JANUARY 2024.VOL. 24 NO. 01. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
Winter Storms May Challenge Clear your sidewalks or Portland Public Works Open positions for CDL drivers could lead to delays in clearing snow & ice By Tony Zeli
Sidewalk Snow Removal Regulations
A reminder of how bad it gets... City crews will work hard to plow Portland's streets despite a shortage of CDL drivers. -WEN file photos by Tony Zeli, Feb. 2015
get as much help via private contractors.”
“We’re doing everything we can to fill open positions,” said DPW Director Mike Murray. “We’ve hired an in-house CDL training instructor to train the non-CDL certified employees we’ve recently hired, but that process takes time. CDL drivers are highly sought after by both the public and private sector. The private sector is also experiencing this shortage and as such we’re not able to
By Tony Zeli Remember to clear your sidewalks, driveways, and curb cuts of snow and ice this winter. If not done properly and on time, there could be fines to pay. Although Portland’s parks and recreation department takes care of more than 100 miles of sidewalks around the city, it’s up to each property owner to maintain their own sidewalks.
With each winter storm, the Portland Department of Public Works (DPW) must plow and salt over 560 lane miles of road. This year, the responsibility will fall on fewer workers as the department deals with a shortage of CDL certified drivers. The City released a statement in December warning of labor shortages and possible delays. Public works said the combination of open positions for CDL drivers, employee leaves of absences, and a decrease in the number of private contractors and equipment may cause extended delays in clearing snow from city streets.
face a fine
City resident and former WEN contributor Rosanne Graef once went on a ride along with a city plow driver. She saw firsthand the complexity of the job. “The fellow I went with was very experienced and it was really enlightening to learn about all the things he was workers. Meanwhile, DPW asks for evobserving and having to keep in mind as eryone’s patience. we moved along. It’s not just about the “We’re sharing this information so foot of snow in front of the plow!” residents are aware in advance and we Graef said she worries that the cur- thank them for their patience this winrent shortage of drivers and any delays ter,” Murray said. will lead to complaints. Perhaps, she notAs of print, DPW had made no new ed, it is a good time to remember what the pandemic taught us about essential hires.
The City’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires residential owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks -WEN file photo abutting their property 18 hours following a winter storm or after the city’s snow removal operations are done, whichever is later. The same goes for business owners, but they only get 12 hours. Residential owners who fail to remove snow and ice within these time frames risk facing a $75 fine for the first offense, $125 for the second offense, and $250 for any subsequent offense within the same winter season. Additionally, should the city have to remove the snow and ice or arrange for its removal, the property owner will be charged for the cost of removal plus a 10% charge for administration. Business owners can be fined $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second, Cont'd on Pg. 3
Pages 4-5
Pages 10-11
Page 12
Page 18
Roberto Rodriguez on LD2003 and housing in Portland
Layne's Wine Gig explores wines of Georgia, Lebanon & Croatia
Nancy explores Emilia-Romagna, the Culinary Heart of Italy
Dr. Susana Hancock is back with reflections from COP28
2 THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
JANUARY EDITION
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NEWS & INFO
Sidewalk Snow Removal Regulations Cont'd from Pg. 1
and $1,000 for any subsequent offense in the same season. Again, should the city have to remove the snow and ice, they’ll charge the cost of removal plus 10%.
Portland Sand & Salt Pile Open to residents only Portland’s community residential sand and salt pile is located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park. This sand and salt pile is for residential use only. Contractors are not allowed. Residents may take two five-gallon pails at a time.
According to city spokesperson Jessica Grondin, during the last winter season of 2022-23, there were 468 reports of sidewalk snow violations. Of that number, 143 were in compliance by the time Remember, excessive use of salts kills inspectors arrived, 262 were issued a notice of violation, and 63 were issued a trees and other vegetation, and it can irrisummons and a contractor was called to tate the paws of dogs. Sand may be messy, but it provides traction and helps prevent remove snow from their sidewalks. slips and falls.
Winter Storm Reminders
• You must clear and sand/salt a minimum of four feet width on all public sidewalks and sidewalk access ramps. Snow cannot be pushed or dumped from driveways and parking lots onto public access sidewalks and access ramps.
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
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Update: Shoveling for Seniors
The Age-Friendly Portland Steering Committee is looking for volunteers willing to shovel snow for an elderly neighbor. “At last count, we have a total of 148 volunteer shovelers,” said Portland’s Elder Advocate Linda Weare in an email to WEN. That’s up from about forty vol• Help the Portland Fire Department unteers, as we last reported in December. by keeping your neighborhood fire But they still need neighborhood cohydrants clear of snow and ice. The ordinators in Riverton, East Bayside, and City currently has 1,460 public hyRosemont. Neighborhood coordinators drants. help direct volunteers to those who need • Also help city crews by clearing assistance in their own neighborhoods. storm drains in front of your homes If you need help with removing snow to prevent water ponding. from sidewalks, contact the City’s Elder “Here in the West End, there are Services Department at 207-541-6620. many people who push strollers or use So, consider pitching in. After all, it’s wheelchairs, scooters, rollators, walking all about helping each other get around sticks and canes,” said resident Rosanne this long winter season. Graef. “Think about them when you clear the sidewalk, don’t just make a pro forma Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Reach gesture to meet the city’s deadline.” him at thewestendnews@gmail.com.
