SEPTEMBER 2021.VOL. 21, NO. 09. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
Rental Assistance: Your Questions Spencer Answered by Pine Tree Legal
LOCAL ELECTION 2021
On August 26th, the US Supreme Court struck down the Center for Disease Control’s order to temporary protect tenants from eviction for nonpayment of rent. There is now no restriction on evictions related to the pandemic. However, many Mainers are eligible for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA), now available to certain income levels who have experienced financial hardship during the pandemic. Speaking with Pine Tree Legal Assistance, they believe many who may be eligible for rental assistance have not yet applied for it. They want to get the word out that the money is available to help keep people housed. So, here are some frequent questions about rental assistance with answers provided by the team at Pine Tree Legal Assistance, a nonprofit that provides free civil legal aid in Maine. Please call Pine Tree Legal Assistance if your landlord takes any action to evict you. This information is subject to change. Look for up-to-date information on Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s website at https:// ptla.org.
What does rental assistance help with? What if I’m behind on utilities, too? • Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) can help tenants pay their rent and utility bills for up to 18 months. • If you are struggling to pay for rent and utilities during the pandemic, you can apply for help through the Maine State Housing Authority website (https://www.mainehousing.org/programs-services/rental/rentaldetail/ covid-19-rental-relief-program).
Thibodeau Not Seeking Reelection
I don’t get other government benefits. Could I still be eligible for ERA? • You may be eligible for ERA even if you are not eligible for other income-based programs. • If you are not eligible for other benefits (like SNAP/food stamps) because your income or assets are too high, you may still be eligible for ERA.
I applied before and was denied… I didn’t apply because my financial hardship is not directly related to Covid-19… Or I did apply and used up all that I was eligible for… Should I apply again? • The rules for the ERA program changed in early August 2021 to include more people. • The biggest change is that you can now get ERA even if your financial hardship is not related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, if you experienced financial hardship during the pandemic that is enough. If this is your situation, you should re-apply. • The other substantial change is how much help is available. Tenants can now get 18 months of ERA. Previously, they could only get 15 months. If you had reached your 15-month limit for assistance, you could now get an additional 3 months of help. If this is your situation, you should re-apply.
What can I do if I’m denied Emergency Rental Assistance?
The mass eviction at this Grant Street apartment building in 2016 started a citywide conversation about a housing crisis that has since been made worse by the pandemic.-WEN file (Portland, 2016)
Is there a ban on evictions in Maine? • There is no eviction ban or eviction moratorium.
Page 5 Special Edition of The Portland Palate with Ruby's West End's Corrinna & Matt Stum
By Tony Zeli Portland District 2 City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau announced that he will not seek reelection for a third term. The open seat has attracted two candidates, Jon Hinck of Pine Street and Victoria Pelletier of Congress Street. Also, District 2 school board member Emily Figdor is running unopposed for reelection after serving her first three-year term. The election will be held on November 2nd.
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued an order on August 3rd that gave temporary protection to some renters facing eviction for nonPortland’s second district overlays payment of rent. But on August 26th, one of the most diverse and densely the U.S. Supreme Court decided that populated tracts in all of Maine. The city the CDC did not have that power. district covers the neighborhoods of the • It has been very confusing for every- West End, Parkside, St. John/Valley Street, one, but the important thing to know and Oakdale/USM. City Councilor Spennow is that there is no eviction mor- cer Thibodeau has represented the district since December 2015. In August, atorium. Thibodeau announced that he would not Pine Tree Legal Assistance is avail- seek reelection. able to help if your landlord takes any A popular councilor, Thibodeau won action to evict you (https://www.ptla.org/ contact-us). We also give up-to-date pre- his second term with 67% of the vote over sentations on the eviction process every challenger Jon Torsch in 2018. Then he ran Tuesday at 9 a.m. You can watch the pre- an unsuccessful bid for Mayor in 2019. sentations, and ask an attorney questions During his time on city council, Thibodeau about the process, at this website: https:// consistently focused on investing in Portland’s infrastructure. Also, he pushed the www.ptla.org/fed. city to install bike lanes on Park Avenue Pine Tree Legal Assistance is a nonprofit or- and to set an emissions reduction goal of ganization that receives funding from the Legal 80% percent by 2050.
• Landlords also benefit from this program. Rent payments can be made You can call Pine Tree Legal Assistance for directly from the local Community help at (207) 622-4731 or visit https:// Services Corporation, the State of Maine, federal Action Program to the landlord. www.ptla.org/contact-us. grants, private foundations, and individuals.
Page 4 Portland City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau shares a letter to the neighborhood
Campaigns to fill City Council District 2 seat take shape; School Board member Emily Figdor runs unopposed for reelection
Page 7 New features arrive at the Northern Light Mercy Fore River campus
Cont'd on Pg. 3
Page 10-11 Layne's Wine Gig Presents: 3 Local Wine Lists for your enjoyment
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THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
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SUBMISSIONS WEN is a community newspaper and we need your voice! 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 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.
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
D2 City Council and School Board Races Take Shape Cont'd from Pg. 1 DISTRICT 2 CITY COUNCIL
DISTRICT 2 SCHOOL BOARD
In the race to fill the seat, Thibodeau is supporting Portland politician Jon Hinck. In the past, Hinck has supported Thibodeau, including for Thibodeau’s first run for Portland City Council in 2015.This November, Hinck will face a progressive political newcomer,Victoria Pelletier.
Portland Board of Public Education Chair Emily Figdor is running for reelection and faces no opposition on the ballot. Figdor is proud of her work on Reiche renovations, pre-K education, and improving equity policies to reduce opportunity gaps.
Hinck is focusing his campaign on making Portland affordable for a diverse population. “I would like to represent District 2, my home for 25 years, because it has a wonderful mix of people in- Jon Hinck -File photo cluding many who care deeply about their city and all of its residents.”
“Now, I want to see my work through and build new leadership on the school board, while continuing to become an anti-racist school district, and finally make pre-K universal. Also, I’m the only openly LGBTQ+ member of the Portland School Board, and I think representation is important for our students and staff.”
Hinck is a lawyer in private practice and has worked for Greenpeace. He has previously held office as an at-large city councilor (2013-16) and state representative for the West End (2006-12).
As an elected official in the community, I wanted our LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families to know that I will not tolerate hate and intimidation in our community or schools. I brought to my colleagues on the school board a resolution condemning hate crimes and committing to make our schools safe and equitable for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families— which the board passed unanimously. I am proud of who I am and was proud to share this part of my identity with the community. I’ve loved connecting with LGBTQ+ students since.”
Victoria Pelletier is running for Portland District 2 City Council to be a leader who reflects the lived experiences of the district. “I often hear we live in a very progres- Victoria Pelletier -Courtesy sive district, and it makes me proud to see the array of Pride Flags, Trans Flags, BLM signs, and other lawn signs that push for compassion and inclusivity.That being said, it’s not enough to just say we’re progressive – I look forward to those ideologies being reflected in our policies, and in order to do that, it’s imperative that we prioritize leading with equity and data on all facets of Portland.”
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Figdor came out publicly at a February school board meeting, after a string of hate crimes in Portland and South Portland in which residents received threatening and homophobic messages.
IN OTHER RACES… The local ballot on November 2nd will include three open city council seats. In addition to District 2, there is an atlarge seat that longtime incumbent Nicholas Mavodones is leaving. Also open is the District 1 seat being vacated by Belinda Ray.
Running for the at-large seat are: Travis Curran, Emerson Street; Brandon Mazer, Eastern Promenade; Roberto Rodriguez, Sanborn Street; and Stuart Tisdale, Pelletier works at the Greater Port- Mabel Street. District 1 candidates are: land Council of Governments on advanc- Sarah Michniewicz, Cedar Street and Anna ing racial equity and inclusion in their Trevorrow, Mayo Street. member municipalities and managing the Community Development Block Grant Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Reach him at thewestendnews@gmail.com. program.
Scarborough
COMMUNITY SAFETY ALERTS Suspect Arrested in Police Investigating West End Lurking Unattended Death Portland police officers responded on Incidents On the morning of August 27th, Portland Police arrested and charged Stanford Ellis (7/14/72), a person without housing and no local address listed, for Operating After Suspension. A concerned citizen reported that Ellis was acting suspiciously. Ellis was later arrested on Winter Street. There were previous calls from area residents reporting similar behavior.
August 25th around 6:15 p.m. to a call for service after a man had been struck by a train near 332 St. John Street. The victim, who has not been identified, died from his injuries. The accident is being investigated by the Portland Police Department and Amtrak Police. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.
If anyone has any information that could assist police in these cases, they are asked to call the Portland Police Department at (207) 874-8575.
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NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES
THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
Thank You District 2
It’s not Goodbye, It’s See You Around the Neighborhood More than six years ago, I made a decision that would change my life forever – to step forward and run for City Council. From that moment forward, I had the opportunity to meet many of you in coffee shops or on walks in the neighborhood or at your doors. Each of you brought forward different issues, challenged me on matters before the Council, allowed me to grow and most importantly, learn. It was an experience I will never forget, and I am so grateful to live in a community like Portland (and, especially District 2) with neighbors like you. Your comradery over the years made my decision a few weeks ago even more difficult. After months of agonizing over whether to seek three more years of service on the Portland City Council, I made the hard decision to not seek re-election. There were a number of factors that went into this difficult decision, and I certainly did not get into public service to just run for the sake of running. My commitment to each of you has always been to be the best city councilor I could be. And, as I said when I was first running, there will be a time when someone else will need to step up and serve.That moment is now.
hand, or those holding the office, the institution will survive. But it will only survive if members of our community step up and serve, which is why I am pleased to see my former colleague on the city council, Jon Hinck, step up at this moment. Jon represents the Councilor Thibodeau. -File perfect balance of activist, leader, and collaborator. I look forward to casting my ballot for him on November 2nd.
La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life
Can Portland Be Saved? Part 2 By Rosanne Graef
From my third-floor window, I look directly down at the intersection of Clark and Salem Streets. For the past eighteen months those streets (like many others in the West End) have been spray painted with a colorful collection of squiggles, arrows, and glyphs that have been periodically refreshed and updated by their associated companies: Portland Water District, Unitil/NEUCO, etc. I wonder if the actual meaning transmitted by this artistic display is some cryptic set of landing instructions for extraterrestrials. Because its function does not seem to be coordination of scheduling and locating infrastructure repairs and installations.
A lateral water line broke about half a block uphill from the sinkhole in the early morning hours of June 24th. The water line break created two bubbling geysers on Clark Street near the Dermot Court parking lot entrance. Nearby the water flowed up and out from under the edge of one of the rectangular asphalt patches installed the previous summer. It flowed along the Clark Street gutter past Gray Street before sweeping under the dining
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Looking on the bright side, it’s a good thing that the repaving has not yet occurred.
Then on August 7th, we found a sheet of paper from Unitil and NEUCO stuffed in our mailbox. (Not a letter mailed via the postal service.) Dated July 12th, 2021, this informed us of “IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.” To wit, “NEUCO, the contractor for Unitil’s SURE project will begin replacement of the gas mains and service lines starting on August 6th in Beginning in April 2020, Unitil/NEUPortland on Salem St between Vaughan St CO workers proceeded along the streets and Bracket st. Ave. {sic} The pipeline conthat converge at the intersection. Over struction is expected last 3-4 weeks. {sic}” the course of several weeks, they repeatThe letter goes on for a page and a edly tore up and replaced segments of pavement in the process of upgrading and half about property owner responsibilities, installing the gas lines along with bollards on-street parking, service interruptions, in front of each building’s hook-ups. All re-lighting appliances, and COVID-19 safeseemed fine and dandy with the project. ty protocols.
I want to thank my family for their continued loving support over these years. I want to thank my colleagues that I have had the opportunity to serve with (some of whom have also moved on to other Milling and repaving were slated to life experiences). And most importantly, I take place after completion, but like lots want to thank you (District 2) for giving As many of you know, I am an insti- this scrappy Portland kid an opportunity of plans that didn’t happen. tutionalist and I believe deeply in the tra- to serve the city that both adopted and The Clark-Salem Sinkhole ditions of the institution of our municipal raised me. I will forever be grateful. government. I believe that regardless of Jump ahead with me now to early the rhetoric, or the controversial issue at -City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau June 2021, when a small sinkhole appeared near the center of the intersection.
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deck at Little Giant. It eventually rushed into the storm drain at Danforth Street.
My big question is:What did the Unitil and NEUCO workers do here for all those weeks in the spring and summer of 2020? My small question is: Do they even know where they’re supposed to be working? Based on the directive of “Salem St between Vaughan St and Bracket st. Ave.,” I sure hope the folks in fluorescent vests know their own way around Portland. Meanwhile, residents in the neighborhood are left like the patient in the dentist’s chair with no option but to cross their fingers and hope for the best. More on the topic of underground Portland next month with the saga of the sinkhole. Rosanne Graef lives in the West End and is a regular volunteer contributor. Email: lavidalocalwen@gmail.com.
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BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
The Portland Palate
Ruby’s West End By James Fereira A new restaurant in the West End impresses James Fereira so much that he takes up his pen again and interviews the owners.
Ruby's West End
64 Pine St., Portland 207-956-7916 www.rubyswestend.com
Something unexpected happened this past spring. After learning that a new restaurant in the West End was slated to open in the former Aurora Provisions space, I got excited about it. By last December, the prospect of writing another pandemic-infused food review – in an already jammed Shangri-La of struggling but precious restaurants that weren’t safe to visit anyhow – had left me feeling underwhelmed. I had run out of material. There was nothing new or clever to say. It wasn’t fun anymore. I was ready to retire “The Portland Palate.”
‘WE LOVE COLLABORATION’
"O
ur cucumber ceviche [pictured above] and watermelon/cuke salads were refreshing and flavorful. " -All photos by James Fereira
Because one visit wasn’t enough, friend Alex and I returned two weeks Then Ruby’s came along. “Perhaps later. Our cucumber ceviche and waterTony will let me write a special review?” I melon/cuke salads were refreshing and flasupposed. Being magnanimous, though a vorful. We also enjoyed a croque-madame questionable judge of talent, he obliged. and local grits entree, both again topped with egg (which invariably seems to exalt DISCOVERING RUBY’S so many dishes). WEST END Fate found friend Fran and I headed-out for a walk one day, masks-inhand. We were feeling a bit peckish and noticed that Ruby’s door and windows were invitingly open – the smell of good food wafting. Of course, we had no choice but to go in. Drawn to a remote table (my first attempt at indoor dining since Covid’s debut), Fran ordered the Buffalo chicken livers, which she loved. And I had yummy biscuits and gravy topped with an egg over-easy.
Inspired by the lovely setting of linen table coverings and glinting multifarious chinaware, I chose to put my food snob indifference aside. Introduction apprised a conversation with the woman whose smile had welcomed us and who happened to be co-owner Corrinna Stum. I was impressed by her warmth, genuine interest in us, and with how she had reinvented the space. It was then and there that I decided Ruby’s deserved some attention. We scheduled a time when she and chef/co-owner and partner Matt Stum could meet.
James Fereira is a West End resident, freelance writer, and sometimes WEN contributor. He continues to question authority and can be reached at ThePortlandPalate@gmail.com.
patio out back. This would be especially propitious due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. To learn more, visit www.mainvest. com/b/rubys-west-end-portland.
HOURS & OFFERINGS The restaurant is open for brunch six days per week, and they recently added dinner service on Thursdays through Sundays. On Tuesdays, they’re closed. In early September Ruby’s expects to start serving alcohol. They offer take-out, prepared meal, and “grab n’ go” programs, and a changing theme Sunday Supper event, “Where the neighborhood meets,” (think: spaghetti dinner night).
Their love of food began even earlier. Growing up in midwestern and southern families, respectively – where cooking, food and fellowship formed a perfect trifecta. The couple literally met over food, or as Corrinna describes it, “he made this excellent beet risotto, and it caught my eye…. then he caught my eye.”
Ruby’s provides coffee/pastry/dessert catering, and they offer floral services in conjunction with locally-owned Clo Floral. Additionally, they collaborate with other Maine companies including Time & Tide, Rwanda Bean, Speckled Ax, GoGoRefill, Lionshare Bread, Car Hop, Monstera VinThe pair also hope to fill the void left tage, and Soap Bubble Laundromat. by Aurora Provision’s exit, though emThey are currently seeking to fill pobossed with their own stamp. Their business is an evolving enterprise with many sitions in the kitchen. Ruby’s supports and moving parts, all centered around commu- applies Restaurant Wage Reform principles in their hiring practices. Staff are nity connection. provided better pay, hours, and benefits, In addition to memorabilia passed including a 20% built-in gratuity which is down from generations within Matt and shared among all hourly employees. Corrinna’s own families, much of Ruby’s Ruby’s is wheelchair-accessible and decor has been contributed by Portlanders via a NextDoor.com campaign. People has complimentary Wi-Fi. It’s a short walk looking to part with gently used plates, from Longfellow Square. They share limitbowls, cutlery, glasses, mugs, tablecloths, ed parking with Chaval, located next door, and linen napkins generously gifted them and on-street parking is available. Using along with their stories. These have added public transportation? Take the METRO a rich personalization to Ruby’s in what #8 bus with a stop at the juncture of Pine, is now a unique narrative and visual ex- Lewis, and Emery Streets. perience… and they are still accepting Finally, while wrapping-up my interdonations. Even the restroom, sporting view I asked the question: “Is there anyeco-friendly cloth hand towels, impresses. thing else you’d like for the community Corrinna said she’s been delighted by and WEN readers to know about you or the exceptional greeting they’ve received your business?” from the community, especially as they are Corrinna’s reply was simply, “Yes. We newcomers “from away.” say thank you.” “People have even volunteered to bus tables!” she opined excitedly.
It seems a connection born and sustained in a mutual ardor for nourishing cuisine and community. The eponymous Ruby herself, who was Matt’s late grandmother, would certainly have approved.
A current endeavor for the Stums has been the launching of an investment effort through MainVest. Funds raised will be used to expand capacity, specifically for outdoor seating in a garden-style
CORRINNA & MATT Corrinna explained that sight-unseen, and concluding from research and intuition, they chose Portland and the West End in an act of faith. Moving from Indianapolis in the summer of 2020, they opened Ruby’s, their first restaurant, this past April. Combined, they possess over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry: Matt as Chef and Corrinna in project management, restaurant openings, and consulting. Above is Fran's dish from their first visit to Ruby's, Buffalo chicken livers. Below is the croque-madame that James enjoyed during his second visit.
Once in Portland, the duo hit the ground running, engaging immediately with West End residents, businesses, and other area restauranteurs. They gauged that -Corrinna & Matt Stum making this local investment would be critical to their success, or as Corrinna humbly explained, “We love collaboration.” Their vision is to “create an environment of comfort with good service, over a good meal, where guests would want to return.”
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THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
Portland Buy Local keeps busy with new and returning fall events By Mary Alice Scott It’s hard to believe that summer is wrapping up and a new school year is beginning already. With so many important national and global events in the news, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. If that happens to you, we recommend returning to the old mantra of “think globally, act locally.”
Upcoming Events Requiring Vaccinations:The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Friday, September 9th, 9am-10am A forum for small business owners who are considering requiring vaccinations for employees and/or customers. Downtown Worker Appreciation Thursday, September 23rd, 10am-12pm The return of a beloved event! Join Portland Buy Local and Portland Downtown in Monument Square to celebrate the workers who make our beloved city so vibrant. We’ll have giveaways, raffles, and so much more. It’s a chance to give thanks to the workers who have gone above and beyond this year.
Right before the world quickly changed with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, Portland Buy Local was endeavoring to re-work our organizational priorities. PBL has been around for fifteen years, working to serve the local business community. Small Business Problem Solving Sessions We’re excited to announce a re- Tuesday, September 28th from 4pm-5pm freshed mission, a slate of new events, and A new event. In these sessions, small soon, a brand-new website! Our refreshed business owners will come together in mission is: We champion local indepen- conversation with their colleagues to dent businesses, the heart of Greater discuss issues ranging from managing inPortland’s unique appeal, through mar- ventory, finding staff, navigating grants, keting, education, business development, and more. These sessions will be limited and community connection. We think that in number and require pre-registration. sums up pretty well how wonderful our Part networking, part problem-solving, local business community is, and how var- and part therapy session, this is a chance ied our work is in keeping that community for local business owners to connect and thriving! support one another in small groups and develop a deeper sense of community. For the fall, we are returning to some old favorite events, while creating some Check out www.portlandbuylocal. new ones. We hope you’ll join us for one org for more information and to keep upor more. dated on all our new goings-on!
Portland Buy Local in-person events including the annual Indie Biz Awards have been on hold. This September some events start returning. Above: Indie Biz Awards at Grace, 2019. -Courtesy photo 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 | SEPTEMBER 2021
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An expanded healthcare campus on Fore River outpatient specialty and surgery center located next to the hospital where our gastroenterology and wound care practicSince 1918, Northern Light Mercy es will be located and where day surgeries Hospital has been providing compassion- will take place. ate and clinically excellent care to all who While we’ve kept the design consiswalk through our doors. Just over a century later, we’ve reached a pivotal moment tent with the existing structures on the in our history as we prepare to vacate our Fore River campus, there are a few new hospital located at 144 State Street and features that you may notice as the campus opens in phases through December: consolidate services and operations to • New emergency departour expanded camment: There is a dedicated parking pus on Fore River lot for our emergency department, Parkway. offering patients quick access to care. Contributed by Northern Light Mercy Hospital
Beginning in September 2021, we will take a phased approach to moving 144 State Street medical practices and hospital departments to the new campus. This consolidation enhances patient access to more of our medical services in one convenient setting. It also allows us to build on our community-focused mission through cutting-edge technology, a nurturing and caring environment, high quality care, and personalized services for a range of medical needs. Our newly expanded healthcare campus consists of a medical office building that will house more of our medical practices and feature a new, easy to access first floor imaging center.The hospital has been expanded and will feature a new emergency department and new patient care units with all private rooms. There is also a new
Ambulances also have a new dedicated route and patient drop off area that is covered and protected from the elements, providing increased safety, convenience, and comfort.
• Ease of access: New parking lots have been added to ensure easy patient access to each of the facilities. The campus is also accessible by metro bus and new bicycle racks are available for use by patients and visitors.
An architectural rendering showing how part of the expanded Northern -Courtesy image Light Mercy Hospital campus will look when completed. benches among the trails, trees, and water that provide quiet areas to sit and enjoy the outdoors while waiting for or visiting a loved one receiving care. A new footbridge over a pond now connects the new outpatient specialty and surgery center to the hospital.
• Connections between facilities: Vehicular traffic patterns have been updated to improve safety and ease of access. There are new and expanded sidewalks and pedestrian We invite you to visit NorthernLightwalking trails on the campus that get Health.org/Mercy to learn more about you to where you need to go while our move schedule, what our new camoffering a connection to nature. pus will look like, and the location of our • Places of respite: There are quiet services.
Content Provided By Northern Light Mercy Hospital is a nonprofit community hospital sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.
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THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
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I saw the headline and got so excitedUntil I realized it’s the other Portland!
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END NEWS
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THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
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THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
FOOD & DRINK
LAYNE'S WINE GIG PRESENTS
By Layne V. Witherell
THREE WINE LISTS 1. EUROCENTRIC
A wine list can be as small as a single postcard folded into a plastic holder on a restaurant table. Or it could be the Bern’s Wayside Tavern in The Tampa Steakhouse magnum opus, weighing in at ten plus pounds, containing over Francis Hotel, 747 Conthree thousand listings, complete with in- gress St., Portland terviews, charts, photos, and maps galore... This is the kind of place that those and everything in between. I was fortunate to purchase one of these rarities at Ra- of us in the West End have been secretly belais Rare Books in Biddeford. There is praying for. It is us.We travel and have seen and tasted the world.To some it may seem something out there for everyone. exotic, but to us the wines and foods are Good lists should correspond to food both comfortable and exciting. pairings, customer preferences, and locale. An advantage over past places housed These three lists, in their own way, are difin this location is that the owners have ferent styles that do just that. Each reflect placed the tables at a reasonable distance their locales yet are perfect for their own (even in this small space), so that your distinctly different vibes. neighbor isn’t sitting on your lap, making for a much better vibe. Such thought progresses to food, service, and wine as well.
Arneis, Negro Angelo, Piedmont, $13.00 glass.
Gamay, Jean Sambardier, Beaujolais Villages, $12.00 glass.
The wine list at Cocktail Mary on Congress St. near Washington Ave. is There is Beaujolais, and there is this guy. Ancient vines count, and he has them. Layne's 'Biocentric' pick, featuring cool and unusual wines. A delicious and mouth filling red. Have it with their Country Pate at $9.00 and you will think that you are there. France in Champagne), and 25% Chardonnay for freshness. There is Champagne, and there comes to the West End. is everything else.
Pais, Cacaque Maravilla “Pipeno”, Chile, $13.00 glass.
2018 Gruner Veltliner, F.X. Pichler, Wachau, Austria $92.00 You gotta go way back with this one. bottle.
Pais was originally the much maligned “Mission” grape of early California, planted by the padres. “When doubly distilled, it was as strong as the reverend father’s faith.” It has been reimagined in Chile as a light, aperitif styled white. Have it with their Fried Sunchokes, rosemary, parmesan, $10.00. Sunchokes were as forgotten as the Pais grape. This is the rediscovery of both.
If you turn over the list and delve into Piedmont in Northern Italy is all bottles, there are some well-chosen rariabout Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera: stout ties. Invite two friends to share some of reds with beef. Arneis is the standout dry these brilliant selections. white grape of the region with hints of wildflowers, pear, and green apple. Aubrey 1st. Cru Champagne, Goodbye Pinot Grigio, hello Arneis. The 'Eurocentric' wine list at Wayside Tavern in the Francis Hotel kicks off Layne's 3 Wine Lists... -All photos courtesy of L.ayne Witherell
Do not leave here without having it alongside the Bangs Island Mussels at $19.00. An ethereal local treat complete with green garlic toast to sop up the sauce.
Vibrant minerals, the standard bearer of both Gruner, the grape, and Austria, the place. What I like best about Pichler is that they occupy that gold medal spot on the podium that is reserved for the likes of Chateau Lafite and Romanee Conti without having to take out a bank loan to afford a bottle.
Pinot Noir, Anthill Farms, Sonoma Coast, 2019, $68.00 bottle.
The wine that I need to explore with friends for our next visit is this Pinot Noir from Anthill Farms, California. Small, elusive... “I really didn’t know if the name (of our winery) was really great or really $94.00 bottle. dumb,” said their founder. I like his style. A smallish family run operation. We will probably pair it with their roast Champagne is the wine blenders paradise: chicken at $21.00. This is what I call ex45% Pinot Meunier (a lighter cousin of Pi- ploring in the West End. not Noir), 25% Pinot Noir (a pricey grape
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FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
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THREE WINE LISTS Cont'd from Pg. 10 2. BIOCENTRIC
3. PARTY-CENTRIC
Cocktail Mary, 229 Congress St., Portland
The name comes from the 1552 siege of Eger Castle where 1,000 locals triumphed over 100,000 Ottoman sol- The Porthole Restaudiers. The label featured a bold red design of a rearing bull. This was the wine that rant & Pub, 20 Custom allowed every semi-broke college student House Wharf, Portland in the 70’s to trek on through the four The sign says, “Once seated, you gonplus year slog that is called getting a dena have to wait 45 minutes for your food.” gree. Today’s version is a kinder, gentler For locals, it is the price we pay for living taste of Hungary’s esteemed red. in a tourist town. For our out-of-town Victoria Eighteen Twenty Maine guests, there is a tendency to hop on the YELP button and cry often and loud. Rhubarb Wine, $36.00 bottle.
They are just on the cusp of Washington Avenue, the land of spontaneous fermentation. The wine list is brilliant, in a very different way. There are no wines by the glass, except for the occasional 187 ml bottle that sneaks in. You can legally take home an opened bottle in your trunk. It pays to order bottles here as he seeks out the cool and unusual… and prices them For those out-of-town guests who right. say, “I didn’t know Maine made wine?” Victoria Eighteen Kabinett Riesling, Steinmetz, Twenty Maine Germany, 1000ml, $30.00 bottle. Rhubarb Wine is your ticket. It When was the last time that you saw is slightly sweet six outstanding glasses at $5.00 per glass? while still residing We just don’t see or don’t drink enough on the tart end of Riesling.There should be an award just for the scale. doing this. Kabinett is next to the driest level of German wines. There is an array of flavorful Morphos Rose, Oyster River, bar snacks that Maine, $28.00 bottle. you can indulge in while enjoying This wine should have its own float the vista that is and parade down Washington Avenue the upper Conwaving a funk flag. Pair it up with the gress Street/ Grand Aioli, fish, smoked mussels, etc. Washington AvLovely in its own fizzy, funky adorable way. enue vibe. Don’t Isaac, proprietor at forget to say “Hi,” Egri Bikavar, Bull’s Blood, HunCocktail Mary hold- to Isaac, the mind gary, $34.00 bottle. ing Morphos Rose. behind the place.
Frankly, it is all worth it. The food is authentic Maine pub fare at reasonable prices. Their pub grub is classic, their music is loud, and their wine list is small but ridiculously cheap. So much so that the bottle or two you ordered can either go in the trunk of your car alongside you, or in the trunk of that UBER ride that would be a much better idea.
Sonoma Cutrer “Russian River” Chardonnay, $40.00 bottle. Elegance with superior style even if drinking it while wearing your flip flops.
La Crema Chardonnay, $10.00 glass. So, what, if it’s in a plastic cup? Just don’t spill it while you are dancing. Lots of flavor here with an abundance of oak in the finish. Lobster roll fare.
Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir, California, $8.00 glass. Tasty little mid-range pinot with their Cajun haddock fish tacos.
Your
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Argyle Pinot Noir, Oregon, $40.00 bottle. This classic lovely from one of the early and great wineries in the famed Willamette Valley is what you sip and contemplate. The cherry, mushroom, raspberry, and violet nuances are all there, to be savored, especially when the band is on break. Have with Tournedos Rockport, it rocks. Here you have us in three local lists. A little look at our styles, together with a slice of who we are.
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.
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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
The Rest of the Quest: Nancy hikes all
the Maine 4000 footers (Continued from August 2021 print edition) By Nancy Dorrans My first time up to Baxter State Park was in 2005 with a small group of adventurous friends. We stayed at Kidney Pond cabins where the moose and loons were neighbors and the views from the pond were stunning. Eight of us had made the plan to hike up Baxter Peak. After we inched our way up Abol Slide to the summit, we split into two groups. One group of more serious peak baggers went to “get” Hamlin Peak and four of us ventured out over the Knife Edge. What a beautiful day up in the high peaks. It also turned out to be quite a long day. Like many hikers, my friend Roxanne got spooked by the sheer enormity of the Knife Edge trail. Her fear of heights got the best of her. It took lots of breaks, chocolate, and coaxing but we made it down safely. It was dark and well after dinner time when we got back to the cabins, and it was my night to cook dinner. (Note to self: Next time you are camping at Baxter and do a big hike, ask the people that are not hiking that day to have dinner ready when you get back!) A few years later, on my way to stay with friends on Saddleback Lake, I decided to hike up the AT from Route 4 to the Saddleback Mountain summit. On my way up the trail a few dads with a pack of young boys and one girl were on their way down. The girl stopped, looked up at me and sighed… “I got two words for you… Trick Hills!”
“Shoe Repair Gives Extra Wear”
I realized she meant false summits especially if you add North Brother.” and asked her how many. Lesson learned a bit late. The summit “Like eight!!” Her dad winked and of North Brother has the most amazing held up five fingers. I was glad for the fair views of the Katahdin peaks and both basins. It was here that we met a hiker comwarning. ing up from Mount Coe. “Umm…you’re A Thru Hiker Called Feel going down that way? You’re supposed go Good up it!” In 2016 while hiking up the two Crockers also on the AT near Stratton, friends and I met a happy thru hiker nicknamed Feel Good! That day he was headed down to town to resupply his Snickers stash and find a place to camp. We had rented a house in town and had an extra room. When I invited him to stay with us, he raised both arms to the sky and exclaimed, “Trail Magic!!”
Luckily, the Coe slide trail was dry. It was slow going, tricky, and frightening to say the least. Best advice is to “stay off the smooth slabs and stick to the gravel filled cracks and the edges of the slide near the trees.” Crossing over those smooth slabs to get to the gravel filled cracks was easier said than done. After a long, slow, careful butt crawl down, my friends Elaine and Nancy deservedly gave the Coe Slide trail During our Mexican buffet feast, Feel the finger! Good raised his glass and entertained us with his trail stories. After breakfast he hit the trail North towards Kathadin’s Baxter Peak: clean, rested, and even happier!
Challenges at Mount Coe On a late September outing to Kidney Pond cabins in 2017, I expressed interest in hiking North Brother and looping it in with Mount Coe. We had all day, and the weather was perfectly clear and cool with no bugs! We headed out clockwise. The website All Trails states: “The hike up to Coe has a wet slab that can be slick in wet conditions so use caution. It is recommended that this route be travelled counterclockwise. The hike is very challenging,
Nancy Dorrans finishing her quest and heading down the Saddle Trail from Hamllin Peak to Chimney Pond. 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.
a bit and spent two glorious flaming foliage weekends in Carrabassett Valley hiking Sugarloaf and Spaulding in one day and Redington a few weeks later.
A Final Peak, A Solo Ascent There was only one left, Hamlin Peak in Baxter. Again, I organized a small group of MOAC friends to stay at Kidney Pond Cabins for three nights over the Fourth of July. Hamlin was my goal. Others wanted to hike Baxter Peak, Doubletop, and Sentinel, but I still had my heart set on Hamlin.
On the best day, between the rainy days, my friend Dan Lobel agreed to join Nancy Crawford and Elaine Vadebon- me for part of the hike. We drove before coeur express their misgivings at Mt. dawn to Roaring Brook trail heads. I took Coe. -All photos courtesy of N. Dorrans the Hamlin Ridge trail turn off and he continued onto the Cathedral Trail to Baxter Later that month I checked off Mount Peak. We connected on the Saddle Trail Abraham, cast in a heavy wet foggy cloud, back to Roaring Brook via “The View” at it deserves another shot. Labor Day week- Chimney Pond! end the following year a friend rented a My magical and perhaps spiritual place in Rangeley. We hiked Saddleback and added the Saddleback Horn peak that Hamlin Peak solo ascent with a clear view I left off the first time. That made ten! I of the whole of Katahdin, North and West Basins completed my quest. I was on top was getting closer! of the world, by myself save an American Last Fall I decided to push my quest Pipit flitting nearby. We were in our glory!
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CLIMATE JUSTICE
THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
13
We’re All in This Together: Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard
Maine Youth Place 2nd in Climate Lobby Challenge young people to save the earth, I wonder, are you really trying? It doesn’t take much Being an 11-year-old living in Maine, to act, to care, or to learn. Look around. with parents volunteering for climate Wouldn’t you like to stop being the byaction, it’s impossible to ignore climate stander? change. Things I enjoy – skiing, picking blueberries, and swimming – are all at risk. Go to cclusa.org/senate and cclusa. So, when I think about climate change, I org/house to contact your senators and don’t think, “Oh, annoying paid people representatives. We know that right now on the phone,” or “No problem, I never is a great chance to get them to act on use plastic bags.” I think, “How can we act climate and these emails and calls really without losing momentum, and how can get their attention. Please take 30 seconds we agree on a solution?” Here’s what I to contact them. If I can do it, so can you. have learned. By Thea Dugas
Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is what my parents volunteer for. CCL focuses on a carbon fee and dividend bill that charges a fee on fossil fuels at the source, then distributes the money as dividend checks to everyone. CCL volunteers meet with national members of Congress two to three times per year. In between lobby meetings, volunteers work on getting businesses to endorse, tabling at events, or writing letters to newspapers.
The ridiculously improbable is now more commonplace and possible due to rising levels of greenhouse gases. So, we can look forward to more heat waves, coastal flooding, droughts, wildfires, damaging rainfalls, extremely cold weather, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and the like. What’s to be done?
How our communities develop infrastructure, social and economic systems, planning and preparedness all matter in making them either more resilient or vulnerable. A major challenge is to stop doing things that create problems (like burning fossil fuels) and start preparing for the coming changes.
We each did our share of emailing business leaders, walking into shops downtown, and presenting to many people. Just spreading the word among people we know helped a lot.
When people say I’m “passionate” about climate change, or that it’s up to
As the most consequential thing to happen in our lifetimes, climate change threatens the existence of life on the planet. This is confirmed by the latest IPCC report. This assessment from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change documents the link between human activity and our changing climate. There is no remaining scientific doubt about it.
