Westbrook Politics: November 29- December 3, 2010

Thursday, December 2
Comprehensive Plan Task Force meeting
Westbrook Middle School
7a

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Almanac: November 21- November 27, 2010

Week-to-Date:
High: 45F (November 22, November 23)
Low: 24F (November 21)
Precipitation: 0.43 inches
Snowfall: 0.10 inches
Previous Sunrise: 6:49a
Previous Sunset: 4:07p

Month-to-Date:
High: 65F (November 13)
Low: 24F (November 3, November 21)
Precipitation: 4.98 inches
Snowfall: 0.10 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 95F (July 6)
Low: -1F (January 10)
Precipitation: 50.39 inches
Snowfall: 24.9 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan

Judge Approves IDEXX-Pike Consent Agreement

PPH:

A judge has approved an agreement that would allow Pike Industries to mine its
rock quarry in Westbrook's Five Star Industrial Park, with a number of
conditions. Maine Business Court Justice Thomas Humphrey issued his opinion
Monday afternoon. Humphrey's decision could end a dispute involving the city of
Westbrook, Pike Industries and Idexx Laboratories that began a couple of years
ago.

- John C.L. Morgan

Mullets and Tracksuits and Cuffs, Oh My

WGME:

Westbrook Police are pulling out all the stops in an effort to stay one step
ahead of the criminals. Police are frequently using disguises to go undercover
in high crime areas. Officers will leave the blue uniform and marked police car
behind in order to blend in and observe. These undercover efforts have already
resulted in numerous arrests and information used in other criminal
investigations.

Video of Chief Baker donning a mullet wig, and officers slipping into their best Westbrook wear (Westbrook Tuxedo not included) can be seen at the link.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Ballplayers Sign with College Harboring Div. 1 Aspirations

PPH:

Back in the summer of 2005, Zach Collett and Joey Royer were two of the key
players in the Westbrook all-stars run to the Little League World Series. Next
fall they'll be reunited on the baseball diamond. Collett, a senior infielder at
Westbrook High, and Royer, a senior left-handed pitcher for Cheverus, have
signed letters of intent to play baseball at the University of New Haven, a
Division II program in the Northeast-10 Conference with Division I dreams.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Politics: November 22- November 26, 2010

Monday, November 22
City Council meeting
Westbrook High School, Room 114
7p
FMI

Tuesday, November 23
Zoning Board of Appeals meeting
Westbrook High School, Room 114
7p
FMI

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Almanac: November 14- November 20, 2010

Week-to-Date:
High: 58F (November 17)
Low: 25F (November 18)
Precipitation: 3.39 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches
Previous Sunrise: 6:42a
Previous Sunset: 4:11p

Month-to-Date:
High: 65F (November 13)
Low: 24F (November 3)
Precipitation: 4.55 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 95F (July 6)
Low: -1F (January 10)
Precipitation: 49.96 inches
Snowfall: 24.8 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan

IDEXX to Pay Employees for Volunteerism

PPH:

IDEXX Laboratories employees are being encouraged
to take two paid days a year to volunteer in their communities. Chief Executive
Officer Jon Ayers was scheduled to announce the new policy this morning at the
Westbrook Performing Arts Center. The company, headquartered in Westbrook, makes
health care products for animals.

- John C.L. Morgan

(Full disclosure: My wife works at IDEXX.)

Westbrook Dropuout Rate, Er, Drops

AJ:

When he first took over the reins of the Westbrook
School District, Superintendent Dr. Reza Namin made it a mission to affect the
local dropout rate. Statistics emerging from the 2009-2010 school year, his
first in charge, suggest that the culture is changing within the district.The
dropout rate – calculated by adding summer dropouts and school-year dropouts
minus returned dropouts, and dividing that number by the entire high school
enrollment --was 1.71 percent for 2009-10, Namin said. That means 13 students
out of the high school’s population of 759 dropped out last year. In contrast,
dropout rates in the four previous years were 5.6 percent, 7.43 percent, 6.45
percent and 7.75 percent.

- John C.L. Morgan

(Full disclosure: I teach at Westbrook High School.)

