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Island Times Newspaper, 2007 Island Times Newspaper, 2002-2013
4-2007
Island Times, Apr 2007
Mary Lou Wendell
David Tyler
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Recommended Citation Wendell, Mary Lou and Tyler, David, "Island Times, Apr 2007" (2007). Island Times Newspaper, 2007. 2. https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/itn_2007/2
This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Island Times Newspaper, 2002-2013 at Portland Public Library Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Island Times Newspaper, 2007 by an authorized administrator of Portland Public Library Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LAND FREE APRJL2007 A community newspaper covering rhe islands ofC asco Bay Chebeague seeks employees for new town
BYDAVIDlYl.Ell Public R;1dio did a s1ory on Chc When on<.' c;and id ate for the bc-agucS secess-.on movemenl and fown or Chebcague·s ruJJ-lime ad was thrilkd 10 rncc1 her in person. ministrator position was picked up Several c-andidates for to\\10 ad at tJw ferry, he was surprised at his mmistrator W('re giv,~n tours or chaufft~ur. Chebeague Island on April I, as ··1 couldn't believe 11 when I n.~· the Transiuon Com.miuce for the aliu'd ii was Mabt-1 Doughiy,· the Town of Ch.ebcagur works 10 in· candidate said, accordmg 10 Don ICrvicw randida1es fo r Jobs in lhe na Damon. chau or the Govern l)('\'/10\\'Tl. mcntaJ Structure Suh<:ommittec On )ltly I. Chebeague Island on Chebeague lsl,md. lie heard INWi.'S C:umberland to bccome Ooughty, o ne of the rive SH'f'ssion ils own to\""· And the Transition rcprestmrauv~. when NationaJ please""' CIIEBEAGUE, 1x1ge 6
Happy Easter? After a strange blast of snow h.it Maine on April 5, the only sign of s pring on Peaks was in the window display at The Cafe. Phoro by George R~ol Soldier returns home to Peaks Island BY0AVID1'Yl.~R Baghdad In rernational Airport. w1til he left Iraq on March 2 of this The first few nights Anny S1>e · we always had vehicles goin g b\' year. I le serves with 8 Compan y, c1alisl B,•au Blanchard spenl or rifle ra..ngrs or airplanes-here 3 rd Baualion of the 172nd Infan back home on Peaks Island after it's jusl so qu1e1," Blanchard said. try Rcgimcn1, Maine Arm)' Nation his yearlong 1our in Baghdad, he "The sense or peace and quie1- it :dGuard. rouldn't sleep. really talccs a 101 or getung used 10." His unitS homecoming was on In Iraq 1here was consrnnc noise, lllanchard is happy 10 make lhe March 9 at U>e Army ,\\'ialion Sup especially since his unit was sta adjustment He was station~d at porr PaC"ifity in Bangor. First th~ rionrd at Camp L1ben y, near the Camp Ubcrl)• from March 10, 2006 llew into New Jersey for a week of - processing.111cn ,hey look six bus es back to Maine. He said U1c wel come home was amazing. ~ll was great from as soon as Wl' hi11hc st,He line/' Blanchard said. The buses were mel by a Maine State Poller escort Along the rou(e. many 1own, added local p<)lic•p cars to the convoy. And members oflocal fire and p<1lice depar1 rncnls s1ood along the rou1e, saluting the buses as !hey drove by. l.ocal resi Peaks Islanders take their fight dents also lined the rou te.carrying signs supporting the troops. for secession to the State House When d1ey arrived in Bangor, lhe unu lined up ouLside an airphu,c llv OA vm TYum ano lher reforendum for Peaks Is• hanger, with U1c door dosed. ln The debate over Peaks Island's in land \'Olers, af1er an agreement or sidr, they could hear the roar or dependence from 1he City of Port Arbi1ration of deh1sand assets be• Army Specialist Beau Blanchard is welcomed home from Ira q their fami.hes and friends waiting land now moves 10 lhe Stale Legis· 1ween theCilyof Portland and the by his daughters. Mikell<1, Rayleigh and Vi ctoria, and bis wife. lo welcoi-nc them home. la1ure, as the blll filed by secession Island. Gianna. Photo courtl!.oly ofGianna Blanchard plttue.see SOLDIER,J>'lgC8 supponers goes for a hearing in 11 recommends a Town Meet· fronl of 1he Join I S1anding Commit ing rorm or go\'ernmem. IL also ln tee on State and Local Government. cludcsa p rovision for bindingarbi· The Peaks' bill, LD. 1793, is tralion ir 1he Cily and Peak cannol Group discusses challenges of 'real boys' scheduled 10 be heard by the com reach agreement on secession by mince on April 30, at 9 a.m. in Jan. I, 2008. The bill is sponsored BYKaLY HASSON ways of interacting and respond 1hy, \"tannlh, and dependency, to Room 216 of the Cross S1a1e Office by State Sen. Chl'isunc Savage (R Uu ring the last several weeks ing effectively to their needs, and engage in more risky and/ or ag Bulldln g. Knox). intcreslcd parents and staff or to offer an mcluslve forum for gressive behaviors, and to achieve The bill includes a provision for piM,e see SECESSION,fX,g•8 Peaks Island School have been discussion. Ouring our first book more status or pov1.ter. meeting each Thursday evening group all panicipan lS agreed that Most participants agreed th a1 10 discuss chapters from Dr. \\qJ. WJIJiam Pollack's book offers one these arc s-trong generalizations 11am Pollack's "Real Boys: Rescu perspective on 1hc psychology and that Pollack provides some Excerpts from the Peaks secession bill ing Ou r Sons from the Myths of o f boys and does not necessarily extreme examples in bis book. Boyhood." reflect the views o r Peaks Island On 1he 01her hand, many group 11,e following aro excerpts from Peaks Island. Subjecl lo a referen Pollack, a clinical psychologist, School fain ihes orstaff. membe rs fou nd his stalistlcs or L.D. J 793 '"A11 Act To Anthoriu dwn clCC'Tion held in accordanre is also a profo.ssor of psychialry al Based o n over twenty years o f male crim e, suicide, and depres Peaks Island, /-louse Island, Pump with section 2, the following 1er Harvard Medical School, lbe di research on the psychology and sion compelling when he stales kin Knob and Catnip ls/amt To Se ritory now within U1e Ciiy of Port rector of !he Cemer for Men and dcvelopmcn1 of boys and men, his case on how schools. fomilies, cede from the City nf Pnrtltmd. "1- land and Cumberland Couniy, to Young Men al Mel.can Hospilal, 1he underlying premise o r Pol p/MSesee BOYS, /Jtlf!'C' 7 /ipses or description of deleted gether wilh the inhabi1ants of thal and a founding member and fel lack's book is that, over centuries material signify cuts. The full text territory, is separated and sci off low of the /\merican Psychologi and across cull ures, society has of the bill c,m be f,)llnrl at: httJ!:II from 1he Cily of-Portland and in cal Associarion~c; Society for 1he created a sel of expeclalions for jmms.state.me. usllegis by emerlng corporaled Into a se1>arate town Psychological Study of Men and boys that Pollack rcfers 10 as 1he Inside 1793 In the space fort/le hill m1111- by Ih e name of 1he Town of Peaks Masculinily. ·noyCode.