December 2011/January 2012 Munjoy Hill Observer

M u n joy Hil l

OBSERVER

M u n joy Hil l

OBSERVER

Non Profit Org US Postage

MHNO, 92 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101

Change Service Requested

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Portland, ME Permit No. 824

FREE Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Vol. 31, No. 9 • DEC 2011 / JAN 2012

Preoccupying Portland East Enders have been watching and following, with various degrees of curiosity, bemusement and annoyance, the news of the Occupy Maine encampment Lincoln Park at the foot of Munjoy Hill. This Vacationland iteration of the Occupy Wall Street movement has brought us the now-familiar sight of blue-tarped tents, signs and messages, serving as a daily reminder that the problems facing our nation are still far from resolved.

Participants in this protest come from all walks of life, and span a wide range of ages. Their message takes various forms, but it comes down to a central criticism of widespread corporate greed, corporate influence on national policy, and our government’s perceived defense of the profits of the superwealthy at the expense of the “greater good.”

But if you ask people on the street and in the shops, they have their own take.

“I wish they’d get that mess cleaned up,” commented one gentleman. “They should just get a job,” said a woman going by. Irritation and impatience was a fairly common response among those with whom I spoke.

Right before Thanksgiving, on a crisp sunny mid-morning, midweek, I took a tour of the sleepy Lincoln Park encampment to speak with some of the “residents” and to get a sense of their concerns and intentions, now that See page 11, Occupy

Above, Bill Slavick, a Portland resident of 41 years, stood on the street corner of Congress and Pearl St. to show his solidarity with the Occupy Maine and Occupy Wall Street protestors.

Images at left are of tents on the grounds of the Lincoln Park Occupy Maine encampment.

Catch the SEA Holiday Arts/craft Sale at the East end community School- Dec 2-4 !

The East End Decks out for the Holidays The Bandstand on the Eastern Promenade has been wreathed in garlands, windows along Congress have been strung with lights and enticing baubles. The East End Stroll event on Dec 10th is just around the corner.

Munjoy Hill is a sight to behold. Everyone is invited to be part of the fun: You can go caroling with the Friends of the Eastern Promenade (see page 10). Plan a night out at one of the fine restaurants. Wander among the shops on Congress— the weather has been cooperating nicely! (See events on page 14)

INSIDE

Coming Home To Elders

Friends of the Eastern Promenade, p.10

Above, volunteers with the Friends of the Eastern Promenade trimmed the pillars and railings of the bandstand for the upcoming holiday season.

Girl Gone Raw, Elizabeth Fraser, p.7

Out & About in Portland, p.14-16

By Ann V. Quinlan Amidst the hustle and stress of the holidays there is a sense of celebration and openheartedness that brings us together. Whatever our spiritual or religious mantel, this time of year moves us to a place of anticipation, as we become a part of something larger than ourselves. We are embraced by a myriad of lights, doorfront greens and friendly smiles.

On December 21, Winter Solstice,

our sun ascends a little higher in the sky and we relish the increasing length of daylight, once again.

While sharing this season with elders we have an opportune time to observe changes, however subtle. What seems different about them? While many elders proceed uneventfully well into old age some will encounter health and see page 12, Elders

The Munjoy Mother’s Club, founded by the late Marie Trott, is hosting a Christmas party with gifts for needy local children. THEY NEED YOUR HELP! Please contribute: kids’ toys & crafts, gift certificates, cash. See p. 3 for details.

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

At the Helm The Munjoy Hill Observer is published

by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO) at 92 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04101 info@munjoyhill.org 207-775-3050 Editor: Lisa Peñalver

observer@munjoyhill.org (207) 766-5077 munjoyhill.org Observer Committee Tamera Edison, Andrea Myhaver, Kristin Rapinac advertising Tamera Edison tamera.edison@munjoyhill.org 939-7998, Lisa Peñalver, Layout, 239-1604

3,000 Circulation 8,000+ Readership About our paper The Munjoy Hill Observer is published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO) as a service to its members and to the community as a whole, to inform Portland’s East End residents of local issues and events, and of the services that can be found here. The Observer serves as a vehicle to connect and inform our neighbors, while enlisting community partners to help us help those who need it most.

The Munjoy Hill Observer was first published in May of 1979. Circulation is 3000, distributed free in Portland at over 100 locations. Nearly 400 copies are mailed to current and former members of the MHNO.

MHNO Board 2011-12 Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Andrea Myhaver, President . ................. andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org Kristin Rapinac, Vice President . .................... kristin.rapinac@munjoyhill.org Elaine Mullin, Treasurer elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org.......... 671-6132 Eben Albert-Knopp........ ealbertknopp@yahoo.com

For the past few months the MHNO Board of Directors has been working on strategic planning. In September we set 5 major goals for the fiscal year. Since then, we’ve been developing a list of objectives that will help us to reach our goals.

Although we have ideas galore, and many things we’d LIKE to accomplish this year, we also recognize that we are a small group of volunteers with limitations we can’t avoid, so we have been applying the “SMART” method to identify and prioritize what we will spend our time on over the next several months.

“SMART” stands for “Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.” Keeping this method in mind will help us to focus our limited time on a few

MHNO President, Andrea Myhaver key projects that will have a big impact in the neighborhood.