Available Shelter Man Arrested for Beds Go Unfilled Peering in Windows Despite the opening up of 170 shelter beds, roughly 100 shelter beds were still available at the Homeless Services Center (HSC), according to the City, as of late December. Tent fires, a fatality due to a tent fire, and an unattended outside death have occurred. In total, there have been 12 deaths outside in campsites in 2023. Calls for service have also significantly increased in the area of Harbor View Park with 303 calls in 2023 and seven overdoses, one fatal. In 2022, there were 59 calls for service and no overdoses. Between November 30th and December 17th, 2023, 43 unhoused individuals from Harbor View accepted the offer of a bed at the HSC. Based on the occupant count of 142 individuals at the encampment, this represents a bed acceptance rate of over 30%. City Staff successfully completed 83 surveys at the encampment. Eight respondents had previously stayed at the HSC. These surveys also identified the top three reasons individuals refuse a bed at the HSC. In ranked order, these are loss of autonomy, transportation barriers, and fear of loss of belongings.To address those barriers, staff extended the HSC curfew to 11:00 p.m., secured vans and established regular pick-up times to help individuals relocate to the HSC, and improved education efforts regarding storage resources and capacity.
Portland Police had responded several times to reports of a man entering the backyard of residences on Emery, Pleasant, and State Streets and peeking in windows. On the night of December 17th, 2023, police arrested 70-year-old Gary Ganem of Westbrook and charged him with violation of privacy and stalking. Anyone who has any information that might assist, contact police at (207) 874-8575.
Portland Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting
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Roberto Rodriguez on LD2003: To have change, we need to push against the norms.
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Every month PelotonLabs co-founder Liz Trice interviews a local community member. This month, Liz caught up with Portland City Councilor Roberto Rodriguez.
being created in a number of situations. The Urbanist Coalition of Portland - UCP - had been active throughout the process and reached out to the council to get us to remove those provisions.
I was really interested in fully implementing LD2003 and in making it easy for At the December 18th city homeowners to be able to add units to council meeting you led a setheir homes and lots. And in doing so help ries of amendments to impleto improve the housing crisis. I forwarded ment LD2003. This state bill the proposed amendments to corporation would allow four units on al- council (the city’s lawyer) on December most any house lot.That was a 1st, so planning staff could give feedback. The Friday before the meeting I heard that big accomplishment. the planning staff was concerned that the LD2003 was a Maine legislative bill to amendments make substantial changes to address the housing crisis by allowing up the recommendation and should maybe to four units on each house lot. Each mu- be sent back to the planning board. nicipality had to update their ordinances At the December 18th meeting, it by January 1st, 2024, and in Portland, the council took it up on December 18th, the became clear that the Council does, in last meeting of the year before the dead- fact, have the right to make direct amendments like we did. But the city’s attorney line. still suggested that maybe it go back to the After the bill was passed in 2022, the planning board for additional review. The planning department process that includ- council felt that we all understood what ed public meetings came up with their was being proposed and that the planning proposal for compliance with several pro- board had already considered the matter, visions that would prevent four units from so there was no need to send it back. At the city council meeting all of the amendments were passed, which removed all the barriers to LD2003 being fully implemented. One of the things that helped me the most as sponsor of the amendment was
520 Ossipee Hill Road Waterboro, ME 04087 drpaving@roadrunner.com
how much constituency groups worked to inform the council, so the council felt really comfortable with the change. The Urbanist Coalition was really helpful.
What’s the bigger picture of how you envision Portland growing in a positive way? Housing is mostly about supply and demand. The more units we build overall, the more likely the market will settle down and not be so expensive. We need new homes to be closer to where people work and closer to transit. If people are living far from Portland and need to commute, it stresses the individual in terms of their time and budget, but also stresses neighborhoods because of increased traffic. Long-term we want to support more transit, autonomous cars, and other technologies that reduce traffic and auto dependency, and density in and near Portland supports that. It’s a big deal whether you have to commute to Portland from ten miles away or thirty miles away. As a result of LD2003, hopefully a homeowner might add an extra ADU, or make an old single-family house into a 2or 3-unit and have a rental unit in their home. I don’t think it’s likely we’ll see a huge wave of change, like aggressive teardowns. My impression is that building four units per lot in most of our neighborCONT'D ON NEXT PAGE
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5
Roberto Rodriguez on LD2003 CONT'D FROM PREVIOUS PAGE hoods is not appealing to developers in the current market.
hearing different perspectives and trying different approaches.
