The Valentine Bandit  The Valentine Bandit covers Portland with
hearts each February 14.  Portland is a small town where it is
hard to keep a secret. However there is one secret that still
remains a mystery: Who is the Valentine's Bandit who canvasses
the city with red hearts every February 14th? Each year, someone
(and most likely some helpers) tape up white sheets of paper
with red hearts throughout the city. No surface is safe. Store
windows, cars, doors and lamp-posts are all targets. In recent
years, the Bandit has super-sized his (her?) love for Portland
by unfurling an enormous banner in a new location each time.
Once it hung off the Portland Museum of Art roof, another time
it was the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and once, off a
crane in the harbor.  How is it is that this person or group of
persons can remain anonymous? I think it is because we want very
much to believe in the mystery. Knowing who does it would take
away from the magic. The act, while time consuming, is simple.
Everyone can read