The West End News - Election Edition 2024 - Vol. 24 No. 10 by The West End News

Portland City Council & School Board CANDIDATE PROFILES

Candidate Survey

Urbanist Coalition of Portland

PORTLAND MUNICIPAL ELECTION

The City of Portland holds municipal elections on Tuesday, November 5th. Roberto Rodriguez’s at-large city council seat, Anna Trevorrow’s District 1 seat which covers the eastern half of the Portland peninsula, and Victoria Pelletier’s District 2 seat which covers the western half of the peninsula are all open. The below city council and school board candidate profles were written by the candidates with a word limit.

have residents with the time and infuence to push for it.”

quirements, while Falero would focus on enforcing the existing rule.

City Council At-Large

Jess Falero (at-large)

Several candidates confessed a lack of familiarity with the latest drafts of ReCode but promised to examine it closely if elected Councilor. As Chair of the Planning Board, Mazer has been involved in the ReCode drafting process at every stage, yet he had surprisingly little of substance to say about it, mentioning only the accessory dwelling unit use passed in 2020. UCP has been closely engaged with the ReCode process and published our own detailed recommendations last year, which we have amended and updated in response to the City’s proposals as they have been released.

Transit & Transportation

Democratic Party, Co-Chair of Gov. Mills’ transition team, counsel to Speaker Sarah Gideon, and counsel to the Maine AFLCIO. I am a former Board member of PAYSA and of the Ocean Ave. Elementary School PTO. Professionally, I am general counsel to the Maine Education Association.

We were encouraged to see how much support there was among candidates for making Portland more livable and safe for everyone not inside a car. Falero, Lookner, and Pelletier advocated for protected bike lanes, and several candidates mentioned looking to the Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee for policy guidance.

Parking

Brandon Mazer (at-large)

Jess Falero: “The bus is an invaluable tool for hundreds of Portlanders […], but it needs to be invaluable to thousands. We can get there by lowering the perride cost through municipal subsidy and by increasing the frequency and number of routes.”

Experience: Activist, advocate, organizer. Jess has lived in Portland since 2016 and early in that time became a leader and advocate, becoming known as a strong voice for vulnerable populations. Their direct experience of being unhoused and advocating for their community members makes them a fresh face in Portland politics.

Housing is clearly a top issue this and many candidates have given policy area signifcant thought. Looktouted a detailed social housing pro-

Social housing is a form of publicly developed, bond-funded, mixed-income recently advocated by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Falero and Pelletier

Falero, Lookner, Mazer, English, Pelletier, Grant, and Nekoie all highlighted the need for increased bus frequency. O’Brien noted being a regular bus user and would like to see the Breez commuter bus service expand. Lookner and Pelletier want more seating and shelters at bus stops, with Lookner proposing to fund upgrades using tax increment fnancing districts.

Pedestrians & Cycling

Reason for running: Through working with Portland’s unhoused, Jess became familiar with the experience of losing friends and colleagues and has organized multiple memorials for those who have died on the streets of Portland. Moved by these memories, Jess wants to build a city where no one has to die on the streets.

Contact: jessforportland.com

by MaineHousing. English

Robert O’Brien: “To drop parking ratios, we need more car sharing.Wouldn’t it be cool if there were something akin to an Uber subscription, where you get so many rides a month in a local area? That way you can do your grocery shopping or go to the doctor in the middle of the workday or get to work when it’s sleeting out — all for a manageable price.”

Reason for running: I am running to help push the City faster in addressing key issues of housing, affordability, and homelessness. The Council also needs members with signifcant education experience in order to advocate for strong school budgets. We also need to work harder with other communities around Maine to persuade the legislature to reform taxes and school funding.

Experience: I’m a land use attorney for cities and towns across Maine. I ran in the 2021 election for council which resulted in a tie and recount. I have been actively involved in our community serving on a variety of volunteer boards including: Planning Board, Maine State Music Theatre, Friends of the Eastern Promenade, and Special Olympics Maine.

spending makes life unaffordable. We deserve better. I’m the only candidate who hasn’t spent years in city politics. I bring a decade’s experience in fxing government problems.

Contact: jakeviola.com, jake4portland@ gmail.com, www.instagram.com/viola4portland

City Council District 1

Sarah Michniewicz (D1)

Contact: grant4por tland.com

Grayson Lookner (at-large)

UCP was excited to see O’Brien’s enthusiasm for a car sharing program. Burlington, Vermont operates a non-proft car share program that UCP feels Portland could easily emulate.

Nekoie and Boykin voiced support for climate-friendly transit options but emphasized preserving parking. Nekoie mentioned the needs of businesses that rely on parking. However, studies show that despite pervasive initial resistance, businesses consistently do better when their streets reduce car parking to prior itize transit, bikes, and pedestrians. UCP feels that bold leadership is required to follow the science and build the infrastructure needed to lessen car dependency.

Reason for running: I believe I can make a difference and be a voice of reason. My experience on the Planning Board has given me invaluable insight and knowledge about municipal government, what is and isn’t working. I am ready to hit the ground running on day 1 - ready to listen and work hard on behalf of Portland residents.

Contact: brandonmazer.com

Jacob (Jake) Viola (at-large)

Experience: Professional seamstress and designer for 30 years, currently freelance. Candidate for city council, District 1, in 2021. Bayside Neighborhood Association board president.

gave concrete goals,

were more modest.

