Wright Express of South Portland is pleased to announce that the company has been ranked #26 in Forbes magazine’s “America’s 200 Best Small Companies” for 2009. This is the second year in a row Wright Express has made the list; last year the company entered the list at #118.

Forbes began ranking small companies in 1996 to recognize top-performing, publicly held up-and-comers. The rankings are based on a number of factors including sales and earnings growth, and return on equity.

“We’re honored to have been named by Forbes as one of America’s 200 Best Small Companies for 2009,” said Michael Dubyak, Wright Express Chairman and CEO. “This is a tremendous achievement for us as a company and direct reflection of our associates’ hard work, dedication and determination to succeed in what has been a challenging year.”

Here are recorded South Portland real estate transactions for September and October:

79 VINCENT ST., Conventional, 2006, $328,000
46 C ST, Conventional,  1880, $216,000
122 ROMANO RD, Cape Cod, 1934, $200,000
385 SAWYER ST., Conventional, 2009, $236,000
11 HARBOR VIEW AVE., Ranch, 2001, $179,900
88 CHESTNUT ST., Ranch, 1948, $144,500
11 TAMARACK DR., Cape Cod, 1986, $285,000
53 PEARY TR., Colonial, 2009, $282,000
112 SPRINGWOOD RD., Ranch, 1973, $130,000
10 SAND PEBBLE WY, Cape Cod, 2003, $432,000
148 BREAKWATER DR.,  Condominium, 1987, $108,000
94 LOWELL ST., Ranch, 1964, $220,000
67 BEACH ST, Colonial,  1930, $330,000
37 ORLANDO ST., Ranch, 1957, $170,000
11 ALLEN RD., Cape Cod, 1954, $180,000
11 OLD BOG RD., Condominium, 2008, $284,000
189 MARGARET ST., Cape Cod, 1945, $190,000
336 HIGHLAND AV., Raised Ranch, 1970, $199,000
378 SAWYER ST., Condominium, 1986, $152,000
240 BARNSTABLE RD., Condominium, 2003, $135,000
12 WINTERBERRY ST., Cape Cod, 2005, $244,500
314 PREBLE ST., Family Conver., 1900, $532,000
91 COLCHESTER DR., Vacant Land, $87,500
18 OCEAN ST., Condominium, 1981, $168,000
8 CROSSING DR.,Outbuildings $1,400,000
245 WESTERN AV Furn Showroom 2004, $3,200,000
39 CUMBERLAND RD., Family Conver., 1920, $207,500
11 LOVEITT ST., Ranch, 1968, $274,500
105 CHANNEL SOUTH, Condominium, 1985, $149,900
321 HIGHLAND AV., Conventional, 1960, $198,000
595 OCEAN ST, Condominium 1984 $174,500
65 SETTLER RD, Raised Ranch 1977 $186,000
148 SAWYER ST, Cape Cod 1900 $126,000
5 LATHAM ST, Condominium 2002 $175,000
18 ORLANDO ST, Ranch 1957 $170,000
240 BARNSTABLE RD, Condominium 2003 $139,000
751 MAIN ST, Condominium 1972 $116,000
317 PREBLE ST, Condominium 1900 $162,500
148 BREAKWATER DR, Condominium 1987 $117,000
26 CHASE ST, Conventional 1928 $275,000
1 JAMESTOWN CT, Condominium 1984 $159,900
12 PHILLIPS RD, Cape Cod 1945 $270,000
11 GREELEY ST, Colonial 1959 $257,500
444 PREBLE ST, Conventional 1900 $234,900
5 E ST, Conventional 1900 $220,000
18 OCEAN ST, Condominium 1981 $148,900
61 ARROWWOOD CT, Condominium 1980 $197,500
52 MCKINLEY ST., Cape Cod 1942 $200,000
171 ELDERBERRY DR., Colonial 1999 $343,000
98 CUMBERLAND RD., Colonial 2009 $220,000
83 MARCELLE AV,Raised Ranch 2009 $222,000
62 OLD FARM RD , Colonial 1991 $249,000
77 PREBLE ST, Ranch 1980 $180,000
46 RIDGELAND AV, Bungalow 1924 $130,000
26 CHURCH ST, Cape Cod 1944 $200,000
96 SCHOOL ST, Family Flat 1986 $289,900
218 HIGHLAND AV, Colonial 1940 $360,000
109 CHANNEL SOUTH, Condominium 1985 $151,000
50 GRANDVIEW AV, Vacant Land, $47,500
27 COOPER ST, Cape Cod, 1950 $195,500
24 CLEMONS ST, Colonial, 1940 $269,000
36 CURTIS ST, Ranch, 1973 $165,000
18 LAWN AV, Bungalow ,1930 $142,500
1717 BROADWAY, Colonial, 1955 $157,500
64 SUMMIT ST, Bungalow, 1931 $240,000
43 NORTH RICHLAND ST, Conventional, 1930 $170,000
86 MASSACHUSETTS AV, Split-Level, 1942 $225,000
69 ELSMERE AV.,  Bungalow, 1920,  $312,000

