November 2009
Candlelight Vigil to
Mark World AIDS Day
December 1st
On December 1, 2009, Frannie Peabody
Center will hold a candlelight vigil at
Monument Square at 5:30 P.M. in
observance of the 21st World AIDS Day.
There will be a performance by the Maine
Gay Men’s Chorus, followed by remarks
from an FPC client, FPC Board Member
Dr. Caroline Teschke, M.D., and Executive
Director Patti Capouch.
Since its inception in 1988, World AIDS
Day has been and still is, an important day
of remembrance and respect for those who
have died of AIDS. This day allows friends
and families to stop for a moment and
reflect upon those whose lives were cut
short by a disease that is still very much
alive today. There are 1,300 people
infected with HIV/AIDS in Maine.
Fire Heavily Damages
Parkside Apartment
Building
A fire at about 1 AM on Thanksgiving
morning heavily damaged a three-story
apartment building across from Hadlock
Field in the Parkside neighborhood. Seven
people were left homeless by the fire at
274 Park Avenue. No injuries were
reported in the fire, which is under
investigation.
Police Lauded as
Heroes in Thwarting
Suicide Attempts on
Casco Bay Bridge
On Saturday, November 21st at 11:40 PM,
a woman in her 40s intent on suicide was
found holding onto the exterior of a service
ladder, after climbing over the railing of the
Casco Bay Bridge.
Police say the woman had also taken some
pills and was becoming drowsy. She kept
leaning back toward the water and was
hanging on by only her fingertips.
Sergeant Julie Grabofsky - a hostage
negotiator - and officers Joshua Wiseman
and Jeffrey Druan were trying to “talk her
down.”
When it became apparent she was not
going to come back, Officer Wiseman
reached out and grabbed her. She then
pushed away and fell free while Wiseman
still had one hand holding her. She swung
out in about a four-foot arc before
Wiseman was able to pull her back to the
edge. Grabofsky and Druan hung on to
Wiseman, who was in danger of being
pulled over the bridge himself.
The three officers then pulled the woman
back over the railing to safety.
A witness to the event, which was
captured on video cameras in two police
cars at the scene, stated “This was real
hero stuff. The actions of the officers are
amazing.”
The woman was transported to Maine
Medical Center by police, but repeated her
attempt at suicide again on Sunday evening
at 6:47 PM.
This time bridge traffic was rerouted for
about an hour and a half while police once
again pleaded with her. Lieutenant James
Sweatt and Sergeant John Nueslein were
able to pin the woman down while on one
of the bridge’s catwalks, and get her to a
safe place.
-Marge Niblock
City Seeks to
Reconnect
Libbytown
A recently-released report by Portland
Trails makes numerous recommendations
for making the Libbytown neighborhood a
more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly area,
and connecting it to
downtown.
Included in the recommendations are the
formation of new bicycle lanes, and
returning two-way traffic to some local
streets.
The report details the findings and
recommendations of a study to determine a
priority bicycle and pedestrian route
between The Portland Transportation
Center and Deering Oaks Park. The report
also analyzes the desirability and feasibility
of a specific multi-use trail from the Fore
River Parkway to Deering Oaks.
Historically, Libbytown was a
neighborhood roughly between
Massachusetts Avenue, Saint John’s
Street, Brighton Avenue, and the Fore
River, according to the study. Tavern-
keeper George Libby and his descendants
give the area its name, having settled in the
early 19th century at the intersection of
Park and Congress Streets, known as 8
Libby’s Corner. The corner was the center
of a small but thriving business district for
many years, and the families that worked,
shopped and lived there gave Libbytown its
identity.
When Interstate 295 was built in the late
1960s, Libbytown as a distinct
neighborhood was effectively destroyed,
says the report. Over 15 businesses and
200 families were displaced for the
highway and large cloverleaf interchanges
that define the area today. There are still
several hundred Libby families living in the
Portland area; though Libby’s Corner no
longer exists.
Recently, the construction of the Portland
Transportation Center, the Fore River
Parkway, and several hotels has shaped the
form and function of the Libbytown area.
These projects, while largely beneficial, all
continue an auto-centric design pattern,
with large
parking lots, wide street setbacks and a
lack of connectivity for bicycles and
pedestrians.
To read the entire report, click here:
Libbytown Report
Some Unhappy
with Police Move
to Old Location
The West End Community Action Network
has voted to fund a move of the West End
Community Policing office, but not all the
members of the board agree with the
decision.
Board member Dennis Martin says he’s not
pleased with the plan to return the policing
center to its former location at 251
Danforth Street. It was Martin’s idea fund
the move through WECAN, but only for a
move to the Reiche School or to a
storefront at Spring & Clark Street.
Martin voted against the plan, in a vote
taken by email. He says the plan was not
what the group asked for originally, nor
was it the compromise they were willing
to accept.
