The Portland Daily Sun, Friday, December 17, 2010

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2010

VOL. 2 NO. 226

PORTLAND, ME

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City seeks say in sculpture’s relocation

BY MATT DODGE THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

Art critic and dealer Daniel Kany just couldn’t help himself when two clients from Florida inquired about the background of the jagged metal teeth emerging from the raised planter box in Boothby Square.

“I said a plane crashed there and as a monument to people killed in the crash, they left the wreckage.

These were sophisticated art collectors, and they believed it.”

“They said ‘that’s awful!’ and I said, ‘yeah, it is’.”

One critic’s dark humor aside, the “Tracing the Fore” sculpture sighted by the Floridians has been seen as a “wreck” by many Boothby Square business owners, leading the Public Art Committee to vote to relocate the piece to another location in the city.

On Wednesday, the PAC discussed options for the relocation of the controversial landscape sculpture and how such controversy might be avoided in future public arts projects.

Following a 7-3 decision in November to remove Shauna Gillies-Smith’s “Tracing the Fore” sculpture

from Portland’s Boothby Square and relocate it on city property, the Public Arts Committee is considering a number of options for the piece, which cost the city $135,000 in materials, labor and artist fees — $71,000 more than the project’s original estimate.

The sculpture — a series of thin metal rows sunk into an elevated granite planting box in the middle of Boothby Square — was designed to mimic the undulating waves of the Fore River as the grass grew alongside the sculpture. see SCULPTURE page 9

Turkish gallery brings antiquity to Port City Güven first in his family to become an American

BY DAVID CARKHUFF THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

A family business with roots in antiquity, Güven Gallery is approaching its first Christmas of bringing handmade Turkish history to the Port City.

The new business at 83 Market LEFT: Zafer Güven, owner of Güven Gallery of Anatolian Art at 83 Market St., displays a wine pitcher and chalice, several pieces in the Old Port business. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)

Street is owned by Zafer Güven, a fifth-generation artist whose family has crafted Turkish delights for 150 years. This is his 16th year in the business.

Everything is handmade, Güven said, and the technique has its roots in the Hittite civilization, which rivaled the Egyptians and Babylonians.

“This is one of the oldest cultures in Turkey, it started in 2000 BC,” Güven said. see TURKISH page 8 LEFT: Hittite period ceremic art is among the oldest on display at Güven Gallery of Anatolian Art. The gallery is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)

As recycling records fall, experts eye move to composting

BY DAVID CARKHUFF THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

Regional recycling has set records every month of the past year, a Portland-based waste manager reported Thursday, but officials are looking at the next frontier of recycling: organic salvage.

“It’s important to really take a look at what’s a big

item in the waste stream that’s there and present, and food waste is the next big one, food waste and organics,” said Kevin Roche, general manager at ecomaine.

Both ecomaine, the nonprofit waste management organization owned and operated by 21 municipalities, and a recently formed solid waste task force in

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Portland are talking about organic recycling and composting, he said.

“The one thing that could up the 33 percent rate” of recycling in Portland is composting, Roche noted.

It’s also key to the state meeting its recycling goal of 50 percent, he said.

Health care ruling debated See columns on pages 4-5

see RECYCLING page 6

Unstoppable?

See Patriots feature on page 16

Page 2 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

Braindamaged woman knows no fear NEW YORK (AP) — Meet SM, a 44-year-old woman who literally knows no fear.

She’s not afraid to handle snakes. She’s not afraid of the “The Blair Witch Project,” ‘’The Shining,” or “Arachnophobia.”

When she visited a haunted house, it was a monster who was afraid of her.

SM isn’t some coldblooded psychopath or a hero with a tight rein on her emotions. She’s an ordinary mother of three with a specific psychological impairment, the result of a very rare genetic disease that damaged a brain structure called the amygdala.

Her case shows that the amygdala plays a key role in making people feel afraid in threatening situations, researchers say. Her life history also shows that living without fear can be dangerous, they said.

A study of her fearlessness was published online Thursday in the journal Current Biology by University of Iowa researcher Justin Feinstein and colleagues.

As is typical, the paper identifies her only as “SM.” Feinstein declined to make SM available for an interview with The Associated Press, citing laboratory policy about confidentiality.

An expert unconnected with the study cautioned against drawing conclusions about the amygdala, noting that her own work with a similarly brain-damaged woman found no such impairment. But another expert said the new finding made sense.

SM has been studied for more than 20 years, and many papers have been published about her fearrelated abnormalities. She has trouble recognizing fear in facial expressions, for example.

In another experiment, published in 1995, she was blasted with a loud horn every time she saw a bluecolored square appear on a screen. Despite the repeated blasting horn, she never developed the fear an ordinary person would feel when seeing the blue square.

Other research shows SM scores normally on tests of intelligence, memory and language, and she experiences emotions other than fear.

She lives independently.

SM recalls being afraid as a child, like the time she was cornered by a snarling Doberman pinscher.

But maybe that was before her disease wiped out the amygdala in both the left and right sides of her brain, the researchers say.

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Military jury: Six months in prison, dismissal from Army for birther FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) — An Army doctor who disobeyed orders to deploy to Afghanistan because he questioned President Barack Obama’s eligibility to be commander in chief was sentenced by a jury Thursday to six months in a military prison and dismissal from the Army.

The military jury spent nearly five hours deliberating punishment for Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin on Thursday after three days of court martial proceedings at Fort Meade, outside Baltimore.

Lakin was convicted of disobeying orders — he had pleaded guilty to that count — and missing a flight that would have gotten him to his eventual deployment. An Army commander, Maj. Gen. Karl

Horst, still has to approve the sentence returned by the jury. Upon approval of the sentence, Lakin is granted an automatic appeal that would be considered by the Army Court of Criminal Appeals. He was to begin serving his sentence immediately.

In online videos posted on YouTube, Lakin aligned himself with the so-called “birther” movement that questions whether Obama is a natural-born citizen, as the Constitution requires for presidents, and said he was inviting his own court martial.

But Lakin said Wednesday that despite his questions about Obama’s eligibility for office, he was wrong not to follow Army orders. He acknowledged that the

Army was the wrong place to raise his concerns about Obama, asked to keep his job and said he was now willing to deploy.

“I don’t want it to end this way,” Lakin told the jury Wednesday under questioning from his lawyer.

“I want to continue to serve.”

Military prosecutors disagreed.

On Thursday morning, a military prosecutor asked the jury to sentence Lakin to at least two years in a military prison and to dismiss him from the service. It was a sentence he “invited and he earned,” military prosecutor Capt. Philip J. O’Beirne told the jury.

The prosecutor said Lakin had other options such as resigning or asking not to be deployed if he had issues with his orders.

Army Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin of Greeley, Colo., leaves a military court after being found guilty of missing a flight for deployment Wednesday at Fort Meade, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Oklahoma executes man using new drug combination MCALESTER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma officials executed a convicted murderer Thursday using a drug combination that includes a sedative commonly used to euthanize animals, after a nationwide shortage of a key ingredient forced the state to tinker with the usual formula.

John David Duty was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. The 58-year-old, who was sentenced to die for strangling his cellmate nearly a decade ago, is believed to be the first person in the United States whose execution included the use of pentobarbital.

Strapped to a gurney and wearing an eye patch over his right eye, the heavyset Duty apologized to his victim’s family.

“I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me, not for my sake, but for your own,” Duty said. “Thank you, Lord Jesus. I’m ready to go home.”

He also acknowledged three of his attorneys and his brother and sister-in-law, all of whom witnessed the execution from an adjacent room. “You’ve all been a blessing,” he told them.

The lethal drugs began to flow at 6:12 p.m., and Duty’s breathing became labored one minute later. At 6:15 p.m., he appeared to stop breathing and the color began to drain from his face.

“There didn’t appear to be any issues with the new drug,” Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said afterward.

Duty and two other death-row inmates had challenged the state’s decision to use pentobarbital, arguing it could be inhumane because a person could be paralyzed but still aware when a painful third drug is administered to stop

the heart. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling against the other two inmates. Duty did not take part in the appeal.

Several states have been scrambling since Hospira Inc. — the only U.S. manufacturer of the barbiturate normally used in executions — said new batches of sodium thiopental would not be available until at least January. On Thursday, the company said batches could be available “in the first quarter” of next year.

Executions have been delayed in California, Arkansas, Tennessee and Maryland as a result of protocol changes, including

the use of new drugs, said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. In Ohio and Washington, laws were passed to allow for the use of sodium thiopental alone, he said.

But Oklahoma’s law calls for the use of a fast-acting barbiturate to be administered first, which gave the state the flexibility to use pentobarbital, Massie said.

“I think Oklahoma is the only state where this issue has come to a head over a new drug,” Dieter said. “The other states that haven’t been able to do it, it’s because the state courts wanted more time to review the overall protocol changes.”

In this April 15, 2008, file photo, Terry Crenshaw, wardens assistant at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, walks past the gurney in the execution chamber at left, in McAlester, Okla. (AP Photo, File)

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010— Page 3

Kestrel brings composite turboprop to Maine

Gov-elect names finance, conservation directors AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine Gov.-elect Paul LePage announced Thursday he’s nominating a state government veteran and a former rival in the race for governor to head agencies that manage state finances and oversee Maine’s parks and public lands, and expressed confidence he’ll complete his Cabinet appointments by year’s end.

LePage, Maine’s first Republican governor since 1995, said Sawin Millett, who’s served in key administrative posts under three previous governors, is his nominee for commissioner of the Department of Administration and Financial Services, which manages the state budget, collects taxes, administers lottery and alcohol sales and oversees Maine’s civil service system.

William Beardsley, 68, a former Husson College president who was one of LePage’s GOP gubernatorial primary opponents, will head the Department of Conservation, which manages state parks and public lands, the forest service and geological survey. All 15 Cabinet appointees face committee review and Senate confirmation in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Millett, 73, a great-grandfather who has already served as finance commissioner and was appointed to the top Education Department post 36 years ago, is a state budget expert who sat on the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee and is currently the chief LePage transition budget adviser.

