JUNE 2022.VOL. 22, NO. 06. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
Portland Election 2028 Analysis:What municipal elections may look like if voters approve the Portland Charter Commission’s recommendations A lot of questions remain today about redistricting. But the new districts may include boundaries that line-up with the neighborhoods of Portland, and in 2028 the Parkside, Libbytown/St. John Valley, and Deering Center districts are on the ballot. These districts are about half the size of the current ones, but they line up better with the state house districts.
By Tony Zeli
The Portland Charter Commission has presented its preliminary report to the city council. The most dramatic proposals are to the city’s governance model. If approved by voters, the amended charter would include an executive mayor and an expanded twelve-member legislative council. But the changes to municipal elections are among the most controversial, CAMPAIGNS 2028 including a noncitizen voting proposal and There are new strategies this cama clean elections program that includes paign season. Municipal candidates begin the report’s only fiscal note. with a new decision, whether to run as a Below is look at how the changes to publicly financed candidate or a traditioncity elections could impact future cam- ally financed one.The new municipal “clean paigns in Maine’s largest city. Plus, find a elections” program may be modeled after brief look at some of the other recom- the state’s program. Many candidates run mendations from the charter commission with public funding and in exchange refuse report. Copies of the preliminary report to except campaign contributions. are available at the Portland Public Library For the district seats, campaigns are and City Hall, Room 211. Or find the pregrassroots oriented with lots of door-toliminary report, background documents, door work. Districts are smaller than ever and a look inside the charter commission’s and knowing the neighborhood counts. process and reasoning on their website at For the at-large races, money, media, and https://portlandcharter.me. mailers are still important. Depending on PORTLAND ELECTION 2028 funding amounts, at-large candidates may be more likely to be privately funded, raisThe Presidential election 2028… ing the tens of thousands of dollars needPortland’s first executive mayor in gen- ed to win in a citywide race. erations, elected four years ago in 2024, In 2028, candidates are courting is running for reelection. An incumbent, the so-called immigrant vote, registering running down ticket from a popular Demnon-citizens and educating them about ocrat for President, the mayor is entering their new enfranchisement. Legal resithe municipal election in an extraordinaridents regardless of citizenship status are ly strong position – especially in solidly allowed to vote for mayor, city council, blue Portland. It’s a nonpartisan race, but and school board (if the proposal survives voters know whose team everyone is on. legal challenges). The non-citizen vote is In 2028, three district seats and one not necessarily a likeminded voting bloc, at-large city council seat are on the ballot. but in tiny districts the new voters may be Three school board districts are up for enough to sway elections. How much so grabs, too. In 2028, the school board no will likely be directly proportional to the longer has at-large seats, only nine district effort candidates put into targeted get out seats. the vote efforts.
vote
Blazing the Eastern Trail South from Kennebunk: Eastern Trail secures funding to expand 11-miles south. Read more on Page 4. With proportional ranked choice voting, coalitions are more important than ever. The coalitions are not as simple as liberal/conservative. In most districts, multiple Democrats are facing off against each other. Added to this dynamic, ranked choice voting provides the opportunity to rank each candidate. Many will be vying for your second preference and will want to run friendlier campaigns. But the biggest factor in each city council and school board race? Who has the popular mayor’s endorsement?
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS The Portland Charter Commission recommends replacing the current police review board with an independent civilian police oversight board consisting of nine members. The board will take complaints directly from residents and members of the police department and make policy recommendations.
Education recommendations include a new school budget process that removes city council approval from the process, allowing the budget to go from school ELECTION DAY 2028 board approval directly to a public vote, Portland Election 2028 has a large though city council can still offer nonbindturnout driven by the Presidential cam- ing recommendations to the school board. paigns. The ranked choice experience for In addition, new charter language inthe voter is the same as today. The countstructs city council to create a participaing is done differently when there are ractory budget process that would empower es with more than one seat available. In residents to provide ideas and feedback. these races, rather than a majority winner, Also, recommended is a new preamble candidates compete to reach a winning that includes a land acknowledgement – threshold. Otherwise, the voters’ task is a statement acknowledging that Portland the same: rank their preferred candidates in order. Cont'd on Pg. 3
Page 3
Page 7
Page 13
Page 14
Portland Voting Information for June 14th Election
Invterview: Helping forests adapt to climate change with Todd Ontl
Celebrating Women in the Wine Biz
Travel to the amazing and stunning state of Oregon
2
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
JUNE EDITION 2022 INSIDE THIS EDITION
Trees ◊ Shrubs ◊ Evergreens Annuals ◊ Succulents ◊ Air Plants Perennials ◊ Herbs ◊ Roses Pottery ◊ Vegetable Seedlings & Houseplants
Best Worst Trivia.........................................15 Book Short...................................................18 Love, GenZ...................................................18 Business News...............................................6 Climate Justice.......................................16-17 Crossword....................................................15 Events...............................................................5 Health & Wellness.........................................9 Layne's Wine Gig..................................12-13 Map (Overheard in Portland).................10-11 News............................................................3-4 PelotonPosts...............................................7-8 Poetry.............................................................19 Sudoku...........................................................15 Travel..............................................................14
SUBMISSIONS
Published by Zeli Enterprises, LLC 795 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04102 thewestendnews@gmail.com
Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Rick Ness, Sales Erin Zeli, Sales VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure Sadie Levy, Love, GenZ Charles March, Citizens' Climate Lobby Stephanie Miller, Book Reviews Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonPosts Layne V. Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig
WEN is a community newspaper and Thank you for we need your voice! Share your submissions with thewestendnews@gmail.com contributions from or send to: The West End News, 795 Bob Hamblen, Eastern Trail Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04102. Portland Climate Action Team • Letters to the editor should be no more than 300 words. Include your Printed in Maine by name and town or neighborhood. Lincoln County Publishing Co. • Op-eds should be no more than 750 words and include a brief biography of 1-2 sentences. ALL SALES INQUIRIES • WEN also accepts poetry, cartoons, Contact Rick Ness and photo submissions. 207-577-7025 Deadline for publication is the fourth rickthewestendnews@gmail.com Friday of every month. Our column space is very limited, publication is not guaranteed, and submissions may be edited for length and content. The thoughts and opinions expressed in our pages belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to the publication.
Thank you for reading!
WE’RE HIRING Join us at our job fair to learn more about our open Manufacturing Production Specialist roles and more! June 8th and June 10th 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 5 Foden Rd, South Portland, ME 04106 Starting day 1, benefits include: • Medical plan with significant contribution • Up to 20% annual bonuses • 4-day work weeks • Generous paid time off • 401K with 4% match For a limited time only, Manufacturing Production Specialists will be eligible to earn a $2,000 bonus! You’ll have the opportunity to interview during the job fair and meet with your next potential manager!
careers.ti.com/job-fair/
22-25481-Maine-Job-Fair-PrintAd-10inx7.5in.indd 1
5/25/22 12:26 PM
Portland Voting Information for June 14 Election
In-person absentee voting runs until June 9
In-person absentee voting began on Tuesday, May 17th in the State of Maine Room, 2nd floor, in City Hall. The public can access City Hall via the Myrtle Street or Congress Street entrances. As of print, masks are required to be worn when visiting City Hall. Regular hours are 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The external ballot drop is set up and ready to receive completed absentee ballots 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The last day to in-person absentee vote is Thursday, June 9th, unless you have a qualifying special circumstance and fill out the required form. Examples of special circumstances include an unexpected work trip, unexpected illness, or Island voter. The Clerk’s Office will be open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 9th only for voter registration and in-person absentee voting.
NEWS & INFORMATION
Portland Charter Commission Preliminary Report: Other Recommendations
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
3
Compassionate & Innovative Memory Care
Early summer days in the courtyard are quite remarkable, especially because good friends, birding enthusiasts and gardeners will find each other.
Cont'd from Pg. 1 sits on unceded territory of the Wabanaki and other peoples. And the charter commission recommends mandating city council to adopt a Code of Ethics and creates a watchdog in the form of a volunteer Ethics Commission of seven residents who would offer advisory judgments on ethics violations. The commission may still make amendments before their final report. They are particularly looking at their governance recommendations. They have scheduled meetings for June 8th and 22nd, and another on July 6th to conclude their work.Their final report is due on July 11th.
www.FallbrookWoods.com (207) 878-0788 60 Merrymeeting Drive ~ Portland
Read more about these recommendations, the reasoning behind them, and find background resources on the new Absentee ballots must be returned by charter commission website: https://port8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee bal- landcharter.me. lots must be returned via mail or the external ballot box outside of City Hall and Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Reach not to your normal polling place. him at thewestendnews@gmail.com.
Election Day Election Day is Tuesday, June 14th, 2022, and all polling places will be open on that day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please be advised that the State District numbers on the ballots for the June 14th Primary Election will have changed in accordance with the adoption of the 130th Legislature’s apportionment laws. It is possible that your State Representative or State Senator has changed as a part of that process as well. This change does not affect polling locations. Check the Secretary of State’s web lookup for your new district numbers and your representatives: https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php.
Food Trucks Relocated from Eastern Prom to Cutter St.