Martin said he was pretty disappointed
with the e-mail vote, and asked West End
Neighborhood Association President
Rosanne Graef to post a roll call of the e-
mail votes for confirmation, and have it
placed into the minutes for WENA’s
meeting on November 18th.. He said he
would consider drawing up a "motion for
re-consideration " at the November 18th
meeting, as e-mail votes should be used
sparingly and only when their is 100%
consensus with the decision, which was
not the case.
More than 250 residents signed a petition
asking that the policing center be moved to
Reiche Community Center or to a nearby
location. The May/Danforth site does not
meet that criteria, says Board member Jo
Coyne.
She says that the Center will be more
accessible, but will not be more centrally
located.
The terms of the lease at 251 Danforth
would allow the center to move with 30
days notice if another more appropriate
space became available.
WECAN is committing to pay the rent until
June 30, 2010. The neighborhood
association is asking that a space audit at
the Reiche School be completed by
December 15th to determine if that location
would be suitable for the policing center.
Stolen Truck
Suspect Bites
Deputy, Gets
Tasered
A Cumberland County Jail inmate who
was caught driving a stolen truck around
Munjoy Hill two days ago, is now also
being charged with biting a corrections
officer in the hand on November 20th.
Police say that Shaun McFarlin, 38, of
Albany, N.Y., was charged with biting
Deputy Mary Sorrells as she took him back
to his cell after a court appearance.
Police say McFarlin would not release his
bite, and had to be Tasered by another
deputy. Sorrell was not seriously hurt.
On November 18th, at about 1:30 PM,
police apprehended McFarlin, who had
been driving the stolen truck on Congress
Street near North Street on Munjoy Hill.
Kevin Tardiff, who owns AC Brake and
Exhaust at 1020 Congress Street, had one
of his trucks parked in his lot, and when he
came out of the office, the truck was
missing. He reported its disappearance to
police and began driving around in another
truck, looking for the stolen one.
Tardiff saw the truck as he was driving
east on Congress Street, right in front of
the Portland Observatory. He blocked the
truck in and ran up to the driver of the
vehicle shouting “What are you doing?
You stole my truck. That’s my truck.” He
then shouted for people nearby to call the
police, and he called from his cell phone.
The man in the truck began walking away,
with Tardiff following him. Tardiff
managed to stay right near him and detain
him without placing a hand on him.
Aside from the fact that a truck had been
taken from his lot, Tardiff was concerned
because the sander on the truck, which is
quite heavy, wasn’t tied down. It could
have fallen off and caused a serious
accident.
When police arrived McFarlin, was taken
into custody and charged with
unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Tardiff said that McFarlin told him: “It
runs pretty good for a Chevy.”
-Marge Niblock
Thief Helps Self at
Self-Storage Lot
Scott Hurd, 31, was arrested at 4:55 AM
on November 18th in the Noyes Self-
Storage lot at 93 Kennebec Street in the
Bayside neighborhood.
Police say Hurd had been breaking into
vehicles in the parking lot, and had also
gained entry to the self-enclosed area by
climbing over a chain-link fence.
Hurd was arrested and charged with
burglary of a motor vehicle, criminal
mischief, possession of burglary tools and
theft.
There was also an unrelated outstanding
warrant against him.
-Marge Niblock
Police Citizen
Academy
Underway
The Portland Police Department's Citizen
Academy started on Thursday, November
19th. The ten-week program, will be held
on Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
Topics that will be addressed during the
ten-week program include the following:
The Role of the Police Officer, Hiring
Process, Police Ethics, Patrol Procedures,
Use of Force, Maine and Federal Laws,
Domestic Violence, Juvenile Justice, Youth
Services, Police Explorers, CIT Program,
Criminal Investigations, Senior Lead
Officer Program, Specialty Assignments,
Demonstrations and more.
The Citizen Academy program is intended
to be an overview of the functions and
operations of law enforcement personnel.
Participants will not be trained as police
officers.
Suspect
Arrested in
Shea Murder
On November 17th, members of the
Portland Police Department Criminal
Investigation Division met with the Maine
Attorney General’s Office. Following the
meeting and review, police arrested William
Hanaman, 51, and charged him with the
murder of Marion Shea, 47, of Gorham.
Hanaman was also charged with failure to
appear for a domestic violence assault in
which Ms. Shea was the victim.
On November 11th at about 11:35 AM,
police had responded to 1021 Ocean
Avenue to check the well-being of an
individual at that location. Upon arriva land
entry, they found Ms. Shea's body.
Hanaman, who is the listed resident, was
also located and subsequently transported
to a medical facility for an undisclosed
condition. The death of Ms. Shea was
classified as suspicious pending an
autopsy, which determined the death was a
homicide.
Adams to Feds: Open
Books on Maine ’s
‘Lost’ World War II
War Bonds
Mainers may still be owed $70 million in
unclaimed WWII cash
State Representative Herb Adams has
asked the U.S. Treasury Department to
release the names and addresses of
thousands of Mainers who never cashed
War Bonds bought to fund World War II,
so that efforts may begin to contact their
rightful owners or descendants.
