June 05, 2008 At 9 a.m., it was clammy and gray and 57 degrees in downtown Portland.

You're going to need one of these this morning, but probably not by the evening commute. The drizzle continues through the morning, maybe into the afternoon. The moisture tapers off, but the clouds remain for tomorrow, with a gray day planned for the Portland area. Temps expected in the upper 50s, low 60s.

From Bill in Rockland: Breezy, overcast, soggy, and muggy here in Rockland at 5:30 a.m. And it's 53 degrees: not all that pleasant at the moment.
From James in Cape Elizabeth: After 0.40 inches of rain yesterday, it is 56 and cool here in Cape Elizabeth and still raining. The gentleness of the rain is great for garden, lawns, etc. Enjoy the day!!
From Shawn in Yarmouth: We finally have gotten some much needed rain! It is 56 degrees here in Yarmouth this morning. Still a pretty heavy cloud cover and some wind squalls here and there. My lawn is smiling!
From Karen in Steep Falls: It's a chilly 54 degrees this morning and very wet! A light drizzle coming down under very dark, cloudy skies. Blah....

ON THE ROAD:

• It's hard to believe, but the average price for a gallon of gas today will cost me (and you, depending on where you live) more than a gallon of milk ($3.89 at my local market).
The average price of a gallon of gas in Maine is now at $4 a gallon, making me wonder if it's time to consider making a car that runs on milk. For now, you can read Ed Murphy's story in today's Portland Press Herald about the record high gas prices by clicking on Missus Cow:

ON THE OCEAN:

Northeast wind blows 10 to 20 knots and subsides to 5 to 10 in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Patchy drizzle and fog this morning, but improves as the day goes on. Visibility down to 1 nautical mile or less. Seas 2 to 3 feet.

High tide was at 12:15 a.m. and returns at 1:03 p.m. Low tides at 6:46 a.m. and 6:54 p.m.

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AUGUSTA — Gov.John E. Baldacci plans to announce a new state program providing significant low-cost loans for technology that cuts down diesel costs and reduces pollution at a press conference today.

At the 1 p.m. event, Baldacci will discuss details of the program, which provides low-cost loans for the purchase of energy-saving or pollution control equipment, including “Auxiliary Power Units” which can save $12,000 a year or more in diesel fuel costs per truck at today’s gas prices.

He will be joined by truckers, owners of small trucking companies as well as other public officials who have worked on the program.

The event is supposed to be held at the parking lot between the State House and Cross Office Building, Augusta, butwill be held in the Hall of Flags in case of rain.

An update is sure to be found here once the event takes place, so check back for the latest.

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PORTLAND — During the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., you might end up wondering what's going on in Monument Square, what with all those people in cell-block orange running around.

The answer is not a prison break. It is Amnesty International USA's touring exhibit of a replica Guantanamo prison cell.

The exhibit features actors depicting prisoners and activists. Visitors to the exhibit may tour the cell and take part in interactive activities. If you need to talk about it, folks from Amnesty International, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union will host a panel discussion at 6:30 tonight at the Portland Public Library.

The same exhibit will be open on Saturday also, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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PORTLAND — The Associated Press this morning is announcing that Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is in Maine today.

The AP says Nader expected to attend a fund-raiser for Laurie Dobson, an Independent running for Senate, at her home in Kennebunkport before coming to Portland for a news conference and rally at First Parish Church.

Time have not yet been provided. He'll be discussing energy issues and the war in Iraq, among other things.

Nader originally planned to go to Kennebunkport to call for the resignation of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, but that event has been canceled.
Nader won 6 percent of Maine's vote in the 2000 presidential election on the Green Party ticket. He also ran in 1996 as a Green, and in 2004 as an independent.

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WESTBROOK AND SOUTH BERWICK — Smell something funny in the air today?

No worries. Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, LLC, will conduct controlled releases of natural gas from certain valves along the pipeline route. The releases planned for today are in the following areas:

• ON SMALL HARDY ROAD in Westbrook, starting between 7 and 9 a.m., with work wrapping up by 9 a.m. Friday.

• ON STATE ROUTE 236 in South Berwick, starting between 3 and 6 p.m. through Saturday.

As natural gas is released into the air, there is a loud rushing noise that may last approximately 3 hours, according to Maritimes. Although natural gas is odorless on its own, there is a compound added to make it noticeable when it leaks.

You know the smell. It is stinky and you'll probably catch a whiff if you are near the above areas. But there is no danger. Except for the possibility of a bad "gas" joke from your neighbor.

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