westbrook
sports
new fees likely for events
bayak takes first at new englands
Page 7
Page 11
American Journal
Vol. 68 Issue 23
News of Westbrook, Gorham,
Buxton & the region
Rams headed to state championship
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Gorham passes school budget By Robert Lowell
Gorham Rams baseball team captains, Nolan Brown, left, Ben Nelson and Brogan McDonald, bearing the team’s Regional Champions plaque, rush back to their teammates Tuesday after their defeat of Cheverus 3-2 in the A South Regional Final at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish. Gorham will face Bangor in the state championship Saturday. Story, page 11. Staff photo by Adam Birt
GORHAM — After a divisive lead-up to the validation vote, a standing-room-only crowd at a Town Council meeting on it and a social media stir, residents on Tuesday ratified a $38.9 million school budget. The budget easily passed 2,431-1,664. In a sweep, Gorham voters approved the budget in Ward 1-1, Ward 1-2, Ward 2 and Central. There was a 31 percent voter turnout, according to the town clerk. Darryl Wright, School Committee chairman, on Wednesday thanked the voters. "The community of Gorham has always been
Gorham, page 18
School construction to heat up over summer By Michael Kelley WESTBROOK — School will soon be out for the school year, but Saccarappa Elementary School and Westbrook Middle School will be a busy place this summer. Saccarappa Principal Brian Mazjanis said the school being vacant of students will allow workers from Arthur C. Dudley Contractor Builder Inc. to rehabili-
tate classrooms in the 1953 wing of the school so that students will be able to use those classrooms starting next fall. Work will also continue on the new section of school. "So it doesn't look like an old school and a new school" in one building, Mazjanis said, renovations in the existing building are "extensive." The $27.3 million school expansion project, which voters approved in
November 2016, is aimed at reducing the overcrowding at Saccarappa, Congin and Canal elementary schools and Westbrook Middle School. The school district is projected to have 2,019 students by the 2025-26 school year, which would include 122 additional students at the elementary schools, 136 students at the middle school and 73 students at
School construction, page 17
Saccarappa Principal Brian Mazjanis, left, talks with Superintendent Peter Lancia in space that will become the school's new gymnasium. Staff photo by Michael Kelley
page 2
American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Gale, Aranson lead Dem primaries for D.A., probate
cans did not field any primary candidates. That shuts the GOP out of the Nov. 6 general election, and no unenrolled candidates met the June 1 state deadline to file nomination papers to run in November. In that race, also with 98 percent of precincts reporting, attorney Paul Aranson led Charles Kahill and Rubin Segal, 10,603 votes to 9,620 and 8,650, respectively. Aranson is also a former Cumberland County district attorney; he was replaced by Anderson. In the remaining county-wide race,
incumbent Sheriff Kevin Joyce, a Democrat, was unopposed in his primary election. The Republicans did not field a candidate in the primaries. The Democrats running for district attorney all promised to change the office and take an approach emphasizing diversion and treatment when possible over incarceration for offenders. Each of the candidates has been in private practice. Gale has served as an assistant district attorney in Aroostook and York counties, and was an intern in Cumberland
County at the beginning of his legal career. Tarpinian leads the Kennebec County Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Unit. While some towns, including Gorham and Windham, hadn't posted election results on their websites, local returns showed Gale won in Portland and South Portland, while Levy won overwhelmingly in Brunswick, where he has an office. Tarpinian carried Westbrook with 40 percent of the vote. In that city, Gale received 36 percent of the vote and Levy 24 percent. Tarpinian also won in Gray. In the race for judge of probate, Aranson, Kahill and Segal are seeking to replace incumbent Judge Joseph Mazziotti, who did not seek a third term. In Westbrook, voters chose Aranson, 42 percent, over Kahill, 33 percent, and Segal, 26 percent. The Cumberland County Probate Court handles 25 percent of all probate filings in the state, according to the county website. Those filings include last wills and testaments, estate distributions, name changes and adoptions, and guardianships and conservatorships. David Harry can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or dharry@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.
Senate District 28. Sanborn, who represents House District 43, defeated City Councilor Jill Duson, 3,078 to 2,181. In Westbrook, Sanborn, with 57 per-
cent of the vote, defeated Duson 666495. Westbrook resident Patrick Martin was unopposed in the GOP primary for the seat. The general election is Nov. 6. Sanborn, who won Dion's former House seat in 2016 when he was elected to the Senate, said she won on the basics. "I knocked on a lot of doors, talked to a lot of voters, and listened to a lot of voters," she said. "We talked about the big issues – clean energy, affordable health care and school funding." David Harry can be reached at 7813661 ext. 110 or dharry@theforecaster. net. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.
State Rep. Heather Sanborn, right, greets a voter at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland on June 12. Sanborn won the Democratic nomination in Senate District 28. Staff photo by David Harry
By David Harry PORTLAND — Two contested Democratic primary elections Tuesday could reshape Cumberland County courts and criminal justice. In the first, attorney Jon Gale led the Democratic primary for Cumberland County district attorney, with attorneys Frayla Tarpinian and Seth Levy trailing in an election that did not use ranked-choice voting. With 98 percent of precincts counted as of early Wednesday afternoon, the Portland Press Herald reported Gale had 11,594 votes, Tarpinian had 10,424 and Levy had 10,055. The winner moves on to the Nov. 6 general election, facing Republican Randall Bates and independent Jonathan Sahrbeck. Bates, an attorney who has also served on the Yarmouth Town Council, was unopposed in the GOP primary. Sahrbeck is currently a Cumberland County assistant district attorney. The candidates are vying to replace incumbent Republican Stephanie Anderson, who served seven terms and did not seek re-election. The three-way Democratic race for Cumberland County probate judge is most likely a winner-take-all event, since Republi-
Cumberland County District Attorney candidate Jon Gale says hello to voters outside Deering High School in Portland on June 12. Gale led in the three-way party primary for the office with 98 percent of votes counted. Staff photo by David Harry
Sanborn Democratic nominee for Senate District 28 By David Harry PORTLAND — State Rep. Heather Sanborn Tuesday won the Democratic nomination to replace Sen. Mark Dion in
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American Journal
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Thursday, June 14, 2018
page 3
Westbrook school budget passes by wide margin By Michael Kelley WESTBROOK — Voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the $38.6 million school operating budget, which easily passed in each of the city's five wards. The budget, which was approved by 70 percent of the voters, represents a $2.3 million, or 6.4 percent, increase over the current school budget. Taxpayers will be asked to foot $20.4 million of that figure, a $1.5 million, or 8.3 percent, increase over current year. "I am really pleased with the results and grateful," Superintendent Peter Lancia said Wednesday morning. "I am especially pleased with the margin of the yes votes. I know it was a hard budget season and a long budget season." Ward 3 resident Terry Bryson, a teacher at Great Falls Elementary School in Gorham, said support of the school budget is "so imperative right now." Bryson was one of the 2,332 voters who approved the budget. "I definitely see the need for the budget," she said as she exited to polls at Westbrook High School Tuesday morning. "With the growing number of students, we need as much support as we can for the schools." Though he was happy to support the school spending plan, Bill Williams would like to see even more funding allotted to the schools. "I don't think we are funding our schools enough at the state, federal and local levels," said Williams, a resident of Ward 2, where 72 percent of voters approved the budget. Williams said he would like to see teachers get a pay raise and more funding for music and the arts, instruction he said was "instrumental" to his daughters, one of whom
Voters from Wards 1 and 4 cast their ballots Tuesday evening at the Westbrook Community Center gymnasium. Staff photo by Michael Kelley works as a music teacher in the Mount Ararat School System. Ward 3 resident Kelly Day was one of the 322 voters in her ward to support the budget, putting her faith in the School Committee to develop an appropriate budget. "I trust them to do what's best for our community and out kids. I am all for learning and education," she said. Dwayne McCrillis, also of Ward 3, said his child is not yet school age, but it still was important to him to vote in favor of the school budget. "I voted yes to approve the school budget, absolutely," he said. "I have a 3-year-old who will be coming up through the system, so I think we need to approve it. Westbrook is a good schools system. I went through it." While the budget found strong support across the city, close to 30 percent, or 991 voters, opted to reject the budget, including Timothy Fecteau, a resident of Ward 1. Fec-
teau said he voted against the budget, as he has in previous years, due to his concern with increasing property taxes. Increased taxes were also a concern for John Griffin, who moved into Ward 4 a year ago. "I understand all the communities want top-shelf education, but every year, it's a (tax increase). I just came from Portland, so I am used to it, but it is tough to balance. It's the same in every community," he said. Lancia said voters who opposed the budget can be assured the school department will "be careful stewards of funding" and said his door is always open for residents to talk to him about things going on in the schools. "(The vote) shows to me the community is supportive of the schools as they always have been and supports the work we are doing, the initiatives we have and the direction we are taking," he said. The largest budget drivers in the budget,
Road. Kimberly Beam, town treasurer, said the proposed budget is $6.6 million, up $172,627 from the present $6.4 million budget. Hiram Davis, moderator, will officiate the town meeting. In balloting Tuesday, Chad Poitras running unopposed was reelected selectman for three years. In other uncontested town races, Christopher Baldinelli and Keith Emery retained
Planning Board seats for three years; Craig Lefebvre was elected to the Planning Board for a one-year term; and David Field and Scott Warchol were elected to three-year terms on the Budget Committee.
Lancia said, were a $900,000 bond payment for school construction projects at Saccarappa School and Westbrook Middle School, $235,000 in security improvements at the high school and four new staff positions – two STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teachers, a social worker and a lunch duty aide at Westbrook Middle School. Director of Operations Dean Flanagin said the security improvements are targeted at door and access control. In a letter to the school community Lancia said the budget also includes "higher than expected costs for employee benefits and contractual obligations." Lancia said the hiring of the new STEM teachers, who will split time between the three elementary schools, is part of the district's multi-year effort to increase the science, technology, engineering and math offerings across Westbrook schools. The 2017-18 school year saw an investment of such instruction at the high school and an investment is planned for the middle school for the 2019-20 school year. "It's always been one of our most popular programs. A number of our top 10 percent have chosen to pursue STEM. It's about building that path for kids," Lancia said. Lancia said the hiring of the social worker is also part of a multi-year effort to better meet students' social and emotional learning. "This is not haphazard," Lancia said of the investments. "These are all to address the needs of all our students." Michael Kelley can be reached at 781-3661 x 125 or mkelley@keepmecurrent.com or on Twitter @mkelleynews.