Ben Grant (at-large)

O’Brien, and Falero mentioned a spur redevelopment of surface lots. O’Brien, Pelletier, and English expressed a willingness or desire to rePortland’s inclusionary zoning re-

Experience: I am an at-large member of the school board. I am a former: Chair of the Maine

Wes Pelletier: “Without paid staff focused specifcally on sustainable transportation, making progress on these issues has been painfully slow. Almost all of my answers are cribbed from recommendations made by the Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, which puts out truly impressive, thought-out reports and audits, and reinstating the coordinator position to liaise with them, the rest of staff, and city council, would go a long way towards streamlining the process. In that same vein, we should, as the PBPAC has been advocating for, form a special committee to update the city’s technical guide, which could allow for things such as requiring traffc calming for all projects, rather than just those that

Experience: After campaigning for ranked choice voting and Bernie Sanders, I have served two terms as state representative for Portland’s District 113 where I’ve written and passed bills to fund affordable housing construction. I’m a former EMT, and currently a tech at Merrill Auditorium and a seasonal kayaking guide in Casco Bay.

Revitalizing Franklin Street Councilors were generally excited about the opportunity to revitalize Franklin Street. Lookner, O’Brien, and Falero in particular had bold visions for creating dense, walkable urban housing. English and Mazer voiced reservations concerning trees and costs, while Viola had concerns about project management.

Reason for running: We need a voice on the council who will work tirelessly to solve our housing crisis, so affordable housing is available to all. I will bridge the divide between Augusta and the city council, so we can get the necessary resources to tackle climate change, the housing crisis, and homelessness.

UCP feels that the revitalization of Franklin Street is a critical opportunity to build housing, create functional open space by restoring Lincoln Park, and reconnect neighborhoods with a multimodal street design. The project needs a champion on the City Council who will advocate for a vision that serves Portlanders and will bring this project across the fnish line.

Contact: lookneratlarge.com, lookneratlarge@gmail.com

Experience: 6+ years in state government: Deputy Chief Engagement Offcer, Technology Services and Security; Director of Strategic Innovation, Offce of the Governor. 3 years in Federal government: Strategy & Operations Consultant, National Security & Diplomacy Agencies. Board Member, Back Cove Neighborhood Association. Master’s degree in public policy, Harvard.

Reason for running: For my daughter’s future. I’m embarrassed by what’s happening to Portland. Needles litter our parks. Our city council is out of touch. Runaway

Community advocate. HART of Maine cat shelter board vice president. Preble Street Elena’s Way shelter advisory board member. Coordinator of Portland Window Dressers community build. Neighborhood representative on many city hiring panels and working groups. Foster mom for shelter cats and pets of unhoused people.

Reason for running: Portland is facing signifcant challenges and opportunities and needs a balanced and responsive council to move the city toward sustainable solutions. My decade of advocacy on Portland’s biggest issues - housing, homelessness, infrastructure, safety, trees - has given me the experience and skills to be that voice for district one.

Contact: sarah4council.com, sarahfordistrict1@gmail.com

VOTE NOV. 5th

Jess Falero

Sarah Michniewicz

Jake Viola

Brandon Mazer

Grayson Lookner

Ben Grant

JESS FALERO

CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE

LARGE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE IN CHARGE

MICHNIEWICZ (Mc-NEV-itch!) PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1

Candidate Profles

Robert Todd Morse (D1)

co-founded the frst young adult court in San Francisco.

SENSE • UNCOMMON COMMITMENT Authorized and paid for by the candidate, Treasurer James

Experience: I am the chief technology offcer at a company that does medical device and drug trials. I am the president and founder of the Urbanist Coalition of Portland which advocates for housing, walkable neighborhoods, and transit. I am also on the CDBG Allocation Committee and the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Reason for running: I believe Portland can be a city where everyone thrives. I’m a trained listener and advocate whose skills will help me represent D2. Portland’s charm and affordability are worth protecting, and I’m ready to help keep it vibrant, ensuring essential workers can live close to work and lead the way.

Contact: ATIIM.org, Atiim4District2@ gmail.com

Nancy English (D2)

Reason for running: I am running because I want to help build a city that is safe, walkable, and has enough housing for everyone. Portland is a city where people truly care.We have challenges but I believe we can overcome them and I want to do my part in that.

Contact: morseforportland.me

City Council District 2

Atiim B. Boykin (D2)

Experience: Retired in December after 11 years as a paralegal in the Portland City Attorney’s Offce, when I assisted with countless agendas, I am well equipped to do responsible work on the city council. I raised my daughter in Parkside, where I have lived next to Deering Oaks Park for the last 25 years.

Experience: I am a Forensic Intensive Case Manager for OBH [Offce of Behavioral Health] in Cumberland County, guiding individuals from incarceration to stable lives. I understand large systems and collaborative problem solving. With 20+ years of experience in mental health and social justice, I

Reason for running: Today, at the new homeless services center, with Preble Street providing more than $1M in food, the city hosts an average of 250 people a night.Yet housing is too expensive to solve homelessness, and developers don’t build. We need to change the code to attract more housing and more businesses to help Portland prosper.

Contact: NancyEnglishcitycouncild2.com, englishforcitycouncil@gmail.com

2 Neighbors,

Im also deeplyinvolvedin ourlocal artsandculturalcommunity, serving on advisory circlesfor IndigoArtsAlianceand Portland Ovations, aswellason the Board of Directorsfor the CulturalAlianceofMaine and the Advisory TeamforLeadershipPortland.

Above all, myexperienceasacitizendrivesme to serve. I pledge to holdquarterlytown halls and monthly Zoommeetings to ensure your concernsare heard and acted upon.

