The Portland Daily Sun, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

ly D a i D e a l Stones & Stuff 556 Congress St, Portland ME 04101

Internet Offer Only!

SAVE SAVE 50% 50%

Pay just $$20 for a $$40 voucher

VISIT PORTLANDDAILYSUN.ME FOR THIS AND OTHER GRE AT OFFERS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011

VOL. 3 NO. 221

PORTLAND, ME

PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

699-5801

FREE

A first step toward fixing Brighton Trouble intersection targeted — See the story on page 7 Ian Gillis crosses Brighton Avenue where it intersects with Deering Avenue and Falmouth Street Monday near the end of the lunch hour. The busy intersection on the edge of the University of Southern Maine may receive a makeover. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)

Hot-button housing

Occupy poised to sue

See page 3

See page 8

Page 2 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

You’ll sing, dance your eye out kid DETROIT (NY Times) — “A Christmas Story, based on the 1966 book “In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash” by the humorist Jean Shepherd, “A Christmas Story” has been embraced by fans for its tale of a late-Depression-era Christmas and a boy named Ralphie with a wish for a BB gun,” has been turned into an almost $5 million musical.

It’s currently on a five-city tour, with hopes to build a holiday franchise in whatever location it plays. Broadway is the ultimate goal, where, even with mixed reviews, shows like “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” “Elf” and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” have had lucrative seasonal runs.

At a recent performance in Detroit of “A Christmas Story: The Musical!,” applause rippled through the 2,100-seat Fisher Theater when famous scenes from the film began to unfold. During intermission, Frances Colucci, who owns the “Christmas Story” board game and watches the annual marathon on TBS, said taking her children to see the musical was a no-brainer.

“We know all the lines, so you can almost be participating in the show because you know what they’re going to say next,” she said in the lobby, where the gift shop was stocked with miniature night lights in the shape of leg lamps, a nod to one of the movie’s most recognizable props.

Several songs interpret famous scenes from the film, including “A Major Award,” which features a leg-lamp kick line, and “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out,” which sets the movie’s most famous warning to music.

SAYWHAT...

“

A good conscience is a continual Christmas.”

—Benjamin Franklin

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DIGEST––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THEMARKET

3DAYFORECAST Today High: 43 Record: 60 (1984) Sunrise: 7:06 a.m.

Tomorrow High: 38 Low: 32 Sunrise: 7:07 a.m.

Sunset: 4:04 p.m.

DOW JONES 162.87 to 12,021.39

Tonight Low: 27 Record: -5 (1976) Sunset: 4:04 p.m.

Thursday High: 46 Low: 39

S&P 18.72 to 1,236.47

NASDAQ 34.59 to 2,612.26

TODAY’SJOKE

THETIDES

“Nothing good ever happens in a blackout. I’ve never woken up and been like, ‘What is this Pilates mat doing out?’”

— Amy Schumer

MORNING High: 12:25 a.m.

Low: 6:14 a.m.

EVENING High: 12:26 p.m.

Low: 6:50 p.m.

-courtesy of www.maineboats.com

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WORLD/NATION–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Markets slide on Euro and Intel (NY Times) — Stocks in the United States declined Monday and losses steepened in Europe as investors reassessed last week’s European Union summit meeting and reacted to a new warning that the sovereign debt crisis could get worse.

The declines came in the wake of a rally at the end of last week, when investors waded back into stocks in hope that European leaders on Friday could deliver much-needed firepower to help lift the region out of its crisis.

Monday’s activity suggested that investors

now believe the meeting was inconclusive at best. In a reminder of the pressure on the European Union, Moody’s Investors Service noted Monday that it is reviewing the ratings of debt in European Union countries for a possible downgrade. S.&P. is expected to announce the results of its own review as soon as this week. Cuts in credit ratings, particularly for the so-called core euro zone countries, could play havoc with bailout plans.

“It looks like a reversal out of what was, from my standpoint, unwarranted opti-

mism on Friday,” said Keith B. Hembre, the chief economist and chief investment strategist at Nuveen Asset Management.

In addition, the chip maker Intel said before trading opened in New York that its fourthquarter reenue would be lower than expected because of shortages of hard disk drives. It now expects fourth-quarter revenue of $13.4 billion to $14 billion, down from a previous forecast of $14.2 billion to $15.2 billion.

Shares of Intel, a component of the Dow, lost nearly 4 percent to $24.02.

Billionaire, ex-minister to Supreme Court to rule on oppose Putin in election immigration law in Arizona MOSCOW (NY Times) — Amid a crescendo of complaints from Russians fed up with the country’s tightly controlled political system, two prominent figures — a billionaire industrialist and the recently ousted finance minister — sought to fill a void in the opposition leadership on Monday.

The billionaire, Mikhail D. Prokhorov, who owns shares in an array of other ventures in Russia as well as the New Jersey Nets basketball franchise in the United States, said he would run for president, challenging Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin.

“I made a decision, probably the most serious decision in my life: I am going to the presidential election,” Prohkorov said. He has barely appeared in public since mid-Sep-

tember, when he was removed as the head of a pro-business party, Just Cause, after clashing with Kremlin political strategists.

Meanwhile, the former finance minister, Aleksei L. Kudrin, said he would form a new party to push for liberal reforms. Like. Prokhorov, Kudrin was expelled from the Kremlin’s inner circle this fall after disagreeing publicly with Putin’s decision to trade jobs with President Dmitri A. Medvedev. Kudrin told the business newspaper Vedomosti that the governing party, United Russia, had not delivered on its promises to protect business, fight corruption and reform the court system, and would be hard-pressed to respond to the complaints emerging from society.

WASHINGTON (NY Times) — The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether Arizona may impose tough anti-immigration measures. Among them, in a law enacted last year, is a requirement that the police there question people they stop about their immigration status.

The Obama administration challenged parts of the law in court, saying that it could not be reconciled with federal immigration laws and policies. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, blocked enforcement of parts of the law in April. The administration challenged four provisions.

The most prominent was a requirement that state law enforcement officials determine the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest if officials have reason to believe that the individual might be an illegal immigrant. The provision also requires that the immigration status of people who are arrested be determined before they are released.

The law also makes it a crime under state law for aliens to fail to register under a federal one. In a brief urging the Supreme Court not to hear the case, Donald B. Verrilli Jr., the United States solicitor general, said this provision created a state “crime of being unlawfully present in the United States.”

“It’s not a hotdog if it’s not a Chicago Dog”

Tuesday Special A Seafood Restaurant

When you’re hungry for quality seafood and a fair price, come to Chowderheads.

Oak Hill Shopping Ctr • Scarborough • 883-8333 Open: Mon-Fri 11-8 • Sat 12-8 • Closed Sun

Gift Certificates Available

Chilli Cheese

Open Mon.-Sat. 11-8, Sun. 11:30-6

chicagodogsofmaine.com • 510-6363 285 US Route 1 Scarborough

P a u lP in kh a m A u to R ep a ir NO LONGER AT

B a ck B a y A u to

Now located at 193 Presumpscot St., Portland

SA M E G R E A T SE R VIC E JU ST A N E W L O C A TIO N !

(207)756 -4817 30 Years Experience Domestic & Foreign Dependable Auto Repair

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011— Page 3

D

y ail

50% OFF

a l Stones & Stuff

De

556 Congress St, Portland ME 04101

Internet Offers Only!

Pay just $20 for $40 voucher

VISIT PORTL A NDDA ILYSUN.ME FOR THIS A ND OTHER GRE AT OFFERS

CO

NW

LAC

AY

ON

BER

Visit

CONWAYDAILYSUN.COM To Sign Up For Upcoming Deals

IA

Visit

LACONIADAILYSUN.COM To Sign Up For Upcoming Deals

LIN

Visit

BERLINDAILYSUN.COM To Sign Up For Upcoming Deals

Controversial Portland housing project moving ahead

BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

Developers of a 38-unit affordable housing project planned for High Street say the project is back on track depite intense scrutiny this month from the state treasurer.

Cullen Ryan, executive director of the nonprofit Community Housing of Maine, said the Elm Terrace project at the intersection of High and Danforth streets had been revised to meet the $265,000 per-unit cost threshold set

by Maine Housing Authority — which helped finance the project.

Barring another setback, Community Housing of Maine will convert the existing 102-year-old building at 68 High into 20 units. Another 18 apartments will be located in a connected structure that developers will build in an adjacent lot.

The existing building opened in 1909 as Portland Children’s Hospital. Until recently, the University of Southern Maine had offices in the

Construction on a 38-unit affordable housing complex at the intersection of Danforth and High streets is scheduled to begin later this month. (DAVID CARKHUFF FILE PHOTO)

building.

The development is geared toward people who earn less than 60 percent of the median income for Greater

Portland. It will cost about $10.1 million to build.

For weeks, Maine treasurer Bruce Poliquin has been fiercely critical of

the Elm Terrace project and the Maine Housing Authority for its role in helping fund the development. Poliquin, a Republican, has claimed that the initial $314,000 per-unit cost of the Elm Terrace project was too expensive when the average single-family home in Maine costs less than $175,000.

In light of that criticism, developers took steps to lower the overall cost.

Ryan said yesterday that all three of the three-bedroom units planned for the project have been scrapped. In their place will be three one-bedroom and three efficiency units.

The per-unit cost dropped further after the building’s current owner, University of Southern Maine, lowered its sale price, although Ryan wouldn't say by how much. Community Housing of Maine used upwards of $400,000 of its own money to reduce costs even further.

Funding for the project comes from a wide range of sources, including:

133 Spring Street Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 874-6426 • (207) 899-4001 • www.thewestenddeli.com

Holiday Opportunity!