Adams, Maine State Treasurer David
Lemoine, and officials from various Maine
veterans associations scheduled a press
conference to kick off the request on
Tuesday, November 10th at Portland City
Hall .
More than $16 billion in WWII war bonds
remain unclaimed, say U.S. Treasury
officials. Of these, an estimated $65-$70
million still belong to Mainers, lost or
forgotten across the years, said Adams .
The state treasurer’s “Unclaimed Property
Division” reunites millions of dollars
annually with the rightful Maine owners of
unclaimed checks, stocks and property
turned over to his office. Maine ’s return
rate is among the best in the nation.
Both officials say that with the help of
Maine’s active veteran’s associations the
official U.S. Treasury list of War Bond
buyers could be matched with families and
descendants still living in towns all across
the Pine Tree state.
World War II sparked an unprecedented
bond buying campaign to fund the war
effort, spurred on by one of the largest
advertising campaigns ever seen, and
wrapped in patriotic pleas from politicians
and celebrities like Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty
Grable, and Lowell Thomas, who pitched
bond buyers at the busy South Portland
Shipyards, said Adams .
U.S. Treasury officials claim the original
list of buyers is archived in a long-
neglected West Virginia warehouse and not
easily recovered.
Woman's Death
Ruled Homicide
An autopsy conducted by the medical
examiner has determined that the death of
a woman found in a Portland home is now
being classified as a homicide.
The woman has been identified as Marion
Shea, 47, of Gorham.
The Portland Police Department Criminal
Investigation Division continues to work
with the Attorney General's Office on the
investigation. No further information is
being provided at this time at the request of
the AG office.
Portland police responded to 1021 Ocean
Avenue, which was cordoned off by the
Portland Police Department’s Crime Scene
Unit, on November 11th. Unidentified
sources said that there was a dead woman
at the site, and an unconscious man who
was taken to the hospital.
The property is just past the intersection
with Presumpscot Street.
Police were at the scene at about 11:30 AM
to check the well being of an individual at
that location, at the request of a family
member.
Upon arrival, police found the woman's
body.
-Marge Niblock
Crowds Greet
Sasquatch At
Congress Street
Grand Opening
A turnout of over 300 people celebrated the
Grand Opening of The Green Hand
Bookshop and the International
Cryptozoology Museum, two new
businesses at 661 Congress Street, on
Friday, November
6th.
Festivities included a ribbon cutting hosted
by State Representative Herb Adams,
donated refreshments from Ricetta's and
Caleb's Cookery, speeches, appreciation
awards, and State of Maine legislative
proclamations congratulating the new
proprietors.
Special honored guest California Sasquatch
researcher Jim McClarin and the famous
Crookston Bigfoot then posed patiently for
photographs with the First Friday Artwalk
patrons all evening.
Dems Deny
Marshall
Mayor's Seat
For the second year in a row, the
Democratic members of the Portland City
Council on November 16th ignored recent
tradition and chose one of their own to
serve as Portland's mayor for the next year.
District 2 (West End) Councilor David
Marshall, a member of the Green
Independent Party, was the only councilor
who had publicly expressed interest in the
position, but learned earlier in the day that
the five Democratic votes on the Council,
which is officially non-partisan, would go
to at-large councilor Nick Mavodones,
giving him the necessary majority. The
nomination of Mavodones will be voted on
by the Council in December before it
becomes official.
In recent years, the mayor's seat went to
the most senior councilor who had not
served in the position. By that criteria,
Marshall was eligible last year, but the
council instead selected Councilor Jill
Duson for her second turn in the office.
This will be Mavodones third stint as
mayor.
"The idea that the mayor's seat is given to
the most senior member of the council is a
fallacy," said Marshall after the caucus,
which lasted only a few minutes and
included no discussion among the
councilors.
"The reality is that you need five of the
nine votes," he concluded. Given the pre-
determined outcome, Mavodones selection
was unanimous.
Councilor Dan Skolnik, also a Democrat,
was also eligible for the post according to
the traditional rules, but was not chosen.
Two Arrested in
Bank Heists
Chief Sends Message to
Potential Bank Robbers
“You can’t come to Portland and commit
bank robbery. You will be arrested.”
This was the message Chief James E.
Craig gave to potential bank robbers at a
news conference on November 4th.
The Portland Police Department had
identified and arrested two men in
connection with a series of bank robberies
that began this summer, with the latest one
occurring on November 3rd at the Key
Bank at 400 Forest Avenue.
Otis Johnson, 45, of Portland, was
arrested and charged with that crime. He is
being held without bail at the Cumberland
County Jail and will make an initial court
appearance Friday, November 6th.
According to police, Johnson was picked
up by cab at the Greyhound bus terminal
and taken to Key Bank, where he showed
the teller a threatening note and left with an
undisclosed amount of cash. A dye pack
concealed in the money was activated once
he was back in the cab, and he fled on foot.