Buxton voters fill seats; SAD 6 budget wins approval By Robert Lowell BUXTON — Voters Tuesday filled municipal and School Administrative District 6 positions in addition to passing the $49.6 million school budget, which won overall district approval. Buxton voters will decide a municipal budget at a town meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 16, at Town Hall, 185 Portland
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SAD 6, page 18
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American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Opinion
The rise of the ugly American
There is an ugly new America I no longer recognize as the land I love. It is not the land of the free and the home of the brave. It’s the land of the creep and the home of depraved. Not that this is really anything new. “By the end of the nineteenth century,” British historian Simon S c h a m a wrote in a brilliant 2003 article in The New Yorkby Edgar Allen Beem er magazine article entitled “The Unloved American,” “the stereotype of the ugly American – voracious, preachy, mercenary, and bombastically chauvinist – was firmly in place in Europe. Even the claim that the United States was built on a foundation stone of liberty was seen as a fraud. America had grown rich on slavery.” Well, at the beginning of the 21st century, these ugly Americans are everywhere in evidence and power. I now understand what Europeans have known for a century. The president of ugly America, Donald J. Trump, is a standard-bearer for the self-righteous self-interest that is the animating concept of the insecure ugly American. Imagine the leader of a democratic republic who thinks he is above the law, that even if he is found guilty of collusion or obstruction of justice, he can just pardon himself in an act of tyrannical infallibility. The ugly side of America is clear to the rest of the world when they see ICE and border patrol agents separating 10,000 immigrant children from their families in an act of hatefulness and cruelty that ugly Americans like Attorney General Jeff Session say is required by law. Not in the land of the free and the home of the brave, it isn’t. But this act of official xenophobia is in keeping with the agenda of the new ugly America, which has abrogated its leadership role in the world, alienating our allies, pandering to our enemies, and failing miserably on the foreign trade, environmental protection and human rights fronts. There is a simple-mindedness to the ugly Americans that does not allow them to recognize their own bigotry. Archie Bunker was a satire of bigotry, folks. Roseanne Barr is just a bigot. But this emboldening of the ignorant and the prejudiced is what you get when the president of ugly America is the head cheerleader for racial division.
The Universal Notebook
Beem, page 6
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The Sweet hereafter This campaign season, dead people keep turning up in curious places. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Max Linn had a bunch of corpses sign his nominating petitions, resulting in his disqualification from the ballot. And Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Betsy Sweet claims to have regular conversations with the dearly departed. Since announcing her candidacy over a year ago, Sweet has done a credible job of appearing to be a normal person. Well, as normal a person as a lobbyist by Al Diamon can be. She displayed a decent grasp of the issues, a workable sense of humor and an easily understandable agenda. In short, she did an excellent job of concealing her intrinsic weirdness. Besides being a lobbyist, Sweet is also a therapist. According to her website, she offers “Tools for Joyful Living,” “Energy Balancing” and “mediumship readings.” Actually, that last one is no longer on her site, scrubbed from view sometime after she decided to run for office. But muckraker Crash Barry found it in a cache last week and spread the news around. For a mere 90 bucks, Sweet claimed to be able to put you in touch with the sort of somewhat decayed people who show up on Max Linn’s petitions.
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According to the site, Sweet promises to contact “loved ones or guides” to aid in a person’s “healing and growth.” It goes on to say, “After speaking with you for a bit about what is currently going on in your life I will ‘tune in’ and see what information is available to you. ... I generally ‘see’ the person and feel their presence and then share their guidance with you. I do not ‘channel’ per se, nor do I consider myself ‘psychic’ – rather I serve as a conduit for the messages that guides and your loved ones want to get through to you.” Sweet doesn’t claim any special powers, saying anyone could hear what she hears, “but we are discouraged from hearing it in our culture.” So, it’s sort of like trying to get legislators to listen to reason. The service is available in person, by phone, Skype or Facetime. The dead recognize that reaching them needs to be as convenient as possible. I spoke with Sweet by phone, not to reach out to friends in the great beyond, but to make sure this posting was real and accurately described the services she was offering. She told me she has a master’s degree in therapy and uses “a full range of methods to try and help people.” She said her $90 sessions
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American Journal
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Opinion
Thursday, June 14, 2018
page 5
Adjust your mask, breathe deeply I don’t know about you, but I’ve been basis. Of course, I’m not actually going anyfeeling a tad trampled lately. I know that sounds overly dramat- where. This is equally my mess; I’m a voter, ic, but that’s how it is. National politics, I live here, and it is not really my thing to run away when the state politics. I’ve going gets tough. been stunned by At the same time the actions of our that escapism is national leaders – clearly irresponand I use that term sible, the overloosely – and horriby Heather D. Martin whelming nature of fied by statements the worry has paramade by people I lyzed me. I am so crushed by my inability had previously looked to for guidance. Simultaneously, suicide has claimed the to stop the awful things from happening, I lives of two public figures who seemingly can barely move. That’s pretty irresponsi“had it all,” and I am very aware we have ble too, really. Naturally, good liberal that I am, also lost many more who were equally special to those who loved them, if out of the famous Gandhi quote about “be the change” came to mind, but it has the national spotlight. It’s been rough. My mood has been dark, been so overused. It has lost its punch and I’ve Googled more than one ridicu- and become a poster. Then, randomly, lous escapist fantasy. I now receive odd because I am a quotation/citation stickpop-up ads for New Zealand on a regular ler, I looked it up. I’d had a vague sense
Mainewhile
the poster version had it wrong. I was right. Here is the actual quote: “We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. ... We need not wait to see what others do.” Gobsmacked. I read, and reread. I sat, and I pondered. Heady stuff, Gandhi. How to do this? My mind leaped, oddly, to the airline directive to “apply your own air mask first.” I know, I know: far less poetic and less deep, and I apologize for the grinding of mental gears, but it is very clear on action. We need to make sure we are getting enough oxygen to survive before we can begin to help others. I certainly needed to breathe deeply. I’ve made a start. I have a lot of “good” on hand. I am not
unaware or neglectful of the many blessings in my world. What I have begun to do is to consciously take more notice of them, and to feed those areas more regularly. Saturday, I grabbed the kid and the sweetie and went to a Sea Dogs game. It was perfect. I have zero sense of the politics of the guy in the stands who caught the high fly ball, and I don’t want to. The moment he raised his glove, victorious, the entire stadium cheered, and that’s enough. I’ve also been baking, reading non-serious mysteries, making good tea and playing in the garden. I hope you all take a moment to sit, and breathe and make sure you have your own air mask securely affixed. There’s a long road, and a lot of work ahead. Breathe deep. Brunswick resident Heather D. Martin wants to know what's on your mind; email her at heather@heatherdmartin.com.
Diamon, from page 4 were “not a seance kind of thing,” but rather an effort to help her clients get in touch with their “spiritual side.” “We can access that in lots of different ways,” Sweet said. “All methods are very valid.” But did she actually believe she was talking to the dead? “I don’t want to talk about the details of what I do with my clients,” she said. Which is uncomfortably close to the excuse Max Linn made after all those signatures of deceased folks were found on his petitions. I know there are plenty of people who believe in this sort of thing, but I’m not one of them. It’s hard enough to contact customer service, let alone a customer-service representative who’s thrown off this mortal coil. I think virtually all mediums, like virtually all politicians, are con artists, preying on the weak and gullible. So, Sweet’s two professions have plenty of potential overlap. I realize that by the time you read this you may already have voted. My late uncle, Pendergrass Fennwharton Oddsbottom III, has advised me (he has an email newsletter, so no medium is required) that Sweet is unlikely to win the Democratic primary, ranked-choice voting notwithstanding. If old Uncle Pendy is correct (he did hit the trifecta at the Belmont Stakes), then we don’t have to worry about Sweet running the state the way Nancy Reagan and her astrologer once tried to run the country. But if he’s wrong (he once advised investing heavily in cold fusion), we need to give serious consideration to whether we want somebody in the Blaine House who’s communing with dead political scoundrels like Ralph Owen Brewster or deceased incompetents like James Longley Sr. Because if advice from the dead becomes acceptable in state government, it’s only a matter of time before we’re going to have to allow them to sign Max Linn’s petitions. Ask your long-buried friends what my computer password is, and email the answer to aldiamon@herniahill.net.
STOP THE TEXTS. STOP THE WRECKS.
page 6
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Opinion
American Journal
Remembering Gordon Strout, an extraordinary colleague For more than two decades in Gorham belief in and a commitment to Presihe was known as Mr. Strout, the British dent Kennedy's civic challenge: “...ask what you can do for literature teacher your country.” and play director, Classroom pubuntil his retirement lic service seemed in 2005. Since we By Bob Clark a natural calling for shared interest in Gordon's emergSpanish, I enjoyed ing talent; he was a born communicalling him “jefe” (the cator. His reflective nature led to the boss), el cap-i-tan, or high degree of what can be considered El Tio-Uncle Gordon. a form of “self-actualization." This was This March, while notable in his enthusiastic, yet patient here on an annual ski manner. vacation, an unexpectWe had set out wide-eyed in the Vieted illness caused him nam War era. Later, by coincidence in to pass away. the 1980s, our lives would reconnect as Gordon Strout Gordan Strout members of the same faculty. In addiextended generosity, tion to processing daily administrative projected a fun-loving attitude, and quietly maintained a details, Gordon's teaching style was curiosity for gadgets. Our paths crossed exemplary to include a yearbook dedisome 45 years ago as graduates in search cation. His cheerful classroom animaof teaching positions, both enjoying the tion was known to spark increased par-
Guest Column
ticipation, the outcome of which boosted literary insight and levels of project research. The characteristic motto: “Watch And Learn” allowed him to model successful behavior – to demonstrate by design. Idealism held his attention. A poor outcome was taken as nothing more than an opportunity to invest in a better one. The more I came to know him, the more I found him to be multi-tasking his multi-tasks. El Tio was forever tinkering. Surrounding his school duties, he showed a readiness to share person to person. His passion for literature, for artwork, maps and travel, architecture, machinery, and especially the power of a sailing wind – for any number of activities – filled his days with pleasure. He operated with the care of a museum curator, the instinctive pursuit of a bird dog and the optimism of an alchemist. He could read a book nearly in one sitting. This ability to focus served him well when he was interpreting writings of William Shakespeare or "The Canterbury Tales" for student lessons, and after hours masterfully arranging play presentations. He related complex, scripted
Beem, from page 4 Trump sees racial animus as a winning strategy with his base. Some National Football League players sought to call attention to the plague of police violence against black people and Trump made political hay with the demonstrations by perverting the message. It is no more disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem than it is to kneel while praying. Americans did not fight and die for a flag or a song, they fought and died for freedom, including the freedom to stand, kneel or lie down during the national anthem. Flag-waving pseudo-patriots of ugly America dishonor the dead when they insist we must all do as we are told. Ugly America is led by people who not only do not believe in America and the rule of law, but actively work against it. EPA head Scott Pruitt hands America over to polluters while his staff pursues a Chick-Fil-A franchise with his wife and he protects himself with a small army of security guards. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is every bit as incompetent and self-serving as Pruitt. Her latest outrage is the admission that her school safety commission, empaneled in the aftermath of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that left 17 dead, will not actually be considering gun violence. Why not? Because if there is any-
STOP THE TEXTS. STOP THE WRECKS.
You speak, we listen
dialogue with types of encouragement that instilled confidence in his students. A remarkable vision of Gordon, aside from watching him clip in his prized Sebago spinnaker, was when dressed in a tuxedo he would walk calmly to center spotlight and graciously welcome the wider community to its fall play or spring musical. He coordinated these with professional knowledge and unlimited praise, his inclusive approach attracted actor, stage crew and parent volunteers alike. Those were pride-filled times; hundreds of hours he had invested to assemble Broadway productions so we could, for a delightful evening, view the next generation's talent. I knew how much these events meant to him. A fellow teacher of ours kept the motivational quotation “Find A Way – Or Make One” on his science wall. Gordon always found a way to make one. My family friend and extraordinary colleague made good use of his gift. Muy bien! Bob Clark of Windham retired from the World Languages Department of Gorham High School in 2015.
thing an ugly American values more than God and country, it’s guns. This soulless, morally bankrupt ugly America pays lip-service to Christianity, but, as Simon Schama observed in “The Unloved American,” “Just as obnoxious as the fraud of liberty was the fraud of Christian piety, a finger-jabbing rectitude incapable of asserting a policy without invoking the Deity as a co-sponsor.” The spiritual leaders of ugly America are mega-church millionaires who fleece their flocks of frightened followers. Billy Graham was beloved. Franklin Graham is bereft, a putative “Christian” who reveres a heathen. Trump has had serial affairs, pays hush money to porn stars, and brags about groping women, but Brother Graham says Trump’s philandering is “nobody’s business.” "I believe Donald Trump is a good man," Graham said. "He did everything wrong as a candidate and he won, and I don't understand it. Other than I think God put him there." God so loved America that he gave us Donald J. Trump? I don’t think so. I’m not a big believer in divine intervention in national affairs, but it seems more likely that a far more evil being might have had a hand in the rise of the ugly American. Freelance journalist Edgar Allen Beem lives in Brunswick. The Universal Notebook is his personal, weekly look at the world around him.