Plan now and save 10% Place your Order of $100 or more from our Regular Menu at least 1 day in advance and receive a 10% Discount!

Join us for our Beer Tasting Friday, December 16 6pm to 8pm

see HOUSING page 15

Page 4 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

––––––––––––– COLUMN –––––––––––––

Tracing a new approach to public art Got to musing over the Tracing of the Fore adventure in Boothby Square and came up with a proposal for future public art installations. Hopefully enough time has passed for us to be able to take a dispassionate look at the subject.

One of the underlieing difficulties with public art installations would seem to be what has been the permanent nature of the installations. Popular or unpopular, there it sits for a good long time. So … instead of having permanent art installations around the city why not have a series of temporary installations? We’d get to see a variety of art, and if ––––– there are those who don’t like a Daily Sun particular piece at least they’ll Columnist know that it’ll go away at some point, in two years say.

As has been the procedure, submissions would be made to the public art committee.

In consideration of the great dissatisfaction felt in the instance of Tracing of the Fore, though, I would suggest that instead of the committee making the final selection it would choose a certain number of the submissions to be presented to the people who live or work in the area where the art would be installed and they would make the final selection.

Regards remuneration of the artist, I would suggest that rather than the unsightly sum that was paid for Tracing of the Fore, the City pay in the area of $2500 to the artist, and also promote the sale of the piece via an on-line auction to be conducted over

Cliff Gallant

see GALLANT page 6

We want your opinions We welcome your ideas and opinions on all topics and consider every signed letter for publication. Limit letters to 300 words and include your address and phone number.

Longer letters will only be published as space allows and may be edited. Anonymous letters, letters without full names and generic letters will not be published. Please send your letters to: THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, news@portlanddailysun.me.

Portland’s FREE DAILY Newspaper David Carkhuff, Editor Casey Conley, City Editor Matthew Arco, Reporter THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN is published Tuesday through Saturday by Portland News Club, LLC. Mark Guerringue, Adam Hirshan, Curtis Robinson Founders Offices: 477 Congress Street, Suite 1105, Portland ME 04101 (207) 699-5801 Founding Editor Curtis Robinson Website: www.portlanddailysun.me E-mail: news@portlanddailysun.me For advertising contact: (207) 699-5801 or ads@portlanddailysun.me Classifieds: (207) 699-5807 or classifieds@portlanddailysun.me CIRCULATION: 15,100 daily distributed Tuesday through Saturday FREE throughout Portland by Jeff Spofford, jspofford@maine.rr.com

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– COLUMN ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The secret of ‘The Barn’ Last Monday, Dec. 5, I had a chance to do another of those cool things that pop up from time to time. Instead of the usual “harass someone while wearing the gorilla suit” or puncture some puffed up politico with an inflated ego, I had a chance to go to a movie premiere.

This isn’t the first one, nor will it be the last. There were rumblings over the summer of going to the whole “Rum Diary” thing, but that didn’t pan out due to a bunch of scheduling snafus.

This time, it was a showing at the Nickelodeon Theater of the locally written/directed/produced indie film “The Barn.”

If you showed up late for the 7 p.m. show, a line of people greeted you, along with a line from that old song “Jukebox Hero” — “Couldn’t get a ticket, it was a sold out show.” Luckily for me, a conversation through one of the cast members and the director earlier in the week got me a guestlist pass.

For a dozen-odd days this last summer/early fall, the cast and crew frantically filmed among multiple locations in Maine’s small towns, churches, cemeteries, and farm fields. Director Corey Norman summed it up this way. “We had a narrow window,

Bob Higgins ––––– Daily Sun Columnist when all the leaves on the trees would still be there, and not gone a few days later.” The beast of continuity was a deadline demon with dripping fangs for the folks making this film, backed up by frightful weather conditions.

The story itself is set in a small town. A picturesque red barn, a legacy of missing persons, a collection of odd characters. Over a twenty-year period, several kids around the town had gone missing or had been killed, with little or no explanation. Written by three locals Tyler Wood, Christopher Moulton and Rebecca Johnson, the story brings to mind the creepy small town New England thing that writers like Stephen King have written about for decades.

A creepy barn, a disappearance, a murder, and a local crazed man who hangs out in cemeteries, howling about danger. Had to toss this in. For a locally made indie film, there was one moment

on seeing the famed barn where the film-maker was either incredibly lucky, or has mastered the art of digital special effects. The foreboding sky sends a chill down your spine.

Cast members Erik Brobst, Peter Campbell, Daniel Noel, Jack Tracksler, Stuart Townsend, Jenny Anastasoff, Mike Rodway, David Wallace, Heather Guglielmo all do a great job in this film, going way past what you have seen in local productions.

So now the film has left the theater. Now what? “We are planning on entering it in several of the regional film competitions,” said director Corey Norman after the show. No stranger to local film competitions, he and his compatriots at Bonfire Films have been involved in the 48 Hour Film Festival as well.

Daniel Noel, a regular seen on the scene at Portland Stage, even attributed working on this film to leading to at least one other film project. In comments after the show and during and on the street interview last week, he talked about how much fun it was to work with the folks at Bonfire. “They are really great people there. Every time I do this see HIGGINS page 6

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011— Page 5

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OPINION ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The cookie crumbles A lot can happen in two weeks, which is what remains before the glorious orgy of gifts, sugar plums, and roast goose.

Imagine what a global bank run would do for that ole holiday spirit — not to mention the GDPs of the world. Oh, weeping celestial choirs! I suppose we generally assume that God Almighty himself would move heaven and Earth to prevent such a dire convergence of Christmas and a banking collapse, but perhaps the Old Diety is asleep at the switch like the U.S. Department of Justice, the SEC, and a whole alphabet load of other watchful regulators in this, our only known universe.

Reality is a harsh mistress. She insists that you pay attention and then, having done so, take care of business.

Politics, on the other hand, is more like stage magic. The man in the tuxedo is always trying to divert your attention.

The world has run out of money, that is credible money of the type that represents real wealth, and yet is up to its ears in paper representations of putative wealth-like stuff: mortgages, credit default swaps, Gold ETFs, synthetic CDOs, naked shorts, bonds of all sorts.

And now, alas, at Christmas time, the world has gotten a margin call and needs to fork over a whole lot of collateral in order to demonstrate that the global system of financial obligations is legit. Only the collateral turns out to be all this dubious paper, really just a bouquet of promises to pay in distant future Tuesdays for trillions of hamburgers today.

Nobody who observed the proceedings in last week’s European Union talks came away from that spectacle feeling reassured. Brussels is like a ventriloquist’s dummy sitting on Germany’s knee. Germany cannot just step up and act like the Boss of Europe. Too many bad memories of an earlier instance, when a gang of maniacs wearing uniforms studded with grinning totenkopf insignia turned the whole region into a charnel house. So, Germany has to pretend to speak through Brussels. The message was: listen up all y’all nations of the Eurozone! Prepare to live on a whole lot less than you’re used to! Do

James Howard Kunstler ––––– Kunstler.com not exceed your borrowing and spending! Or else!

Yes, the lingering question: or else ... what?

It is safe to say that nobody believed this mummery. Anyway, Great Britain (a.k.a. Old Blighty) simply checked out. The sceptered isle is now Europe’s dog-house. They stayed out of the Euro currency for a reason: So that their equivalent of Wall Street, the City of London, could short it when the time came, a strategy that begins to look absolutely brilliant — except considering what Old Blighty is otherwise left with as an economy: Scotch whiskey, mints and a whole lot of Hallel grocery shops, with the Royals as window dressing. (I’d sooner invest in Argentina, with its amber waves of grain.)

The old animosities are leaking out of Pandora’s History Box. Stolid Angela Merkel is stepping on Nikolas Sarkozy’s size 14 and a half neck — how long before he starts to buck and holler? The astrologasters cannot come up with any math that shows Italy can meet its forthcoming debt payments. But they are only the leaders of a deadbeat posse that includes virtually everybody else in EuroClub, except perhaps Holland, Germany, and Finland. Could they really start beating up on each other with armies again?

It would appear unthinkable. But that is exactly why the First World War destroyed the morale of Western Civ in 1914, too, after the Long Peace that followed the Napoleonic Wars. You’re standing there on a lovely street corner in Verdun and the unthinkable whaps you upside the head. So much for the quality of advanced thinking in the Modern Age. Maybe it’s Poland’s turn to rule the world?

In any case, the storyline is as much

Oh, yeah, follow Jim Cramer’s advice and buy buy buy. Invest in a nation of lawless slobs with a two-second attention span oscillating between Nascar and the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. about the banks as the nations they are in. The banks are at the point where they can conduct business with each other only by pretending that exchanges of value are taking place. Nobody sees any lines of depositors forming on the sidewalks outside their branch offices, but then again nobody can see the digital zeros and ones streaming through the fiber-optic cable, either, and that’s certainly where the action is. For the moment that action has a direct line into the perceived greater safety of Wall Street. Oh, yeah, follow Jim Cramer’s advice and buy buy buy. Invest in a nation of lawless slobs with a two-second attention span oscillating between Nascar and the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Did you catch President Obama on “60 Minutes” Sunday night? Charming fellow. Sincere and even purposeful, too.

But displaying a big patch of cluelessness, like virtually everybody else in a position of authority in this benighted land. The President intimates that we will surely return to the turbo economy of a fast-receding yore. He is missing something big there. We are not going

back to that. The fiesta is over. And his job is not to try to go back there, because it is impossible. His job was to lead an epochal re-set of the economy to a very different disposition of things, smaller, finer, more local. It is so far outside the box he’s in that light-years cannot even begin to describe the distances involved. And I completely dismiss his claim that the reason no prosecution of Wall Street misconduct happened was because, however odious their schemes and scams were, they were technically legal.

