Police say dispute was over $8 in gas

A Biddeford man was arrested for allegedly assaulting another man during a dispute about the cost of gasoline.

Rafael Ocasio Jr., 23, of Biddeford, was arrested March 3 and charged with aggravated assault after police were called to break up a fight at the Pine  Street building where he lives. Officers found a “very large amount of blood” in the yard and stairway of the residence, said Biddeford Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk.

The 29-year-old male victim, who lived in a different apartment in the building, was taken in stable condition to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Fisk said the two men fought over $8 worth of gasoline for which Ocasio felt he had overpaid.

Ocasio remains in custody at York County Jail.

Heart of Biddeford hires new director

The Heart of Biddeford has hired Delilah Poupore as its interim executive director.

The nonprofit organization has been without a director since Zeke Callanan left in December after a year as executive director. Poupore has 20 years experience in higher education administration and 14 years in organizational development consulting.

“Delilah impressed me not only with her qualifications, but her personality. The board seemed to warm to her immediately and were unanimously in support of offering her the position,” said Tammy Ackerman, president of the executive board.

Poupore said she was drawn to the Biddeford area when she moved to Maine and looks forward to “working with the Heart of Biddeford to support the continued success of this town.”

“As a local resident, I have been most impressed with Heart of Biddeford’s efforts to create dialogue, asking the community to envision its own future. I look forward to building connections and helping put those ideas into tangible actions,” she said.

Poupore lives in Saco with her husband, Jonathan Drummey, and their 3-year-old daughter.

Rory Holland will appeal convictions

Attorneys for convicted murderer Rory Holland have filed paperwork indicating they will appeal his conviction and sentence.

Holland was convicted last November of shooting to death brothers Derek Greene, 21, and Gage Greene, 19, on South Street in Biddeford in June 2009. He was sentenced last month to two life sentences in prison.

Defense Attorney Clifford Strike said in court documents the application to allow an appeal should be granted because the sentencing court engaged in “misapplication of principle” when determining the basic sentence fell in the upper tier of sentences for murder. He said the court failed to take into account evidence at trial of the relationship between Holland and the Greene brothers.

Strike also said the sentencing court abused its discretion when determining the maximum sentence because it failed to consider any mitigating factors presented during the sentencing hearing.

Holland is serving his sentence at the Maine State Prison in Warren. 

Saco council adopts Comprehensive Plan

The Saco City Council unanimously adopted an update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

The 400-page plan will be submitted to the State Planning Office for review. It is the city’s fifth Comprehensive Plan, with other updates adopted in 1987 and 1999.

Councilor Jeff Christenbury said the plan “serves as a guide for the decisions the city makes about growth, development, redevelopment and change over the coming decade.” The plan was developed by an 11-member committee that met from December 2009 to December 2010. Highlights of the plan include revisions to better accommodate development, revisions to the downtown zones and the creation of new mixed-use and nonresidential districts as needed.

The plan also calls for review of parking requirements downtown and to consider relaxing standards for parking in in-town neighborhoods; exploring the addition of a Maine Turnpike interchange near Flag Pond Road; plans for sewer extension to Boothby Park; and expanding or replacing the public works garage.

Mayor Ron Michaud said he encourages residents to look at the plan on the city’s website.

“You can get a handle of where we expect to go as a community,” he said.

Governor to host ‘Capitol for a Day’

Gov. Paul LePage will host a “Capitol for a Day” event March 18 in Saco.

The public meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. March 18 at Thornton Academy. Press Secretary Adrienne Bennett said the town hall-style meeting is designed for the public to ask questions of the governor and commissioners. LePage plans to host the event in each of the state’s 16 counties, she said.

“It’s all about connecting with the people and finding out what is going on in local communities,” Bennett said.

LePage also will visit local businesses during his visit to York County.

Saco man sworn in to new state position

Thomas Arnold of Saco was sworn in last week as deputy secretary of state.

Arnold was sworn in by Secretary of State Charles Summers. In his new position, Arnold will oversee the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Arnold succeeds Catherine Curtis, who retired from state government after a 32-year-career at the bureau. Arnold is responsible for overseeing the bureau’s programs and policies.

Arnold retired last year from the state police as a patrol sergeant on the Maine Turnpike, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. Arnold earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State College and is a student at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Policy. After completing a thesis, Arnold expects to receive a master’s degree in public policy and management.

Sen. Barry Hobbins and Rep. Linda Valentino, who both represent Saco, attended the ceremony.

Benefit raises $8,000 for Lyman family

A fundraiser in Biddeford last weekend raised more than $8,000 for the Blackington-Zunser family of Lyman.

The fundraiser was organized by friends to help Rusty and Melissa Blackington support their newly enlarged family. The Blackingtons are now raising the five Zunser children alongside their own two. The Zunsers’ mother, Gloria Zunser, died Dec. 31 after a long battle with cancer. She willed her house to the Blackingtons so they would have room to raise the entire family together, but the family is struggling to make ends meet as they wait for her estate to be settled.

The Saturday night dance at the Rochambeau Club was attended by 277 people, said organizer Greg Kidder. He said many people called to donate to the family after reading their story.

“I couldn’t believe there were people calling from all over the state,” he said. “It was great.”

The money raised goes directly to the family to cover household expenses.