Adams To Be Commentator at Inauguration

Parkside/Bayside State Represent-ative Herb Adams will serve as a commentator at the inauguration of Governor John Baldacci in Augusta on January 3rd. Adams commentary will be heard on National Public Radio on a show hosted by Fred Bever.

Adams will describe the proceedings and provide interesting historical background to the event. Baldacci is Maine’s 73rd Governor

Portland Police Not Familiar With ‘Missing Person’

Portland police say that after a statewide inquiry, they have been unable to establish the existence of a person by the name of Susan Rogers. A poster which was stapled to a pole at the corner of Pine and Brackett Streets describes Rogers as ‘missing’ and instructs readers to contact the police immediately if she is seen. There is no other contact information on the poster, and it is not known who put it up.

Sand Pile Available for Portland Residents

The City of Portland is providing free sand to Portland residents. This winter, the pile is located in the corner parking lot of Deering Oaks. The parking lot is immediately off of the State Street and Forest Avenue intersection, facing State Street. There is a limit of two 5-gallon pails per person.

If you have any questions, call Portland Public Works customer service at 874-8493. Blue Barrels of sand, for use by cars traveling up streets, are also located throughout the City. There is a list of Blue barrels location on the City’s website.

Weather forecasts are calling for snow, sleet and freezing rain at the start of the new year on Monday.

The December 27th Issue (Volume 6, Number 23) of the West End NEWS is on the Street!
“Voted Least Boring Newspaper in Maine by Al Diamon!”

Charity Day Raises $4500 in Downtown

Portland's Downtown District’s Annual Charity Day raised over $4,500 from downtown shops and businesses in the Old Port and Arts District for Day One, a non-profit organization dealing with adolescent substance abuse, addiction and youth at risk. Day One's spectrum of care includes prevention, intervention, treatment and aftercare services for youth and families statewide.

Charity Day is part of Portland's Downtown District month-long celebration, Light Up Your Holidays, for 6 years. Some previous recipients include the Caleb Adult Center, Preble Street Resource Center and the Frannie Peabody Center.

Police Identify Bank Robber

On December 20, 2006 at 1:45 P.M. Bank of America at 39 Auburn Street was robbed. The perpetrator has now been identified as 37 year old Paul R. Bumstead of Malden Massachusetts. A warrant of arrest has been issued charging Bumstead with Class B robbery. Bumstead is on probation in Massachusetts for a drug conviction. Portland police are working closely with law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts to locate and arrest him.

Anyone having information regarding Bumstead’s whereabouts is asked to call Portland police detectives at 874-8596.

Cops Say Incident Wasn’t Gay-Bashing

Portland police say they have no reason to believe that an incident that occurred on Winter Street on Thanksgiving night was an assault.

According to police, they were called to assist a 42-year-old man who was laid out on the sidewalk and had suffered a head injury. The man, who police say was intoxicated, was transported to Mercy Hospital, where he was also found to have a fractured hip.

Police said that the man told them that he was at a party prior to the incident and does not know what happened to him.

They said that a friend of the man started an email campaign charging that the incident was a bias crime, but police have made no arrest and have no suspects.

Adams Helps Cops in Burglary Investigation

Portland Police arrested Paul Sans, 24, on December 9th, in connection with a burglary at the Northern Pride Car Wash on Marginal Way the night before. They also arrested Sans’ girlfriend, Rebecca Davis, 22, an employee of the business. She was charged with bail violations and hindering apprehension.

Police are still investigating three other recent burglaries at the car wash, and have gotten a big assist in the investigation from State Representative Herb Adams, who represents the Parkside/Bayside neighborhood in the State Legislature.

Adams was walking through Deering Oaks Park recently when he spotted about a half-dozen clean, white envelopes discarded near the walking path near the Deering Avenue entrance to the park. The envelopes, which were from the car wash, were marked with monetary figures and contained a number of receipts. Adams carefully collected the envelopes, while wearing gloves, and turned them over to police, who were able to get fingerprints from the envelopes.

Strimling Supporter Strikes Back
Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to your article about the letter-writing campaign I and others have undertaken on behalf of Senator Ethan Strimling. (See story below.)