The Christmas Tree sale of the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth in Mill Creek Park is winding down, with the last trees most likely being sold today. Only about 50 trees remained Saturday night and organizers expected to be sold out by 3 p.m. Sunday.

Here is an announcement from the South Portland Fire Department:

“It is with a heavy heart and deep regret that Chief Kevin Guimond of the South Portland Fire Department announces the untimely passing of Retired Career Firefighter, Captain Timothy Carr.

Captain Carr passed away this morning after fighting a courageous battle against cancer.

Captain Carr began his firefighting career with the City of South Portland in 1973 and retired in 1998.

Captain Carr will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure to know and work with him.

Funeral service arrangements will be announced as soon as they are finalized.”

PRESS RELEASE:

The next Ferry Village Neighborhood Conservation Association meeting is Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend to help us kick off the New Year with your friends and neighbors.

Thank you to Mad Horse Theater at 24 Mosher Street for hosting our last membership meeting.  We need to decide as a group whether we would prefer meeting at the old Hutchins School (Mad Horse building) or continue to meet at the Betsy Ross House. 

The January agenda will include brainstorming ideas to work on in 2010 to improve Ferry Village. The new mayor for the coming year is Tom Coward, our District 1 City Councilor, who has been very responsive to our questions and needs. We look forward to working with him and the new Council.

We will also be electing a new president for FVNCA for 2010.  Currently, Peter Tousignant is the only candidate to come forward. Peter received the majority of write-in votes on the election ballots distributed in September and returned in October.  We will need to make it official with a vote at our January meeting.
The officers that were elected by ballot include:
Vice Pres. - Derek Walker
Secretary - Betsy Morrison
Treasurer - Jennifer Kirk

NOTE:  2010 membership dues are now due ($5.00). Please send your check to FVNCA c/o Jen Kirk, 101 Stanford St. So. Portland, ME 04106. Thank you!

—David Jacobs, outgoing FVNCA President
http://www.ferryvillageme.org

Can the power of Crusher—the Mascot for the Red Claws, stop a speeding car? Brown School parents in South Portand sure hope so.

In response to fast moving traffic on Highland Avenue, Brown School parents have mobilized to provide crossing guards for two crosswalks in front of the school. 
Today, Crusher is the celebrity guest crossing guard—to help the kids and call attention to the need to slow down near the school.

While there is no doubt he’ll be the most visible crossing guard yet, the jury is out on whether the Day Glo vest fits him. 
In September, the PTA bought reflective vests and whistles, SoPo police provided cones and hand held stop signs,  and parents formed a volunteer crossing guard brigade that has logged over 200 volunteer hours making sure thier kids cross the road safely. 
This week - designated Brown School Safety Week by Brown parents - well-known folks have been recruited to be crossing guards.  On Monday, Superintendent Suzanne Godin donned the bright orange vest and on Tuesday Democratic Rep. Jane Eberle (pictured) escorted kids. 
“Getting drivers to slow down and remember there is a school on this busy road is our goal,” said Jackie Johnson, parent coordinator for the volunteer crossing guards.  Recently, an unmarked police cruiser pulled over five cars in one afternoon, ticketing one vehicle that drove out and around kids and the school crossing guard who were in the process of crossing. 
Parent volunteers will also be reminding drivers bringing students to school to, “stop, drop and go” to keep traffic flowing in the drop-off loop. 

—ROSS LITTLE

South Portland Police Chief Ed Googins held a press conference today to follow up with details on a weekend accident involving police cruisers and an alleged drunk driver. South Portland Police were arresting a driver for OUI, when 44-year-old Lisa Cioe of Cape Elizabeth allegedly drove her car into the police vehicle, which then hit another police car.

She subsequently was charged with drunk driving, aggravated assault and two counts of reckless conduct.

