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Where Have All The Real Mom & Pop Stores Gone In Portland? A Tribute By Aaron Joy Years ago I couldn’t go long without hearing about the loss of our mom & pop stores and how “we can’t let the national conglomerate big box stores dominate our shopping needs,” and in general how our neighbourhoods would continue to be fractured and homogenised if mom & pop closed. Maybe I’m not paying as much attention or reading the right news sources these days, but it seems like I don’t hear about mom & pop so much anymore. I hope they are enjoying retirement. I’ll confess times have changed — even for me. I probably buy more though Amazon than any other retailer, but until a local bookstore sells something long out of print or brand new for less than what I can get there, on a tight income if I don’t buy on Amazon I won’t buy at all. Buying on Amazon means I have money enough for the purchase and lunch, versus going without food if I do what I really feel I should and buy locally. That’s the sad truth. Many local stores sell on Amazon as they’ve discovered they have customers … just not within commuting distance. So I reason that I’m just supporting someone else’s local economy. It’s a poor excuse, but we all do it. On the other hand, maybe mom & pop aren’t there any more to support. Maybe our protests didn’t change anything and they all really did permanently put out a closed sign with an unseen and quickly forgotten wave goodbye. The rents got too high, it really was time to retire, changing economics made it too expensive or difficult to continue or maybe they really couldn’t compete with their new neighbours. And, now it’s too late because their children didn’t continue the struggling family business. This sadly very well might be the unspoken truth of the matter. And, like paving a park to put up a parking lot, once the old trees are gone it’ll take generations to replace them — if it ever happens. It also appears to me that the save mom & pop movement has also been eclipsed by the buy local movement, which comes out of the buy American movement. If you shop at the big box store it’s very hard to buy American, but you can at least try to buy foreign goods from a local store. But, while the buy local movement stems from the same desire to keep our neighbourhoods intact by keeping the big boys away, it is not the same. If tomorrow I opened up my own business here in Downtown Portland I would be local. If I had a wife or girlfriend joining me than I might also count as a mom & pop store. But, my little shop, no matter how homey I designed it, wouldn’t quite be the same nostalgia as going into a store where you know long ago folks were gathered around an Atwater Kent radio listening to President Roosevelt’s speeches. A store where the business was started by a distant relative in an age where being the only Jewish (or Italian or Irish) owner on that block of India Street actually meant something. It was a time that still hangs on in a few downtown shops, and I’m thrilled I recently discvered one. So my answer is a resounding “no” to the question: Are all the mom & pop stores gone? Did our protests do nothing? Did the rents reach such extraor-
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Part of me says yes, it’s all history now. They have gone the way of the milkman and elevator operator. But, another part of me says no, they are still there … but we have to be pro-active and seek them out. How many times have you walked by a store that looks old and kept on walking to another store that was newer, yet sold the exact same goods? Or, how often have you ordered something online because there might be a store in the neighbourhood that sells what you want, but you never think to go in and check because you don’t know anyone who goes there? That store you’ve walked past — and I hate to say it — very well might be the mom & pop you’ve been protesting losing. I know what I write might verge on condescending, but honestly I’m talking about myself. I love exploring and have a background in history. But, even I hesitate to go in some places, particularly when my motives are out of curiosity — not to shop. Some places look like they need my money more than my eyes. Please Continue On Page Nine
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Hackin’ The Net By Ted Fleischaker / Publisher Where has the year gone off to? It’s December and that means Chanukah (starts at sundown the 6th this year) and Christmas (in its usual spot the 25th) are just days away so it’s time to shop, which is my cue to give a look at some electronic gadgets I’d recommend you buy for yourself with those gift cards you get or to give to others so you can spread some “electronic cheer” this time of year. But before I start, I’ll give you an important reminder: Be sure you check with the person you plan to give that gift to and make sure what you are considering will work for their needs and their system. If your pal is all pc then as much you you’d like to, a Mac accessory is not the best route, though these days things like drives, routers and more are able to be formatted out of the box to handle either system. For my “as-old-as-me” Up Portland readers, we can recall a time not that long ago when that was not the case and a Mac accessory on a pc was as useful as a sack of hammer heads. That said, here are a few ideas, dividing roughly into price categories... For those with more than a bit of money and a gift list, there’s nothing like a new computer, laptop or tablet. Of course these all vary wildly and widely by price and what you pick as far as a brand. Apple usually has the higher price tag but is, in our way of thinking the ONLY choice. In full disclosure here, we have been Mac users since the latter part of 1989 when almost nobody would dream of using Mac and when a Mac SE30 (or any “home computer”) as we owned was a rarity. Also in the way of disclosure, our partner works for Apple here in Portland and we do love most of the items on their shelves. But all that said, these days there are a zillion different choices and prices one can pay — and that includes everything from a “no name” or refurbished pc one can find online for $109 to way more costly deals. Shop with your eyes open, compare the numbers and above all, get some help (either on line or from a person you trust) before you buy. Also, find out and be sure what the store or site you pick’s exchange or return policy is before you buy — especially if the deal is a “Black Friday special” or “doorbuster”. Remember what I said at the outset: what you buy will only be good if the person can use it, so remember not all Macs can perform pc duty and most pc’s cannot double in the Mac world.
sue of warranty. I am here to tell you I’d not bet on much more than 45 minutes on a real fly-by-night cheapo whereas Apple, Microsoft and the “name brands” from reputable stores will carry way longer and better guarantees — many of which can be extended (like AppleCare) for just a few extra dollars. As my late dad would tell me as a kid on most any major purchase: “Shop it!” Still too much money for your wife’s brother or Aunt Lucille? Heading down a few more bucks, in the $20 to $150 or so price range, you could get the recipient of your tech gift a TV viewer. The most popular of same is Apple TV, which just updated (from $149) complete with Siri and a lot of apps to open the system to everything from the BBC iPlayer to TuneIn Radio’s app with 10,000+ radio stations. Too much? Well, for $99 there are some older Apple TV boxes floating around (we had a first generation), but they do a lot less. And be warned that the recipient has to have a compatible TV and WiFi for things to work right, so as with all the possibilities thus far, ask what the recipient has, can use and shop with your eyes open. If the Apple TV is not your thing, Amazon has Fire TV from $39 and Roku is out there, too, from $49. Each has its promoters and detractors so look at the options and buy carefully. Next, we have to mention all of the wrist devices out there. The Apple Watch (from $349), the Fitbit (from $89) and a ton of others exist in this ever-morecrowded field. We gave our full opinion of Apple’s watch a couple issues ago and will only say we still do not own one because they just are not for everybody. Whether that or a Fitbit is on your list is something between you and your recipient, but be sure if you do get or give one it will get used... Next in the electronic gift area are myriad other choices — not all computer related. Last year I gave a NOAA Weather Radio, which was a true life saver for a friend during a tornado in the Spring in the Midwest where he lives. They can be found at places as diverse as Radio Shack and Walgreens or CVS and priced from $30 up, depending on the model’s features. I strongly recommend one which will turn itself on when a watch or warning is issued by the weather bureau for the recipient’s area. And that watch or warning feature includes marine warnings, blizzard, Winter storms and more, so not “just” tornadoes! In other words, one’s as valuable in Portland as it is in “tornado alley”.
