About six months ago, I wrote about the treasure trove that is the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). But today I recommend you check out the Westbrook Maine Assessing information section, which includes more thorough information about your neighbors, including a photo of their (and your) home. So click here to register an account.
The moment we've been waiting for, indeed.
- John C.L. Morgan
P.S. This new development doesn't make GIS completely obsolete, however. I just learned how to manipulate the map so that I can view the city's vein of railroad tracks. Along with an aerial photo of the city from April 2006 or 2001, deer wintering areas, and on and on.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Westbrook Almanac: May 25- May 31, 2008
Week-to-Date:
High: 85F (May 27)
Low: 43F (May 25)
Precipitation: 0.38 inches
Previous Sunrise: 5:03a
Previous Sunset: 8:16p
Month-to-Date:
High: 85F (May 27)
Low: 29F (May 1)
Precipitation: 1.09 inches
Year-to-Date:
High: 85F (May 27)
Low: -5F (January 4)
Precipitation: 22.37 inches
Source: National Weather Service
- John C.L. Morgan
High: 85F (May 27)
Low: 43F (May 25)
Precipitation: 0.38 inches
Previous Sunrise: 5:03a
Previous Sunset: 8:16p
Month-to-Date:
High: 85F (May 27)
Low: 29F (May 1)
Precipitation: 1.09 inches
Year-to-Date:
High: 85F (May 27)
Low: -5F (January 4)
Precipitation: 22.37 inches
Source: National Weather Service
- John C.L. Morgan
Top 10 Local CDs: May 19- May 25, 2008
Here are the Top 10 Local CDs for the week of May 19-May 25 (the album's spot in last week's Top 10 is in parentheses, much like this fyi note), courtesy of the Portland Phoenix:
- Dead Season, "When Everything's Lost..." (-)
- Bob Marley, "Maine-iac on the Loose" (4)
- Dead Season, "Rise" (1)
- Various Artists, "Greetings from Area Code 207, Vol. 7" (3)
- Rustic Overtones, "Long Division" (2)
- As Fast As, "Destroy the Plastique Man" (5)
- Cambiata, "To Heal" (6)
- Time for Change, "Apocalyptic Fantasy" (7)
- Civil Disturbance, "The Battle Within" (9)
- Too Late the Hero, "Is This Thing On?" (-)
The list was compiled from Bull Moose Music.
- John C.L. Morgan
Friday, May 30, 2008
Proposed Addition to the Westbrook Dictionary
I modestly suggest the addition of the Westbrook Wake-Up to the (unofficial) Westbrook Dictionary, alongside the Paper City Picnic and Paper City Trifecta.
For the uninitiated, the Westbrook Wake-Up requires a three-pronged definition: First, you must be rudely shaken from your slumber by your neighbors yelling at each other on the tough street that is Rochester at 5:29a (alas, a precious minute before your alarm clock is set to erupt). And second, the loud neighbors must also be swinging an aluminum bat at one another, as well as a small log that was once another neighbor's lawn ornament. And third, Westbrook's finest must be called to make an appearance. It's a very specific definition, so the phrase itself is a ten-pointer.
Now, I could be a braggart and paraphrase Tony Bessey by saying it's just a slice of my ordinary day, but this is actually the first Westbrook Wake-Up I've had.
In a while.
- John C.L. Morgan
For the uninitiated, the Westbrook Wake-Up requires a three-pronged definition: First, you must be rudely shaken from your slumber by your neighbors yelling at each other on the tough street that is Rochester at 5:29a (alas, a precious minute before your alarm clock is set to erupt). And second, the loud neighbors must also be swinging an aluminum bat at one another, as well as a small log that was once another neighbor's lawn ornament. And third, Westbrook's finest must be called to make an appearance. It's a very specific definition, so the phrase itself is a ten-pointer.
Now, I could be a braggart and paraphrase Tony Bessey by saying it's just a slice of my ordinary day, but this is actually the first Westbrook Wake-Up I've had.
In a while.
- John C.L. Morgan
Thursday, May 29, 2008
American Journal One-Liners
Westbrook Regional Vocational Center having difficulty to find land for student-built houses.
The other Mr. Westbrook figures he'd be a knife if he were a kitchen appliance.
Teachers, community members, and students express what the new middle school will mean to them.
Lady of Perpetual Pink tells all about being Grand Marshal of Westbrook Together Days parade.
Westbrook Together Days will feature an old-fashioned revival for the first time.
Westbrook Together Days event is explored from its birth to today.
Westbrook Together Days auction is only the best thing ever.