To learnmore about me and mycampaign, pleasevisit Atiim.org. I hope to earnyour vote to bring mycommitment to community health,resilience, andrenewalto Portland.

daughter near Reiche Elementawith othersto achieve many others cities, weface protecting the environment, importantly, I want yourvoice to streets, concernsoverempty

mentofHealthand probation, and unngAdultCourtin San imprisonment, focusing

Nancy English

Atiim Boykin

Robert Todd Morse

Candidate Profles

Cont'd from Pg. 2

Catherine Nekoie (D2)

Experience: As a small business owner, wife, mother, property owner, and realtor, I love my community and want our city to stay safe, healthy, and full of opportunities. Though new to politics, my life experiences provide a solid foundation to tackle challenges, and I’m confdent in making tough decisions.

Reason for running: My goal is to create a safer city with accessible parks and affordable housing, revitalize downtown to support thriving businesses, and promote tourism while preserving Portland’s working waterfront and unique charm we are proud of.

Contact: catherinenekoie4d2portland. com; Facebook: Catherine Nekoie for District 2 Portland; Instagram: CatherineNekoie4D2Portland; Catherinenekoie4d2Portland@gmail.com

Robert O’Brien (D2)

End Neighborhood Association. Master’s degree in public policy from Muskie School.

Reason for running: Housing is Portland’s #1 issue — no candidate’s better equipped to help. I support much about rent control but it won’t solve our housing crisis — we need supply! I’ll push Portland to be proactive about production. Also, Portland needs a plan to combat sea rise. Let’s lead by initiative, not referendum.

Contact: bit.ly/obrienforcouncil

Wes Pelletier (D2)

Experience: I’ve been involved in community organizing for years, and have been fghting for tenant rights and affordable housing for years, fghting for the rent control and tenant protections as a lead organizer of Maine DSA’s Livable Portland & People First Portland campaigns as well as founding the Trelawny Tenant Union.

Experience: Employed full-time conducting housing studies and writing strategies for cities nationwide. Served three years on Portland’s school board, elected to two different charter commissions, appointed to and chair Portland’s historic preservation board, and served as president of West

Reason for running: District 2 is a strong working class community, with mostly renters, and we need a voice at city hall that knows what it’s like to live with the housing insecurity that comes with being a renter in this market. I want to fght to keep people in their homes and to build new affordable housing.

Contact: Wesfordistrict2.net, on Instagram at wesfordistrict2

Cont'd on Pg. 4

Wes Pelletier

Robert O'Brien

Catherine Nekoie

School Board Candidates

School Board At-Large

Maya Lena (at-large)

School Board District 1

Abusana “Micky” Bondo (D1, unopposed)

Experience: Substitute Teacher- Rowe Elementary. Parent - PPS. President - Nason’s Corner Neighborhood Association. Member - PBPAC [Portland Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee]. Past member - Parks Commission. Former Teacher - Scarborough Schools. PK-12 Art Teacher CertifcationState of Maine. MAT Art Education - Tufts University.

Reason for running: I am running to be a bridge between the board and the staff and families. As a district we must focus on basic priorities: staff retention, creating safe positive places of learning and growth, and advancing achievement for all PPS students.

Contact: mayalenaportlandme.com

John Rousseau (at-large)

Experience:

Co-founder and Leadership Consultant of In Her Presence. Business consultant. Current School Board member, District 1 rep. and vice chair of the board. Community organizer: fostering social cohesion among seniors, empowering immigrant families through civic education. Serve in diverse boards to represent the voice of diversity.

Reason for running: We are a diverse community and our schools must serve the educational needs of all the children, and build a district where students, parents, teachers, and staff feel they are welcome. Create strategies on how to use the existing resources and allocate fundings to meet the students’ needs which will drive improvement, and developing policies using an equity lens.

Homegrown Herb & Tea

Apothecary Style Bulk Herb and Tea Shop 195 Congress St, Portland

Experience: Artist, self-employed/small business owner of a reclaimed wood company. I have been an active parent in my daughter’s schooling and a member of the parent advisory group at Casco Bay High School. I have also worked with local artists in the Portland area.

Reason for running: My daughter did very well in the Portland Public school system. I want to give back to the community that gave to her. I support the superintendent’s new strategic plan - equity, excellence, community, teachers, and streamlining redundant policies. Students, teachers, parents, and families are all part of the community; I would like to help foster more policies to encourage growth.

Cont'd from Pg. 3 181 Congress St., Portland, ME 207-771-0994 katiemadebakery.com

Contact: JohnRousseauforschoolboard. com, JohnRousseauschoolboard@Gmail. com, 207.310.4665

Contact: Facebook: MickyPortlandschoolboard

School Board District 2

Abdulkadir M. Ali (D2)

Abdulkadir Ali is the only candidate to qualify in the nomination process for District 2 school board seat. WEN was unable to contact the candidate in time for publication.

Portland Election Info

Portland’s municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 5th. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. In-person absentee voting begins 30 days prior to the election (October 6th) in the State of Maine Room, adjacent to the City Clerk’s Offce, on the 2nd Floor of City Hall, Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. On the Thursday before the election only, the Clerk's Offce will remain open until 7 p.m.

