NOVEMBER 2020.VOL. 20, NO. 11. PORTLAND, MAINE.
COVID-19 MEMORIAL
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
CLIMATE JUSTICE FEATURE
Toxic Stench in the West End
West End residents plan a temporary memorial for Cumberland County residents who have died from Covid-19. Turn to Page 7 for details.
Tanker offloading oil at South Portland tank farm (view from Harbor View Park). Residents report smelling fumes from as far away as Portland's West End neighborhood. -Photo by Tony Zeli
Author Espahbad Dodd lives on State Street in the West End. He is a member of the Portland Climate Action Team.
By Espahbad Dodd The air smells like petroleum or burning rubber. Is it safe to breathe? That’s what people in South Portland and Portland’s West End want to know.
Above, an example of the temporary Covid-19 memorial planned for Longfellow Square. The public may leave small remembrances like flowers, stones, shells, or poems. More on Page 7.
INSIDE THIS EDITION Page 3 Munjoy Hill residents team up to build housing Page 5 Reader opinion on Portland ReCode
The smells may contain VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) coming from the South Portland tank farms – including those of Global and Sprague. Among the toxic, airborne chemicals emitted are Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Toluene, and Xylene, all of which irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin to varying degrees. Headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting are common reactions. Benzene, odorless, can be cancer-causing. Such fumes can be especially dangerous to the health of children, the elderly, and those living in close proximity. Several schools, daycare facilities, and housing for the elderly are nearby.
Zuckerman of Protect South Portland told the South Portland City Council last year. “Can we look them in the eyes and tell them that it doesn’t matter? Their health is the price we expect them to pay to support the status quo of doing business? Don’t we all have the basic right to breathe healthy air?”
Fumes Reach West End
to bed at night, so that she can close her windows if necessary. Some of the tanks may be emitting as much as twice the amount of dangerous emissions than their licenses allow. In fact, the EPA has found that the heated tanks have the potential to emit more than 50 tons of VOCs, in violation of Global’s existing permit, which allows for only 21.9 tons. Both Global and Sprague have been fined for underreporting emissions. Global has agreed to minor modifications, and a draft consent decree with Sprague calls for the same.
As one of the largest volume oil ports on the Eastern Seaboard, South Portland is the home of 120 tanks which store petroleum products including asphalt and bunker fuel (a thick, sludge-like kind of oil) which has to be heated to keep from Emissions Monitoring hardening. Depending on wind directions, Since an emission monitoring profumes from tanks carry over the river into gram began more than a year ago, Protect Portland’s West End. South Portland wants to see Global’s facilI find the smell overwhelming some- ity reclassified as a “major source emitter.” times when I walk through West End That would subject it to more rigorous “More than 1,500 of our children Cemetery. And West End resident Pame- regulations and stricter pollution stanattending schools near the tank farms la Shaw takes the added precaution of dards. CONT'D ON PG. 17 are being exposed every day,” Roberta checking wind directions before she goes
Page 8 Wine suggestions for your Virtual Thanksgiving Page 10 Dining out for Thanksgiving? What’s open and what’s not Page 20 Thanksgiving Trivia, Crossword, Sudoku & more!
Page 4… What a piece of trash! Ideas for re-using campaign litter
Page 17… Is it big enough to make the BIG Trees List?
Page 18… Learn how sauna use decreases risk of heart attack
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
OUR READERS
Little Witch A nice little witch lives in our town On Halloween night she comes around
SUBMISSIONS
She’ll knock once and say “Trick or treat” Just give her some candy because she’s so sweet It’s my little granddaughter dressed up so cute She’s a friendly little witch in her Halloween suit
Thanksgiving Thanks is the reason we gather this way To count our blessings on Thanksgiving Day If you’re happy and healthy you have a full plate Send up a small prayer your tummy can wait Blessed are the families that gather this day Thanksgiving blessings are coming our way -Poems by Elaine M. Carver, West End
WEN is a community newspaper and we need your voice! You may share your submissions with thewestendnews@gmail.com or send to: The 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 700 words and include a brief biography of 1-2 sentences. • WEN also accepts poetry, cartoons, 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 sharing your voice!
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Munjoy Hill Residents Team Up to Build Affordable Housing Eight Munjoy Hill residents, fed up with soaring housing prices, are fighting back with a non-traditional housing development in Portland. Led by long-time Hill resident and energy efficiency-focused building contractor, Joshua Wojcik, the residents broke ground over the weekend on their new homes, a project which includes six net zero capable units – including the neighborhood’s first workforce housing unit created under the Munjoy Hill Conservation Overlay District ordinance. “Typically, a developer will come in, build a condo for as little as possible, and then seek out the wealthiest buyers they can find – which often excludes those of us who actually live and work here,” said Wojcik. “We are a tight knit community and we’re tired of seeing our friends and neighbors leave because they’ve been priced out of the place they helped make so special. The Conservation Overlay ordinance has reduced the pace of super luxe developments, but it left the door open for innovative projects like this.” Bets Helming, a Hill resident who rents, could not be more excited about joining this project. The retired schoolteacher loves living on the Hill and has been looking for a home to call her own, to no avail. “I tried for many properties, but the prices and red tape were too much. I’d just about given up,” said Helming. “This project is the difference between me afford-
In every season of change, we’re here to help.
128R North St. Group Photo - L to R: Sage Friedman, Bets Helming, Katharine Wojcik, Joshua Wojick holding their daughter. -Photo courtesy of Josh Wojcik ably living in my own Munjoy Hill home where I can age in place or moving to an entirely new community that I can afford.” Over the past decade, Munjoy Hill has become one of Portland’s most expensive neighborhoods. In August alone, Maine saw a 17% increase in property sales due to the influx of people escaping Covid-19. The Hill is no exception. The group is pooling their financial resources together to fund the project, which includes the first workforce housing unit created under the new Conservation Overlay, which allows developers to build a fourth story if they can create a workforce unit. The previous home on the property was demolished after an antiquated plumbing system failed and flooded the house. The damage was extensive and exposed other issues that made a remodel of the existing property financially unfeasible.
Police are investigating two incidents that occurred an hour apart and within a few blocks of each other in Portland’s West End neighborhood. Both involved a male with a similar description and operating a similarly described car.
A short time later, just after 8:00 p.m., Police received a second 911 call from a 37-year-old female that called to report as she was walking on Brackett Street toward Spring Street that she noticed a vehicle following her. She told officers that On Sunday, October 25th, just after the male driver called out to her from an 7:00 p.m., police were called to the area open window to try and get her attenof 32 Thomas Street for the report of a tion. When she ignored him and took out woman being assaulted. An area resident her cellphone to make a call, he made a called 911 to report hearing someone U-turn and then drove back toward Maine screaming and calling for help. Respond- Medical Center. ing officers found a 34-year-old Portland She described the driver as a black woman who had been attacked and was male approximately 30 to 40 years-old suffering from injuries to her face. and possibly being bald. He was driving a The woman told officers that she gray or silver Toyota Camry with a Texas had been walking on Thomas Street near paper registration plate. Police remind residents to always be aware of your surroundings, stay in welllit areas, and try to walk in groups when possible. The victims in these cases both quickly identified the threat. Unfortunately, the first victim was attacked so quickly she couldn’t do anything to separate herself from the attacker. In this case, Police say it was fortunate that an area resident heard the attack and called 911.
In most situations, Police recommend trying to separate yourself from the threat by changing directions, crossing the street, or entering an open business. If those opThe suspect is described as a black tions aren’t available, you should try to get male in his 30’s wearing a dark colored the attention of other people in the area knit cap. He was driving a light-colored or call 911. older model Toyota sedan. The victim said If anyone has any information that he appeared intoxicated and spoke with could help Police solve this crime, please an accent. call (207) 874-8575. The victim suffered minor facial injuries and was treated at the scene by Portland Fire & EMS.
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Compassionate & Innovative Memory Care
Memory Care
Woman Assaulted and Another Followed in West End
Carroll Street when she noticed a vehicle following her. The operator opened a passenger side window and asked for directions and then offered her a ride. When she refused, he got out of his car, walked up to her, and punched her in the face several times knocking her to the ground. Witnesses said it looked like he was trying to drag her to his car. He got back into his vehicle and drove away on Carroll Street toward Vaughan Street.
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
(207) 878-0788 FallbrookWoods.com Portland
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OPINION
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life
What a Pile of Trash! By Rosanne Graef By the time you read this, the 2020 elections will finally be history. But much of the physical detritus from the campaigns will linger on: the flyers, door hangers, palm cards, yard signs and their metal holders, all the instant trash that campaigns generate in ever-increasing quantities every election cycle. This waste is true for candidates especially.Who really believes that anyone seeing thirty identical signs in the Franklin Street median is going to suddenly say to themselves, “Oh, yes, Peter Promise and Rhonda Reassurance, those are the politicians for me!”? Hundreds of millions of dollars are thrown away on this advertising orgy in the hope that someone who has voted repeatedly for whatever cult they follow is going to jump ship. Figure the odds. Little other than devoted loyalty to a particular brand of toothpaste is stronger than people’s determination to hold fast to their already established political opinions and theories. Why donate money to enable the production and distribution of all this junk that folks glance at for ten seconds and heave? The election campaign industrial complex is taking us all for a ride while campaign managers, consultants, strategists, and printers laugh all the way to the bank. At the very least, these campaigns
Rosanne Graef lives in the West End and is a regular volunteer contributor. Email: lavidalocalwen@gmail.com.
need to show some memorable imagination. If they’re going to send junk to people’s mailboxes and hang it on doors, make the pitch with something useful, clever, beautiful, or funny. Wouldn’t you rather have a yo-yo with your candidate’s face spinning around and around while you “walk the dog,” or a paper fan inviting you to “Keep Cool with Coolidge” (actual slogan of his 1924 campaign) that you can wave around on a hot August afternoon? Advertisements that have usefulness beyond the immediate moment of messaging and that reinforce the disposable, wasteful society that we’ve become need to become the hallmarks of forward-thinking, innovative, responsible candidates. Just because others have swamped us with socalled “campaign literature” doesn’t mean it’s the only way to go. Why be like all the other kids?
West Ender Rosanne Graef has suggestions for the creative re-use of this season’s campaign litter. -Photo of toppled Mayor Strimling re-election campaign sign by Tony Zeli, 2019
Cardboard yard signs can be reused. Get in touch with the candidate and see if they’ll take it back. Some of these folks run year after year and could prove their sense of fiscal responsibility by reusing them. Signs that are a combination of plastic and paper are problematic for recycling but can be repurposed to make another sign or perhaps a display board for a school project or science fair exhibit.
The metal stands can be taken to scrap metal recycling at Riverside, or they In the meantime, though, what to do can make good plant supports for beans, with all the campaign trash you’re facing sweet peas, etc. now? Use your imagination and try to get If it’s paper, recycle it. If it’s a filmy at least three to four more jobs done plastic like some signs are now, it will not with these materials before you throw be recyclable curbside; but you may be them away – remember there really is no able to take it to a plastic bag recycler. “away.”
