December 2011

Jake Myrick

“My family is hosting its 3rd annual Homeless Vets and the Homeless Christmas Dinner,” said Jake Myrick, athletic director for the Boys & Girls Club late yesterday afternoon. The turkey/ham dinner with all the fixings will be held at the 277 Cumberland Avenue location. The doors open at 1:00 pm with dinner to be served around 5 pm.

Myrick who lived at Kennedy Park as a boy is also a veteran of two tours of duty in Kosavo, and a year guarding the DMZ that separates North Korea from South Korea. That was especially difficult because a least twice a month, the US troops would receive alerts of possible signs of aggression from the North Koreans. “A lot of Christmases I wasn’t at home and deployed somewhere overseas. It can be depressing,” he went on. “If you don’t have a mission, you are always thinking about home and what’s going on there. The stress level is intensified when you aren’t around your loved ones.” He was also in Iraq briefly.

The first year Myrick, his family (2 sisters and 5 brothers), his finance, Wendy, and Rick Warren hosted between 75 – 100 for the Christmas Day Dinner at the Club. Myrick figures it cost them between $600.-$800. to prepare the meal. Last year there were about 150-200 who showed up and this year he expects about 250 to join his family for Christmas Day Dinner. This year he attributes the Board of the Boys & Girls Club with taking the lead and making it happen once again. “This board is absolutely amazing,” he said.

Before dinner is served at the Club on Cumberland, the same dinner will be served to the residents and staff of the Milestone Foundation on India Street around 4:15 pm. Myrick, 37, says his family expects to serve about 80 people there.

The gentle and softspoken Myrick is articulate. “I’m extremely grateful to the Board who has stepped up to do this, but I’d have found a way to do it if they hadn’t. You don’t have to be alone for the holidays. If I can provide a hotmeal for anyone who needs one, come in.”

Myrick has worked for the Boys & Girls Club for 12 years – before he went into the service and since his return. But he’s been affiliated with the Club for 30 years. When he was seven years old he first joined the Club and has been involved ever since.

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Attorney John Branson at Press Conference on Courthouse Steps

Claiming that the city’s recent denial of a permit for OccupyMaine to continue its occupancy of Lincoln Park and therefore violating its First Amendment rights, John Branson, pro bono attorney for the group, filed a lawsuit against the city early this morning in Superior Court for Cumberland County.

The group also petitioned the court to permit the occupiers to remain at Lincoln Park until the litigation is decided. The city of Portland has agreed to that already.

The ACLU of Maine filed an amicus brief yesterday according to Zackery Heiden. “The restrictions that the city has put forth we hope the court will review them very carefully so that the Occupy group and their right to free expression are not needlessly harmed.”

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Plaintiffs Harry Brown, Palmer Ryan and Deese Hamilton. Heather Curtis, the Fourth Plaintiff Was Not Available for the Photo

In a much anticipated move, OccupyMaine will be filing a civil lawsuit this morning at around 8:30 am against the City of Portland in Maine Superior Court for the County of Cumberland, together with a Motion for a Preliminary Injunction.

At noontime scheduled press conference was delayed to 2:00 pm. according to Branson, paralegal.

On December 8th, the city council denied OccupyMaine a permit to remain at Lincoln Park in downtown Portland. The vote was 8 to 1 with councilor David Marshall, the lone dissenting “protest” vote. At the conclusion of the 5 hour city council meeting, Branson said that by denying the permit the city has left my clients no choice but to sue the city. OccupyMaine began by occupying Monument Square on October 3rd, but was asked by city manager Mark Rees to move to Lincoln Park in front of the courthouses.

For more background information, please see Post # 1,044, dated December 16th herein as well as Post # 1,037, dated December 8th.

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By Carol McCracken (Post # l,046)

Looking for a feel good adrenaline rush? Be bold in the cold with a plunge into the Atlantic and/or winter jaunt around Back Cove to support the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s work to reduce global warming pollution. The bone-chilling fun will take place at Portland’s East End on Saturday, December 31, and the 5k finish line is at the Beach as well for those who would like to walk or run and dip too.

Registration for the run begins at 10:30 am at the Back Cove parking lot (across from Hannaford’s). Registration for the Dip begins at 11:30 am at East End Beach. The walk begins at 11, the run at 11:15 and the dip at noon – the “warmest ” part of the day!

Run run will be timed by 5K S ports Race Management and all runners or walkers will receive a custom bib to keep forever as a badge of honor. In addition, the first 200 to sign-up for the Dip, the Dash, or both will receive a commemorative water bottle.

The registration fee is $30. and friends and family can pledge to help raise money and awareness aboaut global warming and what NRCM is doing right here in Maine to curb it.

The two top fundraisers will receive a snazzy Patagonia jacket and handmade-in-Maine polar bear mug. The thord place fundraiser will also receive a Patagonia jacket. The
next eight fundraisers will recieve hand-knot polar bear hats. And, the first male and first female to finish the 5K and the two best polar bear costumes will all receive hand-made polar bear mugs!

And, it will be fun, with folks in polar beat costumes, hot drinks, and pastries from Whole Foods.

To participate, register at http://suppporters.nrcm.org/register. Pledge outline at http://supporters.nrcm.org/dipdash.

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