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American Journal
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Thursday, June 14, 2018
page 7
City departments reviewed for restructuring By Michael Kelley WESTBROOK — With the new fiscal year set to begin July 1, City Administrator Jerre Bryant is working to fill director vacancies in the human resources department and community services department. Human Resources Director Jennifer Ogden is on medical leave though the end of the Bryant month and will not be returning. Bryant said he cannot elaborate on that situation because of the Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act, which protects the disclosure of private medical records and personal health information. Prior to her medical leave Huntress, hired in 2016, had been on administrative leave. The makeup of the human resources department, which Bryant is leading in the interim, will be restructured in the new fiscal
year. Ogden's position will be replaced with an assistant city manager/human resources director, who would split time between the two tasks. Bryant has previously said the impetus of the restructuring was the school district pulling out of the agreement it had with the city to handle its human resources duties. "It is technically a layoff because the position won't exist starting July 1," Bryant said. Bryant said last week that he is still working on drafting a job description for the new position. Over the last few years, the city has had an assistant city administrator/economic development director. Former Police Chief Bill Baker served in that capacity from 2012 until May 2016 when he was replaced on an interim basis by John Wipfler, who was with the city for 18 months until September 2017. The city decided to modify the position to have a greater focus on economic development and in October Daniel Stevenson was hired from his economic development position in the city of Biddeford to focus on
economic and community development in Westbrook on a full-time basis. "I am hoping to have someone in that position in the month of July," Bryant said. As he works to draft the job description for the new city administrator/human resources director, he is also working on filling the void at the community services department but "at this point we have initiated nothing," he said June 7. Rather than advertise the vacancy, Bryant has instead decided to review the makeup of the department to see if it needs restructuring. Former Community Services Director Maria Huntress officially left the position April 13 after months of administrative leave. Deputy Director Greg Post has served as interim director since Huntress left in October. Bryant said he cannot speak to why Huntress were placed on administrative leave. There is no mention of putting employees on administrative leave in the city's charter or code of ordinances,
but in general employees on administrative leave retain their pay and benefits while out of the workplace. Bryant said both Ogden's and Huntress' leaves were "non-disciplinary." Huntress was hired as the city's first community services director in 2010 when the city's recreational department moved to the former Wescott Middle School, which has been transformed into the Westbrook Community Center. Bryant said "when that level of position" becomes vacant, the city looks to see if the departmental structure still makes sense. Bryant said Post has done a good job filling the void, but the structure of the department still warrants a discussion. "Is the structure working? Do we want to continue as we've done the last eight years or do we want to revisit this and tweak some things or so something in a better way," Bryant said. Michael Kelley can be reached at 7813661 x 125 or mkelley@keepmecurrent.com or on Twitter @mkelleynews.
by the city. The security deposit would be returned if the space is left in good condition after the event. To a question from Committee Chairman Gary Rairdon, City Clerk Angela Holmes said the administrative fee would likely be based on the overtime cost for police and fire. The event permit fee would apply for both for-profit and non-profit organizations using public property, but would not apply to events taking place on private property. Deputy Clerk Ashley Rand said the police and fire departments have their own fee structure for services they provide for private events. Rand said the event permit and fee would apply to couples renting Riverbank Park out for their weddings, for example, but only if they are looking for exclusive use of the park during their time there. "This would be for events where the user is demanding exclusive use of the city property," Holmes said. City Administrator Jerre Bryant said non-exclusive use of city property needs only mayoral approval. An event review committee, made up of representatives from public safety, planning and code enforcement, public ser-
vices, community services and the clerk's office, was formed a year ago to develop an event permit application and look into the introduction of fees.The fee structure, Holmes said, is based on the cost to the city for providing services and how other community charge for similar events within their borders. "The intent is not to discourage events, but it can be a drain on city resources," Bryant said. Councilor John O'Hara supported the idea, but would like to strike a provision that stated "there is no alcohol permitted on city property for the event." He said more and more events are allowing alcohol. City Solicitor Natalie Burns said the no alcohol provision in the event permit application stems from the city ordinance that bans alcohol consumption in public parks. O'Hara said he would like that revisted "sooner rather than later." "What the community is doing is draconian. It is not the norm any more. This is
just a blue law put on the books years and years ago," O'Hara said, adding Portland waives the public consumption of alcohol for events held on the Maine State Pier, for example. O'Hara said Westbrook's ordinance prohibits the two craft breweries in the city, Mast Landing Brewing Company and Yes Brewing, from participating in events in public spaces. O'Hara said in many cases alcohol can "enhance" an event experience. A beer garden, he said, would be a nice draw for the musical performances on Friday night at Westbrook Together Days. Depsite this, he applauded the clerk's office for bringing the event permit application and fee forward. "It's been a longtime coming. It is an easy format," he said, adding "you have done a good job putting it together." Michael Kelley can be reached at 7813661 x 125 or mkelley@keepmecurrent.com or on Twitter @mkelleynews.
Westbrook begins process to charge event-holders By Michael Kelley WESTBROOK — Putting on an event such as a 5K road race or other event in the city has been free, but that could soon be changing. The committee of the whole reviewed a proposal Monday from the City Clerk's Office to charge a fee to event organizers who wish to have exclusive use of a city property or whose event uses public property and requires city resources such as police detail or street closures. The idea was met with unanimous support from the five members of the committee in attendance (Councilor Anna Turcotte and Council President Brendan Rielly were absent). Mayor Mike Sanphy said it is likely the event fees will come before the City Council for official review Monday, June 18. Holding such an event, would require the organization to pay a $500 security deposit, a $200 application fee, a fee of $25 a day if the event needs electricity and a $25 portable toilet fee for events where more than 150 people are expected. Events may also be charged an administration/staff fee, which would be determined based on the actual costs incurred
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Thursday, June 14, 2018
Cause of North Street fire under investigation By Michael Kelley WESTBROOK — Local and state fire officials are still investigating a fire last week that destroyed a three-unit apartment building at 9 North St., a short road in the Frenchtown section of the city between Bridge Street and the Presumpscot River. The cause and origin of the fire have not been made public. “The fire is still being investigated at this time,” Westbrook Fire Chief Andrew Turcotte said Monday morning. “The Fire Marshal’s office is assisting us. Once we determine the origin and cause, we will release that information.” In an email to the American Journal, Westbrook Police Capt. Stephen Goldberg said police will "assist the Fire Marshal’s Office in any way they request with this investigation, but right now we don’t have any information to pass along." Turcotte said calls about the fire from passersby and neighbors came in around 8 p.m. June 8 and was well underway by the time first responders arrived.
“The Police Department were on scene and they reported heavy fire coming from the first floor. When our first responding unit arrived, they reported heavy fire from the first and second floors with fire blowing out of all the first floor windows,” Turcotte said. Shortly after arriving on the scene, the Westbrook Fire Department called for backup due to the proximity of other nearby buildings, prompting fire officials from Portland, Falmouth, Windham, Gorham, South Portland and Scarborough to also respond. “There were two buildings yards from the structure. We went to a second alarm, which gave us additional engines and ladder trucks from our neighboring communities,” he said. Turcotte said three of the building’s four tenants were in the building at the time, but were able to make it out without injury thanks to working smoke alarms. Michael Kelley can be reached at 7813661 x 125 or mkelley@keepmecurrent.com or on Twitter @mkelleynews
The fire in a three-unit apartment building on North Street is still being investigated. Courtesy photo
Transformation Project sets sights on $75,000 fundraiser By Michael Kelley WESTBROOK — The Transformation
Project is embarking on gofundme.com effort to raise $75,000 to help renovate 907 Main St. into a prison ministry center
dedicated to helping young adults leaving lockup successfully transition back into society. "Over the years of going into correctional facilities, I've discovered these dark communities are like gold mines," said Ken Hawley, the president and founder of The Transformation Project. "They're full of potential, value and worth. Hidden within so many offenders I've seen leaders, artists, culinary geniuses, craftsmen, teachers, entrepreneurs and much more." Once up and running, the Westbrook center will provide programming, mentoring, and life skills and work training. Individuals will also receive substance abuse education and career development counseling to learn how to become trusted employees and valued members of our communities.
If that funding can be raised, Hawley said, a number of construction professionals have agreed to gift $75,000 in labor to the renovation efforts. "If we can raise that $75,000 and activate the construction with those professionals, we are hoping to be open by the end of the year," he said. The $75,000 – $5,000 of which had been raised as of June 4 – will pay for the construction of living space for eight individuals along with offices upstairs and a meeting/venue space downstairs. Hawley said he would like to have those spaces up and running by the end of the year. The funding will not, however, pay to renovate space downstairs into a cafe. The Transformation Project, which pur-
Westbrook, page 10
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page 9
New theater group hopes for good run in Westbrook By Michael Kelley WESTBROOK — For generations, Portland Players and Lyric Music Theater have found success in South Portland, and two Westbrook residents hope the same can be true in Westbrook for Presumpscot Stage, a new theater venture they are piloting this summer. Dillon Bates and Janelle LoSciuto are taking a leap of faith in filling a void they see in the Westbrook/Gorham theater community with the staging of "Urinetown" July 13 and July 14 at Westbrook High School. The Tony-award winning musical is a political satire about a futuristic world in which, due to a 20-year drought, people have to pay to use the bathroom and the lengths residents, led by urinal worker Bobby Strong, take to fight the regulation. Bates and LoSciuto originally set their sights on staging "Cinderella," but in late spring, just before auditions, they found the rights to the show were not available because the Broadway tour was being extended. Rather than canceling already announced auditions, Bates and LoSciuto decided to "pick the show based on the talent." LoSciuto is glad they went with that approach. "If the rehearsals are an indication, we were right to pick a show based on the auditions. The cast is perfect," she said. Several of the cast members are returning to community theater after a prolonged absence. "We've been involved with the theater scene in southern Maine for years and we saw a lot of people we didn't know at auditions," Bates said. Bates, who has a degree in political science and theater from the University of Southern Maine, has directed shows
PERFORMANCES: Presumpscot Stage's inaugural performance of "Urinetown" will be staged at Westbrook High School Friday, July 13, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 14, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children and seniors and will be available at the door.