LD2003 was a big accomplishment. What else do you think you might be able to accomplish in the coming year or so?
The more people are comfortable with the content and the processes of government, the more we can think out of the box and be more aggressive in solving the city’s housing problems. It can be easy to take a moral stance on things, but typically it’s not just good or bad, it’s just complicated, and people have different perspectives. Our shared goals are to meet the needs of the city’s residents, and I believe we should be able to meet everyone’s needs.
I’m still on the Housing and Economic Development Committee, but I left the Sustainability Committee and joined Health and Human Services so I could focus on encampment issues. I also just got on the board of Metro. We’ve talked a lot about revisiting the Short Term Rental (STR) policy. If we added 400 units through LD2003 over the next few years, we could consider that a significant accomplishment. But there are already 400 units out there as STRs that could be available. One possibility is to limit the number of years that an individual could have a license. We can also look at other municipalities to see how they have evolved on the issue over the last few years. We’d like to make progress on the Franklin Street proposal this year. Originally the focus was transportation, but now we’re seeing it as an opportunity to build housing because so much new land would be freed up.
Roberto Rodriguez, Courtesy photo
How do you think effective change happens? To have change, we need to push against the norms and work on issues that may not seem acute but will make a big difference in the future. I think of City government as three parts working together: staff who are technical experts of everyday city functions, then you have the manager that’s looking at the big picture of the organization, and the council is like an entrepreneur bringing forward new ideas. When lots of constituents get involved, you have the potential for really creative thinking and ideas. I wish I knew a way to foster more of that. To make change, all three of those parts need to be open to
For someone who is passionate about an issue, how can they make a difference? This is the perfect city for that. It’s a thriving city but still small enough to make a difference. It helps me to contextualize the size of our city thinking of going to Miami Dolphin’s games back home in a stadium that seats 65,000 people - the same as the population of Portland - so I have seen that many people in one place with one focus, and it’s an amazing energy. Getting involved in something close to you - in your neighborhood or on your street - is the most rewarding thing in the world. And it’s so exciting. You will make a difference. Contact Roberto at: (207) 450-9729, rrodriguez@portlandmaine.gov.
Disclosure: Liz is active volunteer with the Urbanist Coalition. PelotonLabs is a coworking space in the West End of Portland, with a mission to connect and encourage people working on their own to manifest their visions without fear. PelotonPosts is produced by PelotonLabs and WEN provides free column space. Publisher-editor Tony Zeli is a coworking memeber at PelotonLabs.
6 THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
BROADER PICTURE
BOOK SHORT
A Burning: Thrilling debut novel
MUSIC. COMEDY. THEATER. DANCE. and so much more...
Review by Stephanie Miller
help Javin orchestrate having her side of the story told. But they are thwarted by A teenage girl posts something foolthe way Javin’s naive and honest words are ish on Facebook. She is summarily arresttwisted in order to garner the highest leved as a terrorist, tossed in prison, and held el of social sensation possible. in frightful conditions for months waiting for what is essentially a sham trial. There Most of us believe we would do the are people who could help her, people right thing whenever we can. But when my who could stand up for her and speak to most precious dreams are at stake, how her honesty, industry, kindness, and diffi- would I really choose? cult childhood. They do not do so. This despairing scenario happens to an impoverished girl named Jivan in India, where the class system as well as the eager ignorance of public opinion are both ready to crush her. It’s a hard story to read, because 'A Burning' by this kind of inadequate Megha Majumdar justice is just as plausible (Knopf, 2020) in the United States for the underprivileged and immigrants. Yet, “A Burning,” the stunning debut novel by Megha Majumdar who grew up in Kolkata, India, is also easy to read, hilariously clever, and a beautifully sensitive portrait of people who are each simply striving for their share of the vast riches of their nation. Striving for your own, however, means you must ignore the pleas for help from others.
Micro Shorts
‘The Art of Resistance,’ by Justus Rosenberg This fast-paced memoir is the thrilling story of an Eastern European teenager’s escape from the Holocaust and four years in the French Underground.Written when Rosenberg was 99 years old (in 2020), this is an incredibly unsentimental telling of intrigue, danger, politics, personal intelligence and wit, and quite a lot of death-defying luck. Along the way, we meet some of the many artists and intellectuals he helped escape. ‘Again and Again,’ by Jonathan Evison Who is Geno Miles? An old man, suffering from delusions or a true anomaly: a thousand year old person who has been reincarnated dozens of times and is still searching for his one true love? This creative and historically fantastic story is gripping and astonishing. It’s written so well that while you know it can’t be true, you feel it just might be.
