The South Portlander

Thank you, Mr. Shorthill. If we can work with the neighbors to make a quiet little kayak launch, that's a nice little benefit for South Portland. And once we get a launch from Long Creek, we'll have a nice little water trail to complement our ever-improving land trails. As we improve our recreational outlets, work towards connecting various parts of the city through bike and hike trails, support our local culture, fix up our roads and green up our mall area, we are building a well-balanced town that I'm proud to live in. I know it's going to be a tough year ahead for a lot of businesses and families. I urge everyone to buy local, help your neighbors and volunteer a bit of your time for the community. Even if it's just reaching down to pick up a piece of trash that someone tossed out their car window, every little bit helps.

Posted on 2008 12 31

Blake says toss issues like this to a committee so the councilors can attend to the real and important issues facing South Portland. Gosh, I love this guy.

Posted on 2008 12 23

How about making a safe bike lane along Broadway? Try biking from the Casco Bay Bridge to the mall, or to the Veterans Bridge. Can you say "death trap?" People won't ever bike to work until it's relatively safe to do so. If you live on the west side of South Portland and work in Portland, chances are you'll drive anywhere you go, even though it's only a few miles.

Posted on 2008 12 22

A flea market an interesting idea. My major concern is that, if it becomes wildly popular and successful, it might grow too large in size for the neighborhood, and create traffic flow problems along Broadway. I urge the council to put size restrictions in place before it starts, and ensure that there's adequate parking. On the other hand, with some thought given to presentation (i.e., neatness and coherence between vendors) it might prove to be a creative and vibrant outlet, a sort of funky anti-mall that would be attractive to quite a few people. Perhaps crafts types will find it a viable venue and band together to form an affordable outlet for their wares. And given the nature of the businesses in the new plaza on Broadway, I could easily see the two areas complementing each other. I believe the city has a rule restricting yard sales to three per year, and requires a permit. There are a few cases of folks putting stuff out on their front yard every weekend, all summer long. The flea market may provide them a space to run their business, or push the city to enforce its own yard sale rules.

Posted on 2008 12 22

Thanks for the maps - I like the ways you're enriching this site. Google maps are great, but they're also subject to errors, and the photography's not always up-to-date. Still, I'll take them anytime, knowing that really critical issues need double-checking.

Posted on 2008 12 21

First of all, congratulations to Bob! Good on ya, mate! I have a question for the City Council, though. Is Bob Crowley Day a one-off fun community affair, or have you established criteria for naming days after local game show winners? For instance, if I win $40,000 on The Price is Right, would I get a day? What about $1,000,000? What if I win on Apprentice? That requires tasks, skills, teamwork and cunning, too. In other words, gosh, get back to work on school funding, taxes and roads.

Posted on 2008 12 16

So can we see the state's adjusted figures, to see how close their assessments are to our own assessed property values? Is this in the public record? The city came through shortly after I bought my home a few years ago and increased its assessment, increasing my taxes and throwing off my careful financial plans. I objected, got a new review and a very slight reduction. In today's housing market I would hazard that most of the city's assessments are high.

Posted on 2008 12 16

Thanks to you and Jeff Ryan for sharing this with us all.

Posted on 2008 12 09

I'm an atheist and I have no problem calling them Christmas lights. But if my Jewish friends want to call them Hannukah lights, I'll do that, too. Or holiday lights. Life's too short for this kind of quibbling. Do something nice for someone.

Posted on 2008 12 08

Thank goodness for grandparents. I hope they're all right.

Posted on 2008 12 08

That's what I'm talking about! Great - thanks very much. The map is a great help, as are the additional details. The only revision I might suggest for the future would be to mark the dates on the markers, so we could follow the progression chronologically.

Posted on 2008 12 05

Are these burglaries taking place during the day or at night? Are residents at home, or are empty houses being targeted? Can you or the police post a google map of burglaries so citizens can see for themselves where they're taking place?

Posted on 2008 12 03

Great move to harness volunteers, and just the mayor to inspire the city to volunteer. I'm in.

Posted on 2008 12 02

Tom Blake is a breath of fresh air, a voice of common sense and reason. A great start to his first day as mayor. Kudos!

Posted on 2008 12 02

I can believe it's real. I saw a turkey walking along the sidewalk on Westbrook Ave. near Home Depot about two weeks ago. There was a woman walking towards it when I passed - I wish I could've seen that confrontation!