Cioe is a long-time resident of Cape Elizabeth, according to town documents.

Here is a release from the press conference today.

MEDIA RELEASE:

Incident Time:
1:35 AM
Incident Location:
Broadway near Clemons Street
Incident Synopsis:
On Saturday morning, December 12, 2009, at approximately 1:35 AM, a collision with injury, involving two stationary police cars, occurred on Broadway near Clemons Street.

Two South Portland Police Officers were conducting an OUI investigation and had just taken a person into custody. As they were securing the arrestee in the front police car, a motor vehicle coming from behind struck the rear police car, forcing that one forward into the next. Officer Seth Page was thrown away from the vehicle and was transported to the hospital where he was treated for a leg injury.

Officer Jeffrey Levesque and the arrestee were not injured but were evaluated on-scene by South Portland Fire-EMS.

The two occupants of the vehicle which struck the officers were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The morning of the incident, the 44 year-old female driver of the vehicle was charged with Operating Under the Influence (OUI) pending the results of further investigation.

This afternoon (12/14/09), the driver, LISA CIOE, 44, of Cape Elizabeth was arrested on the additional charges of Aggravated Assault and two counts of Reckless Conduct with a Dangerous Weapon. The investigation has indicated that she has been drinking at a local bar prior to the crash. An employee attempted to prevent her from driving and when she drove off he called the police.

The Aggravated Assault charge is due to the fact that Officer Page, who was half in and half out of the cruiser at the time of the crash, was thrown from the car and suffered the injury to his right leg. CIOE recklessly caused bodily injury to Page with the use of a dangerous weapon, namely a motor vehicle.

From the South Portland Police:

Incident Time: 1:35 AM   Release Time:  5:00AM
Incident Location: Broadway near Clemons Street

Incident Synopsis: At approximately 01:35 AM Saturday, December 12th, a collision with injury, involving two stationary police cars, occurred on Broadway near Clemons Street. 

Two South Portland Police Officers were conducting an OUI investigation and had just taken a person into custody.  As they were securing the arrestee in the front police car, a motor vehicle coming from behind struck the rear police car, forcing that one forward into the next.  Officer Seth Page was thrown away from the vehicle and was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The arrestee and other officer were not injured but were evaluated on-scene by South Portland Fire-EMS.

The two occupants of the vehicle which struck the officers were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The 44 year-old female driver of the vehicle has been charged with Operating Under the Influence and, pending the results of the investigation, may be facing additional charges. 

The investigation into the collision and the circumstances leading up to it, are still under investigation at this time.  Investigative resources from the Maine State Police and the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene.

The name of the driver is being withheld at this time due to the on-going investigation.  The roadway was closed for several hours.

Manpower Inc. released a survey of the strongest and weakest areas in the U.S. for hiring in the first quarter of 2010, according to media reports. Greater South Portland was among the weakest. Manpower interviewed 28,000 U.S.employers for the survey, which shows overall that hiring in early 2010 will be modestly better than the same period for 2009.

Here is the Manpower survey:

THE STRONGEST

1. Columbus, Ga.
2. San Antonio, Texas
3. Fayetteville, N.C.; Amarillo, Texas; and Sioux Falls, S.D.
4. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas; Shreveport-Bossier City, La.; and Laredo, Texas
5. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas; Naples-Marco Island, Fla.; and Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.

THE WEAKEST

1. San Juan, Puerto Rico
2. Lansing-East Lansing, Mich.
3. Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich.
4. Springfield, Mass.
5. Yakima, Wash.; Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine; and Oklahoma City, Okla.

Press release:

South Portland writers’ book “Practical Vegan” available now at Nonesuch Books, Mill Creek

Every Bite Matters Say Authors Susan Rooker and Beth Montgomery,

“Practical Vegan: How We can Save Earth and Nourish Ourselves” published by Veggie Slayer Press, weaves real-life vegan experiences with today’s meat industry impact our environment.

Practical vegan provides useful steps toward eliminating meat products from the reader’s diet.

Rather than focusing on the horrendous plight of farm factory animals, the authors spotlight damage done to the air, water, and land by the meat industry.

“There is nothing wrong by starting off slowly.  Being vegan need not mean all-or-nothing, especially in the beginning.  Refraining from meat just one day out of your week is the equivalent to taking 19.2 million cars off the roads of the US for a year.”

Contact:
Susan Rooker
http://www.practicalvegan.net
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)