You are absolutely right: I take every opportunity to talk with friends and neighbors about our Senator, Ethan Strimling. And here’s why. Ethan Strimling is one of the hardest-working people I know. He is a tireless advocate, a progressive voice, a person with dignity.

Ethan Strimling sponsored a resolution against the war in Iraq 3 years ago -- long before it was “popular.” Under Ethan's leadership, the Maine State Senate became the first legislative body in the country to come out against the war.

Ethan has worked to protect survivors of domestic violence, Maine’s firefighters, young people at risk, and our environment. I could go on, and trust me... I will.

Many of us have encouraged Ethan to run for Congress should Tom Allen decide to run against Susan Collins. We hope he will. Ethan in Congress and Tom in the US Senate would be a powerful voice for all Maine people. I would ask progressive thinkers to join me in support of Ethan. And I won’t mind writing a letter or two to say just that.

Daniel Skolnik, Esq.Portland, ME

Editor’s Note:
In regard the the Iraq War Resolution, the following article appeared in this newspaper shortly after the events described:

West End NEWS
February 19, 2003
Strimling Accused of Snatching Anti-War Resolution From Fellow West End Legislator

By ED KING

What was originally intended to be a modest statement promoting non-violence has turned into a three-way partisan political battle in the State Legislature.

West End State Representative John Eder was gathering support for a statement of non-violence in late January when he asked Portland State Senator Ethan Strimling to be a co-sponsor and to gather support for it in the State Senate.

Strimling held a press conference on January 30, announcing that he was sponsoring an anti-war resolution in the State Senate.

The resolution passed the Senate on February 4 by a vote of 18-15, the votes falling along party lines. It was tabled by the Senate on February 18, when it returned to that body in an amended version from the State House of Representatives.

Jonathan Carter, the Green Independent Party candidate for Governor in 2002, was at the January 30 press conference to show support for the ideas contained in the resolution. But he later confirmed that the resolution had been Eder's idea and that the Democrats had "hoodwinked" it. He called their actions "unethical" and said that they should stop playing politics. He said that Strimling was "politically ambitious".

But Carter praised Biddeford Representative Joanne Twomey, who had discussed the resolution with Eder and had agreed to let Eder be the sponsor of the resolution. Twomey relinquished her speaking time at the January 30 press conference to Eder, who had not been offered an opportunity to speak. Twomey was upset with what one legislator said was a “breach of legislative politeness.”

Maine Green Party founder John Rensenbrink was also at the press conference, as were many Green Party members who expected Eder to have a more prominent role in the announcement of the resolution.

"They wanted one of theirs to get the credit for it," said Rensenbrink, calling the Democrats' maneuvering "unfortunate", "unprofessional", and "indicative of a poor spirit."

Strimling does not deny that Eder had talked to him and gave him the idea for the resolution. The language for Strimling's resolution was taken from one passed by the Portland City Council on February 3 by an 8-1 vote. That resolution was sponsored by West End City Councilor Karen Geraghty. Councilor Cheryl Leeman was the only councilor to vote against it.

The text for the boilerplate resolutions originated from a website called Cities forPeace.org. More than 80 anti-war resolutions that originated at that website have been passed in cities and towns across the country and 90 others are in the process of being presented to local government bodies. The site contains a step-by-step guide to getting a resolution passed and instructions on how to publicize a resolution campaign.

Eder was elected to the Maine legislature in November, 2002 by a nearly 2-1 margin over his Democratic opponent, making him the highest-ranking elected Green Party official in the country He bases his opposition to the Iraqi war on one of the Green Party's 'Ten Key Values'. The 'Non-Violence' value, stated in the party's platform, condemns hatred, fear and violence in any form. It also condemns terrorism, whether carried out by individuals or governments.

Eder said that he would still support Strimling's resolution and he voted for it when it passed in the State House of Representatives on February 11.

Twomey also expressed continued support for the measure and voted in favor of it. The final tally in the House was 73-67, the vote also falling mostly along party lines.
Parkside representative Herb Adams, who also supported the resolution, authored a similar resolution before the Middle East War in 1991. He had been approached to refine the wording of the proposed Eder/Twomey document.

