JANUARY 2022.VOL. 22, NO. 01. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
Mercy Hospital Opens New Emergency Department and Closes 144 State Street The emergency department at 144 State Street will close the same day the new emergency department opens on January 4th, 2022. lance entrance designed in consultation with EMS. And the rooms were designed It’s the end of an era for Mercy Hos- with patients and staff in mind. pital’s State Street medical facilities. The Sisters of Mercy served the Portland The new emergency department has community from the West End location at the same number of rooms as there were 144 State Street since the 1940s. But as of at State Street, 17 rooms for 17 patients. January 4th, 2022, the consolidation with But the rooms are larger, more private, Mercy’s Fore River Campus will be com- and better able to accommodate up-toplete and all emergency services will be date equipment. Also, each private room located at 175 Fore River Parkway. is separated with hard walls rather than curtains. Mercy divided services between two campuses, one on State Street and the And because the building was conother on Fore River Parkway, for more structed during the pandemic, they were than 13 years. Moving the emergency de- able to make mechanical changes to adpartment is the last step in the campus dress ventilation and improve air flow for consolidation project. today and the future. By Tony Zeli
Alicia Paquette, RN
Alicia Paquette, RN, Emergency Department Director said the medical staff were excited about the move. “It’s a new space, it’s bigger, and there’s more active visibility of your patients. We’re excited.”
Decommissioning the State Street Campus Over the months of January and February, Northern Light Mercy Hospital will decommission the State Street building moving equipment and closing everything down. Mercy will continue to be responsible for security on the premises right up until they turn the keys over to the property’s new owners.
The new emergency department is in Mercy sold the massive building at a 50,000 square foot addition to Mercy’s State Street that formally housed the main hospital building at the Fore River hospital in February 2020. The developcampus. It features a new covered ambu- ers Redfern Properties and NewHeight
Rules for Shoveling & Parking Ban Info for Portland By Tony Zeli The crew at the Portland Department of Public Works say they are ready for the season. They care for more than 560 lane miles of road. In addition to all those roads, the parks department clears off more than one hundred miles of sidewalks. But most sidewalks are the responsibility of city residents, and Portland has rules that you are expected to know.
Shoveling & Sanding Property owners must remove snow from public sidewalks. In fact, the City’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires business owners to Mercy's new emergency department's remove snow and ice from sidewalks covered ambulance entrance and a abutting their property within 12 hours patient room at the Fore River campus. following a storm. Residential owners -Photos by Tony Zeli must clear sidewalks abutting their property 18 hours after a storm or when the Group plan to rehabilitate the building City finishes their snow removal operainto market rate housing. tions, whichever is later. After January 4th, 2022, there will be A minimum of 4 feet. On all public no staff to see patients at 144 State Street. sidewalks and sidewalk access ramps, resTony Zeli is publisher and editor. Reach idents must clear a path at least four feet Cont'd on Page 3 him at thewestendnews@gmail.com.
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Northern Light Mercy Hospital’s emergency department moves
Interview with Portland City Councilor Roberto Rodriguez
Facing fears and going on a cruise with Nancy Dorrans
Cross country skier implores us to save our snow
( S e eP age3 )
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JANUARY EDITION 2022
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
From the Editor
INSIDE THIS EDITION
Buy Local Page...............................................6 Climate Justice.............................................13 Events...............................................................4 Health & Wellness.........................................5 La Vida Local...................................................4 Layne's Wine Gig...................................10-11 Neighborhood News...................................3 PelotonPosts...................................................7 In this edition we focus on big neigh- Poetry.............................................................15 borhood news. Mercy Hospital is mark- Puzzles...........................................................14 ing its final days at 144 State Street as Travel..............................................................12 it moves its emergency department to the Fore River campus on January 4th. The huge building on State Street will be closed over two months and then turned WEN is a community newspaper and we need your voice! Share your submisover to housing developers. sions with thewestendnews@gmail.com In addition, as we do every winter, or send to: January’s edition features important inThe West End News formation on snow removal ordinances Attn: Editor in Portland. This is the kind of civic infor795 Congress Street mation you can count on WEN to bring Portland, Maine 04102 you in the months ahead, too. We hope to • Letters to the editor should be no help you navigate life in the city whether more than 300 words. Include your in winter, spring, summer, or fall! name and town or neighborhood. Plus, find all your favorite regular • Op-eds should be no more than 750 contributors. Nancy Dorrans is travelling words and include a brief biography with family and breaking out of her comof 1-2 sentences. fort zone (Pg. 12). Layne Witherell pitches • WEN also accepts poetry, cartoons, two interesting and very different wines and photo submissions. (Pg. 10-11). And Rosanne Graef encourThank you for picking up the first edition of the 22nd volume of The West End News. We our proud to be staring another New Year with our readers and supportive advertisers. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning in 2001 or you’re picking up your first copy, thank you for reading community print news.