PT Sir is not well liked as a gym teacher at Jivan’s secondary school. He joins a right-wing political party, where his ambitious choices link his rise to Javin’s fall. When his chance to help Jivan arrives, PT ‘Old Maine Woman,’ by Glenna Sir is told, “Legal right? You have much to Johnson Smith (Maine Author!!) learn about politics.” He chooses the latBorn in 1920 in Ashville, Maine, Johnter — and his own place in the party — son Smith wrote these enjoyable columns over Jivan’s legal rights. for Echoes and Yankee magazines in the Lovely is a social outcast with endear- 40s, 50s, and 60s. They are funny, sensitive, ing warmth and humor. Her alibi could be and full of home-spun wisdom, as you’d key to Javin’s defense but sharing it would expect from a hardy Mainer. There’s a bit immediately destroy her own aspiration of E.B. White in her observations of local to escape the slum as an actress. At her characters. I especially enjoyed her writing make-it-or-break-it audition, she thinks of on the hard work of growing older. Jivan in her dark, dank cell, knowing that no one is coming to help her. The shame, Read more Micro Shorts online at heartbreak, and love in her performance https://thewestendnews.com/a-burningthrilling-debut-novel bring everyone on the set to tears. Javin’s mother is loyal to her daughter, despite what it costs her in the aspersion of the neighbors, but she has no resources or education. She sacrifices all she has to
Stephanie Miller is a voracious reader and bibliophile and spends a lot of time lost in the stacks of bookstores and libraries. Find her online @StephanieSAM.
Join us on The Hill for amazing performing arts!
The Hill Arts (formerly St. Lawrence Arts) has a new name, look and feel! However, the mission and commitment remain the same:
Arts & Culture Neighborhood & Community Historic Preservation 1/17 - 2/11 Good Theater Presents: One Man, Two Guvnors 1/22 Dragology Presents: Gaga 1/23 Balderdash Academy’s IMPROV JAM a Fundraiser 1/28 A Piano Concert celebrating the music of BACH 2/6 Vivid Motion and MZ Present: The Moorings of Mackerel Sky 2/28 - 3/24 Good Theater Presents: A Man of No Importance 3/19 Balderdash Academy’s IMPROV JAM a Fundraiser 3/29-30 JAMCO Comedy Series featuring Jamal Harrington 4/5 Balderdash Academy’s IMPROV JAM, hilarious unscripted comedy 4/6 Barney Martin performs the songs of James Taylor 4/27 Novel Jazz Septet Celebrates Duke Ellington’s 125th Birthday 5/4 Rasa String Quartet 5/21 Balderdash Academy’s IMPROV JAM a Fundraiser 5/25 Dave Singley - Singer/Songwriter 76 Congress Street s www.thehillarts.me s 207-347-7177
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“An Extraordinary Place”
A Documentary about WMPG Showing at Space Gallery
9th Annual Robert Burns 10K
Sun, Jan. 28 / 9:30a / Congin School, Westbrook / $35 advance, $40 event
Tue, Jan. 16 / 6:30p doors, 7:15p The Robert Burns 10K will kick off showing / Space Gallery (Ptld) / Free Sunday, January 28th at 9:30 a.m. come The Space Gallery on January 16th will show a 30-minute documentary about WMPG, the community radio station affiliated with the University of Southern Maine. The film, “An Extraordinary Place,” is directed by Tom Bell. The January 16th event will be the first-ever showing for the general public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The movie will be shown at 7:15 p.m.
rain, shine, snow, or whatever the weather may be! The looping figure-8 course begins and ends at the Congin School, winding its way through the streets of Westbrook. For some runners, this event may serve as a winter tune-up race; for others, a dose of good-spirited exercise or a chance to see running friends. All registered participants and onlookers are encouraged to celebrate the heroic bard of Scotland through costumes, conviviality, and good cheer.
