Wednesday, November 30, 2011
League to hold 'Occupy the
Legislature' Potluck
Portland's League of Young Voters will hold an 'Occupy the Legislature'
Potluck this Wednesday, November 30th from 6-8pm at Hope.Gate.Way at
185 High Street, Portland.
Issues from marriage equality to clean elections will be discussed, and the
line-up of discussion leaders on all of the hot-topic issues in store for 2012
include the following:
•Tracy Allen - Maine AFL-CIO
•Shenna Bellows - American Civil Liberties Union of Maine
•Andrew Bossie - Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
•Robyn Merrill - Maine Equal Justice Partners
•Ali Vander Zanden - Equality Maine
In addition to the speakers, potluck and discussions, The League will be
raffling off a few Election 2011 memorabilia packages that include original
artwork by Maine College of Art students, a mixtape to remember their
victories by, and other mementos from the League's work this fall.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Weekend Shows to help family
who lost home to fire in South
Portland
On Friday evening, November 25th, a two-alarm fire destroyed the home of
Mark and Denise Calkins at 17 Osborne Ave. in South Portland. The Calkins
family, which includes two young boys, lost everything but the clothes they
were wearing. All the family pets, two dogs and two cats, were killed in the
fire.
Mark and Denise Calkins are long-time members of the arts community and
have contributed their time and talents to many different organizations,
events and people and the entire community is joining together to help the
family recover from their devastating loss.
Mark, a professional actor, has been rehearsing for a production of the
musical The Gift Of The Magi with CoveLight Productions since late
October and, despite the fire, has decided to perform this weekend.
CoveLight Productions will donate ticket sales from Friday and Saturday
night's show to the Calkins family.
Michael J. Tobin, Producing Artistic Director of CoveLight Productions,
said that Calkins, despite the tragedy, wanted to perform in the show this
weekend.
The Gift of the Magi is an original musical adaptation of the O'Henry classic
Christmas story written by Tobin. Magi is set in 1940's Maine and is filled
with music, humor and romance. The show will also be performed during
December in Portland and Portsmouth, NH.
The fire was ruled accidental by South Portland Lt., Robb Couture.
Firefighters from Cape Elizabeth, Portland and Scarborough assisted South
Portland firefighters in getting the fire under control in just over an hour.
The house is not habitable and will have to be rebuilt. According to Tobin,
the Calkins are staying in a local hoteluntil other arrangements can be made.
The performance this Friday at 8 p.m. will be performed at First Parish
Unitarian Universalist Church, 114 Main St. in Kennebunk, as part of the
Prelude celebration. Tickets are $15./$10. The show on Saturday at 8 p.m.
will be performed at The Dunaway Center, 23 School St. in Ogunquit, as
part of the Christmas by the Sea celebration. Tickets are $10./$8.
Tickets will be available at the door beginning at 7:30 p.m.. For more
information or to make reservations, go to www.covelight2011.com,
emailing covelight2011@aol.com or calling (603) 953-3640.
Stolen Bench Returned to Front
of Local Market
A wooden bench was removed in broad daylight from the front of the
Fresh Approach market on Brackett Street on November 17th, and found
the next day behind the building. Employees say the bench, which consists
of an eight-foot long, 2x12 piece of lumber straddled across two large
cinder blocks, was taken sometime around 4 or 5 PM, when the store was
in full operation. The cinder blocks were not removed.
Employees put up notices of the theft on the front door of the local
market, and found the stolen article in a pile of discarded lumber behind the
store the next day. It has been returned to the front of the store, with two
heavy metal bolts now attaching it to the cinder blocks.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Shop For A Cause Day in
Downtown - December 3rd
Shop For A Cause Day will be held in Downtown Portland on Saturday,
December 3rd as part of Portland's Downtown District's month-long
celebration Light Up Your Holidays. This year, participating stores and
galleries will donate a portion of sales on that day to The Center for
Grieving Children and the Portland Police Department's Cadet Program.
The Center for Grieving Children serves more than 4,000 grieving children,
teens, families, and young adults annually through peer support, outreach,
and education. Through the Cadet Program, the Portland Police Department
trains young adults (under 21) who are interested in a law enforcement
career and gives them the opportunity to work with the department for 8 to
12 weeks.
The Shop For A Cause Day event has supported numerous local charities
throughout the past years, most recently raising over $6,000 for The
Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) Team last year.
A list of participating stores can be found on portlandmaine.com.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Trouble at Lincoln Park
Encampment
Four incidents at the Occupy Maine encampment are under investigation.
On Thursday November 24th at 5 A.M., a 20-year-old Portland man
reported that he was assaulted in Lincoln Park. He said the suspect told him
to leave the park because he was not part of the Occupy Maine movement.
When he refused, the suspect knocked him to the ground, punching and
kicking him. 49-year-old Peter Wing, 49, was arrested and is charged with
assault and violation of bail. It is unknown what prior charges Wing has
pending that placed bail conditions.