While our list of objectives is still a work in progress, one thing that has become clear as we have examined our goals (listed at right) is that increasing our membership is the key to the success of this organization.

and “What can we do to encourage people to sign up and get involved?” So, I pose these questions to you dear readers:

We have roughly 200 members of the MHNO and there are approximately 2100 residential units on Munjoy Hill. That means that only about 10% of the people (less really, because many residential units have more than one occupant) living on Munjoy Hill are part of our organization. We really want to change that! We want the MHNO to be a vibrant, active organization for ALL residents of Munjoy Hill. To that end, we are exploring the questions, “Why do people choose to live on the Hill?”

How would you be interested in helping the MHNO?

With apologies to JFK, “Ask NOT what you can buy for yourself, ASK what you can buy for your country!” ‘Tis the season, after all. I predict this is what we have in store for the coming month: Shop Shop Shop, Eat Eat Eat. Party Party Party. Remorse Reflect Regroup Resolve. Exercise. Onward. If we do it judiciously, we don’t have to break our personal piggy banks in the process.

Of course, we have venues for all of the above right here on Munjoy Hill. We have exceptional restaurants within easy walking distance, galleries and craft shops in abundance, salons in which to pamper ourselves, yoga and exercise studios in which to tone up.

It’s a veritable “Emerald City” and

no one guards the gate!

I doubt our founding fathers ever imagined that “shop-‘til-youdrop” would become a national virtue, but there you have it. It is what it is.

Once the revelry is over, we come back down to earth. The arrival of the New Year is traditionally a time to reflect on the past year’s events, successes and shortcomings, and a time to renew our commitment to making the changes we want to see in our lives and in our communities.

To this end, I am asking YOU, our readers, to participate directly in this publication. This Munjoy Hill Observer belongs to everyone in the community. It reflects the interests, concerns and de-

Joan Sheedy..............joan.sheedy@munjoyhill.org . ..................................................... 774-7616 Ann Quinlan.............. ann.quinlan@munjoyhill.org Robert Lobor.............robert.lobor@munjoyhill.org

cl

Please email me your responses to: andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill. org. I really do want to hear from you, and just to add a bit of incentive, I will give away an “I Love Munjoy Hill” t-shirt to the first five people who send me their input.

Thank you and have a wonderful December and January!

Each month we have a series of regular features and topics we cover, as well as current events, and I would be glad to share the writing with those who would like to take it on. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the community. Please send us your thoughts and ideas to the Observer at Observer@Munjoyhill.org.

Pl

MHNO Mission in January 1979, our purpose is to be

a

broad-based,

representative

organization committed to improving the quality of life for the residents of Munjoy Hill and the East End, by strengthening the sense of community, maintaining the current diversity of social and economic groups, encouraging self-sufficiency, and enriching the lives of all residents.

2. To provide assistance and services to families, youth, and elders on Munjoy Hill.

3. To build community.

4. To serve as a clearinghouse for information that involves residents of Munjoy Hill.

5. To develop a strong voice in all matters that affect Munjoy Hill, including development, security, safety, and infrastructure.

own heart - recommend your favorite nonprofit, tell us about a business you just discovered on the hill, your favorite running circuit; write about your chickens! No issue is too big or too small. It’s a new year—try something new.

In between family dinners, holiday concerts and parties, entertain the idea of crafting an article on a topic near and dear to your

“There is no delight in owning anything unshared.”

— Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?- You can help prevent crime on the Hill!

If you see a crime happening or see/hear anything suspicious in your neighborhood, please call the police! Clip and save these numbers: 1)

Incorporated as a nonprofit organization

1. To ensure that the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization remains sustainable.

lights of the residents of the East End. While we do have a number of regular contributors—folks who live in our community and share their thoughts on these pages—we need MORE voices.

e this ewspape n

Jamie Lane-Fitzgerald.......................................... . .......... jamie.lane-fitzgerald@munjoyhill.org Katie Brown............... katie.brown@munjoyhill.org

If you aren’t a member of the MHNO, why aren’t you?

MHNO Goals 2011-2012

Free t-shirt offer! -- see column above, At the Helm se recy ea

Christina Feller christina.feller@munjoyhill.org...... 773-4336

What do you LOVE about the Hill?

Send Your Letters and Hill news to observer@MunjoyHill.org

Ralph Carmona..................................................... rccarmona@hotmail.com................. 518-9177 Sam Cohen.................. sam.cohen@munjoyhill.org

Why do YOU live on Munjoy Hill?

From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver

A-shopping we will go!

r

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Show neighborhood pride! Munjoy HilL t-shirts are available: S-XL@$16, XXXL@$20, Tees come in black or white. Or get this bumper sticker! (measures 6”x 4”) $3 per sticker. Buy one and support your Neighborhood group.

Send your check to MHNO: 92 Congress St, Portland ME 04101. Email inquiries to info@ munjoyhill.org.

756-8135 -Daytimes: Janine Kaserman with Community Policing

2) 650-8770 cell -11 am thru the night, new “acting” Senior Lead Officer Kevin McCarthy (at right) 3)

874-8575/-8574

Dispatch- non-emergency situations

4) Emergencies: 9-1-1 Anonymous Crimes tips Program: Phone Tip—Dial 874-8584, | Online: tipsubmit.com Text-A-Tip: Text “GOTCHA” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES)

BULLETIN Board the munjoy Hill neighborhood Organization MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

MEETINGS: The MHNO Board meets every second Monday of each month at the Hill House at 92 Congress St. — all are welcome!

You can make a di f f er ence!

