The West End News - February 2020 - Vol. 20 No. 02

FEBRUARY 2020.VOL. 20, NO. 02. PORTLAND, MAINE.

PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!

Parking Garage Discontent Maine Medical Center’s new employee parking garage on Saint John Street leads to the loss of on-street parking and other concerns

By Cameron Autry The construction of Maine Medical Center’s new employee parking garage on 190 Saint John Street is raising concerns from members of the St. John Valley neighborhood. Namely, a loss of on-street resident parking, excessive nighttime lighting, and the blockage of water views and afternoon sun have fueled tensions between the hospital and the neighborhood.

ry Committee. As required by the Portland Planning Board, this group formed in 2017 for hospital representatives and nearby residents to discuss the impact of the hospital’s expansion on the adjoining neighborhoods. District 2 City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau also attends these meetings, which take place monthly.

CITY RESPONDS

As a result of outcry from the surrounding neighborhoods, the Department of Planning and Urban Development approved a new traffic pattern to restore four of the original thirteen lost parking spaces. Then, following further grievances that returning only four parking spaces did not go far enough, the Department redesigned the intersection once again to regain a total of nine on-street parking The decision to remove the on-street spaces. parking stirred immediate backlash from But for Prosser, who is not a member the neighborhood, as several houses were of the Neighborhood Advisory Commitleft without any parking at all within a reatee, the left turn only lane is entirely unsonable distance from the buildings. necessary, and he says that congestion has not been an issue since the garage opened.

‘MM HURTS NEIGHBORS’ The Portland Planning Board approved the project in December 2018, despite voiced concerns from the community. The plan allowed for the removal of thirteen on-street parking spaces along the intersection of D Street and Saint John Street, in order to accommodate anticipated increased traffic flow from the new parking garage.

Alan Prosser, a landlord and business owner on Saint John Street, noted that houses on the street affected by the loss of parking are primarily rental properties housing working-class families.

“Our hope is that the left turning lane will prove to be unnecessary and that the original traffic pattern will be retained,” said Prosser. “They literally took away the parking to make a dedicated lane for that left turn.”

Signs with the slogan “MM Hurts Neighbors” hang across the street from Maine Medical Center's new employee parking garage displaying neighbors' discontent.

-Photos by Tony Zeli The route proposed by Bray would direct hospital shuttles leaving the garage to turn left onto Saint John Street instead of right - thereby eliminating need for the left turn lane at the intersection with D Street. This is the route the shuttles presently take, and if this continues, the left turn only lane – which required the removal of on-street parking – will serve no purpose to the hospital.

HOSPITAL RESPONDS Mathew Wickenheiser, spokesman for Maine Med, confirmed that the hospital is still adjusting the route that the shuttles will take, and issued the following statement: “The City modified the Planning Board-approved traffic plan to retain several on-street parking spaces on St. John Street. MMC is currently installing traffic lights at the entrance to the garage, and believes that when they begin operating, they will assist with traffic flow.”

rooftop and stairwell of the parking garage has ruffled a few feathers – promptly becoming another matter of contention within the Neighborhood Advisory Committee.

“It lights up the neighborhood and shines right into the second and third floor windows – much brighter than daylight,” said Prosser.

“In regard to the garage lights,” said Wickenheiser, “we have heard the neighbors’ concerns and have begun moving lights in the stairwell to help mitigate the impact on the area while maintaining a safe environment for our employees.” Further, he expects modifications to the lighting to be completed by late February.

Prosser stated that the issue with the nighttime lighting seems to be resolved for the moment, but he did express one last concern about the garage: the blockage of waterfront views and the afternoon Speaking to the bigger picture, Wick- sunlight. enheiser also maintained that hospital “Our apartments have had water expansion is necessary to accommodate views and sunsets, which are pleasing with increasing patient demand. Regarding how sun coming in the window,” said Prosser. this would affect the neighborhood, he “And now at 2:30 in the afternoon, it’s said, “I think it’s always a balance. We have dark and cold. And that definitely is a difto have an open dialogue.” ference from how we have come to ap-

“So if you can imagine not being able In fact, Prosser hired a traffic engineer to park even near your house in the winto study the intersection and determine ter with groceries and kids,” said Prosser. whether the turn lane would be neces“It poses a considerable hardship to those sary.

The engineer, Bill Bray, has worked in folks.” traffic engineering and public works since Prosser, an active member in the 1969, including a seven-year stint as the community, gained attention for putting Director of Public Works in Portland. up a sign with the slogan “MM Hurts Bray stated in a written summation of BRIGHT LIGHTS & Neighbors” in front of his Volvo restohis study that “a more desirable and logi- BLOCKED VIEWS ration shop on 195 Saint John Street. cal travel route would be St. John St. onto But a loss of parking is not the only The loss of parking quickly became ‘A’ Street to Valley Street to Congress a topic of contention among members Street. This travel route is the most direct contention neighbors have with the hospital. Excessive nighttime lighting from the of Maine Med’s Neighborhood Adviso- to the hospital campus.”

preciate and enjoy it here.”

Cameron Autry is a freelance writer and the host of The Southern Maine Report podcast.

Page 3… City offers overdose recognition and response training Page 6… Community events and a Valentine's Dance Party Page 8… One Longfellow Square ditches the water bottles Page 16… Five tips to prep your house to sell in the spring Page 18… Our astrologer Leo attempts to predict the election Page 20… Crossword, Sudoku, trivia & more fun Page 21… McAuley Residence has big news about expanding to Bangor

Figdor op-ed on elementary school reconfiguration, Pg. 4

New column, 'Layne's Wine Gig' does Valentine's, Pg.10

Yogathon for Sea Change Yoga. Learn more on Pg. 15

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THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

THE WEST END NEWS

Idling creates pollutants linked to cancer, lung diseases, impaired brain development in children and cognitive decline in older adults. It is especially prevalent near schools where children are dropped o and picked up.

More than 32,000 vehicles cross the Casco Bay Bridge each day. If you have to stop while the bridge is open, please turn o your vehicle and enjoy the view.

Please join these generous community members in striving to be idle-free.

Support the Idle-Free Portland Campaign and start pushing the needle to sky-blue today!

Idle-Free Portland

Peter Sayles Adams*Allen & Elissa Armstrong*Dianne Ballon*Jim Barter*David Boneparth*Grace Braley*Jason Bremiller*Deb Buccina*Lis Buck*Joshua Chasen*Jo Coyne*Espahbad Dodd*Tica Douglas*Peter Dugas*Andrew Fersch*Gwendolyn Forest*Fresh Approach*Susan Gatti*Elizabeth Germani*Rosanne & Steve Graef*Jon Hinck*Jodie Lapchick*Anonymous*Lin Lisberger*Karen Luse*Mark McCain*Deborah McCoy*Christine McHale*Eric Header*Steve Mortimer & Alice Ruvane*Debby Dunn Murray*Liz & Lin Parsons*Sally Regan*Steve Shaw*Pam Shelton*Chuck Spanger*Paul Stevens*Beth Streeter*Laura Toma*Luke Truman*John Watson*Maggy Wolf In Memoriam: John K. Jones

Save Money - Stay Healthy Protect Our Planet

Idling wastes an estimated 6 billion gallons of fuel each year and costs Americans $13,000,000 each day.

Do your part to make ours a clean air city.

Places to Avoid Idling All Drive Thrus Driveways & Parking Lots Open Bridges & Railroad Crossings Picking Up/Dropping Off Scrolling Your Phone Stuck in Traffic

Portland Climate Action Team (PCAT) is sponsored by The Sierra Club. We meet the 4th Thursday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Reiche Community Room, upstairs at 166 Brackett St. Use the Clark Street entrance to the Community Center and go directly up with the stairs or elevator. Please join us!

Ref. City of Portland Traffic and Motor Vehicles Code of Ordinances Chapter 28 Sec. 28-196 Rev 6-17-10

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS PORTLAND CITY INFO

Portland Experiences Five Fatal Drug Overdoses in Eleven Days

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

Compassionate and Innovative Memory Care

City offers overdose recognition and response training FIVE DEATHS IN ELEVEN DAYS

CITY OFFERS WEEKLY OVERDOSE RESPONSE In January, over a period of just eleven TRAINING

days, the City of Portland experienced five deaths attributed to substance use. The victims were a 49-year-old female, 22-yearold male, 24-year-old male, 35-year-old female, and a 24-year-old male. One of these deaths was an intentional overdose.

Beginning in February, every Wednesday, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., with support from the Maine Center for Disease Control, the Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction Services team will be offering free overdose recognition and response training and naloxone distribution.

This weekly series will take place at the India Street Public Health Center, located at 103 India Street in Portland. Each training is free and open to the public.

Between January 2nd and 23rd, police responded to eleven overdoses. Nine of these were believed to be from the use of opioids (heroin or fentanyl). Methamphetamine and synthetic marijuana (commonly referred to as spice) are believed to be This training opportunity is designed among the substances used in the other to be low-barrier and educational, for two cases. Opioids are believed to be the community members interested in learncause of death in at least two of the five ing the risk factors for an opioid overdose, fatalities. how to recognize an overdose, and how Naloxone (Narcan), an overdose- to appropriately respond by calling 911 and administering naloxone. For more reversal drug, was information contact Zoe Brokos, zop@ administered in portlandmaine.gov five of these nonfatal cases by either SAFELY DISPOSE OF first responders PRESCRIPTIONS or laypeople. The spike in overdoses Unused or expired prescription medcannot definitely ication can be safely disposed of 24/7 in be linked to one the Portland Police Department lobby.The specific substance. department also staffs a substance use disBetween 2008 and order liaison as part of its Addiction Ad2018 Portland had 318 deaths that were vocacy Program (LEAAP). For more inforattributed to overdoses. mation on this outreach program: https:// “This is a concerning spike we felt www.portlandmaine.gov/1715/Law-Ennecessary to advise the public about so forcement-Addiction-Advocacy-Progr/. that users and families know what resources and help are available to them,” ADDITIONAL RESOURCES said Portland Police Chief Frank Clark.

• For more information on youth sub“We will continue to work with our law stance use prevention, please contact enforcement, public health, and prevenJanet Dosseva at (207) 874-8452 or tion partners in hopes of turning the tide jdosseva@portlandmaine.gov. on this epidemic.”