Later that same day at 6:10 P.M., a 40-year-old Portland man came to the
lobby of the police station to report being assaulted in Lincoln Park. He was
suffering from significant facial injuries and was transported by ambulance
to Maine Medical Center. He has been admitted and is being treated for
head injuries. His injuries do not appear life-threatening at this time. The
victim told officers he was drinking beer in a tent in the park with several
other people when they began arguing. The victim was thrown to the
ground outside the tent and punched and kicked by several people. No
arrests have been made in this incident
At 11:00 P.M., officers responded t a reported domestic assault in Lincoln
Park. Witnesses said a man and woman were verbally arguing in the
kitchen area of the Occupy Maine encampment when they punched and
slapped each other. Officers located and arrested the couple. They are
identified as Alyssa Brame, 30, and Gabriel Williams, 33. They are both
charged with domestic assault. Williams is additionally charged with
possession of cocaine.
On November 25th at 2A.M., officers responded to another reported
domestic assault in Lincoln Park. Witnesses said they heard a woman in a
tent screaming for help. Officers investigated and determined the couple
had been arguing when the man began choking the woman inside the tent.
Jason Carr, 25, was arrested and charged with domestic assault. Melissa
Ciaramitaro, 18, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Ciarmitaro was upset with the arrest of Carr and would not stop
screaming. Members of Occupy Maine complained to officers and she was
arrested.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Waynflete Wins Prestigious Competition
at Federal Reserve Bank in Boston
Waynflete School was named New England champion of the Federal
Reserve Bank of Boston’s Reserve Cup Challenge (www.reservecup.org).
on November 22nd..
The annual financial literacy competition is coordinated in Maine by the
Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection and sponsored by the Federal
Reserve Bank of Boston as a part of their economic education program. The
Reserve Cup Challenge tests students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of
financial literacy, economics and personal finance.
Four-person student teams from the six New England states competed with
the guidance of a teacher/coach. Teams first competed at the state level in
two computer-based rounds with the state champion advancing to the New
England finals at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Team members included: Addison St. Onge-May, Mitch Newlin, Alysa
Grindlinger, Sam Hansen, and alternate Mason Saltz. The team was coached
by teacher Steve Kautz.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Police Arrest Two Lincoln Park
Protesters After Disturbances
Portland Police have arrested two Occupy Maine protesters and
summonsed a third following two separate disturbances in Lincoln Park.
Twenty-five-year old Jason Carr, who listed no permanent address, was
arrested in Lincoln Park following a disturbance. He was taken into
custody at 10:20 P.M. on November 17, 2011 and charged with disorderly
conduct. According to police, officers responding to a reported fight found
Carr pushing and hitting a man who was trying to walk away. Other people
were trying to hold Carr back but he continued to pursue the man until
being arrested. The other man was interviewed and said he had entered the
park to voice opposition to the group when Carr became confrontational.
The man did not wish to pursue assault charges.
On November 18, 2011 at 7:10 A.M. officers responded to another
disturbance in Lincoln Park and found 45-year-old Alan Porter of Portland
bleeding from the head. Investigation revealed that Porter is part of the
Occupy Maine movement and was drumming to awaken the other
occupants when several of them became angry. Porter was assaulted by at
least two men, according to police.
34-year old Danny Arnold, who listed no permanent address, was located
and summonsed for assault. Arnold is accused of choking Porter. At 10:
20 A.M., 34-year- old Christopher Schisler, who listed no permanent
address, was located at the Portland Public Library at 5 Monument Square
and arrested. He is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly striking
Porter in the head with a hammer. Porter was transported by ambulance to
Maine Medical Center for treatment of the head injury.
All three suspects have been ordered not to return to Lincoln Park.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Eastland Hotel Looking to
Buy Congress Square Park
Rockbridge Capital, the new owners of the Eastland Hotel, are interested in
acquiring Congress Square Park at the corner of High and Congress Streets,
to construct ballroom and meeting space for the hotel, according to a memo
from City Hall.
The company made a presentation to the Congress Square Task Force,
which supports the City moving ahead with the discussions under specified
public benefits conditions.
The Portland City Council's Community Development Committee would
have jurisdiction over property disposition negotiations. A communication
regarding the Task Force position is planned to be presented to the City
Council at its November 21st meeting.
Demonstrators Rally in West End
About a dozen people attended a rally on Brackett Street in the West End on
Thursday, November 17th, at 11:00 AM. The rally was called by MoveOn,
Rebuild the Dream, Occupy Wall Street, SEIU, AFL-CIO, and others to
show that schools in the area need to be supported better, according to a
press release. Several staff members and students from nearby
LearningWorks joined the group and spoke about that organization's work.
The gathering was part of a national day of action being marked in 325 cities
nationwide. Several members of the group held a discussion about what
could be done by individuals and groups to support the group that is
currently encamped in Lincoln Park as part of the OccupyMaine movement.