Anyway, I’m already looking forward to the nominating conventions of next summer, when angry mobs of the swindled and desperate descend on Charlotte and Tampa like ravaging locusts.

Won’t that be a wake-up call!

And now to bake all my Christmas cookies.

(James Howard Kunstler is the author of several books, including “The Long Emergency,” “The Geography of Nowhere” and “The Witch of Hebron.”

His column appears in The Portland Daily Sun every Tuesday.)

342 Warren Ave. Portland, ME

207-210-6701 1-800-HI-JOLLY jollyjohn.com Mon-Fri 9-5 • Sat 9-4

Genuine Scooters All New 2007-2010 Genuine Scooters 0% Interest for 6 Months!

No Payment for 7 Months! !

DELS ALL MO

Prices as low as $3,100. Includes all taxes & fees, payments under $92.00 a month.

Offer expires Dec. 31. Hurry in! Interest free period 6 months from date loan is finalized, 1st payment due 7 months after loan is finalized.

Interest rate 3.9% (after initial 6 month period).

Call 1-800-445-6559 for details.

Page 6 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Corzine’s lawn, or that of Barney Frank or Christopher Dodd, or of any other of the lying scoundrels in government that are the complicit enablers of the evil 1%, then I’ll know that they’re serious enough to merit all the media adulation they’ve received. Until then, sweep ‘em into history’s dustbin of wannabe revolutionaries that are all hat, and no cattle.

It's hard to take the Occupy movement seriously with their selective outrage toward the rich

Restaurant & Sports Bar

G R DiMillo’s BA Y SID E

D inner Features New York Sirloin...................................16.95 served with your choice of FF or Pasta Haddock................................................16.95 served with your choice of FF or Pasta

C om e Spend Your Football Sunday W ith U s!

Sunday D rink Specials 95¢ Miller Lite Drafts Mimosas & Bloody Marys $3.50 2 for 1 pizza Yes... We have the NFL Package!

118 Preble St., Portland, ME at the entrance to Downtown Portland

207-699-5959 • www.grdimillos.com

Pizza - Pasta - Parmagiana - Espresso - Cannoli - Steak

Pizza - Pasta - Parmagiana - Espresso - Cannoli - Steak

Editor, While I can sympathize with the points the Occupy protesters are trying in vain to enunciate with clarity, it is very hard to take them seriously as their protestations fall far short of the mark. I suspect that it has to do with intellectual dishonesty; a failure to face up to facts that are inconveniently inconsistent with their deeply held political beliefs.

The “Eeeevil 1%” that they decry, primarily in the financial sector (Steve Jobs gets a pass, presumably for dying in the nick of time, or inventing cool stuff; your call), only managed to amass their wealth with the hand-in-glove cooperation of our bed-feathering elected officials in Washington D.C. Three years have come and gone since the crash, and nary a one sits in prison for their misdeeds, presumably because what they did, however morally repugnant, was legal. Either that or some serious ass-covering has been going on with show trials to follow later.

Much later, say after they’ve ponied up millions to re-elect the enablers.

While Noam Chomsky cheers on the “courageous and honorable protests” in knee-jerk leftist fashion (as quoted by Jay York in his letter 12.8.2011) he completely ignores the incestuous governmental relationships that made it all possible, but at least he strikes closer to the heart of the matter. The ruling class think that they are “too big to jail” as stunningly demonstrated by former head of Goldman Sacks, former New Jersey Governor, former New Jersey Senator, former head of MF Global, presumed short-lister for Treasury Secretary and allaround beautiful person John Corzine in pulling out his best Gomer Pyle routine before a congressional committee: “Shazamm! I have no idea!”

When I see the OWSERS are camped out on Mr.

Fred Writt Falmouth

America: What if there is no God? Editor We Americans are told by our present-day government that we “Trust in God,” at least that’s what our money tells us. The government also tells us via the Pledge of Allegiance that we are a nation “under God.” But there is a problem. Suppose there is no God. Then what?

Lee Kemble Portland

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– COLUMNS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Film makers trying to raise the bar HIGGINS from page 4

sort of thing, I try to learn something, and working with these folks was no exception.”

Sure, anyone can grab the latest and greatest in cheap digital cameras, wave it about, stick a soundtrack on a sloppy edit and call it a movie. What these folks are doing here is trying to raise the bar a bit higher. By taking a good story and sharing it out there, they are showing something that not a lot of

the Hollywood folks know.

There are a lot of stories out there to be told, some that might appear to be stamped out bits of iron drudgery. On closer inspection, you find that they are honed to a razor’s-edge, and by the time you realize that, it’s too late.

(Bob Higgins is a regular contributor to The Portland Daily Sun. Email him at typingmonkey1@ gmail.com.)

City could reduce art installation cost GALLANT from page 4

the city’s website for as long as the piece is on public display, with the proceeds from the sale of the piece going to the artist.

Every Tues. Night is Benefit Night at Flatbread Join us from 5 - 9

Tuesday, Dec. 13th $3.50 will be donated for every pizza sold.

Benefit: Molly Foundation

72 Commercial St., Portland, ME Open Sun. thru Thurs 11:30am–9:00pm, Fri. & Sat. 11:30am–10:00pm

Neither should the city pay anywhere near the high installation costs of Tracing of the Fore. Costs of installation might be less than, but limited to, say $1,000. Anyone who doubts that even a massive installation of concrete and iron can be securely installed for minimal cost should visit the installations at Harbor View Park overlooking Casco Bay Bridge.

An effect of this proposal, of course, would be that the competition would lose much of its appeal to credentialed out-of-state artists. With no huge prize money and low-cost installation the competition would become much more locally focused. At the heart of the proposal is the confidence that local artists are capable of producing high quality public art without the high costs associated with Tracing of the Fore. What would seem to be one of the most compelling aspects of the proposal is that supporting and promoting local artists would become much more of a component of the City’s public art program.

Another consideration is that there would not always have to be art installed at the various installation sites. One of the options of the people who live or work near the sites would be to go for a period of time between installations without an installation.

Neither would installations necessarily have to take up as much space as Tracing of the Fore did. The art chosen might accentuate rather than dominate.

Just one more thing. If the art chosen still turns out to be unpopular with a number of people, let’s not, please, plunk a sign in the middle of it explaining it, as was done with Tracing of the Fore. That’s like sticking a post-it note on a painting. This is Portland, after all, and there are certain artistic standards that need to be upheld.

(Cliff Gallant of Portland is a regular columnist for The Portland Daily Sun. Email him at gallant. cliff555@yahoo.com.)

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011— Page 7

Brighton Avenue intersection focus of safety, traffic study

BY DAVID CARKHUFF THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

A "comprehensive evaluation" of the troubled Brighton Avenue-Deering Avenue-Falmouth Street intersection on the edge of the University of Southern Maine campus is taking shape.

By the end of this week, officials hope to conclude negotiations with a consultant so a study process can begin, according to Kathi Earley, engineering services manager for Portland Public Services.

The study will evaluate different intersection configurations to better meet traffic, bicycle, pedestrian and transit access and safety needs, according to the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System, a regional planning organization.

Officials who call the six-way intersection dangerous acknowledge that the clock is ticking. The university contributed $250,000 toward a reworking of this intersection; and capital funds are in escrow that could be used to pay for improvements, said Carl Eppich, transportation planner with PACTS. These funds expire on June 1, 2014, so the goal is to develop a plan so that the USM funds can be used to design and engineer the preferred alternative and begin construction in 2013, according to a PACTS study update.

The study request is for $35,000 using $7,000 in local matching money from the USM fund, PACTS reports.

"The problem is you have six different roads coming in at one point, and then a lot of traffic going down to Bedford Street and coming out. It's just a lot of traffic and a lot of conflicts with pedestrians and bicyclists and traffic in the neighborhood," Eppich said.

It's probably not feasible to install a roundabout, a loop with points of access and exits, but that's one of the ideas in consideration, he said.

"It's not always radical change that makes a difference, it could be some form of visual cue traffic calming, not necessarily something in the road but sidewalk extensions, narrowing lanes by 6 inches, making that intersection tighter and more intimate," Eppich said.

Another idea is to close off the section of Brighton Avenue from Falmouth Street to Bedford Street and provide university access instead via Bedford Street where it meets Deering Avenue.

Regardless of the study outcome, the intersection needs attention, Earley said.

"It's one of the intersections in the city that hasn't had any work done in a long time," she said.

"Our scope of work does indicate that we want to make sure all options are considered, including a roundabout," Earley confirmed.

PACTS reported in its study update, "The high volumes (of traffic) impacting this intersection from multiple directions, when combined with heavy pedestrian crossings, lack of adequate pavement markings and signs, and confusing left turn maneuvers, create significant congestion and long signal delays, and safety issues for all users of the intersection’s roadways."

The study update continues, "The Brighton Avenue leg continues beyond the intersection to an extremely sharp corner, and cuts through USM’s campus as it intersects Bedford Street. As such, it impedes efficient land use for USM, and creates numerous ‘near misses’ at the Bedford/Brighton intersection."

Asked about the problem that needs to be solved, Earley said, "I would say just simple confusion, especially driver confusion, where you should be to get the right lane, the right roads. ... It's just a very confusing place, it makes it very challenging for pedestrians to make their way across as well."