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ALL WELCOME! Blackstones is proud to be an advertising partner with the West End News! Blackstones, 32 years as the West Ends’ LGBTQ+ neighborhood bar! All Welcome! Portland’s Oldest Operating LGBTQ+ Establishment O P E N W E E K D A Y S 4 P. M . – 1 A . M . S AT. & S U N . 1 1 A . M . – 1 A . M . 6 P I N E S T. , P O R T L A N D • 7 7 5 . 2 8 8 5
SUBMISSIONS
ages readers to check out activities at the Deadline for publication is the fourth Reiche Community Center (Pg. 4). Friday of every month. Our column space is very limited, publication is not guaranThank you for reading! teed, and submissions may be edited for length and content. Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor 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, LaVida&Words'n Words Greta Holmes, Citizens' Climate Lobby Mary Alice Scott, Portland Buy Local Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonPosts Layne Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig
Thank you for contributions from: Northern Light Mercy Hospital & Portland Climate Action Team Printed in Maine by Lincoln County Publishing Co.
ALL SALES INQUIRIES Contact Rick Ness 207-577-7025 rickthewestendnews@gmail.com
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
Rules for Shoveling & Parking Ban Info for Portland Cont'd from Pg. 1 wide and treat it against ice. Do not push or dump snow from driveways and parking lots onto public sidewalks and access ramps. There are fines. Business owners who fail to remove snow and ice within these time frames risk facing a $250 fine for the first offense, $500 for the second offense within the same winter season, and $1,000 for any subsequent offense within the same season. For residential owners, the first fine is $75, then $125 for the second, and $250 for any subsequent offense in the same season. Additionally, should the city have to remove the snow and ice or arrange for its removal, they will charge the property owner for the cost of removal plus a 10% charge for administration. Help your neighbors. The City encourages everyone to help their neighbors who are physically unable to clear their sidewalks. Elderly and disabled residents who need help should contact the City’s Elder Services Department at 207541-6620. Also, the Age-Friendly Portland Steering Committee is looking for volunteers willing to shovel snow for an elderly neighbor this winter. Contact Linda Weare at the Portland Office of Elder Affairs, 207-541-6620 or email agefriendlycommunity@portlandmaine.gov. Also, the City encourages members of the community to help the Portland Fire Department by keeping their neighborhood fire hydrants clear. The City currently has 1,460 public hydrants. Additionally, the City asks residents to help Public Works by clearing catch basins and storm drains in front of their homes. This will help prevent water from ponding on city streets and in residents’ driveways. Get your sand here. The City’s residential sand and salt pile will be located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park on Baxter Boulevard. This sand and
WhereYour Best is Good Enough! Beginner and Concert Bands Winter Session Begins January 12
WEN file photo
The Code Evaluation focuses on key issues for the city, including housing, climate change adaptation and mitigation, complete neighborhoods, transportation choice, and equity. The evaluation is meant to serve as a road map for the City as it considers amendments to the land use code and zoning map under future stages of the ReCode Portland process.
SouthernMaineNewHorizonsBand.org
salt pile is free for residential use, and contractors are not allowed. Residents may fill two five-gallon buckets at a time.
Parking Bans The City can call a city-wide parking ban, a peninsula ban, or a yellow zone ban, which covers the downtown district.View parking ban alerts on the City’s website or sign up to receive email, text, and phone notices via the Stay Connected feature. Or text “PortlandParkingBan” to 38276 to receive text notifications. Anyone can also get parking ban updates by following City news on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or call the parking ban hotline at 207-879-0300.
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All vehicles left on the street during a snow parking ban will be towed at the owner’s expense. Only cash,VISA, MasterCard, or Discover cards are accepted. No checks. Call the snow impound lot at 207774-3025. Find snow ban parking lot options at https://www.portlandmaine.gov/393/ Snow-Bans. Lot availability does change. This year there are changes to school lots due to construction activity.
CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINES For customer service related to winter operations, please call 207-874-8493. Sidewalk plowing concerns? Please call 207-874-8793. For parking ban information, please call 207-879-0300.
City Seeks Feedback on ReCode Portland The City of Portland has released a detailed review of the City’s land use code as part of ReCode Portland. The review and recommendations, contained within a Land Use Code Evaluation, are based on the goals and vision of the city’s comprehensive plan, Portland’s Plan 2030, public input received on Portland’s Plan, and during previous phases of the project, and technical analysis of the existing code. The evaluation was prepared for the City by Camiros, a planning and zoning consulting firm.
Resolve to Learn to play (again) Give it a try
through December and January, when the City anticipates a public forum on the recommendations. The evaluation can be read, downloaded, and commented on at www.recodeportland.me/code-evaluation.
What is ReCode Portland ReCode Portland is the City of Portland’s first major effort to comprehensively rewrite its land use code in over 50 years. The goal of ReCode Portland is to create a new, unified development code to serve Portland for the 21st century. The new code will be more user-friendly, will advance the goals of the city’s comprehensive plan, Portland’s Plan 2030, and be better equipped to meet the many needs of the city in such areas as housing, design, preservation, conservation, the working waterfront, energy, and transportation.
For more information, visit www.recodeportland.me. In addition to the projThe City is asking for public feed- ect website, updates will also be posted at back on the Code Evaluation. The evalu- https://portland.civilspace.io/en/projects/ ation will be available for public comment recode-portland.