WE WA N T YO U! Pl ea s e e ma i l i nfo@m u nj oy h i l l.o r g, o r c a l l 775-3050, o r e ma i l th e co m m ittee c ha i r s (a d d r e s s e s l i s te d b e l ow) to l ea r n m o r e a b o ut, o r s i g n u p fo r, a ny of th e fo l l ow i n g M H N O C o m m it tee s:

Communica t ions Commi t t ee - ove r s ee s a l l m eth o d s by w h i c h th e M H N O co m m u n i c ate s w ith th e co m m u n it y we s e r ve, i n c l u d i n g web, p r i nt, s o c ia l m e d ia, e ma i l a n d d i r e c t ma i l. Pl ea s e co nt a c t Cha i r, K r i s ti n Ra p i na c: k r i s ti n.r a p i na c@ m u nj oy h i l l.o r g, fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

T he Obser v er Commi t t ee – a s u b - co m m it tee u n d e r C o m m u n i c ati o n s, p r ov i d e s ove r s i g ht to th e M H N O’s m o nth l y n ews pa p e r, th e M u nj oy H i l l O bs e r ve r. Pl ea s e co nt a c t Ac ti n g Cha i r, K r i s ti n Ra p i na c: k r i s ti n.r a p i na c@m u nj oy h i l l.o r g, fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

Member ship Commi t t ee – ove r s ee s th e ex pa n s i o n, ma i nte na n ce a n d i nvo l ve m e nt of m e m b e r s (wo r ks w ith O bs e r ve r a n d C o m m u n i c ati o n s C o m m ittee a s n ee d e d). We a r e c u r r e ntl y i n n ee d of a Cha i r fo r th i s co m m ittee. Wa nt to h e l p u s g r ow o u r m e m b e r s h i p? C o n s i d e r j o i n i n g th e b oa r d a n d c ha i r i n g th i s co m m it tee. Fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n, co nt a c t A n d r ea M y have r at a n d r ea.my have r @m u nj oy h i l l.o r g.

Ser v ices Commi t t ee – I n itiate s a n d i m p l e m e nt s a l l s e r v i ce a n d a s s i s t a n ce p r o g r a m s, s u c h a s Fu e l A s s i s t a n ce, Yo uth C o m m u n it y S e r v i ce s, H o l i d ay G if t s a n d o u r f l e d g l i n g L i ve at H o m e p r o g r a m. Pl ea s e co nt a c t Cha i r, Ela i n e M u l l i n, at e la i n e.m u l l i n@ m u nj oy h i l l.o r g fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

E v en t s Commi t t ee – C o o r d i nate s a n d i m p l e m e nt s co m m u n it y eve nt s a n d a c ti v iti e s that th e M H N O s p o n s o r s o r d eve l o ps, s u c h a s Le m o na d e Day Ma i n e, T h e MS Sh o r e s i d e Fe s ti va l, q ua r te r l y a n d a n n ua l m eeti n g s, a n d n ew fo r th i s f a l l, th e We LOV E M u nj oy H i l l Fe s ti va l! Pl ea s e co nt a c t Cha i r, A n d r ea M y have r, at a n d r ea.my have r @m u nj oy h i l l.o r g, fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

Walk able S t r ee t s and Neighbor hood Commi t t ee - O ve r s ee s M H N O i nvo l ve m e nt

Munjoy Mother’s Club needs your help “No one should ever feel alone at Christmas.”

The late Marie Trott believed this from bottom of her heart, and for 33 years, she honored this belief by an holding annual “Munjoy Mother’s Club” Christmas party, with food and gifts for anyone who wanted to come.

This Christmas 2011, Marie is no longer with us to oversee the event, so her adult children are trying to fill her shoes and pull off another party for the needy children -- age(10 and under) -- of the East End - But they need our help!—Please make a Donation & Spread the word! Your gifts are greatly appreciated! Dedicated to the loving memory of Marie L. Trott, Oct 1942 - June 2011 --~the person who started the tradition of our annual Christmas party.

Your gift can bring joy to a local child on Munjoy Hill

Linda York 17 Merrill St. Portland, ME 04101 ph 518-3169

Immediate JOB Opening

Part-Time Ad Sales Assistant Ad Sales Rep needed for the Observer

Competitive commissions paid.

Anywhere between 8-20 hrs/wk, depending on sales; some experience preferred. Must be able to work independently, invoice and keep records, communicate regularly with senior ad rep and with Observer Editor. Must be computer literate and have a computer. Please email a letter describing your interest & qualifications, and a resumé, to info@munjoyhill.org.

i n a l l matte r s af fe c ti n g s tr eet, s i d ewa l k a n d n e i g h b o r h o o d e nv i r o n m e nt s (i n c l u d e s s afe s i d ewa l ks, s tr eet c l ea n u p, pa r k i n g a n d tr af f i c i s s u e s, ma i nte na n ce a n d u s e of th e H i l l H o u s e). Pl ea s e co nt a c t Cha i r, Kati e Br ow n, at kati e.b r ow n@m u nj oy h i l l.o r g, fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

F inance and T r easur y - I n co nj u n c ti o n w ith th e Tr ea s u r e r, ove r s ee s th e f i na n ce s of th e Boa r d, i n c l u d i n g b u d g eti n g, a n d H i l l H o u s e O p e r ati o n s. C o m m it tee Cha i r/N ew Tr ea s u r e r : Ela i n e M u l l i n. Pl ea s e co nt a c t h e r at e la i n e.m u l l i n@m u nj oy h i l l.o r g fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

F undr aising – T h i s co m m it tee p r ov i d e s ove r s i g ht to a l l f i na n c ia l d eve l o p m e nt /f u n d r a i s i n g a c ti v iti e s fo r th e o r ga n izati o n, i n c l u d i n g g r a nt w r iti n g. Fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n co nt a c t A n d r ea M y have r at a n d r ea.my have r @m u nj oy h i l l.o r g.

