The Portland Daily Sun, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

VOL. 3 NO. 133

City nabs couple under new graffiti ordinance

PORTLAND, ME

PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

699-5801

FREE

Beetle banquet

BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

A couple that attracted the attention of police by lying in the roadway early Monday morning, were the first to be arrested and charged under the city's new graffiti ordinance, police said.

Robert Sinnott, 26 of Portland, and Alana Saleeby, 22 of Scarborough, were arrested shortly before 2 a.m. and charged with criminal mischief and other crimes. The pair was also issued civil summons under Saleeby the city's graffiti ordinance, which took effect last month.

The two were spotted earlier in the night tagging mailboxes and street signs, police said.

A patrol officer found the couple lying in the road near Mellen and Deering streets at about 1:40 a.m.

As officers were talking to Sinnott the couple, police received a report of people tagging in the area, said Lt. Gary Rogers, a police spokesman.

Japanese beetles clamber over a rose at the Deering Oaks Rose Circle Monday. City crews manually remove the beetles and kill them in soapy water. For a story on this perennial pest, and prospects for next summer’s infestation, see page 8. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)

see GRAFFITI page 7

Final vote possible on Adams School redevelopment

BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

Avesta Housing officials are hoping for final planning board approval tonight on a planned $5.9 million redevelopment of the former Adams School site.

The project, which has taken several forms since it was first introduced in 2008, calls for construction of 16 condo units on a three-quarter-acre parcel on

County leaders put Civic Center renovation on ballot See the story on page 7.

Moody Street, atop Munjoy Hill.

The project also includes a new green way connect-

ly SAVE 50% 50% D a i D e a lPaySAVE just 15 for 30 of clothing $$

$$

ing Beckett and O’Brion streets and a playground for neighborhood kids.

“There have been various meetings and workshops and discussions along the way,” said Dana Totman, Avesta’s president and CEO. “I think (tonight) we seek final approval.”

Adams School, which offered kindergarten see HOUSING page 9

543 Congress St. Portland ME 04101

Internet Offer Only! VISIT PORTLANDDAILYSUN.ME FOR THIS AND OTHER GREAT OFFERS

Page 2 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (NY Times) — Rosie, the first judicially approved courtroom dog in New York, was in the witness box here nuzzling a 15-year-old girl who was testifying that her father had raped and impregnated her. Rosie sat by the teenager’s feet. At particularly bad moments, she leaned in.

When the trial ended in June with the father’s conviction, the teenager “was most grateful to Rosie above all,” said David A. Crenshaw, a psychologist who works with the teenager. “She just kept hugging Rosie.”

Now an appeal planned by the defense lawyers is placing Rosie at the heart of a legal debate that will test whether there will be more Rosies in courtrooms in New York and, possibly, other states.

Rosie is a golden retriever therapy dog who specializes in comforting people when they are under stress. Prosecutors here noted that she is also in the vanguard of a growing trial trend: in Arizona, Hawaii, Indiana, Idaho and some other states in the last few years, courts have allowed such trained dogs to offer children and other vulnerable witnesses nuzzling solace in front of juries.

The new role for dogs as testimony enablers can raise thorny legal questions, however, with defense lawyers arguing that the dogs may unfairly sway jurors with their cuteness and the natural empathy they attract — whether a witness is telling the truth or not — and some prosecutors insisting that the courtroom dogs can be a crucial comfort to those enduring the ordeal of testifying, especially children.

SAYWHAT...

“

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”

—Josh Billings

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DIGEST––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THEMARKET

3DAYFORECAST Today High: 75 Record: 95 (2001) Sunrise: 5:39 a.m.

Tonight Low: 61 Record: 46 (1964) Sunset: 7:54 p.m.

Tomorrow High: 65 Low: 60 Sunrise: 5:40 a.m.

Sunset: 7:53 p.m.

DOW JONES –634.76 to 10,809.85

Thursday High: 73 Low: 58

S&P 79.92 to 1,119.4

THETIDES

LOTTERY#’S

MORNING High: 6:57 a.m.

Low: 12:43 a.m.

DAILY NUMBERS Day 6-2-2 • 2-7-7-2

NASDAQ 174.72 to 2,357.69

EVENING High: 7:19 p.m.

Low: 12:55 p.m.

1,727 U.S. military deaths in Iraq.

-courtesy of www.maineboats.com

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WORLD/NATION–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Rioting widens in London on third night of unrest LONDON (NY Times) — The rioting and looting that convulsed poorer parts of London over the weekend spread to to at least three other districts on Monday, including the partly gentrified eastern neighborhood of Hackney, where groups of hooded youths confronted squads of riot police officers on the main street, smashing store windows and attacking police cars and double-decker buses. Trouble also broke out in the Lewisham and Peckham areas of south London.

The new outbreaks came as the police vastly increased the number of riot-control officers deployed in London and announced they had made more than 200 arrests since Saturday.

With many British leaders abroad on vacation, including Prime Minister David Cameron, Home Secretary Theresa May cut short her own

holiday and flew home Monday to help manage an end to the mayhem, which recalled earlier spasms of violence rooted in deep social problems, including racial tensions between the police and London’s Afro-Caribbean population.

“There is no excuse for violence, there is no excuse for looting, there is no excuse for thuggery,” May said.

The latest rioting may have been amplified by the use of social media, and many looked for causes in the painful austerity cuts in Britain’s national budget that have shriveled programs for unemployed urban youth. But police officials and some neighborhood activists themselves said many of the rioters and looters appeared to be thrill seekers and thugs, possibly encouraged by the initial slowness of the police to respond.

Wall Street plummets over 6 percent NEW YORK — (NY Times) — Wall Street stocks plummeted on Monday as skittish investors, already concerned about the economy, struggled to work out the implications of an unprecedented downgrade of the United States government’s credit rating, and sought safer places to put their money.

The declines, coming in the first opportunity for investors to sell since Standard

& Poor’s cut its rating on the nation’s long-term debt late Friday, followed losses in global markets and set United States equities on track to extend losses that for some recalled the days of the 2008 financial crisis.

They also reflected anxiety over the United States economy and Europe’s debt woes.

At the close of trading, the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index was off more than 6

percent, coming after a 7 percent loss over the course of last week. The Dow Jones industrial average showed a one-day decline of more than 600 points, its steepest point loss in a single day since December 2008. The Nasdaq dropped nearly 7 percent.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell to 2.35 percent, the lowest since January 2009. The yield was 2.56 percent on Friday.

Banquet Rooms for Every Occasion Accommodates 50 to 300+

Call today & ask about our 10% Discount 1945 Congress St • Portland

773-7396 • 773-3582 Leave Message

Three Arab countries recall ambassadors to Syrian capital BEIRUT, Lebanon (NY Times) — Joining a chorus of global condemnation, three oil-rich Arab countries on Monday recalled their ambassadors to the Syrian capital Damascus in protest of President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal crackdown on demonstrations, as the Syrian military and security forces pressed ahead with their assault on the most restive locales.

The decision by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait came as Mr. Assad replaced the defense minister with the army’s chief of staff, the Syrian state-run news agency said. There was no immediate explanation for the move to oust the incumbent defense minister, Lt. Gen. Ali Habib, a key figure in the leadership who had served as defense minister since June 2009.

His departure would constitute one of the highest-level shakeups since the uprising began in mid-March. His replacement was General Dawoud Rajha.

The withdrawal of ambassadors from the three Gulf countries signified growing frustration in the region with the mounting death toll in Syria and underlined the unprecedented isolation of the government of Assad, who inherited power from his father, Hafez, in 2000.

Restaurant & Sports Bar

G R DiMillo’s BA Y SID E

BEST LOBSTER DEAL IN TOWN IS BACK! TUE & WED NIGHTS AT GR DIMILLO’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT... $25.95 Served with French Fries or Pasta (limit 5)

Saturday, Aug. 13

Deering High School’s 35 year Reunion!

Are you a member of the DHS class of 76? Join us!!

Call Gene 699-5959 (Closed to the public Aug. 13) 118 Preble St., Portland, ME at the entrance to Downtown Portland

207-699-5959 • www.grdimillos.com

Pizza - Pasta - Parmagiana - Espresso - Cannoli - Steak

PORTLAND ELKS LODGE

Pizza - Pasta - Parmagiana - Espresso - Cannoli - Steak

Dog helps rape victim testify

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011— Page 3

y ail

D a l 50% OFF D e Pay just 15 for

CO

LAC

$

Internet Offers Only!

$

30 of clothing

NW

543 Congress St, Portland ME 04101

VISIT PORTL A NDDA ILYSUN.ME FOR THIS A ND OTHER GRE AT OFFERS

AY

ON

Visit

CONWAYDAILYSUN.COM To Sign Up For Upcoming Deals

I A 50% OFF a Burrito Me 5 Card Burrito Me 9 Veterans Square, Laconia, NH 03246

BER

LIN

$

10 buys you a $20 Voucher Savoir Flare

52 Main Street, Berlin, NH 03570

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– NEWS BRIEFS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Report: Press Herald owner sent local jobs to Honduras MaineToday Media, the parent company of The Portland Press Herald, The Kennebec Journal and The Morning Sentinel, has outsourced up to seven customer service positions to a call center in Honduras, according to a report in the Portland Phoenix.

The article, by Phoenix managing editor Jeff Inglis, says that five people at MaineToday lost their jobs, one retired early and another was reassigned within the company, which is reportedly using a call center in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in Central America.

The article does not say when the outsourcing took place or when the employees were let go. Salaries for the affected positions were between $445 and $542 per week, although some of the customer service workers were par time. Up to 14 people are employed answering the phones in Honduras for MaineToday Media.

Kathy Munroe, administrative officer for the Portland Newspaper Guild, a labor union told the Phoenix that MaineToday followed provisions in a union contract. Even so, she’s hoping subscribers push back against the company’s decision to ship jobs overseas.

“I’m hoping that there’s a clamoring from subscribers,” she said.

Committee to discuss new fireworks law The City Council is taking initial steps in deciding how to handle a new state law that will permit the sale, possession and use of fireworks in Maine beginning next year.

The Public Safety Committee will discuss the law during its regular monthly meeting today.

The legislation allows municipalities to adopt ordinances prohibiting the sale and use of fireworks, which is something at least one city official says could be an area of discussion.

Councilor David Marshall introduced the agenda item after receiving concerns from constituents about the discharging of fireworks within city limits.

“We’re just kind of getting

going,” Marshall said. “I think it’s just important for the city to take a look at it.”

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Paul LePage and takes effect Jan. 1. The law allows municipalities to enact local regulations on fireworks.

Marshall called the subject a safety issue and said it was important for the council to begin a dialogue on the topic.

“I think it’s just important for public safety concerns to be addressed,” he said. “Fireworks are a concern here in a way you might not have in rural parts of the state.”

The committee will meet in the council chambers of City Hall at 5:30 p.m.

— Matt Arco

Police: no charges in weekend stabbing Portland Police have declined to file charges in connection with a stabbing that occurred over the weekend, according to published reports.

The Portland Press Herald reported yesterday that police were called to 120 Baxter Blvd. at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Once on scene, officers found a 29-year-old man who suffered a stab wound to the stomach, the paper said.

The man was transported to a nearby hospital, where his condition improved.

It wasn’t clear from witness reports what preceded the stabbing. The paper said the victim told police he and another resident were fencing with kitchen knives. Others said the two men were fighting when the stabbing occurred.

Gas prices creeping downward Economic turmoil that has decimated stocks worldwide may have this silver lining: gas prices are falling, and should fall faster in the coming weeks.

Price tracking website Mainegasprices.com reports the average price statewide for a gallon of regular fell by about 4 cents, or 1 percent in the past week to $3.78 per gallon.

That’s about 13 cents per gallon higher than the national average and a dollar less than the same time a year ago.

With some exceptions, the

cheapest gas can be found in Central and Downeast Maine. Gas is most expensive in Aroostook County, where a gallon of regular still costs nearly $4 a gallon.

In Portland, the cheapest gas, as of yesterday, was $3.78 per gallon at Gulf stations at 205 Brighton Avenue and 512 Woodford Street.