Posted on 2008 11 28

Good luck! I hope you fare well. Here's an idea (that might be a little late in the year): offer "bike lunches" for folks to grab and go along the nearby bike path. Make 'em cheap, easy to carry, and with as little disposable packaging as possible. So families and others taking trips along the Greenbelt could pop in for a bite to go! (The trash factor worries me, but most folks that use the Greenbelt are conscientious.)

Posted on 2008 11 25

Wow, I wrote my last comment before I watched the Boudreau video. Now that I've seen it, I definitely want that woman out of office. She appears out of touch, paranoid and arrogant. I'm actually pretty offended. A note to Tom Coward: An anonymous posting that is well reasoned and fact-based can be persuasive as well. Maintaining anonymity can allow for a critical debate without resorting to personal attacks or feeling personally exposed to repercussions. Ms. Hersey has denied only one of my comments out of a great many, because I used the word "cr_p." I thought that was a bit strict, but I have no complaints of censorship. The rules are easy to follow.

Posted on 2008 11 25

I'm stoked for Tom Blake to be our mayor. His actions so far show that he thinks clearly, makes good decisions, and has the vision our fine city needs to move forward. I'm not part of any partisan conspiracy; I'm a freethinking citizen posting here of my own volition. And special thanks to Linda (and Scott) for your efforts in making this site a true community resource.

Posted on 2008 11 25

I had a friend visit from Brooklyn a while ago. I told her, "It's the Brooklyn of Maine." She got here, looked around, and said, "It's more like the New Jersey of Maine." Boy, that hurt.

Posted on 2008 11 22

And let's not forget that another of the judges is married to Ms. Maginnis, a fact that was kept pretty quiet. It's not rocket science to set up an impartial panel of judges; the inclusion of her husband might infer she had some difficulty finding enough volunteers. Speaking of "free pass," on Oct. 17 the Sentry published a verbatim press release from the MCC about the winner of the project. Only problem was the folks at the Sentry apparently didn't read it themselves - they reprinted the "fact" that Gili "began his art studies in his native Caracas, Venezuela, in 1972." Considering he received his MFA in 1998 and his PhD in 2001, that's an awfully long time to be in school. Gili was born in 1972. And yes, yourname, I sincerely doubt the tank farm will ever be an art park. I just said the idea of keeping a few tanks around in some way was cool. I understand what you mean by branding. By "re-purposing," I meant to find a new use for them once their current use is moot. Maybe a bunch of little Hollywood Bowl-type of things where a lot of tattooed skate-thrash bands could hold TankaPalooza? Or, depending on acoustics, we could resonate Enya to chill the whole city out? No, wait - a dog park! Woof!

Posted on 2008 11 16

One might also say that by using the tanks as a canvas he is taking a highly visible step towards their future repurposing. The art won't disguise what's inside the tanks at all. Indeed, most of us pass by them daily with hardly a thought, like a painting that's been on our wall so long that we no longer notice it. Perhaps one result of this project will be to renew our awareness of the tanks. On the other hand, given the art's resemblance to motor coach decoration, it too may rapidly become invisible. I have far greater issues with the motivations of the Maine Center for Creativity than with this artist. In the end he'll make some bucks and have a few more articles written about him, and this too shall pass. But the money needed to complete this project, in order to justify a vanity non-profit, may have a deleterious impact on arts funding for other projects which might directly benefit Maine artists and communities. And it's also a little obscene to spend over a million dollars to spruce up some aging oil tanks when cash-strapped schools cut art and music budgets. I don't put a lot of weight in what the artist might say in an interview. I read his thesis, or as much as I could of dense artspeak through a bad translation, and much of it is what my grandmother might have dismissed as "poppycock." The true voice of a visual artist is in his work, not his words.

Posted on 2008 11 14

Why shouldn't he be happy to take the money? He entered the competition and won. Good for him. Or do you prefer the "starving artist" scenario? Senor Gili's probably making less for this entire project than he earns from one of his paintings. I do enjoy his idea of saving some remnant of the tanks once their use has ended. I imagine the cleanup will be time-consuming and expensive, but it could be way cool.

Posted on 2008 11 14

This is great! Thanks, Mr. Blake. I've been over there a number of times, and always felt as if I was trespassing. It's exciting to open it up to the public. There's a tiny little road next to Wild Willy's that dead-ends at a power station, where you can park a car or two. It's on the other side of the creek. I've seen deer there. The water looks really nasty where it comes out from under Westbrook Street - I hope we can clean that up. Can you imagine being able to swim there? Yay!

