Westbrook Almanac: September 5- September 11, 2010

Week-to-Date:
High: 81F (September 8)
Low: 50F (September 11)
Precipitation: 1.13 inches
Snowfall: 0.21 inches
Previous Sunrise: 6:34a
Previous Sunset: 7:10p

Month-to-Date:
High: 93F (September 2)
Low: 50F (September 11)
Precipitation: 1.34 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 95F (July 6)
Low: -1F (January 10)
Precipitation: 35.42 inches
Snowfall: 24.8 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan

Take Notes, Maine Pols

The New Republic's Jonathan Chait calls him "Chris Farley's character Matt Foley come to life," but I prefer to think of Phil Davison, a candidate for county treasurer in Ohio's Stark County, as the man who will change the rhetorical norms of local politics forever.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: On Location: Room 114 (March 11, 2008)

Wanted: Used Sports Equipment

The Westbrook Community Center is hosting Re*Play, an event designed to give Westbrook families the opportunity to buy quality sports gear at a low price.

To donate your gently-used sports gear for the September 24 (6p-9p) and September 25 (8a-11:30a) sales, you can drop the equipment off during the week of September 13-September 17 at one of the following locations: The Recreation Department's offices, the principals' offices in any of Westbrook's schools, and City Hall. Or, you can drop off your equipment at the Westbrook Community Center's gym on Saturday, September 18 (8a-11:30a).

Re*Play is being organized by Westbrook youngsters Morgan, Shannon, and Maura Rielly, and all proceeds of the sales will go toward funding scholarships for Recreation Department activities.

If you have any questions, call (207) 856-7704 or e-mail brielly@maine.rr.com.

- John C.L. Morgan

Judge Delays Pike's Lawsuit Against City

PPH:

A judge this morning agreed to postpone a trial in a dispute between Pike
Industries and the city of Westbrook so that he can review a last-minute
settlement proposed by the parties.

[snip]

Lawyers for the city and for Pike, as well as the lawyers for an intervenor in
the court case, Idexx Laboratories, support the consent agreement and they will
urge Humphrey to sign off on the 25-page document. Two other intervenors in the
case, however, oppose the deal. Representatives of Artel and Smiling Hill Farm
say the consent agreement is deeply flawed and was rushed in front of the City
Council.

- John C.L. Morgan

City Council Approves Pike Deal

PPH:

The City Council voted Wednesday night to approve a
revised consent agreement that would allow Pike Industries to operate its rock
quarry in the Five Star Industrial Park. The council voted 4-2 to approve the
agreement between Pike, Idexx Laboratories, two neighboring businesses and
nearby residents. Councilors Victor Chau and John O'Hara cast the dissenting
votes. Councilor Paul Emery did not attend the meeting. The agreement needs
final approval from Justice Thomas Humphrey, who is presiding over a civil case
involving Pike and the city of Westbrook.

- John C.L. Morgan

Pinball-alaria-itis at Skybox

Maine Observer:

The next stop was in Westbrook, at the Skybox Bar & Grille. When I drove up
to this place, I noticed it violated a rule I have about bars: Don’t enter a bar
that has almost no windows (i.e. Rockin’ Ricky’s Tavern). This wasn’t about me
though; this was about cataloging [pinball-alaria-itis]. I went in.

[snip]

The environment is dicey, but thankfully the classic rock cover band made things
more comfortable. Pinball just isn’t pinball if you don’t hear someone singing
"Turn the Page" by Bob Seger. Once you settle in, the place starts to feel
welcoming. They also host a pinball tournament every Tuesday at 7 p.m. for three
bucks. VERDICT: This place spreads [pinball-alaria-itis] like warm butter on a
biscuit.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Skybox: (Bar)cade and Grill (December 29, 2009)

More on Snyder's Plans for Arena and Convention Center

Mainebiz:

Few Portland region business leaders or elected officials greeted with much
enthusiasm Jason Snyder's announcement in June that he would build a $60
million-plus arena and do a $30 million renovation of the Cumberland County
Civic Center. But the Westbrook developer maintains he is forming a sound
business plan that he hopes will convince state lawmakers, Cumberland County
officials and city officials in Portland and Westbrook that a new 8,000-seat
arena and a dedicated convention center in Portland will yield the best return
on investment. He will present his plan to the civic center board of trustees
next week.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Snyder Proposes Arena, Convention Center to Complement Mall Plans (June 23, 2010)

TNR on Labor Day

The New Republic:

It's Labor Day, a time to commemorate and reexamine the role
of organized labor in American life. The best way to do so, of course,
is to browse this collection of classic TNR pieces on labor.

- John C.L. Morgan

On Maine's Quiet Crisis

Charles Lawton:

The single greatest challenge facing Maine today is
demographic. Over the next 20 years, our 65+ population will increase over 80
percent, while our population age 20 to 29 will decrease by nearly 30 percent.
If we are to avoid the stagnation and poverty of a population entirely dependent
on transfer payments coming from an ever-declining working-age cohort, we need
to increase ways for the elderly to remain in the labor market--even, or perhaps
especially, part-time.

This solution--getting older workers to stay in the job market--will definitely be needed, especially when you consider that any compromise that salvages Social Security will probably include raising the age of eligibility for the program.

The other solution, as Lawton and others have pointed out numerous times, is to grow the work force (read: Retain and recruit youngsters). Increasing the birthrate could be a factor, but social, cultural, and economic trends (Maine has the second-lowest birthrate in the U.S.) shouldn't make us very optimistic about that option.