Now for the good news: oil prices have tumbled nearly 20 percent in the past week, which should translate into less pain at the pump sometime in the future.

Benchmark crude oil fell about 6.5 percent yesterday, according to Bloomberg News, to settle out at $81.31 a barrel, down from nearly $100 a barrel last month.

Gasoline futures, which are more closely tied to retail prices, fell 3.5 percent yesterday.

Group turns in 68k signatures in support of Same Day voting AUGUSTA – The group Protect Maine Votes yesterday submitted 68,064 signatures to the Maine Secretary of State, surpassing the required number of signatures to place a people’s veto on the ballot in November.

The deadline to submit signatures for the question to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot is Aug. 9. Protect Maine Votes expects to turn in additional signatures on Tuesday, and the number of signatures will likely increase beyond 68,064.

“More than a thousand Mainers, representing every political party and a broad coalition of groups, came together to collect more than 68,000 signatures in less than a month,” said Ben Chin, the field director for Protect Maine Votes and the political engagement director for the Maine People’s Alliance. “Mainers take their right to vote seriously, and they won’t let anyone take it away.”

The signatures turned in today have been certified as valid by town clerks. The Secretary of State has 30 days to review the petitions and issue a written decision on whether the people’s veto will be placed on the November ballot.

The question reads: “Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election?”

Benefit Nights at Flatbread Join us from 5 - 9

August 5th,6th & 9th $3.50 will be donated for every pizza sold.

Benefit:

Circus Smirkus 72 Commercial St., Portland, ME Open Sun. thru Thurs 11:30am–9:00pm, Fri. & Sat. 11:30am–10:00pm

Now offering B ak ed Good s and Sandw ich es Now Serving, Sandwiches, Baked Goods, and Annabelle’s Ice cream Our Patio is open!

147 C um berland A ve.,P ortland • 771-0994 katiem adebakery.com T ues & W ed 9-8:30,T hurs & Fri 9-9 Think of Katie Made for your next special day!

Page 4 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

––––––––––––– COLUMN –––––––––––––

Misunderstanding the Charles Is it possible for the Democrats to still underestimate Charlie Webster? Didn’t they notice that their famous “tax reform” sank without a trace — never to be mentioned ever again — and haven’t they figured out why that happened? Are they incapable of adding Webster + State GOP chair + $700,000 in the GOP account and coming to the correct conclusion. Do they believe that he was hanging around Higgins Street playing solitaire when the Republicans took the legislature last year?

I suspect that they continue to believe that an oil-burner repairman who graduated from Messalonskee H.S. is little account. How else to explain their persistent claims that his allegations of voting improprieties are unsubstantiated?

––––– Did they really think Charlie Guest would make such allegations Columnist with nothing to back them up?

The man has been in politics for thirty years. He may make mistakes from time to time, but he doesn’t make mistakes like that.

Charlie Summers has been in politics over twenty years. He went beyond high school. His service in the naval reserve has included handing media relations. Is it any more likely that he is going to get himself tangled in a web of fabrications?

The alternative explanations is that the Democrats find themselves in a state of confusion and desperation. They’ve put a lot of hope and effort behind “restoring people’s right to vote on election day” (NOT THURSDAY!) They couldn’t very well attack the budget; not after 50 Democrats voted for it. LD 1 regulatory reform passed with bi-partisan support.

Gay “marriage” played no role in the session. So they are left with one Big Issue, a purely Republican bill requiring voters to register five days before election day.

So the Maine Usual Suspects Alliance (MUSA) sets out to put a people’s veto question on the ballot, a campaign directed by a familiar posse of non-partisan Democrats. They point to the fact that over 60,000 voters registered on election day and that only two cases of fraud have turned up in 40 years.

The bill they wish to overturn was not a Webster creation. The GOP acted from a common recognition of the problem. Our Secretary of State argued from the start that the problem was excessive burdening

John Frary

see FRARY page 5

Portland’s FREE DAILY Newspaper David Carkhuff, Editor Casey Conley, City Editor Matthew Arco, Reporter Founding Editor Curtis Robinson THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN is published Tuesday through Saturday by Portland News Club, LLC. Mark Guerringue, Adam Hirshan, Curtis Robinson Founders Offices: 181 State Street, Portland ME 04101 (207) 699-5801 Website: www.portlanddailysun.me E-mail: news@portlanddailysun.me For advertising contact: (207) 699-5801 or ads@portlanddailysun.me Classifieds: (207) 699-5807 or classifieds@portlanddailysun.me CIRCULATION: 15,100 daily distributed Tuesday through Saturday FREE throughout Portland by Jeff Spofford, jspofford@maine.rr.com

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

Multi-modal weekend Due to a bunch of unrelated things on the schedule over the weekend, there was a chance to check out the whole “multi-modal transportation Portland” thing over the weekend.

For those unfamiliar with that bit of jingoistic governmentspeak, it involves the different uses of planes, trains, automobiles, buses, and the old stand-by, thumbing a ride.

First off, there was good old Greyhound bus lines to Waterville. With stops in Lewiston and Augusta, the first bus in the morning is not the right one to take. Every seat was sold, and I did learn one important detail of bus travel on one of the oldest lines in America. Two dudes with football sized shoulders can not sit next to each other on the bus.

The guy in the seat next to me was intent on napping. For anyone that has ever done long distance bus travel, it is the wishful dream, but an elusive one.

There was the cab from the bus station to the final destination, Colby College. The gig over, Brother and I got a ride back to Portland from a member of Colby’s staff, Kevin, who was gracious enough to drop us off.

The next morning, it was a last-minute decision to attend a

Bob Higgins ––––– Daily Sun Columnist wedding in Biddeford. I caught the tri-city bus for a whopping total of $5, and got dropped off at the train depot in Old Orchard Beach, complete with a transfer for the inter-city line. We all waited for the Biddeford-Saco part of the ride.

It had been about 10 years since I’d been to OOB. I forgot that on a Saturday afternoon, the traffic turns the streets in and out of Old Orchard into a parking lot. Good to see that some things just never change.

A cab down to the University of New England Campus was a good investment. The initial plan involved walking, but somehow the gods of timing made me a bit late already, so the cab was the best bet.

After the shinding was done, I ended up hitching a ride back to Portland with Dan Dunn of Imbiber Magazine, and Heidi Wendel (of this paper) and her daughter. It was early, and the

ever-longing cry of the Old Port beckoned.

My role was to sit in the back seat, and convince Dan that the GPS navigation system on his phone had absolutely no idea what it was talking about. He still may be a bit dubious, but he got a better view along the way.

Thinking back on it, the bus to Biddeford was probably the wrong choice. I could have left the house a bit earlier, and caught the train.

Even though the streets of Old Orchard resembled a parking lot, they all tend to get the hell off the tracks when the train is coming through at a good clip.

Flying was not an option, unless someone wants to loan me one of those ultralight or glider things.

Over the years, the Metro service in Portland has waned. Way back at the beginning, you could take a bus out to Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth. That option kind of fell by the wayside when Cape dropped out of the regional agreement, but is still one of those options I look forward to seeing if folks ever do decide the whole car thing is a bust.

There is something to be said for the ease of catching the local bus, getting a transfer across town on the other bus, getting dropped see HIGGINS page 5

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011— Page 5

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

It’s time to confront ourselves As I write this column, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has just closed with a loss of over 500 points for the second time in three business days. The loss on this particular day is over 600 points and follows the first down-grade of our government’s credit in history. There is little doubt we are currently in the midst of a double-dip recession, with over 17 million Americans without a job.

Elected leaders were on the Sunday talk shows blaming each other, pointing fingers in a nasty, vitriolic manner.

Charges of the socialist agenda of President Obama and the terrorist tactics of the Tea Party ring throughout the land as the politicians run for cover.

Sounds pretty dire, don’t you think?

Actually, I don’t think so. For all of the difficult times that our nation and fellow citizens are facing, I am more hopeful today than I have been in a very long time about our mutual future.

America has always been a nation where its people have risen to meet whatever challenge we are presented with. We have always met these challenges head-on, not taking the easy way out, but rather finding a way to solve the issue and keep moving forward. I believe we are, once again, in just such a moment.

Think about it this way. For most

Ray Richardson ––––– Daily Sun Columnist Americans, it is almost impossible to get their hands around how much money 14.5 trillion dollars actually is. For many more Americans, understanding the debt ceiling concept and how it works seems like a Washington, D.C. contraption.

Understanding the down-grade of our nation’s credit, however, is something that almost all Americans can understand. They know what it means when your credit score of 750 drops to 625 and how that impacts their ability to buy a home, buy a car or get a personal loan.

Every generation is faced with a moment. When confronted with that moment, how we address it will answer the question, “Will our generation do what all previous generations have done; answer the call to keep the American Dream alive for the future?”

In the past, the “moment” has typically been to confront an enemy on a foreign land. This time, we must confront ourselves. Far too many of

us have turned the governing of our nation over to our elected leaders; washing our hands of our civic responsibility by failing to be engaged in our representative republic. This path has failed us all, and we must change our behavior.

Let me be perfectly clear. I am not blaming one party more than the other, and anyone who does is doing so for selfish or political reasons. Both parties have been reckless with our government, placing our future prosperity in doubt. Both parties have failed to lead. It is time for this nonsense to end.

We need serious people at the table seeking to solve the problem, not merely pretend they are doing something, like the debt ceiling deal, which really does nothing to stop our deficit spending.

We need an overhaul of our tax code.

It is complicated, cumbersome and has more loopholes in it that a pound of Swiss cheese. I have to assume that when they were amending the tax code, they did not intentionally design it so a company like GE can turn a $5 billion profit and pay zero taxes. This kind of thing happens all too often, but it cannot be fixed in a “nibbling around the edges” manner. It must be addressed as part of an overall, comprehensive tax reform proposal that actually makes sense for a 21st century economy.

We must get a handle on our government’s spending. Regardless of the program, if there is any hint that it might be cut or eliminated, a group rises up to fight against the cuts. It doesn’t matter if the program actually works or is even still necessary. We simply cannot sustain our prosperity when our government is borrowing 40 cents out of every dollar it spends.

Will this be easy? Of course not, there are far too many people getting a government check and capable of making loud noises when they are riled for our elected leaders not to notice. The truth is, the working people of this country must finally make their voices heard. We need our leaders to understand that we are no longer interested in their band-aid approach. It is time to solve this issue and we the people must insist that our leaders do it, or we must find new leaders who will.

This is an American issue and we must approach this as Americans, united in our commitment to preserve our prosperity and the American Dream for future generations.

(Ray Richardson is a political activist and the host of “The Ray and Ted Show,” weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WLOB 95.5/1310; 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on WPME TV. www.wlobradio.com.)

Credibility, chutzpah and debt To understand the furor over the decision by Standard & Poor’s, the rating agency, to downgrade U.S. government debt, you have to hold in your mind two seemingly (but not actually) contradictory ideas. The first is that America is indeed no longer the stable, reliable country it once was. The second is that S.& P. itself has even lower credibility; it’s the last

Paul Krugman ––––– The New York Times place anyone should turn for judgments about our nation’s prospects.

Let’s start with S.& P.’s lack of credibility. If there’s a single word that best describes the rating agency’s decision to downgrade America, it’s chutzpah — traditionally defined by the example of the young man who kills his parents, then pleads for mercy because he’s an orphan.

America’s large budget deficit is, after all, primarily the result of the

economic slump that followed the 2008 financial crisis. And S.& P., along with its sister rating agencies, played a major role in causing that crisis, by giving AAA ratings to mortgagebacked assets that have since turned into toxic waste.

Nor did the bad judgment stop there.

Notoriously, S.& P. gave Lehman see KRUGMAN page 6

The GOP acted from a common recognition of the problem FRARY from page 4

of the town clerks. The GOP chair argued that this burden amounted to a “flooding” of the polling place, which created ideal conditions for fraudulent practices.

The 60,000+ election day registrants the veto promoters continually cite certainly constitutes flooding, especially since new registrants are not evenly distributed throughout the state. So the MUSA mouthpieces (which appear to include certain members of the press) assert that there is no evidence of fraud.

