The South Portlander

JULY 11: Ceremony for 1944 Plane Crash Victims

2009-07-10T11:55:00Z

A ceremony to honor the victims of a 1944 plane crash will take place Saturday in the Redbank neighborhood.

Maine’s deadliest plane crash occurred 65 years ago, when an Army bomber piloted by a 23-year-old South Portland man crashed in the Redbank Trailer Park. Nineteen people died, including pilot Philip Russell.

South Portland native John Kierstead, who remembered the crash from his childhood, is organizing Saturday’s ceremony and is seeking to build a memorial in Redbank, off Westbrook Street. Saturday’s ceremony will take place at the entrance to Redbank Village.

In the blog Likes2Write, Suzan Norton offers first-person accounts of the plane crash from interviewing survivors. She also provides some photos of people who lived in the trailer park.

Here is an excerpt from her blog:

“Mr. Gerrish and his beautiful family lived in the Westbrook Street Trailer Camp, located at 276 Westbrook Street, in South Portland where the plane crashed that day on July 11th, 1944, simply known as the Redbank Plane Crash. This location today is behind Olde English Village Apartments, at the foot of the hill where the Maine Youth Center overlooks the Fore River. Edward Gerrish was age 32 and his wife Virginia Wescott Gerrish was 26 and pregnant with their fifth child on the day of the disaster. Their oldest daughter was Roberta, age 7, son John [Jack] was age 6, and a daughter Rose was age 4 and the youngest was Marion, age 2 ½. The only survivors that day were two of the Gerrish children who were outside playing at the time, Jack and Marion. They survived, according to their family, with burns and injuries from shrapnel. Later they would be sent to live with relatives. John [Jack] died in 2004. Marion is still living but her whereabouts unknown.”

Work Under Way for Artist’s Co-op

2009-07-09T12:36:00Z

Lisa Foster, who owns property next to Scratch bakery, recently provided an update on her plans to develop an artist’s co-op at the site. Foster, who lives in England, recently sent an e-mail to me about the preliminary site work being done on the property, which includes moving her late grandmother’s house.

Here are some excerpts:

All the dirt you see is related to moving the old house (dated from 1709) to a new location facing Willow Street. This will make way for the phase 2 new cultural arts building. We just could not bring ourselves to demolish my grandmother’s house, being one of the oldest structures in So Portland.

We now see this as a historic rescue project worthy of ‘This old house’. Of course retaining the house has thrown up all manner of problems (and costs) but we are working with a good builder Curtis Lanciani and together we are getting over the hurdles. We anticipate completing the works associated with the move and new foundation work by the end of July. The studio manager Jeanelle Demers is sticking with us and has taken a temporary job while waiting for the project open.

The next step in the restoration project will be replacement siding in keeping with its historic status and the installation of new windows for energy efficiency. Internal works to bring it up to modern code standards and transform the interiors to accommodate the arts centre are on hold until the site plan review process is complete…

The phase 2 building will face onto Preble and proposes a café and space for a farmer’s market at street level, studios for rent and a teaching studio for the arts centre at second floor level, and two apartments at third floor with views of Casco bay...

The farmer’s market is a new idea we are investigating to reduce food miles for the residents of South Portland. We think we can open a farmer’s market on the front part of the lot under the trees which could then be ‘moved indoors’ when the open lot becomes the phase 2 new building if the market is a success.

... We are looking for someone with farmer’s market experience to help Jeanelle set up and operate the farmer’s market.

Sneak Peek of Art in the Park Poster

2009-07-08T20:04:00Z

Mark your calendars for the annual Art in the Park festival, which is Aug. 8. This is the outdoor show’s 30th year.

Tax Assessor Lowering Most Property Values

2009-07-08T14:04:00Z

South Portland’s Tax Assessor will lower most of the city’s property values by 5 percent, but homeowners should not expect to see much of a drop in their property tax bills.

The reason is that the property tax rate also will increase by 5 percent, from $14 to $14.70, to raise $52 million in revenues required to fund the city’s budget for fiscal 2010, which started July 1.

“We need to increase the rate to basically raise the same amount of money,” Tax Assessor Elizabeth Sawyer told the City Council on Monday. For details on the Council workshop, read my coverage, which runs in this week’s Current newspaper.

However, the 5 percent drop in valuations is not across the board. Real estate that has been harder hit in the recession may be valued lower by the city, such as homes on high traffic streets as well as some condominiums. The city’s valuations of waterfront homes will be lowered slightly but not at 5 percent, resulting in higher tax bills for homeowners.

