november 2010 munjoy hill observer

On the evening of October 13, candidates, activists and about 50 community members gath-ered in the cafeteria of the East End Community School to dis-cuss upcoming ballot issues and candidate positions. Moderated by MHNO President Christina Feller, with a time limit of one minute apiece for their respons-es, the participants discussed their positions and answered questions from the audience.

First to speak was the newly ap-pointed Senior Lead Officer for Munjoy Hill, Officer Stephen Black. He had specifically re-quested the assignment on the Hill, having worked in this com-munity before. He feels this is a place where he can make a signif-icant difference. It’s a lively and diverse community with various challenges, which he welcomes. According to Officer Black, not to disparage “writing traffic tick-ets out in Deering, but since I’ve been back in town [on the Hill], I’ve already made 4-5 felony ar-rests— I’m loving it!”

Officer Black has a history of making dramatic arrests—in just one instance, in 2009, he in-tercepted gunmen with loaded weapons before they were able to enter Portland High School, pre-venting certain mayhem.

The group then heard from op-posing candidates for State Sen-ate District 8, Peter Doyle and

incumbent Justin Alfond, who discussed issues of education, the economy and jobs, energy and the state budget, and the various approaches they favored.

Both sides of the Elected Mayor issue were represented: by Anna Trevorrow in support of an elect-ed mayor, and by Cheryl Lehman, of the NO Elected Mayor cam-paign. (See letters on page 8 for the arguments, pro and con).

See page 8, MHNO Quarterly

See page 10, BicycliNg aNd WalkiNg

By Sarah Cushman, Safe Routes to School Program - Southern Maine RegionOn September 29th at Lyman Moore Middle School in North Deering, a group of 20 residents, school administrators and staff from both Lyseth and Lyman Moore schools met with the Portland Safe Routes to Schools Team to discuss the barriers that children face that keep more of them from walking and biking to school, and to brainstorm ways to reduce those barriers and increase active transportation for kids.

The Portland Safe Routes to Schools Team includes City Schools, Planning, Health, and Public Services staff, represen-tatives from the Greater Port-land Council of Governments, and Munjoy Hill’s own Jaime Parker of Portland Trails and Sarah Cushman of the Maine

Safe Routes to School Program (a project of the Maine Dept. of Transportation and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine).

Lyseth and Lyman Moore Schools were chosen by the Safe Routes Team as the pilot project for devel-opment of a School Travel Plan—funded through a planning grant from the Maine Dept. of Trans-portation and also the Communi-ties Putting Prevention to Work grant from Healthy Portland. The Safe Routes Team intends that all of Portland’s Elementary and Middle Schools will participate in a individualized School Travel Plan process within the next 2-3 years. The travel plan engages stakeholders—including children, parents, staff and community members —to identify barriers to active transportation such as walking and biking, and recom-mend solutions. Recommen-

dations will include physical infra-structure improvements—such as

MHNO Quarterly Meeting offered Informative Candidate/Issues Forum

The world comes to Portland. (Well, it just seems like it.) As the cruise ship season winds to a close, more than 75,000 passengers have visited Port-land this year. The familiar cruise ship silhouette towering above the Portland Ocean Terminal will be absent until the warm weather returns.

Up on IndiaiNdia Street reSideNtS OrgaNize

tO reverSe area decliNeBy Lisa PeñalverOnce populated by aging buildings which were home to families and workers, and to the Jordan Meats com-pany which operated round the clock, large chunks of the once bustling and vital India Street neighborhood now stand vacant or demolished. The area has become an open invitation to vagrants and squatters, and is plagued by graffiti, break-ins and public drunkenness. It is a void that just wants to be filled. And then there’s the traffic speeding up and down the hill.

But residents and businesses on India Street are object-ing to the slide. They have had enough. Joe Malone, real estate broker, city resident and owner of property in this beloved historic area, thinks the city and community must do better. In early October, a group of a dozen residents and business owners, with the help of a profes-sional organizer from the Muskie School of Public Ser-vice, gathered to brainstorm and discuss a strategy of reversing the trend toward urban blight they were see-ing around them. The group is focusing on the area be-tween Franklin Street and Mountfort Street, and down from Congress Street to Commercial Street.

“You have Section 8 housing and tenants [located] next to billionaires’ condos, 8-story, 20-million dollar build-ing projects and hotels beside 2-family homes. It’s a wide range of interests. But the people who bought these [vacant] properties on spec don’t live here and they are NOT taking care of the properties – they have become an eyesore and a safety problem,” observed Joe Malone. “And it’s gotten much worse than it was even five years ago.”

The economic downturn is clearly a factor in the stagna-tion of development, but this does not entirely explain why these properties have been allowed— by the owners and City alike—to become so trashed.

“People around here would be better served if they could at least use these vacant lots for parking, but with a cost of permitting alternative uses up to $30,000-$40,000, the owners from away aren’t going

A child rides her bike home from school in this stock photo, iStockphoto®

to pay that. So they put up chain link and there it sits.” Joe Malone is also frustrated with the city’s apparent indif-ference to the problem, and with regulations that prevent temporary uses of the properties, uses like a community garden, a park or a playground….

Joe Malone is confident that the situation can be turned around. “We are in the beginning stages of this neighbor-hood organization, but people are fired up; we need to get a base down, and we need to have residents involved as well as business owners. I know Mary Allen from Coffee by De-sign is very interested, and folks from the art galleries and restaurants. We’ll be getting the word out in advance of our next meeting, which should be in early November.”

Anyone interested in getting involved to clean up the area can contact Joe at 772-2422, or email [email protected].

Forum looks at Bicycling and Walking to school

FREE Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Vol. 30, No.11 • November 2010

Munjoy Hill

OBSERVERNon Profit Org

US Postage

PAIDPortland, ME

Permit No. 824

Munjoy Hill

OBSERVERMHNO, 92 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101

Change Service Requested

The Munjoy Hill Observer is published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood

Organization (MHNO) at 92 Congress Street

Portland, Maine 04101

editOrLisa Peñalver

[email protected] (207) 766-5077

munjoyhill.org/observer/

OBServer cOMMittee

Katie Brown, Jeanne Bull, Turner Kruysman, Alison Nason, Liz

McMahon, Kristin Rapinac

advertiSiNgTurner Kruysman

[email protected] or 332-4355

The Observer is Portland’s East End monthly paper, supporting projects

within our community. It is is published the first week of the month.

3,000 Circulation 8,000+ Readership

aBOut Our paperThe Munjoy Hill Observer is published 12 times a year by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO) as a service to its members and to the community as a whole, to inform Portland’s East End residents of local issues and events, and of the services that can be found here. The Observer serves as a vehicle to connect and inform our neighbors, while enlisting community partners to help us help those who need it most.

The Munjoy Hill Observer was first published in May of 1979. Circulation is 3000, distributed free in Portland at over 100 locations. Nearly 400 copies are mailed to current and former members of the MHNO.

MHNO Board 2010–11Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization

Christina Feller, President [email protected] ..... 773-4336

Delores Lanai, Treasurer [email protected] ........ 773-9235

Elaine Mullin [email protected] ......... 671-6132

Andrea Myhaver [email protected]

Fred Brancato [email protected] ........774-3163

Katie Brown [email protected]

Ali (Ndabaruta) Kabirigi [email protected] ........... 772-4539

Kristin Rapinac [email protected]

Phil Saucier [email protected]

Joan Sheedy [email protected] .......... 774-7616

MHNO MissionIncorporated as a nonprofit organization

in January 1979, our purpose is to

be a broad-based, representative

organization committed to improving the

quality of life for the residents of Munjoy

Hill and the East End, by strengthening

the sense of community, maintaining the

current diversity of social and economic

groups, encouraging self-sufficiency, and

enriching the lives of all residents.

S e n d Y o u r L e t t e r S a n d H i L L n e w S t o o b S e r v e r @ M u n j o Y H i L L . o r g

2 November 2010 MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Ah, November –the leaves are flying and the wind has a bite rather than a nip, but we have a string of heart-warming holidays to anticipate, and holiday lights, shopping, food (...camera, action!).

Election time is upon us, with the ever-pres-ent calls for “something/someone different.” Seems like we might already have more change than we can handle, but maybe it’s just I who feels this way.

The topic of Immigrant Voting is in the spot-light this time. The preciousness of this right is not lost on these newcomers who have fled countries where people are actually willing to die for the right to influence their governance, while people in our own midst often cannot be bothered to even participate. What’s up with that?!

In spite of the ongoing economic challenges we are all facing, there really IS much to be grate-ful for. This is, after all, the season of Thanks-giving. We live in a country, a state, a commu-nity, that possess, by all standards, abundant resources—especially in the talented, hard-working, innovative people who live here.

I enjoyed a recent conversation with local re-altor Joe Malone who is working to improve the India Street neighborhood by organizing a grassroots movement.

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. In fact, it is the only way it ever has.” So wrote Margaret Mead in the 1960s.

And I admired the persistence of the East End-born nonprofit A Company of Girls (see page 11 for an article on the group) who for

15 years have been offering transformative and healing programs of art and theater to girls of all ages throughout the city.

The challenges facing our community are sub-stantial, but I for one am grateful that we are surrounded by caring people of wit, humor imagination and intelligence who are willing to work together to find the solutions which will get us through this mess.

And along the way, let’s all remember to have some pie!

From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver

From the Helm MHNO President, Christina Feller

“Never Underestimate the Power of a Small Group of People...”

As we slide inevitably into Fall, I cannot re-member having more beautiful weather. I have been good about walking to work twice a week for the past several months. I fear I may not have the fortitude to continue into December, but we will see.

We all think of our Munjoy Hill as a “Walk-able” Neighborhood. What is a walkable neigh-borhood, exactly? Well, I turned to the Inter-net and found www.walkscore.com/rankings and www.walkable.org—both great resources. I particularly enjoyed the blog at neighbor-hoods.org which presents a video on creating walkable communities that tells us “University of California-Davis’ Susan Handy found that in areas where markets and other stores were one-fifth of a mile or less from most homes, 87 percent of residents regularly walked to run errands. When that average distance between home and market increased to three-fifths of a mile, the share of even periodic foot travelers dropped to one-third.”

At the Walkscore.com website, I learned that

92 Congress Street has a “walkability score” of 89 out of a potential of 100 points. Sacramen-to, by comparison, receives a 92 walkscore. From the site, I learned that walkable neigh-borhoods offer us benefits in many areas:

environment: Cars are a leading cause of climate change. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighbor-hood.Finances: One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property.communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car com-mute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

For me, serving this year as president of the MHNO, this last statistic is important. Get out of the car and walk our neighborhood! There are so many different routes now. With the Bayside Trail open we can bike from East-

ern Prom and Congress all the way around to Forest Avenue on a bike trail. Now that’s great.