SUBMIT YOUR OPINION Share your opinion with the editor. Email thewestendnews@gmail.com or mail to: The 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/town, and phone or email for confirmation. Op-eds should be no more than 700 words. 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.
Letters to the Editor
Vote No on Portland’s Question E It was very disappointing to read the paper’s story about the referenda on the city ballot this November. Most of all, I was disappointed that your paper spoke to People First Portland but didn’t reach out to any of the West End homeowners or business owners who will be deeply and negatively affected by the group’s attempt to eliminate shortterm rentals in Portland.
wise. We have lived a modest life, worked, and have not had high paying jobs, and we were hoping it would supplement to our social security income in our retirement, which is near, allowing us to keep up with our property taxes that have risen dramatically over the years and are due to rise more soon.
Director: AARP Does NOT Endorse
As we get closer to Election Day, the number and intensity of attack ads continues to grow. Unfortunately, I continue to see political ads that mention AARP and imply a candidate’s endorsement here in Maine. I want to be clear on this: AARP is entirely nonpartisan.We do NOT endorse or oppose candidates or political parties! We do not give money to candidates and we do not have a Political Action Committee to support any candidate or party. We focus on the issues important to older Americans and encourage all candidates to voice their positions on those issues, so that all voters know exactly what candidates will do if elected.
The people who visit and stay with us typically are not wealthy, either. But by staying at a lower cost accommodation I hope readers of your paper will take than the typical Portland hotel, they are more care when they cast their ballots and able to get away for a few days and eat read the full language of Question E. You at our restaurants, visit the museum, ride have to read all of it, because unlike the the ferries to the islands, and shop in the summary on the ballot, the full language Old Port. They support our city’s small makes it clear that, if passed, the new rules businesses and the jobs those businesses What issues are those? Social Securiwill virtually eliminate all short term rent- provide. ty for one. It is our bread-and-butter issue, als in the city – either by grouping most and for many of our members, it is literPeople First Portland, whether out of ally their bread and butter. Social Security under the deceptive label of “non-owner occupied” or implementing exorbitant an- youthful inexperience or willful misrep- must be preserved, especially for the alresentation, imply that short-term rental most 25% of Maine beneficiaries 65+ who nual fees. owners are greedy developers. depend on Social Security for 90 percent My family occupies the three-unit of their income. The truth is, most of us are, like them, property that we rent — one unit is a traWhat else do we fight for? Protectditional rental, one is a short-term rental, just trying to get by. ing and strengthening Medicare, which and one is our home. Even so, we do not I hope people will understand this provides affordable health care for almost qualify as owner occupied. If this passes, 300,000 older Mainers. Hard-working we will not be able to continue to rent and decide to vote no on Question E. Mainers pay into the program their entire one of our units as a short-term rental. Let’s get past this and urge our comworking lives and are guaranteed coverWhy do we choose to rent one of munity leaders to come up with real solu- age that help make health care accessible our apartments as a short term rental? tions to Portland’s housing issues. and affordable. The extra income we make has been an Along with Medicare, we are fighting -Kathryn Buxton, Portland extra that has helped us make essential to lower prescription drug prices. Too improvements to the property and put many Mainers struggle to afford their our daughter through college. That is life-saving medications while the pharsomething we could not have done other-
maceutical companies line their pockets. While we have made progress in Augusta, we need Washington to do more to reduce out of control drug prices. How do we win on those issues? Through the power of our members’ votes. Voting is what counts. We stand by our members and fight for issues important to those ages 50+ and their families. We are not just bipartisan. We are nonpartisan. We fight for issues, not candidates. We make sure candidates know about the issues that our members passionately care about and we will work with any elected official who will fight for these issues, too. And our members vote. In 2016, over 80 percent of Mainers 65+ voted compared to the national average of 71 percent. As you can see, our members are serious about making their voices heard. About the ads I mentioned above? We issued news releases and contacted the candidate’s campaigns to let everyone know that the ad was produced without the knowledge or consent of AARP. If you see a political ad showing the AARP logo or implying our endorsement of a candidate, contact us a me@aarp.org. We need to know so we can preserve our independence as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that fights for age 50+ Mainers. -Lori Parham, AARP Maine State Director
OPINION
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
READER OP-ED
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The Banality of Segregation: Why Zoning Matters By Zack Barowitz Until recently, there has not been much conversation about how land policy is used as an instrument of white supremacy nor the violence and economic harm that it causes to African American and other disadvantaged groups. But when the Donald Trump tweets out to “suburban housewives of America” that Biden “will destroy your neighborhood and your American Dream,” he is playing on a long history of racial segregation that has been codified in our land use ordinances. Sadly, Portland is no exception. (The good news is that we now have an opportunity to begin to right some of these wrongs – but more on that later.) We see evidence of this history locally in the disappearance of African American communities in Munjoy Hill and the West End (now called St. John Valley). The demolition of Union Station Plaza, which was the employment center for African Americans, paved the way for the demolition of African American homes for the building of I-295. The construction of I-295 likewise corresponded to the depopulation of Portland, as white families moved to the suburbs and became commuters. The chief lobbyist involved in the American Highway Act recalled that local officials across the county welcomed the building of urban highways “to get rid of the local ‘[n-word]town.’”
Zack Barowitz is a Portland resident. He serves on the steering committee for Portland Yimby.
lic housing policies that require the poor to remain poor in order to maintain their housing. These policies have no justifiable rationale but are nevertheless taken for granted as normative when in fact this is not normal. As a result, the wealth-gap between African American and white American is 90%, far in excess of the already sizable income gap. should count toward the requirements. Fortunately, Portland has the opportunity right now to begin to right (some of) these wrongs with the rewriting of its land use code: the ReCode is the implementation of the 2017 Comprehensive Plan.
The first phase of the ReCode is in front of the city council. Sadly, the city council is not considering the elimination of single family zoning or setting maximum parking requirements, but they are looking at two seemingly mundane but important aspects of the code: Parking Requirements and so-called “in-law apartments” or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). While some positive changes have been proWhile policies of racial segregation posed, the council can amend the recomand discrimination are unconstitutional, mendations and make the new ordinances they live on to this day. A good source of have an impact. examples may be found in the land use (or For example, they should remove “zoning”) code of any municipality. suburban parking standards for all uses loThese policies include such innocuous cated within 1/4 mile of transit corridors sounding terms as lot size, setbacks, park- (the current draft proposes to remove ing requirements, historic designations, them only for multi-family housing). Parkheight limits, design standards, use re- ing requirements drive up costs, erode strictions, household definitions, etc. They walkability, and dramatically reduces the are reinforced by tax assessments (higher square footage of buildings in favor of large for homes in black neighborhoods), real parking lots. And for new housing outside estate appraisals (lower for black-owned of the 1/4-mile radius of transit, off-street homes), “rent to own” schemes, and pub- parking directly in front of the property
Reader commentary on Portland ReCode, the implementation of the 2017 Comprehensive Plan, and the opportunities it may present to address the mistakes of the past.
As a long term goal, City officials should work to read through the entire code to identify and eliminate those policies that are designed to limit housing and favor people of greater means and lighter skin over the poor and people of color.
Anytime there is a policy that favors homeowners over renters – or single-family vs multi-unit – that policy directly favors rich over poor, white over black, and old over young. As such, the recommendations for ADUs should be amended in the To find out more about the Portfollowing ways: land ReCode check the blog at • Remove the current owner occupancy yimbyportlandme.com. requirement that a house that has an ADU cannot be renteroccupied. This is clearly discriminatory. • Remove the square foot limitation for ADUs created within existing buildings. The square footage will be unnoticeable to anyone but the residents. • Allow 3 ADUs per property in no more than 2 structures. This might seem like a lot of new units (which is of course a good thing) but if you have a big house with a large 2-car garage you can add an ADU in the main It just doesn’t make sense that housing cars is a house and convert the big garage into two more units. permitted use, but housing people is illegal. -Photo by Zack Barowitz
We Need Public Funding for Cultured-Meat Research By Jon Hochschartner The federal government should invest money into cultured-meat research. For those unaware, cultured meat is grown from cells, without slaughtering animals. It will benefit human health, the environment, and animal welfare. Development of this revolutionary technology is too important — and too urgent — to leave to the private sector. Dr. Mark Post created the first cultured-beef hamburger in 2013. It cost a whopping $280,000. Soon he thinks that price could be reduced to $10. Still, more research is required to make cultured meat economically viable. The health benefits of this new form of protein are clear. Unlike slaughtered meat, which is processed in filthy abattoirs, cultured meat is produced in a sterile environment. It’s not pumped full of artificial growth hormones and unnecessary antibiotics. Of course, the latter helps create antibiotic resistance in bacterial disease.
“Both farmed and caged wild animals create the perfect breeding ground for zoonotic diseases,” Liz Specht wrote for Wired. “Extraordinarily high population densities, prolonged heightened stress levels, poor sanitation, and unnatural diets create a veritable speed-dating event for viruses to rendezvous with a weakened “Scientific evidence demonstrates human host and transcend the species that overuse of antibiotics in animals can barrier.” contribute to the emergence of antibiotic The environmental benefits of culresistance,” said Dr. Kazuaki Miyagishima of the World Health Organization. “The tured meat are also noteworthy. The volume of antibiotics used in animals is greenhouse gas emissions, freshwater, continuing to increase worldwide, driven and land required to produce it are a tiny by a growing demand for foods of animal fraction of those necessary to raise liveorigin, often produced through intensive stock. Meanwhile, since cultured meat is produced in a closed system, there is no animal husbandry.” runoff of agricultural waste into rivers and We’re currently living through a glob- oceans. al crisis caused by a zoonotic virus known “Livestock are one of the most signifas Covid-19. In recent years, we’ve seen a number of diseases make the leap from icant contributors to today’s most serious animals to humans. You might know some environmental problems,” said Henning of them as bird flu or swine flu. Cultured Steinfeld of the United Nations’ Food and meat removes such risk from food pro- Agriculture Organization. “Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.” duction. Jon Hochschartner is the author of a number of books about animal-rights history. He thinks the first two Strokes albums are pretty much perfect. Visit his website at HochschartnerBlog.wordpress.com.
Finally, the benefits to animal welfare derived from cultured meat should be obvious. There is no debeaking, forced molting, or mechanized slaughter. There are no battery cages, gestation crates, or livestock trucks. All of these can be relegated to a less kind, less enlightened past. “The fate of farm animals is not an ethical side issue,” Yuval Noah Harar wrote in The Guardian. “It concerns the majority of Earth’s large creatures: tens of billions of sentient beings, each with a complex world of sensations and emotions, but which live and die on an industrial production line.” The federal government can accomplish incredible things when it chooses. It helped defeat Nazism and put a man on the Moon. I have no doubt that with a comparatively small investment in cultured-meat research, we could do amazing things for human health, the environment and animal welfare.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
WHAT'S GOING ON
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Positive
Community News
At The West End News, we promise to present solutions, cover stories of neighbors coming together, deemphasize the controversy, and clearly present the facts. And most importantly we will give readers relevant information that is helpful to their day-to-day lives. That is what we mean by positive community news.