· l'K'r. Island: Pealcs Island. House Island, following a survey sent o ut 10 He argues that many boys fol Briefs p. 2 Parl A, S Calhy Ramsdell. the i:,troup's executive dt· rector. "Maine Community Foundation has done a n oulstandi ng job investing In Brief and managi ng Otis fund for us, and each year we receive a 1ra nsfer from the fund Pier proposals at PINA to s upporl the Baykeeper Program. This The two groups rhat rhe City of Pon rrces us up co raise resources for oth er land is considering to develop lhe Ma ine programs in water quality research and $i;ate Pie r wilJ each make a presentation public outreach. We are most grateful to at the Peaks Island Neighborhood Associ the donors who supported rhis fund." ation at 7:30 p.m. on April 17, at the Peaks -Dauid Tyler Island Community Center. The chance to make the proposals on Waterfront money part Peaks was m ade by the developers, ac cording to Don Webster, President of the of bond deal Peaks Island Neighborhood Association (PINA). Gov. Joh.n Baldacci and U,e S1a1c Legis "It definitely affects our rront door," lature's Appropriations Commit1 ee came said Webster. "And very clearly, if they up with a nearly $100 million package of mess It up, we're going to be in lrouble." bonds that includes a $35 m ill ion bond Ocean Properties Ltd and The Olympia for Lhe Land For Maine's Future program, Com panies are the lWO groups vying 10 Baykeeper Joe Payne, of U1e Friends of Casco Bay. takes a water sample in the which matches private donations to pro develop the seven-acre parcel. The parcel bay. tect farms, forests and open space includes the scc1ion that is no, occupied Included in lhe $35 m illion bond is $3 by Casco 8ay Lines and Co mpass Park, an's War Memorial in Washington, 0. C. Casco Bay friends top m\llion to help protect the state's work where Bl\V was once located. on April 13 and on April 14 in conjunction ingwaterfronc. If passed by the full legis Ocean Properties plans to spend $90 wirh the Cherry Blossom Fes tival. million mark lature. if would go to the voters this No· million on rts proposal, building a com '('hcsc s1ories by a combat vcEernn of vernbcr. plex that includes ferry service to other 1he Vietnam \Var transcend the "war sto· A capital campaign to sustain th e If passed, the $3 m illion would conrin Maine communities, an office b uilding, ry" genre by reaching out lo everyone by work of the Casco Bay Baykccper, ol the ue t.he Ocpartm cnl of Marine Resourc a parking garage, res1aura nts, and art ga1 4 exploring Lhe deep enH)lional and spui Friends ofC asco Bay, has now raised over es' Working Waterfront Access Pilot Pro lery and a new public fishing area. l'or tual lives of men and women who served $1 million, according to Mary M. Cerullo, gram, which distributed $1.3 million in more inform ation go lO 1he companies' in U1c mil itary. Using the lhemes of fam Lhe group's associate director, in a March matching grancs 10 purchase working \Veb site:v.•ww.rnainestatepier.com. ily, love. and en1ightenmenl 1heseslories release. waterfront property, according to a re Th e Olympia Companies' 1>roposal in honor bolh Lhose who are forever named Thanks to pledges received and invest· lease from the Island lnslilllte. cludes a village at the end of the pier and on the memorial, and all of those who m ent managcmem by the Maine Com "' Interest in rhe pilot program was far a two·acre park. h also includes a hotel. served in lhe Vietnam \\iar. m unity Foundation, the value of the greater than the amount of funds avail Por more infonnalion on this plan, go to: Bill Mi ndercr's s tories also honor 1hc group's endowment was $1,033,201 as of able: said Jennifer Litteral, Marine and www.1heolympiacompanies.com. famil ies of soldiers who suffered fear for the end of last year. Wo rking Waterfr ont Program Manager at The proposals arc being reviewed by loved ones in cornba1 and they recognize "Attaining a $1 million endowment the Island Institute, •so we are pleased the Porrland City Council's Com munity the harassmcnr and abuse families have helps to ensure there will be a Baykeep· that the Approprialions Co mmittee Development Committee. suffered for having a loved one serving in er o n Casco Bay fo r m any years to come. showed such strong bipartisan support ·-Dauid Tyler Vielnam. These stories will be pan of the l his is a great m oment," sa1d Portland for rhis program at an increased level of National Park Service's guided tour of the Auorney Nicholas Walsh, who was J>resi fw1dillg." Vleu1am Memorial. Tours are held at I I d<'nt of the organization during the capi Island (nstitute research shows that Island storyteller a.m ., I p.m .• 3 p.m., and at 5 p.m. This is tal ca mpaign. fewer lhan 20 miles of the stale's 5,000- performs at Vietnam the first time a story1eller has been part "Endowing the Baykeepe r Program m iJc·long coastline remains available to oflhe tour. and the Casco Baykeeper position it sup supporl lhose who rely on access 10 the Memorial porls was Cundamcnlal to o ur ability 10 water for fishing-related jobs. Peaks Isla nd s toryreller Bill Hinderer respond to the ever·emerging issues that -Da uid Tyler will be perfouning a.l the Vietnam Veter~ Lhreaten lhe heaJU1 of Casco, Bay," s aid Old Pon Wine Merchants. Where it all comes together. Unique Jewelry and Gifts Open Weekends in April and May U-Jmt :ftlrrclJiin!s L 201-TI2·WINE (9463) 342 Fore Slreel Portland, Maine 04101 on, block tr.a, n,, l'on/anll Harbor Hotel. 0 Open 10 am.111:ao pm. Mendav- sa111n1av ,_d 12 noen to 1:30 pm. on S111dav · ·oualilv Service. Wine and Gills. The wav lite Should Be!" April 20()7 ISLAND TIMES PAGE3 Peaks secession bill debated NEWS BRIEFS, from ,x,geJ subject maner of !his Acl must be reduced in :JO days afler 1heolection a jus1ice or the notice of a public meeting to transact mu rilory." [Deleted ma1erial describes bowid 10 the foll owing t]uestion: .. Do you f:wo r the peace or notary public may issue a warranc nicipal business and 10 select municipal of arfos, removal offown of Peaks Island from separation of Peal:s Island, House Island, 10 any legal voter in the Peaks Island lcrrito· fi cers be r>os1ed 30 days prior to July I, 2009). Jurisdiction o f the Board orHarbor Commis Pumpkin Knob and f'.a1nip Island and the ry direc1ing 1ha1 legal voter 10 notify Ille mu• Sec.A-5. Form of government. If a major· sioners.) surrounding wa1crs from the Ciry of Port; nicipal inhabilams within the Peaks Island ity orthose voting in the referendum under Sec. A-2. Referendum elecllon. This Pan land and their lncorpora1ion as a separa1e Ct~rritory of a public meeting 10 select 9 1ra n· section 2 approve the question, th e Town of tal:es cffocl no sooner lhan 30 days aflcr cown?,. •.. The referendum election must sition rcpresen tath•es bywriucn b;illot ... Peaks Island will h e incorporated and sep completion of agreement or arbitration of he conducted by tl,e ciiy clerk of the City or Effcc1i ve immediately after the election, arated from th e City o f l'onland o n July I, debts and assets becween the Pt'.a.ks Island Portland, who shall declare the res,dt of 1hc th e transition representatives selec-1ed at the 2009 and shall adoJll 1hc Iowa meeung as lerril ory and tlic City of Portland in Part 0 election ... meeting are vested ½rilh the po\\'ers to rcprc its fo rm o f government. (Oele1ecl tf'Xt stales to permit its submission to Ult~ vo1c1·s of the Sec.A-3. Effective date of 5eparallon. If a sen1 rhe future Town of Pea.ks Island and lO lhat fom, or gowrnmcnt can be changed by Peaks Island 1erri1ory al a special refe ren majorily of those vo1i ng in 1hc referendum enter into IN1ers o rintenl and l'tll.'.'JUOranda town. without I.he Legislanirc.