Editor’s note: The following excerpts come from reporter Linda Hersey’s blog on South Portland, where she updates stories from The Current throughout the week and writes stories readers won’t find anywhere else. To link to the blog, go to www.keepmecurrent.com.

Fire damages Elsmere Avenue house

(Posted Jan. 8)

A fire broke out at a two-story house at 27 Elsmere Ave. today, killing several cats in foster care from the Animal Refuge League.

Homeowner Ellen Doyle, who works at the animal shelter, was not at the bungalow-style house when the fire started at about 12:15 p.m.

Firefighters were able to save a dog in the house by giving it oxygen. Four of the seven cats staying at the house are believed to have died in the fire.

The South Portland Fire Department is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Elsmere Avenue is located off of Cottage Road. The road was closed while the fire department fought the blaze.

According to city records, Doyle has owned the house since 2006.

Two candidates apply for Planning Board post

(Posted Jan. 8)

The South Portland Planning Board will hold its first meeting tonight since veteran board member Craig Babbidge resigned his seat from jail.

Some planning board members privately say they hope the subject of Babbidge’s unusual resignation does not come up at tonight’s regular meeting.

There is division on the board over whether Babbidge’s personal problems should have become the topic for public discussion.

Babbidge was arrested Dec. 21 on a probation violation relating to his 2007 conviction for drunk driving and criminal speeding. He has been held without bail since then. A judge is expected to rule Wednesday on whether he should be released or serve time.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Maxine Beecher announced that she already has received two applications to fill the vacant post. They are from attorney John Hatch and accountant Suzie Tracy. Both applicants live in District 4, which covers outer Highland Avenue.

The council could vote as early as Jan. 21 on a new planning board member, but members say they expect the process will take longer than that. Applications for the volunteer post are available online or at the City Clerk’s office, at 25 Cottage Road.

Ciao to Vinny T’s at the Maine Mall

(Posted Jan. 7)

Vinny T’s of Boston Italian restaurant has closed at the Maine Mall.

The Massachusetts-based restaurant chain is scaling back its presence in New England.

In addition to the South Portland restaurant, it closed the Vinny T’s in Brookline, Mass., and Manchester, Conn.

It still operates five restaurants in the Boston area, as well as one in Seekonk, Mass., and Wynnewood, Pa. Vinny T’s home office is in Northborough, Mass.

John Geddis, general manager of the Maine Mall, said that mall owner General Growth Properties is deciding how it may re-develop the site, which is located in the mall’s parking lot, near Sebago Brewing Co.

Vinny T’s closed at a time of expansion at the Maine Mall.

General Growth Properties is preparing for a major addition that will include three new restaurants to be built in the mall parking lot. The tenants for those restaurants have not been publicly identified.

In Connecticut, the closing of Vinny T’s prompted a state investigation. Officials there are pressing the company to issue refunds to diners who bought Vinny T’s gift cards.

The Connecticut Attorney General alleges the company continued to sell gift cards, even though it knew the mall-based restaurant was about to close.

City announces Craig Babbidge’s resignation

(Posted Jan. 5)

The City Clerk’s Office officially announced Planning Board member Craig Babbidge’s resignation today. Here is the press release that was sent to media outlets:

“Today, January 5, 2008, Craig Babbidge, South Portland, Planning Board Member representing District 4, verbally with witnesses gave his official resignation effective immediately to City Councilor Maxine Beecher, District 4. Maxine acknowledges and thanks Craig for his long term commitment to the Planning Board and for the expertise he brought to that position as an engineer.

Maxine will be accepting applications for that District 4 Planning Board position. To be eligible you must reside in District 4. For more information contact City Clerk Mooney at 767-7601.

Applications can be located on the South Portland website in the Board and Committee menu, www.southportland.org, or at the city clerk’s office at 25 Cottage Road, South Portland.”

Historical Society Fund Drive Gains Momentum

(Posted Jan. 5)

The South Portland Historical Society’s capital campaign is well under way. The goal is to buy Cushing’s Point House (shown left) near Southern Maine Community College and make it a museum and permanent home for the society.

I checked in with historical society director Kathy DiPhilippo this week for the latest numbers on the fund raiser.

Here is my question and her response:

Hi, Kathy:

Can you update me on contribution totals and major contributors in the society’s fund drive?

“Here’s where we are so far. We’ve raised over $134,000 toward our goal of $400,000. That means we’ve passed the one-third mark…hurray! Our biggest prior grant donors that we reported were:

• The Davis Family Foundation awarded a $40,000 grant in July…they are our biggest contributor to date;

• The Greater Portland Public Development Commission pledged $15,000 in June.

Our most recent major donors are:

• South Portland Lions Club pledged $5,000 in October.

• Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution pledged $25,000, and presented a check for its first installment, $5,000, in November.

• We received a grant on December 22nd from the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust for $10,000.

• Also on December 22nd, we received a grant of $3,500 from the Edward H. Davis Benevolent Fund.

• On December 27th, we received a grant of $4,000 from the Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust.

I guess you’d say “in separate news” in December, we also were awarded a grant of $5,000 from the Rines/Thompson Fund. That fund is part of the Maine Community Foundation. The grant was not for the capital campaign, however; rather it was granted for our operating fund and earmarked for a specific use.” -Kathy

City Schools Focus of Ferry Village Meeting

(Posted Jan. 5)

The Ferry Village neighborhood association will have a special guest speaker at its regular monthly meeting. Here is the association’s announcement:

The guest speaker for the Ferry Village Neighborhood Conservation

Association’s January meeting is Suzanne Godin, superintendent of South Portland Schools.

Godin will discuss the upcoming school redistricting process and answer questions from the audience.

Please pass this note on to others who may be interested in attending to learn more about this topic. The meeting will be at 7 p.m., Jan. 17 (instead of Jan. 10), at the Betsy Ross House, 99 Preble St. Please enter from the rear of the building on Henley St.

Meetings are open to the public, but Ferry Village residents are encouraged to join for an annual fee of $5.

Jane Amero to help Giuliani’s presidential bid

(Posted Jan. 4)

Another GOP presidential hopeful has announced his Maine campaign team.

Rudy Giuliani tapped Jane Amero of South Portland to help organize his bid in this state.

Amero directs Governmental Relations at Pierce Atwood Consulting. She is a former Republican leader of the Maine Senate, serving from 1992-2000.

She was also the Republican nominee for Maine’s 1st Congressional District in 2000 and is a former chairwoman of the State Board of Education.

She is active in community and civic affairs and serves on the Board of Goodwill of Northern New England and the Board of Visitors of the Muskie School of Public Policy.