Organizers of Presumpscot Stage Company are hoping the community theater scene is strong in Westbrook as they begin to the new theater group. Its first show, "Urinetown," is scheduled to run at Westbrook High School Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14. at a number of local theaters, is on the board of the Maine Educational Theater Association and works as the educational director at Schoolhouse Arts Center in Standish. LoSciuto, who has a degree in vocal performance with concentrations in classic voice and musical theater from USM, has taught private voice lessons in the Westbrook area for the last 15 years and has produced a number of shows in the area. She also sits on the board of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Bates and LoSciuto are confident Westbrook can support a community theater company and operate in harmony with the theaters in South Portland and others in the area. "I am not worried about competing with the other theaters. If we do, great. I'd love to be seen with the same level of legitimacy as those theaters, but we should be able to provide a flavor that is uniquely our own, uniquely Westbrook,"
Bates said. The hope, he said, is that the theater company would "raise awareness of the arts and provide some creative options" for residents in this part of southern Maine. LoSciuto said the goal is to make the new theater company a "community endeavor in the truest sense of the word." To that end, Bates and LoSciuto hope to connect with all facets of the community to take part in their theater company. One such option, she said, would be tap into the expertise of the students at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center for set construction and other backstage work. "We have a very unique opportunity here with the vocational school. It would be fantastic to bring that to our theater company," she said. The vision is to stage three to four shows a season beginning next summer: two musicals, including one in the summer, and one more serious show. LoSciuto said ideally Presumpscot Stage would cast all the shows in a season at one company audition. Based on early reactions, Bates and LoSciuto are optimistic their vision will work. "It may not be successful, but if it is
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successful, we would then present to the city about how things are going in the fall and develop an action plan and find a permanent performing space," Bates said. Bates said Presumpscot Stage could well continue performing going forward, but "the City Council may be more interested if we create a separate performance space. It not only could be a space for us, but town meetings to mayoral debates to Eagle Scout ceremonies as well." Bates said one option could be to renovate the old 200-seat theater that has been walled over in the old Westbrook High School at 765 Main St. The building is now Presumpscot Commons, an apartment building run by Westbrook Housing. Bates said a performance space could also be constructed in vacant commercial space off Westbrook Commons (Blue Note Park). City Administrator Jerre Bryant, who called the community theater an "intriguing concept," said another option may be to use the stage that is attached to the gymnasium at the Westbrook Community Center. Michael Kelley can be reached at 7813661 x 125 or mkelley@keepmecurrent. com or Twitter @mkelleynews.
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Thursday, June 14, 2018
Standish wades into Presumpscot dam dispute By Matt Junker STANDISH — The town thinks there's something fishy about an agreement that would remove or modify dams along the Presumpscot River. At a June 7 special meeting, Standish town councilors voted 5-0 to authorize Town Manager Kris Tucker to file a motion to intervene in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's review of the Saccarappa Agreement. That deal was reached in 2016 after several years of negotiations between multiple parties, including Friends of the Presumpscot River, the Conservation Law Foundation, the Sappi paper company, the city of Westbrook, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The agreement, which still needs approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, would remove the Saccarappa dams
Westbrook, from page 8 chased the building in November 2016 for $500,000, initially planned to build a cafe and run it, but because it would require $250,000 for that to happen, Hawley said, the plan changed. "(The Transformation Project) has chosen to lease the space out to an existing cafe business that desires to collaborate with our employment model and vision to train, mentor, employ and equip young people re-enter our communities from corrections successfully," Hawley said. Hawley has talking to the owners of Coffee ME Up about taking over the 1,400-square-foot space and hopes to have an agreement in place by the end of the month. Coffee ME Up, located at 221 Cumberland St. in Portland, was started last year by Mateo Hodo and Alba Zakja, a husband-and-wife team originally from Albania. Hodo said "when Ken approached me, I was intrigued by his end goal and wanted to do what I could to help him fulfill that." He said the two are negotiating just how
in Westbrook and create fish passages with an aim of restoring anadromous fish populations such as river herring, shad and salmon that spawn in fresh water but spend most of their time in the ocean. Standish joins two other conservation groups, the Friends of Sebago Lake and Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, in objecting to the agreement based on concerns that it doesn't go far enough or act soon enough in requiring fish passages at two of the dams further up the Presumpscot. The agreement involves five dam sites along the river, all owned by Sappi through its subsidiary S.D. Warren: the Saccarappa dams in Westbrook along with the Mallison Falls, Little Falls, Gambo and Dundee dams in Gorham and Windham. Tucker's appeal to FERC includes the text of a May 7 letter he sent to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. "Removing fish passage requirements for Gambo and Dundee dams would be a
taking from Standish citizens of the great economic and ecosystem value that will be derived from restoring anadromous fish to the entire Presumpscot watershed region," Tucker wrote. "Not only are we a community that relies heavily on tourism, which would be bolstered by increased fish stock diversity, but Standish also appreciates the intrinsic and extrinsic value derived by maintaining an ecosystem as close to original, natural conditions as is feasible." Friends of Sebago Lake President Roger Wheeler, a Standish resident, has gone before several local government boards in the region and expressed frustration with how the agreement deals with the Gambo and Dundee dams. Wheeler argues that delaying fish passage requirements at those two sites for decades would prevent fish from traveling all the way to Sebago Lake. Standish Town Councilor Greg Sirpis, who sponsored the motion to intervene, said Wheeler was able to convince the
council that action was necessary. "For me, especially being an outdoor guy, we want world-class fishing in Sebago Lake," said Sirpis, who is the former President of the Standish Fish and Game Club. Sirpis said he hopes other neighboring towns including Windham and Gorham consider joining Standish as intervenors. Council Chairwoman Kimberly Pomerleau and Councilor Michael Delcourt were absent for the vote last week, according to Town Clerk Mary Chapman. The debate involving fish passage on the Presumpscot dates back years, including a stop at the Supreme Court in 2006, when the justices unanimously sided with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in its argument that the state could require fish passages as part of the dam licensing process. Matt Junker can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 123 or mjunker@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MattJunker.
that would work. "We love what The Transformation Project is trying to do and I personally want to get involved and do what I can," Hodo said. In an effort to help The Transformation Project meet its fundraising goal, First Evangelical Free Church, 355 Bridgton Road in Westbrook, will be hosting a Cook-Off Competition, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 22. Events at the benefit will include live music, raffles, a charity auction and food prepared by local restaurants and churches. Tickets are $15 per person or $50 for family of four. Tickets can be purchased at buytickets.at/thetransformationproject/171060. Area restaurants and churches interested in participating may register by emailing Emily Bruce at bruceemily0@gmail.com. More information is available on its website thetransformationproject.org. To help will the fundraising, visit gofundme.com/ thetransformationproject. Michael Kelley can be reached at 7813661 x 125 or mkelley@keepmecurrent.com or on Twitter @mkelleynews. A fundraising campaign is underway through GoFundMe to raise $75,000 to help renovate 907 Main Street, formerly Ethos Marketing, into the prison ministry center that will help youth leaving lockup gain the skills they need to re-enter society. Courtesy photo
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Sports
Rams slide past three – and into state final By Adam Birt
GORHAM and STANDISH — The Rams triumphed 3-1 over visiting Thornton Academy June 7: Nolan Brown smashed a two-RBI double in the bottom of the first to secure the majority of Gorham’s offense on the day and propel the team forward in the bracketing. Two days later, the Rams faced a still-tougher challenge in Portland. Will Prescott kicked in a two-RBI double in Gorham’s four-run third to provide the Rams the last lead they would need; they prevailed 9-6 in the end and advanced beyond the semis. Come Tuesday, the Rams’ exhilarating playoff run continued, when they bested Cheverus 3-2 in the A South Regional Final, held at St. Joe’s. Lucas Roop smacked that game’s critical two-RBI double in the bottom of the third. No. 2 Gorham vs. No. 7 TA In Thursday’s quarterfinal, the Rams turned in all three of their runs against the Trojans in the early part of the game. Kyle King singled to reach base in the bottom of the first, and Brogan McDonald and Lucas Roop walked behind him for bases loaded. That’s when Brown stepped to the plate and blasted his double, bringing King and McDonald home again. In the bottom of the third, King walked; he reached second on a wild pitch during McDonald’s at-bat, third when McDonald singled and home on a fielder’s choice to catch McDonald en route to second after Roop connected.
Ben Nelson dives back to first during the Rams' bout with the Stags. Up 3-0, the Rams needed to hold on, and hold on they did: The team played excellent defense against TA, starter Ryan Norris striking out three Trojans and luring many more into routine groundouts and flyouts. Norris gave up just two hits (singles in the second and sixth) while reliever Joey Curesky gave up a third. Norris walked only one;
that player – Chris Balzano – did eventually score, but the run proved too little, too late. To plop a cherry on their sundae, Gorham ended the game on a double-play. Gorham coach Chuck Nadeau remarked on his pitchers’ work: “The story of the game was Ryan Norris, bouncing back from a tough outing against Portland in the SMAA tournament,” Nadeau said. “He
Staff photo by Adam Birt really took control of the game and pounded the strike zone. At the end, we had Joey Curesky come in and get us three big outs to finish it off.” No. 2 Gorham vs. No. 3 Portland The Rams and the Bulldogs took turns on top during Saturday’s semifinal. Portland
Baseball, page 13
Bayak wins High Jump at New England Championship meet By Adam Birt DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Outdoor track season moved to the University of New Hampshire Saturday, June 9, for the New England Championship meet. There, local schools – Westbrook, Gorham and Bonny Eagle – all repped proudly. Of particular note, Blue Blazes superstar Nyagoa Bayak won the High Jump with a leap of 5-11.00, besting her nearest competition (Allyson Lewis of Connecticut) by 2 inches. Bayak’s fellow Westbrooker, Dominic Creenan, also traveled to the meet. Creenan, who’s been a little off in recent weeks, is (amongst other things) a powerful hurdler, but he missed the event finals this time around. Gorhamite Evelyn Kitchen finished ninth in the Triple Jump, while teammate Anna Slager crossed the line in the 1600
in 18th. Slager, Kate Tugman, Iris Kitchen and Meadow Fortier combined for 14th in the 4x800. Among Gorham boys, Anthony Chase finished 23rd in the 3200. Bonny Eagler Kayla Raymond finished 22nd in the 800, while Christine Toy finished 10th in the 1600 and Ami Beaumier 17th in the 3200. The trio – along with Emma Abbott – competed together in the 4x800, and finished 12th. Several Gentlemen Scots were on-hand as well. Aiden Willey took 20th in the 1600 and 30th in the 3200; Derek Cole, Max Harris, Andrew Pendleton and Alex Sprague took 18th in the 4x100; Cole Pendleton, Sprague and Zack Allocca took 16th in the 4x400; and Allocca came in 23rd in the Long Jump and 24th in the Triple Jump. Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@ keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME.