In response to community feedback, the City of Portland launched a plan for a food truck pilot on the Eastern Prom. The plan is to allow food trucks only within the middle parking lot on Cutter Street. Food trucks will no longer be allowed to operate on the Eastern Promenade roadway or the esplanade. Revision of the city’s Food Truck Rules are underway, and rule In addition to primary races, on the changes will take effect June 15th. ballot are two at-large and the District 5 Approximately ten parking spaces school board seats, filling vacated posi- that can accommodate ten food trucks tions. Also, on the ballot is the school bud- will be made available at the Cutter Street get referendum. lot for food truck operations. Food truck owners interested in utilizing one of these spaces will have to apply for a permit. If interest in this space exceeds the number of parking spaces available, permits will be issued by lottery. Permits will be issued at no cost to food truck operators this year (since this is a pilot program), but a permit A winter survey of the trees within fee may be implemented in future years. Deering Oaks Park, conducted with the Renewed interest in outdoor dining help of Maine Forest Service, showed re- during the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in sults that were improved from last year, a significant increase in food truck activibut still concerning in the regards of ty on the Eastern Promenade. The City’s potential browntail moth exposure and official statement says that while the additional tree decline. During the week sense of community and fun this activity of May 16th, the City’s Parks, Recreation, introduced was positive, it also resulted in and Facilities Department treated infested excessive trash, root compaction of park trees with an organic insecticide through trees and turf, excessive idling and generground spraying/misting into the canopy. ator use, loss of parking, noise, and other The City believes it is imperative quality-of-life issues. to treat the trees because of the public Interim City Manager Danielle West health risks associated with browntail added, “It is our hope that these changes moths’ poisonous hairs, and because the and this pilot program will help address moths can harm and even kill the trees some of these concerns while also conover a couple of seasons. Per the City’s tinuing to provide this amenity.” Pesticide Use Ordinance this treatment plan is exempt and does not require a waiver.
Organic Insecticide Treatment for Browntail Moth in Deering Oaks Park
Bar & Grill RACK’M UP 7 DAYS A WEEK
18 Quality Pool Tables Darts Ping Pong 13 Beers on Tap HOURS Mon - Tue: 3:00 pm - 12:00 am Wed - Fri: 3:00 pm - 1:00 am Saturday: 1:00 pm - 1:00 am Sunday: 1:00 pm - 12:00 am
Formerly Union Stati on Billiards
Follow Us! Facebook & Instagram
272 St. John Street, Portland / 207-899-3693
www.americanpoolnbilliards.com
4
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
Events to Blazing the Eastern Trail South Upcoming Add to Your Eastern Trail Calendar from Kennebunk By Nancy Dorrans & Bob Hamblen
On May 20th, a small group of Maine outdoor enthusiasts, cyclists, journalists, local and state officials, gathered at Kennebunk Elementary School to celebrate the Eastern Trail. The trail received $700,000 in new federal funding to expand south from Kennebunk to North Berwick. “This funding is a major step towards completing the Eastern Trail and East Coast Greenway in southern Maine, which will expand economic development, outdoor recreation, and equitable active transportation opportunities in the region,” said Kristine Keeney, East Coast Greenway Alliance Northern New England Manager.
11 Miles of New Trails Jon Kachmar, Executive Director of the Eastern Trail, announced how thrilled he was to see this dream come true. “The final engineering design has been on the Eastern Trail radar for several years and we’re excited. It’s finally happening. When the new trail is constructed, it will represent the longest section of the Eastern Trail built to date, creating eleven miles of new trail (from Kennebunk to North Berwick) for walkers, bikers, runners, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized modes of transportation, both for people nearby as well as from away.” Kachmar is responsible for managing and supporting the Eastern Trail Alliance and its maintenance and construction. He notes they are not done yet. “…When we hit North Berwick, we’re working collaboratively with communities to the south to continue our push to the New Hampshire border. This next project plans to connect the Eastern Trail to South Berwick, Elliot, Kittery, and finally reach the New Hampshire border. Maybe we’ll call this the Berwick to the Border campaign! With the rest of New England, we’re excited, albeit a bit nervous about such big ambitions.”
Because we believe in it. Chellie Pingree smiled as she spoke passionately about the funding and how it came to the Eastern Trail in Maine. “This wouldn’t have happened without the supportive, local communities… I couldn’t be more excited to think about this trail
28 Neal Street Portland, ME 04102
Michael Pardue, Town Manager of Kennebunk, Jon Kachmar of Eastern Trails, Rep. Pingree, and Kristine Keeney of East Coast Greenway Alliance, celebrating $700,000 in funds for an eleven-mile expansion of the Eastern Trail on May 20th in Kennebunk. coming all this way … and not having any more breaks in it where you have to go off and ride on the road. And especially during our busy summers. I’m a bicyclist myself and I love nothing more than riding on a bike trail and to keep riding for a very long time.”
• The Maine Lighthouse Ride, the ETA’s premier fundraising event, will be back for its 19th year on September 10th, the Saturday after Labor Day. Registration is open, with 25-, 40-, 62- and 100-mile ride options. Beer, food, swag, and your chance to enjoy views of nine Maine lighthouses during Maine’s most picturesque bike ride. FMI: www.easterntrail.org.
She concluded by saying she was also excited because she has never gotten to go to an event before and hand over a really big check, “and just for accuracy, even Pingree noted she can’t wait to get a though it says United States treasury, I rechance to ride this trail when it is all done. ally don’t get to sign it.” She also noted that “this project is one of the ones from our fiscal year 2022 budget, which was an appropriations bill just recently signed by the President. It is the first time in ten years that we’ve brought back community project funding. That’s a project where a member of Congress has the ability to advocate for something in their district… It has to be a project that would fit into the funding cycle anyway… It has to be transparent… This is one of the ones that we really wanted to support because we believe in it. One thing that we’ve all learned during the pandemic… people want to be in outdoor spaces.”
In other Eastern Trail news... The Gap project that will provide a 1.6-mile connection between existing trail in South Portland and Scarborough awaits an easement with a single landowner. Once that is complete, the project can go out to bid. Kachmar, both communities, and the MaineDOT are hopeful that will happen this year.
Pingree was joined by members of Senator King’s office and Senator Collins’ office, who also represent this part of Maine and are all supportive of this project.
The Eastern Trail Alliance welcomes the completion of a feasibility study on a section of the future trail between Kennebunk and North Berwick. Engineering firm VHB was retained several months ago to examine a section of the 11-mile project in greater detail, provide a technical perspective, and develop cost estimates.
Pingree added that the interest is only going to grow. “More and more people are moving to Maine because of our wonderful communities. They’re visiting Maine this summer, and these are the kinds of projects that make it even more appealing and make that experience for our communities even more wonderful. So, I’m re-
A second feasibility study will be complete in June: a detailed look at closing the gap between Biddeford and Saco. A temporary on-road section has existed for several years, including a crossing of the Saco River. This study has included public meetings, a walk of the proposed off-road trail, and meetings with landowners.
PJune ian o P al oo za! 24th 2 th
6 PIANISTS 3 CONCERTS 1 P RPOSE
ally excited to have been able to be part of this. You know, it’s really important to me!”
• The John Andrews 5K is scheduled for Jun 4th at the Mill Brook Business Park trailhead in Saco: https://www.easterntrail.org/andrews5K.
A weekend of great piano performances, cold bubbly drinks and good food in support of Portland Conservatory of Music's Building Harmony Capital Campaign.
Nancy Dorrans is a professional travel expert and regular contributor to WEN Travel & Adventure page. Bob Hamblen is a retired city planner and a past president of both the Eastern Trail Alliance and the Eastern Trail Management District.
-Photos by Nancy Dorrans
Fresh Approach The West End’s Meat Market Celebrating 30 years!
Save time & money with ready to go foods! Fresh Meat, Groceries, Produce, Dairy, Wine & Beer, Bakery, Deli, Freshly Prepared Salads & Sandwiches, Lunch-2-Go!
George Lopez
Dr. Gulimina Mahamuti
45 PER EVENT $125 WEEKEND P $
Tickets include complimentary refreshments PortlandConservatoryofMusic.org/events (207) 775 - 3356
Diane Walsh
Greg Sferes (left), Sue Schmitt and Michael Bostock
155 Brackett Street / 774-7250 M-F 8-7 Sat 9-7 Sun 9-5
Check out wholesale prices online at freshapproachmarket.com
ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. WE ACCEPT EBT!
WHAT'S GOING ON LIVE MUSIC - PERFORMING ARTS - EVENT RENTALS - COMMUNITY EVENTS
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
5
COMMUNITY EVENTS Mad Horse Theatre's Get Off the Couch Party Season Reveal & Fundraiser
Luncheon Fundraiser for The Maine Regiment All Age Drum & Bugle Corps
Tue., June 7 / 6-8pm / Owbow, Port- Sat., June 25 / 11am-2pm / Stewart land P. Morrill Veterans Post 35, So.Portland Support Mad Horse Theatre Company, win local prizes, and hear the titles of our 37th season! Sample readings from the upcoming season will be presented by Mad Horse company members and guest artists, giving you a taste of the exciting plays coming to the stage next season. PETER MULVEY W/ DIETRICH STRAUSE There will be a teaser from the upcoming Mad Horse devising project, “HomecomLUCY KAPLANSKY ing: An Odyssey.” LIVINGSTON TAYLOR W/ CHELSEA BERRY A live auction will be held for such STEVE KATZ (OF BLOOD, SWEAT, & TEARS) goodies as a whitewater rafting trip from North Country Rivers, a float session RESURGAM MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL from Float Harder, and a nine-show pass AT THOMPSON'S POINT - OLS STAGE FEATURING: from PortFringe. Also, purchase raffle tickEMILIA DAHLIN, EMMA IVY, YES WE KIN, ANGELIKAH FAHRAY, ROY DAVIS ets for a chance to win locally sourced prizes. THE PORTLAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA This event is free to attend, gifts to MELISSA FERRICK Mad Horse Theatre Company are appreciated. Masking is optional but appreciated AN EVENING WITH DUKE ROBILLARD unless eating or drinking. RSVP to get a STATE THEATRE & OLS PRESENT: complimentary raffle ticket at www.madHENRY JAMISON W/ OLIVIA KLUGMAN horse.com.
