PRSRT STD Postal Customer U.S. Postage PAID Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 Permit No. 62 Portland, ME ECRWSS TheVolume 31 Number 3 Cape CourAn Independent Not-for-Profi er t Newspaper Mar 28 - April 10, 2018 Serving Cape Elizabeth Since 1988 In the Spirit of Community capecourier.com Students organize walkouts at high school and middle school Photo by Kevin St. Jarre Contributed photo CEHS students organized and ran a walkout on March 15, where they remembered those Aela Mansmann addressing seventh and eighth grade students who walked out to remem- killed in the Parkland, Florida school shooting and demanded changes to gun laws ber victims of the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida By Kevin St. Jarre eration would be heard and that they would By Emily Supple and Aela Mansmann walking out,” explained Mansmann. not stop until change was achieved. A group of students were then introduced Students at Cape Elizabeth High School On Friday, March 16th, Cape Elizabeth Reached for comment after the walk- to recognize each individual who lost their walked out to demand changes to gun laws seventh and eighth grade students, as well as out, Inhorn said, “I helped to organize the life in the Parkland, Florida. Seventh and and to insist on safer schools. At least 250 staff members, walked out of class to remem- event because I felt like something needed eighth graders, Claire McDonald, Mieke students participated, leaving classrooms at ber both those who lost their lives, as well to be done. I was so inspired by the kids in Buterbaugh, Eben Harrison, Filip Reck, 10 a.m. on March 15, delayed a day from the as those who survived the tragic events in Parkland who stood up and said that they Colin Campbell, Hannah Mosher, Darby national walkout due to the recent storm. Po- Parkland, Florida. Students who decided wouldn’t take the status quo anymore. It Kline, Faraz Kazmi, Maggie Cochran, Owen lice, Superintendent Howard Colter, CEHS to join the walkout gathered in front of the inspired me to feel like I could actually do McAnuff , Antoinette Hinitt, Mia Ramsden, Principal Jeff Shedd, and other admin and middle school entrance. Many students held something. When I heard about the National Annaliese Rudberg, Jack Hagan, Emma some staff were present, but it was a student- signs and wore orange to show their support. School Walkout, I knew this was my chance. Halter, and Cora Johnson each read one of organized and run event. Aela Mansmann, organizer of the walkout, I teamed up with Christie and Tory, and the the names and a short biography about each Assembling in a parking lot near the snow- and Eben Harrison welcomed the young ac- three of us planned it. I think it went very well. victim. Seventh grade teacher, Aaron Filieo, fi lled stadium, and standing in a cold wind, tivists and spoke briefl y about the importance We had a great turnout, with a lot of kids feel- joined the students by reading the bio of the students fi rst silently listened to student Kim of recognizing all of those who have lost their ing really positive and reacting really well lost football coach. Knauft’s rendition of Andra Day’s “Rise Up.” lives in the many school shootings around the to the event. To see this huge crowd coming, Emma McCarley then read an original Next, 17 students approached the podium, U.S. “Civil disobedience is not only our right, missing out on class and standing in the cold, one at a time, to read a few sentences naming but our responsibility as citizens. We are priv- to stand for something, was truly a beautiful -see MIDDLE SCHOOL page 5 and describing each of the 17 people killed ileged to be supported by our school when thing. This gives me hope that we can change in Parkland, Florida at Marjory Stoneman something.” Douglas High School, where a gunmen carry- Gillies agreed, “The tipping point for me ing an assault rifl e opened fi re on February 14. New proposed use for town’s vacant lots was seeing the heartache, fear and anger on The walkout was organized by three CEHS the faces and in the words of kids who sur- students- Tony Inhorn, Christie Gillies and Tory McGrath. Each of the organizers gave -see HIGH SCHOOL page 5 a short statement making clear that their gen- Proposed 2018-19 municipal budget would lower tax rate for town, Community Services Town Manager Matthew Sturgis is propos- • Replacement of Fire Department’s ladder ing a $12.25 million town budget for 2018-19, truck ($1.25 million) and 15-year-old ambu- up 0.9 percent over this year’s budget for mu- lance ($250,000). nicipal and Community Services. • Phase II of the Hill Way/Scott Dyer Road The proposal would decrease the town reconstruction. portion