The Portland Police Department • For more information on the Needle Exchange Program: https://www. continues to work with its state and fedportlandmaine.gov/866/Needle-Exeral law enforcement partners in rooting change-Program out drug trafficking in the city. As recently as January 20th, Portland PD assisted with an investigation resulting in the seizure of approximately 375 grams of fentanyl, with a street value of at least $11,000.

• For more information on the Overdose Prevention Project: https:// www.portlandmaine.gov/411/Overdose-Prevention-Project

Portland Senior Tax Equity Program June 15 Deadline to Apply The Portland-Senior Tax Equity Program, or P-STEP, is available for any household with a Portland resident 62-years or older who has a benefit under the State of Maine Property Tax Fairness Program.

Criteria includes a household adjusted gross income of $33,333 to $53,000 depending on the size of the household.

Property taxes paid in the refund year must be more than 6% of the household income.

For eligible renters, rent paid during the year must be more than 40% of the household income. An individual homeowner or renter can have their State credit matched dollar for dollar, subject to certain limitations. Under the state program, eligible Portland seniors receive an average of $304 ($197 per renter and $324 per homeowner.)

The deadline to apply for the program in Portland is June 15th, 2020.

For a complete list of property tax relief programs available, visit Portland’s tax relief website: http://www. portlandmaine.gov/145/Tax-Relief/.

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For information or to arrange a tour please contact Fallbrook Woods 60 Merrymeeting Drive Portland, Maine 04103

207-878-0788

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THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

OUR READERS

GUEST OPINION

LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE

Why I Oppose the Elementary School Reconfiguration

Ch-ch-ch-changes Photos and article

by Rosanne Graef

By Emily Figdor, District 2 School Board Member Ultimately, it’s a question of priorities for our city. We have the resources, but it’s about how the city chooses to spend those resources. My firm belief is that our city should prioritize our schools.

District 2 school board member Emily Figdor opposes a plan that could reconfigure 8 of the city's elementary schools and make Reiche a grade 3-5 school.

I am so honored to serve on the Portland School Board, representing the West End, Parkside, St. John Valley, and part of Oakdale. It’s my second year, and I truly love the work—the people, students, budgeting, and policymaking—because the values are my own, especially values of high expectations (“We are all expected and enabled to meet high standards”), community (“We are better together, and we support one another”), and courage (“We commit to always confront inequity”).

From Wikipedia: “Sea smoke, frost smoke, or steam fog, is fog which is formed when very cold air moves over warmer water. It forms when a light wind of very cold air mixes with a shallow layer of saturated warm air immediately above the warmer water.

The warmer air is cooled beyond the dew point and can no longer hold as much water vapor, so the excess condenses out. The effect is similar to the "steam" produced over a hot bath or a hot drink.”

I don’t believe that budget considerations should dictate something so fundamental as how we organize education for our youngest students. A decision of this magnitude should occur outside the yearly pressures of budgeting and be based on well-researched best practices for students.

In addition, the proposal is at odds with the “whole child” and “people” goals in the Portland Promise, our strategic plan.

First, relationships matter and are core to enabling kids to succeed, which is why our schools focus on social and emotional learning. Aristotle said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” There’s now extensive scientific research showing that social and emotional learning is critical to students’ success, including academic achievement.

It can take time for kids to develop trust In recent weeks, Superintendent and feel safe at school. We’d upend those At sunrise on January Xavier Botana outlined a potential recon- relationships and force kids to start over 21st, this was the scene from figuration of our elementary schools as a with grade K-2 and 3-5 schools. my window looking down strategy to reduce costs, as the state shifts Second, we love our neighborhood at the Fore River and the education funds to poorer districts. I perschools. And the future for Portland is in Casco Bay Bridge. Over the sonally oppose the reconfiguration. Here’s strengthening neighborhoods and increas- course of 15 minutes or so, why: ing the walkability of our communities, the sea smoke spread furThe proposal would reconfigure not putting five-year-olds on buses when ther out toward the ocean, our eight mainland grade K-5 elementa- there’s a school next door. engulfing not only the bridge ry schools to four grade K-2 schools and and the Eimskip cranes, but The proposal also would create more four grade 3-5 schools. There are two also thickening to the point transitions for students, which we know scenarios, with different pairings of the where the view of the horileads to academic loss, and cause upheaval schools. In one, Reiche is paired with East zon and the roof next door to staff and school cultures, among other End School; in the other, Reiche is with was totally obscured. problems and complexities.

Rowe. In both cases, Reiche would be the This riveting spectacle made me think of the incremental as well as fast-moving grade 3-5 school.

It’s true that reconfiguring the elechanges that have happened in Portland and that continue to affect the city, its natural mentary schools would make some of The first scenario is estimated to save environment, and especially the lives of people who choose to make Portland their the schools modestly more similar deup to $780,00, and the second scenario home. Like the cold wind meeting the warm water and causing a change of state, the mographically. Right now, we have four $660,000. The savings come from reducforce of economic gain for some colliding with concern for the welfare of many can high-poverty schools, including Reiche. ing the number of classrooms we need, result in a rapid deterioration in visibility.

Under both reconfiguration scenarios, meaning we’d eliminate teacher positions. two schools would remain high-poverty.

Are we on a path that will improve justice, reduce inequality, provide opportunity The superintendent estimates that about We could instead consider small changes and ensure livability for all? Let’s hope these considerations are foremost in our minds.

30% of the estimated savings wouldn’t to school boundaries. be realized, because the implementation wouldn’t happen perfectly—e.g., there Lastly, the reconfiguration would Rosanne Graef is a West End resident. Reach her at lavidalocalwen@gmail.com. might be more 3rd graders than anticipat- open up 11 classrooms for pre-K. Right ed at a school. That means the actual sav- now, we don’t have enough space. But, unings would be closer to $520,000 at most, der both scenarios, the pre-K classrooms (of toxic fracking and rare earth mining) or 0.44% of our projected budget for the would be in the grade 3-5 schools—not a

By Anna Wrobel 2020-2021 school year. solution at all.

I am afraid to do what Alexander Hamilton did Big picture, we live in a booming city, predict the future almost to the day with development happening all around It hurts! us. The economy is strong, though the gap the mining He observed what was around him calculated between the rich and everyone else conthe mining along the nexus of an agenda tinues to grow. The state budget is bigger the taking and pulled foresight from the mixture than it’s ever been. Governor Janet Mills the breaking values public education, and Portland is the piercing Love him or hate him seeing large increases in revenue sharing the bleeding I must report he got it right from the state (about a $1 million increase It has to stop!

But I am afraid to do as Alexander did next fiscal year). to fully see When you look at spending on K-12 I am afraid to do as Hamilton did to clearly tally public education in Portland compared to I cannot predict the future per-student spending in surrounding disnot knowing what to count Now do we neither see nor tally tricts, we spend the least per student af- Emily Figdor serves as the District 2 He didn’t live to see his vision in once vast oceans of potential ter Westbrook. And that’s despite having a school board member and is the mom and neither may I… the world itself drained of blood far more complex student population. For of a 2nd grader at Reiche Community but that is not the point! its spleen for growing anew instance, nearly 25% of our students are School and a 6th grader at King Middle I may have one up on Alexander cracked to crystals English Language Learners, and more than School. You can reach her at figdoe@ for I think I know what duel to extracted like a tooth half qualify for free or reduced lunch.

fight. portlandschools.org. pulled bare from the cradle

Full to Empty

COMMENTARY

TO THE EDITOR Making Maine Clean There are thousands of facts and statistics proving the urgency and greatness of the problem we are facing now and will be facing for a long time. Climate change. Millions of people, including me, have protested and marched for change.

We have listened. On September 20th, 2019, me and other students from King Middle school marched to the city hall of Portland, Maine and listened to speakers who had come to tell the world that we need to act now before the climate gets any worse. Maine’s part of acting now means utilizing solar, wind, and nuclear power to reach the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040.

Solar is a carbon-neutral energy source which means it gives off no carbon dioxide. When there is an appropriate amount of carbon in the atmosphere, the earth has a healthy climate. However, if there is too much carbon in the air, the earth starts to get overly hot. Every 45 minutes, the earth receives enough energy from the sun to power everything on our planet for a full year. If we could optimize solar panels to capture more energy and invest in more solar farms, we would be able to power all of Maine without putting more carbon into the atmosphere.

Wind turbines do not release or produce atmospheric emissions that cause acid rain or greenhouse gasses. Maine is a perfect place for wind power based on the geographic features where there are high wind speeds. We have mountain ranges and coastal areas where it would be possible to generate high amounts of energy using wind power.

Support for LD594 A Retirement Savings Program Saving for retirement is one of the most important things you can do for your future.

As a college student about to enter the workforce, it is hard for me to even think of what all retirement involves.

There is one thing I know for certain; retirement is expensive. More expensive than one can imagine. I’ve always been told by my grandparents, “Start saving for retirement early, you’ll be happy you did.” When talking with my grandparents about retirement, they said the easiest way to save is by having a plan. It becomes second nature; you don’t even think about as time goes on.

When researching different plan options, I found proposed legislation LD594, A Retirement Savings Program for Maine.

LD594 provides an easy pathway to start saving for retirement out of my regular paycheck, regardless if my employer offers a program or not. This program would give employees the option to put a percentage of their paycheck into a retirement savings account. This program would be portable, meaning I can take it from job to job with me.

It makes sense that people are more likely to save when they can do so through their employer. Imagine what putting away just $20 a paycheck will amount to in 10 years, let alone 40+ years.

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

FIGHTING THE WEYMOUTH COMPRESSOR & WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU

By Adam Rice As someone who has been very involved in the campaign to close the coalfired generating plant in Bow, New Hampshire, I couldn’t help but get involved when I heard about a pressing issue taking place in Massachusetts. In Weymouth, residents of the Fore River Basin have been fighting a compressor station for five years. Despite there being active appeals, construction began recently at the site. Similar to the proposed CMP corridor in Maine, there has been a tremendous outcry to stop the project, but elected officials have failed to act. Likewise, the Massachusetts DEP has neglected to enforce the needed safety measures to protect the community.

The site itself is built on an old landfill, where the ground is filled with bricks of asbestos, arsenic, and diesel as thick as peanut butter. These pollutants, among others, have not only contaminated the water but have also led to drastic increases in breathing issues, leukemia, and other health complications often caused by environmental toxins. At recent rallies we observed workers not utilizing respirators to protect from airborne particulates and they are not cleaning dust off the trucks as they transport waste through dense urban areas.