“He’s an institution in himself,” said LePage. “Without him, I don’t know where we’d be.”

Millett pledged to fashion a state budget for the two years starting in July that reflects LePage’s oftrepeated promises to force state government to operate within its means, pay down debts, find ways to economize and “not spend every nickel we can find.” He said the budget will do that “and do the best we can for the truly needy.”

LePage credited Beardsley for leading Husson College in Bangor over a two-decade span from a small college that was struggling to stay afloat “to a

Maine board votes to phase out BPA AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine environmental regulators have voted to phase out a chemical used to harden plastics in some food containers, baby bottles and cups.

The Board of Environmental Protection’s vote Thursday to phase out bisphenol-A, or BPA, must be authorized by the Legislature before it’s finalized.

The board designated BPA and nonylphenols, or NPs, as Maine’s first priority chemicals under the state’s 2008 Kid-Safe Products Law. Supporters of the board action say scientific studies show BPA is a dangerous hormonedisrupting chemical linked to cancer, learning disabilities and obesity.

Health advocates say Maine would become the ninth state to phase out BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups if the Legislature affirms the board’s action.

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BRUNSWICK (AP) — An aircraft maker that intends to build a plant on Brunswick Naval Air Station property has brought a composite airplane to Maine.

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority says a JP-10 carbon composite turboprop business aircraft landed Thursday on one of the twin 8,000-foot runways.

Kestrel Aircraft Co. plans to manufacture the JP-10 in Brunswick after the base closes, investing $100 million and employing as many as 300 people.

The Navy granted special permission for the Kestrel to land so the company can proceed with its development plans. The base doesn’t close until next year.

full-blown university.” LePage, a 1971 Husson graduate, praised Beardsley’s diverse background, saying “you can put him in any position and he’ll thrive.

“In fact, it was hard to keep him out of the governor’s position,” quipped LePage.

Before serving as Husson president from 1987 to 2009, Beardsley worked in banking, in economic development with Alaska state government, for utilities in Vermont and Maine, and held academic posts in Alaska and Vermont. He has a doctorate in geography and environmental studies from Johns Hopkins University, and his family has owned timber lots and operated sawmills in eastern Maine since shortly after the Civil War, his resume says.

While LePage’s appointees are almost assured of confirmation given the GOP majority, a Democratic leader voiced mixed sentiments about the latest two.

House Minority Leader Emily Cain of Orono said Millett’s “decades of experience in public finance and dedication to a fair policy process make him the best candidate for the job.” But Cain said Democrats will have a hard time supporting Beardsley because they differ with him on issues of energy development and easing state regulations.

In addition to the Cabinet posts, LePage announced other prominent administrative appointments, including Dan Billings as chief legal counsel, John Butera as senior policy adviser for economic development and Dan Demeritt as director of communications and legislative affairs.

Billings has served as counsel for the Maine Republican Party and LePage’s transition, Butera has headed the Central Maine Growth Council for nine years, and Demeritt is a former communications director for Maine House Republicans who is widely credited for boosting LePage’s campaign to victory in November.

LePage, who will be inaugurated Jan. 5, said he’s confident he can complete his Cabinet nominations by the end of the year. He’s already announced top public safety and security appointments.

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Page 4 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

––––––––––––– COLUMN –––––––––––––

So you thought health care was fixed …

So you thought health care was fixed. Well, maybe not “fixed,” but you assumed that the new law had put us on the path to solving one of America’s most pressing problems — spiraling health care costs amid surging numbers of uninsured citizens.

No, no, no, no.

The recent decision by Judge Henry E. Hudson, of a U.S. district court in Virginia, pumps new life into Republican efforts to kill health care reform by draining the program of a means to pay for it.

Hudson argued that forcing anyone to buy something — in ––––– this case, a private insurance Creators policy — is unconstitutional.

Syndicate (Two other district court judges rejected that interpretation.)

Why is the individual mandate essential? Current law requires hospital emergency rooms to treat all comers. Without the mandate, uninsured people could wait to buy coverage until they’re in the ambulance. In 2008, doctors and hospitals delivered $43 billion in “free” care. (Of course, it was not free. Taxpayers and anyone with private coverage picked up those bills.)

Froma Harrop

see HARROP page 5

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–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– COLUMN ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Larding the path to economic recovery When former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich proclaims a measure to be “good for the country,” that usually means it’s good for Gingrich. When President Obama tells the media that his $858 billion compromise tax package is the fruit of negotiations with GOP “hostage-takers,” you have to wonder if he even wants it to pass.

Obama finally figured out that Democrats have only hurt themselves in pushing for an extension of the Bush tax cuts — except for the top 2 percent of earners.

You don’t raise taxes on anyone during a shaky recovery.

Even so, I think Democrats like Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland are right to object to the measure’s $23 billion estate-tax “giveaway.”

I’d be happy to discuss philosophical questions on death taxes after the budget is balanced. For now, the country can’t afford it.

The Concord Coalition sees “no stimulative effect” in this tax break. Congress would do well to return the estate tax rate to 2009 levels — 45 percent for estates over $3.5 million — instead of 35 percent after $5 mil as per “the deal.”

The tab for extending unemployment insurance benefits for 13 months is $56 billion. In this deal, neither the left nor right

Debra Saunders ––––– Creators Syndicate pays for its peanuts.

Obama boasts that he won a one-year 2 percent Social Security payroll tax reduction in lieu of his lesser “Make Work Pay” 2009 tax credit.

Remember all those liberal complaints about how wrong it was for George W. Bush to cut taxes while America is at war — make that two wars?

Well, forget all that.

Obamaland clearly isn’t worried about further destabilizing Social Security.

Ahead of predictions, this year, Social Security began to pay out more — a projected $41 billion — than it takes in. This scheme only makes the situation worse.

Every politician’s favorite economist, Mark Zandi of Moody’s, called the payroll-tax holiday one of the compromise’s “big surprises.” The biggest surprise of all would be if Washington doesn’t make this temporary tax cut permanent. As Tax Foundation analyst Nick Kasprak observed, “It’s a lot easier to cut taxes than it is

to raise them.”

Then there are billions in corporate welfare, including tax breaks for NASCAR, rum-makers and film producers. Farm-belt senators wanted to extend a 45-centsper-gallon ethanol subsidy that goes to Big Oil. They got it.

Left Coast Democrats protested and demanded funds for “clean energy.” They got it, too.

With 81 senators voting for the package Wednesday, clearly the measure would have passed without the pork. But this Senate doesn’t know how to pass a bill without larding it with goodies for special interests.

Having trashed this bill, I nonetheless understand why Democrats and Republicans would vote for this poor excuse of a compromise. They are afraid not to.

Zandi predicts it will add 1 percentage point to the nation’s 2011 GDP and create jobs “ensuring that the still-fragile economic recovery evolves into a self-sustaining economic expansion.”

No one wants to damage the recovery. Then again, if America’s small businesses had known sooner that their taxes wouldn’t be going up in January, the recovery likely would be on surer footing already.

(E-mail Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@sfchronicle.com.)

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010— Page 5

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OPINION ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

An unhealthy mandate During her confirmation hearings last summer, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan was asked if the Constitution empowers the federal government to pass a law requiring Americans to eat fruits and vegetables.

What did she say in response? She said, “It sounds like a dumb law.” She said the commerce clause of the Constitution “has been interpreted broadly.”

She said the courts have a duty to ensure that “Congress doesn’t go further than the Constitution says it can go, doesn’t violate individual rights, and also doesn’t act outside its enumerated authorities.”

This is what she did not say: “No.” This week, however, a federal judge said it. The case wasn’t about fruits and vegetables; it was about the federal health insurance law passed this year.

But his conclusion was exactly the one Kagan evaded: There are some things the federal government may not make us do. It may not make us purchase medical insurance — as the new law does — and by implication, it may not make us eat broccoli.

When the individual mandate to buy coverage was challenged in court, the Obama administration argued, essentially, three things: 1) The Constitution gives the government the authority to regulate interstate commerce, 2) everything people do and don’t do affects interstate commerce, and therefore 3) the government may regulate everything and everyone.

This interpretation of the Constitution is at odds with the view of James Madison, who said the powers of the federal government are “few and defined.”

But even by the elastic standards that apply today, the administration’s view is a reach.

As Georgetown University law professor Randy Barnett said last month at the national convention of the conservative Federalist Society, the individual mandate “is an unprecedented act of federal power over individual freedom.

And by ‘unprecedented,’ I mean simply: It’s never been done before.”

In the past, Washington has been permitted to regulate commerce that

President Barack Obama makes a statement to reporters in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, across from the White House in Washington, Wednesday.

The centerpiece of Obama’s administration, the health care reform law, was dealt a blow this week by a federal judge.

In his decision, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled that the individual mandate requiring every American to purchase health insurance, considered the cornerstone of the new law, is unconstitutional. (AP Photo)

Steve Chapman ––––– Creators Syndicate crosses state lines. It’s been permitted to forbid a man to take a young woman from one state to another for the purpose of sexual intercourse. It’s been permitted to bar a farmer from growing more wheat than the federal government allowed, even if he wasn’t going to sell it.

But, noted U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, “Neither the Supreme Court nor any federal circuit court of appeals has extended Commerce Clause power to compel an individual to involuntarily enter the stream of commerce by purchasing a commodity in the private market.”

The courts have approved extensive, incessant, burdensome regulation of economic activity. But inactivity? That’s a different story.

If you don’t want to pay the minimum wage, you can refuse to start a business.

If you don’t want to buy car insurance, you can take the bus. But if you don’t want to buy health insurance, your only options are to leave the country or depart this vale of tears.

The question in this case is not just whether this part of the health care reform will stand. It’s whether there are any limits on the powers of the federal government in matters economic.

If it can force people to buy insurance, it can presumably force them to buy cars (to help General Motors) or homes (to alleviate the housing bust) or fruits and vegetables (to improve health and reduce medical outlays) or pet rocks (just because).