In Augusta, a Republican caucus on the morning of February 11 brought a barrage of criticism for the resolution and its sponsor. It was called everything from a "waste of time" to "aid and comfort to the enemy". One legislator suggested that the Republicans might walk out of the session in protest.

The resolution passed after being amended by House Democrats to include language in support of American troops, a move which still failed to garner much Republican support for it.

Strimling Campaign in Letter-Writing Mode
Let the Buzz Begin

The campaign to put local State Senator Ethan King Strimling in the US Congress in 2008 is preparing to barrage newspapers statewide with a ‘Letters to the Editor’ campaign, according to literature distributed at Strimling’s first campaign organizing committee, held in Portland on November 15th. Strimling has not officially announced his candidacy, and the current Congressman, Tom Allen, has not yet announced that he will not run for re-election in 2008. Allen has said that he is seriously considering a run for the US Senate against Republican Susan Collins.

The Strimling literature, entitled “Making A Difference Where It Matters,” urges Strimling supporters - referred to as ‘E-Leaders’-to start the early letter-writing campaign “to create a buzz about Ethan - namely that he is seen as a future leader for Maine.” The Strimling organization also plans to provide ‘talking points’ via email to E-Leaders, as well providing letter templates and lists of newspaper email addresses. E-Leaders are also encouraged to visit Strimling’s website (www.ethanstrimling.com) for background information about Strimling to include in their letters, or to contact Strimling’s campaign manager Rob King for further letter-writing assistance.

The letter-writing campaign is similar to strategies Strimling used in his unsuccessful bid for the Portland City Council in 1999 and in his three state senate races.

Brennan Honored for Education Work

Senate Majority Leader Michael Brennan, received the first annual Advocate of the Year Award from the Maine Association of School Counselors on December 1st.

Brennan was given the award for his longtime support of education, health, and mental health programs within schools. He also received the award because of his opposition to using the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) as part of Maine’s Comprehensive Assessment System.

Brennan said that due to No Child Left Behind, there has been an overemphasis on standardized tests and assessments, and there needs to be more of a balance between emotional development and academic achievement.

Annual Mitten Tree at St. Luke’s for Kids in Need

The bare branch tree that becomes the annual mitten tree is taking shape at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke on State Street with donations of mittens, gloves and hats from members of the parish. The mittens will be gathered up on Christmas Eve and distributed to the Reiche and East End Community schools and St. Elizabeth's Day Care, for distribution to kids in need of warm mittens, gloves and hats. This 20 year ministry of the parish outreach committee has filled a need in the community that would otherwise be overlooked.

The parish outreach committee also regularly contributes supplies and manpower to St. Elizabeth’s Essential Pantry, which provides non-food items to people in need, provides staff for the St. Luke’s Soup Kitchen, and works with other local community groups to provide for those in need in greater Portland.

The parish is also working with Cultivating Communities, which organizes and teaches organic gardening to youths, who grow vegetables and sunflowers along the Franklin Arterial in Portland and at a local farm.

Simpson Elected WENA Prez

Lena Simpson was elected President of the West End Neighborhood Association by acclamation on December 13th, succeeding Robert O’Brien, who was recently elected to the Portland School Committee.

Other officers elected at the meeting include Rebecca Shaffner-Vice-President; Patrick Baldwin, Secretary; and Janette Lenz-Treasuurer.

A new Board of Directors was also elected, including Ed Bryant, Penny Stevens, Wendy Cherubini, Dennis ‘Chip’ Martin, June Stevenson, Robert Witkowski, and Chris LaVoie.

Donut Bandits Caught

On Thursday December 21, 2006 at 9:00 A.M. there was an attempted robbery of Dunkin Donuts at 363 Fore Street in the Old Port. Two females entered the store and one of them handed the clerk a note demanding cash. The clerk did not comply and immediately called 911. Both women, and a male accomplice waiting outside, fled up Market Street. They were arrested minutes later after witnesses indicated they had entered 11 Exchange Street.

23 year old Cindy Kirlin, 21 year old Zack Williams, and 19 year old Heather Rundquist are all charged with robbery and being held at the Cumberland County Jail.