Making handcrafted, custom tea blends and herbal infusions in the traditions of the Old World Apothecary since 2006

Visit the tea shop W-F 11-4, Sat 9-2 or Order online: homegrownherbandtea.com

Sweet Treats Breakfast Sandwiches Lunch Special Occasions Cakes Phone Orders – Curbside Pick-up

Micky Bondo

John Rousseau

Maya Lena

Candidate Survey

Provided by Urbanist Coalition of Portland

The Urbanist Coalition of Portland (UCP) is an advocacy group whose goal is making Portland more livable for everyone. We support middle density, mixeduse neighborhoods with access to transit and cycling infrastructure, which will provide affordable housing, protect our environment, and make our city a more pleasant and safe place to live and work. Our policies and approach are strongly inspired by the YIMBY movement, Strong Towns, and more.

UCP wanted to hear from candidates about whether they support our main policy priorities, how they plan to accomplish those goals on the council, and what new ideas they’re bringing to the table. We asked a lot of questions, and the candidates had a lot to say that we couldn’t ft in this article. We encourage you to read the complete responses of all council candidates on our website: https://urbanistportland.me/elections.

Disclaimer: Our organization’s founder and president, Robert Todd Morse, is a candidate in the D1 council race.This article grades and compares candidates in the at-large and D2 council races only. The responses of both D1 candidates are presented on the UCP website without grading or commentary.

Champion: Answer demonstrated signifcant thought and advocacy around this issue/policy area.

Proponent: Answer showed support and familiarity with the issue/ policy area.

Mixed: Answer lacked details and/or expressed reservations about policies UCP supports.

Opponent: Answer disagreed with our goals or qualifed support to a degree that neutralized support.

Some candidate responses stood out above the rest, even among those who support our policy goals. These “Champion” responses showed enthusiasm and drive for tackling these issues headon, offered specifc policy proposals, and demonstrated clear knowledge of the institutional levers they will have as a city councilor to implement them. They also made compelling arguments for their own well-considered policy proposals that align with our goals of making Portland more livable and affordable. We highlight some of these “Champion” responses below.

Housing, Land Use, & ReCode

Grayson Lookner: “The City should use zoning as a tool to incentivize the kind of development that it wants and needs: namely high density mixed use housing developments centered around (but not exclusively in) the dense core of the city, or in transit nodes like Woodfords Corner. Zoning should not be used to prevent growth or development. Zoning could be used to better activate empty parcels on the peninsula like the old scrapyard in Bayside or the million surface parking lots, by providing developments (public, private and non-proft developers) with allowances to build up and build dense, so we can create the kinds of vibrant neighborhoods that people love.”

Housing is clearly a top issue this election, and many candidates have given this policy area signifcant thought. Lookner touted a detailed social housing proposal. Social housing is a form of publicly developed, bond-funded, mixed-income housing recently advocated by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Falero and Pelletier also advocated social housing, and Pelletier proposed bond-funded affordable housing on a redeveloped Franklin Street.

Lookner offered a concrete, ambitious goal for the number of new units Portland should create based on Portland’s housing shortfall as estimated by MaineHousing. Viola and English also gave concrete goals, though they were more modest. Grant, Lookner, O’Brien, and Falero mentioned a desire to spur redevelopment of surface parking lots. O’Brien, Pelletier, and English expressed a willingness or desire to revisit Portland’s inclusionary zoning re-

quirements, while Falero would focus on enforcing the existing rule.

Transit & Transportation

Pedestrians & Cycling

have residents with the time and infuence to push for it.”

Parking

UCP was excited to see O’Brien’s enthusiasm for a car sharing program. Burlington, Vermont operates a non-proft car share program that UCP feels Portland could easily emulate.

Nekoie and Boykin voiced support for climate-friendly transit options but emphasized preserving parking. Nekoie mentioned the needs of businesses that rely on parking. However, studies show that despite pervasive initial resistance, businesses consistently do better when their streets reduce car parking to prioritize transit, bikes, and pedestrians. UCP feels that bold leadership is required to follow the science and build the infrastructure needed to lessen car dependency.

Revitalizing Franklin Street

Councilors were generally excited about the opportunity to revitalize Franklin Street. Lookner, O’Brien, and Falero in particular had bold visions for creating dense, walkable urban housing. English and Mazer voiced reservations concerning trees and costs, while Viola had concerns about project management.

BOOK SHORT

‘About Grace’ by Anthony Doerr

By Stephanie Miller

David Winkler dreams the future. While sometimes happy, often the dreams foretell death and destruction, and they leave an indelible scar on his childhood. Decades later, when he repeatedly dreams that he will be unable to save his newborn daughter Grace from a food, the water actually starts to rise, and he fees—frightened into assuming that the lack of his presence will prevent her death.

Trying to put distance between himself and his fear, he boards a freighter bound for Brazil, randomly exiting the ship on a remote Caribbean Island. He is a mess—penniless, ragged, weary, scared, and alone. A kind postal service worker takes him in, and this former meteorologist becomes the groundskeeper for a small inn. Existing in a cloud of panic over his daughter, he tries to reach his wife. There is no reply. He continues to dream.

“About Grace” is Pulitzer Prize-winning Anthony Doerr’s debut novel, re-introduced after the success of the later books, “All the Light We Cannot See” and “Cloud Cuckoo Land”. I found it on the softly-lit shelves of the beautiful Mechanic’s Hall library (A treasure in our midst! Please go there!), and it is a breathtaking book of unceasing longing.

The title is apt. Winkler’s whole life is centered on his daughter Grace—is she

alive? Did he kill her by leaving? Would she have died if he stayed? Will she welcome him back in her life? At the same time, his continued existence depends on others giving him grace, seeing something in him that makes him worth saving from himself.

