Creator of Middle School's Public Art Among Maine's 'Most Exciting Artists'

Down East:

[Aaron] Stephan lives in Portland’s gritty Bayside neighborhood with Lauren
Fensterstock, and he shares a large studio space with a blacksmith on the light
industrial outskirts of the city. Currently, he is at work on a $34,000 Percent
for Art commission for the new Westbrook Middle School. Return, as the
site-specific middle school installation is called, takes the form of a
twenty-two-foot carpentered tree erupting from the floor of the school’s atrium.
When Stephan discovered that the school was built on the site of the old
Cumberland-Oxford Canal that once carried logs to the Westbrook paper mill, he
set about finding logs that had been submerged in Maine lakes, milling them into
lumber, and building a new tree out of the old trees. "I see my art practice as
being a dialogue with the world through stuff," says Stephan. "The stuff can say
so much. I am exploring the ways that things can teach."

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: On Westbrook Middle School's Public Art (March 8, 2010)

Social Pressures Cited as Cause for Students' Subpar Test Scores

AJ:

Westbrook Middle School students may no longer be tripping over ripped carpeting
or stuck in windowless rooms, but moving into a shiny new building on
Stroudwater Street was the solution to only one of many problems that face the
school, according to Superintendent Reza Namin. While elementary school students
in Westbrook have performed above the state average during the past three years,
middle school students’ test scores fall below that line--a trend that worsens
in the high school. At the same time, social pressures seem to be greatest for
that age group, according to a recently released health survey given to middle
and high school students last year, which shows bullying among students and
suicidal thoughts are highest in the middle school.

- John C.L. Morgan

New Middle School Will Open for Classes on Jan. 20

AJ:

It's official now--classes will begin at Westbrook
Middle School on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Teachers will prepare their classrooms on
Tuesday, Jan. 19, which will be a no-school day for middle-school students. The
building's steering committee Thursday accepted the middle school as
substantially complete, meaning the school department has taken ownership of the
facility from the construction company and the architect.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: School Officials: We'll Move In When We Move In (December 30, 2009)

Westbrook Middle School Marks First Day of Classes

AJ:

Sitting in the gymnasium of their new school Wednesday morning, most of the 600
or so middle-school students hadn't been around the building yet, but they were
already impressed. "It's just absolutely amazing," said sixth-grader Greg
Buotte. "It even smells new."

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: New Middle School Will Open for Classes on Jan. 20 (January 14, 2010)

New Middle School Will Not Be Ready for Jan. 4

PPH:

School officials say the city's new middle school
won't be ready for students when their vacation ends on Jan. 4. Work remains to
be finished before the city can issue a certificate of occupancy. That will
likely delay the start of classes or force school officials to move students
back into Wescott Junior High School until the work is finished.

[snip]

"We need to figure out how to teach kids out of a
suitcase in a room with no furniture back at Wescott, or figure out a way how to
not hold school for more than a week," said Greg Smith, a member of the
[building steering] committee.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: New Middle School May Not Open on Time (December 18, 2009)

Middle School Dedication and Tours Scheduled for Mar. 20

The newly-built Westbrook Middle School will be dedicated at 12p on Saturday, March 20, and tours of the school will follow the dedication ceremony.

FMI.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: More on Middle School's First Day of Classes (January 21, 2010)

A Family Tradition of Reffing

AJ:

It’s not often that history is made at a middle school basketball game. But that
is exactly what happened last week when Katelyn Benson of Westbrook stepped on
the court to officiate a Westbrook Middle School basketball home game. It was
the 18-year-old’s first official game, making her the youngest female basketball
referee in Maine history, a moment she shared closely with the game’s other two
refs: her father Bob Benson Sr., and her brother, Robert Jr.

- John C.L. Morgan

On "Re:turn"

PPH:

[Artist Aaron] Stephan's project required nine months of hard labor. He grew a
tree in the atrium of the Westbrook Middle School. It's a gorgeous, leafless,
canopied representation of a tree from an old-growth forest. Stephan used lumber
reclaimed from the bowels of Moosehead Lake to make his tree, which measures
about 25 feet high and 16 feet wide, branch to branch.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Creator of Middle School's Public Art Among Maine's 'Most Exciting Artists' (July 26, 2010)

While I Was Away...

