Editor’s note: The following excerpts are taken from reporter Linda Hersey’s blog, The South Portlander, which can be found at keepmecurrent.com. In addition to the following entries, her blog this week, included coverage of the snow storm and Mayor Jim Soule’s inaugural address, where he called for a secession from the state of Maine.

As snow and rain mix for a miserable day of weather in South Portland, one of the city’s newly elected city councilors was enjoying a long-planned vacation in a more temperate climate.

Tom Blake, who was elected to an at-large council seat in November, is on an eco-vacation with his wife Dee Dee in Costa Rica. The couple is touring the wilderness of the Central American country and learning about eco-tourism as an economic engine.

The vacation has not kept Blake from checking his e-mails. I contacted Blake online, asking him to e-mail SoPo readers with his impressions of Costa Rica.

Here is his response:

“Well we have passed our half way mark of our 17 day journey to lovely Costa Rica. We have left the Pacific Coast and now are settled in San Jose for the next week. Let us fill you in with a few observations:

It seems like the great prices we have herd about in CR are now gone. From gas to food, from lodging to real estate, the prices seem to be so much like South Portland. In fact the entire country seems to be under construction and is booming.

I have been thinking of SP a lot lately. The other day I came across what I think is the best definition of sustainable development I have seen to date. CR has it right as they just made the list of the top ten countries on earth that are environmentally concerned. Canada was the only other country from the Americas. Where is the USA?

While still having some serious infrastructure problems, CR is able to protect the environment, while at the same time promoting the country. And people and businesses are coming. We need to do the same thing in SP: Take care of what we have while protecting our environment. People and businesses will come…

Funny that CR is so rich in water , yet every time we have a meal we have to buy our water. Their energy supply is 80% hydro, 15% wind and 5% steam. Nice though that they do not have to heat their homes, or even cool them, as it is between 60 and 80 degrees most of the time.

We recently left the Arenal volcano area that is the third most active volcano on earth. We were unable to see the top for two days due to clouding. But boy could we hear the Volcano rumble. We were hoping for more hiking but the country is built around tour guides. They barely have sidewalks let alone trails. We are so lucky in SP to have a greenbelt and the CPT. I shall certainly complain less about the traffic and condition of Broadway. These are the worst roads I have ever seen and I have been in 49 states and ten countries. The drivers make the Boston drivers look like professionals!!

And canopy tours or zip lining…boy is that FUN!!!! We need one in Maine. Anyone want to make a good investment?

What do I miss the most…..next to my family and my own bed, I miss not being able to be at the award ceremony for the volunteers in good ole SP.

They are indeed what makes SP so special. We look forward to seeing friends upon our return Dec 10th.”

Civic League reports on ‘pro-homosexual’ film

(Posted Sunday, Dec. 2)

The Christian Civic League of Maine posted its coverage of a special film presentation by SoPo’s First Congregational Church (the United Church of Christ) on homosexuality and faith. Titled “For the Bible Tells Me So,” the documentary has been honored at the Sundance Festival.

Locally, it drew a barrage of criticism and complaints from the Civic League.

Under the headline, “Maine Baptists Defend the Holy Bible at Film Screening,” Mike Hein of the Civic League provided an on-the-scene report for the organization’s online newsletter.

He described the crowds, media coverage and discussions about the film. Hein also posted photos of church leaders.

They include the photo he took of Rev. John B. McCall, speaking prior to the film.

Hein also described turnout by advocacy groups, like Equality Maine, and opponents, including members of the First Baptist Church of South Portland.