Disaster preparedness includes a disaster kit in a go bag. These items should include a first aid kit, food, water, flashlight, radio, sleeping bag... –Photo by Roger / Adobe Stock
together with a warm jacket and rain gear.
Disaster preparedness beShould you need to remain in place comes imperative when ex- for an extended time, you can’t count on treme events blow past all pre- having a ready supply of drinking water or food. Therefore: vious experience.
CCL’s national youth director Sharon Bagatell posted a challenge for anyone under 18 to gather endorsements from businesses for this bill. I knew this would be a perfect chance for me, so I contacted friends, and soon I had a team!
In the end, we won second place in the country. How did 9-12-year-olds working on their own win against high-schoolers who were working with an adult? It wasn’t hard or time-consuming; anyone could have done it. We all know climate action is important. So why don’t we all commit?
GET READY: IT’S CODE RED FOR HUMANITY
BRIGHT IDEA: Consider your options and prepare yourself. Thea thanking Representative Pingree for sponsoring the carbon fee and dividend bill. -Courtesy photo We’re All in This Together is a monthly Climate Justice column provided by the Portland chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
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When disaster strikes, you may not have a lot of time to think before needing to evacuate. Therefore:
• Store as much water as possible. You can survive for weeks without food but only a few days without water. • Build a one-week minimum supply of food but gradually increase it to three months’ worth. Also, since another recession could arrive sooner rather than later… • Don’t count on the banks being open. Credit/debit cards may not work, so have as much cash on hand as possible.
• Keep your assets liquid. Don’t count on investments retaining their value. • Have somewhere to go and be prepared for being on the road or cloisIt’s time to stop messing tered somewhere. Sleeping gear, a around! Already, this has affected you or flashlight, candles, matches, etc. are all someone you know. There can be no igimportant considerations. noring smoke in the air from fires over two thousand miles away. • Put together a basic first aid kit. • Pack a “go bag” with things you’re likely to need, including the above items and copies of important documents, cash in small bills, food and water to get where you’re going, and an area map.
Visit www.fema.gov for more information on disaster preparedness. Bright Ideas is brought to you by Portland Climate Action Team which meets the fourth Thursday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join in.
• Gather essential clothing in a tote bag FMI: portlandclimateaction@gmail.com.
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THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
PUZZLE PAGE
Back to School Trivia 1. Jack Black plays a struggling guitarist who teaches music to kids at a prestigious prep school in what 2003 film that’s been adapted for Broadway? 2. To make his #2 pencils, inventor John Dixon used graphite from what upstate New York town that was also the site of a famous Revolutionary War battle? 3. What Latin phrase did Robin Williams’ character in Dead Poets Society use to inspire his students to live in the moment?
Mondays @ Lazzari Tuesdays @ Ri Ra Find out more on Facebook and Instagram: @bestworsttrivia
4. What Supreme Court case regarding school in Topeka, Kansas set the precedent that segregated schools are inherently unequal? Find the answers online at thewestendnews.com/puzzle-solutions!
many words can you make from the Words In How letters in the phrase below? Words must have at least 4 letters. Plurals don’t count, nor do proper Words nouns, abbreviations, or foreign words not comBy Rosanne Graef
monly used in English.
“Neophytic exalter of the ordinary” -from Attention - A poem for Sunday by Leila Chatti GOLD = 150 words | SILVER = 125 words | BRONZE = 100 words MASTER LEVEL STARS = 300 words | SUN = 250 words | MOON = 200 words
BONUS= How many words that include an “x” and have 2 or more syllables can you make? August Bonus: Words with 3 or more syllables in “The corruption of government.” Some examples: tenement, configure, internment, heroic, forgotten, overture, protection, foreigner...
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THE WEST END NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021
THE DUMPSTER
SINCE 2001 RECYCLING THE HEADLINES FROM OUR INBOX…
Little Giant shares on Instagram that they are an adult-vaccination restaurant welcoming vaccinated adults and allowing ineligible children and adults to seat outdoors… They shut down Instagram comments soon after… More than 125 boats participated in a Save the Bay flotilla to protest plans to place an industrial salmon farm in Frenchman Bay near Acadia National Park… Lo-fi rock pioneer Lou Barlow of Dinosaur Jr. performs live in the WMPG studio… Portland Trails hires Lindsay Conrad as the organization’s first full-time fundraiser in its 30 year history… Portland’s forestry -Drone photo by Mike Perlman, Courtesy of Protect Maine crew hits a new milestone this year by planting a whopping 201 new trees…The New York Times reports that Americans now spend more online at Amazon than in-store at Walmart… Volunteers bake over 7000 cookies for the return of St. Peter’s Italian Bazaar....................................................
I am a leaf On the surface I am dark Yet my Underside is pale Unnoticed I hang on In the worst storm I survive I grow Colorful and brilliant With age Til finally I let go and fall Resting In my Decomposure I’ll Fertilize For my Consanguineous Buds
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 -Photo courtesy of Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Leaf
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I am a leaf Take not for granted Love me Wayne O’Brien is a Registered Maine Guide, poet, nature and outdoor enthusiast, and author of “A Rose in the Snow” and “Poems from the Back Porch.” Retired from ground and field maintenance at a local school district, he currently resides in Windham.
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SEPTEMBER EDITION 2021
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