After the discussion, some of those gathered were planning to go to
Monument Square for another rally.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Washington Avenue Burglar
Caught on Security Video
Portland police are looking for a man who broke into the Mitpheap Market
at 63 Washington Avenue at 1:20 AM on November 11th, and stole
thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes, phone cards, as well as a cash
register. Police believe the burglar may have used a cell phone to
communicate with a lookout posted outside the store. A security video
camera inside the store caught images of the burglar filling a large plastic
bag with the stolen merchandise.
Anyone with information about the burglary or the identity of the suspect
should call the Portland Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division
at 874-8533.
Veterans Bridge Overnight
Closure
The Maine Department of Transportation has announced that the Veterans
Memorial Bridge, which connects the West End to South Portland, will be
closed from Wednesday, November 16th at 7 p.m. to Thursday November
17th at 6 a.m. Traffic headed northbound on I-295 will be detoured to Exit
5 (Congress Street)to the Fore River Parkway accessing the Veterans
Intersection where US Route 1 and Valley Street intersect. Traffic from
Main Street in South Portland will get on I-295 North and use Exit 5 to
access the Fore River Parkway.
Detour signs will be in place for this period, as crews continue working to
replace the Veterans Memorial Bridge, with on-and-off overnight closures to
minimize traffic impacts
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Local Businesses Featured on
CBS Early Show
A news story about local business is set to air tomorrow morning,
Wednesday, November 16th at 8:10 AM on CBS News' The Early Show
(which runs 7-9am). The story documents True North: Maine's Center for
Functional Medicine and The Healing Arts collaboration with Hour
Exchange Portland. Part of the feature was filmed at Lucid Stage on Baxter
Boulevard.
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
to Kick off Holiday Season in City
The tree that signals the start of the holiday season in Portland arrives in
Monument Square on Thursday, November 17th at approximately 10 AM.
The 55-foot Colorado Blue Spruce was donated by Lori and Allen Huff of
89 Evans Street, South Portland.
The tree will be lit with over 1,500 LED lights, donated by Efficiency
Maine, during the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November
25th at 5:30pm. Produced by Portland's Downtown District (PDD), the
festive night includes entertainment by Rick Charette and the Bubblegum
Band and the Maine State Ballet. A Make-A-Wish child will light the tree this
year with help from a special guest.
Crews from the Forestry Section of Portland Department of Public Services
will prepare the tree for transportation to Monument Square at 9:00 AM
from 89 Evans Street. Keely Crane Services and Shaw Brothers
Construction have donated staff, crane and transportation services to make
this project possible.
At 9:30 AM, the tree will begin its trip down Broadway and come into
Portland across the Casco Bay bridge, through Commercial Street and up
Franklin Street, entering downtown via Congress Street, and arriving at its
new home in Monument Square around 10:30 AM.
For additional information on downtown Portland's holiday events please
visit www.portlandmaine.com.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Delays Expected on Outer
Congress Because of Railroad
Track Work
Outer Congress Street will see day-long traffic delays this Thursday and
Friday between 5AM and 7 PM, as the railroad crossings on Congress
Street and Frost Street will be reconstructed. The area will remain open to
traffic, however, traffic delays and noise should be expected. While the
work is ongoing, commuters may want to seek an alternate route to avoid
traffic and delays. Motorists are urged to watch out for bicyclists and
pedestrians in these work zones.
Portland Police: Parkside Fires
'Suspicious'
Portland police say that two fires that broke out in the Parkside
neighborhood early this morning are being investigated as 'suspicious.'
Fires occurred at three-story frame buildings at 55 Grant Street, and outside
12 Boynton Street. Burning debris was reported in the hallway at the Grant
Street location.
There was also an outdoor fire reported at 1121 Forest Avenue on Sunday
evening. There were no injuries reported. Anyone with information about
these fires should call the police department's Criminal Investigations
Division at 874-8533.
Bennett Gets 17 Write-In Votes
for Mayor
Claims cover-up by City election officials.
Republican Erick Bennett, the only official write-in candidate in Portland's
recent mayoral election, received 17 of the 81 write-in votes cast in the
election, according to Elections Administrator Bud Philbrick. Bennett was
one of the early announced candidates in the race, but failed to come up
with enough petition signatures to get his name on the ballot.
Bennett is claiming that City election officials are not counting thousands of
votes that were cast for him.
"They are denying your vote from counting," Bennett told his supporters on
his Facebook page. "The reason they are doing this is because we crushed
everybody else and they are trying to cover it up."
Bennett was the 'social networking strategist' for the election campaign of
Governor Paul LePage. During his mayoral campaign, he said he would be
Portland's first 'social media' mayor.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Major Comic Convention Planned for
Downtown this Weekend
A major comic convention is planned for downtown Portland- at the
Eastland Park Hotel and SPACE Gallery, from November 11 -13. Friday
night, November 11th will be the kickoff party at SPACE gallery with DJ
Ponyfarm and War Animal playing a Superhero themed costume party.
