MAY 2020.VOL. 20, NO. 05. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
TESTING FIRST: Ready to garden? Avoid the lead. Get a free soil test!
BUSINESS BULLETIN Messages from your local business community
Portland Food Co-op develops Substitute Shopper Program The Portland Food Co-op has developed a Substitute Shopper Program as part of their response to COVID-19. Knowing that many members of our community have had their shopping routines disrupted or have found themselves unable to shop all together, this program serves as a tool to connect volunteers that are able to offer shopping services with those in need of groceries.The Food Co-op wants readers to know that they have plenty of shoppers standing by to help and are ready to serve all Greater Portland and a bit beyond!
AmeriCorps volunteer Laura Heinlein collects samples for soil testing at the Harbor View Park food forest across from Eimskip on Commercial Street. Due to high levels of lead contamination select neighborhoods are able to get free soil testing. -Photos courtesy of Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District
By Tony Zeli As grocery store shelves empty and cooped up Mainers start looking for ways to get outside and enjoy the spring, many will turn to home gardening. While gardening is a healthy—and, shall we say, solitary activity—there is one threat: lead contamination. Especially on Portland’s peninsula, we find unsafe levels of lead. So, to encourage gardening while promoting safety, the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District is offering free soil tests in Bayside, East Bayside, Parkside, and West End neighborhoods.
Portland Soil Lead Awareness Project Laura Heinlein is an AmeriCorps Environmental Steward with the Conservation District and is currently working on an EPA funded education campaign to raise awareness about lead in Portland’s soils.
“Gardening is a great activity to get outside in a contained environment, as well as a means to build awareness of the need for resilient local agriculture. The crux of our education initiative is to encourage people to test their soil,” wrote Heinlein in an email to The West End News.
At low levels, lead in soil is considered safe, but at 100 ppm there is a risk to your health. At more than 400 ppm the amount of lead in your soil is dangerous. Small amounts of lead from the contaminated dirt are breathed in or consumed on dusty vegetables. The lead builds up in your body for months or even years, just Heinlein noted that past soil testing like it does in the soil, and slowly gives you on Portland’s peninsula found levels of lead poisoning. lead ranging from 10 parts per million But don’t worry. It is certainly safe to (ppm) to as high as 25,000 ppm. Natural- garden in Portland! To avoid risks associly occurring soil lead tops out at 50 ppm ated with high lead levels, we first must and anything above 100 ppm is risky and know the levels at a specific site. And the requires safe gardening techniques. only way to do that is testing. And if you find high levels of lead on your site, don’t Test,Test,Test worry, you can still garden by growing in The Cumberland County Soil and raised beds or containers and by selecting Water Conservation District is providing plants that take up less lead. free soil tests to gardeners in Bayside, East Damon Yakovleff, Environmental PlanBayside, Parkside, and West End, as these ner with the Conservation District, shared four neighborhoods are considered highin an email some of the motivations behind risk for soil contamination. CONT'D ON PAGE 3
For more info: https://www.portlandfood.coop/substitute-shopper-program
BROWNE TRADING CO.
offering overnight delivery & curbside pick up The folks at Browne Trading Company are now offering overnight delivery and curbside pickup. To learn more visit brownetrading.com or call 800-944-7848.
EL CORAZON has Cinco de Mayo offerings Don`t let the lockdown stop your celebration on May 5th. Stay at home and order take out from downtown Portland’s El Corazon Mexican Restaurant. Full menu available including ice cold Mexican beers and now offering their famous house margarita mix (available for take-out without alcohol). Call 207-5361354 or visit 2dinein.com for delivery. “Thank you for supporting your local restaurant during these difficult times.” CONT'D ON PAGE 2
IN THIS ISSUE... Page 2… Mercy is providing care in new ways Page 4… The high cost of insulin by Dr. Oren Page 5… An update on Harbor View Park Page 10… Buy Local says closed businesses still need support Page 11… Matching skilled immigrant workers with jobs Page 15… Send Nancy your best travel photos
Page 6… The Portland Palate dines in
Page 7... Wine notes from the backyard
Page 12… Here's a Bright Idea: Plant a garden!
2
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
BUSINESS BULLETIN CONT'D FROM PAGE 1
SELBY SHOES ETC. still answering your calls Ed of Selby Shoes Etc. in South Portland says he is in the store and can reached by phone 207-772-4123. Check their website for information on eventual re-opening. Ed says, “Stay well and see you soon!”
LP APPLIANCE remains open Ryan at L.P. Appliance on Rt. 302 wants you to know he’s still open for business and hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 207-797-3621 or visit www.lpapplianceme.com.
VERBENA offers take out & curbside Verbena reminds you that you can still eat right now. Offering healthy take out, curbside service, and delivery through 2dinein. Call Melissa at 207-767-2011 with questions or orders.
LEAVITT & SONS thanks you Leavitt & Sons Deli reminds you they are open for take out. Call the Portland location at 207-536-1076 or Falmouth at 207-781-3753. The Falmouth location is curbside or window pickup, or afternoon delivery only. Everyone at Leavitt & Sons thanks the community for supporting their local deli.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Providing our community care in new ways Please call us to learn more about telehealth visits. For your reference, our The COVID-19 pandemic is touching care centers and services can be found all of our lives in one way or another, and by visiting NorthernLightHealth.org/Merwe want you to know we’re here for you. cy-Hospital. To help ensure the health and safety COVID-19 care options of our patients, employees, and If you feel unwell or think you may community, we’re have COVID-19, you’ve probably received changing how the advice to stay home, rest, and drink we provide care plenty of clear fluids. While we support during this panthese recommendations, we want you to demic. These know that we remain available to care for measures include you. If your symptoms persist or worsen, reducing the numwe encourage you to contact your primaber of visitors Dr. Michael Duffy is Northern Light ry care office to talk about your options. at our locations, Mercy Hospital’s Senior Physician opening offsite care locations, postponing If you don’t have a primary care pro- Executive. elective procedures, and offering care by vider, we encourage you to call us at 207telehealth. We are taking these steps to 553-6050. We’ll ask questions during this munities by following some simple steps: reduce the spread of the virus, but also to call that will help us determine next steps • Clean your hands often ensure your health needs are taken care for your care, whether it be self-isolating of. at home, visiting a COVID-19 assessment • Clean and disinfect surfaces site, or going to the hospital. Please note • Cover coughs and sneezes How to access health that our COVID-19 assessments are by appointment only. care at home • Practice physical distancing By Michael Duffy, MD
From primary care to specialty care, telehealth visits are a convenient way for you to get the care and guidance you need without leaving home. During a telehealth visit, using your phone, tablet, or computer, you and your provider can accomplish much of what you would be able to do in a typical office visit, including addressing medical issues, diagnoses, symptoms, prescriptions, and more.
We can all help reduce the spread There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, so the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to it. As we work closely with the CDC and other experts in this ever-changing environment, one thing remains constant—we can all help reduce the spread in our com-
•
Avoid close contact with those who are sick
We are here for you, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.Thank you for what you are doing to limit the spread of this virus in our community. Content provided by Northern Light Mercy Hospital.
SOIL TESTING the Portland Soil Lead Awareness Project, “We have seen evidence that the COVID situation has generated increased interest in gardening, which is wonderful. In fact, the project we are working on started in part because of the general trend we have observed towards increase in home gardening and local food production over the last decade or so. We want to encourage this, but we also want people to be aware of the potential for soil contamination so they can garden safely.”
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES CONT'D FROM PAGE 1
of lead (above 400 ppm). Remove the top two to three inches of your original garden soil, add a barrier such as landscape fabric or carboard to avoid soil contamination, place your box frame, and fill the box frame with clean soil and compost.