of the tax rate 0.4 percent, or 2 cents • Replacement of a dump/plow truck and below this year’s rate of $4.47. larger pickup truck. In presenting the proposal to the Town • Anticipated expenditure of $50,000 Contributed photo Council March 12, Sturgis credited the reduc- for purchase of pay/display units for Fort A dog park is being proposed for vacant space in town center and residents are being en- tion in taxes to an increase in revenue other Williams. courage to attend a town hall meeting to provide input to the committee. Above is a dog park than property tax of $98,337, up 2 percent The pay/display parking units for Fort in Portland which is serving as a model for the one proposed in Cape. over this year. “Residents have been buy- Williams Park are budgeted as a “marker” in ing newer motor vehicles and thus monthly case the Town Council decides to go forward Having vacant lots in the center of town Holbrook, another committee member, “and collections have been improving,” he wrote with the system, Sturgis said. Councilors dis- is providing a unique opportunity for the one town in Connecticut was actually sued in his budget message. The budget projects cussed the idea at workshops Sept. 18 and development of a long-needed recreational because their park was built without any dis- a $2.15 million in excise tax revenue, an in- Feb. 5, and are expected to consider it at their spot for dogs and their owners. cussion or notifi cation to nearby homeown- crease of 2.6 percent and the largest in a sin- regular meeting April 9. “Many towns have built a dog park, where ers. We tracked down a well-known author gle revenue line. Off setting these increases, Sturgis said, is dogs can exercise and play off -leash, and of several publications about dog parks, and Here are highlights Sturgis’ outlined in his the use of $500,000 from unassigned fund dogs and their owners can socialize” ex- despite her pricey consultant fee, feel that budget message: balance toward capital improvements and plained Bob Grover, the chairman of the her advice can and will save the town money • A 2-percent average wage increase. continues the use of $375,000 against annual Bark Park committee, which is a subcom- in the long run.” • Increase from one to two per-diem fi re operating expenses. “This will lower the cur- mittee of the Parks and Recreation Advi- There are three major aspects to be con- personnel, increasing the town’s coverage. rent amount of unassigned funds, but keep the sory Commission, “and the opportunity just sidered when developing a dog park, those •Increased personnel costs adjusting to re- overall level of unassigned funds properly in presented itself with the availability of open being: location (convenient for owners and cent updates and the Recycling Center. line with the current policy that the town has,” land in a convenient spot for dog owners of the community), safety for dogs and humans • Increased legal budget anticipating up- he said. Cape Elizabeth.” (including security and adequate lighting for coming lawsuits. A review of the budget proposal in work- Drawing on research, the fi rst step was night time use), and appropriate size for the • Signifi cant capital purchases in line with shop sessions was scheduled to take place to hire a planning consultant. “Most parks -see DOG PARK page 13 the capital improvement plan, with larger March 20 and 21. are built without consulting experts in park purchases through lease-purchase agreement. design and dog behavior” explained Patricia Page 2 • The Cape Courier LETTERS Mar 28 - April 10, 2018 The Cape Courier Proud of Support for Support for P.O. Box 6242 Cape Elizabeth Maine 04107 207-838-2180 students who Anne Carney Mary Ann www.capecourier.com Now, more than ever, government needs joined walkout people who will thoughtfully represent our Lynch I was extremely proud of the Cape concerns and collaboratively--but tenacious- I am writing to support Mary Ann OUR MISSION STATEMENT Elizabeth High School students who ly--work for the common good. That is why Lynch to be the Democratic nominee to Th e mission of Th e Cape Courier is to foster joined the walkout to protest gun vio- we support Anne Carney for State Represen- the Maine Legislature from Cape Eliza- a sense of community by presenting news beth. specifi c and unique to Cape Elizabeth lence on March 15, as shown in the tative. and its residents, and, whenever possible, Portland Press Herald. While politicians Through our work with Anne on various Our town is fortunate to have two good to promote volunteerism within our have sat on their hands in thrall of the community-based eff orts, we have seen that candidates for this nomination.