On Saturday, in the main room at the Eastland Park Hotel, there will be 45
vendor tables, and 20 artist tables with Jetpack comics, Topshelf comics,
Game Geeks, The Green Hand, MECA, NekoJin Designs, and numerous
artists and writers. l
All weekend long, Chris Dingwell and a team of artists will live-paint in the
Convention Room of the Eastland, for what he calls, "The Wet Paint
Project". Attendees will be able to see tattoo and comic artists shepherd
their work through all stages of the painting process as the weekend
progresses. During the day on Saturday at the SPACE Gallery we will host
two panels geared toward beginning and intermediate comic creators:
"Breaking into Comics" and "Self Publishing 101."
It will also be the first event for the upcoming Kickstarter mega-hit
"Womanthology", a female-created, female-based comic anthology for
charity. “Womanthology” sketchbooks will be on sale during ComiCon,
with all proceeds going to charity.
Convention tickets are $10 per day ($5 for children under 12). Blade Runner
will be $6 per showing and tickets for the kickoff party will also be $6. You
can purchase a three day pass for $20.00, which includes one showing of
Blade Runner. FMI: www.coastcitycomicon.com
(Correction: Events listed earlier at the Portland Museum of Art
will not be held.)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
West End Raid Nets Drugs, Guns
Agents from the Portland Police Crime Suppression Unit and the Maine
Drug Enforcement Agency seized a half-ounce of powder cocaine, a pound
of marijuana, a handgun, a shotgun and ammunition, after raiding an
apartment at 40 High Street on November 5th. The agents were tipped off
by Portland police officers who noticed weapons and drugs in the
apartment when they responded to a call about a suicidal person there.
The building is located near Danforth and High Streets in the West End.
City Not Planning to Evict
OccupyMaine Encampment Says
Public Safety Chair
Portland City Council's Public Safety Chair Ed Suslovic says that he would
be "very surprised" if the Portland Police Department took action to evict
participants in the OccupyMaine encampment in Lincoln Park. Suslovic was
responding to rumors that a team of thirty officers plan to evict the group
next week.
Suslovic said that the police department does have the authority to take
action if a public safety emergency takes place, but he said that that is not
happening and City officials are not planning to take any actions against the
encampment.
West End Rep Jon Hinck to Run
for Senate
West End State Representative Jon Hinck will announce on November 12th
that he plans to give up his seat in the legislature to run for the United States
Senate against Republican Olympia Snowe, according to MaineToday Media
Washington Bureau Chief Jonathan Riskind. Hinck will face former Maine
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap in a Democratic primary in June of
2012.
Hinck was elected to represent the West End in the state legislature in 2006,
defeating Green Party incumbent John Eder. Hinck will make the
announcement at an event prior to a University of Maine football game in
Orono.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Reiche School Invites Community
to Garden Party
Reiche Community School will host a garden party on November 4th from
3 to 4 p.m. to honor the people and local businesses that helped design,
build and maintain the school’s garden. The community is invited to attend.
Those involved in the garden project will be recognized with bouquets of
herbs grown at Reiche and thank-you letters from students. Refreshments
will include carrots, radishes and edible flowers from the garden.
Earlier in the day, members of the Reiche Green Team will work with
teachers and parents to help students harvest produce. Potatoes and leeks
will be sent to the school district’s central kitchen to make soup for
teachers and students to sample the following week.The Reiche Green
Team, made up of parents, teachers and administrators, developed the idea
for the garden. The school received several grants and donations to cover
costs.
Last May, students, parents and other community members built the
garden, consisting of 12 beds. Students grew seedlings in their classes and
transplanted them into the garden. The school is using the garden to teach
about health, nutrition, math, science, art and sustainable practices.Reiche is
located at 166 Brackett Street. For more information, please call 874-8175.
Ecomaine Looks for 'Eco-
Excellence' Award Nominees
Ecomaine is seeking local nominees for its annual eco-excellence awards,
which are given in recognition of “green” activities. Ecomaine is a
nonprofit recycling and waste-disposal operation that is municipally-owned
and operated.
The names of nominees must be received at ecomaine by Friday, January
20th, along with a brief description of the nominee’s “green” activity.
Awards are open to individuals and groups who either live or work in any of
the 43 communities contracted with ecomaine, and it is also open to
businesses of any size that are located in any one of those communities.
The brief entry forms and information about previous winners can be found
online at www.ecomaine.org or requested by phoning 207-523-3108.
The Portland Business Award was won last year by Goodwill Industries of
Northern New England.
The judging of entries will be done by members of the ecomaine Recycling
Committee. Troy Moon, chair of the committee, said all the recipients and
their nominators will be invited to an awards luncheon given in their honor
in Portland on March 7th. Moon noted that past winners have been
representative of a wide variety of activities and ages. Examples include a
high school ecology club that initiated a successful school-wide recycling
program, a volunteer who organizes and operates the local transfer station
swap shop, a local newspaper columnist who has written articles about
recycling, a store employee who convinced the owners to recycle, and a
lumber company with a strong commitment to green operations.