ONE LONGFELLOW SQUARE LIVE MUSIC IN JUNE 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.11 6.12
6.16 6.17 6.18 6.20 6.23 6.24 6.25
JEFF CHRISTMAS ALBUM RELEASE SHOW W/ CILLA BONNIE
ELIOT LEWIS (OF HALL & OATES) JOCELYN & CHRIS
TICKETS + SHOW INFO: ONELONGFELLOWSQUARE.COM 181 STATE ST. PORTLAND, ME 04101 | 207.761.1757
UPCOMING MUSIC + EVENTS PBA LEAGUE RETURNS TO BAYSIDE IN JULY! FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS VISIT: https://www.baysidebowl.com/the-pba
BUMPIN UGLIES AT BAYSIDE BOWL Aug 20, 2022 / 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM
58 Alder Street, Portland CONTACT US:
info@baysidebowl.com 207-791-BOWL (2695)
www.baysidebowl.com
Portland Bach Experience’s East Bayside Carnival Concert
Fri., June 3 / 3-8pm / Anderson St., Portland After last summer’s success, Portland Bach Experience brings its Carnival Concert back to East Bayside, this time with over thirty arts, nonprofit, and business collaborators. This year the Carnival Concert features Vivaldi’s iconic “The Four Seasons” alongside “The [uncertain] Four Seasons.” A collaborative of composers, scientists, and data analysts from Australia wanted to reflect climate predictions in sound, so they developed an algorithm that uses location specific, geospatial climate modeling for the year 2050 to alter Vivaldi’s original score. The algorithm makes it possible to generate different versions for specific GPS coordinates. “The [uncertain] Four Seasons” has been recreated for fourteen orchestras around the world, and The Portland Bach Experience is proud to present the U.S. premiere of this work with a version specific to Portland, Maine. In addition to the orchestral performance and climate activism resources, the Carnival Concert will also include food trucks, breweries, kids’ activities, and a parade featuring the Shoestring Theater’s giant puppets, decked out in seasonal garb. The Portland Bach Experience June Festival runs May 31st-June 12th. Tickets at www.portlandbachexperience.com.
Silent Sunrise Meditation Series
Every other Saturday, June 18-August 27 / 5-7am / East End Beach, Portland Join Kaneel every other week for a soothing morning practice where we’ll experience the gradual shift from dark to light and bathe in the first moments of the summer sun. These silent sunrise meditations are free. Visit kaneel.me/sunrise-2022 for event details, accessibility information, and to grab your spot.
Join us for a curbside/take-out luncheon by advance order only, on Saturday, June 25th. Ham Italian sandwich, chips, dessert, beverage, for only $9.00. Order deadline is Wednesday, June 22nd. Please call 207-613-9196 with number of meals, your name and phone number. Pick up is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stewart P. Morrill Veterans Post 35, 413 Broadway, South Portland. Please pay at pick up. Exact change required. Masks and social distancing required. No indoor dining or restrooms available. All proceeds to support The Maine Regiment All Age Drum & Bugle Corps.
Announcing 2022 Western Prom Sunset Concert Series
Wednesdays mid-July to mid-Aug. / 1-hour before sunset / Western Prom Last spring volunteers revived this much beloved and free neighborhood concert series, which Portland Parks ran for twenty-five years before stopping it seven years ago. Kris Clark, the organizer of the series said the timing was perfect as audiences were ready to hear live music once again in a safe and beautiful outdoor setting. All the bands and musicians who played were equally appreciative to be able to perform in front of live audiences. As of print, the full schedule for the summer was not available, but the Western Prom Sunset Concert Series will run every Wednesday evening starting July 13th and ending August 17th. Shows will run 60 Minutes and start one hour before sunset, so on July 13th and 20th that will be 7 p.m., and then move an half hour earlier every two weeks. Look for the lineup schedule in the July edition of The West End News. For more information or to make a donation visit https://www.friendsofwesternprom.org.
Come join the
MAINE REGIMENT All Age Drum & Bugle Corp
Recruitment, Informational & Practice Sessions Every Fourth Saturday
of Every Month from 10am-2pm
@American Legion Stewart P. Morrill Post 35 413 Broadway, So. Portland Join us for great fun & exercise for all ages!
For more information call 207-613-9196 or 207-409-4460
www.maineregimentcorps.org
6
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
Office of Tourism Maine Film New Ventures Predicts Busy Industry Exceeds Maine Opens Summer Season $64M in Impact Self-Paced, The Maine Office of Tourism anticThe Maine Film Association (MFA) has Tuition-Free ipates another strong year for Maine’s released a report stating that the Maine tourism and hospitality sector. film and video production industry generates an annual total economic impact Online WorkAccording to the U.S. Travel Associ- exceeding $64 million. The study can be ation demand for domestic leisure travel found at mainefilm.org/eco-impact-report. shops is strong with 92% of American travelers reporting plans to travel in the next six months. A recent AAA poll found that six in 10 Americans are planning at least one summer trip, with 35% expected to travel more this summer than last. These national estimates provide especially encouraging news for Maine, which saw a 2.4% visitation increase last summer over Summer 2019.
Maine Office of Tourism visitor research conducted in 2021 reported an estimated 10.1 million travelers from the United States and Canada visited Maine on tourism-related trips last May through August. Of these visitors, 25% were visiting Maine for the first time. State residents also enjoyed vacationing in Maine, with residents accounting for approximately 1.6 million of summer visitors to Maine destinations in 2021.
The report includes findings from a statewide survey, conducted as a collaborative effort between the MFA and University of Maine School of Economics Professor Todd Gabe.The survey collected 2019 industry revenue and expense data from a total of 128 Maine-based film and production entities, including 38 companies and 90 freelance production professionals/independent filmmakers.
The study found that the Maine film and video production industry has a direct economic impact of $29.25 million in revenue, supports 312 full- and part-time jobs, and generates $16.1 million in direct labor income. The film industry’s impact on other sectors in the state– hospitality, retail, trades, legal, accounting services, etc. – result in a total economic impact of $64.3 million in revenue, 609 full- and part-time jobs, and generates $28.7 milVisitation expectations may be on a lion in labor income. par with pre-pandemic numbers in Maine and nationally, but the way people are Film and video production employs experiencing Maine has shifted in recent skilled workers who are trained in the years as travelers increasingly look for creative arts and who possess technical outdoor experiences and explore more skills that make them competitive in torural locations. In fact, northern Maine day’s labor force. The Maine film and vidregions saw sizeable increases in summer eo production sector comprises over 40 visitation during the past two years ac- production companies and more than 200 cording to mobile phone tracking data of freelance/independent filmmakers operatarrivals. ing out of the state. Maine Office of Tourism research reported high interest in outdoor activities in summer 2021. 53% of visitors engaged in touring and sightseeing; 40% of visitors enjoyed active outdoor opportunities; and 34% took part in water activities.
These companies and professionals work in all stages and aspects of media production, creating and distributing feature length and short, narrative and documentary, commercial and educational film and video, multimedia, and animation.
Candlepin Bowling at its Best! er Bump ng Bowli For Kids!
Ce
leb
a rating 70 Ye
rs
ROCK N’ GLOW BOWL
Every Friday & Saturday 7:00 pm -10:00 pm $12 special - up to 5 games each! Visit our Snack Bar for fresh pizza & munchies. Or grab a cold one and ENJOY! It’s the BEST DEAL in TOWN!
$850 Relief Checks Start Arriving in June
The supplemental budget signed into law by Governor Mills this past April included funding for $850 inflation relief checks for qualifying Maine residents. The relief payments are to help with higher-than-usual costs due to inflation. New Ventures Maine has announced Checks will be mailed via the U.S. Postal tuition-free online workshops and classes Service to residents starting this June. for June, including self-paced and interacFull-time residents who file a 2021 tive online workshops that are designed Maine income tax return by October 31st, to help people in Maine gain the skills, 2022, are eligible to receive the payments knowledge, and confidence to start a busi- based on adjusted gross income. ness, build a career, and manage money. Eligible residents who have filed a The full class schedule with offerings 2021 Maine tax return do not need to for June 2022 and beyond is accessible at take further action to receive a check. bit.ly/NVMEClasses. Self-paced classes must be completed by August 31st. They include Grow Your Business Online and My Next Career Move. Additional online classes include single- and multi-session workshops on managing personal finances, job searching, and starting and growing a business. Classes include: My Money Works: Wednesdays, June 1 29, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Those eligible must not be claimed as a dependent and must have a Federal adjusted gross income of less than: •
$100,000 if filing single or if married and filing separately;
•
$150,000 if filing as head of household;
•
$200,000 for couples filing jointly.
Seniors receiving social security and others who do not typically file tax reManaging Your Money: Thursdays, June turns will need to file a 2021 Maine tax 2 - 16, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. return to receive a check. Building Confidence: Thursdays, June 2 - 16, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
To Receive Free Help
To receive free help with filing a 2021 Job Search Workshops: Mondays, June Maine tax return to receive an $850 in6 - 20, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. flation relief check, please visit the CA$H Making Career Choices: Tuesday, June Maine website at https://www.cashmaine. org. 7, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. CA$H Maine is a statewide collaboIntroduction to Self-Employment: ration of nine coalitions, comprised of 50 Wednesday, June 1, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. non- and for-profit partners, working toGrow Your Business Online – Keep gether to help Maine individuals and famiMy Customers: Wednesday, June 22, lies achieve long-term financial stability. 6:00 – 7:30 p.m The first round of relief checks will To sign up for any of the above class- be mailed in June 2022, and will be delives, visit bit.ly/NVMEClasses or call toll- ered on a rolling basis through the end of free in Maine: 800-442-2092. the year as returns are received.