} du m elcc1io n lo beheld on June 15, 2008 ... under scc1ion 2 approve lh e quescion, this of understanding for lhe establishment of Sec. A-6,Allocatlon of debts and assets. If f--Or lhe purposes of this referendum clCC· Part takes effect with respect to 1he l'eaks Is· ilS local government, lO negotiate interlo 1h e Town of Peaks Island is incorpora1ed and lion, all persons resident and legally rcgis• land 1erri1nry and the Peaks Island territory cal agreements and to engage in other nee• is separated from tlie Cily or Portland on Ju · tered co vote wi1hin the Peaks Island tcrri· is separated from Ille City of Ponland and is cssary transition acUvities: Any agreements ly I. 2009, the Town or Peaks Island shall as• wry are eligible to vote on lhc question \-.'Ith incorponncd as the Tov,11 of Peaks Island on made by the 1.ran.s1tion reprcscnrnthies must sume its justa nd due proporUon or tl1edeb1S respect to lhe separation or lhe Peaks Island July I, 2009. be presented for ratifi cation by the Town of of the Cily of PorLland and lllUSt receive ils terrilo rylrom the City of Portland. Sec. A-4. Provision for Orst mee1lng. If a Peaks Island 's leglslatlve body a f1 er 1he in• jus1 and due proportion of 1he assets o f th e 11,e city clerk of 1he City of Portland shall majority of those voting tn 1hc re£erendum corporation or 1h~ Town of Peaks Island ... Ciry of Portland, including property taxes prepare lhe required balJots o n which the under section 2 approve the question, wilh- (Dclclcd paragraph lhat follows s1a1es thal plea.teM!f! B11L, page8 Give Peaks a chance Peaks secession: no to L.D.1793 8Y MlCIIAEL RICHAIIDS fo rmed this u rban n uisance into a clear BYJO EKANE school costs, debt payment and police staff Ln accordan ce v.ti1.h the secession stat and present danger to lhc survival of this The Pcal:s Island secession bill (LD I 793) in g) to 1he IIC budge1, we gel a more realis ute, lhe Island Independence Commil· rural island community, and lhe island now before the Maine Staie Legisla1ure de, lic b udget with a propeny tax or mil rate of tee h as 61cd a bill wilh Maine Legjsla1ure independen ce movement awoke and scribes a p rocess. II descrihes how Peaks ls $16.6'1 per r.housan d. Our c urrent tax rate is which would provide for lhe establish· ga1hered strengtl, . land should secede rrom Portland, not why. less, $1 6.31 per lhousand. The IIC ,l.lso as• mcnt of 1hc Town of Peaks Island, but on The Island Independe nce Commillee But "'why .. should be 1.he deternuning racco surnes u,ai it will collect $306,000 annual ly if the island residents v<>te for indepen was formed and, in accordance wilh the Secessio nists have used the story lhat we ly in licenses and fees, asurprising $331 for dence an er the financial tcnnshavc been secession slatute. gathCl'Cd 600 sign a are a remo te, neglected, overtaxed. self-reH· cacl, or dtc 925 Peal:s residents (2000 U.S. determined. Althoui:;11 u,e cily coun· tures. nearly 80 percent o f the active reg anl 1i1 11e community which most resembles Census). cil and minority of islanders arc <\gainst istered voters on Peaks Island, request• the charac1er of otlier Maine islands and ll1ere Is bad news on I.he mainland side as Peaks Island's independence, the island ing a p ublic hearing on the causes of lhe small communities. In crafting this story, well. lfw<> secede. Ponland will no longe r of majority dearly leans wvvard sclf-go\1- secCSsion movement a nd 1h e alte rna• they have dealt lighlly with 1he facts as we fer tax breaks LO parking g~rage develop ers ernment. tives that might make ii unnecessary. Th e show below. on our behalf and will charge market rate According!)•, the IICwill ask the Legisla h earing was held on Peaks Island, but the We \VllO arc against secession ha ve rehed rcnl for the ferry terminal and wharf. That ture's Slate and Local Government Com city Ignored 1hc larger causes of d iscon on facts (lcdious as lhey may seem) to re meaos mainhmd parking costs and hassles miftec to recommend passage of the bill. ten1 and conce ntrated o n appeasing lhe spond chat it i~ in our own bes1 interes-1 to 'A'tll increase, and ferry ticket prices will rise. They need islanders to speak a, the hear fewwi.tJ, vague promises or improved re remain a neighborhood of Portland. I Ve be 100. ing nn the bill on Monday, April JO. be• sponsiveness. lieve that the secessionist movemenl is sun If not overtaxed, how abou t small, remote ginning at9a.o\. in Augusta. The secession s1a1ute called then for pl)• an ill,consulered tax re,·011bya properly and sclf-rclhm1? 'lne more realis1ic: budget Ove r the lasl two decades, Peaks Is• an "advisory referendum.. o n secession. rich neigltbodiood or Pon.land. makes us comparable w,th <'ommu nilies of lai>d has changed rapidJy, primarUy ar 1hc specifically designed to let the legislawre Since facts. nol story lines, wdl govern our over 3,000 residents while our population is hands of Portland, whidt has tried to citi know whet.lier islanders preferred mdc Hv~ it is lrnporcant 10 examine the seces 925. The Just-J'l'leased l sla11d I11dica1ors re· ly\'he\slftJld in Its own Image. The cltyh as pendence to dependence on Portland. (,. slnnisr.s· s1osy. pon (htlp:f' """":islandins1ilu1e.orgf pdJfin made perrnane nl changes o n the island, landers campaign ed vigoro usly on both Are we overtaxed? Consider Ilic budget 1crislandreport2007.pd[) from the Island In· occasionally again.sr 1hc express wishes sides o f the q uestion, wiUt 1he c11y adding pr..sm1ed March 24 by 1he Island Indepen sli1ute shows Peaks Island with a higher me of the isfandcrs. Three years ago, Port· its weighl againsl independence as the dence Commiu ee (I IC). Their story is that dian income and a far higher ferry ridership land's Assistant Cit)' t.fanager came to referendum date approached. we can have the same o r beltcrservtees and than any other Maine island, With hundreds Peaks Island and poinledly 1h'rea1ened to On June 13, 2006, over 90 percenl of lowcrou.r raxes. Lct·s see if that is rmc. of daily commuters, our high fe rry rider· close lhe Peaks Island Elemen1ary School current Peal:s Island voters cas1 their bal· Ocforc we examine the derails, note that ship is no mo re anrib utablti to swnmer visi if the Palesky tax-cap referendum passed, lots on the question ofsecess ion-one of despil~ the budget being, in the 11c·s own tors than is that o r the majorily of th e other sound ing th e death knell of th e island's the largest turnouts in Maine clccroral words, "a work in progress,'" ir is already islands. We aJso have the )(Jwest p~r capita year.round community. Allhough that history- and 58 percent of them fa vored ntore than 30 J>erc.::ru higher than ii was las1 numbc-r of fis hing licenses amongst islands. threat has passed, o lhers are on t.he hori i1. The election v.ras run by thcdty a~ pan Ma)~, just prior to the June vo1c. This 1s not the profil e o f a small. remote, zon, as the Stale n ow seeks to consolidate of the primaries and was carefully moni· The IIC b udget makes no mention of the sclf-rclia.i11 communi1y. his 1he prot11e o f an schools and the cicy seeks ways to reduce tored by botl1 sidesol'thesecession qucs cost o f City-owned land, buildings and m;1- u rhan neighborhood-a neighborhood lhal its school b u dgel, beginning with d osing lion. Th e city council could have h eld a jor equipment. There is no discussion of works and shops beyond ils bou11da ries. We some o f its elementary schools. vole ,n Portland tlien but chose not to possible sewer extensions, 1wo o fwhirh arc may be small bu1 we are very well-served, Two years ago, 1he city redesigned i1s do so. perh;:ips b ecause arr-.a media polls in the planning s1age. No provision is made and glad ofit. property revalu ation p rocess to shift showed 87 percent or respondems fa. forcrea1ingand opcra1inga new library fhis So, if n ot remote. self-reliant and ove r much o r the lax burden from business voredleumg Peaks secede if it wants. ts i,ignificant because lhe Portland Ubral'y ta>ced, hO\-\' about negJcctcd? It is a simple es to homeowners. This has h ad an es After 1..he vote, the vocal minority deni Ch arter docs not allow b ranches ou1sidc the fact that there was no groundswell of dis pecialJy heavy impact on islanders. one grated the election on Peaks as "Hawed"' cit)' lirnHs. Tite IIC glibly suggests tliey will contcn1 ocro,·e the fa1c f1~ p rop,}rty revalua or the lowest-inco me population seg and castiga1ed the IIC ror making ·ra lsc have 1J1echarrcr changed or ere.ate a new Ii· tion leading to the current increase in prop ments in Portland, fo rcing many- in· promises." They complained lhat the IIC brary. cny taxes for ;1U of Ponland. Anyone who has cl ucting fa,nilics with chiJdren-10 se-11 promisl'd l!