The documentary takes viewers on a remarkable journey through the lives Each year, this event raises thousands of the students and community members of dollars for Westbrook High School’s who volunteer at the station, highlighting COMPASS Academy. COMPASS (Creating their passion for community and music. Opportunities through Multiple Pathways The station was founded as a pirate for Academic and Social Success) is a mulstation in 1973 by students at the Univertidisciplinary, community-based academic sity of Maine at Portland-Gorham.The film program that supports students who enincludes interviews with student founders, counter a variety of barriers to engageincluding Howard Allen, who first began broadcasting music to the campus from ment in traditional classrooms. his dorm room. For a console, Allen used Registration is $35 in advance or $40 parts of a washing machine he retrieved on event day. A $300 cash prize will be from the Gorham town dump. awarded to the 1st overall male and 1st The documentary features the sta- overall female. Cash prizes and other gifts tion's star DJs and profiles a group of DJs will also be awarded the 2nd and 3rd place overall for each category. with mental disabilities. LIVE MUSIC
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Leona Oceania WENA Robert Pantel WENA WENA WENA Rosanne Graef WENA WENA WENA WENA
NOTES
Explore life’s spiritual side Games, Crafts, Smart Phone help Legacy Work: What to Do, and Where to Start Games, Crafts, Smart Phone help Contact hello@wenamaine.org for materials Doors open at 6:30 w/ popcorn & fizzy water Games, Crafts, Smart Phone help Three episodes from Season 1 Discussion on climate change & your feelings Games, Crafts, Smart Phone help Three episodes from Season 1 Contact hello@wenamaine.org for materials Games, Crafts, Smart Phone help Film: Letting Go: A Hospice Journey
Leona Oceania Tuesday Wednesday Monday Thu. & Fri. 8:15Strength, 9:15a.m. Strength, Tai Chi Chih Qigong/Tai Sara Leonard Chi w/ Karen Balance, Balance, Flex Mon -Fri Morency Flex DVD DVD
COMMUNITY EVENTS
LOLS: AN EVENING OF LOCAL COMEDY DUDE FEST 2024 OPEN MIC NIGHT FEAT. THE FRYEBURG THE PORTLAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA ACADEMY JAZZ ENSEMBLE MAMA MIA! SING-A-LONG ROOMFUL OF BLUES STUDIO TWO: THE EARLY BEATLES TRIBUTE ERICA BROWN & THE BLUEGRASS CONNECTION PALAVER STRING QUARTET: NIGHTINGALE IN A TREE FT. FREDY CLUE & JAMIE OSHIMA JONTAVIOUS WILLIS KATIE OBERHOLTZER FEAT. FALMOUTH THE PORTLAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA HIGH SCHOOL LOUISA STANCIOFF + MOLLY PARDEN + ELIZA EDENS FULL SHOW CALENDAR + TICKETS: ONELONGFELLOWSQUARE.COM BOX OFFICE HOURS: FRIDAYS 12PM - 3PM BY PHONE OR IN PERSON
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10 THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
FOOD & DRINK
LAYNE’S WINE GIG PRESENTS
Heading East equally dark. We had it with a steak, and it was as chewy as the meat itself. Want life As usual, 60 Minutes did it again. On beyond cabernet sauvignon? This is your November 26th, 2023, they broadcast the absolute ticket. first national TV look at the world’s oldest wine region, the country of Georgia. The howler - and it is a howler - is This was 8,000 years in the making. I am their marketing. The fanciful character on not sure if SOMM TV has ever featured the label “defending their wine for 8000 Georgia, but in the words of the great years” is a cartoon image honoring Prince wine importer Terry Theise, “Please, no Tomo who fought the Persians. Also, what more ‘effen movies or TV shows about the hell is a “mission-based brand”? Their sommeliers.” label description, “Tastes like Cherry, light oak, Moderate Tannin,” describes pinot The best thing about the 60 Minutes noir, not this. Nonetheless, it is a good enpiece was that they were journalists, not try level Georgian wine. Available locally. self-serving reps. As an intro to the wines of the East, it was well researched and Worth searching out is a wine we had presented. in Quebec City some years ago appearing in a column I wrote titled, “Food and Wine Georgia is best known today as the in Quebec City,” March 2017. An astonishhome of recently rediscovered local ing Georgian wine find: grapes and totally ancient winemaking techniques. But there is more. That entire Soliko Tsaisviuli Saperavi. world of Eastern European grapes and Made in a qvevri: large, buried, ancient wines is not only being rediscovered but clay amphora pots in which the grapes, is ascending in quality and popularity. We skins, and pips are dumped and left to do will explore some Eastern wines that are their own thing for six months to a year. available locally and one that you can only Indigenous yeasts and no added sulfites. hope to find. I wrote in 2017, “Nail biting acidity with tannin as an art form. In my over forty GEORGIA years of tasting, I have never encountered Guardians Saperavi Reserve, 2020, anything like this.” $17.99. It’s not for the faint of heart. Many Saperavi, an indigenous grape to wines from the East don’t have what we Georgia and Russia literally translates to refer to as “primary fruit flavors.” They “dye,” as the juice is dark, and the wine is can taste like exotic plants or strangely By Layne V. Witherell
Layne explores some Eastern wines that are available locally and one that you can only hope to find. Above: Guardians Saperavi Reserve (left) and Ixsir from Altitues (right). -All photos courtesy of Layne Witherell cooked fruit. This wine shows up on the list as imported by Georgian Wine House out of Washington, DC. We can only hope it makes it here.
LEBANON Unlike Georgia, which was isolated from western wine traditions until recently, Lebanon had a local wine tradition along with an infusion of French culture and grapes (and don’t forget the croissants). Ixsir, Altitudes, $19.99. Elixir in Arabic, and it is that, an elix-
ir. If Saperavi can get out there with both power and quirkiness, the grape combo of the local Obediah white when grown and blended alongside Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes is both handcrafted, sleek, and modern. I challenge any sommelier in training to taste this one blind and identify where it is from. As delightful a glass of wine for the money as you are likely to find. Available locally.There is both a trend toward all indigenous grapes or our old favorites as part of the mix. Winemaker’s choice.