Charlie takes up the challenge and, in less than

two weeks, gathers the names of 206 students registered to vote in both Maine and their native states.

The Democrats take the line that although it is not legal to vote in two states there’s no evidence of fraud. And the newspaper accounts rather skimmed over Chairman Webster’s repeated assertion that he had turned his findings over to the Secretary and State and Attorney General for their consideration and possible investigation. I was at his press conference and I heard this repetition. Instead they, in effect, demanded the results of the investigation Charlie Summers, in the meantime, is conducting his own investigations. His press conference cites one very specific case and makes repeated

references to an “on-going investigation” which will involve the Attorney General. Nevertheless we hear once again demands for more “specifics.”

Can they really believe that there are no specifics in store?

I have no doubt that they will get the specifics they wish for, and regret wishing for them.

(Professor John Frary of Farmington is a former candidate for the U.S. Congress and retired history professor, a board member of Maine Taxpayers United and an associate editor of the International Military Encyclopedia, and can be reached at: jfrary8070@aol.com.)

Two dudes with football sized shoulders cannot sit next to each other on the bus HIGGINS from page 4

off at the train station, and finding yourself at the beach less than an hour later.

One memorable summer when bereft of other transportation options, I pondered the fact that this was the last day of my vacation, and a sunny summer one at that. The temperature was projected

to go into the mid 90s, so the choice was obvious. It was off to the lake.

I fired up the old bike and started pedaling. Some odd amount of hours later, I found myself collapsed on the beach at Raymond Beach. Somehow, the ride was great, but it would take several hours of soaking before the muscles were game enough to try for the ride home.

To this day, I still can’t figure out how the ride seemed uphill, both ways.

Eventually, the whole multi-modal thing is going to get worked out. Over the last 20 years, it has gotten better. It still needs work, but Portland is getting there.

(Bob Higgins is a regular contributor to The Portland Daily Sun.)

Page 6 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

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

Flights from nowhere As a resident of Illinois, I’d never had any particular desire to fly from McCook, Neb, to Denver. But lately, I’ve been looking for an opportunity.

Turns out the federal government is willing to pay me a handsome fee to do it.

Oh, I wouldn’t get the cash directly.

But the Department of Transportation provides more than $2 million to subsidize that particular route, which works out to about $1,000 for every passenger. My fare, meanwhile, would be less than $150.

I could get an even bigger hand on the hop from Lewistown, Mont., to Billings — $1,343. But if I’m feeling the need for indulgence, there is nothing to beat the flight from Ely, Nev., to Denver, for which Washington will kick in $3,720. For that sum, of course, it could buy me a perfectly functional used car.

These extravagances are part of the Essential Air Service initiative, which is part of the reason for the recent congressional impasse over a bill to keep the Federal Aviation Administration operating.

The House voted to trim $16 million from this $200 million program by eliminating service to 13 places — which, in an era of fiscal shortages, sounds reasonable enough. But the Senate balked and eventually passed

Steve Chapman ––––– Creators Syndicate the bill on the understanding that the administration could continue the service to those towns. The feeling of many senators is that it’s essential to their survival.

Really? Among the towns that would lose funding is Athens, Ga., the bustling site of the University of Georgia, which will not blow away if people have to drive or take the bus to Atlanta instead of flying those 82 miles. Another is Lancaster, Penn., which boasts a low unemployment rate and easy proximity to the Harrisburg airport, 28 miles away.

But the program does have real value, as an illustration of the pathology of Washington policymaking.

Essential Air Service was created in 1978 as a temporary measure to assure commercial flights to smaller towns after the deregulation of the airline industry.

The program has lasted three times longer than its original 10-year limit, even as transportation options have improved.

The number of small towns served by airlines actually rose after deregulation.

The Government Accountability Office noted in 2009 that it “loses potential passengers and fare revenue when low fares or more convenient air service schedules at nearby larger airports encourage passengers to bypass EAS service at their local airport.”

That’s one reason the demand for these trips is modest. The Lewistonto-Billings leg normally attracts two people a day. The average subsidized flight in 2008, said GAO, was only 37 percent full, compared to 80 percent on the typical commercial flight.

The rationale for the program is hard to grasp, given that there are less insane options. Instead of laying out $679 for each passenger flying from Decatur, Ill., to St. Louis, the federal government could spend $40 on a bus ticket.

Even some of the beneficiaries find it all a bit much. Mike Olson, executive director of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island, told the Omaha World-Herald, “It’s a waste of fuel, a waste of a lot of taxpayer dollars to fly one or two people, or three people, at most a handful a day.”

But the program survives because most states get some aid and every state has two senators, who usually hang on to every federal dollar as if it

were a Super Bowl ticket.

Nor do politicians like to tell these communities the obvious facts of life.

Small towns are ideal if you have an aversion to crime, congestion, noise, high rents and scarce parking. But if good travel connections are your priority, maybe you should live elsewhere.

The Essential Air Service program benefits enormously from the fact that, on the galactic scale of the federal budget, it amounts to space debris. Cut off the 150 communities subsidized by the program, and Congress would hear plenty of squawking, and for what? To save $200 million, which is hardly enough to notice in an age of trillion-dollar deficits.

That’s the problem with reducing the federal budget. You can’t cut the big stuff because it’s too important.

And you can’t cut the small stuff because it’s not worth the bother.

So as a rule, nothing shrinks and nothing disappears. In Washington, problems come and go, but solutions are forever.

(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.)

There’s no reason to take Friday’s downgrade of America seriously KRUGMAN from page 5

Brothers, whose collapse triggered a global panic, an A rating right up to the month of its demise. And how did the rating agency react after this A-rated firm went bankrupt? By issuing a report denying that it had done anything wrong.

So these people are now pronouncing on the creditworthiness of the United States of America?

Wait, it gets better. Before downgrading U.S. debt, S.& P. sent a preliminary draft of its press release to the U.S. Treasury. Officials there quickly spotted a $2 trillion error in S.& P.’s calculations. And the error was the kind of thing any budget expert should have gotten right. After discussion, S.& P. conceded that it was wrong — and downgraded America anyway, after removing some of the economic analysis from its report.

As I’ll explain in a minute, such budget estimates shouldn’t be given much weight in any case. But the episode hardly inspires confidence in S.& P.’s judgment.

NINA’S 1706 FOREST AVE., PORTLAND, ME • 878-0752

•

Italians •Pizza •Dinners •Burgers •French Fries •Wraps •Lottery

2 Breakfast Sandwiches $5.00 FREE SMALL COFFEE w/purchase Monday-Friday 5:30am–9pm Saturday 8am-9pm • Sunday 9am-8pm

More broadly, the rating agencies have never given us any reason to take their judgments about national solvency seriously. It’s true that defaulting nations were generally downgraded before the event.

But in such cases the rating agencies were just following the markets, which had already turned on these problem debtors.

And in those rare cases where rating agencies have downgraded countries that, like America now, still had the confidence of investors, they have consistently been wrong. Consider, in particular, the case of Japan, which S.& P. downgraded back in 2002. Well, nine years later Japan is still able to borrow freely and cheaply. As of Friday, in fact, the interest rate on Japanese 10-year bonds was just 1 percent.

So there is no reason to take Friday’s downgrade of America seriously. These are the last people whose judgment we should trust.

And yet America does have big problems.

These problems have very little to do with shortterm or even medium-term budget arithmetic. The U.S. government is having no trouble borrowing to cover its current deficit. It’s true that we’re building up debt, on which we’ll eventually have to pay interest. But if you actually do the math, instead of intoning big numbers in your best Dr. Evil voice, you discover that even very large deficits over the next few years will have remarkably little impact on U.S. Summer Special: 60’x20’ $1935 Includes Everything!

D

R

& P AV IN G & S EA L C O ATIN G Recycled Asphalt Lawn Building

Paving Sealcoating

Call Us For All Your Asphalt Needs!

(Office) 207-247-8706 (Cell) 207-281-2224

drpaving@roadrunner.com

fiscal sustainability.

No, what makes America look unreliable isn’t budget math, it’s politics. And please, let’s not have the usual declarations that both sides are at fault.

Our problems are almost entirely one-sided — specifically, they’re caused by the rise of an extremist right that is prepared to create repeated crises rather than give an inch on its demands.

The truth is that as far as the straight economics goes, America’s long-run fiscal problems shouldn’t be all that hard to fix. It’s true that an aging population and rising health care costs will, under current policies, push spending up faster than tax receipts.

But the United States has far higher health costs than any other advanced country, and very low taxes by international standards. If we could move even part way toward international norms on both these fronts, our budget problems would be solved.

So why can’t we do that? Because we have a powerful political movement in this country that screamed “death panels” in the face of modest efforts to use Medicare funds more effectively, and preferred to risk financial catastrophe rather than agree to even a penny in additional revenues.

The real question facing America, even in purely fiscal terms, isn’t whether we’ll trim a trillion here or a trillion there from deficits. It is whether the extremists now blocking any kind of responsible policy can be defeated and marginalized.

P a u lP in k h a m N A B a ck B a y A u to OW

T

372 PRESUMPSCOT STREET • PORTLAND, MAINE BUYING REPAIRABLE LATE MODEL CARS— body damage and mechanical problems okay.

(207)76 1-56 86 25 Years Experience Domestic & Foreign Dependable Auto Repair

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011— Page 7

County leaders put Civic Center renovation on ballot

BY MATTHEW ARCO THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

A $33 million proposal to renovate the Cumberland County Civic Center will appear on the November ballot as a bond referendum, county officials decided Monday.

Commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of putting the item before the voters to decide whether to invest in the roughly 35-year-old building. Officials voted following a brief public hearing on the renovation proposal during the commission’s regular monthly meeting.

“We need to paint, we need to patch,” said Commissioner Richard Feeney. “We can’t keep on doing that.”

Feeney was joined by Commissioner James Cloutier in voting to approve putting the matter before voters.

“I think it adds a lot to our quality of life,” said Cloutier, referring to the Civic Center, home to the Portland Pirates hockey team. “In the end it’s all about Maine supporting the quality of life we’ve built for ourselves.”

Commissioner Susan Witonis opposed the measure.

“At this point I cannot … support sending this to a referendum for the citizens of Cumberland County,” said Witonis, adding that it was a difficult decision but that she could not support the measure in such tough economic times.

The commission also voted to approve allocating $1 million annually in county funds to help pay for the renovations if the measure gets voter support in November.

The funds will come from an estimated $2.1 million annual revenue that went to support building a new county jail.

The vote came at the heels of months of lengthy discussion on the proposal and after four public meetings.

The chairman of the center’s board of trustees, Neal Pratt, warned before the vote that opting out of any renovations could ultimately be more expensive.

“The cost of doing nothing … arguably will cost

It marks ‘very beginning’ of ordinance enforcement GRAFFITI from page one

"Over the course of the officer's investigating he found graffiti markers on one of them," he said. "(It) matched up with the graffiti that had been done."

Rogers said two mailboxes and two street signs were tagged with a heart shaped symbol.

The couple was charged with criminal mischief, prohibition against application of graffiti, and Sinnott was also charged with possession of a graffiti instrument, Rogers said.

"This really is the very beginning of this enforcement under the ordinance," said Trish McAllister, Portland's neighborhood persecutor, who helped draft the new rule.

The ordinance gives officials a better angle for combating graffiti around Portland, she said.

"If the (District Attorney) either chooses not to pursue the criminal (charges) or maybe even loses the case because the burden of proof is so high, I can still be there prosecuting under the civil ordinance with a lower burden of proof," she said.

Violators of the new rule face a fine of at least $500 fine, plus the additional costs incurred for cleaning the tagging, as well as no less than 25 hours of community service, according to the ordinance.

Possession of graffiti paraphernalia is an additional fine of up to $250.

"It gives us very specific remedies in the cases where we catch taggers, like this case," McAllister said. "Whereas criminal mischief is a very broad crime, the civil infraction of applying graffiti (involves) very specific charges."

The ordinance went into effect July 20.

taxpayers more money than the proposal we have on the table,” he said, adding that “the recognition of the need (for renovations among trustees) is universal.”