Also, consider the type of food you grow in your garden. Some plants take up less lead such as: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, corn, pumpkin, squash, eggplant, berries, and apples. Plants that are unsafe tend to be root plants and leafy vegetables including: turnips, onions, beets, potatoes, Who should be testing their soil? yams, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, spinach, Everyone should test if they have not and kale. done so. But even those who have tested In addition, after a completed soil in the past are encouraged to get another sample, the Conservation District will test to see if there has been any change in follow up with recommendations that the detected lead levels. Yakovleff hypothare site specific where higher levels of esizes that there may be some transport lead contamination are found. The follow of lead even to raised beds. This may be up will include a study of lead content in occurring either via soil erosion due to plant tissues in order to understand the wind and water or from buildup of conamount of actual risk due to consumption taminated leaf litter. With your help, the of potentially lead-contaminated produce. project may be able to confirm these suspicions. For highly contaminated sites, the Cumberland County Soil and Water ConAs part of this project, Conservation servation District will work with partners, District staff will collect the soil sample such as the City of Portland, to connect and deliver the results, for free, to anylandowners with resources for remediaone in the targeted neighborhoods who tion. is growing or wants to grow food on their land. The method is “COVID-safe” and How to get a free test? the Conservation District’s personnel are If you live in a targeted neighborhood considered “essential” due to their role (Bayside, East Bayside, Parkside, and West within the agriculture sector. End), please sign up for the free soil test at What to do if you have high levels https://tinyurl.com/FREESoilTest. of lead? Raised beds (or garden boxes) are the Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. safest way to garden in soils with moder- To contact email thewestendnews@ ate (100 ppm to 400 ppm) to high levels gmail.com.
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
Compassionate and Innovative Memory Care
3
Many residents and our true-blue staff know this inspiring and newly relevant song~
“There’ll be blue birds over...”
Mural at Fallbrook Woods
For an informative conversation please contact Susan at 207-878-0788 FallbrookWoods.com 60 Merrymeeting Drive Portland, Maine 04103
4
COMMUNITY
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
The High Cost of Insulin – A Case Study By Dr. Oren Gersten
The Corona Virus is getting plenty of media attention these days, and rightly so. However, life goes on and all the ailments that were present before Corona are still present now. Instead of rehashing old points about COVID this column is dedicated to a different subject—the high cost of insulin. To illustrate a few points, I will be using a patient of mine as a case study. This is done with her permission. This person (we will refer to her as “M”) has type 1 diabetes. This is also known as insulin dependent diabetes, because without insulin a type 1 cannot survive. People become type 1 diabetic when their pancreas stops working. It has nothing to do with diet, or exercise, or being overweight. It is simply a combination of genetics and poor luck.
the monthly insulin expense for diabetics at $35. The problem here is that the law only applies to people with “state regulated commercial insurance.” Unfortunately, “M” is one of the many Americans who is currently un-insured. The other day we ran into another medical systems problem. “M” needs an endocrinologist—or diabetes specialist— to manage her insulin pump. Most type 1 diabetics are co-managing this way with a specialist and a primary care doctor. Despite her clear need it was difficult to find a specialist willing to help us. There is at least one private practice locally that refuses to take any un-insured patients (even those willing to pay for the service with their hard-earned money). Mercy apparently has a policy where they don’t accept “outside referrals,” meaning that they will only help patients with a primary care doctor who works for their system. We finally found an office willing to help on our third try.
“M” controls her blood sugars using an insulin pump. This piece of equipment is a small computer that delivers insulin to a patient, approximating what a healthy pancreas would do.This pump needs to be I have spent hours helping to coordirefilled with insulin a few times a month. As a primary care doctor part of my job nate care for “M” for things that should be is to write the prescription for the insulin. built into our system. Delays in care lead to patient harms. We know that patients This month I sent the prescription to just like her are forced to ration mediWalgreens and the patient was surprised cation because the cost is unaffordable. to find the cost to pick it up was $304. Although progressive laws like LD 2096 Remember, this is a life sustaining pre- are a step in the right direction, they often scription that the patient will need every leave out those who are most vulnerable month for the rest of her life. As a doc- to high costs—the uninsured. tor I know that this is not a fair price for We need to do a better job as a health this medication. I was able to contact the system to make affordability the norm, pharmacy and pull a few strings and recnot the exception. We need to increase ommend that the pharmacist apply a couthe cooperation among health systems so pon to reduce the cost to $68, something people are not excluded based on who the pharmacist should have been able to they work for. We need to support pawork with the patient on without my intients with chronic disease, so they don’t tervention. face the additional stress of navigating an Episodes like this happen every day in un-necessarily complicated health system pharmacies across the country. It is such a on top of taking care of themselves. We problem that Maine joined several other owe this to our patients and the people states in passing legislation to put a cap on who are doing their best to take care of out of pocket insulin costs. LD 2096 caps them. 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 the website at PortlandDirectCare.com.
LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE
VIEW FROM THE THIRD FLOOR By Rosanne Graef I’ve been spending a lot of time at home lately (no surprise). I’m lucky to live on a corner on the side of a hill, affording both near and distant views from the various windows of our apartment. This being The West End News’s annual garden issue, I’ll start with some botanical observations from this perch. Fortunately, the stay-at-home order came in spring rather than the darkening days of November. Looking out in all four directions at the brightening parade of plants of an awakening spring is always uplifting, especially so during times like these. First to unfurl its buds is the pink star magnolia in our backyard. Along come the brilliant blues of glory-of-the-snow and scilla, royal purple and golden yellow of crocus, and next the splashy hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils. Then buds of forsythias and flowering crabs expand into clouds and fountains of pink, white, and yellow blossoms. Several windows face south toward bird feeders still hanging in the magnolia tree. Surprisingly, we’ve been visited lately by the first tufted titmouse since winter 2019. Maybe it’s that tuft, but they always seem to be such chipper and perky little birds. Pigeons have newly appeared in our yard, perhaps because a roof top is accessible next door since the removal of a large tree last fall. On fine afternoons, a dozen or so pigeons congregate along the ridge pole and down the slope of the roof to sunbathe out of the wind off the Fore River. Meanwhile, the seagulls just circle, climb, soar and glide effortlessly, no wing flapping necessary. What fun to sail through the air, go bob along the waves in the river with your pals, and cap it off with a spell of squawking from a chimney top!
First Geranium bloom of spring.
-Photo by James Fereira
other climbers, and others with assortments of flowers, vegetables, and artfully placed decorative items and edgings. The installation and maintenance of gardens and their accoutrements results in what I call The Gardener’s Stare (TGS). TGS is not limited to denizens of this community garden, rather it is shared by gardeners everywhere and is a particularly endearing behavior to observe. Exhibited often in the early gardening season, TGS is characterized by the arrangement and rearrangement throughout the garden plot of plants still in pots or removed from their containers, but not yet planted. Each short flurry of activity is followed by an extended period of time spent standing and staring at what has just been accomplished. After a suitable contemplative assessment, plants may be installed in the soil, or, if found unsatisfactory, the whole exercise may be repeated several times. TGS continues throughout the gardening season for some practitioners, however, and consists primarily of making some minor adjustment to the placement of a rock or garden gnome. Be on the lookout for TGS in your neck of the woods.
This is the city and there are people to watch as well, especially in the community garden across the street. Every gardener has their preferred methods, plants, and sense of style.There are permaculture Rosanne Graef is a West End resident. plots, some plots feature intricate and im- Readers may reach her by email at pressive sculptural supports for beans and lavidalocalwen@gmail.com.
SUBMISSIONS WEN is a community newspaper and we need your voice!
Community Leaders Business Owners Artists & Other Interesting Folk of Southern Maine
Podcast available on Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts and Spotify
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. Thank you for your voice!