Craig praised the public’s help and support
in working with the police. He spoke of the
first 48 hours after a crime as being a
“critical window” as far as its solution,
stating that yesterday’s arrest had been
made within five hours.
Philip Burston, 26, a resident of Portland,
who is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, is
the second man in custody. He was
arrested on October 21st and has been
charged with the robbery of the Gorham
Savings Bank at 71 Marginal Way, which
occurred on August 31st. Burston is also a
possible suspect in the robbery at the Key
Bank at 1106 Brighton Avenue on
September 16th, and the October 14th
robbery of the Marginal Way Gorham
Savings Bank. Craig called him “a person
of interest” in those cases. This
investigation is ongoing, so more charges
may be forthcoming.
Burston is being held at the Cumberland
County Jail in lieu of bail. Since bank
robbery is a federal and a state crime, it
hasn’t yet been determined which
jurisdictions will prosecute the robberies.
Although use of narcotics were not tied to
either of the two men arrested, Craig said
“Individuals that use and abuse narcotics
commit violent crimes.” Craig then
reiterated the theme of his opening
remarks, saying “Violent crime is not going
to be tolerated in the city.”
Craig also introduced the detectives
“responsible for bringing closure” to the
series of robberies: Karl Rybeck; Gary
Thorpe; and Richard Vogel. Captain Ted
Ross, their commanding officer was also
present. The Chief said he wanted to
“acknowledge the diligence and relentless
follow-up” of these people in bringing in
the two suspects.
-Marge Niblock
ANOTHER
PORTLAND
BANK ROBBERY
Today (11/03/09) at approximately 2:20
pm, there was a robbery at the
Key Bank located at 400 Forest Ave.
The suspect entered the bank
demanding money, then left the bank with
an undisclosed amount. He was
last seen fleeing on foot on Falmouth Street
toward USM.
The suspect is described as a white male,
approx. 5'8" in height, weighing approx.
160lbs., in his late 30s, clean shaven with
short hair. He was wearing blue jeans, a
blue jacket with gray t-shirt, sunglasses
and a tan
baseball cap with light green
brim.
No one was injured during the
incident. Anyone having any
information regarding this incident and/or
suspect is asked to contact
the Portland Police Department at 874-
8592.
Skolnik Suspension
Lifted by Maine Board
of Overseers
City Councilor Dan Skolnik's suspension
from the practice of law by the Maine
Board of Overseers of the Bar has been
lifted. The Board issued the
nondisciplinary suspension of the law
license for Skolnik's failure to register, and
failure to complete eleven credit hours of
continuing legal education classes.
Skolnik,who received a thirty-day notice
before being suspended, told the Portland
Press Herald on October 27th that he
completed the classes but missed the
reporting deadline and planned to file the
required information promptly. According
to the Press Herald "he said he made the
same mistake last year and it's not a major
issue."
An official with the Board of Overseers of
the Bar told the Press Herald that it's not
unusual for an attorney to miss a reporting
deadline, then file the paperwork. A Board
spokesperson said that it is a big deal for
the attorney until he gets his license
reinstated. He stressed that it was a non-
disciplinary suspension, and there was no
complaint against Skolnik for any
misconduct.
The suspension was invoked on October
20th, and was lifted on November 3rd. An
attorney whose license has been suspended
may not continue to represent any current
clients, or accept representation of any
new clients, until the situation has been
resolved, according to the Board of
Overseers website.
LL Bean to Close
Congress Street
Store
LL Bean will not be renewing its Congress
Street Outlet Store lease which expires in
September, 2010. The reason for the
decision to close the store relates to the
Congress Street store's proximity to
Freeport, and the company's need to
concentrate on its Freeport operations,
according to the City of Portland's
Economic Development Division, which
learned of the closing earlier this
afternoon.
Fourteen full and part-time jobs will be
impacted by the closing. LL Beans
Congress Street store occupies 20,000
square feet of ground floor space. The
decision to close the Congress Street store
does not affect LL Beans call center
operation located at the Northgate shopping
center on Washington Avenue which is the
largest in the state.
Candlelight Vigil to
Mark World AIDS Day
December 1st
On December 1, 2009, Frannie Peabody
Center will hold a candlelight vigil at
Monument Square at 5:30 P.M. in
observance of the 21st World AIDS Day.
There will be a performance by the Maine
Gay Men’s Chorus, followed by remarks
from an FPC client, FPC Board Member
Dr. Caroline Teschke, M.D., and Executive
Director Patti Capouch.
Since its inception in 1988, World AIDS
Day has been and still is, an important day
of remembrance and respect for those who
have died of AIDS. This day allows friends
and families to stop for a moment and
reflect upon those whose lives were cut
short by a disease that is still very much
alive today. There are 1,300 people
infected with HIV/AIDS in Maine.