He reasoned that ongoing necessary maintenance for the aging building, and a decrease in future revenue if the center does not stay competitive, would make the Civic Center a more expensive project if nothing is done at the present.

He said the trustees have discussed on multiple occasions the possibility of building an entirely new structure, saying those proposals were scrapped when they discovered the cost would likely exceed $100 million.

The renovations would include bringing the building in compliance with American Disabilities Act guidelines; expanding the size of the building, loading dock and vendor area; adding club seating; and

improving facilities for the Portland Pirates.

“It’s a pretty thorough renovation of the building that I think will take us another 25 years,” said Paul Stevens, architect for the renovation proposal. “I think we have a good plan to proceed with.”

Before the vote, the commission heard from two residents who spoke in opposition to putting the proposal on the November ballot.

“Even if the case for renovation is compelling, the timing is simply not right,” said Dave Canarie. “This is just simply not the time for more debt.”

Canarie also wondered whether other areas of the county should have to pay for the Portland facility.

Three residents spoke in favor of the proposal and seeing it on the ballot.

“I’m very concerned that this bond issue may not pass, and I very much want it to pass,” said Carleton Winslow. “I think this is the time to do it.”

Page 8 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Invasion of the Japanese beetles Expert: ‘If you’re lucky, you don’t have them, if you’re unlucky, you get hit’

BY DAVID CARKHUFF THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

The hottest July on record in Portland may offer one fringe benefit for next year's gardeners: fewer Japanese beetles.

For now, growers, you're on your own.

Kathy Murray. entomologist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, said a snowy winter may have insulated the baby beetles, which infest lawns, so that could explain what some describe as a bumper crop of adult beetles this summer.

"Populations do just go up and down based on weather conditions and overwintering survival," she noted.

"We had a lot of snow and it probably encouraged survival of the adult beetles by insulating the ground," Murray said.

But the heart of the summer, around July 4, is when the adult beetles lay their eggs, and dry, hot weather can knock down the larval populations, she noted. This July was the hottest on record in Portland, with several days exceeding 90 degrees. This may be good news for next year's gardeners.

"We've had a pretty dry summer this summer; even if we're having a lot of Japanese beetles now, their eggs may not survive," Murray said.

But for this summer, it's all hands

Japanese beetles cling to roses at the Deering Oaks Rose Circle Monday, chewing on the petals and leaves. A snowy winter may have insulated the ground, giving protection to the larval stage of the beetle. (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTOS)

on deck for attacking the perennial pest. The beetle damages lawns as a baby and feeds on over 400 species of plants as an adult. The Japanese beetle is described by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the most widespread turf-grass pest in the United States, costing an estimated $234 million per year just for damage done in the larval stage.

This summer, Japanese beetles are alive and well in Portland, ransacking plants in numerous private gardens and feasting on the beetle's favorite dish, the rose, at the city's premier arboretum, the Deering Oaks Rose Circle.

The Rose Circle is one of 134 rose gardens in the United States that the American Rose Society allows to previews its "All American Rose Selections." It's not hard to see that the Japanese beetle has invaded the Deering Oaks Rose Circle with its roughly 600 rose bushes. Adult beetles are bunched up and snacking on several different varieties of roses in the circle, and the city's forestry department is waging hand-to-beetle combat.

"We are seeing plenty in the Deering Oaks rose garden, where we hand pick them and place them in soapy water," said city arborist Jeff Tarling.

The city and state both encourage nonpesticidal responses to pests, and city crews literally drown the beetles by hand.

"You can just take a bucket of soapy water, put it under a plant and shake the plant," Murray said.

Murray said the beetles fall into the soapy water, where the soap plugs up the beetles' breathing and kills them.

Plants can be covered to prevent predation, and low-risk pesticides that repel adults include Neem, sold as Neemix and Bioneem, Murray said.

A parasitic fly released by USDA almost 30 years ago, the winsome fly, also is a tool to kill beetles — any beetle spotted with a white fleck on it should not be killed, because it probably harbors the beneficial parasite, officials note. But this parasite may be diminishing in its effectiveness, Murray worried.

"It has really knocked back populations of Japanese beetles in Maine in recent years, but this year I don't think it has been nearly as active," she said. "My own personal observation was at least in Central Maine there don't seem to be as many Japanese beetles that are being attacked by this fly."

People in the same neighborhood

can experience infestations or avoid outbreaks altogether.

"It's almost like these pop-up thunderstorms, if you're lucky, you don't have them, if you're unlucky, you get hit," said insect diagnostician Clay Kirby with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension pest management office.

Kirby said he fields calls every year on Japanese beetles. He urged a game plan for gardeners.

"Be vigilant and decide early on if they show up what you're going to do," he said.

"People have gotten mixed results with those Japanese beetle traps, and we're not really recommending those," Kirby added. "If people want to use those they should put them away from what they want to protect."

If you're like Tarling's crew in Portland, and willing to try the hand-picking approach, Kirby said be prepared for a sustained effort. Kirby said as a kid his job was to pick Japanese beetles off his father's roses. The lesson sunk in.

"You could be out there picking several times a day and have your hands full," he said.

For more information on Japanese beetle control, visit http://umaine. edu/ipm/ipddl/publications/5037e/ or view http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ lpa/pubs/pub_phjbeetle04.pdf.

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011— Page 9

‘I think we are pretty comfortable with the market we are targeting’ HOUSING from page one

through third grade, closed in 2006 with the opening of East End Community School. In 2008, the city selected the development proposal offered by Avesta, a Portland nonprofit, to build housing on the site.

Initially, Avesta was planning to purchase the entire 1.5-acre school lot and develop up to 40 condo units, with 20 two- and three-bedrooms and 20 one-bedrooms. The concept was to have families live in the larger units and in-laws or parents living in the attached one-bedroom units.

Those plans changed in part because of the economy and in part because of other similar developments that came online elsewhere in the city, Avesta officials said last year.

The latest plans call for development of eight two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom condo units on .74-acres of land between Moody, Munjoy, Vesper and Wilson streets.

The remaining .76-acre parcel not bought by Avesta will remain city property.

Funding for the project is coming from a variety of sources, including nearly $1.7 million in federal stimulus funds and sale of the condos.

Not everyone will qualify for the units. Totman said income eligibility will be capped at 120 percent of the area median income. In real numbers, that will mean a family of four could not have a combined income of more than $87,000. For a family of three,

Avesta Housing officials are hoping for final planning board approval tonight on a planned $5.9 million redevelopment of the former Adams School site.

Here, an artist’s rendering offers a glimpse of what the new housing will look like. (COURTESY IMAGE)

that limit is about $78,000.

Avesta expects to sell the two-bedroom units for $225,000 and the threebedroom units for about $275,000.

A year ago, Avesta pegged the sale prices at $215,000 for two-bedrooms and $260,000 for three-bedroom units.

Totman said there have already been multiple inquiries about the units, which he expects will sell despite slack demand in the city’s

A cryptozoological shout-out

Toronto-based cartoonist Ted Bastien and his comic strip, “Bugsport,” recently saluted Portland-based cryptozoologist, Loren Coleman (LEFT), curator of the International Cryptozoology Museum. The strip is based loosely on Bucksport, Maine. The International Cryptozoology Musuem, located in the back of the Green Hand bookstore, is a unique draw that lures some tourists up to the Longfellow Square area. Coleman leads tours of the museum, which contains memorabilia from his days of hunting “hidden animals” such as Bigfoot.

(Cartoon image courtesy of Ted Bastien)

condo market.

“Having an affordable condo, which is what these will be, I think we are pretty comfortable with the market we are targeting,” he said.

After several design iterations and a three-year lead time, Totman said he is “thrilled” that the project is moving forward, which will create jobs and reinvigorate a vacant section of Munjoy Hill.

The former school building has already been demolished in preparation for construction.

Pending planning board approval, Avesta expects the project will go out to bid in September and for construction to begin in October or November.

The project is expected to take about a year, start to finish.

The planning board meets tonight at 7 p.m. in room 209 at City Hall.

DAILY CROSSWORD TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES

by Lynn Johnston

By Holiday Mathis SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).

Children want to be grownups, and grownups want to return to a life of few responsibilities and limited liability.

Make the novel choice -- enjoy your age. You could start a trend.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21).

You’ll plan your workout well, though unpredictable events will challenge that plan. Your strength is your astounding adaptability. You could even be promoted for this talent in the weeks to come.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).

Just because someone is a supporter of yours doesn’t mean that an exchange will be easy. Dealing with good friends could cause you much more stress than it’s worth now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).

There is little to be gained from fame.

Pursue usefulness instead. That is what will make you happy and wealthy. Capricorn and Virgo people will be helpful business partners.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Get on top of the wave, and you’ll glide like the freest of beings. Get underneath it, and you’ll be pummeled and dragged down. So make a strong effort to leap up and take the ride that’s offered.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (August 9).

You have serious projects to complete this year, so you plan well, guard your time and keep everything on course.

October brings a victory. Your personal life sparkles with opportunity and surprises. You’ll journey with a kindred spirit in December. There will be many amusements. You’ll close a deal in May. Aquarius and Virgo people adore you.

Your lucky numbers are: 9, 25, 2, 24 and 35.

by Paul Gilligan

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your big idea is becoming a full-blown ambition. Stay theoretical. It’s not time to act yet. Seek patient, understanding and flexible teammates to help you work out the details.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Needing everything to be smooth is a detriment to success. The better you can tolerate small, bothersome details, the farther you will go in business and pleasure.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You may find that you are easily distracted by things that don’t really matter. Take it as a sign to change tracks. Go for a walk, call a friend, or do something else on that lengthy to-do list of yours.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your will is not the same as what the others want from you, though a certain loved one is so slick that you may not notice this right away. Do not make any decision when you are feeling overloaded or pressured.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Though you try not to expect too much from loved ones, you also know that patterns are likely to repeat. The one who has impressed you before will soon impress you again.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are willing to take a risk when it comes to love, but not when it comes to commerce. Keep your money where it is until you completely and thoroughly understand and trust the investment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Love erases discomfort. This afternoon, knowing that you are accepted and adored will come as a psychic relief.

And tonight, you will in turn give similar emotional support to someone else.

by Jan Eliot

HOROSCOPE

by Chad Carpenter

Solution and tips at www.sudoku.com

TUNDRA Stone Soup Pooch Café For Better or Worse LIO

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, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

ACROSS 1 Short rest 4 __ of; before 9 Rainbows 13 Perched upon 15 Windowsill, for example 16 Jump 17 Monotonous speaker 18 Book leaves 19 Take apart 20 Cruel 22 Maximum 23 Debt demands 24 Long, long time 26 Drink 29 Filled tortillas 34 Acting parts 35 “__ makes waste” 36 Groove 37 Actor Sandler 38 “Oh, for __ sake!”

39 Autry or Kelly 40 One of JFK’s brothers

41 Mistake 42 Explorer __ de Leon 43 November 2012 event in the U.S.A. 45 __ off; fell asleep 46 __ cream cone 47 Unwanted plant 48 Voting alliance 51 Long, wavy strips blowing in the wind 56 Dubuque, __ 57 Goody 58 __ and pepper 60 In the sack 61 Depart 62 “__ White and the Seven Dwarfs” 63 Fountain order 64 Middle East nation 65 Classic Pontiac

1 2

DOWN Capture Tiny particle

3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Skin opening Of the Matterhorn’s range Makes well Border Gets older Crème brûlée and apple pie Graduates City in Nevada Scoundrels Blemish By the day, as some are paid Chicago team Unrefined gold Furious Fashion show participant Part of a knife __ Rouge, LA Consumer General tendency 1/16 of a pound Spirited horse

35 Big sandwich 38 Of the clergy 39 Athena or Aphrodite 41 And so forth: abbr.

42 “The Raven” or “Evangeline” 44 Crop-destroying bug

45 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 55 59

Straighten up Use a loom Unfair slant Gray wolf Had debts Ash or alder Enlarge a hole Pealed Thin opening Couple

Saturday’s Answer

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011— Page 11

––––––– ALMANAC ––––––– Today is Tuesday, Aug. 9, the 221st day of 2011. There are 144 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Aug. 9, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received British Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard the USS Augusta off Newfoundland; this was their first encounter as the leaders of their respective countries. The talks resulted in the Atlantic Charter defining goals for a post-war world.