League to hold 'Occupy the
Legislature' Potluck
Portland's League of Young Voters will hold an 'Occupy the Legislature'
Potluck this Wednesday, November 30th from 6-8pm at Hope.Gate.Way at
185 High Street, Portland.
Issues from marriage equality to clean elections will be discussed, and the
line-up of discussion leaders on all of the hot-topic issues in store for 2012
include the following:
•Tracy Allen - Maine AFL-CIO
•Shenna Bellows - American Civil Liberties Union of Maine
•Andrew Bossie - Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
•Robyn Merrill - Maine Equal Justice Partners
•Ali Vander Zanden - Equality Maine
In addition to the speakers, potluck and discussions, The League will be
raffling off a few Election 2011 memorabilia packages that include original
artwork by Maine College of Art students, a mixtape to remember their
victories by, and other mementos from the League's work this fall.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Weekend Shows to help family
who lost home to fire in South
Portland
On Friday evening, November 25th, a two-alarm fire destroyed the home of
Mark and Denise Calkins at 17 Osborne Ave. in South Portland. The Calkins
family, which includes two young boys, lost everything but the clothes they
were wearing. All the family pets, two dogs and two cats, were killed in the
fire.
Mark and Denise Calkins are long-time members of the arts community and
have contributed their time and talents to many different organizations,
events and people and the entire community is joining together to help the
family recover from their devastating loss.
Mark, a professional actor, has been rehearsing for a production of the
musical The Gift Of The Magi with CoveLight Productions since late
October and, despite the fire, has decided to perform this weekend.
CoveLight Productions will donate ticket sales from Friday and Saturday
night's show to the Calkins family.
Michael J. Tobin, Producing Artistic Director of CoveLight Productions,
said that Calkins, despite the tragedy, wanted to perform in the show this
weekend.
The Gift of the Magi is an original musical adaptation of the O'Henry classic
Christmas story written by Tobin. Magi is set in 1940's Maine and is filled
with music, humor and romance. The show will also be performed during
December in Portland and Portsmouth, NH.
The fire was ruled accidental by South Portland Lt., Robb Couture.
Firefighters from Cape Elizabeth, Portland and Scarborough assisted South
Portland firefighters in getting the fire under control in just over an hour.
The house is not habitable and will have to be rebuilt. According to Tobin,
the Calkins are staying in a local hoteluntil other arrangements can be made.
The performance this Friday at 8 p.m. will be performed at First Parish
Unitarian Universalist Church, 114 Main St. in Kennebunk, as part of the
Prelude celebration. Tickets are $15./$10. The show on Saturday at 8 p.m.
will be performed at The Dunaway Center, 23 School St. in Ogunquit, as
part of the Christmas by the Sea celebration. Tickets are $10./$8.
Tickets will be available at the door beginning at 7:30 p.m.. For more
information or to make reservations, go to www.covelight2011.com,
emailing covelight2011@aol.com or calling (603) 953-3640.
Stolen Bench Returned to Front
of Local Market
A wooden bench was removed in broad daylight from the front of the
Fresh Approach market on Brackett Street on November 17th, and found
the next day behind the building. Employees say the bench, which consists
of an eight-foot long, 2x12 piece of lumber straddled across two large
cinder blocks, was taken sometime around 4 or 5 PM, when the store was
in full operation. The cinder blocks were not removed.
Employees put up notices of the theft on the front door of the local
market, and found the stolen article in a pile of discarded lumber behind the
store the next day. It has been returned to the front of the store, with two
heavy metal bolts now attaching it to the cinder blocks.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Shop For A Cause Day in
Downtown - December 3rd
Shop For A Cause Day will be held in Downtown Portland on Saturday,
December 3rd as part of Portland's Downtown District's month-long
celebration Light Up Your Holidays. This year, participating stores and
galleries will donate a portion of sales on that day to The Center for
Grieving Children and the Portland Police Department's Cadet Program.
The Center for Grieving Children serves more than 4,000 grieving children,
teens, families, and young adults annually through peer support, outreach,
and education. Through the Cadet Program, the Portland Police Department
trains young adults (under 21) who are interested in a law enforcement
career and gives them the opportunity to work with the department for 8 to
12 weeks.
The Shop For A Cause Day event has supported numerous local charities
throughout the past years, most recently raising over $6,000 for The
Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) Team last year.
A list of participating stores can be found on portlandmaine.com.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Trouble at Lincoln Park
Encampment
Four incidents at the Occupy Maine encampment are under investigation.
On Thursday November 24th at 5 A.M., a 20-year-old Portland man
reported that he was assaulted in Lincoln Park. He said the suspect told him
to leave the park because he was not part of the Occupy Maine movement.
When he refused, the suspect knocked him to the ground, punching and
kicking him. 49-year-old Peter Wing, 49, was arrested and is charged with
assault and violation of bail. It is unknown what prior charges Wing has
pending that placed bail conditions.