You t h Commi t t ee

– T h i s i s a b r a n d n ew co m m ittee! It s fo c u s w i l l b e to fos te r yo uth i nvo l ve m e nt i n th e M H N O. K n ow a ny g r eat k i d s w h o wa nt to b e i nvo l ve d i n th e i r n e i g h b o r h o o d?

C o nt a c t Cha i r Ch r i s ti na Fe l l e r at c h r i s ti na.fe l l e r @m u nj oy h i l l. o r g fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

A d Hoc Commi t t ees B u i ld i ng U s age an d De v e lo p men t Comm i t t ee - C o o r d i nate s b u i l d i n g a n d p r o p e r t y ma i nte na n ce, u s e of th e b u i l d i n g, a n d f utu r e d eve l o p m e nt. C o nt a c t Cha i r Ch r i s ti na Fe l l e r at c h r i s ti na.fe l l e r @m u nj oy h i l l.o r g, fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

M u njoy H i ll at- H ome Comm i t t ee – T h i s i s a b r a n d n ew co m m it tee! It s fo c u s w i l l b e to ex p l o r e a n d d eve l o p a n et wo r k fo r s u p p o r t fo r e l d e r s o n T h e H i l l. C o nt a c t Cha i r, Ela i n e M u l l i n, at e la i n e.m u l l i n@m u nj oy h i l l.o r g fo r m o r e i nfo r mati o n.

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

For info, contact Linda or Mr. Trott. Call, mail, or drop off your donations at either place. Party is on Sunday, Dec 18 at the Root Cellar

Waldo S. Trott, 315 Woodford St. Portland, ME 04104 ph 653-2341 ~

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DEC 2011/JAN 2012

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

CapitAl City

Statehouse Update | Senator JusTin Alfond

MHNO is a proud member of Portland BuyLocal

justinalfond.com

The State of Health Care in Maine

Our nation has made positive strides in health care reform since the passage of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the ACA, incrementally, more people will receive better health care coverage, it will be more affordable, and more accessible.

But this year, in the legislature, Maine Republicans led an insurance overhaul that challenges these goals.

Maine’s LD 1333, now public law (PL 90), has grave implications for many Mainers.

The GOP-majority’s rationale for this overhaul is flawed, at best. Part of their theory is that by making health insurance less expensive for young people, then the pool of insured people will expand and thereby reduce the costs of health insurance for all. However, the reality of PL 90 is much different from the GOP’s theory.

PL 90, in reality, eliminates consumer protections and may bring young people into the insurance pool but it’s at the expense of the sick, elderly and those living in rural Maine.

PL 90 also taxes every single Mainer with private health insurance. That means, in addition to potential increases in the cost of health insurance, a family of four will pay an additional $192 a year in health insurance taxes. These taxes will help pay for what is known as a “high-risk pool.” This “high-risk pool” will serve as an “insurer of last resort” for those individuals considered too costly to insure by insurance companies and instead pushes their health insurance costs on to the taxpayers.

Prior to the passage of PL 90, Maine had a policy of “community rating,” which

maintained equality among coverage rates and prohibited insurance companies from increasing rates based on age, occupation, and geographic residence.

PL 90 does away with most of these protections—and, instead gives insurance companies unbridled power to decide who, where, and how rates go up. So, a woodcutter from Oxford County—even if healthy—may see higher rates than his counterpart in York County.

The community rating system also capped how much insurance companies could charge. For example, an insurance company could not charge more than 1.5 times more for one policy. If Policy A costs $200 per month, insurance companies could not charge more than $300 per month for that same policy. Now, under PL 90, insurance companies can charge up to three times as much for that same policy—Mainers could see costs jump from $200 per month to $600 per month!

How does giving health insurance companies more leeway reduce health care costs for Maine people?

Another portion of PL 90 allows Mainers to buy policies from out of state insurance companies. This may seem like a good idea, but the devil is in the details. Out of state plans, at first glance, may cost less but, that’s mostly because they don’t cover conditions like diabetes, asthma, cancer, or pregnancy. These conditions may only be covered if you buy an expensive “rider.” So do you save anything in the long run? And what’s worse is that Maine insurance regulators will have limited ability to police these out of state carriers. If the out of state insurance company doesn’t promptly pay medical claims or refuses to pay, there is no way to redress the consumer’s concerns.

In short, the changes in Maine’s health care law with PL 90 may have the desired effect of getting more young, healthy peo-

Home Heating Assistance

justinalfond.com

For resources to all Health and Human Services, call 2-1-1 or visit their website (www.211maine.org). The operator will direct you to someone who will answer your questions or assist you in getting the services you need.

The following are some resources for helping Maine families stay warm this winter: Maine State Housing Authority – An excellent resource which includes information on where to receive help this winter, including: • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides money to help homeowners and renters to pay for heating costs.

• Low Income Assistance Plans help you pay for electricity by providing a credit on your electric bills.

• Weatherization Grants to help improve home energy efficiency.

• Governor’s Weatherization Program provides a home energy audit and weatherization improvements.

