The South Portlander

Gov. John Baldacci, in his radio address Saturday, urged Mainers to be “Survivors,” like SoPo resident Bob Crowley, winner of the TV reality show.
According to media reports, Baldacci noted Crowley’s can-do attitude facing tough challenges. Mainers may need to display that same resourcefulness as the state and nation plunge into a recession.
Crowley got a million dollars for his efforts. Many Mainers will try to hold on to what they have.

The City Council is expected to proclaim Tuesday, Jan. 6, as “Bob Crowley Day” in South Portland. The Council will issue the proclamation at its regularly scheduled Monday night meeting.
South Portlanders will get the chance to meet with the winning “Survivior” and newly minted millionaire on Tuesday, at 7 p.m., at the Community Center.
Crowley will talk about his experience on the hit reality TV show, display some “artifacts” from his stay in Africa, and answer questions. His appearance will be for about 45 minutes.
No other events are planned.

Mayor Tom Blake called a special Council meeting this morning, so that city leaders could accept a land donation from resident Thomas Shorthill.
The 2.8-acre parcel, which has 1,000 feet of waterfront, is on Elm Street. By accepting the land donation, the city preserves the parcel from development.
Blake described the parcel, located in the Pleasantdale neighborhood, as “a great place for putting kayaks and canoes in the water.”
He said the parcel, which has wetlands, “is marginally developable.”
Blake noted that the Pleasantdale neighborhood does not have a lot of open, recreational space. There is a house on either side of the vacant lot.
Blake, a founder of the South Portland Land Trust, was recently elected mayor by fellow Council members.

Here is a press release from the city on Bob Crowley Day:
“On Monday, January 5, 2009, the South Portland City Council will be acting on a Proclamation announcing January 6, 2009, as “Bob Crowley Day” in South Portland. The Proclamation is recognizing Bob’s success in the reality television show Survivor Gabon.  Bob was named the Sole Survivor and won the $1,000,000 prize.  Additionally, Sprint awarded Bob $100,000 after being voted America’s Favorite Player of the Season by fans throughout the United States.
“There will be public gathering beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the South Portland Community Center at which time Mr. Crowley will talk about his experience, show items from the show and answer questions from the public.  Mayor Blake will moderate the night’s event.

“BACKGROUND: The CBS Network has hosted the reality TV show “Survivor” for seventeen seasons.  The object of the game is to outwit, outplay and outlast other competitors and be named the Sole Survivor and winner of the $1,000,000 grand prize.  This year’s season was called “Survivor Gabon” and was filmed in the Wonga-Wongue Presidential Reserve in Gabon, a small West African country situated on the Atlantic Coast in the central part of the continent on the equator.  This Reserve is home to elephants, chimpanzees, buffalo, lowland gorillas and antelopes, as well as numerous bugs, spiders and poisonous snakes, posing great danger to the competitors.
“South Portland’s own Bob Crowley, a highly respected physics teacher at Gorham High School, in Gorham, Maine, applied for and was accepted to participate in Survivor Gabon, and his expertise was made clearly evident on the very first day when he used his tree climbing and building skills to complete a shelter for his Kota tribe.  His love for the outdoors, camping skills, and resourcefulness aided him in many ways, one of which was cooking fish for the tribe using an old can which he flattened and used as a frying pan.
“After being sent to Exile Island he was able to create not one, but two fake immunity idols so realistic they were believed to be real by his teammates.  Through using his Associate and Bachelor Degrees in Forestry as well as his Masters of Education degree, Bob was able to skillfully calculate and win many challenges and immunities, one of which gave him a video and a visit with his wife, Peggy, in Gabon.”

Here’s a press release from Savvy Women Wedding Source:
“2009 WEDDING EXPO BENEFITING THE FAMILY CRISIS CENTER”

The Savvy Women Wedding Source will offer brides a one-stop shopping experience to help plan their weddings with ease and convenience.
On Sunday, January 11, The Savvy Women Wedding Source will hold their 2009 Wedding Expo at Make Thyme for Dinner in South Portland. The members include a wedding caterer, baker, florist, photographer, wedding planner, hair salon and spa, make-up consultant, custom jeweler, nutrition and dieting consultant, invitations designer, limousine service, ready-made meals, personal trainer, winery, notary, Premier Bride representative and even a chocolate fountain distributor.
Please visit our website at http://www.savvywomenweddingsource.blogspot.com to learn more about our members.
Benefit Raffle:  All proceeds will be donated directly to the Family Crisis Center of Portland. Each bride will receive a free raffle ticket for registering at the door.
1pm-5pm
Free to the public
Make Thyme for Dinner 443B Western Ave South Portland 04106
(Located in the Jetport Plaza left of Staples and Burlington Coat Factory)

A kerosene spill may have sparked a Christmas Eve fire at 347 Ocean St., according to fire officials.
Lt. Robb Couture, SPFD, reports that: “The cause of the fire house appears to be fuel that was spilled during the refilling of a kerosene heater in the upstairs level.  The alarm went to an ‘all hands’ fire, which is automatic call back of off duty personnel.  No mutual aid towns responded, however the American Red Cross and the Trauma Intervention Program people responded.”
Couture said that crews “encountered heavy fire on the second floor” of the 2 1/2 story apartment building, located near the intersection of Highland Avenue.
He said that the fire was contained to the top two floors of the building and one person injured his hand trying to rescue a pet.
“A firefighter was injured when attempting to exit a stairwell due to a sudden change in fire conditions.  He was transported to MMC for a thumb injury and later released.”

UPDATE: Read more about plans for the citizens’ referendum in an article I wrote for the Current.
ORIGINAL POST: The coastal conflict over pet access to Willard Beach is headed to a new front: the ballot box.
Gary Crosby, a chief critic of dog walkers on the beach year round, has submitted a ballot question to the City Clerk’s office for review by legal counsel.
After it is okayed, Crosby vows to collect the signatures needed to take a law change to referendum. Here is the question and new rules he wants submitted to voters:
“Do you favor changing the existing Willard Beach ordinance to read as follows, in order to limit dogs on Willard Beach?
Sec. 18-66. Dogs prohibited from Willard Beach at certain times. No person owning or in custody or control of any dog shall permit such dog to enter upon Willard Beach between the months of April 15 through October 15. Dogs will be allowed on Willard Beach between October 16th and April 14th on leash under owners control during park hours.”
Crosby will need to collect about 975 signatures from registered voters to get the item on the city ballot in November 2009. Crosby said he and members of Save Willard Beach plan to fan out across the city to get the work done.
Crosby says the proposed law mirrors Maine law at state-owned beaches. He claims that efforts by the Council to revise pet access rules fail to protect the health and safety of residents. Current rules grant dog walkers year-round access, with pets allowed to run off-leash. People can walk their dogs all day during the off-season and from 6-9 a.m. in the late spring and summer.
Click here for an article on the pros and cons of pet access.