Notice to Readers

Amid the cost-cutting climate in the media, we're canceling our domain name, riverbankrepublic.com, and discontinuing the maintenance of that website. Since the site employed no one, no jobs will be cut.

The Westbrook Diarist blog will continue, as will as our YouTube channel Paper Television. And though we're tempted to pull the plug on our sluggish Presumpscot Watering Hole discussion board, it remains free-of-charge, so we'll keep it with hopes that one day people may actually, you know, use it.

Essentially nothing will change, except you will no longer have the option to access this blog through the Riverbank Republic portal.

- John C.L. Morgan

New Vids

I just posted video from yesterday's Memorial Day parade on Main Street. They can be viewed here and here.

Footage from the ceremony will be posted within the next two days.

- John C.L. Morgan

Department of Clarification

While I was flipping through this week's American Journal, I was very surprised to see that I had paid for an advertisement for this blog's sister site, RiverbankRepublic.com.

But then I realized that Prides Corner News had adopted a logo very, ahem, similar to mine. So I just want to clarify that this site is in no way affiliated with the folks at PCN.

And that I do thank them for the link and will return the gesture.

- John C.L. Morgan

P.S. And to further clarify possible mistaken identity in this week's AJ, no, I was not the "intoxicated male with a bottle of alcohol" napping in the hallway of a Webb Street apartment building in the early hours of April 28 (per the 'Westbrook Police Notes').

Housekeeping

We've added our YouTube channel, Paper Television, to the table of contents page on our sister site RiverbankRepublic.com.

Besides boasting a lengthy list of Maine-centric subscriptions, an assortment of playlists ('Maine History,' 'Maine Humor,' 'Maine Life,' 'Maine Music,' 'Maine Politics,' and 'Westbrook Life'), and a collection of my favorite Maine-related viral videos, Paper Television will also feature original content in the near-future.

So subscribe to Paper Television to remain updated, though we think we'll do okay self-promoting any new material.

- John C.L. Morgan

Ideas Wanted

I'll be sitting down to draft a calendar of events for the Presumpscot Social Club, a not-so-secret society made up of Brookies, Westbrook-wannabes, and Paper City expatriates who get together to, you know, do stuff. So I'm looking for ideas for places to go, things to do, and people to see in New England, though I'd prefer to stick mostly in southern Maine. The first event will taking place in June, and I'm hoping to organize a monthly get-together thereafter.

So, if you have an idea of what can be done for fun, either e-mail me (riverbank_republic@yahoo.com) or add a comment to this here post. Also, let me know if you'd be interested in doing something like this. You'd have to pass a yet-to-be-determined--though undoubtedly extensive--initiation process.

But it would totally be worth it.

- John C.L. Morgan

Party Like It's 1799

Yeah, call me a sucker for historical re-enactments.

Tonight from 8p-9p, we here at Riverbank Republic headquarters will be participating in the second annual Earth Hour by unplugging all our non-essential appliances for an hour. On the docket is a game of cribbage by candlelight (what can I say, I'm a romantic) and a bottle of the cheapest whiskey Hannafid has to offer.

On second thought, maybe we'll just be partying like it's 1998.

- John C.L Morgan

Introducing Wendy Hysko

Wendy Hysko, the Library Director at Warren Memorial Library, has checked in with a contribution to the Westbrook Diarist. To read her inaugural post, scroll down a teeny bit.

- John C.L. Morgan

Introducing the Babe

Dear Readers,

My wife gave birth to our daughter, Colonel T.W. Morgan (the 'T' stands for Thomasina and the 'W' stands for Westbrook), yesterday morning, so I'll be taking a hiatus from this here blog until Monday morning. Do wipe away those tears; we'll be back soon enough. Just be sure to tune in Monday at the same time, same Internet channel. Or something like that.

- John C.L. Morgan

P.S. I'm just kidding. Our babe's name is actually Eleanor Ivory. I love Westbrook, but I don't love it that much. True fact, though: There was actually a Captain Moxie born in October 2006 to a couple in South Portland. I'm not joking about that one.

We're All Nepotists Now

I thought I should formally introduce the newest contributor to this blog, so here it goes: Reader, this is my wife, Elisha. Elisha, this is reader. Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business and read about Elisha's newfound passion: Accounting-related fraud.

- John C.L. Morgan

Reflections on Two-Hundred Posts

I've been maintaining this blog since January 1 and I've already reached the 200 post milestone. Wow, I thought I had a life, but now I'm not so sure. Anyway, I thought I'd take this opportunity to let you, my dear readers, know the immediate and intermediate future of this here blog.

So far I've mostly been performing what The New Republic's Jonathan Chait referred to as swamp-ass journalism. In other words, I've devoted most of my time to sitting on my arse and serving as a portal for all things virtually Westbrook. Sure, I've ventured into the city and its environs enough to dislodge the occasional wedgie (I'm still working with the swampy derriere metaphor, by the way), but by and large I've simply caroused the Internet and tried to corral the bits of interesting info about Westbrook and Maine that I can find. I will still do that. However, I will also spend more time exploring the real Westbrook, the Westbrook that can be touched, tasted, seen, and smelled (that's not such a bad thing anymore). Therefore, here is the new and improved schedule for the Westbrook Diarist:

Mondays: Better Know a Mayor (a weekly peek into Westbrook's mayors, past and present)

Tuesdays: On Location (a first-person narrative of a place or event in Maine, mostly in the Greater Westbrook area)

Wednesdays: Quote, Unquote/Did You Know? (every other week, either an interesting quote involving Maine or an interesting fact about Maine)

Thursdays: Just Do It (a chance for me to tell other people what to do on a weekly basis)

Fridays: Song of the Week (my pick of a song by a Maine band or musician)

Saturdays: Play and Rewind (reviews of old and new movies every other Saturday)

Sundays: Sunday Letter (a first-person narrative about Westbrook religious life, every
other Sunday)

I will also be starting a regular post about sports (high school, college, professional, etc.), but the name of those posts has yet to be determined. And I will continue posting the Westbrook Almanac daily, as well as The Augustan--a round-up of news related to state politics--Monday through Friday.