Exactly what the options and pricing would end up were a mystery until a few days ago, but a number of websites were taking educated guesses. The Inquirer (www.theinquirer.net) a site we trust had this (which was exactly correct it turns out) to offer, “The iPad Pro will be available to buy in 32GB and 128GB configurations priced at $799 and $949, respectively, while a 128GB version with 4G will fetch $1,079 in the US...”
While I am on the radio topic, a year or two back I would have suggested an HD radio, which offers “hidden” channels for free. Best Buy sells them on their website for $49 and there are others on offer online for the same or more, but there are issues. For example, Maine Public Broadcasting’s Radio Network (MPBN) has two crisp, clear HD channels: one with what we hear on FM and the other 24/7 classical, but again, there are issues. One is reception. In our Munjoy Hill neighbourhood MPBN’s signal comes and goes meaning sometimes mid-symphony the radio goes silent. Unlike analogue, where you might hear static, with digital, the signal is either there or it’s not. The same issue is true on the commercial band where WTHT, Auburn, on their HD2 channel has W-Bach’s digital signal. Nothing is as aggravating as turning a corner (I have HD in my Jeep) and finding the signal missing. Trust me, this is a major issue in the hilly terrain we have in Portland.
You could get a way cheaper pad (we found one for $28.99 by typing “cheap tablet” into Google) but watch out as it will likely not use the same apps for the most part your recipient may like from the iTunes store, and then there’s the is-
And, aside from mainly public radio the whole HD Radio concept has, thus far, failed to take off meaning very few stations broadcast it and even fewer listeners have or want it. If you considered this for a gift, I’d suggest you forget
But a computer is a pretty big commitment. What about what’s trying hard to replace them? That would be a tablet and for that again there are choices all over the financial map. I am a fan of iPads and as of presstime for this Hackin’ the Net am eagerly awaiting arrival of my new iPad Pro, which appeared on shelves a few days before Thanksgiving.
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it for now (and maybe forever) because it just doesn’t work well (in my opinion) and is not catching on well enough to offer all formats. So what’s left? Well, screens (what in the day we called “TV sets”) are all over the place on pricing and sizing, but would make a nice gift. There are LED and LCD and plasma ones. Resolutions are from 720 to 1080 and there are a few which are many more pixels (but you will pay for each and every one). Pricing ranges from about $100 for a tiny 720 low res screen to thousands for the top-of- the-line home theatre models. In between you have options and more options, so ask, shop and buy a warranty if you select any of the highend models as we have had several screens fail over the years and most are not repairable. If they die, it’s the dump and you go shop for new! But what about the true stocking stuffer price range? Well, a memory stick (correctly called a thumb drive) is always useful and these days can be had for $5 or less everywhere from the drugstore to the local Staples or Target. There are also a wide variety of ear buds or headsets or earphones or whatever you wanna call em. While the good ones with fancy gadgetry by Beats, Sennheiser and their ilk are $200 or can cost thousands, there are some really decent ones for under $50 and a few under $20. Do avoid the $1.99 bin at Big Lots or the drugstore because under a certain price point headphones just will not perform in a way your recipient will find pleasing to the ear. That said, and on a related gift, these days you can find a fair number of Bluetooth speakers under $30. Back in the day (when only ones like the expensive Jawbone Jambox series was out there) these came in at $100, $200 or even more. Now, any number of stores offer discounted ones — even models water resistant for the shower so you can sing to your fave tunes — for under $30. Our shower speaker (we paid $20) has fidelity so good we bought three more to give friends — especially one who carries his tunes so badly we are hoping he will listen to his music, not sing while soaping up! Finally, people always need last-minute things on the electronic side, so don’t overlook that pack of batteries, a phone case (be sure to find out which make & model phone is being covered), that LED flashlight or those cables or chargers we all seem to lose, break or need. Just remember if you grab any of the above to make sure you get the right thing since a lightning connector won’t work if you need an HDMI and an iPad case doesn’t fit an iPhone 6S+, much less a 5S or 5C or an old iPhone 4. So there you have it...my ideas for Chanukah and Santa. And remember, just as there are different connectors and cables and devices, we all celebrate different holidays, so regardless of what you do or don’t do this time of year have a great December and stay in touch with us. The e-mail’s ted@upportland. com
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Food For Thought... We all go to the grocery for food. Even those of us who do a majority of our shopping at the Portland Farmers Market and the smaller, specialised local merchants such as Rosemont Deli, Standard Baking and Two Fat Cats Bakery end up at one of the area grocery stores every so often for some items those smaller spots just do not have or get. But do you think about having lunch (or even dinner) AT the grocery? If not, you might give it a second thought because as we have discovered recently, some grocery stores not only offer great stuff to take home (cooked and fresh), but they do also prepare it there for you to eat there. I am not talking about those rotisserie chickens, turkey breasts, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach or pre-cooked lobsters, but about the food bars and restaurant counters we have been finding of late in Downtown Portland at the grocery. We recently visited two of same — the one at Whole Foods and the one at Lois’ Natural Marketplace. Both were poles apart from what we’d expected and both worth return visits, though we do wish the folks at Whole Foods would find a salt shaker. More on that in a bit. The reason I decided to eat at the grocery, not once, but twice, recently was simple: I was in there buying some other items, it was mealtime and I noticed they have their own “mini restaurants” with counters and tables, so I decided, “Why not?”. The overall reaction I have to both I tried is mostly good though the pricing can get out of hand fast if you pick up or order more than you really want or need for lunch. Our bills (for one) were, ironically close to the same: $13.55 at Whole Foods and $13.84 at Lois’ Natural Marketplace. But it was right there the similarity stopped.