According to a summary of the proposed study, the consultant will help "engage a wide range of stakeholders at three public meetings to be held at project

ABOVE: Traffic moves through the congested Brighton Avenue and Deering Avenue intersection.

LEFT: Road signs like this one may not be adequate in guiding traffic, officials say.

(DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTOS)

milestones. These milestones include: 1. Site walk and design workshop; 2. Presentation of and public input on Alternatives; 3. Presentation of and public input on Preferred Alternative."

Stakeholders may include residents of the Woodford-Oakdale neighborhood and abutting neighborhoods; the university community; regional commuters and users of Route 25; the business community within or directly influencing the study area; property owners; bicycle and pedestrian advocates and users; and transit providers and users.

Transportation update More than two dozen state legislators, town and city councilors and congressional delegation staff members are expected to attend a transportation policy briefing on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 8 a.m. at the Ocean Gateway Terminal in Portland. Senator Bill Diamond of Windham, Sen. Ron Collins of Wells and Rep. Ann Peoples of Westbrook, all members of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, will lead part of the discussion, organizers reported. The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System will host the event. The 90-minute session will include presentations and discussions of the nation’s and state’s transportation funding situation; highlights from the PACTS 2011 Destination Tomorrow regional transportation plan; a $200 million unmet need for upgrading collector roads in the PACTS region; the PACTS plan to regionalize traffic signal system management; and recent transportation success stories, according to a press release about the meeting. The public is invited.

For more information, contact John Duncan, PACTS Director, at 774-9891.

Page 8 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

ABOVE LEFT: Supporters of OccupyMaine gather in front of a mess tent in the Lincoln Park encampment Monday. ABOVE RIGHT: In OccupyMaine’s encampment, a paperboard summary includes the phrases, “Proposals, response; eviction?! civil disobedience” and “our legal rights, litigation.” BOTTOM RIGHT: Abstract art greets visitors to the park. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTOS)

OccupyMaine girds for legal fight

BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

As many expected, the fate of OccupyMaine’s ongoing protest in Lincoln Park will ultimately be decided by a judge.

But by which judge, in which court,

Support our economy by sending Maine lobsters this holiday season!

Visit your local lobster supplier to send the true gift of Maine.

Brought to you by

and in what capacity likely won't be known for several days.

John Branson, an attorney representing the anti-Wall Street protesters, said yesterday that OccupyMaine's membership has approved legal action to continue its 10-week-

“A municipality can impose regulations, but they can’t do it in a way that denies people the right to express themselves.” — Zachary Heiden, staff attorney with the ACLU of Maine old protest.

The group also delegated to a legal working group authority to determine when to file a lawsuit and whether to file it in state or federal court.

“One of the questions is whether to file before receiving a formal notice of eviction,” Branson said yesterday in a phone interview, “or whether to file by the end of the seven-day period the city gave us.”

He added that there were various reasons for filing in "state court versus federal court or federal court versus state court" but would not elaborate.

Depending on the city’s response moving forward, the working group will also consider filing a request for an injunction in addition to any lawsuit.

Portland City Manager Mark Rees allowed the protesters to camp in Lincoln Park on Oct. 1, but after a closer look at city codes, it became clear that only the city council could approve overnight use of city parks for more than a few days. Last week, the city council denied OccupyMaine a permit to stay in the park.

In a Dec. 9 letter, Rees gave OccupyMaine until Thursday to tell the city what its plans are moving forward.

The letter indicated that the city will provide 48-hour notice before evicting the protesters.

OccupyMaine’s general assembly voted Sunday to authorize Branson to file a lawsuit on their behalf to continue the 24-hour protest in Lincoln Park.

Protesters have been camping in the park since Oct. 3. Since then, police have made upwards of 20 arrests in the park, a phenomenon the group blames on outsiders who have also pitched tents in the park.

In recent days, judges have ruled against Occupy protests in Augusta and Boston, but the issue remains far from settled both locally and across the country.

But in a Dec. 1 memo to city councilors, city attorney Gary Wood indicated that First Amendment questions raised by OccupyMaine’s style of ongoing protest have not been specifically addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

OccupyMaine has claimed repeatedly over the past two months that occupying the park is a key tenet of its ongoing protest against corporate greed and corruption in the U.S. financial and political systems. As such, the group might argue before a judge that by denying the group the right to occupy Lincoln Park — without providing a suitable alternative — the city is denying its First Amendment rights.

In a recent interview, Zachary Heiden, the staff attorney with the ACLU of Maine, said courts have maintained that protesters are allowed to engage in free speech activity in “traditional public fora” (parks, public squares, sidewalk, etc.) subject to basic health and safety regulations.

“A municipality can impose regulations, but they can’t do it in a way that denies people the right to express themselves,” he said.

As Heiden understands it, the Occupy protest is protesting injustice by corporate interests by trying to reclaim the public space through its ongoing occupation. As such, it's not clear the city can demonstrate that it's providing alternatives to see COURTS page 15

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011— Page 9

DAILY CROSSWORD TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

by Lynn Johnston

By Holiday Mathis SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). As a realistic person, you understand how absolutely unrealistic it is to want things to be perfect. And who needs the added pressure? You’ll play it loose, and everyone will be comfortable and happy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21).

You don’t feel sorry for yourself, and you don’t like it when others throw themselves a pity party, either. Through your actions, you will train another person to take charge, be assertive and be responsible.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).

You will be, in a sense, shedding your skin. And though it’s a natural process, it still takes effort, which you gladly put in, as you are genuinely excited about the new person you are becoming.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You will learn because you can’t help but follow your curiosity and get answers.

You won’t worry about whether a subject is worthy of your interest. You will be fascinated by life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your memory will bring back strange bits of information. There’s a reason for these seemingly random recollections, though you may not understand it until Friday.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 13).

It’s your year to explore a new interest and simultaneously enlarge your social circle. What happens in January will fill a void in your heart that you didn’t even know existed until you experienced the joy of wholeness. With a little hard work, a lot of organization and a good team, your lifestyle will improve for the better in February. Aries and Taurus people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 40, 2, 14, 33 and 19.

by Paul Gilligan

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You refuse to accept that there are limits to what you can and can’t do. You’d rather see the future as wide open. Because of this approach, more is possible for you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Someone who needs your help might be too intimidated to ask for it. Invite questions. Your open heart will be felt, and others will dare to depend on you. Of course, you’re the one who will benefit most in the end.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your interests will form you. To some degree, you can’t control what is attractive to you. But you can keep looking for the very best of what’s available and ask more questions. Your query could change everything.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You see something that others do not. It’s a testament to your unique spirit. You probably won’t be ready to share your observations, but you should record them in some way for later.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Failing often and with great style is the mark of highly successful people. You do not like to fail, but you can definitely see the usefulness in it. Win or lose, you’ll help others with your positive attitude.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You won’t have to restrict yourself, because you will naturally want what is good and right for you, and you’ll be inclined to take life in moderate doses. If you’re being unduly inhibited by outside forces, you’ll rebel.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Some kinds of pain happen simply because you’ve fallen into a groove of suffering and have yet to decide that you’ve had enough of it.

by Jan Eliot

HOROSCOPE

by Chad Carpenter

Solution and tips at www.sudoku.com

TUNDRA Stone Soup Pooch Café For Better or Worse LIO

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 thru 9.

by Mark Tatulli

Page 10 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

1 4 9 13 15 16 17 18

19 20 22 23 24 26 29 34 35 36 37 38 39

ACROSS By way of Valuable item Feels sick Colored portion of the eye Backbone Entreaty Apple pie à la __ Cuddly looking mammal from China Make preparations Poverty Inquires Slimy dirt Chum Plant pests Makes moonshine Custard pies Narrow boat Cushion Sharp flavor Rouse Info on a party invitation

40 Elizabeth II’s home: abbr.

41 Phonies 42 Arrange 43 Shy 45 Brags 46 Storm center 47 Impoverished 48 Michelob or Coors product 51 Embittered 56 “__ want for Christmas is my two front...”

57 Vine-covered 58 __ up; spent 60 Bit of land in the ocean 61 Gall 62 “Penny __”; Beatles song 63 Shakespearean king 64 Overwhelming desire for more 65 Summer blower

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

DOWN Robust energy Element whose symbol is Fe Assistant Meat jellies Paddle Trigonometric function “All’s well that __ well” Piece of silverware Horrify; shock Misfortunes Faucet problem Without Appearing Failures Feasted Run __; chase Cessna or 747 __ ten; surfs Boston __ beans Small bills Discharges Range __ on; tramples

35 Dessert at a birthday party 38 Hesitating 39 Emotional 41 Cook in oil 42 Chimney grime 44 More uncanny 45 Formed a close relationship 47 Irritate

48 49 50 52 53 54

Arrestee’s hope Otherwise Ms. Fitzgerald Hardly __; seldom Beget children Branch of the military: abbr.

55 Singer Horne 59 Lion’s lair

Saturday’s Answer

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011— Page 11

––––––– ALMANAC ––––––– Today is Tuesday, Dec. 13, the 347th day of 2011. There are 18 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 13, 1981, authorities in Poland imposed martial law in a crackdown on the Solidarity labor movement. (Martial law formally ended in 1983.)

On this date: In 1769, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire received its charter.

In 1862, Union forces suffered a major defeat to the Confederates in the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit Europe while in office.

In 1928, George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” had its premiere at Carnegie Hall in New York.

In 1944, during World War II, the U.S. cruiser Nashville was badly damaged in a Japanese kamikaze attack that claimed more than 130 lives.

In 1961, American artist Grandma Moses died in Hoosick Falls, N.Y., at age 101.

In 1978, the Philadelphia Mint began stamping the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which went into circulation in July 1979.