• Appliance Replacement Program replaces home appliances that are inefficient and expensive to operate • Home Energy Loan Program offers loans at a low fixed-interest rate for home improvements that increase energy efficiency.

United Way of Greater Portland’s Keep ME Warm Program provides heating assistance to those families that need it most. To download a brochure, go to http:// www.megrants.org/documents/energyforum_092008/KeepMEWarmBrochure.pdf.

Efficiency Maine is an endeavor to encourage more efficient use of electricity, help Mainers decrease energy costs, and improve our state’s environment.

ple to buy insurance, but the policies may literally not be worth the paper they are written on if they get sick.

Even with PL 90, I wonder how many young workers will choose to buy health insurance. The reality is that young workers, like many here in Portland, have not developed their careers and still may not be able to afford health insurance on their starting wages. At the same time, mid-career workers (over the age of 40) who live in rural areas and work in traditional Maine industries like wood cutting and lobstering, and professions like hair dressing and service/restaurant workers, will see their rates soar. Even with PL 90, Maine will be left with too many people who are sick and can’t afford health insurance coverage and those with health care coverage continuing to pay more than their fair share.

In the next few months, most of the provisions of PL 90 will be in full effect and we will

See puzzle on page 8

Health care cov er age in Maine is changing. And, I would argue, not for the better.

start seeing the results. Perhaps by 2014, once the Affordable Care Act is in full swing, it will mitigate some of the harsher results we will see from PL 90.

We would all like to see lower health care costs, lower health insurance premiums, and more individuals covered, but PL 90 misses the mark, and fails to accomplish these goals. Instead, it gives control to the big insurance companies and leaves too many Mainers in a vulnerable place.

What do you think we should do for health care and health insurance? Please share you thoughts—I look forward to hearing from you. (207) 828-0277, or email Justin@JustinAlfond.com.

CapitAl City City Councilor | kevin Donoghue When I scheduled the District One Annual Meeting for the night after Election Day, I imagined that we would be the first to congratulate the Mayor-elect. At that time, Mike Brennan had still been waiting for the final round of tabulations with first runner up, Ethan Strimling, at City Hall. Current Mayor and second runner up, Nick Mavodones, and District Two City Councilor and third runner up, Dave Marshall, had both joined us before leaving to congratulate Mayor-elect Brennan. We also bid farewell to At-Large City Councilor, Dory Waxman, whose seat yields to the Mayor. Dory joined a deeply divided City Council in 2006 and she leaves it having helped make it most collegial and thus more productive than ever, significantly lightening the load for Mike Brennan.

Mike Brennan’s victory at the polls was broad, placing first in every precinct of Districts One, Two, and Three, while splitting District Four and ceding all of District Five to Ethan Strimling. East End Community School voters cast a slightly higher share of their first place votes for Brennan than did voters citywide, finishing with 27.4% compared with 26.8% in all precincts. Dave Marshall finished second on Munjoy Hill with 17.3% compared with his 7.7% citywide. Ethan Strimling placed third at the same poll with 10.9% compared to a 22.4% overall showing. Jed Rathband finished fourth here with 10.4%, better than his 7.1% in all five voting districts and Markos MIller finished fifth on his home turf with 9.5% compared

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

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Bins are in—Paper bags are Rags!

kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov

to his citywide showing of 3.7%. Not only did Portland elect its first legitimate Mayor in eighty-eight years, so too did Munjoy Hill!

So what did Mayor-elect Mike Brennan and others miss at the District One Annual Meeting?

They missed some good news: METRO is poised to run later service on Munjoy Hill come May. Currently the last evening bus service leaves Monument Square for Munjoy Hill at about 7.15 pm. We’re planning for three new runs, leaving Monument Square at 7:55 pm, 8:55 pm, and 10:35 pm. Munjoy Hill will also be getting its first shared car soon. We have designated a parking spot at the corner of Congress Street and St. Lawrence Street for an additional car from UCar Share.

The “Beckett Green” project at the Adams School site, developed by Avesta Housing. should bring about 16 permanently-affordable units to the Hill when construction is complete. The City still owns the eastern half of the block, including the Munjoy lot. They will also be replacing the playground at their cost.

With construction of Beckett Green detailed to resume in the spring, Avesta Housing has agreed to allow the use of its lot on Wilson Street for all winter parking bans, in addition to the lot on Munjoy Street. MaineDOT has begun building the much-anticipated new trail connection to Back Cove at Exit 7 and we have completed the sidewalk from Washington Avenue to East End Community School. Please let me know what good news you want to celebrate next at: kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov

By Suzanne Hunt, Sanitation Compliance Officer, City of Portland Department of Public Services

Paper bags fail to contain recycle waste. Portland rules require that recycle trash be put in bins for pick up. Paper bags are not acceptable. Why? Recycled materials set out in paper bags will tip over or blow down the street, changing well-intentioned recycling into an eyesore. Rain and snow destroy paper bags, creating a mess of loose recycle all over the sidewalks and streets. The purpose of using plastic bins is to contain the recycle. Paper bags are not a solution, they’re a problem.

Portlanders now recycle about 35% of total solid waste. Recycling saves on blue bags and is good for the earth. Litter looks terrible, depreciates a neighborhood, and costs the taxpayer money. The State of Maine’s recycling goal by 2020 is 50%. Now is the time to get the process right.

Avesta/Adams School Update-Nov 2011

By Lisa Peñalver According to Seth Parker, project manager for the “Becket Green” project, Avesta is in the process of finishing construction drawings and design documents before going out to bid at the end of the year, with a proposed construction goal for early spring.

