Latest news with #PortlandInternationalJetport
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jeff Monroe, who helped transform Portland's waterfront, dies at 71
May 20—Jeff Monroe knew how to get things done. He was fiercely ambitious and keenly observant, and his former colleges and friends say that when he was passionate about something he went all in, whether that meant collecting hundreds of model trains in his basement or being ordained as an Anglican priest later in life. Monroe died on May 13, according to his obituary. He was 71. As the director of transportation for the city of Portland — a role he held for about a decade in the late 1990s and early 2000s — Monroe was instrumental in modernizing the working waterfront and expanding the Portland International Jetport, according to former colleagues. He spearheaded the Ocean Gateway project, which was completed in 2008 and moved commercial waterfront operations to the West End and ferry ports and recreational docks to the eastern waterfront. As part of the project, he advocated for the opening of the city's cruise ship terminal, which first allowed ships to dock directly downtown. Friends said he had a deep love for the waterfront and consistently advocated for its expansion and modernization. Tom Meyers worked with Monroe on some of these projects as the transportation and waterfront coordinator for South Portland. Meyers said Monroe was skilled at coming up with an ambitious vision and executing it — sometimes strategically, sometimes with sheer willpower. "He was forceful in what he wanted to accomplish," said Meyers. "Jeff just really understood the system. He understood how to get things done and wasn't afraid to find out where the sticky parts were and get through them." Bill Needleman also worked for the city with Monroe and remembers him as a strong and effective leader who consistently brought projects over the finish line. "He was larger than life, always willing to be in front of the camera. Never shy. Well informed. And occasionally controversial; he was outspoken," said Needleman. Outside of his career with the city, Monroe had many interests, often tied to the maritime industry, which he remained involved with until his death. He taught students at the State University of New York Maritime College and at Massachusetts Maritime, and he led transportation management classes at the University of Southern Maine. He helped organize sailing events that drew thousands to the waterfront, joined the Portland Propeller Club, consulted with ports around New England on their growth and development, and worked as a commercial ship captain. And he joined religious groups like the Freemasons and served as an Anglican priest. "He had a long, salty career," said Nico Walsh, a friend and former colleague who now works as a lawyer. "He left the place a hell of a lot better for having passed through," said another friend, Phineas Sprague, owner of Portland Yacht Services. Monroe lived near Trundy Point in Cape Elizabeth for decades with his wife, Linda. He had two children, Michelle and Michael, according to the Rev. Gary Drinkwater, a longtime friend. In 2017, Monroe became involved with the Anglican Church. Drinkwater was a deacon when he met Monroe just as he was opening up the Anglican Church of Transfiguration in Mechanic Falls. "Jeff had so much spirit and he knew a lot of people, so he helped me find the best place for the church," said Drinkwater. The two became close friends, talking on the phone every couple of days, even when Monroe and his wife began spending chunks of the year in South Carolina. "There are some people that you connect with, you have a chemistry," said Drinkwater, who also had worked on ships. "We could talk the language and share sea stories. It was just a match made in heaven. We even liked a good shot of Irish whiskey occasionally." Drinkwater said Monroe's dogged determination and ability to throw his weight behind what he most believed in extended to his friends. Drinkwater said Monroe was the one who first suggested he become a pastor. "I didn't have near the accolades that man had, but he believed in me, and when he believed in something, it happened," said Drinkwater. "If he put his shoulder to the wheel it moved, and he did that for me." One of Monroe's biggest strengths as a pastor was his ability to translate his passion for his God into digestible sermons that people from all different backgrounds could understand, said Drinkwater. He described Monroe as an accessible preacher who would "champion the lord in language that was understandable by the layperson." Monroe served for years as a pastor at St. Margaret Anglican Church in Conway, New Hampshire. He started a parish at St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church in Old Orchard Beach. When he began spending time in South Carolina, he also served as a pastor at St. Timothy's Anglican Catholic Church in Charleston, according to Drinkwater. Last June, Drinkwater and Monroe went together to the Blessing of the Fleet, where religious leaders in Portland bless boats big and small to kick off the summer season. Drinkwater remembers it was an overcast, windy day in Portland, and as he lifted the reeds from the water, droplets were blowing back in his face, soaking his glasses and clothes by the end of the event. "Well there, you ought to be holy enough now," he remembers Monroe joking. After the event, Drinkwater said, Monroe bought him a pint. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jeff Monroe, who helped transform Portland's waterfront, dies at 71
