NOVEMBER 2021.VOL. 21, NO. 11. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
New Hunger Data Reveals Mixed Results for Maine By Tony Zeli
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its 2020 report on Household Food Security. The news for Maine is mixed. Overall, there are fewer food insecure households in Maine, but the number is high and extreme food insecurity is persistent.
FOOD INSECURITY DEFINED The USDA considers social and economic factors in determining how food secure a household is. Hunger is real, but it is not a statistic that the government has tracked since 2006. The food security status of each household lies somewhere along a range from high to very low food security. • High food security households have no problems accessing food. • Marginal food security households have problems at times or anxiety about accessing adequate food, but do not reduce the quality and variety of their food. • Low food security households do reduce the quality and variety of their diets, but do not experience a disruption in the amount of food or their normal eating patterns. • Very low food security households experience disrupted eating patterns and less food due to a lack of resources. USDA describes households with high or marginal food security as food secure and households with low or very low food security as food insecure.
Food Insecurity in Maine
specify how Maine’s food insecurity rates differ across racial and other demographic lines, we know that Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color experienced significant growth in need over the past year,” says Miale.
Aid Helps, More Is Needed A food distribution outside of Reiche Community School. -WEN file photos by Tony Zeli In Maine, the overall food insecurity rate has dipped to 11.4 percent in the 2018-2020 average compared to 14.4 percent in the 2015-17 average. This is great news, but Maine is still doing worse than the national average. The US food insecurity rate is 10.7 percent.
Dwindling reserves on the shelves at a Portland food pantry.
Also from the report, Maine ranks fifth in the nation for very low food security rates at 5.5 percent. As such, more The new data from the USDA indithan 31,000 Maine households fall into cates that emergency pandemic aid helped. this concerning category. Expansions to the Supplemental Nutrition Further, Kristen Miale, president of Assistance Program (SNAP) and school Good Shepherd Food Bank warns that the nutrition programming helped avoid cataoverall improved numbers for Maine may strophic rates of food insecurity in the US. not tell the whole story. “The USDA data Indeed, the global numbers for last year isn’t exactly congruent with what we’re are staggering. It’s estimated that between seeing on the ground. Our network of 720 and 811 million people in the world five hundred partners increased its meal faced hunger in 2020. distribution by 16 percent during our last “Hunger and malnutrition rates have fiscal year, so the demand is clearly there,” been on the rise for years, and the panMiale says. demic has significantly exacerbated this The USDA report also shows na- problem here in the US and around the tional food insecurity rates improved for world,” says Congresswoman Chellie Pinsome sub-populations while worsening gree, who introduced a resolution to desfor others. In particular, Black and Latino ignate October 16th as World Food Day. households had higher-than-average rates “Food security is a human right, and we of food insecurity, as did households with must fight to increase access to healthy children. “While the new data does not food, reduce food waste, and acknowledge
A small sampling of the fresh fruit and vegetables and seemingly countless numbers of eggs distributed at a single lakes region food pantry event. the scale of the problem,” says Pingree. “The charitable food network is here to fill the void in the federal and state safety net. When those programs are not funded sufficiently, our network is on the hamster wheel of providing more meals each year,” says Miale of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “We can and will grow our nutritious food distribution to meet the urgent need of Mainers today, just like we did over the past year. Yet, we can also close Maine’s meal gap by advocating for policies and public/private partnerships that strengthen the safety net and address the root causes of hunger and poverty to reduce the demand on food pantries and meal sites across the state.” Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Contact him at thewestendnews@gmail. com.
Words In Words By Rosanne Graef
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La Vida Local - A worried look at what lurks underground
Marie Boneparth: Getting food to kids thru The Locker Project
Check out Nancy's adventorous escape from Mt. Isolation
Two pages of Trivia, Sudoku, & word games!
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NOVEMBER EDITION 2021
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
FROM THE EDITOR
In November’s edition we shine a spotlight on the enduring issue of food insecurity. The US has made progress, but after 20 years we have failed to reduce the poverty rate (10.9% in 1999 and 2019). And without reducing poverty there is only that much more pressure on government and charitable systems to bare the load and feed everyone.
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Providing depth on the topic, PelotonPosts (Pg. 7) features an interview with Marie Bonepart, a board member of The Locker Project, an organization providing food to local kids. Also, in our Neighborhood News on Page 3, find information on claiming the Child Tax Credit, a program aimed at reducing poverty.
INSIDE THIS EDITION Best Worst Trivia.........................................16 Bright Ideas...................................................17 Business & Community.............................7-8 Cartoons, UN Global Goals.......................6 Climate Justice.............................................17 Commentary...................................................5 Crossword....................................................15 Dumpster......................................................19 Events.............................................................18 Health & Wellness.........................................9 La Vida Local...................................................4 Layne's Wine Gig...................................12-13 Letters to the Editor.....................................5 Map...........................................................10-11 Neighborhood News...................................3 Police Beat......................................................3 PelotonPosts...................................................7 Portland Buy Local........................................8 Sudoku...........................................................16 Travel..............................................................14 We're All in This Together..........................17 Words in Words..........................................16
Also, find the Police Beat on Page 3, after what has been a much noticed a hiatus. Here we place brief articles from the Portland Police Department, especially focusing on the downtown neighborhoods and incidents of concern to public safety. WEN is a community newspaper and Readers have asked where the Police Beat we need your voice! Share your submiswent. Don’t worry, it’s back! sions with thewestendnews@gmail.com or send to: On the lighter side, Layne Witherell The West End News (Pg. 12) takes us on a Wine Gig exploring Attn: Editor four wines from South Africa. In addition, 795 Congress Street Nancy Dorrans (Pg. 14) tells a tale of bePortland, Maine 04102 ing lost (and found) on Mount Isolation. And find local events on Page 18. • Letters to the editor should be no
SUBMISSIONS
Thank you for reading, Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor
Thank you for reading! Thank you for reading local, independent print news. If you like what we do it's easy to support cummunity news... Next time you are looking for a local product, reliable service, or night out, visit one of our advertisers and tell them The West End News sent you!
more than 300 words. Include your name and town or neighborhood. • Op-eds should be no more than 750 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. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in our pages belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to the publication.
Published by Zeli Enterprises, LLC 795 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04102 thewestendnews@gmail.com Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Rick Ness, Sales VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure Rosanne Graef, La Vida Local & Words Mary Alice Scott, Portland Buy Local Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonPosts Annie Antonacos, CCL Layne Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Thousands of Unclaimed Child Tax Credit Payments in Maine According to the Credit to Kids Collaborative, most Maine families qualify for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), but households that don’t typically file taxes may not know this extra income is available. Through the American Rescue Plan, eligibility for the tax credit has expanded and almost all families qualify for up to $300 per child per month. Anyone who has a child with a Social Security number can get the credit, even if they don’t have one themselves. It is not necessary to be a tax filer to claim the credit.
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
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Compassionate & Innovative Memory Care
receive CTC payments at GetCTC.org/ MEJ. Families can use this portal until November 15th, 2021. Families can still claim the credit after November 15th when they file taxes and receive the credit in their tax refund.
“Immigrant families who are less familiar with the U.S. tax system have a harder time understanding what they are eligible for,” says Claude Rwaganje, Executive Director of ProsperityME. “ProsperityME is invested in making sure that eligible immigrant families receive the information Personalized help is available through they need to apply for the monthly Child local organizations, including for non-En- Income Tax Credit, a much needed relief glish speakers, who can call ProsperityME to lessen the financial burden many of us at (207) 797-7890. have been experiencing.”
In every season of change, we’re here to help. 207.878.0788 FallbrookWoods.com Portland, Maine
Navigators will help to determine For information about free tax prepaeligibility and help families to sign up to ration, visit cashmaine.org or call 211.
POLICE BEAT
Portland Police Use Chemical Munitions in State Street Standoff
sponded to reports of a man running and yelling before hiding a firearm in bushes along Danforth Street. Officers made contact with a suspect, who was arrested on charges of possession of a firearm by a felOn Sunday, October 24th at about on and a probation violation, then trans11:33 a.m., Portland Police Officers reported to Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset. sponded to a call of a man pointing a handgun at traffic passing by 62 State Deering Oaks Park Assault Street. Officers arrived on scene and Case observed the suspect still brandishing a firearm. The suspect refused to follow On Saturday, October 9th, at about commands and fled into 62 State Street, a 3:30 p.m., Portland Police Officers relarge apartment building. sponded to a report of a sexual assault The PPD Special Reaction Team and that had just occurred. The victim, a PPD Crisis Negotiators were assigned to 47-year-old Portland woman, reported the call. Officers evacuated people from that while in a portable toilet in Deering the surrounding apartments. After hours Oaks Park she had been punched in the of negotiations, police used chemical face several times then sexually assaultmunitions to force the suspect from the ed. After an investigation, an arrest was apartment. At 4:59 p.m. police ended the made by Portland Police. The suspect was charged with aggravated assault and gross standoff and made two arrests. sexual assault. The victim was taken for treatment at Maine Medical Center. Vandalism: Broken Windows
at Congress St. Businesses, Separate Incidents on Wharf Street
On Friday, October 15th at about 12:45 p.m., while officers were responding to a report of theft at Reny’s, located at 540 Congress Street, a suspect threw an object through one of the store’s windows. Then, on Saturday, October 16th, at about 2:08 p.m., officers responded to 585 Congress Street for a report of criminal mischief at Flea for All, where windows had been broken. After an investigation, police identified a single suspect in both vandalism incidents and charged the suspect by summons with two counts of Aggravated Criminal Mischief. In a separate incident on Saturday, October 16th, at about 7:26 a.m., officers responded to 49 Wharf Street for a report of a burglary. Officers found broken windows, extensive damage, and missing items from Jefe Juan’s. While investigating, officers discovered another business, Rathskeller on Wharf, had a window broken. These two incidents are under investigation and are not believed to be related to the vandalism incidents on Congress Street.
Danforth Street Gun Charge
Police Investigating Car, Bicycle Crash On Tuesday October 5th, at 6:53 p.m., a 63-year-old Portland man was seriously injured when the bike he was riding collided with a boat trailer that was being towed by an SUV. The SUV was being driven by a 22-year-old Portland resident. The collision occurred in the area of 335 Forest Avenue. The victim was taken to Maine Medical Center by MEDCU with life-threatening injuries. No charges have been filed at this time and no names are being released.
Teenagers Assault Juvenile, Steal Shoes On Monday, October 4th at about 12:40 p.m., Portland Police Officers responded to a report of an assault and robbery on Temple Street.The victim and witnesses reported that a group of four high school-aged males attacked the juvenile victim and stole his shoes. This investigation is ongoing and two juvenile suspects were arrested and taken into custody on Wednesday, October 6th. Both were charged with robbery and simple assault. Additional arrests are likely.
If anyone has any information that On Tuesday, October 12th, at about could assist police, call the Portland 12:20 p.m., Portland Police Officers re- Police Department at (207) 874-8575.
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NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life
It’s Not Too Late!
Can Portland Be Saved? Part 3: Notes from the Underground By Rosanne Graef Sorry to have left you hanging for two whole months in the midst of the story of the sinkhole at the intersection of Salem and Clark. It’s one of those tales starring the familiar actors Gravity, Water, and Time.
strate beneath the street gradually loosened and washed away. Ultimately, the fill around the joined pipes subsided and caused the sinkhole.
For readers who may not be familiar with this section of Clark Street, it is on The Broader one of the steepest sections of any street Picture on the peninsula. I have heard that only a couple of blocks of Walnut Street on This rather Munjoy Hill are steeper. small episode leads one to wonder how The Clark-Salem Sinkhole firm the peninsular ground under Portlanders’ feet really is. We’re all aware of After expeditions into the local Portthe massive amounts of fill that were used land underground with remote cameras over the course of over one hundred and dyes in the vicinity of the sinkhole, years to expand both sides of the peninthe cause of the collapse was determined. sula towards Fore River, Portland Harbor, A vertical section of plastic pipe had been and Back Cove. Also, we’re all aware of joined perpendicularly to the main sewer the increasing severity of more frequent line and the space around backfilled. Judgdownpours that send rippling sheets of ing by the color of the plastic pipe at the water racing from the high points of the collapse, this repair occurred within the peninsula toward sea level. past ten years. According to the equipment operator fixing the sinkhole, the We’re all aware of gravity, entrocolors of plastic pipe used over the years py, frost heaving, settling, low-magnitude have changed from white to pink to green. earthquakes, and heavy trucks driving This facilitates a kind of dating system in through the city. future years. If you haven’t thought about these Speculation is that over the interven- things for a while, or have never thought ing years, water flowing through the sub- about them, now’s as good a time as any.
Did you miss Sparky the Fire Dog’s 70th birthday on March 18th, 2021? How about Fire Prevention Week, October 3rd through 9th, 2021? Or even Fire Protection Month in October 2021?
A heap of pipes that were dug up by NEUCO on Danforth Street this summer. -Photo by Steve Graef
Look around and think about the consequences of the passage of time on our underground infrastructure. You must have come upon some examples. The physical evidence is dug up all the time during construction season work on municipal and various utility projects. What’s underground can’t be tucked away as out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Not when you’re up against Gravity, Water, and Time. Rosanne Graef lives in the West End and is a regular volunteer contributor. Email her at lavidalocalwen@ gmail.com.
Aside from a brief mention in the “Inside Gray” column for October 15th, 2021, the Portland Press Herald included no mentions of Sparky, Fire Prevention Week, or Fire Prevention Month for the past twelve months. Luckily, kids can still take part in the National Fire Safety Association’s challenges and become official members of Sparky’s Fire Safety Club at https://sparky.org.
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OPINION
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Facebook Is a Publisher Cutting Down Trees The release of the Facebook Papers, internal research originally leaked to The Wall Street Journal, has put a spotlight on the social media giant. As the documents make their way into public light, they reveal the negative impact Facebook has on the world. We shouldn’t be shocked. We have allowed a private company with less than 60,000 employees to access billions of users across the globe with zero accountability. After all, Facebook isn’t a publisher, it’s a platform. From reporting on the Facebook Papers, we know of an internal researcher who created a false Facebook account for an imaginary mom named Carol Smith. Carol followed a couple conservative media outlets, namely Fox and Sinclair Broadcasting. Despite never liking similar content, Facebook’s recommendation engine started to push QAnon on Carol. Within weeks the account’s newsfeed had devolved into a cesspool of conspiracy theories and misinformation. The researcher who created Carol left Facebook in August of 2020, writing in their exit note, “We’ve known for over a year now that our recommendation systems can very quickly lead users down the path to conspiracy theories and groups. In the meantime, the fringe group / set of beliefs has grown to national prominence with QAnon congressional candidates and QAnon hashtags and groups trending in the mainstream.” Highlighted by the researcher is Facebook’s power, self-awareness, and complete lack of accountability. To hold Facebook accountable, we start by recognizing that it is a publisher. Facebook’s algorithms distribute content based on profit just like printed media, only way more efficiently. Facebook should be treated as a publisher by users, advertisers, and governments. Luckily, in America we have strong free speech rules. Yet, publishers big and large, from Condé Nast to The West End News, are accountable for what we publish. As traditional publishers, we have a community to answer to. If we publish content that is harmful, inaccurate, or misleading there are consequences. Advertisers and readers may boycott the product. Or a publisher could end up in court. Of course, these threats are not all that keeps publishers honest. Most immediately, we respond to our readers. With Facebook, it is the other way around. Users respond to the algorithm, at worst being manipulated by the negative recommendations flooding their virtual worlds. Yet Facebook, with billions of users and billions in profit, seems untouchable. Let’s change that. Treat your social media accounts like any other publisher’s account. Remember when you log on, you are visiting a publisher’s page. And as you scroll, think about how you are paying for this experience. No, it’s not with a paid subscription. But you do pay, through freely and mostly unknowingly sharing your personal information with Facebook and its advertisers. Once social media users shift their attitudes and consider Facebook to be another publishing company, the accountability will follow. Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Contact him at thewestendnews@gmail. com.
our most pressing issues. I’m committed to listening and taking on our challenges Homeowners are cutting down our so that everyone has the opportunity to trees again and even city owned trees (I live, work, and prosper in Portland. mean the ones between the granite curbs Working effectively on your behalf and the sidewalks). The tree services will be particularly important as we conwhen I’ve asked – brush me off with “Oh tinue to fight the Covid pandemic togeththey were dying anyway.” er. We need to protect the vulnerable, I am 75 years young and have lived including our students. We also need to in the New England region most of my make sure that our city’s economic engine life. I am an environmentalist from child- recovers as quickly as is safe. hood. When I look at the cross section of I would like to take this opportunity severed trunks and branches with healthy to ask for your vote this fall, whether you leaves: My soul weeps. plan to vote early or in-person [Election Has no one heard of global warming? Day is Tuesday, November 2nd]. Our poor Mother Earth! -Brandon Mazer, Candidate for PortWhat are we leaving for the next gen- land At-large City Council eration? -Bonnie Johnstone, West End, Portland
Candidates Introduce Themselves to Our Readers BRANDON MAZER
VICTORIA PELLETIER
Hi friends! My name is Victoria (but everyone calls me Tori) – I live in Parkside, I work in Racial Equity, and I’m running to be your District 2 City Councilor.
I look forward to working with you as your fellow neighbor, and I’m excited to prioritize the well-being of our district by leading with community, so this truly can be a place where all of us can thrive. If you’re ready, I’m ready. Let’s get to work. -Victoria (Tori) Pelletier, Candidate for District 2 City Council
Elders Statement of Concern about Democracy and Global Warming
As Elders for Future Generations, we express deep concern for the future of Some of you may recognize me from our planet, our country, and children evmy advocacy work, or perhaps from the erywhere. ‘Community Chats’ I hold on the Prom The extreme risks of global warming which encourage Portlanders to get involved in local issues. But what you may for future generations cannot be undernot know is that I have years of experience estimated especially given recent events: working in regional planning, racial equity, unprecedented heat waves, catastrophic and economic development. I know being fires, and lethal floods of epic proportions. an elected official means being a leader, A new global study by the United Nations and while I’ll be utilizing my knowledge in raises the alarm to a terrifying level.
West End friends, my name is Brandon Mazer.This year, I’m running for a City Council At-Large seat so I wanted to make sure I got in touch, introduced myself, and spoke a bit about why I’m running and why I’d really appreciate your vote this fall. civic engagement, I also aim to restore a level of neighbor-to-neighbor community The short version is that I’m running in our District. to help you. It’s imperative that City Council conWe live in a world class city that versations center the voices with lived exshould be more affordable, livable, and fair. periences, and I currently live in the midst It should be so much easier for current of many local issues we’re trying to solve, residents to enjoy their time here, and it from lack of affordable housing, to conshould be so much easier for good people cern over whether our city will choose to to come here and put down roots. prioritize real estate developments over People here should feel safe - not dis- the quality of life for its residents. We are dealing with concerns that affect real peocriminated against. ple from a wide variety of socioeconomic I serve as the chair of the Portland backgrounds, and I look forward to workPlanning Board, which has given me some ing with the entirety of District 2 as your extremely useful insight into what works ally and resource, collaborating to make and what doesn’t when we’re talking decisions with you, and keeping your best about affordability and access for all. interests in mind. I also have been involved in a number of nonprofits here in town, including Friends of the Eastern Promenade and Special Olympics Maine. I feel passionate about both protecting and improving our city’s special character.
portant for me to pave a road for other under-resourced individuals, who have a lot to say, but often aren’t invited to the conversations. We not only deserve a seat at the table but need to be respected and listened to when we get there.
Confronting this crisis requires a functioning democracy. The current, nationwide attack by the Trump-Republican Party on the voting rights of all Americans, and especially people of color, is meant to ensure that the power remains with corporations and not the people. Failure to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act will doom efforts to enact needed legislation to move our country to a decarbonized economy critical for reduction of global warming. We call upon all people of good conscience to put aside their differences, speak out boldly, and do whatever we, the people, can to stop the vicious attacks on our democracy and environment, and stand up for what is right — namely, the well-being and future of children, the country and the planet. Let us all wake up to the reality that if we don’t raise our voices loud and clear, we will lose our democracy, and our environment will become unlivable. It’s on us!
I’m excited to be a young person running for local office. I’m excited to be a Black woman running for local office. I’m excited to be a low-income Parksider running for local office. I can’t wait to meet you and bring you a new perspecFor a list of actions you can do now, Portland is an amazing place to call tive as someone who faces adversity in go to eldersforthefuture.com. home, but the recent divisiveness of the all conversations, quite often because of city’s politics has made it difficult to solve the identifiers I just listed above. It’s im- -Elders for Future Generations
How to Support Community News 1. Read local news. 2. Visit our advertisers. 3. Tell them you saw their ad. Thank you for reading!
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
UN GLOBAL GOALS
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
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home from our events, including teachers at schools and our volunteers. Most of the produce we share with families has been rescued, so everyone who participates is helping to reduce food waste in the community.
Marie Boneparth: Getting food to kids through the Locker Project
Every month PelotonLabs co-founder Liz Trice interviews a local community member. This month, Liz caught up with Marie Boneparth, who is on the board of the Locker Project, a non-profit that works to get healthy food to kids and their families through school systems in Greater Portland. How serious is the food secu- bring over one hundred bags of food per rity issue in Greater Portland? week for kids to take home to their families – last spring it was sixty-five bags. How can kids be hungry? In the three school districts we serve, How did the Locker Project there are more than 6,000 students who get started, and where is it toare from low-income families and at risk day?
of going hungry in the evening, over the weekend, and during school breaks. No Ten years ago, Katie Wallace, a parent parent wants their child to go hungry, and at the East End School, noticed that at families do everything they can to make daily snack time, there were a lot of kids sure their kids get enough to eat. who didn’t have anything to eat. Some kids wouldn’t always get a good meal when People who are food insecure come they went home at night and would come from all walks of life, whether it is someto school in the morning hungry. It’s a lot one whose family has been in Maine for of hours to be sitting in a classroom and generations or a new Mainer. There is no thinking and participating if you haven’t one kind of family who needs assistance had enough to eat. So, she started sending and the reasons are many. snacks for everyone in her child’s classFood insecurity got a lot of attention room. And in 2013 she partnered with last year because the schools were closed Good Shepherd Food Bank to set up a and people weren’t working, but there is pantry in a school office, and then the an even higher level of requests now than next year they created a nonprofit organilast year. There’s one school where we zation with a board.
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Marie Boneparth. -Courtesy photo
Now, in addition to snacks, we provide bags of produce and pantry staples for school staff to send home with kids. We serve all of Portland, Westbrook, and South Portland schools, nine Head Start locations, and the Boys and Girls Clubs – about six hundred bags per week in total. We rescue produce and baked goods from Hannaford and Shaws, Rosemont, and Standard Baking, and order food from Good Shepherd Food Bank. We have a new program called Farms to Families where we are partnering with local farms. We host several farmers market-type events each week where anyone can show up and shop for produce and staples, sometimes meat. Everything is free.
I’m a physical therapist and have two kids that are five and seven. I started with The Locker Project as a volunteer three or four years ago. I wanted to help with hunger in my community, and one of my patients who works at a food bank recommended it. I wanted volunteer work where I could bring my kids, since I didn’t have childcare. We would go to the warehouse, load up with food and snacks, and then stock up the pantry at the Ocean Ave school, and my kids enjoyed it. They go with me to a fresh food event every week. I tell them that not all families can access food as easily as others, and we want to do what we can to help them get the food that they need.
How can people help? We want people to know that lots of families are still struggling. We’re looking for financial support; monthly donors are really helpful. We also need volunteers. There are volunteer shifts many days of the week packing food. We need people to do pickups from Standard Baking, and we need people at our fresh food events.
Don’t schools provide breakfasts and lunches for every- How can people get food if one? Is there stigma with kids they need it? taking free food? In every school that participates in the federal school lunch program, there is free lunch and breakfast available. Up until last year, you had to fill out paperwork to qualify for free or reduced lunch. But now, breakfast and lunch are free from the federal government regardless of income, and in Maine we passed a law so that will continue.
Parents can let their child’s school social worker know that they would like to receive bags of produce or staples. The fresh food events are open to anyone whether they have kids or not. Check the Locker Project website and our Facebook page for the event schedule.
More information:
Donate or Volunteer: http://mainelockerMore and more families are saying, project.org. “This is great, my kid can just eat the school lunch.” The more kids participate, the more federal funding there is, and the Content Provided By better the programs will be. But snacks aren’t covered, and some kids aren’t getting PelotonLabs is a cogood meals at home at night. That’s where working space in the West End of Portthe Locker Project comes in. By relying on volunteers and working through the schools, we’re engaging the whole community in making sure this generation of kids has a strong start. We encourage everyone to take something
land, Maine with a mission to connect and encourage people working on their own to manifest their visions without fear.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
Shop Local this Season with the Portland Buy Local Gift Guide By Mary Alice Scott
still offers a chance to rest and reflect.
The month of November brings lots The legend of Thanksgiving is particuof memories and traditions for many larly relevant to local food enthusiasts in people. That is especially the case for the New England. The original meal supposworld of local businesses. edly consisted of the season’s harvest not For Portland Buy Local, it’s the month too far from here. Given that history, it’s of one of our perennial favorites: the re- most appropriate to go out of your way to support local farms and local grocers turn of our Holiday Gift Guide. for this meal. It’s also an opportunity to Tune in to Maine Public’s Maine Call- research the native communities whose ing on November 12th at 11 a.m. to hear land we occupy, and to support the local their annual Maine Gift Guide show. We’ll businesses owned by members of those be on the show once again this year to communities. highlight our Gift Guide alongside other This year, Giving Tuesday also falls in local makers and gifting experts. November. You can also look for our Buy Local On November 30th, nonprofit and Gift Guide as an insert in the Portland community-based organizations around Press Herald on Black Friday this year! the country lift up their missions and ask Black Friday conjures the image of swarms for donations to support their work. Just of people rushing to buy cheap goods at as local businesses contribute to the local big box stores. We want to change that. economy and community, local nonprofits We’re hoping the sight of our Gift Guide and community-based organizations are will act as a reminder to shop local. critical, too. Small, local nonprofits often Thanksgiving offers a chance to sup- have better connections with the comport local farms and native commu- munities they serve. And your dollars go further – and stay in the local community nities. – when you donate to local organizations. Of course, November is more than the official beginning of the holiday shopThere are so many chances to seek ping season. It also includes one of our out and support local businesses and noncountry’s most widely celebrated holi- profits this month. It’s a wonderful time days: Thanksgiving. After the past eighteen to appreciate these organizations and be months, one may find it harder to find thankful for the sense of community and things to be grateful for, but Thanksgiving the services they provide to our city.
This month marks the return of a perennial favorite: the Portland Buy Local Holiday Gift Guide. And tune in to Maine Public's Maine Calling on Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. to hear PBL's Mary Alice Scott talk local gifting. Mary Alice Scott is Executive Director of Portland Buy Local. The West End News is a Portland Buy Local member and media partner.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
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Northern Light Health Rolls Out Moderna, Maine 4th State to CoverME.gov StateJ&J Boosters, Mix-and-Match Vaccination Achieve 70 Percent based Marketplace Fully Vaccinated Launches Nov. 1st The CDC Advisory Committee on • Boosters have only
Immunization Practices has approved been approved for peoModerna and Johnson & Johnson boosters ple 18 and over who as well as the mix-and-match approach to originally had the Pfizer, booster doses. While this is the official Moderna, or the Johnapproval needed to begin administering son & Johnson vaccine. these doses across the nation, please reRight now, the FDA fer to the information below regarding and CDC do not recommend Covid-19 Northern Light Health’s roll out. booster shots for most people 12 and over. The most important thing we can do Booster Registration to stop serious illness from Covid-19 is and Eligibility to ensure that every eligible person completes their initial vaccination series. Online registration for Moderna and Anyone over the age of 18 who reJohnson & Johnson vaccines will be available on the Northern Light Health vac- ceived Johnson and Johnson at least 2 cine scheduling tool (https://covid.north- months ago is eligible for a booster dose, ernlighthealth.org/). Community members especially if they are over 65 or have a who meet the criteria may schedule a higher risk for severe disease. booster appointment using the scheduling tool. If they do not have access to a smart Mix-and-Match Vaccination phone or computer, they should call 207Northern Light Health is updating 204-8551 to make an appointment. their scheduling system with the ability to If you are having trouble getting an offer mix-and-match vaccinations. Please appointment at a Northern Light Health note that mix-and-match is only available facility, visit the full list of Covid-19 vac- for booster shots. The initial two dose cination sites at https://www.maine.gov/ vaccine series must be with the same vaccovid19/vaccines/vaccination-sites or call cine. the Maine Covid-19 Community VaccinaThe ability to mix-and-match vaccine tion Line at 1-888-445-4111. types will provide additional options for those that may not have tolerated their Important Information and initial vaccine chosen. Additionally, there Eligibility is some evidence suggesting that patients • Boosters are most beneficial for who initially received the Johnson & Johnthose people who are most at risk son vaccine may experience extra benefit of serious illness due to health con- from receiving Moderna or Pfizer as a second dose. ditions.
Governor Janet Mills announced on October 22nd that more than 70 percent of all Maine residents – accounting for children under 12 who are not yet eligible for a vaccine – are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Maine is the fourth state in the nation to achieve the milestone. Further, nearly 80 percent (79.4) of Maine residents eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccine (ages 12+) are fully vaccinated. Despite that progress, like other New England states, Maine is experiencing a sustained increase in cases and hospitalizations driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant. “Maine people should take pride in reaching this milestone in our ongoing fight against Covid-19,” said Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “But we can’t let up now. Unvaccinated people represent two-thirds of hospitalized Covid-19 cases in Maine today. If you haven’t yet rolled up your sleeve, we urge you to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Covid-19 vaccines are free, safe, and widely available throughout Maine.” The Covid-19 vaccine is available at no charge at sites across the state. For information on getting a Covid-19 vaccine, visit Maine.gov/Covid19/vaccines or call the Community Vaccination Line at 1-888445-4111.
Maine’s State-based Health Insurance Marketplace (SBM) has been approved by the Federal government, allowing Maine to run the online health insurance market for Maine residents. Individuals and families will be able to use the marketplace, called CoverME. gov, beginning November 1st, to explore health plan options, shop, and enroll in private insurance, with most people qualifying for Federal financial assistance to make premiums more affordable. Since additional financial assistance was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year, nearly 25 percent of consumers in Maine have enrolled in a marketplace plan in 2021 with a monthly premium of $10 or less. For the 2022 open enrollment period that runs November 1st, 2021 to January 15th, 2022, and in future years, CoverME. gov will serve as Maine’s fully state-based marketplace platform. As in previous years, those who already have a Health Insurance Marketplace plan will be automatically re-enrolled in their current plan or similar offering from their health insurance carrier. Consumers will receive information about the re-enrollment process directly from CoverME. gov. People who apply through CoverME. gov who are eligible for MaineCare will have their application sent to MaineCare for review. Eligible Maine people can enroll in MaineCare at any time of year.
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Portland looks like an elf boot.
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
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Resi st Assis fear. t love .
It was strange. But we loved it! It’s a bit slapsticky!
W tim I would consider it irrational!
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I voted. END NEWS You bettah!
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
Remember the tree massacre at Dermot Court!
11
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
FOOD & DRINK
LAYNE'S WINE GIG PRESENTS
SOUTH AFRICAN WINES:
4 Wines, 1 Stage & 1 Master Knight By Layne V. Witherell What is Layne’s Wine Gig? As many followers of The West End News are aware, Blue at 650 A Congress Street is a venerable, awesome entertainment venue (jazz, folk, bluegrass, blues...) that hosts local, regional, and national talent. Layne’s Wine Gig occupies a monthly slot on stage every third Thursday of the month from 5 to 6 p.m. We offer up four three-ounce pours for $12. One frequently asked question: What is this thing?
trends diminished. Some Bordeaux style South African wines. The first was Octochateau wineries hung on. ber 8th, 1997. This was local daily newspaper cookie cutter journalism at its finest. • Today. Changing in all directions. Looking back on it I chuckle that it is better than I remember. But climbing out of Now for our 4 wines for years of apartheid the wines could have been a lot better. The second article was the gig: in 2002 when I stated that they should be better and got blasted by the entire expat 1.The Royal Old Vines “Steen” South African community. Chenin Blanc, Swartland, 2020,
A Brief History of South African Wines
• 1685 Constancia. An intensely sweet, Reppen is a “rep” working off a script long lived, muscat grape concoction with predetermined wines to sell for their adored by Napoleon and Europe’s emcompany. This is none of that. It is a gig, perors. Like winning the Boston Marmuch like a jazz performance, an improathon for two hundred straight years. visation on stage with wine. I choose four Recently discovered ancient bottles wines, do enough research as not to look have recently sold at auction for thoustupid, and along with the audience, taste sands of dollars each to today’s Napothem on stage together for the first time. leons. What gives this an exciting edge is what we call “mendo blendo,” assembling and • 1950’s-1970’s KWV. The major co-op trying out our own blends, becoming our and soul of South African wines. They own winemakers on the spot. chose to be a faux sherry producer and spiraled downward with the decline of Let’s look at a recent gig: “South Afsherry. rican Wines.” I knew this was going to be tough for an hour impromptu. In twenty • 1940’s-1990’s Apartheid. South Afyears, I had only written two articles on rica’s contact with world winemaking
$12.99 bottle.
Steen, all 46,000 acres of it, is the most planted grape in South Africa. You can make it into brandy, a generic white, or as they are discovering, a very palatable, interesting standalone varietal. The Royal is a large winery with quaffable wines, so serve this one very chilled. They didn’t know that their own native “Steen” was Chenin Blanc until the 1960’s. Since they have 46,000 acres of this wonderful stuff, much of it in old bush vines, they have a head start should Chenin decide to take off on the world stage. A distinct possibility. Since this one is simple, a goat cheese or Mexican food dish is ideal. Try sour cream and onion dip with potato chips for fun.
A word about “old vines.” There are two vine discovery revolutionaries working today in South Africa: Rosa Kruger and Eben Saben. Both are searchers after the ancient low vines called “bush vines” producing grapes that used to wind up in the yawning maw of the co-ops. Our old nemesis KWV has become an old vine savior as they kept all planting records of vines since 1918. South Africa leads the planet in old vine certification. Older vineyards, 35 years or older, can have a certification of their old vines attached to the bottle.
Why it matters? Old vines at thirty-five plus years produce “intense and flavorful wines.” Jancis Robinson’s rundown on the subject is in her article, “The Justified and the Ancient: The Case for Old Vines,” in the London Financial Times, November 2021. There are societies, regions, groups, and individual wineries on the hunt to locate and preserve the ancient ones. A cool ongoing chase. Domaine Jones in the Languedoc region of France will let you “adopt an old vine” and put your Rustenberg “Old Vine” Chenin name on it. Blanc.
Cont'd on Next Page...
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SOUTH AFRICAN WINES Cont'd from Pg. 12 2. Rustenberg “Old Vine” Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, 2019, $15.00 bottle.
crossed with Pinot Noir (low yield, very site and climate specific). At its best it can be a fun little entertaining red. At its worst it can taste like a trip down a rutted, dusty What a difference a zip code makes. road in an open-air Jeep with no shocks. Stellenbosch is their Napa Valley. We were The Barista part refers to the wineall knocked over by the Rustenberg. Almaker’s nickname “The Barista,” and damn monds, apricots, citrus... It is all there. it tasted exactly like a Starbucks Latte Fabulous to compare the two. No “menwith a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. We do blendo” here, as the Rustenberg just loved it! This is a glory of a wine gig in all stands alone as a splendid example of the its unexpected moments. The winemaker grape. This tasted like a much more exwas no doubt digging into his best bag of pensive wine. heavily toasted oak chips, while playing Pair it up with fish and a lemon sauce. and coaxing flavors out of the wine. Fried food. Lobster bisque! Asian food It will pair with steak tips and mushwith complex sauces. Calamari. Clams. rooms. Chocolate. Chocolate mousse. 3.THE WEIRD STUFF: Barista And Moose.
• Look for that “Old Vine Heritage” seal. • Regions like South Africa that have either fallen off the radar or have never been on the radar are worth looking for.
LAYNE’S WINE GIG: Third Thursday, November 18th, 5:00-6:00 p.m. We will choose four fascinating wines. Maybe something for Thanksgiving. Check their website, portcityblue.com, for events. And remember, there will be “mendo blendo.”
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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. He can be reached at: lvwitherell@ gmail.com. -All photos courtesy of Layne Witherell
Wear your mask and bring your vaccination card. See you then!
Pinotage, Western Cape, 2020, 4. Robertson Winery Caber$16.50 bottle. net Sauvignon, 2018, $12.00. Tasting wines for the first-time, live-in front of an audience can be either awesome or harrowing. In this case it was both. There is a tendency today to aim for a newer audience with wines like Jam Jar Pinotage. I don’t even have to taste it to look askance at it. Pinotage is an invented grape to begin with. It is Cinsault (high yield)
Go to their website and you will see a winery that never met a grape or style it didn’t like. The Cabernet was a calming influence on the Barista if the intense coffee flavor was too much. A good Cabernet for the money, more like the Central Coast than Napa. Serve with Camembert or aged Gouda.
We discovered many things in an hour: • Search for South African Chenin Blancs as they are an uproariously great value. • Bring a bottle of “The Barista” to a winetasting to wake the assembled.
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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
Isolation & Balance A Tale from the Trails By Nancy Dorrans Balance encompasses many aspects of our lives… From hiking, to what we eat, paddling, our relationships, in skiing, and throughout our day-to-day routine! With hiking we need to stay balanced as we work our way up the trail, stepping from rock to rock, root to root. Likewise on the way back down, if we have our hands in our pockets or are not paying attention, we can lose our balance and our way…
Branch Trailhead parking lot off Route 16, just three miles south of our cars. This was around 1:30 p.m.
2. Sue and I started down the Isolation trail to get to the Rocky Branch Trail. As we hiked along the Rocky Branch Trail, I noticed the first stream crossing was not on the map. Hmm… This should have been the first clue that we were heading in the wrong direction.
Here is a true story of a hike up, We crossed the river several more down, and out of Mount Isolation on Sat- times. The last stream crossing was quite urday, September 28th, 2002. challenging although we were getting pretty good at it by then. Eventually the trail became straight and flat, free of rocks and roots. I was certain we would have found the parking lot by now.
Nancy Dorrans and Pat Johnson, still friends after the events of our tale, are here pictured on a hike during the autumn of 2020 (with masks). -All photos courtesy of Nancy Dorrans
Epilogue
Escape from
Mount Isolation 1.
It was about 5:30 p.m.
It was Pat Johnson’s last peak on her quest to bag all forty-eight of the 4000 footers in New Hampshire. I joined her, along with our friend Sue, and Pat’s golden retriever, Farley, to celebrate her success.
4.
I have many trail tales, although this tale of Isolation is one of the longest. Last weekend while hiking (with a map), I was thinking about what to write for this month’s column.All the while paying attention to where I carefully placed each step, over and over… staying low at times, not rushing, and striving to stay balanced. This led to the stream of consciousness about balance… a stream that flows most freely for me when I’m out on the trail.
Along the way up the Glen Boulder Trail, we met another hiker from New York named Ken. A New York City parttime police officer and a shoulder patch collector, he had some interesting tales to share.
PS: November is a wonderful month to hike in Maine and New Hampshire, but it A light appeared in the distance. It was is also Hunting Season! Make sure to wear a small trailer at the end of Jerico Road some blaze orange out on the trail! As a with several cars out front. I knocked at Cleveland Browns fan, I have plenty of orthe door. ange!
It was slow going due to light rain and slippery rocks. At the summit of Isolation we encountered some 40+ mph winds and fast-moving low clouds. Pat brought some champagne to share. After the celebration, it was so windy that it was not possible for her to take a nap, which is what she really wanted to do to celebrate, as was her tradition on most of the other summits.
I checked the map again and realized we were heading southbound on the Rocky Branch Trail, which follows the Rocky Branch River, hence all the stream crossings. Ugh! We had gone straight when we should have turned left – or northbound – on Rocky Branch Trail.
As we descended from the summit, merciless high winds strengthened. When we reached the Isolation Trail junction, Pat told my friend Sue and I that she wanted to take the Glen Bolder trail back to the cars, but she suggested we take the lower more protected trail. Ken said he would go with Pat and Farley, which helped make the decision to split into two groups easier. She would come and pick us up at the Rocky
I explained that we had taken the wrong trail and asked to use the telephone. They were getting ready for dinner and celebrating Grandma’s birthday. We asked if someone would mind giving us a ride the 2.2 miles out to 302. The father and grandfather had a discussion. They offered us a ride but asked us to put our backpacks in the back of the pickup. I guess they felt safer that way. I sat in the back seat next to the birthday cake and kept quiet.
After another stream crossing, the trail turned into a grassy road. A “No They dropped us off at Pizza Plus on Snowmobiles” sign was the first marker of civilization. We were on Jericho Road, 302. The owner called the sheriff and said in Glen, New Hampshire, about four miles he had two “slightly disoriented” hikers north of Route 302. We were a long way that needed a ride. from Pat, with no cell phone. When we finally connected with Pat, It was 7:10 p.m. and we had hiked she was relieved and suggested that we learn how to read a map! Lesson learned. about eighteen miles!
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
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1. In the 1920 Presidential election, what group of 26 million people were able to vote for the first time? 2. What dominant art style emerged out of the newfound status of designers of furniture, textiles, and other decorations?
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3. Charles Lindbergh made a non-stop flight from New York to Paris in 1927 in a plane with what name?
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CLIMATE JUSTICE
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
17
We’re All in This Together: Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard
Make A Call. Leave a Message. Be Happier. By Annie Antonacos
ing reached an all-time low of 24.9%.
“You are a good person.” “Thank you for all you do.” “I’m so glad you do all this good work, because I am stretched so thin right now.” These are things people say to me on a monthly basis. As if I had served my country fighting in some distant war. But it’s not a battle on foreign soil they’re referring to – it’s democracy.
We know that volunteering makes us happier. And I’m worried about the future of our democracy if most Americans don’t use their voices. There are, of course, so many forces against us. Our work follows us home, we’re more involved in daily parenting than we used to be, we have less access to affordable childcare, etc. It’s not our fault that it’s hard to find time for causes beyond our own families and careers. But we need to commit to making room in our lives for active democracy. For what our ancestors fought for, and so our children will follow our example.
A healthy democracy requires citizen participation. Voting, yes. But also communicating with elected officials on issues we care most passionately about. Some months, that boils down to about 30 extra seconds of my time: I call my senators and leave a message asking them to support carbon pricing. That’s it, I’m done! Then I go back to my life that looks like everyone else’s - overcommitted, juggling work and family, keeping my household fed (mostly). In a good month, I also write a letter to the editor, or ask a business leader for an endorsement, or participate in a lobbying meeting or two.
Our Wetlands & Shorelines If you know the exhilaration of spotting a snowy white heron or egret waiting patiently in tall coastal grasses, you can appreciate some of the beauty of our wetlands. Or maybe you’re a kayaker who enjoys seeing nature up front and close. Or a fly angler who knows that wetlands are the place to go. But there is far more to Back Cove, the Scarborough Marsh, and the Fore River Sanctuary than readily meets the eye.
Living shorelines are natural goods that need protection. Besides enhancing overall coastal resilience, living shorelines improve water quality through filtration, dissipate storm surges, and contribute to carbon sequestration. In addition, living This is the closest we’ve been in a shorelines support ecotourism through decade to passing this momentous policy, fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing activand we can’t wait another decade to take ities. I’m one of 200,000 volunteers effective action against climate change. So, Coastal communities are tied to the across the country for Citizens’ Cli- friends, pick up that phone! sea and many of us depend on it for our mate Lobby. We’re from all walks and food and livelihoods. By protecting open political stripes of life. A generation ago, being a volunteer for a cause in the com- Annie Antonacos teaches at the USM spaces and coastal waters, we ensure that munity was a given. It has been steadily de- Osher School of Music, co-founded such ecosystems adapt and thrive even clining for many years, except for a surge 240 Strings, and loves cross-country when faced with adverse conditions. after 9/11. In 2015, the rate of volunteer- skiing. The small action I mentioned earlier will have a greater impact than ever before this November. Contact your lawmakers and ask them to support a price on carbon: cclusa.org/white-house.
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Fore River Sanctuary -WEN file photo by T. Zeli
LIVING SHORELINES Facing sea level rise, coastal dwellers need to think about where and how we develop and maintain our shorelines. Stabilized shorelines consist of natural materials like plants, sand, or rock. Our best protection can come through using “soft” methods that imitate nature by using the deep roots of native vegetation to strengthen the structural integrity of shorelines and prevent land from breaking apart.
Living shorelines incorporate green building techniques as alternatives to hard concrete, stone, or wood structures. “Soft armoring” usually incorporates live plants, logs, root wads, vegetative mats, and other CRITICAL WETLANDS methods. Healthy trees are often cornerWetlands seldom seem critical to our stones of a stable shoreline. well-being, but the science is clear – wetlands are the most effective carbon sinks BRIGHT IDEA: Thank our legon the planet. Coastal wetlands such as islators and governor for the salt marshes and sea grass beds are some remarkable climate legislative of the most carbon dense ecosystems. Sea work they passed this year. crops, for the most part, are restorative and require no inputs of freshwater, aniOne example is LD 593 which fomal feed, or fertilizer. And kelp, for exam- cuses on ell grass and salt marshes. By ple, is a hero of carbon sequestration. adopting improved resource stewardship, efficient climate mitigation, and adaptation Wetlands may even be more efficient strategies we ensure that communities at capturing atmospheric carbon than and our environment thrive. rainforests; their natural protection helps communities mitigate and adapt to adverse climate conditions, protecting them Bright Ideas is brought to you by from storm surges and flooding. On the Portland Climate Action Team, other hand, wetland degradation can re- who meet on the fourth Thurslease detrimental amounts of carbon di- day of the month, 6-7:30 p.m. oxide and methane due to warmer water All are welcome to join. FMI: portlandclimateaction@gmail.com. and soils.
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THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
WHAT'S GOING ON
EVENTS NOV. 2021 COMMUNITY Art, Events, and Happiness...
WENA Activities Palaver Strings Congress Every Monday in & Warp Trio Pre- Square ReNovember sent Affirmation design Public Mondays in Nov. / Reiche Community A concert exploring struggles Forum Room / 6:30 p.m. / Free for justice and representation Beginning Monday, November 1st, 2021, the West End Neighborhood Association (WENA) will gradually bring back the neighborhood activities we were sponsoring before the pandemic. Plus, we’ll gradually introduce some new offerings. This will be a phased restart due to the on-going staffing difficulties faced by the recreation department whose employees work in concert with WENA volunteers to put on these programs. The following Covid-19 guidelines will be in place and may change as CDC recommendations respond to pandemic conditions. We expect that participants will be vaccinated in accordance with current CDC guidelines. All participants must legibly sign in with their address and contact information for use in the event contact tracing becomes necessary. Masks must be worn inside the building and a minimum of three feet distance maintained.
On Monday evenings we will be holding regular events in a rotation as follows: 1st Monday Book Nook Book Club - for adults 2nd Monday Afficionados’ Film Night - for older teens, >17, and adults 3rd Monday Memento Mori Death Series - for adults 4th Monday Family Night - kids + adults (children must be accompanied by adult) 5th Monday SpeeDebating - for adults
Thu., Nov. 4th / One Longfellow Square / 7 – 9 p.m. / $12 adv. – $15 day of Portland-based chamber orchestra Palaver Strings presents Affirmation, a concert exploring struggles for justice and representation. For this program, Palaver joins forces with Warp Trio, a genre-defying chamber ensemble from New York City.
