Ironic Sign of the Day

Top 10 Local CDs: March 31-April 6, 2008

Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of March 31-April 6 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:

1. Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (1)
2. As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (2)
3. Dead Season, "Rise" (3)
4. Cambiata, "To Heal" (7)
5. Sly-Chi, ""The Space" (4)
6. Civil Disturbance, "Battle Within" (5)
7. Christian Cuff, "Silo" (10)
8. Spose, "Preposterously Dank" (8)
9. Cambiata, "Into the Night" (9)
10. Samuel James, "Return of Sugar Smallhouse" (-)

The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Almanac: April 6-April 12, 2008

Week-to-Date
High: 67F (April 10)
Low: 26F (April 8)
Precipitation: 0.36 inches
Snowfall: Trace amount
Previous Sunrise: 6:03a
Previous Sunset: 7:22p

Month-to-Date:
High: 67F (April 10)
Low: 23F (April 3)
Precipitation: 1.11 inches
Snowfall: Trace amount

Year-to-Date:
High: 67F (April 10)
Low: -5F (January 4)
Precipitation: 17.92 inches
Snowfall: 64.3 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan

The Augustan

Here are the votes of Rep. Tim Driscoll (D-Westbrook) and Rep. Ann Peoples (D-Westbrook) in the Maine House of Representatives since Friday, April 4. The information was compiled by the Maine Votes database.

Friday, April 4
Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2249, an Act to Protect Lake Water Quality. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 129-2 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2099, an Act to Provide Property and Excise Tax Relief to Disabled Maine Veterans. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 139-0 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2136, an Act Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special Education Regulation, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education. The Maine House of Representatives passed LD 2136, 108-31 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 1957, an Act to Restore Diadromous Fish in the St. Croix River. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 119-17 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Peoples supported LD 1932, an Act to Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding. But Rep. Driscoll opposed LD 1932. The Maine House of Representatives passed LD 1932, 83-47 (vote breakdown).

Tuesday, April 8
Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2123, an Act Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 61: State Board of Education Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Education and the State Board of Education. The Maine House of Representatives rejected the bill, 80-49 (two-thirds support was required) (vote breakdown).

Wednesday, April 9
Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2202, an Act to Ensure Full Payment of Annuity Death Benefits. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 138-0 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2189, an Act to Protect Homeowners from Equity Stripping during Foreclosure. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 134-0 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 1001, an Act to Eliminate the Property Tax on Business Equipment Owned by Small Retailers. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 139-0 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2225, an Act to Provide Tax Relief to Maine's Forest Products Industry. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 135-0 (vote breakdown).

Thursday, April 10
Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2269, an Act to Strengthen Maine's Consumer Protections against "Slamming." The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 129-0 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 1650, an Act to Amend the Laws Concerning Genetically Engineered Plants and Seeds. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 99-32 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Peoples supported LD 701, an Act to Authorize the Operation of Slot Machines on Indian Island in Old Town. But Rep. Driscoll opposed LD 701. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 98-34 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2038, an Act to Facilitate the Timely Reopening of Closed Clam Flats. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 137-0 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2134, an Act to Authorize Low-stakes Cribbage Games by Charitable and Fraternal Organizations. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 133-6 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 373, an Act to Prohibit Hospitals from Charging for Treatment To Correct Medical Mistakes. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 122-12 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2242, an Act to Fund the Universal Childhood Immunization Program. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 131-0 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 1945, an Act to Update the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 122-9 (vote breakdown).

Rep. Driscoll and Rep. Peoples supported LD 2265, an Act to Reduce the Amount Collected for the Purpose of the E-9-1-1 System. The Maine House of Representatives passed the bill, 122-0 (vote breakdown).

- John C.L. Morgan

Where Have I Seen that Photo Before?

Westbrook native Roberta Michel is the subject of another profile, this time courtesy of the The Maine Switch.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook's Ghosthunters

Faye-Linda McGovern, the founder and lead investigator of the Southern Maine Paranormal Society, was at the Westbrook Historical Society this morning to research the history of her Cumberland Street home.

