March is “Music In Our Schools” month, and a number of student musicians & singers from Memorial Middle school in South Portland have recently been selected to participate as part of middle school invitational music festivals.

  The District One 6th Grade Band & Chorus Festival invitees include South Portland’s Ingrid Boyce, Kira Babcock, Breanna Penney, Leisa Bauman, Sammy Brown and Jessica Allen.
 
The 7th & 8th Grade Southern Maine Middle School Band and Chorus Festival participants include South Portland’s Taaniel Kiidli, Kristie Bae, Lily SanGiovanni, Ceanna DePaolo, John Bae, Christine Zarate, Cole Lemelin, Chris Johnson, Alex Quinn, Zared Wilburn, Hannah Skeffington, Bryan Currie, Jamie McDonald, Calvin Stanly, Vincent Amoroso & Griffin Henderson.

  Congratulations also go to Memorial Middle School’s Performance Jazz Band for receiving a “1” rating at the District Jazz Festival.

  For more information, visit http://www.southportlandmusicboosters.org

PRESS RELEASE

You’ll Want to Get Dressed Up to See the Wizard of Oz at the Movies This Sunday
March 16, 2010, South Portland, ME - Isn’t it interesting that when we love a movie so much we feel compelled to get dressed up like the characters for parties, outings or even just viewing the movie? From Star Trek to Harry Potter to The Wizard of Oz, dressing up never seems to get old. When the Cancer Community Center started showing The Wizard of Oz at Cinemagic as a fundraiser a few years ago, we had a hunch that people would get excited at seeing it on a big movie screen. We were right! 

The show sold out quickly each time. And the most fun is seeing all of the amazing costumes people create (kids and adults) to try to win the costume contest we offer before the movie starts. There are always a lot of adorable Dorothys, Scarecrows and Lions. There was even a Lollipop Kid that was very creative right down to his striped knee socks. Last year there was a boy as a Tin Man so authentic he couldn’t even walk or sit down! (he won the grand prize). We don’t think we’ve yet seen anyone dress as one of the witch’s pointy-nosed guards (oh-wee-oh!); or Ms. Gulch; or as the Mayor of Munchkinland with his long, curly mustache. We’d love to see a flying monkey this year!

The Wizard of Oz has the power to rekindle very intense memories many adults have of viewing it when younger. It brings out the kid in all of us, with the same magical feeling, and the same fears, too.  What scared you the most in the movie?  Some say the witch was the scariest character; others were frightened by the wizard’s image behind the fire;  and many claim the scariest part is the flying monkeys!  And for some, it was those big trees in the woods coming to life and throwing apples at Dorothy and her friends!

And of course there are the sweet images: Dorothy’s checkered dress; Glenda the Good Witch, with her big, gorgeous, pink, sparkling dress (perfect for traveling by bubble); the horses that changed color in the Emerald City; and who doesn’t love those red, glittery shoes? So, who will you dress as this year?

Please join us at our fundraiser showing of The Wizard of Oz on the big screen (the original movie) on Sunday March 21, 2010 at Westbrook Cinemagic. There is one show only which starts at 4pm.  All tickets are $12.00, general admission. Doors open at 3pm and the costume contest starts at 3:30pm. Get creative with your costumes to win fun prizes. Not only will you have a wonderful time rediscovering this amazing movie, you will also be helping to support a local charity that makes people feel they are not alone in their cancer journey.

Tickets can only be purchased at the Cancer Community Center by going to http://www.CancerCommunityCenter.org or calling 774-2200 or stopping in at 778 Main St. (Route One) South Portland.

“Blink,” an exhibit of images by members of Portland Pinhole & Plastic Camera Group, will be held for 3 days at Rise Gallery, 864 Broadway (at Elm St.), South Portland, Maine. The opening will be held Thursday March 25, 2010 from 5-8 pm. The exhibit can be seen Friday, March 26, from 11-6 and Saturday, March 27, from 11-4.

Portland Pinhole & Plastic Camera Group members are: Sharon Ames, Michael Heiko, Johanna Moore, Hayes Porterfield, and Dennis Stein.

Phone Number: (207) 318-5906

PRESS RELEASE
Goodwill Celebrates Grand Opening of South Portland Goodwill Store
New flagship store features donation drive thru; offers superior shopping experience
Portland, ME – Goodwill Industries of Northern New England invites shoppers and donors to the Grand Opening celebration of its new South Portland flagship store and donation center on Friday, March 26 at 9 a.m.  Celebration activities include a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 am, door prizes every half hour from 9am-2pm, and drawings for gift cards to Goodwill and local restaurants.
The new South Portland store is located at 555 Maine Mall Road, in the former Circuit City building.  Shoppers will enjoy a newly renovated building that features a convenient donation drive-thru and information about Goodwill’s programs and services.  The new store also accepts used computer equipment through the ReConnect computer recycling program.  Goodwill recycled 1,613,000 pounds of computers in 2009.
The building is 27,000 square feet, with 16,000 square feet dedicated to retail sales.  The remaining square footage will be used for donations processing, offices, and space for the agency’s Good Clean program, the commercial cleaning arm of Goodwill that is committed to customizing its services to meet and exceed the needs of each building it maintains.  Goodwill uses Good Clean to maintain all its retail stores and offers Goodwill employees the chance to learn new skills needed to succeed in work and life.  Goodwill has signed a 10-year lease for the building.
Randy Finamore, Senior Vice President of Retail, noted that the store location offers great accessibility.  “The new flagship store offers ease of access for shoppers and donors.  Located next to Route 295, in vicinity of the Maine Mall, and on the South Portland bus line, the store is fully accessible to members of our community.”  He further noted that the store will provide a superior shopping experience for customers.  “The square footage of the store allows us to offer more options for our shoppers – wide aisles, multiple dressing rooms, and a greater selection of goods.  These combined factors, along with a new store layout and color scheme, create a comfortable shopping environment.”
The new store will feature a wide variety of donated goods – whether looking for unique treasure or a fabulous new outfit, the store will feature clothing, jewelry, books, household items, and furniture, as well as a limited selection of new items to create a complete shopping experience.  Store and donation center hours are Monday through Saturday 9 am – 9 pm and Sunday 9 am – 7 pm.
“We are very excited about the opening of a flagship store in the Portland area,” noted Michael Coughlin, Executive Director at Goodwill Industries of Northern New England. “This new store provides much needed space for the many generous donations we receive and offers our donors a convenient donation drive-thru.  In this, our 77th year, we continue to expand our retail operations to further our mission.”  The new South Portland Goodwill store has created 31 new jobs and now employs over 50 full- and part-time staff.