Some of the most beautiful passages are about the universal human longing for grace. Not just forgiveness but understanding. Winkler’s mother understands and respects his fearful dreaming. His Carribean colleagues accept his solitude and dangerous sleepwalking. In a search across the country for any “Grace Winkler,” he knocks on doors and ends up having dinner or coffee or long conversations with strangers who respect his quest, despite not quite liking or understanding it.

Set in Alaska, Ohio, and the Caribbean, this sweeping novel takes us on a radiant journey of love, forgiveness, and compassion. It’s the kind of story that remembers to tell us what each key experience smells like. It captured me and swept me along, but I kept resisting that forward motion. I wanted to savor this story, despite the sadness and loneliness.

Read more at https://thewestendnews.com/ category/bookshort Stephanie Miller is a voracious reader and local bibliophile..Find her online @StephanieSAM.

Reiche Community Room

All Activities are FREE unless otherwise noted. Enter through Door 11 on the Clark Street side of Reiche, take the elevator or stairs up to the Community Room. ADA accessible. New Offerings in Red Arts/Crafts/Games Grab Bag

Every Thursday - 4:15-6 p.m. - Informal socializing, bring your own project or help with ours, play board or card games, or just hang out and visit. Learn to play cribbage with Gregory Farino & Rosanne Graef.

Candidates Forum

Wednesday, 10/9 – 6:30 – 8 p.m. - At-Large City Council & School Board Candidates Die Well Death Education with Leona Oceania

Thursday, 10/10 - 6:30-8 p.m. - Session

Two: Film: Barbara Karnes’s ‘This is How We Die - Part One: Natural Process of Dying from Disease & Old Age’ Greeting Card Making

Thursday, 10/17 - 6-8 p.m. with Faith Garnett - Make 3 diﬀerent winter cards using a various of techniques. Materials provided. Limit of 10. Must register at hello@ wenamaine.org.

Elder Xercise (50+)

A.M. Xercise - Mon-Fri 8:15-9:15 a.m.

Videos for Strength, Balance, Stretch, Cardio. M, W, Th - Light-moderate. T, F - Moderate-vigorous.

Pickleball! (50+) - Fridays, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 - 6-8 p.m. in Reiche GYM - $5 Drop-in Fee for Residents, $10 for Non-Residents

Qigong/Tai Chi with Karen Morency Thursdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 31 - 3-4 p.m. Join In!

Monday 10/21 - 6:30 p.m. - Community Study Circles - What are they? Help organize, facilitate and participate.

Magazine Readers

Monday, 10/7 - 6:30 p.m. - October’s articles are about aging in place - why do it, what to consider, making the decision. Contact hello@wenamaine.org for materials and to get on the e-mail list. We’re always glad to see new people!

Makin’ Music with West Enders

Thursday, 10/24 - 6:30 p.m. - Your best is good enough! Ukulele, voice, percussionlet’s see what we can do. If you have a uke, bring it. Percussion instruments provided. No experience necessary.

Movies

Mondays, 10/28- 6:30 p.m. – “Brassed Oﬀ” - 1996 British comedy/drama with Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor, Jim Carter, 107 minutes, closed captions. Doors open at 6. Popcorn & fzzy water available, bring a snack to share if you wish. Contact hello@wenamaine.org to get on the e-mail list.

ReForest the City

Tuesday, 10/15 - 6:30 p.m. - Tree Care with Jan Santerre of the Maine Forest Service Tuesday, 10/29 at 6:30 p.m. - Climate Change and Trees with Sean Horan of the Cooperative Extension Service.

UPCOMING SHOWS

COMMUNITY EVENTS OCTOBER

Nightingale’s First Ever Fall Festival

Thu, Oct. 17 / 4p / Nightingale in the Courtyard

Celebrate with neighbors, food from local vendors, and live music by local legend Barney Martin. Join us on Thursday, October 17th at 4 p.m. in the Courtyard at Nightingale apartments, 144 State Street, Portland.

The Fall Festival will be hosted in the courtyard on the Spring Street side of the former Mercy Hospital, now the Nightingale. Expect a relaxing evening of food and music, featuring Great Wave Sushi, Iron Clad Eats, ZeeRox BBQ, and Fred’s Fried Dough. Stop by and meet new West End business neighbors Two Fat Cats, Maine Flavor, and Chocolats Passion. They will also have live music from local legend Barney Martin! Please note that there is no guest parking.

Guild Fine Craft Show: Brunswick

Sat. & Sun, Oct. 26-27 / 10a - 4p / Fort Andross Mill Complex, Brunswick

The 8th annual Guild Fine Craft Show: Brunswick will feature 35+ juried Guild level members of the Maine Crafts Association within the historic halls of Fort Andross Mill Complex overlooking the Androscoggin River. $5 Saturday and Sunday admission, and those under 18 attend free of charge. Saturday 10/26 and Sunday 10/27, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Fort Andross Mill, 14 Maine Street, Brunswick.

The Guild Fine Craft Shows carry a 40-year legacy of celebrating and promoting fne craftsmanship and are well-regarded for their focus on quality, originality, and artistic expression. Featuring a diverse array of fne crafts including basketry, ceramics, fber (decorative & wearable), glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, and wood.

Now That You’ve Seen Me Naked, a Musical Comedy. SAW The Musical. The Lightening Express LIVE. Dragology: CURSED. SLEMONS Productions: Short Play Festival.

By Layne V. Witherell

In the 19th century the popular alcoholic beverage made from apples was just called cider. Recently, it has been renamed in some quarters hard cider. I must admit, while I like cider, I don’t know as much as I should about it.