Partly as an excuse to give the American Journal's new and improved Web site a test run, but mostly to catch myself up on all the news that I might've ignored over the last 3 1/2 months, here's a quick rundown of things that happened in the Paper City since late June:

Percent for Art committee chose four finalists to compete for the opportunity to create artwork for the new middle school. (October 9)

Westbrook native was named one of America's hottest bachelors, according to Cosmopolitan magazine. (October 7)

Middle school and high school test results remained below state standards in some categories. (October 7)

Opponents and proponents of Pike Industries' expansion plans released conflicting studies about the tax impacts of rezoning the land near the Five Star Industrial Park. (October 1)

Some local businesses indicated the local economy might be improving. (October 1)

Westbrook High School informed the Southern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) about the school's plans to move to Class B in some athletics. (September 24)

City Councilor Lyle Cramer (R-Ward 3) discovered he's disqualified from running for re-election due to the fact that he actually lives in Ward 4. (September 18)

Maine Department of Transportation told the city to expect construction on William Clarke Drive to begin in spring 2010. (September 17)

The investigation into two firefighters' claims of sexual harassment continues. (September 17)

City Council altered its statute about where registered sex offenders can live and work in order to be consistent with state law. (September 16)

Races for the 2010 elections became clearer following the Democratic and Republic caucuses. (September 10)

Wescott Junior High School's Davan Pool will need major repairs done to it within the next year. (September 10)

Students attended the final first day of school at Wescott Junior High School. (September 3)

School committee approved funds for developing a strategic plan for the school district (August 27).

Westbrook Housing reflected on its 40-year history. (August 21)

Animal Refuge League offered no-fee adoptions for cats older than one year. (August 6)

City Council approved Mill Side Tavern's liquor license after a delay. (August 6)

Westbrook Police Department used federal funding to hire two new officers. (August 6)

City rededicated Rudy Vallee Square. (July 23)

Former superintendent of schools was hired by the state as a part-time facilities and school construction consultant. (July 16)

Westbrook schools provided free lunches to kids throughout the summer. (July 16)

Westbrook woman was indicted for adoption scam. (July 16)

New superintendent of schools came out against school closures. (July 16)

County judge awarded a former altar boy at St. Hyacinth's Church a multi-million dollar settlement for sexual abuse the man suffered. (July 16)

Westbrook Housing announced plans for affordable condos and art galleries on Main Street. (July 9)

State agency ruled Sappi must install a fish passage at the Cumberland Mills Dam. (July 2)

City Council authorized funds devoted to sexual harassment prevention training for members of the fire department. (July 2)

City Council upheld its decision to require newly built homes to be equiped with sprinklers. (July 2)

A new coffee shop opened in the space vacated by Freaky Bean. (June 25)

I've probably missed a few stories, but I'm sure I'll catch up soon enough.

- John C.L. Morgan

On Westbrook Middle School's Public Art

PPH:

Sometime after ice-out this spring, Portland artist Aaron Stephan will hop in a
truck with a buddy and travel north to Moosehead Lake and the headwaters of the
Kennebec River.They will scavenge for old-growth logs left over from the logging
boom, buried in the mud in the depths below the surface. Hundreds of years ago,
these trees were felled and prepared for transport, but were lost before making
their way downriver. Masked from the light above, the heavy maple logs are
preserved at the bottom of the lake. Stephan aims to raise a bunch of them for
his latest art project, "RE: turn," at the newly opened Westbrook Middle School.

A Web site featuring Stephan's work (including one of my favorite pieces of public art, LIFT) can be seen here.

- John C.L. Morgan

WPD Undergo Hostage Exercises

PPH:

All police knew was that shots had been fired at the middle school. What they
didn’t know was that the shooter had a hostage on the second floor of the
building. The scenario was one of several played out Tuesday at Westbrook Middle
School, where the Westbrook Police Department is holding training sessions all
week. Officers from Westbrook and Gorham were invited to sign up for one of the
half-day sessions.