WHAT'S GOING ON
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
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COMMUNITY EVENTS NOVEMBER 2020 West End Halloween Parade Cancelled Sat. Oct. 31 – Event Cancelled
De to concerns that a gathering could help spread Covid-19, lead organizers have cancelled the annual West End Halloween Parade. There are no permits and no insurance for a formal event this year. But expect the parade to return as soon as Halloween 2021.
Your Thanksgiving Table: An event sponsored by BRAVO Maine Wed., Nov. 25, 6-8pm, Fork Food Lab, $80
Your Thanksgiving Table: An event sponsored by BRAVO Maine will be held on Wednesday, November 25th, 6 to 8 p.m. Location is Fork Food Lab, 72 Parris Street, Portland. For more information call 207-415-4482 or email contact@bravo“We will try to compensate for this maine.com. Cost: $80 per person. next year with a big Halloween parade At Bravo Maine, we want the cooking and celebration!” said parade organizer classes to be a fun entertainment occaWynne Wirth. sion, and all our classes are hands-on. Be
Literary (Late) Lunch Series: Wine Maniacs with WEN’s Layne Witherell Thu., Nov. 12, 7-8pm,Virtual event, $20 Join Portland Public Library and Print: A Bookstore in virtual conversation – and for a special wine tasting! – with WEN’s volunteer contributor and wine author Layne Witherell. Layne’s memoir, “Wine Maniacs: Life in the Wine Biz” was recently released in a new edition. “Wine Maniacs” is an all-too-honest account of Layne Witherell’s 30 years in the wine business, recently updated for 2020.
ready for Thanksgiving and cook with us the following dishes to bring home. Each guest will cook for 6 servings: Applejack Giblet Gravy, Cape Cod Cranberry sauce, Sauté Vegetables and Herbs for the stuffing, Gingerbread cake. Your safety is our priority: 8 guests maximum per class with social distancing and PPE. We provide gloves, masks, hair net, and hand sanitizer. There is free parking on-site.
Out of the Blue Wine Tasting Live Stream with Layne Witherell & OHNO Café Fri., Nov. 27, 6-7pm,Virtual event
Watch this live stream live on Blue’s Facebook page! Order your 4 pack of wine from OhNo Cafe at Ohnocafe. com. Four packs can be picked up from OhNo or delivered straight to your door. Layne has been in the wine business This special 4 pack is available from now since the 1970’s. In that time, he has tasted until the day of the live stream so make many thousands of wines. As an import- sure to order quickly! er, wholesaler, retailer, wine judge, winThis month’s wine pack includes: ery CEO, radio talk show host, and wine Oveja Negra Sauvignon Blanc/Carmeneteacher – he has lived it all. Layne is also a re, Ranga Ranga Sauvignon Blanc, Las Bas columnist for The West End News. Merlot, Oveja Cabernet Franc/CarmeneQuestions? Contact events@print- re. bookstore.com. Register at https://www. Go to ohnocafe.com to order beer printbookstore.com/event/witherell1120. and wine deliveries. Cost: $20.
We Are Open!
Monday - Friday 8 - 4
Saturday 9 - 4
CUMBERLAND COUNTY COVID-19 MEMORIAL Fri. and Sat., Nov. 27-28, 7am – 7pm, Longfellow Square The West End News is teaming up with neighbors to create a temporary memorial for Cumberland County residents who have died from Covid-19. During the days following Thanksgiving, we ask the public to leave small remembrances – flowers, stones, shells – around flags with handwritten notes recording the date and number of residents who died from Covid-19. The impetus for the memorial began with WEN volunteer contributor Rosanne Graef. She was distressed by the lack of significant memorial event or storytelling project locally to remember those we have lost. She said that here in Maine, “people who have been victims of the pandemic seemed to die in anonymity, reported only as data points of age, gender, and county. We need to face these ills straight on and come together to address them.” “I thought of writing about this situation in my regular West End News colWe will place the temporary memoumn,” said Graef, “and when I talked with rial flags around the edge of the granite [Publisher] Tony Zeli about that possibility, curbing surrounding the statue of Longhe suggested that perhaps we could cre- fellow. Throughout the day on Friday and ate a public memorial ourselves. The idea Saturday, November 27th and 28th, we was compelling, so we gathered some invite the public to place symbolic relike-minded and willing friends and hope membrances by the signs, such as flowers, people will participate and find it mean- shells, stones, and poems. No candles, and ingful.” we encourage that people leave items made of natural materials. There will be On Friday morning, November 27th, no formal gathering or service. Instead, we at 7 a.m., organizers will place flags at invite participants to visit, remember, and Longfellow Square with the handwritten consider these individuals, their families date of death for each person who has and friends, and this extraordinary time. died from Covid-19 in Cumberland County. As of October 27th, there have been On Friday evening, we will respect6,311 cases of Covid-19 and 70 deaths in fully retrieve all remembrances from the Cumberland County. park. Then on Saturday morning, November 28th, at 7a.m. the temporary memo“These public health crises affect all rial will be returned for another day of of us in some way, whether we person- mourning until removed one final time, really know someone who suffers or feel spectfully but without ceremony, at 7 p.m. largely untouched,” said Graef. “Not publicly acknowledging the loss and suffering For more information please contact they cause eats away at a society’s soul. thewestendnews@gmail.com.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
FOOD & DRINK
LAYNE'S WINE GIG PRESENTS
VIRTUAL THANKSGIVING By Layne V. Witherell
Today we will honor all our relatives who are either penned up in their tiny houses or are luxuriating in their “camps” with sweeping, glorious views of a nearby lake or ocean. Since we can’t all get together to eat, drink, gossip, football it up, and generally revel in this day of rejoicing, I thought that I would look at some of the people who are celebrating their lifestyles with their individual dishes and beverages and interesting Zoom-able alternatives. This is virtual Thanksgiving, doing your own thing.
Tofurkey & Hondarrabi Zuri
Toros Mowers & Beaujolais Nouveau By itself, your relatives celebrating in Cumberland County with their quarter-of-a-mile-sized lawn is pretty much a yawner. But this year is different. They, along with the kids, can climb aboard their Toro 74090 Z Master 7500 96-inch zero turn 38-horsepower mower that costs about $20,000 more than your tiny house, while driving, Zooming, and holding aloft a turkey leg and a glass of Domaine Les Fines Graves Moulin a Vent by Jacky Janodet, $23.00 bottle. This is a full rich, bright gamay from a top village in Beaujolais.That $10.00 bottle of Georges Dubeouf Nouveau can be a substitute if this was not a strong tax return year.With the Beaujolais Nouveau as the traditional symbol of a great vintage year, hopefully everyone on this miniature parade route through the
Cousin Jake and his brood up north are sorry they had to cancel the in-person Common Ground Fair this year. It is not the same without the smell of patchouli and incense. Maybe dressing up in your favorite Basque outfit will help. Their ideal meal, of course, would be a steaming platter of Tofurkey. The original plant-based protein is celebrating its 35th birthday. It is not only vegetarian and vegan but has its own donation website. There, of course, must be a healthy side of kale and sprouts on the table. Ideally, they can go to their local natural foods retailer and find a bottle of Saline 2017 Hondarrabi Zuri Txakolina, $17.00 bottle. Hondarrabi Zuri is the local Basque grape. It is dry, low in alcohol, slightly fizzy, and can be poured into their peron (a traditional decanter with a spout). The tradition is to pour the wine from several feet high, making for an exciting event, especially while wearing a beret and holiday red sash, imparting local color to the Zoom event.
yard will be applauding. I would recommend opening that wine cave and digging out some choice bottles of those precious 2007 vintage Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, using some large glasses, and bowing their heads in real thankfulness. Followed by a toast in reverence to Napa Valley and their 2020 loss of five hundred million dollars of vineyards and wine and wineries to the recent fires.
-Newly arrived couple from Brooklyn
and lifestyle rallying cry for the Brooklyn set. To the uninitiated, it is as far removed from the comfort of a cold, soothing innocuous glass of pinot grigio as can be imagined. A great Amontillado Sherry resembles in its own way the edgy acidic bitterness of a profoundly serious double IPA, except it weighs in at 18-20% alcohol. Also, the best are seriously barrel aged up to 20 plus years, making a saline power statement that will leave most of the world’s wines in the dust. You do not cook with this stuff – you worship it. The food accompaniments are almonds, young Manchego cheese, and Serreno ham, and a whole bunch of local oysters. Available locally is the very saline, delicious, you must have it with food (no turkey leg here) Yuste Arora Amontillado Sherry, 500 ml., $20.00 bottle. The Yuste Manzanilla, 500 ml. $20.00 with its salty sea air tang is one of the great oysters treats of all time. Small glasses. Serve with a slight chill and tiny tastes, or you will have a fast Thanksgiving with a long nap.
Domaine Les Fines Graves Moulin a Vent by Jacky Janodet, $23.00 bottle. This is a full rich, bright gamay from a top village in Beaujolais. -Photos by Layne Witherell
Amontillado Sherry for the Brooklyn Set
Saline 2017 Hondarrabi Zuri Txakolina, $17.00 bottle. It is dry, low in alcohol, and slightly fizzy.
“
If they ever refer to it as ‘cooking Sherry’ again I am never showing up for Thanksgiving.”
What’s the best part about being your own sommelier at your Zoom event? No relatives yelling, “Sit down, we’re trying to watch the game!” The sad part is your ongoing attempt to rescue Sherry from the bottom of a saucepan, and sadly, our Brooklyn couple haven’t been around here long enough to have seen the departure from this market of La Garrocha Amontillado from Bodega Grant, one of the greats of all Sherry.
CONT'D ON PG. 9
A million miles away on a planet known as Washington Avenue, our newly arrived couple from Brooklyn have settled into their cozy apartment. Kind of thrilled to be away from “the folks,” they can enjoy both the vibe, food, and beverages of their chosen lifestyle.They exclaim, “If they ever refer to it as ‘cooking Sherry’ again I am never showing up for Thanksgiving.” Authentic Spanish Sherry is both a beverage
Community Leaders Business Owners Artists & Other Interesting Folk of Southern Maine
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FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
Freshest Seafood & Finest Caviars
VIRTUAL THANKSGIVING CONT'D FROM PG. 8
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As for us, since we will not be traveling to see the kiddos in Virginia, I am thinking of a rollicking dinner via Zoom. Yardy Ting, the fantastic Jamaican restaurant on Monument Square features up some curried goat and oxtails every Friday. I guess we can celebrate Thanksgiving on Friday this year? This is the real deal for the food adventurer (hate the word “foodie”- reserve it for Instagram amateurs).