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THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES & EVENTS
LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE
SpeeDebating & Street Safety By Rosanne Graef
bated.Topics ranged from superpowers to daylight savings time to children’s chores. Attendees were paired and took turns presenting their arguments for or against the proposition. For example, “Children should be paid for doing chores.”
On November 1st, West Enders and friends who had been enjoying activities at the Reiche Community Room got the much-welcomed chance to return. Adjusting to starting exercise class at 7:45 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. has been challenging After each member of the pair debatfor some, but it certainly beats Zoom or ed each side of the argument, we switched nothing! partners, chose a new topic, got a new proposition, and went at it again. Our other time slot is Monday evenings. Although we’ve had to make some It was fun to meet different people changes due to Covid, we’ve added an and try something new. But in the debrief additional movie night, Memento Mori at the end of the evening, we decided that Death Education Series, and a new offer- the challenge of having to remember the ing: SpeeDebating.Who’d have thought sit- proposition, as well as which side you ting around talking about funerals, burials, were on, was confusing and tiring! Accordand the dying process would make for an ingly, on January 31st we will choose only enjoyable evening out? Events are free and one topic and post the possible questions anyone is welcome to attend. You don’t in advance at http://www.wenamaine.org/ have to be of a certain age, just friendly. resources/community-center. (See the January/February calendar on this Check it out and come give SpeeDepage for the schedule.) bating a try!
SpeeDebating SpeeDebating is new. And right now, it is a trial-and-error effort that we hope will catch on. It’s on the fifth Monday of the month, so there won’t be many chances to participate. If you weren’t there on November 29th, you’ve already missed one! Another session rolls around on January 31st and it’ll be new and improved.
Street Safety
WENA Activities at Reiche Community Room Jan. 3 - Feb. 4, 2022
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Jan. 3: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise; 6:30-8 pm Book Nook Maine Book Club
Jan. 4: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 5: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 6: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan 7: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 10: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise; 6:30-9 pm AÞcionadosÕ Films
Jan. 11: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 12: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise; 6:30-8 pm WENA Meeting
Jan. 13: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 14 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
MLK Day - Holiday
Jan. 18: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 19 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 20: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 21: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 24: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise; 6:30-9 pm Family Movie Night
Jan. 25: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan 26: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 27: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan. 28: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Jan 31: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise; 6:30-8 pm SpeeDebating
Feb 1: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Feb 2: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
Feb 3: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise; 6:30-8 pm Climate Café
Feb 4: 7-9 am Book Nook; 7:45-8:45 am Exercise
ForCommunity More Details WENA Activities at Reiche Roomvisit: Jan. 3 - Feb. 4, 2022 For Morewww.wenamaine.org/resources/community-center/ Details visit www.wenamaine.org/resources/community-center/
The condition of Portland’s sidewalks and streets is a perennial topic, especially when the nights are long and the weather conditions are less than ideal for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.
End, where many sidewalks are slippery, please slow down in our neighborhoods not shoveled, and poorly lit in the winter. and stop at stop signs and red lights. These conditions lead some to choose to Stay safe in 2022! walk in the street where visibility may be better, and the likelihood of plowing and With pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities sanding is greater. Rosanne Graef lives in the West End in Maine at a 5-year high in 2021, we reand is a regular volunteer contributor. ally must all redouble our efforts to look Always wear something light or carFor the first night, we had two dozen Email her at lavidalocalwen@gmail. out for others, as well as ourselves. This ry something bright to give motorists a topics, one of which was chosen at rancom. is especially important here in the West chance to see you. Motorists and bicyclists, dom to determine the position to be de-
“
I’ve been living at The Park Danforth for several years now. It has always been my preference to support co-ops and non-profit organizations, so The Park Danforth being a non-profit really appealed to me. The people here give themselves in real ways that not everyone is even aware of, to the point that I get emotional even talking about it - neighbors helping neighbors, friends supporting friends. There is an authentic sense of community here that I appreciate very much. It is easy to see why The Park Danforth is the local choice and has been my choice.
Are you considering Senior Living? The Park Danforth has been providing quality senior living since 1881. Situated in the lively community of Portland, The Park Danforth offers active seniors the choices and options they deserve.
Our 24 hour emergency staff help to provide peace of mind to our residents and to the people closest to them. With over 100 years of experience, we know how to provide an environment that is both safe and secure.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
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Maine Veterans’ Dental Network Continues Services in New Year with $100,000 Grant
Northern Light Mercy Hospital’s emergency department to move locations on Jan. 4, 2022
Due to a generous grant from Northeast Delta Dental, the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network (MVDN) will resume its dental services in the new year for Maine veterans who otherwise cannot afford them.
Northern Light Mercy Hospital will open its new emergency department at 175 Fore River Parkway in Portland on January 4, 2022.The existing emergency department at 144 State Street in Portland will close the same day.