Sweet Treats Breakfast Sandwiches Lunch Special Occasions Cakes Phone Orders – Curbside Pick-up
181 Congress St. Portland, ME 207-771-0994
katiemadebakery.com
382 US-1, Scarborough | (207) 883-2131 | www.big20bowling.com
Homegrown Herb & Tea Apothecary Style Bulk Herb and Tea Shop Making handcrafted, custom tea blends and herbal infusions in the traditions of the Old World Apothecary since 2006
thewestendnews.com
Step out of life, and into a moment... 195 Congress St. Portland, Maine Or order online:homegrownherbandtea.com
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
would be a much different place. Our lifestyles and lives would be very different if we lost those forests or if they looked really different. We’ll always have forests, but we may lose some iconic species and the ecology will change. The White Pine is fairly resilient, but we could lose Hemlock. We already have more pests like ticks. We could gain more sugar maple… Not all change is bad.
Todd Ontl: Helping forests adapt to climate change
Every month PelotonLabs co-founder Liz Trice interviews a local Peloton or community member. This month, Liz caught up with Todd Ontl, a Forester, Ecologist, and Climate Adaptation Specialist at the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS). What does a forest ecologist employed by the US Forest Service, and climate adaptation specialist employees that are employed by academic institutions. do? We like to say we’re the “climate change help desk” for nearly anyone. That spans from national forests down to a woodlot in the town of Cumberland. My job is to help professional land managers understand climate change and manage our forests to become more resilient to changing conditions and how forests can sequester and store carbon. Also, I help them understand how climate changes will impact forests - as climate changes, how can we protect our forests?
I’ve been coordinating climate action work in New England for six years and I have a PhD in Ecology and Masters in restoration ecology. My first four years at NIACS I was employed by the US Forest Service, but now I’m a research scientist employed by Michigan Technological University. I came to Portland from Indiana and Michigan because my wife recently started as the Distance Education Dean of Environmental Conservation and Research at Unity College.
Besides educating forest owners about dangers and changes, what can we do? Todd Ontl. -Courtesy of subject Drought may also be a problem in the future. Models are showing that droughts are going to get more intense, more frequent, and of longer duration, and our trees aren’t adapted to that. It’s often not just one thing that kills a tree. Climate change is a threat multiplier... Drought can weaken the defenses of a tree, which makes it more susceptible to an insect, which can weaken the tree more. Then it might be more susceptible to a windstorm and get knocked down.
What are the biggest threats Who do you work for, and how that climate change poses to How will changes to forests did you end up in Portland do- Maine’s forests? caused by climate change afing this? In New England we have a lot of inva- fect people? Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science is a multi-institutional collaborative organization led by the US Forest Service that includes universities, industry, environmental, and tribal organizations. We have about twenty staff, some
sive species and pests. Emerald Ash Borer is hurting the Ash trees, and the Southern Pine beetle is creeping up the east coast. Bittersweet is an invasive vine that can strangle trees.Wooly Adelgid affects Hemlock trees.
Rigby Auto Repair
$100 LABOR RATE All major credit cards accepted
205 Lincoln Street, South Portland
767-3773
Complete Auto Service State Inspection Foreign & Domestic • • • •
Mufflers Brakes Diagnostics A/C Service
• • • •
Windshields Tune Ups Rust Repair Tire Service
• Auto Detailing & Reconditioning • Shuttle Service • Towing Available
7
Forests really define the character of Maine. We’re the most forested state in the country - almost 90% of Maine is forested. Forestry is a huge economic driver in Maine, and without forests, Maine
We can shape the change somewhat so that we still have forests we can enjoy and have economic benefit from them. That’s what adaptation is all about: What do we value, and how can we guide the change? Right now, I’m teaching an eight-week course for forest owners and managers to develop an adaptation management plan for their forest that identifies the climate risks and what they can do. One landowner in Vermont owns a couple hundred acres of forest, and he’s interested in the potential of his forest to sequester carbon. He wants to create new forest from pastureland. So, we’re helping him identify what tree species will do well into the future. Both ones that are already there, and what could be brought in from Massachusetts, one hundred miles to the south. When you bring species up from another location, that’s called assisted migration… There’s some skepticism about that since Cont'd on Pg. 8
8
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY
Learn More
Todd Ontl: Helping Forests
Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS)
Cont'd from Pg. 7
there’s been a bad history of invasives. But wood structure. Now you can build up to often we’re moving native species just a eighteen stories with mass timber instead of steel. That is a fantastic way to put carfew counties to the north. bon into wood products that can benefit How about sequestration? society. There is far less carbon emitted to the atmosphere by building with wood How does that work? than with concrete or steel, both of which Forests absorb carbon dioxide and are fossil fuels intensive. store it - that’s called sequestration. A big part of my job is to focus on helping I love both old growth and people manage their forest for improved mass timber. What’s the best carbon storage and climate mitigation. There’s been talk about “we should pro- strategy? tect all our forest” and eliminate any cutThere’s a couple of professors at ting of land in the name of carbon storage. UMaine that developed the Triad ApThe science is really clear that the older proach to forestry. There’s no one silver a forest gets, the more carbon it stores. bullet. We need to set aside some forest But older forests sequester additional and let them be old growth. Then a porcarbon through tree growth slower than tion can be geared towards growing trees young forests, which suck up carbon really for harvest, called intensively managed fast. An acre of young forest can seques- forest - and much of Northern Maine is ter new carbon many times faster than an owned by timber companies and managed acre of old forest. this way. In the middle is the matrix - land Eliminating harvesting of trees from trusts, private lands, state-owned land, forests isn’t going to solve the climate cri- which can be managed with a light touch sis. It’s more about finding the right bal- to be sustainable and provide a wide di-
https://www.niacs.org Local Wood Works: Guide to Maine wood products https://www.localwoodworks.org
Forest Trees of Maine book https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/ publications/handbooks_guides/ forest_trees/index.html Keep Maine Trees https://mainetree.org/keeping-maines-forest Rome, ME -WEN file photo versity of benefits: water, recreation, wildlife, and timber. You can still have large trees there that store lots of carbon, as well as produce timber products that support local economies.
Forest Opportunity Roadmap https://formaine.org
ance of older and younger forests across the landscape and managing them better to improve their climate mitigation benefits, regardless of the age of the forest.
Content 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.
There’s a new movement to use mass timber to build large buildings out of
PelotonPosts is created by PelotonLabs and WEN provides column space without charge. WEN publisher and editor Tony Zeli is a coworking member at PelotonLabs.
Serving Greater Portland
Deborah’s Car Driving Service Contact: 603-554-4050
Pickup / Deliver Airport / Doctor Run Shopping Personal Amenities
EAST END REDEMPTION 174 Washington Ave (on the Peninsula)
“So Head East”
Monday thru Saturday 9 am - 3 pm 207-712-7555
dale rand
PRI NTI NG
www.dalerandprinting.com • 207-773-8198
NEW LOCATION: 508 Riverside Street Portland, ME 04103
Please like us and follow
HEALTH & WELLNESS Rare Monkeypox Found JIF Peanut Butter in Massachusetts Recall The CDC is collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to investigate a case of monkeypox in a Massachusetts resident who had recently traveled to Canada by private transportation. Testing in Massachusetts and confirmed from CDC labs found orthopox virus infection. CDC is also tracking multiple clusters of monkeypox that have been reported within the past two weeks in several countries that don’t normally report monkeypox, including Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically begins with flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a widespread rash on the face and body. Anyone can spread monkeypox through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox. Monkeypox virus can also spread between people through respiratory droplets typically in a close setting, such as the same household or a healthcare setting. Common household disinfectants can kill the monkeypox virus. People who may have symptoms of monkeypox and those who have close contact with them, should be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and contact their healthcare provider for a risk assessment. Some patients have had genital lesions and the rash may be hard to distinguish from syphilis and other more common infections.
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
Robert Masterson Nursing Scholarship
9
Fourteen people infected with Salmonella have been reported from 12 states. Two people have been hospitalized. On May 20th, multiple Jif brand peanut butter types were recalled including creamy, crunchy, natural, and reduced fat. Recalled products include lot codes 1274425–2140425, with “425” at the end of the first seven numbers. The true number of sick people is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is be- Staff from Northern Light Mercy’s Intensive Care Unit present Erik Aikins with cause some people recover without med- a $2,500 check as the recipient of the 2022 Robert Masterson Nurse Scholarical care and are not tested for Salmonella. ship award. Pictured, from left to right, are Jordynne Copp BSN, PNIII; Erik Aikins; Most people infected with Salmonella de- Althea Masterson, Bob’s wife; Kathleen Masterson, Bob’s daughter; Carlene Stevens velop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps BSN, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Lead ICU. -Photo courtesy of Northern Light Mercy 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts 4 to Erik Aikins, who recently complet- or profession; it was truly a passion. Bob 7 days, and most people recover without ed his studies as a nursing student at earned his nursing degree from the Unitreatment. In some people, the illness may the University of Southern Maine (USM), versity of San Francisco and was a critibe so severe that the patient is hospitalwas awarded the 2022 Robert Master- cal care nurse at Mercy for 30 years. Bob ized. son Nursing Scholarship. The $2,500 Mas- served as a supervisor to many nursterson Scholarship is awarded each year ing students during their clinical rotations What You Should Do: to a senior nursing student who is attend- and was known for calmly and confidently • Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled Jif ing a Maine college or university and plans guiding others through difficult clinical situations. Bob led by example and embodbrand peanut butter. Throw it away. to pursue a career in critical care. ied the Mercy values in a way that made This product has a long shelf life, so Aikins participated in a clinical rota- everyone who worked with him feel privbe sure to check any Jif peanut butter tion of 154 hours of bedside instruction ileged and inspired to be a better person you have at home. during his senior year in Northern Light and caregiver. • Wash surfaces and containers that Mercy Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. A Bob retired from Mercy Hospital may have touched the recalled pea- former sergeant of the Marine Corps and nut butter using hot soapy water or a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor so- in January 2013 and passed away from ciety, Aikins graduated this month from pancreatic cancer just one month later. a dishwasher. The Robert Masterson Nursing ScholarUSM and will pursue a nursing career. • Contact a healthcare provider if you ship honors Bob’s love for nursing, comFor Robert Masterson, BSN, passion for patients, and commitment to think you got sick from eating a reCCRN, nursing was more than a career learning. called product.