The mandate had a simple purpose.

Under the new law, insurance companies were required to take all comers, without denying coverage or charging high rates for pre-existing conditions.

Those rules, however, would encourage customers to avoid buying policies until they were sick. So Congress and

the president agreed to make everyone get insurance.

This makes some sense, and if the mandate were eliminated, the whole scheme would be in jeopardy. Still, there are other ways to address the problem.

One is to grant more generous subsidies to consumers to induce participation. Another is to pay insurance companies to compensate them for their new and unprofitable policyholders.

Princeton sociologist Paul Starr has proposed that anyone who declines to get coverage be barred for five years from guaranteed access. That would be a strong incentive for even young, healthy

people to opt in right away, rather than risk a financially catastrophic illness.

A government with unlimited power, of course, would not have to trouble itself with accommodating citizens who prefer to make their own choices. But that is not the kind of government we have. Not yet, anyway.

(Steve Chapman blogs daily at newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/steve_chapman. To find out more about Chapman, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.)

Mandate to buy health insurance can control costs HARROP from page 4

Years ago, Massachusetts forbade insurers to discriminate against sick people, but it didn’t also insist that everyone obtain coverage. What happened? Premiums jumped. Since it added the mandate in 2006, premiums have fallen 40 percent.

If the mandate goes, so go the parts of the law that stop insurers from rejecting those with preexisting conditions or canceling policies once the policyholder becomes seriously ill. In an efficient insurance pool, as we’ve seen in Massachusetts, healthy people must subsidize the sick.

This concept is not foreign to Republicans and has been part of their own past health care proposals. But the new law’s inclusion of an individual mandate has suddenly become a big, big problem for them.

Actually, Republicans do not object to expanding government health care as much as they mind paying for it.

They did not set aside a single penny for their 2003 Medicare drug benefit, tacking it all onto the national debt. (A giveaway to insurers and drug companies, the Medicare drug benefit is costing about the same as the Democrats’ reform of the entire system.) Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker called it “the most fiscally irresponsible piece of legislation since the 1960s.”

And let’s drop the fairy tale that the Grand Old Party’s deficit cowboys have been replaced by fiscally conservative new blood. In their book, “Young Guns — a New Generation of Conservative Leaders,” Reps. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Eric Cantor of Virginia and Kevin McCarthy of California talk piously of fellow Republicans having “lost their way” and pretend they are different.

But when it came time in 2003 to vote on the “most fiscally irresponsible piece of legislation,” what did the “young guns” actually do? They voted for it. Ryan said “yea.” Cantor said “yea.” (McCarthy was not yet elected to Congress.)

This latest legal attack on the health care law

doesn’t make much sense. The federal government argues that the mandate to buy coverage is indeed constitutional because the fine for not having it would be levied as an income tax.

Meanwhile, it’s hard not to laugh at the cries over the “injustice” of forcing people to buy coverage.

Working Americans are already forced to buy health coverage — but for others. They can’t choose not to pay the Medicare payroll tax. They can’t even make a deal with the government, promising, “I will forgo all future Medicare benefits if I can be freed from the Medicare payroll tax.”

If the new health care reforms die, America will find no relief from the economic deadweight of spending twice per capita on health care as other rich countries. It would mean another push down the slope of national decline.

(To find out more about Froma Harrop, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.)

Page 6 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

ROSEMARY’S GIFT & YARN SHOP

An example of organic composting, Greg Williams (left) and Brett Richardson tend to a garden plot at the Payson Park Community Garden.

The plot is maintained by Williams and his wife, Anna Bourakovsky. Williams and Richardson encourage recycling through Organic Alchemy Composting. “Our mission is to transform food scraps to high quality compost and enrich Maine’s soils, while helping clients to ‘green’ their public image and improve their bottom line,” the group reports on their Facebook page. “Food waste composting is the next big recycling frontier,” according to the page. (DAVID CARKHUFF FILE PHOTO)

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“The next large segment of recyclables is organics, food scraps, yard waste,” Roche said.

“We’ve been looking at it,” Roche added, noting that ecomaine brought a speaker from Nova Scotia a couple of years ago who spoke about organics recycling. But the nuts and bolts of municipal composting would require study and investment.

“Those facilities and those programs have to be studied, and you’d have to make a sizable investment to get that here,” Roche said.

While ecomaine and the solid waste task force look at composting, they also will try to maximize the solid waste recycling that’s now on the rise, he said.

Recycling at ecomaine’s plant at 64 Blueberry Road in Portland has averaged 5,404,660 pounds per month, from December 2009 through November 2010, a new month-by-month record, ecomaine reported, and the organization expects that average to continue increasing well into 2011.

“In this economy, we’re seeing downturns in trash volume, which is normal. ... Yet in this environment we’re seeing recycling numbers increasing, which is incredible because the normal trend would be for it to be going down,” Roche said.

“We’re impressed by the records being broken over and over again; it’s partly because of better recycling habits but also because of more communities coming online,” he said.

Also, ecomaine uses an automated sorting system called “single-sort” recycling, which eliminates the need for residents to sort their own recyclables.

With “single-sort,” consumers do not separate recyclables by type

Holidays bring recycling surge With the holidays upon us, it’s go time for recyclers in Maine. Last January, regional waste manager ecomaine ticked off some records for intake at its Portland-based plant: • Most tons received in one day: 205 on Jan. 4, 2010.

• Most tons received in one month: 3,199 in December 2009.

• Most bales of newspaper created in one day: 85 on Dec. 24, 2009.

• Highest monthly recycling percentage from owner-communities’ combined waste stream: 31 percent for December 2009.

This holiday season, expect a similar surge, said Kevin Roche, general manager at ecomaine.

“We haven’t even hit the holidays yet and we’re already seeing big tonnage. What we notice around this time of year is people are getting prepared for the holidays, they start buying, over Thanksgiving there’s all that food product,” he said.

“It does have a little bit of a seasonal run to it,” he said.

By the middle of January, the surge usually drops off, Roche noted.

— David Carkhuff

of material, but instead, throw all recyclables into just one bin for local collection.

“Single sort is definitely an attraction because communities like it,” Roche said. “Usually you’ll see recycling rates increase because it’s easier for residents to participate.”

Roche noted that Scarborough didn’t offer curbside recycling until single-sort recycling was available.

Still, Portland’s recently established solid waste task force is mulling how to up the rate of recycling from its current level of 33 percent.

“We’re discussing what’s an appropriate goal,” said Troy Moon, environmental programs and open space manager in charge of solid waste and parks management in Portland.

The public can look for a report toward the end of January or in early February from the task force, he said.

Also, the task force wants city government in Portland to continue walking the walk on recycling.

“We’re looking at our internal

recycling policies for the city,” Moon said.

On Wednesday, for example, facilities personnel at Merrill Auditorium and the Portland Expo gave an update on some of their efforts, such as recycling cardboard and collecting bottles and cans from vendors.

Regionally, Moon credited ecomaine for easing access to its recycling facilities.

“At ecomaine, they’ve been doing great outreach to other communities besides Portland,” he said.

Roche said ecomaine may have reached a crossroads where the automation of conventional recycling can be refined but the next leap will be in full-scale composting with food and other organic waste.

“I believe we’re at that juncture with composting. It’s a little more challenging because you have the degradation of the materials to deal with, you have odors to deal with, it’s a more complex program. But again it’s coming.

It’s another segment of the waste stream that eventually will be recycled,” he said.

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010— Page 7

Gustav Coletti, 75, speaks to the media near his home in Oak Beach, Thursday on New York’s Long Island.

Coletti has told police of his encounter with Shannon Gilbert, who has been missing since May as authorities continue scouring a 10-mile stretch of beach access road where four bodies were discovered this week.

(AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)

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Police: N.J. prostitute not among four bodies found on N.Y. beach

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SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — A missing New Jersey prostitute was not among the four women whose bodies were found over the past week on a deserted beach highway in New York, detectives said Thursday.

Investigators believe a serial killer could be responsible for the deaths. None of the remains, however, are that of Shannon Gilbert, who was reported missing in May, Suffolk County Police said in a statement.

Police on Long Island discovered the first of the four bodies on Saturday while investigating Gilbert’s disappearance. The other three were found within a quarter mile of each other on Monday.

Suspicions that the 24-yearold might be among the victims were sparked by revelations that Gilbert was last seen in a private community about three miles from where the bodies were found.

A man believed to be among the last people to see Gilbert voluntarily surrendered his SUV to detectives as part of their investigation. Police never identified the man, nor anyone else, as a suspect in either Gilbert’s disappearance or the four deaths.

The man, Joseph Brewer, owns a house in Oak Beach, near where the bodies were found. He said Thursday that officers had asked him not to comment on whether his SUV had been returned.

“They have been very generous.

And I have been cooperative, too,” he said, adding that he’d been drawn into the whole affair by “rumor.”

“There’s four families missing

their four young girls; those are the true victims. I feel sorry for them,” he said, adding that he was praying for them and the family of Shannon Gilbert.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer has said it could be days or weeks before the bodies are identified. The New York City medical examiner’s office is assisting with identification.

He sought to calm community fears at a briefing Thursday.

“I don’t want anybody to think we have a Jack the Ripper running around Suffolk County with blood dripping from a knife,” Dormer said. “I would say to people, go about your business.”

Detectives believe the four women were killed elsewhere and then taken to the site, a narrow strip of land that divides the Great South Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. A parkway runs through the middle, connecting Jones Beach State Park with several state- and town-run beaches to its east.

Authorities have obtained a DNA sample from the mother of a missing Maine woman last seen working as an escort on Long Island. Megan Waterman, who advertised her escort services on the online classifieds site Craigslist, was last seen in June at a Hauppauge, N.Y., hotel. The hotel is about 15 miles from where the bodies were found this week.

Also Thursday, officers and 10 state police dogs expanded their search of more than 10 miles of Ocean Parkway, where the bodies were found.