Officer David Finnochietti is basically the biggest star in CSI: Westbrook.
- John C.L. Morgan
The other Mr. Westbrook figures he'd be a knife if he were a kitchen appliance.
Teachers, community members, and students express what the new middle school will mean to them.
Lady of Perpetual Pink tells all about being Grand Marshal of Westbrook Together Days parade.
Westbrook Together Days will feature an old-fashioned revival for the first time.
Westbrook Together Days event is explored from its birth to today.
Westbrook Together Days auction is only the best thing ever.
Officer David Finnochietti is basically the biggest star in CSI: Westbrook.
- John C.L. Morgan
They're Baaack
I had some snarky remarks about Westbrook's 'Community Videos' back in January, but all joking aside, it's good to see they're back. And if they've been back for a while, then my tardy acknowledgement is proof the collection's icon should be featured more prominently on the city's website.
Nevertheless, I'm still waiting for that spoof. Maybe Mr. Ahura Zakhuur Diliiza et al. aren't too busy to give the city a purposeful hand.
- John C.L. Morgan
Nevertheless, I'm still waiting for that spoof. Maybe Mr. Ahura Zakhuur Diliiza et al. aren't too busy to give the city a purposeful hand.
- John C.L. Morgan
Just Do It: Buy Maine
Spend at least $10 on Maine-made products each week.
Besides pumping money into the coffers of Maine businesses, the challenge offers irony too delicious to ignore: The use of the currency bearing Alexander Hamilton's mug to help that most Jeffersonian of institutions, the American small farmer.
So just do it.
- John C.L. Morgan
Besides pumping money into the coffers of Maine businesses, the challenge offers irony too delicious to ignore: The use of the currency bearing Alexander Hamilton's mug to help that most Jeffersonian of institutions, the American small farmer.
So just do it.
- John C.L. Morgan
Take Two
Besides the video posted above, there are seven other Memorial Day videos on our sister site, Paper Television. And I also recommend you check out Tony Bessey's photographs of the event over at Ordinary Maine.
- John C.L. Morgan
- John C.L. Morgan
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Down East Snubs Westbrook
In its June issue, Down East magazine has an article entitled, "Choosing Maine: Town-by-Town Tour of Maine." Though it is more accurately a county-by-county tour of Maine, eh, so far, so good. That is, until I scanned down to Cumberland County.
Expecting at least a mention of how Westbrook don't stink no more, I was a little surprised the city garnered little more than a mention as part of the cluster that constitutes Maine's "most populous county." Hell, even Standish got a little shout out as a town to investigate if one is planning a move to Maine.
Ah, the irony of an ultra-provincial blogger criticizing an ultra-provincial mag for not being, well, provincial enough.
- John C.L. Morgan
Expecting at least a mention of how Westbrook don't stink no more, I was a little surprised the city garnered little more than a mention as part of the cluster that constitutes Maine's "most populous county." Hell, even Standish got a little shout out as a town to investigate if one is planning a move to Maine.
Ah, the irony of an ultra-provincial blogger criticizing an ultra-provincial mag for not being, well, provincial enough.
- John C.L. Morgan
Dig for Knowledge
For those of you unable to attend this afternoon's overview of the new Wescott Junior High School at the Westbrook Community Chamber, check out wescottproject.org, the well-cut and informative website devoted to the project.
Now if only I can get my hands on one of those, er, golden shovels and nifty hardhats used during the groundbreaking.
- John C.L. Morgan
P.S. I refrained from cracking a joke about the groundbreaking's slogan, "Digging for Knowledge," because, well, I'll need a job next fall.
Now if only I can get my hands on one of those, er, golden shovels and nifty hardhats used during the groundbreaking.
- John C.L. Morgan
P.S. I refrained from cracking a joke about the groundbreaking's slogan, "Digging for Knowledge," because, well, I'll need a job next fall.
Patriots Honor MPTC
According to the Boston Globe, Beverly Preston of the Mission Possible Teen Center was one of twenty-one 'Community MVPs' honored by the New England Patriots at a ceremony at Gillette Stadium yesterday.
According to the Patriots' press release about the event, Community MVPs were recognized for "their above-and-beyond service to others in the six New England states" and received a football-shaped wooden trophy and agency grants ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 for the Grand Prize Winner.
Preston was the only Mainer to win the award.
- John C.L. Morgan
According to the Patriots' press release about the event, Community MVPs were recognized for "their above-and-beyond service to others in the six New England states" and received a football-shaped wooden trophy and agency grants ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 for the Grand Prize Winner.