Fire Heavily Damages
Parkside Apartment
Building
A fire at about 1 AM on Thanksgiving
morning heavily damaged a three-story
apartment building across from Hadlock
Field in the Parkside neighborhood. Seven
people were left homeless by the fire at
274 Park Avenue. No injuries were
reported in the fire, which is under
investigation.
Police Lauded as
Heroes in Thwarting
Suicide Attempts on
Casco Bay Bridge
On Saturday, November 21st at 11:40 PM,
a woman in her 40s intent on suicide was
found holding onto the exterior of a service
ladder, after climbing over the railing of the
Casco Bay Bridge.
Police say the woman had also taken some
pills and was becoming drowsy. She kept
leaning back toward the water and was
hanging on by only her fingertips.
Sergeant Julie Grabofsky - a hostage
negotiator - and officers Joshua Wiseman
and Jeffrey Druan were trying to “talk her
down.”
When it became apparent she was not
going to come back, Officer Wiseman
reached out and grabbed her. She then
pushed away and fell free while Wiseman
still had one hand holding her. She swung
out in about a four-foot arc before
Wiseman was able to pull her back to the
edge. Grabofsky and Druan hung on to
Wiseman, who was in danger of being
pulled over the bridge himself.
The three officers then pulled the woman
back over the railing to safety.
A witness to the event, which was
captured on video cameras in two police
cars at the scene, stated “This was real
hero stuff. The actions of the officers are
amazing.”
The woman was transported to Maine
Medical Center by police, but repeated her
attempt at suicide again on Sunday evening
at 6:47 PM.
This time bridge traffic was rerouted for
about an hour and a half while police once
again pleaded with her. Lieutenant James
Sweatt and Sergeant John Nueslein were
able to pin the woman down while on one
of the bridge’s catwalks, and get her to a
safe place.
-Marge Niblock
City Seeks to
Reconnect
Libbytown
A recently-released report by Portland
Trails makes numerous recommendations
for making the Libbytown neighborhood a
more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly area,
and connecting it to
downtown.
Included in the recommendations are the
formation of new bicycle lanes, and
returning two-way traffic to some local
streets.
The report details the findings and
recommendations of a study to determine a
priority bicycle and pedestrian route
between The Portland Transportation
Center and Deering Oaks Park. The report
also analyzes the desirability and feasibility
of a specific multi-use trail from the Fore
River Parkway to Deering Oaks.
Historically, Libbytown was a
neighborhood roughly between
Massachusetts Avenue, Saint John’s
Street, Brighton Avenue, and the Fore
River, according to the study. Tavern-
keeper George Libby and his descendants
give the area its name, having settled in the
early 19th century at the intersection of
Park and Congress Streets, known as 8
Libby’s Corner. The corner was the center
of a small but thriving business district for
many years, and the families that worked,
shopped and lived there gave Libbytown its
identity.
When Interstate 295 was built in the late
1960s, Libbytown as a distinct
neighborhood was effectively destroyed,
says the report. Over 15 businesses and
200 families were displaced for the
highway and large cloverleaf interchanges
that define the area today. There are still
several hundred Libby families living in the
Portland area; though Libby’s Corner no
longer exists.
Recently, the construction of the Portland
Transportation Center, the Fore River
Parkway, and several hotels has shaped the
form and function of the Libbytown area.
These projects, while largely beneficial, all
continue an auto-centric design pattern,
with large
parking lots, wide street setbacks and a
lack of connectivity for bicycles and
pedestrians.
To read the entire report, click here:
Libbytown Report
Some Unhappy
with Police Move
to Old Location
The West End Community Action Network
has voted to fund a move of the West End
Community Policing office, but not all the
members of the board agree with the
decision.
Board member Dennis Martin says he’s not
pleased with the plan to return the policing
center to its former location at 251
Danforth Street. It was Martin’s idea fund
the move through WECAN, but only for a
move to the Reiche School or to a
storefront at Spring & Clark Street.
Martin voted against the plan, in a vote
taken by email. He says the plan was not
what the group asked for originally, nor
was it the compromise they were willing
to accept.
Martin said he was pretty disappointed
with the e-mail vote, and asked West End
Neighborhood Association President
Rosanne Graef to post a roll call of the e-
mail votes for confirmation, and have it
placed into the minutes for WENA’s
meeting on November 18th.. He said he
would consider drawing up a "motion for
re-consideration " at the November 18th
meeting, as e-mail votes should be used
sparingly and only when their is 100%
consensus with the decision, which was
not the case.
More than 250 residents signed a petition
asking that the policing center be moved to
Reiche Community Center or to a nearby
location. The May/Danforth site does not
meet that criteria, says Board member Jo
Coyne.
She says that the Center will be more
accessible, but will not be more centrally
located.
The terms of the lease at 251 Danforth
would allow the center to move with 30
days notice if another more appropriate
space became available.