“I am truly grateful to Northeast Delta Dental for their generosity, which will allow this program to continue providing vital dental services to veterans across Maine,” said Governor Janet Mills. The Network began providing services on May 15th with an initial grant of $35,000 from Northeast Delta Dental. Northeast Delta Dental has now provided a $100,000 grant to allow the Veteran’s Dental Network to continue its services in January 2022.
cess the program. Veteran’s Dental Network participating clinics include: Community Dental (Biddeford, Farmington, Lewiston, Monson, Portland, and Rumford); Lincoln County Dental (Wiscasset); Kennebec Valley Family Dentistry (Augusta); Waterville Community Dental (Waterville); UNE Dental Clinic, the UMA Dental Clinic; Eastport Health Care (Calais, Eastport, and Machias), and Fish River Rural Health (Madawaska, Fort Kent, and Eagle Lake). Starting in January 2022, veterans who would like to receive services will first connect with Sarah Sherman, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Bureau of Veteran’s Services, at sarah.sherman@maine.gov. Once veterans fill out a State of Maine request form and provide a copy of their DD-214 (discharge papers) to Sherman, she will then refer them to the nearest participating dental clinic. If the veteran doesn’t have a copy of their DD-214, the Bureau can help them acquire one.
Any veteran who is a Maine resident, is not 100% service-connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), doesn’t have dental insurance, cannot afford to pay for dental care out of pocket, has a DD-214 showing an Honorable or General Under Honorable conditions discharge, and/or deployed on active duty For more information or to access for at least 180 days with the Maine Army the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network, National Guard or Air Guard or retired please contact Sarah Sherman at 207-430from the National Guard with twenty (20) 5816 or email sarah.sherman@maine.gov. years of service meets the criteria to ac-
The relocation of the emergency department to Mercy’s newly expanded Fore River campus will be the final clinical program to move from its State Street hospital, marking the final step in its campus consolidation. The Fore River campus will feature a dedicated parking lot for emergency department patients, offering quick access to care. There will also be a new patient drop off area for ambulances that is covered and protected from the elements, providing increased safety, convenience, and comfort. Please visit NorthernLightHealth.org/Mercy to view a map of the expanded campus and learn more about the new locations of services.
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THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
Cycle of Exhaustion May Be Difficult for Businesses (& Workers) to Overcome tively, to prevent burning out. Some are burnout after the “busy seadoing so because they’ve already reached son” subsides? What can I say that hasn’t already their breaking point – or their staff have – been said? The life of a small business and they need to take a long break now in For now, the best ways to owner continues to feel like a rollercoast- order to continue operating later on. support the local businesses er that’s slightly out of control - and cerwhich give our community its tainly out of their control. Winter is a difficult time to operate unique flavor remain the ones a small, local business in Portland, even in we have often repeated: look to After thoroughly over-using the word our best years. local businesses first before shop“unprecedented,” it continues to be the ping online or at chain stores, and most useful descriptor for what we’ve I’m left with many questions, which when you do, be kind (overly so!) faced over the last 20+ months. Problems we must come together to answer as a to the staff who work there. that have arisen before (difficulty finding community: staff, inflation, illness), have all come toJanuary is a great time to try • How do we maintain a four-season a new hobby (perhaps a knitting gether to create a cycle of exhaustion that city, in which the local businesses kit from KnitWit), find new ways may be difficult for some to overcome. which thrive serve our entire com- to move your body (a virtual yoga This winter, we may see many busimunity year-round? class with Ashley Flowers Yoga), nesses close their doors for weekends, • How can we maintain a workforce and safely get outside in the snow full weeks, or even full months. Many small that feels valued and less at-risk of (gear up at shops like Nomads or business owners are doing this pre-empthe Portland Gear Hub). By Mary Alice Scott
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As things continue to be more of the same (and hard), it continues to be vital to go out of our way to support local businesses, tip generously, and be kind to everyone who continues to work in public-facing jobs.
Mary Alice Scott is Executive Director of Portland Buy Local.
The West End News is a Portland Buy Local member and media partner.
Please shop local and when you do, remember to be kind to the staff. -Image: Customer conduct poster, Portland Buy Local
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
Roberto Rodriguez
Hearing more voices in local government Every month PelotonLabs co-founder Liz Trice interviews a local community member.This month, Liz caught up with Roberto Rodriguez, a new member of the Portland City Council.
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
relationships I developed with the superintendent, teachers, admins, ed techs… because when we were in board meetings, I could speak with knowledge about what was going on. I’m also proud of how good the dynamics on the school board were - we did a bunch of exercises to develop good communication habits, became well aligned, and committed to the comprehensive plan, and were able to speak Roberto Rodriguez clearly through policy and budgets.
C
What are your top priorities for
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mitment to pedestrian access and safety in neighborhoods. The recent changes at Woodfords Corner were supposed to improve pedestrian safety, but there’s so much missing – it felt like, “How can we move people around the cars?” rather than the opposite. I used to see clients at Portland Center for Assisted Living every day. They’d love to be able to get out in the neighborhood, but it’s too difficult for people walking, especially if they’re disabled in any way.
What do you see as having the most ongratulations! You had a tie rent, a job… she hooked us up with ev- your time on the council? potential for change in housing and erything. She was so welcoming and helpWhen we speak about racial equity and recount - that must transportation? ful, even though she just met us! and justice, it’s not a category; it’s a fundahave been harrowing!