On this date: In 1842, the United States and Canada resolved a border dispute by signing the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.

In 1854, Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden,” which described Thoreau’s experiences while living near Walden Pond in Massachusetts, was first published.

In 1902, Edward VII was crowned king of Britain following the death of his mother, Queen Victoria.

In 1910, the U.S. Patent Office granted Alva J. Fisher of the Hurley Machine Co. a patent for an electrically powered washing machine.

In 1936, Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Berlin Olympics as the United States took first place in the 400-meter relay.

In 1945, three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, the United States exploded a nuclear device over Nagasaki, killing an estimated 74,000 people.

In 1969, actress Sharon Tate and four other people were found brutally slain at Tate’s Los Angeles home; cult leader Charles Manson and a group of his followers were later convicted of the crime.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon and his family left the White House as his resignation took effect.

In 1995, Jerry Garcia, lead singer of the Grateful Dead, died in Forest Knolls, Calif., of a heart attack at age 53.

One year ago: A fed-up JetBlue flight attendant, Steven Slater, cursed out a passenger he said had treated him rudely, grabbed a beer and slid down the emergency chute of an Embraer 190 at New York’s Kennedy Airport.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Sam Elliott is 67. Singer Barbara Mason is 64. Actress Melanie Griffith is 54. Actress Amanda Bearse is 53. Singer Whitney Houston is 48.

Actor Pat Petersen is 45. Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is 44. Actress Gillian Anderson is 43. Actor Eric Bana is 43. Producer-director McG (aka Joseph McGinty Nichol) is 43. TV anchor Chris Cuomo is 41.

Actor Thomas Lennon is 41. Rock musician Arion Salazar is 41. Rapper Mack 10 is 40.

Actress Nikki Schieler Ziering is 40. Latin rock singer Juanes is 39. Actress Liz Vassey is 39. Actress Rhona Mitra (ROH’-nuh MEE’truh) is 36. Actor Texas Battle is 35. Actress Jessica Capshaw is 35. Actress Anna Kendrick is 26.

TUESDAY PRIME TIME Dial

8:00

5

CTN 5 Lighthouse Aging

6

WCSH

7

WPFO

8

WMTW

10

MPBN

11

WENH

8:30

It’s Worth What? Contestants team up to win a cash prize. (N) Å Hell’s Kitchen The red and blue teams compete.

(N) Å Wipeout Contestants face obstacles. (N) (In Stereo) Å NOVA “Rat Attack” Explosion in rat population. Å (DVS) Are You Keeping Being Up AppearServed? ances 90210 The gang takes a vacation in Mexico. (In Stereo) Å NCIS “Cracked” Abby becomes fixated on solving a case.

Smarter Smarter

AUGUST 9, 2011

9:00

9:30

Haskell-House

10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 Thom Hartmann Show Grit TV

America’s Got Talent YouTube acts perform in Hollywood. (N) (In Stereo Live) Å MasterChef Competing News 13 on FOX (N) for a spot in the next round. (N) Å Take the Money and Combat Hospital Bobby Run A married couple makes a controversial compete. (N) Å decision. (N) History Detectives Frontline (In Stereo) Å Woman searches for a Korean War veteran.

As Time Reggie Perrin Chris OutnumGoes By Å needs Reggie’s help. Å bered Å

Update

News

Tonight Show With Jay Leno Frasier According “Don Juan to Jim Å in Hell” News 8 Nightline WMTW at (N) Å 11PM (N) Charlie Rose (N) (In Stereo) Å

Shedding for the Wed- Entourage TMZ (N) (In ding A contestant faces a “Gary’s Stereo) Å nemesis. Å Desk” NCIS: Los Angeles The Mentalist A man’s “Rocket Man” A rocket body is found in the engine expert is killed. marina. Å Lyrics Lyrics Curb Paid Prog.

The Red Incredible Green Health-Joel Show Extra (N) Punk’d (In (In Stereo) Stereo) Å Å WGME Late Show News 13 at With David 11:00 Letterman Star Trek: Next

Auction

Auction

12

WPXT

13

WGME

17

WPME

24

DISC Auction

25

FAM Pretty Little Liars (N)

Nine Lives

Pretty Little Liars Å

The 700 Club (N) Å

26

USA Law & Order: SVU

White Collar (N) Å

Covert Affairs (N) Å

Necessary Roughness

27

NESN MLB Baseball Boston Red Sox at Minnesota Twins. (Live)

28

CSNE Golfing

30

ESPN World, Poker

31

ESPN2 WNBA Basketball: Storm at Liberty

Auction

Stick

Without a Trace Å

Auction

D. Money

D. Money

Innings

Sports

World, Poker

Baseball Tonight (N)

SportsCenter (N) Å

SportsNation Å

E:60 (N)

Criminal Minds Å

Criminal Minds Å

33

ION

34

DISN Good Luck Shake It

Movie: “Beauty and the Beast”

35

TOON Looney

King of Hill King of Hill Amer. Dad Amer. Dad Fam. Guy

36 37

Gumball

NICK BrainSurge My Wife MSNBC The Last Word

Red Sox

Ball Up Streetball

Criminal Minds Å

SportsNet Sports

Auction

Lopez

Lopez

SportsNet

Good Luck ANT Farm Vampire Fam. Guy

’70s Show ’70s Show ’70s Show ’70s Show

Rachel Maddow Show The Ed Show (N)

The Last Word

38

CNN Anderson Cooper 360

Piers Morgan Tonight

Anderson Cooper 360

John King, USA

40

CNBC Marijuana USA

60 Minutes on CNBC

CNBC Titans

Mad Money

Greta Van Susteren

The O’Reilly Factor

FNC

The O’Reilly Factor (N) Hannity (N)

43

TNT

Rizzoli & Isles Å

44

LIFE American Pickers Å

46

TLC

47

AMC Movie: ›› “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985)

48

HGTV First Place First Place Property

49

TRAV Bizarre Foods

Dining With Death

Dining With Death

Bacon Paradise Å

50

A&E Billy

Billy

Billy

Billy

41

52

Prince Harry

Billy

BRAVO Flipping Out Å

Memphis Beat (N)

HawthoRNe (N) Å

Pickers

Picker Sisters (N) Å

Pickers

Memphis Beat Å

Crazy About Pippa (N) William & Kate: Baby

Movie: ›› “Rambo: First Blood Part II” (1985)

Unsellable House Billy

Flipping Out (N) Å

Hunters Billy

House Hunters-Esc. Billy

Flipping Out Å

Flipping Out Å

Frasier

Frasier

55

HALL Little House on Prairie Frasier

56

SYFY Movie: ›› “The Cave”

Movie: › “The Hills Have Eyes 2” (2007)

“W. Craven”

57

ANIM Wild Russia Å

Wild Russia “Arctic”

Wild Russia “Urals”

Wild Russia “Arctic”

HIST Pawn

Pawn

Top Shot (N) Å

58

BET

61

COM Futurama

67 68 76

FX

South Park Tosh.0

Raymond

Frasier

Frasier

Top Shot Å

Born to Dance

The Mo’Nique Show

Tosh.0

Daily Show Colbert

Work.

Movie: ›› “Final Destination 3” (2006, Horror) Raymond

Raymond

Cleveland Divorced

The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office Conan (N)

SPIKE Auction

Auction

Auction

78

OXY The Bad Girls Club

146

TCM Movie: ›››‡ “Scarface” (1932)

DAILY CROSSWORD

BY WAYNE ROBERT WILLIAMS

Tosh.0

Movie: ››‡ “Final Destination” (2000, Horror)

TVLND All-Family All-Family Raymond TBS

Pawn

Movie: ›› “Bringing Down the House” (2003)

60

62

Pawn

Frasier

How I Met How I Met Prince Harry

Auction

The Bad Girls Club

Auction

Auction

Repo

Repo

Movie: ›› “The Wedding Planner” (2001) Å

Movie: ››› “Three on a Match”

ACROSS 1 Pain specialist 7 Piglet’s mom 10 Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, etc.

14 Christie of mysteries 15 Paid sportsman 16 In a bit, to Juliet 17 Original hometown 19 Shoshones 20 Ron who played Tarzan 21 Speck 22 Prepared to pray 23 Brush up on 26 Burn the surface of 27 Ignominy 30 Hippie drug 33 Hollywood statuette 36 Wineglass shape 37 PFC’s address 38 Healing ointments 39 NYC hours 40 Nutty pie

Movie: “Blind Alley”

42 Assent in Aix 43 Blender button 45 States with conviction 46 Santa’s toymaker 47 Weapons buildup 49 Centering points 51 Soon, poetically 55 Michael Caine film 57 Forward section of the mezzanine 59 AFL partner 60 Chestnut-andgray horse 61 Aegean island 64 Deficiency 65 O.T. book 66 Freight transporter 67 Some folding money 68 DC VIP 69 Communion tables

1 2

DOWN Cavalryman’s weapon Catlike

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 26 28 29 31 32 33

Tom’s “Splash” co-star Addams Family cousin Keep it quiet!

Odd-toed ungulates Petty dispute Killer whale Sadness Biologist’s concern Weave Book before Amos Part of MIT Covering an extended period Stay with the pack Paraffin-coated cheese Skies above __-fi Tricks Second self Practice boxing Puts on Woodwind choice

34 35 41 44 48 50 52 53

Writer Bellow Climber’s way up Mr. Knievel William Tell’s canton Franklin with soul Sounds from a sty Sunshine State city More kindly

54 Live wires 55 Woody Guthrie’s son 56 Temporary funds 57 Zap with light 58 Muscat’s place 61 Girl of the house 62 Actor Linden 63 Boring routine

Yesterday’s Answer

THE

Page 12 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS • CALL 699-5807

Services

Wanted To Buy

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.

DB Discount Lawncare- Lawn mowing, brush removal, dump runs, lowest price, neatest yard.

(207)232-9478.

I buy broken and unwanted laptops for cash, today. Highest prices paid. (207)233-5381.

Yard Sale DUMP RUNS

Animals

For Rent

For Rent

DACHSHUNDS puppies boys & girl heath & temperament guaranteed. $450. (603)539-1603.

PORTLAND- Danforth Street, 1 bedroom, heated, newly painted, hardwood floors. Modern eat-in kitchen. $850.

(207)773-1814.

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

SHIH Tzu puppies. Females only. Heath & temperament guaranteed. $450.

(603)539-1603.

PORTLAND- Maine MedicalStudio, 1/ 2 bedroom. Heated, off street parking, newly renovated. $475-$875.

(207)773-1814.

Autos PORTLAND- Munjoy Hill- 3 bedrooms, newly renovated.

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

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Electrolux • Kirby • Panasonic • Eureka • Orek • Electrolux • Kirby • Panasonic •

From the company you’ve trusted for over 80 years

15% Discount on Service (minimum $50 purchase)

Can service & supply all makes and models of vacuums 352 Warren Ave. Portland Give us a call at 207-871-8610 or toll free 1-888-358-3589

• Eureka • Orek • Electrolux • Kirby • Panasonic •

Eureka • Orek • Electrolux • Kirby • Panasonic • Eureka • Orek • Electrolux

• Eureka • Orek • Electrolux • Kirby • Panasonic •

WESTBROOK large room eff. furnished, utilities pd includes cable. Non-smokers only. No pets. $195/wkly (207)318-5443.

For Rent-Commercial

BUYING all unwanted metals. $800 for large loads. Cars, trucks, heavy equipment. Free removal. (207)776-3051.

~Since 1924~

Real Estate

75 Oak Street, Portland, ME • www.taichichihstudio.com

Benefits of Tai Chi Chih Blood Pressure Control • Weight Control Improved Focus/Creativity • Improved Bone Density Arthritis Relief • Improved Balances & Flexibility Improved Sleep • Increased Sense of Serenity To set up private or group classes call (207)518-9375 or email Raymond Reid at miloshamus@yahoo.com

READY TO BUILD BERLIN- LAND FOR SALE with FOUNDATION

575 Hillside Ave. .23 acre lot, nice residential location, 1600sf foundation, water septic in place.

Asking $22,000 Call (603)986-6451

PORTLAND Art District- Art studios, utilities. First floor. Adjacent to 3 occupied studios. $325 (207)773-1814.