Preston was the only Mainer to win the award.
- John C.L. Morgan
Did You Know?
Did you know Westbrook is among the oldest Tree Cities in Maine?
In fact, this past Arbor Day (Tuesday, May 20) marked the thirty-first year the Paper City has held that designation, a consecutive run matched only by Farmington and Kennebunk among Maine towns and cities.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA website, a community is determined to be a Tree City only if it meets the following four requirements: A tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
- John C.L. Morgan
In fact, this past Arbor Day (Tuesday, May 20) marked the thirty-first year the Paper City has held that designation, a consecutive run matched only by Farmington and Kennebunk among Maine towns and cities.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA website, a community is determined to be a Tree City only if it meets the following four requirements: A tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
- John C.L. Morgan
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
On Location
Sandwiched between Westbrook artists Fred and Caren-Marie Michel's bright, cheery home and the cozy confines of the Warren Memorial Library's auditorium was a jam-packed evening of art, wine, and finger foods. Not a shabby combination, if you ask me.
Nevertheless, Maine musician Sara Cox, who performed at the WML, nicely captured Westbrook's inaugural Fourth Friday Art Walk when she said: "You gotta be a good walker. Or really like art."
So without further ado, here's an (incomplete) list of the artists and companies featured in the art walk:
Nevertheless, Maine musician Sara Cox, who performed at the WML, nicely captured Westbrook's inaugural Fourth Friday Art Walk when she said: "You gotta be a good walker. Or really like art."
So without further ado, here's an (incomplete) list of the artists and companies featured in the art walk:
- Acorn Productions
- annie catherine studio
- Bakery Photo Collective
- Caren-Marie Michel
- Dogstar Creations
- Drouin Dance Center
- Fred Michel
- Gotta Dance
- Greater Portland School of Jukado
- Greg Parker
- Ian Robinson
- James O'Reilly
- Jean-Pierre Rousset
- Kari Radasch
- Mary Brooking
- Meredith Cough
- Susan Orfant
- T. Doc Creative
- Westbrook Picture Frame and Fine Art Gallery
The next Fourth Friday Art Walk is scheduled for June 27. Click here for more information.
- John C.L. Morgan
Around the Diamond
A couple bits of baseball-related info to pass along:
- Westbrook resident Gary Lapierre is one of this year's twelve inductees to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. Lapierre was a member of the 1981 Portland Babe Ruth World Series team and is in the top five in both career doubles and career hits at the University of Maine (1985-1988). He also starred at Deering High School, but I don't want to stain my screen with brags of the accomplishments of that school (that, and I have no idea what his accomplishments actually were at Deering, aside from the fact that he "went on to star" there.
- Also, Westbrook alum Jordan Purington was selected to the America East All-Conference second team. Purington, a sophomore hurler at Stony Brook University, posted a record of 3-3 with an 3.83 ERA. He was also third in the conference is saves (6) and led the conferences in appearances (26). As for his Stony Brook Seawolves (whatever those are), they won the America East Championship to secure a bid in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. So they're scheduled to travel to Tempe, Arizona to take on Arizona State on Friday, May 30 at 10p. Moreover, Purington will be joined in the Tempe Regional by fellow Mainers, Ryan Flaherty and Andrew Giobbi, of Vanderbilt University.
Damn, I just gave Deering credit.
(Update: According to the Bangor Daily News, Lapierre was a three-time All-State selection in high school and captained the University of Maine team as a senior in 1988. He graduated with eight hitting-related school records.)
- John C.L. Morgan
Monday, May 26, 2008
Westbrook Foodie, 2.0
According to the food writer, Meredith Goad, Westbrook is now a destination spot for growling stomachs. So here's a collection of all the reviews I could dig up related to Westbrook food after mining this site and the excellent Portland Food Map:
Baker's Bench: here.
Burrito: here, here, here, and here.
Casa Novello: here and here.
Don's Lunch: here.
Fajita Grill: here and here.
Lady Ball's Victorian Boutique and Tea Room: here.
Medeo: here and here.
Thanksgiving's Bakery and Eatery: here.
The Frog and Turtle: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Wake N' Bakery: here.
- John C.L. Morgan
Baker's Bench: here.
Burrito: here, here, here, and here.
Casa Novello: here and here.
Don's Lunch: here.
Fajita Grill: here and here.
Lady Ball's Victorian Boutique and Tea Room: here.
Medeo: here and here.
Thanksgiving's Bakery and Eatery: here.
The Frog and Turtle: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Wake N' Bakery: here.
- John C.L. Morgan
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