The joke is we took the scenic route, Why did you want to be on the council? and definitely got a different view! I never had aspirations for politics. I What’s your background? had met Pious Ali around the time that he I was born in Puerto Rico in a big ran for city council in 2016, and when his family that was very communal: every fam- seat on the school board became open, ily event had lots of friends and neighbors he asked me if I would be interested in around. I moved to Mexico when I was running. When we had moved to Portland, ten for three years, then moved to Miami we set the intention to be involved in the when I was thirteen. I lived there through community and it seemed like a good way my late twenties and met my wife there to get involved. So, I spent five years on who was born in Portland. We moved to the school board at-large. Maine in 2011 when my youngest daughFundamentally, the same problems ter was around two years old because we that keep our students from thriving in wanted to settle down somewhere with a schools are the same inequities we see slower pace of life, where we could be an in larger society: access to housing, health active part of our community. care, childcare… The schools cannot manI love Portland. When we moved age them, and the council seemed like a here, I was a physical therapy assistant, my place to address them with a wider reach. wife is an occupational therapist, and we didn’t have any friends or family here. So, I What are your proudest moments went through a list at the Department of on the school board? I look at those five years with a very Health and called other physical therapy assistants to ask them what it’s like here, positive lens. I learned so much. Schools and one person talked to me and helped are fundamentally what connect our comme a lot! Wendy helped us find a house to munities, and I saw that. I’m proud of the
mental way we look at all issues: housing, zoning, education. For example, this week we accepted a grant from the Department of Justice for the police to be trained in de-escalation. Typically, that’s something that gets passed without dialogue, but Monday night there were a lot of questions and thoughtful dialogue about the nature of the program, all through an equity lens. The Recode process is a big opportunity to assess how we’re going to address housing issues. The City released the first major work product of ReCode Phase II – the Land Use Code Evaluation. The code evaluation focuses on how the City can change its land use plan to be in alignment with other plans, like how the code could encourage more equitable housing creation, foster climate change resilience, and support transportation choice.
The Riverside area has been industrial, and the attitude is that it doesn’t need to be livable, and that’s an outdated view. We need to open that up to housing and make it so people can walk or take a bus to jobs in the industrial areas. We want to make sure that we’re inclusive and hearing more voices in local government, and acknowledging that there are always voices missing, and there’s an element of privilege of who gets to talk to public officials. At the Portland schools, we brag about sixty-two languages spoken in the homes of our families, but in five years, 100% of emails I received were in English. So, we have to go out of our way to hear more voices.
More Information Contact Roberto Rodriguez at: (207) 450-9729 rrodriguez@portlandmaine.gov
I hope to create a standing committee so that there is frequent public input Read about Recode Portland and give and updates to the council. I want us to feedback at: be thoughtful about how transportation https://www.recodeportland.me fits into our climate change plan, and comContent Provided By PelotonLabs is a coworking space in the West End of Portland, Maine with a mission to connect and encourage people working on their own to manifest their visions without fear. PelotonPosts is created by PelotonLabs and WEN provides column space without charge. WEN publisher and editor Tony Zeli is a coworking member at PelotonLabs.
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THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
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You can interupt me We are maintaining safedone! and when aI’m
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It’s good to keep the environment clean!
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Ugh! That mulch stinks!
We found... mud! No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor!
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All are welco
I will have a hot donut!
Good thing I never took off my snow tires!
I am now an Uber driver... in Portland, Maine! Be a pedestrian. Be a better human!
Resi st Assis fear. t love .
Always wear et! your life jack Keep Portland salty!
I walk and ride my bike everywhere Mostly because I do have a car!
END NEWS
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
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THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
FOOD & DRINK
LAYNE'S WINE GIG PRESENTS
VISIONARY ELEVATOR PITCH By Layne V. Witherell
“T
ports us back to living in a yurt. Cocktails, hings are so because we wish whose numerous ingredients take a half them to be so.” -Louis Pasteur hour to concoct, and can be both savored and consumed in a matter of minutes. An elevator pitch summarizes a prod- Craft ciders with lemongrass and seauct or idea in the time of an elevator ride weed, testing our imagination. Kombucha, from thirty seconds to two minutes. delivering a probiotic 6% buzz. Not to forget seltzers that can deliver an obsessive ELEVATOR PITCH: gaze at the % of sugars, carbs, and alcohols as nutritional modifiers to our lives. It has Bluet Wild Blueberry become a contest of both the quasi new Sparkling Wine, Scarand the exotic, followed closely by the marketing focus groups of multinational borough, ME corporations. Even though my interview with MiBluet isn’t any of that. It is an excepchael Terrien, founder of Bluet, lasted for tional winemaker’s dream. an hour, there was a classic burst of elevator sentences that both set me reeling and Enter Bluet seriously thinking. “We couldn’t have done this ten years ago; from the redefining of Think wild Maine sparcategories, to a healthy drink, to saving the kling blueberry wine as a family farm.” Whew. Let’s take this thing refreshing, original idea, and apart step by step, or floor by floor. flavor. We have Bluet in a can, 250ml., $5.00 per can, Ten Years Ago 4-packs at $20.00. The flavor Ten years ago, there was wine, beer, fits squarely in the craft, fruit, and spirits as separate entities. For exam- slight funk spectrum, yet dry. ple, you might say, “I’ll have a glass of wine, It is not mom’s blueberry pie. It is startlingly modern, please.” so much so that you can Today we are redefining everything splash it in a fruited sour hourly. Fruited sour beers with freshly beer, a craft cocktail, or a heritage cider imagined components. Orange wine, pas- and reimagine and reinvent the blend.Wild toral and purposely archaic, that trans- Maine blueberries untamed. Intensity, fruit,
bubbles, dryness with a hint of funk. It is today. The 750ml. bottles are $20.00 for the Charmat method and $36.00 for the Champagne method. The “Better for You Movement.” Three R’s, or Resveratrol times three. The antioxidant compounds found in red wine are abundant in Maine wild blueberries. There is nothing quite like a healthy 7% alcohol buzz. According to Michael, 7% is perfect; 15% alcohol would be too much. Bubbles are the key to releasing aroma and flavor. Flavor and health as a field to bottle – or can – movement. Celebrity yoga mat people have put more energy into concocting a dreamscape for their Instagram followers than the actual quest for a healthy buzzy beverage that delivers intensity of flavor.