For the cider producers it is usually consumed by most of us around the autumn apple harvest. They hate that. Do you only drink wine during the grape harvest? For me, it serves as a beverage yearround whenever the spirit of adventure moves me, usually in a restaurant that features the exotic or unusual stuff in a can. So, in the service of knowledge expansion, let’s turn to several sources.

THE PORTLAND FOOD MAP

The Maine centric resource for orchards and cider producers. Astonishing how many there are. This could be your lifetime in apples (not forgetting other tree fruits).

‘THE CIDER REVIVAL: Dispatches from the Orchard’ by Jason Wilson I adore J.W.’s books. They are teeming with insight and loaded with controversy. Controversy over apples? You bet. Basically, there are several camps that I call the commercial, the purists, the feral, and the far out. Also, let’s not forget the Pomelliers, the sommeliers of the cider world, and the politically correct (more about them later). What is it with dry vs. sweet?

FOOD & DRINK

And judging those competitions – what is that all about?

THE COMMERCIAL

Angry Orchard. Leave it to The Boston Beer Co., producers of good old Sam Adams, to discover the thing before it becomes a thing and turn it into its own industry. To get to 60% of a billion-dollar industry you must take, well, short cuts. Apple juice concentrate from Europe (never China?) is the favorite favor with the ordinary consumer for its freshness and deliciousness. They even have recommended cocktails. Add a little “Fireball” anyone?

“There is nothing more American than turning a quick buck.” -J.W.

“Angry Orchard is singlehandedly responsible for cider’s visibility and mainstream appeal.” -J.W.

The old barn, fannel wearing, feral apple set are not thrilled, but there wouldn’t be a major cider revival without Angry Orchard.

TERROIR ANYONE?

This fancy French wine term refers to specifc grapes and their favors which are affected by specifc places. Apples are different. You can plant a scion cutting from the same tree and get the same variety or throw down some seeds and wind up with totally different varieties.

There are around 1,500 known grape

varieties and 7,500 apple varieties. The feral apple people love this. Rooting around a mixed tree orchard while fnding the last 160-year-old tree to make your single barrel of cider… “Funky, elemental, mineral, briny, like an old Amontillado Sherry,” says J.W., and it is an apt description of one of these ciders. The feral apple people are to ciders as the natural wine people are to wine.

The New York Times food critic visited the now defunct cider bar Wassail and described it as, “like going to a planet populated by nitrogen-based life forms; everything is at once recognizable and thoroughly different.”

THE MIDDLE GROUND

Shacksbury in Middlebury, Vermont

straddles the fence between the big brands and the feral folks. Their Rose Cider, 5.5% alc., from New England apples aged on red grape skins have berry favors combined with light tannin. Rose anyone? Their Vermonter, 6.9%, is gin barrel aged with local apples and some sweetness.

BRIDGE BETWEEN HERITAGE & MODERN

Anxo Cider is a Washington D.C. cider house specializing in Basque style ciders. Happy Trees, 6.9% alc., is produced from heirloom Mid-Atlantic apples with wild yeast. “Dry, tart, and funky,” it’s aged in old Sangiovese wine barrels. Hipster cider. I frst saw it at High Roller Lobster restaurant.

Cont'd on Next Page

Iconic apple tree by the great local artist Pat Corrigan at Freedom's Edge Portland tasting room. -Photos courtesy of Layne Witherell

Cont'd from Previous Page

Freedom’s Edge, Maine, has tasting rooms in Albion and Portland (31 Diamond Street). What astonishes me upon entering the tasting room at Freedom’s Edge is the wall-sized mural of a super iconic apple tree by the great local artist Pat Corrigan. In case you just moved here (which seems to be a large percentage of the population), his work is quintessential local Portland. A brilliant idea on the Freedom’s Edge brothers’ part. The vibe is local, the art is local, as is the cider.

Original Cider, 6.8% alc ., “balances tannic bittersweets and aromatic dessert fruit.” I’ll let J.W. have another word:

“The complexity of heritage cider is created in the orchard” -J.W.

These are ciders made from heirloom apples like the Dabinette that are loaded in sugars as well as tannins. They are used along with others to create an alchemy of complex style.

Redfeld Cider, 7.1% alc., is produced from a single varietal Redfeld apple, aged three years in port barrels. “Oakey and buttery.” This verges clearly on wine territory in language, style, and favor. Stand back wine people, you’ve been invaded.

FOOD & DRINK

This place is clearly worth multiple visits. The charcuterie is generous, and the staff is welcoming. All that and a delicious glass of cider from a wide-ranging menu. What more can you ask for?

CIDER CONCLUSIONS

I learned a lot between reading, tasting, and thinking about ciders for over a month. I did mention controversy early on. Let’s look.

COMPETITIONS

Our guru, Mr. Jason Wilson of “The Cider Revival” book gets roped into being a cider competition judge. I too got roped into being a wine competition judge in the early 2000’s when I wrote for The Richmond Times Dispatch and Style Weekly while living and working in Virginia. In his words, “all those medals are an exercise in futility.” I can take that one step further with a piece that I published after observing how an industry tried to fake their way into greatness. Check it out, “Governor’s Cup Lite,” Style Weekly, June 26, 2002, by Layne V. Witherell. Some things just don’t change.

HERITAGE

Nostalgia marketing is controversial. Do we go blazingly forward with jalapeno chili kumquat ciders? Or simply go back to the nostalgia of Johnny Appleseed on the frontier style branding? Nothing fames the fres of controversy more than the

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word “heritage.” In Oakland, California a cider bar owner exclaimed, “Heritage makes me feel a little icky. It’s too hella white!”