“We want to make sure that we

didn’t miss anything,” Dormer said.

Meanwhile, Gilbert’s disappearance after a bizarre early morning encounter in Oak Beach remains a mystery.

Brewer told Newsday earlier this week that Gilbert had spent an hour at his home in the early morning hours of May 1. A neighbor said the woman appeared at his door at around 4:45 a.m., apparently after having left Brewer’s home.

“I heard screaming at my front door,” said Gustav Coletti. “She was saying, ‘I need help, I need help, they’re after me,’” Coletti told The Associated Press. He told the woman he was calling the police, but she immediately turned around and fled, he said.

A few moments later, a man in an SUV drove past the house and told Coletti he was looking for the woman. Coletti said the driver told him they had been at a party and the woman had become upset.

A Jersey City, N.J., Police Department missing persons flier noted Gilbert is bipolar and is known to use cocaine and marijuana, as well as prescription drugs. She has a small scar under her right eye, tattoo of cherries on her right wrist and a scorpion on her back. Police have spelled her first name as both Shannon and Shannan.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio told The Associated Press Thursday that Gilbert had been arrested in Hoboken, N.J., in 2009 on a charge of promoting prostitution, a case that is still pending.

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Page 8 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

Fifth-generation artist runs gallery TURKISH from page one

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The art in Güven Gallery bears the detailed images of flowers, such as roses, tulips and carnations.

“We try to catch the unique shapes and designs,” he said.

A “tree of life” adorns a tile dating in its design from the Ottoman Empire. Older are the plates patterned after works of the Hittite period.

Güven is from Cappodocia, located in the eastern Anatolian and central part of Turkey.

He’s the first of his family to immigrate to America, he said.

The story Güven of his arrival stems from a meeting with his wife when she was vacationing in Turkey.

“I moved here last March about a year ago because I married a woman from Brunswick,” he explained.

Today, they live in Brunswick, where Güven maintains a studio, although many of the pieces in his gallery, he says, were brought over from Turkey.

Güven said several relatives, including his father, an uncle and a cousin, continue to craft Anatolian art in Turkey.

Relishing the idea of introducing his culture to Portlanders, Güven said he is excited about his first Christmas in the United States.

His name, like much of his art, carries hidden meanings. “Zafer” means “victory,” and “Güven” means “safe,” he said.

TOP: Plates bear intricate patterns at Güven Gallery of Anatolian Art at 83 Market St. ABOVE: A Turkish tile features an ancient “tree of life” design. According to scholars, tile decoration became one of the basic elements of architecture and rose to the status of art in the Seljuk and Ottoman periods in Anatolia. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTOS)

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THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010— Page 9

Grass never grew in a way that met artwork’s original design “Tracing the Fore,” a landscape sculpture

by Shauna GilliesSmith, was voted by the Public Art Committee for removal from its current location in Boothby Square after a slew of complaints from neighboring business owners. On Wednesday, the PAC discussed possible sites for relocation of the piece, and talked about drawing up a new contract with Gillies-Smith that would give the city increased control over where and how the work is shown.

(MATT DODGE PHOTO)

SCULPTURE from page one

But the grass never grew in a way that met the original design, leaving the PAC and Boothby Square business owners frustrated.

“I feel like we bought a bill of goods without receiving the right product,” said Jack Soley, PAC chair.

Options now include storing the sculpture until a suitable city-owned site is found or deaccessioning the piece to be sold to an individual or organization.

“I just think it’s a great piece for someone like [insurance company] UNUM to have,” said the PAC’s Alice Spencer.

Soley noted that deaccessioning the piece would require the PAC to hold a public forum. A private collector with a sculpture garden in Portland has expressed interest in acquiring the Gillies-Smith piece.

Soley estimates the cost of removing the piece to be between $8,000 and $12,000, including re-sodding of the planter box.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the PAC discussed involving corporate council to draw up a new contract with the artists regarding relocation of the piece. “I recommend we ask for more rights and more power in where the piece is installed later and oversight and a timetable for when the piece would be reinstalled,” said Soley.

“This is something that has been quite common with public art — the client asking for more power and control over public art works. A lot of municipalities now are asking for more control in the process so if things aren’t going right

they can pull the plug, find another artist or relocate without consent,” said Soley.

“Especially with Gillies-Smith, who we haven’t had the best relationship with, this will put us in the driver’s seat of how the piece would be reinstalled later,” he said.

Under the current contract between the city and Gillies-Smith, the artists retain editorial control over where the piece can be reinstalled, and what form it will take.

The city council will allow the PAC all the time it needs to determine the fate of the much maligned landscape sculpture, but Soley hopes the PAC will arrive at a decision by the spring.

“They won’t touch it. This will give us the time to decide ultimately if this is something we want to do. We should be responsible and do it by the spring,” he said, noting “the timetable is exclusively ours.”

For Soley, the controversy was a learning experience. “There’s a few things we’ve learned, certainly that the working relationship with the artist is paramount.”

Kany said that the public outcry resulting in the decision to remove the sculpture is not a referendum on public art, simply an artist not being able to execute her vision.

“People have the right to be frustrated.

It was just oversold and turned out to be a weak piece of art,” Kany said.

“I think that times and tastes do change and people should always be looking to examine what we’ve done well and what we’ve done wrong and how we want to update the public art in Portland,” said Kany.

Support your H.O.M.E. Team!

Ever wonder when somebody is going to do something about the clearly troubled or horribly intoxicated people who sometimes make our streets difficult? Well, if you know about the “HOME teams,” you know somebody already is. And with great success.

It’s a simple idea: Trained teams who know what social services are available literally walk the beat, engaging merchants and street people and defusing problems. For shop keepers, it means a way to deal with a problem short of calling the cops – and it means a better, faster, cheaper access to help for those who needs it.

The HOME – or Homeless Outreach and Mobile Emergency – teams, are putting up impressive numbers (as reported in The Daily Sun): In the HOME team area – mostly downtown and in the Bayside neighborhood – the Portland Police Department reports a 23 percent drop in calls involving people who are intoxicated; • Police report a 55 percent drop, in that same area, in what are called “layouts,” meaning people too drunk to stand; • About 3,000 contacts with homeless or other street people, with 68 percent of those contacts involving people who were thought to be intoxicated.

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DAILY CROSSWORD TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

by Lynn Johnston

by Paul Gilligan

By Holiday Mathis a giver, and you will be happiest in the act of giving. It will only take one small act to make someone else happy. And when you see their smile, it brightens your day, as well.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21).

Somehow it’s easier to be happy about a gift if you feel that you are the only one in the world who has it. This is something to be mindful of as you shop for your loved ones today.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you’re judging someone else, it means there is a part of you that wants to have or be the very thing that you’re judging.

You’ll move past this by going for what you want instead of criticizing those who have it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).

Great news: Any problem that was created by you can be solved by you. And if you didn’t create the problem, you might still be able to solve it after you recognize and change your participation in it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You can benefit from getting lost, especially if it’s in a small enough place that you can easily find your way out. A library, bookstore, gym or workshop will provide the perfect opportunity for getting lost within reason.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 17). You rise to your own high standards this year, so don’t forget to reward yourself. You’ll be the darling of your work environment in January. March brings a conquest that you’ll be talking about for years to come. May brings romance and tenderness. July is your chance to show the world what you can do.

Aquarius and Libra people adore you.

Your lucky numbers are: 4, 15, 39, 22 and 14.

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ARIES (March 21-April 19). What if you demanded absolutely nothing of yourself for a whole day? This isn’t the day for it because you already have so much on your plate, but you can plan a do-nothing day next week.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Maybe it’s not the deadline that’s driving you, or the audience or your boss. When you take away the pressure to perform, what you’ll have instead is the sheer will to do so.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). How many leads can you generate? How many sales come from those leads?

These kinds of number games will excite you. And you have a unique approach to the games, too. You’ll play the odds and change.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). A friend becomes the target of your thoughts. It has been a long while since you connected with this person, and it will bring you good fortune to do so now.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When you think too deeply about it, ordinary discourse becomes layered with intrigue and complication. You’ll be more productive if you stay sensible and tend to only the most pressing issue of the moment.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You rarely nap during the day, but you might make an exception. After a 20-minute catnap, you’ll emerge more creative, stronger and more tolerant of those around you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll see the opportunity that others don’t.

Because of this, you’ll stand alone.

It will feel odd at first, but make no mistake: The advantage is all yours. If you’re the only one going for the position, you’re bound to win.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re

by Aaron Johnson

HOROSCOPE

by Chad Carpenter

Solution and tips at www.sudoku.com

TUNDRA WT Duck

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 thru 9.

by Mark Tatulli

Page 10 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

ACROSS 1 Get-up-and-go 4 Small fragment 9 __ milk; nonfat beverage 13 Way out 15 Team director 16 Take apart 17 Diminish 18 “__ Pokey”; children’s dance song 19 Malicious look 20 Cruel 22 Heroic action 23 Church service 24 Debtor’s note 26 Self-centeredness 29 Judas __; traitorous apostle 34 Furious 35 Move about furtively 36 Mongrel 37 Show courage 38 Piece of plywood on an interior wall

39 Have a meal 40 Actress Arden 41 Gave a good-bye gesture 42 Tango or twist 43 Savior 45 Signs someone else’s name 46 Insurance co. employee 47 Banana casing 48 Havana’s land 51 Residences for envoys 56 Raw metals 57 Cut of beef 58 New Jersey basketball team 60 Meanie 61 Select few 62 Merriment 63 Transmit 64 Discourage 65 Hot tub

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

DOWN Church bench

32 33

1

9 10 11 12 14 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Test Evergreen tree Religious split Loses heat Gather leaves Highest cards Thorough medical exam S, in the lab Leg joint Notion Comedian Sahl Wood-eating insect In __; as a precaution Shade tree Large sea duck Serious Rowed __ city; central section of town Kernel Cake decorator’s goo 1/16 of a pound Elm and palm

35 Rescue 38 Catered to the every whim of 39 Sweetheart 41 Very small 42 Bucks’ mates 44 Wiped away 45 Become more irritated; rankle 47 Craft class

48 49 50 52 53 54 55 59

stickum Pigeon sounds Egg on Swiss capital Burrowing animal Fishing lure Snakelike fishes Ladder rung Caribbean __

Yesterday’s Answer

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010— Page 11

––––––– ALMANAC ––––––– Today is Friday, Dec. 17, the 351st day of 2010. There are 14 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio, conducted the first successful manned powered-airplane flights, near Kitty Hawk, N.C., using their experimental craft, the Wright Flyer.