WECAN is committing to pay the rent until
June 30, 2010. The neighborhood
association is asking that a space audit at
the Reiche School be completed by
December 15th to determine if that location
would be suitable for the policing center.
Stolen Truck
Suspect Bites
Deputy, Gets
Tasered
A Cumberland County Jail inmate who
was caught driving a stolen truck around
Munjoy Hill two days ago, is now also
being charged with biting a corrections
officer in the hand on November 20th.
Police say that Shaun McFarlin, 38, of
Albany, N.Y., was charged with biting
Deputy Mary Sorrells as she took him back
to his cell after a court appearance.
Police say McFarlin would not release his
bite, and had to be Tasered by another
deputy. Sorrell was not seriously hurt.
On November 18th, at about 1:30 PM,
police apprehended McFarlin, who had
been driving the stolen truck on Congress
Street near North Street on Munjoy Hill.
Kevin Tardiff, who owns AC Brake and
Exhaust at 1020 Congress Street, had one
of his trucks parked in his lot, and when he
came out of the office, the truck was
missing. He reported its disappearance to
police and began driving around in another
truck, looking for the stolen one.
Tardiff saw the truck as he was driving
east on Congress Street, right in front of
the Portland Observatory. He blocked the
truck in and ran up to the driver of the
vehicle shouting “What are you doing?
You stole my truck. That’s my truck.” He
then shouted for people nearby to call the
police, and he called from his cell phone.
The man in the truck began walking away,
with Tardiff following him. Tardiff
managed to stay right near him and detain
him without placing a hand on him.
Aside from the fact that a truck had been
taken from his lot, Tardiff was concerned
because the sander on the truck, which is
quite heavy, wasn’t tied down. It could
have fallen off and caused a serious
accident.
When police arrived McFarlin, was taken
into custody and charged with
unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Tardiff said that McFarlin told him: “It
runs pretty good for a Chevy.”
-Marge Niblock
Thief Helps Self at
Self-Storage Lot
Scott Hurd, 31, was arrested at 4:55 AM
on November 18th in the Noyes Self-
Storage lot at 93 Kennebec Street in the
Bayside neighborhood.
Police say Hurd had been breaking into
vehicles in the parking lot, and had also
gained entry to the self-enclosed area by
climbing over a chain-link fence.
Hurd was arrested and charged with
burglary of a motor vehicle, criminal
mischief, possession of burglary tools and
theft.
There was also an unrelated outstanding
warrant against him.
-Marge Niblock
Police Citizen
Academy
Underway
The Portland Police Department's Citizen
Academy started on Thursday, November
19th. The ten-week program, will be held
on Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
Topics that will be addressed during the
ten-week program include the following:
The Role of the Police Officer, Hiring
Process, Police Ethics, Patrol Procedures,
Use of Force, Maine and Federal Laws,
Domestic Violence, Juvenile Justice, Youth
Services, Police Explorers, CIT Program,
Criminal Investigations, Senior Lead
Officer Program, Specialty Assignments,
Demonstrations and more.
The Citizen Academy program is intended
to be an overview of the functions and
operations of law enforcement personnel.
Participants will not be trained as police
officers.
Suspect
Arrested in
Shea Murder
On November 17th, members of the
Portland Police Department Criminal
Investigation Division met with the Maine
Attorney General’s Office. Following the
meeting and review, police arrested William
Hanaman, 51, and charged him with the
murder of Marion Shea, 47, of Gorham.
Hanaman was also charged with failure to
appear for a domestic violence assault in
which Ms. Shea was the victim.
On November 11th at about 11:35 AM,
police had responded to 1021 Ocean
Avenue to check the well-being of an
individual at that location. Upon arriva land
entry, they found Ms. Shea's body.
Hanaman, who is the listed resident, was
also located and subsequently transported
to a medical facility for an undisclosed
condition. The death of Ms. Shea was
classified as suspicious pending an
autopsy, which determined the death was a
homicide.
Adams to Feds: Open
Books on Maine ’s
‘Lost’ World War II
War Bonds
Mainers may still be owed $70 million in
unclaimed WWII cash
State Representative Herb Adams has
asked the U.S. Treasury Department to
release the names and addresses of
thousands of Mainers who never cashed
War Bonds bought to fund World War II,
so that efforts may begin to contact their
rightful owners or descendants.
Adams, Maine State Treasurer David
Lemoine, and officials from various Maine
veterans associations scheduled a press
conference to kick off the request on
Tuesday, November 10th at Portland City
Hall .
More than $16 billion in WWII war bonds
remain unclaimed, say U.S. Treasury
officials. Of these, an estimated $65-$70
million still belong to Mainers, lost or
forgotten across the years, said Adams .
The state treasurer’s “Unclaimed Property
Division” reunites millions of dollars
annually with the rightful Maine owners of
unclaimed checks, stocks and property
turned over to his office. Maine ’s return
rate is among the best in the nation.