Nyagoa Bayak interviews after her High Jump win at New Englands. Photo courtesy of Angie Lally
page 12
Sports
Thursday, June 14, 2018
American Journal
Gorham LAXers stumble in third, fall to Cape By Adam Birt CAPE ELIZABETH — The Rams and the Capers traded blows through the first half of their tournament semifinal on Saturday afternoon, June 9, Chris Tucker kicking in two for Gorham enroute to a 3-3 deadlock at the break. Cape logged a huge third quarter, though – the team added six in the stretch, including three consecutive by Jake Brydson – to pull away; they would win in the end 12-4. In a skin-of-your-teeth matchup, the slightest misstep can be costly. “We lost our composure a little bit,” Gorham head coach Clayton Jones said, asked what went haywire for his boys in the third. “We’ve had trouble putting four quarters together all season. That was our downfall.” “We started doing things on defense that we don’t normally do, that we shouldn’t do,” Jones said. “That got [Cape] some goals.” The sides wrestled for control of the scoreboard for the first 24 minutes: Tucker hashed a pair, with one by Dom Lorello stuck in between, but all the while, Cape was tallying, too. Tate Perkins, Phillip Tarling and Archie McEvoy notched one apiece for the home team, setting up a nerve-wracking intermission. “The first half was one goal for each team, just alternating back and forth,” Jones said. “It was 3-3; there wasn’t a lot of scoring, but we did the things we needed to do. We were talking on defense, communicating well, sliding. On offense, we moved the ball, we were patient.” The tension completely unraveled in the third. Cape won the initial faceoff and quickly settled into an attacking pattern; the Capers poked and prodded at the Rams’ defense, and soon tested second-half Gorham goalie Guiseppe Brown multiple times. The Rams stood stalwart for several minutes, but even the toughest squads will collapse under constant pressure, and Cape finally converted with 8:52 on the clock. Ben Carroll did the honors, ticking the scoreboard ahead to 4-3 – and, evidently, seizing the momentum for his boys, because they followed his strike with six more. Tarling made it 5-3; Brydson 6-3, 7-3 and 8-3. Tarling then picked up another – he finished with five on the day – with mere seconds remaining in the third. The Rams managed to stanch the bleed-
Rams Captain Sam Burghardt drives forward. ing in the downhill quarter. Gorham gave up just two more before the final buzzer – one each to Killiam Lathrope and Tarling – while also adding one of their own, thanks to Connor Dougherty. The Rams and the Capers didn’t clash in the regular season, so Jones & Co. had little advance knowledge of their opponents – little, that is, besides: “Cape’s always good. This isn’t their best year, their biggest year, but they can always handle the ball. They’ve always got scorers.” “We expected it to be a tough game,” Jones said. “And it was ... but we were in it, through the first half.” Gorham concludes their 2018 at 6-8. The Rams went 5-7 through the regular season to sneak into the bracketing ranked sixth in A South; they upended three-seed Massabesic 14-9 in the quarters to meet No. 2 Cape. For a longer version of this article, visit www.keepmecurrent.com/categor y/ sports. Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ CurrentSportsME.
Staff photos by Adam Birt
Rams netminder Guiseppe Brown scoops up a ball on his doorstep.
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Caper Jack Glanville and Ram Adam McKenney battle for a faceoff.
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page 13
Baseball, from page 11 hashed two to begin the outing: leadoff hitter Ben Stasium reached first on an uncharacteristic error, a bobble, by Gorham shortstop Ben Nelson. Stasium moved to second on a Will Barnard sac bunt and third on a Will Snyder single; Cam King then stepped into the box and knocked single to deep center, scoring both Stasium and Snyder. Notably, Nelson’s error put him in good company: It was, after all, just the first error of many – by both teams – in the game. In the end, the Bulldogs simply committed a few more, thus handing the Rams too many opportunities. Indeed, Portland’s seven errors cost them six unearned runs. For their part, Gorham logged three snafus. “Both of our teams, Portland and Gorham, have been so good defensively,” Nadeau said, asked about the sides’ torrent of errors. “It’s been a strength of ours. And eventually, you’re going to have games that get away from you a little bit." “It was weird,” Nelson said of the early and middle innings, and in particular the spat of errors on both sides. “Because they came out and scored two in the first inning, then we scored three, and they came back – it was back and forth each inning. We just had to keep grinding through it." The Rams parried the Bulldogs’ opening push with three runs in the bottom of the first. Portland starter Jackson Villani walloped Kyle King with an early pitch to deliver him a (mostly, except for that bruise) free base. King scooted to second when McDonald singled behind him, and both boys advanced 90 feet when Villani walked Roop. King raced home on a Brown single to right, a shot that shuttled McDonald to third. Brown stole second during Trevor Loubier’s at-bat, and McDonald and Brown both crossed the plate when Loubier eventually belted a choppy grounder past Snyder, the Bulldogs’ man at third. The second proved quiet for both teams, but both teams picked up more offense in the third. Each side owed much of their good fortune to the other, though, as this is where pressure of the situation evidently started to mount, to get inside the boys’ heads and screw with their decision-making. Errors upon errors ensued. Gorham starter Jake Sladen walked Snyder to start the stretch – a benign enough development; walks happen. But Cam King followed Snyder to the plate and promptly launched a double deep to center. Now the Bulldogs, with men at second and third, slobbered hungrily after the lead. Sladen gave it to them: In an attempt to yank Snyder back to the bag, Sladen lobbed the ball toward Kyle King, the Rams’ third baseman. Sladen lobbed it a bit high, though, and King seemed caught off-guard anyway, because it sailed past him, allowing both Snyder and Cam King to round to home. After the wild pick-off try, though, Sladen refocused admirably, retiring the next eight batters. Despite having seized the lead, and the momentum, the Bulldogs turned around in the bottom of third and committed their own batch of flubs. Kyle King reached on
Gorham poses as a team with their new hardware following their Regional Final win over Cheverus. an error, then jumped to second when McDonald singled. A second error allowed King to score and McDonald to gain third and Brown first; a third error – Loubier skied an infield fly, and Snyder and Villani converged inward, only for neither of them to lay claim to the catch in time – loaded the bases. McDonald, Brown and Loubier each advanced 90 feet – McDonald scored – when Trevor Gray sacrificed, and Brown and Loubier crossed the plate on Prescott’s big double. 7-4. It was the last lead change of the afternoon, though both sides did accrue further runs. The Bulldogs grabbed two more in the top of the sixth, while Gorham piled on a pair of insurance notches in the bottom of the sixth. Prescott struck out swinging and Gray popped out to short, but then Nelson blasted a ball back at the Portland pitcher; King, the Bulldogs’ catcher, raced forward, snatch the ball from the grass and whipped it to first, but Nelson beat the throw. “It was very tense,” Nelson said of the feeling on the diamond as the game neared its conclusion. “Coming on the mound in that situation it’s a lot of pressure. Bases loaded, a couple walks before I came in. I knew I had a great defense behind me, with Will Prescott coming in to short – he always makes great plays.” The Bulldogs followed Nelson’s single with multiple further errors. Morevoer, Gorham continued to make great contact: King RBI-singled to right-center to score Nelson, and Roop RBI-singled to right to score King. 9-7. No. 2 Gorham vs. No. 4 Cheverus Norris started on the mound for the Rams again, when they faced off with Cheverus. Despite it being the single biggest game of his high school career, he reported feeling reasonably calm: “I try to
feel collected as much as I can,” he said. “When I’m on the mound, I feel like I’m in the zone. I try not to focus on what the other dugout is saying, or even our dugout. I just try to hit my spots.” The first two innings passed scorelessly; finally, in the third, Gorham broke the ice. Prescott led off – but grounded out; Drew, on the other hand, reached on a single. Nelson walked behind him, and King singled for bases loaded. McDonald then popped up – an infield fly the Stags’ catcher, Griffin Watson, managed to get his hooves on. Two outs. Cheverus was nearly out of danger, but nearly wouldn’t cut it: Roop belted his biggest hit of the postseason thus far – perhaps of his entire season. The double zipped wide into left and Drew and Nelson both zipped home. 2-0. “I think the count was 1-1, and he threw me two curveballs,” Roop said. “And then he threw me a fastball inside; I’ve kind of been struggling with the inside ones, for some reason, catching them off the handle, but that, I got my hands ready and just drove it out to left." Gorham added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. McDonald walked to kick things off, but then Roop flied out to center and Brown popped out to first. The inning looked destined for the dustbin until Loubier salvaged it in style, volleying a shot deep into center. No, the ball didn’t quite reach escape velocity – but it did smash into yonder wall, giving McDonald the time he needed to dash of first, then tag second, third and home again. 3-0. Cheverus riposted in the top of the sixth, picking up two. Watson singled on a choppy grounder toward third; King fielded the play adeptly, his throw merely reached Gray, at first, a hair too late. Norris then hit Cam Dube with a pitch,
Staff photo by Adam Birt
putting two men on. Ray brought Watson home and shuffled Dube over to second with a bouncy single past Nelson, at short, but Dube momentarily – when Maxx St. John grounded toward the mound and Norris grabbed the ball and flipped it to King – found himself caught out on a fielder’s choice. Jack Mullen stepped in to pinch run for St. John, but Nelson to Prescott caught him out at second on another fielder’s choice, this one following Ryan Breece contact. That play, however, bumped Ray to third; soon, Hayden O’Donnell reeled Ray in with a line-drive single past Prescott at second. Those would prove the Stags’ only two runs of the evening, however. The night concluded on a groundout, a Tanner LaFlamme shot to Nelson, who slickly whipped the ball over to Gray and thus secured the W. Gorham has penetrated deeply into the playoffs in each of the last few years, but they haven’t earned a States berth since 2005, when they were members of Class B. “You know, we’ve had a good run, the past three, four years, and it seems like every year we get a step closer,” Nadeau said. “This year, we got it done in the semifinal, and then to come here in the Regional Final and get a big win over a good team – very satisfying. I’m really happy for these kids. This group of seniors has been that core group that’s had those good runs.” The Rams will face Bangor for the State crown on Saturday, June 16. Game time: 1 p.m. Bangor has claimed the past four titles. For a longer version of this article, visit www.keepmecurrent.com/categor y/ sports. Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@ keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CurrentSportsME.
page 14
American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018 Robert Lowell 854-2577
Anthology reading The Lowry's Lodge Poetry series continues at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at Continuum for Creativity, 863 Main St., Westbrook. The poetry reading features "Three Nations Anthology: Native, Canadian and New England writers." Jim Donnelly and Anna Wrobel are hosts. Refreshments will be served and a $4 donation for the program is suggested.
Maguire honored Kelly Maguire, a Westbrook High School graduate, earned an engraved bronze medallionas a distinguished finalist for Maine in the 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The award was presented on June 7 during senior class night at the high school. Maguire led an initiative that raised more than $1,000 toward the education of a boy in Zimbabwe by working with a
Westbrook Notes
rlowell@keepmecurrent.com
charitable organization selling as many bracelets as possible in two weeks, a press release said.
Park concert series Westbrook's free summer concert series at Riverbank Park gets underway from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, with the Westbrook City Band. The series continues on Wednesdays through Aug. 22. Shows postponed because of weather will go on the following evening.
WHS class of '78 reminder Westbrook High School class of 1978 will hold its 40th reunion from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, at the Stockhouse Restaurant, 506 Main St., Westbrook. Cost is $20 per person. For more information, contact Sandie (Hatt) Rogers at slrogers@myfairpoint.net or 892-9463.
Robert Lowell 854-2577
Philip Andresen makes friends with a kitten at an Idexx campus adoption event June 6. Representatives from the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, HART, Animal Welfare Society and Maine Greyhound Placement Service participated. Pet adoption fees were waived as a benefit to employees of the Westbrook company. Courtesy photo
Gorham Notes
rlowell@keepmecurrent.com
Grads on the move
Recycling caution urged
Stewart McCallister, vice chairman of the School Committee, told town councilors last week that 116 of the 202 Gorham High School graduates are going to four-year colleges; 40 others, two-year colleges; and five entering the military. The kindergarten student population appears to be rising. McCallister said the kindergarten class for next fall numbers 230 with a projection for 245. "We typically see between 8-15 percent growth over the course of the summer," McCallister said. "This would mean we should expect between 18-34 additional students. Not only are we expecting to meet the projected target we most likely will be above our projections."