In 1994, an American Eagle commuter plane crashed short of Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, killing 15 of the 20 people on board.

In 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured

by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, near his hometown of Tikrit.

One year ago: President Barack Obama’s historic health care overhaul hit its first major legal roadblock as a federal judge in Richmond, Va., declared that the law’s central requirement that nearly all Americans carry insurance was unconstitutional.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke is 86. Actor Christopher Plummer is 82. Country singer Buck White is 81.

Music/Film producer Lou Adler is 78. Movie producer Richard Zanuck is 77. Singer John Davidson is 70. Actress Kathy Garver is 66.

Singer Ted Nugent is 63. Rock musician Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is 63. Country musician Ron Getman is 63. Actor Robert Lindsay is 62.

Country singer-musician Randy Owen is 62. Actress Wendie Malick is 61. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is 61. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is 58.

Country singer John Anderson is 57. Singersongwriter Steve Forbert is 57. Singer-actor Morris Day is 55. Actor Steve Buscemi is 54.

Actor Johnny Whitaker is 52. Rock musician John Munson is 49. Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 44. Actor Bart Johnson is 41. TV personality Debbie Matenopoulos is 37. Rock singer-musician Thomas Delonge is 36.

Actor James Kyson Lee is 36. Actress Chelsea Hertford is 30. Rock singer Amy Lee is 30. Country singer Taylor Swift is 22.

TUESDAY PRIME TIME Dial

8:00

5

CTN 5 Lighthouse Aging

6

WCSH

7

WPFO

8

WMTW

10

MPBN

8:30

William and Kate: Inside the Royal Marriage (N) Å Glee The club faces a difficult decision. (N) (In Stereo) Å Last Man Last Man Standing Standing Å (N) Å Remembering Pearl Harbor Are You

11

12

13 17

Keeping Up AppearServed? ances 90210 “Up In Smoke” WPXT Adrianna seeks redemption. Å NCIS “Newborn King” WGME Investigating a Navy captain’s death. (N) WPME Cold Case “Sleepover” WENH Being

DECEMBER 13, 2011

9:00

9:30

Haskell-House

10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 Thom Hartmann Show Grit TV

The Biggest Loser (Season Finale) The Biggest Loser is announced. (N) (In Stereo Live) Å New Girl Raising News 13 on FOX (N) “The 23rd” Hope (N) Å (N) Å The Middle Suburga- Body of Proof “Missing” “A Simple tory “The A young nanny is murChristmas” Barbecue” dered. Å American Experience “Victory in the Pacific” The battle of Okinawa. (In Stereo) Å (DVS)

Tonight Show With Jay Leno The Office The Office (In Stereo) “Crime Aid” Å Å News 8 Nightline WMTW at (N) Å 11PM (N) Charlie Rose (N) (In Stereo) Å

As Time OutnumGoes By Å bered Å

Reggie The Red Perrin Green Show Ringer Henry bonds with Excused (In American Olivia. (In Stereo) Å Stereo) Å Dad Å

Globe Trekker Papua New Guinea’s New Britain. Å (DVS) It’s Always That ’70s Sunny in Show Å Phila.

NCIS: Los Angeles The Unforgettable “Spirited WGME Late Show team searches for a sto- Away” Investigating a News 13 at With David len device. (N) ghost hunter’s death.

11:00 Letterman Cold Case Å Law Order: CI Dollar Cops Å

24

DISC Dirty Jobs Å

25

FAM Movie: ›› “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”

26

USA Law & Order: SVU

27

NESN NHL Hockey: Kings at Bruins

28

CSNE High School Football

30

ESPN Wm. Basketball

College Basketball

31

ESPN2 College Basketball

Basketball Studio (N)

SportsCenter Special

Criminal Minds Å

Flashpoint (N) Å

Criminal Minds Å

Update

News

Dirty Jobs (N) Å

Swamp Loggers (N)

Bruins

Dirty Jobs Å

“Dr. Seuss’ How-Grinch” Psych Å

WWE Tribute to the Troops (N) Daily

Hot Stove Daily

Dennis

Sports

SportsNet Sticks

SportsNet

SportsCenter (N) Å Sports

Sports

Flashpoint Å

33

ION

34

DISN Austin

Movie: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

35

TOON Looney

Gumball

King of Hill King of Hill Amer. Dad Amer. Dad Fam. Guy

Fam. Guy

36

NICK My Wife

My Wife

’70s Show ’70s Show George

Friends

37

MSNBC The Ed Show (N)

Shake It George

Austin Friends

Good Luck

Rachel Maddow Show The Last Word

The Ed Show

38

CNN Anderson Cooper 360

Piers Morgan Tonight

Anderson Cooper 360

Erin Burnett OutFront

40

CNBC Trash Inc: The

60 Minutes on CNBC

American Greed

Mad Money

Greta Van Susteren

The O’Reilly Factor

41

FNC

The O’Reilly Factor (N) Hannity (N)

43

TNT

Rizzoli & Isles Å

44

LIFE Wife Swap Å

46

TLC

What Not to Wear

Movie: “Good Morning, Killer” (2011) Premiere.

CSI: NY Å

America’s Supernanny One Born Every Minute One Born Every Minute What Not to Wear (N)

Little People Big World What Not to Wear

47

AMC Movie: ›››› “White Christmas” (1954) Bing Crosby. Å

Movie: ›››› “White Christmas”

48

HGTV First Place My House Property

Hunters

49

TRAV Mysteries-Museum

Mysteries-Museum

Hidden City (N) Å

Off Limits “Buffalo”

50

A&E Storage

Storage

Storage

Storage

52

Storage

BRAVO Housewives/Atl.

Property Storage

Housewives/Atl.

55

HALL Movie: “A Christmas Wish” (2011, Drama) Å

56

SYFY “Underworld: Ev”

57 58

Housewives/Atl.

Movie: “A Holiday Engagement” (2011) Å Movie: “War Wolves”

Planet Earth Å

Planet Earth Å

Proving God (N) Å

American

Movie: ››‡ “Stomp the Yard” (2007) Å

BET

76

Property Storage

HIST American

COM South Park Futurama

68

Housewives/Atl.

Hunters

ANIM Planet Earth Å

61

67

Storage

Movie: ›› “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”

60

62

House

FX

Tosh.0

Tosh.0

Movie: ›› “Alvin and the Chipmunks” (2007)

TVLND Home Imp. Home Imp. Raymond TBS

Big Bang

SPIKE Auction

Modern Marvels Å Reed

Reed

Reed

Tosh.0

Tosh.0

Daily Show Colbert

Raymond

Cleveland The Exes

Big Bang

Big Bang

Big Bang

Conan One Hour Best

Conan (N) Å

Auction

Auction

Flip Men

Auction

78

OXY ›› “Monster-in-Law”

TCM Movie: “The Lemon Drop Kid”

Tori & Dean: Home

DAILY CROSSWORD 1 6 11 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 26 28 29 31 32 34 37 40 41

Reed

Movie: ›› “Alvin and the Chipmunks” (2007)

Auction

146

BY WAYNE ROBERT WILLIAMS

Raymond

Planet Earth Å

Flip Men

Tori & Dean: Home

Tori & Dean: Home

Movie: ››› “Fitzwilly” (1967) Dick Van Dyke.

ACROSS Meat stock jelly Composition for the stage Roswell, NM sighting Small, pack animal Qatar currency unit Woman with a habit Index functions Superlatively enormous Allure alternative Bacall and Chapin Most sick Runs in neutral Kidney related “...but answer came there __” Batterer Lingerie purchase Ticket Affirmative comment Goes into

42 43 44 45 48 50 51 54 60 61 62 63 64 65

1 2 3 4 5 6

King Auction Great Rup

Give off, as light Structural support Tale of Aesop Overbearing scholar Without profit Affirm positively Eats away at Testimonials Goof up Medieval weapon Swashbuckler Flynn Filthy place Delivered a low blow?

Thin-voiced DOWN Agatha Christie’s “The __ Murders” Big place in California?

Money player April 15 org.

Uses a blackjack Least desirable

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 19 22 23 24 25 27 29 30 32 33 34 35

portion Overabundant Positive votes Rigid military disciplinarians Alternative to lager Quitter’s cry Combustible products First stage Compete in a heat Girlfriend of Dudley Do-Right Full of fluff Be wild about Bones in forearms Australia’s Great Barrier __ Zhivago’s beloved Chops into very fine pellets Abu Dhabi leader Type of ICBM Play divisions Airhead Makes turbid by stirring up

sediments 36 Chips in chips 38 Nonflowering plant 39 Blue-green color 43 Tropical root 44 In less time 45 Removes a rind 46 Chris of tennis 47 Openly criticize

48 49 52 53 55 56 57 58 59

Said further Herbal drink M. Descartes Formerly Jan. Day Wrath Smelter input Approval gesture Wily

Yesterday’s Answer

THE

Page 12 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

CLASSIFIEDS Land

CLASSIFIEDS • CALL 699-5807 DOLLAR-A-DAY CLASSIFIEDS: Ads must be 15 words or less and run a minimum of 5 consecutive days. Ads that run less than 5 days or nonconsecutive days are $2 per day. Ads over 15 words add 10¢ per word per day. PREMIUMS: First word caps no charge. Additional caps 10¢ per word per day. Centered bold heading: 9 pt. caps 40¢ per line, per day (2 lines maximum) TYPOS: Check your ad the first day of publication. Sorry, we will not issue credit after an ad has run once.

