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Please join us Friday, July 2nd for an in-store Wine Tasting. West End Deli & Catering 133 Spring Street. |
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| Portland’s New Position: Neighborhood Prosecutor By Marge Niblock |
"Portland's COOLEST Newspaper!"
Volume 10, Number 10 Portland, Maine
Friday, July 30, 2010
Volume 10, Number 10 Portland, Maine
Friday, July 30, 2010
Police Chief Seeks Help from Public for Unsolved
Homicide
Portland Police Chief James Craig scheduled a press conference to discuss the unsolved homicide
of Darien Richardson and ask for help or information from the community. On January 8, 2010,
Darien Richardson was shot in the leg and hand by armed intruders at her home. She died from
complications from her injuries on February 27th in Miami, Florida.
Homicide
Portland Police Chief James Craig scheduled a press conference to discuss the unsolved homicide
of Darien Richardson and ask for help or information from the community. On January 8, 2010,
Darien Richardson was shot in the leg and hand by armed intruders at her home. She died from
complications from her injuries on February 27th in Miami, Florida.
Photo by Cynthia Hessin, Producer, Rocky Mountain PBS
Fellow journalists appeared shocked when local scribe Leigh Donaldson pulled out his
West End NEWS during a break at a major media conference held in the Big Apple in June.
Fellow journalists appeared shocked when local scribe Leigh Donaldson pulled out his
West End NEWS during a break at a major media conference held in the Big Apple in June.
Why Did the Chickens Cross
the Casco Bay Bridge?!
By 'DEADLINE JED' RATHBAND
the Casco Bay Bridge?!
By 'DEADLINE JED' RATHBAND
Andrew Connolly and his chicken, Goosey
EAST BAYSIDE - One year on, and Portland’s controversial chicken policy
has produced far less squawking than the public process that allowed the
domestic fowl. Many residents predicted that if backyard chicken coops
were allowed in Portland, it would bring all sorts of pestilence, including -
but not limited to - raccoons, coyotes, opossum, and chicken poop.
As it lays, the ordinance has yet to usher in the age of Wild Kingdom, nor
has the odor risen to… say... the level of the East End sewage plant, or all
the political blather of the City Council combined. It appears the feather-
flying witnessed during the public hearings was for nothing. According to
Alex Murphy from the City Clerk's office, there has been only one
complaint thus far - and with no particular nuisance to report. The
complaint arose from one licensed chicken farmer tattling on his unlicensed
chicken farmer neighbor.
Those who have installed coops say the experience has been rewarding.
According to one farmer in East Bayside, (a.k.a., Portland’s breadbasket)
the bounty has been plentiful and delicious. His four hens, two Rhode
Island Reds and a couple of feisty Sultans, produce on average a dozen
eggs a week - enough to feed his family, and then some. “We’re always
giving eggs away - it’s great!” he said. “Also, the children in the
neighborhood enjoy looking at the chickens and often stand around the
fence and watch them peck.”
To date, sixteen permits have been plucked from the City’s licensing
division, a streamline process covering only three city departments: Zoning
and Code Enforcement, Licensing, and Animal Control. Megan Connolly, a
North Street chicken farmer herself, describes the process as “easy, with
very clear instructions from the City.” Connolly, who’s chickens are a
joint endeavor with her sister, says her six chickens produce on average 3-
5 eggs a day, and split between two families, give them the perfect
amount. “We’re not overrun with eggs,” Connolly claims, “And I don’t eat
an inordinate amount of them either.” “They’re especially good for frying,”
she added, “and this morning we had a gorgeous frittata.”
Due in part to the relatively low maintenance and cheap feed costs,
backyard chicken farming has become popular nationwide. According to
Connolly, she spends just 18 dollars every six weeks on feed, and dedicates
about an hour every one-to-two weeks on a thorough cage cleaning. “We
let them roam the yard while we clean their coop,” Connolly said, “until I
start to see a hawk flying overhead,” she continued.
For now, Portland’s free-range chicken farming isn’t in any danger of
being curtailed. However, with a City Council race lurking around the
corner, you never know what restrictions might be peering through the
fence.
EAST BAYSIDE - One year on, and Portland’s controversial chicken policy
has produced far less squawking than the public process that allowed the
domestic fowl. Many residents predicted that if backyard chicken coops
were allowed in Portland, it would bring all sorts of pestilence, including -
but not limited to - raccoons, coyotes, opossum, and chicken poop.
As it lays, the ordinance has yet to usher in the age of Wild Kingdom, nor
has the odor risen to… say... the level of the East End sewage plant, or all
the political blather of the City Council combined. It appears the feather-
flying witnessed during the public hearings was for nothing. According to
Alex Murphy from the City Clerk's office, there has been only one
complaint thus far - and with no particular nuisance to report. The
complaint arose from one licensed chicken farmer tattling on his unlicensed
chicken farmer neighbor.
Those who have installed coops say the experience has been rewarding.
According to one farmer in East Bayside, (a.k.a., Portland’s breadbasket)
the bounty has been plentiful and delicious. His four hens, two Rhode
Island Reds and a couple of feisty Sultans, produce on average a dozen
eggs a week - enough to feed his family, and then some. “We’re always
giving eggs away - it’s great!” he said. “Also, the children in the
neighborhood enjoy looking at the chickens and often stand around the
fence and watch them peck.”