Later that same day at 6:10 P.M., a 40-year-old Portland man came to the
lobby of the police station to report being assaulted in Lincoln Park. He was
suffering from significant facial injuries and was transported by ambulance
to Maine Medical Center. He has been admitted and is being treated for
head injuries. His injuries do not appear life-threatening at this time. The
victim told officers he was drinking beer in a tent in the park with several
other people when they began arguing. The victim was thrown to the
ground outside the tent and punched and kicked by several people. No
arrests have been made in this incident
At 11:00 P.M., officers responded t a reported domestic assault in Lincoln
Park. Witnesses said a man and woman were verbally arguing in the
kitchen area of the Occupy Maine encampment when they punched and
slapped each other. Officers located and arrested the couple. They are
identified as Alyssa Brame, 30, and Gabriel Williams, 33. They are both
charged with domestic assault. Williams is additionally charged with
possession of cocaine.
On November 25th at 2A.M., officers responded to another reported
domestic assault in Lincoln Park. Witnesses said they heard a woman in a
tent screaming for help. Officers investigated and determined the couple
had been arguing when the man began choking the woman inside the tent.
Jason Carr, 25, was arrested and charged with domestic assault. Melissa
Ciaramitaro, 18, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Ciarmitaro was upset with the arrest of Carr and would not stop
screaming. Members of Occupy Maine complained to officers and she was
arrested.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Waynflete Wins Prestigious Competition
at Federal Reserve Bank in Boston
Waynflete School was named New England champion of the Federal
Reserve Bank of Boston’s Reserve Cup Challenge (www.reservecup.org).
on November 22nd..
The annual financial literacy competition is coordinated in Maine by the
Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection and sponsored by the Federal
Reserve Bank of Boston as a part of their economic education program. The
Reserve Cup Challenge tests students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of
financial literacy, economics and personal finance.
Four-person student teams from the six New England states competed with
the guidance of a teacher/coach. Teams first competed at the state level in
two computer-based rounds with the state champion advancing to the New
England finals at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Team members included: Addison St. Onge-May, Mitch Newlin, Alysa
Grindlinger, Sam Hansen, and alternate Mason Saltz. The team was coached
by teacher Steve Kautz.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Police Arrest Two Lincoln Park
Protesters After Disturbances
Portland Police have arrested two Occupy Maine protesters and
summonsed a third following two separate disturbances in Lincoln Park.
Twenty-five-year old Jason Carr, who listed no permanent address, was
arrested in Lincoln Park following a disturbance. He was taken into
custody at 10:20 P.M. on November 17, 2011 and charged with disorderly
conduct. According to police, officers responding to a reported fight found
Carr pushing and hitting a man who was trying to walk away. Other people
were trying to hold Carr back but he continued to pursue the man until
being arrested. The other man was interviewed and said he had entered the
park to voice opposition to the group when Carr became confrontational.
The man did not wish to pursue assault charges.
On November 18, 2011 at 7:10 A.M. officers responded to another
disturbance in Lincoln Park and found 45-year-old Alan Porter of Portland
bleeding from the head. Investigation revealed that Porter is part of the
Occupy Maine movement and was drumming to awaken the other
occupants when several of them became angry. Porter was assaulted by at
least two men, according to police.
34-year old Danny Arnold, who listed no permanent address, was located
and summonsed for assault. Arnold is accused of choking Porter. At 10:
20 A.M., 34-year- old Christopher Schisler, who listed no permanent
address, was located at the Portland Public Library at 5 Monument Square
and arrested. He is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly striking
Porter in the head with a hammer. Porter was transported by ambulance to
Maine Medical Center for treatment of the head injury.
All three suspects have been ordered not to return to Lincoln Park.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Eastland Hotel Looking to
Buy Congress Square Park
Rockbridge Capital, the new owners of the Eastland Hotel, are interested in
acquiring Congress Square Park at the corner of High and Congress Streets,
to construct ballroom and meeting space for the hotel, according to a memo
from City Hall.
The company made a presentation to the Congress Square Task Force,
which supports the City moving ahead with the discussions under specified
public benefits conditions.
The Portland City Council's Community Development Committee would
have jurisdiction over property disposition negotiations. A communication
regarding the Task Force position is planned to be presented to the City
Council at its November 21st meeting.
Demonstrators Rally in West End
About a dozen people attended a rally on Brackett Street in the West End on
Thursday, November 17th, at 11:00 AM. The rally was called by MoveOn,
Rebuild the Dream, Occupy Wall Street, SEIU, AFL-CIO, and others to
show that schools in the area need to be supported better, according to a
press release. Several staff members and students from nearby
LearningWorks joined the group and spoke about that organization's work.
The gathering was part of a national day of action being marked in 325 cities
nationwide. Several members of the group held a discussion about what
could be done by individuals and groups to support the group that is
currently encamped in Lincoln Park as part of the OccupyMaine movement.