Not long ago several people were arrested at a protest outside the site, and again weeks later more activists were arrested stopping a truck from entering the facility. Honks can be heard all day long on Bridge Street as community members show support for the activists. The community is resolved to stop this unsafe project from being completed and they are a constant presence outside the facility.

In the end, the only solution is to act now.We have approximately 11 years left to prevent irreversible damage from climate change. About 2.57 million pounds of C02 is released into the air every second.This needs to change and the way to do that is to start switching to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and nuclear as soon as we can.

If one looks around a bit on the Enbridge website, they will find that this compressor station is part of a pipeline expansion project that will affect Maine in the long run. This fracked gas would be transported to Canada through eastern Maine via the Atlantic Bridge Pipeline expansion, and the compressor is what helps push the fuel north.

-Phoebe Knoll, an 8th-grader at King middle school

I quickly learned in my two trips to Weymouth that the pipeline itself is not the only element of this project that will affect us here in Maine. WBUR recently broke a story revealing that both Maine and New Hampshire are marked to receive toxic soil removed from the construction site. In addition to two sites in Massachusetts, they will be dumping this material in Rochester, New Hampshire and Norridgewock, Maine. As of January 23rd, sources in Rochester report that the first truckload of contaminated soil had been dumped at the established site in their city.

WEN is a community newspaper and we need your voice!

Share your submissions with thewestendnews@gmail.com or send to: West End News Attn: Editor 795 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04102 • Letters to the editor should be no more than 300 words. Include your name, neighborhood, and phone or email for confirmation.

• Op-eds should be no more than 650 words and include a brief biography of 1-2 sentences.

• WEN also accepts poetry and photo submissions.

Deadline for publication is the fourth Friday of every month.

Our column space is very limited, publication is not guaranteed, and submissions may be edited for length and content.

The organizing group F.R.R.A.C.S. (Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station) recently made a short documentary revealing the health issues that exist in this area and how they are being exacerbated by the compressor project. If the construction material is allowed to potentially drive as far as Norridgewock while ignoring safety measures as they have been at the site, this could lead to significant pollution along its route.

I for one am concerned about what long term health effects this waste could have on these communities. Likewise, if this compressor is not stopped, this pipeline expansion could be operational by later this year. Instead of our state resolving environmental issues by transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources, our state would be doubling down on fossil fuels and fracked gas.

Between the ongoing issue with the Sprague fuel tanks in South Portland, the CMP corridor, this compressor, and the coal plant in Bow we certainly have our work cut out for us. Luckily grassroots efforts have already begun tackling many of these things in different ways. Between organizing and continually raising awareness, it is quickly uniting people from all over New England to demand change in The compressor sits next to a wa- countless places. We are all in this togethterfront park in one of the most densely er and there is no end to what can be populated areas in which a facility like this accomplished when we come together in this way. has ever been built.

I’m hoping Maine will pass LD 594. I don’t think a lot of people my age realize how expensive retirement is. This bill Nuclear power provides 55% of will help Mainers of all ages get on the Americans clean energy. The reason for right track. this is because nuclear energy is claimed -Harrison Quidort, Portland to be the most reliable energy source.

The average nuclear power plant lasts for 57 years and just one megawatt of energy can power up to one thousand homes.

SUBMISSIONS

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Despite challenges facing groups organizing behind each of these issues, all are building welcoming communities ready to act. Seeing things as interconnected, what is going on in Massachusetts affects Maine and vice versa. The more we collaborate as a region, the more we can begin to affect positive change on a broader level.

If we as Mainers become more vocal about the capacity payments taken from our utility bills that prop up the fossil fuel industry and advocate for true divestment, we could easily fund clean sources of heat and power over time. With the Weymouth compressor, support from neighboring states will be a powerful thing that helps the whole region move towards measurable progress.

Until the day when we can all celebrate successes in ending environmental pollution, I just want to thank everyone out there who are learning new things, advocating for change, and trying to make a difference. Where Maine goes, so goes the nation, and I for one have faith that if we all come together, we can stop ALL of these dirty projects and preserve Maine, and New England, the way it should be.

Adam Rice is a 30-year-old activist from Portland, Maine. He says, “Journalism became a necessary hobby when I realized how much the truth of important issues was being suppressed from the mainstream. I believe finding common ground and working together are vital. Using many forms of media, I hope to share what's going on to people free of a hidden agenda and possibly educate a bit along the way.”

WHAT’S GOING ON 6 THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020 COMMUNITY EVENTS FEBRUARY 2020 PechaKucha Local Artist Engages Public with First Friday Art Show

Police Citizen Review Board Hosts Informational Meeting

Friday, February 7 | 5-8pm | Portland Wednesday, February 12 | 6-8pm | Media Center Portland High School “Who Is It?” is the name of Titi DeBaccarat’s solo show which opens with an artist’s reception, Friday, February 7th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the UMVA Gallery at the Portland Media Center, 516 Congress Street, Portland. In addition to showing new paintings and sculptures, DeBaccarat will bring in a half finished piece of art and ask visitors to collaborate with him in finishing the piece.

The reception will also feature a speech by the founder of Survivors Speak USA, Dee Clarke. Survivors Speak is a Maine-based, survivor-led organization working to end sex trafficking and sexploitation through centering the experiences, healing, voices, and leadership of survivors.

Gallery hours are 1 to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays until February 28th.

DeBaccarat will also hold a raffle to win a small piece of his sculpture with funds going to Survivors Speak. The prize drawing will be held at the end of the exhibition.

After his art was stifled in his native Gabon, Titi DeBaccarat, became a refugee and resettled in Portland, Maine. He has exhibited work at MECA.

The City’s Police Citizen Review Subcommittee will host an informational meeting - open to the public - regarding the Police Citizens Review Subcommittee’s work on Wednesday, February 12th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Library at Portland High School.

The meeting will be the first in a series of six informational meetings that will explain the role and purpose of the Subcommittee. Subsequent meetings will also be held in city school locations (Casco Bay High School, Deering High School, Reiche Elementary/Community Center, East End Elementary/Community Center, Riverton Elementary/Community Center) over the next several months in order to further outreach efforts.

Portland Announces The First PK of a New Decade:

VISION 20X20!

By Kymberly Dakin

On March 26th, PK Portland will launch its first show of the decade. The theme is purposely broad: VISION 20x20.

(Get it? The year 2020 = 20 slides x 20 seconds per slide.) And keep in mind that PechaKucha is NOT a sales pitch, though here’s our sales pitch to you:

Ok, so what the heck is PKPortland? There’s no reason why you would know. Despite the fact it has been thrilling audiences for over 12 years, this stunning inspirational effort remains one of Portland’s Best Kept Secrets…! Maybe that’s starting to change.

What is YOUR unique and personal vision for yourself, our community, our world?

Here’s PechaKucha in a nutshell (more about the weird name later): It’s a gathering of 8 to 10 speakers, often but not always on a theme, relaying true stories about their projects; often but not always arts-based, we’ve had stories about cultural efforts, social justice, ETC.

You may be thinking, “Ok, so what?

Who needs to hear a bunch of lectures?”

And THAT’s the beauty of PechaKucha. Think TED talk meets Twitter. Each speaker has 20 slides and only 20 seconds per slide to relay their story. Each teller The PCRS reviews investigations of has exactly 6 minutes 40 seconds - no alleged officer misconduct and helps to more, no less, to bring their journey to life. promote fair and professional policing while providing public accountability.

After five years on the PK Board, I finally worked up the nerve to do a presenThe PCRS was established by the City tation.

I’m an experienced public speaker, Council in November 2001. It is a subcombut this format was challenging! I learned mittee of the Civil Service Commission. It to become a relentless editorc cutting consists of seven volunteer members who away the inessential (no matter how much are civilians and Portland residents. MemI liked it!) so that its essence, and my perbers are appointed to three-year terms by sonal journey, could truly shine. In our the City Council. milli-second attention span culture, this is an essential skill. And I learned that - No, talking faster won’t work! It really is about getting down to the essence of the story and relaying the truth of what it means.

That’s why a PechaKucha is not a PowerPoint.

Have you been quietly building a means to express more beauty and compassion?

Is your work and/or your art helping others to live a better life?

We’d love to hear your story – And this is your chance!

We invite you to share your inspiration, creativity and discoveries — through the words and images that come from your heartfelt experience.

PechaKucha Portland is seeking personal stories that can help enrich our engaged and creative community.

Our First PechaKucha of the year wants to feature YOUR Vision 20X20.

At its essence, PK is visual storytelling that celebrates humanity and highlights the best of what we can be. I know that right now, I could use a big dose of that. You too? Then come to the next PechaKucha Portland on Thursday, March 26th at Port City Music Hall. Doors open at 6:30 PM, Show starts at 7:20. Suggested donations: Adults $7, Students $5, but all are welcome regardless of ability to pay.

Oh and… we could use some enthusiastic volunteers! See more Now to that crazy name: Astrid Klein at pechakuchaportland.org. and Mark Dytham were architects in Tokyo, getting sick and tired of presentations by prospective architects that droned on READ THE WEST END NEWS ONLINE via PowerPoint for 3 or more hours, so they devised a way to tell stories that force the speaker to cut to the chase – and PechaKucha (Japanese for chitchat) was born.

PK has taken the planet by storm. It’s now in over 1,000 cities across the globe. Since 2007, PK Portland hosts four events each year for enthusiastic crowds, and has inspired additional Maine cities to the family – comprising PechaKucha Maine.

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WHAT’S GOING ON

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

7

West End Neighborhood Association & West End Community Action Network - Aging in Place

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Monday, February 3 6:30 - 8 p.m. Book Nook Book Club Monday, February 10 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Singalong Friday, February 14 - VALENTINE’S DAY 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Dance Party Tuesday, February 18 6:45 p.m. Movie - THE APOSTLE Monday, February 24 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Laughter Yoga Closed - Monday, February 17 - President’s Day

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8

CLIMATE JUSTICE

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

‘Some things are more important than profit’: One Longfellow Square ditches bottled water

The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth super-highway on which we progress with great speed, but at the end lies disaster. The other fork in the road – the one “less traveled by” – offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of our earth.

-Rachel Carson, “Silent Spring”

ARE WE SLEEP WALKING TOWARDS THE EDGE OF A CLIFF? What does the City’s Declaration of Climate Emergency mean when we see little or nothing happening? If a monster meteor were hurtling toward earth, would we just throw up our hands in helpless submission or would we try to protect ourselves? The climate crisis is grim, but is it so big that it paralyzes us?