WHAT’S GOING ON
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
Harbor View Park Spring 2020 Updates
5
By Pamela Shaw Though we humans may be struggling, spring is on the way in Maine. At Harbor View Park, the peach and cherry trees are budding, the pollinator garden is putting up leaves, and shrubs and trees are flushing from grey to pink to green. In the past month, the Parks Department has been busy cleaning and clearing at Harbor View. Now the slopes are ready Buds at Harbor View Park. -Photo by Kent Redford for this summer’s big push: suppressing invasive plants such as bittersweet and outside and work on this big garden, here black swallowwort that have overrun the are some tasks we’ll need help with this shrubs. The next step will be to put down summer: gigantic tarps that will keep the ground 1. Digging out the waterway covered over the summer to smother the invasives, then plant cover plants in the fall 2. Laying out big tarps and putting to replace them. down stones to keep them in place We’re going to try another no-mow area, down around the crabapples at the lower west end of the park between the path and Commercial Street. It’s an experiment, to see what comes up and what birds and pollinators come to visit. We’ve started on cleaning up the granite waterway under the bridge, taking out all the dead brush. Now we want to remove the silt that has washed in over the years, to get the waterway back to the beautiful granite that was part of the original design.
3. Planting more pollinators in plots we have started already
EVENTS AT BAYSIDE BOWL 58 Alder Street, Portland | (207) 791-2695 Bayside Bowl is currently closed due to COVID-19.
We plan to re-open as soon as possible and look forward to seeing you on the lanes!
4. Spreading more woodchips where we need them
Check our website for updates on future events:
5. Always, picking up trash when you see it. Let us know if you want to help – email us at friendsofharborviewpark@ gmail.com. We’ll put your name on the volunteer list and let you know as soon as we can get small work parties going in the park.
There’s lots to do, and we’ll need Pamela Shaw lives in the West End, your help over the summer as soon as where she volunteers on various things loosen up a bit. If you’d like to get projects with other neighbors.
www.baysidebowl.com/musicandevents Have your Bash at Bayside! Available for parties, reunions, receptions, bar mitzvas & corporate events.
WWW.BAYSIDEBOWL.COM OLS COVID-19 UPDATE
In accordance with the latest recommendations from the CDC, One Longfellow Square will be postponing or cancelling all events through the end of May. We will be following the situation closely as things continue to change. Whatever the circumstance, OLS will be sure that when we reopen we will be doing what is best for our staff, our audiences and the artists we host. Please see below for information regarding shows that have been cancelled or have been rescheduled to a new date – some shows are still waiting for new dates, keep up to date with the latest information at onelongfellowsquare.com. In the meantime, we are hosting live streams on our Facebook page – please tune in to see what we have coming! The next few months will be hard for everyone, and venues and artists are going to be hit hard. We have some ideas for how we can continue to serve our musical community that we will be working on in the coming weeks, but if it is within your means, please consider buying artist merch or music, purchasing an OLS gift card or membership, or making a donation to OLS. In the meantime, stay safe, wash your hands and practice your best social distancing.
One Longfellow Square is a nonprofit listening room style music venue hosting shows for all ages on the corner of State St. and Congress St. in downtown Portland.
FULL SCHEDULE & TICKETS ONLINE: ONELONGFELLOWSQUARE.COM EMAIL: INFO@ONELONGFELLOWSQUARE
THU. 5/21 - CANCELLED The Portland Jazz Orchestra
WED. 6/10 OLS & North Atlantic Blues Festival Present: Jontavious Willis
SAT. 5/2 -> RESCHEDULED TO 7/10 Ward Hayden & The Outliers
SAT. 5/23 -> RESCHEDULED, DATE TBA David Mallett w/ Joel Thetford
THU. 6/11 Patty Larkin
THU. 5/7 -> RESCHEDULED TO 10/15 Joan Shelley
WED. 5/27 -> RESCHEDULED TO 8/28 The East Pointers
FRI. 6/12 Grant Gordy & Joe K. Walsh
SAT. 5/9 -> RESCHEDULED TO 6/11 Patty Larkin w/ Jake Swamp and The Pine
FRI. 5/29 -> RESCHEDULED, DATE TBA Mary Fahl (Former Lead Singer of October Proect)
THU. 6/18 The Portland Jazz Orchestra
FRI. 5/1 - CANCELLED OLS & State Theatre Present: Andrew Marlin & Noam Pikelny
WED. 5/13 -> RESCHEDULED, DATE TBA Mark Erelli THU. 5/14 -> RESCHEDULED, DATE TBA Josephine County SAT. 5/16 -> CANCELLED Darlingside
w/ Cape Elizabeth and Somersworth High School Jazz Ensembles
SAT. 5/30 -> RESCHEDULED, DATE TBA Palaver Strings – The Nature of Daylight WED. 6/3 Amy Black THU. 6/4 Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio
FRI. 6/19 Ellis Paul, Vance Gilbert, Seth Glier THU. 6/25 Jonatha Brooke SAT. 6/26 + SUN. 6/27 Bob Marley
6
FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
THE PORTLAND PALATE
Dining Out: Musings during a Pandemic Review and Photos by James Fereira We are living in frightening and uncertain times. While there is little consensus on much of anything else, at least on this it seems we can all agree. It is remarkable to me how intensely a virus can disrupt an entire system.The spotlight has revealed what a beautiful and broken world we live in: the displays of love and kindness, the heroes and the hacks, the turpitude of human nature and the extent of our divide—and connectedness. We are seeing it played-out daily in a continuous procession of overlapping events. In the coronavirus vortex, we feel and live its consequence unabatedly. We have battened down the hatches as best we can, not knowing what the storm will bring in the next day or the next hour.
are being forced to adjust. To not be able or willing to adapt would mean certain collapse… And so, we are challenged to rethink matters from literally soup to nuts. Enter the upsurge of delivery, take-out, and curbside pick-up praxis. Will this be the new normal? For now, it is. And it has not been easy.
For food writers, our approach has also been turned on its head. By example, take a well-lauded local influencer, Andrew Ross. As Dine Out critic for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Ross recently, from tutelage by this pandemic, resolved to switch-up his writing angle. In his wisdom, he decided it was in our colHARDSHIP & ADAPTATION lective best interest to forego critique of restaurants in this aptly stamped “brittle One clear vulnerability has been, and economic environment.” Instead, he is focontinues to be, the impact of COVID-19 cusing on his personal experiences within on our tourism, hospitality, and restaurant the culinary scene. sectors. There is great creativity coming In following suit, this review is difout of this, as evidenced by the morphing ferent than every other I have previousof practices in how Americans dine out, or ly written. While I am not pillorying the more accurately—dine in. virtues of any one place, I am also not For now, gone are the days of calling appraising the product in any depth. I am or clicking for a restaurant reservation, or humbly showing my appreciation for the making an impromptu stop-by for lunch. privilege of still being able to enjoy good In the food world, as in nearly every other local food, albeit consuming it in an adappart of society, customers and businesses tive manner.
KITCHENS MATRESSES LAUNDRY REFRIGERATION
Drunken Noodle with beef from Mi Sen with Stewart’s key lime soda enjoyed at the gazebo on the grounds of the Reiche Community School.
MI SEN
OTTO PIZZA
My trifecta of meals began with delivery via www.GrubHub.com from Mi Sen. Friend Alex and I took our stash and dashed over to sit at the gazebo at Reiche Elementary School on a warm-enough day to sit outside. Honoring physical-distancing rules, we nevertheless enjoyed our bounty over social time: for him a chicken and vegetable Pad Thai and for me the Drunken Noodles with beef and veggies—each two stars spice right on the money.