As the city lowers values for most residential, commercial and industrial properties, it is leaving untouched the value or personal property that is taxed by the city. Tax bills that go out in August will reflect the changes.

City leaders showed how the value changes will affect a median home.

Last year’s median home in South Portland was valued at approximately $213,000, and the homestead exemption was $13,000, according to the city. The annual tax bill, at a $14 tax rate, was $2,800.

When the home value is lowered by 5 percent this year, the new median value is $202,300. The homestead remains at $13,000, reducing the taxable value to $189,300.

With the projected tax rate of $14.70, the annual tax bill is $2,782.71, slightly below last year’s tax amount.

Rotary Inter. President Visits greater South Portland

2009-07-08T13:59:00Z

Here’s a press release from the South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary:

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL WORLD PRESIDENT VISITS GREATER PORTLAND
John Kenny, the first President of Rotary International from Scotland, will visit the Greater Portland area on July 11th and 12th, Kenny, who took office on July 1st, will be in Maine to meet with past and present Rotary International officers from around New England. He will be accompanied by his wife, June.

Kenny, a graduate of Glasgow University, is a past dean of his local law faculty, a judge, and a notary. He is past president of the Forth Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Scottish Junior Chamber of Commerce and past general legal counsel of Jaycees International. He was also appointed deputy lieutenant of his district by Queen Elizabeth II. An elder of the Church of Scotland, where he has served as session clerk and Presbytery elder, Kenny also has been active in Scouting, and he has received the Medal of Merit from the chief scout for helping to form new Scout groups in Eastern Europe.

Kenny’s visit to Maine is intended to engage past Rotary officers to remain active in the organization and to them of the plans for the 2009-2010 year.

JULY 9: SoPo Photographer’s Exhibition

2009-07-08T13:48:00Z

Here’s a calendar item about a SoPo-related event across the bridge:

South Portland photographer Meredith Perdue exhibits her fine-art photos Thursday, July 9, at 2 Note Botanical Perfumery in Portland’s Old Port. Perdue will be on hand from 5-8 P.M. for a wine-and-cheese reception at 10 Moulton St., Portland. Perdue just opened a photo gallery in Willard Square, next to Willard Scoops, and owns a home in the Willard Beach neighborhood.

LIVE: Dog Decision Is Up to Voters

2009-07-07T00:53:00Z

City voters will decide on Nov. 3 whether dogs should be banned from Willard Beach for six months each year.

The City Council voted 6-0 to bring to a citywide ballot a citizen initiative requesting that dogs be kept off Willard Beach from April 15-Oct. 15 and allowed on leash during the other months.

Dogs currently are allowed on the beach year round and do not have to be leashed as long as they are under voice control. Dogs can be walked on the beach in the early morning and evening during the summer and all day off-season.

The petition for new restrictions was brought by City Council candidate Gary Crosby and members of the Save Willard Beach, his advocacy group. This group collected about 1,000 signatures from city residents, which required the City Council to decide to either pass the motion or send it to the voters.

“I couldn’t be happier that this is on the agenda,” said Councilor Linda Boudreau, who had suggested months ago that voters should make the call. “I think this is our one time to get a decisive and final decision on this.”

“This is a fine example of the rights we have in America and what makes us great,” agreed Mayor Tom Blake.

Crosby spoke in favor of bringing the decision to voters. “This has gone on for so long that all of the people involved in this feel it would be best for the citizens to decide,” he said.

No one from the South Portland Dog Owners Group, which opposes the law change, spoke. The group has turned out in large numbers in the past, when limits to pet access have been proposed.

Resident Dan Mooers, an attorney, was the only other member of the public to speak. He stated he was not there to argue in favor or against the measure. He said he simply felt the “ill will” had gone on far too long and needed to come to an end. Mooers said he believes a citywide vote will achieve that.

LIVE: Library Board Chair Asks for Council Help

2009-07-06T23:46:00Z

Carin Dunay, who chairs the Library Advisory Board, asked the City Council to intercede and help determine the board’s role.

“As it stands, Chapter 13 entrusts a great deal of power to the board,” said Dunay, referring to the city ordinance, which gives the board broad powers in governing the city’s two libraries. “But we cannnot carry out our responsibilities.”

Dunay explained that board members were told recently by City Manager Jim Gailey and city attorney Sally Daggett that the personnel policy “trumps” the 43-year-old ordinance and that the board can set no policies while the city is in union negotiations with library workers.

Dunay asked the Council to take up the matter in an upcoming workshop to help clarify the role and future for the board. The library is facing questions and concerns from residents, since the layoff of the teen library and the shutdown of the Young Adult Resource Room. The board was not consulted in these decisions.

