Saco doctor fined for self-prescribing medications

A Saco doctor was fined for writing prescriptions for himself and his former fiancée.

Dr. Michael Festino was reprimanded Oct. 12 in a consent agreement signed with the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine and accepted a $1,000 fine. Festino admitted the board had sufficient evidence to find he prescribed controlled medications to himself and someone with whom he had a close personal relationship.

Festino also must complete a board-approved course within 12 months.

Festino notified the board he was being sued by his former fiancée based on medical care he provided while they were a couple. He admitted he failed to maintain medical records for the fiancée and that he self-prescribed medicine for 10 years. Festino admitted this was unprofessional conduct, according to a press release from the board.

Agencies to hold simulated plane crash in Biddeford

Southern Maine Medical Center will partner with Maine Medical Center and York County Emergency Management Agency to simulate a plane crash Saturday in Biddeford.

The full-scale, community-wide exercise will stage a plane crash with pesticide chemicals on West Cole Road to test the county’s ability to respond to a mass casualty and hazardous material emergency. The exercise will cause minor disruptions to traffic on West Cole Road.

The SMMC campus will be used as a staging area. Local fire crews will respond to the site as if it was an actual disaster and HazMat tents will be used for decontamination. The exercise will involve 80 mock patients, including Boy Scouts, local children and their families.

Other agencies involved in the exercise are the York County HazMat Team, Regional Emergency Informational System, Northeast Mobile Health Services and fire departments from Biddeford, Saco, Kennebunk and Scarborough.

Noted pollster to discuss elections at UNE simulcast

A leading pollster will discuss the upcoming mid-term elections via simulcast at the University of New England in Biddeford Monday.

John Zogby of Zogby International will speak live from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Zogby is considered one of the nation’s most accurate readers of public opinion. He will offer his take on the upcoming elections, including issues that motivate voters, prospects of a Republican takeover of the House and Senate, consequences for the Obama administration and the effect of the Tea Party.

Zogby frequently appears on national nightly news programs, National Public Radio, CNN, MSNBC and Fox. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Way We’ll Be.”

The talk will be broadcast at 7 p.m. in the George and Barbara Bush Center Boardroom on the Biddeford campus. Attendees will be able to ask questions and participate in the conversation live via the Internet.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, go to www.une.edu.

Biddeford High School closed for day after rain leaks 

Biddeford High School was closed last Friday after water leaked into the building during a strong rainstorm.

The building on Maplewood Avenue is undergoing renovations and currently has no front on its south end, said Principal Britton Wolfe. Dams put in place by construction crews were not sufficient to keep out the driving rain, which was coming in sideways, he said.

Wolfe said water got into the front office, hallways and the girls’ locker room. Classes were canceled for the day because of safety concerns with electricity and water in the building. The construction company brought in a cleaning service to clean up the water.

The only lasting damage appears to be to ceiling tiles in the locker room, Wolfe said.

Governor dedicates day to recognize Order of Eagles

Gov. John Baldacci recently declared July 30 of each year to be State of Maine Fraternal Order of Eagles Recognition Day.

During a meeting with 60 Eagles from across the state in the Hall of Flags in the Statehouse, Baldacci cited the organization for its volunteer hours and tens of thousands of dollars raised for local, state and national charities.

Baldacci presented an official proclamation to President Dennis Arsenault and encouraged all Mainers to support the Eagles. 

Betty Winn, president of Eagles Order 804 of Biddeford, said the organization supports a number of local charities as well as research for various diseases. The organization plans to again distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to area residents.

Showroom surprise honors 50 years of family business

Frank Galos Chevrolet and Cadillac marked its 50^th anniversary Oct. 14 during a surprise celebration in its Saco showroom.

General Manager Jim Allie said keeping the party a surprise from dealer-principal Mark Galos was no easy task. Galos slipped through the showroom doors to a standing ovation from longtime employees. Also on hand was his father, Frank Galos, 86, who opened the dealership with his wife, Joan.

Allie spoke emotionally and said he was humbled to be welcomed into the family and watch three generations become involved in the business. While moving his father’s wheelchair to the front of the room for an award presentation from representatives of General Motors, Mark Galos said, “Frank always said ‘why walk when you can drive.’”

“Frank started it all. Without him, we wouldn’t be standing here,” Mark Galos said.

Also on hand for the celebration was Mark Galos’ daughter, Emily, his brother, Scott, and sister Nancy. State Sen. Barry Hobbins and state Rep. Linda Valentino presented the family a legislative sentiment and thanked the family for supporting the community.

Put on your thinking cap: It’s time to name the new team

The winner of a contest to rename the collegiate baseball team relocating to Old Orchard Beach will win two season tickets for life.

The team, formerly the Lowell All Americans, will call the Ballpark home beginning next season. The team is part of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, which also includes the Sanford Mainers. Name suggestions can be dropped off at town hall or mailed to Ballpark Commission, 1 Portland Ave., Old Orchard Beach ME 04064.

Man turns himself in after allegedly demanding drugs

A Biddeford man turned himself into police Tuesday morning, hours after he allegedly demanded prescription drugs from a pharmacy.

Jason Robertson, 25, was charged with robbery and violation of conditions of release and taken to York County Jail after he turned himself in at 2:05 a.m. Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk said police received a report that Rite Aid Pharmacy on Alfred Street was possibly robbed around 8 p.m. Monday.

Fisk said Robertson allegedly approached the counter and displayed a note demanding oxycontin. As the employee working the counter turned and called to a pharmacist standing nearby, Robertson walked out of the store, Fisk said.

Fisk said Robertson did not take anything from the pharmacy and did not display any weapons. Detectives investigating the robbery reviewed video footage and were able to identify the suspect, she said.

– Compiled by Staff Writer Gillian Graham

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