- John C.L. Morgan

Middle School Students Attend to Veterans' Graves

AJ:

On Monday, as part of what is becoming an annual tradition, about 35 middle
school students listened to a presentation by [Deputy Public Services Director
Arty] Ledoux, who himself served as a U.S. Marine, about grave markers and their
significance for veterans and their families. Then, on Tuesday, the students
took to Woodlawn Cemetery, nearly across the street from the school on
Stroudwater Street, to attend to markers that had been bent, fallen over or
placed in the wrong position.

- John C.L. Morgan

School Officials: We'll Move In When We Move In

PPH:

After missing two deadlines for opening the city's
new $34 million middle school, officials have decided to get rid of deadlines
altogether. Instead, students will continue attending the 37-year-old Wescott
Junior High School until officials decide the new school is ready. "The focus
should be on doing it right rather than just getting it done," Superintendent
Reza Namin said Tuesday after meeting with the steering committee for the new
building.

[snip]

[Harriman Associates architect Dan] Cecil said
three remaining items must pass inspection. Two of those jobs are done, and the
third is expected to be finished early next week, he said.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: New Middle School Will Not Be Ready for Jan. 4 (December 29, 2009)

School Department Could Shed Up to 73 Jobs

AJ:

The Westbrook School District could cut up to 73
faculty and staff positions in order to fill a $3.6 million budget gap for the
2011-2012 school year. Those numbers are the latest worst case scenario figures
coming from the Westbrook School Committee, which met Saturday to finish an
initial examination of the proposed $33.7 million budget. The committee has
scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at the Westbrook Middle
School Performing Arts Center, where it will begin deciding what must be cut
from the budget.

(The PPH's story on the school budget caps the number of jobs cut at 53, but notes all middle school and frosh sports are on the chopping block.)

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Middle School to Host Gubernatorial Debate Mar. 24

Republican gubernatorial candidates will debate one another at the Westbrook Middle School's Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, March 24 from 7p-9p.

The debate, which will be co-hosted by radio talk show hosts Ray Richardson and Ted Talbot, will be broadcast on WLOB 95.5FM and WPME-TV (channel 17). The seven candidates who are scheduled to participate are: Steve Abbott, Bill Beardsley, Matt Jacobson, Peter Mills, Paul LePage, Les Otten, and Bruce Poliquin.

The event is free.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Are Too Many Candidates a Bad Thing? (January 12, 2010)

School Board: Greece Too Dangerous for Middle School Students

AJ:

Westbrook’s School Committee has determined that Greece is too dangerous a
locale for an upcoming student trip. A group of Westbrook Middle School students
hoped to spend April vacation marveling at ancient Greek architecture, but will
settle for Spain after the school committee denied the trip
request. Seventh-grade teachers Sarah Bouchard and Steve Moulen brought a
proposal to the committee meeting on Nov. 3 requesting permission to bring 11
students on a trip to Italy and Greece during April vacation in 2011. However,
committee members voiced disapproval, worrying that anti-American sentiment
could place the students in danger.

- John C.L. Morgan

Cutting School

PPH:

School officials said there is a chance they could
present a budget with no increase to taxpayers. They recently proposed a slate
of program cuts to that end, from trimming the number of assistant coaching
stipends for middle school sports to eliminating transportation, custodian and
guidance counseling positions. [Superintendent Stan] Sawyer said all but one of
the positions would be cut through attrition.

As it currently stands, the 2009-2010 fiscal year is up almost 8.3% when loan payments for the new middle school are considered, but not quite 1% when the loan fees are not included. The School Committee will vote on the proposed cuts tomorrow evening.

- John C.L. Morgan

More on Middle School's First Day of Classes

PPH:

Students walked in to find a two-story atrium with exposed wood beams and a long
staircase that leads to the performing arts center and other common spaces. The
light wood, porcelain tile floors and earth-tone colors gave the school a warm
and welcoming feeling. Mazjanis said one of his favorite features is the natural
light. "I love the feel of this school," he said. "Everywhere you go in the
building, there is natural light. Today, I knew what the weather was. In the
other building, I never saw outside."

(Update: WCSH has video from inside the new building.)