One of our more active commit-tees, Streets and Neighborhoods, has been re-named Walkable Neighborhood Committee to focus attention on priorities that increase walkability and lessen air and ground pollu-tion. Are you interested in getting involved with this committee? Please write to [email protected] and ask how you can help. We are going to focus on the Washington Avenue corridor in the coming months, so if you live or work in that area of the neighborhood, please let us know.

See you around the neighborhood! As always, if you see something you think the MHNO can help with, please let us know. Thank you.

“ Yo, it was us!”

At right, the 1924 building that eventually became the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood

Organization’s “Hill House.” Do you recognize the corner?

The East End was well represented among the winners of the Indie Biz awards, handed out in mid-October. See www.portlandbuylocal.org

aNd tHe WiNNerS are...Soul of Portland — Portland Farmers MarketFlavor of Portland — Rosemont Market and BakeryEnvironmental Hero — Portland Farmers MarketPortland’s Best Kept Secret — Micucci GroceryPortland’s Totem — Becky’s DinerCommunity Hero — Coffee by DesignBusiness with No Front — Portland TrailsGlobal Hero — Portland Museum of ArtWildcard — SPACE Gallery

WHO yOu gONNa call?- you can help prevent crime on the Hill!If you see a crime happening or see/hear anything suspicious in your neighborhood,

please call the police! Clip and save these numbers:

1) 756-8135-daytimes: Janine kaserman with community policing

2) 650-8770 cell -11 am thru the night, Senior lead Officer Stephen Black on patrol

3) 874-8575/-8574-dispatch- non-emergency situations

4) 911--emergencies

3MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER November 2010

SUDOKU: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1-9. Solution on Page 15.

Weatherization Resources

www.mainehousing.org/ Call 626-4600, or email Kathy Abbondanzio, EHS Information Coordinator at kabbondan-

[email protected]

www.hourexchangeportland.org/Weatherization.htm, 470 Forest Ave. 3rd Floor, Portland, ME 04101, 874-9868

email: [email protected]

www.propeople.org/ PROP • People’s Regional Opportunity Program • 510 Cum-berland Avenue, Portland, Maine 04101 •

553-5888.

Please get invo lved , support your neighborhood organization- -volunteer! !

Show neighborhood pride! with this BuMper Sticker! (measures 6”x 4”). Buy one

and support your Neighborhood Org. Send $3.50 per sticker to MHNO, 92 congress

St, portland Me 04101.

We also have MuNJFeSt t-SHirtS available for $15. Send your check to MHNO: various

Sizes and colors available, email inquiries to [email protected].

Online at munjoyhill.org

Find the 6 differences. Visit outThere-byGeorge.com for more comparison puzzles

report from the ad Hoc Building committeeThe MHNO Ad Hoc Building Usage Committee met in August to discuss short-term needs of the Hill House. We decided to reach out for your help: The side wall of the MHNO building needs to be rebuilt (due to severe water damage) with new siding, and we need to strip out the stained carpet and install a new one. Timing and rug color have not yet been determined. Everyone is welcome to weigh in. Please call 775-3050 and leave a message, or email [email protected]

We need Volunteers for these Vital committees

• F inance & Treasur y • Governance Commit tee• Communications (includes the Observer)• Membership• Ser v ices• Events• Ad Hoc : Bui lding Usage &

Development• Ad Hoc : Wind Turbine Study Group• Parnerships & Fundrais ing • Walkable Neighborhood

To s ign up, please call 775-3050 to leave a message, or email [email protected]

Sudoku #4

Intermediate Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, Book 12

KRAZYDAD.COM/PUZZLES

9 1 2 34 2

9 47 9

1 8 3 58 6

4 15 48 2 5 7

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.

Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle.Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers pageif you really get stuck.

© 2008 KrazyDad.com

We’ve been asked about the drop-off process at Hannaford’s for our MHNO Heat Assistance “CLYNK” account. First, you need to pick up a special green bag—with our special bar-code on it—a supply is at the Hill House (92 Congress St); there is a bright green mailbox out on the fence - please tell us

if you find it empty!

The drop-off area at Hannaford’s is un-staffed, so when you drop off a bag, you need to scan the barcode tag on the bag to open the small deposit door at the entry of Hannaford’s. You may leave securely-tied bags on the floor near the larger door, just tell the customer service desk that they are there.

To use the scanner: To the bottom right of the small door is a small, round, red glass scanning window. Hold the barcode tag

on the bag up to that red spot and the door will unlock. Then just gently let the bags slide down the ramp into the room.

If the door does NOT open, leave the bag on the floor near the larger door and please tell the customer service desk that

the small access door didn’t open.

Everyone—Thank you all for supporting our heat assistance efforts on the Hill!

Every bag yields about $4 and we are creeping up toward the $400 mark for this fall! If you need more bags, look for them in the green box on the MHNO office/Hill House fence (92

Congress St), or call Louise Little @ 780-0860.

How to Help Us Out with

Your Recycle Bottles

recycle aNd help fund the MHNO

Heat assistance program: Donate your

recyclables thru CLYNK! at Hannafords

Funds raised support MHNO’s Fuel Assistance

“Warm Hearts, Warm Neighbors” program. Stop

outside the Hill House at 92 Congress and pick

up a free green bag, or fmi, call Louise Little at

780-0860. Keep those cans & bottles coming!

BULLETIN Boardthe munjoy hill neighBorhood organization


Special advertiSing Section

The house at 18 Howard St reflects the city and community in which it sits, re-built and restored using locally bought, and often locally manufactured supplies, sustainable and eco-friendly materials such as bamboo flooring, concrete countertops and eco-flush toilets, and staged with Maine-made furniture and many East End and other area artists. “While it may have cost a little more to use as many local products as we did,” admits Tom

Landry the owner, “I believe the end product is much higher quality than if we’d gone with the less expensive chain and franchised shops and suppliers.” In fact, integral to Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate’s (Landry’s real estate company located at 100 Congress St on the hill) brand is being locally owned and operated, and the company has been a supporter of Portland Buy Local as

well as a number of local charities and events for many years.

Landry believes others will appreciate the many “local” features of the home, and he hopes the eventual buyers will continue the tradition as Munjoy Hill residents. “At the end of the day,” adds Landry, “I think people want a home they can feel good in and good about.”

www.18howardst.com.

This is a home that provides a harmonious living experience from design and function, to area and fit. It is truly a product of the best Portland has to offer. The restoration and transformation is the result of countless hours of work and dedication to details from the following people and businesses. We encourage you to support them!

craftSpeople• CornerStone Building & Restoration/ Homes, general contractors 207-775- 9085, [email protected], www. cornerstonebr.com• Prospect Design, home design & consultation, Brewster Buttfield 207-749- 7400, [email protected], www.prospectdesign.me• Jeanne Handy Design, interior design, Jeanne Handy 207-712-4919, [email protected]. www.jeannehandydesigns.com• Interior Resources, interior design, Judy Schneider 207-828-5085, [email protected], www.interioresources.com• Housewife 4 Hire, cleaning & staging 207-749-9098, [email protected]• Tammy Locke, Paint, Paper and Design 207-8072102, [email protected]• WEI - Welch Electric Inc., Phil Welch 207-329-8592• Heating Solutions, Rick Nolette 207-727-5666• Hamilton Plumbing & Heating, Todd Hamilton 207-892-7939

• Grass Brothers, patio & landscaping install, Ryan Jones 207-749-8273• Wagner Flooring, wood floor install, Josh Wagner 207-831-4545, [email protected]• Jon Meade Design, concrete countertops 207-773-3323 [email protected], www.jonmeadedesign.com• Matthew Milliken Masonry, 207-828-4879• DESIGNsmith, marketing materials & ad design, Lisa Smith207-741-5001, [email protected]• Jonathan Reece Photography, 207-874-0173, [email protected], [email protected]

SupplierS & ShopS• Distinctive Tile & Design, Theresa Tomczyk 207-772-4344 theresa@ distinctivetileanddesign.com, www.distinctivetileanddesign.com• R.G. Eaton Woodworking, cabinets & built-in’s, Bob Eaton 207-854-1046, [email protected]• Fogg Lighting, Sanford & Debbie Fogg, 207-797-7568 dfogg@fogglighting. com, www.fogglighting.com• Glass & Mirror Service 207-797-9404• O’Donal’s Nursery, 207-839-4262, www.odonalsnurseries.com• Northeast Spray Insulation, Inc., 800-267-8959, www.northeastsprayinsulation.com • Port City Flooring, wood flooring, Paul Lajoie, 207-775-2434, [email protected], www.abbycarpet.com

• Agren Appliance, 207-874-4739, www.agrenappliance.com• Casco Bay Engineering, 207-842-2800, www.cascobayengineering.com • Loranger Door & Window, 772-2223, www.lorangerdoor.com • Sherwin Williams Paint, Samuel Goodrich 207-799-8147, [email protected], www.sherwin-williams.com • Hammond Lumber, 207-495-3303, www.hammondlumber.com • Rufus Deering Lumber, 207-772-6505, www.rufusdeering.com • Hancock Lumber, 207-627-4201, www.hancocklumber.com • Maine Hardware, 207-773-5604, [email protected], www.mainehardware.com• Redlon Johnson, kitchen and bath fixtures, John Murphy 207-773-4755, [email protected]• Marvin Design Gallery, windows, Dave Thibeau 207-772-2003, [email protected], www.marvinbyeldredge.com• Budget Blinds of Portland, window treatments, 207-228-0132

artiStS & ShopS – Staging• Eli Phant, 53 Congress Street, Portland (207) 253-8000, www.eli-phant.com• Fuller Glass, 129 Congress Street, Portland (207) 699-2744, www.fullerglass.com• Angela Adams, 273 Congress Street, Portland 207-774-3523, www.angelaadams.com

• Ember Grove, 247 B Congress Street, Portland, 207 761-0408, EmberGrove.com• Fiachre, 426 Fore Street, Portland 207-879-2570• Furniturea, 75 Market St, Portland 207-774-7472, www.furniturea.com• Company C, 123 Commercial Street, Portland, 207-781-1232 www.companyc.com• Addo Novo, 490 Congress Street, Portland, (207) 221-2780, www.addonovo.com• Eric Ritter, furniture, 207-926-4772 [email protected]• Zoulamis Woodworking, furniture 207-329-1695• Vladimir Mizerak, paintings, 207-310-1494, [email protected]• Jennifer Chestnut, paintings 207-671-8761, [email protected]• Patrick Corrigan, paintings 207-450-8187• Pam Larsen, art photography www.metazoaphotography.com• Judy Schneider, paintings 207-841-8758• Corporate Environments, Knoll Furniture, Monica Dominak 207-775-5344, www.corporateenv.com• DayMatero Studio - Art, Lighting Design, Architecture, Greg Day 207- 671-5551, [email protected] www.gregdayart.com• Heller Custom Woodworking Nicholas Heller 207-653-1334 [email protected]• Peter Dunphy Custom Woodworking, Peter Dunphy 207-799-3273

viSit www.18howardSt.com for complete liSt

Howard Street Restoration | East End Revival & Buy Local Culture

Contributing Local Craftspeople, Artists, Suppliers, and Shops

18 Howard Street4BR, 3.5Bth, $695,000www.18howardst.com

Local -Savvy-Responsive

84 Eastern Promenade3 condos or entire buildingwww.84easternprom.com

19 Atlantic St2 unit with garage & views$399,000

We are your East End Specialist: Single Families, Condos or Multi’sBenchmarkMaine.com (207) 775-0248

Pending


The best fitness center in town is on Munjoy HillGet in shape and meet your fitness goals faster with cutting-edge techniques you’ll find nowhere else in Portland. At the Body Architect, you’ll have fun doing it while you enjoy expansive views of Mount Washington and Back Bay.