Bluet. “The flavor fits squarely in the craft, fruit, slight funk spectrum, yet dry. It is not mom’s blueberry pie.” -All photos by Layne Witherell
of antioxidants, it is time to save the planet (or at least the Maine part of it).
Looking at the distribution list of states (always a good idea when you want to dig deeper into the real lives of wineries), their sales numbers and popularity are no doubt soaring. Also, the articles extoling their virtues are on their website and are soaring. To paraphrase one: The Big Picture Maine is a Zen Garden of wild blueberries. Michael and his partner Eric have cre- Heady stuff. ated a 34-page document available online All they need to do to succeed is titled: “Wild Blueberry Sparkling Wine the replace the pictures of that slice of blueManual.” This is everything you ever wantberry pie on those large farm signs with ed to know about making blueberry wine, the logo of a can of Bluet and the words: the origin of our unique low bush blue“Maine blueberry adventure trail begins berries, and where to locate the original here,” and our visionaries will have creatantique equipment. ed a revolution. But wait, there is more. Namely, the Now that’s an elevator pitch. visionary goals of two idealists. Now that Cont'd on Next Page... we have saved ourselves with those loads
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FOOD & DRINK
VISIONARY ELEVATOR PITCH
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
Cont'd from Pg. 12
waiter’s elevator pitch.
ELEVATOR PITCH 2: Jing Yan, Asian Fusion, Portland, ME
“It is sold to us by a woman distributor, and it is biodynamic.” If Jing Yan 2 were to open on outer Congress Street near St. John Street, this would be a brilliant elevaThe finest elevator pitch is one that is tor pitch; on the cusp of Washington Ave, perfect for both time and place. It doesn’t it is a cliché. need to be visionary, although that can Actually, what the wine did when add an extra dimension. accompanied alongside the Beijing Style Jing Yan at 90 Congress Street in Lamb Skewers (lavash, cumin, chili, sumac, Portland’s Munjoy Hill neighborhood is onions) was impart an edginess, funkiness, open from 4 to 9 p.m. and closed on Tues- and acidity that transcends traditional piday and Wednesday. not noir flavors in ways that are unique to In the old space of one of our favor- the complexity of their food. That is your ite former restaurants – Lolita – Jing Yan elevator pitch. creates an inspired Asian fusion experience. Right in the door, it is pure nouveau Asian Munjoy Hill with a Washington Ave vibe. There is no doubt where we are. “Warm, welcoming, and comfortable with detail-oriented service,” accompanied by some serious Asian-inspired dishes.
Never content with half answers, I looked Gaspard up the next day on their website. Pinot Noir in its classic form (Burgundy, Oregon, Coastal California) tastes of ripe fruits that include strawberries, raspberries, and cherries with a hint of truffles. They are silky smooth with a We began drinking from small ceram- touch of natural acidity for balance. ic cups filled with Momokawa Nigori Sake, Strange stuff our Gaspard. Nowhere cold, cloudy, and a brilliant beginning on a does it say certified biodynamic. All the small drink list. Eggplant dip, shishito pep- sustainable bells and whistles are present, pers (a dish that I could live on), shoyu but nowhere is the hallowed stamp of bioramen (totally unlike the stuff you get in dynamic. Funk rules the day over fruit. It college), and we were ready to dive fur- tastes like it was made in a yurt. ther in. Another thing caught my attention. Gaspard, anyone? Loire Valley in France is listed on their website and shelf talkers but doesn’t apThen, I noticed this mysterious item pear on Gaspard’s back label. Is your adon the wine list: Gaspard Pinot Noir, dress South Portland or Cape Elizabeth? It France, thirty bucks a bottle. There was matters in wine, as well as houses. simply not a lot of information here that made sense. Now is the moment for our We liked Jing Yan very much and will
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Strange stuff our Gaspard, but nowhere does it say certified biodynamic. return, hopefully awaiting a better crafted and researched elevator pitch. Their service was great, and we do tip well. With elevator pitches you don’t know who is going to pitch and who is going to show up for the ride.