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Westbrook Middle School Marks First Day of Classes (January 20, 2010)

New Middle School May Not Open on Time

AJ:

Uncompleted work at the new Westbrook Middle School
has postponed a dedication ceremony and called into question whether the school
would be ready for students on Jan. 4. The school department was supposed to
receive its certificate of occupancy Tuesday, but the city's code enforcement
officer, fire inspector and electrical inspector said more work would have to be
done before that could happen, and that work wouldn't be completed in time for
Saturday's scheduled dedication ceremony.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Skepticism Squared (November 24, 2009)

Election '10: Jeff Martin on the Issues

Republican Jeff Martin is running against incumbent Democratic State Senator Joe Brannigan for the District 9 seat in the Maine Senate. Martin, who resides in Portland with his wife, Kirsten, and their two children, owns Foreside Real Estate Management. His political experience includes a stint on the Maine Legislative Action Committee for the Condo Association Institute (CAI). You can see if Martin will be on your ballot on Tuesday, November 2 here.

What are your top three legislative priorities for the upcoming session?
Jobs and the economy, fiscal spending, and welfare reform.

How do you plan to implement each of these three goals?
It takes principled leadership to change the culture in any organization. I will stand by my principles that government should work for the people and not the other way around.

Which three state programs do you think should be maintained or expanded?
I think Envision Maine’s report Reinventing Maine Government is a great first step to where legislators should first look to reorganize Maine’s government. It highlighted a billion dollars worth of savings in Maine government.

Which three state programs do you think should be cut or eliminated?
See above.

Cite at least one example in which you cooperated with a member (or members) of another political party.
I successfully worked with former Democratic State Senator Michael Brennan in a stakeholders' group on developing a five-year vision for Portland schools. Our work produced 4 of the 5 adopted vision statements.

What are your thoughts concerning the state budget?
It is fiscally unsustainable. We can't continue to start the year with a $1 billion shortfall and expect that government can work properly. We need adults in Augusta that are not afraid to make the tough decisions so that we can keep the promises--like funding teachers and state pension obligations--that government has made.

What are your thoughts concerning the Clean Elections law in Maine?
This is my second time I have run as a "clean" candidate. Honestly, I think the term "clean" is a little disingenuous of a term as it has only shifted the "dirty" money voters who supported this law to want to reduce or eliminate it. I think "Maine Taxpayer Election Fund" is a much more transparent term.

What is your opponent's greatest strength?
I don’t know if it is his greatest strength, but my opponent has dedicated a lifetime of service to the community. His service is something I respect and admire, and I am honored to be his opponent.

What are your thoughts concerning the state's education (K-12, as well as higher education) policies?
We are close to the top in the nation on spending but our results don’t reflect that investment. Not enough of the money we spend on education is getting to the teachers and the classroom. That needs to be addressed. We also need to make higher education affordable. I support an optional fifth year of high school to give students an option to receive an associates degree or the first two years of a bachelors degree through the public education system.

What are your thoughts concerning same-sex marriage?
As a Senator, I will support same-sex marriage.

Cite at least one example in which you've differed with your political party.
I think the answer above is a good example.

What are your thoughts concerning the state's taxation system?
I think we desperately need tax reform. However, the last package was a jobs killer and was rightly defeated by Maine voters. The reality is that when an investor decides what states to invest in a couple percentage points in taxes can make or break the deal. And that results in lost jobs and lower overall tax revenue. I believe that we need fair reform that reduces the burden on the middle and lower class and stimulates investment in jobs.

What are your thoughts concerning term limits for legislators?
I have mixed feelings on this. While term limits didn't push any of the long-time fixtures in the hallways of Augusta toward retirement, I do believe that service in the legislature should be treated as a short-term public service and not a career.

What is your opponent's greatest shortcoming?
I think my opponent can best answer that question.

What are your thoughts concerning the state's transportation policies?
Transportation issues are part of the jobs and economy equation as we need a solid, reliable transportation infrastructure to get our goods to market quickly and cheaply. Transportation projects that show the highest potential to grow and support a local economy will get my support first.

What are your thoughts concerning the state's public assistance programs?
I think everyone agrees that a strong safety net is needed to help those that have fallen on difficult economic times. However, temporary public assistance should not turn into a long-term way of life. The current system undermines hard work and traps families in poverty. I support reforming the system to place emphasis on supporting a path to self-reliance and away from dependency.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Ann Peoples on the Issues (October 20, 2010)