In the south “heritage” is as comfortable as looking longingly at great granddad’s old butternut uniform that he wore clear through to Appomattox. How do I know? I have actually lived in both places. Oakland in the 70’s while attending San Francisco State and Richmond, Virginia as a wholesaler, retailer, and writer. We are different Americas.

CIDER & FOOD

I am getting hungry. The food and cider combo at Freedom’s Edge was perfect. Let’s take a look at a variety of things that can work at your table as you wash down your favorite cider:

• Brie- Works with everything

• Cheddar- Yummy with fuller favors

• Crepes- Beautiful combo of favors

• Duck- Why not duck?

• Turkey- Cider for Thanksgiving?

• Spicy dishes- Wow!

• Fondue- Missing in action at Freedom’s Edge this visit. Maybe next time?

• Chocolate Fondue- With their blueberry cider

• Last, but not least, sweet cider with... Donuts.

This has been a great ride. Don’t forget to support your local cider people. And remember:

CIDER IS NOT JUST FOR FALL ANYMORE.

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.

A Legendary Prairie Angling ‘Tight Line’ Adventure at Lloyd

By Nancy Dorrans

Lake Lodge DEC 5-8, 2024

It took two private fights to begin our Prairie Angling “Tight Line” Adventure at Lloyd Lake Lodge. From Saskatoon we few to Fort McMurray (yes, back into Alberta) aboard a luxurious corporate jet, complete with a catered lunch, leather seats, and a variety of snacks and drinks. On the second fight from Fort McMurray to Lloyd Lake Lodge the plane was much more basic, but the pilot was very friendly and the scenery was breathtaking.

From where I sat I could see winding rivers, ponds, grassland, countless lakes, and dense, rugged forests where recent wildfres had left their mark. Smoke billowed far in the distance from fres still burning. In fact, just six years ago a wildfre came frighteningly close to engulfng Lloyd Lake Lodge. Thankfully, with the help of fre fghters pumping water from the lake onto surrounding treetops and a plane that dropped fre retardant, the property was saved.

-Courtesy Nancy Dorrans

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es culinary arts in the off season. He has even appeared on the Canadian version of Chopped and has been invited to participate on “Top Chef”! Needless to say the food was amazing! Desi does whatever else is needed to keep the property ship shape!

Our pilot circled the lake shore giving us our frst glimpse of the lake and lodge. We landed on an isolated sand strip and were warmly greeted by brothers Derrick and Desi Uniat and their dog Finn. The brothers, owners of Lloyd Lake Lodge since 2011, claim to have found “Freedom in fshing.” They frst visited the lodge as young boys on a fshing holiday with their grandfather and have been returning every summer since.

Derrick is a trained chef and teach-

The “lodge” consists of a collection of six guest cabins plus a dining building, general store, gathering cabin with pool table, deck and an outdoor fre pit, and a spacious wood burning hot tub. We spent fve full days breathing in the fresh air, fshing, eating, and fshing some more from the dock, the shore, and the boats. The setting was picturesque and serene.

With my frst cast from the dock that frst day I hooked a sparkling northern pike. I was thrilled and hooked! Ha!

Our local indigenous guides Ivan, Henry, and Clarence - nicknamed Reverse - took good care of us. When I asked how Reverse got his name, Derrick replied, “There are about ffty different stories... Who knows which one is true?” Reverse just smiled and said “...YAHHHH!!”

These three men maintained and drove the boats, set up the equipment, chose the lures and bait, found the best fshing holes, and gently coached us. “Tight Lines” was their creed. When we had a fsh on the line, they grabbed the net, unhooked the fsh (northern pike or wall500 Stevens Avenue Portland, ME 04103 (207) 774-1612

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eye), reset the hooks... Then we did it over and over again…

Matt, the offcial photographer from Tourism Saskatchewan, and I had Ivan as our guide. Sometimes Ivan drove the boat (Fog Ducker) with one hand and fshed with the other. We listened to his stories about his family, his forty years as a guide, his Dene roots, and his thoughts on life after death. The Dene people are an Indigenous group of First Nations who inhabit the northern boreal, subarctic, and Arctic regions of Canada. Ivan listens carefully to his surroundings. He understands messages from birds and other animals… I was captivated!

Each morning after breakfast we boarded the boats and fshed until we had enough walleye to enjoy a shore lunch somewhere with a fre pit and a view. Then our guides, working together like one fnely tuned machine, cleaned the fsh, chopped the wood and/or onions, built the fre, and cooked.

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A pristine view, fresh fried fsh, baked beans or potatoes with onions, and chef Derrick’s special sauce topped off each day’s shore lunch. The used oil and fsh remains were left for the bears… We didn’t see any, but heard stories...

From Lloyd Lake and the mouth and rapids of the Clearwater River to Lost Lake and Langley Lake... Each day was different yet the same... Surrounded by peaceful serenity...

There was something in the air over Lloyd Lake Lodge that bonded us tightly with our hosts, guides, and new friends… I can’t quite fgure out what it is. Perhaps, it is... Freedom in fshing! Yahhh!!!

A Lloyd Lake Lodge adventure wouldn't be complete without shore lunch.

Kiss the fsh for luck! Nancy with her sparkling northern pike. -Photo courtesy of Matt Duguid

Nancy

Designing Your Dream Home!