After the discussion, some of those gathered were planning to go to
Monument Square for another rally.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Washington Avenue Burglar
Caught on Security Video
Portland police are looking for a man who broke into the Mitpheap Market
at 63 Washington Avenue at 1:20 AM on November 11th, and stole
thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes, phone cards, as well as a cash
register. Police believe the burglar may have used a cell phone to
communicate with a lookout posted outside the store. A security video
camera inside the store caught images of the burglar filling a large plastic
bag with the stolen merchandise.
Anyone with information about the burglary or the identity of the suspect
should call the Portland Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division
at 874-8533.
Veterans Bridge Overnight
Closure
The Maine Department of Transportation has announced that the Veterans
Memorial Bridge, which connects the West End to South Portland, will be
closed from Wednesday, November 16th at 7 p.m. to Thursday November
17th at 6 a.m. Traffic headed northbound on I-295 will be detoured to Exit
5 (Congress Street)to the Fore River Parkway accessing the Veterans
Intersection where US Route 1 and Valley Street intersect. Traffic from
Main Street in South Portland will get on I-295 North and use Exit 5 to
access the Fore River Parkway.
Detour signs will be in place for this period, as crews continue working to
replace the Veterans Memorial Bridge, with on-and-off overnight closures to
minimize traffic impacts
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Local Businesses Featured on
CBS Early Show
A news story about local business is set to air tomorrow morning,
Wednesday, November 16th at 8:10 AM on CBS News' The Early Show
(which runs 7-9am). The story documents True North: Maine's Center for
Functional Medicine and The Healing Arts collaboration with Hour
Exchange Portland. Part of the feature was filmed at Lucid Stage on Baxter
Boulevard.
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
to Kick off Holiday Season in City
The tree that signals the start of the holiday season in Portland arrives in
Monument Square on Thursday, November 17th at approximately 10 AM.
The 55-foot Colorado Blue Spruce was donated by Lori and Allen Huff of
89 Evans Street, South Portland.
The tree will be lit with over 1,500 LED lights, donated by Efficiency
Maine, during the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November
25th at 5:30pm. Produced by Portland's Downtown District (PDD), the
festive night includes entertainment by Rick Charette and the Bubblegum
Band and the Maine State Ballet. A Make-A-Wish child will light the tree this
year with help from a special guest.
Crews from the Forestry Section of Portland Department of Public Services
will prepare the tree for transportation to Monument Square at 9:00 AM
from 89 Evans Street. Keely Crane Services and Shaw Brothers
Construction have donated staff, crane and transportation services to make
this project possible.
At 9:30 AM, the tree will begin its trip down Broadway and come into
Portland across the Casco Bay bridge, through Commercial Street and up
Franklin Street, entering downtown via Congress Street, and arriving at its
new home in Monument Square around 10:30 AM.
For additional information on downtown Portland's holiday events please
visit www.portlandmaine.com.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Delays Expected on Outer
Congress Because of Railroad
Track Work
Outer Congress Street will see day-long traffic delays this Thursday and
Friday between 5AM and 7 PM, as the railroad crossings on Congress
Street and Frost Street will be reconstructed. The area will remain open to
traffic, however, traffic delays and noise should be expected. While the
work is ongoing, commuters may want to seek an alternate route to avoid
traffic and delays. Motorists are urged to watch out for bicyclists and
pedestrians in these work zones.
Portland Police: Parkside Fires
'Suspicious'
Portland police say that two fires that broke out in the Parkside
neighborhood early this morning are being investigated as 'suspicious.'
Fires occurred at three-story frame buildings at 55 Grant Street, and outside
12 Boynton Street. Burning debris was reported in the hallway at the Grant
Street location.
There was also an outdoor fire reported at 1121 Forest Avenue on Sunday
evening. There were no injuries reported. Anyone with information about
these fires should call the police department's Criminal Investigations
Division at 874-8533.
Bennett Gets 17 Write-In Votes
for Mayor
Claims cover-up by City election officials.
Republican Erick Bennett, the only official write-in candidate in Portland's
recent mayoral election, received 17 of the 81 write-in votes cast in the
election, according to Elections Administrator Bud Philbrick. Bennett was
one of the early announced candidates in the race, but failed to come up
with enough petition signatures to get his name on the ballot.
Bennett is claiming that City election officials are not counting thousands of
votes that were cast for him.
"They are denying your vote from counting," Bennett told his supporters on
his Facebook page. "The reason they are doing this is because we crushed
everybody else and they are trying to cover it up."
Bennett was the 'social networking strategist' for the election campaign of
Governor Paul LePage. During his mayoral campaign, he said he would be
Portland's first 'social media' mayor.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Major Comic Convention Planned for
Downtown this Weekend
A major comic convention is planned for downtown Portland- at the
Eastland Park Hotel and SPACE Gallery, from November 11 -13. Friday
night, November 11th will be the kickoff party at SPACE gallery with DJ
Ponyfarm and War Animal playing a Superhero themed costume party.