# # #           
                       
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England has a 77-year history of providing innovative services that help individuals with disabilities or other barriers achieve social and economic independence.  Goodwill’s Workforce Solutions helps people find good jobs and supports individuals through our developmental disability services, deaf services and brain injury programs.  Last year, we served over 7,000 individuals with education, job training, and support services as they work to achieve their independence.  Our programs are funded by revenue from our 26 retail stores, grants, and financial gifts.  Please visit http://www.goodwillnne.org for more information.

PRESS RELEASE:
March is “Music In Our Schools” month, and the student musicians of the South Portland Schools have been, and will be, very busy!
  The South Portland Middle School bands will perform on two consecutive evenings, March 16th & 17th, at the South Portland High School auditorium.  On Tuesday evening March 16, the Memorial Middle School band will offer a variety of selections under the direction of Jean Quinn.  Wednesday evening, March 17, Sandra Barry will conduct the Mahoney Middle School band in concert.  Both shows begin at 7pm, and are open to the public.  Admission is free!
  A full schedule of music and related events is available at http://www.southportlandmusicboosters.org

Media Release:
Incident Date: March 4, 2010   Release Date:  March 4, 2010
Incident Time: 7:30PM   Release Time:  10:30PM
Incident Location: 58 Broadway, South Portland
Incident Synopsis: On March 4, 2010, at approximately 7:30PM, an armed home invasion was reported at 58 Broadway in the City of South Portland. It was reported that three white males in their late teens or early twenties entered the residence and one of the robbers was armed with a shotgun. All of the robbers had their faces partially concealed with bandanas, but we are confident that some physical evidence was recovered at the scene.

    There were five individuals inside the residence when the three robbers entered. Only one was injured slightly as he struggled to get away from one of the robbers. He was not transported to the hospital.

    At this point in the investigation we will unfortunately be releasing few details. I can tell you that a laptop computer and other miscellaneous items were stolen prior to the robbers running off. We will not be releasing details concerning the victims or a possible motive to ensure the integrity of the investigation. Hopefully you all understand. We don’t believe this house was chosen at random.

    Anyone with information concerning this robbery is asked to contact the South Portland Police Department at 207-799-5511. Thanks for your assistance.

PRESS RELEASE

Chief Edward J. Googins is pleased to announce that Officer Brian McCarthy has been named the South Portland Police Department’s Officer of the Year for 2009. Officer McCarthy joined the South Portland Police Department in 2007 and is presently assigned to Patrol Team E, working the 11 PM to 7 AM shift. He is also a member of the department’s Special Reaction Team. Officer McCarthy is an enthusiastic officer who works hard every night. He brings a contagious energy to his patrol team, where he supports and encourages his younger fellow officers, who are quick to point out his strong command presence and excellent Officer McCarthy was selected by the Department’s Lieutenants and Sergeants from the list of officers who were selected as Officer of the Month during the last year.

Officer McCarthy received the Officer of the Month aware in both January and December 2009. He will receive two days off with pay, a personalized plaque and an award pin. Officer McCarthy was to be recognized by the South Portland City Council at their meeting this evening (March 1, 2010) at 7:00 PM.

PRESS RELEASE

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR TO DEBATE ECONOMY: Second of four monthly candidate forums sponsored by the Democratic City Committee, giving the six Democratic candidates for Governor discuss the important issues. The topic this month is “the economy.” This forum is a televised event, so please arrive before 6:45 P.M. for a prompt 7:00 P.M. start. Please invite your friends, and come to support your favorite candidate for Maine’s governor.

Thursday, March 4, 2010
6:30pm - 8:30pm
South Portland City Hall Council Chambers, Cottage Road

PRESS RELEASE:

In the tradition of oral history, six storytellers will each have 15 minutes to tell us their story. The stories will inspire, make you think, make you laugh, make you remember. After the last story, a trio of celebrity judges will declare a winner. This is the first in a series of Story Slams that will happen in South Portland this year.

NO CHARGE FOR THIS EVENT!
Donations for the So. Portland Historical Society will be accepted.
South Portland Story Slam - April 2010
Use the Mitchell Street entrance
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
First Congregational Church UCC, South Portland
301 Cottage Road
South Portland, ME

FMI call David Rooker at 207.741.4037.

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:
South Portland City Hall, Council Chambers

Jeremy D’Entremont, lighthouse expert and author of multiple books, including “The Lighthouse Handbook: New England” and “Lighthouses of Maine” will present a program on the lighthouses which are familiar to those of us who live in the Casco Bay Region. But while many of us see lighthouses often, few of us know much about the interesting histories connected with them.