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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011
VOL. 3 NO. 169
PORTLAND, ME
PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
699-5801
FREE
N. Deering eyes neighborhood watch BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
Thieves and vandals targeting Portland’s North Deering neighborhood will soon have to be on the lookout for more than just city police officers. A group of residents who make up the North Deering Neighborhood Association are spearheading a push toward community policing by establishing a crime watch program. Organizers, along with the help
A forum about a North Deering Neighborhood Watch program is 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at Lyman Moore Middle School of the help of the Portland Police Department, are hosting a public meeting geared at fighting crime in their neighborhood. The forum — slated for Thursday, Oct. 6 at Lyman Moore Middle School — aims
to get residents involved with looking for suspicious behavior, learning about their neighbors, all the while discussing strategies for lowering crime. “You have to keep the ball rolling,” said Tim St. Hilaire, president of the NDNA. “We’ve had several meetings but I think this is another push to try and keep things moving. I’m optimistic.” The association has installed about 20 see WATCH page 6
Amtrak expansion on track, but could funding be derailed? Adam Cottrell with Pan Am Railways drives a ballast regulator, used to adjust railroad tracks, during a crossing upgrade on Route 9 in Cumberland Monday. Cottrell was working on the Amtrak Downeaster Expansion Construction Project, which includes the rehabilitation of approximately 27 miles of track between Portland and Brunswick, owned by Pan Am Railways, and approximately 1.2 miles of track in Brunswick owned by the Maine Department of Transportation. This job will connect Brunswick and Portland, with passenger rail stops in Freeport. It’s due for completion next fall. While Maine is leading on rail service expansion, not everyone favors public funding of Amtrak, and efforts to defund the rail service have emerged this month in Congress. For a story, see page 3. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)
Med pot dispensary leases space in Portland BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
Northeast Patients Group, which holds permits to open four medical marijuana dispensaries in Maine, has found a home for its Portland-area clinic. Becky DeKeuster, NPG’s executive director, tells MaineBiz that the nonprofit has
Lone wolf cook — See Natalie Ladd, page 4
leased a 6,500-square-foot office at 685 Congress St. The space is located near Longfellow Square, and is in the same building as Local 188. DeKeuster did not return calls seeking comment yesterday. She told MaineBiz the space will be renovated and still must be approved by the city. She did not say when
Kids and dining — See page 5
the Portland location would open. NPG has yet to open any dispensaries, despite holding permits that cover some of Maine’s most populated areas, including Portland, Greater Bangor, Augusta-Waterville and the Mid-Coast region. NPG also operates a growing facility in Thomaston. see DISPENSARY page 2
Velourosaurus: A name with ‘juice’ — See page 8