BRIGHT IDEA: RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH We are fighting for our lives.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that ‘unprecedented changes in all aspects of society’ are needed. If we fail to keep the average global temperature from rising 2° C or more, life as we know it will not continue.

Portland and South Portland are attempting to respond to this challenge with the One Climate Future plan to be revealed later this year.With only 10 years remaining to make the kinds of changes necessary in the IPCC’s timeframe, the job ahead is huge and will take smart, consistent, and sustained efforts by all of us to be achieved in time.

BRIGHT IDEA: IMAGINE A HOPEFUL OUTCOME Watch “A Message from the Future” (eight-minute animated video with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez) The job ahead of us…

•

Get completely and quickly out of the fossil fuel business.

•

Create new sources of renewable energy generation.

•

Generate good paying jobs, especially in energy and manufacturing.

GREEN NEW DEAL

•

Construct and retrofit energy efficient homes and buildings.

•

Produce food ecologically and locally.

•

Organize around citizen assemblies and workers’ coops.

These and more are all premises of the Green New Deal. We need to work with nature, employing soft but smart adaptation strategies and using the latest science.

Where are we headed as a species?

WHAT’S YOUR PLACE IN THESE TIMES? Bright Ideas is brought to you by Portland Climate Action Team which meets the fourth Thursday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Rieche Community Center on Clark Street. All are welcome. FMI: portlandclimateaction@gmail.com.

By Tony Zeli “If everybody is profiting off it a little bit, then we are all part of the problem.

Which is not something that I think a lot of people think about,” said Jeff Beam, programming director and venue manager at One Longfellow Square (OLS). The nonprofit performing arts center is taking a stand against the privatization of water and moving to no longer carry Poland Spring water bottles at their venue.

Bill Creighton, a longtime OLS member, approached the venue and offered to help them transition away from relying on private bottled water for their visitors and performers.

“The privatization of water is an international issue,” said Creighton. “Every bottle of water consumed from a single-use container reinforces the model which suggest that it is okay for large corporations to take a resource which belongs to us all, market it, package it, and then sell it to us as though it were not already ours to start with. I wanted to shine light on that, and at the same time, invite members of my own community to become more aware and consider making different personal choices about whether or not to support those companies. I am deeply grateful that OLS is choosing to partner in this work.”

Thanks to a private donation from Creighton, One Longfellow Square now features a free “hydration station” in the lobby, providing filtered cold or hot water sourced from the city’s water supply. They also offer tea and provide compostable cups. And now, OLS is composting in partnership with Garbage to Garden.

Programing director Jeff Beam says the issue resonated with the staff and the nonprofit venue. “We did rely on a little bit of income from Poland Spring. A lot of places do.”

Beam estimated OLS could lose a couple thousand dollars by no longer selling bottled water, but they are happy to walk the talk. As a nonprofit listening room, OLS relies less on bar sales and more on ticket sales and membership.

Jeff Beam demonstrates the new 'hdration station' at One Longfellow Square. -Photos by Tony Zeli “Using single-use water bottles is really just a matter of education and habit, so OLS is happy to help spread awareness about the issue and to promote ethical and healthy hydration habits,” said Beam.

“Plus, it saves money for our concert-goers. We used to make a modest profit selling water bottles at the bar, but some things are more important than profits.”

Beam also noted that it is a better experience for customers, too. “Because people don’t even think twice about buying bottled water now… That’s four bucks extra that they don’t need to be spending.”

Creighton further helped the venue by donating 1,000 reusable OLS-branded water bottles, further encouraging the move away from single-use containers.

The OLS water bottles will be available for purchase behind the bar and will be given to artists performing at the venue.

For more information about OLS visit onelongfellowsquare.com, and for more information on how to fight privatization of water, visit corporateaccountability.org/ water.

Tony Zeli is publisher and editor.

Feds outline plan to save endangered bumble bee The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a draft plan to recover the rusty patched bumble bee, a species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2017.

The draft recovery plan for the rusty patched bumble bee includes actions such as land management to improve habitat quality and measures to reduce exposure to pesticides and disease-causing pathogens.

Historically, the bee was broadly distributed across the eastern and upper Midwest United States. In the past two decades populations plummeted by approximately 87 percent. The species is now found in small, scattered populations in the US and Canada, including in Maine.

The cause of the species’ drastic decline is unknown, but evidence suggests threats to the insect include habitat loss and degradation, competition and disease introduction from commercial bees, and climate change.

Comments will be accepted through February 24, 2020. For additional information about the species and to view the draft recovery plan, visit: https://www.fws. gov/midwest/Endangered/insects/rpbb/.

CLIMATE JUSTICE

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

9

We’re All in This Together

Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard

Climate Change Issues Transcend Borders

By Adolphe Wakana

these and other profound impacts of A native of Burundi in Central Afri- climate change during a caravan I helped ca, I moved to Portland three years ago. organize across 10 African countries Like many others, I am a direct witness leading up to the international COP 17 of the indisputable impacts of climate in Durban, South Africa. In many places bridges crossed dry streambeds. change over the past several decades.

Here in America, the effects of cliIn Burundi near the Nile’s headwamate change are equally pronounced. ters, most of our many sources of water I heard about them at the “The Gulf of for drinking and raising crops have dried Maine 2050 International Symposium on up due to a new pattern of less rain.

Climate Change,” to which I was invited Drought has also struck Bugesera, as a member of Citizens’ Climate Lobby which in the 1980s was the breadbasket and as founder of the NGO,Africa Action of Rwanda and Burundi. Famine is now for Climate Change. Scientific studies causing people to migrate from this im- undertaken by academic researchers in mense region just north of my native New England and village.

Canada demonstrate that the Since 2008 intense non-seasonacidification and al rains in the African Great Lakes region have caused repeated flooding and warming of the prompted landslides around the Burun- oceans is resulting di capital Bujumbura, destroying eco- in the migration of nomic infrastructure, crops, homes and certain species of fish and the death human lives. of the most fragile In the last 30 years, warming has ecosystems. extended the range of murderous maC l i m a t e laria to formerly immune mountainous change thus passregions. Progressive warming is also rees beyond simple quiring farmers to abandon traditional geographic froncrops like wheat, millet, and peas. tiers and becomes In November 2011, I observed planetary. Its multi-

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ple impacts are strong today, but they will become even greater in the future and are very clearly going to threaten the life of the youngest and future generations.

The solution must be global, and America must be the incontestable leader just as she was during industrialization.

Adolphe Wakana is a Citizens’ Climate volunteer living in Portland, Maine.

-Photo courtesy of CCL

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THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

Layne's Wine Gig

FOOD & DRINK Layne has been in the wine business for decades as a teacher, importer, writer, and winery CEO. He was awarded a Master Knight of the Vine in 1988 for the pioneering marketing work he did in the Oregon wine industry. He and his wife Judy have lived in the West End since 2006.

VALENTINE’S 2020 cares, just keep the caviar coming. Krug is Queen Elizabeth II’s solace in these rough times.

SID AND NANCY TRAGIC COUPLES Blythe and Burrows on 26 Exchange Street has a little basement speakeasy that features paired tragic and dangerous Cocktails. The perfect celebration is the PIPER highball (Bourbon, Pimm’s, Earl Gray, Miller High Life) $9.00 and the ALEX

By Layne Witherell dram (Bourbon, Agave, orange bitters) $7.00. Make sure the UBER app on your Being a West End dweller, a friend phone is working. They just start off way recently said, “Write it all – you live in too quickly at a relationship, and it all goes freak’en Portland, Maine.” Here it is: your down from there. intro to the monthly column by your new wine writer, a person who has published NEWLY ARRIVED BOSTON hundreds of wine columns and has auGRADS thored a memoir, “Wine Maniacs: Life in the Wine Biz.” $2,800 for a cramped one-bedroom apartment? This Valentine’s they might try This is a little look at the celebrations a little scaling it down to a nice bag in the of some of our diverse local groups for box 4 Liter Rose, some flowers, and plasValentine’s Day. tic glasses. At least they will be cozy when they cuddle up.

THE UBER RICH

His website is http://winem a n i a c s . wo rd p re s s . c o m / b l o g .

-Photos courtesy of Layne Witherell For events, one-on-one tours, and private tastings, contact Layne at to celebrate. I hate holiday restaurant cat- lvwitherell@gmail.com.

tle calls, especially on this auspicious day.

Just babysit the kids and lay in some great local ingredients like oysters, lobster, and BEER PEEPS more lobster, together with chocolate, Every holiday is rough. The wine peoand stock the fridge with bubbles, fabulous white wine, and have at the ready, Port or ple have no idea what it’s like to stand in line in subzero New England temperaMadeira for the chocolate. tures to buy one allocated case of cans Prosecco and fresh squeezed of a one-off holier than thou malt and oranges. A heavenly start. Oysters from hopped beverage (with occasionally some one of the many farms. wooden barrel age and or the addition of Sparkling wine. Cremant de Bour- wine grapes). gogne is lighter and less expensive than Our last experience at door dashChampagne. Moving up in flavor from pro- ing was the release of Mast Landings Imsecco. $15-$20.00 bottle. perial Gunner’s Daughter Double Milk

Lobster. Be adventurous DINKS. Try pairing the dry piercing spring water THE VEGAN COUPLE freshness of Landhaus Mayer Austrian (no, Hug an animal. Plant a tree. Drink ba- not Australian) Riesling, 2017, $17.00 bottle with your lobster. A different sensation sil Kombucha.

– just like you.

They can peer down from atop those condos with the zillion dollar Casco Bay views while drinking the crème de la crème of French Champagne Krug Grande Cuvee, from $200.00 to $300.00 a bottle. SEMI-DINKDOM Madeira/Port. Broadbent MadeiKrug is blended from 120 different lots Double income, two kids with a rea- ra or Fonseca Port are splendid. Lots of made of 10 different vintages (makes me tired just to think about it). Tariffs? Who sonable rental or cheap mortgage. Time chocolate.

Stout, $5.00 10oz. can. At 10% alcohol it is a warming, cuddle provoking beverage.

Goes down like a peanut butter cup and kicks like a mule. They are at 920 Main Street in Westbrook. Dress warm.