Due to global changes in the recycling market, the town of Gorham is asking residents to be extra vigilant about items they put into their recycling bins. Some common forms of recycling contamination are all plastic bags including grocery, trash, bread and frozen food bags, along with bubble wrap and other plastic film products, polystyrene foam, toys, hoses and trash. Both the Town Clerk’s Office and Public Works have recycling do/don’t flyers available for residents. http://www.gorham-me.org/sites/gorhamme/files/pages/recyclingguidelinesfortheweb_0.pdf (direct link to the flyer mentioned above).
This sign at Dance Studio of Maine in Gorham Village refers to a student drop-off issue. Trish Moulton, studio owner, is unhappy because school buses starting next fall will not drop off students at her studio after school because she's not a day care. The School Department policy change further impacts the area's parking shortage that makes it difficult for parents, Moulton said. Courtesy photo
Free gazebo concerts The Common Ground Band at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, kicks off the schedule of
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free concerts at the gazebo on the lawn at the municipal center, 75 South St. The summer concerts on Tuesdays continue through Aug. 7 with the excepti0n of July 3, according to the Gorham Recreation Department, which sponsors the concerts. For more information, call Recreation Department at 222-1630.
U.S. taxpayer debt The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on June 7 that the U.S. public debt was $21,100,104,747,917.42.
Buxton Notes Robert Lowell 854-2577 rlowell@keepmecurrent.com
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Gold rush remembered The Buxton Hollis Historical Society will host a program, "Mainers and the Rush for California Gold," from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, at its headquarters, 100 Main St., Bar Mills. Jan Eakins, past trustee of the Maine Historical Society and professor of the Osher Life Long Learning Institute of Portland, will speak. Drawing on diaries and letters of more than 300 Mainers, Eakins explores why more than 2,000 headed west in 1849 and why thousands more followed, the
society said. It also said Eugene Bradbury and Francis Emery were two local adventurers. Suggested donation $10; seniors, $8. The society's history center and library is open for its 48th season. Hours and days are 4-8 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, except for holiday weekends, through October. For more information about the program or the history center, call 9291684, email BHHS@buxtonhollishistorical.org or visit www.buxtonhollishistorical.org.
American Journal
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Thursday, June 14, 2018
CROSSWORD
HOROSCOPES ARIES Ð Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, thinking about the future is exciting, and it may motivate you to make some changes. Picturing the future helps you try different scenarios on for size.
LEO Ð Jul 23/Aug 23 It is alright to want to escape your daily routine sometimes, Leo. If you are feeling restless this week, plan a getaway so you can take in new sights and sounds.
TAURUS Ð Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, take some alone time to focus on what is important to you. This will help you to feel the joy and fulfillment that keeps you going even when times are tough.
VIRGO Ð Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, there is no need to worry about whether or not you have been handling affairs deftly. Others will be quick to vouch for your work if called on.
GEMINI Ð May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, this week you are in the mood to rise above petty conflicts and mend fences. Set aside time to speak one-on-one with those who need forgiveness.
CLUES ACROSS 1. __ fi (slang) 4. Anecdotes about a person 7. Central Standard Time 10. Beverage receptacle 11. FootballÕs Newton 12. Be in debt 13. Tattles 15. Musician __ Lo 16. Arrange again 19. A binary compound of carbon with a metal 21. Brazilian futbol great 23. Feared 24. Annoy 25. Unit of heredity 26. Small freshwater fish 27. Muscular weaknesses 30. Fined 34. One-time EU currency 35. Egyptian unit of weight 36. Winged horse CLUES DOWN 1. Put fear into 2. Partner to corned beef 3. Interiors 4. Agrees to a demand 5. No (Scottish) 6. __ Hess Corp. 7. Ornamental molding 8. Garment 9. Electric car company 13. Decimal digits in binary (abbr.) 14. Gibbon 17. Sun up in New York 18. __ the line 20. A vale 22. Old Irish alphabet 27. A type of band 28. A teams best pitcher 29. Floor covering 31. A __ in the machine 32. Supplement with difficulty 33. Prosecutors
page 15
41. Increments 45. Abnormal rattling sound 46. Middle Eastern country 47. A type of greeter 50. __ inning stretch 54. Reaches 55. More gray 56. Football term 57. Swiss river 59. Ninth day before the ides 60. Grow old 61. Dont know when yet 62. College hoops tournament 63. Japanese monetary unit 64. Medical device 65. Antidiuretic hormone
CANCER Ð Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, fun and physical activity attract you this week, especially as you approach your birthday. Surround yourself with loved ones and enjoy some fun nights.
LIBRA Ð Sept 23/Oct 23 Your competitive nature might be needed this week, Libra. Your confidence will be an asset as you propel through tasks in record speed. Slow down to catch your breath. SCORPIO Ð Oct 24/Nov 22 It is time to share your good fortune with others, Scorpio. Expressing gratitude and helping those who do not have enough will make you feel happier and more fortunate.
SAGITTARIUS Ð Nov 23/Dec 21 Infuse your social circle with some fresh energy, Sagittarius. Get together with friends and find ways to include new people into your social circle. CAPRICORN Ð Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, if life has been rushing by at a harried pace, you need to find a place of solace where you can sit and exhale. Its important to have this time to rest. AQUARIUS Ð Jan 21/Feb 18 Be conscious of how your actions and words affect others, Aquarius. Communication issues can affect relationships when misconstrued words are taken to heart. PISCES Ð Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, procrastination is often a sign that a person is not interested in what he or she is doing. Find activities that truly motivate you.
WORD SEARCH (Golf Outing) AIMING ALIGNMENT ANGLE BACKSWING BALANCE BALATA BIRDIE BLOCK BOGEY BORROW BUNKER CADDIE CARRY CHIP CHOKE COIL DIVOT DORMIE DOUBLES DOWNSWING DRIVE EXTENSION
37. Place in order 38. Japanese lute 39. Mongolian city __ Bator 40. Perceived 41. A cloth for washing dishes 42. Chocolate cookie with white cream filling 43. Grassy plain 44. Barometer 47. Father 48. Of the ear 49. Thomas __, British dramatist l652-85 51. After eighth 52. Where golfers begin 53. Time units (abbr.) 58. Basics
WORD SCRAMBLE O
Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to golf
D
N
R
FAIRWAY FLAW GRAND SLAM GRIP HEEL HOSEL IMPACT IRON LINKS PAR PUTTER SHOT TURF WEDGE
SUDOKU U
SOLUTIONS (from last week)
Word Scramble Solution:
FERTILE
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
page 16
American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018
WHS grads bid farewell to those who will follow
For the first time in the district, the Class of 2018 had an opportunity to visit their old schools before graduating and going their separate ways this fall. Students visited the three elementary schools and Westbrook Middle School before returning to the high school for a barbecue lunch. Staff photos by Michael Kelley
Students from Canal School high-five graduating seniors as they walk through the halls of their old elementary schools and Westbrook Middle School last week to say goodbye to younger students and former teachers. The Class of 2018 received their diplomas last Saturday.
Members of the Westbrook High School Class of 2018 march through the halls of Canal School Friday, the day before they graduated at Merrill Auditorium in Portland.
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From the front page
Thursday, June 14, 2018
page 17
School construction, from page 1 the high school. The Saccarappa project, which began last summer, includes the construction of classrooms, all with ADA compliant bathrooms; a gymnasium, cafeteria, music room and library; administrative offices; playground and playing fields; and a new off-street, drop-off area. Renovations include relocating the main office to the school's new front entrance facing where the parking lot is now and converting the existing main office into work space for teachers. Mazjanis said the new school will provide dedicated working space for all school staff. Due to a shortage of spaces now, for example, a class is taught in Mazjanis's office. "We have all pitched in to make it work. There certainly has not been an adequate amount of space for the amount of children," Mazjanis said. The additional classrooms at Saccarappa will allow the district to eliminate modular classrooms at the three elementary schools. The cafeteria will eliminate the need for students to eat lunch in their classrooms because the space can't accomodate the student body and the gym will mean students won't need to be bused to the other two elementary schools for physical education. "This space is going to be incredible," Lancia said looking at the space where the new cafeteria will go during a tour of the construction Monday. Director of Operations Dean Flanagin said a group has started meeting to go over the design of the new playground and will seek input from students and teachers. Lancia said that space, as well as the playing fields, cafeteria and gymnasium are being designed for potential community use as well. "One of the things we want is for this to be a community space," Lancia said. "There is nothing in this part of the city for playgrounds, play spaces, meeting spaces. So this has been designed to be a hub for people." The new construction, when attached to the current school will create two open-air interior court yards that will be used as instructional spaces. Lancia said the plan is to have the new construction complete by December, at which point staff will move into the new school space over Christmas break. Renovation of the remaining old school spaces would begin in January and the entire project is expect to be complete by next summer. Mazjanis said he has been impressed with the way his staff and students have
Public Notices
The project at the middle school, which includes the construction of 12 new classroom spaces, is scheduled to be completed by the end of July. weathered the construction going on around them. "The kids have been really adaptable and able to follow the lead of the teachers. They have been amazing when changes have had to occur," he said. "I have a good staff that has been able to come together to make this work." Lancia said once construction is done at the schools, some students will be redistricted to the updated Saccarappa space from Canal and Congin, beginning in the 2019-20 school year. That will relieve the crowding in those schools and eliminate the need for portable classrooms, he said. The district plans to reach out to families during the middle of next school year about the redistricting plan. The intent with the redistricting is to keep the elementary schools with the current grade configuration, which has been in place for the last six years. "Now that we have had a group go through K-4, it did what we wanted it to do," he said, adding the K-4 model in the elementary schools was designed to give students "a sense of place for a longer amount of time." Previously kindergarten, first- and second-grade students went to Pride's Corner School or Saccarappa, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders went to Congin or Canal. When the Pride's Corner School was closed in 2012, the elementary schools became K-4 and Westbrook Middle School absorbed the fifth-grade to become 5-8. While the work on Saccarappa School continues, work at Westbrook Middle School is winding down. It will get an additional 12 classrooms to relieve congestion and provide new classroom space for foreign language and health teachers, as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) instruction. Westbrook Middle School Principal Laurie Wood said foreign language teachers lack their own work space and travel classroom-to-class-
Two interior courtyards are being added to Saccarappa School as part of a major construction/renovation project. They will be used as outdoor classrooms and meeting spaces. Staff photo by Michael Kelley room for instruction. When the school was built in 2010, it was designed for 650 students. Enrollment now is closer to 800 students, Wood said. The middle school project, which adds a third floor to the school's classroom wing and expands the second floor, is expected to be completed by the end of July. Mazjanis said when the two construction projects are done, there will be plenty of space across the district based
on future enrollment projections. Lancia said there are no major school construction projects looming on the horizon, but "at some point we will have to pay some attention to the high school." The high school was built in the 1950s, but has been added onto over the years, including a large addition in the 1990s. Michael Kelley can be reached at 7813661 x 125 or mkelley@keepmecurrent. com or on Twitter @mkelleynews.