My final outing was again enjoyed al fresco. Back to the Reiche School, but this time with friend Deb for Otto Pizza delivery. The friendly delivery man was a little early and, understandably, seemed happy to be working. We attacked (my favorite) Otto pizza: a large butternut squash, cranberry and ricotta.
Our food came with plastic utensils and serviettes, in recyclable containers, and in total for food, delivery, taxes, and tip it came to under $32.00. Mi Sen always serves up delicious, healthy meals. We appreciate them and the nice delivery guy In a short time, it completely disapwho brought it… and arrived early. peared from view. Including taxes, delivery fee, and gratuity, again via GrubHub, our FIGGY’S order came to just over $37.00. Next up was the afternoon my “Franned” and I met at Figgy’s for preordered take-out. A 2019 “Chopped” champion, Natalie DiBenedetto keeps hours from 3 to 8 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, and she often runs out of items on the later side—so order early. We met chef Figgy when she steppedout to take a stretch and put some sunshine on her face, while we occupied a provided picnic table outside.
CLOSING THOUGHTS Such is the state of affairs in Portland’s dining-out scene, with more adjustments to follow. It is reassuring to visit www.PortlandFoodMap.com to see the regular postings on the long list of places that have changed their modus operandi and their offerings. Communally, we will get through this: I suspect with deeper connection, appreciation, and prudence. In the meantime, support your local eateries and other food purveyors. When you can no longer stand one more Saturday night frank and beans dinner… order delivery or take-out.
Fran had a half order of the skillet fried chicken, with biscuit and pint of buttermilk Maine mashed potatoes. For me, it was the half order of Korean wings, cup Live large, be generous, and go gently of mashed, and a pint of the soup du jour: a carrot, curry, and sweet potato. Includ- out there. All our lives literally depend on ed was both a side of coleslaw and some it. pickled vegetables. James Fereira has a background in At just over $42.00 inclusive, Fran grant-writing, sea kayaking, and volunteerkept left-overs to take home for later. I de- ism. In his spare time, he enjoys singing to voured mine on the spot. Everything came his cat and questioning authority. James in compostable and recyclable containers. can be reached at ThePortlandPalate@ gmail.com. We love Figgy’s!
LP Appliance A Family Owned Business 54 Bridgton Road (Route 302) in Westbrook just outside of Portland
Sales & Service
Free Delivery On All Orders
Ask Us About Financing (207) 797-3621 sales@lpapplianceme.com service@lpapplianceme.com
www.lpapplianceme.com
CAFE
COME IN WE’RE OPEN! HOURS:
9am - 4pm
CARPET HARDWOOD LINOLEUM TILE FLOORING
ESPRESSO BAR
CATERING
TO GO
Take out & curbside service available Please see our website for a current menu and hours 103 Ocean St. South Portland, Maine www.verbenaonline.com
207.767.2011
FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
LAYNE'S WINE GIG
GIMMIE SHELTER Wine Notes from our Backyard By Layne Witherell After rooting through several boxes of empty bottles, these are my candidates for best recent, reasonably priced favorite wine and food experiences for sheltering outside in place in our garden. Wines bought at retail, meals to go.
Only the freshest locally & internationally sourced fish, shellfish & specialty seafood _____________
Freshest Seafood & Finest Caviars
The nation’s only co-branded caviar supplier _____________
We’ve been shipping the highest quality fish and seafood direct to home kitchens for nearly 30 years.
Overnight delivery & curbside pick up available! _____________
We’ve got you covered.
Drop us a line!
Epicurio Aglianico, Puglia, Southern Italy, 2018, $6.00. Aglianico, as a grape, dates to when -Photo by Layne Witherell the ancient Greek poet Homer was treading vats in his famous “wine dark sea.” It is little Charles Lloyd piped in the garden is one versatile grape, making white wine (a spiritual. Total cost $70.00 for two. rarity), sweet wine, sparkling wine, a reaChateau Bianca Pinot Noir, 2015, sonably priced backyard red, or a $50.00 Willamette Valley, Oregon, $13.99. plus masterwork per bottle. I have been following both BurgundiYou can call out for pizza, lots of pizan and Oregon pinot noir since the 70’s za in these times, or press the adventure and bought this thing with no knowledge button and pair with the great Mexican of the what part, other than our dog’s food from El Corazon.The wine is a flavor name is Bianca. People do things for those combo of blackberries and unsweetened reasons.There is also a thing about people dark chocolate. It is happiest with meat expecting pinot to be a slightly less musand rich sauces. cular version of, say, cabernet sauvignon. They order online and pickup at the That is just plain wrong. If you wish to door. We did the Sundevil combo enchi- choke out about $150.00 a bottle, you can lada, chile relleno $17.75, all surrounded buy a close approximation to this wine, it with lots of mole—”It is too substantial is called Volnay from Burgundy. Oh, well. to be called a sauce,” notes Patricia QuinDelicate wine with the elegance of tana. An ideal if unlikely combination. Total spring violets, accompanying some smoked cost $50.00 for two people. salmon and mushroom brie cheese from La Fage Narassa, Cotes Cat- the fridge. Total cost $50.00 for two. alanes, Roussillon, 2017, $15.99. Chateau Pegau, Maclura, CotesA grenache, Syrah blend from 60-year- du-Rhone, 2016, $20.00. old vines. Hedonistic, luscious, delicious. This is classic gourmet wine and comAda’s Kitchen fresh off the stove fettuccifort food in the “Gimmie Shelter” of your ni Bolognese or gemelli with pesto taken fire pit. A total sumptuous feast from Chastraight to your car. You can add a dash of val Restaurant in the West End. Coq A Vin extra protein excitement by killing your with all the little extras like smoked bacon best free-range chicken. Two people, total braised Yukon potatoes, carrots, the tiniest cost $60.00. little onions, and a sauce that is comfort The wine area rests on the border food heaven. $33.00 each (order two) and of France and Spain, encapsulating the re- pickup. Total cost $100.00 for two. straint of the French and the verve of the They recommended the Chateau Catalans. For ages the region was known Pegau, a wine that I haven’t had in years. for producing sweet wines, but recently It was the essence of black cherries and has become a classic model for the sun earth. A good partner to dance with the of southern France, and the skill of the French classic Coq A Vin.The Pegau estate modern winemaker producing exciting produces a Chateauneuf du Pape that in red wines. the best vintages will run a mere $800.00 BOOM BOOM Syrah, Charles a bottle. Start saving now. K. Smith, 2017, Washington State, Get out in the air. Wear your mask $20.00. and leave a generous tip. Jam, leather, herbs, who can ask for more? A classic from a self-created genius. BEER PEEPS Pull up the YouTube Krewe of Cork paProbably the best “to go” deal is Shiprade Marti Gras 2020 to see 500 clones yard Brewing two lobsters and a four pack of him marching in debauched splendor. of their beer for $25.00. Being a self-proA little backyard entertainment alongside claimed, born again (having married a freshly slathered BBQ “Meat Coma” from Mainer) lobster freak this is a “Gimmie Salvage to go—hot off the smoker. Total Shelter” bit of the delirious. Finder New cost two people $70.00. England IPA is a relaxed 7% alcohol quaffer, Ozeki Sake “Karatamba” Dry or you can move your game up to their Wave, 300 ml, $10.00. XXXX India Pale Ale at 9.25% alcohol with an equally serious copper color. Of Our favorite sake. King of The Roll course, after this, you aren’t driving. A sesushi to go. Our buddy John Wayne, ownrious deal at $25.00 for two. er and sushi master’s smile from the kitchen is worth the price of admission. Having Stay safe. Support your local store, several of his classic rolls (tuna, scallops, brewery, and restaurant and watch spring crab, and avocado, etc.) while listening to a unfold while you shelter. Layne has been a professional in the wine business for many decades as a teacher, importer, writer, competition judge, and winery CEO. He was awarded a Master Knight of the Vine for the pioneering work he did in the Oregon wine industry. His website is http://winemaniacs.wordpress/blog.
brownetrading.com 800-944-7848
Merrill’s Wharf 260 Commercial Street Portland, ME 04101
Layne’s Wine Gig @
650 Congress Street #A | Portland | (207) 774-4111
Check with Blue for Schedule of Openings An unpretentious wine event – 4 (3oz) pours $12.00 From a wine guy who has seen it all, tasted it all & is still having fun doing it. When this is over, let’s have a good time at
!