Cindy Kirlin is additionally charged in connection with the December 6, 2006 robbery attempt of Rite Aid at 936 Brighton Avenue. She is believed to be an accomplice of the gunman. Kirlin is the only person currently charged in that case and the investigation continues.

Today’s robbery is not believed to be connected with the robberies of Bank of America and the Dunkin Donuts on Washington Avenue on December 20. Suspects in that Dunkin Donuts robbery are in custody on unrelated charges and detectives have identified a suspect in the bank robbery but no arrest has been made.

New Councilors Disagree in First Council Decision

Portland’s two new Green Party City Councilors, who ran a joint campaign to get elected to the City’s governing body, parted company when it came time to make one of their first decisions as City Fathers.

The Council voted in favor of a zoning change that prohibits from certain zones businesses that attract more than fifty vehicles per hour during peak hours.

Residential/Commercial zones in the West End that would be affected by the ruling include High Street at York Street, Brackett and Pine, and Danforth and May. The changed appeared to be aimed at keeping a Dunkin’ Donuts franchise from opening on Stevens Avenue in Deering Center.

East End Councilor Kevin Donoghue opposed the change because of the methods used measuring the impact of the businesses involved. West End Councilor David Marshall voted in favor of it.

Deering Oaks Gets Lit Up

The Friends of Deering Oaks, which sponsors the annual lighting display in Deering Oaks Park, held the lighting of the special Candelabra Tree on December 12.

The magnificent 100-year old Candelabra Tree is the largest pin oak in Maine, listed on “Maine’s Big Tree List.” It is approximately 85 feet tall, with a circumference of 120 inches.

Candle-like forms, developed by local sculptor Pandora LaCasse, were installed in the spreading branches of the tree, bringing it to life as the community’s candelabra. Lighting the tree also symbolically united the two major sections of Deering Oaks, currently bisected by the State Street traffic through the park.

Anne Pringle, President of the Friends of Deering Oaks, said that USM students engaged in an interdisciplinary course focused on Deering Oaks called “Portrait of a Space” and assisted LaCasse in restringing the lighting display around the pond.

Schools and Community to Talk
The Portland School Department is planning a series of study circles at the Reiche School that will focus on "Schools as Community Centers." The study circles are tentatively scheduled to take place in January. They will be open to the public.

A liaison position between WENA and Reiche's Parent Teacher Organization has also been proposed in order to facilitate communication between school and community. If approved, the person filling that position would sit on the boards of both WENA and the Reiche PTO.

Hinck Has Big Shoes to Fill

Dear West End NEWS,

This is my attempt to let my feelings be known as to the Eder-Hinck race. Both Mr. Eder and Mr. Hinck, I am sure, are excellent people. My being a Republican and an ardent John Eder supporter, Mr. Hinck will have to prove to methat he is as fine a representative to me as John Eder was.

John Eder did more for me than any other elected politician since Margaret Chase Smith did in 1972. Mr. Hinck, you have big shoes to fill. Please let them fit.

Sincerely,
Grant Baker,
Danforth Street


Green Area to Become USM Parking Lot

To The Editor:

I have learned that, due to a housing development planned for the cornerof High and Danforth Streets (please note, I support that proposal), theUniversity of Southern Maine is planning to turn the green area attachedto its 68 High Street building into a parking lot for its Center for RealEstate, to make up for the parking that would be displaced by the housingproject. As someone who uses this green area frequently (through the generosity ofUSM), I think this action would be a tragedy for both the neighborhood andthe city.

I am aware that the university owns the property and has the right to dowith it what it wants. I am also aware of the severe lack of parking indowntown Portland. However, there arenumerous parking garages in downtown Portland, including one owned by theCity of Portland, on Spring Street, within one block of the Center forReal Estate. Perhaps USM could negotiate with one of these parkinggarages for discounted parking.

On the other hand, Portland is a city in flux, and every developmentdecision, however trifling it may seem now, will have consequences farinto the future. That is why I hope you reconsider this matter.

Increasingly, precious urban green space is sacrificed for the developmentof office buildings, housing and parking. We are all familiar with the Old Port parks that could have become amost tragic example of mistaken redevelopment in Portland. Rather than a scenic, picturesque oasis frequented by tourists, performers, office workers and others, those spaces could have become loathed concrete parking lots. I am sure that, despite the loss of parking, the Old Port business owners would far preferthe current pedestrian congregation to a barren field of cars.