-i lanclt~rs 1ha1, 1r1hey \•0 1cd y~ The IIC budgr.t conrnins significant wish• lh•ed in othe r communilies wi.11 realize that !heir homes. Mnny Islanders who are de lhey would (I) continue Ille process by lltl tllinldng. For example, they assume lhat our rclarionship with Porlland is healthy. termined to stay have had to accept a re nego1iate fair tcrn:ts of scpa,a1ion and (2) Portland will ac.cept our middle and high \\'hen we agree with each o lher and wan l to duced standard ofliving. provide a binding ratification vote allow school siudcnts at 01e state-mandated rate be heard, we a.re The various tax-abatement, circuit ing islanders 10 make the final d ecision, which is approximalely $4,000 per student The story line also says that properly tax breaker and other remedial efforts are afler negotialiuns were concluded and less than Portland's cost. Since the IIC p ro es arc always going up. They are a,1d would simply i11sufficient to w1do tlie damage everyone knew the costs. In fact, the IIC poses ex-rending 1hc same bcncfn to stu .. continue 10 rise after secession. Costs or fuel the city has caused Lo the island. Further has now kept both promises. Allhoui;h dents going to non -religious private schools, and equipmenl are always going up. Boca.use more. ti1eci1y·s isla11d liaison and adviso Lhc city as so far refused 10 n egotiation 1>aying ou r full share wou.ld add $240,000 travel back and fo rth is so CfL'i)', ·we would al• ry council have failed to serve the public 1erms, the bill requires th em 10 do so o r more 10 the budget so have to compete with Portland levels o f interest and have instead crea1ed an oli havea,bitratorsdo il for them. and it pro Usi11g the IIC's own assuJ11ptions abou1 wages and benefits in attracting and hir garchy on Peaks Island that fails to meel vides fo r a final island vote. how assets sho,dd be divided , it Is quite IIJce ing c1ualified pe rsonnel. Specialty teachers, Ille basic 1enets of democracy and repre Using Ille fa cls and figures the ci1y and ly that our annual debt paymcn1 would ini needed less than fu ll 1ime, would hardly pre sentational government, leading to polit state provided, the IIC demonstrated that OalJy be about $7i0,000, over $500,000 roore fer us over Portland or otlier adjacent com ical lelhargy on the island. indepen dence will not h urt Portland or than 1heybudge1ed. munities where they could have full-time, Self-govern me n I is the most basic of Peaks. The IIC bas demonstrated that The !IC is also p roposing a reduction In well-paid jobs. So labor costs will foUow o r our consritutional r tghrs and is the base governance by remotcconrrol is no1 bet public safcry services. Their public safety exceed PonlandS. upon \vhlch all o ur other d emocratic ter, and that efCiciency Is better served budget provides fo r o nly five police offic,,rs Ar.. ~w .. ~ a co1nmulli{Y?Yes, we certainly are. rights arc founded. It is n oi... , clear that, by having local decisions made locally. and no ovcnimc pay. If fi ve officers were 10 Despite being pan o f ;1 big city, we have en· unless Peaks Islanders exercise this fun The IIC has contacted other communi provide our current coverage or two officers joyed a closeness and sense of place aod damental righ1, lheir unique, diverse and ties abou1 rcgionalizing on common is 24 /7 year round, they wouJd have to work belonging tha1 is a large pan o f the re,,son e ndangereci community will be changed sues. Inde pendence for Peaks Is consls over 67 hours pe r week, with no vacation, we live on Peaks. What aspect of secession forever by decisions imposed by o thers. ten1 with rcgionaliialion and will help ii no sick days. no holidays, ere. In response to wouJd improve ou r sense of communily Peak s Islanders have always b een ca succeed o n lhe Islands and retain lhese questions March 24, lhe IIC representatives maklng budgets 1oge t11er'1 pable of governing lhemsclves and have vibrant communi1ies that contribute to said they assumed that we could ge1 along Sec-ession looks like a remarkably bad deal. occasionally pushed for independence, Maine's linage as a haven forrugged indi wilh one officer in Ille daytime during tile AndsowcurgcdefeatofLO 1793. but they have been effectively blocked vidualists with strong social consciences. winter. Maintaining our current police cov• by the biggest cHyin Ma.ine with its insti· Peaks [slanders wanr neither to govern crage adds about s3r,o,ooo to the IIC's bud Joe Kane is n member ofSOiu tions Not Se• lulio naJ connections in the s1.a1.e legisla· Portland nor bill stipulalcs 1hat a tran sitional ream will be chosen o n Peaks lsla"d 10 explore all com p onents of our new 1own government A key Births Letters to the editor pan of Uiose lJ'ansitionaJ plans will be 10 d e velop sharing agrecme ncs with ot.hr.r towns. Island jeopardy curre ndy living on Peaks? Ou r lives a re cer· The liC looks forwanl 10 that new phase of The o nly tltiog tliat Peaks Islanders agree tainly severely impacred b}' IJ1c: obvious un becoming a lOwn. upon is tha1. the vital energy or our com wisdom of a push1osecede. -Mike Lange/lo, &lucation munily is slowly being drained along witJ1 TI1LS istniJ yscccssiou a1tem ptbymanjpu Com millee Oulir. lslantl Imlepentlence Com Its resources because of the secession de· la1ion, v,ithout representation. What arc 1.hc miuee, Peaks 1s/011d bare. Wr. are approach ing $70,000 in lobby secession..ists afraid ot? ing fees, 1he approximatc cost o f one Habilat We, Ii ke George llosol. did sign tlie o rigi Library is neutral uni\, o oc or our primary goals in 1he neigh nal secession pelition, as an ace of fairness in borhood plan. It h a..c; not 011lycons111ncd my b ri nging the subject up for discussion. This territory waking hours but also has c reated some un was how the secess ionist represen1ed o ur P<)aks Island Ubrary, whal a greal place! settlirlg dreams. signing 10 us. I[ you are Ihere ju. ba Four, to provide appropriate m usic. zone. There are some q uirks attached ·The Olde Oake n Bucket," ·011 the Trail to this regula lion. If a driver is at the i This island life j or 1he Lonesome Pine,'' 'Trn Jusl Kn ots whet~l and 1he engine is runr1 ing, he or About Harry." "Sawdust Melody," some s he must be in exilin g motlon before BY Gw ncn ROSOL Bay garage-is find ing rhc rar. There Woody Herman classics, and other fa. the officer lays pencil to paper. If a dog The second installment ofthe record arc as many memory-jogging systems vorites. There could be poems and a in a vehicle lhat is whoUy or partially in seltlng show o f island largesse to Port as t here are parkers. Recorders, d ia 2 t -gun salute from a b ranch or lhe rnil violation shO\\TS aggression, the Licket land was paid and celebrated on Peaks grams on refrigerators. Zen, med[ta itary. And , ofcourse, prizes for the mosl writer n1ay assess a threatening-and with the first week-long· Richcs to Rags tlon, notes on s ki n have all been tried, oulrageous tree puns. abeuing-dog•in•vehicle One. As for the Festival.