Public meeting will be held at specific intervals prior to construction, as required by the terms of the Brownfied s grant, which constitutes a significant portion of the funding for this project.

Upcoming meetings will be announced.

The Adams School mural panels have

Recycling Tip: You can recycle your old computer equipment at Goodwill. They accept monitors, scanners, hard drives, ink and toner cartridges, keyboards, mice etc. They work with Dell Reconnect accepting and recycling computer materials thereby reducing carbon emissions.

Portland recycle bins are available for $7 at Public Services at 55 Portland Street, Monday thru Friday 8-4:30 and at the Riverside Recycling Facility, 910 Riverside Street (797-6200) Monday thru Saturday, 7- 4.

There are two trash rules to remember: container and time-frame.

1. Put trash and recycle in correct container; (blue bags and recycle bins).

2. Put trash and recycle out no earlier than 3 p.m. the day before your pick up.

Proper and efficient Solid Waste Management is vital to our financial and environmental future. Please share your ideas for ways to make it work for all of us. For more info, contact smh@portlandmaine.gov 756-8166.

been moved from the site on Moody Street and relocated to a city lot on Outer Congress for the winter. These slabs are very heavy. There is an “ongoing conversation taking place [between Avesta and the community] over ways of integrating the panels into the site” It remains to be seen what the best application will be.

If you wish to offer input, you may submit ideas directly to Avesta (sparker@ avestahousing.org, 553-7780 x 280), the city parks department, or speak with Ethan Boxer-Macomber (EBoxer-Macomber@avestahousing.org), who has a broad understanding of the issues and concerns involved, having been involved in the project since its inception.

Now located right on Munjoy Hill!

Falmouth Flowers and Gifts 58 Washington Ave. | Portland Blink, the green and white, sprigs of holly on the snow, crown the windowsill.

—Violet Scichafo Falmouth Flowers and Gifts is a fullservice florist offering first quality, fresh cut flowers and arrangements. We will exceed your expectations for all occasions.

We can create one-of-a-kind arrangements for newborns, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, and special events of all kinds. We also create unique holiday decorations and wreaths as well as themespecific gift baskets.

For this festive winter season, we have: • fresh maine wreaths, kissing balls and candle rings; • festive centerpieces and arrangements; • poinsettias and other seasonal plants; • fruit and gourmet baskets; • beautiful hanukkah arrangements; • gift certificates in all denominationsand a lovely selection of gifts to choose from; • In home decorating available.

We can also get Christmas greens, garlands and swags with advance ordering. *Visit us on the East End Holiday Stroll on Dec.10th **See our “I Saw Three Ships”-themed room at Victoria Mansion We are located at the corner of Washington Ave. and Oxford Ave. (on the Silly’s side of the street.) Making floral deliveries throughout the greater Portland and Falmouth area.

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DEC 2011/JAN 2012

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Art Soul

ReadersWrite ReadersWrite ReadersWrite R e ad ReadersWrite Readers Write

MON COURS DE FRANÇAIS,

or My French Lesson An essay by Elizabeth Miller, Waterville St. As we embark upon the craziness known as the Christmas season (yes, I know it’s more politically correct to call it the winter holidays, but without the Christian December 25, there’d be no Twelve Days of Christmas with all those lords a’ leapin’ and partridges in pear trees), I offer this reminiscence about a very special December in Paris two years ago. Perhaps there are some lessons for right here in Forest City?

Okay, this first one may be très impossible to set up in Portland, given local liquor laws. Key West, oui, Portland, non. I was introduced to vin chaud at a church fair in Normandy while on a day trip to the D-Day Beaches early in the month. Yes, they have Christmas fairs there too, tables filled with homemade preserves, pastries and breads, recycled jewelry, soaps and candles, just like the elephant blanc we see here. And hot, spiced red wine­—just the balm to soothe the emotional blow of seeing invasion beaches and visiting the American Cemetery.

So the search began upon our return to Paris to find the parfaite coupe de vin chaud. That one near Montparnasse? Too much clove. The one along the Champs Élysées? Not enough spice. And so it went, this Goldlilocks sipping her way through several arrondissements until, voilà! Across from Notre Dame? Ooh-la-la, just right, and only 3 euros. What a delightful use for a crockpot set up on the sidewalk.

What else made our preparations for Noël so special? Listen up City Council members, because this one’s for you. About two weeks before Christmas, temporary markets sprang up in city squares and parks. No distinction was made between arts and crafts: artisanal cheese makers set up next to artists who set up next to knitters. It was the sheer variety that made it such fun to wander from booth to booth, cup of vin chaud in hand, naturellement. If Paris

can do this at Christmas, why can’t we do the same on Commercial Street during cruise ship season?

The pièce de résistance? Père Noël. Here’s inspiration for those of us prone to over imbibing and passing the shortened days as une pomme de terre de gîter. (Couch potato for those who studied French in high school.) No sleigh, no reindeer, just an agile, slender guy dressed in the familiar red suit and hat (albeit several sizes smaller than our Santa Claus), bag slung over his shoulder, nimbly climbing the wall.

Everywhere one looked, the outside decoration of choice was Père Noël, his rope ladder flung up the wall, toting toys up to les enfants. Imagine the physical regimen he must maintain throughout the year to be able to undertake such a monumental task. Formidable et incroyable. No Bûche de Noël for this guy.