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are a permanent and independent record of government and court actions. These include state and local government meetings, rule making, available contracts, zoning changes, and many more, as required by law. In addition, parties to some court proceedings, such as foreclosures, probate, and estate actions are required to publish notices to ensure notification of affected parties, as well as the general public. These notices also alert business owners, large and small, to potential government contractual jobs, helping to ensure economic activity across a level playing field. Public notices have existed to ensure transparency in all levels of government since the founding of the United States. State and local notices are published in Maine newspapers and are also recorded at mainenotices.com, where anyone can browse or search notices, and sign up to receive email alerts when relevant notices appear.
page 18
American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Gorham, from page 1 very supportive of the schools and I am very pleased that the budget was approved by our voters," Wright said in an email to the American Journal. Before sending it to voters, the Town Council last week cut $346,000 from the School Committee's $39.3 million request. The budget that went to the polls raises the town's tax rate to support schools an estimated $1.06, representing a 9.6 percent increase. School taxes on a home with an assessed value of $300,000, for example, now increase $318. Jim Means of Beatrice Drive, an organizer of the Concerned Taxpayers of Gorham, led a fight opposing the budget. Means was disappointed Wednesday it passed, but noted that a larger percentage of people opposed the
SAD 6, from page 3 this year, Buxton could vote for all the SAD 6 candidates, irregardless of their hometowns. In a local referendum, voters narrowly favored an ordinance prohibiting growing, cultivating, selling and retail marijuana social clubs in Buxton 755-711. Town Clerk John Myers reported 1,771 ballots cast of 6,199 registered voters, representing a 28.57 percent turnout. SAD 6 voters approved the $49.6 million budget, which passed decisively in Buxton,
budget than in recent years. "We moved the needle," Means said. A resident's call during last week's packed Town Council meeting for school budget supporters to stand in a show of solidarity drew a backlash the following day. "I was stunned," David Alexander of Wilson Road, said June 6 in an email to the American Journal. "That was completely out of order and unfair to the attendees and council." Alexander said it was an attempt to influence the Town Council before its deliberations. He also said it made those who remained seated appear as the "bad guys." The Concerned Taxpayers of Gorham has a Facebook page where opponents and supporters posted comments and arguments. A full-page, paid advertisement in another newspaper about the Gorham school budget added more fuel to the online fight. "Gorham as it did in three other of the district's five towns. Frye Island voters rejected it. In Buxton, the budget passed by 552 votes, 1,085-533; Limington favored the budget by a 211-vote margin, 403-192; and Standish by 557 in a 1,157-600 tally. Hollis passed it by 404 votes, 686-282. But on Frye Island the budget garnered only four yes votes with 18 saying no, according to the SAD 6 central office. The budget rose $991,410, or 2.04 percent, from this year's $48.6 million. Robert Lowell can be reached at 854-2577 or rlowell@keepmecurrent.com
Schools paid for a full page ad with your (taxpayers) money," the taxpayers group said in a posting. Superintendent Heather Perry said in an email Tuesday that public schools are required to "announce factual information" on the budget to taxpayers. The district chose the newspaper advertisement among alternatives. The advertisement cost $345 and was paid for by the school district, Perry said. The taxpayers' group posting argued that the ad was "not all accurate," challenging the cost of adding a projected 77 new students. A subsequent Facebook message called out the taxpayers group. "Please attend budget meetings in the future to become fully educated on all the costs of properly educating all of our students," a posting said. Means this week vowed not to give up. He
said the battle next year will include targeting plans for a multi-million expansion/renovation of the high school to be shouldered entirely by Gorham taxpayers, as the state is unlikely to provide any funding. "We're facing a historic, huge referendum with the high school fix," Means said. Voter approval Tuesday of the budget averts another referendum within 30 days. A second referendum would have cost $7,500$8,500, Town Clerk Laurie Nordfors said Tuesday. One of the voters approving the budget, John Ennis of Academy Street, said he had "no problem" supporting it. "I understand most of it is fixed costs and some for maintenance. It's an important institution in the town," he said at Ward 2. Robert Lowell can be reached at 854-2577 or rlowell@keepmecurrent.com.
Buxton Town Clerk John Myers, left, at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday administers the oath of office to Hiram Davis as moderator and warden overseeing the election and town meeting Saturday, June 16. Staff photo by Robert Lowell
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page 19
Westbrook Police Notes Arrests Shannon L. Jordan, 45, of Seavey Street in Westbrook, on June 4 on charges of violating condition of release and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer on Hannaford Drive. Jade C. Vachon, 21, of Juniper Street in Gray, on June 4 on six counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drug and charges of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia on Main Street. James R. Reichers, 30, of West Pleasant Street in Westbrook, on June 5 on a charge of operating while under the influence (alcohol) on Main Street. A juvenile, 15, on June 5 on a charge of terrorizing on Stroudwater Street. Nickolas Aldrich, 26, of Mechanic Street in Westbrook, on June 7 on a
charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer on Main Street. Brandon Steele, 24, of Foster Street in Westbrook, on June 8 on a warrant on Brown Street. Ronald J. Blanchard, 50, of Veranda Street on Portland, on June 8 on charges of operating while license is suspended or revoked (operation after suspension) and violating conditions of release on Larrabee Road. Robert L. Hall, 35, of Webb Street in Portland, on June 9 on a warrant, and Edward D. Lund Jr., 44, of River Road, on a charge of violating condition of release, near Cumberland Street and Willoughby Farm Road. Summonses Two juveniles, 16 and 17, on June 4 on charges of theft by unauthorized taking
Robert Lowell 854-2577 Log Hubby huffy A man, who argued with his wife on April 25, told police she had left and he didn't want her to return to their home for the night. But, he was told police could not enforce it. The American Journal withheld the address. Arrests Dusty M. O'Brien, 34, Whitman, Massachusetts, on April 10 on a charge of failure
or transfer on Main Street. Isaiah Keith McGill-Feyler, 19, of Victoria Drive in Westbrook, on June 5 on a charge of possession of marijuana on Larrabee Road. Todd Genga, 51, of Payne Street in Springvale, on June 5 on a charge of operating with a suspended registration near Bridge Street and East Bridge Street. Martha L. Frager, 69, of South Street in Gorham, on June 5 on a charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer on Hannaford Drive. Autumn P. Potter, 18, of Standish, on June 5 on a charge of unlawful possession of scheduled drug and Amanda J. Benwell, 34, of Tucker Road in Limington, on a charged of violating condition of release on Spring Street.
Gorham Notes
to appear, on South Street. Justin E. Stain, 30, Saco Street, Westbrook, on April 13 on a charge of operating under the influence (alcohol), on Saco Street. Shannon L. McShane, 49, Portland Road, Buxton, on April 15 on a charge of operating under the influence (alcohol), on Gray Road. Devon J. Adams-Almstad, 19, Dingley Spring Road, Gorham, on April 20
Ahmed J. Mohammed, 30 of Westbrook Street in South Portland, on June 5 on a charge of operating while license is suspended or revoked (operating after suspension). Melanie A. Seavey, 56, of New Gorham Road in Westbrook, on June 6 on a charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer on Main Street. Lorina Bonin, 28, of River Road in Windham, on June 9 on a charge of illegal use of drug paraphernalia near Cumberland Street and Willoughby Farm Road. Nuno F. Boa, 32, of River Street in Westbrook, on June 9 on charges of violating condition of release and operating while license is suspended or revoked (operating while under the influence) near Spring Street and Thomas Drive.
rlowell@keepmecurrent.com
on charges of criminal mischief, criminal threatening and assault, on Dingley Spring Road. Daniel K. Howe, 27, Brackett Road, Gorham, on April 21 on charges of domestic violence assault and obstructing report of a crime, in Portland. Nathaniel O. Howe, 25, Sanford, on April 21 on a charge of failure to pay fine, on
County Road. Anthony R. Boivin, 58, Longfellow Road, Gorham, on April 22 on a charge of harassment, in Gorham. Leah A. Cardelli, 32, Sebago Road, Hiram, on April 23 on charges of operating after registration suspended, theft by unauthorized taking and operate while license suspended, in Gorham.
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American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018
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2 American Journal
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Thursday, June 14, 2018
page 21
Free summer meals for kids at Dundee Park By Matt Junker
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WINDHAM — The Windham Raymond School Nutrition Program is offering free lunch this summer at Dundee Park for any kids under 18. Kids from any town can come to the park for the free lunches, but free park passes through the program are available only to Windam and Raymond families. The free lunch project is a collaborative effort by the school district, town of Windham, and the Westbrook School Nutrition Program and aims to provide free, healthy meals to kids, especially to those who may usually rely on school food throughout the year. The program begins July 9 and runs through Aug. 17, with the free lunches being served between noon and 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays – but only on fair weather days. RSU 14 Director of School Nutrition Jeanne Reilly said this is the third year that free summer lunches are being offered at Dundee Park. Reilly said that the program is particularly aimed at – but not limited to – students who receive free or reduced lunch during the school year, and noted that while school ends for the summer, "hunger doesn't stop – those kids still need healthy meals." The summer lunch program is a way to help ensure there is "no gap in their nutritional well-being," she added. In the past, the Dundee site has averaged about 20-25 meals at per day, according to Reilly, who says that those numbers don't justify the district making meals
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Free summer meals will be available for any kids ages 18 and under at Dundee off River Road in Windham, from July 9 through Aug. 17. Staff photo by Matt Junker themselves. Instead, RSU 14 turns to the Westbrook Nutrition Program, which already makes summer meals for various sites around Westbrook. "They already have staff, they're already making meals," Reilly said, adding that the Windham Raymond district transports the meals from Westbrook to Dundee Park. RSU staff picks meals up in Westbrook and transport them to Dundee Park, and Reilly said that summer meal funding comes through the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. "The money comes from USDA," Reilly
ble site in the Windham area that lines up with USDA's mapping requirements that determine what areas can qualify for a summer meal site based on various demographics. Reilly acknowledged that transportation to the park, which hugs the Presumpscot River just off of River Road in Windham, can be an issue for kids and their families. But she said the park setting, combined with the availability of free park passes through the town for families using the free lunch service has helped bolster participation. "We're definitely seeing growth in this Dundee Park site," she said, calling it a "great combination of nutrition and physical activity." She added that the park's recreational opportunities "really helps because parents want activities for their kids in addition to summer meals." The town not only offers Dundee Park as a location for the meals to be served, but Reilly has free park passes for families that apply and demonstrate a need for the program. Interested families can reach out to Reilly for a free park pass application at jreilly@rsu14.org. Park entrance fees are otherwise $5 for adults and $3 for kids from Windham, and $6 for adults and $4 for kids who are non-Windham residents. "I still have plenty of passes," Reilly said Tuesday. Matt Junker can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 123 or mjunker@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MattJunker.
