By Ward Peck
Editor
    Organizers for the Cape Elizabeth High School Junior/ Senior Prom were sent scrambling after learning the Pavilion Banquet Hall in Portland is closed. What will become of the $2,500 deposit the children raised to reserve the space is unclear.
    “We are not counting on getting the deposit back,” said Carrie Apanovich, a social studies teacher at CEHS and co-advisor to the Class of 2008. Apanovich said the committee is now looking to other venues for the May 12 prom.
    CEHS is not the only school that has found their spring plans disrupted by the closure. Thornton Academy placed a $2,000 deposit for their May 11 prom and Sanford High School had scheduled a “Project Graduation” event at the Pavilion scheduled to take place at the Middle Street location on June 8. SHS reserved the space with a $1,500 deposit.
    T.A. Spokesperson and Financial Director Cathy Coffman and Apanovich both said their schools were contacted by attorney Peter Edmands of the Biddeford law firm Woodman Edmands Danylik and Austin via fax and asked for copies of the deposit invoices.
    Lisa Oldakowski, listed as the Pavilion’s general manager, has been described as the Pavilion’s owner, but the degree of her ownership is presently unclear.
    John Turcotte, an attorney representing Oldakowski described Oldakowski as “one of the owners,” through a limited liability corporation by the name of “First Class Enterprises LLC.” According to papers filed with the Maine Secretary of State’s office, First Class Enterprises also goes by the name “The Pavilion.” 
    Turcotte would not comment on any specifics of the Pavilion closure and referred to Edmands, the attorney representing the other owner, which Turcotte described as a “trust.” Turcotte declined to share the ownership structure of First Class Enterprises, referring the question to Edmands, who is listed as the corporation’s agent.
    Turcotte said he is not aware of any legal issues between the owners of First Class Enterprises and said Oldakowski still maintained her interest in the corporation.
    In an email to her contacts at the affected schools, Oldakowski wrote, “I just wanted to let everyone know that the decision to close The Pavilion had nothing to do with me. My input was never asked for or given to the matter. Although there were other issues going on between myself and other business partners, it was never my intent or suggestion that the business be closed down; nor did I have any knowledge at any point that it was being considered. Quite frankly, I heard about it the same way you did — through other people.”
    In another email she called the situation “devastating” and declined to comment further. Oldakowski referred inquiries to Turcotte who refused to provide any additional information on the matter other then directing questions back to Edmands.
    “My question is: Is the money being held up for the kids who’ve done car washes while these people fight out a bad business deal?” Coffman asked.
    Apanovich said the Class of 2008 is currently in discussions with several alternative venues, including the Portland Club. She said one issue with holding the prom at the Portland Club is cost.
    She said it would cost roughly $3,000 more to hold it there. Considering the committee may not get the $2,500 deposit, the cost of the prom- estimated at roughly $6,000– has effectively doubled.
    “There are not that many venues that can hold 300 people,” Apanovich said.
    While the closure of the Pavilion– and the potential loss of deposits came as a surprise to many, the Bollard, an online publication in Portland, has reported for several months that the Pavilion was actively seeking a new owner.
    On Dec. 29, 2006, the Bollard reported “less than a year,” after taking ownership, from Jim Albert, Oldakowski was seeking to sell her interest.
    Albert, although claiming to have no financial interest in the facility, was listed as the contact for potential buyers, according to the Bollard.
    Albert is also a business associate of Old Orchard Beach Pier owner Paul Golzbein who is the guarantor of the Pavilion’s lease. Golzbein said that as guarantor, if Oldakowski defaults on payments he is responsible for making them.
    Golzbein said he has paid the lease until June 2007 when it expires. Albert declined to comment except to say he no longer has any involvement with the Pavilion.
    Sanford Project Graduation chairman Ann LaPierre said committee members had heard The Pavilion was for sale, but LaPierre said when she called Oldakowski, she was assured the contracts signed last September would be honored.
    Now that The Pavilion is non-operational, Oldakowski cannot be reached at The Pavilion or on her cell phone.
    Portland-based Commercial Properties, Inc, chairman and CEO Dick McGoldrick owns the Pavilion building. McGoldrick confirmed the space is for lease, but said he had nothing to do with The Pavilion.
  “Lisa (Oldakowski) did take deposits in her own name. That’s about all I know,” he said. LaPierre said the check for the Project Graduation deposit was made out to The Pavilion, not to Oldakowski.
    “I think it is awful what she’s (Oldakowski’s) doing,” Golzbein said of the lost deposits. “You don’t take prom away from the kids.”
    Reporters Brandi Neal and Renee Worthing contributed to this report.