Based in Westbrook, the SMPS is a non-profit organization that investigates paranormal occurrences such as apparitions, orbs, noises, voices, etc. using equipment such as analog camcorders, digital camcorders, digital voice recorders, and thermal meters. McGovern said the group averages about two investigations per week, but she has yet to be called to investigate a paranormal occurrence in Westbrook. In fact, most of the group's investigations take place in Downeast Maine.

The SMPS's investigations are free, and McGovern said the group assures a "huge promise of privacy."

- John C.L. Morgan

Questionnaire Results, Part Three

Over the last couple weeks, I've posted the survey results of the City of Westbrook's Recreation, Parks, and Open Space Questionnaire (see part one and part two). Tonight will be the third and final batch of survey results, and the questions focus on trails, connections, and access.

To what degree do you value parks, recreations spaces, schools, and neighborhoods (residential and commercial) being connected by trails (sidewalks, bike lanes, off street trails)?
63% Value greatly
20% Value somewhat greatly
13% Neither value greatly or not at all
3% Value somewhat not at all
1% Value not at all

If so, what type of trail do you prefer?
34% Nature walking connections
26% Sidewalks
16% Off-road cycling trails
15% On-road cycling trails
9% Other

In order to increase connectivity among parks and recreation areas and/or neighborhoods (residential and commercial), do you think the City should:
41% Partner with Portland Trails, the Mountain Division Trail and/or other groups to continue their efforts within the City for trails
29% Partner with utility companies to acquire easements or right-of-ways
25% Develop tax or zoning incentives for landowners that allow easements across private land
5% Other

- John C.L. Morgan

Raye's Mustard

Maine-Made

Based in Eastport, Maine since the early twentieth century, Raye's Mustard proclaims itself to be "North America's last remaining traditional stone-ground mustard mill."

You can find an assortment of their mustards on the shelves of Hannaford and Shaw's.

- John C.L. Morgan

Reading in Westbrook

The Warren Memorial Library book club (we really need to come up with a sexier name) will be reading Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books for our next meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30p. And the book can be reserved via the Internet here.

- John C.L. Morgan

Jumpers, 1919

Jumpers, 1919 Explained

In honor of our first, ahem, balmy day of the year, I figured I'd post this photo of Westbrook's first public swimming pool. Also known as the Presumpscot River, the swimming area was sectioned off from the rest of the river with mesh wire and featured a platform built around it. Though it was replaced in 1949 by the current outdoor pool because of public health concerns, the old swimming area did inspire this plainspoken, yet semi-poetic observation by a Westbrook resident: "The swimming tank was open to the sky. The Presumpscot River flowed through wooden slats making up the tank to form a swimming area."

The photo above carries the caption, "Jumpers at the outdoor swimming tank, 1919."

Source: A Presence in the Community: The Warren Family Legacy. Anastasia S. Weigle (Warren Memorial Foundation and Cornelia Warren Community Association).

- John C.L. Morgan

Summons Meter

Once again, the American Journal's 'Westbrook Police Notes' reminds us that the quickest trip to trouble in Westbrook is by way of our cars.

Indeed, a grand total of 80 traffic-related crimes* were printed in this week's paper. Not as many as last week's 108, but a healthy sum nevertheless.

- John C.L. Morgan

* Traffic-related crimes include, but are not limited to: Carrying passengers beyond restriction, driving wrong way on a one-way street, expired inspection sticker, expired registration, expired temporary plates, expired temporary registration, failure to notify of address change, failure to obey lane sign, failure to provide proof of insurance, failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, following too closely, illegal attachment of plates, illegal transportation of alcohol, improper passing, inspection violation, operating after suspension, operating an unregistered vehicle, operating under the influence, operating with a suspended registration, operating with an expired license, operating without lights after dark, permitting unlawful use of a motor vehicle, red light violation, seatbelt violation speeding, stop sign violation, and, of course, the uncouth operation of a Hummer.