· yet 1he march of the searchers goes on. ... segmented people part of all this, for And wha1 a I ime it was. Most house The closest aJl)'OllC has come Lo a re Partial Violalion Fi nes. The crack· example, one foot in the s treet, Uie oth holds, looking into bare cupboards, li able snlution ,vas, in one case, lU rn down on island scofnaws has gener· e r on the curb, we m ust wait until sum . joined in the rncrriment of a trul}' ho ing the problem over 10 the family dog. ated what arc called PVFs. The ticket mer when the embarking and d isem bo lifestyle. Some street names were This particular pet prodigy was first book carried by the local constabulary barking hordes take to the street. changed for U,c party. Pleasan t became taught to hark to five a nd then to des• shows cars and people in scgmcn led Peasan t. Upper A became Lower/\ and ignate lefl or righ1 by raising its paw. A pan s. :..,.. ___ :o: ___ Lov,rer A became Lowcr-Than-Lov,1er A. special treat is used fo r the sole p ur T he concept Is ''' You get tile iclca. Meals were simpler. pose or 1riggerin g t he location or the boLh s imple and in Hotncmadc piz~a wilh leftover llal car- two yelps, righ1 paw, meanl sec genious. If a car ex lov.1een candy topping. Rirch-bark tea. ond noor, right side, Repeating the pro tends beyond a ~eaksFest 2007 Birch-bark consomn1e. Acor ns and cess erases the previous conlman d. T he n0· parking sign, fallen apples were u,e stuff o f surpris own er recently said that the dog now say from bumper in gly tasty casseroles. Co1)ics of recipes demands an additional treat 10 provide to wi ndshield, the from thc"' f'crn l Cat Diel Plan" were scn1 the service. owner is finrd a aroun d. These usually required some .... third of the normal good- natured begging and borrowing, I just finished counting 1hc rings on whole car amoun1. Deer, sensing a lack o f protein in the is a venerable oak lhal lay in giant sawn The emirc n ne is land diel. swam orr for the d uration of coins o n the spot where it grew. llot1<-d assessed if a vehi the festivillcs. and dangerous, its li me was up. A fair cle extends half its ... ly accurate count showed it to be well k n g1 h or greater 11 is now okay to be poveny stricken. over 200 years old. That made it a mere into the forbidden Our 6th Annual PeakFest is coming The n1~w island chic is lhrih store s1u ff. acorn in about I land me downs are up. Rich or poor, il 1800. the fourth weekend in June! is impottan1 10 say something like ''Oh, Peaks Island was June 22, 23 & 24 this? I picked it up for practically noth· farmland, pasturc1.i:, ing at GoodwiU." Unprocessed (un and orchards and PeoksFest is o ce lebration of the community of Peoks washed} goods art' a l a premium. Just was sparsely pop: as worn, 1orn jeans once were high .. ulated. Fifty years Island -our people, her itage, e,wironment. neighborhoods, end merchandise. Grose; is in. Imports later, there were businesses. spirit, and loY<1ble ecce ntricities! fresh from Asian rice paddies and 1hc 45 buildings and, Happy s teppes of Mongolia arc ct,rtificd to 'by 1900, ten timrs Join us at a Peoksf est planning meeting, volunteer to help bear lhe fragrance of 1hc coun try ofo ri tha1. And our oak or eve n organize on eve nt. I t's a great way to meet your gin. There is demand for clothing worn slood ils ground island neighbor s. For more info, send us on e mail: and wa,ched. I pro• in civil uprisings and ar disco raves. I [email protected] saw a Luxcdo coal with what appeared pose a memorial Easter! lO be a bullet hole. \Vatch for this trend service. \Ve could as our summer folk d rift in. invite I he b rass ••• quartet of from Get involved! We need )'our help! ~fa inland parking is a prohl1•m. \•Vorse Hancock Lum- , s till, onCl' parkf'd- sa)', in the Casco ber, called lhe Tu- www . peaksfest. com Lionel Plante Associates Islanders Proudly Serving Islanders Since 1962 L.P.A., Inc. L.P.A. Fuels, Inc. Specializing in: Specializing in: * Island Deliveries Of Sand, Stone, Home Heating Fuels * Gravel Lumber & Building Supplies #2 Fuel, K-1 & Propane * * Excavation 24 Hour Burner Service * * Site Work F1nnace Installations * * Septic Systems Propane Appliances Sold & Serviced * * Dri ve\vays 1\1asrer Service Technicians: • Teny Mulkern * MARINE SERVICES • Coley Mulkern * Barge Transportation Licensed Joumeyma/1: • Guy Fradette * Marina Services, Slips, Licensed Delivery & Tank Setter Tech11icia11s: Moorings, Gas & Diesel • Teny Mulkern • Coley Mulkern • Guy Fradette We gladly accept Visa & Mastercard • Jay Soule • M Mulkern 98 Island Avenue Peaks Island Mai ne 04108 Phone: (207) 766-2508 Fax: (207) 766-2507 Email: Iplante@maine. rr. com PAGE6 ISLAND TIMES April2007 mas, invite the island children in to play mefmdminc. games and usher in the seasons by decomt· It's something you don't want to lose in.g their home. Thememoricswanl tostay Chebeague Chronicles And )'Ou will also see them on the road but sometimes they go. again and again as they attend church, se or lhe Red Cross. Barbara is a consummate niorluncheons, and plays, fairsandconcens I'll look in my heart The uncommon ladies of seamslre CHEBEAGUE, for the job. Town Meeting can d1cn citl1cr ac driver.asecretaryandaschool nurse. from1x1gel cept or reject these reco n-uncudations. Most of t11ese jobs will be done on a part Committee is m· With the major position or town ad.min· lime or contract basis. llle deadline for tervie\ving as many istracor, Damon hopes the Transition Com· thoseinteresced was March 10. And there are C.:'Uldidates as possi• mi nee can make a recommendation by the plet1tyofapplicanrs. Damon said 14 people ble before then, said end of April and enter into a memorandum applied for lown administrator, from as far Damon. of understanding \\1tl1 tl1at person before Ju• awa)' as Washington S1a1e, Minnesota and Subcommittees of ly I so the adrninistrawr can have s<>mc in· Maryland. Those candidates interviewed so far have Serving the islands of Casto Bay the Transition Com put into the interview process. been very enthusiastic about bemg admin Monday through Sa.turday mlnec arc helping There are at least 15 positions needed 10 be filled in 1he town municipal slde, iJlclud istra1or of what will be Maine's newest 1own. by appointment out with the screen· ing of applicants ing; town adminislrator/t.reasurer, town "I think they see It as an o pporrunityofa hfe 772-3385 and the Transition clerk, depmy town clmk. assessor. reserve !lme,• said Damon. "Most people who have www.portvet.net Commiuee will police officer, shcll0sh warden, harbormas written tous think thisissomedlingthatyou make n."tonuncnda tcr, animal control ofiicer and transforsta• dream about.· tions to t11c island's lion altendanl. ·mere is at least one applicant ror almost fi rst Town Meeting In the school department, there arc 14 all Lhe jobs and some pom have seven o r on those v,1ho the)' positions, including superimendeot. two eight applicants, according 10 Damon. The 1.sla.nd YetlR'inat')' hrvi colorful, wooden, 20-foot s hrimp boats, children can be seen walking the stree1s and see tJ1 em return randomly. with weU after sundown, We visited one fish the sound of put·pul motors barely au e rman's night spor where his rwo ear dible. Here and there. we could see the ly teenage daugh ters managed the op Cliff Is land News very fine while nets drying near the dirt eration. while their only slighUy older roads which laced the little town of Sao b rother manned the kitchen. Parhe.r was BY LEO CARTER few days hence. we reasoned lhat lhe ice Miguel. at sea for JO days on a larger ship, a nd Early l'ebruary on Cliff is usually an icy would not stop Oights further soutlt, and · On the weekend, we wandered the mother was at home. They seemed to time wllh sea smoke drirting by and the that driving could get us to the plane in counuysido where native cheeses. small handle the responsibility with ease. road frozen solid. time to get back on schedule. The airline wineries and lcatl>er goods combined Another dlfference between this small This year was no exception, bur it was made no efforts to see that we, and about with ocean beaches and fabulous liule village south of the equator and our lit stiU fun to put on the