On Saturday, in the main room at the Eastland Park Hotel, there will be 45
vendor tables, and 20 artist tables with Jetpack comics, Topshelf comics,
Game Geeks, The Green Hand, MECA, NekoJin Designs, and numerous
artists and writers. l
All weekend long, Chris Dingwell and a team of artists will live-paint in the
Convention Room of the Eastland, for what he calls, "The Wet Paint
Project". Attendees will be able to see tattoo and comic artists shepherd
their work through all stages of the painting process as the weekend
progresses. During the day on Saturday at the SPACE Gallery we will host
two panels geared toward beginning and intermediate comic creators:
"Breaking into Comics" and "Self Publishing 101."
It will also be the first event for the upcoming Kickstarter mega-hit
"Womanthology", a female-created, female-based comic anthology for
charity. “Womanthology” sketchbooks will be on sale during ComiCon,
with all proceeds going to charity.
Convention tickets are $10 per day ($5 for children under 12). Blade Runner
will be $6 per showing and tickets for the kickoff party will also be $6. You
can purchase a three day pass for $20.00, which includes one showing of
Blade Runner. FMI: www.coastcitycomicon.com
(Correction: Events listed earlier at the Portland Museum of Art
will not be held.)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
West End Raid Nets Drugs, Guns
Agents from the Portland Police Crime Suppression Unit and the Maine
Drug Enforcement Agency seized a half-ounce of powder cocaine, a pound
of marijuana, a handgun, a shotgun and ammunition, after raiding an
apartment at 40 High Street on November 5th. The agents were tipped off
by Portland police officers who noticed weapons and drugs in the
apartment when they responded to a call about a suicidal person there.
The building is located near Danforth and High Streets in the West End.
City Not Planning to Evict
OccupyMaine Encampment Says
Public Safety Chair
Portland City Council's Public Safety Chair Ed Suslovic says that he would
be "very surprised" if the Portland Police Department took action to evict
participants in the OccupyMaine encampment in Lincoln Park. Suslovic was
responding to rumors that a team of thirty officers plan to evict the group
next week.
Suslovic said that the police department does have the authority to take
action if a public safety emergency takes place, but he said that that is not
happening and City officials are not planning to take any actions against the
encampment.
West End Rep Jon Hinck to Run
for Senate
West End State Representative Jon Hinck will announce on November 12th
that he plans to give up his seat in the legislature to run for the United States
Senate against Republican Olympia Snowe, according to MaineToday Media
Washington Bureau Chief Jonathan Riskind. Hinck will face former Maine
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap in a Democratic primary in June of
2012.
Hinck was elected to represent the West End in the state legislature in 2006,
defeating Green Party incumbent John Eder. Hinck will make the
announcement at an event prior to a University of Maine football game in
Orono.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Reiche School Invites Community
to Garden Party
Reiche Community School will host a garden party on November 4th from
3 to 4 p.m. to honor the people and local businesses that helped design,
build and maintain the school’s garden. The community is invited to attend.
Those involved in the garden project will be recognized with bouquets of
herbs grown at Reiche and thank-you letters from students. Refreshments
will include carrots, radishes and edible flowers from the garden.
Earlier in the day, members of the Reiche Green Team will work with
teachers and parents to help students harvest produce. Potatoes and leeks
will be sent to the school district’s central kitchen to make soup for
teachers and students to sample the following week.The Reiche Green
Team, made up of parents, teachers and administrators, developed the idea
for the garden. The school received several grants and donations to cover
costs.
Last May, students, parents and other community members built the
garden, consisting of 12 beds. Students grew seedlings in their classes and
transplanted them into the garden. The school is using the garden to teach
about health, nutrition, math, science, art and sustainable practices.Reiche is
located at 166 Brackett Street. For more information, please call 874-8175.
Ecomaine Looks for 'Eco-
Excellence' Award Nominees
Ecomaine is seeking local nominees for its annual eco-excellence awards,
which are given in recognition of “green” activities. Ecomaine is a
nonprofit recycling and waste-disposal operation that is municipally-owned
and operated.
The names of nominees must be received at ecomaine by Friday, January
20th, along with a brief description of the nominee’s “green” activity.
Awards are open to individuals and groups who either live or work in any of
the 43 communities contracted with ecomaine, and it is also open to
businesses of any size that are located in any one of those communities.
The brief entry forms and information about previous winners can be found
online at www.ecomaine.org or requested by phoning 207-523-3108.
The Portland Business Award was won last year by Goodwill Industries of
Northern New England.
The judging of entries will be done by members of the ecomaine Recycling
Committee. Troy Moon, chair of the committee, said all the recipients and
their nominators will be invited to an awards luncheon given in their honor
in Portland on March 7th. Moon noted that past winners have been
representative of a wide variety of activities and ages. Examples include a
high school ecology club that initiated a successful school-wide recycling
program, a volunteer who organizes and operates the local transfer station
swap shop, a local newspaper columnist who has written articles about
recycling, a store employee who convinced the owners to recycle, and a
lumber company with a strong commitment to green operations.
"Portland's Ranked Choice Newspaper...!"
Volume 11, Number 9 Portland, Maine
Volume 11, Number 9 Portland, Maine