Just Do It

Stop junk mail.

By signing up to 'Opt-Out,' via this website, you can reduce the amount of junk mail you receive for the next five years. For the wary, here's a list of Frequently Asked Questions. And for the skeptical, I recommend this humorous advertisement compiled by the folks at Slater's Garage Ads and Audio, an ad-producing company out of Bangor.

Do it for Poor Eddie.

- John C.L. Morgan

Kinda Blue Kinda Live

The Kinda Blue Quartet, a jazz band comprised of Westbrook High Schoolers Ron Ho, Nate Gowen, Molly Ridley, and Vincenzo Aceto, will be performing tomorrow night at 7p, per the American Journal. The concert, which will also feature a Wescott Junior High School and Westbrook High School jazz ensembles, will be in the Westbrook High School cafeteria.

To get a sneak listen to the Kinda Blue Quartet, click here.

- John C.L. Morgan

Did You Know?

Did you know the American Legion Post No. 62 on Dunn Street was named in honor of Stephen W. Manchester, the first Westbrook citizen to die in World War I? Manchester was killed in the battle of Soissons-Rheims in France.

Source: Fall 2006 Westbrook Historical Society newsletter (Philip E. Curran, editor)

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

Separating the Wheat from the Chaff

The Press Herald has a story about the Westbrook Police's new protocol when dealing with reports of the theft of pharmaceutical drugs.

Predicting that about 95 percent of the 42 reports of prescription drugs the Westbrook Police received between March 2007 and March 2008 were false, Chief Bill Baker instituted the following step-by-step protocol in a memorandum to his officers:

1. The first responding officer shall advise the reporting party of the penalty for making a false report of a crime.
2. The first responding officer shall record all of the facts and circumstances of the theft as reported and conduct a preliminary interview and investigation.
3. If a legitimate theft report can be investigated and resolved by the responding officer it should be.
4. The reporting party shall be informed that any unresolved case will be assigned to our CID and a detective will contact the RP to take a polygraph exam regarding the details of the theft.
5. The reporting party will be asked to acknowledge any previous theft of their prescription in Westbrook, or in any other jurisdiction.
6. The reporting party will be asked to identify their physician and pharmacist.
7. The reporting party will be asked to sign a release to allow us to communicate with their prescribing physician and pharmacist. (form to be provided)
8. If the reporting party complies with all of these steps a report on any unresolved theft will be completed and will outline the results of our investigation.

Attached to the memo is a sample voluntary release form in which the person reporting the theft of prescription drugs identifies her prescribing physician and waives her privacy rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a law passed in 1996 to address the security and privacy of health data. The form also authorizes the reporter's physician or pharmacist to "discuss any relevant history of prescription medication use that may be related" to the investigation to the Westbrook Police.

The policy, which has been put in place to prevent people from falsely reporting a theft in order to score more pills from their pharmacists, generated a mixed reaction among law enforcement officials in southern Maine. South Portland's Police Chief likes "the fact that it's spelled out exactly what the expectations are," and says he'll consider the approach in his city. And the executive vice president of the Maine Medical Association said the policy seems "pretty reasonable." On the other hand, the Chief of Biddeford Police and a member of the Maine Pharmacy Association were both concerned that the policy could be "victimizing someone who's already a victim."

Chief Bill Baker said the policy has already prevented two people from reporting thefts of prescription drugs since it was put in place last week. Also, he'll present the policy at a meeting of southern Maine police chiefs on Thursday.

- John C.L. Morgan

From Sebago with Love

Modern American life is such that we do many small things per day, without even thinking about them or even understanding how the machinery of everyday life works. So check out this interactive flow chart (pun unintended, but accepted) courtesy of the Portland Water District that shows you the process of getting water from Sebago Lake to your kitchen faucet.

Consider it an act of unraveling the elaborate mundane.

- John C.L. Morgan

Woodsmen in the Maine Woods