The Portland Daily Sun, Wednesday, September 7, 2011

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

VOL. 3 NO. 154

PORTLAND, ME

PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

699-5801

FREE

‘Explosive risk’ defused at city plant Hazardous chemical reaction causes scare at city’s East End wastewater facility BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

Emergency officials say the potential for a serious situation at the East End's wastewater treatment plant was averted Tuesday after two chemicals, not meant to be combined, “If you don’t get were accidentally mixed together. burned and you’re Fire Chief standing near it, Fred LaMontagne said every- you can still breath thing was safe in these fumes and and stabilized it can cause lung at the Portland damage.” — Tom Water District's Peredy, medical waste treatment plant Tuesday director of the afternoon. His Northern New announcement England Poison came after 500 Center gallons of liquid sodium hypochlorite and sodium bisulfite were mixed in a 2,500-gallon container. Combining the chemicals used to treat wastewater generates heat and see SCARE page 3

Emergency responders consult outside the East End Wastewater Treatment Plant Tuesday after a hazardous chemical incident. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)

Vote expected on $1.5M Kotzschmar Organ bond BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

City councilors are expected to vote tonight on a $1.5 million bond package that would pay for improvements to Merrill Auditorium and repairs to the 99-yearold Kotzschmar Organ. Debt service on the 10-year bond would be paid for by continuing $2-per-ticket surcharge that was created in 1995 for a similar improvement project. That $2.3 million bond is due to be retired

Ugly Sea Dogs season ends with a whimper BY JEFF PETERSON SPECIAL TO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

within a few months. The nonprofit group Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ has pledged to raise another $1.5 million through private fundraisers to cover the remaining cost of the organ repair, which is estimated at $2.5 million.

It was a predictable ending of the 2011 season for the Portland Sea Dogs. They lost and drew another big crowd. A Labor Day crowd of 4,763 saw the Sea Dogs fall behind early 5-0 and never recover in an 8-3 defeat. It ended a miserable season on the field. This edition of the Sea Dogs ended up with the worst record in franchise history at 59-83. It started promising with a 4-3 opening night win back on April 7. That would be

see ORGAN page 13 RIGHT: Kathleen Grammer, executive director of Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, stands below the 6,862-pipe organ in Merrill Auditorium. (DAVID CARKHUFF FILE PHOTO)

Man charged in pharmacy robbery

Advice to the president

See Crime Briefs on page 3

See Ray Richardson on page 4

see SEA DOGS page 9

Shedding toxic friends Ire over eatery host’s faux pas See Maggie Knowles on page 5

See the restaurant column, page 7


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