What is left, then, is immigration, both from within the borders of the U.S. and from outside America. Strip away any other humanitarian and ethical reasons for Mainers to become more welcoming and engaging toward American and foreign immigrants and you get perhaps the most appealing argument to beat back the paranoia and fear that is unbefitting for a state and country that have such a good track record of assimilation: It's in our collective self-interest that those "from away" are successful. And it seems to me the best way to encourage success is engagement, not ostracism.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: The New Brunswick Model (August 19, 2010)
Related: 2010 v. 1895 (May 5, 2010)
Related: Cross-Pollination, Take Two (March 10, 2010)

Westbrook TV Station Hosts Gubernatorial Forum

KJ:

The five candidates for governor sat down together
for the first time at a forum Sunday afternoon hosted by the TV program Youth in
Politics.

[snip]

Sunday's forum was hosted by Logan Leavitt, 17, of
Portland, a senior at Deering High School, and Justin Chenette, 19, of Saco, a
sophomore at Lyndon State College in Vermont. There wasn't any back-and-forth
between candidates; this wasn't a debate, per se. Rather the Blaine House
hopefuls gave their positions on a number of topics including the economy,
energy, health care and education.

More on WPXT's show Youth in Politics can be read here.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Housing Market: Sales Down, Prices Up

Coastal and Southern Maine Homes:

The [Westbrook residential] market saw 10
transactions close in August 2010, down 41% from August 2009 and down 41% from
July of this year. Median pricing clocked in at 196K, up 6% from 2009 and up 26%
from July 2010. Prices in Westbrook continue to stabilize, but the summer season
was very sluggish compared with the strong spring we experienced.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Politics: September 5- September 9, 2010

Wednesday, September 7
City Council meeting
Westbrook Performing Arts Center
7p
FMI

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Almanac: September 1- September 4, 2010

Week-to-Date:
High: 93F (September 2)
Low: 65F (September 1)
Precipitation: 1.13 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches
Previous Sunrise: 6:07a
Previous Sunset: 7:13p

Month-to-Date:
High: 93F (September 2)
Low: 65F (September 1)
Precipitation: 1.13 inches
Snowfall: 0.00 inches

Year-to-Date:
High: 95F (July 6)
Low: -1F (January 10)
Precipitation: 35.11 inches
Snowfall: 24.8 inches

Source: National Weather Service

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook High Sports Round-Up, August 30- September 4, 2010

Thursday, September 2
Field Hockey: Westbrook (1-0) defeated Massabesic (0-1) in Waterboro, 4-0.
Golf: Scarborough (1-0) defeated Westbrook (0-1), 11.5-1.5.

Friday, September 3
Football: Bonny Eagle (1-0) defeated Westbrook (0-1) at Olmsted Field, 36-0.
Girls' Soccer: South Portland (1-0) defeated Westbrook (0-1) in South Portland, 3-1.

Saturday, September 4
Boys' Soccer: South Portland (1-0) defeated Westbrook (0-1) at Olmsted Field, 1-0.

- John C.L. Morgan

Judge: Civil Trial Involving Pike and City Will Proceed as Scheduled

PPH:

A judge has refused to delay a civil trial
involving the city of Westbrook and Pike Industries, as parties in the case
hasten to reach a new agreement to allow Pike to operate its rock quarry and
satisfy nearby residents and businesses. Critics of the process are questioning
the need for speed. On Friday, Justice Thomas Humphrey denied the city's motion
to continue the trial. Pike has sued Westbrook, claiming that it should be
allowed to mine its quarry off Spring Street because the city has allowed it for
years. The trial is set to start Sept. 13.

- John C.L. Morgan

City's Settlement with Firefighters Costs About $850,000

AJ:

Two female firefighters who made charges of sexual
harassment and discrimination against at the Westbrook Fire Department will
receive a total of about $850,000 between them in separate settlements with the
city. The payments to firefighters Lisa Theberge and Kathy Rogers, who made
their claims two years ago and subsequently filed state and federal lawsuits
against the city, will be for lost compensation such as overtime and sick time,
damages, attorney's fees and other costs. In exchange, the firefighters will
drop their legal claims against the city. Of the total payment to settle the
claims of the two women, the city of Westbrook is responsible for nearly
$228,000 or about 27 percent. The city's insurance carrier, the Maine Municipal
Association, will cover the remainder, which is about $620,000 or 73
percent.

- John C.L. Morgan

Tea Partiers to Convene in Westbrook

FMI

- John C.L. Morgan

Future of Pike-Idexx Consent Agreement Unclear

AJ:

Officials at Pike Industries are "exceptionally
disappointed" by a Westbrook City Council decision to table a proposed agreement
to let Pike resume operations at its Spring Street quarry. The agreement
included restrictions designed to protect nearby homes and businesses such as
Idexx Laboratories. But many residents and businesses said the protections
weren’t strong enough, so the council on Monday voted 7-0 to table the consent
agreement until October so that further negotiations with those groups can take
place.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook TV Station to Host Televised Gubernatorial Debate

MPBN:

For weeks, some organizations have been trying to
get all five gubernatorial candidates on one stage for an election forum. Those
efforts have been foiled either by scheduling conflicts, a decision to exclude
some of the candidates based on perceived viablity--or the refusal of another
candidate to participate in a forum that doesn't include everyone who's on the
ballot. But all that changes this Sunday when the quintet of gubernatorial
candidates converge in Westbrook to be grilled by teenagers.

- John C.L. Morgan

Smiling Hill Farm to Host Annual Craft Show

FMI

- John C.L. Morgan