News : Maine
Augusta's Problem Bar Closes

Club OTR, a bar in downtown Augusta, has found a new owner. Thanks to the bar’s troubled past, many are wondering if the old way of doing business will continue.
 
The Record was the first news outlet to break the story about the reckless behavior at the bar. As a follow-up to a story about drunkenness in the state capital, The Record learned that the bar with the worst reputation for rowdiness was Club OTR.  Fights between drunken bar patrons spilled out into a nearby public parking lot after hours, and young women passed out in taxis on their way to the hospital to be treated for acute alcohol poisoning. 

Aug 4, 2010 - 7:12:25 PM

News : Maine
Portland's Fishy Deal

Portland has changed a great deal since the days when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow looked out from his home on Fore Street, down to the docks that lined the Fore River. The young poet would see majestic sailing ships and stevedores, busy chandlers and barrel-makers. In Longfellow’s day, the most imposing buildings in town were the tall-spired churches, or perhaps the monumental Custom House.

Today, much of the working waterfront is gone, replaced by trendy boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Where Longfellow’s house once stood, at 161 Fore Street, there is now a vacant lot, and across the street, a parking garage. A five-minute stroll to the west, and one reaches the part of Fore Street where nightclubs and  bars crowd one another competing for customers, and one or two stores cater to a trade too vile to mention.  

Jun 24, 2010 - 2:02:52 PM

News : Maine
A Struggle for the Soul of Maine

The most recent edition of the Family Research Council newsletter Washington Watch makes the claim that “the Tea Party movement needs some salt and light.” 

The newsletter warns against the efforts of some leaders within the movement to emphasize only economic issues and to omit any discussion of abortion and same sex "marriage." Support for so-called social issues is strong among Tea Party members; and the newsletter reports that the loudest cheers at a national Tea Party rally were reserved for a speaker who challenged the Obama administration’s support for abortion.

Jun 17, 2010 - 7:56:49 AM

News : Maine
Sangerville Fights Red Tape in Battle Against "Gentlemen's Club"


The fact that the small town of Sangerville is nicknamed “The Town of Two Knights” adds a dash of irony to the continuing battle over a proposed “Gentlemen’s Club.” The town was home to the inventor Sir Hiram Maxim and the much more wealthy, but less fortunate, Sir Harry Oakes. If anyone in Maine could ever lay claim to the title of “Gentleman” it was certainly Sangerville’s own Sir Hiram or Sir Harry.  In contrast, Stephen Cardelli's proposal for a club for indecent "dancing" is enough to put the town’s reputation into temporary eclipse.
Jun 15, 2010 - 10:39:11 AM

News : Maine
Owner of "Gentlemen's Club" is No Gentleman

Webster’s Complete and Unabridged Dictionary defines a gentleman as “A man of keen sense of honor and chivalry, a man who shows courtesy and consideration for the feelings of others.”  This definition certainly does not apply to the owner of the proposed “Gentleman’s Club” in Sangerville. Exploiting women for profit is not chivalrous, of course, but Cardelli has even more frightening skeletons in his closet.
Jun 10, 2010 - 4:23:51 PM

News : Maine
LePage Win Sends Shock Waves Through Augusta

The unexpected win by Waterville mayor Paul LePage is sending shock waves throughout the political establishment in Augusta. As late as Election Day, the consensus among Republican voters was that the election was going to go to Augusta insider Peter Mills, or to the multi-millionaire businessman Les Otten, who spent two million dollars on his own campaign.
Jun 9, 2010 - 3:23:12 PM

News : Maine
Maine Voters Feared Reprisal by Same Sex Marriage Activists

When the voters of Maine defeated same sex marriage last year, the 53 percent to 47 percent win was smaller than might have been expected.   Supporters of traditional marriage were faced with a juggernaut of liberal opposition which included a majority of Maine legislators, well-funded gay rights organizations, the press, the Governor, and even the Attorney General.

Nor did advocates of same sex marriage limit themselves to a fair election contest, fought out on a level playing field.  The supporters of traditional marriage were often faced with intimidation; and the extent of the intimidation is still not generally known by the public. But a lawsuit against the Maine Ethics Commission is revealing that underhanded methods of  intimidation are often used by the advocates of same sex marriage.
Jun 2, 2010 - 11:52:03 AM

News : Maine
Old Port Bars Claim Another Young Life

Before it became a trendy tourist destination, Portland's Old Port was a working waterfront with shipyards and factories. When the Old Port was renovated in the 70s, abandoned factories and dilapidated warehouses were replaced by boutiques, restaurants, and more than a score of bars.  By day, the cobblestone streets of the Old Port are filled with tourists and the mood is bright and cheerful. After dark, a different story unfolds - a story of violence, crime, and untimely death, all fueled by the liquor trade.
May 27, 2010 - 8:56:55 AM

News : Maine
Mother of Crash Victim Sues Bars

In January 2008,  Kenneth C. Brassard  and Paul Hinerman decided to go bar-hopping in Waterville. Brassard, whose license had been suspended due to a prior DUI conviction, borrowed a truck from his girl friend, and Hinerman rode along.

They drove to three bars that evening, Mainely Brews & Tavern, the Midnight Blues Club, and The Chez Paree. After leaving the Midnight Blues Club, the pair drove to The Chez Paree, where the bartender served each of them at least one "Cocaine Lady," a powerful mixed drink.
May 21, 2010 - 8:25:35 AM

News : Maine
New Casinos Seek Voter Approval

Hollywood Slot’s $693 million dollar revenue last year was an attractive proposal for many – an offer they couldn't refuse. But breaking into the casino racket isn’t an easy matter. 2009 saw the Maine Legislature wrangling over many proposals and counter-proposals for new gambling efforts, including the use of competitive bids to establish a casino run by one of the tribes.
Jun 4, 2010 - 10:39:27 AM