trude’s soup I enjoyed as a kid and it smelled like it, too. Trouble was they apparently did not even show the pot of soup a salt shaker, much less add any salt. That meant what had great promise was some of the most blah, bland, boring tasting and disappointing soup I have ever eaten. And while I could have added salt myself later, I was there solo on a crowded Saturday, got the last seat I could find and was not able to get to the condiment bar, find salt packets and add what was needed while holding on to my seat. Comment: I am in agreement we do eat too much salt, but there is a halfway point that Whole Foods kitchen staff didn’t even get close to... and salt shakers on the tables would also be nice. This is (happily) not the case with all of Whole Foods’ soups as I have had some lobster bisque and a chowder that came in second only to Gilbert’s Chowder House down on Commercial Street, but it would have been nice had someone tasted and added at least a pinch or three of salt to the barley. Grandma Gertrude always did! That aside, Whole Foods does have
Lois’ in Portland (corner of Middle & India streets, photo above right) has a lunch counter with an extensive menu where one goes to a window, orders and then awaits their name to be called when the order is ready. At Whole Foods (lower right) it’s all about the food bars. I said bars because they have areas with soups — everyday ones like mom’s chicken noodle and special things like chowders and lobster bisque. There are other areas with salads, still more with hot items and there’s even an olive and tapenade bar, so the choices are much larger. The issue here is if you are watching your budget, the pricing is way clearer on the Lois’ menu order style than the Whole Foods version where if you are like me, you will have to restrain yourself as it’s ever so tempting to grab another spoon full of this or another item of that. Unlike Lois’ Natural where pricing is on a menu and aside from an extra bag of chips or a dessert item you know what you will pay, at Whole Foods they weigh the final result, subtract the weight of the plate and you are charged by the food’s weight, meaning we have had a surprise or two in recent days eating there. If you can show restraint, then they do come out somewhat similarly and both offer some good food. But beware — these are both spots where healthy and natural are buzzwords. That means while Whole Foods calls themselves “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” sometimes, in this reviewer’s opinion, that health is at the expense of flavour — especially when sugar or salt are concerned. We served ourself a bowl of what looked to be awesome beef barley soup. That’s it in the photo. It resembled the hundreds of bowls of my late my Grandma Ger-
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“Whole Paycheque” and not the proper name. Even a younger staffer here at Up Portland, before he said if he’d eaten the lunch here remarked about the cost, so do be aware that weight counts and that tuna salad clocks in at a lot more density than lettuce or croutons so plan accordingly and enjoy. Just do not forget to grab a salt packet or three on your way to pay, though I was recently told anything on the food bar with a “green label” is no salt, sugar or gluten added. Too bad there are no visible signs saying that — at least none I, or the employee telling me, could find! But what about Lois’ Natural? I, for one, find their menu concept very convenient and I cannot say enough good about staff here accommodating what I was after. That “what” one recent day was a turkey panini, which is, sadly, not one of the panini choices. While I was pondering, the manager asked what I was after and I told her, fully expecting to get a “sorry, we don’t have a turkey one.” Instead, she smiled, said she aimed to please all comers and she’d gladly make me one, despite it having no listing on the extensive menu. I was not only impressed and immediately took her up on the offer, but what she concocted (in the photo) was served warm, crisp and delicious. While she was doing the cooking (and it was a Friday so they were busy) I was free to add some sugar (natural brown, of course) to my iced coffee and to meet a very cool lady who, together with her husband have just opened a Freeport potato chip company called Vintage Maine Kitchen. She was in the store doing a “demo” of the couple’s crisps and while they were 25% more for the 1.25 ounce lunchtime bags than the “standard” brands Lois’ has on the shelf, I found them well worth their extra cost. They were demo-ing the “ordinary” which was sea salt, and they also were offering a maple flavour, which I politely declined to try though I have wondered ever since how the mix of chips and maple would have worked so it’s on my list for next time. Did I mention Lois’ Natural Marketplace is stocking both flavours? They are, so regardless of when you get there, you can give them a whirl. I did not do the soup at Lois’ so can’t say if they salted it, but I can say the sandwich was delicious and a seat in the front window to watch the passing parade on India Street beat the parking lot view I ended up with at Whole Foods down on Somerset Street. So my conclusion? I will definitely be having lunch at the grocery again as I liked both. I will try harder to taste the soup at Whole Foods and continue to watch how much of that tuna salad I pile on at $8.99 a pound. And I will forever smile at the great staff at Lois’ as they really know the words “customer service” there.
some great choices — ranging from Mexican to an ever-changing hot bar. I am also very partial to their tuna salad which is moist but does not force the tuna to swim in oceans of mayo or be overwhelmed by pickles, relish or other flavours. They also have a decent caesar dressing and the olives are topnotch. My only real grumble is trying to balance all the parts I assemble from the different hot and cold food bars and remember to grab a soft drink from the cooler and a bag of chips if I want same. If you want a huge variety, Whole Foods is your place as their smiling staff also makes fresh smoothies; they have an in-house sushi bar and things are replenished and look and taste fresh as advertised. Just remember you are paying by the weight for what you get (my slip said $8.99 a pound) so there is a reason some wags call the place
And a final note: both stores do breakfast from 8 weekdays and Whole Foods stays open latest, offering their hot bar until 9 and the remainder of their food bars until the store closes nightly at 10 so you can have not only lunch, but dinner at the grocery should you so choose. Info & menus? www.loisnatural.com and www.wholefoodsmarket.com though do be aware that Lois’ has a better menu online due to having just two — and not a nationwide chain — of locations to list. Oh, and before someone grabs a pen or a keyboard to complain: Yes I know Rosemont Deli & Bakery offers lunch and the food over at Micucci’s (try the muffalettas or the slabs of pepperoni pizza) just across the street from Lois’ Natural is to die for, but I consider those both specialty rather than more traditional grocery stores so that means they will grace these reviews another day! Speaking of another day, Sunday is a special day and while I have had many a great weekday meal at Freeport’s Harraseeket Inn, I finally made it with my partner for the Sunday brunch in the Maine Harvest Dining Room. It’s a Please continue on the Next Page
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More Food For Thought...
before closing time. But not a single bite was less than wonderful even at the rather steep sounding (but given what’s served, fair) price of $39.95 a head. The staff at Harraseeket Inn is also as first class as the food — and we have had many a good lunch buffet in their Broad Arrow Tavern — but in the Maine Harvest on Sundays they really shine, especially Chef Elizabeth DeFranco, who makes the brunch happen and who we had the pleasure of meeting on a recent November Sunday. definite treat and one you should try and fit in during the Winter when their 23 fireplaces blaze warm, cozy welcomes and the food is among the area’s best. Did we mention it’s a Lobster Sunday Brunch? Well, it is and includes all of Maine’s most famous crustacean one would care to enjoy from 11.45 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Sunday. But this is a rare case where the king of seafood is often upstaged by other great eats and the crepes (made on the spot), the rare prime rib with Yorkshire pudding and things like leg of lamb and omelettes do give those lobsters a real run for their money.
Her staff is great also. Clean silver appears as if by magic; cups and glasses are refilled and it all happens with the polite dignity one would expect in such a setting. Add the decor, the windows overlooking the grounds, the fireplaces and it all comes together to be as special as the food. If you are wanting somewhere unique an easy 20-25 minutes from downtown Portland to take the family or visitors during the holidays, this would top our list. Oh, and we checked: they are doing a “grand buffet” Christmas Day. Cost is $60, and yes, we have reservations, so hurry up Santa.