Servicing a country of 64.87 million people in 21.5 million households, that is un gros travail. And no elfin assistants. With the French government paying bonuses to couples having un, deux, even trois bébés, Père Noël’s climbing skills will be in demand for many years to come. We wonder how it is that the French can enjoy their cheese, butter, meats, bread, pastries and wines and not get obèses. Look no further: Père Noël is the Jack LaLanne of French Christmastime.

So how to enjoy the season? Find something (or better yet, someone) to keep you warm. Patronize our local artists and craftsmen without differentiation. And keep moving, because as I also learned in Paris, there’s always another patisserie around the corner. Matter of fact, give a big bonjour welcome to our newest one: Bakery on the Hill down on Congress across from the Eastern Cemetary. Très bon!

Celebrating the Solstice

by Delores Lanai, MEd, Crone; terra@maine.rr.com, OWL Consulting: Diversity Appreciation and Organization Development.

Most of us know that Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year because the weather folks tell us this each year. Some of us are very happy to have winter arrive for outdoor sports; others like quiet time to read and ponder. In addition to being the shortest day, Winter Solstice turns the Wheel of the Year and is celebrated as a Holi-day by some, while others celebrate Christmas and other Winter holidays.

The “Old Religion” of Europe was based on Nature and those people were called Pagans meaning “People of the land” who were late to convert to being Christians. Yet as Christianity grew, many Pagan traditions were brought into Christian traditions. Bringing a tree into a home to be decorated is a very, very old practice, and the star put on top is the same as the Star, called a Pentacle, used by Pagans. The point to the top represents our head, then two points for our arms and two for our legs … the Star is a symbol of Life.

I remember when the USSR changed the name from “Christmas” tree to “Holiday” tree when they were trying to have Christianity pushed underground.

As a child I found it sad that the Christmas lights on houses were mostly taken down on New Years Day, and winter was a bland sight. Then I remember how delighted I was when the little white lights became popular in the ’70s, and were left up thru the winter season; it makes winter a “wonderland!” Some years, I put up white lights on Winter Solstice and unplug them on Spring Equinox.

Whether you like or dread winter, remember that the seasons continue to change everyday and there may be some part of it that brings you Joy!

Joyeux Noël and Bonne 2012.

The Road Less Traveled Poem by Andrew Lapham Fersch, Illustration by Phil Ashworth

My car was trapped in this traffic jam And I’d like to be anywhere but here So I closed my eyes, and thought real deep Before I knew it, off I fell to sleep The car grew wings and up I flew and I was up with the birds before I knew Up there, there was so much smog though

Then a terrible noise and racket

until a space shuttle thundered past

scared me half to death,

And in my dream, I closed my eyes

After that a plane nearly hit me,

and I thought real, real deep

It took quite a while to catch my breath

I thought about us and the noise we make and all the things for granted we take

So further up and up I went to where the atmosphere’s thin and it’s hard to breathe

At the next exit, off the highway I sped

and it seemed that peace had found me at last

to see where it led.

and followed the road less traveled

Andrew Fersch is a teacher and writer who is working on a book of poetry for children that he’s going to publish and donate to all the elementary schools in Maine

And so I headed to above where even birds can go

Above, kids wait in Monument Square for the lighting of the Portland Christmas tree.(blur is intentional)

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.

Don’t clean it up too quickly.

—Andy Rooney (January 14, 1919 – November 4, 2011)

Art Soul

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

Good Neighbor of the Month

by Lisa Peñalver

Elizabeth Fraser If you’ve spent any amount of time at the Blue Spoon, Hilltop Coffee Shop, or Rosemont Market at the top of Congress on Munjoy Hill, you’ve probably noticed the hand-painted sign for Fraser Art Studio across the street. And, if you happened to be strolling on the hill for one of the Open-Studio Tours or the Hidden Gardens Tour, you most likely saw the doors open and may even have gone inside. The studio is home to Elizabeth Fraser, one of the Society of East End Arts’ founding members, who’s perhaps best known for her bold and colorful oil portraits of dogs and cats. What is less wellknown is that Elizabeth Fraser has recently become a local advocate of the raw food movement as “Girl Gone Raw.” As she describes it, “Raw food has changed my life, and it feels good to share it with others.” Elizabeth lost 20 pounds in two and a half months and feels more balanced on an emotional and physical level since beginning her raw foods journey in June of 2009.

“I used to hate cooking; couldn’t stand being in the kitchen. It was torture.” When she was 18, Elizabeth lost her mother to breast cancer. She tried to fill her mom’s shoes and cook meals for her brother and dad, an exercise in frustration. She decided then to become a fish-eating vegetarian, but looking back, she realizes that, “you can be vegetarian and still eat a lot of junk-food.”

While Elizabeth was in her early 20s, arthritis in her hip forced her to give up running, but then she struggled with weight. Three and a half years ago, she became a vegan, but the weight stayed on. When she bought a raw-foods cookbook, things began to change. She had been hearing amazing things about the benefits of eating a simpler vegetarian diet. What she heard made sense, but it was so at odds with the way she had eaten all her life that she “had a lot of resistance” to changing her diet. She decided to try it—for one week. How hard could it be?

“On the second day, I had had it. I told my partner that it just wasn’t working for me. She pointed out that we only had a few more days, why not stick with it until the end of the week? And something happened toward the end of the week—a feeling of connectedness, and of good health. I’ve been eating this way ever

since, and I haven’t looked back.”