By Jade Christensen

Everyone has a dream house, and many are considering building one themselves. With Maine’s increased housing demand, this dream is becoming a reality. In past Bright Idea columns, we have discussed heat pumps, insulation, and other energy-saving strategies. Now, it is time to discuss designing a sustainable house by highlighting passive and active design techniques.

PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN

A passive house design is one of the more well-known designs for its thick walls and small windows and a heavy focus on energy conservation. Its building process has fve key principles: continuous insulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows and doors, heat recovery ventilation, solar heat, and solar shading. The construction prioritizes insulation and creating an airtight building and ventilation systems to control the house’s internal temperature. Building location is also emphasized when designing a house with the sun heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. This is a common way to reduce the demand for heating and cooling a house, depending on the season. Planting trees or creating sunshades is a common way to do this.

ACTIVE HOUSE DESIGN

Active house design focuses on bringing natural light and using technology to create a more sustainable living space. This design style has three key principles: comfort, energy, and environment. The idea of an active house is not only about its effciency but also its positive infuence on the inhabitants. Comfort brings in adequate daylight, improves indoor temperatures and air quality, and brings health and happiness into the home. Energy, similar to a passive house design, focuses on decreasing energy consumption and emphasizing the energy source.The environment ensures that reusable materials are used to maximize the life of the building and that the construction process is sustainable.

Passive and Active housing designs overlap in their focus on saving energy while also making them withstand the test of time. As Maine continues to increase its housing stock, incorporating these principles into the housing design is another great step to improving our environmental footprint while creating more housing.

Bright Ideas is by PCAT, who meet the four th Tuesday of the month, 6 to 7:30 p.m. FMI email Portlandclimate@gmail.com.

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The Moral Turmoil of Young Climate Activists

By Hannah Charlson

Young climate activists entering the workforce are facing a moral paradox. We watch with dread as massive corporations grow astronomically at the expense of the natural world. But now, in order to survive, we have to work for the same corporations releasing the carbon, generating the waste, and exploiting the labor that got us here in the frst place.

My generation often receives criticism for our disdain towards capitalism, attributing it to laziness. But we’re not lazy – we’re grieving. Entering the destructive cycle of production and consumption that is today’s workforce initially feels like a punch to the gut. We mourn the world that could have been. Yet, we can’t allow these feelings to paralyze us. We need to challenge one of capitalism’s most powerful fuels: individualism.

In conversations about sustainability, individual action dominates. However, individuals are not the top contributor to the climate crisis. A 2017 report from the Carbon Disclosure Project found that 71% of all industrial greenhouse gas emissions produced since 1988 came from just 100 companies. Disarming companies that hold extensive responsibility for the climate crisis will be most infuential.

Your biggest impact will not come from recycling every piece of plastic or driving an electric car. While those ac-

tions have their place, individual action is not what got us here and individual action will not get us out. Young climate activists prioritize actions like investing in public transportation and taxing carbon. Actions like these require a lot of people to cause a lot of commotion, as proven by Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL). In 2022, CCL mobilized and pushed legislators to pass the bipartisan Infation Reduction Act, a turning point in federal investments in carbon reduction.

The solution requires exerting political and social pressure on those in power. Canvass, shop local, call your senators, ride the bus. Individual action is exhausting and often unaffordable. Collective action sustains us through community and has a greater impact.

We have the solutions to the climate crisis – electrifcation, carbon sinks, and reforestation to name a few. What we need now is to gather together with our individual sparks and erupt in a blaze of collective action.

Sustainable action only works if the action can truly be sustained. So, take whatever job will pay your bills, drive the car you can afford, and join the collective climate fght.

Hannah Charlson is a 23-year-old climate activist and recent Vassar College graduate. This column was provided by Portland CCL..

Jacket Season Trivia

1. The Canadian tuxedo outﬁt requires both pants and a jacket made from what fabric?

2. Actor Ryan Gosling popularized a white satin jacket with a scorpion on it after sporting it in what 2011 ﬁlm?

3. An Indian achkan with a mandarin collar is best known by what name, borrowed from India’s ﬁrst Prime Minister?

4. The ﬁrst varsity letter jackets were given to exceptional baseball players at what oldest university in the United States?

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ELECTION EDITION

HILLTOP SUPERETTE’s

SLICE FROM THE PIE

SLICES OF NEWS THAT WE WANTED TO GET OUT WHILE THEY’RE STILL HOT…

Portland Trails and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine install temporary traffc calming features on Diamond Street in Bayside like those on Danforth and Brighton… A one-mile loop through the scenic woods behind Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery is updated for wheelchair users, bike commuters, and families with strollers… OhNo Café closes after 20 years as a West End gathering place on lower Brackett Street… 23 AmeriCorps members recruit nearly 3,000 volunteers and distributed nearly 1.15 million pounds of food to people in Maine prompting the award of challenge coins by Governor Mills... Moody’s updates Portland’s credit rating to AAA citing a growing tax base and healthy local economy… Mainely Veterinary Dentistry (MVD) in Windham and their new Tooth Fairy Fund help South Portland police K9 Ziva with a fractured tooth… Brunswick’s nonproft outdoor gear lending library and repair shop Maine GearShare is coming to Portland on Oct. 19 for the Gear Again Festival on Diamond Street… National Newspaper Week is October 6-12 so thank your hardworking newspaper carriers without whom many people would not receive the news…

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CONTRIBUTORS

Hannah Charlson, CCL Column Jade Christensen, Bright Ideas

Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure

Stephanie Miller, Book Short Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Layne V. Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig

Special Thanks to Urbanist Coaltion of Portland

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