Both officials say that with the help of
Maine’s active veteran’s associations the
official U.S. Treasury list of War Bond
buyers could be matched with families and
descendants still living in towns all across
the Pine Tree state.
World War II sparked an unprecedented
bond buying campaign to fund the war
effort, spurred on by one of the largest
advertising campaigns ever seen, and
wrapped in patriotic pleas from politicians
and celebrities like Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty
Grable, and Lowell Thomas, who pitched
bond buyers at the busy South Portland
Shipyards, said Adams .
U.S. Treasury officials claim the original
list of buyers is archived in a long-
neglected West Virginia warehouse and not
easily recovered.
Woman's Death
Ruled Homicide
An autopsy conducted by the medical
examiner has determined that the death of
a woman found in a Portland home is now
being classified as a homicide.
The woman has been identified as Marion
Shea, 47, of Gorham.
The Portland Police Department Criminal
Investigation Division continues to work
with the Attorney General's Office on the
investigation. No further information is
being provided at this time at the request of
the AG office.
Portland police responded to 1021 Ocean
Avenue, which was cordoned off by the
Portland Police Department’s Crime Scene
Unit, on November 11th. Unidentified
sources said that there was a dead woman
at the site, and an unconscious man who
was taken to the hospital.
The property is just past the intersection
with Presumpscot Street.
Police were at the scene at about 11:30 AM
to check the well being of an individual at
that location, at the request of a family
member.
Upon arrival, police found the woman's
body.
-Marge Niblock
Crowds Greet
Sasquatch At
Congress Street
Grand Opening
A turnout of over 300 people celebrated the
Grand Opening of The Green Hand
Bookshop and the International
Cryptozoology Museum, two new
businesses at 661 Congress Street, on
Friday, November
6th.
Festivities included a ribbon cutting hosted
by State Representative Herb Adams,
donated refreshments from Ricetta's and
Caleb's Cookery, speeches, appreciation
awards, and State of Maine legislative
proclamations congratulating the new
proprietors.
Special honored guest California Sasquatch
researcher Jim McClarin and the famous
Crookston Bigfoot then posed patiently for
photographs with the First Friday Artwalk
patrons all evening.
Dems Deny
Marshall
Mayor's Seat
For the second year in a row, the
Democratic members of the Portland City
Council on November 16th ignored recent
tradition and chose one of their own to
serve as Portland's mayor for the next year.
District 2 (West End) Councilor David
Marshall, a member of the Green
Independent Party, was the only councilor
who had publicly expressed interest in the
position, but learned earlier in the day that
the five Democratic votes on the Council,
which is officially non-partisan, would go
to at-large councilor Nick Mavodones,
giving him the necessary majority. The
nomination of Mavodones will be voted on
by the Council in December before it
becomes official.
In recent years, the mayor's seat went to
the most senior councilor who had not
served in the position. By that criteria,
Marshall was eligible last year, but the
council instead selected Councilor Jill
Duson for her second turn in the office.
This will be Mavodones third stint as
mayor.
"The idea that the mayor's seat is given to
the most senior member of the council is a
fallacy," said Marshall after the caucus,
which lasted only a few minutes and
included no discussion among the
councilors.
"The reality is that you need five of the
nine votes," he concluded. Given the pre-
determined outcome, Mavodones selection
was unanimous.
Councilor Dan Skolnik, also a Democrat,
was also eligible for the post according to
the traditional rules, but was not chosen.
Two Arrested in
Bank Heists
Chief Sends Message to
Potential Bank Robbers
“You can’t come to Portland and commit
bank robbery. You will be arrested.”
This was the message Chief James E.
Craig gave to potential bank robbers at a
news conference on November 4th.
The Portland Police Department had
identified and arrested two men in
connection with a series of bank robberies
that began this summer, with the latest one
occurring on November 3rd at the Key
Bank at 400 Forest Avenue.
Otis Johnson, 45, of Portland, was
arrested and charged with that crime. He is
being held without bail at the Cumberland
County Jail and will make an initial court
appearance Friday, November 6th.
According to police, Johnson was picked
up by cab at the Greyhound bus terminal
and taken to Key Bank, where he showed
the teller a threatening note and left with an
undisclosed amount of cash. A dye pack
concealed in the money was activated once
he was back in the cab, and he fled on foot.
Craig praised the public’s help and support
in working with the police. He spoke of the
first 48 hours after a crime as being a
“critical window” as far as its solution,
stating that yesterday’s arrest had been
made within five hours.
Philip Burston, 26, a resident of Portland,
who is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, is
the second man in custody. He was
arrested on October 21st and has been
charged with the robbery of the Gorham
Savings Bank at 71 Marginal Way, which
occurred on August 31st. Burston is also a
possible suspect in the robbery at the Key
Bank at 1106 Brighton Avenue on
September 16th, and the October 14th
robbery of the Marginal Way Gorham
Savings Bank. Craig called him “a person
of interest” in those cases. This
investigation is ongoing, so more charges
may be forthcoming.