May 20—Jeff Monroe knew how to get things done. He was fiercely ambitious and keenly observant, and his former colleges and friends say that when he was passionate about something he went all in, whether that meant collecting hundreds of model trains in his basement or being ordained as an Anglican priest later in life. Monroe died on May 13, according to his obituary. He was 71. As the director of transportation for the city of Portland — a role he held for about a decade in the late 1990s and early 2000s — Monroe was instrumental in modernizing the working waterfront and expanding the Portland International Jetport, according to former colleagues. He spearheaded the Ocean Gateway project, which was completed in 2008 and moved commercial waterfront operations to the West End and ferry ports and recreational docks to the eastern waterfront. As part of the project, he advocated for the opening of the city's cruise ship terminal, which first allowed ships to dock directly downtown. Friends said he had a deep love for the waterfront and consistently advocated for its expansion and modernization. Tom Meyers worked with Monroe on some of these projects as the transportation and waterfront coordinator for South Portland. Meyers said Monroe was skilled at coming up with an ambitious vision and executing it — sometimes strategically, sometimes with sheer willpower. "He was forceful in what he wanted to accomplish," said Meyers. "Jeff just really understood the system. He understood how to get things done and wasn't afraid to find out where the sticky parts were and get through them." Bill Needleman also worked for the city with Monroe and remembers him as a strong and effective leader who consistently brought projects over the finish line. "He was larger than life, always willing to be in front of the camera. Never shy. Well informed. And occasionally controversial; he was outspoken," said Needleman. Outside of his career with the city, Monroe had many interests, often tied to the maritime industry, which he remained involved with until his death. He taught students at the State University of New York Maritime College and at Massachusetts Maritime, and he led transportation management classes at the University of Southern Maine. He helped organize sailing events that drew thousands to the waterfront, joined the Portland Propeller Club, consulted with ports around New England on their growth and development, and worked as a commercial ship captain. And he joined religious groups like the Freemasons and served as an Anglican priest. "He had a long, salty career," said Nico Walsh, a friend and former colleague who now works as a lawyer. "He left the place a hell of a lot better for having passed through," said another friend, Phineas Sprague, owner of Portland Yacht Services. Monroe lived near Trundy Point in Cape Elizabeth for decades with his wife, Linda. He had two children, Michelle and Michael, according to the Rev. Gary Drinkwater, a longtime friend. In 2017, Monroe became involved with the Anglican Church. Drinkwater was a deacon when he met Monroe just as he was opening up the Anglican Church of Transfiguration in Mechanic Falls. "Jeff had so much spirit and he knew a lot of people, so he helped me find the best place for the church," said Drinkwater. The two became close friends, talking on the phone every couple of days, even when Monroe and his wife began spending chunks of the year in South Carolina. "There are some people that you connect with, you have a chemistry," said Drinkwater, who also had worked on ships. "We could talk the language and share sea stories. It was just a match made in heaven. We even liked a good shot of Irish whiskey occasionally." Drinkwater said Monroe's dogged determination and ability to throw his weight behind what he most believed in extended to his friends. Drinkwater said Monroe was the one who first suggested he become a pastor. "I didn't have near the accolades that man had, but he believed in me, and when he believed in something, it happened," said Drinkwater. "If he put his shoulder to the wheel it moved, and he did that for me." One of Monroe's biggest strengths as a pastor was his ability to translate his passion for his God into digestible sermons that people from all different backgrounds could understand, said Drinkwater. He described Monroe as an accessible preacher who would "champion the lord in language that was understandable by the layperson." Monroe served for years as a pastor at St. Margaret Anglican Church in Conway, New Hampshire. He started a parish at St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church in Old Orchard Beach. When he began spending time in South Carolina, he also served as a pastor at St. Timothy's Anglican Catholic Church in Charleston, according to Drinkwater. Last June, Drinkwater and Monroe went together to the Blessing of the Fleet, where religious leaders in Portland bless boats big and small to kick off the summer season. Drinkwater remembers it was an overcast, windy day in Portland, and as he lifted the reeds from the water, droplets were blowing back in his face, soaking his glasses and clothes by the end of the event. "Well there, you ought to be holy enough now," he remembers Monroe joking. After the event, Drinkwater said, Monroe bought him a pint. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
35-pound hunk of metal that damaged car in Portland may have fallen from plane