TRX Training, Kettlebells, Strong Women, Zumba, Pilates, Power Yoga, Qi Gong and much more.

www.thebodyarchitect.com See uS on Facebook!

Fall 2010

mhno letters to the Portland city council

MOre gOOd eaTs cOMiNg TO THe easT eNd!Rumor has it that the long-awaited FIGA restaurant with its promise of Brazilian-inspired food and charming old-world atmosphere (at 249 Congress) will have opened on October 26th according to the website: figarestaurant.com/. If you eat there before we do, send us a review and we’ll include it in the next Observer!

And the space formerly known as the North Star Café (SFKNSC) will soon be occupied by Otto pizza, currently located downtown . Having secured their wine and beer license in October, the owners, Anthony Allen and Mike Kean, plan to move the shop to the East End in mid to late November. (see the menu at otto-portland.com)

Spotlight on sea Artists (That’s the Society For East End Arts)

jill BaBcock Interview by Lori Rae Curole


By Kathleen Carr BaileyAs I walked and worked amongst my gar-dens, a tune played inside my head: “Lul-laby and Goodnight, go to sleep now little hydrangea, rose, peony,” or whatever it was that I was seeing for the last time this sea-son. It‘s hard to believe that just a few short weeks before Christmas, I am still putting gardens to bed.

Today, having used the last of my supply of Espoma’s Plant Tone and Coast of Maine’s Penobscot Blend I had to replenish my sup-ply at a small garden center close to my client. The clerk was surprised to see me and more astounded that I was still work-ing ‘out of doors’. Never at a loss for words and gardening talk, I enlightened her that Thanksgiving is now my benchmark for the end-of-season chores, whereas a few years ago, Halloween marked the end.

I explained that it’s best that the plants, trees and shrubs be dormant before the fi-nal feeding of the season. Frozen earth or snowfall doesn’t keep me away, nor bitter cold weather. The line between too cold for the ornamentals and way too cold (for me), is one of the thinnest lines that exist in my world. However, I digress.

My soliloquy continued with plaudits of feeding of roses (Rosetone is excellent, yet I use Plantone coupled with Penobscot Blend as the compost to protect the roots). Fur-thermore, how could any late season feeding be complete without including Hollytone as the nectar for Hydrangea, evergreens or other acid-loving plants and shrubs?

Overhearing our conversation, a customer thanked me as she purchased her own bag of Plantone. She then asked about bulbs, as she had not yet put all hers in for fear of all the chipmunks and squirrels that were scurrying about her property. As long as the ground is not frozen and a hole appro-priate for the size and depth of the bulb can be dug, then go for it, she was told. Bulbtone was added to her order (another KCB fave from Espoma). Being a humble person ,I was hesitant to share one of my most beneficial of bulb planting tips. Nev-ertheless, wanting all gardeners to be suc-cessful, I felt it prudent to offer my golf tee suggestion to mark the spot where the bulbs are planted. Simply push a golf tee next to the area where the bulb was plant-ed once the hole has been covered. This will eliminate erroneously unearthing the bulbs next year.

Guilt washed over me as she murmured that her husband had more than enough tees and wouldn’t be needing any until they left for the Carolinas after New Years. Her demeanor indicated that I made a new friend this day. With a lilt in her step, she exited the store and called over her shoul-der, “I can’t wait to tell my husband we still have time to take care of the garden.”

The We in her statement, coupled with the mention of her husband’s golf tees, left me with the slight suspicion I perhaps had less of a fan in her husband. I am thankful I would not be returning to this certain town

See page 7, gardeN

art soul

Take a Jersey Girl who takes a “creative approach to the sim-plest things,” toss in a magnetic relationship with Maine and a need to help others, and you have Jill Babcock, a self-made creative who serendipitously found her way through pottery by an unusual path.So, Jill, where did you grow up? Trenton, NJ

And you have lived since? New York metro area for 35 years... Pennington, NJ for 3 years... and in Maine since 2000 (with a two-and-a-half year break living in Delray Beach, FL...big mistake! ...back to Maine in the Spring 2009).

When did all this crazy art busi-ness begin? My aunt was a potter and she did some of the most creative tea pots. After she died, my cousin gave me some of her potter’s tools because she knew that I was interested in working with my hands

and thought that clay would be a good me-dium. I’ve always had a creative/artistic bent and alter almost anything in sight...I always seem to find a more creative ap-proach to the simplest of things. When I returned to Maine as a retired hospice nurse, I found a pottery studio within walking distance from my home...What better incentive? And so my “career” as a potter began.

I want to hear more about your “creative approach to the sim-plest things” and how this affects your attitude towards your work and life in general. OK, if truth be told, it’s not always so simple! I hate collars! When I find a coat or shirt or sweater...I imagine what it would look like without the collar and, voilá...a beautiful piece of clothing, sans collar. Hardly creative, but it works for me.

Seeing physical things from a different per-spective allows me to take someone’s work and put my stamp on it...with anything!

I first started working with clay on the wheel and quickly switched to hand mold-ing; it’s a perfect partnership... I learned that my lump of clay and I work well to-gether; what the clay wants to do as I’m

working gives me a hint as how this part-nership will turn out.

Simple approach to life...HA! If it can be complicated, I’m going to find a way...OK, not so anymore. I have found that given my creative bent, I am always looking to find a different route to approaching life. Just ask

my kids! My return to Maine has changed my perspective and life. I have given a great deal of myself to many causes, my profession, my family and friends.

I have a tattoo just above my right wrist that symbolizes “sim-ple/peace.” I finally took the time to pay more attention to its meaning and ap-plying it to my life...simple!

What suggestions do you have for people who have always wanted to pursue their creative passions, but may let day to day life or work get in the way? Don’t let too much time pass you by. There’s always tomorrow, but I wish I had started pottery sooner. I think that all of my creative proj-ects over the years became the precursor for my work with clay. Find some time...a day, an hour, but start. Find a friend who enjoys your same interests; it’s always nice to have someone to chat with while you’re going through the process.

Is there anything else you want to share with our readers? After all, it’s your 15 Minutes of Fame. 15 minutes—that’s all I get? Andy must have been wrong! Our art is a reflection of who we are and from what I have observed from other SEA members. I “see” beauti-ful reflections.

Pottery images courtesy of Jill Babcock.Lori Rae Curole is a SEA Member who shares a love for painting, writing, & raising awareness of emerging local art-ists. Join our SEA mailing list or become a member at www.seaportland.org

In the GardenlullaBy and good night!


NR.I.T.E.R.S WANTED!

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MHNO is a proud member of Portland BuyLocaliN tHe gardeN, from page 6

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aesoP, or my Big Fat greek aFFair An essay by Elizabeth Miller, Waterville Street

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Four years into my late-in-life marriage, I find myself in a menage a trois. Me, my husband and Aesop. Who is this fabled stranger of un-certain gender who has invaded our marital bower with late night phone calls and e-mails confirming assignations?

Aesop is an automated online system which school districts use to recruit and schedule substitute teachers. One of whom is my lov-ing husband. The idea is to check on line “regularly” to find openings and select which ones you’d be willing to do. In the fable of Ant stockpiling for the future and Grasshop-per living in the moment, David is definitely Ant. He checks the site frequently when not in the classroom, even during those middle of the night bathroom calls (this is a middle age situation, after all). The phrase obsessive-compulsive could be applied to his new log-on fixation. Worse yet, he’s got me assisting in these repeated check-ins. The laptop, with Aesop on the screen, is our constant compan-ion, having its own seat at breakfast and din-ner. Aesop even travels with us. Recently, it accompanied us on a weekend trip to Boston. The result? Testy words about enjoying our mini-vacation but also a sub gig confirmed for Cape Elizabeth.

Why should this bother me so much? After all, David is working daily, much more frequently than when his sub fate was in the hands of a live person. It’s because our constant com-panion is a laptop computer. It’s because the automated system replaced a live person who depended on the part-time income while bal-ancing childcare needs. It’s because the on-line service is administered in Philadelphia. I’m frustrated to watch our local tax dollars

fly down I-95 instead of providing part-time employment to people here. Several school districts in southern Maine signed onto Aesop this summer, eliminating part-time positions in each case.

And it’s because I am, I admit, a 21st century Luddite, a modern day equivalent of the British textile workers who protested the innovations of the Industrial Revolution which left them either out of work or vastly underemployed. Visit our home and you’ll find no TV/Home entertainment system. Search my purse: no cellphone, no I-Pod, no Blackberry. I’ve never texted, tweeted or IM’d. Okay, we are online at home; we’re not complete antediluvians. Wi-fi even. (which my outdated spell check tells me should be “Hi-Fi” - appropriate, eh?) In my desire to keep my life simple, I never got on board with much personal technology.

I’m sad when I see people along the Eastern Prom trails missing our fabulous ocean views because they can’t tear their eyes away from a handheld screen. I worry about my high school students developing carpal tunnel from nonstop texting. I get scared when I glance in the rearview mirror at the rapidly approach-ing car and realize that the driver is looking down at a cellphone. And I wonder, where’s the tactile pleasure of holding a book, turning pages, peeking ahead, flipping easily between text and illustrations if you “kindle?”