Have a great Valentine’s Day! Layne V. Witherell, Master Knight of The Vine

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FOOD & DRINK

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

THE PORTLAND PALATE

ited). That night, music tracks included Raitt (Bonnie, not John), Bowie, and The Smiths. The restroom is clean and wheelchair-accessible, as is the lower level of the space. Vassallo hosts the occasional special event, partnering with other local small businesses.

The Cider House 28 Brackett Street, Portland | 207-808-8257 www.facebook.com/ciderhouseportland

Hours: Sunday 12-6 pm;Tues.- Thurs. 12-9 pm; Fri./Sat. 12-10pm; closed Mon. Review and Photos by James Fereira Last month I wrote about the trend in Portland of eating establishments developing niche identities, in an increasingly saturated sector. This month I’m writing about another one of those.

The Cider House opened in late July 2019, in the former space occupied by Good News Coffee and Package. In fact, its owner/bartender, Mike Vassallo, kept the same phone number, and largely the same interior (minus the coffee kiosk and cold cases of beverages for sale).

They serve the obvious, plus a selection of beer and wine, hot-mulled cider and cider-inspired cocktails, and “small bites” appetizers. A quiet Tuesday night visit in January with friend Alex happed to come right before Vassallo added a lunch menu. It is currently one of three cider-centric bars in Maine: two in Portland and one in Belfast.

Disappointingly, there are no flights offered, only full pours. Though I suspect, if we’d asked to sample something on tap, we could have. Vassallo is a friendly, chill sort of guy. He’s got a small flat-screen TV behind the bar, featuring MSNBC on this visit (though per Facebook he’s a huge European football fan, too).

11

It’s hard to comment on the overall quality of the food, though I hear the crispy mushrooms are very good. My $6.00, 8 oz. serving of smoked gouda mac n’ cheese, with a bread-crumb topping featuring elbow macaroni, was not so smoky and was weak in flavor. Its temperature was lukewarm, which is never how I like hot food served. But it hit the spot enough, and after all, we went in for the ciders, not the and 6% ABV. According to www.warefood. housewinesandspirits.com this cidery dates to the late 1800’s.

COME ON DOWN “Gurutzeta is a traditional style,” served via a small hole in the cider barrel face that releases a 5-foot stream, as patrons catch the cider in their glass. Wow. That seems like a novel way to drink! Europeans really know how to have fun with consumption.

The Cider House is worth the trip to a far corner of the West End across from Casco Bay Bridge. Parking is on the street.

It’s a reasonable walk from downtown and a few blocks from the nearest #8 METRO Whaleback Honey Vine cider and bus stop as well as the #21 and #24 South smoked gouda mac n’ cheese.

Portland buses. They offer food and drink, especially an eclectic collection of ciders, es. You don’t know unless you take risks, BEYOND THE DRINKS and enough charm and conviviality to warwhich later inform our preferences.

The Cider House’s atmosphere is rant another stop-in.

According to www.whalebackcider. cozy, but some of the seating (wood com their ciders come from fruiting trees chairs) is uncomfortable. It has low “sparand shrubs in Knox and Waldo Counties: kly” lighting, some brightly painted walls, a James Fereira has a background couple of plants, scant art … and a handruit is pressed on the farm and stitched original 1901 design Maine State in call center sales, archery, and the juice is cold fermented in musical theater. In his spare time flag, made by Maine Flag Company. small batches, then aged in oak barrels. he enjoys wearing a dunce hat, There are no sulfites or sorbates. Cider There’s a chess board tabletop for making is all about balance. Whaleold-fashioned gaming. It is spacious (… and questioning authority. James back’s apples have tannic bitterness for and they’ve fixed that one dangerous can be reached at ThePortlandstructure and mouthfeel, aromatics for gap on the steps, coming-down from the Palate@gmail.com. a fragrant nose and sugars for strength upper-rear level from the last time I visand finish.”

“F

We were newbies to this place and said so. He used the opportunity to imOur other cider-on-tap was a 14 oz. press us with his knowledge of the shop’s Norumbega Cyser with 6.7% ABV, from ciders and their taste profiles.

New Gloucester. See www.norumbegacidery.com. Cyser is a cider made with TO THE DRINKS fermented honey. Alex and I found it to Alex and I shared four ciders in to- be dry but smooth, and effervescent but tal, two on tap from Maine, and two “from not bubbly. Honey-forward, our overall away” in cans. Served with glasses; I hate enjoyment of it improved with time. Two drinking from a can. It evokes my ‘other thumbs up! side of the tracks’ roots, and never tastes The first of our two canned varieties, clean or unadulterated. Each costs $8.00. a 16 oz. Shacksbury Vermonter, was a wee An on-tap 14 oz. Whaleback Honey bit bitter and possessed a nice semi-sweet Vine cider (Lincolnville) was gorgeous balance with slight effervescence. With a in blood-orange color. Not to my lik- 6.9% ABV, it was aged in gin barrels and ing because of its tart and tannin taste, sweetened with a little honey, from www.

Vassallo generously offered to swap it shacksbury.com in Vergennes,VT. out. I declined, opting to tough-it-out inOur last cider came in a 12 oz. can. It stead, thinking my palate might adjust. It didn’t. Alex and I agreed it was dry, with was a Basque region Sagardoa Sidra Naan Earthy, indelicate taste. Live and learn tural Gurutzeta, from Spain: slightly sweet, that is the crapshoot with new experienc- and supple, with a natural yeast sediment

12

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

Everybody I know has a birthday this year!

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THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

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14

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY

Are you a Valentine’s Day Defender?

Buy Local has gift ideas for you!

By Mary Alice Scott

WITH A HAND-CRAFTED CUSTOM BOUQUET

I’m a Valentine’s Day defender. The holiday has gotten a bad rap lately (and, to some extent, for good cause – I, for one, am a little sick of bad candy, the intense gender stereotyping, and the elevation of being in a Couple above participating in community). And yet! I remain a staunch defender of this manufactured holiday.

February can be a little dreary. The excitement of fresh snowfalls have worn off and we’ve had a month to recover from late December / New Year’s parties, but the sun still sets right after work. I believe it’s the perfect time for a celebration of love. It gives us something to look forward to, and you can tailor it to include as many (or as few) people as you’d like.

Portland Buy Local put together a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide this year, and we made sure to include gift items that go beyond the traditional ideas for the holiday.

You can check out the full Valentine’s Gift Guide at www.portlandgiftguide.com or keep reading for a few suggestions.

Want to embrace winter and embrace its natural introversion? Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a night in – get some local beeswax candles from the Honey Exchange to create a little ambiance, and the night is yours! You could also warm up with a 90-minute sea salt meditation from Float Harder.

CELEBRATE LOVE

those conversation hearts), you can’t go wrong with the chocolates from either Dean’s Sweets or Chocolats Passion. Heritage Seaweed is also selling “Save Water: Shower with a Friend” bar soap – hello eco-friendly gift!

February is a slow month for many local businesses - which makes it the perfect time of year to include them in this showing of local love! Visit our gift guide for more local gift suggestions at www. portlandgiftguide.com or visit our business directory at www.portlandbuylocal. org to find other ideas to celebrate local Celebrate a friend or co-worker love this month! by sending them a singing Valentine! The Downeasters Chorus will bring them a Mary Alice Scott is Portland Buy Local (PBL) Executive Director. rose and perform an a cappella song.

Disclosure: Publisher-Editor Tony Zeli is presIf you want something a little more ident of the board of directors and The West traditional (and like me, you can’t stand End News is a PBL media partner.

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BUSINESS & COMMUNITY

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

15

WEN FEATURED NONPROFIT

Burak Sezen: PCAX seeking entrepreneurs and the

Sea Change Yoga

community to help them succeed

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz caught up with Burak Sezen, the former founder of RowdMap, a healthcare data analytics company, and one of her partners in PCAX, a new business type of accelerator. hours, and I was talking about how hard it is to initially figure out equity, and you mentioned to me “Slicing Pie,” so I started reading and talking to you. (laughs) I hadn’t met Fred yet.

Fred Farber is our third partner in PCAX. He worked at IDEXX, founded Cytyc, a successful company that created the modern pap smear, and is a cofounder of Maine Craft Distilling. Can you explain to our readers what we’re doing with PCAX? You’re from Turkey and started and We are trying to help early stage sold a successful startup - how did more like idea stage - entrepreneurs to that happen? help them get their companies off the A series of coincidences, and I was in ground, and put them on the path to the right time at the right place. I went success, and we are doing this by helping to USM and followed the technology busi- them get connected with highly skilled ness and stumbled into health care and professionals to work on their projects the right business partners, decided to at a discounted rate. In return, the detake a risk, and got into this world of en- ferred payment for that work gets pooled trepreneurship. That’s how it happens. Be by PCAX, to be paid to the professionals in the right time at the right place, then when the companies are successful. The take a risk. I worked at another startup, cool thing is we are helping people who Health Dialog, and that’s where I met my have ideas but few resources to test their ideas and get off the ground with the help business partners. of experts.

When we met your company had an office at Peloton, and after you Why are you excited about this? got big and moved out, we started This is good for Maine, good for Porttalking about this PCAX idea. land, good for entrepreneurs. I know how That’s the beauty of shared workspac- hard it is to start a company, how hard it es. You hosted us and helped us keep our is. So many things have to be aligned for a costs down until we were big enough to company to be successful, and it’s hard for move into our own space and had enough any one person to align all those things.

This means more jobs for Maine, more money to hire more people. people involved in entrepreneurship.

Don’t you remember - we walked That’s how you create economic growth, all the way from Peloton to the east end and back - walking and talking for two CONT'D ON PAGE 17

-Photo of Yogathon 2019 courtesy of Sea Change Yoga

By Tony Zeli

TRAUMA-INFORMED Sea Change Yoga brings profession- YOGA

al trauma-informed yoga instructors to people who don’t have access. Students include incarcerated people, those in recovery from substance use disorder, people living in transitional housing, and others who experience trauma.

Sea Change Yoga was founded by Diana Lee, a lifelong yoga practitioner. After watching her own daughter transform and heal using yoga, Lee was inspired to share yoga with others. Volunteering at a Yoga Behind Bars training, Lee met founding board member Melea Nalli, who also shared a passion to bring yoga to underserved populations. The two started a conversation that would lead to the creation of Sea Change Yoga, which became a 501c3 in 2016.

“We have all experienced trauma in varying degrees and the people we work with have experienced enormous amounts of ongoing trauma,” Boyson explained. An instructor would not want to use triggering words or movements.That’s why all instructors with Sea Change Yoga have received not only 200 hours of yoga training, but also training in trauma-informed yoga.