Maine’s Friendliest Gay Bar
ALL WELCOME! Blackstones is proud to be an advertising partner with the West End News! Blackstones, 32 years as the West Ends’ LGBTQ+ neighborhood bar! All Welcome! Portland’s Oldest Operating LGBTQ+ Establishment O P E N W E E K D A Y S 4 P. M . – 1 A . M . S AT. & S U N . 1 1 A . M . – 1 A . M . 6 P I N E S T. , P O R T L A N D • 7 7 5 . 2 8 8 5
7
8
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
Of all the strange things I’ve heard since the pandemic...
Thank you, V-Day Bandit, for making us smile!
The Zoom we use is not the Zoom of concern.
We are all in this togehter! Home gardening plants a seed of hope!
Going out is so UNintelligent and reckless!
Non-pandemic related news is in high demand these days!
Earth to us: ‘Keep it cool now.’
Go gently... Our lives
depend on it!
I drop eggs all the time! #StayHome
s over There’ll be bluebird over.. D of The white cliffs
SKIP THE MALL
What, you didn’t know that one?
FOR COMPUTER SERVICE
VISIT A LOCAL!
I have an especially snarky presence.
MAINE’S BEST MAC & PC REPAIR #Qu
aran AndC tinehill
Locally owned since 2005
FREE Diagnosis No Obligation for Service
Call or Visit Today!
207-773-8324
334 Forest Avenue
(next to Oakhurst Dairy)
www.necessarytechnology.com
I saw the headline and got so excited... Then I saw it was the OTHER Portland!
Keep
Portland You can’t win them all!
salty!
Not once d you mention NFL draf
did the ft!
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
Watch spring unfold... while you shelter!
We will be upstanders, not bystanders!
Thank you for stocking our shelves!
Up late playing with yarn again!
something
it doesn’t even feel like work
Thank you for collecting our garbage and recycling!
Thank you for keeping us safe and caring for us when we are sick!
513 WASHINGTON AVE. PORTLAND, ME
we should be considering WEN more as a literary journal. There are so many great articles!
us
ens
20c
No matter where you are from, we’re glad you are our neighbor!
SERVICING ALL MAKES & MODELS
It is demanding, but I don’t watch television, so...
#20
I can still smell the donuts!
207-879-0124
We very much appreciate your work!
Thank you for delivering our food!
When I’m passionate about
9
Rosemont to the rescue! Consider: The West End Journal? #WEN
ANTHONY’S ITALIAN KITCHEN Delivering our famous goods to you!
Resist fear.
774-8668
In these trying times I listen to
anthonysitaliankitchen.com
The Southern Maine Re
port
Assist love.
Delivery Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 am to 7 pm
Or find us at
to keep me head sane.
Map drawn by Ed King Colorist Edited by Will Hessian Tony Zeli
151 Middle Street, Portland 774-8668 anthonysitaliankitchen.com
10
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
Closed businesses still need support
Voted Greater Portland’s Best Deli every year since 2004!
Anania’s has everything you need with 2 locations in Portland!
Take Out Menu Available Online Call Ahead for Curbside Pickup Snacks, Groceries, Beer & Wine (w/proper I.D.) www.AnaniasVariety.com
Congress Street Location
Washington Ave Location
774-8104
774-4639
1227 Congress St.
606 Washington Ave.
Delivery Available, Too!
www.AnaniasVariety.com
By Mary Alice Scott For many years, the Buy Local movement has focused its efforts on communicating the value of local businesses to individual towns and states. Collectively, organizations like Portland Buy Local have worked to change perceptions and prioritize local, independent businesses across the country. Especially we have tended to work on connecting consumers to local businesses and to encourage shopping local whenever possible. But the coronavirus pandemic has shown us the shortfalls of viewing “buy local” as primarily a marketing campaign. Across the country, people immediately and organically responded to the closing of local businesses by moving to support them through gift card purchases and other means. Unfortunately, that form of community support just can’t equate to a full month of sales, let alone two months. Maine is an entrepreneurial state, well-populated with small, local businesses; that’s great news for our economy in general—places with more local businesses have higher levels of civic engagement, a stronger middle class, and tend to me more economically resilient. But this pandemic has strengthened the largest of businesses and further disadvantaged the small, local businesses that make our communities vibrant.
nesses while they remained shuttered, and for a moment we thought that Congress had developed a plan that would work. Unfortunately, the CARES Act and its Paycheck Protection Program we’re severely underfunded, leading to restrictions on the terms of the funding. These restrictions ended up actually favoring businesses who remained open and operating rather than the small businesses who have been most impacted by the pandemic. On top of that, small businesses were forced to compete for the funding with large chain hotels and franchise restaurants, some of whom already had millions in the bank. The outlook for many local businesses is bleak right now. I just found out yesterday that one of my favorite local businesses is closing permanently. We still have the opportunity to help other local businesses make it through this crisis, but it will depend on policy and support from every level of government. Buying a few gift cards certainly won’t hurt, either.
Mary Alice Scott is Portland Buy Local Executive Director. Portland Buy Local quickly began to Discloser: Publisher Tony Zeli is president of advocate for grants to buoy local busi- the board of directors and a media partner.
BONUS PUZZLE
MORE PUZZLES ON PG. 14
Fresh Approach The West End’s Meat Market Celebrating 28 years in the neighborhood!
Fresh Meat, Groceries, Produce, Dairy, Wine & Beer, Bakery, Deli, Freshly Prepared Salads & Sandwiches, Lunch-2-Go, Seating Available
Save time & money with ready to go foods! M-F 8-7 Sat 9-7 Sun 9-5 155 Brackett Street 774-7250
Check out wholesale prices online freshapproachmarket.com
ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. WE ACCEPT EBT!