DEADLINES: noon, one business day prior to the day of publication. PAYMENT: All private party ads must be pre-paid. We accept checks, Visa and Mastercard credit cards and, of course, cash. There is a $10 minimum order for credit cards. CORRESPONDENCE: To place your ad call our offices 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 699-5807; or send a check or money order with ad copy to The Conway Daily Sun, P.O. Box 1940, North Conway, NH 03860. OTHER RATES: For information about classified display ads please call 699-5807.

Animals

For Rent

For Rent

For Sale

ABANDONED cats and kittens seek foster and permanent homes. Barn cats also available.

(207)797-3014, www.feralfelines.net.

PORTLAND- Danforth, 2 bedrooms, heated, renovated Victorian townhouse, 2 floors, 1.5 baths, parking. $1400/mo (207)773-1814.

PORTLAND- Woodford’s area. 3 bedroom heated. Large bright rooms, oak floor, just painted. $1300/mo. (207)773-1814.

A new queen p-top mattress set $150. Must sell. (207)415-5234.

Labradoodle Puppies Ready to go Dec. 17th. $1200 heath certified.

Non-shed hypoallergenic. For more info email: info@karlaspets.com.

PIT Bull/ Bull Mastiff pups. Born Sept. 26th. Very friendly, nice colors, good with kids and other animals. Parents on premise. $600 or trade for hunting equipment/ tools, etc. (603)539-7009.

PORTLAND- Maine MedicalStudio, 1/ 2 bedroom. Heated, off street parking, newly renovated. $550-$875.

(207)773-1814.

PORTLAND- Munjoy Hill- 3 bedrooms, newly renovated.

Heated, $1275/mo. Call Kay (207)773-1814.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

CONWAY LAKE: Will trade deepwater lot w/ tri-dock for commercial property or permitted land. 207-754-1047.

Roommate Wanted SHARE large apt with dish washer, w/d, includes heat, cable, wifi, $600/mo plus half electricity, gas, hot water.

(207)899-5109.

For Rent-Commercial PORTLAND Art District- Art studios, utilities. First floor. Adjacent to 3 occupied studios. $325 (207)773-1814.

DUMP GUY We haul anything to the dump. Basement, attic, garage cleanouts.

Insured www.thedumpguy.com (207)450-5858.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

POLAR EXPRESS TICKETS WINDHAM- 1 bedroom, utilities plus cable included. Yard parking, partial rent for some work.

(207)892-7150.

Services CEREMONIES MARRIAGE, commitment and renewal ceremonies officiant.

Will help you write your vows.

Barbara (207)856-6876.

AVAILABLE FOR

NORTH C ONWAY, NH. Contact lcampbell@purityspring.com for details.

Help Wanted REFER STRAIGHT TRUCK: Owner operator wanted for FT motor carrier contract.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

The Bradley Foundation of Maine Miracle on 424 Main Street

HOPE

Computer Sales and Service Serving Seniors over 55 and the Disabled Computers starting at only $50.00 includes Microsoft Office 2007 Professional Plus & Microsoft Antivirus We service what we sell for $15.00 an hour!

Open for sales to the general public.

Westbrook, ME • 591-5237 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 8:30am-2pm

FREE APPLIANCE DISPOSAL Why pay excessive transfer station disposal fees?

• Refrigerators/ Freezers • Air Conditioners • Dehumidifiers/ Humidifiers • Washers/ Dryers • Stoves/Ovens • Microwave Ovens • Household White Goods

We now accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover

D & M AUTO REPAIR “We want the privilege of serving you”

MAJOR & MINOR REPAIRS

Green State Resource Recovery (207)318-9781 Freon and Refrigerant Recovery Service Universal Waste Specialists • EPA and Maine DEP compliant

PORTLAND AUTO RADIATOR

Auto Electronic Diagnosis

Cooling Systems • Brakes • Exhaust Check Shocks • Struts • Tune-ups Engine State Inspection • Timing Belts Lights Valve Jobs • Engine Work Interstate Batteries • Towing Available

DICK STEWART • MIKE CHARRON • 767-0092 1217 Congress St., Portland, ME 04102

Established 1948

FULL AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES The Best Place in Town to Take a Leak

WINTERIZATION SPECIALS •Tune-ups •Coolant flushes •Test & Check Antifreeze 1129 Forest Ave., Portland • 207-797-3606

SPECIAL - $5.00 Falafel Burger or Cheeseburger or Hummus Salad Gyro with chips & soda 24 MONUMENT SQUARE | 699-5577

Portland Scooter Company Super Santa Sale!

All in-stock inventory now on sale for Christmas!

SPECIAL ORDERS NOT A PROBLEM, ONLY 10 DAYS FOR DELIVERY

Now Conveniently Located At

27 Vannah Ave Portland 772-8722 409-6178 Monday-Friday 8:30am–4:30pm, Saturday 10am–3pm

75 Oak Street, Portland, ME

Benefits of Tai Chi Chih Blood Pressure Control • Arthritis Relief For information call Raymond Reid (207) 518-9375 www.taichichihstudio.com Check Out Our Gift Certificates for the Holidays and Our New Winter Class Schedule

SPECIAL DECEMBER PRICING

SHOP THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES To advertise in our professional directory talk to your ad rep or contact 207-699-5801 or ads@portlanddailysun.me

YOU TRUST US TO CLEAN YOUR HOME, NOW TRUST US TO HEAT YOUR HOME

INTRODUCING THE GUARDIAN HEATER ®

BY AERUS with Active PCO Technology • Exclusive Active PCO Technology send out “scrubbers” to remove contaminants from surfaces • Combines everything you want in a heater: energy-efficiency, effectiveness & safety • Safety features prevent fires and make it safer for children & pets • Doesn’t emit harmful fumes or carbon monoxide • An energy efficient way to heat your environment

ZOOM IN ON A BUYER!

Advertise your goods and services in the Classifieds and reach thousands of potential buyers daily.

Call today to place your ad and make a sale quickly.

Buy one at regular price get 2nd

HALF OFF!

Call Today To Learn More About Creating Safe, Healthy Environments 352 Warren Ave. Portland • 207-871-8610 or toll free 1-888-358-3589

The Daily Sun Classifieds

THE

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011— Page 13

CLASSIFIEDS Services

Yard Sale

WET BASEMENTS,

SOUTH Paris Coin/ Marble Show- 12/17/11, American Legion Post 72, 12 Church St, 8-2pm. (802)266-8179. Free admission.

cracked or buckling walls, crawl space problems, backed by 40 years experience. Guaranteed 603-356-4759 rwnpropertyservices.com.

Wanted To Buy I pay cash today for broken and unwanted Notebooks, Netbooks, and Macbooks. Highest prices (207)233-5381.

DEADLINE for classifieds is noon the day prior to publication

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Fu ll Service Shack’s Restau ran t & Top Dogs Fam ily Spo rts Pu b Pub H a ppy H o ur Nice family atmosphere!

146 Rand Rd., Portland 772-8436 Just off The Maine Turnpike (I-95) exit 47

M o n-F ri 4-7 F ree H o rs d’o euvres! $5.00 W ell D rinks $2.00 Lite Pints

Eat-in or Take-out • 854-9555 • 1 00 Larrabee Road, W estbrook

RO ST !

“A Local Moved We’ve Company Selling American Made Products”

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

TIRE

U D WAT E

The Bradley Foundation of Maine

R

AUTO

www.stroudwaterauto.com for special offers and discount coupons 656 Stroudwater St. Westbrook • 854-0415

Automotive Repair Foreign & Domestic

ANNIE’S MAILBOX Dear Annie: I have been unemployed since April. My former employers signed a nondisclosure contract about the terms of my resignation. But apparently, if the company to which I am applying asks the right questions, they are told everything.

My question is: If my former employers signed a nondisclosure agreement, how can they disclose the nature of my resignation under any circumstances? I have more than 20 years of experience in my profession, but cannot find employment because my former employer is divulging information he contractually agreed not to mention. I can’t even find a job flipping burgers, because I am “overqualified.” Do I have any legal recourse in this matter? I cannot afford an attorney and do not know where else to turn. -- Ruining My Reputation Dear Reputation: Are you sure your former employers are doing this? Your inability to find a job may have nothing to do with them. In most circumstances like yours, the previous employer would simply write a neutral letter of recommendation, neither praising you nor trashing you. But if, in fact, a former boss is violating the conditions of the contract regarding your resignation, you may have cause to sue. However, you will need a lawyer. Try your state Legal Aid Society or contact the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (nlada.org) for a referral. Also check local law schools to see whether they might take your case or offer legal advice.

Dear Annie: We are remodeling our house. When we wanted to have a birthday party for our son, my mother offered to let us use her house instead of ours. It seemed to be the perfect solution. Unfortunately, my in-laws were offended. (Mind you, they didn’t offer to have the party at their house.) As a result, my husband’s parents and siblings chose to boycott the party. Now there is tension, and they are barely speaking to me, although they still speak to my husband.

My in-laws have always subtly favored my husband’s brother, but this slight was deliberate and noticeable. I don’t want to be the cause of any estrangement and have asked my in-laws what I can do to make amends. They insist nothing is wrong, but they give my husband an earful when I’m not present.

My husband says to let it go, that it is not worth the confrontation. I love them and miss them, and I’m hurt that they aren’t willing to work this out. I want my son to know his grandparents. How can I fix this? -- Baffled Dear Baffled: Your in-laws sound rather thin-skinned, and it is caring and loving of you to promote a good relationship in spite of their favoritism. Please take your husband’s advice and let things go. Confronting them will not make them feel warmer toward you. The important thing is that your husband defends you against their criticisms. And keep in mind that they probably will not want to be kept from their grandson for too long. We recommend you remain unfailingly civil and kind so your behavior remains beyond reproach.