Cont'd on Next Page
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FOOD & DRINK
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
11
LAYNE'S WINE GIG: Heading East Cont'd from Previous Page
CROATIA
Napa’s Chateau Montelena, he whipped up one of the greatest wines of France in a blind tasting now known as “The Judgment of Paris.” The judges were the crème de la crème of French professionals. It is rumored that one of the judges tried to eat their scorecard afterward, such was the embarrassment that catapulted unknown California to fame.
Saints Hills Black Plavic Mali, Dalmatia, 2020, $22.99.
Available locally. The precursor to our zinfandel grape. It resembles in flavor “a loud middle-aged Croatian man whose laughter and pipe smoke fills the room,” (Jason Wilson). This wine is the definition of rustic. It is the anti-pinot noir drinker’s Should you be so inclined, the current wine. Flavors of gnarliness, but in a good version of Chateau Montelena Chardonway. nay will run you around $75.00 a bottle I have done label design in a prior locally. winery CEO life, and the label should reflect what is inside the bottle. Or, in the case of Guardians, it at least conveys an adorable little story. The bottle is sleek, modern black, with the word Dalmatian (the dog and the region) together with a stylized silvery Dalmatian dog face staring at you. None of this makes sense with what’s actually in the bottle.
“Mike” Grgich returned to Croatia as a national hero and started a small winery in 1996, Grgic Vina. His blue beret is enshrined in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. A great immigrant’s story.
HEADING WAY EAST
When you drive East on Congress Street close to Washington Avenue, look I envision a label with a funky old to your left across from the old Eastern dude with elbows sprawled on an older Cemetery and you will see one of my worn table staring at you, daring you to all-time favorite neighborhood watering say a negative word about his wine. holes, a la Portland's Cheers: We can’t mention Croatia without paying homage to their most famous winemaker, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich (19232023). He left communist Yugoslavia for America after completing his winemaking studies in the 1950’s. He became a journeyman gypsy Napa Valley winemaker. Everyone should have their moment. His came on May 24th, 1976. As winemaker of
THE END 229 Congress Street, Portland Open seven days from 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. They have the best merch ever: hats and T-shirts emblazoned with an 18th Century gravestone graphic. They know your name and your drink. Headed up by Johnny Althoff, Andrew Roseman, Celeste
Layne at one of his all-time favorite watering holes, The End on Portland's East End. They have the "best merch ever" and you might run into Layne himself.
Parke, and Ben Bazi, they are all about reasonable prices for cocktails, cold beer, and Gruner Veltliner on tap, with Ben, Sid, and the crew playing up some Ramones tunes and creating a classic old school Portland vibe. As you can see from the photo of yours truly with Ben, you can even sport your fez. Look at your receipt. It is you! “Autopilot Manhattan” for the wife and “Goddamn Box Wine” for me. And don’t forget to tip your bartender.
Layne has been a professional in the wine business for many decades and was awarded the Master Knight of the Vine for his pioneering work in Oregon. He can be reached at lvwitherell@gmail.com.
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12 THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Emilia-Romagna
The Culinary Heart of Italy By Nancy Dorrans
been making their own olive oil and wines from traditional native Sangiovese (red) and Trebbiano (white) grapes. I was surprised and delighted to learn from Leone Conti himself that their olive oil is exported to the US and now sold exclusively to his friends Pat and Nancy O’Brien of Fiore Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars, right here in Maine!
