Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and beyond...

IN THE WEATHER

At 9 a.m., it was 45 degrees in downtown Portland.

Patchy fog and cloudy skies are supposed to give way to sun today. Warm temps are expected, in the mid to upper 60s with a noticeable light breeze.

From Bill in ROCKLAND: Well, a bright blue cloudless sky, no wind, and a crisp 37 degrees at 5:30 a.m. - another beautiful October - whoops! - May morning.
From James in CAPE ELIZABETH: Foggy and 44 here this morning at 6 a.m. Sun looks like it is starting to try to burn it off. Looks to be a nice day!!
From Shawn in YARMOUTH: It is a "froggy" morning here. 42 degrees and no wind and there is a brightness out there, but all the fog is covering the sun. Hopefully it will all burn off and be another beautiful day in the neighborhood!
From Marc in BRUNSWICK: A little cool here at 39 degrees, but who's going to complain when we have beautiful blue skies and temps that will reach the 70s. Now if we could only get a day like this on the weekend...
From Marc in BRUNSWICK: Good morning! Bright sunny skies with temps sitting at 39 chilly degrees. Very excited about the warm weather predicted for today and tomorrow!

ON THE ROAD:

• MaineDOT continues its work in the Gardiner/West Gardiner area on the I-295 Cobbosseecontee Stream Bridge. This work is expected to last up to one week. During this time, there will be single lane traffic from the Route 126 overpass through the bridge area, during day and night. Currently crews are scheduled to work first in the right lane on the bridge. Once complete, the lane will be reopened to traffic and the other lane closed to conduct similar work.

ON THE OCEAN:

A northern wind blows 5 to 10 knots today, with gusts up to 20 knots later this afternoon. Seas swell 1 to 2 feet.

High tide today in Portland around noon (12:22 p.m.). Tide is low now (6:07 a.m.) and will be again around 6:17 p.m.

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THE MAN AT THE HELM OF THE PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART is stepping down. Daniel E. O’Leary, who has directed the museum for 14 years, announced his retirement this morning, effective immediately.

He will remain with the museum as director of the Winslow Homer studio project. The museum owns the Homer studio in Prouts Neck, a seaside community in Scarborough, and O'Leary will continue the museum's efforts to restore the studio of one of America's greatest painters.

Deputy director Thomas Denenberg will serve as acting director until a new director is hired, according to a museum press release. A search committee will be formed this summer.

“The acquisition and preservation of the Winslow Homer studio represents one of the most meaningful and significant projects in the history of American art,” O’Leary said in a statement.

O'Leary began his job Nov. 1, 1993. Denenberg has been with the museum since June 1, 2006.

In a statement, board president Hans Underdahl called O'Leary an "outstanding director" who has balanced the museum's budget for 14 years, expanded exhibition schedules, increased attendance and helped the museum restore its historic buildings.

"We look forward to O’Leary’s new role as director of the Winslow Homer Studio Project,” Underdahl said.

Architect John Calvin Stevens created the Homer studio in 1883 as a home and workplace for the famous artist. The museum acquired the studio in January 2006.

The studio and the surrounding grounds are closed to the public while restoration projects take place. The capital campaign goal for this project is $8.3 million, and to date, the museum has raised more than $5 million in gifts and pledges. The museum plans to complete the project in 2010.

During O'Leary's tenure, the museum’s budget has grown from $1.8 million to $4.6 million, and the museum’s endowment has increased from $3.4 million to $33 million. The museum has also seen its attendance increase from 90,000 visitors to 150,000 visitors annually, with a peak of 188,000 in 2000.

O’Leary came to Portland from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, where he served as assistant director for five years. Prior to his position in Minneapolis, O’Leary was executive director of Artrain, a national arts organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Michigan, O’Leary holds a doctorate in art history as well as an MBA in marketing and management.

POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE HOME of a Portland police officer who lives on Deer Run Circle in Westbrook just after midnight to investigate a shooting.

More details will be available after Westbrook and Portland police hold a joint press conference sometime today, but officials did say the shooting victim was was transported to Maine Medical Center with injuries.

WATER IN SOUTH PORTLAND GOT YOU BLUE? OR ORANGE? OR YELLOW? No worries, it is supposed to be that color.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is testing the storm drain system in South Portland today. During the test, brightly colored dyes will be used to determine how sewers and drains are connected.

The DEP says the dyes are not hazardous and will breakdown under sunlight.

So if there seems to be a bit of unusual color to the Fore River today, that's why.

A MAN FROM WATERBORO WAS KILLED on Route 35 last night, at the Lyman and Dayton town line, officials say.

Patrick Sullivan, 21, of Waterboro, struck a telephone pole with his Lincoln Town Car just before midnight. According to a police report, Sullivan was not wearing a seatbelt. The report also said unsafe speed and improper passing were to blame.

Sullivan was alone in the car.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A FIRE that broke out in a vacant building at 33 Allen Ave. in Portland late last night, click on the map below:

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A regular Sunrise Herald feature, combating the stigma that "the press" only reports " the bad news." Get your daily dose of good news here.

IT'S TIME FOR PORTLAND'S ANNUAL TRASH PICKING ... I MEAN ... BULKY WASTE PICKUP EVENT. The curbside collection of bulky waste starts today, Tuesday, May 6, for Portlanders who traditionally put their regular trash out on Mondays.

This is the last year Portland will pay for the pickup. Read our previous story, from April: "City's 'free yard sale' will end"

Items accepted for curbside collection include mattresses, box springs, sofas, stuffed chairs/recliners, large toys, rolled carpets, book cases/shelves, dressers, bathroom fixtures and hot water heaters.

DO NOT place on the curb: brush or yard waste, propane tanks, construction/demolition debris, appliances, windows/glass items, household trash, air conditioners, TVs or computer equipment, liquid waste, hazardous waste, clothing/textiles and tires. (I can't use those things...but Portland is also saying not to put them out either. Those items need to be brought to the Riverside recycling facility.)

The rest of the schedule goes as follows:
        • If your trash collection is on Tuesdays - Your bulky pick-up date is May 13.
        • If your trash collection is on Wednesdays - Your bulky pick-up date is May 21.
        • If your trash collection is on Thursdays - Your bulky pick-up date is May 29.
        • If your trash collection is on Friday - Your bulky pick-up date is June 6.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go out for a while. I need a new couch.

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