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Wash down the oxtails and goat with a bottle of Chateau Tayac, Margaux, Bordeaux, 2018, $29.99 bottle. Open it up 1-2 hours in advance. This is the wine equivalent of the oxtails and goat! From a big, bold vintage worthy of cellaring or a long Thanksgiving decant, it is the essence of cabernet, blended with a splash of merlot and the influence of those ancient vineyards.
For the Rest of Us… If you are getting together with “the folks,” a nice soothing Provence Rose, Lodi Zinfandel, Nouveau Beaujolais, or a boring Riesling will do the trick for one and all. This is a different year. Be safe.
CAFE Chateau Tayac, Margaux, Bordeaux, 2018, $29.99 bottle. Open it up 1-2 hours in advance.This is the wine equivalent of oxtails & goat - for the food adventurer!
Layne's Book Release We will be doing a book release event of the new edition of my memoir, “Wine Maniacs: Life in the Wine Biz 2020,” in conjunction with Print: A Bookstore and the Portland Public Library on November 12th at 7:00 p.m. Check with Print for details. It is funny, irreverent, raucous, and flies in the face of much of the current propaganda on wine.
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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 the Master Knight of the Vine for his pioneering work in the Oregon wine industry. Visit http://winemaniacs.wordpress.com/blog.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
FOOD & DRINK
THE PORTLAND PALATE
An Incomplete Guide to Dining Out on Thanksgiving By James Fereira
When I was asked to write about options this year for procuring a local Thanksgiving meal, I incorrectly assumed that the mission would be an easy one. It wasn’t. Perhaps it was my interpretation of the assignment? Or denial of the impending major holidays, heralding in the cold and snow alongside. Or just my pure laziness which prompted a late start at the task. Finding information on who is serving Thanksgiving dinner during a pandemic turned out to be no cake walk. I began confident, expecting to follow a linear course of inquiry, keeping focused in my neighborhood. Being the WEN food writer, I know all the places: I’ve visited and written about them. I’d find articles on which restaurants served last year, then make copious phone calls five weeks before the holiday. Uh huh. This produced mostly head-scratching on my part as well as the receiver. Nobody knows precisely what they’re doing on November 26th, let alone what life will bring when and if we each wake up that, or any morning. Isn’t that the sobering truth. This incomplete guide is a bricolage of what I could glean on short notice, about a holiday which no one wants to think about yet. It is somewhat random, and not exhaustive, with my focus being on Portland and “on peninsula.” It seems that everyone is just trying to get through October right now. Yes, that makes sense. Me too.
WHAT'S CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING
Shaw’s Northgate: The deli department wasn’t sure if they would offer prepared meals but said they can prepare a turkey Yes,Walgreens has food.And they'll be open! Figgy’s… El Corazon… Pai Men Mi- roaster for pick up by November 25th. Call ahead for hours. -All photos by James Fereira yake… King of The Roll… Boda… No delivery services. Call 207-797-4304. Bonobo… Bramhall Pub… Flores… Trader Joe’s: No specially prepared Walgreen’s, 713 Congress Street: Hours Oh No Cafe…Tandem Bakery… meals. Call 207-699-3799. TBA. Call ahead: 207-774-8456. Yes, they Other Side Deli, 235 Vaughan Street Whole Foods: Customer service wasn’t sell food here. told me that they’ll offer a ‘catering menu’ sure about prepared meals but said that which would include sides, meats, and in past years these have been available by WHAT'S OPEN FOR prepared meals, sold a la carte. Pick up by preordering over the phone or online. closing time on November 25th, call 207- Pick up is required by closing time on THANKSGIVING 874-7414. November 25th. Amazon Prime members Little Giant Restaurant, 211 Danforth can get delivery with advance ordering. Street, told me they may offer prepared Call 207-774-7711. ‘meal kits’ by preorder and pick up by November 25th. Call ahead, 207-747-5045. Chaval… Green Elephant (vegan/ vegetarian)… The Roma… and Quiero Cafe... These restaurants said they’d most likely close, but call ahead closer to Thanksgiving for an update:
GROCERY STORES All major grocery stores in Portland proper will close. Here’s what I found out about what they’re offering, if anything, regarding prepared Thanksgiving meals, pick up, and delivery:
Hannaford at Back Cove: The manager said they’ll have prepared meals available at the deli counter through November 25th, but was not sure how to order them, so call ahead at 207-761-5965. No During my research, many owners delivery. and staff I spoke with simply didn’t know. Covid has not diminished its grip on Hannaford Riverside: They typically America and the world. The weather has have boxed meals available. In-person or turned colder, limiting the practicality of phone order and pick up through Novemsitting outdoors. Many would-be diners ber 25th. Call 207-878-0191. No delivery. are understandably nervous about going inside, even with masks, enhanced sani- Portland Food Co-op: Customer sertation measures, and attempts made at vice said they were not certain, but they have offered prepared meals in past years. physical distancing. Call ahead closer to the holiday for inforPerhaps it’s best to stay home. Maybe mation: 207-805-1599. it’s time to cash-in on that Grub Hub gift card or order Chinese food delivery. Oh, Shaw’s Westgate: The deli department they’re closed, too? Hmmm.What seemed wasn’t certain if they would be offering a simple pursuit turned out to be a com- prepared meals. They will not offer delivplicated one. That being said, in practical ery, if so. Call ahead closer to the holiday, 207-774-7661. terms, here’s what I learned.
THANKSGIVING MENU COMING NOV 1ST.
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Since hotels are open, so too are their restaurants, including Eighteen95 Restaurant at the Portland Regency Hotel.
Hotel restaurants are often open since the hotels themselves are open for business on holidays. There are always exceptions, so call ahead when considering a If you need to hit your local convespecific venue. The following will be open nience store for sundries or last-minute this year: items on Thanksgiving Day, all of these establishments will be open. Eighteen95 Restaurant at the Regen711, 704 Congress Street, is open 24 cy Hotel, 20 Milk Street, 207-774-4200, is hours (bring your sunglasses or risk being serving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with reservation. A la carte menu is currently online blinded by a solar-blast lighting storm). and looks amazing, including vegetarian Cumberland Farms, 49 Pine Street, is options. open 24 hours (ditto re: sunglasses, blast Ri Ra Irish Pub, 72 Commercial Street, not as blinding). 207-761-4446, is open from 12 to 8 p.m. Fresh Approach, 155 Brackett Street: and taking reservations. Limited hours TBA. Call ahead: 207-774Rosie’s, 330 Fore Street, 207-772-5656, 7250. is serving on Thanksgiving. Call ahead for Joe’s Variety, 665 Congress Street: Lim- hours/details. ited hours TBA. Call ahead: 207-773-3656. Ruski’s Tavern, 212 Danforth Street, La Bodega Latina, 863 Congress Street: 207-774-7604, is not certain, so call ahead Hours TBA. Call ahead: 207-761-6661. closer to the holiday. Joe's Super Variety on Congress St. will be open with limited hours on Thanksgiving.
CONT'D ON PG. 11
FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
Dining Out on Thanksgiving
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CONT'D FROM PAGE 10
THANKSGIVING ALTERNATIVES
TIQA will offer "family style" service and Union Restaurant will offer a 3-course menu on Thanksgiving. Port of Call at Holiday Inn By the Bay expects to be open with a la carte menu. TIQA, 327 Commercial Street, 207-8088840, is serving “family style” likely from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a reservation. Call for details. Union Restaurant at The Press Hotel, 390 Congress Street, 207-808-8700, is serving a 3-course menu for $70.00 pp. Call ahead for hours and reservation. They’ll offer a “Thanksgiving-to-Go” option for pick-up on November 25th at $100 for a two-person meal which includes the ‘works.’ It even comes with reheating instructions (and muffins, for the next morning).
made online (www.rosemontmarket.com) that will include free ‘no contact’ delivery. Arriving between November 21st to 25th, no minimum charge. Locally sourced, healthy foods like turkeys and chicken, VARIOUS THANKSGIVING pies, breads, meats, and vegetarian dishes MISCELLANY are standard here. They also stock a wide Local 188, 685 Congress Street, 207- selection of vegetables, fruits, and other 761-7909, wasn’t sure. They said they products. There’s a deli on-site. They close closed on past Thanksgivings. They do, on Thanksgiving Day. however, have their “restaumart” open Terra Cotta Pasta Company, 435B ahead of the holiday. There isn’t turkey on Cottage Road, South Portland, 207-799the current list of meats, but they have 9099: Yes, they are ‘off peninsula,’ but I inwhole chickens. You go to their website cluded them because I personally enjoyed at www.grocer188.com to view a list of their prepared complete turkey dinner available items, then email them with your last year with friends… and they’re doing list, name, and phone number. Staff will call it again this year. Pick up only, no delivback to confirm your order, process pay- ery. For $50, you get sliced roasted turkey, ment, and arrange the pick-up time. stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, squash, and Port of Call Restaurant at Holiday Inn By the Bay, 88 Spring Street, said they expect to be open as in past years with an a la carte menu. Call ahead for hours, details, and reservation: 207-775-2311.
mashed potatoes (and I might be forgetting something). It fed three of us. Order by November 20th and receive 5% off your bill. It was excellent and at that price, who can say no?
And if all that isn’t enough… here are some random thoughts on Thanksgiving alternatives, unless you already have plans at home with friends and family. There are several personal chef services in Greater Portland which may offer to come into your home to cook and prepare your Thanksgiving feast for you. And don’t forget the deli and catering businesses in the area, which offer some excellent, creative food and even prepared meals at decent prices. You can find information about all of these by doing a good online search – and improve your research skills at the same time.
Cook with BRAVO Maine at Your Thanksgiving Table event, at Fork Food Lab on Nov. 25th.
AND FINALLY, AN EVENT TO ATTEND Your Thanksgiving Table: An event sponsored by BRAVO Maine will be held on Wednesday, November 25th, 6 to 8 p.m. Location is Fork Food Lab, 72 Parris Street, Portland. For more information call 207-415-4482 or email contact@bravomaine.com. Cost: $80 per person.