Sandwiched between Tuscany, Florence, the Adriatic Sea, and Venice, the Emilia-Romagna region is the real, true, delicious, lively, historic, hospitable... and sometimes weird... Italy. It is far from touristy and full to the brim with passionate Italians, delicious food, wine, and amazing vistas. If you read my article last month Italy boasts the most (59) UNESCO you’ll know that – along with old and new friends in two back-to-back small groups – (United Nations Educational, Scientific and we explored and ate our way around this Cultural Organization) sites in the world. From the picturesque alleys of Brisighellesser known region of Italy. la, we trekked along one of these Unesco Both groups began in Bologna... with sites, a gypsum-sulfur plateau with sandits ever-present Mortadella and salami, stone peaks surrounded by forests, farms, cheeses, infinite porticoes, hidden canals, and vineyards. This is one of the largest Pignoletto wine, and Pignoletto hills. chains of gypsum in Europe. Gypsum Leaving Bologna, we explored the carvings were scattered throughout the towns of Modena and Castelvetro before trail on the way up to Rifugio cà Carnè, a heading to Brisighella. Here we wandered mountain hut refuge where we recharged through the three hills of this quaint me- with a local traditional lunch. dieval town with an iconic clock tower, a There was a 40th wedding vow renewmonastery, and of course, a castle. Group 2 al ceremony and truffle hunts from Corte was there on Halloween night. As such, we San Ruffillo, an 18th century complex of were treated to the town’s local haunting the Rectory and the nineteenth-century celebrations, ghosts and goblins of all ages, Villa Filetto, a noble residence. Next, a vistrick-or-treating, dancing to live music, and it to Casa Artusi for a Padina (flatbread) feasting until the wee hours. making demonstration. Pelogrinno Artusi We picked ripe persimmons, toured is known as the “father of Italian cooking.” a Parmesan cheese factory, and visited He is author of “Science in the Kitchen Leone Conti Societa Agricola, a vineyard and the Art of Eating Well.” This art, the and olive grove located in the foothills Italians know, oh so well! between Santa Lucia and Oriolo dei Fichi. Group 1 continued their tour for a An area of vast biological diversity, we wit- few nights in Florence, while Group 2 connessed the olive harvest and had an ol- tinued to the coastal town of Cesenatico. ive oil tasting with Group 1. By the next Just in time for Il Pesce fa Festa, the annual week the olive harvest was over, so Group Fish Fest. We spotted flocks of pink fla2 had a walking tour of the vineyard and a mingos while trekking along Parco Regiodelicious lunch. nale Veneto del Delta del Po. Then stood Since the 1950’s, the Conti family has in awe of the Byzantine Mosaics of Raven-
Left: Tour of the Parmigiano/Reggiano Cheese Cooperative, Caseificio San Silvestro Societa Agricola Cooperativa Castelvetro di Modena. Right: Padina (flatbread) demonstration at Casa Artusi. -All photos courtesy of Nancy Dorrans na. I could go on and on… and wouldn’t mind going back. Who wants to join me? I’ve traveled with many groups on so many amazing adventures, but these two groups were very special. I think Judy said it best:
“B
est trip ever! I wanted to have a deeper experience of Italy and to get off the beaten path a bit. The opportunity to spend time on trails and out in nature, in smaller towns and on farms, with some time in larger cities was particularly appealing. It was an amazing combination of urban and rural, and also human achievement and natural beauty, from the very first full day till the last group day. While it is impossible to select one favorite thing, the opportunity to spend time out in the countryside during walks through the hills, in the vineyards and fields and national parks was outstanding. The hills were a bit challenging for a flat lander like me, but our leader and the group were supportive, and it worked out. The variety of planned activities allowed for physical, spiritual, and
intellectual stimulation. Spending time with the wine makers, chefs, olive oil producers, and balsamic vinegar experts, and hearing their stories, feeling their passion for their traditions and culture, learning about their processes, and sampling their wares was truly inspiring. Here is such richness of culture, history, architecture, art in all forms, amazing people that it is impossible to experience it all [in ten days].” -Review from Group 1 guest, Judy Hicks, from Memphis, Tennessee.
Nancy with olive oil maker Leone Conte.
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CLIMATE JUSTICE
THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
13
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
Sustaining your 2024 sustainable goals! By Jade Christensen, PCAT As we indulge in the December festivities, we will also start thinking about what we want to accomplish in the upcoming year. Break from the typical New Year’s trends this year and start thinking about your sustainable impact. Maine offers a variety of opportunities to practice sustainability quickly and easily. • Composting! We have said it before and will say it again: composting has become one of the easiest and most sustainable actions we can take. With companies like Garbage to Gardens or town composting, keeping compostable foods out of the garbage is an easy way to reduce your footprint. Not to mention keeping down the cost of paying for city trash bags. • Switch from hot water to cold when doing your laundry. About 90% of the washing machine’s energy is heating the water (Coldwatersaves. org). That saves around 3.2kWh of energy per load, which adds up quickly with increased electrical prices. It helps to protect your clothes from fading color, protects delicates, and reduces overall fabric damage. • Turn all of your electronics off when they aren’t in use. It’s time
COP28: Naming the problem By Dr. Susana Hancock
The latest UN climate conference, COP28, ended in Dubai in mid-December and, for the first time, the root cause of to save the video game and turn off the climate crisis made the closing text. the TV when you finish it, just like The Al Hairat plenary room erupted when you turn off the lights when you in applause when the COP28 president– leave a room. Ensure all your TVs, lapand ADNOC CEO–announced “transitops, and video games are powered down. These little things add up fast. tioning away from fossil fuels.” The global So, when yelling at the kids to turn media overwhelmingly called it historic. the light off, include turning the video A success. But was it? For a conference under the tagline of “Unite. Act. Deliver,” game off, too. did it do that? The decision, without any • Support the Portland Sustain- timelines and full of loopholes that propel ability Fund. To help the city prog- petroleum expansion, was gaveled while ress in its One Climate Future goals, thirty-nine of the most vulnerable counthe city needs a resource that will ad- tries were not yet in the room. vance efforts to reduce energy costs As a climate scientist, it felt surreal. and fossil fuel consumption. These Then again, I had never been to any kind projects could include solar installa- of conference that had so many straws or tions, community engagement oppor- K-Cup pods. Nor had I been to one where tunities, price reductions on electric I felt like I was somehow caught in perenproducts, and increasing staff for the nial reruns of “Are You Smarter than a 5th city. Support this fund by writing to Grader?” your city councilor and councilors at After COP officially closed, I sat on large to gain their support. the train, dazed, confused, numb. This Take the stress out of trying to cre- year, finally with an iota of wisdom that ate new habits.You can make small tweaks has always exceeded my pace, I scheduled to your current lifestyle and make a much myself time to absorb the outcome and larger impact that won’t break the bank! recover from what I knew would be a forthcoming physical and emotional crash. Start your sustainability journey now! Unlike two years ago, when I left COP on Bright Ideas is brought to you by PCAT, a two-day train ride to the UN headquarwhich meets the third Tuesday of the month, ters in Geneva, where I had been invited 6 to 7:30 p.m. All are welcome! FMI: port- to speak on the power of language in climate conversations. landclimateaction@gmail.com.