To date, sixteen permits have been plucked from the City’s licensing
division, a streamline process covering only three city departments: Zoning
and Code Enforcement, Licensing, and Animal Control. Megan Connolly, a
North Street chicken farmer herself, describes the process as “easy, with
very clear instructions from the City.” Connolly, who’s chickens are a
joint endeavor with her sister, says her six chickens produce on average 3-
5 eggs a day, and split between two families, give them the perfect
amount. “We’re not overrun with eggs,” Connolly claims, “And I don’t eat
an inordinate amount of them either.” “They’re especially good for frying,”
she added, “and this morning we had a gorgeous frittata.”
Due in part to the relatively low maintenance and cheap feed costs,
backyard chicken farming has become popular nationwide. According to
Connolly, she spends just 18 dollars every six weeks on feed, and dedicates
about an hour every one-to-two weeks on a thorough cage cleaning. “We
let them roam the yard while we clean their coop,” Connolly said, “until I
start to see a hawk flying overhead,” she continued.
For now, Portland’s free-range chicken farming isn’t in any danger of
being curtailed. However, with a City Council race lurking around the
corner, you never know what restrictions might be peering through the
fence.
Community Policing Center Opens at Reiche
Portland Police Chief James Craig and city officials including City Councilor Dave Marshall officially
opened the West End Community Policing Center at its new location in the Reiche Community Center
on July 20th. The move is welcome news to local residents as the Reiche Community Center is
centrally located and a popular destination for a variety of neighborhood events and activities.
In conjunction with the West End Community Policing Center, Chief Craig recognized and thanked
community groups and organizations that support or donate space for community policing centers,
including the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, which houses the Munjoy Hill Community
Policing Center; Goodwill Industries, which houses the Bayside Community Policing Center; and the
Portland Housing Authority, which houses the East Bayside Community Policing Center. A special
thanks was extended to Parkside landlords who, with an in-kind contribution from PROP, helped fund
the Parkside Community Policing Center.
Portland Police Chief James Craig and city officials including City Councilor Dave Marshall officially
opened the West End Community Policing Center at its new location in the Reiche Community Center
on July 20th. The move is welcome news to local residents as the Reiche Community Center is
centrally located and a popular destination for a variety of neighborhood events and activities.
In conjunction with the West End Community Policing Center, Chief Craig recognized and thanked
community groups and organizations that support or donate space for community policing centers,
including the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, which houses the Munjoy Hill Community
Policing Center; Goodwill Industries, which houses the Bayside Community Policing Center; and the
Portland Housing Authority, which houses the East Bayside Community Policing Center. A special
thanks was extended to Parkside landlords who, with an in-kind contribution from PROP, helped fund
the Parkside Community Policing Center.
Women with Knives Stalk City
At 2:37 AM on July 17th, police responded to a report of an assault on Smith Street in the
East Bayside neighborhood. The female victim told officers that a Hispanic female had
attacked her, punching her in the face several times.
In a second attack on Smith Street at 4:01 AM the same morning, a group of about six or
seven Hispanic females armed with knives attacked a different victim, took her purse, and left
in an older model Ford SUV.
From what the victim was told, the women evidently thought she had cooperated with the
police in the earlier attack and were exacting retribution for her doing so.
On Sunday, July 18th, at 4:30 PM, a woman was walking on Forest Avenue toward
Congress Street. When she neared Cumberland Avenue, she was approached by a woman
with a knife, who identified herself as a former high school classmate of the victim. A brief
struggle ensued over the victim’s purse, of which she let go. She received a minor injury to
her arm when she was cut with the knife. -Marge Niblock
At 2:37 AM on July 17th, police responded to a report of an assault on Smith Street in the
East Bayside neighborhood. The female victim told officers that a Hispanic female had
attacked her, punching her in the face several times.
In a second attack on Smith Street at 4:01 AM the same morning, a group of about six or
seven Hispanic females armed with knives attacked a different victim, took her purse, and left
in an older model Ford SUV.
From what the victim was told, the women evidently thought she had cooperated with the
police in the earlier attack and were exacting retribution for her doing so.
On Sunday, July 18th, at 4:30 PM, a woman was walking on Forest Avenue toward
Congress Street. When she neared Cumberland Avenue, she was approached by a woman
with a knife, who identified herself as a former high school classmate of the victim. A brief
struggle ensued over the victim’s purse, of which she let go. She received a minor injury to
her arm when she was cut with the knife. -Marge Niblock
Police Department Offers Basic Self Defense
Class for Women this Fall
This September, the Portland Police Department will offer its Rape Aggression Defense 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 14, 16, 21, and 23, from
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and September 25 from 8:00 AM to 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. Due to attendance issues, all donations must be paid prior to
the first class. To sign up for the class or receive more information about Portland R.A.D., e-mail
ppdrad@portlandmaine.gov or call 874-8643.
Class for Women this Fall
This September, the Portland Police Department will offer its Rape Aggression Defense 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 14, 16, 21, and 23, from
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and September 25 from 8:00 AM to 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. Due to attendance issues, all donations must be paid prior to
the first class. To sign up for the class or receive more information about Portland R.A.D., e-mail
ppdrad@portlandmaine.gov or call 874-8643.