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
11
Stefanie Gill of IntWork Every Month Peloton Labs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for The West End News. This month Liz caught up with Stefanie Gill, the owner of IntWork, a Maine-based company that provides diversity staffing and outplacement to support Maine employers. You place a lot of skilled immiTell me a story about one of your grants. How did you happen to start placements. IntWork recruiting? In 2017, I saw an African man standMaine employers are always look- ing in the hallway at Maine Medical Center ing for talent, yet many employers don’t holding a broom. He had a remarkable enconnect with skilled diverse professionals. ergy to him. I introduced myself and asked IntWork fills the gap between these can- him who he was. He responded, “I’m a didates and Maine employers needing en- geophysicist.” gineering, tech, business, finance, HR, legal, Two years later, I was contacted by and operations talent. Maine’s immigrants a client who urgently needed geologists are 53% more likely to have an advanced for a major job working closely with the degree than the average Mainer (New U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I called the American Economy). geophysicist—and he stopped cleaning After years of making successful floors—and started cleaning the ocean placements pro-bono through MANA floor with a team of engineers. Inciden[Maine Association For New Americans], tally, this more than tripled his monthly in 2015 I recruited a team of immigrant pay. IntWork’s client was so happy with professionals and women business leaders his work, that, when they expanded, they to join me at “Startup Weekend - Wom- came back to me for more referrals. This en’s Edition” to develop a sustainable was a life changing experience for each business model. That collaborative effort candidate. And a life saver for my client. provided the basis for IntWork, launched You’re paid by the company, not at Startup Maine in 2018. the job seeker, right? How did you start working with Right. Employers pay for IntWork immigrants? staffing services. Some employers specifIn 1975, Maine’s first Vietnamese ically want a more diverse pool of candirefugees lived with my family for six full dates. Others just need skilled candidates months. After that, I grew up fascinated by to grow their company. I can help clients languages, and became fluent in Spanish, with outplacement during a downturn and French, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chi- hire again, as the economy picks up. nese. I later spent seven years redesigning In building a pipeline for employers, immigrant services across N.Y.C. hospitals I’ve become a recruiter “plus”: working to before returning to Maine to start a family. coach candidates nationwide on career Being multilingual in Maine has resulted in direction, taking steps towards licensure, many serendipitous interactions with imand developing marketable skill sets. migrants resulting in a diverse network of I’ve placed foreign and U.S. civil, elecindividuals. trical, mechanical engineers, computer sciSome people worry that immience/DevOps professionals, accountants, grants take jobs from locals, is that lawyers, geologists, scientists, and PhDs. true? How has Peloton Labs been useNo. There is a shortage of trained enful to you? gineering professionals in the U.S., particMy first event at Peloton Labs was ularly in Maine. Unless that gap is filled, it Startup Weekend in 2012. It’s a great comhurts the economy. When you hire a Formunity for meeting people and hosting eign-born STEM worker with an advanced meetings. Jodie Lapchick designed Intdegree, that creates, on average, 2.62 new Work’s logo. Peloton members have bejobs for locals. In fact, when a region excome IntWork clients. periences a diversity boom, it brings 6%+ higher wages for all (New American EconFMI omy). Watch Stefanie’s 5-minute TED-style What barriers do foreign trained professionals face in Maine, and how talk on “Hidden Immigrant Talent and the Skills Gap” at https://disrupthr.co/vimdo you help? eo-video/hidden-talent-the-skills-gap-steAcross Maine, immigrant professionfani-trice-gill-disrupthr-talks/. als are under-employed—despite their Learn how diversity grows the econskill and experience. I screen candidates for language skills, soft skills, and creden- omy in “The Riches of the Melting Pot: tials to identify those who can immediate- How Diversity in Metropolitan Areas ly enter professional-level high-demand Helps Grow the Wages of Low and Highjobs. I coach those who are only a step Wage Workers,” New American Economy, (2017), http://www.newamericaneconaway. omy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ One frequent barrier for enNAE_Diversity_FINAL.pdf. gineers—U.S. engineer and forAlso, “Immigration and Amereign-trained—is licensure. We guide candidates to prepare for the FE exam, ican Jobs,” by The American Enterbuilding a stronger local pipeline for the prise Institute & the New Immigrant (2012), https://research. engineering industry. We are looking for Economy more engineering employers to support newamericaneconomy.org/report/report-immigration-and-american-jobs/. these licensure efforts. PelotonLabs is a coworking space in the West End of Portland, Maine with a mission to connect and encourage people to manifest their visions without fear.
SERVING ORGANIC COFFEE & TEAS. LOCAL PASTRIES & FREE WI-FI
Offering free local delivery for Portland area customers. Simply order and pay online: homegrownherbandtea.com Or call (207) 774-3484.
12
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
CLIMATE JUSTICE
We’re All in This Together
Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard With COVID19 increasingly threatening industrial food supply chains, we need to consider other options for feeding ourselves.The Victory Gardens of WW II come to mind. Consider: the U.S. has lost 31 million acres of farmland over the last 20 years. Droughts, higher mean temperatures, globalized food supplies, and vulnerable wildlife (especially pollinators) also diminish food supplies, which create major challenges for poor and/or out-of-work folks. Rising food prices and empty grocery shelves warn of bigger problems to come. Growing some of our own food may be more important than ever.
BRIGHT IDEA: Buy fresh, locally grown foods. Fresh, locally grown foods are more nutritious and they’re far better for the planet. Patronizing farmer markets, participating in farm share programs, and purchasing from supermarkets selling local produce, supports our nearby farmers. By reducing our reliance on animal products, we can further lower our carbon footprints.
BRIGHT IDEA: Plant a garden. Getting your hands dirty gardening has untold rewards including a temporary respite from the daily travails of life.Vegetable gardening is a way to grow your own fresh food while flower gardening creates beautiful environments and helps threatened pollinators critical to our food supply. Clark Street Garden. -WEN file photo If you have the space to grow a garden from scratch, there are many options. A “lasagna” garden (also known as sheet mulching) can even be done on a hard driveway with no digging required. Some people grow tomatoes and other vegies in tubs on the porch, indoors under lights, or in south-facing windows. Window boxes are great for flowers but also good for mixing in a few vegetables.Whatever you do, enjoy the process and be creative. If you’re uncertain, confer with a more experienced friend or relative. CAUTIONARY NOTE: The land next to many of our urban homes is contaminated with lead and other substances. Be sure to have it tested before planting a food garden. Seeds, seedlings, and the other supplies you need are easy to come by. Check with local nurseries, hardware stores, or go online. In the spring, you can find a wide assortment of baby plants at farmer markets. It’s hard to find a better deal on seeds than from Fedco Seeds, a Maine-based coop, which offers a wide variety at very reasonable prices. Finally, consider converting your lawn into a wild flower garden to help pollinators and have an excuse to stop mowing! Remember that, while growing your own plants, you’re also sequestering carbon and producing oxygen. Let’s do everything possible to eat well while keeping our planet alive and vibrant. Bright Ideas is brought to you by Portland Climate Action Team which, during the pandemic, meets online the 4th Thursday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join in. FMI: portlandclimateaction@gmail.com.
WEST END LAUNDROMAT 88 Danforth Street (at High Street), Portland In Business 40 Years!
Full Service Wash, Dry & Fold Call for pick-up & delivery
Only $1.25 / lb.
2 Hour Turno ver!
EnRoads Climate Solutions Simulator allows anyone to see how climate policies might impact our future. (https://www.climateinteractive.org/tools/en-roads/) By Tamara Risser What if you woke up one day to find that all the fossil fuel powered cars, buses, and motorcycles had transformed overnight to become electric? Not only that, but transportation planners, employers, and health policy experts had collaborated on policies to reduce greenhouse gases and improve heath by creating a network of trails allowing residents to bike or walk to work and school. In this new world, commuters save money and fuel by parking at satellite parking lots and taking electric buses and light rail systems to work—on the days when they don’t work at home. Better health, cleaner air, and affordable transportation would be some of the side benefits of living in this world. What if there was a free online tool that allowed you to understand the impacts that these changes would have on temperature, greenhouse gases, ocean acidification, and sea level rise over the next 80 years? This model exists, the EnRoads Climate Solution Simulator (EnRoads) exists! EnRoads was developed by a Climate Interactive, an independent, notfor-profit think-tank based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. EnRoads has been used by the Congress, local community groups, the UN Secretary-General’s Office, and teachers (including Bill Nye the Science Guy) to analyze long-term results of different greenhouse gas reduction policies. Users create simulations and see what
works to address climate change, inequity, and related issues like energy, health, and food. EnRoads allows users to adopt policies that influence 18 different inputs that impact greenhouse gasses including: Energy Supply (coal, oil, natural gas, bioenergy, renewable, nuclear, carbon price); Transport (energy efficiency and electrification); Buildings and Industry (energy efficiency and electrification); Growth (population and economic); Land and Industry Emissions (deforestation and methane and other); and Carbon Removal (afforestation and technological). After working with the model, I have come to appreciate the unanticipated consequences of focusing on one policy area. For example, policies that only focus on clean energy technology and energy efficiency reduce energy costs and can actually increase demand for high carbon fuels. When policies that encourage the development of clean energy are joined by policies that discourage the use of high carbon fuels—such as carbon fees—real progress is achieved. Portland’s Citizens Climate Lobby supports carbon fees in the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (H.R. 763). To learn more about Enroads or HR 763 visit https://citizensclimatelobby.org/chapters/ME_Portland/. Tamara Risser is a Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteer.