WPD Talks About Fight Club

PPH:

Westbrook police say they have uncovered the existence of at least one "fight
club," which has been using the social networking site, Facebook, to organize
and promote mixed martial arts style fights in the city. Authorities said they
are investigating the possibility that more than one fight club is operating in
Westbrook. Two 18-year-old men have been charged with unlawful prize fighting as
the result of their involvement in an organized street fight that took place on
the night of Nov. 8.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Politics: November 15- November 19, 2010

Tuesday, November 16
Comprehensive Plan Task Force
Westbrook High School, Room 114
7p
FMI

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Almanac: November 7- November 13, 2010

Week-to-Date:
High: 65F (November 13)
Low: 32F (November 7, November 13)
Precipitation: 1.16 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches
Previous Sunrise: 7:13a
Previous Sunset: 5:36p

Month-to-Date:
High: 65F (November 13)
Low: 24F (November 3)
Precipitation: 3.08 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 95F (July 6)
Low: -1F (January 10)
Precipitation: 46.57 inches
Snowfall: 24.8 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan

WPD Officer and Middle School Teacher Win 'Dancing with the Staff'

WMTW:

Teachers and staff member at Westbrook High
School put on their dancing shoes Thursday evening for Dancing with the Staff.
Hundreds of people packed the Westbrook Performing Arts Center for the event,
which is based on the hit ABC show "Dancing with the Stars." Dancing with the
Staff is a fundraiser for Westbrook High School's senior class and it appears to
be a very successful one.

Fortunately, there's no television evidence of my, er, contribution to the event which was supposed to look like this, but probably looked more like this or this. Now if I could only get my hands on all those DVDs being sold in the lobby...

- John C.L. Morgan

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

School Board Resignation Could Impact City Council

AJ:

The resignation of a Westbrook School Committee member on Tuesday is leading to
shakeups for both that board and the City Council. Democrat Emily Serway, 36, of
Monroe Avenue, tendered her resignation from the school committee for personal
reasons in a letter to Chairman Ed Symbol and Superintendent Reza Namin on
Tuesday.City Democrats must nominate a replacement for Serway. Democratic City
Committee Chairman Brendan Rielly said they are hoping to quickly fill the void
left by Serway’s resignation since the school committee has a meeting on Tuesday
and will soon be immersed in budget season. A potential candidate for her post
is current Ward 5 City Councilor Suzanne Joyce, he said.

- John C.L. Morgan

Tim Horton's Closes Westbrook Store

WMTW:

The Tim Horton's locations in Westbrook and
Windham have closed because of poor sales.
Company spokesman David Morelli said the chain
is continuing to grow in Maine. There are 30 Tim Hortons in Maine and the
company has plans to open two more in Madawaska and Lincoln within the next
several weeks. Morelli said the Westbrook and Windham locations closed
Wednesday. The company offered employees severance packages and career
counseling.

- John C.L. Morgan

Pike's Agreement with City Goes Before Judge Today

PPH:

A Cumberland County Superior Court judge will hear
arguments Tuesday for and against the city of Westbrook's consent agreement with
Pike Industries to mine its rock quarry off Spring Street. The hearing is set
for 8:30 a.m. before Judge Thomas Humphrey, who is presiding over a lawsuit
filed by Pike against the city last year after the Zoning Board of Appeals
decided the company had no right to operate the quarry at Five Star Industrial
Park.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Voters Elect 'Motley Crew' to Charter Commission

AJ:

Residents elected an eclectic group of noteworthy
citizens to review the city charter. Among those elected are Mayor Colleen
Hilton’s sister [Patricia Amico] and a woman whom the mayor previously
sought a protective order against [Susan Rossignol]. Victorious commission
candidates are former Mayor Bruce Chuluda’s daughter, Lisa Chuluda, with 3,850
votes; Hilton’s sister, Patricia Amico, 3,396; Michael Levine, 3,327; former
city Finance Director Susan Rossignol, who is still not permitted to enter City
Hall, 3,327; Eileen Shutts, who worked on the last comprehensive plan, 3,287;
and former City Councilor Drew Gattine, 2,991.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Restaurateurs Cook Well, Do Good

maine:

It was clear that James Tranchemontagne was the older of the two brothers. Andre
sat beside him, waiting for his turn to chime in. They told me the story of how
they are third-generation Mainers, how their grandparents, Anita and Edgar Roy,
moved down from Canada to work in the paper mills, how they are the youngest of
six brothers, and how their mother kept a garden, canned her own vegetables, and
raised them on "timeless" American food. It was an enchanting tale, and as
authentic a Maine story as there is.

