
“Many Mainers don’t know that these light bulbs contain
mercury and should not be discarded in the trash,” Berry said.
“It is estimated that only 2 percent of CFLs are currently
recycled, so most of these bulbs are going into the trash where
they can create small mercury hazards in the home and lead to
mercury emissions down the road, when the mercury escapes
into the environment at incinerators and landfills.”
The new law, L.D. 973, "An Act To Provide for the Safe
Collection and Recycling of Mercury-containing Lighting,"
requires the manufacturers of the bulbs to be charged with
picking up the cost of safe disposal. The idea builds on Maine ’
s successful electronic waste, cell phone and mercury auto-
switch and mercury thermostat recycling laws, and directs
producers to finance the collection and recycling program.
Maine ’s e-waste law has become a national model, with 17
states following Maine ’s lead.
The legislation also calls for the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection to submit a report to the Legislature
by January 1, 2010 on the recycling of mercury-added lamps
from businesses, mainly the tube shaped fluorescent lights. The
Legislature would then have an opportunity to review the report
and department recommendations and submit legislation to
address the issues.
In addition, it authorizes Maine to adopt mercury content
standards established for lamps sold in the European Union, a
standard used in California and soon to be used in Vermont .
Maine has already banned a number of products that contain
mercury, which is a known toxin to people and the
environment.
The use of CFLs has risen dramatically in the last five years,
and the United States is expected to phase out most
incandescent bulb use by 2014. The average lifespan of a CFL
is five years.
A second bill, L.D. 1293, "An Act To Require Citizen
Notification of Pesticide Applications Using Aerial Spray or Air-
carrier Application Equipment," was also signed. The legislation
will create a notification registry to inform people of aerial and
air-carrier pesticide spraying in their area.
The new law asks the Department of Agriculture and Board of
Pesticides Control to establish a registry of citizens desiring
additional information when pesticides are being applied using
aircraft or air-carrier equipment. In addition, land managers
must notify abutters at least once every three years of their
right to be included on the registry, and provide information on
the chemicals being used. Those included on the registry will
receive advance notice before each application of pesticides on
neighboring land.
According to Russell Libby of the Maine Organic Farmers and
Gardeners’ Association, the new law will mean that Maine has
the most comprehensive pre-spray notification system in the
country, building on models from California, Texas , and New
Hampshire, and will have one of the strongest registry systems
for people who want to receive notification of specific
pesticide applications. Notification includes both aerial and
aerial blast sprayers, which create the biggest risk of “drift”
due to chemical compounds volatizing rather than settling on
the target area.
Berry’s two toxics-reduction bills were among six “priority”
bills for the Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition in the past
legislative session. The Coalition is made up of 27
environmental, conservation and public health organizations in
Maine , representing over 100,000 members.
Both laws will take effect in September.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Charter Commission Brainstorms for
Public Hearing
The Portland Charter Commission held a brainstorming session
on July 2nd to prepare for its first public hearing, which will be
held at City Hall on July 16th.
Among the issues put on the table for discussion were the
elected mayor issue, the relationship between the City Council
and the School Committee, City finances, immigrant voting
rights, and other issues. Commission Chair Pamela Plumb
stressed that the list of issues was a preliminary list, and that
citizens were encouraged to add to it or change it, so that the
Commission could get a better sense of what issues were most
important to the public.
The Commission will have prepared material at the public
hearing explaining its mission and soliciting public input.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
First Candidates Announce for City
Council, School Board Races
Seven candidates have taken out papers at City Hall to run in
November’s election for Portland City Council and School
Committee.
Both incumbent city councilors on the peninsula, Kevin
Donoghue in District 1 (East End) and David Marshall in
District 2 (West End) have taken out papers. Donoghue has
one challenger, Charles Bragdon, who lives on Munjoy Hill.
Former councilor Will Gorham announced in late June that he
would not be running for that seat. Marshall does not yet have
a declared opponent.
Two candidates have announced their intentions to run for the
at-large city council seat currently held by Councilor Nick
Mavodones. They are Jack Woods, who lives in the West End,
and Anna T. Collins of Deering.
Jenna R. Vendil of Munjoy Hill has announced that she will run
for the District 1 (East End) school committee seat currently
held by Rebecca Minnick, who is not running for reelection.
No one has taken out papers to run for the West End school
committee seat, including incumbent Robert O’Brien. School
Committee member Sarah Thompson will run for reelection to
her at-large seat.
Donations Allow Free Swim at Reiche
Kids under 18 will swim free at Reiche Pool this summer,
thanks to a coalition of local businesses and organizations and
the West End Neighborhood Association. Donations by
Sprague Energy/Merrill’s Marine Terminal, Maine Medical
Center and LearningWorks have made it possible for anyone
under the age of 18 to swim free at Reiche Pool’s weekday
afternoon open swims.
During the past year, WENA has raised more than $7,000 for
its swim scholarship fund, through personal donations and
proceeds from the 61’ 9-1/2” lobster roll created at the Old
Port Festival. The money is used to help students from Reiche
Elementary, King Middle and Portland High School learn to
swim, through lessons offered by Portland’s Recreation
Department.
A small portion of the fund will be used to supplement free
swim program. The open swims are scheduled Monday-
Wednesday-Friday, 1 - 3 p.m., and Tuesday-Thursday, 2:30 -
4:30 p.m., through August 14. For more information, go to
www.wenamaine.org or call Portland Aquatics at 756-8275.
Thieves Damage House to Steal Bike
A silver bike, which was registered with police, was reported
stolen from a Cushman Street residence in late June. The
thieves ripped some shingles off the house to free the bike and
its lock.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Portland Commercial Artists to Hold
Exhibit
An exhibition entitled "Working Artists Show" and organized by
the Maine Illustrators Collective, which includes a number of
Portland artists, will be on display at the Kennebunk Free
Library from July 2nd through July 31st. The Maine
Illustrators' Collective is an informal collective of illustrators
and designers meeting in Portland once a month to brainstorm,
critique new work, give support, share ideas, and offer advice
on promoting each other's work. They also organize events,
talks and shows. The exhibit will feature art by many nationally
known and internationally published artists.
The Collective will be hosting an open reception on
Wednesday, July 8th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the public is
invited to attend. This show, featuring professional commercial
artists, was created to promote public awareness of an art
form usually seen for a few fleeting moments in print or film.
Most consumers are unaware of the background behind
producing commercial art: the time, thought, and skill.
Advertising art, design, and illustration, once considered less
than fine art, is now highly collectible in print and original
form, with some of the best commercial artists' work, such as
Andy Warhol's, Norman Rockwell's, and N. C. Wyeth's, being
in art museum collections around the world.
Man Charged with Breaking Courthouse Windows
These "invisible artists" rarely, if ever, show their illustrations
or design work in original form to the public.
For more information visit the MEIC website http://www.
maineillustratorscollective.org or blog: http://mecollective.
blogspot.com/
Man Charged with Breaking
Courthouse Windows
Sau Tran, 39, of Portland, was arrested at around midnight on
June 26th and charged with aggravated criminal mischief.
Police had received a call about a person breaking windows at
205 Newbury Street, the site of the Cumberland County
Courthouse
Tran was located in Lincoln Park, near the courthouse, with
blood on his hands, arms, and clothing, and a hammer in his
possession. Thirty-seven panes of glass had been broken in the
courthouse.
-Marge Niblock
June, 2009 NEWS
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