Trauma-informed yoga is slow and gentle. Instructors stay on their mat and give lots of options to empower students, who make their own decisions about what feels good for them and their body. The goal of trauma-informed yoga is to make everyone feel completely safe so they can find a place of peace and “People who have experienced yoga calm – a place where they don’t have to in a healing way personally, I think it is be on high alert. just this natural inclination to want to Each instructor comes to Sea share that with others,” said Elise Boyson Change Yoga because they have had a as she related the founding story. “And shared experience. An amazing world that’s certainly my story, that yoga was so opened to them through yoga, and now helpful in healing for me…” they want to share it with everybody, reLike founding members Lee and Nal- gardless of the challenges. And yes, there li, recently hired Executive Director Elise are challenges. After all, the instructors Boyson experienced the healing pow- go to the spaces where the students are, er of yoga firsthand, and now wants to CONT'D ON PAGE 17 share the magic with others.

16

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY

Prepping your House to Sell in the Spring Market

By Tom Landry agent to determine what improvements and repairs will give you the most payback. You may be surprised that bigger/ better/more is not often the answer.

For instance, updating the kitchen can be as simple as switching out appliances, a faucet, or paint. Do all these things before you take pictures for your listing.

Consider working with a home staging First, let’s face it, doing just about any- consultant to maximize payback as well. thing in the winter is more difficult and that includes moving in and out of a home. Declutter and organize. Pack up outAlso, the homes that didn’t sell in the fall of-season clothing, put personal items are now coming back on the market. Last- (including most family pictures) in a drawly, many people want to sell and buy be- er or cabinet, and recycle those piles of fore school starts in the fall and for sure magazines. Now is also the time to purge before the snow flies again.And as interest items you won’t need or plan to replace rates remain historically low, it looks to be when you move. Buyers want to see another banner spring market. your home, not your stuff. To help your Every year, just after school vacation and before the snow starts to melt, my phone starts ringing. As the days get longer, we come out of hibernation and start to think spring. While there are advantages to listing your home at any time of the year, springtime is still the most popular and busiest season in real estate.

So, if you plan to sell this spring or summer, NOW is the time to start preparing. Here are my top five tips for making sure you and your home are ready!

Choose an agent that knows your neighborhood. Working with a seasoned agent that knows your neighborhood will help you go to market in the best position to achieve your goals. Home prices and sales considerations can change from street to street. So, make sure that the agent you choose has recently sold homes in your immediate neighborhood and has done so for many years.

neighbors in need, there are many charities in Portland that will put your unwanted stuff to good use. Just a few to consider are Furniture Friends, the Root Cellar, Preble Street, and Maine Needs.

Prepare your family for showings.

The spring market can be a feeding frenzy, and you want to be ready to approve all showings and open houses. Have a system for putting away personal items and doing a spot clean of every room at a moment’s notice. Also, it’s crazy to think about packing before you even list your home, but sometimes deals come together quickly.

Get your agent involved ear- To make the right deal happen, you may ly and come up with a game plan. need to be ready to move in a month or There is a lot to consider when listing less! So, start packing what you can now. your home. From repairs and pricing to marketing and moving, your agent will be Tom Landry your guide for it all. So, make sure they is owner of are involved early to help you map out all Benchmark the things that need to happen and hit the Real Estate. Visit market at the optimal time. A well thought www.Benchout go-to-market strategy usually results markMaine.com in higher sales prices and a less stressful or stop into one experience for you and your family. of their three Portland offices Make the right improvements. to learn more.

Walk through your home with your

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PelotonPosts:

Featured Nonprofit:

BURAK SEZEN SEA CHANGE Cont'd from Pg. 15 YOGA

by more people standing up and creating Cont'd from Pg. 15 their dreams. I want to see that kind of environment and want that to happen. I so not everyone has a beautiful, peaceful also like to hang out with you guys!! yoga studio. But instructors make a safe container for all who choose to walk in.

How can people get involved?

We’re looking for people with a business idea and a drive to get that turned into a company, and the people who can help them, in all aspects of business: marketing, branding, technology, engineering, accounting, providing space, connections… the sky is the limit. Anything that can help an entrepreneur be successful. ...spiritual advisors?

“Some people are really between life and death. Some people are in really difficult places. So, we take our work really seriously and want to ensure that we are being of service and certainly not doing anything that is triggering people in negative ways,” said Boyson. “They walk into the room and trust us to provide a positive and fulfilling experience. “

YOGATHON 2020

Sure. Anything that can help them direct more time into their business. Even Sea Change Yoga’s biggest event of dogwalkers! the year, Yogathon will be held at Ocean Gateway in Portland on Sunday, March If you are an entrepreneur or want to 29th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Yogathon 2020 feahelp entrepreneurs, send an email with tures renowned instructors Jacqui Bona description of what you need or offer well and Robin Ivy Payton. Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $200 in to liz@pcax.net. a peer-to-peer walkathon style fundraising effort. Their goal is to raise $50,000 for Sea Change Yoga.

Boyson suggested Yogathon is a can’t miss event, “The energy, the love that is created in a room of two hundred people all moving in these sacred postures is really amazing.”

PelotonLabs is a coworking space in the West End of Portland, Maine with a mission to connect and encourage people who are starting in a new place or career find support and community to manifest their visions without fear.

To learn more about upcoming events check out Sea Change Yoga’s Facebook page, or contact Elise Boyson to get involved.Visit www.seachangeyoga.org.

The West End News Featured Nonprofit is brought to readers with support from Benchmark Real Estate.

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BEYOND 7 MINUTES I trained as a Family Doctor so that I would be ready to help patients with any challenge. The old school family doc used to take that skill set out into the community on house calls, sports sidelines, and town hall meetings. At some point the job description was boiled down into a job that started and ended with a 7-minute office visit. That setup is not good for patients, and it's not good for doctors. In this column I hope to start to push the boundary of where the doctor patient interaction takes place - onto the page, into the community, and beyond 7 minutes.

Processed Foods and Health

By Oren Gersten The other morning as I was cooking myself breakfast. I happened to glance at the label of the shredded cheddar cheese I was planning to add to my eggs. This was a cheese purchased from a major grocery store chain. I was shocked and astounded when I read the last ingredient: natamycin.

allowed us to produce and distribute food at a quantity and scale previously unimaginable. Supermarkets have thousands of products available from all over the world. But all this comes at a cost. In order to provide this scale and variety preservatives and food additives have become necessary.

It’s hard to know to what extent industrial agriculture is affecting our bodies As a doctor I have been trained to and environment. Here are three simple recognize the names of thousands of tips you may consider when making food medications. One thing you learn ear- choices for yourself and your family: ly on is that classes of medications follow certain conventions. For example, 1. Consider locally sourced options. Prothe class of blood pressure medications duce and goods produced locally typicalled beta-blockers typically end with cally require fewer, if any, preservatives. the suffix “–lol,” i.e.. metoprolol, labetalol, atenolol. This is a helpful convention to 2. Shop around the perimeter (outside) of the grocery store. This is where group alike medications and make them most of the natural foods live. If it easily recognizable. comes in a box or sealed bag it is by The suffix “-mycin” goes with a definition processed. Frozen fruits and group of antibiotics naturally produced vegetables are okay too and last much by the bacteria Streptomyces. Other anlonger. tibiotics in this group include streptomycin, fosfomycin, and daptomycin. As I read 3. Read your labels. If you cannot identify an ingredient as a food, it is probably the last ingredient on the label, my docnot. Consider an alternative with fewtor brain clicked on. I asked myself, what er ingredients. is an anti-fungal medication used to treat infection doing in my food?

The answer was right on the label (anti-mold agent). Not only is natamycin FDA approved as a prescription drug, it is also FDA approved as a food additive.

According to the FDA, “The additive may be applied on cheese, as an antimycotic, in amounts not to exceed 20 milligrams per kilogram.” All available research indicates that it is safe and has very little systemic absorption. Interestingly the FDA also lists natamycin as pregnancy category C, “Administer Natamycin during pregnancy only when the benefits clearly outweigh the potential risk to the fetus”.

The lines between food and industry have blurred since the industrial revolution. Technological advances have

Oren Gersten is a board-certified family doctor who brings his passion for connecting and caring for people to his private practice, Portland Direct Primary Care, at 27 Ocean Street, #3, South Portland. Reach him at (207) 618-9792 or visit PortlandDirectCare.com.

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THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

THE BROADER PICTURE

PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SKY - ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST FEBRUARY 2020

Mercury Retrograde... & Election Predictions

By Leo Knighton Tallarico February begins with Imbolc on the 2nd. Imbolc is an old pagan sacred day that is the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. It has been celebrated as a time of Initiation. Ground Hog Day is the modern equivalent, looking to see if Spring will be early.

There is a Full Moon in Leo on February 9th at 2:33 AM EST. This Full Moon shows the contrast between the Sun in Aquarius, which is opposite the Moon in Leo, making for the Full Moon.

Aquarius is very socially conscious and operates mainly from the Mind. Leo is a creative Heart centered sign. Aquarius has certain idealistic beliefs that it is sure are correct. It believes in community and social needs. Leo believes in itself and loves to shine a huge smile of warmth to all around. It also hopes it is being noticed and thrives on feeling special and important. Can you find a balance between being socially conscious and self-expressive?

MERCURY RETROGRADE Just as we are believing we have it all understood and under control, Mercury decides to go Retrograde on February 16th at 7:54 PM EST.

Often during Mercury Retrograde, Use the Pisces time to face and repeople from our past come back into our lease your inner ghosts and demons. Then lives, even if only in our dreams or wak- you will have less baggage to carry into ing memories. They are around because the new beginnings of Spring. current situations may need to learn from This year Pisces time is a good time those old days’ experiences. to take stock of your life and your dreams.

Mercury goes back Direct on What is going on in your inner world? Can March 9th. you get yourself back in the flow?

Also, on February 16th Mars leaves fiery free-spirited Sagittarius and enters ambitious Capricorn, where it will stay until March 30th.

While in Capricorn, Mars is more disciplined and deliberate. It is task and goal oriented, grounded and directed.

PISCES SUN On February 18th the Sun goes into Pisces for a month, as it does every year. Pisces time is also the last month of Winter before Spring Equinox.

The first half of March can be very wintry, then during the second half we feel the energy of Spring and fresh beginnings.