What COP28 so desperately needed, and what it failed to deliver, were four alliterating words: fossil fuel phase-out. Phasing out is very different from “transitioning away.” The former requires cessation while the latter is nebulous. In another flashback to elementary school (which eventually led me to serious fascinations in linguistics), words are performative. Words remaining on paper will not keep our world’s average temperature below +1.5°C, but without them, action can’t follow. The gates to COP29 in the capital of Azerbaijan won’t open until November 11th, 2024, but the action and implementation groups are already meeting. The next conference may be in the fertile crescent of the modern oil industry, and COPs have been in the grips of that industry since their conception, but now that we’ve named the problem, it will need to be Bak[u] to the future. Dr. Susana Hancock is an internationally recognized climate activist and transdisciplinary polar scientist. When not traveling around the world [by train], she spends half the year in mid-coast Maine. She volunteers with Citizens’ Climate Lobby and has founded her own climate organization. We’re All in this Together is a monthly column provided by Portland’s local Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
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14 THE WEST END NEWS / JANUARY 2024
PUZZLES New to the Public Domain Trivia 1. Published in 1928, what traumatic war novel by Erich Maria Remarque was turned into a movie that won four Oscars last year? 2. The Mystery of the Blue Train is an Agatha Christie story coming into the public domain, which features what mustachioed Belgian detective in the lead role?
Mondays at Foulmouthed Brewing, Lazzari
3. Ub Iwerks was the lead animator of the cartoon Steamboat Willie, which was the debut of what iconic cartoon character?
Wednesdays at Wilson County BBQ, Elsmore BBQ
Tuesdays at Ri Ra, Brookside F+D
Thursdays at 4. This year, Winnie the Pooh is joined in the Arcadia, Locally Sauced, public domain by what side character whose Goodfire top is apparently made out of rubber and online @bestworsttrivia bottom is made out of springs? Find the answers online at thewestendnews.com/puzzle-solutions!
ANSWERS ONLINE
TheWestEndNews.com/Puzzle-Solutions
JANUARY EDITION HILLTOP SUPERETTE’s
SLICE FROM THE PIE DELICIOUS MORSELS OF NEWS THAT OTHERWISE DIDN’T FIT…
It was a busy holiday for Portland’s Old Port as singing Santas took over Monument Square and paddle boarding Santas took to Portland Harbor… The Quality Housing Coalition gave out 100 laptops to individuals and families who experienced homelessness and are enrolled in the Project Home to Profession program… Portland Food Co-op was awarded Client of the Year at the 25th Annual Business Awards by the City of Portland and the Portland Development Corporation… Portland is well-represented in Hop Culture’s Best Breweries of 2023 with both Belleflower and Bissell Brothers making the cut… iSeeCars ranks Portland as #11 out of 132 metro areas with 68% of new car dealers selling EVs compared with the 55% national average… Portland was judged by AARP as the best city to live in out of mid-size cities with a population between 25,000 – 99,999… The former Provost for UMaine Farmington Dr. Eric Collins Brown has been named Maine Irish Heritage Center’s new Executive Director… The Maine Historic Preservation Commission awarded the City of Portland for several initiatives including $30,000 to restore the Lincoln Park fence along Pearl Street… Investigative news organizations Mother Jones and The Center for Investigative Reporting announced plans to merge and become a leading national multimedia nonprofit news outlet… The projected world population on January 1st was 8,019,876,189 which is an increase of 75,162,541 (0.95%) from New Year’s Day 2023… During the month of January US Census predicts 4.3 births and 2.0 deaths worldwide every second… Happy New Year!!!
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I’m Optimistic Most of us have yawned at: Gerrymandering Voter Suppression Proud Boy parades An Economic Recovery (for the already wealthy) Endless wars for the War Machine Climate Change A Coup Attempt Ever widening inequality... The result may well be the end of Democracy But I’m Optimistic; They might not behead us -Submitted by Jim McCarthy
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