St. Judes - $5

845 Forest Ave., Portland 772-8436

Wet basements, cracked or buckling walls, crawl space problems, backed by 40 years experience. Guaranteed 603-356-4759 rwnpropertyservices.com.

YARD SALE Special

15 words or less for 3 days

$5.00

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

We Fix All Brands!

FREE APPLIANCE DISPOSAL Why pay excessive transfer station disposal fees?

All Central Vacuums

• Refrigerators/ Freezers • Air Conditioners • Dehumidifiers/ Humidifiers • Washers/ Dryers • Stoves/Ovens • Microwave Ovens • Household White Goods

Over 35 Years Experience

Electrolux Kenmore

15% Discount on Bags & Parts

Westbrook 797-9800 • Windham 892-5454

RO ST

U D WAT E

TIRE

www.stroudwaterauto.com for special offers and discount coupons 656 Stroudwater St. Westbrook • 854-0415

HOPE

Computer Sales and Service

Green State Resource Recovery (207)318-9781 Freon and Refrigerant Recovery Service Universal Waste Specialists • EPA and Maine DEP compliant

D & M AUTO REPAIR

R

AUTO

Miracle on 424 Main Street

“A Local Company Selling American Made Products”

PERSONAL care assistant, respite care, full-time, part-time days, nights, and fill-in. 25 years experience. 207-807-1011.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

The Bradley Foundation of Maine

HOME APPLIANCE CENTER

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

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

SOUTH Paris Coin/ Marble Show- 8/20/11, American Legion Post 72, 12 Church St, 8-2pm.

(802)266-8179. Free admission.

Automotive Repair Foreign & Domestic

“We want the privilege of serving you”

MAJOR & MINOR REPAIRS Auto Electronic Diagnosis

Cooling Systems • Brakes • Exhaust Check Shocks • Struts • Tune-ups Engine State Inspection • Timing Belts Lights Valve Jobs • Engine Work Interstate Batteries • Towing Available

DICK STEWART • MIKE CHARRON • 767-0092 1217 Congress St., Portland, ME 04102

PORTLAND AUTO RADIATOR Established 1948

FULL AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES The Best Place in Town to Take a Leak

Serving Seniors over 55 and the Disabled Computers starting at only $50.00 includes Microsoft Office 2007 Professional Plus & Microsoft Antivirus We service what we sell for $15.00 an hour!

Open for sales to the general public.

Westbrook, ME • 591-5237 Mon-Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Summer is here!

DON’T OVERHEAT *A/C Service *Coolant Flushes 1129 Forest Ave., Portland • 207-797-3606

SHOP THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES To advertise on this page talk to your ad rep or contact 207-699-5801 or ads@portlanddailysun.me

THE

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011— Page 13

CLASSIFIEDS PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Acadia Tree Service 577-7788 Climb • Cut • Prune • Remove • Crane Service Licensed – Insured – References

Acadia Landscaping 272-2411 Design – Installation – Maintenance

Why Pay More??? www.acadiatreeservice.com

ZOOM IN ON A BUYER!

Advertise your goods and services in the Classifieds and reach thousands of potential buyers daily.

Call today to place your ad and make a sale quickly.

The Daily Sun Classifieds Aggregate Center Opening Soon! 600 Riverside St., Portland

ANNIE’S MAILBOX Dear Annie: My son is being emotionally tortured by his teenage daughters. He has been divorced from their mother for years, but has always been there for his kids. He’s never missed a support payment and shares responsibility for them.

Now the 17-year-old is terrorizing him. My son recently remarried, and the girl hates his wife, who happens to be a very nice young woman. The teenager also encourages her younger sister to do the same. It got so bad that his new wife had to tell my granddaughter that she was no longer welcome in their home. All this nasty behavior is being encouraged by the ex-wife. How can I help? I’m a grandparent trapped in the middle. I don’t want to lose my granddaughter by taking my son’s side in front of her, but I can hardly sit back and see him hurt over and over by her awful behavior. I love her and her sister, too. What should I do? -- Lost in Frustration Dear Lost: It is not uncommon for children of divorced parents to wish their parents would get back together. When your son remarried, it interfered with your granddaughter’s fantasy world, and she is punishing him, hoping to break up his marriage and put things back the way they were. Unfortunately, the more likely scenario is that she will create a longterm estrangement from her father.

Urge your son to get counseling for both his children to help them deal with their hostility and remaining problems with the divorce. If they are too difficult to have around the new wife, Dad should visit them outside his home. He should not stop seeing them regardless of their horrific behavior, since that will only exacerbate their anger and sense of abandonment. As the grandmother, please stay close to those girls, and help them mature into understanding and tolerant adults.

Dear Annie: Please tell me how to handle this. Last year, we gave our son a big graduation party and invited lots of

friends and tons of relatives. Of all the family members, including aunts and cousins, only two showed up. Yet when another nephew had a graduation party two weeks later, all of these same relatives were there. Do these people not realize the hurt feelings this causes?

We have now been invited to a delayed graduation party for a niece whose parents did not bother to come to our event.

Frankly, we don’t feel like attending.

This kind of slight has happened before with these family members, but we attended their events anyway out of obligation. We felt resentful and still do. If we decide not to attend this party, how do I respond when asked why I wasn’t there?

-- Nebraska Dear Nebraska: You smile politely and say, “Sorry, we had other plans.” No other explanation is necessary.

Dear Annie: I read the letter from “Unwilling,” who didn’t want to bring an appetizer to a friend’s party.

I don’t know what the big problem is. Throwing a party may be fun, but it’s a lot of hard work. Why can’t the host ask a couple of good friends to bring something? I always offer. Usually, I am flattered to be asked, because it means they enjoy my cooking and trust that I will bring something awesome. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think she should feel obligated to bring an item to a party. Her reaction just seemed a tad extreme. -- Gracious Guest in N.C. Dear Guest: Some people perceive the role of host as the person who sends the invitations, while the guests are expected to pay for the actual event by supplying the food, etc. This may be fine when it is an informal gathering among friends, and a good friend should not be offended when asked to bring something. However, if you are issuing a formal invitation to a major event, the host pays. Period. If you cannot afford a fancy bash, you have a more modest one.

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

As markets reel, consumers could get a break on gas prices HOUSTON (The New York Times) — The growing gloom about the economy has pushed down oil and gasoline prices, along with the prices of an array of other commodities. And while that could mean more spending power for consumers, perhaps tempering any possible downturn, the steep drop in energy prices reflects worries that economic activity is headed in the wrong direction.

Since April, the price of the American benchmark crude oil has fallen by roughly $30 a barrel, with more than half the drop occurring in just the last two weeks. On Monday, oil closed at $81.31 a barrel, down more than 6 percent. The decline in recent months is the most rapid in nearly three years, when oil and gasoline prices collapsed in response to the financial crisis.

As a result, drivers could see a gallon of regular gasoline selling for a national average of as little as $3.25 next month, a drop of more than 40 cents from current levels, according to economists.

While that will be helpful for many consumers, who recently were paying $4 a gallon in some states, the decline is a byproduct of “a pretty sick economy,” said Allen L. Sinai, chief global economist for Decision Economics, a consulting firm.

“Crude oil futures are economically sensitive, so the picture for us and the world economy is bleak,” Mr. Sinai said.

Still, lower oil and gas prices do provide a modest economic lift. Some economists compare them to a tax cut since they put extra dollars in people’s pockets, offsetting a bit of the pain caused by a weak job market, soft home prices and evaporating investment portfolios. Falling fuel costs are especially good news for lower-income families, particularly in rural areas where people drive long distances.

The average household consumes 1,200 gallons of gasoline a year, which translates into a $120 annual savings for every dime shaved off the price of gas, according to Fred Rozell, director of retail pricing at the Oil Price Information Service.

“Everybody is helped when gasoline prices come down,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist for the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The rule of thumb of many economists is that every $10 drop in the price of a barrel of oil increases economic growth by 0.2 to 0.3 percentage point, although in the event of a broad economic slowdown, that increase is likely to be offset by other factors, such as cutbacks in consumer spending and business investment, economists say.

Lower energy prices bring down expenses for some businesses that are heavily dependent on oil, like airlines, freight delivery services and makers of plastics and fertilizers.

Michael C. Lynch, president of Strategic Energy and Economic Research, a consulting firm, estimated that the drop in oil prices over the last couple of weeks alone could translate into yearly savings of $13.5 billion for commercial truck fleets, $5 billion in savings for small trucks and local delivery fleets, $5 billion for domestic airlines and $1.4 billion for railroads.

Over all, the decline in oil prices since the spring, if it persists, could save the United States economy as much as $270 million a day in transportation costs, or almost $100 billion a year, according to researchers at the Oil Price Information Service.

Few consumers seem to be celebrating yet.

Shoppers interviewed at a grocery store in downtown Houston on Thursday night, after the Dow fell more than 500 points, said they were more worried about their jobs and stock prices than the cost of a gallon of gas.

Ericka Schiche, a 40-year-old real estate agent, said: “If prices go down and stay down for a long time, it matters. But they’re saying there is going to be another recession, and the new recession may be longer than the last one.”

But for those looking for a silver lining to the cloudy outlook, lower gas and oil prices offer the prospects of some, albeit limited, relief.

Page 14 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

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

Tuesday, Aug. 9 Samuel James acoustic blues; free concert series in Portland noon to 1 p.m. With a full schedule of diverse free events, there is something for everyone to enjoy each week in downtown Portland. Post Office Park, Congress Square and Lobsterman’s Park provide perfect venues for live music, talented local performers and activities for kids.

Whether during a lunch break or with the kids, downtown Portland’s free events are not to be missed.

Weekday Performance Series — Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m.

Enjoy your lunch outside and be entertained by Portland’s best talented performers! Congress Square: Aug. 9, Samuel James acoustic blues. A roots troubadour of the highest order, James will sing you a song with raw, sweat-pouring soul, all the while playing the guitar with such commanding virtuosity you’ll swear he’s reinventing it. Then he’ll tell you a story enrapturing you to the point where you’ll almost forget he’s a musician. Aug. 16, West African rhythms with Annegret Baier. Annegret Baier will present West African rhythms and songs on authentic drums and percussion instruments! Brought to you by WPXT, WPME, WHOM, mainetoday.com, raisingmaine. com For more information and a full schedule of free summer events visit portlandmaine.com or call772.6828.

Nagasaki Commemoration in Post Office Park noon to 1 p.m. “Peace Action Maine and Pax Christi Maine will co-sponsor an hour long commemoration of bombing of Nagasaki in the closing days of World War II. In addition to readings of poetry, prayers and the sounds of a Buddhist meditation bowl, music will be provided by Ted Musgrave. The event is scheduled to end at 1 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend this moving event and to rededicate ourselves to the abolition of the stockpiling of nuclear weapons and the keeping of nuclear weapons on alert status. We hope to educate the participants about the current status of efforts to reduce nuclear stockpiles and Comprehensive Nuclear Test Band treaty. For more information, contact Wells Staley-Mays at 409-0778 or e-mail him at guide.freedomtrail1850@yahoo.com.”

‘It Hasteth Away’ book talk POSTPONED noon. Book talk: “It Hasteth Away,” Randy Purinton, author.

Maine Historical Society. Postponed for a family emergency.

Smokey Bear at the Sea Dogs 7 p.m. A beloved American icon — Smokey Bear — is celebrating his 67th birthday this year with a special appearance this week at a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game. To celebrate his birthday and remind people to be careful with all outdoor fires, Smokey Bear will throw out the first pitch at the Portland Seadogs game at Hadlock Field in Portland.