Pisces Sun is deep and mystical, sensitive and dreamy. It seeks flow and does not like harsh or heavy-handed. If faced with difficult situations it tends to want to escape. If traumatized it can leave and not be present though physically still there.

Pisces is imaginative and loves to be in frequencies that flow, like music or art or poetry.

It is time now to allow your more creative and imaginative skills to be a highThere is a New Moon in Pisces on er priority than your logic driven analytithe 23rd at 10:32 AM EST. All the themes cal mind. we mentioned for Sun going into Pisces Our perceptions change during Mer- apply now, and even more so. cury Retrograde, sometimes rather subPisces is the last month before the tly at first. Because it is subtle, we are not always aware that our mind is not new beginnings of Spring. Pisces time is a as connected to what is really happening. time to enter the Inner Kingdom as Christ For that reason, we need to be more cau- espoused. That is the spiritual world or tious of what we are communicating and even just our own inner world of feelings be more cautious on making decisions or and sensitivities. Pisces at its best is about doing major projects during Mercury Ret- pure consciousness like in a good medirograde. tation.

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ELECTION PREDICTIONS I have been studying to make a prediction of who will be elected President on November 3rd this year. In 2008 at around this time, I clearly knew and predicted Obama would win. In 2016, I clearly knew and predicted Trump would win:

“F

or actual President, Trump has important planets that connect with the USA Mars (war) and its Pluto in the 2nd house (economy), so I believe that if there are urgent crises that erupt before November 8th, Trump will win. And that possibility is pretty real.”

-from ‘Perspectives from the Sky – February 2016’

Retrograde to Direct. This time I suspect it will mean either too close to call that night, or Trump will refuse to accept he has lost.

I predict, with not as much confidence as in previous years, that Elizabeth Warren will win.

Leo

This time it is not as clear. A few people fit the formula I have concocted to find out who will win. Biden and Sanders fit well. Elizabeth Warren and Mike Bloomberg fit, but less so. And Trump fits, too.

And the Universe is throwing a big curve ball because it has the same crazy planetary aspect it had on Election Day November 7th, 2000.

Mercury that night was shifting from Retrograde to Direct and news anchors all kept going back and forth predicting Bush would win then Gore, then Bush…

It was weeks later, with help from the Supreme Court, that Bush was declared the winner.

This year, exactly on Election Day again, Mercury is shifting from

Leo Knighton Tallarico is an astrological and spiritual guide with 30 years of experience. His specialties are counseling for those in the process of change or crisis and couples counseling for all kinds of relationship.

To contact Leo email soulus@ aol.com.

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19

THE AMOS FARM

Waiting for Spring – A good time to sharpen your tools

By Christian Torp

"I

do not weep at the world, I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife. -Zora Neale Hurston As promising as your next garden and all your freshly hatched plans may be upon the arrival of each new seed catalogue, it’s good to remember that most often the only thing that goes according to plan is that nothing goes according to plan. You have hope now because you didn’t forget to order, or start, or transplant, or water, or... at least not yet.

So, use this down time for something productive, use this bleak, cold month to get your tools and equipment in order so that you’re not wasting your time this spring doing what you already could have and should have done: Maintenance.

(Note.: This article will not cover maintenance of powered machinery or pest control. There are too many caveats and questions to adequately cover that subject here. Use your owner’s manuals and be wary of the source.)

Tools you’ll need: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Mill file Sharpening stones/sharpener Boiled linseed oil, oil can Rags

KNIVES/BLADES

works well. It maintains the proper angle for the cutting edge and gives you less opportunity to screw up.

If you’re set on going old school with sharpening stones, make sure that you Up next are single-bevel tools: Tools have at the very least a medium and fine with the bevel cut only on ONE side of stone. Also, get yourself a bottle of honing the blade, such as shovels, spades, scissors, oil. pruners, chisels, etc.

Sharpen your knives like you’re trying to shave a very fine layer off your sharpen- SHOVELS ing stone and look down the cutting edge Shovels need to be sharpened, believe occasionally to see that it’s even. That’s it or not. Take your mill file and hold the right push your knives as if you’re trying handle between your legs or in a vice. File to shave the stone after spreading a thin the inside cutting edge of the blade at a layer of honing oil over the surface of your 45°angle. You don’t need to have a razor stone. Hold the blade at an angle of about edge, but you’ll immediately notice the 30° from the face of the stone and switch difference if your tool hasn’t ever been sides from time to time. maintained and still has the flat edge from Remember, it’s not so much about manufacturing. number of passes, it’s not so much about HOES how it slices a sheet of paper, it’s more about the feel. When you have a good, Much like shovels, hoes also need to even edge without nicks, dips, or burrs be sharpened using your mill file at an anthen change to the fine stone and repeat. gle parallel to the ground when you’re using the tool. Unsure of what that may look As you’re sharpening, you’ll be buildlike, use your tool just like you’re hoeing ing up a burr on the side of the blade weeds but hoe some cement (sidewalk, opposite the side that you’re sharpening. etc.), then use the marks that are created When you switch to the other side, the as a guide. burr will break off and leave a sharper edge, but if you’re getting a super sharp And now for something totally differedge that doesn’t last, you may be getting ent… a “wire edge,” where the burr is working SAWS like a cutting edge... until it breaks off.

Christian L.Torp is an attorney, missionary, activist, urban-farmer, master gardener, foster parent, and advocate for social change who lives at Justice House (Facebook: Justice House) with his wife, Tanya, son, Atticus and foster child, #TheNewOne in Lexington, KY. If you have any questions or comments for Christian, or there’s something you’d like to know more about, please reach out to him at theamosfarm@gmail.com.

-Photos courtesy of Christian Torp

the kerf (width of material removed) is the proper width. A saw is sharpened with properly sized files after the set is, well, set. To set the set, invest in a saw set, or pay to have your tools properly cared for. After that, use a properly sized file to maintain and clean up the original angle.

Once you’re finished, oil your tool with boiled linseed oil using a rag and continue to do so after each use of your tool (or at least annually if not used frequently).

RESOURCES

Mother Earth News “A Guide to Tool A dull knife is no good, while a propSharpening” Nov/Dec 1987: https://www. erly sharpened one is a pleasure to hold Saws need to have sharp teeth and motherearthnews.com/diy/tool-sharpenFinally, I check my work by shaving my in your hand. If you’re looking to go quick, arm with the tool (no matter what kind the proper amount of set to ensure that ing-zmaz87ndzgoe cheap, and easy, a (manual) sharpener of knife it is).

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PUZZLE PAGE

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

1. Candy hearts were nowhere to be found in 2019 after the closure of what manufacturer, also famous for their wafers?

2. The word for candy comes from Arabic, Three times a week: and corresponds to what major ingredient?

3. What candy-themed folk song features dreams of “lemonade springs where the bluebird sings”?

4. “Sweets to the sweet” was first used

by Shakespeare, in what play where it accompanies the laying of flowers on Ophelia’s casket?

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Community Leaders Business Owners Artists & Other Interesting Folk of Southern Maine

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Rewriting Their Own Story

By Sister Mary George O’Toole and Sister Miriam Therese Callnan The opioid epidemic in Maine has impacted thousands of lives, torn apart families, and overwhelmed our cities and towns struggling to get out in front of this destructive tide. We can’t be tempted to think substance use disorder affects only the individual. It impacts family, friends, and entire communities. That’s why McAuley Residence, a recovery program currently operated by Northern Light Mercy Hospital, is as critical to our state now as it was when the Sisters of Mercy opened it more than 30 years ago.

McAuley Residence, located in Portland, was born from the mission of the Sisters of Mercy—compassionate care for all, with special concern for disadvantaged women and children. This one-of-a-kind program is saving lives with an emphasis on providing women the tools they need to heal themselves and rewrite their own personal stories.

During the 1980s, the number of impoverished families in Maine who needed shelter rose tremendously. Sponsored and operated by the Sisters of Mercy, the first McAuley Residence opened in 1988. It contained three small apartments, which housed women, some with young children, for up to two years. The McAuley Residence model draws on the example of Mother Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland in 1831, who used her considerable resources to assist homeless women, teach young people, and provide skills training for the peo-

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

ple she ministered to in Dublin.

Recovery programs for mothers with young children are difficult to find or filled to capacity in Maine due to increasing demand. As one of the only statewide resources of its kind, McAuley Residence receives on average five calls a day for its services from every corner of Maine.

From our original three families in 1988, we currently serve 15 families at any one time.

McAuley Residence has remarkable outcomes, with 80% of women remaining clean and sober and a 95% rate of family reunification. We take a holistic approach covering all aspects of recovery, including spirituality, parenting, physical and emotional wellness, career, education, financial responsibility, and recreation. All residents are enrolled in school, have part-time jobs, and are engaged in mental health and substance use disorder services. Those residents with children have individualized parent coaches and play therapy opportunities.

We as the Sisters of Mercy are tightly woven into the history of Maine. We are teachers, caregivers, leaders, and agents of social reform. We are steadfast in upholding our long-standing mission to help the disadvantaged and those in need through our service and prayer. We saw an unanswered need in our state more than 30 years ago, but our work is far from over.

While there are recovery programs available to individuals and families in our state, McAuley Residence is something

21

Inaugural Health of Portland Report Released

The City of Portland’s Public Health Division released the inaugural Health of Portland Report (HOP). Public Health staff officially unveiled the report on January 14th before the City Council’s Health and Human Services and Public Safety Committee.

By DN6 / Adobe Stock

The HOP provides a wide variety of descriptive information about the health status and factors influencing Portland residents. For example, 87% of Portland residents live within a half mile walk of a park or greenspace, and violent crime in Portland is lower than other cities at 279 offenses per 100,000 people compared to an average of 514 offenses across the 500 largest cities in the United States.

unique—so much so that our model will be brought to scale to serve more in need. Last year, the Maine Legislature unanimously passed a bill to expand the successful McAuley Residence treatment model. As a result, Northern Light MerThe report provides the community cy Hospital will open a new recovery res- with an opportunity to improve health idence in Bangor in the coming months. outcomes for all Portland residents. The 52-page report kicked off a strategic planWhile resources are limited, and as ning process around how the community overwhelming as our state’s situation is, can address health priorities within the do not doubt the power of changing one report. life. McAuley Residence would not be in Portland Public Health will host a existence today if not for the community’s support. Coming together as one— series of community forums in February health care providers, the faith community, to present the data and initiate a comprefirst-responders, family, and friends—let hensive planning process with the public us try not only to treat the person sitting and partner organizations. Check the city in front of us, but also help that individual website and follow Portland Public Health write her own story and, by doing so, lead Division on Facebook for upcoming foto healing in families and communities rum dates, locations, and times. A limited number of reports will be printed, and an across Maine. electronic version of the report can be Content provided by Northern Light found at https://www.portlandmaine.gov/ Mercy Hospital.