Burston is being held at the Cumberland
County Jail in lieu of bail. Since bank
robbery is a federal and a state crime, it
hasn’t yet been determined which
jurisdictions will prosecute the robberies.
Although use of narcotics were not tied to
either of the two men arrested, Craig said
“Individuals that use and abuse narcotics
commit violent crimes.” Craig then
reiterated the theme of his opening
remarks, saying “Violent crime is not going
to be tolerated in the city.”
Craig also introduced the detectives
“responsible for bringing closure” to the
series of robberies: Karl Rybeck; Gary
Thorpe; and Richard Vogel. Captain Ted
Ross, their commanding officer was also
present. The Chief said he wanted to
“acknowledge the diligence and relentless
follow-up” of these people in bringing in
the two suspects.
-Marge Niblock
ANOTHER
PORTLAND
BANK ROBBERY
Today (11/03/09) at approximately 2:20
pm, there was a robbery at the
Key Bank located at 400 Forest Ave.
The suspect entered the bank
demanding money, then left the bank with
an undisclosed amount. He was
last seen fleeing on foot on Falmouth Street
toward USM.
The suspect is described as a white male,
approx. 5'8" in height, weighing approx.
160lbs., in his late 30s, clean shaven with
short hair. He was wearing blue jeans, a
blue jacket with gray t-shirt, sunglasses
and a tan
baseball cap with light green
brim.
No one was injured during the
incident. Anyone having any
information regarding this incident and/or
suspect is asked to contact
the Portland Police Department at 874-
8592.
Skolnik Suspension
Lifted by Maine Board
of Overseers
City Councilor Dan Skolnik's suspension
from the practice of law by the Maine
Board of Overseers of the Bar has been
lifted. The Board issued the
nondisciplinary suspension of the law
license for Skolnik's failure to register, and
failure to complete eleven credit hours of
continuing legal education classes.
Skolnik,who received a thirty-day notice
before being suspended, told the Portland
Press Herald on October 27th that he
completed the classes but missed the
reporting deadline and planned to file the
required information promptly. According
to the Press Herald "he said he made the
same mistake last year and it's not a major
issue."
An official with the Board of Overseers of
the Bar told the Press Herald that it's not
unusual for an attorney to miss a reporting
deadline, then file the paperwork. A Board
spokesperson said that it is a big deal for
the attorney until he gets his license
reinstated. He stressed that it was a non-
disciplinary suspension, and there was no
complaint against Skolnik for any
misconduct.
The suspension was invoked on October
20th, and was lifted on November 3rd. An
attorney whose license has been suspended
may not continue to represent any current
clients, or accept representation of any
new clients, until the situation has been
resolved, according to the Board of
Overseers website.
LL Bean to Close
Congress Street
Store
LL Bean will not be renewing its Congress
Street Outlet Store lease which expires in
September, 2010. The reason for the
decision to close the store relates to the
Congress Street store's proximity to
Freeport, and the company's need to
concentrate on its Freeport operations,
according to the City of Portland's
Economic Development Division, which
learned of the closing earlier this
afternoon.
Fourteen full and part-time jobs will be
impacted by the closing. LL Beans
Congress Street store occupies 20,000
square feet of ground floor space. The
decision to close the Congress Street store
does not affect LL Beans call center
operation located at the Northgate shopping
center on Washington Avenue which is the
largest in the state.
| Fix-It Man "Your Problem Solver" Repairs-Improvements- Maintenance 61 Sherman St. Portland www.fix-itman.com 771-0202 |
| 60 Eastern Prom Vortex What is happening around Portland, Maine and away, relating to art, music, dance, literature and life. |
| 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 |
| Fresh Approach “The West End’s Meat Market” M-F 8-7 Sat. 9-7 Sun. 9-5 155 Brackett Street 774-7250 WHOLESALE MEATS 774-7250 www.freshapproachmarket. com |
| Grandview Window Cleaning Member of Portland Buy Local Insured References Free Estimates Gutters Cleaned Screens Cleaned Chandeliers Cleaned Ceiling Fans Cleaned Satisfaction Guaranteed Call 207-772-7813 “It’s a Good Day for a Grand View!” |
| Brackett Street Veterinary Clinic Welcomes Dr. Sarah Tasse! Dr. Tasse will be offering acupuncture and herbal medicine as well as alternative therapy for cancer treatments. 192 Brackett Street, Portland, ME 04102 207-772-3385 www.portvet.net |
Please join us on First Friday, Dec. 4th for an in-store Wine Tasting. West End Deli & Catering 133 Spring Street. |
West End Community Action Network
| CHRISTMAS FAIR Saturday, Dec. 12 10:00am - 2:00pm Bake Goods Holiday Crafts Raffles Christmas Gifts Luncheon 11:00am- 1:00pm SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH 279 Congress Street the bottom of Munjoy Hill across from Right-Aid |