MAINE MADE US STEADFAST
CARE THAT WALKS THE WALK OUR ORTHOPEDIC PROGRAM WILL GET YOU BACK TO FEELING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE. At Northern Light Mercy Hospital, our nationally recognized orthopedic program is designed to help you overcome injury as quickly as possible. With a full range of services and treatments, our orthopedic surgeons deliver care that’s specific to your needs. Learn more about our orthopedic program at MaineMadeUs.com/MercyOrtho
10
THE WEST
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
Selby Shoes Etc Always a perfect fit
Styles for him & her from the highest quality shoe brands
Visit www.selbyshoesetc.com 220 Maine Mall Road, South Portland Monday - Saturday 10am - 9pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm We are maintaining a safe and enjoyable shopping environment!
Ed King's
A Daffy Gull's Eye View of the City of Portland Original illustration by
Don't drill. I'm going to put my hand in there!
Smile… It’s a beautiful day!
Ed King
Coloring by Will Hessian Dialog Overheard in Portland
I’ve got to job to get Redd
END NEWS
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
11
BODEGA CANNABIS
All Kind Bodega welcomes you!
Downtown Portland's premier MJ boutique is packed with Craft CANNABIS. Helpful budtenders assist you to find Edibles, Flower, Prerolls, and over 700 items for the Canna-curious. We invite you to try All Kind’s newest favors: Coffee Crunch and Cereal Milk Crunch live resin chocolate bars. Don’t miss All Kind’s (vegan) Gummies in four hit flavors: Pineapple Chillin', Passionfruit Matcha, Pomegranate Apple, and Peach & Honey. Real fruit and Maine-grown Cannabis. Fun you can trust on your journey through Maine!
688
Conveniently located in Portland's West End. Visit us: Tuesday-Friday 10am-10pm, Saturday 10am-8pm Female owned and operated. MJ-002686-2020 Questions or concerns? Contact (207)-383-9619.
All Kind Bodega | 688 Congress Street, Portland, ME | 21+ ID required: recreational seller: AMS331
I appreciate your general Mainah-ness.
513 WASHINGTON AVE, PORTLAND
We Buy Cars!
All Makes & Models Call Today! 207-879-0124
I can smell the donuts!
That song was made for belly dancing!
o get a me off dit.
Delivery Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 am to 7 pm
Best Food in Town for 30 Years! Pick-Up | Curbside | Delivery Also Available through
ASSORTED SANDWICH PLATTERS
All cats are zoomers!
Someone in the city has got to take charge!
LASAGNA STUFFED SHELLS
View catering menu:
EGGPLANT PARMESAN MEATBALLS
151 Middle Street, Portland
774-8668
anthonysitaliankitchen.com
12
FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
LAYNE'S WINE GIG PRESENTS
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.
GIDDY WITH EVENTS By Layne V. Witherell
There are so many events. Mindboggling. There’s Beer Week, Wine Week, Restaurant Week, Lobster Week, Portland Seaweed Week (my personal favorite), and don’t forget the Tequila and Taco Crawl (that is, if you remember what you did). Oyster Week. The Maine Donut Tour (I am not making this up). There is the unofficial return of the Snowbirds Week (if it is warm enough for their arrival). The “I just moved here from New York and want to start a restaurant” week. Not to forget the vast number of adorable, ongoing, multi-course restaurant wine pairing dinners that can shred that little strip off your credit card.
PORTLAND SEAWEED WEEK (April 22-May 1)
Seaweedweek.org
Our favorite seaweed week events this year included: LUKE’S LOBSTER, 60 Portland Pier, Portland Their bartender Kai Parrott-Wolfe put together a multi-layered and balanced seaweed Cosmo featuring Barrens Sugar Kelp vodka that was perfectly paired with the smashed Atlantic Sea Farms’ Sea Veggie kelp burger. The calamari are light on breading and actually tasted like they are supposed to. Their delicious offerings combined with the killer view of Casco Bay made for a special meal.
SOPO SEAFOOD, 171 Ocean If you missed it, shame on you. Of St., South Portland
course, our “mini me” paper, the Boston Globe, praised this one. Several venues in Maine offered special seaweed forward bites and sips, as well as seaweed identification walks and educational opportunities in partnership with the Maine Sea Grant and Heritage Seaweed.To be a camp follower/reenactor, just head to the classic store Heritage Seaweed: “Your friendly neighborhood seaweed store,” featuring everything seaweed (Wedding favors? Yes!), at 61 India Street, Portland. Get your
He can be reached at: lvwitherell@gmail.com.
seaweed on. A mindboggling array of food, gifts, and merch… Ah, merch.
They did an entire “dog and pony show” with a killer little kelp infused martini, sides of caviar, oyster shooters, rice bowls, and salads all featuring seaweed ingredients. (A little birdie said the kelp martini was destined to be a regular offering at the raw bar.) Oh, and a talk... Love a talk. Uber that one home. Don’t forget them next year for this annual event or anytime to stock up on seafood and all the fixings, including seaweed.
Left: Seaweed Week display at SoPo Seafood. -Photo courtesy of Layne Witherell
LAYNE’S
wine gig Live on stage @ ed, “Fun, inForm e b n and ca ! outrageous , ll a Seen it done it all.” - layne -
650A Congress St.
third Thursday every month 5-6 PM 4 - 3oz. pours only $12.00 check for mask & vax info: portcityblue.com
KITCHENS MATRESSES LAUNDRY REFRIGERATION
CAFE
COME IN WE’RE OPEN! HOURS:
9am - 4pm
ESPRESSO BAR
CATERING
TO GO
Take out, curbside & outdoor seating available! Please see our website for a current menu and hours. 103 Ocean St. South Portland, Maine www.verbenaonline.com
207.767.2011
LP Appliance A Family Owned Business 54 Bridgton Road (Route 302) in Westbrook just outside of Portland
Sales & Service
Free Delivery On All Orders
Ask Us About Financing (207) 797-3621 sales@lpapplianceme.com service@lpapplianceme.com
www.lpapplianceme.com CARPET HARDWOOD LINOLEUM TILE FLOORING
OD O F INK R D LK A T
backs e l k c pi nest wn// a e m / / in to
188A state streetre
ua low sq 207.899.3277
gfel at lon
FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
13
Layne's Wine Gig Celebrates Women in Wine Biz By Layne V.Witherell PORTLAND WINE WEEK (June 13-19th)
winery. At sixty-one years of age, she died far too soon. Next time you have a glass of Oregon Pinot Noir give a toast to a great pioneer, Dr. Rachel Starr. (The Dr. was her Portlandwineweek.me Ph.D. in Political Science. Oregon was her Portland Wine Week is this month, re-invention of herself.) and I thought it could contain an unofficial, FELICIA WARBURG ROGAN commemorative piece celebrating some of the illustrious women I have known (1927-present) in my countless decades in all aspects of NYC; Charlottesville,VA the biz. There is an irresistible pull to join VINTNER & AUTHOR the biz. Some are viewed through wearing the hats that I have worn as a distributor, When they write the Great Book of retailer, winery manager. But mostly it is American Wine in two hundred years, she through my visor as a wine journalist. will be in it as “The Dowager Empress of
derson, Peggy Guggenheim, Clare Booth Luce, Louise Nevelson (artist), etc. It is an absolute tour de force of resolute character, maturity, and power. This is her magnum opus.