Resident Karen Westerbeg stood to support Dunay. She also delivered a blistering criticism of city leaders and their oversight of the libraries.

“The current library director does not have a masters degree in library science,” she said, referring to Kevin Davis. Staff changes have been made at the library without input from the library advisory board.,” she said. “I am getting sick and tired of this. I am tired of getting unsatisfactory answers.”

The Council heard the comments without response or taking action.

LIVE: Move to Apologize to Anderson Fails

2009-07-06T23:19:00Z

The investigation is over. Dana Anderson was cleared. But he has yet to return to his job, after being placed on administrative leave. No one was explaining why at Monday night’s Council meeting.

Councilor Jim Hughes made a motion Monday night to issue a public apology to Anderson, who heads Public Works, Parks, Rec and the Libraries.

Hughes had asked the Council to waive its standing rules, issue the apology to Anderson and invite him to come back to work.

“Now that we have finished the investigation and have proven there are no problems with Mr. Anderson’s departments or his handling of finances, it’s time to issue an apology and welcome Mr. Anderson back,” Hughes said.

His motion followed an explanation by City Manager Jim Gailey that he was still in “conversations” with Anderson and his attorney, Greg Frame. “Hopefully, we will have a solution in the near future,” Gailey told the Council. He did not elaborate.

Anderson was placed on leave pending a financial audit of the departments he heads. The audit was prompted by unrelated allegations of embezzlement from a referee organization where Anderson served as treasurer. The civil suit was settled out of court, with Anderson maintaining his innocence.

But Hughes indicated it was time to welcome Anderson back with an official apology. He was joined by Councilors Maxine Beecher and Linda Boudreau. Mayor Tom Blake and Councilors Jim Soule and Thomas Coward voted against the motion to apologize. The motion failed because of the 3-3 tie vote.

Opponents said that the matter was a personnel issue that should be handled by the City Manager.

Coward said that this is a “personnel matter… He should return to work ASAP. The actions the city has taken are appropriate and measured.”

He said Anderson should not be singled out for an apology, just like he should not be singled out for “censure.”

Council to Consider Dog Ordinance

2009-07-06T11:45:00Z

Tonight the City Council will review a proposal to amend the city’s pet access rules to Willard Beach. Organizer Gary Crosby is hoping the Council will send the ordinance change to referendum for voters to decide in November.

A public hearing is scheduled as part of the deliberation. The proposed law change would ban dogs from Willard Beach for six months each year, from April-October. Off-season, pets would be allowed on the beach only if they are leashed.

The Council convenes at 7 p.m. Here is the position paper from the city’s corporate counsel:

SUBJECT:
ORDINANCE #1-09/10 – Public hearing and consideration of a citizen initiated proposed amendment to Chapter 3, “Animals & Fowl,” banning dogs from Willard Beach between April 15 and October 15. Council first reading and postponement to July 20, 2009 for final action or referral to the November 3, 2009 municipal general election ballot. Passage requires majority vote.
POSITION:
On May 20, 2009, a citizen initiative petition was submitted to the City Clerk’s office requesting amendment of the South Portland Code of Ordinances to prohibit dogs on Willard Beach between April 15 and October 15 and to require dogs to be “on leash under owner’s control during park hours” between October 16 and April 14. Pursuant to Article XI of the City Charter, South Portland voters may propose any
ordinance through the initiative process, except an ordinance appropriating money or authorizing the levy of taxes. (There are some other general limitations on the right of initiative not applicable to this proposed ordinance.) Petitions must be in the form set forth in Section 1103 of the Charter. Once an initiative petition is submitted to the City Clerk, the Clerk has 20 days to determine whether it contains a sufficient number of valid signatures and whether each paper of the petition has a proper statement of the circulator. The City Clerk has determined that the petition does contain the required
number of valid signatures and that each paper has a valid statement of the circulator.
Accordingly, she has forwarded it to the City Council. Once a certified initiative petition is received by the City Council, the City Council is required to have the proposed ordinance read and to hold a public hearing on it. Accordingly, the proposed ordinance has been placed on the agenda as a public hearing. The City Council must take final action on the proposed ordinance within 60
days of the date it receives it from the City Clerk.
If the City Council does not pass the proposed citizen-initiated ordinance as written, the proposed ordinance must be submitted to the voters at least 30 days but not
more than 15 months from the date of the City Council’s final vote thereon. Therefore, there are two options before the City Council as to how to proceed: (1) to move that this 2 serve as first reading of the proposed ordinance and postpone it to the meeting of July 20, 2009 for second reading and final action; or (2) to move to place the proposed ordinance on the ballot for the November 3, 2009 municipal general election.
REQUESTED ACTION:
Either:
1. Move that this serve as first reading of the proposed ordinance and postpone it to the meeting of July 20, 2009 for second reading and final action; or
2. Move to place the proposed ordinance on the ballot for the November 3, 2009 municipal general election.