Posted on 2008 11 09

Regarding your first question, Scott, it may simply be that South Portland has very little public beach access in comparison to neighboring communities such as Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach. We have one public beach of moderate size. The city of Portland is in a similar position to South Portland - their only public beach is East End Beach. No dogs are allowed on East End Beach from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Therefore Portland is already more restrictive than South Portland, which does allow limited dog access at Willard during those months. Your first question is misleading because it ignores this fact. And I agree with an earlier commenter on a different subject: this is far less important a topic than the state of our schools and a great many other subjects.

Posted on 2008 11 07

I agree with Mr. Kessler. We should be consolidating the retail we have and maximizing underutilized space at the mall, rather than expanding. Spreading out leads to more traffic, more pollution, less walking and a reduced community experience.

Posted on 2008 11 06

No waiting at all at the Redbank polling place this morning. Bryan Kaenrath and Kevin Glynn were on hand to greet voters. Fast, friendly and efficient inside, and a beautiful day outside. (They could use a trash can somewhere on that nice big field, though.) A special thanks to all the volunteers who worked today.

Posted on 2008 11 04

In response to the first two comments: yes indeed, there is a transfer of bodily fluids. The tattoo artist punctures the client's skin with a needle repeatedly and comes into contact with their blood. That's why all tattoo artists wear rubber gloves nowadays. They also sterilize their tattoo equipment after every use and disinfect their work areas frequently. And then there's other forms of body modification such as body piercings, and don't forget the split tongue look. (Yeesh.) Some tools, such as single-use razors and needles, are used once and thrown away. Here's a great informative link from a reputable source: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/BodyArt/

Posted on 2008 11 04

Haven't our city leaders been paying any attention to the phrase "creative economy?" Kudos, again, to Tom Blake for having common sense, articulating his objections clearly, and voting against this. Bravo also to Hughes and Loring. The city is wrong on this, and it seems to me they may be opening themselves up to potential legal action by this discriminatory act. Step into a tattoo shop around Portland. Most are clean, well-lit, sanitary and could be mistaken for art galleries - because they are, of a sort. The owners are artists and business people, interested in making a living doing what they love. They take care to keep themselves and their clients healthy. And, again, they're already regulated by the state. Back off, now.

Posted on 2008 11 04

Hey, whatever happened to "all things in moderation," and "a sound mind in a healthy body?" Sports, music, art, math, science, history and more - all have a place, and each can complement the other. Much of today's art owes a huge debt to science, while mathematicians and scientists are constantly seeking "beauty." Team sports can teach teamwork, collaboration, perseverence and dedication, attributes of great use in science and art and a great many endeavors throughout one's life. Can't we just congratulate the musicians gracefully?

Posted on 2008 11 03

It's interesting that the MCLU says the police "hired" Ms. Morelli. It is poorly worded - I don't think they really meant to say she was hired "as part of" the sting operation, but rather "in the course of" a sting operation.) "Hire" implies a contract. So either Ms. Morelli reneged on the "contract" or the police attempted to coerce her to perform activities beyond the scope of the agreement. MCLU's May 2007 press release stated, "Ms. Morelli was invited to the Best Western in her capacity as an exotic dancer." Their May 2008 release stated, "Morelli traveled to the Best Western Hotel in South Portland in her capacity as an exotic dancer." The MassCops website states, "She had been contacted in her capacity as an exotic dancer by undercover officers who had set up a prostitution sting operation." None of these previous statements says she was "hired."

Posted on 2008 11 03

Hooray for all the high school musicians! The ability to play and enjoy music will last a lifetime. We're proud of you!

Posted on 2008 11 03

How much more traffic can Broadway handle between Cash Corner and Westbrook Street? It seems that between Mall traffic, oil trucks and neighborhood traffic, it's already maxed out. That stretch of road is already narrow, poorly paved and has just one crosswalk for kids going from the Meadowbrook neighborhood up to Memorial Middle School or Skillin Elementary. And that crosswalk's in the middle of a bend in the road.

Posted on 2008 10 30

Thanks, everyone - what a parade of minds! Some of my favorites. Personally, I think it's a shame that "Maine is one of only a few states in which coastal property owners own land out to the mean low tide line." http://www.seagrant.umaine.edu/accesslaw/legstat.htm This whole debate would probably be a complete non-issue if all Maine's beaches were public.

Posted on 2008 10 29

The pundit or the band? The former, never. The latter, rarely. I'm not going to fit nicely into your box. Bye.