The same situation stands before the University of Southern Maine now. Will this historic green area -- which is bordered by spectacular pinetrees and provides an essential open space in a neighborhood with very fewgreen areas - be saved? Once gone, it will likely be gone forever.

It is my hope that the leaders of the University of Southern Maine havethe foresight and the nobility to choose beauty and life over ugliness anddeath in a crucial part of our esteemed city.

Sincerely yours,
Annie Wadleigh

LETTERS
Hinck Has Big Shoes to Fill

Dear West End NEWS,

This is my attempt to let my feelings be known as to the Eder-Hinck race. Both Mr. Eder and Mr. Hinck, I am sure, are excellent people. My being a Republican and an ardent John Eder supporter, Mr. Hinck will have to prove to methat he is as fine a representative to me as John Eder was.

John Eder did more for me than any other elected politician since Margaret Chase Smith did in 1972. Mr. Hinck, you have big shoes to fill. Please let them fit.

Sincerely,
Grant Baker,
Danforth Street


Green Area to Become USM Parking Lot

To The Editor:

I have learned that, due to a housing development planned for the cornerof High and Danforth Streets (please note, I support that proposal), theUniversity of Southern Maine is planning to turn the green area attachedto its 68 High Street building into a parking lot for its Center for RealEstate, to make up for the parking that would be displaced by the housing project. As someone who uses this green area frequently (through the generosity ofUSM), I think this action would be a tragedy for both the neighborhood andthe city.

I am aware that the university owns the property and has the right to dowith it what it wants. I am also aware of the severe lack of parking indowntown Portland. However, there arenumerous parking garages in downtown Portland, including one owned by theCity of Portland, on Spring Street, within one block of the Center forReal Estate. Perhaps USM could negotiate with one of these parkinggarages for discounted parking.

On the other hand, Portland is a city in flux, and every developmentdecision, however trifling it may seem now, will have consequences farinto the future. That is why I hope you reconsider this matter.

Increasingly, precious urban green space is sacrificed for the developmentof office buildings, housing and parking. We are all familiar with the Old Port parks that could have become amost tragic example of mistaken redevelopment in Portland. Rather than a scenic, picturesque oasis frequented by tourists, performers, office workers and others, those spaces could have become loathed concrete parking lots. I am sure that, despite the loss of parking, the Old Port business owners would far preferthe current pedestrian congregation to a barren field of cars.

The same situation stands before the University of Southern Maine now. Will this historic green area -- which is bordered by spectacular pinetrees and provides an essential open space in a neighborhood with very fewgreen areas - be saved? Once gone, it will likely be gone forever.

It is my hope that the leaders of the University of Southern Maine havethe foresight and the nobility to choose beauty and life over ugliness anddeath in a crucial part of our esteemed city.

Sincerely yours,
Annie Wadleigh

It Smells . . . Like Marijuana

By MARGE NIBLOCK

On December 13, at around 2:00 P.M., police were called to the Lafayette Apartment Building at Park and Congress Streets. The strong smell of marijuana in a hallway prompted the call.
Police knocked at the door of the apartment from which the apparent odor was emanating. The door was opened, allowing officers to see marijuana, scales, and baggies on a table.

Two men were arrested for trafficking in marijuana; Eric Gould, 22, of Salem Street, and Michael Stevens, 24, the resident of the apartment.

Spring Recoils
Former School Board Rep Headed South

Former West End School Committee member Stephen Spring is moving to Austin, Texas next month to start a new job there. Spring lost his bid for re-election to a second term on the Portland School Committee to West End Neighborhood Association President Robert O’Brien.

Spring called it “a long and tough decision to leave Portland.” In his term on the School Committee, Spring was responsible for that board taking on student representatives as non-voting members, helped institute a policy limiting military recruitment in City schools, advocated and secured free passes for students to use METRO public buses, and was a leading voice in opposition to a school task force proposal to close the Reiche School.