May 1—A 35-pound metal rod smashed into a vehicle in the Casco Bay Lines parking lot in Portland Wednesday night, and police believe it might have dropped from an airplane. Casco Bay Lines deckhand Cam Malette was working on a ferry when he got a call around 10 p.m. from a co-worker who told him the rear window of his Volkswagen Jetta had been shattered and was on the sidewalk in pieces, he said in an interview Thursday. "How could that possibly happen?" Malette recalled thinking. Then his second thought: "How am I going to tell my parents?" When the 21-year-old deckhand arrived in the parking lot near 56 Commercial St., which was empty except for two other vehicles, he found the car's rear window shattered and the rear hatch crumpled. That's when Malette saw the solid metal rod, which was as thick and long as his forearm. He then called his cousin, Portland police Lt. Zack Finley, to report the damage. The two determined that, "based on the damage and location," the piece of metal may have fallen from an airplane, said Portland police spokesperson Brad Nadeau. The area near the waterfront is in the flight path of some planes going to and from the Portland International Jetport just up the Fore River. The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and is investigating the incident, Nadeau said. A spokesperson from the FAA did not respond to inquiries about the incident Thursday afternoon. Malette said he talked with some people from the FAA, but because he wasn't there to witness the incident, he can only guess what happened. Casco Bay Lines security cameras in that lot weren't working at the time the object crashed into his car, he said, but he and his cousin thought the only way it could have done so much damage was if it fell from the sky. All of the car's lights still worked, so Malette was able to drive the car home. But he has to replace the bumper and entire rear hatch. "I wanted to be upset, but I'm thankful it hit my car as opposed to someone walking," he said. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland Jetport's parking expansion plan lands in court
Feb. 25—A controversial plan to expand surface parking at Portland International Jetport has landed in court less than one month after the city's planning board approved the $8 million project. The Stroudwater Neighborhood Association filed an appeal Monday in Cumberland County Superior Court asking a judge to reverse the Jan. 28 approval of a plan to add 265 long-term surface parking spaces near the existing parking garage. The complaint asks that the project be sent back to jetport officials and the planning board for additional information and reconsideration. The association believes the board failed to fully consider or require the city-owned airport to provide relevant information about the project's wetlands impacts and compliance with sustainability goals outlined in the jetport's 2018 master plan, said Woody Howard, president of the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The board also failed to fully vet alternatives to expanding surface parking at the jetport, such as moving ahead with an anticipated parking garage expansion and providing shuttle service to unused parking spaces at The Maine Mall nearby in South Portland, Howard said. "Really, this complaint is about the process," Howard said Tuesday. "We came to the meetings well prepared. We feel like we weren't heard. The jetport didn't provide information that was requested, and when we submitted information based on data they did submit, they said we misinterpreted it." The association's 15-member board of trustees voted unanimously to file the lawsuit against the city, Howard said. City officials declined a request for interviews because they don't comment on pending litigation, said spokesperson Jessica Grondin. Airport Director Paul Bradbury and Assistant Director Zachary Sundquist didn't respond to a separate request. The parking project won reluctant board approval in January after jetport officials were asked to return with answers to environmental concerns that cropped up at an initial hearing in November. Faced with growing parking demand, especially during holidays and school vacations, the jetport plans to build a 667-space lot on 13 acres along Jetport Boulevard and Loop Road. The project would reconfigure and improve 402 existing paved and unpaved spaces, including a long-term valet parking lot and the so-called cellphone lot, which is a short-term parking area where family members, friends, and Uber or Lyft drivers wait for imminent arrivals. At the January meeting, board members voiced lingering concerns but acknowledged the city-owned jetport's importance to travelers across Maine and the limits of their purview in judging whether the project meets site plan standards. Board members were especially troubled by a requested waiver that would allow the jetport to fill about 11,000 square feet of wetlands when many neighbors and others dispute the need for expanded surface parking in light of the city's sustainability goals. They continued to question whether jetport officials had fully considered alternative solutions to growing parking demand and whether it made more sense to build another parking garage now instead of later. While many airports have shuttle-served offsite parking like the jetport's Pink Lot near Exit 46 of the Maine Turnpike, Bradbury has said parking needs to be within walking distance of the terminal to make it sustainable and have the smallest carbon footprint. The neighborhood group hopes jetport officials will reconsider shuttle parking at the mall, make more efficient use of parking they already have, and move forward with a parking garage expansion that would have a smaller physical footprint and fewer environmental impacts. "We agree there's a need for more parking," Howard said Tuesday. "That's why we question why they aren't building another parking garage already." Ultimately the board approved the project 4-1, with member Marpheen Chann opposed. Chann criticized the jetport's last-minute offer to add a conservation easement to prevent development of other wetlands on airport property, saying the board and the public didn't have a chance to fully consider the proposal. The board included the easement as a condition of receiving a building permit, with details to be worked out with planning staff. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already authorized filling the wetlands. The Portland City Council also must vote on the jetport's plan to spend $8 million from its $39 million unrestricted cash fund balance. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
When Portland removes snow, where does it go?