If anyone is interested in writing about anything related to Westbrook or Maine, I am more than willing to share this chunk of digital real estate. Just e-mail your submission(s) to riverbank_republic@yahoo.com. And don't hesitate to e-mail me questions or comments about the site at that address, too.

As for the monthly on-line magazine that'll eventually occupy riverbankrepublic.com, I'm still working on it and plan an inaugural issue in June 2008. Anyone interested in helping with that may also email me for more details.

Thank you for reading this blog and have a good night. Oh, and please be sure to tell your loved ones, friends, and/or enemies about this site and all its greatness.

- John C.L. Morgan

On Location: Riverbank Park at Night

Riverbank Park on a wintry night is the most beautiful spot in Westbrook. The park's clear, white lights serve as a respite from the rust-orange streetlights that plague the city's streets. And regardless of how crusty or stale the snow on the ground is, Riverbank's illuminating lamps never fail to make it look powdery and fresh. And the sky, that beautiful sky. Following a snowstorm (or even better, during snowfall), the sky above the park has a soft, pink glow that inspires a feeling of both melancholy and contentment in even the most cynical and restless bosom. But even when the sky is an inky black, the expanse above just seems more lively in Riverbank Park than anywhere else in the city.

Therefore, it's a damn shame the rules governing the park make such a nocturnal visit illegal, the stroll of a criminal, if you will.

There are signs posted at each of the park's three entrances which lay out the various rules of Riverbank Park. And though the libertarian (or romantic) in me is a little annoyed that smoking, alcohol, and pets are prohibited in the park, I am more than a little annoyed that the park is off-limits when it is dark. In fact, this seems to be such an important rule that it is essentially listed twice, only with different phrasing.

Now, I understand the practicality of prohibiting visitors after, say, midnight. More likely than not, visitors to the park at that hour are not going to the park for (euphemism alert!) respectable uses. However, any close reader of my Westbrook Almanac posts would recognize that the sun sets during the winter as early as 4:15p. It is ridiculous that a visitor to the park at that respectable hour risks being confronted by a member of Westbrook Police and told she has to leave, the park is now closed. (Actually, confronted is too strong of a word because the few times I've been talked to by the police about this matter--yeah, I'm a rebel--Westbrook's finest have been courteous). Anyway, my point is that the rules of the park should be changed so that the park is closed at a certain hour (anytime after 11p is fair, I think), instead of merely when night begins to set in.

And the closing time should remain consistent all year. After all, the second-most beautiful spot in Westbrook is Riverbank Park on an August evening.

- John C.L. Morgan

Best Pizza = Angelone's

Angelone's won the Riverbank Republic's poll for best pizzeria in Westbrook. The Main Street institution attracted 17 of the 40 votes (42%) and was followed by Portland Pie Company (10 votes, 25%), Profenno's (9 votes, 22%), Pizza Hut (3 votes, 7%), and Pizza Time (1 vote, 2%).

- John C.L. Morgan

Help Wanted

Here at Riverbank Republic, we're looking to eventually publish a monthly online magazine which will have feature stories, cultural reviews, short fiction, fake stories, etc. about Westbrook and Maine. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping with this labor of love, shoot us an e-mail at riverbank_republic@yahoo.com. Some real estate on this here blog is also up for grabs for the interested.

- John C.L. Morgan

Shameless Self-Promotion--Again

Last night, PolitickerMe.com, a website covering Maine politics, featured an earlier post I wrote regarding the presidential caucuses in Maine. You can click here to check it out and then click on "Read more here" to be brought back to the Westbrook Diarist. How meta.

- John C.L. Morgan

P.S. For all you PolitickerMainers coming to this here blog for the first time, check out the new and shiny website this blog belongs to by clicking here.

Freaky Bean Wins Poll

The Freaky Bean Coffee Company won Riverbank Republic's poll for the best cup of coffee in Westbrook.

Freaky Bean received 52% of the vote (9 votes), Dunkin' Donuts finished second with 23% (4 votes), The Daily Grind received 17% (3 votes), Tim Hortons received 5% (1 vote), and Panera Bread received 0% (0 votes). A total of 17 votes were cast between January 7 and January 13.

The next poll question will be "Who makes the best pizza in Westbrook," and will be open from January 14 to January 27.

- John C.L. Morgan

Department of Self-Promotion

Stockhouse Restaurant won Riverbank Republic's inaugural poll for Westbrook's best bar.

Stockhouse garnered 47% (9 votes) of the vote, followed by Profenno's Pizzeria & Pub (31%, or 6 votes), Burrito (15%, 3 votes), Skybox Bar & Grill (5%, 1 vote), and Mill Side Tavern (0%, 0 votes). The poll was conducted between Tuesday, January 1 and Sunday, January 6. A total of nineteen votes were cast.

The poll for January 7-January 13 is for Westbrook's best cup of coffee. Vote now.

- John C.L. Morgan