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 / JANUARY 2022
Changes Don’t Have to Seem Big to Be Heroic Tennessee Theater in Knoxville. It is the “remarkable true story” of the day the Here we are, stepping into a new world stopped on September 11th, 2001, year with the return of brighter days, and thirty-eight planes and close to 7,000 celebrations, and resolutions. During a people landed in Gander, Newfoundland. solstice service at First Parish Unitarian What an amazing musical that knitted Universalist Church, the few of us pres- together the tragedy with kindness, gratent wrote down our intentions on small itude, love, generosity, and creativity. It pieces of red tissue paper and then one made me feel good about the good in by one, we carried our intentions to the these people and humankind! pulpit, lit them, and sent them up into the universe. My intentions were sincere: be Why Not a Cruise positive, grateful, nice, active, and creative. The next change was that the day Intentions for 2022 after Christmas, my father, my younger sister and her family, and I sailed away on My intentions have been guiding me a four-night celebrity cruise. It was my fafor some time and especially during this ther’s idea. He’s always had motion sickpandemic. These intentions are not reso- ness, however he decided he wanted to lutions but broader ideas.Yet sometimes I try going on a cruise to get over it and need reassurance or a change to guide me take a chance. and improve my intentions and to help those around me. I asked him where he wanted to go, and he said, “On a cruise.” I get nostalgic during the holidays. They are very different since my mothWe are all vaccinated, boosted, er died. She loved Christmas and was all masked, and tested negative per orders of about baking, decorating, gifts, and parties. the cruise line. I’m grateful that we can do I savor the memories of those Christmas- this and possibly start a new tradition. es, but my family can’t recreate them no matter how we try. So, this year we are Out of Our Comfort making conscious changes. By Nancy Dorrans
Broadway Comes to Knoxville I travelled to Tennessee to be with my family over the holidays. However, instead of a lot of shopping, my older sister and I went to see the traveling Broadway production of “Come from Away” at the
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As a travel counselor, I’ve strived to navigate my clients on authentic experiences, safely out of their comfort zone and into an appreciation of other cultures, landscapes, traditions, food, music, and people! It’s not about the cultural differences on this journey. On this cruise my father is getting out of his comfort zone
Top left: Dorrans family at Christmas circa 1970 in Ohio, from left to right: Susan, Nancy, John, Joanie, and Betsy. Right: Nancy Dorrans (on left) and her sister Susan at the Tennessee Theater in downtown Knoxville. Bottom left: Dorrans family on -Photos courtesy of Nancy Dorrans board for a Christmas cruise leaving Miami.
Nancy is a professional travel expert and founded Adventure Marketplace in 2014. and taking me with him. My father is on to something. The travel industry is shifting to an experience-based economy, and we are joining in. This is a shift away from retail sales. We are on the verge of “The Hero’s Journey Economy.”
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onsumers now want to live a life with more significant accomplishments and meaning. People are longing for purpose, and a quest for personal transformation. They want their journey to have meaning, and they want to return home changed, improved, and enhanced for the better. The challenge for the travel industry is that a genuinely transformational experience is not always pleasurable. Some of the best
transformational experiences not only take people out of their comfort zones, but also push people to their limits.” -The Better Marketing Pub My family and I are on a quest for personal transformation, a hero’s journey to face the fear of motion sickness and to change the way we celebrate without my mother. These changes in my family’s celebrations, however small, will hopefully be significant and positive. You may think that celebrating Christmas by going on a cruise isn’t that significant. It may not push you to your limits and it may seem like a small accomplishment, but it is significant to my father and to me too!
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CLIMATE JUSTICE
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We’re All in This Together Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard
Let’s Not Lose Our Snow By Greta Holmes I’m Greta Holmes, a student at Casco Bay High School. I’ve lived in Maine my whole life. One of my favorite things about Maine is the snow that falls every winter. I remember walking to preschool when I was little, and the snowbanks piled high above me on either side of the sidewalk. In elementary school, we’d dig tunnels through the snow and play in them all recess long. I now do cross country skiing for my high school team. Every year we start out with “dryland” practice (before it snows) and then transfer to actual skiing when the snow falls. However, recently the dryland practice seems to come back, scattered throughout our actual season. Often, right after a great snowstorm, there will be rain, and all of the snow will melt away.This makes me realize how much the environment of Maine is changing because I know this didn’t used to happen.
Understanding Energy Democracy We expect the Pine Tree Power initiative to be up for a referendum vote next November. What do we need to know about it?
Greta Holmes is a Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) intern and a student at Casco Bay High School. One thing that I have found to help turn my anxiety into action is Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nationwide organization trying to pass legislation to stop climate change. While I’ve been an intern there, we’ve been trying to include a carbon fee and dividend into the reconciliation package or as a stand-alone bill. A carbon fee and dividend would tax large fossil fuels companies and return the money to every individual.To solve the climate crisis, experts like those at the UN IPCC say this is a “necessary condition.” It is crucial to limit our fossil fuel consumption and make it harder for large corporations to make so much profit from these fuels that are destroying everything we need.
I know a lot of other people of my generation are very frightened by climate change and have no idea what to do. It is terrifying to think that this part of the Maine we know could disappear in our lifetimes and wonder if our families will get to participate in this part of Maine life. Please consider joining cclusa.org. ToIt is even scarier to picture what else will have changed by then, changes we can’t gether we can make change... and keep the snow and everything else that we love. even imagine.