said. She said that the number of Windham-Raymond students who receive free or reduced lunch fluctuates around 33 to 37 percent of the district. Reilly, who previously worked as the nutrition director in the Westbrook School District, said Westbrook schools see closer to 60 percent of it students receiving free or reduced lunch and has a much bigger summer meals program. Dundee Park wound up as the summer meal location for Windham and Raymond after several years of trial and error at other sites. Reilly said it has been difficult finding a centrally located, easily accessi-
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page 22
American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Looking Back June 16, 1993 Principal William Michaud wants beepers, or pagers, banned from Westbrook High School, and warns that they “can be used for criminal activity.” Michaud didn’t spell out what kind of criminal activity he meant. Michael Belanger, manager of the Radio Shack store at Pine tree Shopping Center, who sells the devices at about $50, said the criminal activity almost certainly would be the sale of narcotics. Our newspaper press was years in arriving. What had been long a dream recently became a reality and this new era of American Journal-ism feels great to all of us. Getting the paper a press was an early goal of publisher Harry T. Foote, who came to the paper in 1965. Most of the years since then have included work, thought and planning toward its attainment. The May 5 issue was the first printed by us right here at 4 Dana St. on our
six-unit Goss Community, the preferred make and model of American newspapering. It is big, nearly 50 feet long and 7 feet wide, and takes up an entire end wall of the back wing of our plant. The supporting cast includes a semi-automated Chemco Spartan roll-film-fed process camera, a NuArc fliptop plate burner and a National plate processor. Westbrook High School’s top students have been announced. Valedictorian is Amy Grant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant. She’s headed for Bates College. Salutatorian is Jennifer Calderbank, daughter of JoAnn Calderbank and Dr. James Calderbank. She will attend Colby College. Honor essayist is Jill Forrester, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Forrester, and Anne Whitten. She will attend the University of Vermont. A Gorham man who lives at 173 Main St., the house where two people were
This windmill was built in the 1870s by John Wheeler at his wood and coal yard at Main and Haskell streets. The sign painted on the windmill proclaims it to be a Hercules Wind Motor, which Wheeler used to power the saws in his mill. A gas and service station was later built on the site, and later still, the Westbrook Public Safety Building was constructed there. To see more historical photos and artifacts, visit the Westbrook Historical Society at the Fred C. Wescott Building, 426 Bridge St. It is open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon. Inquiries can be emailed to westhistorical@ myfairpoint.net. The website is www.westbrookhistoricalsociety. org. Photo and research courtesy of Mike Sanphy arrested recently for selling drugs and giving liquor to minors, claims police are harassing tenants there. Police deny
the charges and cite the number of complaints they get as reasons for going to the
Looking Back, page 23
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American Journal
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Looking Back, from page 22 village house owned by Peter and Roberta Erskine of Portland. Police have been called there more than 15 times since April 1992 for noise complaints, assaults, burglaries, thefts and narcotic problems. Resident Troy Nason believes police pick on the house because it is conveniently located on Main Street. Nason said downstairs tenants, who caused most of the complaints, moved about a month ago. Jerry Durgin was selected as the new athletic director at Gorham High School. He replaces Tim Wiblin, who is leaving to attend grad school. He has held the job since 1987. Durgin was picked from 45 applicants. He will be paid $40,000 and starts July 1. He is the athletic director, dean of students and an English teacher at Fryeburg Academy. “He was named athletic director of the year by his peers in 1992. He came highly recommended,” said Superintendent Timothy McCormack. Adam Lord, son of Roger and Judith Lord, Phinney Street, Gorham, has a spe-
Thursday, June 14, 2018
cial record as he graduates from Gorham High School in June. He has had perfect attendance for all 13 years of his schooling. It began with kindergarten at the old Millett School and continued at Narragansett and Village schools, Shaw Junior High and Gorham High. June 18, 2003 Ever since her mother, Renate Plummer, was killed in a car accident at Dingley Springs and Shaws Mill roads in Gorham in the fall of 2000, Darlene Ridlon has been keeping the site clean and periodically putting up flowers and a small cross. Four days after putting up a wrought iron hanger her husband had made and two pots of begonias on Memorial Day, someone had taken the flowers and the hanger. “I just couldn’t believe it. They were gone,” she said. Ridlon reported the theft to the Gorham police but there was little they could do. The Westbrook Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors picked Ray Richardson to be its new president, though several board members questioned whether his political persona
would interfere with his chamber work. Richardson, a well-known Republican activist, writes a conservative political column for a weekly and chairs the Westbrook Republican Committee. He will replace City Councilor Bruce Chuluda, who is stepping down after five years. Richardson told the American Journal he was optimistic that the relationship between the city and the chamber would improve under his leadership. The Westbrook City Council approved Monday five bonds totaling $10 million that will pay for the reconstruction of William Clarke Drive and the construction of the boardwalk and public safety building. The bonds will also pay for dump trucks, a street sweeper, sidewalk plow and salt shed, and repairs to the windows at Walker Memorial Library. Melissa Binette and her brother, Matthew Binette, children of Martha Binette of Quaker Road, Westbrook, and the late Michael J. Binette, both received advanced degrees in graduation exercises last month. Melissa graduated
page 23
60 Years Ago The Westbrook American reported on June 18, 1958, that Mrs. Ernest Swan and Mrs. Ralph Boyle were chaperones when the Colonist Pioneer Group of First Baptish Church held a splash party at the YMCA. Gorham Raceway was to open on June 23 for four weeks of harness racing.
from the University of New England with a master’s in occupational therapy. She and her mother then flew to North Carolina to see Matthew graduate from the University of North Carolina with a law degree. Gorham voters approved the demolition of Shaw School during the June 10 election. The $2.4 million project was approved, 743-438. The work includes tearing down the oldest section of the building, which fronts South Street, and renovating the gym and some rooms into office space for the school superintendent and Recreation Department.
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page 24
American Journal
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Arts Calendar Music
Series, Spunhouse, electric jam rock with funk twist, 6-8 p.m. Riverbank Park, Westbrook. Free. On-site cash barbecue and bake sale, 5-7 p.m.
June 16 Raymond Arts Alliance presents International Music Night, a “Short Set Concert,” at 7 p.m. at Raymond Village Community Church, 27 Main St. Celtic, Middle Eastern and Latin groups each will play a 25-minute set. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Suggested donation $10.
June 17 Mollyockett Chorus of the Sweet Adelines, kick-off of First Congregational Church of Bridgton's Summer Sunday Concert Series, 2 p.m., 33 S. High St., Bridgton. Free.
June 27 Riverbank Park Summer Concert Series, Westbrook City Band, 6-8 p.m. Riverbank Park, Westbrook. Free. On-site cash barbecue and bake sale, 5-7 p.m.
July 4 Riverbank Park Summer Concert Series, Hambone presents The Music of Stevie Ray Vaughan, 6-8 p.m. Riverbank Park, Westbrook. Free. On-site cash barbecue and bake sale, 5-7 p.m.
July 11 Riverbank
Park
Summer
Concert
In Bridgton: Mollyockett Chorus
Dance June 17 “The Greatest Show,” Studio for the Living Arts recital, 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Westbrook Performing Arts Center. $18 reserved seating, available via westbrookpac.org.
Poetry June 16 Lowry's Lodge special poetry reading, "Three Nations Anthology: Native, Canadian and New England Writers," curated by Valerie Lawson, 7 p.m. Continuum for Creativity: 863 Main St., Westbrook, $4 suggested donation, light refreshments served.
Misc. June 16-17 Living History Camp from late 1700s-1800s, presented by the Ancient Ones, Maine history reenactors, Maine Wildlife Park, Gray. Demonstrations throughout the day Saturday and until noon on Sunday include fire starting,
Mollyockett Chorus of the Sweet Adelines will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 17, at the First Congregational Church of Bridgton. Courtesy photo
cooking, trading, tomahawk throwing, flintlock muskets and weaving. Admission: free for ages 3 and under; $5.50 ages 4-12; $7.50 for adults; and $5.50 for seniors.
July 7-8 39th Annual Chickadee Quilters’ Quilt Show, hundreds of quilts on display, raf-
fles, Chinese auction, vendors, yard sale items, free demonstrations and café, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Stevens Brook Elementary School, 14 Frances Bell Drive, Bridgton. $5. For more information contact: chickadeequilters@gmail.com. Send events 10 days in advance to arts@keepmecurrent.com.
We Love To Eat Free dinner — Thursday, June 14, 5:306:30 p.m., St. Peters Episcopal Church, 678 Washington St., Portland. Chowder luncheon – Friday, June 15, and every Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., North Deering Congregational Church, 1364 Washington Ave., Portland. Bowl of haddock chowder with crackers, $9; or lobster roll lunch with chips, $10; cup of chowder, $6; combination lobster roll with cup of chowder, $13. All lunches include fresh baked bread, pickle, cookie and beverage. Takeouts available. Bean supper – Saturday, June 16, 5-6 p.m., North Congregational Church, 22
Church Hill Road, Buxton (Groveville). Two kinds of beans, red hot dogs, chop suey, potato salad, coleslaw, rolls, desserts, coffee and punch. $8. Bean supper – Saturday, June 16, 5-6 p.m., Amvets Post 6, Route 100, New Gloucester. Two kinds of beans, brown bread, homemade biscuits, coleslaw, American chop suey and two tables of desserts. $8, $3. Pot roast supper – Saturday, June 16, 5-6 p.m., Raymond Village Community Church, Main Street, Raymond. Pot roast, potatoes, gravy, green beans, carrots, roll, drinks and brownie sundae. $11, $6.
CUMBERLAND AUCTION JUNE 16TH AT 10AM (Rain date June 17 at 10AM) 67 Old Farm Rd, Cumberland Auctioneer: Harold Sutherland – Lic. #110, 207-749-1378 Vintage farm tools, seasoned firewood, paintings, furniture, china, wicker furniture, records, hand tools, power tools, bicycles, vintage snow shoes, vintage vice, fishing tackle, ladders, toys, dolls and lots more. Viewing 8am – 19am Day of Sale. 5% ME Sale Tax – 13% Buyers Premium – 10% Cash or a Good Check Catered – BYO Chair – Porta Potties Provided No dogs allowed per insurance regulations - Visit: auctionzip.com 8300
Legion breakfast – Sunday, June 17, 9-11 a.m., American Legion Post 197, Conant Street (Route 25), Westbrook. Two eggs any style, sausage or bacon, homefries, pancake, toast, juice and coffee. $5. Free meal –Wednesday, June 20, 5-6 p.m., Westbrook Community Center, 426 Bridge St. Sponsored in collaboration with Wayside Food programs and Trinity Lutheran Church. Handicapped accessible and free parking. Spaghetti supper – Friday, June 22, 4:306 p.m., American Legion Post 62, 17 Dunn St., Westbrook. Sponsored by Maine Regiment Drum Corps and includes door prize and raffle. Spoaghetti, salad, dessert and beverage. $8, $5.
Bean supper – Saturday, June 23, 5 p.m., First Congregational Church, Route 115, Gray. Beans, casseroles, homemade breads, desserts and beverages. $8, $4. Handicapped accessible. Strawberry festival – Saturday, June 23, 1-3 p.m., North Yarmouth Congregational Church, Fellowship Hall, 3 Gray Road, North Yarmouth. Strawberry shortcake with homemade biscuits, strawberry-rhubarb pies, strawberry-rhubarb punch, strawberries for dipping, sundaes, jam, and quarts of strawberries. Nonprofit organizations who want to list public meals should email information 10 days in advance to rlowell@keepmecurrent.com.
We Love Sales Annual yard sale — Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m.- 1 p.m., Prides Corner Church, 235 Pride St., Westbrook. Rain or shine. Flea market — Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Raymond Village Community Church, 27 Main St., Raymond. Avon, Scentsy, crafts, tarot card reader, yard sale,
Sweetser’s Apple Orchard Barn Sale
Saturday, June 16th, 9am 19 Blanchard Rd, Cumberland FMI estatesale.com #8367
silent auction, Andy's Grill for lunch, bake sale, book sale, plant sale and more; rain or shine. To rent space, call 838-0123. Calling crafters — Saturday, Aug. 4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Artisan and Craft Fair, Tory Hill Meetinghouse, intersection routes 202 and 112, Buxton. Booth rentals available at $30 for a 10-foot x 10-foot space; crafters responsible for table, chair set-up and display. Fair in conjunction with Dorcas Society's Classic Cars and Coffee show at the Brewster Mansion across from the church. For more information or booth rental space, call 756-0592.