PPH:

At a recent [Cooking Matters to Maine] class for teenagers at Mission
Possible in Westbrook, Chef James Tranchemontagne of the Frog and Turtle and the
French Press Eatery restaurants said the program is "like a dream come true for
me." Tranchemontagne was already on the board of Mission Possible, which feeds
30 to 50 kids a day, so it was a no-brainer for him to volunteer to teach a
series of Cooking Matters classes at the teen center. Although he already knows
and has worked with many of his students, even his eyes were opened when he
started talking about food with them.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Politics: November 8- November 12, 2010

Monday, November 8
Facilities and Streets Committee meeting
Westbrook High School, Room 114
6:30p
FMI

Wednesday, November 10
Zoning Board of Appeals meeting
Westbrook High School, Room 114
7p
FMI

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Almanac: November 1- November 6, 2010

Week-to-Date:
High: 50F (November 1)
Low: 24F (November 3)
Precipitation: 1.92 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches
Previous Sunrise: 7:13a
Previous Sunset: 5:36p

Month-to-Date:
High: 50F (November 1)
Low: 24F (November 3)
Precipitation: 1.92 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 95F (July 6)
Low: -1F (January 10)
Precipitation: 45.41 inches
Snowfall: 24.8 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan

Dems Sweep Westbrook's State Seats

With 100% of the votes counted, Democratic incumbents Ann Peoples (House District 125) and Tim Driscoll (House District 126) have brushed aside their Republican challengers, Michael Lawson and Bruce Chuluda, respectively. The results of those races can be seen here, and the results showing Democratic incumbents Phil Bartlett (District 6) and Joseph Brannigan (District 9) cruising to wins in their State Senate races can be seen here.

(Updated: Lisa Chuluda, Patricia Amico, Michael Levine, Susan Rossignol, Eileen Shutts, and Drew Gattine were the six candidates elected to Westbrook's Charter Commission. The results can be seen here.)

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Politics: November 1- November 5, 2010

Monday, November 1
City Council meeting
Westbrook High School, Room 114
7p
FMI

Tuesday, November 2
Planning Board meeting
Westbrook High School, Room 114
7p
FMI

Thursday, November 4
Comprehensive Plan Task Force meeting
IDEXX
6p
FMI

- John C.L. Morgan

Election '10: The AJ's Look at the Races

Westbrook Charter Commission
Patricia Amico
Lisa Chuluda
Charles Ewing
Drew Gattine
Marc Gousse
Michael Levine
Michael Mullett
George Rodrigues
Susan Rossignol
Eileen Shutts

Senate District #9
Joseph Brannigan (D)
Jeff Martin (R)

House District #125
Michael Lawson (R)
Ann Peoples (D)

House District #126
Bruce Chuluda (R)
Tim Driscoll (D)

To see which candidates will actually be on your ballots on Tuesday, November 2, click here.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Tim Driscoll on the Issues (October 30, 2010)
Related: Jeff Martin on the Issues (October 27, 2010)
Related: Ann Peoples on the Issues (October 20, 2010)

Westbrook Almanac: October 24- October 30, 2010

Week-to-Date:
High: 69F (October 28)
Low: 30F (October 24)
Precipitation: 1.10 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches
Previous Sunrise: 7:13a
Previous Sunset: 5:36p

Month-to-Date:
High: 69F (October 28)
Low: 29F (October 17)
Precipitation: 7.10 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 95F (July 6)
Low: -1F (January 10)
Precipitation: 43.48 inches
Snowfall: 24.8 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan