In The Maine News

[maineyankee]

Usually I post things that have made the newspapers or other forms of media. It is not something that I do to cause attention to myself, but more of a "gift" that I have when it comes to talking and caring about people. I have been this way for over 40 years, and it still goes on today ...

I have a close friend that is the uncle of the missing 20-month old, Ayla Reynolds here in Waterville. My family invited him to our home this past Christmas, and we were blessed to have his presence on such a day. We just wanted to make sure that he was taken care of, and not spending the holiday alone. It was the best Christmas that I ever had, not by my actions of inviting him, but his willing to come over and break bread with us. There have been a lot of tears shed, and a lot of hugs these past 12 days, as his niece goes on missing. He is torn up over the entire ordeal, and at this time, cannot really go to his family, where there are always tears and sorrow. I have been instrumental in getting his family to issue a statement on behalf on them, but they are scared of the media, and "Their Spin" on things. This was very pronounced tonight as I watched the latest episode of Nancy Grace.
I am in touch constantly with a free lance reporter based out of Providence, Rhode Island, and through us working together, Justin (Ayla's Father) did release a statement today, and was aired on the many types of media. I could not believe my ears when I heard that woman, who so many people watch, take that statement apart like it was chopped liver. The most amazing aspect of what she stated was "That the area has never had a homicide or an abduction in the past 10 years." Where do prey tell she get her info? I do not like people taking fact, and making "Their Spin" to gain ratings! I think it is sick and appalling to say the very least. especially when there is a child involved.
It is no wonder that people are scared to death to say anything nowadays in fear or reprisal from either law enforcement, media or other types. And this goes along with MJ and MMJ in today's world. People are being locked into their own dwellings, so that they are not going to offend someone, cause a riff or two, or being labeled. I guess I beat a different drum than most, but I for one, will not let what I do.. sit in my own dwelling, nor a closet. I am proud of being a Free American and will not be held hostage or restrained on any matter that I believe in.

Thanks for Listening, Caring and Well Wishes. It means so very much to my family, as well as myself.
Also, on behalf of the DiPietro Family, "Let Us Bring Ayla Home"
God Bless
Bob

 

[maineyankee]

Morning Sentinel
December 29, 2012

'I have to believe that Ayla is with somebody and I just want that person to find the courage to do the right thing and find a way to return her safely,' says Justin DiPietro

By Doug Harlow [email protected]
Staff WriterWATERVILLE -- The father of missing toddler Ayla Reynolds said Wednesday that he would never harm his daughter and implored whoever has the 20-month-old to bring her home safe.

In his second public statement in as many weeks, Justin DiPietro, 24, said he wanted to set the record straight on his daughter's disappearance."I have to believe that Ayla is with somebody and I just want that person to find the courage to do the right thing and find a way to return her safely," DiPietro said in a hand-written statement released Wednesday afternoon by the Waterville Police Department. "Even if that means dropping her off at a church or a hospital or some safe place."The 20-month-old was last seen sleeping Friday night, Dec. 16, at her father's house at 29 Violette Ave. She was reported missing by DiPietro the next morning, some 10 to 12 hours later.

She was wearing green polka-dot pajamas with a soft cast on her left arm.A massive ground, air and water search was launched Dec. 17. Game wardens, state police, firefighters, civilian volunteers, the FBI and members of the Maine Association of Search and Rescue have participated.Wednesday, DiPietro thanked everyone who has been involved in the search for his daughter, investigators and the community members who have offered a $30,000 reward for her return

.DiPietro said he has not agreed to media interviews because he does not want to hinder the investigation.

"It is important that the public hear it from me personally that I have no idea what happened to Ayla and that I am not hiding," he said.Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey has said DiPietro and Ayla's mother, 23-year-old Trista Reynolds, of Portland, have been cooperating with the investigation.

DiPietro said questions raised in the national media about bruises on the child or how she broke her arm are "simply ludicrous.""I would never want anyone to spend even a minute in my shoes," he said. "No one should ever have to experience this. It has affected me in more ways than anyone can imagine. Please don't give up or lose hope, because that is easy to do. Please be grateful for what you have. I know what I don't have."

Meanwhile, police on Wednesday said the investigation into the toddler's disappearance continued as it has for the last 12 days.Massey said areas have been searched and searched again to make sure no piece of evidence is overlooked. He said Col. Joel Wilkinson of the Maine Warden Service will continue to make his personnel available as necessary to execute future searches.

"Our gratitude for their assistance is immense," Massey said in a prepared statement.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 370 tips had come in concerning the whereabouts of Ayla, police said. Such leads have come in from as far away as California."Although we fully understand and appreciate the public's desire to 'know what we know' about the case, we will continue to release only that information which is appropriate based on the direction of the investigation, and at a time when we are confident that such release will not compromise our progress," Massey said.

On Monday, investigators said they are confident that Ayla did not walk out of the house by herself. Someone else had to have been involved in taking her, Massey said.Trista Reynolds, the girl's mother, had filed court paperwork in Portland for sole custody of the child on Thursday, Dec. 15. The state Department of Health and Human Services turned Ayla over to DiPietro in October.

Trista Reynolds' family members have said she was previously in rehabilitation for substance abuse.

Waterville Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey said Wednesday that police know where Trista Reynolds was the night of Dec. 16, when there were several people at the Violette Avenue home.However, Rumsey declined to share that information. Rumsey also wouldn't say whether there was another child in the same room with Ayla that night -- as has been reported in the national media -- or if there was forensic evidence, such as blood, found inside the house.

Authorities are not making court affidavits filed in the case public, including those for permission to search the house, garage and two vehicles seized by police from the Violette Avenue driveway."We're very cautious in this case; we don't put investigative details out there that could compromise a portion of this investigation," Rumsey said. "That is our main concern. And when it comes to releasing those details to the press, we're going to err on the side of caution.

"We have talked to everyone that was in the house that night. We are confident that we know everyone who was in the house, as far as who stayed there and we talked to them all and we have talked to Trista Reynolds."Rumsey said he also is confident that Waterville detectives, game wardens, search-and-rescue volunteers and the FBI have done the best job possible.

"We've done everything right," he said.​

 

[Maine Brookies]

Nancy Grace epitomizes the reasons i will not watch television news. She is truly a despicable woman.

 

[tet1953]

Nancy Grace epitomizes the reasons i will not watch television news. She is truly a despicable woman.

I was relieved when they moved her off CNN and onto HLN.

 

[Bluejeans]

Nancy Grace epitomizes the reasons i will not watch television news. She is truly a despicable woman.

I had to reply...clicking LIKE was just not adequate to express my agreement with this statement

 

[maineyankee]

WGME TV13
January 3, 2012

Westrbrook Drug ArrestA joint investigation by the Maine DEA and Westbrook Police leads to an arrest at a Westbrook apartment.

After conducting a search warrant police arrested 28-year-old Ryan Macvane.

Police say they found 45 Oxycodone pills, valued at more than $1,000 along with a pistol, ammunition, and two electric stun guns.

Macvane is being held at Cumberland County Jail on $10,000 cash bail

Question? Where do they get 45 Pills of Oxycodone valued at $1000?

 

[SickofPain]

I don't know about Maine, but when I lived in Detroit, they were selling those at a dollar a milligram. Some were going for $80 a PILL! So 45 valued at $1000 is about $22 each....sounds right to me. I was given Oxycodone when I went in to the ER paralyzed from the wait down (was temporary) and I swear a Tic Tac would have been just as effective! The nurses didn't believe it did absolutely NOTHING for me, sent for a Dr, gave me another...still NOTHING. So they finally got someone to give me an injection in my IV line...not sure what it was, but it worked!

Peace!

 

[Bluejeans]

WGME TV13

Question? Where do they get 45 Pills of Oxycodone valued at $1000?

Come on man, you've posted enough articles now to know that there is regular math, and then there is "drug bust in the news" math, which always seems to have a large multiplier in it...like the 25 pot plants with a street value of $50,000! Heck, it was probably a dozen clones, a few veggers, and a few in flower, like the rest of us...

 

[maineyankee]

I was being sarcastic as usual. In matter of fact, just today I picked up my 60 oxy (5 mg) and they charge the insurance company $46.80 for them.

 

[maineyankee]

Central Morning Sentinel
January 9, 2012

Former Wellness Connection of Maine official criticizes capacity; patients frustrated; so far, though, no state complaints

By Michael Shepherd [email protected]
Staff WriterAUGUSTA -- As Maine's largest medical marijuana nonprofit organization plans to open its dispensaries, the man originally tapped to run its growing operation says the organization does not have enough space to grow the product its patients need.

Meanwhile, leading state patient advocates say those who have signed up to receive medical marijuana from a Wellness Connection of Maine dispensary in Thomaston have run up against difficulty setting up appointments and stringent product limits that are well below the amounts allowed by state law."It's the continued modus operandi of Northeast -- promise something you can't perform," said Paul McCarrier, who answers the phone for Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine, the advocacy group for which he serves as a board member.But, in a prepared statement, the state regulators of the program said they haven't heard patient complaints and are unconcerned with the size of the Thomaston facility.And Wellness Connection of Maine, called Northeast Patients Group until the nonprofit changed its name last month, says it has sufficient space. The group did confirm, though, it is placing limits on product because it's a fledgling operation.Matthew Hawes, a Holden native who lives in northern California, was slated to be the supervisor of all aspects of the cultivation program under applications that Northeast Patients Group won in 2010 for four dispensary licenses

.In minutes from an April 2010 Augusta Planning Board meeting, Hawes was cited as saying that the organization would need a 10,000- to 20,000-square-foot building to grow enough marijuana for the four dispensaries they are licensed to operate in Maine.Wellness Connection Executive Director Becky DeKeuster has previously said that the Thomaston dispensary has been open since September and would be the initial cultivation base for the four dispensaries.Through spokeswoman Jane Lane, DeKeuster this week denied a reporter's request for a tour of the dispensary.

Now, as Wellness Connection readies in the coming months to open three dispensaries -- in Hallowell, Portland and Brewer -- Hawes, after a split with the group, says the Thomaston location was never meant for large-scale growing and is insufficient to grow for the number patients anticipated by Wellness Connection.Thomaston assessor's agent, Dave Martucci, said this week that Wellness Connection occupies about 3,300 square feet of a 6,600-square-foot building on New County Road.

According to Hawes, a typical grower could expect a yield of about 300 pounds of marijuana annually in a location such as the Thomaston facility, assuming their average patient requires about 1 pound each year. He said the maximum yield for that space would be 500 pounds annually, with an elite grower and high-yield, short-flowering strains.In July estimates filed with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the group said it expected to serve 540 patients and lose $1.75 million. At Hawes' estimated average, the Thomaston facility wouldn't be able to supply all needed the product."I think that it's inadequate," Hawes said of the Thomaston site.

"If demand is still estimated to be anywhere near what we were predicting, then it's not suitable even to start."In a prepared statement, John Martins, spokesman for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, whose Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services oversees the state's medical marijuana program, said the state has no concern about the facility's size.And Lane denied Hawes' claim that there isn't enough space there."While the Wellness Connection of Maine does not comment on our growing facilities, I can say that we have adequate space to meet projected patient need," Lane said.

Early plans

Hawes said he knows the capabilities of the Thomaston site.He said he found the facility through a Rockland Realtor and held initial meetings with Thomaston Code Enforcement Officer Peter Surek. The site wasn't intended to be anything other than a dispensary, where patients could buy needed product and accessories.Hawes said the first site they considered for cultivation was a warehouse off Interstate 95 in Hermon, owned by the Dysart family.In the summer of 2010, however, the town of Hermon put a moratorium on such facilities until it could enact regulations. So the group then known as Northeast Patients Group focused instead on growing in Portland, he said."They just kind of went away," said Ron Harriman, Hermon's economic development director.

Northeast wanted to lease a larger space than initially needed and then grow into the site as patient rolls expanded, Hawes said. Harriman said Northeast would have had 30,000 square feet in the Hermon warehouse they were considering.Hawes estimated they would need 8,000 square feet just to get started. Within two to three years, he said they planned to fill a 15,000- to 20,000-square foot space."We thought that it was fiscally irresponsible to move into a location that we knew we were going to have to expand out of within a few years," he said.

"We were going big at the start."By the time Hawes stopped working with Northeast in early 2011, he said the group hadn't secured financing to finalize a lease in Portland.Hawes said when it became evident that finding financing for a new location could be difficult, he considered propagating, or breeding, marijuana plants at the Thomaston location "as a very short-term Band-Aid" for no longer than a few months."We never considered that to be a long-term cultivation site," Hawes said.Legal issuesHawes said he had been voted by Northeast's board of directors to be the company's general manager, with an eye on being head of cultivation.In February, he said Northeast cut off contact with him, leaving him wondering for weeks if he was still working there."They just stopped talking to me. They stopped returning my calls and emails," Hawes said. "They just completely ignored me."According to Martins, Northeast notified the state that Hawes was no longer affiliated with them on May 31.

That month, DeKeuster quit her job as New England expansion director for Berkeley Patients Group, the California-based former financial backer of Northeast. She quit one day after she signed a $2 million, never-finalized preliminary financing agreement between Northeast and retired NBA basketball player Cuttino Mobley.That agreement led to Berkeley suing Northeast on July 6 for repayment of $632,195 in loans. The suit also asked that the court order DeKeuster, of Augusta, to end her association with Northeast Patients Group.Hawes said he is a friend of Tim Schick, the Maine native who serves as Berkeley's executive director."I think they kind of saw the writing on the wall coming as far as the lawsuit, which was going to be inevitable," he said.Between the Mobley agreement and Berkeley's lawsuit, Mobley was looking to license intellectual property from Berkeley, who responded in good faith, according to a source close to the discussion who declined to be identified because of the pending lawsuit. The source said negotiations lasted until June and also centered around Northeast repaying Berkeley the loans it eventually sued for.

Hawes said after an early meeting, Northeast stopped talking to him.Martins said Chad Emper runs cultivation now for Wellness Connection. A fall 2009 issue of Universitas, a magazine at Saint Louis University in Missouri, said DeKeuster, an alumna, married Emper that March.'Lacking zeroes'In the tight Thomaston space, Hawes said the only way to yield the amount of plants needed to serve the number of patients anticipated would be to flower many small plants and stack them toward the ceiling.But Hawes said Maine statutes would dissuade a grower from that tactic, as law limits growers to six plants for every patient."Due to the six-plants-per-patient limitation in Maine and due to the fact that Maine defines a plant as a flowering plant, they can't use that technique," he said.

"They'll have to have a very healthy vegetative space."Meanwhile, a smaller-time Maine grower scoffed at the size of Wellness Connection's facility."It would be an ideal space for a four-caregiver operation," said Jim Burke, a Lagrange caregiver, which is a state-permitted citizen who can grow marijuana for up to five patients.Burke is the operator of Care by Cannabis LLC, a collective of three Penobscot and Piscataquis county caregivers, including himself and his wife. Burke said to accommodate 15 patients, he has two floors with a combined 2,000 square feet of space in a retrofitted garage attached to his home, and that footage includes flowering and propagation space.Wellness Connection cannot grow enough product in Thomaston, Burke said."They're lacking a couple zeroes," he said.

Calls not returned

McCarrier, the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine board member, said that during the last few months medical marijuana patients who have signed up for product at Wellness Connection's Thomaston dispensary have been disappointed.They've encountered limits on product ranging from one-eighth of an ounce weekly to one-fourth of an ounce weekly. By state law, patients with medical conditions qualifying for the medical marijuana program are allowed 2.5 ounces every two weeks, which is 1.25 ounces per week.Martins, the DHHS spokesman, said the state hasn't heard those complaints.Lane, the Wellness Connection spokeswoman, confirmed limits on product, but in a statement she framed it as a planned phase as they ramp up product and patient count.

"That is the case right now at this new clinic. We have said from the start that a new dispensary needs to build up their inventory of product based on patient caseload and need," she said. "It will take some time to incrementally increase our inventory, but we have begun the process and we expect this situation will soon be resolved."Charles Wynott, executive director of the Westbrook-based Maine Medical Marijuana Patients Center, tells similar stories of his interaction -- or lack thereof -- with Wellness Connection. Wynott said he has left multiple messages on Wellness Connection's main phone line."I have called them and said, 'This is Charlie. I have no money. I need help,' and I didn't even get a courtesy call," he said. "There's nobody on the other side of the phone."