Street Light Removal Update

2009-07-06T11:25:01Z

Here is an update from city officials on the street light removal program:

In an effort to save approximately $20,000 per year, the City is planning on removing 112 street lights along principal roadways (see list and map on the City’s web page at http://www.southportland.org). There is no intention of removing street lights from interior neighborhood blocks (unless so petitioned by residents living around a particular light), but some of the street lights inside neighborhoods have unnecessarily high wattage, and in the future the City may ask CMP to substitute some fixtures with lower watt units.

The street lights proposed for removal were selected because they are not located at street intersections and do not appear to be needed for safety purposes. The City’s emergency service officials have confirmed the acceptability of mid-block street light removals.

In order for people to know exactly which lights are affected, City staff have put orange signs on those utility poles with street lights proposed for removal (see web page). THE DEADLINE FOR APPEALING A STREET LIGHT REMOVAL IS JULY 17, 2009.

In order to appeal a street light removal, please print the SOUTH PORTLAND STREET LIGHT FORM (on web page), fill it out neatly, and send it back to us by email, fax (767-2197), or US mail to the person indicated on the form. Forms also are available at the South Portland Planning & Development Department, 62 E Street.

Appeals of proposed street light removals will be reviewed by a Street Light Removal Appeals Committee made up of representatives of several City Council-appointed Boards and Committees and of staff from the Fire, Police, Public Works, and Code Enforcement departments. The Committee members will base their determinations on whether there is a public safety problem associated with removing a street light. This could be due, for example, to a cross-walk or a park being adjacent to the location of the street light. Stating that a street light removal would make a person’s property darker will not be deemed to be a valid public safety reason for keeping a street light.

After reviewing the appeals, the Committee will forward its recommendations to the City Council. The City Council is tentatively scheduled to discuss street light removals at a workshop on August 10 and to hold a public hearing and take final action on approving the proposed street lights for removal on August 17.

House Light Reimbursement Program
Property owners whose homes or businesses are located within fifty (50) feet of a street light proposed for removal are eligible for a house light reimbursement. Under this program, a property owner who does not currently have a light on the front of his or her home or business can bring the receipt for the purchase of a light to the Planning & Development Department, 62 E Street, and be reimbursed up to $25 toward the purchase of the light. NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE UNLESS THE PROPERTY OWNER FIRST TALKS WITH THE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, 767-7603 extension #9, AND GETS APPROVAL FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT. We will use the City’s mapping system to verify that the house or business is within 50’ of the street light proposed for removal and will ask whether there already is a light. DO NOT PURCHASE A HOUSE LIGHT UNTIL PLANNING STAFF SAY YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT.

If you are approved for the house light, you can purchase the light and bring the receipt to the Planning office. Within several weeks thereafter the City will send a check for the amount on the receipt or $25, whichever is less, to the listed owner of the property. If you are renting the property, please arrange for the property owner to submit the reimbursement request.

Please note that the City is only offering to offset the purchase of a house light. Any additional expenses, including installation, if any, are the responsibility of the property owner.

For any questions about the house light reimbursement program, or about the Street Light Removal Program in general, please contact the Planning & Development Department at 767-7603 extension #9.

Land Trust Announces Walking Tours

2009-07-06T11:11:01Z

Here is a press release from the South Portland Land Trust on a series of summer walking tours:

First of Four-Tour Series on July 11 to Feature Barberry Creek

The South Portland Land Trust is once again sponsoring a series of educational summer walking tours, to be held on Saturdays from 9–11 a.m. The first of the four-tour series will be held on July 11, and will explore the history and geography of Barberry Creek. Participants are invited to meet at the Greenbelt parking lot on the corner of Broadways and Evans streets.

The tours are open to the public at no charge, and will be held in most weather. For more information, call 767-1269. Each educational tour features locations in South Portland that are significant environmental and historically. The following is a brief description for each:

July 11 – Meet at the Greenbelt parking lot near the corner of Broadway and Evans to explore the history and geography of Barberry Creek, a tucked-away area of South Portland where alewives were once harvested to be given to the poor and indigent.