Her winery shut down. The Virginia wine book is woefully out of date. Her name will be on a plaque somewhere on the state capital. Her advice was “these women had ridden the roller coaster of decades.” Husbands included Robert Sarnoff (President of RCA), Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., John B. Rogan (developer). Choose the wine carefully to toast as there are great and not so great ones in Virginia Wine.” Women in wine today have Virginia. DR RACHEL R. STARR a “storm the barricades” attitude - dePATRICIA KLUGE servedly so. Felicia, on the other hand, was (1944-2005) born to royalty, and not just any old royal(1949-present) Newberg & Portland, OR ty. I knew her when she owned a middling Baghdad, London, New York, RETAILER, WINERY OWNER & “Marie Antionette“-winery and wrote an insignificant book on Virginia wine in the Charlottesville, New York (again) VINTNER early 2000’s. SOCIALITE & WINERY OWNER There is a mischievous notion today that the wine biz has always been a I summed her up in my memoir, Patricia Kluge was half of the most male dominated “good old boys club.” You “Wine Maniacs Life in the Wine Biz”: powerful of power couples in America should have met Rachel Starr. In the early in the 1990’s. John, the buzzsaw investhe key ingredient here was 1980’s, I was V.P. of Sales for a famed fine ment mind and richest person in Amerthe classic combo of politics wine distributor in Portland, Oregon. The ica, decided to encamp in little Charlotand power… the ability to snap her finjob description centered on frantic phone tesville and give the locals something to gers and have high ranking state officials calls from my beleaguered reps whose talk about. A 45-room mansion sprung up, pad over like little schoolboys.” customers were the biggest and toughest then a golf course, pheasant hunt, antique retailers and restaurants in the state. I was While we shared the same podium carriage museum (Tzar Nicolas‘ own rides their backup 911 call. She was the penul- as industry leaders, she managed to gaze for starters), not to forget they built a pritimate 911 call. over us all. The classic headline was “Red vate chapel on the estate. This little exRachel created and owned a store wine, white wine, and the blue bloods she travaganza lasted a decade - then divorce. called Great Wine Buys on NE Broadway has known.” Patricia was on the board of direcin Portland, Oregon. Built like a fireplug, tors of the winery that I ran, and we reendowed with the fiery temperament ceived invites to events and dinner for a of Gertrude Stein, she was the absolute little taste of the Tzar Nicolas lifestyle. ruler of her little domain. And what a After the divorce, I wrote wine columns domain. She invited the world’s toughest for Style Weekly in Richmond, Virginia, wine critic to taste the then very fledgling and had an exclusive interview with Palittle-known wines of Oregon. Rachel was tricia along with a peek at her next life tough.There was no aspiration toward be(after the 100-million-dollar divorce setcoming an adorable twinkling sommelier tlement), that of winery owner. in her life. She was singularly a tough buyThere is an age-old truism in the wine er and a wine visionary. biz (by 2003, the date of the interview, I Her idea of inviting the wine critic had been in the biz twenty-seven years). God was an act of bravery that few would Want to make a small fortune in the wine attempt. It comes as no surprise that she biz? Start with a large fortune. would have hauled him out to the curb t the end of the day we need and used NE Broadway as her spit buckThen, many years later, I found her to be international to go et! I have seen it - and as a statement it against the best outside the state and was disarming. Was the wine presented earliest writing, “Doers and Dowagers,” country.We must be world class.” good or bad? Rachel was the consummate 1975. The book contains interviews she conducted with the world’s greatest mem-Patricia Kluge judge. bers of the older generation of American “Fire on the Mountain,” She later went on to found her own women: Mrs. Joseph Kennedy, Marian AnStyle Weekly, 1/15/03
am - 12 pm
I don’t think the quote is about women in the biz, but, as I ponder my memoir, it is about the intersection of amateurs and nepotists in the biz. She gambled too much, the economy went sour, and she went bankrupt. Her ambition was too high, as were her wine prices. The Kluge Estate was bought at yard sale prices by “the Donald” and is now the Trump Winery. And the events won’t stop coming. Don’t forget Eric Trump’s upcoming Baroque concert in the former Kluge private chapel where we can continue to be... Giddy with Events.
LAYNE’S WINE GIG THIRSTY THIRD THURSDAY For an afternoon of snark, fun, and wine come to Layne’s Wine Gig on the third Thursday of every month 5:00-6:00 p.m. at BLUE, 650 Congress St., Portland. Four pours of three ounces each for twelve bucks. Best to check the website for updated vax and mask policies. Visit portcityblue.com.
“T
“A
Come visit today! Wine not!?
Your new place for brunch, coffee, & pastries in the West End!
Your
64 Pine Street Portland, ME 04102
mention West End News for a www.rubyswestend.com new place for coffee, pastry onbrunch, us! mention West End News for a pastry on us!
pastries in the West End!
mon: 6 am place - 12 pm for wed - brunch, fri: 6 am - 2 pm sat & sun: 8 am - 2 pm Your new dinner, coffee & pastries in theStreet West End! 64 Pine Portland, ME 04102
64 Pine Street, Portland www.rubyswestend.com
www.rubyswestend.com mention West End News for a pastry on us!
wedwed - fri:-6sun am -8a-2p 2 pm
• sat thu 5p-9p & -sat sun: 8 am - 2 pm
Half Price Wine Night on Thursdays!
&
BTM is thrilled to offer over 2,500 curated wines and a robust selection of Mainemade products for your pantry!
Our Portland market is open! 262 Commercial St, Portland
Tues – Sat: 10 am – 5 pm Closed: Sunday-Monday
14
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
Oregon, Covid & Lady Slippers at the Apple Valley BBQ in Parkdale. We arrived in Bend well after dark… It was a Last month I embarked on a journey very long yet stunning and delicious first to the truly amazing and stunning state of Oregon. It started with an invitation day! from the Adventure Travel Trade AssociaThe next day the weather was pertion (ATTA) to attend Adventure Elevate fect in Bend for a hike up Lava Butte, the in Eugene, May 2nd through 5th. Elevate mud bubble that was created after the is the annual North America-based, three- volcano Paulina erupted at Lava Lands.We day intensive educational and networking climbed the Butte and tower and chatted conference that brings together the ad- and learned so much about the area from venture travel community to collaborate, Matt the fire watchman! On to a chorus learn, share and “return home with mean- of birds at Sunriver Nature Center and ingful ways to change the world for better Observatory and a loop around Mt. Bachthrough travel.” elor back to Bend. By Nancy Dorrans
Oregon is a land of undeniably stunning beauty. “There is no shortage of activities (or landscapes) for those seeking the outdoors – lending to Oregon’s status as a leader in world-class cycling, kayaking, skiing, rafting, windsurfing, and much more. But Oregon has made a name for itself in other ways too. With initiatives that Eugene and the state of Oregon have implemented (and continue to evolve) around sustainability and inclusion…” according to the ATTA site. Joined by my longtime traveling accomplice (Roxanne, from Vermont) we planned to explore more of the state before and after the conference. After predawn flights and a rendezvous in Chicago, we landed in the other Portland around noon on April 30th. We picked up a Jeep and headed east along the Columbia River towards Hood River. After a delicious meal at Shari’s Café and Pies in Troutdale, the lovely staff offered several suggestions of what we should see and do on our way to Hood River. First stop, McMenamins Edgefield. There are at least a dozen unique McMenamins properties and all are steeped in art, history, and a sense of place. We took a quick tour around the gardens and soaking pool, dodging the rain and thunder!
“Shoe Repair Gives Extra Wear”
The next two days were busy with meetings and workshops held at the hip Graduate Hotel in Eugene. I made loads of connections with so many good adventurous people. This year’s theme was Shine. And the event aimed to reignite the adventure travel community’s unique light within the tourism industry.
Certified Travel Counselor Nancy Dorrans visits Oregon (Mount Hood in the distance). She has a few spots to recommend. -Photos courtesy of Nancy Dorrans
Last few days after the conference were a bit of a blur… We drove from EuRoxanne enjoys a good IPA while I gene to Florence, Oregon along the coast prefer wine. We had tastings at Monkless and spent one night at the River House There is so much to the stunning Belgian Ales and Bledsoe Family Winery. Inn. state of Oregon. Next time I’ll spend Yes, Patriots’ fans, Drew Bledsoe and his On the way to Salishan, we visited the more time and hope to take a small group family make delicious wine! Bend in the Sea Lion Caves and more of the coast and with me. I would love to hike in Samuel sun is stunning, tasty, and quite hip! met some locals at Salishack Tavern. (One Boardman State Scenic Corridor as I’m On day three we headed out ear- thing I love about traveling is the sponta- told it is the “most beautiful stretch of ly from Bend through Sisters, over the neous moments with strangers.) That eve- the Pacific coast” and head a little further mountains and through the woods… ning at the tavern we met a man with a south to gawk at the Redwoods. Also recwind, rain, and snow to Eugene! After a marsupial in his hoodie… So strange and ommended is the Southern Oregon area around Medford, Ashland, and Grants Pass food truck lunch and beverage at the hip unforgettable! area where there are amazing wineries BeerGarden (serving local beer only), we From Salishan we drove north to and Crater Lake, too. It’s the only National took a stroll through the azalea blooms Manzanita, Depoe Bay, Newport, Cannon Park in Oregon. and trails of Hendricks County Parks and Beach, Astoria, and visited McMenamins Recreation. Stay tuned for an Adventure MarketGrand Lodge before flying home overplace small group adventure to Oregon in The first day of Elevate is always a night on Mother’s Day. 2023. “Day of Adventure” for delegates. I chose Unfortunately, the radiant “Shine” of to go for a bike ride on the Covered BridgCheck out http://adventure-marketthe conference was accompanied by the es Scenic Bikeway, a 36-mile cycling route place.com/adventures for more informaconnecting historic Cottage Grove, Or- Covid-19 virus. Many delegates, including tion on this and other adventures brewegon with nearby Dorena Lake. Oregon myself, were affected. I tested positive the ing, including local tours to Garden in the was the first state to launch a scenic bike- day I returned to our Portland. Woods this month, NYC for the Holidays I ended up heading north to my lot in early December, and Quebec City for in Waltham, Maine to quarantine and Winter Carnival in February 2023. spend the week sleeping twelve to fourTake good care and be well! teen hours in my Shasta camper. A Hermit Thrush kept me company after dark, along with the chorus of peepers and a Barred Owl asking me, “Who cooks for you?” I slept twelve-plus hours every day and napped a few times in between… Took drives to Lamoine, Sunshine Cemetery in Eastbrook, Marlboro Beach, Thunder Hole, Sargent Drive, Gouldsboro, Schoodic Peninsula, and Winter Harbor… Thankfully I’m on the mend. And I am most thrilled to say that Aunt Gail’s Lady slippers that were transplanted out of the way of the driveway last summer are coming up!
On to the VistaHouse at Crown Point built in 1917 on a beautiful scenic point on the historic Columbia River Highway. After more rain and short hikes into Bridal Veil and Multnomah Falls, we crossed the river to Carson, Washington where the skies cleared to sunshine, poppies, and cherry blossoms as Mount Hood came into view! Crossing the river again, we drove through Hood River and enjoyed dinner
way program! Cottage Grove’s charming downtown district was famously featured in the films “Animal House” (1978) and “Stand by Me” (1986).