So here I am, middle age and bemused that I’m well on my way to becoming an endangered species. What moral would the real Aesop have offered?

until next spring. By that time, this cou-ple would have enjoyed their time in the Carolinas and returned to the blooms that only spring bulbs can offer. In ad-dition, their waiting garden beds will re-quire less work than if they had neglect-ed the fall clean-up that is so vital to our spring.

Therefore, if your own gardens and landscape have not received all that they should to prepare them for that long-winter’s nap, it is not too late. What bet-ter way to detour from the stress of upcoming holiday chores and shop-ping then spending time in your garden? Don’t be surprised if, as you say goodnight to your plants for the last time in 2010 ,you find yourself hum-ming that childhood lullaby, and be like me: when the word ‘baby’ comes to play, the song becomes a medley and morphs to “Baby, it’s cold outside.”

Kathleen Carr Bailey is a writer and Master Gardener who has her own gardening business, “Finishing Touches.”

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letters on election issues

yes on measure 1, elected MayOr: accOuNtaBility & viSiON iN Service OF pOrtlaNd

To the Editor, The effort to establish a popularly-elected Mayor was born out of the glaring need for long term vision, consistency, and account-ability in Portland’s municipal government. Recommendations from citizens’ groups and committees go unimplemented, gov-ernment is slow to respond to opportunities, and there is no one with the wherewithal to consistently negotiate the issues, and de-partments, of City Hall. The City Manager serves as the equivalent of a Chief Operat-ing Officer, taking care of daily operations. What we lack is someone to work at the Council level to develop a long-term strate-gic vision for Portland. The Charter Com-mission’s recommendation for an elected Mayor creates this much-needed position.

Instead of creating a political powerhouse position that would be viewed as a political prize, the Charter Commissioners wisely crafted an Elected Mayor position that fa-cilitates a collaborative, consensus-building style to City Hall. The 4-year term and close connection to the budgeting process creates an opportunity for long-term strategic plan-ning with the Council and the City Manager that Portland currently lacks. The salary creates a full-time professional position that can focus on serving the citizens of Port-

land; it will be pennies on the dollar com-pared to the opportunities the position will create. Ranked choice voting facili-tates a constructive campaigning process that will add clout to the elected Mayor. While maybe short on power, the elected Mayor will wield significant influence to bring people together, define challenges and opportunities, and chart a shared vi-sion forward for Portland.

I believe this is the right balance for Port-land at this time. A strong mayor with a big political stick seems too radical for most voters, but doing nothing leaves us with the status quo: missed opportunities, stalled processes, and the gradual wearing down of even our most talented and ener-getic. Portland has no shortage of talent, vision, and energy, but we are lacking the political mechanism to channel and direct these assets in an effective manner. The elected Mayor can do this for Portland.

Electing our leaders is a foundation of the democratic process. Why aren’t we elect-ing our own mayor in Portland? This elec-tion does have a real choice for municipal government: do nothing, or take a step forward for accountability, vision, and consistency. Please join me in voting for an elected Mayor for Portland.

By Markos Miller

no on measure 1, no elected mayorTo the Editor, While we truly appreciate the work of the Charter Commission regarding an elected Mayor, many of us felt strongly enough about the unintended conse-quences of their recommendation that we formed a NO Elected Mayor opposi-tion campaign to alert the public to what this proposal really does and does not do and what it will cost.

Our group represents seniors, neighbor-hoods, former mayors, teachers, fire-fighters, and businesses representing a wide range of opinions on an elected Mayor. However, we all agree on one thing and that is our opposition to this particular proposal for a taxpayer fund-ed, high-salaried ceremonial mayor po-sition with no power, and elected by a new Rank Choice Voting method.

On the surface the ballot question seems to be a simple question of whether vot-ers in Portland want to “…provide for a popularly elected Mayor.” However, embedded in the details of the recom-mendation is an annual salary of $67,359 which, when benefits are included, totals $87,000 annually for the same ceremo-nial position we currently have. For one four-year term, the total cost comes to

$348,000. A mayor powerless to do much except collect a paycheck!

Also, embedded in the ballot question is Rank Choice Voting – that the opponents are not talking about for a good reason. It is a complex and confusing new method of voting, where you rank the candidates in order of preference. If no one gets a major-ity, the ballots get recounted and the last place candidate would be eliminated with the remaining candidates getting the 2nd choice votes cast for them until a winner can be declared. Also required are new voting machines at a cost of $136,000.

Unlike the opponents, we do not have a full-time paid campaign manager and staff, but we have lots of energy and en-thusiasm. The NO Elected Mayor cam-paign is made up of volunteers getting the message out the old-fashioned way by word of mouth and neighbor to neighbor. Please join us in spreading the word about the details of this recommendation, and vote NO to an elected Mayor on Tuesday, November 2nd.

By Cheryl Leeman, Chairman of NO Elected Mayor campaign

race, were once legally denied voting rights. The first three words of the Constitution are “We the people” -- not “we the citizens.” Our Constitution does not mention citizenship as a requirement for voting.

For many, the uncertainties about Measure 4 represent public anxieties similar to what happened a century ago. During the 1920s, over 7,000 Klu Klux Klan members held a fear-driven rally in Portland for reforms that limited Catholic and Jewish -- mostly German, Irish, French Canadian, Italian and Polish –local immigrant voting.

Measure 4 helps reverse the KKK anti-immigrant voting “reforms,” is good for business and will help secure our future. It is true to Munjoy Hill’s quilt-like generation-push, bottoms-up, organic diversity which is needed for what futurist Richard Florida calls an economic “great reset” of new ideas, thoughts and ways of working and living.

YES on Measure 4 represents what is right about making immigrants a part of Portland’s democracy and its future. Our history is proof-positive that immigration makes America grow and is what will help reset its future.

By Ralph Carmona. Ralph Carmona lives on Munjoy Hill and has over 35 years of experience in higher education, community affairs, business and government.

Measure 1: Elected Mayor?

Measure 4: Immigrant Voting?

Portland residents will vote Nov. 2 on a proposal to give legal residents who are not U.S. citizens the right to vote in local elections.

no on measure 4: Voting For immigrantsOpponents to the measure did not respond to Observer requests to submit a position statement, but reportedly, opponents of the measure hold that immigrants already have an avenue to cast ballots — by becoming citizens. Allowing noncitizens to vote dilutes the meaning of citizenship, they say, adding that it could lead to fraud and could unfairly sway elections. Some have expressed concerns that, given the language barrier, the immigrant community may not be able to make properly informed voting decisions, and could be manipulated to vote for certain people or issues, if targeted/courted as a voting block by advertising in their native language.

yes on measure 4: Voting For immigrantsDear Editor,

Measure 4 simply reestablishes the right of legal immigrants to vote in Portland local elections.

Measure 4 is about being LEGAL: Local voting rights will go to immigrants who are legal Portland residents.

Measure 4 is PRACTICAL. In a hyper-connected and diverse world, the daily functions of Munjoy Hill citizens and non-citizens are indistinguishable. Legal immigrant voting recognizes representation with the taxes they pay and their duty in our armed services to defend American ideals.

Measure 4 is FAIR. Reestablishing legal immigrant voting will allow them to participate in local quality of life issues like road plowing, garbage pick-ups and public school fund-ing. Do not be fooled by those who use citizenship to deny immigrant voting that once existed in 40 states and territories. The real argument is about democracy and involves historic struggles over power and interests. This explains why citizens, due to gender or

This discussion was followed by candi-dates facing off among their opponents. Candidates Anna Trevorrow and in-cumbent Diane Russell outlined their positions and answered questions. Both agreed that Portland is a center for ser-vices, as well as a cultural center and economic engine for the state, but it does not seem to receive a commensu-rate proportion of the state budget. The differences came in the approaches each would take to address the issue.

For City Council At-Large seats, Jill Du-son, John Anton, and Write-In candidate Dan Skolnik offered commentary on the ballot issues of Elected Mayor and Immi-grant Voting Rights.

Further discussion on the Immigrant Voting Rights issue continued among the audience and MHNO Board mem-bers, following the structured forum part of the meeting.

MHNO Quarterly MeetiNg continued from front page

Editor’s Note: In the interests of fairness, we had asked representatives from the various camps to submit letters of a specific length in order to give equal time to each issue, as these are topics of interest in the upcoming election. These letters do not reflect the position of the MHNO, which remains neutral. There were others who sent us letters on these topics which were not printed here in order to avoid a numbers competition, and as Editor for the MHNO I decided as a policy to use only ONE letter to represent the position of each side. The length of letters submitted must be under 350 words to be printed.


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liVing With Peace Welcoming Neighbors New to the CommunityLiving With Peace is a dynamic local grassroots community support organization investing in the future of our

immigrants by providing information, resources, and training to newcomers to the community and culture.

Thomas Jefferson was the first American to stress the importance of liberal education in the fledgling American democracy. He believed that only through understanding the wider world around them, could people (the masses) learn how to make wise choices about the people they elect to office, which is, he be-lieved, the essence of a working de-mocracy. Jefferson said in 1782, “Ev-ery government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people

alone. The people themselves, there-fore, are its only safe depositories. And to render even them safe, their minds must be improved to a cer-tain degree.”

Jefferson: a direct relationship between education and democracyThomas Jefferson believed that in order for people to trust those in charge of their government, they needed to have some kind of educa-

Becoming an American—Passing the Citizenship Test By Christina Feller, Living With Peace, Published in the May, 2008 Munjoy Hill Observer

tion, to be able to make good and proper decisions based on their knowledge. This education included not only reading, writing, and math, but also the great Classics. Jeffer-son also believed that there wasn’t any freedom without education. He said, “ If a nation expects to be ig-norant and free, in a civilization, it expects what it never was and never will be.”

Education has changed a great deal in the last 225 years, but education remains the best way to forge a good future. Americans do not readily make a connection between their education and their ability to make good choices—after all, you don’t need a degree in music to vote for your favorite American Idol contes-tant. We tend to think of education as a direct path to a good job and a stable economic life.

Jefferson believed that universal ed-ucation had to come before univer-sal suffrage. He felt strongly that the right to vote carried with it a solemn responsibility to be well-informed.

citizenship: passing the test of knowledge, Moral character and loyaltyAccording to the Department of Homeland Security, in 2006, the total number of persons natural-ized by the US Citizenship & Im-migration Service (USCIS) was 702,589. The leading countries of birth of new citizens were Mexico (83,979), India (47,542), Philippines (40,500), China (35,387), and Viet-nam (29,917). The largest number of persons who sought naturalization lived in California (152,836), New York (103,870), and Florida (90,846).