Some years, I just like not doing turkey at all.This is where Asian, Mexican, and other world cuisines come to mind. Many of them offer delivery. Not all will be open on Thanksgiving, but many will be, so call ahead. No, I’m not listing them. My head would likely explode to go into that detail, In their words: “At Bravo Maine, we and frankly I’m done with the phone calls! want the cooking classes to be a fun enBut here’s something specific which I tertainment occasion, and all our classes will offer, courtesy of my friend Sherrie, are hands-on. Be ready for Thanksgiving who is a vegetarian. For when you just and cook with us the following dishes want to give the animals a break (and yes, to bring home. Each guest will cook for even though they don’t know it, they do 6 servings: Applejack Giblet Gravy, Cape Cod Cranberry sauce, Sauté Vegetables appreciate it and say thank you). and Herbs for the stuffing, Gingerbread cake. Your safety is our priority: 8 guests DOING THE VEGAN maximum per class with social distancing THING and PPE. We provide gloves, masks, hair net, and hand sanitizer. There is free parkFor Sherrie, and for most of us, “The ing on-site.” whole point of Thanksgiving is recognizing all that we have to be grateful for – and GIVING THANKS enjoying good food and good friends.” Sherrie continues, “I actually like Tofurkey Whew! That’s a lot to take-in, as well - the dressing is meh, but the rest of it as lot for me to have investigated. Regardis quite good. I think this year I’m mak- less of how you spend Thanksgiving this ing eggplant parm (with vegan cheese), year, may it be everything you hope for mashed potatoes (with almond milk and it to be. By next review, we’ll be through vegan butter), green bean casserole (with the election and our nation can begin to fresh mushrooms, almond milk, and veg- heal. Remember to stay safe out there, and an butter cream sauce, and those nasty please be kind to one another. After all, French fried onions that make it so yum- that is the quintessential message inherent my), and some kind of fruit ‘crumble’ for in giving thanks on this November 26th. dessert.”
“The meat-substitutes have come a Rosemont Market West End, 40 Pine Yordprom Coffee, 722 Congress Street, long way during the time I’ve been a vegeStreet, 207-699-4181, is starting on No- 207-221-2347, will be open for take-out. tarian – and the cheese replacements are really good, as are the ‘milks.’ In fact, a ‘holvember 1st with Thanksgiving pre-orders Call ahead for hours. iday nog’ with a spot of rum will likely be available Thanksgiving eve.” If I lived in Florida, where Sherrie lives, or I dared get on an airplane during Covid – which I won’t – I’d be to dinner at her place, if only for the nog!
James Fereira has a background in disco dancing, manufacturing, and mixology. In his spare time, he enjoys collecting Christmas ornaments and questioning authority. James can be reached at ThePortlandPalate@gmail.com.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
Julian Rowand: Cooperative Housing Builds Equitable Communities Every month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a community member for The West End News. This month, to celebrate National Cooperative Month, Liz caught up with Julian Rowand of the Cooperative Development Institute to discuss cooperative housing.
How did you get involved with care of your property and your relation- whether that’s volunteering ships with your neighbors. Cooperative on the board or on a comcooperatives? When my sister and I were a year old, my parents were renting in Washington, D.C. and they got an eviction notice. The residents organized to purchase the building and created what became the first Limited Equity Coop in Washington D.C. My mother was the resident manager there from when I was 2 years old until I moved back to DC as an adult and took over her job. So, I grew up in a coop, and that affected my work – community organizing around gentrification and displacement. The people who were my neighbors there when I was a kid are like family to me. People stay for decades in cooperatives, and people look out for one another. We eventually created a federation of limited equity cooperatives in D.C., and then I moved to Maine to work for the Cooperative Development Institute in 2019.
How do you help new cooperatives become established? I work primarily with residents in manufactured housing communities, or mobile home parks, when they’re still owned by a landlord who decides to sell. Sometimes they’re retiring, or they’ve heard of us and care about the residents, and they approach us to see if we’d be interested. We reach out to residents and find out if they’d be interested in purchasing the housing community. And then we work with local banks to offer a competitive deal and we facilitate the transaction and train the residents to run the coop. What’s the advantage of cooperative housing vs. renting? When you’re an owner/member/resident, you have a say through democratic governance what improvements are made and whether to increase the rent. Nobody can sell the housing out from under you. As a coop owner, you’re invested in the
housing usually becomes more affordable over time because increases are based on actual costs and there’s no external landlord. People are often willing to volunteer on improvement projects, landscaping is a perfect example. People want to come and work on the grounds and the gardens.
Could any rental building convert to being a cooperative? Yes. There’s one in Lewiston, RaiseOp coop. Where I grew up in Washington D.C., and in many other cities, that happens regularly. Ideally, Portland and other cities in Maine would enact Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) laws, where tenants have the opportunity to purchase a building that is going up for sale. TOPA requires owners to notify residents at least 30-60 days before the building goes on the open market to give them time to organize and present an offer.With some support, residents can organize and get financing. Massachusetts has laws requiring residents in manufactured housing communities to get notified, and Boston is considering a TOPA law that would apply to rental buildings. New Hampshire has very favorable laws for manufactured housing communities.
What does “Limited Equity” mean? Limited Equity means that when you buy in, you pay a low price, and when you leave, the equity stays with the Coop, which is what makes it permanently affordable. Share prices are very affordable. Typically in a normal home purchase you need to have 10-15% of the value in cash, but in our manufactured housing communities the share price is often $100-$400 – something most people can save in a few months.
mittee and attending membership meetings. It’s also a different attitude towards housing, considering it more as a right than a financial investment. The cost of living in a cooperative is stable and becomes more affordable over time so people are able to save and invest money.
Are there any new construction housing cooperatives in Maine? There are two exciting new projects in Portland – the city council is voting whether to allow coops on two parcels of city land. One is at Lambert and Washington Avenue Extension and the other is at the former West School site on Douglass Street. It’s an important opportunity because cooperative housing is absolutely essential to addressing housing issues in urban areas. It’s big for residents to have an option to be owners and stay in the city, and it’s also big for the city to make good on its promise to expand affordable housing options. Cooperative housing has the extra benefit of giving renters the stability and governance that homeowners have and making them affordable for generations to come.
RESOURCES Examples of cooperative businesses in Maine: https://maine.coop/maine-co-ops Cooperative Development Institute: https://cdi.coop RaiseOp in Lewiston: https://www.raiseop.com Maine Cooperative Development Partners: https://www.mainecooperativehousing.com
How can I support the creation of cooperative housing in Maine?
You can write or call your city councilor to support cooperative housing at Douglass Street before their workshop on November 5th or show up (via Zoom) to speak at their meeting to vote on November 9th. You can contact Maine Cooperative Development Partners. You can contact us at the Cooperative DevelopWhen you buy in, you’re agreeing to ment Institute. In Lewiston, RaiseOp is a be an active member of a community – great resource.
PelotonLabs is a coworking space in the West End of Portland, Maine with a mission to connect and encourage people working on their own to manifest their visions without fear.
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
Shop Early, Shop Indie Local
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By Mary Alice Scott On November 1st, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) will launch its Shop Indie Local holiday campaign, urging individuals and businesses Mary Alice Scott is Portland Buy to shift their holiday spending to locally Local (PBL) Executive Director, and owned and independent businesses. Port- WEN publisher and editor Tony Zeli land Buy Local, along with sixty-one busi- is president of the board of directors ness alliances and networks in towns and and WEN is a PBL media partner. cities throughout North America will participate in this collaborative campaign, their stress during the crunch time of the which continues through December. final few weeks of 2020. Every dollar spent at a locally owned For many businesses, especially those and independent business returns 2-3 times more dollars back into a communi- in our community, this is their last chance ty than a dollar spent at a non-local busi- to bring in the funds needed to keep ness. Those dollars represent a significant their business afloat through the wincontribution to local jobs, taxes, and other ter months. Your holiday shopping could mean the difference to these businesses. community-building investments. Think about the people you love. Instead of stuff, what do you truly want to give them? Perhaps it’s more hope, inspiration, or connection. Now, consider each person, place, and thing that plays a part in growing, making, and getting that gift to your loved one. When you Shop Indie Local, you give more to everyone.
Buy Local Gift Guide As part of the Shop Indie Local movement, Portland Buy Local is launching a Buy Local Gift Guide in November and making it the most spectacular gift guide we’ve ever produced. You can find it as an insert in the Portland Press Herald on Sunday, November 15th, or online at www.portlandgiftguide.com. It’s filled with items from more than 60 different locally owned businesses, which means it will be easy to find the perfect gift for anyone you’re shopping for! Simultaneously, we’re promoting a campaign launched by the American Booksellers Association which encourages consumers to start their holiday shopping early. Due to supply chain disruptions, shipping bottlenecks, and the ongoing need for in-person shoppers to maintain social distance, doing holiday shopping in advance is a great way to help out local businesses – and help relieve some of
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
CLIMATE JUSTICE
Six Big Moves in the Next 30 Years
6. Build collaborative capacity to create this future The cities of Portland and South Portland have finally released the long awaited One Climate Future plan, as you know from last month’s The West End News Climate New systems for working together will promote data sharing needed to make Justice pages. The “Six Big Moves” outlined therein provide us with an overall idea of better decisions about food risks, improved approaches to transportation, and tracking the scope of the plan, which we are pleased to say is quite ambitious. progress of energy efficiency efforts. Cultivating collaboration and fostering community ownership is to begin immediately. In a nutshell, here are a few of the highlights: Now, the first and foremost challenge is to have both cities adopt and implement the plan, which needs to become a fundamental, irrevocable, part of all decision-makCreate living and work spaces that are “energy efficient, comfortable, healthier, ing. We plan to explore each Big Move in more depth over the coming six months. resilient to extreme weather, and powered by renewable energy”—all new buildings at net-zero energy starting 2032. 1. Build better buildings
2. Connect people to places and opportunities Clustered neighborhood housing and businesses around transit so that people can be closer to schools, food stores, public services, and jobs.
BRIGHT IDEA: Watch 'A Message from the Future II - The Years of Repair'
Ultimately, where will all this lead? What will the future look like? We’ve already recommended “A Message from the Future” narrated by Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Everything possible will be powered with electricity (rather than fossil fuels), This sequel video, “The Years of Repair,” provides a better idea of how the future will ramping up renewables to 100% by 2050. Community solar is a strategic part of the look when we all work together to make changes critical to our survival as a species. (www.theleap.org) solar proliferation plan. 3. Clean renewable electricity
4. Grow a circular economy Innovate to extend the useful lifespan of materials and products with the intent of investing in people and skillsets that lead to growth in clean energy and regenerative industries.
You can access the draft of the OCF plan at www.oneclimatefutuire.org. Find the plan under “Reports.”
5. Nourish ecosystems which nourish us Protect open spaces and coastal waters to ensure our ecosystems can adapt and Bright Ideas is brought to you by Portland Climate Action Team which, during the panthrive. This includes promoting more robust tree canopy and converting 15% of the demic, meets online on the 4th Thursday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join in. FMI: portlandclimateaction@gmail.com. cities’ impervious surfaces to green infrastructure by 2050.