Dear Annie: I read the letter from “Beleaguered Mom,” who expected her mother-in-law to baby-sit. I don’t have kids, but as a registered nurse, I have a similar problem.

Just because I am an RN does not mean I am running a 24/7 free health clinic. I have been phoned at 11 p.m. by fellow church congregants asking about benign conditions that should be taken to their own doctors. On a retreat weekend for women only, the coordinator thought it was appropriate that I be placed in a bedroom with an actively hallucinating schizophrenic whom I had never met. She thought I could “help.” Instead, I didn’t get a wink of sleep.

Please tell entitled people that trying to fashion others into your instant therapists or baby-sitters will alienate them instead of bringing them closer. -- New York Nurse

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to: anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Prickly City

by Scott Stantis

Miracle on 424 Main Street

HOPE

Computer Sales and Service Serving Seniors over 55 and the Disabled

Christmas Sale

20% OFF

We service what we sell for $15.00 an hour!

Open for sales to the general public.

until Christmas

Westbrook, ME • 591-5237 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 8:30am-2pm

with this ad

Computers starting at only $50.00 includes Microsoft Office 2007 Professional Plus & Microsoft Antivirus

We now accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover

TWIN ELECTRIC “Lighting Your Way Into The Future” • Fu lly L icensed • Fu lly Insured • Free E stim ates

• Fast/Q uality Service • N o Job T oo Sm all • 24/7 Service

(207) 318-8808

Randy MacWhinnie

twinelectricme@aol.com

Master Electrician/Owner

TIRED OF PLUCKING? Electrolysis: The Permanent Solution for Unwanted Hair •Private and Confidential •Pleasant and Courteous Staff • Effective on Any Hair Color or Thickness • Proven Results

KOSMEIN SKIN CARE CENTER • 854-0110 Days & Eves by Appt. Only www.kosmeindayspa.com

YOU’VE GOT IT. SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS IT! Got something special you no longer use? Sell it in the Classifieds.

It may just be the perfect item to fill somebody else’s need.

Call us today!

Page 14 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– EVENTS CALENDAR–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Tuesday, Dec. 13 Trainriders/Northeast celebration of Amtrak 5:45 a.m. The Amtrak Downeaster operates five daily round trips between Portland and Boston. Trainriders/Northeast members will gather in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to mark the 10th anniversary of the arrival of Amtrak’s Downeaster passenger train service between Boston and Portland. Through Thursday, Trainriders/Northeast board members will be distributing Maine Chocolatier, Len Libby’s famous Bangor Taffy and other handouts at boarding stations to mark 10 years of operation for one of Amtrak’s most successful services. Train departure times from the various stations are available on the Downeaster website, www.amtrakdowneaster.com.

Freeport Factory Stage social mixer 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Freeport Factory Stage welcomes everyone to a free social mixer, hosted by the Friends of the Factory Stage. The event will feature free refreshments, including pizza and beverages – this is an opportunity to find out how to get involved with the Factory Stage — actors, directors, audience members and volunteers are all welcome to attend. Door prizes will include tickets and discount coupons for upcoming performances.

Those interested must RSVP by calling 865-5505 or by sending an email to freeportfactory@gmail.com with the subject line RSVP.

Portland Greendrinks at the State Theatre 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The State Theatre announces the return of Portland Greendrinks to the State Theatre. Proceeds from the $5 admission at the door ($2 if you bring your own mug) will benefit the local, nonprofit Portland Music Foundation. “Deeply rooted in the local environmental community, Portland Greendrinks is an informal social networking group built around a common interest in the natural environment. It occurs from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. The goal of Greendrinks is pretty simple: good times shared among people working in, or interested in, environmental and sustainability issues. The Portland Music Foundation exists to organize, nurture, and promote the unique and emerging music industry of Portland.”

Sounds of the Season 7 p.m. “Take a shopping break. Relax and listen to The Falmouth High School Chorus, under the direction of Wendy Northrup, sing a variety of holiday tunes. Enjoy the refreshments provided by Ocean View. And see what’s new at The Falmouth Historical Society. Park on Blueberry Lane.

OceanView Community Room, 20 Blueberry Lane, Falmouth.” www.falmouthmehistory.org.

Wednesday, December 14 PACTS transportation meeting 8 a.m. Twenty-six state legislators, town/city councilors and congressional delegation staff members will attend a transportation policy briefing at the Ocean Gateway Terminal in Portland. Senator Bill Diamond (Windham), Senator Ron Collins (Wells) and Representative Ann Peoples (Westbrook), all members of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, will lead part of the discussion. The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) will host the event. Nathan Poore, Falmouth town manager and current chair of the PACTS Policy Committee, will welcome everyone at 8 a.m. The purpose of the briefing is to raise the awareness of elected officials of certain transportation opportunities and challenges in the Greater Portland region before the beginning of the next session of the Legislature.

Maine’s and Greater Portland’s transportation leaders are rising to the challenges and opportunities in this time of continued budget cutting and red tape reduction. Transportation investments are closely linked with our economic prosperity and with our quality of life. During the coming six months the Legislature and town and city councils of our region will develop budgets that set the short term priorities for this new reality. The 90-minute session will include presentations and discussions of these topics: The nation’s and state’s transportation funding situation; highlights from the PACTS 2011 Destination Tomorrow regional transportation plan; the $200 million unmet need for upgrading collector roads in the PACTS region; the PACTS plan to regionalize traffic signal system management; and recent transportation success stories. For more information, contact John Duncan, PACTS director, at 774-9891.

Civic Center Board of Trustees 8 a.m. There will be a special meeting of the Cumberland County Civic Center Board of Trustees. The purpose of the meeting is to interview three architectural/engineering firms for the upcoming Civic Center renovation. The meeting will be held in the main lobby meeting room. www.theciviccenter.com/events

TrainRiders/Northeast chairman Wayne E. Davis pauses on the platform at Portland’s Amtrak station. During FY 2011, the Downeaster carried over one half million passengers and consistently received some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the Amtrak system, according to Trainriders/Northeast. Board members of the group are celebrating the Downeaster’s 10th anniversary this week. (DAVID CARKHUFF FILE PHOTO)

Walk Or Roll To School 8:30 a.m. The Ocean Avenue Elementary School has received a $1,000 grant to begin a walk and bike to school program. To celebrate the award, Mayor Michael Brennan will be participating in the park and walk event and copresenting a check to the school on behalf of the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Oakie, the Oakhurst mascot, will also be walking with the kids to the school.

Depart 8:30 a.m. at Heselstine Park (Ocean Avenue and Irving Street after the Rite Aid). If you want to learn more go to www.oapto.org or contact Kristin at 807.4700 or ksk@ oapto.org.

West End Neighborhood Association meeting 6:30 p.m. The next West End Neighborhood Association meeting is the annual meeting for the election of officers and board members. “If you haven’t already done so, please bring $5 to pay your dues and vote. There will also be a presentation about the Medical Marijuana Dispensary.

WENA meetings are held in the community space on the upper level of the Reiche Community Center, adjacent to the Reiche Community School at 166 Brackett St. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m., generally on the second Wednesday each month.”

‘Striped Bass Fishing in Maine & Beyond’ 7:30 p.m. “The State of Striped Bass Fishing in Maine & Beyond,” by Duncan Barnes and Mac McKeever from the Coastal Conservation Association. At the monthly meeting of the Saco River Salmon Club, Duncan Barnes and Mac McKeever from the Coastal Conservation Association will speak on “The State of Striped Bass Fishing in Maine & Beyond.” Prior to the presentation, at 7 p.m., there will be a business meeting for the club. The presentation is free, open to the public and will take place at the conference center inside Cabela’s retail store at the corner of Haigis Parkway and Payne Road in Scarborough. “The Saco River Salmon Club is a nonprofit organization of fishermen and conservationists dedicated to restoration of Atlantic Salmon to the Saco River. The club has been raising salmon fry from eggs and stocking the fry in the Saco since 1983. The club currently operates a state-of-the-art hatchery in Biddeford, advocates for salmon restoration and assists with fish surveys and habitat improvement. New members are welcome.” For more information visit www.sacosalmon.com.

Thursday, Dec. 15 Energy Efficiency Improvements talk 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine presents Energy Efficiency Improvements

for Commercial and Residential Properties at the University of Southern Maine Wishcamper Center. Efficiency Maine is working in all sectors of Maine to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen our economy. This forum will provide an overview of the residential, commercial, and industrial projects funded by Efficiency Maine over the last year and examine the energy saving results. Michael Stoddard, executive director, will present an overview of Efficiency Maine’s energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for 2012. www.e2tech.org

Reading Flash Mob 5 p.m. “Maine Humanities Council and LibraryThing are joining forces for a Reading Flash Mob on Thursday December 15, to coincide with Portland’s annual downtown Merry Madness festival. Bring a book and meet them outside Longfellow Books at 5 p.m. We’ll read in public until around 6:30 p.m. All ages, all books, all book formats welcome!”

Merry Madness 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Merry Madness kicks off at the Portland Regency Hotel, 20 Milk St., and 70 participating stores in downtown Portland stay open until 10 p.m. offering complimentary refreshments to holiday shoppers. The kickoff at the Portland Regency Hotel features choral music from Davis Hartwell and Stuart Tisdale, fantastic raffle prizes from distinct downtown shops and free hors d’oeuvres from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. donated by the Portland Regency Hotel and local businesses including Sebago Brewing Company, Seadog Brewing Company, Rira’s Irish Pub, Leonardo’s Pizza, Buck’s Naked BBQ, and Love Cupcakes. Commemorative Merry Madness wine glasses and coffee mugs are for sale at the Portland Regency Hotel for $6 and $5 respectively and complimentary maps of open stores are available for shoppers. For more information visit www. portlandmaine.com.