He was also at the center of many political battles between the Democrats on the Committee, which is officially non-partisan, and the Green Independent Party, of which Spring is a member. Spring wrote a public farewell letter to his constituents, the text of which follows:

Dear Neighbors,

I want to take a moment to thank you for the friendship and encouragement you provided me both during my three years on the school board and in the years outside of public service. As I say ‘ciao’ in a public way, I’d like to share some thoughts and learning that have become part of me as a result of my experiences as a resident in the neighborhood.

District 2 in Portland possesses an energy that is unmatched in all of Maine. It is a place where neighborhoods are shared by old and new residents. There are some who can trace their family history back centuries and never leave the district; others have just arrived, either from another part of the city, state, or country; an increasing number of folks are coming to Portland’s geographically smallest district from dozens of different countries.

With this mix of authentic human experiences comes the challenge to create the conditions necessary to increase the likelihood that we learn from each other. It is in these “collisions” of diverse ways of being and thought that we find ideas that will serve us as we create the world we deserve. We must persevere in pushing back against structures that leave many disempowered. How can we continue breaking down the barriers that still remain in our two large public high schools, in our housing patterns, and in our political structures? District 2 has what it takes to tackle these questions and in doing so, will interrupt injustice. This western outpost of our city’s peninsula has been doing this work for quite some time.

After seventeen years of living in Maine, with eight of these in District 2, I have decided to follow a career opportunity in another land. My partner, Gustavo, is welcoming the move to a climate that’s a bit more familiar to his soul. I’ll be taking the good energy from here with me and I’ll be watching what goes on in my old ‘hood from afar.

Thank you all for making these years in the neighborhood and the three in political office such exciting and gratifying times. Rock on!

Stephen Spring

SPEED DATING CATCHES ON AT USM

By HARLAN BAKER

Forget goldfish swallowing, telephone booth packing or streaking. The latest fad to arrive on campus is Speed Dating. The University of Southern Maine’s Ski and Ride Club sponsored Speed Dating on Friday December 1st at the Woodbury Campus Center. According to Jennifer Pickrel a third year geology and anthropology major, the event was a fundraiser for the organization, and drew many non-students.

“My friend got the idea from the movie ‘40 Year Old Virgin,’” said one of the event organizers.

“OK, dates, time to finish up with those final questions,” Peter Bissell, the MC for the evening, told the couples over the microphone. “You have twenty seconds. Alright guys, time to wind it up. Get up and switch to your right.”

“Girls sit in a circle and stay at their stations,” said Pickrel, “and the guys move around. After talking to each other, they switch partners every five minutes. They can write down names of people they are interested in and hand in the paper. We compare the lists to see who is on each one, and if a couple writes down each others’ name, we send them contact information, but only if they both write down each others’ name.”

According to Pickrel, if the event proves successful, there will be more Speed Dating next semester. Lonely West Enders may find romance.

Local Statues Made into Replicas

By HARLAN BAKER

Admirers of Longfellow's statue in Longfellow Square, the gateway to Portland's West End, can now take home a model replica to place on their desk, coffee table or shelf.

Reggie Groff, a local filmmaker and avid toy soldier collector, has commissioned models of three famous Portland Landmark statues: The Our Lady of Victory Monument at Monument Square, the Maine Lobsterman at Temple and Middle Streets, and The Longfellow Statue.

Groff dreamed about the idea for years and searched for sculptors who could recreate the statues in minute detail. The Maine Historical Society was impressed with the accuracy of the work, and now offers the statues in their gift shop.

If successful, Groff will be commissioning more statues of other Portland and Maine landmarks. A John Ford statue replica could be in the works. The models can be viewed at FortheloveofPortland.com

Crack Party Interrupted
Portland Cop Injured

By MARGE NIBLOCK

Police and ambulances responded to a call at about 5PM on December 5 outside the Prompto Oil and Lube Service on Forest Avenue.

At the scene, Officer Brian Regan accidentally received a blast of pepper spray from his fellow officers during a melee involving the arrest of Gregory Graffam at 449 Forest Avenue. Regan received a direct hit from the OC (oleoresin capsicum) spray and stumbled away, collapsing onto a police car. Other officers poured water on him until he was taken to Maine Medical Center.