The number of persons who became naturalized citizens in the United States increased 16 percent from 604,280 in 2005 to 702,589 in 2006. This increase was due to a rise in the number of naturalization ap-plications filed and processed. Be-tween 2005 and 2006, the number of applications filed for naturaliza-tion increased by 130,000 and the number completed increased by 100,000.

There are a number of requirements that must be fulfilled before a legal resident may apply for naturaliza-tion. The applicant

• Must be at least 18 years old• Must be a lawful permanent

resident for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a US citizen

• Must have made the US his or her continuous residence for 5 years

• Must have been in the USA for at least half of the five years before applying for naturalization

Ninety days before reaching these milestones, an applicant may file the N-400 Application for Natu-

ralization with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service of the Department of Homeland Security. After fingerprinting, the interview is scheduled. The interview de-termines whether the applicant is knowledgeable about the US and its form of government. During the interview, each applicant will be tested on:

• Ability to understand English, through simple conversation and reviewing selected parts of the N-400

• Comprehension of the N-400 application form, especially knowledge of their stated per-sonal information, evidence of good moral character, and ac-ceptance of the oath of loyalty to the principles of the US Consti-tution.

• Knowledge of US history and government by answering 10 of 100 potential questions

• Ability to read in English by reading selected passages out loud

• Ability to write in English by taking dictation.

The questions are not hard, but they are not easy either. You might won-der how well you would do on the civics test. Answer the following questions and see how well you do.

• How many amendments does the Constitution have?

• Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

• What is the name of the national anthem?

• Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?

• What group has the power to de-clare war?

• What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

• Why do some states have more Representatives than other States?

• What is the name of the current Speaker of the House? Vice President?

• Name one of the writers of the Federalist Papers.

Even more interesting are the ques-tions related to determining one’s moral character. If answers are not correct and USCIS finds out, citi-zenship is denied and the applicant may be placed on a schedule for deportation. Here are some of the questions (makes you glad if you were born here):

1. Have you ever been a habitual drunkard?

2. Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?

3. Have you ever been arrested, cited or detained by any law en-forcement officer (includes traf-fic stops and tickets)?

4. Have you ever been a prostitute, or procured anyone for prostitu-tion?

5. Have you ever failed to support your dependents or pay alimo-ny?

Finally, the interviewer will ask the applicant whether he or she sup-ports the Constitution and repre-sentative form of government of the US, whether he or she will take the full Oath of Allegiance, whether he or she will bear arms on behalf of the US or be willing to perform noncombatant services in the US Armed Forces if the law requires it.

Success ratesAccording to USCIS, 84% of appli-cants pass on the first try and 95% pass on the second try. Ninety-nine percent of applicants aged 18-24 pass on the first or second try, but only 75% of applicants aged 50-64 pass on the first or second try. Usu-ally, failure is because of limited knowledge of the English language.

In 2006, US Citizenship and Im-migration Services denied 120,722 naturalization petitions for one or more of the following reasons: ap-plicant could not prove five years of permanent residence in the United States; applicant was determined to lack allegiance to the United States; applicant was determined to have bad moral character; or appli-cant failed the English language or American civics test.

living With peace: improving immigrant Quality of lifeAs we teach immigrants effective methods for acculturating to life in America and to speak English, we are helping them not only accom-modate to a different way of social and economic life, but we are pre-paring them for citizenship.

We are always in need of volun-teers, especially fluent French-English speakers for translating legal documents for asylum applications. Please contact Roger Ruganzu at [email protected] if you can help. Thank you.

Living With Peace has been award-ed a grant by Maine Community Foundation to lay the foundation for an International Learning Center where children and young adults of African-born parents can learn their own native language, improve their English, learn and play traditional games and dances and enjoy and learn about nutritious food. “We began the model earlier this year with about 25 children who attend a school where they learn their languages and where LWP brings nutritious snacks/food and teaches the children about making smart and healthy food choices,” said Christina Feller. She will serve as Project Manager, and will be as-sisted by board members Roger Ruganzu and Bakhita Saarbino. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Portland Police chieF hosts Business Forum By Marge Niblock

Chief James E. Craig hosted a business fo-rum at the Portland Regency hotel on Sep-tember 23 at 1 PM, attended by the Police Department’s Senior Lead Officers, Police Community Coordinators, and Neighbor-hood Prosecutor Trish McAllister, whose position has just become full time.

The event was so well attended that more seats and tables had to be added to accom-modate the cross section of city businesses represented. Among those were Bull Fee-ney’s, the Portland Museum of Art, Coffee by Design, Old Port Sea Grill, 7-Eleven, and property management companies.

Those with businesses in the Old Port and downtown areas praised the work done this summer by the two young Police Cadets who patrolled during the day and whose salaries were funded by a grant. The HOME team also received a vote of confidence from peo-

ple who had contact with those “street in-tervention outreach workers.” The business owners felt there were fewer quality-of-life crimes this summer, because both groups had such high visibility and were so compe-tent at what they did.

Graffiti and drugs were the two main issues people were interested in discussing, issues that are also of importance to Craig.

Trish McAllister is working to quell graffiti by writing an ordinance that will be submit-ted to City Council making this type of van-dalism a specific crime. She said she’s look-ing for “creative solutions beyond catching people in the act.”

“Cocaine is at the root of many crimes,” says Craig, as in the case of a man who was re-cently apprehended by police after an all-night crime spree including several robber-ies where a knife was displayed. Drugs were at the core of this man’s desperate rampage. And drugs were also blamed for the down-ward spiral of many blocks of the Grant Street neighborhood in Parkside.

Craig wants to see possession of four grams of crack cocaine elevated to a felony charge, as it is in other states. He realizes this will have to done through the State Legislature

and is ready to work with lawmakers who have the same goal.

Tammy Sherwood, owns a 7-Eleven in Munjoy Hill, at Cumberland and Washing-ton avenues. She also has another one on Riverside Street. “I don’t have many prob-lems at my businesses,” said Sherwood. “I liked the comments I heard at this meeting and I think things are going in the right di-rection.” She then added “I’d definitely at-tend again.”

The group of business owners seemed en-thusiastic about participating when the idea of quarterly meetings was brought up by Chief Craig.

A notice was sent out by Lieutenant Janine Roberts of the Community Services Divi-sion, to those attending the forum announc-ing a Graffiti Initiative Meeting scheduled for November 2 at 2 PM in the auditorium of the Portland Police Department at 109 Middle Street.


A Cold Walk Down Munjoy HillLike the author himself, James Hayman’s fictional Portland PD detective, Mike Mc-Cabe, is a resident of Munjoy Hill. Near the beginning of Hayman’s second McCabe thriller, The Chill of Night, the hero walks down Munjoy Hill on a freezing night in January. Here’s a brief excerpt (used with permission).

McCabe turned right and headed down the Prom, pulling the coat more tightly around himself. Dating back to his early days on the NYPD, it looked and felt its age. Worn elbows. Fraying cuffs. Maybe Kyra’d take him shopping to Boston again. He turned right on Vesper. The wind was at his back now, which felt better. He passed a couple of dog-walkers, identities and gender hidden under heavy hooded parkas and boots. Great night for a mugging.

“What did the mugger look like m’am?”

“Well, officer, he was wearing this heavy parka with a furry hood out front.” Nanooks of the North. More than ready to tackle the tundra. He remembered reading Endurance. The British explorer Shackleton spent a winter on an Antarc-tic ice flow with only a lined Burberry for warmth. Stiff upper lip? Absolutely. Not because Shackleton was British. The lip was just frozen in place. He turned left on Congress and headed west down Munjoy Hill. In spite of a decade of gentrification the Hill still retained the look and feel of its working class roots. Smallish wood-frame houses built some-time around 1900. Most divided into apartments. Tonight they were all closed up tight, curtains drawn. He continued down the hill, passing a few couples heading for one or another of the bars and restaurants that were sprouting like weeds. The Front Room. The Blue Spoon. Bar Lola. And, of course, his home away from home, Tallulah’s. All crowded on a Friday night. Each with a few intrepid

twenty-somethings hanging out front, desperate enough to brave the cold just to suck up their daily ration of nicotine.

His mind went back to Kyra. To the fight, if that’s what it was. Why was he so hot to marry again? His marriage to Sandy had been a disaster. Except, of course, that it produced Casey who was, without question, the best thing that ever hap-pened to him. Amazing how such a great kid could ever have come out of that self-ish bitch’s body. All she said after nine

hours of labor was, “Never again.” Didn’t even want to hold

her new daughter. Breast feed? Not on

your life.

So why go through the marriage thing again?

Well, for one thing, Kyra wasn’t Sandy. They were

about as different as two gorgeous, sexy women could

be. But why not just enjoy his relationship with the gorgeous,

sexy Kyra and leave marriage out of the equation? That’s what any therapist would want to know. He’d have to think about the answer.

By the time McCabe passed Washington Street, the cold was getting to him. His ears and toes were starting to go numb and, drunk or not, he was beginning to regret the decision to walk. He figured he was sobering up. But not fast enough. He passed a new place called the Frost Line Café, coffee bar by day, open mic cabaret by night. He stopped and peered through the windows. They were all misted up from the body heat inside.

The Chill of Night garnered rave reviews in The Portland Press Herald and the Bangor Daily News as well as from the industry bi-ble, Publisher’s Weekly. The book is avail-able from Longfellow’s, Borders, Nonesuch and other area booksellers. It is, of course, also available online.

sidewalks, bike lanes, etc., as well as education and encouragement programs like adult-supervised “Walking School Buses,” incen-tive programs for walking & bik-ing, traditional Student Safety Patrols, etc.

A recent transportation analy-sis found that only 24% of Lyman

Moore students walked or biked to school, compared to 28% tak-ing the school bus, and 34% being driven in a family vehicle. “It’s a Catch-22,” said Sarah Cushman, “Parents feel like it’s not safe for their kids to walk or bike, so they drive them to school—but that in-crease in vehicle traffic can then

make it much less safe for students walking and biking.”

The East End Community School on Munjoy Hill will benefit from a school travel plan soon, but some Munjoy Hill kids may benefit from the work at Lyman Moore, as cur-rently about 20 children per year from Munjoy Hill are districted

to Lyman Moore Middle School. There is a parent-led effort un-derway to have those children districted to King Middle School. Limited transportation options to far-off North Deering is one of the primary concerns of the group, in addition to King being a more ur-ban school with an Expeditionary

teaching method similar to East End Community School.

FMI on the Safe Routes efforts please see: www.MaineSafeR-outes.org or contact Sarah Cush-man at [email protected] (please note my hours are Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 9am-5pm)

BicycliNg aNd WalkiNg, from front page

aN excerPT frOM THe receNTly released NOvel The Chill of The nighT


Spotlight on Non-Profits is a regular feature. To feature your favor-ite non-profit, please contact Liz at [email protected]

a comPany oF girls by Lisa Peñalver

It’s all about telling stories, and acting, and the transformative power of art and theater. Once upon a time, in the early 1990s, a young woman named Odelle Bowman was working with the Mad Horse Children’s Theatre (back when Michael Rafkin was the artistic director of the Mad Horse Ensemble). She recalls how the children’s parents would come up to her and exclaim how being in the theatrical produc-tion was changing their child—the child had more confidence, more enthusiasm, more focus. These children may not have been the best athletes, or at the top of the academic class, but they found in theater something they could do well. And Odelle began to see that Theater had significantly more to offer than just entertainment.

So in 1995, she joined with the Linda Hogan at the East End Children’s’ Workshop, and with a small Substance Abuse Pre-vention Grant from the Office of Substance Abuse, Odelle Bow-man launched A Company of Girls (ACOG) to offer theater to girls who would not otherwise

have access to such an experi-ence. At the time there were more of such children’s theater ensembles available to kids; there are notably fewer now.

The first year, working out of 10 Mayo Street, ACOG served 25 girls and produced a musical, “Elsewhere and Back,” in col-laboration with Michael Levine (now at Acorn Theater). They performed at the old Oak Street theater.

Over the fifteen years since A Company of Girls began, the group has collaborated with or-ganizations like the Girls Scouts and received grants from the Of-fice of Substance Abuse, DHHS, and United Way as well as from the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Community Founda-tion, to name but a few.

From the website, the activities are described in this way: “At ACOG, girls can come together after school and learn about the-atre, the arts, and social skills. It is a safe place where they can discuss issues that are important to them. It is also a fun place, just for them, where they can discuss “girl things.” Their time together

also includes journaling, paint-ing, attending arts events, cre-ative writing, sleepovers, apple picking, community service, pot-luck family dinners, danc-ing, fundraising, and much, much more.”

ACOG is what’s known as an “art-based prevention program.” Odelle is a strong believer in re-search that shows that the arts play a vital part in children’s de-velopment—in developing criti-cal thinking and problem-solv-ing skills. She sees the effects in the girls who pass through the program—it works!

The program has become very popular, with often upwards of 50 girls enrolled each year. The groups fluctuate from year to

year, depend-ing on who re-turns and the ages of those who enroll. There is always a waiting list—which is not to say that a child cannot get in. Applications are reviewed on a first-come/first serve basis, but those most in need would get priority. School counselors, so-cial services counselors, Sweets-er and Spurwink, among others, refer girls to the program.

“I just feel so blessed that we are still here. These have been dif-ficult times for non-profits and so many necessary after-school programs been cut back or elim-inated,” commented Odelle.

Coming up on Dec.11, A Compa-ny of Girls will host a public Fes-tival of Lights at the Maine Irish Heritage Center, their current location, in the space formerly occupied by the group Amistad. There will be artmaking and re-freshments—all are welcome! Later in January (Jan 22), there will be an event at the Breakwa-

ter School—an all-girl fundrais-ing event, talent show, and Silent Auction. For more information, visit acompanyofgirls.org.

aWardS & revieWS

A Company of Girls is a 2002 recipient of the coming up taller awards given to the top ten after school arts programs in the United States by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities— the only program in Maine to receive such recognition.

In 2003, A Company of Girls was selected as a recipient of the “2003 exemplary innovative prevention award,” sponsored by the center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), in collaboration with the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), the National Prevention Network (NPN), and the community Anti-Drug Coali-tions of America (CADCA).

A Company of Girls. PO Box 7527. Portland, ME 04112. Odelle Bow-man, Ex. Dir., 874-2107, [email protected].

At left, children in a performance of “Magic Finger;” at right, ACOG girls in rehearsal for their 2010 produc-tion of “Snapshot Silhouette.” Photos courtesy of ACOG.


MONtH: • Aviation History Month • Child Safety Protection Month • International Drum Month • National Adoption Awareness

Month • National Epilepsy Month • National Model Railroad Month • NAtional Novel Writing Month • Native American Heritage Month • Peanut Butter Lovers Month • Real Jewelry Month • National Sleep Comfort Month

Weekly celeBratiONS• Week 1 Chemistry Week • Week 3 Game and Puzzle Week eacH day: 1 All Saint’s Day

2 All Soul’s Day 2 Look for Circles Day 2 Deviled Egg Day 3 Housewife’s Day 3 Sandwich Day 4 King Tut Day 5 Gunpowder Day 5 Guy Fawkes Day 6 Book Lovers Day - first Saturday of

the month 6 Marooned without a Compass

Day 6 Saxophone Day 7 Bittersweet Chocolate with Al-

monds Day 8 Cook Something Bold Day 8 Dunce Day 9 Chaos Never Dies Day - you’ve

got that right

9 Young Readers Day second Tues-day of month

10 Forget-Me-Not Day 10 USMC Day 11 Veteran’s Day 12 Chicken Soup for the Soul Day 13 National Indian Pudding Day 13 Sadie Hawkins Day 13 World Kindness Day 14 Operating Room Nurse Day 15 Clean Your Refrigerator Day 15 America Recycles Day 15 National Philanthropy Day 16 Button Day 16 Have a Party With Your Bear Day 17 Electronic Greeting Card Day 17 Homemade Bread Day 17 Take A Hike Day 17 World Peace Day

18 Great American Smokeout - third Thursday in November

18 Occult Day 19 Have a Bad Day Day 20 Absurdity Day 20 Beautiful Day 20 National Adoption Day - Saturday

before Thanksgiving 20 Universal Children’s Day 21 False Confession Day 21 World Hello Day 22 Go For a Ride Day 23 Eat a Cranberry Day 23 National Cashew Day 25 National Parfait Day 25 Thanksgiving day - We pause

to give thanks for what we have. 26 Black Friday --holiday shopping26 Buy Nothing Day--always the day

after Thanksgiving..26 Shopping Reminder Day 26 You’re Welcome Day - the day

after Thanksgiving 27 Pins and Needles Day 28 Make Your Own Head Day 28 Red Planet Day 29 Electronic Greetings Day- now

who do you think created this day!?

29 Square Dance Day 30 Stay At Home Because You Are

Well Day

crossword

November 2010: Bizarre & unique Holidays (from www.holidayinsights.com)

Solution on page 15

acrOSS1- Droops5- Aquarium fish10- Loretta of “M*A*S*H”14- Dies ___15- Alternate16- Approached17- Enclose18- Search19- Narrow inlets20- Customary condition22- Trap23- Corner24- Sketch26- “West Side Story”

song29- White wine33- Self-evident truth34- “Siddhartha” author35- Paving material36- Hero37- Bungle38- Graph prefix39- ___ Mahal

40- Hand woven wall hanging

41- Apartment sign42- Frightening44- “______ by any other

name…”45- Old Testament book46- Push with the head48- From the beginning:

Lat.51- An infected Anoph-

eles mosquito55- Fizzy drink56- Former French cur-

rency58- Church recess59- Type of rock, briefly60- Moisten while cook-

ing61- Bit62- Shrivelled, without

moisture63- Become liable for64- Boris Godunov, for one;

dOWN1- [Oh, well]2- Horne solo3- Clothes4- Incitement of rebellion5- Chef’s hat6- Chopin composition7- How you used to be?8- Hi-___ monitor9- Illustrative craft10- Illegible handwriting11- Hold off12- Apple product13- New Age musician

John21- Streetcar22- Beer buy24- Flat circular plates25- 20th letter of the

Hebrew alphabet26- Island near Sicily27- Like some symmetry28- Dry red wine29- Put a new price on30- Author Calvino31- Nostrils

32- Rasp34- Hard outgrowths37- Vigor38- Likeness of a person40- Rifle adjunct41- Cheerio!43- Do ruinous damage46- African language

group47- Stomach woe48- Cairo cobras49- Drill a hole50- Scent51- Not fem.52- Wall St. debuts53- Hammett hound54- Goneril’s father56- Law enforcement

agency57- Campaigned

East End Business Focus 13MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER November 2010

By Jeanne BullThanksgiving Day usually brings to mind the Pil-grims of 1621 gathering with some of their native neighbors for a peaceful meal. They certainly had plenty to be thankful for—they had survived and had the means to make it through another year as well. It is an image of hopeful optimism that’s part of our New England identity, but unfortunately was a short-lived reality. The years following 1621 saw English and native relationships deteriorate into warfare, and New England become a battleground over failed colonial policies and European conflicts. Though largely forgotten today, one hundred years of horrific bloodshed decimated native and colonial populations alike.

Finally in 1725, after a terrible massacre at Lovell’s Pond near Fryeburg, Maine, both natives and set-tlers had had enough and were ready for peace. Initial conferences were held at St. George’s Fort, now Thomaston, and a treaty was drafted producing an immediate ces-sation of hostilities. Several more ne-gotiating sessions were held, resulting in the document known as “Dum-mer’s Treaty,” after Lieutenant Gover-nor Dummer, who worked tirelessly

for peace. One of the articles of the treaty stated it should be ratified by representatives of all the Eastern tribes and colonial governments. This im-portant historical event was held in Portland on the slope of the Eastern Promenade overlooking Casco Bay in July of 1727. According to the few historical records that exist, two hundred native and forty co-lonial delegates- all dressed in their finest- gathered for the solemn confirmation of the peace agreement and a public feast. According to Reverend Thomas Smith, pastor of the 1st Parish Church, the few peo-ple who actually lived in Portland at the time were hard-pressed to come up with food and lodging for such a crowd.....ah, those summer visitors!

I was only able to find one image of this meeting. More’s the shame, I think, considering its histori-cal importance. Munjoy Hill should be extremely proud to have been the site of this event.

By Lisa PeñalverA funny thing happened on the way to the Tea Shop... Granted, this isn’t the way you’d expect a joke to begin, but some of the best things in life have unexpected beginnings. Take the wildly popular cookie company, 13th Cookie, founded just over a year ago by Nicholas J. Steven. I first learned of this enterprise when talk-ing with Sarah Richards of Home-grown Herb & Tea on Congress (see article in October Observer). In her words, “You should really try his cookies! He changed my mind about gluten-free.” You can’t even tell they are gluten free.

It all started with a table of desserts at a First Friday art opening at the Ove Body Therapy (on Congress St.) in February 2009. Nic had been baking desserts for years; his annual holiday gifts to family and friends invariably were something he baked up. The earliest 13th Cookie offer-ings consisted of great-tasting vegan and gluten-free cookies and bars, along with some traditional recipes. And they went like, well, hot-cakes…

Next thing he knew, Nic got a call from someone who had read about his business online on the “Psst” blog (portlandpsst.blogspot.com), where the 13th Cookie had been written up; his foods were charac-terized as “sweet genius.”

Then Switch Magazine called and wanted to talk to him; they ran a piece featuring a full-color photo of a cookie. All this within 2 weeks of the First Friday debut!

Then, one month later, he got a call for the Portland Phoenix, would he be interested in doing the desserts for the Portland Phoenix Best of 2009 Awards ceremony? Swallow-ing his terror at taking on something so big, Nicholas J. enthusiastically agreed to create 800 desserts (200 each of 4 different things)!

It was a trial by fire: up until then, Nic had been making his confections out of the tiny oven in his apartment, but with the help of his friends, he used the professional prep kitchen in the lower level of Silly’s restau-rant (generously provided by Silly’s owner, Colleen Kelley). It took 2 long hard days of baking, but he did it. It went remarkably well.

“I knew I was on the right track when an older man came up to my table at the Awards and said, with tears in his eyes, ‘I want to thank you so much for what you are doing here. My daughter was diagnosed with

Celiac when she was a toddler, and it’s been so hard to find foods for her; all I wanted for her was food that was good and normal. What you are do-ing is amazing’. I’ll never forget that. I’m not trying to change the world, but everyone should be able to have a cookie.”

A year later, in February of 2010, 13th COOKIE itself was nominated in the Portland Phoenix as “BEST COOK-IE” and “BEST KEPT SECRET”!, and nominated for “Best Business With-out a Front” for the Indie Biz Awards hosted by Portland BuyLocal.

But don’t think all this came easy. Nic worked at the baking part-time while also working as per diem staff at the Preble Street Teen Cen-ter. He commented, “Here I was, making cookies for a living and hanging out with teens—what a great life!” Nic is now working for the Women’s Shelter.

I read somewhere once that life can be like getting caught under a great sleeping bear; just about the time you crawl out from under it, it rolls back over on top of you again.

The twist in Nic’s life is his multiple sclerosis. Diagnosed in 2006, Nic had been managing his illness to carry on with his life and work with remarkable success, as well as a sense of humor and optimism. Occasional relapses and fatigue slow him down, but the 13th Cookie carries on under the watchful eye of Nic’s second-in-command, Megu Hirayama (Meg). His theme-song might be “With a Little Help from my Friends…”

The proof, as always, is in the pud-dling, so don’t just take MY word for it - gotta’ try those Cookies! They can be found at:

• Mornings In Paris (Exchange St.)• Home Grown Tea (Congress St.)• Lois’ Natural Market (Scarborough,

ME - Route One)• Morning Glory Natural Foods

(Brunswick, ME - Main St.)• Cook’s Lobster House (Bailey

Island, ME)• 13th COOKIE (wherever you want,

just call).

Keep your eyes peeled—in the past he’s taken his wares to the annual Vegan Food Festival (usually held at the East End Community School mid-July), and to the Common-ground Fair in September. Time will tell what 2011 brings. Check out his website at 13thcookie.com or email Nic at [email protected].

Portland’s First Thanksgiving

At left, the painting depicting the meeting of native Americans and English settlers on the hillside of the Eastern Promenade. PHOTO BY JeAnne BUll

see Puzzles on Pages 3 & 12.

Answers Intermediate Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad, Book 12

Sudoku #16 7 1 5 8 2

2 3 4 6 9 1 8 55 1 8 7 91 6 8 9 5 2 3

9 3 2 1 53 5 4 6 7 9 8

9 3 2 7 17 8 5 9 2 6 3 44 7 3 6 8 5

9 3 4

7

2 4 3 6

7 4

8 4 6 7

2 1

6 5 8 4

1

2 1 9

Sudoku #26 3 5 7 8 94 5 7 9 8 19 8 3 2 6 7 53 8 5 2 62 7 8 1 6 9 5 3 45 9 2 4 71 3 6 5 7 4 2

5 2 3 9 6 17 9 6 4 1 8

2 1 4

6 2 3

4 1

1 4 7 9

6 3 8 1

9 8

8 4 7

2 3 5

Sudoku #35 4 7 2 9 61 6 5 4 3 8 2

3 1 9 7 4 56 2 4 1 8 5

8 5 4 9 1 7 31 9 8 7 6 2

2 3 1 5 8 44 7 6 9 1 2 89 5 3 7 6 1

8 3 1

9 7

6 2 8

7 3 9

2 6

3 5 4

6 9 7

5 3

8 4 2

Sudoku #48 4 7 5 6

5 3 7 6 8 9 16 2 1 5 3 7 84 5 3 6 2 1 8

7 9 4 6 22 9 7 5 1 3 4

2 6 9 7 5 8 37 1 3 8 9 6 23 9 6 4 1

9 1 2 3

4 2

9 4

7 9

1 8 3 5

8 6

4 1

5 4

8 2 5 7

Sudoku #53 9 6 5 8 1 47 2 5 8 62 5 8 7 4 1 35 6 1 3 9 4 2

7 4 2 5 88 4 6 1 3 5 91 8 9 6 4 2 76 7 9 2 54 1 7 3 6 9 8

2 7

1 4 3 9

6 9

8 7

9 3 6 1

2 7

3 5

4 8 1 3

2 5

Sudoku #64 1 9 2 6 85 9 8 6 1 7

2 7 4 5 3 1 96 2 7 5 3 8

7 9 8 3 2 6 12 5 3 6 1 4 98 4 1 2 7 3 9

5 4 8 6 1 32 6 1 5 7 4

7 3 5

3 4 2

6 8

1 4 9

5 4

8 7

5 6

9 7 2

3 9 8

Sudoku #77 8 9 4 6 5

5 6 2 3 1 4 94 9 5 6 2 78 1 5 6 3 9 2

2 4 1 3 53 7 4 5 6 1 8

8 1 4 6 5 37 6 3 8 1 4 21 4 2 5 7 9

3 1 2

7 8

8 3 1

7 4

6 9 8 7

9 2

2 9 7

5 9

3 8 6

Sudoku #81 7 3 4 9 2 5 88 9 1 3 7 62 4 8 5 7 13 9 6 7 4 85 1 6 4 7

4 1 2 6 3 58 6 7 4 5 3

4 3 2 9 7 16 2 7 3 1 8 9 4

6

5 2 4

6 3 9

5 1 2

2 3 8 9

7 8 9

9 1 2

5 8 6

5

Hardly anyone knew 201 Congress Street was a “sober house” until the fire on the night of October 10 dis-placed 17 men recovering together from alcohol and drug addiction. Neighbors walking by were familiar with the sight of residents hanging out and talking in front of the building, but few knew that the men had a common bond and purpose for living there, and that the building was a residential center for helping those men help themselves to a better, sober life.

Lacey Flanagan owns the building and made it a so-ber house for men in recovery after getting to know Oxford House, a national nonprofit of “democratically run, self-supporting, and drug free group home(s),” ac-cording to the organization’s web site. Mrs. Flanagan says that they always tried to remain anonymous at 201 Congress Street, but the fire has now made the mission very public, and now the public has taken the form of neighbors wanting to help the residents until the prop-erty is rebuilt.

The fire department has yet to determine what started the fire. It could be from a cigarette accidentally not extinguished all the way, or any number of structural causes at this point. What’s important is that lessons in fire safety are always learned, and that there’s a way we can help these neighbors who have lost all material possessions while their home is being rebuilt.

Mrs. Flanagan says that the insurance will cover the rebuilding costs. There is a goal to raise about $15,000

to help the former 17 residents and replace lost items. Clothes have been adequately covered by the Ameri-can Red Cross and other organizations, but home goods such as alarm clocks, tooth brushes, deodorant, towels, sheets, lamps and nightstands are in immedi-ate need while these men take temporary housing in other locations.

A benefit is planned at the Empire Dine and Dance venue on November 17. A special account at TD Bank is set up to take cash donations to The Atlan-tic House Fire Relief Fund. A personal cash donation can be made at any TD Bank branch, or a check can be mailed to any TD Bank branch, like One Portland Square, Portland, ME 04101. Mailed checks should be made out to The Atlantic House Fire Relief Fund, and an accompanying note would be helpful stating “Please deposit for the benefit of The Atlantic House Fire Relief Fund.”

Donations of household items listed above can be made through us at the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization at our location at 92 Congress Street. Call us at 775-3050 if a drop-off arrangement needs to be made.

A fire in the neighborhood affects us all, whether directly or as people who take for granted seeing a certain building or people in the course of our day. As a neighbor up the street, I can only think of how this might have gone 100 years ago. And residents of

three apartments at 203 Congress, less than 5 feet away, were also displaced. We have not learned how those residents might be helped if they need help, but I learned today from the contractor working on that building that the couple on the third floor were scheduled to be married the next day after the fire. He said they went through with the wedding. Congratulations, from all of us.

Helping Out Neighbor Fire Victims By Katie Brown

CHESTER & VESTAL, P.A.ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Over 30 years of service to Munjoy HillREAL ESTATE • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

JUVENILE DEFENSE • PROBATE, WILLS AND ESTATES

107 CONGRESS STREET • PORTLAND, MAINE 04101

(207) 772-7426


THrOugH NOveMBerleaf PickuP: The city has an-nounced that its annual curbside leaf collection program begins on OctOBer 25tH aNd Will eNd ON NOveMBer 19tH. Portland residents should set their leaves out in paper biodegrad-able yard waste bags the same day as their normal trash collection. For more information, please call 756-8189 or publicworks.portlandmaine.org

SOccer pick-up gaMeS- Fall/Winter. Interested in playing SOCCER in the East End? We are organizing pick-up games a few times a week, Indoors too. No fancy leagues, no super-competitive play - just getting together to have fun, keep in shape, and celebrate the wonderful sport of soccer! All ages/skill levels welcome! Contact Andrew: 670-8041 or drewleadley@gmail. com

classes at Mayo Street arts, 10 Mayo Street, mayostreetarts. org —Tango, Belly Dancing, Kids Yoga, Jug-gling, Zumba and Pilates. Learn about available Artist Studios, theater, poetry, music and more. Contact email: Blainor McGough, [email protected], 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts. org

tuesdays 7 pm. Poetry Readings—pOrt veritaS SpOkeN WOrd NigHt! at Mayo St Arts, 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts. org

WiNter cacHe Schedule of the Work Party Sundays @ Farm Call ahead to join in carpool. http://sites. google. com/site/wintercacheproject, (888)-45-ROOTS

rOOt cellar caleNdar94 Washington Avenue, see schedule at therootcellar.org— 774-3197.

cHildreN’S MuSeuM aNd tHe-atre OF MaiNe – various programs, 142 Free St. Portland, 828-1234 Cost: Free with admission

piNelaNd FarMS- Family-friendly agricultural, equestrian, ecological programs run thryoughout the month, see www.pinelandfarms.org/visitors/events_calendar.htm

Tues, NOv 2electiON day: don’t forget to VOTE!

fri, NOv 5Mayo Street Arts, First Friday Exhibit las alas (the winged ones) 5-8pm.