McMeamins Edgefield Garden Spa
500 Stevens Avenue Portland, ME 04103 (207) 774-1612
• HEEL & SOLE REPAIRS •
• STITCHING & PATCHING OF LEATHER GOODS •
• LARGE SELECTION OF SHOE LACES, SHOE CREAMS & POLISHES •
ROYSSHOESHOP.COM Tuesday - Friday 10am - 3pm | Saturday 9am - 1pm
Nancy with her Shasta camper. Nancy Dorrans is a professional travel expert and founded Adventure Marketplace in 2014.
PUZZLES
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
15
National Anthem Trivia 1. The Star Spangled Banner was written in 1814 by what lawyer and amateur poet? 2. What tiny, independent state uses the Pontifical Anthem and March as its national anthem? 3. In 2018, the Canadian Parliament voted to remove what gendered word from the fourth line of O Canada? 4. Andorra's national anthem celebrates what European leader who was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800AD?
Mondays @ Foulmouthed Brewing and Lazzari Tuesdays @ Ri Ra Thursdays @ Locally Sauced in Yarmouth Find out more on Facebook and Instagram: @bestworsttrivia
Find the answers online at thewestendnews.com/puzzle-solutions!
Thanky ouf orpl a y i ngt heWes tEndNewsPuz z l ePa g e. Fi nds ol ut i onsatt hewes t endnews . c om/ puz z l es ol ut i ons .
16
CLIMATE JUSTICE
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
We’re All in This Together
The War in Ukraine Adds Pressure to De-Carbonize By Charles March There is urgency in what nations do this year to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages to meet the Paris Agreement goals, as reiterated in Glasgow last fall at COP26. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report of April 4th states that carbon emissions must peak in 2025 and then by 2030 fall by 43% compared to 2019 levels to meet this goal. Sacrifice is in order. Historically, war has forged sacrifice, as seen in Ukraine, but also marked geopolitical shifts. According to The New York Times, the West’s response to Putin’s invasion include greater political momentum towards de-carbonization.
bonization needed. The United States leads all other nations in carbon emissions per capita but trails in taxing carbon. More than 100 countries are using or considering a carbon tax, according to the World Bank and IETA INDC Tracker. The EU leads the way.
CLIMATE BRIEFS New electric buses launched
city and region is an important step toward meeting the climate goals of the Portland-South Portland One Climate Future plan,” said Portland Mayor Kate Last month, Greater Portland MET- Snyder. RO and Biddeford Saco Old Orchard The 35-foot buses were paid for using Beach Transit (BSOOB Transit) announced federal and state funding and cost approxthe addition of four battery-electric Proimately $900,000 each. terra ZX5 buses.
In 2023 the EU will put a price that gradually increases via a tariff or levy on certain products as they enter Europe if the importing country does not have a carbon price equal to Europe’s. This will level the playing field by eliminating the competitive edge that countries seek for Maine Governor Janet Mills and US their exported products and force the Senator Angus King took part in the ribUS and China, for example, to tax carbon bon-cutting event, held at Ocean Gateway commensurately or pay the EU tax. Visitor’s Center in Portland, along with public transit officials and local mayors. The US must step up. The leading “These buses aren’t just cutting emislegislation in our Congress is the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, sions.They’re also cutting costs,” said GovH.R. 2307. It has some 95 sponsors, all ernor Janet Mills. These battery electric Democrats. Let our four representatives vehicles will cost us 60 to 80 percent less in Washington know that we urge move- to power than diesel fuel buses, reducing ment now of this legislation in the House our reliance on expensive fossil fuels.” and Senate. Advances in electric bus technology
The March 8th ban on all Russian oil and gas by the US causes little pain here as we import little. The German government and others in the EU formerly sought to keep Russia integrated in the global economy with the purchase of Russian oil and gas and the Nord Stream pipelines. The EU has now asked all member states to ban all Russian petroleum products, not gas, by the end of 2022. As 30 percent of Charles March from Falmouth is a volthe EU’s oil was Russian oil, this will re- unteer with Citizens Climate Lobby’s non-partisan climate change camquire a large boost of renewables. paign. Taxing carbon is becoming our best tool for addressing climate change. The We’re All in this Together is a monthly Climarket, high fuel prices, and moves to mate Justice column provided by the Portland clean energy cannot achieve the de-car- chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
How to Support Community News 1. Read local news. 2.Visit our advertisers. 3.Tell them you saw their ad.
and a rapid decline in battery costs over recent years have made electric buses an increasingly viable option for many transit agencies. They improve the air quality by eliminating diesel exhaust emissions, particulate pollution and pollutants that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone.
New data portal helps communities with intertidal ecosystems in Casco Bay The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and the Casco Bay Regional Shellfish Working Group have launched a Community Intertidal Data Portal. A public webinar on how to use the portal will be held on Wednesday, June 8th from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Registration is required. The new portal will support planning and management in the Casco Bay region by making nearshore and intertidal data and information more accessible and supporting information exchange between communities. The data portal brings together existing and new intertidal data in user-friendly applications to help those involved in planning, decision-making, or climate change adaptation in the intertidal zone, including the shell fishing community, municipal committee members and staff, consultants, and other coastal stakeholders.
“Electrifying transportation provides a key opportunity to confront climate change while giving Maine people more accessible, affordable ways to get around,” said Senator Angus King.
Each map application focuses on a specific theme, including a shellfish conservation map viewer, story maps on sea-level rise and the working waterfront, a water quality data dashboard, and a sepProterra, the bus manufacturer, esti- tic system data collection tool. mates the bus has a range of 240 miles The public is invited to attend a weon a single charge. BSOOB and METRO binar on Wednesday, June 8th from 3:30 have charging stations at their facilities. to 5:00 p.m. to learn how to use the data The buses operate at up to 25.1 miles per portal and apply it to address real-world gallon equivalent (MPGe), about five times challenges. Register for the webinar or more efficient than diesel buses. learn more at https://www.cascobayre“Introducing electric buses to our gionalshellfishworkinggroup.org/initiatives.
Offering European artisan & traditional American breads, rolls & pastries fresh daily.
Thank you for reading! 207-767-5900
904B Broadway, South Portland
Tu, We, Fr: 7:30am - 4pm | Sa: 8am - 1pm
Also available at these local stores: In Portland... Maine Hardware, 274 Saint John St. Micucci Grocery, 45 India St. Pat’s Meat Market, 484 Stevens Ave. & Cape Elizabeth... Pond Cove IGA, 339 Ocean House Rd.
3 Counting Stations Tuesday - Saturday 8 - 4
SERVING ORGANIC COFFEE & TEAS. LOCAL PASTRIES & FREE WI-FI
44 years in business! 851 Main St., So. Portland | 772-9225
CLIMATE JUSTICE
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
SHORT TAKES: Leaf blowers, climate
education & permaculture
2. BRIGHT IDEA: 1. BRIGHT IDEA: Let’s Quit Gas-powered Help Climate Education for Children Get Off Leaf Blowers the Ground Seldom is there an opportunity with so much potential. Here’s the chance to do something good for the climate while also promoting neighborhood peace and harmony.
A timely project can’t be allowed to start with a whimper rather than the bang it deserves. This DIY booklet is developed for students to introduce them to the six Big Moves outlined in the city’s One Climate Future plan:
1. Build better buildings
There are two very different types of leaf blowers: those that are gas-powered, noisy nuisances and those that are quiet, equally efficient electric or battery-powered models. While irritating neighbors with offensive noise and dust, the former exude inordinate amounts of greenhouse gases.The latter are harmless, quiet, and elicit only favorable comments from neighbors. In addition, they neatly fit into the city’s Electrify Everything campaign. Borrow, rent, or buy an electric or battery-powered leaf blower from a friend, neighbor, the Portland Tool Library, or a hardware or garden store.
2. Connect people to places & opportunities 3. Use clean renewable energy for everything 4. Think in cycles 5. Protect what takes care of us 6. Work together After reading simple descriptions of each move, students are asked to illustrate their thoughts with drawings, collages, or even short stories. Family and friends are encouraged to join in the fun.
Maine’s Friendliest Gay Bar
ALL WELCOME! Blackstones is proud to be an advertising partner with the West End News! Blackstones, 32 years as the West Ends’ LGBTQ+ neighborhood bar! All Welcome! Portland’s Oldest Operating LGBTQ+ Establishment O P E N W E E K D A Y S 4 P. M . – 1 A . M . S AT. & S U N . 1 1 A . M . – 1 A . M . 6 P I N E S T. , P O R T L A N D • 7 7 5 . 2 8 8 5
17
Bright Ideas is brought to you by Portland Climate Action Team which meets monthly on the 4th Thursday, 6-7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join in. FMI: portlandclimateaction@ gmail.com.
PCAT printed 500 booklets with background explanations and directions.
at your doorstep with the smallest systems possible and build from there. “Turn problems into solutions,” insurmountable opportunities surround us. And “use misThe language is age-appropriate for takes as tools for learning,” a sign that fourth to sixth graders and the project we’re trying to do things better. comes in English, Arabic, French, PortuPermaculture guese, and Spanish. If your organization or stresses natural affinfamily wants to get involved and spread ities. A basic forest, the word, contact: portlandclimateacfor example, contains tion@gmail.com. trees, shrubs, and Let’s make this project a resounding ground plants. But to success. Our children’s future depends on take full advantage it! of every planting opportunity, a truly deluxe forest garden 3. BRIGHT IDEA: as many as Take the Path to the Fu- contains seven tiers of vegetature with Permaculture tion – tall trees, low trees, scrubs, herbs, To wrap up our discussion of per- ground covers, vines, Dogs like gardens too! -Photo by T. Z. maculture, look to the future - especial- and root crops. ly the scarcity of food and the need to Even if you can’t create a fullgrow more of our own. Even if we’re not able to get our hands dirty in a garden, fledged forest garden, much can some overarching principles of permacul- be learned from permaculture. If you find ture may still apply to our lives. Consider yourself the least bit inspired, we strongly these examples: “Make the least change encourage you to pick up “Gaia’s Garden” for the greatest effect,” or using the least by Toby Hemenway, available through Inamount of effort needed. “Start small” terlibrary Loan.