Police were alerted by a call stating that people were passing a crack pipe back and forth in a car at that location. Penelope Burrows, the registered owner of the car, was seated in the front and Graffam was in the rear.

Graffam was charged with possession of schedule W drugs; crack and a crack pipe were taken from him. His refusal to submit to arrest, and the fact that he wouldn’t remove his hand from his pocket, causing police to believe he might have a concealed weapon, also resulted in Graffam being charged with two counts of assault. He had a knife with cocaine residue, which also was seized.

Burrows was also arrested for unlawful possession of drugs on an outstanding warrant issued by the Westbrook Police Department. Both people arrested are Portland residents.

Regan didn’t suffer any lasting effects, and was expected to return to work the following day. Pepper spray can have an immediate effect on the eyes, respiratory system, and may also affect muscle coordination, causing loss of balance due to its effect on vision.

Congress Street Bank Robbery

Today at 2:00 P.M. Maine Bank and Trust located at 467 Congress Street was robbed. The perpetrator entered the bank and handed one of the tellers a note demanding cash. He fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen heading toward the Portland Public Market on Preble Street. No weapon was displayed and no one was injured in the robbery. There were several customers in the bank.

The suspect is described as a middle aged white male; about 5’06” tall and medium build. He was wearing a blue baseball cap and a blue and red winter coat. He has gray hair, blue eyes and was unshaven.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Portland police detective bureau at 874-8596.

LETTER

Hinck Knocked on More Doors

To the Editor:

Thanks for the thorough article in the November 17 edition on the Hinck-Eder race. The article offered the only overarching narrative and analysis of the campaign that I have seen. I would however dispute the hypothesis of the headline, namely that Hinck's victory was a function of linking Eder to the Republicans. In my opinion, Hinck won the election by pounding the pavement, knocking on doors and getting to know the voters - the very approach that earned Eder the seat in 2002 and 2004.

The local press seems to spending a lot of time trying to figure out what the local election results tell us about the state of the relationship between the Greens and the Democrats. The real story to me is that, by and large, these elections were won by the candidates - Donoghue, Hinck and Marshall being notable examples - that went out and connected with us one to one.

I hope that Hinck and the Democrats do not reach the conclusion that this victory was based on demonizing the Green Party. Hinck's robocall implying that Eder had actively taken money from a Republican PAC was as alienating to me as Eder's robocall suggesting that Hinck was anti-choice.

Bad feelings abound after a hard-fought campaign, but I feel fortunate to live in a district where I could choose between two strong progressive candidates. I hope both parties reach the following conclusions from this past election:
- Elections are won with grassroots work;
- Candidates should steer clear of the "professional electioneering" - e.g., robocalls - unless they are consciously trying to alienate the electorate;
- Strong candidates make for a stronger democracy.

Finally, I would like to say that, for better or worse, the Greens are here to stay. I hope Representative Hinck considers it part of his job in Augusta to reform the inner workings of the legislature to allow greater accommodation of third parties and independents. I want to live in a state where political candidates will not be judged by the color of their party but by the content of their character.

John Anton
Portland, ME

Greens A No-Show at City Council- School Board Summit

The four Green Party members of the Portland School Committee failed to show up for a meeting between the Portland School Committee and the Portland City Council on November 27th. Newly-elected West End School Committee Representative Robert O’Brien was also absent from what outgoing Mayor Jim Cohen described a as ‘fall summit’ between the two local governing bodies.

Green Party School Committee members Ben Meiklejohn and Jason Toothaker both said they were given insufficient notice of the meeting - less than one week - and were unable to change work commitments.

Committee member Susan Hopkins said that the meeting was not listed on the School Committee calendar she received, although it was on the City’s calendar. She said she got no calls or emails about the meeting and didn’t even know about it until the next day. Newly-elected Committee member Rebecca Minnick was also absent.

Among the topics discussed at the meeting were the City’s multi-cultural demographics, the work of the Elementary Facilities Task Force, the policies for leasing school facilities to private groups, and the new teachers’ contract.

The City’s two new elected Green Party City Councilors, David Marshall and Kevin Donoghue were in attendance at the meeting, which was held a week before the two officially take office on December 4. Both governing bodies are officially non-partisan.