Off to the races

Nomination papers for the November general election will be available at town hall starting Monday, July 29. Two seats, currently held by Frank Governali and Caitlin Jordan, will be available on the Town Council, while two, held by Michael Moore and Mary Townsend, are due to be filled on the school board. Townsend said July 10 she will not run for re-election, having “decided to pursue other interests.” Jordan said she is still deciding on whether to run, while Governali and Moore could not be reached for comment. Nomination papers must be returned to the clerk’s office with the signatures of between 25 and 100 registered Cape voters by Friday, Sept. 6.

New view

Based on word from the Fort Williams Charitable Foundation that it has an anonymous donor willing to match money spend to create a “view pod” of Portland Head Light from its northern face in Fort Williams Park, the Cape Elizabeth Town Council, sitting in its capacity as the board of directors for the lighthouse museum, voted unanimously July 8 to donate $75,000 to the project. The donation is about $5,000 less than profits realized by the gift shop in its fiscal year that ended June 30. The donation was made subject to board review of the final site plan and placement of a sign in the pod crediting the museum funding.

Head light holla

According to information released by Cape Elizabeth Town Manager Michael McGovern, the Museum at Portland Head Light made $570,350 for the fiscal year ending June 30. Most of that revenue, $518,855, came from gift shop sales, with $49,035 due to museum admission fees and $2,460 realized in donations and use of binocular machines. With expenses for the year running $487,539, including $277,707 spent stocking the gift shop, McGovern estimated the museum’s fund balance will show an $80,000 gain, to $600,000, when the annual audit is completed.

Library law

Artists seeking to display their work at Thomas Memorial Library may want to know of a recent change in policy. At its July 8 meeting, the Town Council approved a change recommended by library trustees, limiting artists to one show every 18 months, with requests for specific dates available no more than one year in advance. The new policy also spells out that “there will be no departure” from the rule that any artwork sold must remain on display until the showing ends. Library Director Jay Scherma said in a July 11 email that the new policy, an attempt to keep established artists from locking newer ones out of choice dates, formalizes rules previously followed by the now-defunct Cape Elizabeth Arts Commission.

New officer

The Cape Elizabeth Police Department will have a new officer starting July 29 when Darren Estes, a 21-year veteran of the Lisbon Police Department, begins work. According to Town Manager Michael McGovern, the hiring was prompted by the retirement of Sgt. Andy Steindl. “This is in anticipation of someone [in house] moving up to sergeant,” he said.

Road rage

Following a complaint by Ocean House Road resident Carl Dittrich at the July 8 Town Council meeting, Town Manager Michael McGovern has added a list of all local road races to the town website. While Dittrich said he fully supported the events, and the charities that benefit from them, he felt better public notice would help local residents plan their daily commutes. “I think for everyone to see a list of all the ones that happen in a calendar year would be interesting,” agreed McGovern. “It might even have policy implications.” On a related note, the South Portland City Council has scheduled a workshop in October to discuss how best to handle the growing number of races, festivals and block parties that increasingly necessitate road closures there.

Road rage, part two

In addition to his concern about the growing number of road races in Cape Elizabeth, Ocean House Road resident Carl Dittrich also complained to the Town Council July 8 about bicyclists who clog winding streets, particularly Shore Road, by riding two and three abreast. “I, too, find that the large groups of bicyclists, especially on Saturday morning, do pose a real danger to themselves, as well as drivers,” agreed Councilor Dave Sherman. “I tend to follow them for a long distance and think, that’s life, but I am concerned about people who may try to pass them.” Town Manager Michael McGovern said he would pass the concern on to Police Chief Neil Williams. “It is about sharing the road, and people need to be patient, but [bicyclists] also need to be smart about what they do, as seen by incidents in other places,” said McGovern, referencing the June 14 death of a bike rider in Hanover during the annual Trek Across Maine.

Gimmie shelter

Confusion over a structure recently erected at Portland Head Light has been cleared up by Cape Elizabeth Town Manager Michael McGovern, who said at the July 8 council meeting that it is a shelter designed to keep bus greeters out of the elements. Last year, after the Town Council voted 5-2 to begin charging a $40 fee to tour buses entering Fort Williams Park, McGovern OK’d the hiring of part-time “greeters” to collect the fees and assist tourists. “It is a temporary structure,” said McGovern. “We are having continuing discussion over whether it is currently in its best location.”

Blood drive

There will be a Cape Elizabeth Community Blood Drive on Tuesday, July 30, 1-6 p.m., at St. Bart’s Church, Two Lights Road.

Call the American Red Cross at 1-800 RED CROSS or log onto www.redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are always welcome.

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