July 25 - The walking tour of Fort Preble and the SMCC campus will meet at the Old Settlers Cemetery. The tour will explore the campus and fort and focus on the history of both locations. Fort Preble was built on the site of Fort Hancock in 1808 and was expanded over the years, remaining active through World War II. In 1952 the Maine Vocational Technical Institute moved to the location and is today known as SMCC.

August 8 – Mayor Tom Blake will lead a “Hidden Jewels” of South Portland tour. This tour is primarily a vehicle tour which will stop at sites that may include: a cascading waterfall, side rails from old and private Vaughn’s Bridge, an alewives sleuth, and an historic river bank where Native Americans and settlers signed a peace treaty. Tom may also show you a street plow used as a lawn ornament, the ruins of an ice house, a marker used to designate the Kings Highway and other little known but fascinating tidbits of South Portland history. Meet at Bug Light Park.

August 22 – Join former SPLT Director Jon Dore and Patrick Keenan from the BioDiversity Research Institute to find out why Trout Brook is such a special place. Learn how Sawyer Marsh helps keep the brook clean and how the springs help keep the trout population healthy. Attendees will come away with ideas on how they can help improve water quality in Trout Brook or in the watershed where they live. Meet on Providence Ave at the Trout Brook trail entrance.

NY Developer Buys Major Office Building

2009-07-02T12:18:00Z

The New York developer who failed to win local permits to build Maine’s tallest hotel at Spring Point recently purchased the largest empty office building in South Portland, and has started to renovate it.

John Cacoulidis paid just under $10 million for 300 Southborough Drive, near Payne Road, according to Thomas Moulton, partner with the Dunham Group, which brokered the sale. The 116,500-square-foot office building had been vacant since the Unum Co. moved out 18 months ago.

I write about the property transaction and plans by Cacoulidis for the building in this week’s edition of the Current newspaper.

The seller was a Middle Eastern royal family represented by a Boston company, Moulton said. The property owner was listed in South Portland tax records as Scarborough Holdings LLC, and the city had valued the property at $15.9 million.

Scarborough Holdings owned the building since 2003, leasing it to Unum, the original property owner.

Moulton said renovations will focus on energy-efficiency, with a goal to bring the building to industry-level standards, known as LEEDS.

Caccoulidis previously had tried to build a hotel complex, hospital and convention center on 22 acres he owns on South Portland’s waterfront. He had proposed connecting the complex to Portland by using an air tram across that people would take across the harbor.

Caccoulidis and his wife live part time on a private island they own off the coast of Cumberland.

Sobriety Checks Lead to OUI Arrests

2009-06-30T12:59:00Z

Here is a press release from the South Portland Police Department:

As announced early last week, the South Portland Police Department will be conducting increased enforcement of Maine’s drunk driving laws. On Friday night, 6/27/09, beginning at 11 pm, officers from the South Portland and Cape Elizabeth police departments conducted a sobriety checkpoint on the inbound lane of the Casco Bay Bridge (Rte. #77). This operation was made possible by grant funding from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

During this checkpoint, 563 vehicles were contacted. Of those, 33 were detained for further inquiry, testing or law violations. As a result of this checkpoint, 5 people were charged with OUI; 2 people were charged with Operating w/out a License; and 1 male passenger in a vehicle was arrested on an outstanding warrant for OUI (Failure to Pay Fine). He was transported to the Cumberland County Jail. All of the other violators were each issued a summons and released from the scene. One of them, a 23 year old male who had been summonsed for OUI and had left with a sober driver, returned a short time later and confronted officers who were conducting an inventory of his vehicle. He was arrested for Assault on a Police Officer and Refusing to Submit to Arrest.

As we approach the 4th of July weekend, the department wants to remind the motoring public of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. Whether you want to drink responsibly or drive responsibly, they both mean they same thing: Don’t drink and drive. The legal limit in the State of Maine is 0.08. Don’t blow it.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Taxpayers Deserve to See Report

2009-06-27T11:34:00Z

To the Editor:

I am thoroughly disgusted at City Manager Jim Gailey and the city of South Portland for continuing to fall back on legal “advice” and statutes as grounds for withholding the findings of a report that was paid for with taxpayer dollars (see June 24 South Portland: “Consultant’s Directive, Findings Unknown").

And the city isn’t the only party I fault here. Why don’t Smith and her lawyer release both her client¹s letter and the investigator¹s reply, if that would help clarify things? I understand that they are free to do so if
they choose.

This whole issue has become way too bogged down in legal manipulation. At some point, both sides will lose all credibility and there will be no meaningful resolution.

Come on, folks, get over yourselves and get the facts out there!! We deserve to hear them.

Linda Skinner
824 Sawyer St.
South Portland