We’re All in This Together Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard Carbon Cash-back Policies: Something We Can All Agree On By Portland Citizens' Climate Lobby to Democrats, it enjoys very high support (80% according to the Luntz polling group). It also enjoys 75% support from Republicans under 40 years of age! Citizens’ Climate Lobby has seen this shift in our volunteer lobbying meetings. Republican lawmakers who once avoided the climate conversation now see that the future of their party has nearly the same level of concern for climate as non-Republicans. Carbon fee and dividend is not only more effective than any other single With over 190,000 members, we at climate policy, it appeals to conservatives’ Citizens’ Climate Lobby have been sin- values like personal autonomy and market gularly focused on building bipartisan efficiency. support for national climate action. Why For progressives, carbon fee and commit to this seemingly impossible task? dividend predominantly benefit low, midBecause without national climate policy, dle-income, and marginalized Americans. we simply can’t stabilize the climate. Also, It’s also essential for building successful it turns out this task may not be so impolicy since according to independent possible after all. Since 2019 half a dozen analysis, both Joe Biden and the House carbon pricing bills have been introduced Select Committee’s climate plans do not in Congress. The Energy Innovation Carmeet their own stated goals without a bon Dividend Act (HR 763) has the most carbon pricing component. Furthermore, bipartisan support with 82 cosponsors, including Representative Pingree. These car- as we learned from the decade of political bon pricing bills do not solve the climate fighting regarding the Affordable Care Act, crisis alone, but they do more than any bipartisan support is crucial to ensuring other single policy (see MIT’s En-ROADS political resiliency from future administrations. online climate simulator). So, take heart, climate voters – real Carbon fee and dividend (“carbon change is possible.VOTE! cash-back”) policies enjoy growing support across ideologies. In brief, carbon Learn more about Citizens' Climate fee and dividend policies put a price on Lobby Portland Chapter at https:// industrial carbon emissions and return the citizensclimatelobby.org/chapters/ net revenue to everyone. When explained ME_Portland. There is so much at stake in this November’s elections: affordable health care, civil rights, the economy, etc. But climate change remains the existential threat to human existence.There is reason for hope that this coming legislative cycle will be a turning point for climate policy. Although on the surface it appears one political party embraces climate action and the other sits in denial, there are hopeful signs that this is changing beneath the surface.
CLIMATE JUSTICE
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
Toxic Stench in the West End
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CONT'D FROM PAGE 1
Andrew Butcher, a resident of Danforth Street, across the Fore River from the tanks, works on environmental health and air quality issues at Greater Portland Council of Governments. He says the lack of monitoring and data collection has been frustrating. Over the past two years, Butcher has amassed over 150 complaints from West End neighbors. He also said the city has registered 100 complaints in just the last three to four months. Residents, seriously concerned about their health and the well-being of their families, are frustrated by the government’s slow, inadequate response. A Clean Air Advisory Committee has been formed in South Portland to monitor the problem. Chelsea Conaboy spoke at a recent City Council meeting about her anger. “I think we are angry that the company over many years violated the public trust by emitting far above what they’re permitted to emit,” Conaboy said. “I am angry thinking about the fact that after everything we’ve been through … I will wake up one morning and smell fuel in the room where my three-year- and my fiveyear-old are sleeping.”
the stench… even in my backyard, about a mile from where the tanks are located. I wanted to know: Is it safe for my kids to be breathing this air? A year later, I still don’t know the answer, but I’m trying to find out.”
Battle for Clear Skies A David vs. Goliath battle in 2013 pitted grassroots organizers and the city against Big Oil. That battle ultimately lead to the current Clear Skies Ordinance. But a federal court recently bounced a determination on the legality of the ordinance back to the Maine Supreme Court for a ruling on Home Rule. If the Clear Skies Ordinance is voted down, residents could be plagued not only with tank smells but the looming prospect of tar sands from Canada.
Protect South Portland has a list of demands. They want 24/7 fence line emissions monitoring around Global’s facility, with ongoing public notification of results. They want Global to pay for and install specialized equipment called vapor recovery units (VRUs) to minimize emissions. And they want Global to be required to obtain a permit for larger emitters. So far, Similarly, when she learned about the companies have consistently resisted a consent decree with Global, Sabrina the need to install VRUs. Shankman, a local resident and investigative environmental reporter, said that her But most of all, residents want to thoughts, “like those of many other peo- know that what they are breathing is safe ple, went to my kids, whose daycare cen- and they want the regulators to impose ter was a stone’s throw from the tanks, requirements on Global and the other and who are sometimes surrounded by
Urban By Tony Zeli
BIG Trees
Did you know? Arborists and tree enthusiasts have been working for the last 80 years on cataloging the largest trees in the nation. Known affectionately as the Big Trees List, it’s a national registry of the biggest trees in America. It’s the national Forest Service’s way of recognizing the importance of trees – from providing shade and shelter to helping to clean the air and water. Maine also has its own state registry with about 170 trees listed. And if you know of a big tree, you might be able to get it recognized. The goal for any proud big tree community is to record one that makes the Champion Trees National Register, listing the largest trees of their kind. And the champion of champion trees is a national treasure, the Sequoia named General Sherman in California’s Sequoia National Park. It’s been the crowned king since the registry’s inception in 1940. In fact, it’s the world’s largest tree measured by volume. It’s 275 feet tall and over 36 feet in diameter at its base. To put that in perspective, all 16 stories of Franklin Towers, the tallest building in Portland, add up to a mere 175 feet.The tallest building in Maine is the former St. Patrick’s Church in Lewiston, which measures a respectable 220 feet to the tippy top of its taller spire. The champion Sequoia overcomes that spire by a whopping 55 feet! Portland claims at least ten trees on Maine’s registry. Several of these are with-
companies operating in South Portland to ensure they can’t emit dangerous levels of these chemicals. They want to convince the Maine DEP that Global is a major emitter, rather than a minor one.
If You Smell It, Report It!
Tankers offloading in South Portland can cause spikes in emissions. -Photos by Espahbad Dodd the city government at Fix It Portland so complaints are logged into their register, too.
For further information on South Portland tank farms, see the highly informative ninepart series by Sabrina Shankman at InsideClimate News, a non-profit news organization that focuses on environmental journalism. Quotes from Roberta Zuckerman, Chelsea And here’s something we can all do. Conaboy, and Sabrina Shankman are found “If you smell it, report it!” is a meme now in articles published by InsideClimate News. circulating to help build public awareness of the problem. Folks who live, work, or visit South Portland and Portland’s West Espahbad Dodd lives on State Street in End are encouraged to report the smell, the West End. He is a member of the location, and any associated symptoms by Portland Climate Action Team and the primary editor of that team’s monthly logging in to SmellMyCity.org. Bright Ideas column in WEN. Espahbad This self-reporting will help deter- can be reached at espahbad@gmail. mine just how many people are being com. He welcomes feedback. affected and how often. Also, it will create the database needed to advocate for Disclosure: Publisher and Editor Tony Zeli is strong regulations to monitor and control a board member of Green Initiatives Educathese dangerous emissions. Also consider tion Fund, an organization that that has adreporting your observations directly to vocated against tar sands in South Portland.
in the newly created heritage tree district. The heritage tree ordinance aims to protect large trees on private property in historic districts that are at least 24” in diameter at breast height for shade trees (12” in diameter for ornamental trees). A few Big Trees are in Deering Oaks park, the largest being a Pin Oak, 140 inches in circumference and 83 feet tall. Also, you’ll find a huge Siberian Elm, an eminent Green Ash, and according to Portland City Arborist Jeff Tarling a dozen or so White Oaks that don’t quite make the list, but are so close, and still quite impressive. Two other Portland Big Trees are in Parkside at the Sacred Heart Church, where the biggest Dawn Redwood, or Metasequoia, is over 80 feet tall and the Kousa Dogwood is the Maine State record, with 32-inch diameter and standing 30 feet tall. Also, Portland High School is home to the largest Florida Dogwood. To nominate a tree for Maine’s Register of Big Trees, you need to measure the tree’s trunk circumference, vertical height, and average crown spread – the average width of the tree’s foliage and branches. The measurements are added together using a simple formula to come up with a point value. The Pin Oak in Deering Oaks Park has a total score of 248. Compare with the largest tree on the list, an 89-foot tall Silver Maple in Leeds, with a 75-foot ing contest it is! To learn more or to canopy and 316-inch circumference for a obtain a Big Tree Submission Form, visit the Maine Foresy Service website: total of 424 points. https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_ Sure, it’s ultimately a measuring management/project_canopy/programs/ contest. But what a massive measur- big_trees.html.
Portland has a number of urban trees that make the Maine Register of Big Trees, including a Pin Oak in Deering Oaks Park. -Photo by Tony Zeli
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
THE BROADER PICTURE
Sauna Use Decreases Heart Attacks By Dr. Oren Gersten
Part of the job of any primary care doctor is staying up to date on the latest medical research. There are numerous medical journals each publishing a range of research topics every week. Article topics can be very specific, technical, and dare I say – boring. When an article comes across my desk that is not only useful but fun, that is a good day. So it is with this article published in the British journal, BMC Medicine. The study came out in 2018 but is certainly still applicable. Researchers looked at a cohort of 1,688 middle aged men and women in Finland and analyzed how often they used a sauna and the risk of dying from heart disease. What they found is that people who used a sauna more often were less likely to have a fatal heart attack. The amazing part of the study is that the effects were so significant. Using the sauna 2 or more times per week led to a 77% reduction in fatal heart attacks. That effect is far better than any drug on the market!
By Michael Stern
Since the publication in 1990 of Daniel Goleman’s groundbreaking book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ,” the concept of emotional intelligence has become mainstream. The Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month Campaign is initiated each year in October by the Emotional Intelligence Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth and adults about the science, practice, and benefits of emotional intelligence. Over the past three decades we have seen a surge of new science exploring the relationship between our emotions, Using a sauna 2 or more times per brains, minds, and bodies. While we are week could reduce risk of heart attach still in the early stages of our understandby 77%. -Photo by a.dl / Adobe Stock ing, the evidence so far clearly shows that healthy emotional development is essenstatus (individual income) and physical ac- tial for our physical and mental well-being, tivity levels. Even with those taken into ac- our relationships, and our ability to create count the protective effect of sauna were the life we desire. still present. The role of healthy emotional deThe real utility of this article (really velopment begins from the moment we any science for that matter) is if it can help are born, and possibly even before. Some people live better. We need to analyze studies show that high levels of stress or new information in the context of ideas depression during pregnancy can have that we already hold to be true. Here are negative impacts on the baby’s health and the mother’s ability to bond with the inmy takeaway points from this article: fant. 1. Self-care activities aimed at relaxation, including activities like sauna, According to the Harvard Universihelp us live longer and better lives ty Center on the Developing Child, the 2. Medication is not the only answer combination of our genes and our early life experiences shapes the quality of our protecting people from disease brain architecture and establishes either a 3. There is evidence that sweating it out in a sauna 2 or more times sturdy or a fragile foundation for our fuper week could reduce the risk of ture learning, health, and behavior. heart attack by 77% Daniel Siegel’s work on interpersonal
A real strength of the study was that it followed individuals for 15 years, which by medical study standards is quite a long time. Another key point of the study is that there were different “doses” of sauna exposure. To really show that sauna use is helpful you would like to see more use resulting in better outcomes – which this study does show. Finally, the study did not have any conflicts of interest. It was funded by The Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research. If it was funded by a sauna manufacturer, I would be much So, whether it’s a hot cup of tea, snugmore skeptical of the results. gling up in your favorite blanket, or jumpA good scientist should always be ing into a hot sauna, take some time to skeptical of new information. Can we re- treat yourself this winter. The health benally trust this data? Overall, this is a good efits could be more than you know. study. However, there are a few areas I question. First, they only studied Finnish people. I wonder if this is broadly generalizable to the rest of the world. Could there be something special in Finnish genetics or body makeup that makes sauna especially healthy for them? Second, there was no placebo group. Who’s to say it wasn’t simply the relaxation in a social setting – not the sauna itself – that protected against heart attacks. Lastly, someone who has 6 hours per week to spend in a sauna likely has a pretty good life to begin with: eats good food, exercises, and is less stressed. The study did attempt to account for this by statistically tracking socioeconomic
Celebrating Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
neurobiology has shown that the quality of a young child’s relationship with its primary caregivers has a profound effect on both psychological and neurological development, impacting everything from our sense of identity to our professional Disclaimer: During a global pandemic close success. contact with others in a confined space inOur public education system has creases the risk of transmitting communicable disease. The effects of high temperatures begun to recognize that emotional deon COVID transmission has not been studied, velopment is as important as cognitive but it would be prudent to exercise caution development, with a growing number of social emotional learning (SEL) programs when sharing a sauna with others. being implemented and required across the country. SEL is defined as “the process RESOURCES through which young people and adults Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK, Khan H, Willeit acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, P, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA. “Sauna bathing and attitudes to develop healthy identities, is associated with reduced cardiovascular manage emotions and achieve personal mortality and improves risk prediction in and collective goals, feel and show empamen and women: a prospective cohort thy for others, establish and maintain supstudy.” BMC Med. 2018 Nov 29;16(1):219. portive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”
Oren Gersten, M.D. is a boardcertified 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 online, PortlandDirectCare.com.
With caring adults to provide a nurturing, stable, and engaging environment, children can learn how to cope with adversity as a normal and important part of healthy development. But prolonged stress in the absence of loving and protective adult support can have negative longterm consequences. Of course, many of us do not reach adulthood without some unresolved emotional wounds. Therefore, developing our capacity to work with our own emotions – especially challenging emotions such as fear, anger, shame, and grief – is an important part of our healing journey. What we cannot allow ourselves to feel will remain unresolved, and will tend to play out in our personal and professional relationships (including how we parent our own children) until we gain the tools, skills, and support to help us integrate the experience. Robert Waldinger, Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, says that close relationships are essential for our health and well-being, yet relationships are complicated and require ongoing work to sustain them. Having difficult conversations, managing conflict, and being able to give and receive love skillfully all require emotional intelligence. As we continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, an economic recession, and social-political polarization, the resulting anxiety and overwhelm is making the mental health crisis in this country worse than it already was. But emotional intelligence can help us stay resilient, adaptable, optimistic, and focused on achieving our goals in the face of so much uncertainty and disruption. It also allows us to treat others with empathy, kindness, and compassion. And the good news is the core skills of emotional intelligence can all be learned and developed through deliberate practice and with the support of a qualified coach or therapist. It’s an exciting time to be learning about what makes us human, and how we can embody more of our humanity. Research shows that not only is emotional intelligence crucial for our individual wellbeing and our relationships, it also separates great leaders from good leaders. So regardless of whether you’re looking to feel and perform at your best, increase the quality of your social connections, or create a positive impact on the world around you, the core E.I. competencies of self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management are invaluable tools and well worth the time and energy it takes to strengthen them. Originally published at www.crediblemind.com.
Michael Stern is a certified Emotional Intelligence coach whose mission is to support others in creating a better life and a more beautiful world.Visit www.Integral Alignment.com.
THE BROADER PICTURE
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
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PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SKY NOVEMBER 2020
Election Day Brings Challenges & Hope By Leo Knighton Tallarico
Every U.S. president since 1840 who was elected around the Jupiter/Saturn We are now moving into the last porhe good conjunction had died while in office, until tion of 2020. And what a year it has been. news is 1981 when President Reagan narrowly esWe have been thrown into a new re- caped an assassination attempt. you have the ality this year, one that requires each of Universe at your And in the year 2000, Jupiter/Saturn us to be present and accounted for. There back now.Time is this feeling, from many people, that be- made conjunction in Taurus. That was followed by the 9-11 Twin Tower disaster in to be in your fore too long all will return to normal. Yet 2001. And that event really helped to dethere is also a feeling, from many people, power... fine what would be in the spotlight for the that all will soon fall apart in our world. next 20 years. Neither possibility will be made manSo, November will give us a time ifest. The “normal” that existed prior to Covid no longer exists. Neither is the when much is shaken up, beginning the Those who want to overthrow or revoSo, this eclipse intends to shake things complete destruction of the world on the transformation of consciousness into an lutionize something or someone else may up. As such, we may be more neutral when menu for likely outcomes from this end of Age of Aquarius. assessing what is true and what is bogus. be given confidence now. year turning point. ELECTION DAY In December there is another GOOD/BAD NEWS But this transitional time is meant to eclipse, a Solar Eclipse New Moon in The election gets the ball of change help light our way forward into the Age of That time in mid-November is real- Sagittarius on December 14th. And Aquarius. Yet, these are basically unchart- rolling forward as Mercury goes Direct ly powerful energetically. So, the news in December also brings the Winter Solstice ed waters, as the last Age of Aquarius hap- that same day, after over three weeks of the world will likely be around conflicts, with Jupiter conjunct Saturn in Aquarius. disorienting our minds and attitudes. pened almost 26,000 years ago. or wars, or at least some kind of confron- We will talk further at next month’s forecast. at the election in November tation. TURNING A CORNER 2000Look to get a feel for Election Day this In personal lives, the good news is you Till next month, These last two months of 2020 will year. Consider the Bush /Gore voting fi- have the Universe at your back now. Time Leo bring energies conducive to major trans- asco that happened. Then Mercury was in to be in your power, feel, and express your process of changing Directions from Retformation of our country and world. passion, and for new beginnings. rograde to Direct on election night. Bad news could show us major conAnd with some confusion again, we flict and even war soon.The Economy may move into a new era (the next 20 years), be shaky now, too. and a turn toward a New Age in Aquarius.
T
This New Moon in Scorpio and Mars Direct in Aries powerfully breaks open a new Eclipse Season. As all the chaos from Election And the first eclipse is on November Day continues, we move into a No30th. It is a Lunar Eclipse Full Moon vember 12th Jupiter conjunct Pluto in Gemini at 4:30 AM EST. in Capricorn, along with Mars going back Direct on Friday the 13th of There are challenges now, like sifting November. through lots of facts or information before finding truth. Clear communication Jupiter conjunct Pluto brings great is especially important now. Finding and intensity and passion, especially so out in knowing the truth, despite lying, decepthe world. The economy and war of one tion, or even gas-lighting may be challengsort or another will be churning through ing, but it must be done. Listen to your our collective consciousness now. Also, inner wisdom and trust it. the dilemma of a choice between taking the high road or low road will likely play out around that time – choosing between LOOKING AHEAD the high and low attitudes. This lunar eclipse triggers the USA natal Uranus. For the USA natal chart, And most importantly Mars Uranus has great importance as the rulin Aries goes Direct on Friday the er of Aquarius. Aquarius is about thinking 13th of November. This signals all sysoutside the box and having a mind of one’s tems on go. Action will begin then or in own. That is important now – to think for the very near future. yourself. For personal lives, it is time now to The truth around the election, or at least begin to actualize what we truly with politics in general, may be quite chalwant and what direction we intend to go lenging. Many will want to spin the truth toward. Usually best to wait a week or ten into what they want or believe. Even jourdays after Mars Direct to know for sure nalism, which is supposed to be objective what you want or where you want to go. and fair, nowadays is very biased. Each TV One day later, on the 14th, there is station seems so obviously geared to one a strong New Moon in powerful Scorpio. party or the other.
FRIDAY THE 13TH
© WILLIAM / Adobe Stock
The climax will happen when Jupiter makes conjunction with Saturn at 0+ degrees of Aquarius. This occurs on the day of Winter Solstice 2020. And of course, right after the darkest time of year, light increases until Spring Equinox, when light and dark are equal. How fitting that the darkest day of the year holds a sign telling us that the next 20 years – at least – will contain an abundance of energies and events that bring on the need for more community and social causes. That Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in Aquarius – on the Solstice – shows me a sign from the Universe that we are turning a corner into the Age of Aquarius.
20-YEAR CYCLE Jupiter and Saturn meet in conjunction every 20 years or so, and they are then meant to begin a new 20-year cycle for the culture or society.
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Leo Knighton Tallarico is an astrological and spiritual guide with 30 years of experience. His specialty is 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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484 Stevens Ave, Portland
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PUZZLE PAGE
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
Thanksgiving Trivia 1. What company invented the TV dinner after getting stuck with 520,000 pounds of unsold turkey in 1953?
2. The largest surviving community of Wampanoag people live in Aquinnah, on what Massachusetts island that's popular with vacationers? 3. The first color broadcast of a Thanksgiving Day football game featured the Baltimore Colts playing against what Midwestern team that still plays every Thanksgiving?
Monday: Lazzari Wednesday: Rivalries Thursday: Ri-Ra Find out more on Facebook and Instagram: @bestworsttrivia
4. Thanksgiving was moved twice, in 1939 and 1941, by what longest-serving U.S. President? Find the answers online at thewestendnews.com/puzzle-solutions!
Cast Iron Skillet Fried Chicken Korean Style Wings Buttermilk Biscuits Soups, Salads and Daily Specials
2020 Season Takeout is open
(to ensure the safety of our employees & customers, we have Tuesday-Saturday shortened our hours this year) 11am-8pm
Closing for the season TUESDAY-SATURDAY on3pm December until23 selLout/8pm
many words can you make from the Words In How letters in the phrase below? Words must have at least 3 letters. Plurals don’t count, nor do proper Words nouns, abbreviations, or foreign words not comBy Rosanne Graef
monly used in English.
“Imagine the leaves dream now” -from Song for Autumn by Mary Oliver GOLD = 150 words | SILVER = 125 words | BRONZE = 100 words
BONUS = How many words with double “m”s or “n”s can you make? October’s bonus: Words containing at least one “Y” or “Z” in “My name is Ozymandias.” Some examples: zany, many, sandy, maze, zinnia, dozen…
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health tips for the holidays By Jodi Newcombe, MD The holidays are just around the corner. While things look differently due to the pandemic, we could all benefit from safely maintaining our connections to family and friends, especially as holiday traditions approach.
• Wet your whistle: While it’s important to remain adequately hydrated throughout the day, drinking 1-2 glasses of water a half hour prior to eating does more than ward off possible dehydration or headaches. Research has shown that it also helps curb your appetite.