Palaver Strings is a musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland. Palaver’s musicians share artistic and administrative leadership, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices through classical music. Also, they offer music instruction through the Palaver Music Center in Portland.
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The City of Portland will host a public forum for the Congress Square Redesign on Saturday, November 6th, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., at the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, Longfellow Room at 157 High Street, Portland. The forum will include a welcome introduction from City officials followed by presentations from WRT, the Congress Square Redesign consultant, as well as nationally renowned artist Sarah Sze, who was selected to commission a new public art installation for the park as part of the project.
At the heart of the project is “Affirmation,” a new concerto grosso for piano trio, percussion, electronics, and strings. Written by Warp Trio’s own Josh Henderson, this piece is inspired by the poetry of Assata Shakur, written during her incarceration. Shakur’s writing, the campaign of fear coordinated against her, and her ar“The COVID pandemic has made rest and escape, all find potent echoes in clear the importance of access to outour current political climate. door public space. Many local organizaOur program also features Kareem tions used the park for a wide variety of Roustom’s “Dabke for String Orchestra,” events this year, including meetings, conFlorence Price’s “Five Folk Songs in Coun- certs, films, readings, fairs, and more.Withterpoint,” and Akenya Seymour’s “Fear the out the park’s ability to host these types Lamb,” which addresses the life and death of functions, every one of these organizaof Emmett Till in three vivid movements.
This program is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Boston Foundation. Other performances will be held in Massachusetts and BrookStart times vary, usually 6:30 p.m., but lyn. In addition to these live performances, promptly at 7 p.m. for films. the concert will be filmed and made availAll activities are free, donations glad- able online. ly accepted. FMI, please visit http://www. Tickets available here: https://www. wenamaine.org/resources/communipalaverstrings.org/events. ty-center.
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Sat., Nov. 6th / Westin Portland Harborview Hotel / 1 – 2 p.m. / Open to public
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Steps at Congress Square Park. -Photo by Tony Zeli
tions would have been regulated to an online format or simply would not have been able to operate as needed,” explained C.J. Opperthauser, Executive Director of Friends of Congress Square Park. “However, despite our programming and amenities, the physical design of our park is in dire need of transformation. The park in its current state is physically inaccessible to too many people. It is challenging, and dangerous, for our friends and neighbors with mobility issues. Fortunately, with the redesign, accessibility to the park - and throughout the square - will be dramatically improved.” Learn more about the Congress Square Redesign on the City of Portland website: http://www.portlandmaine. gov/1113/Congress-Square-Redesign.
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THE DUMPSTER
SINCE 2001
WHERE WE GINGERLY TOSS THE STUFF THAT DIDN’T FIT…
Virginia Oliver at 101 years young is recognized in the Congressional Record as Maine’s oldest lobster harvester… Governor Mills stops by Portland Adult Education to promote its work providing job training, English learning classes, and more… Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation commits $65,000 in direct or matching funds to Special Olympics Maine to make sure the Maine Delegation has everything needed to make the trip and compete in the 2022 USA Games in Orlando… Ocean State Job Lot donates nearly one million dollars’ worth of PPE (in total) to five New England school districts including Portland… Used car prices are up 30.7% in Portland and apparently it’s all because of microchips… WalletHub releases its report on 2021’s Safest Cities in America and Portland ranks 6th thanks in part to a low risk from natural disaster… Wallethub also releases its Best Colleges in Maine report and Colby comes out on top with Husson University a close second… Travis Mills Foundation holds its 2021 Plane Pull at the Portland International Jetport with 20 teams competing in a tug of war contest with a FedEx 737…
THE WEST END NEWS | NOVEMBER 2021
POETRY CORNER SUBMITTED BY OUR READERS The First Snowfall Prediction
Thirty minutes after the weatherman's prediction The snow commences to fall December 9th at 12:30 Pretty delicate flakes Waft to the ground Covering the ornamental cherry trees Like a set from the Nutcracker Ballet This storm has come across the south And up the east coast It is predicted to be gone by tomorrow at noon Would that our lives could be predicted as accurately Problems arriving today around 6:30 PM Probably gone by tomorrow at 9:00 AM Followed by a light dusting of consequences Yes, it's time for snow We're not surprised It's actually pretty It benefits from being the first snowfall of the season Those following will not be so beloved, so pleasing Eventually, we will loath the word "snowstorm" Yearning, longing for the ornamental cherry trees To bloom Flowers instead of flakes -Susan Bassler Pickford, Portland (c) 2018
Horse Races I go to the races Bet on a horse If you think he comes in Your wrong of course I never win I always lose No wonder I have Got the blues But still I keep Coming back To this dirty Old race track Oh there's my horse At the end of the line Wouldn't you know That he's all mine!
-Photos by Anna Cianchette
Help Wanted WEN Delivery Deliver copies of your favorite community newspaper to local businesses in and around Portland. Flexible routes and hours. Bonus for out-of-town deliveries. Must be available on circulation day and have access to reliable transportation. Low commitment. Just one day per month. Earn up to $100 for a few hours of work! Or pick up more routes and earn more $$$! Consider lending a hand. Deliver free community news to readers just like you! For more information or to apply thewestendnews@gmail.com
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-Elaine Carver, Portland
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Please email kimlev17@gmail.com or Call 917-533-8941 I know the market is tight, but I want to be optimistic!
We Publish Poetry Please keep sending your poetry submissions. The WEN Poetry Corner publishes reader submissions when space permits. Please send to thewestendnews@gmail.com or write to:The West End News, 795 Congress St., Portland, ME 04102.
Thank you for reading!
THE WEST END NEWS
NOVEMBER EDITION 2021
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
DíA DE LOS MUERTOS
Día de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead is a celebration which dates back over 3000 years. Started by the Aztecs and Mayans, today we celebrate the lives of those who have moved on to the next world. At El Corazon, we continue this tradition by setting up an altar with photos of loved ´ the month of November. ones throughout We started this during our food truck days and continued it at the restaurant with the altar growing each and every year. The El Corazon family, would like to invite you to bring a photo of a loved one who’s ´ life we can celebrate. We have a mail slot by our door in case we are not open when you come by. Please include your name and number so we can return your photo. And together let’s continue to grow the Día de Los Muertos altar.
FULL MENU AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOUT INCLUDING ICE COLD MEXICAN BEERS: DOS EQUIS, MODELO, SOL, TECATE... Tacos – Burritos – Quesadillas – Enchiladas – Sopes – Pozole – Goat Birria – Fajitas – Cocteles de Marisco – Chile Rellenos – Carne Asada – Lamb Shanks in Adobo & much more!
www.elcorazonportland.com (207) 536-1354 “To know how to eat is to know enough”
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Salud!
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