Film: ‘Better This World’ 7 p.m. Film screening at SPACE Gallery. How did two boyhood friends from Midland, Texas wind up arrested on terrorism charges at the 2008 Republican National Convention? “Better This World” follows the journey of David McKay and Bradley Crowder from political neophytes to accused domestic terrorists with a particular focus on the relationship they develop with a radical activist mentor in the six months leading up to their arrests. “A dramatic story of idealism, loyalty, crime and betrayal, ‘Better This World’ goes to the heart of the War on Terror and its impact on civil liberties and political dissent in post-9/11 America.” $7/$5 for SPACE Gallery members and students with ID. http:// www.space538.org/events.php

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011— Page 15

Elm Terrace scaled down in wake of criticism HOUSING from page 3

state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits; low-income housing tax credits; Maine Housing Authority; and specific grant funds and program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, among others.

Ryan noted that the majority of funding came through tax credits bought by private corporations, not local taxpayers.

“Eighty-one percent of the funds coming into this project are private money from corporate investors purchasing federal tax credits,” he said. “And if the

credits are not used in Maine, those dollars go to another state.”

Although the cost of Elm Terrace is still above average for renovations of historic buildings (about $240,000 per unit), Ryan said the city’s requirement to add a certian number of parking spaces was a key reason. Other factors, such as fire code restrictions, green building requirements and handicap-accessible entrances were also factors.

Over the years, Community Housing of Maine has developed more than 500 units of affordable housing in 29 communities. Yet none of those projects faced such intense scrutiny, or were broken down on a per-

unit cost.

Ryan says his agency welcomes scrutiny, but notes that using a cost-per-unit breakdown is misleading, especially when an apartment building project is being compared with a single-family home in rural Maine, not apartment buildings in downtown Portland.

“It’s apples to oranges,” he said.

A spokesperson for Maine Housing Authority did not return a phone call seeking comment yesterday.

Attempts to reach Poliquin were not successful after hours yesterday.

Construction is expected to start later this month and wrap up within a year.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CRIME BRIEFS–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Police launch online crime reporting service

BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

The Portland Police Department announced Monday a new way for residents to report misdemeanor crimes without ever having to pick up the phone.

The department unveiled a new online crime reporting option officials say can be used to alert police to lowlevel offenses. The link, which can be accessed either at the city's website (http://www.ci.portland.me.us) or by going to the department's homepage (http://police.portlandmaine.gov/ default.asp), went on the Web late last week, said Cmdr. Vern Malloch, of the PPD. "We did get one report already," commented Cmdr. Vern Malloch, saying a theft report was filed over the Internet sometime during the weekend.

"This is actually a trend in policing nationwide," he said. "More and more departments are offering this service."

Malloch explained the online filing is expected to give officers more time to respond to other crimes, as well as give police a better understanding of hot spots around the city for certain crimes.

Police say low-level offenses sometimes go unreported because people don't want to wait to have an officer respond to their home or business. The more crime information investigators

are able to collect, the better they are at determining where patrols need to be placed, for example, Malloch said.

"It does free up officer time," he said, adding, "But, it also allows us to collect the information that we need and that we utilize in our crime analysis models."

Incidents that can be reported online include property crimes where there is no identified suspect, witness information or physical evidence to collect — such as some vandalism, harassing phone calls or vehicle burglaries.

Thefts of firearms or prescription medications won't be accepted through the Web, Malloch said. Victims of those crimes should still call police.

The public can text “GOTCHA” to 274637 or call 874-8584.

Police nab accused Old Port purse snatcher Portland police have arrested a man accused of wrestling a purse away from a woman during a robbery in the Old Port early Saturday.

Michael Morehead, 34, of Gorham, was charged with robbery after a woman accused him of stealing her purse while she was walking with a friend in the area of 180 Commercial St., said Lt. Gary Rogers, a police spokesman.

“They noticed a person was following,” Rogers said. “They became con-

cerned because there weren’t many other people around as they were leaving the Old Port.”

Morehead is accused of struggling with the woman and then pushing her to the ground after she refused to give up her purse, Rogers said. Morehead fled on foot after finally wrestling the purse from her.

Officers responding to the call and located Morehead near the corner of York and Maple streets, Rogers said.

He was still in possession of the victim’s belongings.

The woman suffered minor injuries to her knee as result of being pushed to the ground, police said.

Man loses groceries during afternoon attack A Portland man told police that he was walking in the area of Deering and High streets Sunday afternoon when he was robbed of his groceries, officials said.

The victim told officers he was knocked to the ground by two men and then punched in the stomach. The suspects, at least one of which was known to the victim, then fled with his store goods, police said.

The two men apparently waited until the victim arrived at an isolated section of the street before attacking him, police said.

The suspects made off with milk, vegetables and ground beef, police said.

Man attacked with club A 25-year-old man was charged with aggravated assault in the connection of the Sunday morning beating of another man with what was described as a nightstick, police said.

Zachary McDougall was arrested in the Old Port after a 21-year-old man reported he was approached by four men and attacked with some sort of club or stick. The victim had left a party and was approached by the men who were at the same party, police said.

The victim was hit several times in the torso. The four men fled the area in a cab, police said.

McDougall was located sometime later.

Portland PD launches Peaks Patrol blog site The Portland Police Department has started a new blog for the department’s Peaks Patrol, the department reported.

“Postings on this site will include information regarding police calls and other information useful to Peaks Island residents,” reads the blog, at http://peaksislandpatrol.blogspot. com, which is dated Thursday, Dec. 8.

The Island services unit provides police patrol services to Peaks Island, according to the Portland Police website.

Bomb threat sparks search of OccupyMaine encampment

BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

Authorities spent about two hours searching for an explosive in the area of Lincoln Park Monday, after a Westbrook man claimed he placed a bomb in the area targeting OccupyMaine, police said.

Officers conducted a search of the encampment and surrounding area with the help of bomb-detecting dogs.

They determined the area was free

of any incendiary device, but said Monday afternoon that a suspect had been identified in the threat.

The Portland Police Department received information from an outside agency at about 9:30 a.m., said Cmdr.

Vern Malloch, of the PPD. "It was third hand from another law enforcement agency. Someone communicated this information to them" said Malloch, declining to name the department that alerted local officials

to the threat, only to say that Westbrook and Bath police agencies were involved in the investigation.

Police searched nearby vehicles and buildings, including the exterior of the Cumberland County Courthouse, the Federal Courthouse and the Portland Fire Department's Central Station. There were no evacuations of the park or any of the nearby buildings, Malloch said.

"The threat was specific to something being on the outside, so that is

where we focused," he said.

No specific information about the location or size of the device was given to local officials, and Malloch said members of OccupyMaine were asked to leave their tents and move to other areas of the park to allow police to search for any signs of a bomb.

"That wasn't intended as an evacuation," he said. "That's really more to allow the dogs to stay focused and to work without distraction."

ACLU of Maine has urged city to let OccupyMaine remain in Lincoln Park COURTS from page 8

the occupation that don’t infringe upon the protest.

“To me, it doesn't seem like (OccupyMaine) can express that any other way,” he said. “They can have a march, but that’s not the equivalent of what they are trying to say. That to me is the strongest First

Amendment argument that they should be allowed to stay, that there is no other way to get across the message.”

The ACLU of Maine, formerly the Maine Civil Liberties Union, has urged the city to let OccupyMaine protesters remain in Lincoln Park.

Wood, the city attorney, refused to comment on

First Amendment legal issues raised by OccupyMaine.

Branson would not identify anyone in the legal working group, citing confidentiality, but did say its members included Occupy protesters and attorneys.

Branson declined to discuss any First Amendment arguments the group might make before a judge.

Page 16 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Fiddler on the roof

Mike Conant, a fiddler from New Gloucester who plays at weddings, birthday functions and parties, practices “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” a song made famous by Charlie Daniels, on top of the Time and Temperature building’s parking garage Monday. Conant plays on street corners, most recently in front of the Nickelodeon Theater in Portland. He ascended to the top of the four-level parking garage for a chance to practice. “I get drive-by requests for that song,” he said. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)

Grant supports Native American artists DAILY SUN STAFF REPORT The directors of the Maine Community Foundation have approved a Maine Expansion Arts Grant for the 2012 Maine Summer Market and Demonstration to be held on Aug. 25, 2012, at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester, the Shaker Village reported.

The grant money will allow for an increased number of performances by

Maine Native American artists.

“The Market and Demo celebrates in its fourth year not only the achievements of some 15 artists but also the over 200-year-old connection between the Maine tribes and the Maine Shakers,” the village reported in a press release.

The Shaker Village is located on Route 26, approximately eight miles north of Exit 63 of the Maine Turnpike in Gray.

BUY AMERICAN MAYTAG MAXIMA High Efficiency Front Load Laundry Pair MHW7000XW: Steam Washer: REG. $1299 MED6000XW: Steam Electric Dryer: REG. $1199

E IN TH MADE

USA LDE, OH

CY

E IN TH MADE

USA MA

OH RION,

SAVE

$

80000

SALE

On the Pair

PAY ONLY

while they last

$1598 FOR THE PAIR After Rebates – Limited Supply

Plus FREE Steam Washer Upgrade

146 Rand Road, Portland LIMITED OFFER! (Exit 47 off I-95) CALL TODAY 772-8436