On this date: In 1777, France recognized American independence.

In 1925, Col. William “Billy” Mitchell was convicted at his court-martial in Washington, D.C. of insubordination for accusing senior military officials of incompetence and criminal negligence.

In 1939, the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee was scuttled by its crew, ending the World War II Battle of the River Plate off Uruguay.

In 1957, the United States successfully test-fired the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.

In 1960, a London-bound Convair Samaritan operated by the U.S. Air Force crashed shortly after takeoff from Munich, West Germany, killing all 20 occupants of the plane, including 13 University of Maryland students, and 32 people on the ground.

In 1969, an estimated 50 million TV viewers watched singer Tiny Tim marry his fiancee, Miss Vicky, on NBC’s “Tonight Show.”

In 1975, Lynette Fromme was sentenced in Sacramento, Calif. to life in prison for her attempt on the life of President Gerald R. Ford. (She was paroled in Aug. 2009.)

In 1979, in a case that aggravated racial tensions, Arthur McDuffie, a black insurance executive, was fatally injured after leading police on a chase with his motorcycle in Miami.

In 1980, the Peter Shaffer play “Amadeus” opened on Broadway, starring Tim Curry as Mozart and Ian McKellen as Antonio Salieri.

One year ago: World leaders starting flooding into Copenhagen, where a U.N. conference on global warming was already under way.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Armin MuellerStahl is 80. Actor George Lindsey is 75.

Singer-actor Tommy Steele is 74. Rock singer-musician Art Neville is 73. Actor Bernard Hill is 66. Actor Ernie Hudson is 65.

Comedian-actor Eugene Levy is 64. Actress Marilyn Hassett is 63. Actor Wes Studi is 63.

Pop musician Jim Bonfanti is 62. Actor Joel Brooks is 61. Rock singer Paul Rodgers is 61. Actor Bill Pullman is 57. Actor Barry Livingston is 57. Country singer Sharon White is 57. Producer-director-writer Peter Farrelly is 54. Rock musician Mike Mills is 52. Country singer Tracy Byrd is 44. Country musician Duane Propes is 44. Actor Sean Patrick Thomas is 40. Actress Sarah Paulson is 36.

Actress Marissa Ribisi is 36. Actor Giovanni Ribisi is 36. Actress Jennifer Carpenter is 31. Actress Shannon Woodward is 26.

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ESPN NBA Basketball: Heat at Knicks

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Anderson Cooper 360 (N) Å

40

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Movie: “All I Want for Christmas” (2007) Å

56

SYFY WWE Friday Night SmackDown! (N) Å

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57

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58

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BY WAYNE ROBERT WILLIAMS

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51 Old Testament book 53 Cash hit, “A Boy Named __” 54 Ballyhoo 57 Tear open 60 Pygmalion’s statue 63 Pension $$ 64 Make a pay-perview purchase?

66 Encircle with a belt 67 Lounge lizard’s look 68 Ninny 69 Regarding 70 Long periods 71 Dutch genre painter

1 2 3 4 5

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56 Like Cheerios 57 Latvia’s capital 58 “The Sea, the Sea” novelist Murdoch 59 Cookie choice 61 Young boys 62 Border against 65 Hibernation chamber

Yesterday’s Answer

Page 12 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

Calif. on verge of major greenhouse gas rules SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is on the verge of creating the first system in the nation to give polluting companies such as utilities or refineries financial incentives to emit fewer greenhouse gases.

They hope their plan will inspire other states to follow, while officials in the state — the world’s eighth-largest economy — discuss plans to link the new system with similar ones under way or being planned in Canada, Europe and Asia.

California is trying to “fill the vacuum created by the failure of Congress to pass any kind of climate or energy legislation for many years now,” said Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the state’s air quality board.

The board began hearing testimony Thursday and will likely vote on the regulations on Friday. Outside the chambers, a few climate change skeptics held signs reading “Global Warming: Science by Homer Simpson.”

Some businesses that would fall under the new rules say the system could dampen California’s already flagging economy, complicate lawmakers’ efforts to close a $28.1 billion revenue shortfall and lead to an increase in the price of electricity.

The rate increases, however, would still need approval from the state.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told the board he is sensitive to the recession, but argued that many of

the new jobs being created under the system are in the clean technology industry.

“The jobs we’re creating right now are green jobs.

Since 2006 that’s been growing 10 times faster than any other sector,” he said.

But he said reducing greenhouse gas pollution is not just about climate change, but about human health and national security.

“I despise that we send $1 billion a year to foreign places for oil and to places and people that hate us, and who are organizing terrorists against us,” he said.

Supporters say the system will help spur economic recovery and innovation, pushing business to invest in clean technologies.

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN CLASSIFIEDS Animals

For Rent

For Rent

For Rent-Commercial

For Sale

Real Estate

SHIH-TZU and Shih-Tzu cross puppies, health and temperament guaranteed. Non-alergic, $350 & $450. (603)539-7572.

PORTLAND, 570 Brighton Ave: 1 bdrm, living room, dining room Kit and bath. $685/mo plus heat & utlit. 2nd floor, plenty of parking (207)807-1004.

PORTLAND- Maine MedicalStudio, 1/ 2 bedroom. Heated, off street parking, newly renovated. $475-$850.

(207)773-1814.

PORTLAND- Munjoy Hill- 3 bedrooms, newly renovated.

Heated, $1275/mo. Call Kay (207)773-1814.

PORTLAND Art District- 2 adjacent artist studios with utilities.

First floor. $325-$350 (207)773-1814.

This advertising space available.

PEAKS Island- 71 Luther St. 1880’s Greek Revival, 4 bedroom, 2 bath, $389,000. Owner broker. (207)766-2293.

Autos MARK’S Towing- Free junk car removal. No keys, no tires, no problems. Late models.

(207)892-1707.

PORTLAND- Danforth Street, 2 bedrooms, heated, newly painted, hardwood floors. $850/mo.

Call Kay (207)773-1814.

SCARBOROUGH 4 bedroom heated $1400/mo. Call John at (207)797-2891.

PORTLAND- Woodford’s area. 1 bedroom heated. Newly installed oak floor, just painted. $675/mo. (207)773-1814.

For Sale 2 large chandeliers, 6' tall, 45 lights with crystals. Asking $2,500 each, 603-466-3383.

ANNIE’S MAILBOX Dear Annie: How do you deal with people who simply delete their family from their lives? There was no argument or complicated situation. All of a sudden, they are not returning phone calls or e-mails.

My sister has done this for the second time, and now my husband’s nephew has cut everyone off. “Dennis” hasn’t spoken to the family for 18 months. I haven’t spoken to my sister for a year. We’ve made many attempts to get in touch, but my sister won’t respond, and our nephew specifically told us to stay away from his home and work. In both cases, I suspect the catalyst was their own marital problems.

In the past year, there have been some serious health problems with Dennis’ family. When his mother and grandmother were both in the hospital, he was called to see if he could help out with Grandpa, who was home alone and very feeble. He refused.

Dennis and his family are missed so much. My sister lives in her self-imposed isolation. She has not come home or visited her mother in four years. I have given up trying to reach her. It hurts too much waiting to see if she will respond and dealing with the rejection when she does not.

What are their children told when grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are suddenly gone from their lives? I find it hard to understand how a person could go about their lives with no thought for those who love and miss them. Is it selfishness? Any advice? -- Deleted in Ohio Dear Ohio: There are myriad reasons for such behavior.

Your nephew’s wife may have demanded no contact. Your sister’s childhood experiences may trouble her in ways you don’t understand. They may find family obligations too stressful. They may suffer from mental illness. We agree that cutting off loved ones without explanation is not the best option, but you cannot make them respond differently. Send a

holiday card without any expectations, and perhaps one day they will find their way back home.

Dear Annie: When the dental hygienist cleans my teeth, she asks about my flossing and brushing habits. I do both regularly, but she still chastises and lectures me about the importance of my daily habits. Then she tries to get me to buy the electric toothbrush the office sells. My brother, who uses the same dentist, was told they’d stop treating his family if he didn’t buy the toothbrush.

Between the high-pressure sales pitch and the lecture, I dread my next checkup. His office is convenient and offers late hours, so I’d rather not change dentists. How do I stop this without getting a “white knuckle” cleaning in retaliation?

-- M. Dear M.: This is appalling. You should inform your dentist of your objections to this aggressive hard-sell and make it clear that you will find another dentist if you aren’t treated with more respect. If things don’t improve, we hope you will find a more ethical practitioner, regardless of the convenience.

(Your brother may also want to contact your state or local dental association to file a complaint.)

Dear Annie: I could have written the letter from “The Thrill is Gone” word for word. He said his wife of 35 years is wonderful but refuses all attempts at intimacy.

My wife got everything she wanted in life from me -- children, financial security and a solid marriage. When I finally reached my limit on a sexless marriage, she had the temerity to demand counseling. I divorced her, and for the past 20 years, she has been living with her lesbian lover with whom she had an ongoing affair for the last five years of our 21year marriage. Tell “Thrill” to look a little deeper. -- Older but Wiser

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to: anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Prickly City

by Scott Stantis

Printed in 15,000 newspapers daily. $5 a day/obo* Call 699-5807 to place an ad.

Furniture BLACK or cherry sleighbed new in box take $295 call 899-8853.

BRAND new full mattress set- in plastic $115 call 899-8853 KING pillowtop matt and boxfactory wrapped $195 need to sell quickly 396-5661 NEW couch- plush cushionscomfy- worth $875 take $395 call 899-8853.