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and towns in the United States light their homes, businesses, and streets with public power. Moreover, cities like Boston, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago all have serious campaigns underway to put the Modern life would be impossible with- electric system in public hands. out the electricity that keeps the lights on, makes our meals, gets us to work, runs The American Public Power Associour machines, and keeps us alive when ation, a trade association for communiwe’re seriously ill. This is the case for ty-owned electric utilities, maintains that most people. But large corporations like not-for-profit, community owned, and CMP, seeking to maximize profits for their locally controlled utilities provide betshareholders, dominate the energy supply. ter service at lower rates than privately This means that a few people benefit fi- owned utilities, while also providing revenancially at the expense of the many. How nue for their communities. has this come to be? A partial answer is In Nebraska, a state entirely powered that our governance system (a democratic by cooperatives and municipal utilities, republic) is entangled with our economic the city of Omaha provides an example system (free market capitalist). of a well-run municipal utility. In fact, votDecisions about how to generate and ers there elect the members of the utility transmit energy have come to be made by board, whose meetings are open to the executives. Their chief purpose is to make public and televised. Each year, the utility sure investors get more money back than returns a portion of the profits to the city. they put in. At a basic level they do this The city council can spend these funds at by charging consumers as much as pos- their discretion. sible while investing as little as possible. With public and worker ownership, Although the imperative to constantly the health, safety, and quality of our lives produce profit is built into our economic would be the utility’s top priorities. Fursystem, it is fundamentally unfair and unthermore, democratic management strucdemocratic. tures ensure that the people who are The concept of energy democracy most affected make the decisions. With begins with the premise that existing pri- decarbonization a societal imperative, we vately owned utilities do not want rapid have a unique opportunity to rewrite how decarbonization nor will they address the we generate and distribute electricity. concerns of environmental justice. The networks we need to utilize renewable BRIGHT IDEA: Support the Pine energy, such as solar panels and wind tur- Tree Power referendum initiabines, must be managed by organizations tive. Tell everyone it’s critical to that want these energy sources to be suc- the future of our state. cessful. Movements in some of the most populated areas of the country are changing the electric system to make it safer, greener, more effective, and to provide more public benefits. Over 2,000 cities
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THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
PUZZLES “Unusual” Trivia 1. In the Princess Bride, Westley and Buttercup are attacked by an R.O.U.S. in the Fire Swamp; What does R.O.U.S. stand for? 2.An “unusual no-trump” is a strategy of disclosing some of your cards in what game that opens with a round of bidding for a contract? 3. Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena is a monthly publication put out by what US scientific agency focused on oceanic and atmospheric conditions?
Mondays @ Lazzari Tuesdays @ Ri Ra Find out more on Facebook and Instagram: @bestworsttrivia
4. “All Through the Night” and “She Bop” were two of the six singles released from 1983’s She’s So Unusual, the debut album from what Queens-accented singer? 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 3 letters. Plurals don’t count, nor do proper nouns, Words abbreviations, or foreign words not commonly used By Rosanne Graef
in English.
“Connected by love and a leash” -from Walking the Dog by Howard Nemerov GOLD = 150 words | SILVER = 125 words | BRONZE = 100 words MASTER LEVEL STARS = 300 words | SUN = 250 words | MOON = 200 words
BONUS = How many words can you make ending with “L”? December Bonus: How many words beginning with “p” can you make from “wise trees stand sleeping in the cold.” Some examples: prig, pleated, prandial, panic, pride, precise, poltergeist, pander, pines, pencil...
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THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2022
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THE DUMPSTER
WHERE WE THROW EVERYTHING THAT DIDN'T FIT… Weird Al Yankovic announces a show at Merrill Auditorium on May 3… Lincoln Middle School sixth-grader Natalie Waters takes third place and $10k prize in the Maine Kids Covid-19 Vaccination Video Contest with a 30-second video encouraging other kids to get vaccinated… Migration to Maine likely due to the pandemic helps to increase the state’s population by about 10,000 people which is the most in 2 decades… Meanwhile the US population grew 0.1% in 2021 which is the slowest rate since the founding of the nation… Holiday sales rise 8.5% despite supply issues and Omicron which is the fastest pace in 17 years… Peace Island game developers believe Patreon premiums like postcards are being tossed rather than returned by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s bad postal policies… World’s greatest pool player Efren Reyes to play exhibition match (Jan. 16, 5pm) at American Pool and Billiards on St. John St… City Clerk Katherine Jones sets a retirement date in July 2022 after 13 years of public service… On the greener side of news… Maine is the fifth-greenest state according to ConsumerAffairs due largely to having the lowest amount of landfill waste of all states… ReVision Energy wins the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence in Innovation recognizing them as the #1 clean energy company in northern New England… Foulmouthed Brewing introduces a limited locally made 4-pack bicycle beer caddy… And on the bottomside of news… Northern Light colorectal surgeon Dr. Tyler Bernaiche is the first surgeon in Maine to complete a robotic transanal operation to remove a polyp… Foulmouthed Brewing (@foulmouthedbeer) / Instagram photo
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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.
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OPENING S O
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