Classic Barbershop Call Jo (207) 835-6022
Open 8:30 am - 8 pm Monday - Friday 8 am - 8 pm Sat & Sun 828-5400
192 State St. #101 · Portland, ME
WE ARE OPEN
dale rand
(Longfellow Square, West End)
PRI NTI NG
www.dalerandprinting.com • 207-773-8198
NEW LOCATION: 508 Riverside Street Portland, ME 04103
Please like us and follow
THE BROADER PICTURE PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SKY MAY 2020
3 Retrograde Planets in 4 Days
By Leo Knighton Tallarico
May and June are transitional months, Look for shifts with USA Military and/ which hopefully means we will be turn- or Police, as well as the wellbeing of Doning toward a new normal with the virus, ald Trump. which has been affecting so much else in Jupiter then goes Retrograde on our lives too. May 14th, so three planets go back But not necessarily, as these two Retrograde within four days of one months, most especially June, shake up the another. This Jupiter Retrograde posistatus quo in order to push us into new tion puts it almost exactly opposite the directions in July and August. June has two USA natal Pluto, which is symbolic of the eclipses and July has one—there are three Military Industrial Complex of the USA. in a row. Shake-ups of the stock market, economy, and military establishment are happening. Politically it would take tsunami waves of momentous change in order to Jupiter Retrograde puts Jupiter in the save the Trump presidency; not likely. spotlight of consciousness, so with Jupiter and Saturn and Venus all going Retrograde In June, the Summer Solstice Solar there are changing relationship fortunes Eclipse in Cancer is almost exactly conbetween countries, cultures, political parjunct Elizabeth Warren’s natal Sun. This ties, and/or religions. This time period means her identity and sense of purpose could show us potentially big shifts with will receive a big shake-up leading up to those groups. that date or just afterward. Seems like that could mean she is chosen to be the vice And this all before a new Eclipse Seapresident of Joe Biden. son begins in late May. Transformation is “swinging for the fences.” But so much has become rather unpredictable since COVID came so monOn May 20th the Sun moves strously into our lives. into Gemini. Then on May 22nd the Moon joins the Sun in Gemini, creAspects for June through January ating a New Moon in Gemini. Gemini 2021 strongly suggest powerful conflicts issues are around communication, learnerupting in our world, which could very ing and teaching, light sociability, and linear well mean war. We will talk much more thinking. During Gemini times, it is easy about this in June and July. for the mind to become over-loaded and scattered. Gemini has many interests and MAY 2020 much activity in the brain and nervous On May 7th there is Full Moon system. It loves to have puzzles to solve in Scorpio. This annual full moon and things to learn. is also called the Wesak Full Moon. Gemini also often has two very differMany say Buddha was born at that ent “voices” inside. Many people who exWesak Full Moon. The Sun in Taurus perience Gemini friends can see Gemini opposes the Moon in Scorpio at this shift from one way of thinking to another full moon. So often times there are tugstotally opposite way of thinking in short of war between holding the calm security order. (Taurus) versus strong desires to shake things up (Scorpio). Donald Trump is a Sun in Gemini perOn Monday May 11th Saturn son who shows much change of mind. moves from Direct to Retrograde. This New Moon in Gemini on Father Time lets us know that time May 22nd can also be seen as the beis running out, and that Fate will ginning of Eclipse Season, with the shift based on what decisions we first eclipse of three being on June make around this time. 5th: A Lunar Eclipse Full Moon in The following day on May 12th, Sagittarius at 15+ degrees of SagitVenus goes from Direct to Retro- tarius. grade. So, with Saturn and Venus This Eclipse Season will be especially both strongly in our consciousness powerful as it will show us more clearly now, the potential changing fate of the Direction of COVID-19. It will also relationships may be experienced or shake up the Presidential Election process; felt now. and will show us the condition of the CulVenus in Gemini will stay Retrograde ture War in America. Also, it will reveal to until June 25th. So, relationship issues will us the strong animosity between various need to be reexamined during this time countries in the world. and communication will be needed now At the same time, there is a strong more than usual. This is not only about movement toward bringing us all togethromantic relationships, but can also mean er, toward working together to heal our family issues, friends, work relationships, Earth and environment, toward experietc. encing how the COVID virus has shown During the Retrograde period of Ve- us how we are all members of the same nus, it is common to go over relationship human family. issues from past relationships. People will The darkness grows stronger, while come back to you either in-person, in at the same time the light of an Age of dreams, or waking memories. Aquarius grows stronger and stronger Venus is going Retrograde almost too. Out with the Old Age and in with a exactly conjunct the USA natal Mars and New Age. Death and Birth at the same Trump’s Sun opposition to his Moon. time. An exaggerated and dramatic view Trump was born on a Lunar Eclipse Full of the true Human Condition. Moon.
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
13
An Emotionally Intelligent Response to Crisis By Michael Stern As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt lives, communities, and economies, the uncertainty inevitably triggers our “fight or flight” response. This is normal and may even be beneficial in certain situations. But remaining in a hyper-activated state for too long is neither healthy nor helpful. Using the skills of Emotional Intelligence can help us connect more deeply with ourselves and others and enable us to come through the ordeal with more insight, empathy, and resilience than we had before.
Michael Stern (www.IntegralAlignment. com) is a certified Emotional Intelligence coach whose mission is to support others in creating a better life and a more beautiful world.
Reach out to the people you care about, and who care about you, and let them know you are thinking of them. OfSelf-Awareness (Reflection) fer your support where you can and ask Our habits and routines have been for support when you need it. Summon forcefully interrupted. While this can be the courage to be vulnerable and respond uncomfortable and disorienting, it is also to others with compassion. an opportunity to step back and consider essential questions that may get over- Adaptability (Correction) looked when things are going well. Our nervous systems, immune sysSome questions I’ve been asking my- tems, and social systems are being overwhelmed. Just as these systems have a self recently include: tendency to self-correct, we must also take • What is most important to me? meaningful action to course-correct. How much does my life truly reflect my values? We are being forced to evolve as the world rapidly changes. Mindfulness-based • What is actually within my circle of emotional intelligence helps us identify control or influence? choices and make wise decisions, so we • When I look back on this moment can adapt and thrive in the face of adverat the end of my life, how do I sity. want to remember the way that I showed up? A Silver Lining
Empathy (Connection) Social distancing measures increase our risk of feeling isolated. But physical interaction and meaningful social connection are not the same thing. One of the best ways to regulate our emotions and make sense of the situation is to share our experience with others.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused incredible suffering.Yet, the upside of a crisis is that what is essential in life becomes clear, and people can rediscover their shared humanity. With courage and compassion, we make the best of it, and create new possibilities for healing and growth for ourselves and the people around us. We are all in this together.
I will be leading a Webinar on May 9th at 1:30 PM EDT that will last till about 3 p.m. It costs $20 and will be on Zoom. I will be talking about the greater meaning of these times and look astrologically at the Astrology natal charts of the USA, Trump, Israel, Iran, the Stock Market and more. Please write me at soulus@aol. com to register and for more infor- Leo Knighton Tallarico is an astrological and mation. spiritual guide with 30 years of experience. His specialties are counseling for those in the Till next month, process of change or crisis and couples counseling for all kinds of relationship. To contact Leo Leo please email soulus@aol.com.
Offering European artisan and traditional American breads, rolls, and pastries fresh daily.