Posted on 2008 10 28

People are multidimensional. Please don't compare me to Rush Limbaugh; nothing I've posted contains or promotes either hate or fear. Have a nice day.

Posted on 2008 10 28

Thanks for the music, beachthang. A little wistful and poppish for my taste, but always interesting to expand my horizons. I'm actually quite ambimillenial, so here's an old favorite that seems appropriate to this thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eer9UoqN_9E

Posted on 2008 10 27

The response to my annoyance over a poster's confusion between "need" and "desire" was their reply, "need becomes a matter of individual interpretation," which might be a valid personal opinion, but fails as a matter of both logic and fact. My peeved comment "read them again, slowly," was in response to being called "intolerant" and "shrill." I attempt to write my posts clearly, succinctly and logically, without resorting to name-calling, hyperbole or shrillness. I include my personal observations if they are appropriate. I'm civil, but I certainly won't respond to misinterpretation and misinformation by being "friendly."

Posted on 2008 10 27

I can't get past that second sentence without being annoyed by someone who doesn't understand the difference between a "need" and a "desire."

Posted on 2008 10 27

A regular person doesn't complain to the cops when a loose dog jumps on their kid at a public beach. They console the child, possibly yell at the dog owner, and probably leave the beach. If this happens repeatedly, they probably vote against allowing dogs on their public beach. Dogs are not "the public," so denying them access does not equate to reducing public access any more than banning open alcohol containers reduces public access. Except for service animals, dogs are household pets, which are private property from what I can ascertain. I've heard nothing about restricting the actual "public" from using the beach, and doubt that could be accomplished at Willard Beach. Why not a dog park, again?

Posted on 2008 10 26

Terrific! I love watching the changing view by the creek as I take Exit 3 on my way home each day. I've hiked around down there, too, and seen deer. Some of the water coming into the creek from the Westbrook Avenue end is pretty darn nasty - I hope there's a way to address that.

Posted on 2008 10 24

Thanks, Mike. I know how I'll vote.

Posted on 2008 10 23

Just wanted to say, outstanding coverage! Thank you - you're doing a great job providing local news and a community forum. And for the most part the forum has remained both civil, insightful and helpful. Special thanks to our elected officials who respond here as well. Keep it up!

Posted on 2008 10 17

"Voice control" just doesn't seem to work, from what I can see. I wouldn't mind banning dogs altogether, because Willard is a small beach and there are other options for dog owners. That said, I want to be fair to my dog-owning neighbors, and seek a compromise. Off the top of my head, we can get serious about strictly enforcing the morning-only hours at the beach for dogs. Most folks with kids aren't going to go in the early morning, and I don't mind dog owners letting their dogs run and swim - as long as they clean up! (And smokers, too! I smoke, but I don't litter.) One warning only, and then scofflaws are banned from bringing dogs. Install a report post with a box for citizen observations. I like the idea posted earlier of dogs on the rocky left end only, with people only at the other side. That seems quite feasible, and sounds easier to enforce. Perhaps dog and no-dog trails at Hinckley Park? The trails are narrow, and I've rarely seen a dog on a leash there. A full-grown black lab charging down a trail is terrifying to a toddler. We could conceivably include a fenced dog park there, too. Nothing really new in these proposals, I suppose. Just my thoughts.

Posted on 2008 10 15

We don't have to devolve to incivility and sarcasm. Let's make our points clearly and politely. Personally, I wish to restrict dogs because, after numerous instances of loose dogs running up and scaring my children at Willard Beach (during non-dog hours) and in Hinckley Park, my kids now run in terror to hide behind me when they see dogs. It is particularly galling to hear the dog owner shout, "He's friendly!" from a hundred feet away. The shame of it is, I love animals. But I love my kids more, and thoughtless dog owners have made up my mind. Dog parks seem to work fine in cities; why not here?

Posted on 2008 10 15

Thank you for providing the slide show - I did not have an opportunity to attend the open house, and I appreciate being able to get a glimpse of the inside. Were it not for the parking issues, I think there are a number of things this building could become. South Portland Arena Football, anyone? Roller rink? Indoor hockey? How about a centralized arts and crafts center, with studios, classrooms, movies, lectures and performances and other events, shops, galleries and the like? That would certainly be a draw for residents and visitors alike, if it was done well.

Posted on 2008 10 14

Congratulations, Senor Gili! (Please note that most of the negative comments flying around have to do with the project and are not a personal attack on your art.)