Offer a new standard to your home heating oil. Lower your carbon impact by more than 1,500lbs this year with Maine Standard Biofuels!
No Conversion | Competitively Priced Locally produced and cleaner burning, our biodiesel blends can be used in any oil heating system without costly modifications. Our fuels lower your carbon impact and increase performance, saving you money and saving the planet!
Use Coupon Code GOGREEN for $0.10 off/gallon with your next fill-up!
Heat with confidence with Maine Standard Biofuels’ 24/7 service.
www.mainestandardbiofuels.com 51 Ingersoll Drive | Portland, ME 04103 (207) 878-3001 | info@mainestandardbiofuels.com
18
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
Love, GenZ
BROADER PICTURE
Youth Civic Engagement By Sadie Levy
Book Short
A sweeping novel of resilience, love & stewardship Unbeknownst to them, a ticking bomb is placed among the books by a troubled young man, Seymour.
Our communities and our democracy prosper and are more equitable when everybody takes action collectively. We build and sustain power through community. Politically, our country is so divided that community is a hard thing to achieve. However, civic engagement and participation in our democracy is something much deeper than politics, and bigger than the individual. Civic engagement throughout my life is how I have planted seeds to grow the Youth rallying at City Hall before engaging voters on the climate on Super Tuesday 2020. future I hope to one day see. A future with -WEN file pohto by Tony Zeli less polarization and more empathic communication. I want to be able to connect Civic engagement in this country has with one another and engage in conversabeen reactive rather than proactive. We tions regardless of different politics, backhave often waited for something to go grounds, and perspectives. wrong and then acted in response. It’s imThe desire to preserve and better portant to not just put out fires but stop our home exists inside most Americans. them before they start. This energy would effectively create I often think about the complex change if channeled with one another. The question of how a generation inherits a truth is that it’s hard to give space to beworld. I find myself and many of my peers liefs you fundamentally disagree with.Thus, overwhelmed with the impending sense of the question becomes, for a peaceful and urgency that comes with the infinite loop equitable future for not only our country of crisis, news stories, and pending legislabut that of the world, are we willing to tion. It’s difficult to know where to start. work together, even when our views are at odds with each other? The only place we can start is by simply listening and showing up. Showing up Specifically, youth civic engagement to the building process. Taking steps of is fundamental to cultivating a just future. action in one’s community, however small. Being able to identify what’s important to Whether it’s voting in local elections, putyou and your community, then taking acting time into community spaces or protion to implement these beliefs, is a skill grams, buying locally, or simply by staying that should be practiced from an early age informed as a global citizen. and throughout one’s life. The US school systems are a source of civic power that is under-utilized. I have witnessed the mag- Sadie Levy is a Junior at Waynflete high nitude of what can be accomplished by school in Portland, Maine. She loves writing and adventuring in nature. young and inspired students.
It takes a team...
Join Us! Support Your Community News! 1. Read community news. 2. Visit our advertisers. 3. Tell them you saw their ad. Thank you for reading!
...to run the News!
For all the things you value. Personal Lines Commercial Lines Home Auto Boat Snowmobile Tractor
Property General Liability Inland Marine Umbrella Employment
Visit www.patrons.com to find an independent agent near you.
In another kind of siege, we meet 13-year-old Anna, an orphan, living 600 years earlier in war-torn Constantinople, who, despite the scolding of the women who raise her, is restless and curious and ingeniously learns to read by charming an irascible tutor desperate for an attentive student. Searching for treasure to sell, she discovers a cache of old manuscripts.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr Review by Stephanie Miller It is perhaps no surprise that many authors write about the transformative power of books. Imagine then, a novel in which a single ancient tale about a city in the air motivates a cast of improbable heroes to follow their most outrageous ambitions. In his newest novel named after this heavenly apparition, “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” author Anthony Doerr, Pulitzer Prize winner for “All the Light We Cannot See,” gives us a soaring novel about the commonality of human desire. In the prologue, we learn the opening lines of a (fictional) first-century Greek story attributed to the philosopher Diogenes, “Stranger, whomever you are, open this to learn what will amaze you.”
Outside the walls is Omeir, conscripted into the invading army with his beloved oxen, the only source of prosperity his family owns. He and Anna meet. We enter the interstellar ship Argos, where young Konstance is piecing together scraps of paper on which she’s written parts of an ancient tale told to her by her father. She has never stepped foot on earth. This gorgeous story is told in alternating chapters in the voice of each character. Although each character lives in different times and places, sharp readers will catch the subtle references which link characters to each other. I found myself pausing, considering how another character had dealt with something similar, paging backward to find the reference, then moving on with a satisfying appreciation for Doerr’s talent. This novel is a keeper.
“Cloud Cuckoo Land” is available in hardcover at all local bookstores and the And then Doerr amazes us. He gives Portland Public Library. us a sweeping web of strong-willed characters, many of them children, and we travel with them through desperate ad- Bayside resident Stephanie Miller is a ventures of self-discovery and periods of voracious reader and bibliophile and aching yearning. Each with the same talis- spends a lot of time lost in the stacks man: an ancient story of personal growth of bookstores and libraries. Find her and triumph. They are dreamers. And out- online @StephanieSAM. READ THE WEST END NEWS ONLINE siders. And warriors for truth. The novel reminds us that people are widely interconnected – despite differences in economic position, faith, nationality, age, and even across past and future centuries. And together we are stewards of our lives, our planet, and each other. We meet Zeno, an elderly librarian with the heart of a poet rehearsing an ancient play with a group of fifth graders.
www.thewestendnews.com
Visit us at TheWestEndNews.com
VISIT THEWESTENDNEWS.COM
THE DUMPSTER WHERE WE THROW EVERYTHING THAT DIDN'T FIT… Thanks to local media fans WMPG’s Spring Begathon was a success raising over $62,000 (well over their $55,000 goal)… Friends of Casco Bay hires Will Everitt as their new Executive Director… Gov. Mills hosts bikers for tea at the Blaine House to promote motorcycle safety… Progressive Portland is giving away free Welcome to Portland bumper stickers… Sunflower Farm Creamery is offering goat yoga in their goat pasture in Cumberland… Now for awards and honors… Wallethub names Maine the 2nd Best State for Nurses thanks in part to the share of elderly population, availability of jobs, and vaccination rates… US News & World Report ranks Portland as the 8th Best Place to Live thanks to quality of life and low crime rate… Huntsville, Alabama was No. 1… And the Heart of Biddeford earns the Great American Main Street Award being recognized for a vibrant small business environment and commitment to diversity… Did you know? A Maine state flag was flown in space and was recently presented to the Governor by NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Derrick Porter who are both from Maine…
THE WEST END NEWS / JUNE 2022
19
Strawberry Moon
The first full moon occurring in the month of June So called by the Native Americans who saw it as a signal to start gathering ripe fruit
It’s June And soon The moon in the sky will be full and lusciously yellow And Strawberries on the ground will be full and deliciously red The golden globe casts a lunar path across water and field The path through the strawberry patch beckons We pick a basketful of rich ripe fruit Because Try as we might We cannot reach the June moon We cannot pluck it from the night sky Try as we might We cannot pop it in our mouth Like A Strawberry -By Susan Pickford (c)2016
We Publish Poetry The WEN Poetry Corner publishes reader poetry when space permits. And we always enjoy reading your poems! Please send to: thewestendnews@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading! Thank you for reading local, independent print news. If you like what we do, it’s easy to support the West End News. Next time you are looking for a local product, reliable service, or night out, visit one of our advertisers and tell them the West End News sent you. Thank you for reading!
THE WEST END NEWS
20
JUNE 2022
2nd Location Now Open!
Serving all yo ur favorites! Come visit us! 158 Benjam in W Pickett St. in South Port land Call (207) 80 8-8317 Formerly 158 Pickett Street Cafe Only 1 block fr om SMCC
! ds ! Suar falu mou
O rgarita House Ma ilable Mix is ava ut for take-o h it w NOW alcohol!*
sibly.
ink respon
*Please dr
Delicious Authentic Mexican food from the heart Prepared fresh daily to order Open Tues-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri-Sat 11am-10pm 190 State Street, Portland Across from Longfellow Square
!
Muchas Gracias!
On behalf of Laura, Joe, and the rest of the El Corazon ´ family we want to thank all of you out there in newspaper land for all your continued support with your take-out and delivery orders during this difficult time. We truly appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts (Corazon). ´
Together we will re(Maine) strong!
FULL MENU AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOUT INCLUDING ICE COLD MEXICAN BEERS: DOS EQUIS, MODELO, SOL, TECATE... Also Available Through
Tacos – Burritos – Quesadillas – Enchiladas – Sopes – Pozole – Goat Birria – Fajitas – Cocteles de Marisco – Chile Rellenos – Carne Asada – Lamb Shanks in Adobo & much more!
www.elcorazonportland.com (207) 536-1354 “To know how to eat is to know enough”
“
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.
”
Our residents do more than live at The Park Danforth; they thrive. Our Life Enrichment Team, Resident Service and Maintenance Crew are dedicated to creating the kind of community seniors want to live in.
Ask us about reserving your apartment now for Spring! Call us today and schedule your personalized tour.
See why The Park Danforth is The Right Place. The Right Choice.