207-767-5900
904B Broadway, South Portland
Tu, We, Fr: 7:30am - 4pm | Sa: 8am - 1pm
Also available at these local stores: Micucci Grocery 45 India St, Portland Free Range Fish & Lobster 450 Commercial St, Portland Pat’s Meat Market
484 Stevens Ave, Portland
14
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
PUZZLE PAGE
Gardening Trivia 1. Holland’s Keukenhof Gardens contain over 800 varieties of what family of flower, for which the region is famous? 2. Over 6 million people visit the Gardens at Versailles every year, which were first planted for what French king? 3. Archeologists in Amherst, MA have been working to restore the gardens of what reclusive poet, who wrote “Hope is the thing with feathers”? 4. Among the voices who encouraged Americans to grow home gardens during World War II was what African-American agricultural scientist and inventor famous for his 105 peanut recipes?
Our live quizzes are currently on hiatus! Find us on Facebook and Instagram: @bestworsttrivia
Find the answers online at thewestendnews.com/puzzle-solutions!
Words In Words By Rosanne Graef
How many words can you make from the letters in the phrase? Words must have at least 4 letters, plurals don’t count, and no proper nouns, abbreviations, or foreign words not commonly used in English.
“A host of golden daffodils” -from “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth
GOLD=150 words | SILVER=125 words | BRONZE=100 words BONUS=How many flower names can you make?
Cast Iron Skillet Fried Chicken Korean Style Wings Buttermilk Biscuits Soups, Salads and Daily Specials
TEMPORARY Takeout is open Tuesday-Saturday HOURS
11am-8pm Tuesday-Saturday Closing for the season 3pm-8pm on December 23 Thank you for understanding.
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Travel Ambassador Photo Competition By Nancy Dorrans I hope you are all well and adapting to your new routines in this unprecedented crazy time. Like many of you, I am missing out on travel adventures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even planning ahead now seems unproductive, but I am cultivating optimism. One day, or day one, we will be ready to travel again. How about you?
TRAVEL DREAMS I’ve been daydreaming about traveling, recalling places I’ve been and adventures yet to come. Looking over travel photos brings me joy, and I have hope. Reaching out and sharing stories with friends and family has been therapeutic! How grateful I am to have these photos, memories to savor, and people to share them with. What does it mean to savor the moment? Savor: To taste or smell, especially with pleasure, to appreciate fully; enjoy or relish? My travel memories are all this and more. I was born with a taste for travel. When I was quite young, I started collecting Madame Alexander dolls dressed in traditional clothing from countries around the world. Geography, maps, and the early explorers during the Age of Discovery were my heroes.TV shows took me places: “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” “The Undersea World of Jacque Cousteau,” and “The Love Boat.” My childhood did not take me very far from my own backyard, but I knew I wanted to travel.
My grandparents were from Scotland and I vowed at an early age to go there with my grandmother. Looking back, I don’t know why I struggled with anxiety over what I was going to be when I grew up. Turns out, it wasn’t about what I was going to be. I was going places. My career in the travel industry started in 1982 at the dawn of airlines’ deregulation… and a job in travel was the best fuel. So many opportunities to travel came my way and I am forever grateful.
15
SIGNING OFF, FROM TN
As for me, I write to you from East Tennessee, near Knoxville. I’ve been here since the middle of March, staying with my 86-year-old father and next door to my sister and her husband, their 2 dogs, 23 chickens, and a few beehives. I’m grateful to be here with my family, enjoying the spring weather, resurrecting my mother’s flower gardens, learning about bees, eating well, playing Pinochle (my father wins most evenings), Zooming with friends, doing puzzles, collecting eggs, baking, yoga, PHOTO COMPETITION and listening to the songs and tributes to To celebrate our past experiences John Prine. and discoveries in travel, Adventure MarWe continue to draw strength from ketplace is running a friendly, uplifting adventure travel photo contest. This is your our communities, colleagues, family, opportunity to become an Adventure friends, and neighbors (be it virtually) especially in challenging times.Thank you for Marketplace “Travel Ambassador.” your continued support which makes my Pour over your photos from your world a better place! Take good care of past adventures, whether you booked yourselves and each other. and/or traveled with me or not. Then, send me the best picture (email to nancy@adventure-marketplace.com) with a few words explaining where you were and what you were doing… Such as: “meeting It’s true, travel apps new friends on The Great Wall of China in 2008” or “a beach picnic on our first can do some of the Women Walking & Wine Adventure on things a travel Praia de Adraga, Sintra, Portugal, May consultant does. 2019.” I will share the top 10 “Favorite Photos” on my Adventure Marketplace Facebook page and the winner will be highlighted in the my next WEN travel column as part of an uplifting campaign to remember the good times and to look forward to better times ahead, when we can be together and travel together again.
THE WEST END NEWS | MAY 2020
Nancy Dorrans is a West End resident and independent travel agent at Adventure Marketplace.
There is at least one very important difference...
THE WEST END NEWS Published by Zeli Enterprises, LLC 795 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04102 www.thewestendnews.com thewestendnews@gmail.com Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Rick Ness, Sales Printed in Maine by Lincoln County Publishing Co.
ALL SALES INQUIRIES Contact Rick Ness 207-577-7025 rickthewestendnews@gmail.com
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in our pages belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to the publication.
VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure James Fereira, The Portland Palate Dr. Oren Gersten, Beyond 7 Minutes Rosanne Graef, La Vida Local Michael Stern, Emotional Intelligence Leo Knighton Tallarico, Astrology Layne Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig
Thank you for contributions from Tamara Risser, Citizens' Climate Lobby Dr. Michael Duffy, Northern Light Mercy Mary Alice Scott, Portland Buy Local Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonLabs & Portland Climate Action Team Thank you for reading!
16
THE WEST END NEWS
MAY EDITION 2020
THE DUMPSTER
WHERE WE THROW ALL THE STUFF WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH…
EL CORAZÓN MEXICAN RESTAURANT
DELICIOUS AUThENTIC MEXICAN fOOD fROM ThE hEART PREPARED fRESh DAILy TO ORDER
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with take-out from your favorite local Mexican restaurant! Open Tues.-Thurs. 11am-9pm Fri.-Sat. 11am-10pm Sun. 11am-9pm Portland, Maine | Across from Longfellow Square FULL MENU AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOUT INCLUDING ICE COLD MEXICAN BEERS: DOS EQUIS, MODELO, SOL, TECATE... OUR FAMOUS HOUSE MARGARITA MIX IS AVAILABLE FOR TAKE-OUT W/O ALCOHOL CALL (207) 536-1354 Tacos – Burritos – Quesadillas – Enchiladas – Sopes – Pozole – Goat Birria – Fajitas – Cocteles de Marisco – Chile Rellenos – Carne Asada – Lamb Shanks in Adobo & much more. DELIVERY AVAILABLE THROUGH
190 State Street – Portland, Maine 04101 www.elcorazonportland.com (207) 536-1354 “To know how to eat is to know enough”
The American Lung Association’s Trek Across Maine gets innovative and goes virtual with riders cycling on their own and recording their miles with fitness trackers… Maine Craft Distilling pivots to hand sanitizer production and donates the product to more than 30 shelters… ecomaine holds Hauler Appreciation Day two months early to recognize waste collection workers’ increased efforts during the pandemic… Somerville Moose-turd artist Mary Winchenbach gets her own reality show called Tirdy Works airing Tuesdays on truTV… Nancy Dorrans spends a few weeks playing Pinochle, listening to John Prine songs, and feeding 23 chickens while staying with her family in Tennessee… A recent demographic study shows Maine has the oldest population in the nation with more than one in five over the age of 65… Maine youth strike remotely via conference call to organize for climate justice and celebrate the 50th Earth Day… Valentine’s Day bandit visits local hospitals to show the love to our health care workers….......................................