PublicHealth.

22

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

Going on Seven Years… Celebrating and sharing successes and blessings

By Nancy Dorrans Adventure Marketplace was founded in the spring of 2014 to utilize my decades of travel industry experience (I went to travel school in 1980) and to offer superb personal service along with unique and adventurous itineraries. My courage, creativity, experience, adaptability, and diligence have guided me through these Adventure Marketplace years. There are so many people to thank but I don’t want this to sound like an acceptance speech from the Academy. I am grateful and want to celebrate and share my successes and blessings.

the Highland Games… | Oct: Failte Ireland trade show and tour of Dublin and Belfast with a brief encounter with a man named Van… Fall Foliage day tours to the White Mountains...

2016 Feb: Second Quebec Winter Carnival tour… | Apr: NYC Portland Community Chorus travels to sing at Carnegie Hall… | May: Southern Africa Adventure to Capetown, Joburg, Kruger, Victoria Falls, and Zimbabwe… sharing dinner with a local woman who plants peppers in her garden to protect her kale from elephants… | June: Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) Conference in Saguenay, Quebec… | Oct: France Biking/Barge adventure from Dijon, cycling through villages and vineyards… one stunning vista after another plus plenty of wine, cheese, and the colorful tile roofs in Beaune…| Dec: NYC Holiday research tour…

Here’s the reader’s digest view of my adventures over the last six years… Some trips were research and/or educational opportunities. The others were small private group adventures and local bus tours meticulously coordinated and/or escorted. This digest does not include the many individuals, couples, and families I advised 2017 Jan: Historical Women’s March and assisted in their efforts to get away in Washington, D.C. Our less stressful, and back home again. more civilized tour with 53 women, one Kick off – 2014 April: Australia husband, and two teenage boys… | Feb: educational tour from Adelaide to Ulu- Third annual Quebec Winter Carnival ru (Ayres Rock) and on to Cape Tribulation… Heading north through the Flinders Ranges towards Leigh Creek and the residence of Talc-Alf, we worked our way towards Williams Creek and stopped for a tromp at salt Lake Eyre… | May: Quito Ecuador and the Galapagos… private tour for fifteen… We hiked into a rainforest on the island of Isabela, found pink flamingos in the wetlands, blue footed boobies… and penguins too! We shared Tour… | March: Bermuda “Beyond the breakfast with a local highland family and Beach” educational tour featuring caves, slugged in the rain up to the rim of Sierra dolphins, and cycling with the Premier…

Negra Volcano... | Sept: Local bus tour to | April: Springtime “Kinky Boots” NYC the Highland Games at Loon Mountain in tour with a group of SMHC employees and friends… | May: Namibia and BoLincoln, NH… tswana… from the towering dunes of Namibia to the Kalahari Bush and Okavango Delta… Adventure Marketplace loves Africa!... | Sept: Iceland off the beaten path… steaming, boiling, bubbling mud pools, a crater lake, a hike through the Trolls Dimmuborgir village of peculiar lava formations, and the breathtakingly powerful Dettifoss waterfall… | Nov: Pro-Colombia trade show with six-day pre-adventure in the Narino region. Colombia is country full of pride, passion and purpose, 2015 Feb: First Annual Quebec Win- utilizing tourism to help promote conter Carnival tour from Portland… | May: servation efforts and sustainable tourism Spring weekend in NYC scouting out ho- throughout their country… | Dec: NYC tels for future groups… | Sep: Return to Holiday bus tour…

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Weekend Bus Tour from Portland to Cape Cod and Nantucket

nnual A Daffodil Festival &

Antique Car Parade April 24-26, 2020 • Rates from $535 More details and online registration at https://adventure-marketplace.com/adventures/daffodil2020/ contact Nancy@adventure-marketplace.com

207-712-5699

2020 Jan: Kilimanjaro Private Group climb and safari – Happy to report all seven climbers successfully reached the top of Africa…| Feb: Sixth annual Quebec Winter Carnival tour Feb 7-9th…

Looking ahead in 2020 - March: Patagonia Active Adventure… | April: Cape Cod and Nantucket Daffodil festival weekend… | May: (all gender) Azores or Ireland Active Adventures… | June: Weekend Tour (June 19-21st) to D.C. for Nancy Dorrans is a West End resident the Poor People’s Campaign March for and independent travel agent at Adven- Moral Revival… | Sept: Women, Walking and Wine – Part II, Catalonia region of ture Marketplace.

Spain (sold out)… | Oct: Montreal/East2018 Feb: Forth annual Quebec ern Townships Garden Tour – Details on Winter Carnival Tour… | April: Cape upcoming tours available on www.AdvenCod weekend tour to the Annual Daffodil ture-marketplace.com.

Festival on Nantucket… | May: EducaTravel can transform lives and change tional cycle tour in Portugal from Porto perspectives, and it allows us to learn to Óbidos… | Oct: ATTA World Sum- through experience. I have been blessmit in Montecatini Terme, Italy… | Late ed these last six years with adventures Oct: Quebec City and Charlevoix bus that have broadened my sense of place. tour… | Nov: Vietnam and Cambodia… As travelers, we become part of a globalmost three weeks of fast paced cultural al community. I strive to help my clients immersion https://thewestendnews.com/ move outside their comfort zone and exvietnam-cambodia-adventure... plore new destinations so they may learn 2019 Feb: Fifth annual Quebec more about themselves and others…

Winter Carnival tour… | May: Women, veryone thinks travel is about Walking, and Wine small group adventure exclamation points, but travto Portugal and the Azores. Each day was el is about the commas; the comma is stunning, different, full of adventure and where a culture and people express spectacular seacoast views from Bispo to themselves. Commas are where we alCabo-Verdo Sao-Vincent… the end of the low ourselves to breathe, to observe, and earth… | Early Sept: National Parks of that’s the travel that I love.” - TV host SaMontana and Wyoming… | Late Sept: mantha Brown Hiking tour of Catalonia, Spain hosted by the tourist board… | Nov: European Special thanks to Tony Zeli and The Travel Agent Forum, Poznan Poland… | West End News for allowing me to share Dec: NYC Rockettes Holiday Extrava- my travel stories with you each month! ganza Tour (sold out)…

“E

Voted Greater Portland’s Best Deli every year since 2004!

Catering Available ~ Local Delivery Call Ahead! Available in just 48 hours!

FOUR CHEESE LASAGNA Anania’s family recipe made on the premise.

Small Tray (serves 8-12) $44.50 $77.50 Large Tray (serves 18-28)

FOUR CHEESE BAKED ZITI Made w/ Mozzarella, Ricotta, Provolone, & Romano cheeses.

Small Tray (serves 8-15) Medium Tray (serves 15-24) Large Tray (serves 24-35)

$44.50 $61.50 $77.50

CHICKEN OR EGGPLANT PARMESAN $45.95 Small Tray (serves up to 9) $78.95 Large Tray (serves up to 18) MEATBALLS IN OUR RED SAUCE Anania’s family recipe & served w/ grated Romano cheese.

Cocktail Meatballs Sm (50) $35.50 Md (90) $61.50 Lg (150) $99.95 Large Meatballs Sm (30) $38.95 Md (60) $76.95 Lg (90) $112.95

Anania’s, with 2 locations in Portland, has everything you need!

The Congress Street Location 1227 Congress St. 774-8104

The Washington Ave Location 606 Washington Ave. 774-4639

www.AnaniasVariety.com

THE DUMPSTER

THE WEST END NEWS | FEBRUARY 2020

THE DUMPSTER

WHERE WE THROW ALL THE STUFF WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH…

Fresh Approach celebrates its 28th Anniversary as the West End’s meat market…

Local game creators share the history and art of PBL Robots at Maine Craft retail gallery…

Local retailer of spice and all that is nice SKORDO opens a second location at The Maine Mall…National retailer Abercrombie & Fitch announces focus on stores with ever smaller footprints… Heads up movie goers the Nickelodeon doesn’t like it when you sneak in popcorn from Hunt & Alpine Club…

Music-focused bar Big Babe’s Tavern finally opens on Ocean St in South Portland…

Will Hessian says he’s producing more art after some time doing social work…

Maine’s annual loon count reveals the population is strong and steady with twice the count from the mid-1980s… It’s official that Paul LePage is no longer a Maine resident after he registers to vote in the Sunshine State… Report says IRS is struggling after years of budget cuts leading to billions in unpaid taxes and delayed refunds… Parade Magazine claims that Portland is a top city in which to ‘Live to 100’…

Vermont (2nd) continues to outdo Maine (8th) in per capita production of Peace Corps volunteers… Local broadcast journalist Giovanna Bechard plays the Wheel of F ortune… Danforth Inn to reopen as the Blind Tiger Guesthouse…

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THE WEST END NEWS Published by Zeli Enterprises, LLC 795 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04102 www.thewestendnews.com thewestendnews@gmail.com

WEN TEAM Anthony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Cameron Autry, Freelance Writer Rick Ness, Sales VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure James Fereira, The Portland Palate Dr. Oren Gersten, Wellness Rosanne Graef, La Vida Local Adam Rice, Cause Blog Leo Knighton Tallarico, Astrology Christian Torp, Urban Gardening Layne Witherell, Wine Guy

THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM

Kymberly Dakin, PechaKucha Portland Sister Mary George O’Toole & Sister Miriam Therese Callnan, Northern Light Tom Landry, Benchmark Real Estate Mary Alice Scott, Portland Buy Local Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonLabs Adolphe Wakana, Citizens' Climate Lobby & Portland Climate Action Team TO CONTACT CONTRIBUTORS

thewestendnews@gmail.com

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The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in our pages belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to the publication. Share your thoughts with us at thewestendnews@ gmail.com. Thank you for reading!

Maine’s greatest bar!

Friday Nights - 80s Dance Party Saturday Nights - 90s & Now Dance Party w/ DJ Tubbs

Book Bubba’s for Your Private Party!

92 Portland Street, Portland | (207) 828-0549 | bubbassulkylounge.com

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