Even showing up promptly for our 1 p.m. reservation (they are recommended) we had to hurry just a bit to get a taste of everything on offer
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By the way, in case you are wondering about what to do with all of those calories, after brunch, leave the car for a bit in the Inn’s huge parking area and walk the five or six blocks south along U.S. 1 (there is a sidewalk) and do some shopping along the way at LL Bean and the other Freeport shops. It’s a great way to spend a delicious Sunday. And as Bean is 24/7 guess where we will be found after Christmas brunch...
Joe Wigon Is A Living Mom & Pop Continued From Page Three The other day at work I broke a staple remover. It’s a minor instrument of destruction, but I use it continuously and this was the second I’ve broken this year. Going on Amazon there was a range of prices, but adding in the S&H and potential of ordering two each with their own shipping, there would not be a bit of savings. Then there’s Staples and W.B. Mason. More shipping and I don’t have a car to easily go and get it and my law firm is aiming to be a leader in sustainability so we try to order everything local. We order our supplies and 100% recycled paper from a shop across the street that hand delivers. No trucks driving miles, no conglomerate getting our cash. It’s local and environmentally sound. So, it seemed the most viable option to run across the street during lunch and see if I could get what I wanted … at one of these elusive forgotten mom & pop shops and a store that I had walked by many times looking in but not going in. In 1932 on Free Street, where today is the grassy slope of a parking lot overlooking the parking arcade, Joe Wigon opened an office supply store. It’s a mind tease to think back what he must have sold. Typewriters, paper, some office furniture, lots of clunky metal equipment and an assortment of pens and their ink wells. I’m well versed in history, but the world of computers has come to so dominate our working environment I struggle to remember what it was like writing my school papers or having to go to the library to look up the most trivial fact. In the early 195O’s Joe died and it passed to his daughter Sally, who would come to run it with her husband Steve. In 1978 they relocated two buildings over, just across from Sur-Lie restaurant, where they remain servicing all the local businesses. There’s nothing fancy about Sally and Steve, not a bit of pretentiousness nor any signs reading “customer service certified” or anything remotely obnoxious. They probably would balk at customer service training courses and to the extent some businesses go to make their staff act like Sally and Steve — a.k.a. mom & pop. They run their business with a few simple techniques that become obvious after a few minutes in the store. They are as near to experts as can be and fully know their products. They’ve run their business through prosperous times and hard times and still hold on and they don’t stock their shelves to impress customers and sink needed cash reserves into non-moving stock. They’ll order anything you want and don’t mark-up their products half as much as you’d expect because they’re not out to hustle an extra few dollar sale, and (importantly) they take pride in their work. They’ll not just help you but also be completely attentive and give you the time of day. If you’re in a hustle and bustle with two cell phones ringing, time so stops at Joe Wigon’s office supply you’ll be embarrassed to be in such a rush. Consider for a moment the company has spent most of its life servicing a world where businesses thrived without any iPads or cell phones. One where “instant messaging” meant as fast as you could walk with your notes on a yellow notepad or legal pad. In this world of customer service courses, we’ve forgotten that the bottom line is not about following a set of rules, but just to treat customers like people, if not friends. To coddle them. The problem is that so many of us don’t enjoy our jobs, aren’t fulfilled and may be struggling to survive, while others would say there’s a lack of work ethic today.
When I was in, Sally said to me out of the blue “I remember Josiah.” He was a former partner in my law firm, the great-grandson of the founder, who died in 1991. I wasn’t in high school yet, wasn’t even living in Maine, so I certainly wouldn’t have known him, and with all her customers over the years there was no reason for her not only to recall him, but to mention his name to me. But, I loved hearing it and I think he’d appreciate being remembered by a store he frequented and is today potentially the last of its kind showing a way to do business that worked for a century but doesn’t appear to be our current modus operandi. While I may have lamented about how mom & pop stores are gone and how I found one and it’s like an oasis, the bottom line is – are my needs met? No, they didn’t have staple removers on the shelf. But, they ordered them for me … Sally looked them up in a stack of papers with not a computer in sight. And, the next morning, not long after I got to work, there was a call that the order had arrived. I doubt Staples or W.B. Mason can deliver that fast and with no additional shipping charges. But, I’m not really interested in finding out, as from now on I’ll be going to Joe Wigon’s old place to get my office supplies, just like the guy who owns this newspaper told me he has been doing. They’re better than a big box national store, super local, require no commute and they’re cheaper than Amazon. And, I hate to say it – but I have no excuse to go elsewhere. *** (EDITOR’S NOTE — Aaron Joy works just across the street from Joe Wigon’s at the Drummond & Drummond law firm, who are pro-active concerning sustainability both as a firm and with clients. Aaron is a published history author, former thespian and was a music blogger and podcaster for many years. He loves discovering and supporting the hidden gems of Portland and sharing them with others, so look for many more of his columns and “discoveries” in the pages of Up Portland in the coming months. Aaron was born locally to a long line of Mainers and he spent 27 years away only to finally come home a few years ago. He can be reached at aronmatyas@hotmail.com We are thrilled to have him as part of our “team” at downtown’s newspaper.)
Up Portland 12.15 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 9
The Standard Reviewer
By Bill Elliott / Up Portland’s Film & Theatre Reviewer
First the good news. Daniel Craig returns for his fourth outing as James Bond in SPECTRE, the second consecutive Bond film directed by Sam Mendes. Now the bad news. Just as it was beginning to feel as if Craig had breathed new life into the Bond character and franchise, it’s rumoured he is leaving and the search for a new Bond under way. If true, that’s a shame. As played by Craig, Bond is earthier, more vibrant, more believable, and ultimately more entertaining than the Bonds played by any other actor since Sean Connery. Bond has thrilled audiences onscreen for more than half a century. Over the years, the basic formula has been a simple one: Britain’s suavest and most ruthless MI6 agent, Bond tracks down and disposes of global villains, beds exotic women, tests the latest in weaponry, cars and futuristic gadgets, quips cringe-worthy jokes and downs litres of vodka martinis.
of almost all the plots that Bond has had to deal with in all the previous films. Moreover, Oberhauser has a close personal connection to Bond and his family. Skyfall posed a Freudian analysis of Bond’s psychological make up. SPECTRE advances that analysis and takes it one step further. In Skyfall, Bond had complex relationship with his “mother” figure, the previous M (played by Dame Judi Dench, who just celebrated her 80th birthday). In SPECTRE it’s a purely family affair. The Bond universe has never felt more whole, more connected, or more meaningful than in SPECTRE. All that is missing is further delving into Bond’s emotional and psychological life. In Skyfall, Bond seemed vulnerable and human. In SPECTRE, his steel surface is rarely penetrated. Part of the fun of SPECTRE is spotting references to previous Bond films. The Bond movies have always cannibalised the canon for in-jokes. Like Skyfall, SPECTRE gives more than a glancing nod back over the franchise’s history, referencing most, if not all, the previous Bond films. Some references are clear homages to earlier iterations; others are perhaps a little more tenuous. Boat chases, international gatherings of super villains, Alpine medical facilities, fights on board helicopters, and Bond going rogue were de rigeur in previous Bond films. But in SPECTRE, the filmmakers are clearly having fun. There is an extended fight on a train that harks back to the one Connery’s Bond had with Robert Shaw’s Russian agent Grant in From Russia With Love. Nearly mute henchman
Since Dr. No each subsequent Bond film has commanded ever larger budgets, more exotic locales, and more spectacular action sequences. SPECTRE is no exception: with a budget of between $250-300 million, it is not only the most expensive Bond film, it is one of the most expensive films ever made. As of 26 November, SPECTRE had grossed over $686 million worldwide. SPECTRE begins with a cryptic epigram: “The dead are alive.” And this enigmatic teaser drives the film’s action as well as the main characters’ motivations. The epigram also allows the filmmakers to revisit characters and events from previous films in the Bond oeuvre. The film’s opening sequence is probably worth the price of admission alone. Giving the appearance of one long seamless tracking shot, the camera follows Bond through the crowded streets of Mexico City during Day of the Dead celebrations. He meets up with a sexy and exotic looking young lady (no surprises there), follows her to her hotel room, ditches her, and promptly makes his way to the roof to take care of a terrorist cell in a building opposite. It’s an explosive opening scene on many levels, the kind we’ve come to expect from Bond movies. From the outset, we learn that Bond has gone rogue, working off the grid and with no direct authority from his superiors. This is the first in a series of events driven by forces from beyond the grave. A powerful network of global criminals under the umbrella of the sinister SPECTRE organisation has been planning terror campaigns across the globe. Led by the sociopathic and psychopathic Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz), the group hopes to instil fear into ordinary citizens and prompt governments to purchase heightened security systems (utilising everything from CCTV cameras to drone bombs and sophisticated smart weaponry) from Oberhauser’s “legitimate” technology business. One of Oberhauser’s clients is the newly privatised joint British intelligence service, formed by a merger of MI5 and MI6. The new head of the service Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), also known as “C,” is a young, ambitious technocrat who feels that old school “spying” methods are out of date. He is thus in the process of phasing out field agents like Bond and administrators like M. C has put his faith in technology to combat international intrigue and terror. Oberhauser’s system seems to be just the answer. But Oberhauser himself is a ghost from the past. SPECTRE has been at the heart
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Mr. Hinx (Dave Bautista) is more Oddjob (Harold Sakata in Goldfinger) than Jaws (Richard Kiel in The Spy Who Loved Me), but there are elements of both in SPECTRE’s hulking villain. We even learn how Ernst Stavro Blofeld got the scar that Donald Pleasance’s previous version of the villain sports in You Only Live Twice. In some ways the Daniel Craig films feel a little like a self-contained universe within the larger canon of Bond films. The character is grittier, rawer, and less aristocratic than previous iterations. And the Craig films feel more like a continuous narrative; something earlier Bond films lacked. In the post-Edward Snowden world of global surveillance, paranoia, and everincreasing calls for greater security measures, SPECTRE raises some probing questions about the role intelligence agencies play in undermining privacy and personal freedoms. George Orwell would be impressed. SPECTRE doesn’t pack the emotional punch of Skyfall but it does offer a comprehensive and overarching narrative that tries to make sense of who Bond is and what motivates him. Craig, once again, is the film’s nuclear-powered engine. Christoph Waltz’s understated Franz Oberhauser is a chilling study in the banality of evil. Ralph Fiennes proves to be a solid, trustworthy, and perhaps even soft-hearted M. Andrew Scott as Max Denbigh, examines the pathological psychology of political functionaries blindly motivated by power and ambition.
Sauntering With Mat
By Mat Robedee / Up Portland Commentator
Is off this month and will return with a new summit to scale & tale to tell in January’s Up Portland.
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Eric’s Optimal Corner Eric Hilton / Optimal Self Community Health and Wellness Center Posture is Important! Our body’s posture is constantly under stress in our everyday lives. We live in a busy world that can weigh us down. The heaviness of our everyday is felt in our body and the stress of that can influence the outcome of our day. Gravity is a constant force pulling us down and we feel its weight all day. Don’t let it! Practice holding good posture throughout the day so you can beat gravity and not let it drag you down. Your body will use less energy and the stress of life won’t feel so heavy.
bone. This will allow more space for your chest to rise up and your shoulders to be set back in an aligned position. When you raise your chest your lower back will arch with it, aligning the spine and allowing your head to comfortably rest on your body. Roll your shoulders back and down away from your ears, as you lengthen your neck. I call this position “The Confidence Pose.” When our chest is expanded it allows our heart to open up and shine. We look and feel much more confident when we are not slouching forward with the shoulders, which closes our heart and puts strain on our shoulders, neck, lower back and really our whole body. So open up your heart and feel the greatness and presence of your body in the position that it was designed to be placed in. I have found that posture can be changed pretty quickly the more we commit to working on it. Make it an essential part of your lifestyle and feel the benefits of good alignment because you deserve to feel good in your body. Stand tall to increase your opportunity to live a healthier and happier life.
Our posture is the way we carry ourselves. We want to carry ourselves in a balanced way that will not use up so much energy and that will not keep us in constant pain. We want to feel good in our bodies so living with good posture is essential. Plus, it can make life much more enjoyable. Please let me share my understanding of posture with you and help you understand your own posture. First, it is important to become aware of your own body’s alignment. Use a full length mirror. Look at your body and see the differences in each side. Does your head hang to one side? How much time do you spend letting your head drag you down? Maybe you slouch to one side? Is your lower back sore every day? There are many different postural imbalances that can be going on at once, and each can affect the other. Turn 90 degrees to one side, and see the balance of your joints. Some good landmarks to use are the ear, centre of the shoulder, the hip, knees and ankles. If there is a straight line connecting these points, then you’re in pretty good shape. I have seen many different body types with different alignments. Every body is different, and slight deviations are not bad. Look at yourself in the mirror and try to correct the imbalances. Play with your stance and put your body in a comfortable position. Still looking at yourself in the mirror, try aligning those five landmarks and see how it feels. And again move into the posture with comfort. Feel the alignment in your body. It may feel weird or uncomfortable to hold the good posture. That’s fine — your body is just not used to it. Like anything, it takes practice. The practice is worth it and not too difficult. The best way for someone to understand posture is to practice, so let’s practice. Face the mirror. Feel your feet. Separate your feet to shoulder width. Notice the connection of your feet to the ground and feel your toes. Feel the strength of the earth and draw energy up from it. Keep your knees soft: not bent, but unlocked. The looseness of your knees will keep the muscles around your knee in a slight contraction. If they are locked then the knee is not being supported properly and your weight can put pressure on other joints in an improper manner. If they are bent too much, you exhaust your body over time. Soft knees allow for comfortable movement. Now feel your hips. Are they tilted forward, causing all of your organs to spill forward, or are the hips in a neutral position? I’ve found that when my hips are tilted forward my belly hangs out. It does not matter how great my abs look — everything hangs out. If this is happening to you, correct the angle by bringing your hips up and slightly tucking your tail-
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Farmers Market Heads For New Winter Home
The nip in the air says it’s time to warm up and for the Portland Farmer’s Market that means indoors, where a new heated home will host the market as of 5th December. The new location is at 84 Cove Street where Saturday market hours will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organisers promise great produce, cheese, eggs and meat from 22 farmers, as well as food trucks, live music and more, so if you enjoyed the Monument Square and Deering Oaks Markets this Summer and Autumn, you’re invited to come inside and continue the tradition of great food and fun all Winter long. For more info visit www.portlandmainefarmersmarket.org
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Portland Food Co-op Marks Anniversary The Portland Food Co-op has announced that it has invested more than $2 million into Maine’s economy during its first year of operations and the Co-op held an anniversary party in late Novermber to celebrate that successful first year at its storefront at 290 Congress Street. “In less than a year, we’ve more than doubled the number of local farmers and producers we are working with, gained over 1,000 additional member-owners, hired additional staff, expanded our hours and sales have been stronger than anticipated,” John Crane, Portland Food Co-op general manager said, adding, “We’ve exceeded all of our projections.” Crane credits the Co-op’s early success to its strong community support and its relationship with local farmers and producers. According to Crane, the Co-op already carries more than 1,000 items from 250 local producers.
on its shelves, the Co-op organises community building events throughout the year. This past Summer, this included a work day at Misty Brook Farm, where Co-op volunteers helped clean up debris following a severe storm. The Co-op is open to everyone, and the number of customers signing up to be member-owners has grown steadily. In the Fall of 2013, it launched a campaign to open a storefront with approximately 450 member-owners. Two years later, that has grown to 3,450. “Hundreds of customers shop at the Co-op every day, about half of whom are member-owners,” Crane noted. The Co-op also has a staff of 26 who work to bring local, organic, and natural grocery items to Portland shoppers.
Stacy Mitchell, Co-Director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, spoke to the economic impact of buying from local businesses. “Studies done here and in other cities have found that dollars spent at locally owned businesses generate twice as much benefit for our local economy, including more jobs, than dollars spent at national chains or online." Since opening last year, Co-op shoppers have purchased over $1 million from local farmers and producers, including from Misty Brook Farm and Tortilleria Pachanga, both of whose owners spoke at the celebration event. "The Portland Food Co-op is a pleasure to work with and has helped us expand our sales in Portland,” Katia Holmes, who runs Misty Brook Farm in Albion with her husband Brendan said. In addition to making sure local vendors have ample space
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The Buck Stops Here
By Luke Reinhard / Advisor — Ameriprise Financial
Now is the Time to Think About Your Next Tax Return Your 2015 tax return isn’t due until April of 2016, but now is the time to consider your options for tax planning. Many of the tax-savings moves you can make for your 2015 return need to occur before the end of the year. Here are answers to questions you may have about tax planning strategies in the weeks ahead: —Are there investment moves I should consider making before the end of the year? It is important to know what your tax considerations are before making any moves. For example, many investors worry about capital gains. One effective tax-saving strategy is to offset any capital gains you might realise in your portfolio with capital losses. If you have investment holdings that are worth less than what you paid for them, you could consider selling those positions and realising a capital loss, particularly as a way to offset capital gains. This strategy may be appropriate for taxpayers who may have capital gains that are subject to taxation. Keep in mind that if you are in the 10 percent or 15 percent tax bracket, you qualify for a zero percent federal tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends, significant tax savings. In this case, “harvesting” capital losses is not a beneficial strategy. Before selling assets, make sure the move is consistent
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with your long-term investment strategy. Keep in mind that one of the biggest tax benefits is maintaining unrealised capital gains – growth in an investment that you continue to hold. Gains are only taxable when you sell an investment. How about the tax implications of investments I own or am consider— ing? In general, there are many tax implications when it comes to investments. Let’s take a deeper look into mutual funds. There are different tax considerations with mutual funds because you are subject to distributions made by the fund that are taxable. It is possible that fund positions you own may pay out a significant distribution before the end of the year, even though the fund itself may have a negative return for the year. Check to see the status of potential distributions of any fund you own. Keep in mind that this tax treatment doesn’t apply to funds held in tax-deferred vehicles like a 401(k) or IRA. —Are there steps I can take to reduce taxes on my income? If you have the ability to manage your income, you may want to pay attention to whether your income level is closing in on a threshold point that moves you into a higher tax bracket. For example, a married couple filing a joint return in 2015 with taxable income above $74,900 (after deductions and personal exemptions) would be in the 25 percent tax bracket. That doesn’t mean all income is subject to a 25 percent tax rate, as income is taxed in steps (everything under $74,900 would be taxed at a 15 percent rate or less). But by reaching the 25 percent tax bracket, any net long-term capital gains realised would be subject to a 15 percent tax at the federal level. By keeping income (including any gains) below $74,900, a married couple remains in the 15 percent tax bracket, qualifying them for a zero percent longterm capital gains tax rate. Finding ways to keep income under thresholds can be important for different reasons for people with varying income levels. —Are there ways to cut taxes by increasing my savings to retirement plans? Any pre-tax contributions to workplace savings plans or tax-deductible contributions to IRAs (if you qualify based on your income) can reduce your taxable income in 2015. You should also consider making contributions to a Roth IRA if you qualify, as this has the potential to create a source of tax-free income for retirement. Although Roth contributions cannot be deducted from current taxes, it is important to make them annually as contribution amounts are limited. In 2015, you can contribute up to $5,500 to an IRA ($6,500 for those age 50 and older). You have until 15th April 2016, to make IRA contributions for 2015. —When should I make charitable donations? Your favourite charities would likely prefer any gifts to be made as soon as possible. To claim deductions on your 2015 tax return, donations must be made by 31st December 2015. Keep in mind that to claim a charitable deduction, you need to itemise deductions and have a written record — either in the form of a bank statement or a receipt from the charity — showing what you donated and when it took place. Finally, I need to remind readers that it’s important to note that the information provided in this article is a general source of information and is not intended to be the primary basis for investment decisions. It should not be construed as advice designed to meet the needs of an individual investor. Please seek the advice of a financial advisor regarding your financial concerns. Also, before making any decisions that may affect your 2015 tax return, be sure to consult your tax advisor or attorney regarding your and your family’s specific tax issues.
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Now Showing Through December 30th Join Us First Friday Art Walk, Too! Friday, December 4th from 5 to 8 p.m.
Not even Up Portland’s glowing review in the November issue appears to have been enough to save Linda Bean’s Boat Cafe at the Maine Mall as a few days ago it was surrounded by a wall and now has sailed into history, leaving only the photos by the skylight behind. Up Portland tried unsuccessfully to reach a company spokesman at the restaurant’s former number for a comment, but the calls went unanswered.
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Beyond The Forecast
By Jack Sillin / Weatherman & Meterology Student
Welcome to UpPortland's weather column! Before I dig into one of the many fascinating aspects of Portland's weather, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Jack Sillin and I'm a sophomore at North Yarmouth Academy. My main hobby outside of school is weather, however I also like to ski, hike, run and debate in my spare time. In addition to my monthly column on Portland's weather, you can find my forecasts daily through the UpPortland website (www.UpPortland.com), on my blog (forecasterjack.com), as well as on Twitter @JackSillin. Now for the weather... To begin my column for UpPortland, I'll take the first couple months to describe some of the factors that influence the weather here, such as the mountains and the ocean. Because this is a monthly publication, I will stay away from looking ahead to future weather (though I will do that on my blog and on the newspaper’s website link so check my daily forecasts there) but instead here I will focus on education by explaining some of the factors behind the weather in Portland. I’ll also try and explain recent prominent weather events that have occurred here. This month's column will focus on one of the not often thought about factors behind the weather in Portland which is the mountains. We all know that they're there, but they are far away, beyond the horizon most of the time, perhaps faintly visible on a clear day from the Western Prom or the Observatory, but they seem distant, far off places. They actually have a huge influence on the weather here in Portland as with all of Maine. The first and most common way the mountains influence the weather in Portland is through a process known as downsloping which is what I will talk about this month. While many people know that when air rises, it cools and the water vapor contained in the air condenses (Remember your 2nd grade science class water cycle?), few know that the process can work backwards and actually produce drastic results. Downsloping is when winds blow air down a mountain range or higher terrain onto an area of lower terrain. Here in Maine, this means that when winds are westerly or north-westerly, air travels across the Great Lakes / Southern Canada and then rises up the west side of the Appalachians and then descends onto the coastal plain of Maine. Downsloping can have two main impacts on the air over Portland. Air after downsloping is both warmer and drier than it was before. This has to do with how air in the atmosphere is (usually) warmest at the surface and cools as you rise in elevation. As the air downslopes off the mountains, it loses elevation and gains proximity to the warm ground (heated by the sun) thus warming. The most striking example of this recently was on the 6th of November. A cold front passed through the area late in the evening and as winds shifted to the west, temps spiked between 4 and 6 degrees in a single hour in the middle of
the night. This was because the winds were downsloping off the mountains and it didn't take long for that extra warm air to arrive at the coast following the cold front. Factors such as the sharpness of the front, the qualities of the air just above the surface, and the post-frontal airmass must align perfectly for this to happen quite so dramatically, so not all cold fronts/downslope situations see this type of spike but it was a perfect example of the power of downsloping to warm the air. The other thing that downsloping does is that it dries out the air in two ways. First, most downsloping situations have accompanying upslope situations as the air must first rise in order for it to fall. Most upslope situations involve some sort of precipitation or precipitation enhancement which removes some moisture from the air. However, this is not the only way air dries from downsloping. Saying the air dries just plain and simple implies that water vapor is actually being removed from it. However, that doesn't happen in downslope cases. Even after the air finishes upsloping and causes whatever precipitation it wishes that way, it is still fairly moist. In downsloping, the air dries in terms of it becoming more and more removed from its saturation point. That's kind of confusing so lets use a metaphor. Think of a gallon jug filled with water. The jug represents the air's capacity to hold water. The full gallon is saturated or nearly saturated air before downsloping. Because warmer air can hold more water and the air warms as it descends, the one gallon jug slowly grows into a 5 gallon jug then a 10 gallon jug and so on until the air stops descending. At the beginning, we would've said the full one gallon jug was “wet” or “saturated”, being 100% full of water. However, if we ended up with a 10 gallon jug filled with only 1 gallon of water, the 10 gallon jug as a whole would be termed 'mainly dry' being only 10% full. Now returning to the atmosphere, air at the top of a downslope setup is often saturated (think of the clouds and showers associated with upslope). As it descends, no water vapor is removed from it (it doesn't rain/snow on its way down) but the capacity of the air to hold water increases just like the size of the water jug increased. This is how air “dries” even though no moisture is actually removed from it. Downsloping is one important way that the mountains impact Portland's weather by warming and drying the air. Next time we have a warm and pleasant afternoon following cold morning downpours, thank downsloping! Look for more on how the mountains influence our weather next month right back here in UpPortland. —Jack Sillin
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The Gossip Column By Britain & Sydney / The Up Downtown Office Gossip Cats What a month it’s been, but if you are a turkey and reading this, you can take an extra breath because, well, you made it thus far. Now if you can not get gobbled up for Christmas dinner you might have a bright future ahead in 2016. That said, let’s see what bright and not so bright bits we cats have come up with this time... First off we have to wonder what’s in the air around here these days. To begin we hear about a guy we shall leave nameless whose life has more suspense and intrigue than one of the BBC’s dramas. We can only wish him all the best and say from what we hear tell his recent life is somewhat reminiscent of Joe Btfsplk from the old Li’l Abner comic strip. Too young to recall him or it? Wikipedia says he, “was a character in the satirical comic strip Li’l Abner by cartoonist Al Capp (1909–1979). He is well-meaning, but is the world’s worst jinx, bringing disastrous misfortune to everyone around him. A small, dark rain cloud perpetually hovers over his head to symbolise his bad luck. Hapless Btfsplk and his ever-present cloud became one of the most iconic images in Li’l Abner...” Indeed, bad luck. We wish our drama-filled friend better luck in the month to come!... Speaking of coming, we cats never saw it coming, but we cat-ght some nasty comments from one of what we thought was a friend and co-worker back in our Indiana days. That’s Sydney’s reaction at right because Mr. X referred to we pussies and our similar column back there by commenting thus: “That column did no good. I circulate in a lot of arenas--faith, politics, neighbourhood groups, equality groups--this is a nearly-universal opinion. The sentiment is loud and overwhelming...” Guess HE told us, huh? Good we landed on our all-fours here in Portland, where while walking on a recent morning along Middle Street we spotted a piece of construction equipment which the company had positioned to do a job up by Tommy’s Park. The thing about it that got us to giggling was a sign advertising the firm who operated it on the side — a sign which was covered in graffiti — including the part that said they pressure wash and remove same from buildings. Wasn’t there an old adage about charity beginnin’ at home? All we know is the graffiti-covered piece of gear did make us wonder if we should call the firm should we have the need of said services!... And speaking of needs, anyone have the needed answer to the puzzle of what law firm was in the building Northeast Bank just left at Franklin & Middle streets? It is becoming the retail branch for Bangor Savings but meanwhile when crews took down the old Northeast front they revelled a sign that it was previously a law firm...but which one and from when to when? We do know the site at one point housed a Kosher butcher shop owned by a relative of another guy who had the same kinda shop across the road where Eventide and Hugo’s now sits! Of course nobody we pussies have found can tell us if the building which stands now was the one which housed that shop or it was torn down and this one constructed. Intrigue and mystery are everywhere this time around... What’s not a mystery is it’s the holiday season so we cats need to wish everyone a very unpolitcally correct Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and say we will see you back here in the new year! Meow!
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By Ashley Robedee
Urban UniQue
By now, you know the plot line. It's the classic story of the underdog. Beaten down, disheartened, surviving through situations that would break an ordinary person. But the hero of the story is not ordinary. There's the battle upward, the fighting against impossible odds, the facing of the challenges and personal demons, the moment when you're not sure if they will make it and then the awe inspiring triumph. Maybe you think of Sylvester Stallone in Rocky or Jean-Claude Van Damme in every movie he's ever been in. But what if I told you that there's a tale twice as incredible, with a hero that's real and right in our own backyard? Meet Liz Leddy. A local Portlander who's life journey will leave you both humbled and inspired. At only 13 years old, Liz found herself alone. Having been kicked out of her family home, Liz sought refuge from her volatile family life in various party houses and abandoned buildings in Portland. At such a young influential age, she became introduced to the most vile parts of humanity — the parts that send a shiver down your spine. These countless abuses — being beaten, drugged, raped — threw her into a downward spiral. Drug addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders and self-harm plagued her before she was even legally an adult — all as her sense of self-worth was erased and replaced with self hatred and shame. Living in the streets was always a battle, always a struggle, and Liz was a scrapper with nothing to lose — often picking fights with large bikers to prove herself. Around 1998, she met someone new: a boxer who encouraged her to take her pain into the ring and work through it. She started showing up regularly to work out, punch bags and copy what she saw others doing in the ring. Within a year the coach asked her if she wanted to compete. She said yes, and became the first female boxer in the Portland Boxing Club (PBC). Liz wanted to succeed in her new-found sport, but knew she couldn't climb her way up to her goals with her addictions on her back. However even with the best of intentions, her attempts to stay clean on her own failed. One day a talented fighter convinced Liz that her addictions were not the result of her being a horrible person, but instead were part of a disease. Though skeptical, she accompanied him to a meeting where to her surprise she found understanding, clarity, spirituality and support. With her sobriety being worked on, Liz's dedication to her sport was unwavering and she found at the PBC a family unlike any she had ever known in her own life. When Liz decided to go to school for cosmetology, her coach's faith in her was so great that he helped fund her education. She says this helped her socialise on a more healthy and responsible level than her life with drugs and alcohol ever could. Being surrounded by positively influential people, she also learned discipline and focus. She got her life on track, found her confidence, and left an abusive relationship. A powerful cornerstone in her journey upward came from a letter she wrote asking for help covering up a prominent street tattoo that was on her chest, anchoring her to her old life forever. Moved by her story, world renowned tattoo artist Mario Barth of New Jersey offered up his services as part of his "Starting Over" programme, freeing her from her from the branding of her past.
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Liz's dedication to her sport paid off as she became the New England lightweight champion five times. Then came the bigger wins: in 2011 she became the National Golden Gloves winner, and just for fun, she did it again the very next year. Among her many other accomplishments, Liz was chosen to be a member of the Elite U.S. Women's Boxing Team for international competition in Ecuador, Puerto Rico and Ireland. One of her personal highlights while in Ireland was being able to box Katie Taylor two nights in a row: the first woman to win an Olympic gold in boxing. She is a repeat winner of the silver medal at the National PAL and USA competition and she also won a bronze medal at the Women's Continental Championship in her first international competition. This event would soon turn into what is now known as the Pan American Games as women's boxing became accepted into the Olympics. For awhile, the first female Olympic boxing team was in sight for Liz, but an unfortunate ACL and meniscus injury resulting in extensive surgery in 2014 put her on a long road to recovery - putting such an idea on hold. Although a future comeback in the Olympics may not be entirely out of the question, for now Liz is focused on training and mentoring local youths and regaining her ground both physically and psychologically since her injury. She is also contemplating furthering her study of Muay Thai and considering a switch into Professional Boxing. With the help of her coach, Bobby Russo, and the team at the Portland Boxing Club (whose motto is aptly, "Making champions and good citizens") Liz has been a local inspiration for everyone who hears her tale. Starting out at the lowest level of despair and beating all odds to become a beloved national champion, she has proven that there is nothing you can't accomplish with some good, old fashioned "grit" and a yearning to be a better version of yourself. You can see Liz for yourself in the independent film LIZ: the Liz Leddy Story by filmmaker Sharyn Paul Brusie.
Up Portland 12.15 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag By Stacy Begin / Owner, Two Fat Cats Bakery The Zen of Darkness I love the dark at four in the afternoon. Before you howl with disapproval, let me explain. I don’t love it all the time, but there are days when it is strangely peaceful and zen-like. I was reminded of this when I worked a few pie baking shifts for Thanksgiving. When the pie bakers first arrive in early afternoon, it’s daylight and the bakery is still in full swing. Customers are coming in and out, the prep cook is busy at his stove, the morning bakers are cleaning up and ready to leave, and the office is still buzzing with phone calls and meetings and varying levels of busy-ness. It’s an infectious energy and the pie bakers pick up on it immediately adding a fresh energy. They scurry here and there organising themselves, checking on their orders, pulling out their fruit, setting up to roll dough and preparing all the other details that will make for a smooth production that night. There is chatter and laughter and commotion as they begin their work. And then, slowly, the bakery begins to empty. The prep cook goes home. The office closes. Fewer customers come through the door. The bakery prepares to close for the day, and the daylight fades. This is when ritual and rhythm take over. The retail closer begins her ritual of closing and cleaning the bakery and the pie bakers find their rhythm. It’s a rhythm of swift, repetitive motion, of wordless teamwork, of knowing by touch and sight. It’s then that we feel the darkness approaching without ever having to look up — like a hand placed gently on your back. The bakery, which always feels way too small, now feels cozy. The outside light glows softly. Our hands work fast to make the pies that will grace holiday tables. Someone puts on holiday music and it is now fully night and empty outside. A quiet descends with the darkness only interrupted by a few words among teammates. “I’m almost finished with this. What can I help with?” “I’ll start the blueberry.” “Where would you like this?” And, inevitably, “Wow. It’s only 6.30. I thought it was later. It’s so dark out.” I love those early nights. Living within our work and our thoughts, embracing the calm and the comfort of the dark. Maybe we have haplessly hit on the way to deal with early darkness: make some pie. Let the concentration and the quiet that is the essence of pie baking change the texture of the dark from something dreadful to something zen-like and soothing. Make the pie in a space not too big with twinkling lights and invite a good friend. You may realise that, now and then, you like the early dark, too.
Up Portland 12.15 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 23
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Up Portland 12.15 On The Web At: www.upportland.com