NEW microsuede recliner beige color must sell asking $199 call 396-5661 PLUSH queen mattress set- in wrapper unopened $240 call 899-8853.

SELLING a queen pillowtop mattress set- never used $135 must sell. 396-5661.

Roommate Wanted SCARBOROUGH- Room for rent in luxury home. Private bath, cable, shared kitchen, parking. $450/mo. (207)883-1087.

Services DUMP RUNS We haul anything to the dump. Basement, attic, garage cleanouts.

Insured www.thedumpguy.com (207)450-5858.

HELPING Hands House Cleaning, 10 plus years experience.

Dependability with a smile. Call Becky (207)252-9679.

MASTER Electrician since 1972.

Repairs- whole house, rewiring, trouble shooting, fire damage, code violations, electric, water heater repairs commercial refrigeration. Fuses to breakers, generators.

Mark @ (207)774-3116.

Help Wanted SALEBAAN Motors, 235 St John St, Portland, (207)541-9088. Mechanic wanted, 10 years experience needed, well paying job $14-20/hr.

Wanted To Buy I buy broken or unwanted laptops. Cash today. Up to $100 for newer units. (207)233-5381.

The Daily Sun Classifieds “Can you send me prices for display ads in the Sun... I am really happy with the results from the Sun classifieds and I want to expand... I have tried the other papers... zero replies... nothing even comes close to The Sun...”

— An advertiser who gets results using the Sun’s classifieds.

To place a classified call 699-5807

CLASSIFIEDS • CALL 699-5807 DOLLAR-A-DAY CLASSIFIEDS: Ads must be 15 words or less and run a minimum of 5 consecutive days. Ads that run less than 5 days or nonconsecutive days are $2 per day. Ads over 15 words add 10¢ per word per day. PREMIUMS: First word caps no charge. Additional caps 10¢ per word per day.

Centered bold heading: 9 pt. caps 40¢ per line, per day (2 lines maximum) TYPOS: Check your ad the first day of publication. Sorry, we will not issue credit after an ad has run once. DEADLINES: noon, one business day prior to the day of publication. PAYMENT: All private party ads must be pre-paid. We accept checks, Visa and Mastercard credit cards and, of course, cash. There is a $10 minimum order for credit cards. CORRESPONDENCE: To place your ad call our offices 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 699-5807; or send a check or money order with ad copy to The Conway Daily Sun, P.O. Box 1940, North Conway, NH 03860. OTHER RATES: For information about classified display ads please call 699-5807.

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010— Page 13

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– EVENTS CALENDAR–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Friday, Dec. 17 Lincoln Middle School farming forums 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sixth graders at Lincoln Middle School in Portland will host forums with farmers from diverse backgrounds at the school, located at 522 Stevens Ave. One forum will take place in the school library, and another will be held simultaneously in Room 209. “Panelists include Lincoln parents, staff members, new Mainers from Somalia and Sudan and other community members. Some work on farms, while others raise honey bees or grow medicinal plants in their backyards. The forum is part of a cross-cultural unit of study based on the novel, ‘Seedfolks’ by Paul Fleischman. The novel takes place in a forgotten part of Cleveland where garbage, rats and violence have taken over. The characters come from various backgrounds and ethnic groups, but each has faced adversity. They slowly get to know each other by transforming a vacant lot into a garden, and a real community is born.” www2.portlandschools.org

Holiday Revels Open House at the Falmouth Memorial Library 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Holiday Revels Open House at the Falmouth Memorial Library takes place. Enjoy storytelling with Jodi Fein, music by Ralph Warnock, refreshments and good cheer. Free and open to the community. Bring the family!

Sponsored by the Friends and Trustees of the Falmouth Memorial Library. www.falmouth.lib.me.us. 781-2351.

Christmas concert at the SoPo Nazarene Church 6:30 p.m. Christmas concert at the South Portland Nazarene Church, Ernie Grant and the Joy Group sponsoring the event, 525 Highland Ave., South Portland. Featuring Voices of Grace (Leo Mathieu, Deb Sirois and Ed Beecher); Todd and Katie Daley; Bob Porter; Rebecca Darling; the Youth Group; Cathy Crothers and Diane Saito; Terri Sires; and Jim Gerry (Sound). Free admission.

‘My Dog Tulip’ at Movies at the Museum 6:30 p.m. “My Dog Tulip” at Portland Museum of Art as part of the Movies at the Museum series. Friday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m.; also Sunday, Dec. 26, 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 2, 2 p.m. “Beautifully animated and featuring the voices of Christopher Plummer, the late Lynn Redgrave, and Isabella Rossellini, My Dog Tulip is a bittersweet retrospective account of author J. R. Ackerley’s 16-year relationship with his adopted Alsatian, Tulip. A profound and subtle meditation on the strangeness that lies at the heart of all relationships, My Dog Tulip was written, directed, and animated by award-winning filmmakers Paul and Sandra Fierlinger and is the first animated feature ever to be entirely hand drawn and painted utilizing paperless computer technology.

Season of Light at the Planetarium 7 p.m. Season of Light: Southworth Planetarium’s annual holiday show that explores the astronomy and history of the holiday season: from Christmas to Hannukah to the Solstice. We also examine the “Star of Bethlehem.” Assuming it was a natural event, what might it have been? A supernova; a planetary conjunction or some other celestial event.

Southworth Planetarium, 96 Falmouth St., Portland. Also Dec. 18-19. Check times at 780-4249. www.usm.maine. edu/planet

Nutcracker Burlesque at the St. Lawrence Arts Center 7:30 p.m. It’s time again for Nutcracker Burlesque at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St. “Come see the show that started it all! This year’s show brings new choreography, a new story, and sexy new dances to the stage at St. Lawrence. Don’t miss your chance to see the show that was selected by The Portland Phoenix as ‘Portland’s Best Annual (hopefully) Event.’” Tickets are $12, on sale at Longfellow Books or online at www.vividmotion.org.

They go fast, so get yours early! Shows are Friday through Sunday, Dec. 17-19 and Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 21-23. This year’s show is sponsored by Warren Memorial Foundation, Shipyard Brewing Company, Gorham SelfStorage, Longfellow Books, and The Portland Phoenix.

“Director Rachel Stults Veinot, weaves together a story of love and lust to create a world where true love finds a way to bring two people together. This year, our main character Clara, played by none other than local favorite Amy Gieseke (rhymes with whisky), finds herself throwing yet another festive holiday party for friends; including her new boyfriend, Big Guns Antonowicz as the Rat King, and his wandering eyes.” www.stlawrencearts.org

Saturday, Dec. 18 Kennel Shop in Scarborough Christmas party 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Kennel Shop in Scarborough is hosting a Christmas party from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are collecting donations for the Animal Welfare Society shelter

“The Polar Express” is a 1985 children’s book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, a former professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. Since its release, the story has become a popular theme for railroad rides, including an ongoing attraction at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad. (COURTESY PHOTO) residents. For more information, www.animalwelfaresociety.org or call 985-3244.

Pet adoptions at Pet Smart in Biddeford 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Animal Welfare Society canines available for adoption will be on hand at Pet Smart in Biddeford from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to get their photo taken with Santa and to spread good cheer. For more information, www.animalwelfaresociety.org or call 985-3244.

Pet photos at Pet Smart in Biddeford 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pet Smart in Biddeford will host the Animal Welfare Society for photos of your pet with Santa; $5 from the sale of each photo goes directly to the Animal Welfare Society. Sunday also. For more information, www. animalwelfaresociety.org or call 985-3244.

Portland Green Independent Committee Annual Meeting, community potluck at Meg Perry 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Portland Green Independent Committee Annual Meeting takes place at the Meg Perry Center, 644 Congress St. “Solstice/Yule celebration and potluck (open to the public), where we’ll converse plan and warm each other in the spirit of the season.” Potluck from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

N.C. Wyeth gallery talk by Sy Epstein at the Portland Museum of Art 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Gallery talk at the Portland Museum of Art. Join Museum Docent Sy Epstein for a gallery talk about artist N.C. Wyeth. Free with museum admission. www.portlandmuseum.org

‘The Gift Of The Magi’ 2 p.m. “The Gift Of The Magi” an original musical set in 1940s Maine. Dec 7-23, Tues. and Wed. at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. Added shows, Thursday, Dec. 23 at 2 and 7 p.m. $15-$22. Old Port Playhouse, 19 Temple St., Portland. 7730333. oldportplayhouse.com

Peaks Island authors open house 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. “For the Love of Peaks — Island Portraits & Stories: A Collection” by Fran Houston and “A Glimpse of Old Peaks Island: Through Rose-Colored Glasses” by Alice Boyce, Eunice Curran, Ellin Gallant, Reta Morrill and Joyce O’Brien. Both books embody rich histories and photographs. The Inn on Peaks, 33 Island Ave, will host the authors. “Featuring wonderful music by Ronda Dale and Kevin Attra. A check will be presented to Peaks Island Tax and Fuel Assistance for 10 percent of the gross sold-out first printing sales of ‘For the Love of Peaks’ to keep someone warm this winter! Please FMI contact fran_houston@hotmail.com, other info at www.fortheloveofpeaks.com, http://www.facebook.com/fortheloveofpeaks, www.aglimpseofoldpeaksisland.com, www.myspace.com/ wheeedoggieband, www.cascobaylines.com.”