“Now I enjoy making meals—really look forward to it. And there’s no feeling of deprivation.”

Elizabeth is so won over by her experience with the raw foods cooking that she has begun sharing what she has learned through her “Girl Gone Raw” business. She offers classes in her studio on Munjoy Hill and at Whole Foods Market.

Originally from Ohio, Elizabeth came to live in Maine in 1999. “I’m really drawn to water. I came up to Munjoy Hill and it felt like home.”

She also appreciated the sense of community she felt here and how dog-friendly it is.

Through the artist group SEA, Elizabeth got to know many people-both artists and those who appreciate the local art culture. “Teaching people how to make good food lets me connect with the community in a whole new way. It could be art or food, they bring joy.

Elizabeth Fraser is hosting several events, free to the community, coming up: * A free online “Green Smoothie Challenge” for the month of December. You can read about it here & join us: too-www.girlgoneraw.com/gs/greensmoothie.html * a Group Holiday Art Sale in my studio (81 Congress) in December with some artist friends. Details here: www.fraserartstudio.com/holidaysale/holidaysale.html * A free raw vegan potluck on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 5-7 pm at our home (81 Congress). It’s a great way for people who are interested or curious about raw food to come sample a yummy mix of food & see what it’s all about.

Girl Gone Raw—helping YOU get healthy, one bite at a time * www.girlgoneraw.com Elizabeth welcomes visitors: Fraser Art Studio / Girl Gone Raw, 81 Congress St. is open by chance or appointment; or go online: to see daily paintings and pet portraits by Elizabeth Fraser, online: www.fraserartstudio.com, and www.paintsquared.com

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MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

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Rwandese Community Association of Maine Elects New Board

By Christina Feller, President, Living With Peace

Rwanda, the Genocide—Rwanda, the Diaspora in America 17 years later. It is always true in history that an event of devastating human proportions in one country eventually affects its neighbors, allies, and friends. So, too, with the events of the Genocide of 1994, when more than 800,000 Tutsis were massacred in a matter of 100 days. Many believe it to be the single worst massacre of peoples since WWII, especially since Rwanda is a very small country with only 8 million people. It is situated in a beautiful part of central Africa. Its forests are decimated and the great silver-backed gorillas are dwindling.

Here in Portland, we are proud to have more than 300 Rwandese men, women, and children living among us, with more arriving every day. Who are these people? For the most part, they are refugees and asylum-seekers. Refugees come here as a result of the UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) decisions, with the US Congress advising how many people we will take, and Homeland Security making sure no one poses a threat. These are people who fled from their country across an international border to a formal Camp where they signed up to be documented refugees.

empt non-profit in 2011. It was founded by Tharcisse Nzisabiraa. In September, a new Board of Directors was elected that includes: Pierre Kayiranga, President; Robert Mugabe, Vice-President; Goretti Uwimpuhwe, Secretary; and, Thierry Gakire, Treasurer. The Rwandese community elected also a group of advisers who will work with and help the executive committee; they include Jovin Bayingana, Antoine Rutayisire, Danny Mbabariye, Antoine Bikamba, Emmanuel Kabare, Apolinaire Karara, Sebastien Nahimana, and Consolee Mukamuligo.

Please welcome this new Board of the Rwandese Community Association of Maine. They have also published a document that lays out their Community Values, Goals, Objectives, and Strategy. They are ready to work with any NGO in the City on behalf of the Rwandese people and on behalf of the interests of all African immigrants.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Jovin (pronounced Jo Van)at JBayos@yahoo.fr .

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Alternatively, and as in the Rwandese case, these people represent the “brain drain” of the country, the highly educated professionals who led the struggle after the Genocide to bring Peace and Reconciliation to the country and who were tortured, jailed, persecuted, or otherwise threatened in a way that made them fear for their or their families’ lives and made them make the decision to flee to America (or Canada or New Zealand or Australia or Europe).

These are the elders from the villages; these are the young professionals; these are the new American Moms and Dads who are learning how to be successful Americans. These are the people you see every day in Hannaford’s or at Cumberland Farms or at Church, living their lives to the fullest. Why? Because finally, they can.

The Rwandese Community Association of Maine (RCAM) was founded in 2010 and became a legal 501c3 tax ex-

Crossword Across 1- Sports figure 5- Kate & ___ 10- Egyptian deity 14- Analogy words 15- Crackers 16- Barrett of gossip 17- Grange 18- Component part 20- Country singer Travis 22- Become an ex-parrot?

23- Yellow-fever mosquito 24- Devastation 26- Boob tubes 27- Egg white 30- Twitter 34- Lecture 35- Internet writing system that popularized “pwn3d” and “n00b” 36- Monetary unit of Vietnam 37- Swedish auto

38- Chasing 40- Tabula ___ 41- Balaam’s mount 42- Collar fastener 43- More nasty 45- Hopelessness 47- Packages 48- Circle section 49- God of Islam 50- Gandhi’s land 53- Bar order 54- Saturn’s largest moon 58- Trial of skill 61- Record 62- Dies ___ 63- Unborn child 64- Bit of gossip 65- Immature herring 66- Chaplin persona 67- Atlantic mackerel; Down 1- Separate by a sieve 2- Boris Godunov, for one

3- Longfellow’s bell town 4- Dwarf 5- “Rope-a-dope” boxer 6- Capital of United Kingdom 7- Reasoning 8- About, in memos 9- CBS logo 10- Minister 11- Nailed obliquely 12- Actress Heche 13- