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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
VOL. 3 NO. 171
PORTLAND, ME
PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
699-5801
FREE
First Lady fundraising in Portland BY DAVID CARKHUFF THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
In a fundraiser for her husband’s re-election campaign, First Lady Michelle Obama will give a speech at a luncheon today at Portland’s Ocean Gateway terminal. It’s believed to be the First Lady’s first trip to Portland. “We don’t believe she’s been to Maine before,” said a Democratic official familiar with the Obama 2012 fundraiser. “There’s going to be 650 expected attendees, including Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud,” the official said. A by-reservation-only event, the fundraiser sold out by Thursday, the official said. Tickets started at $100, doors open at 1 p.m., and the pro-
Eastland Park Hotel cancels weddings, other events ahead of renovation
gram begins at 2:30 p.m. Willy Ritch, spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, expected Pingree to be one of four or five speakers to precede the First Lady at the podium. “The congresswoman is very excited to see her here. She feels that Mrs. Obama is a real leader on food policy and healthy living,” Ritch said. The First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, which seeks to provide children access to healthy, nutritious food, was elevated on July 20 when the First Lady announced a plan to team with grocers and other retailers to bring healthy and affordable food to communities that have not had access to them. “Mrs. Obama has been a real
Michelle Obama addresses a gathering at The Arts Center in Fayetteville, N.C., March 12, 2009, on her first official trip as First Lady. The First Lady is in Portland today for a fundraiser. (Official White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
leader on these issues, she’s made them part of the national dialogue, she’s brought attention to them, it makes it easier
for Congresswoman Pingree to work on these issues,” Ritch said. see FIRST LADY page 8
Gourds a plenty
BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
The Eastland Park Hotel has canceled dozens of private functions planned for next year in anticipation of a full or partial shut-down caused by a multimillion dollar renovation project. Meanwhile, company officials still won't say whether the hotel will drop the Eastland name or align with a major hotel chain such as Westin, which has been rumored for some time. Bruce Wennerstrom, the hotel’s general manager and a vice president with New Castle Hotels & Resorts, has confirmed that the hotel has canceled nearly 40 weddings, bar mitzvahs and other social functions that were scheduled for next year. “During the course of next year,
Phillip Tuttrow and Isaac, 2, of South Portland pause from admiring the pumpkins at the Portland Farmer’s Market in Monument Square Wednesday. Isaac also had fun rolling a toy car on bricks near the farm booths. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)
see EASTLAND page 3
Mural of Dorian Gray — See Bob Higgins on page 4 Lyric’s ‘Millie’ — See a review, page 8 Vampires in the cemetery — See page 14