Annual Portland Harbor Boat Parade of Lights 4:30 p.m. The boat leaves at 4:30 p.m. and the parade begins at 4:45 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children (5-9) and a majority of the proceeds will be going to Sail Maine, to learn more about Sail Maine you can visit their website at www.sailmaine.org. Tickets are on sale now at Casco Bay Lines, for questions about tickets please contact Caitlin Gildart at 774-7871, ext. 105 or e-mail at caityb@cascobaylines.com. To register your boat in the parade please call Chris Kean at 408-7525 or e-mail at boatparadeoflights@gmail.com

The Polar Express 6:30 p.m. The Polar Express will come to life again in a whole new way when the Maine Narrow Gauge train departs its Portland depot for a journey to the “North Pole.” Holiday decorations along the train’s route will light up the night as guests on board meet the conductor, have hot chocolate and cookies (may not be suitable for patrons with food allergies), listen to a reading of the magical story over our sound system, and sing carols. Santa will ride back with everyone to the train station from a special outpost of the North Pole and every child will receive the special bell on board the train. This event is the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad’s biggest annual fund raiser. https://tickets.porttix.com/public/ default.asp

Home for Christmas at Anthony’s 7 p.m. Many of Anthony’s Alumni singing a wide selection of Christmas songs and standards. Special six-course Christmas dinner, $39.95 and 1/2 price for children under 10. www.anthonysdinnertheater.com

‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ 8 p.m. “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the holiday classic. Dec. 2-19, Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. $15-$22. Old Port Playhouse, 19 Temple St., Portland. 773-0333. oldportplayhouse.com

Christmas with Renaissance Voices 8 p.m. Christmas with Renaissance Voices at The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 143 State St. $15 at the door; $12 in advance at Starbird Music in Portland, Longfellow Books in Portland or Books Etc. in Falmouth; $5 for students with a valid student ID. Renaissance Voices is a 21-voice, auditioned, a cappella chorus based in Portland, Maine. We specialize in music from the medieval period through the 17th century, but our performances regularly feature more contemporary work, including premieres of pieces by both new and established composers. Concerts also feature short readings that complement the themes of the musical selections. www. renaissancevoices.org/repertoire.html see next page

Page 14 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– EVENTS CALENDAR––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– from preceding page

Sunday, Dec. 19 Skate for the Salvation Army Toy Drive 1.20 p.m. Family Ice Center, Falmouth. A family filled Christmas event — Christmas tree lighting, a skate show, Santa and lots of skating fun. “This is a tremendous way for the family to get involved to help the less fortunate in the Portland community. Helping a child this year is easy, simply bring a toy when you come to the Family Ice Center in Falmouth and donate it to the Salvation Army which will make sure it goes to a needy child this Christmas.” All skate hire fees ($5 per person) for the Public Skate Session will also be donated to the Salvation Army. Family Ice Center Falmouth, 20 Hat Trick Drive Falmouth.

Service of Lessons and Carols in OOB 4 p.m. St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church will hold a traditional Service of Lessons and Carols based on the program of King’s College Chapel in England. The service is open to all, is free, and will be followed by a reception. Everyone is invited to this celebration service which contains passages from Holy Scripture and traditional music. St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church worships at Cathedral Pines Chapel at 156 Saco Ave. in Old Orchard Beach. The Rev. Jeffrey W. Monroe is Vicar. For additional information contact 799-5141.

‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ 2 p.m. “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the holiday classic. Dec. 2-19, Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. $15-$22. Old Port Playhouse, 19 Temple St., Portland. 773-0333. oldportplayhouse.com

Old Orchard Beach benefit party 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Whaler holiday party, 20 Staples St. in Old Orchard Beach. All donations go to the Old Orchard Beach Food Bank and The Salvation Army. Live acoustic music with Quiet Riot act; mystery bartender; potluck buffet — bring your favorite dish; $10 Yankee swap (bring a gift if you wish to participate but no alcohol). Ages 21 and over.

For more information, 934-9853.

The Polar Express 6:30 p.m. The Polar Express will come to life again in a whole new way when the Maine Narrow Gauge train departs its Portland depot for a journey to the “North Pole.” Holiday decorations along the train’s route will light up the night as guests on board meet the conductor, have hot chocolate and cookies (may not be suitable for patrons with food allergies), listen to a reading of the magical story over our sound system, and sing carols. Santa will ride back with everyone to the train station from a special outpost of the North Pole and every child will receive the special bell on board the train. This event is the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad’s biggest annual fund raiser. https://tickets.porttix.com/public/ default.asp

Solstice Dawning at the Planetarium 7 p.m. “Solstice Dawning,” celestial poetry evening. “We celebrate the winter solstice with poetry! The Southworth Planetarium offers an evening of verse, prose and the Universe. During this event, local writers recite poetical works about the cosmos, nature, love, and much more. This year’s ‘Solstice Dawning’ theme is light and dark. Admission by donation.” Call 780-4249 to reserve your space.

‘Solstice Dawning’ Celestial Poetry Evening 7 p.m. Celebrate the Winter Solstice with poetry and stars. The USM Southworth Planetarium offers an evening of verse, prose and the Universe down in the star dome theatre. Three celestial poetry evenings each year. During this year’s final celestial poetry evening, local writers recite poetical works about the universe, nature, love the stars and much more. The theme of this year’s “Solstice Dawning” is light and dark. To reserve your space for an event or for more information, send a reply or call 780-4249.

‘A Child’s Christmas In Wales’ and ‘A Christmas Memory’ 7:30 p.m. “A Child’s Christmas In Wales” and Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” performed by Timepiece Theatre Co., Sun. and Mon., Dec. 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. $10-$12. Old Port Playhouse, 19 Temple St., Portland.

773-0333. oldportplayhouse.com

Monday, Dec. 20 Mad Horse’s take on ‘A Christmas Carol’ 7 p.m. Mad Horse Theatre Company offers a production of “A Christmas Carol” that will not be soon forgotten. Founding company members, current members, and some very special guests will join forces for a revival of the Mad Horse Christmas Radio Show — a madcap depiction of the effort to produce a radio play of “A Christmas Carol.” “Featuring hilarious performances and the merriest of holiday songs,

this show brings you behind the scenes of an old-fashioned radio program, where nothing ever goes quite as planned.

Mad Horse performed this show many years ago, and is bringing it back for a whole new audience to enjoy. This event is a benefit to support Mad Horse’s 25th Anniversary Season.” Performances run Dec. 20 through 23, 7 p.m., at the theater’s new home in the Hutchins School, 24 Mosher St., South Portland. For more information, call 730-2389, or visit www.madhorse.com.

Mid-winter’s Eve at Stonehenge 7 p.m. For the first time, Professor Patrick Peoples will present his summer Stonehenge program on the night before the winter solstice, at Southworth Planetarium. ”Professor Peoples conducts a tour of Stonehenge, one of the ancient world’s most famous structures. What was its purpose? Who built it? How was it used as an astronomical observatory? Astronomers believe that Stonehenge’s designers might have used it as an eclipse prediction device. As we’ll have a total lunar eclipse on the solstice, what better time is there to attend a Stonehenge lecture!” Admission by donation.

Tuesday, Dec. 21 College of The Atlantic Holiday Open House 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. College of The Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Holiday Open House: Share holiday sweets and son with the island community at COA’s annual holiday party, with music from the MDI High School Choir in the Leslie C. Brewer Great Hall inside The Turrets, COA south entrance.

Contact Lyn Berzinis at 288-5015, lberzinis@coa.edu, or 801-5625.

Blue Christmas Service 6:30 p.m. Hope.Gate.Way. (on the ground floor of the Gateway parking garage, just beyond the Eastland Park Hotel, at 185 High St. “While the world is rejoicing, for some, the days leading to Christmas can be filled with pain and sadness.

Loss of a spouse, child, or parent… a broken relationship … job loss or financial insecurity… seasonal depression — these can make the holiday season a difficult time for many. On the longest night of the year, we invite all who wish to come together for a time of quiet, meditative worship: to acknowledge their pain, to be assured that they are not alone, and to find time and space to reflect and find comfort.” www.hopegateway.com or www.newlightportland.org

Gong Meditation on the solstice 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In the early morning of Dec. 21 there will be a total eclipse of the Full Moon. That evening will be the exact moment of Winter Solstice. “To better attune to these solar and lunar energies, Dragonfly Taijiquan will be hosting a ‘Gong Meditation’ that evening at its studio in Portland, at 222 St John Street, Suite 240. “Gongs are ancient instruments used for thousands of years to promote healing, balance and intuition. Come, relax, and experience the sounds of gongs, singing bowls and other sound meditation instruments in a musical improvisation by Todd Glacy of Saco River Yoga. On this day of the Winter Solstice and Full Moon, be immersed in the primordial, resonant, healing, sacred, vibratory sounds of the gong. Bring a pillow, mat or blanket to lie on, or a meditation cushion.” There is a suggested donation of $10 to $15. Advance registration is encouraged. FMI or to register contact: 761-2142 or dragonflytaiji@roadrunner.com.

‘The Gift Of The Magi’ 7 p.m. “The Gift Of The Magi” an original musical set in 1940s Maine. Dec 7-23, Tues. and Wed. at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. Added shows, Thursday, Dec. 23 at 2 and 7 p.m. $15-$22. Old Port Playhouse, 19 Temple St., Portland. 7730333. oldportplayhouse.com

Winter Solstice Ceremony 6:30 p.m. Winter Solstice Ceremony: 2010 is a very special year because the winter solstice will occur during a full moon and a lunar eclipse. Unity Church of Greater Portland, 54 River Road, Windham will hold a special ceremony titled “The Spiral Light of our Lives.” For more information about Unity or its events, please contact the church office at 8931233 or visit www.unitygreaterportland.org.