“Smokey Bear is celebrating his special birthday and continuing to remind Americans that ‘Only You Can Prevent Wildfires,’” said Kent Nelson, Maine Forest Service fire prevention specialist, under the Maine Department of Conservation. “Smokey’s message is just as relevant today as it was 67 years ago, when he first was found as an orphaned cub in a dangerous wildfire in New Mexico.”

Wednesday, Aug. 10 Bowling with the Sea Dogs 10:30 a.m. to noon. The Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have partnered with The Big 20 Bowling Center and 99.9 “The Wolf” to host “Bowling with the Sea Dogs” to benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. The bowling event will take place at the Big 20 Bowling Center in Scarborough. The registration fee to bowl with the Sea Dogs is $25 per person and $100 for a team of five. Bowlers may register online at www.seadogs.com and www.999thewolf.com.

WENA picnic 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The annual West End Neighborhood Association picnic is planned; festivities will take place on the Salem Street block between Brackett and Clark streets.

Grill will be located in the driveway at 30 Salem. www.

WENAMaine.org

Did Lincoln Really…..?

7:30 p.m. Illustrated program by Gerald Prokopowicz, former Lincoln Scholar, Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Ind. Fifth Maine Regiment Museum, 45 Seashore Ave., Peaks Island. Admission is $5. “Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most compelling figures in American history. Join Dr. Prokopowicz for an interactive evening of frequently asked questions about this popular and revered president. The Fifth Maine Regiment Museum is a nonprofit museum and cultural center housed in the 1888 Fifth Maine Regiment Memorial Hall. Its mission is the preservation of Civil War and local history. To that end the museum offers a wide

The fourth annual Picnic Music+Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27, at Lincoln Park. (FILE PHOTO) variety of lectures, concerts, tours, youth education programs, and community activities. Membership is open to the public. For more information call 766-3330 or email fifthmaine@juno.com.

Pulled: Members Reception 5:30 p.m. This event is open to SPACE and PMA Members only and is free, all ages. “Together with the Portland Museum of Art we are hosting a member’s preview of Mike Perry’s new exhibit Pulled, with a slide talk and a book signing where Mike will be hand screen printing directly on the books! This event is open to SPACE Gallery and PMA members only. Pulled will be available in the Museum Store along with some of Mike’s earlier books.”

‘The Wiz’ by Maine State Music Theatre 7:30 p.m. Maine State Music Theatre presents “The Wiz,” a Tony Award-winning musical that follows the well-known tale of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Lion as they travel through the Land of Oz, “but it adds a dazzling and lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul music made popular in the 1970s. This show is a mysterious, opulent and fancily journey that follows a beloved story of courage, brains, heart and home.” Pickard Theatre, Bowdoin College, Brunswick. August 10 to Aug. 27. www.msmt.org, 725-8769.

Thursday, Aug. 11 United Maine Craftsmen’s Cumberland Arts & Crafts Show at the Cumberland Fairgrounds 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In its 42nd year. “Show your local support, Buy Maine Made! Join us for the largest craft show in Maine, featuring over 250 of Maine’s talented artisans. On Saturday, help us feed Maine’s hungry and ‘Stuff the Truck’ for the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Donate and receive a free admission pass for Sunday. On Sunday purchase local produce from the Farmer’s Market. Free Parking, Food Vendors, Rain or Shine. Admission: $4, children under 12 free.

Cumberland Fairgrounds, 197 Blanchard Road Cumberland. Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.unitedmainecraftsmen.com

Concert at Fort Allen Park: The McCarthys 7 p.m. “We’re putting the band back in the bandstand at Fort Allen Park!” In July and August, Friends of the Eastern Promenade scheduled seven Thursday evening concerts.

The McCarthys (Country Rock). Sponsored by Kemp Goldberg Partners. Other concerts: Thursday, Aug. 18 — Banda di Nepi (Community Band from Italy). Sponsored by the Italian Heritage Center.

The Femme Show 8 p.m. The Femme Show returns to Portland for a one-night only engagement at the Mayo Arts Center at 10 Mayo St., Portland. Tickets are available for $12 in advance, $15 at the door. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/183293. Local guests will include The Dirty Dishes, Miss Amy Rain, Lisa Bunker and Ms. Gingerita. “The Femme Show is queer art

for queer people, with a variety of diverse perspectives on queer femininity that can be thoughtful, sad, funny, sexy, and fun. In October of 2007, the first-ever Femme Show sold out and received rave reviews from audience members who called it ‘wild, raw, transparent, and unique,’ and ‘a fantastic, funny, powerful show.’”

Friday, Aug. 12 Portland High School — Fall 2011 Sailing Team 5:30 p.m. Registration is now open. Friday, Aug. 12: Registration deadline at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29: Practice begins for all sailors. Tuesday, Sept. 6: Tryout period. Sailing is a varsity, co-ed Portland HS sport open to Portland and Casco Bay High School students from grades 9 -12. For more information about registration, practice, cost, scholarships, call PHS at 874-8250. Visit SailMaine website: http:// sailmaine.org/ for High School Sailing Program information.

St. Peter’s Four-Mile Road Race 7 p.m. Annual four-mile Road Race. Register online at www.baystateevents.com. Also the Clarion Hotel, 1230 Congress St., Portland, 2.7 miles from the start, is offering rooms for $150 for up to four people for a “runner’s special.” 774-5611

‘Tough Island: True Stories from Matinicus’ 7 p.m. Crash Barry will read from his novel, “Tough Island: True Stories from Matinicus, Maine” at Longellow Books.

“The new collection of gritty true stories by Crash Barry, Bollard columnist and author of “Sex, Drugs & Blueberries” details his stint as a lobsterman on Matinicus, a fishing community off the coast of Maine notorious for its hard-living, big-hearted characters. During his two years on the island, Crash discovered that despite being 20 miles out to sea, Matinicus was a microcosm of modern American society. In ‘Tough Island,’ Crash tells true stories from his time there, tales of love, sex, hate, violence and death in a place of idyllic and breathtaking beauty.” http://longfellow.indiebound.com

Open Mic/Poetry Slam in Auburn 7:15 p.m. Open Mic/Poetry Slam. First Universalist Church of Auburn, 169 Pleasant St. Free. FMI 783-0461 or www. auburnuu.org.

Saturday, Aug. 13 Tour de Merrymeeting Bay 8 a.m. The Rotary Clubs of Brunswick and Topsham present the ninth annual Tour de Merrymeeting Bay. Noncompetitive bicycle rides featuring rides of 25 and 50 miles around scenic Merrymeeting Bay in the Midcoast of Maine. Free post ride BBQ for all participants. Proceeds of the event benefit the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust’s Head of the Tide Park in Topsham. For more information or to register, contact Town of Topsham Parks & Recreation, 100 Main St., Topsham, 7251726 or online at www.topshammaine.com/pnr. see next page

THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011— Page 15

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

‘March Back to School in Style’ 9 a.m. A Walk and Fashion Show to Benefit the March of Dimes takes place at the Maine Mall. The March of Dimes, Maine Chapter announces a premiere event, “March Back to School in Style,” hosted by the Maine Mall. Participants are invited to register at www.marchforbabies.org to join the morning festivities in support of healthy babies. Following a loop at the Maine Mall, guests will be treated to a back-to-school fashion show in Garden Court. Hosted by Mrs. Maine, Tina Hendricks, the Mall March is sponsored

by Newick’s Restaurant and Key Bank. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. “Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.”

‘Support Our Own’ Motorcycle Run 10 a.m. The Dirigo Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 618 of Lewiston will host the first annual “Support Our Own” Motorcycle Run at the New Auburn Social Club located at 7 Second St. in Auburn. The event is open to the public. Cost for the ride is a donation of one item to the cause. Breakfast will be held at the Social Club from 10-11 a.m. Riders will depart at 11:30 a.m. with stops at the New Gloucester Eagles, the Windham Eagles, the Gray American Legion and the Past Time Club. The ride ends at the Lewiston Eagles at 5 p.m. where there will be a pig roast free to the riders and $5 for non-riders with music from the live band 4Play. Items acceptable for donation include disposable razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant, soap, tampons, etc. No Aerosol cans are permitted. Any cash donations for the project will be used to buy additional supplies.

The Dirigo Eagles has maintained a presence in the Lewiston community since 1904 and currently hosts nearly 500 Aerie members. For information, contact David Veinott at 713-2484 or call Gail Pelletier at 212-2905.

Eighth annual Southern Maine Pagan Pride Day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The eighth annual Southern Maine Pagan Pride Day will celebrate Southern Maine’s Pagan Community at a new location at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco & Biddeford in Saco. Admission: One nonperishable food item to benefit Saco/Biddeford UU Food Pantry. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco & Biddeford is located at 60 School St., Saco. FMI: www.mainepaganprideday.org.

Native American Pow Wow in Gray noon. On Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13 and 14, the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray will be the extremely popular “‘Honor The Animals’ Native American Pow Wow.” Representatives from several Maine and New England tribes will be at the park for two full days with native dancers, drummers, craft vendors, singers and traditional food booths. Special events will be presented throughout each day. The Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park will be staffing a B-B-Q lunch on both days, with all proceeds to benefit the wildlife park. Music will include performances by Black Thunder, Hard Times (from Canada) and Mountain Spirit. A traditional Wikki travel shelter, with numerous Native American and Colonial artifacts, will be available for viewing each day with Ken Hamilton, a Maine 17th and 18th century woodland living historian, interpreter and blacksmith. For more information about any of these programs, please call the Maine Wildlife Park at 657-4977; or visit online at www.mainewildlifepark.com, www.mefishwildlife.com or on Facebook.

Western Cemetery walk 2 p.m. Matt Barker, historian at the Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St., Portland, will lead a Western Cemetery walk; meet at the MIHC library at 1:30 p.m. Suggested donation: $10.

Bayside Neighborhood Block Party 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bring your lawn chair to the Bayside Neighborhood Block Party, in parking lot next to Dyer’s Variety, Portland St. Music, food and more! Sponsored

by Bayside Neighborhood Assoc., Preble Street, Wayside Soup Kitchen, Goodwill, Lost Coin Café, G&R DiMillo’s, City of Portland and Rickey’s Tavern.

86th Annual St. Peter’s Bazaar/Street Festival 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. August 13 and 14, Annual Italian Street Festival, 72 Federal St. Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Annual raffle, win up to $2,000. Games for the entire family! 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, pasta dinner w/salad and beverage ($8 Adult/ $5 children under 16). http://stpetersbazaar.eventbrite.com

Sunday, Aug. 14 Unity features Peter Canova, Quantum Spirituality 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. “Are we living in a giant hologram?

Guest speaker Peter Canova will explore this and many

other haunting possibilities at Unity of Greater Portland, 54 River Road in Windham. This exciting workshop, Quantum Spirituality, will explore such topics as: The suppressed story of early Christianity; the secret teachings of Jesus; Mary Magdalene and the lost women of the Church; the ancient Mystery Schools; Gnosticism; quantum physics; the illusory nature of our universe as a holographic play of light; the meaning of consciousness; Jungian psychology and Gnostic parallels. At the end of WWII, the Gnostic Gospels were unearthed in the Egyptian desert. These scrolls are not only revising our Judeo-Christian history, they are slowly transforming our entire spiritual perspective. The recovered texts portray the origins of Judaism and Christianity as the Western branches of a radically feminine oriented Universal spiritual tradition that links our religious history to the mystical core of every major faith in the world. Peter Canova’s talk examines how the writings of the ancient mystics foreshadowed quantum physics and Einstein’s theory of relativity in describing the creation of the universe, the origins of humanity, and the nature of our reality. ... A love offering is requested. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to explore new paradigms in religious thought.” For more information about Unity or Peter Canova, call 893-1233 or visit www. unitygreaterportland.org.

Memorial mass in the Western Cemetery 1 p.m. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 1, Portland, will celebrate a memorial mass in the Western Cemetery. This will be the 12th anniversary of the dedication of the Memorial Stone, originally dedicated Aug. 15, 1999. The Memorial Stone is in memory of the early Catholics, predominantly Irish, who are buried in the “Catholic Ground.”