Dia de los muertos altar installation by hogfarm studios (interactive - public invited to place an offering). New paint-ings by Gil Corral. Insect assemblages by Angela Devenney, Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St. Portland, 615-3609 www.mayostreetarts.org

suNday, NOv 7Daylight Savings time- Turn clocks back.

NOv 11, 12, 19, 20Green Room, The Musical, 8pm curtain Tickets $10, Lyrics & Music by Chuck Pelletier, Book by C. Stephen Foster & Rod Damer, , Maine Premiere, Presented by New Edge Entertainment, Directed by John Bryson, [email protected], 899-3993.,29 Baxter Boulevard. Portland, Maine 04101 lucidstage.com

135 Congress St • 774-2279

Open 7 Days a weekWeekdays: 6 am – 10 pmFri. & Sat: 6 am – 11 pm

Come try our own fresh,

homemade Italian

Sausage.

Lunch and dinner plates made fresh daily

Friends of eastern promenade dedicate loring Memorial trail

By Kristin RapinacPaul Loring and Margaret Loring-Scott, brother and sister to war hero Maj. Charles Loring, snipped the ribbon to mark the dedication of the Loring Memorial Trail on the Eastern Promenade Thursday, Oct. 21.

The rain cleared out just in time for the ceremony, which took place at the top of the trail near the junction of Eastern Prome-nade and North Street. Diane Da-vison, president of Friends of the Eastern Promenade, presided over the dedication. Speakers included Eliza Townsend, commissioner of the Maine Department of Con-servation; Nan Cumming, execu-tive director of Portland Trails; and Jeff Tarling, arborist with the City of Portland.

The trail is named in honor of Maj. Charles J. Loring Jr., a U.S. Air Force pilot who sacrificed his life in the Korean War and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Da-vison read an account of his he-roic actions.

Davison thanked Portland Trails and the city of Portland for part-nering with Friends of the Eastern Promenade on the Loring Memo-rial Trail. She also thanked the trail’s funders, the Maine De-partment of Conservation Rec-reational Trails Program and the Quimby Family Foundation, as well as the volunteers who worked on the trail, including employees from Bangor Savings Bank and members of Friends of the Eastern Promenade.

The new trail winds gently down the hill from Loring Memo-

rial Park, connecting the Eastern Prom, Back Cove and new Bayside trails. Landscape architect Regina Leonard collaboratively designed the trail with input from Portland Trails and Friends of the Eastern Promenade. The Loring Memo-rial Trail and the Fort Allen Trail, dedicated one year ago, create a complete loop within the park.

“A main objective for the 2004 master plan was the re-estab-lishment of the interconnected pedestrian circulation systems based upon principles established in the Olmsted firm plan in 1905,” Davison said. “The plan expressly calls for creation of pedestrian links to the Eastern Prom multi-use trail from both Fort Allen and the Loring Memorial as a way of connecting the upper and lower sections of the park.”

Following the trail dedication, Friends of the Eastern Promenade held its annual meeting and elec-tions at the East End Community School. Historian Herb Adams gave a colorful presentation on the history of the Eastern Prom-enade.

Friends of the Eastern Prom-enade is a nonprofit organiza-tion committed to preserving the park’s significant historic public landscape, protecting its environmental integrity and enhancing recreational use. For more information, visit www.friendsofeasternpromenade.org.

A new sign marks the entrance to the Loring Memorial Trail. The trail, located at the edge of Loring Memorial Park, offers a new connection to the Back Cove, Bayside and Eastern

Prom multi-use trails PHOTO BY KRisTin RAPinAc

Paul Loring and Margaret Loring-Scott cut the ribbon to officially open the Loring Memorial Trail on Oct. 21. The new trail, located at the edge of Loring Memorial Park, connects to the Back Cove, Bayside and Eastern Prom

multi-use trails. PHOTO BY KRisTin RAPinAc

We have openings in a new support group for men who are struggling with rage, anger, and/or temper.

Aff ordable sliding-fee scale.

Men’s Resource Center of Southern Maine

Providing support for boys, men, and fathers struggling with aggression issues.

Call or email to confi dentially discuss your situation. 207-773-9724 x4 • [email protected]

25 Middle Street • Portland, Maine 04101

“Men Supporting Men”

“Serving Greater Portland Since 1980”

104 Washington Avenue • Portland, Maine 04101 • (207) [email protected]

Congratulations to all of tonights Award Winners!104 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME 04101 • 207.773.8198

www.dalerandprinting.com

observer ad.indd 1 9/18/2009 8:37:35 AM

fri NOv 12OLAS CD release show

8pm doors tix $10. Heavily influenced by Andalusian Flamenco and Arabic folk music, translated through a blend of American folk, rock, Arabic, and Afro-Cuban sounds, OLAS is an original, all acoustic mash-up of very raw and pas-sionate music and dance, Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St. Portland, 615-3609 www.mayostreetarts.org

saT, NOv 13“Africa and Poetry” 7 pm, all ages $3+ cover, An evening encapsulated with the African theme, featuring young African writers, songs, and Dance performers living Portland Maine. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St. Portland, 615-3609 www.mayostreetarts.org

suN, NOv 14Film: Nosferatu with original score per-formed live by Les Sorciers Perdu 7pm

admission $7., a German Expressionist vampire horror film.. a silent film, shot in 1921 Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St. Port-land, 615-3609 www.mayostreetarts.org

geology of casco Bay Field trip, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Narrow Gauge Railroad Station, 58 Fore St. Cost: $10 (for train ticket). Trip leaders: Arthur M. Hussey II, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Bowdoin College; Walter Anderson, Sci.D., State Geologist Emeritus, Maine Geological Survey. Sponsored by Friends of the Eastern Promenade. RSVP to [email protected].

Tues, NOv 16lucid Stage’S graNd OpeN-iNg celeBratiON 6pm Ribbon cutting and wine bar; 7pm “Lucid Sneak Peek” A variety show featuring short performances from future Lucid Stage events.8:30 Party, SCHEDULED PERFORMERS: Naya’s Trance bellydance, Harlan Baker, Martin Steingesser and


2010 pOrtlaNd Flu cliNic ScHedule Tuesday, November 4 at City Hall, Room 24 from 9 AM to 3 PM

Sunday, November 9 at Cliff Island Community Cen-ter, Cliff Island from 9 AM to noon

Friday, November 14 at St. Pius X Parish Hall from 1 PM to 4 PM

Tuesday, November 18 at Sagamore Community Center, 21 Popham Street from 4 PM to 7 PM

Flu shots provided at Portland Flu Clinics cost $10 per person, or are free with a Medicare Part B card.

Robin Whitten, founder of the Pink Tulip Project, and Myron Graessle, a volunteer from Friends of the Eastern Promenade, plant bulbs at Cousins Memorial on the Eastern Promenade on Oct. 23. The tulips will bloom in May along with thousands of others across Maine in remembrance of patients and survivors of cancer and to raise awareness of the disease. Begun in 2006 by Whitten, a breast cancer survivor, the Pink Tulip Project has raised more than $120,000 to date to benefit the Women’s Can-cer Fund at the Maine Cancer Foundation. The Cousins Memo-rial garden is sponsored by Friends of the Eastern Promenade. You can donate to the garden at pinktulipproject.org (click on Give to a Garden – Friends of Eastern Promenade).

Planting ahead—Pink tuliP Project

The End of a Record Cruise SeasonMore than 75,000 passengers visited portland this yearThe last week of October saw the final two cruise ships of the 2010 season, the Jewel of the Seas and the Crystal Symphony called to the Port of Portland. Carrying 2,112 passen-gers, the Jewel of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, spent a Sunday in Portland, then departed north for Bar Harbor.

A total of seventy-one cruise ships visited Portland this year carrying a record-setting 75,563 passengers. The city has already begun book-ing cruise ships for the 2011 sea-son, and at this point, thirty-three

cruise ships carrying approximately 46,422 passengers and 15,284 crew members have scheduled their calls to port. The city will continue to schedule ships for the 2011 season this winter and spring with a tenta-tive start of the season May 21, 2011.

In an economic impact study from the University of Maine at Orono released this summer, research-ers found that in 2008, passen-gers from thirty-one cruise ships spent $80 to $110 in the Greater Portland area generating $5.8 mil-lion to $8 million for the regional economy and creating 69 to 96 full- and part-time jobs.

Judy Tierney, Celebration Barn, Carolyn Gage, The Magic of the Steelgraves, Michael Parent, AIRE Theater, Michael Lane Trautman, Mad Horse Theatre. Contact: Liz McMahon, [email protected], 899-3993. 29 Baxter Boulevard. Portland, Maine 04101 lucidstage.com

Wed NOv 17Running With Scissors - stand up and improv comedy showcase 7pm $7. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St. Portland, 615-3609 www.mayostreetarts.org

saT, NOv 20Mezcalitos - Hootin Hollerin Western Swing. 8pm $10. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St. Portland, 615-3609 www.mayostreetarts.org

Weds, NOv 24MSa cONcert SHOWcaSe, 7 PM, $5, www.stlawrencearts.org, 775-1248, The Maine Songwriters Association, MSA is state-wide non-profit member organization dedicated to supporting Maine songwriters and their art form.

will feature four of Maine’s best singer-songwriters each offering something very different to their audience.

THurs, NOv 25Thankgiving Day

saT, dec 27Okbari Middle Eastern Ensemble with featured Bellydancers 7:30 pm $10, Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St. Portland, 615-3609 www.mayostreetarts.org

november 2010 munjoy hill observer

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