"The protocol at the Wellness Connection of Maine is to have new patients book an appointment for their initial visit," Lane, the Wellness Connection spokeswoman, said in a prepared statement. "While we haven't received any complaints from patients regarding the scheduling of appointments, our goal is to make this process as seamless as possible and we are working to ensure that happens."Wynott said stringent product limits have been not just a problem for Wellness Connection, but most of Maine's five open dispensaries.

"At all dispensaries, they're not able to satisfy patient needs," Wynott said. "The patients aren't stupid. They're going to shop around."Wynott said the average Maine caregiver sells marijuana to patients for about $250 per ounce. In numbers submitted to the state in July, Northeast said it would sell product for $340 per ounce at their dispensaries.In Portland, where DeKeuster has said a Congress Street dispensary could open by February, Wellness Connection is planning to have a "welcoming community center," where patients can network with each other over free tea and coffee."Good luck with that," Wynott said of the pricing.

"They better be serving some good coffee."​

 

[tet1953]

Mornin Bob. I saw that too, but I knew you'd post it lol. I wrote to the author this morning too..he got John Thiele's name wrong. Interesting, the DHHS Licensing page is not reachable at maine.gov (the link is there but dead in the agency list). I got to it anyway through a back way. Wanted to make sure the person in charge hadn't changed, and it hasn't.

 

[maineyankee]

Too many "John's" in politics and at the heads of departments. I think this entire aspect should be molded after California where as a "Certified" grower can sell any overage to a dispensary. I am currently reading an article in High Times where there is a group based in Oakland, that puts "Their Seal of Approval" after having inspected a grower's grow. They, in my opinion, have it going in the right direction on some aspects, this being one of them.

Bob ~ The MeYank

 

[tet1953]

Too many "John's" in politics and at the heads of departments. I think this entire aspect should be molded after California where as a "Certified" grower can sell any overage to a dispensary. I am currently reading an article in High Times where there is a group based in Oakland, that puts "Their Seal of Approval" after having inspected a grower's grow. They, in my opinion, have it going in the right direction on some aspects, this being one of them.

Bob ~ The MeYank

I agree completely about selling overage to a dispensary, but I don't think we'll see that anytime soon. Too bad, since dispensaries obviously can't keep up, and it would provide legitimate income to small guys.

 

[maineyankee]

And ... Then the smaller guys would have some extra cash to upgrade, and get better product for their patients. It is so, so wrong (IMO) to have something great, such as passing MMJ, but then squashing any hopes and dreams to really succeed for the betterment of all.

 

[Maine Brookies]

The system as currently designed is deeply flawed - anyone with a recommendation should be able to buy or sell from any other legal possessor.

::waits patiently for mdanforth to check in::

 

[SickofPain]

I'm confused.....I was just looking over "An Act to Amend the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act To Protect Patient Privacy" at http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/billtexts/HP095101.asp About 1/4 way down under

"2. Primary Caregiver"
"H. For the purpose of disposing of excess prepared marijuana, receive reasonable compensation for the transfer of marijuana to a registered dispensary or primary caregiver"

And I don’t see ANYWHERE in the “Medical Use of Marijuana Program – Overview of 9/28/11 Changes” at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/dlrs/mmm/application-material/Program-Bulletin.pdf anything that says you can or can not sell overages to dispensary’s or other caregivers. The first one says you CAN “receive reasonable compensation” for the “transfer” of MMJ to a registered dispensary or caregiver.
Can anyone please tell me where it says flat out you can NOT sell to dispensarys or caregivers? I keep looking but I can't see anything.

Thanks in Advance!

 

[tet1953]

I believe you have made the same mistake many of us have. The state still has a link to a work in progress; the law was amended after that version. Look for a pdf called Public Law 407.

 

[SickofPain]

LOL, I had that already in a different folder in my comp. I found where it says can give to disp. or other caregiver if nothing of value is received in return. That just blows.
Thank you so much tet, really appreciated!

Peace!

 

[Maine Brookies]

We need a FAQ sticky.

 

[SickofPain]

We need a FAQ sticky.

Great idea!