Feb. 20—Portland's had a blanketing lately — just look at the snowbanks. The glorious return of a traditional Maine winter has brought roughly two feet of snow to Portland in less than three weeks, according to the National Weather Service. A Presidents Day weekend storm dropped more than 9 inches onto Portland, piling on top of the remnants of another storm, which blanketed the city with more than 10 inches a few days earlier. In response, the city has issued total and targeted parking bans to clear and remove the graying sleet before it overwhelms the roads. So where does it all go? Portland uses three dumping sites across the city to store its excess snow, said Mike Murray, director of the Public Works Department. There's one by the Portland International Jetport's pink parking lot, another in the median of Franklin Street and a third just off the intersection of Somerset and Chestnut streets, he said. "We dump at a site until it reaches capacity, then move to the next location," Murray said in an email Wednesday morning. All told, the city had hauled roughly 800 truckloads worth of snow in 2025, which amounts to more than 29,300 cubic yards, as of Wednesday morning. That's enough to cover a football field, including the end zones, with nearly 14 feet of snow — or enough to fill more than 402,000 Boat and Tote bags (size XL). About 500 of those truckloads, or 18,300 cubic yards, came after the latest winter storm, Murray said. Most of that snow ended up at the Somerset Street lot, he said. There, chalk-gray snow and sleet stood in a lopsided triangle formation Wednesday afternoon. It's peak, topped with some of the dirtiest snow, stood taller than nearby retailers. Excavator tracks scarred its long side. That dumping site is nearly at capacity, Murray said. After last week's storm, city workers hauled more than 250 truckloads worth of snow — roughly 9,400 cubic yards of the stuff — over an eight-hour period. "It's a tremendous amount," Murray said in a phone call the following day. "It was a busy night." During that removal, workers piled snow into a lot off District Road by the Portland International Jetport, Murray said. Both the city and airport store snow there, he said. Signs with red arrows and lettering directed drivers to the "SNOW DUMP": a handful of white and gray dunes dotting the lot. None appeared to be more than 10-15 feet tall Wednesday. Though all roads in the city are plowed, only some are selected for snow removal, once the streets become so narrow that they create hazardous driving conditions and hinder the travel of public safety vehicles, Murray said. Things hit that point earlier this week, according to the Portland Fire Department, which urged residents to be mindful of where they park their cars in a post on social media Tuesday. "Following this weekend's storm, our crews have encountered numerous impassable streets in Portland due to improperly parked vehicles," the department said. The next day, parking was banned on roughly 40 roads for targeted snow removal, though that figure fluctuated as the day went on, Murray said. Crews dumped snow from that day's cleanup effort in the Franklin Street median, he said. Some residents on the streets and online have questioned why workers can't simply push snow into the water, but doing so could violate state law. City spokesperson Jessica Grondin said the city has a set of "very specific regulations" to follow regarding dumping snow in the water. "We are allowed to dump clean snow from the waterfront piers and lots in the water, but only for up to 72 hours after a storm," Grondin said in an email Tuesday. "We do not truck any snow to the waterfront nor do we dump any snow from Commercial St. in the water." Copy the Story Link