cross•country skis, 25 others, reached Miami in a reason eating places, where shrimp, oysters, oc'. lie northern island is the a\,a il ab ili ty of a nd s lide and glide to the post office. able lime. They were unable co hold the topus and a wonderfu l selection of fish a wonderful restaurant. l'eople entering T here is a cerrain pride a rnongst "real" connecting Oight in Raleigh/Du,ham for complemented the always-popular beef the place all knew each other, and we got Islanders about adapting to the winter I.he people headed to Miami. We need and pork. The roads outside our llllle to meet the doctor, the lawyer, the may island weather. There is also a desire to ed to find our own way. Fortunately. we town were very modern, aJthough the or and of course the owner a,td his wife. find a warm place with a liule bit more were able 10 join a family in their rented array of vehicles included many more Th e owner and chef, Scrafim, was in sunshine. van and to reach Miami in time. motorcycles and bicycles than we are troduced to us by our son as "th e great• By the middle of the month, th e From that point on we savored every used to seeing on mainland roads. There est chefin Brazil•, and the meal of salad, chance to visi1 our son in Ilrazil was 100 succcss(ul connection and s hrugged off were evens rew donkey carts. Occ.asion• fish, rice and potatoes only enhanced compelling co resist. Alice and I headed shorl delays. ln spite of 1he ice, we man ally, o n the road we encountered mom, his reputation, to lloston a day carlyhopingto avoid be aged to reach our son's home, which like dad and the kids o n one bicycle. \\11erc It is said that there is no place like ing caught by winier 1,,1eather before ny. our own sits on the edge of an Atlantic there's a will there's a way! A visit to the home, bu1 it is also true that every place Ing south. This did noc save us from the cove filled with small fishing boats. shipyard, where o ur son works, revealed has its unique gifts to offer. New places winter travel horrors which inevi1 ably We enjoyed comparing Sao Miguel, hundreds or bicycles a nd motorcyclf'..s, show us good ideas 10 improve our own. follow massive flight delays and cancel this coascal village in southern Bra and less tJ1an a dozen cars and trucks. \Ve see again that people are very much lations caused by icy conditions across zil. with our own Cliff Island. There are I( is tempting to compare places, but alike wherever we go. Being a "guest· is the country. similarities, lil:e the communal effort of a mainland fishing village in southern always a privilege rha1 we appreciate. \,Ve were given a choice or waiting i n hauling bo a,s. the obvious skd] in ma Brazil is quite dUforent from tH'I island Nevertheless, we are glad to be home Boston for an undefined period, or go neuvering boats, and che handling of fishing community in Maine. Cliff ls again, and plan to be enjoying spring on ing to North Carolina with no prospect nets and equ1pmen1 in a praceical and land is more isolated. and much quieter, Clifflsland. fo r an immcdjarc connection. Since d1is yet careful way. 1L seemed a pre\'iew of Sao Miguel has a large in0ux of weekend was somewhat more than half way to Mi· our Cliff summer to see the early depar visitors who love noise and stay o n the aml where \'J'e needed lO catch a plane a ture fro m the cove o f all bur a few of th e streets way after dark. Groups of young BOYS. from pn(le I and .socicry in g~ncral nccd to be more re Need home sponsive in recognizmg boys· needs and GET A JUNP START ON reaching out to tJiemsuccessfuJJy, financing? Pollack's book, whether one agrees with , bls work or not, has sparked lively discus SPRING CLEANING! sions among book group participants. With the weather improY1111 let me know wha1 Many book group participan1s have re marked that they recognized their own you need to do to air out that closed-up cttcase brothers in Pollack's examples. Others Ask Me! agreed, based on their experiences, that or fini.sh that llome many boys have unique ways of express lmrovement proJect ing a wide range o f emotions. Most group Stuart Dye members ab,o remarked on hmv much of llefore summer what Pollack recommends for boys would Morrgog~ Banku also be appropriate for girls. auests start arrivi111, So what does Pollack. rccommt::nd as ways to break through what he believes to be so $250 doruued •• ,he ciety's "Boy Code" of expectations so we P~Ju ldand Eodowm('nt Fund can support boys co develop into healthy for every island loan closed and happy individuals?Thc foUowing lline recommendations arc among many tha1 SECESSION, from ,x,ge I - After the hearing. chc State and Local Gov New island trails director drawn to Maine coast from boyhood ernment Comminee makes a recommen· dation whether the bill should be passed, or BYOAVI01'1,llR In Bosion, the islruids had been used and One area Welch would like to address is how M l'L\ is perceived by boa1ers. not passed. When Doug \\'elch was a boy, his family abused for over 400 years, used for dumps, The commillee has 13 members. T hree lravcl<'d from their home near Lake Erie to a wastewater treaunent plant and prisons, 'The Maine lslru,d Trail Association has o f those members are co-sponsors of 1hc rent a camp on Johns Ray, along the l)anrn.r before the harbor was cleaned up a,1d the is• gained a re1>utatio n as being largrly abou t kayakcrs," he said. "That really is not ""·here Peaks' =ession bill, according 10 chc Island iscoua River. lands could be appre Independence Committee: Rep. Phillip Cur ·11, ose early experiences reallyshaped me ciated again. The na· our true interests lie." lis (R-Madison), Rep. llenry Joy (11-Crysral) as a person and drew me back lO the coast,· tional park: area now "We are trying hard 10 read1 out 10 our members, and stakeholder groups, a nd rep an d Rep. Windol'A'eaver (R-York). said W<'lch. ·11 also intluenccd by in1cres1 in includes 34 islands in rescn1a11ves of other small boating commu· 'Ille co-chairs or the committee are Sen. conservation.'' Boston I larbor. F.lizabethScbncider (D-Penobscol) and Rep. Now, at -13, W.-1,ch has become executlve · in Maine, the is nities,''hesaid. He said the o rgan ization sh o,~d be "mak Christopher Barstow (D-Gorham). director of an organi,.ation, the Maine Island lands were never for· that we·re the IJ owever, Rep. Barstow has recusetl him Trail Association (M ITA), which maintalns got1en and have been ing sure tJ1inking aboul spc· self from any dcba1e or voting on L.D. I 79~. and protects a walerway trail along die en DougWelch used much more cillc n eeds of different boats with diffcrcn1 He said he's applied for a job with someone tire coast, and is hcadq~ancred in Po r1.Jand. though1 fully and prn drafts." That includes offering specific in· formation for other types o r small boats Oil who has an inccrest in 1he bill "I will nnt Welch began work on March 19, taking ductively. in mosl cases,'' \Vetch said. "Ccr· have anything to do with the adminL'itration O\'Cr for former E.xerulive Director Karen St· tainl)', Ih e rccre SOLOIEII, from /K1ge I HUMVEE thar escorted convoys of trucks Iraqi ln lerpretcrs Uving in Camp Uberty. family. It got back 10 insurgents •and a cou "They o pened up the door a,1d you could transporting supplies rrom the airport 10 ·1 finally got to interact a Jictle bi I more ple of times they drove by his home and shot look inside che hanger and sec hundreds of bases in and around Baghdad. with some of the Iraqi people," he said. up his house," Blanchard said, although no p('Oplc screaming and yelling," he said. "It As a gun•truck driver, they v..+e re always Blanchard was second·in·command on this one was injured. was pretty good." He was met, inside Lhe looking fo r Improvised Explosive Devic, detaU and had to process all rcques1s for in• · 11 drives U1em nuts tha t they can't tell ev hanger, hy his wife, Gianna, a nd his three es (IELJ). · we had a few missions where tcrprctcrs and also make sure that anyvisl· erybodywhal !hey are doing.· he said. ·TI,cy children, Mikella, Hayleigh and Victoria Ile we had some IEDs go o ff o n us."· he said. tors had lhe proper credentials. are very proud ofwhat they do." cause be didn't k.now when he wouJd le.ave Bui Blanchard said he saw fc,,,er roadside There were lOOwomen in this group. The Although Blanchard is a member of the Bangor, he a.nd his family had a quiec return bombs during the second half of his tour, af youngest was a n 18-y~.ar old woman a nd ti,e National Guard, he was on active duty while 10 Peaks Island. ter his leave in October. oldest was a man in his sixties. I le wan led to in Iraq, so he earned tl,rec-and-a-half weeks Now that he's home again , he said he en His job also c hanged in that Ame rican get a visa for his fa,nUyso he could come 10 of paid leave that he is taking now. iO>'S jusl walking or driving around the is· units were being moved from Bagh dad out America and teach soldiers Arabic here. In the meantime, he has to look for a new land. into the suburbs. So his unit was moving Recause insurgents target imerprctcrs job. He had been working for ru, Ohio-based "llie biggest thing I missed was seeing reg supplies to new bases in parlS of the region and tlieir families, all the Iraqis in the c'Om· market research compnny, but it went out or tdar people. being able 10 drive 10 the store that he had never seen before. plcx had nicknames. ·v.re never knew their business just before he left for Iraq. and wave 10 people on t11c road," Blanchard "The goal is eventually to have 1he Iraqi re;tl name-that way nob odyco,tld everlct ii Blanchard would like to become a recruit • said. Hjs job in Iraq meant he was driving at Army and pnlice cvcn1ually be able 10 pro slip. which could get back 10 in surgr.nls, who erfor !he National Guard. There are full-time night ·nm people we saw on the side of the vide 1heir own security." he said. "That's would put pressure on their fanulies. • recruiter posilions, bur u is a highly soughr road were not supposed 10 bt~ there," he said. what they want, a.nd 1ha1's what we want, To protect therr families. most imcrprct · after job. "I think I'd be able 10 bring some "It's kind of n ice to be able 10 I)<) able co drive bul ifs taken longer than anybody had an crs said they were going to "'Ork in tJw oil people in and explain lhe benefi ts," h esald. around andsay'lti' to ym,r neighbors." tici paced.· nelds in northern Iraq, instead of at Camp For now, Blanchard ls relaxing \\1th his f~m l)riving was an entirely different cxpcri. In December and January, lllanchard got Libercy. lllanchard said the ex-girlfriend of ily, eating a 101, and watching television. cnce for Blanchard in Iraq. That's because a change or pace from driving his guo-tlUCk one young man at the camp bragged abou1 his job wa~ to drive a Ml 151 up·armored when he was assigned 10 supervist? the .350 his interprecer job while he was visiting his Apri/2007 ISLAND TIMES PAGES Island Police Log Flu seas On By Cevia Rosol copyri9huoo7 March 1:91 1 hangup calls, no address list ed. Marc-h 3: A.~sist lire deparlmenl. Seashore 43. Europe.in capital rood calll' ISLAND TRANS PORTE R:, LLC M A R l'.',,11 TRA1':SPOR TATION O F F.QlJI PMr~T Al",;[> MAT(' RIAI DIVER M/V Rtliance, Tog Pion,.,, M/V Island Tran.. DOWN porter wilh ser\.ite to Gasco Uas, Penobsoot S.ly and the entire Maine 00&11, ow 3 units can UNDERWATER be posil ione-d Io h.1 ndle evtn I.he la.rge$t job. SERVICES' " HANDLING ALL YOUR UNDERWATER NEEDS ThroughOut Casco Bay Full service mooring sales and repairs, we stock. what you nee<1 to keep your boat safe. • BuildingSupplies • Asphahtconnete true-ks General commercial diving: inspections, installations and repairs. • Utilities/well drilling • Gra\.el, stone 399 Presumpscot Street Phone: 207-828-0444 Portland, ME 041 03 Fax: 207-828-1255 l ~•1ulCHtk.. ·(KMJ"Y+'7..l'l • l rO (2U~)2t-.t..l"..I" • l'i,r1Lrnd ,11111~,c ai,,t lln:111la1 C>"lJn~n. (107)Kls....l\°'. e-mail: [email protected] ,1na1I 11ra1,p11 mi.h,,a,I l"IU • "\\" 1,l,m1l1r,1n~p,•r1H(UIII • DISTINCTIVE HOMES FOR DISCERNING PEOPLE YOU CAN MAKE iland A DIFFERENCE . alty ff. l~wi lanct~ve SMl PEAKS ISLAND PORTL AND LONG ISLAND • • • 207.766.5966 207.775 .7253 207.232,0758 ISLANP :::::::,::.=:, .. *• LANO PIUS£RYE .,...... ,..IN* .... ., ·~.. noit ntclt ,.,,.<1 11>x"'' u, nus..., 11t 1.••. " ' •uu._ ,..,.. ~ ... _, ...... ___ __ ...... __ _. ~1~ r"".~ , W W W_ . · P O R T I S L A N D . C O M PAGE 10 ISLAND TIM ES April2007 hour. As progresses. The European Space Agency's morning. ii passed Venus Express continues 10 circle thls, lhe April 10: Last q uarter moon ls high in the ~ w it hin hottest planet, and send back photos or its south at da>1,n. lWO mil· cloudy cove r wit:h an albeido (reOectivity) April 14: A waning crescent moon brack· lion miles level that tops lhe charts. ets Mars low in the east at 5 a m. this morn· 10 of Jupiter, These two planets arc hard to miss, b ur ing. it clicked Saturn is a tougher get, 800 million mlles April 17: New moon today. It coincides l s o m e away and fading fast. Ifs still pooitioned well with perigee this monf.11, building mon• photos of for telescopic viewing.. though, and always srcr Udes the next few days, the highest and lhe Lillie worth 1.1,c effort. f ind Bctcgcuse, lhe red gi• lowest tides of the en Lire year. Highest rides Red Spot ant slar in Orion's uppt.~r lcfl shoulder, then wil1occur around midnigh1, so v.-e won't see and radi· brilliant Sirius, the Dog Star at his lower lcfl, them-,u~ess there's a storm surge added oed thcrn and rhcn Procyon, Ute brightest star 10 their to the 13.G-root wall orwa1er encering Cas· back 10 left they form the v.;nrer triangle and poin1 co Bay. Earll• us e;1s1 10 yellow Saturn. AprU 18:TheG:15 a.m. boat off Peaks th.is Every• Its nngs are tilted barely 15 degrees, so morning and the 7: 15 a.m. boat off Peaks to thl ng's good luck finding the C,assini Division, the morrow may be scraping bouom, as die tide relative, gap between lhe inner and outer rings. Ir plwnmets to 1.8 and 1.9 feet bdow normal. and t:his they v..-er~ two miles wide, lhe rings wonld Shorebirds wiU feast on sea life exposed 10 spo1 may be nu 1.hicker than lhesheet of paper in your daylight for th e first time. Tonight at dusk be small hand , so when U1cy're edge-on to the Eartli, the thinnest, widest crescent moon sits just CO m • tlieydlsappear, and all you can see of 1hem is aboved, ccity. pared to their shadow on Saturn's doud·tops. April 19: The p relliest conjunction of the Jupiter's Springtime cons iellations feature Leo the month occurs tonight just after sunset, as a 87,000 - Lion, whose haunches hold a host of gal waxing crescent moon hangs just ofTVcnus m i I e axies, as does Virgo the Virgin right behind in Lile west, with Earth's reOected Light illu ,- girth. but him. Though she·s lying low in the sky, you minating the dark i irnb or the moon. ifs 1he can llnd her by her bngh test star, Spica, a red Aprll 22' The Lyrid Meteors are back but l/lu.,,tration by Ja mie Ho9an size or gianl etghc times our Sun's diameter, which peak during daylight here in the norlheast. Eanh, and rotates so fast (cvcl)'fourdaysJ ifs ellipsoid. The \\'ee hours tomorrow morning wRI be little only when compared 10 the Grear Red Boot es the Herdsman is above Virgo and best, but even dicn you'll see just on e every Spot, which is three Earths \\1de. Ifs spin· also easy to find with Arcturus, a red