Posted on 2008 10 08

Ah, the photo on the Press Herald web site answers my second question - Mercy Hospital provides a comfortable space from which to view the tank farm across the river.

Posted on 2008 10 08

I would like to ask Mr. Gailey exactly HOW this project will help the tourism economy. Is he implying people will travel to Maine solely to view this project? (It's a serious question, Mr. Gailey.) Why was this announcement held in Portland? Was there no suitable venue in South Portland? The absence of any representatives from the Maine Arts Commission speaks volumes.

Posted on 2008 10 08

Thanks for posting this as a press release rather than having it masquerade as a news story. Has anyone yet mentioned the fact that Ms. Maginnis is married to a member of the "international panel of judges?" Or hasn't that been in any press releases? (Sorry, Linda - this isn't a slam on you, but on all the news organizations that have been "covering" this project.)

Posted on 2008 10 07

See what Portland, Oregon did with their armory: http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/armory_reborn06.asp

Posted on 2008 09 25

Thanks, Linda. You rock. Love the blog!

Posted on 2008 09 24

Would it be possible to get a pdf of the building plan that you could post here for anyone to download? We could then muse over it, posit some realistic plans, and attend the forum prepared with ideas and suggestions. Thanks!

Posted on 2008 09 24

The residents in the Meadowbrook neighborhood are effected by the noise from I-295. A sound barrier would help alleviate the noise. Those are the simple facts. While blog writing is inherently more familiar and casual than newspaper writing, the phrase "dubious honor" injects an unnecessary note of editorializing. The proposed sound barrier is neither an honor nor dubious. A more newsworthy tack might be this question: Were any steps taken to filter the runoff from the increased paved area before it washes into Long Creek?

Posted on 2008 09 22

I'm not gullible about the marketing strategy. But they're offering a service of some value to seniors, and there is no obligation to purchase anything. If you're concerned, why don't you attend so you can help keep the seniors from falling into the wily clutches of a cleverly-disguised marketing ploy? You can jump up and shout, "You don't have to sign that!" every time a company offer is made. Everybody wins. I'd be willing to teach seniors class in basic computer skills gratis at the community center, and I have nothing at all to sell. I know a number of seniors who would benefit and appreciate a few pointers. They could then avail themselves of free computers at our libraries with less trepidation.

Posted on 2008 09 20

ps to "shutupanddrive" - So, why don't you help your grandma with her iPod? Or show your uncle how to hold his fajita? Or is that merely empty rhetoric to flavor your whine?

Posted on 2008 09 19

I like the idea, even if a company with products to sell is sponsoring it, as long as the class is open to all. If "shutupanddrive" wants to put his efforts where his comments are, he could sponsor a class himself. We could all help each other a bit, no?

Posted on 2008 09 19

Sharky said

Blake says toss issues like this to a committee so the councilors can attend to the real and important issues facing South Portland.

Gosh, I love this guy.

Posted on 2008 12 23

Sharky said

How about making a safe bike lane along Broadway? Try biking from the Casco Bay Bridge to the mall, or to the Veterans Bridge. Can you say “death trap?”
People won’t ever bike to work until it’s relatively safe to do so. If you live on the west side of South Portland and work in Portland, chances are you’ll drive anywhere you go, even though it’s only a few miles.

Posted on 2008 12 22

Sharky said

A flea market an interesting idea. My major concern is that, if it becomes wildly popular and successful, it might grow too large in size for the neighborhood, and create traffic flow problems along Broadway. I urge the council to put size restrictions in place before it starts, and ensure that there’s adequate parking.
On the other hand, with some thought given to presentation (i.e., neatness and coherence between vendors) it might prove to be a creative and vibrant outlet, a sort of funky anti-mall that would be attractive to quite a few people. Perhaps crafts types will find it a viable venue and band together to form an affordable outlet for their wares. And given the nature of the businesses in the new plaza on Broadway, I could easily see the two areas complementing each other.
I believe the city has a rule restricting yard sales to three per year, and requires a permit. There are a few cases of folks putting stuff out on their front yard every weekend, all summer long. The flea market may provide them a space to run their business, or push the city to enforce its own yard sale rules.

Posted on 2008 12 22

Sharky said

Thanks for the maps - I like the ways you’re enriching this site. Google maps are great, but they’re also subject to errors, and the photography’s not always up-to-date. Still, I’ll take them anytime, knowing that really critical issues need double-checking.

Posted on 2008 12 21