The Polar Express 7:45 p.m. The Polar Express will come to life again in a whole new way when the Maine Narrow Gauge train departs its Portland depot for a journey to the “North Pole.” Holiday decorations along the train’s route will light up the night as guests on board meet the conductor, have hot chocolate and cookies (may not be suitable for patrons with food allergies), listen to a reading of the magical story over our sound system, and sing carols. Santa will ride back with everyone to the train station from a special outpost of the North Pole and every child will receive the special bell on board the train. This event is the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad’s biggest annual fund raiser. https://tickets.porttix.com/public/ default.asp

Total lunar eclipse viewing at USM’s Southworth Planetarium 12:45 a.m. to 4 a.m. There will be a total lunar eclipse on Dec. 21 (in the early morning hours). The Southworth Planetarium is open for the Lunar Eclipse. “We’ll open our doors for the seething throng at 12:45 a.m. (Yes, 12:45 in the morning!) We’ll have a tedious, indefensibly long eclipse lecture at 1 a.m. Viewing begins at 1:30 a.m. (Weather permitting, of course.) Free and open to the public. ... Provided the skies are clear (or at least partly cloudy), we will observe the Full Moon moves into Earth’s shadow cone, During its passage, we’ll watch our planet’s curved shadow proceed across the lunar facade until the Moon is completely immersed. During this immersion, a phase called “totality,” the Moon generally appears reddish, not dark, because Earth’s upper atmosphere will direct the red portion of the Sun’s light into the shadow and therefore onto the eclipsed moon.” http://usm.maine.edu/planet

Wednesday, Dec. 22 ‘The Gift Of The Magi’ 7 p.m. “The Gift Of The Magi” an original musical set in 1940s Maine. Dec 7-23, Tues. and Wed. at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. Added shows, Thursday, Dec. 23 at 2 and 7 p.m. $15-$22. Old Port Playhouse, 19 Temple St., Portland. 7730333. oldportplayhouse.com

Secret Lives of Comedians 7:30 p.m. Secret Lives of Comedians at Lucid Stage, 29 Baxter Boulevard, Portland. Produced by Cloud Morris and Brian Brinegar, this monthly series features stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, “surprised guests” and other disturbing delights! Musical guest Pete Witham. $10. www. lucidstage.com/

Thursday, Dec. 23 The Victorian Nutcracker in Portland 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Christmas comes with its own set of family traditions and for many, the season isn’t considered complete without seeing the only Nutcracker set in Maine.

Portland Ballet Company brings its own local version of the Nutcracker to life in celebration of the holiday season again this year with its beloved The Victorian Nutcracker. The show, which takes the classic Nutcracker story and sets it in historical Portland with sets, costumes, and characters inspired by the Victoria Mansion, Hermann Kotzschmar and others, will be performed twice at Merrill Auditorium on Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through PortTIX at www.porttix.com or 842-0800 or in person, 20 Myrtle Ave., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Ticket prices range from $17-$47 (plus $5 handling fee for online sales). For more information about Portland Ballet, its school and programs, visit www.portlandballet. org or call 772-9671.

‘The Gift Of The Magi’ 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. “The Gift Of The Magi” an original musical set in 1940s Maine. Dec 7-23, Tues. and Wed. at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. Added shows, Thursday, Dec. 23 at 2 and 7 p.m. $15-$22. Old Port Playhouse, 19 Temple St., Portland. 773-0333. oldportplayhouse.com

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine welcomes kids for a special performance. “Act out the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ in this special theatre workshop where we put on a play in just one day! We will learn the story, rehearse it and perform it for our families! $5 for members, $6 plus admission for non-members.

Next Level Church Christmas celebration 5 p.m. Using hundreds of volunteers, Next Level Church is hosting a “life-changing Christmas celebration” at the Abromson Center on the campus of the University of Southern Maine in Portland. The event is completely free, although Next Level Church is asking attendees to bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Wayside Food Rescue Program. The church hopes to make the largest single donation by a church in Wayside’s history as a result of this event. At the event, Next Level Church is also offering free family photos with Santa, live, professional Christmas music, a special kids experience, and a variety of Christmas gifts and surprises for those in attendance. Those who want to attend can get their free tickets by visiting www. nlc.tv/christmas. The photos, kids activities, and Christmas treats will be available beginning at 5 p.m., with doors to the auditorium opening at 5:45 p.m. The Christmas celebration will begin at 6 p.m. Due to an overwhelming demand for the free tickets, organizers have been forced to add a second experience time and make more seats for everyone wanting to attend the Christmas celebration. There will now be a celebration at 6 p.m. and another at 7:45 p.m., the church announced. www.nlc.tv or www.nlc.tv/christmas.

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010— Page 15

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Page 16 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Friday, December 17, 2010

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SPORTS –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Young Patriots go from unknown to unstoppable FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The sign hangs just inside the entrance where the Patriots report to work in the morning: “WHEN YOU COME HERE ...

Do your job.”

It’s a simple reminder that each player must focus on what he, not his teammates, must do that day.

But how well would they do after the way last season ended with a stunning 33-14 first-round playoff loss at home to Baltimore and a devastating knee injury to Wes Welker in the previous game? Tom Brady even said the team lacked mental toughness.

“There’s certainly a lot of unknowns going into the season,” Belichick said before the final preseason game.

Now everybody knows how good New England is — the first team to clinch a playoff berth, with the leading quarterback in the NFL and an offense that steamrolled its last two opponents, 45-3 and 36-7. Its 11-2 record is tied for the league’s best.

With Belichick and Brady, together for their 11th season, the three-time champions always have a chance to be contenders. This year, the speedy progress of youngsters and the seamless integration of in-season pickups have made them formidable.

Randy Moss traded? These Patriots don’t miss the mercurial deep threat now that team-first receiver Deion Branch has scored on pass plays of 79 and 59 yards on two of his 44 catches since his trade from Seattle after four games.

“They just look like kids out there having a good time. There’s a karma and a chemistry with this team that’s pretty special,” said Robert Kraft, who has owned the team since 1994. “I think what’s evolved over the last seven or eight games is there’s a sense of confidence and the locker room is a very positive atmosphere.”

The Patriots have won their last five games with a 13-0 turnover margin thanks to well-disguised defensive alignments. They’re first in the NFL, scoring 31.9 points per game. And their leader, Brady, has the best passer rating in the NFL, not to mention 29 touchdown passes overall, and no interceptions in his last eight games.

Not too bad, huh?

It would be easy for the players to get carried away going into Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers (8-5), who may be without quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He suffered a concussion last Sunday.

“Tom said it best: ‘Stay humble and stay hungry,’” defensive end Gerard Warren said. “That’s our approach.”

The Patriots weren’t about to brag about the first half of the season. They beat a bad Cincinnati team 38-24, lost to the New York Jets 28-14 and edged Buffalo 38-30. The next week they trailed Miami 7-6 at halftime, then capitalized on Dolphins mistakes, scoring touchdowns on a blocked field goal and an interception for a 41-14 victory.

After a bye, the Patriots took another big step by hanging in with, and beating, two solid teams by the same 23-20 score — in overtime over the Ravens team that routed them nine months earlier, and over San Diego on the road.

Mentally tough? No question about it.

“It’s changed,” Kraft said Tuesday. “We’ve had the privilege of getting out ahead the last few games and then really turning it on and that makes a difference. But when the games are tight, and you have to just stay there (and play) strong in the fourth quarter,” that shows determination.

The rookies picked that up as the season has gone along, gaining confidence and comfort. Tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez have been outstanding, cornerback Devin McCourty is second in the NFL with six interceptions and linebackers Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham have made strong impacts. Former free agents BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Wood-

New England Patriots defensive tackle Gerard Warren listens to a reporters question during a media availability in the locker room at the NFL football team’s facility in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday morning. (AP Photo)

head have revitalized the running game and improved a diverse offense that baffles defenders.

All have been coachable and consistent, the Patriots way.

“It’s all about buying in from the first day that you walk into the organization,” tight end Alge Crumpler said. “If you want to be on your own program, you’ll be out of here real quick.”

The win in San Diego put the Patriots at 5-1, but they still had some growing to do. They beat Minnesota 28-18, but then were upset 34-14 by the Cleveland Browns, who entered at 2-5.

“Maybe that was waking up a little bit,” cornerback Darius Butler said. “We’ve been paying a lot more attention to detail” since then.

Players blamed the loss on a bad week of practice, a lack of focus that carried over to the game. They vowed to change.

“It’s going to be a different team,” Branch vowed the day after the setback. “I’ll tell you right now.”

He was right.

The turnaround was immediate: a 39-26 win over the tough Pittsburgh Steelers in which the Patriots led 23-3 after three quarters. And then a 31-28 victory over the Indianapolis Colts sealed by an interception by James Sanders at the New England 6-yard line as Peyton Manning was driving for the winning touchdown in the final minute.

The Patriots had learned their lesson from the playoff loss to the Ravens in which Brady’s three turnovers led to a 24-0 first-quarter deficit — start fast and avoid mistakes.

“There is a good mix of players in here that really are listening to what our coaches teach,” Brady said.

Belichick “wants us to be a smart, tough, physical football team that plays well under pressure. We listen to the best coach of all time. Hopefully, you learn something.”

Since beating the Colts, the Patriots have been nearly unstoppable, scoring on 18 of their last 26 possessions with Brady throwing 10 touchdown passes. A year after getting off to a so-so start, when he was coming back from a season-ending knee injury in the 2008 opener, the former NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion may be playing as well as ever.

“He is such an outstanding leader,” Kraft said. “The real brilliance ... is the way he can read defenses and see where the opportunities are and then put the ball in places where only our receivers can catch it.”

The remaining three games are at home against Green Bay, on the road against Buffalo (3-10) then back home against Miami (7-6).

Easy, right?

“Coach (Belichick) always puts it best to us,” Brady said. “He says everything that’s happened this year has just provided us with an opportunity. There is nothing set in stone. Yeah, we’re in a good position, but we can be in a bad position really quickly.”

All the buzz about another MVP award? Brady doesn’t want to hear it. The chatter about a fourth Super Bowl title in 10 years? Forget it. It’s all drowned out by Belichick telling his players what they did wrong even in lopsided wins. Again, the Patriots way.

“He holds us accountable on every single play and every single day,” Brady said. “He coaches an 11-year veteran quarterback just the same way that he teaches a rookie tight end.”

And if the players don’t get the message — or if they missed it on the sign when they arrived for work — they can read it when they leave.

“There’s a sign when we walk out the door every single day, the only door we can go out of this building as players,” Crumpler said. “It says, ‘Ignore the noise, manage expectations.’ So I think it’s simple enough. Big, bold letters.”

The Patriots way.

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