The Hibernians placed the Memorial Stone to honor the 1,000 individuals, most of whom were in unmarked graves, and many of whom came from Ireland during and after the Great Hunger in Ireland in the 1840s, resulting from the potato crop failure. The annual mass will be followed by a reception at St. Patrick’s Church on Congress Street. All are welcome. In case of rain, the mass will be held at St. Patrick’s. The Western Cemetery is located at the corner of Danforth and Vaughan streets.

Kalever Rebbe, Holocaust Survivor, in Portland 4 p.m. The public is invited “for the exciting, upcoming visit of the Kalever Rebbe to Portland. The Kalever Rebbe is a Holocaust Survivor, world renowned for his inspiration, wisdom, advice and blessings. The rebbe is a direct descendant from the great sages who studied under the Baal Shem Tov, the Master of the Great Name — centuries ago. For 30 years the Rebbe has met with people of all ages and denominations in over 50 countries. Hundreds of thousands have been uplifted and motivated by his advice and words of inspiration. The Kalever Rebbe will be visiting Portland accompanied by some of his Chassidim. The students of the Kalever Rebbe have been quietly helping our community beautify our local mikvah. The Mikvah — Mikvat Shalom — is run by an incredible group of people who dedicate their time and efforts to promoting the important mitzvah of mikvah in Maine. Shaarey Tphiloh, 76 Noyes St.

Tuesday, Aug. 16 West African rhythms with Annegret Baier noon to 1 p.m. Post Office Park, Congress Square and Lobsterman’s Park provide perfect venues for live music, talented local performers and activities for kids. Whether during a lunch break or with the kids, downtown Portland’s free events are not to be missed. Weekday Performance Series — Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. Enjoy your lunch outside and be entertained by Portland’s best talented performers! Congress Square: Aug. 16, West African rhythms with Annegret Baier. Baier will present West African rhythms and songs on authentic drums and percussion instruments!

Brought to you by WPXT, WPME, WHOM, mainetoday.com, raisingmaine.com

Wednesday, Aug. 17 Linda McConnell in Falmouth via Skype 7 p.m. Linda McConnell, the beloved librarian from Australia, will make a come-back appearance at the Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth via Skype. “As part of the Library’s summer travelogue series, Linda will be coming to us live from Melbourne, Australia to talk to us about living and traveling in her native land.” 781-2351.

Thursday, Aug. 18 Inspirations in Color 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Inspirations in Color: a new exhibit by artist Beth Westra is coming to the Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth, beginning Aug. 18 and running through the end of September. Come meet the artist at the reception on Aug. 31 from 5-7. 781-2351.

Concert at Fort Allen Park: Banda di Nepi 7 p.m. “We’re putting the band back in the bandstand at Fort Allen Park!” In July and August, Friends of the Eastern Promenade scheduled seven Thursday evening concerts.

Banda di Nepi (Community Band from Italy). Sponsored by the Italian Heritage Center.

Crash Barry at Bull Moose in Scarborough 7 p.m. Maine author Crash Barry will read from and sign copies of his new book “Tough Island: True Stories From Matinicus, Maine” at Bull Moose in Scarborough, 456 Payne Rd. Tough Island will be available for the reduced price of $11.70 as a first edition hardcover. “The gritty memoir provides a guided tour of a unique society inhabited by resourceful individuals and scoundrels. Barry tells stories of danger and drugs, sex and violence, death and sorrow, all unfolding in a landscape of breathtaking beauty.”

More information about Crash Barry and his work can be found at http://crashbarry.com.

‘Passion of the Hausfrau’ in Freeport 7:30 p.m. A one-woman show that combines comedy, innovative projections, and music in portraying the hilarious misadventures of a Portland mom who discovers that the rollercoaster ride of raising young kids is actually the path to creating her own masterpiece; “comedic genius” declares the Portland Phoenix. Freeport Factory Stage, 5 Depot St. Freeport. Aug. 18-Aug. 27. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. through Sat., and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Friday, Aug. 19 A Prairie Home Companion 8 p.m. A Prairie Home Companion: Summer Love Tour 2011 at the State Theatre. SOLD OUT.

Saturday, Aug. 20 First annual MS Harborfest Shoreside Festival 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for the MS Society. The festival will feature local musicians, food vendors, artists, crafters and kids games/activities. It will be held in Fort Allen Park and portions of the Eastern Promenade Park on Aug. 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival areas will also be used as vantage points for the Lobster Boat Races and Tug Boat Muster on Casco Bay.

Portland Music & Arts Festival 2 p.m. The second annual Portland Music & Arts Festival on Free Street. A day-long festival on Free Street, featuring the work and performances of Maine artists, local and national musicians and appropriate food and drink concessions. Proceeds from ticket sales, sponsor contributions, donations and vendor rentals will be donated to The Maine Children’s Cancer Program. www.theportlandmusicandartsfestival.com/schedule

Barb Truex performs with August Ensemble 8 p.m. Barb Truex performs with August Ensemble in Portland. The house concert, hosted by Jay York at 58 Wilmot St. begins at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for a suggested donation of $10. For more information or to reserve seats contact Barb Truex via phone (892-7578) or email (babstruex@gmail.com).

Tuesday, Aug. 23 Peace in Sudan Rally and Candle Light Vigil 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fur Cultural Revival (part of The Darfur Community Center of Maine) presents a Peace in Sudan Rally and Candle Light Vigil at Monument Square on Congress Street in Portland. This event is free, and the public is encouraged to attend. “In observation of Ramadan, this event will be held after the Break of Fast. Speakers will include El-Fadel Arbab, as well as local activists, members of the Sudanese refugee communities, and survivors of Genocide worldwide. If it rains, the rally will be held at The Meg Perry Center, 644 Congress St. in Portland, Maine at 9 p.m. Please note the change of time and location in the event of bad weather. Since 2003, more than 400,000 people have been killed in Darfur, Sudan. More than 2.7 million people have been displaced. Currently, there is also an ongoing crisis in the Abyei region of Sudan. Thousands of citizens have been displaced in the South Kurdofan, Nuba Mountain, and Blue Nile regions. Southern Maine now boasts the largest organized Sudanese refugee community in the United States. Although Sudanese President Al-Bashir is now wanted by The International Criminal Court for war crimes in Darfur, the genocide continues. July 23 is the anniversary of the U. S. Congress’ 2004 declaration of Darfur as Genocide. On July 23, 2012 Fur Cultural Revival will host the second Peace in Sudan Rally at The White House in Washington, D.C.” see next page

Page 16 — THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Tuesday, August 9, 2011

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

Saturday, Aug. 27 Picnic Music+Arts Festival 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fourth annual Picnic Music+Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27. “This juried indie craft fair will be held outdoors at Lincoln Park on Congress Street and Franklin Arterial, in Portland. The festival will run in the park, rain or shine. The Picnic Music+Arts Festival will feature clothing, jewelry, prints, accessories, bags, plush, stationery, photography, housewares, fine art, vintage goods and more. There will be live music and tasty food to enjoy all day. Spindleworks of Brunswick will have a booth among over 50 other crafters. www.picnicportland.com

Juried Arts and Craft Show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the Green, Kennebunkport; sponsored by the Society of Southern Maine Craftsmen. Concessions provided by the Animal Welfare Society of Kennebunk. Free admission and free parking. (Rain Date: Aug. 28)

Sunday, Aug. 28 ‘Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington’ 4 p.m. A special performance in Southern Maine of the play “Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington” will be held at University of

Southern Maine’s Abromson Center in Portland to benefit the American Heart Association. “This one-woman show provides an intimate look into the life and times of Margaret Chase Smith. It tells of her journey from humble beginnings in Skowhegan, Maine, to a position of power and respect as the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate.”

Thursday, Sept. 1 USM Welcome Husky Fest 2011 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lawn between Payson Smith and Luther Bonney Halls, Portland campus, University of Southern Maine. “Follow the paws to Husky Fest!

USM’s largest event ... the Last year’s Picnic Music+Arts Festival packed ‘em in at Portland’s Lincoln Park. The fourth annual 11th annual welcome kick- Picnic Music+Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27. (FILE PHOTO) off party! FREE BBQ for all them. The course is specifically designed to help women students! Live Music and activities! Campus departments, survive situations in which their lives are in jeopardy. This student organizations, and class is open to all women, ages 13 and older, in the Greater community vendors will all Portland area who would like to develop real life defensive be present to help you get tools and tactics.” The Basic Self-Defense Course conconnected to the USM comsists of a series of four classes and one scenario day. The munity! Rain location: Sulliclass is scheduled for Sept. 6, 8, 13, and 15, from 6 p.m. van Gym, Portland Campus.” to 9 p.m. and Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. to noon (registration 228-8200 deadline August 31). All classes must be attended to complete the course. The classes will be held at the Portland Police Department, 109 Middle St. A donation of $25 for Friday, Sept. 2 the course is suggested. All donations support the Amy St. Laurent Fund, which sponsors the R.A.D. training. Due to Southworth Planetarium attendance issues, all donations must be paid prior to the first class (send checks to ASLF/PPD RAD Program, Portfull dome shows land Police Department, 109 Middle Street, Portland ME 7 p.m. The Southworth Plan04101). To sign up for the class or receive more information etarium is offering full dome about Portland R.A.D., e-mail ppdrad@portlandmaine.gov video planetarium shows or call 874-8643. starting on Sept. 2. “On Friday nights in September, we will have a Full Dome Friday, Sept. 9 Double Feature at 7 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m. ‘Two Small Open Mic/Poetry Slam in Auburn Pieces of Glass’ is a program 7:15 p.m. Open Mic/Poetry Slam. First Universalist about the history and science Church of Auburn, 169 Pleasant St. Free. FMI 783-0461 of telescopes. How have teleor www.auburnuu.org. scopes enabled astronomers discover the outer Universe?

From Galileo’s little scope to Saturday, Sept. 10 the Hubble Space Telescope, we’ve used optical equipUnited Maine Craftsmen’s Fall Festival ment to study the cosmos of Arts & Crafts in Westbrook and its myriad wonders.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A show and sale of unique handcrafted ‘IBEX’ is a new show about products made by 100 Maine Artisans, on the grounds the probe which surveys the of Smiling Hill Farm. Ample Free Parking, Food Vendors, solar system’s outer edge.

Rain or Shine. Admission $2. Smiling Hill Farm, 781 County Where does the solar system Road, Westbrook. www.unitedmainecraftsmen.com end? What exotic objects lurk around its periphery? Join us Walking Tour of Historic Stroudwater as we explore the nether edge 10:30 a.m. to noon. Greater Portland Landmarks presents: of our own planetary system.

A Special Walking Tour of Historic Stroudwater. “Visit what A full dome show is an total was once a thriving town, a city almost. See what remains, immersion experience. Both the beautiful river, the bank of the once famous waterfront, shows encompass the entire the sites of some of the businesses, homes of the leaders, dome. As opposed to tradigraves of a few, and hear the stories of the pine mast trade.” tional programs in which both Rain date: Saturday, Sept. 17. Meet outside the Means House static and moving images (at the Tate House Museum), 1267 Westbrook St., Portland. appear at various locations, Ticket price: Advance ticket purchase only. Members $10, the Full Dome show is entirely non-members: $15. For more information and reservations digital video that covers all please call: 774-5561, ext. 104; e-mail: jpollick@portlandland360 degrees above the audimarks.org; online ticket sales at www.portlandlandmarks.org. ence.” www.usm.maine.edu/ planet

Sunday, Sept. 11

Tuesday, Sept. 6 Rape Aggression Defense Training 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This September, the Portland Police Department will offer its Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Training class. “R.A.D. provides women with the tools they need to both avoid dangerous situations and escape

Peace Action Maine call for peace 6 p.m. Peace Action Maine calls this happening. An event will surround Back Cove, Portland, with people after 6 p.m.

“The sun sets at 7:01 and at 7:30, we’ll hold up lights (flashlights should work) to call for a world of peace, of justice, of hope. These have been a challenging ten years since September 11, 2001, and it is time to call for the kind of world and community we believe in — where issues are resovled without war or violence. Everyone is encouraged to put this date on the calendar, bring a flashlight, and join the event.

Already over ten groups have signed up to bring a number of participants. Contact: 774-1995.