gian1. rew minutes. Star Gazing ning counter-clockwise, making it a high leading your eye lo the bollo m of this kite April 24: The first quarter moon is high BY M IKURICIIAIU)S er·pressure anti-cyclone. Just below ii is a shaped cons1ella1ion. Arc1urus means "Oea, at sunset and is just about 10 C(Y,ler Satwo By federal liar, Eastern DaylJght Time smaller slorm, which may join 1l as others Driver,• and it is enormous-25 limes the di· when they seL Now·s the time to grab the came three weeks early lhis year, bringing have over the 70 years since Eartl~ings first ameter of our Sun-and relatively close at scope and trace the lerminaror line on the back au hour's darkness to our mornings. discovered it. 37 light yean;. Arcturus is the =ond bright moon where light meets dark and shadows Weekdays when the dock alarm goes off at Ac sunset Venus dominates the wesr· est s1ar in our sky, behind Sirius, and it has a creep inside the craters and alongside lunar 5 a.m .. I groan but then remember, "Jupiter ern sky and sh ines so brightly ii can cast a linlc blue companion star that's hard to see mounrnin ranges. With a wider-angle eye is up!" I stumbJe to our southern window shadow where other light is absent. ·n,c f BI because its mighty host star glares so briglu piece you can catch both 1hat and Saturn in and look up rhrough the branches for the s1ill gets calJs about this ·u ro," as it seems ly. Find the Big Dipper in tJ, e northeast, and a single field of,, ew. great white \,'Orld a half a bilUon miles from too bright to he a distant planet-well, not followtheaicmadehythe handle. It will lead April 30: The moon's at apogee again and ows. It's often hidden by Mainc·sspringtimc so distant: Venus is barely one astronom.i you first to Arclurus and 1,hen to Spica:. "Arc tides have laUen to less u,an 6 feet between clouds, but when il isn't, it's glorious. lhe cal unit (AlJJ away (an AlJ equals one t;arth toAICturus: tl1enspeed on to Spica.· high and low. Sunrise is now at 5:35 am. and brightest objcc1 in the pre-da"" sky (unless distance from lhc Sun, o r 93 llUUiOn rniles). April 2: The full "Pink Moon• is at apogee sunset is at 7:42 p.m .. so sunlight warms 1hc moon is up then}. and il's gelling closer by the day as it reaches tornorrow,so it's 1hesmalles1 you'll see a full Earth's nortl1ern half, and piantS and trees to NASA's NC\v Hori2.ons spacecrafl, on i 1s quad raturc next month. moon this year, and tides remain al rno SALAJ\IANDER, frvm {Xlge •t hour freezing. They usually arrive at the RICHARDS. from page 3 as the water level dropped the eggs were pools before the spring peepers. Wood They want only 10 govern themselves, to g radu ally left o ut of the water. 'lbose frogs often migra1c in masses, along with partner wlU1 Portland and other neighbor probably didn't survive, but th ere were salti manclcrs; 1hey~ loo, ovcrwinlcr in ing communities, to protect and preserve many more so I'm sure 1here's a health y burrows. their endangered community, and 10 di populcHion or salamanders in that area. Wood frogs make a sound described reel their own resources co the needs they After Ole eggs hatch and the juvcnUes as "wruck, wruck.. ; they sound more like know best, as other towns are doing now. grow out of their aqua tic stage, they move a duck than a frog. If you've heard what Peaks Islanders have I.lie talent and abU· to nearby upland h abitat. Yellow-spoiled you thought were ducks in the woods. ily to make a great town, 10 join the dozen (Ambystomtl macufawm) arc "mole sala you may have heard Wood frogs. Once other independent Maine Islands in their manders"-thcy burrow into the ground they've arrived at th e pool, they'll call successes, 10 fulfill th e legacy of Maine and to ovcrwinler. Spring migration, often nonsto1> fo r days. They're so noisy 1ha1 I New England by holding meaningful t<>wn called "Big Night", can only occur after A yellow-s poued s alamander, like the can't imagine we have them on Peaks, or meetings. and to exercise I.he purest fonn th e g roun d has th awed, when there has dozens you might see if you' re out on we'd all know about it! of democracy o n earth. It's worked well for been a satura ting rain, and when night the right night on Peaks Island. I'd love 10 hear from you if you observe cen1uries in Maine, especially on the is tcmpcrarurcs arc above 40 degrees. salamanders or wood frogs this )'ear. Nor lands, and most recently on Long and Che l still haveri't seen wood frogs on the is· 1>on d . Wood frogs are the first frog 10 ar• mally, we can expect the right conditions beague islands. Please, help give Peaks a land. I've heard th at egg cases were ob• rive at the pools; due ro special blood in late April. Give me a call at 296'1 - m ay, ch~tnce! served in the pool uphill frorn th e ice chemistry they can actualJy survive a 40· be we can catch a Big Night togelher! Michael Richard• I.< rite co-chair ofthe /s ltwd Independence Committee. COMMUNITY NOTES.from /"1ge I 2 coastal waters: nmrient poUullon. Excess [email protected], o r 10 S. Good single largest categol)' for botli submissions volunteers to analy-a: water salnples at 40 nutrients enter our coasral waters from fer· man ,3 llS1., Pl>.aks04108. and works chosen for 1he show continues to sites 3IOllltd the Bay. Al most sices, new vol· tllizers. srormwater runoff, car exhaust. be paiJuing-ranging from the figurative 10 untecrs will partner wic.h current volunteers smokestack cinissions, vessel discharges, Peaks Island artist in the abstract. to monitor the Bay at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on I 0 fauJry septic systc~.. and created w.ls1ewa- Portland Biennial Ueher will give a gaJJery talJc-frcc with selected Saturdays from AprU through Octo · 1er. Signs or nutrient pollution may include museumadmission-onJune2at I p.nt. ber. slime-coa1cd mudRats, more frequ ent ,md This April, die Portland Museum ofAr t will Ucber's delicate sculptures will also adorn New volunteers will learn EPA·appmvcd persistent red tide ourb reaks, and decreased honor61 artists whose woil YOGA ON PEAle Island Hall. "11ere l'U fi nd love. new sewing projects ror her island friends A month at the commons On a recent 1\1esday these same poets the Island Commons and finishing the ones theycan'L Tuesday is writing day, the day \\1tcn Sal· faced a new challenge. They received the BYO.J.COLBETII Jillie Hill is a dancer who once iried ballet ly Ballard gathers the ladles toget11cr around news that The Whalers want them to write Midway betwceo the east and west ends but v.-as strongly encouraged by her teacher die sitting room table and helps them se their own verses to the 1Une of -on Moon of Chebeague, lies the Island Commons, to pursue tap instead. And so she tapped her lect a theme from which they will grow their light Bay" which will be included in a future a handsome assisted livin g facility that is way to becoming a dance instruct()r. EUie is group poem. Last year, a cenain summer Whalcr'.s concert. The assignment mel with u nanimous approval. It is rumored t11a1 the home 10 seven rather extraordinary ladies. still very fit and conducts an exercise class al breeze helped sel the theme for lhe writing They arc nurses, arusts, a musician, a danc the Commons. o f"Chebeagoe !leach." ladies may also join in the singing of their er. a postmaster, a seamstress and all are Shirley Burgess was boro on Chebeague verses. mothers and grandmothers who have rir.!1 Island. And so ti1c island is the subject of Chebeague Beach Next on tl>e calendar, a Valentinc·s Day histories. much ofber artwork which includes paint• The beach on Chebeague is a special place tea when the Commons' poets read from Niolrg DIRECTORY SOUR(I YOUR CONT(NTM(NT FROM WITHIN