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FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2011
VOL. 3 NO. 87
PORTLAND, ME
Voilá Hair & Day Spa
16 Elmwood Avenue, Westbrook, ME 04092
PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
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City loses $967,000 eminent domain case Sprague: City offered ‘ridiculously low price’ for easement rights held by Portland Company BY DAVID CARKHUFF THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
The city may end up paying Portland Company nearly $1 million, after a ruling pertaining to the city’s use of the right of eminent domain that took easement rights from the landowner. A Cumberland County Superior Court jury awarded $715,000 to the Portland Company last week. The case stemmed from development planning near the Ocean Gateway terminal. The litigants said the ruling defended property rights of easement holders. "It
is a real vindication that the government — even though it does have the right to take private property and there are certain circumstances for eminent domain — does have to compensate the ‘takee’ fairly," said Peter Plumb, attorney for Murray, Plumb & Murray of Portland, Plumb
Handmade, vintage marketplace makes Art Walk debut today
see LAWSUIT page 3
With the Portland Company building in the background, a Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad train rolls along the city’s eastern waterfront earlier this week. The historical museum with diesel and steam locomotives is part of the Portland Company complex, which won a major jury award from the city over an eminent domain condemnation. In June 2005, the city offered $5,002 for the release of railroad track easement rights, based on an appraisal obtained by the city, a court history noted. Portland Company declined the city’s offer; the Portland Company’s appraiser valued the track rights at between $1.9 million and $2 million. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)
Reiche Community School first in Portland to be led by team of teachers
BY MATT DODGE THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
A unique new business aimed at providing an affordable retail space for local artist, crafters and vintage resellers will make its grand opening during tonight’s Art Walk. Located at the former site of Coast City Comics/ The Fun Box Monster Emporium, The Merchant Company (656 Congress St.) brings the booth rental structure of a craft fair to a downtown space, providing an affordable retail alternative for cash-strapped artisans and resellers. see DEBUT page 8
Parties duel over labor in session’s final days BY DAVID CARKHUFF THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
A legislative standoff over labor bills in Augusta saw one proposal — a Republican bid to ban forced payment of union dues — indefinitely postponed, while a committee hearing on another contentious piece of legislation Thursday drew a crowd.
Ben Duffy, a sixth-year United Way volunteer, moves dirt during a garden project at Howard C. Reiche Community School late last month. Volunteers came to the school and helped plant raised beds. Reiche Community School will become the first school in Portland and one of the first in Maine to be led by a team of teachers beginning in the fall, Portland Public Schools announced yesterday. The Portland School Board approved the plan at its May 31 business meeting. For a story, see page 6. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)
see LABOR page 6
Mass. clean-up of tornado damage Mavodones: The ‘hair’ apparent? Walk to benefit the Center for Grieving Children See World and National News on page 2
See Jeffrey S. Spofford’s column on page 4
See the story on this pledge drive on page 13