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
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Dr. Jodi Newcombe is a primary care physician at Northern Light Mercy Primary Care located at 385 Route One in Yarmouth. -Photo courtesy of Northern Light Mercy Hosptial
While we may be gathering in small- • Getting your greens: Try to incorporate exciting new vegetables in your er groups outside, virtually, or have our meal prep routine to provide variety in faces covered for the protection of ourthe healthy options on your plate. Ideselves and others, these connections because the average American eats portion sizes are easy ways that we all can ally, fiber rich greens or veggies should to loved ones are crucial to our overall so much excess sodium, even cutting make a little difference for ourselves and encompass 50 percent of your plate. wellbeing. So too is another, often central back by 1,000 mgs a day can significant- others. Dietary fiber, which is found mainly in element of many holiday traditions—what ly improve blood pressure and heart fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and leAs one of Mercy’s newest primary we eat and how we celebrate. Delicious, health. Tip: For meal preparation, consider gumes, can provide many benefits, such care providers, I want to remind you to but sometimes unhealthy, food can be the using flavorful herbs and low sodium spice as helping to maintain a healthy weight set up your annual physical prior to the norm, and knowing a few tips could help alternatives to make a reduction in sodium and lowering your risk of diabetes, holidays. Ensuring your blood pressure us balance out the celebratory meals, desintake easier to swallow. I also recommend heart disease, and some types of canis at target, cholesterol panel is checked, erts, and snacks that often accompany the avoiding boxed recipes with high sodium cer. Tip: Recently I have been experimentand preventative health goals are met will holidays. content. ing by roasting seasoned broccoli, eggplant, start your holidays off right and set you While it can be tempting to wait unpurple cauliflower, lentils, and local squash. • Bigger is not always better: Try to on the right path for a healthier 2021. til the new year to tackle a healthy eating Consider supporting local and going to your consciously monitor your portion sizresolution, incorporating healthy lifestyle nearby farmers’ market. es and limit carbohydrates, sugars, and modifications now could help set us all up greasy foods to less than 25% of your Content Provided by for year-round wellness. • Don’t be salty: If you ever wondered plate. Protein intake should equate to a why your socks indented your legs, • Post-meal stroll: After a meal, try portion the size of your palm. If you’re Northern Light Mercy Hospital, your blood pressure increased, or your to go for a walk down the street or still hungry, drink a glass of water and a nonprofit community hospital hands were swollen the next day after a around the neighborhood. It’s a better wait 20 minutes before getting sec- sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, tasty meal, consider reflecting on your alternative than a post meal nap—no onds. Tip: Use smaller plates and serving has been providing care to greater salt intake. The suggested salt intake in matter how inviting our couches may spoons to help achieve portion control Portland since 1918. Mercy consistently a healthy person is no more than 2,300 seem. Research has found that taking goals, because our eyes usually are bigger receives an ‘A’ grade by The Leapfrog milligrams (mg) a day. To put it in perGroup for meeting the highest safety a walk about 15 minutes after a meal than our stomachs. spective, a serving of holiday stuffing standards in the country. It has also may improve digestion and blood sugar Adding post meal exercise, increasand macaroni and cheese can surpass been recognized as a top hospital by control. Tip: Consider having a warm ing daily water intake, incorporating more the suggested daily maximum. AccordNewsweek and U.S. News and World tea to savor when you reach your vegetables, limiting salt, and monitoring ing to the American Heart Association, Report. destination.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Personal Memories of Politics & Moments with Politicians Democrat from Massachusetts. Surprised? second floor. The doors closed on us for This was 1978. Each day we were in ses- their $1000 plate GOP dinner. My father used to read the paper to sion. I (as Ted) kept trying to get a Univerme and my older sister. He would read us sal Health Care bill to a vote. I turned around and noticed several the lost and found column about cats and campaign posters hanging in the rotunda dogs. Sometimes he shared the headlines. In 1988 I moved to Massachusetts and a very tall man that looked rather like One of my earliest memories is sitting on and that same year Gary Hart smiled at Abraham Lincoln. Same man in the postthe couch with my father as he read the me at Boston Logan Airport! On a bike ers. He was handing out “Ralph Nadar for paper and told me the president had died. trip with the Boston Ski & Sports club to President” flyers. There was no crowd. I I was nearly three years old when JFK was Martha’s Vineyard I recognized Edward M. walked up to him and shook his big hand. shot and killed in Dallas. I could tell my Kennedy Jr. as he and a few friends mo- Ralph smiled and said he didn’t get invited dad was sad. A few years later Walt Dis- tored away from the dock in a skiff. to that dinner either. ney died. I recall a photo in the paper of One weekend at breakfast at a diner The very next day Jesse Jackson held Mickey Mouse crying over a hospital bed. in Boston there was a guy sitting at the a voter registration rally for the students I was equally sad. bar talking garishly. This breakfast regular at Suffolk University! Talk about fired up! In 1972 my mother campaigned for with a huge smile and bad pillow hair was Around these years I moonlighted McGovern.While I didn’t meet McGovern, none other than Joseph P. Kennedy II, my for Creative Gourmet, a Boston off-site I felt like I knew him by all the wonderful second Kennedy sighting. catering company. We ran the functions at things my mother said about him. I was The following week was the 1992 the JFK Kennedy Library and one year I eleven years old and she let us stay up late Massachusetts Presidential Primary. My worked the “Profiles in Courage Award” to watch the results on our new color friend Robin and I left work/school at Sufdinner. All waitstaff had to be fitted for television. I saw red and went to bed. folk University to hear Jerry Brown speak tuxedos for this special event. Each table on the Boston Common. He was fired up! had at least one Kennedy counting JackIt was cold and rainy so after his rally we ie O, Caroline, Ted, Ethel, Eunice Kennedy headed down to Quincy Market to get Shriver, JFK Jr. (when he was single), Joseph a cup of tea. There was a huge crowd at II, Patrick, Ted Jr., Joan and daughter Kara. the entrance, so we headed around the I felt like a well-dressed Camelot court back. As the entourage came in, I noticed servant. then Governor William Weld (a head tallIn 1995 I went to Washington, D.C. to er than the rest) in the lead. We started visit a few friends. During dinner out, we up the stairs to get a better look, but the recognized William Kennedy Smith enjoyGovernor turned to come up the stairs ing a night out with friends. It wasn’t until too. He was escorting then Vice President a few years ago that l learned I had known When I was a senior in high school, Daniel Quail! Robin and I along with one the woman that accused him of rape in the American Government course was of the waitstaff pressed against the railing 1991. It was the same Patty Bowman I a progressive and engaging role-playing on the staircase. The server said, “Good was in girl scouts and grade school with. curriculum. One class was the House, my Luck!” and the vice president stopped. I hadn’t seen her since Junior High. After class was the Senate, and another class Out came the cameras and microphones the trial she wanted her identity known were the lobbyists.We were each assigned as he said something like, “Thank you. In to urge rape victims to tell their stories. our role based on a survey we took. I was times like these, luck is a good thing to Proud of her for coming forward! assigned the role of Ted Kennedy, liberal have.” We followed the crowd up to the In 1999 on my way to work in Concord, New Hampshire, I saw the McCain “Straight Talk” bus parked at a hotel in Meredith. I stopped to find out where they were headed and practically walked right into John McCain. We shook hands and laughed. He said they were headed out of the state. I wished him well. By Nancy Dorrans
SPONSOR A SMALL BUSINESS
Nancy Dorrans kayaks in Stonington Quarry. Nancy is currently working as a “Dedicated (in school) Substitute Teacher” at Deering High School. She figured she could do something meaningful while we wait for travel to be safe again. -Photos courtesy of Nancy Dorrans
You may recall my article about the chance meeting with former Governor Paul LePage during the 2015 Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo. The New England-Canada Business Council was holding their New England-Canada Energy Conference in the same venue, and he had just delivered the opening keynote address. I told him he looked nice in his suit.
Mainers Fran Leyman, Paul LePage, and Nancy Dorrans at the Seaport Hotel, Boston, Nov. 2015. Reliving my political trip down memory lane was exhausting. This election has been exhausting. I’ll say no more about it. I delivered my absentee ballot to City Hall in Portland, tracked it, and it has been received. You can probably guess who I voted for.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2020
THE DUMPSTER… WHERE WE THROW ALL THE STUFF THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH…
El Corazon invites customers to celebrate Día de Los Muertos with them all month long… After postponing Maine Maple Sunday in the spring, Maine Maple Producers opt to run a maple recipe contest… The winning recipes included a maple julep in the beverage category by Portland’s own Ned Wight… For the first time a Portland Mayor remotely delivers the State of the City Address… From election related potpourri… All-Maine short horror film showcase Damnationland goes virtual with their Cast Your Damn Vote GOTV edition… Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force visits SMCC as part of nationwide tour of colleges… Progressive Portland releases mid-October endorsements including a Rank #1 for Green Independent Lisa Savage for U.S. Senate… In tech news… Portland biotech startup KinoTek wins a spot in a sport and health incubator program in Florida for its telehealth physical therapy technology… Yahoo announces that in December after 20 years it is shutting down Yahoo Groups after a steady decline in usage… In unwanted list news… iSeeCars calls the Nissan LEAF Portland’s #1 most popular used electric vehicle… Wallethub gives their take on Maine’s best colleges and Colby takes #1 with USM coming in at #6… Original Maine Ale by Austin Street Brewery makes Hop Culture’s list of 20 Best Fall Beers… CHEERS!!!
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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 Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Rick Ness, Sales Printed in Maine by Lincoln County Publishing Co.
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VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure James Fereira, The Portland Palate Dr. Oren Gersten, Healthy Living Rosanne Graef, La Vida Local Michael Stern, Emotional Intelligence Leo Knighton Tallarico, Astrology Layne Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig
Thank you for contributions from Dr. Jodi Newcombe, Northern Light Mary Alice Scott, Portland Buy Local Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonLabs Portland Citizens' Climate Lobby & Portland Climate Action Team
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el corazÓn mexican restaurant
delicious authentic mexican food from the heart prepared fresh daily to order
Open Tues.-Thurs. 11am-9pm Fri.-Sat. 11am-10pm 190 State Street, Portland, Maine | Across from Longfellow Square
NOVEMBER EDITION 2020
DELIVERY AVAILABLE THROUGH
www.elcorazonportland.com (207) 536-1354
El Corazon invites you to be part of our annual Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration throughout the month of November. A tradition dating back 3000 years started by the indigenous people of Mexico which celebrates and honors the life of loved ones who have moved on to the next world. It’s a celebration involving great food and drinks. We will have our traditional altar set-up with photos of past loved ones and invite you to bring photos of those you wish to celebrate. A joyous tradition which joins the living with the spirit of those who have passed on. 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
Tacos – Burritos – Quesadillas – Enchiladas – Sopes – Pozole – Goat Birria – Fajitas – Cocteles de Marisco – Chile Rellenos – Carne Asada – Lamb Shanks in Adobo & much more.
muchas gracias!
On behalf of Laura, Joe, and the rest of the El Corazon family we want to thank all of you out there in newspaper land for all your continued support with your take-out and delivery orders during this difficult time. We truly appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts (Corazon). Together we will re(Maine) strong.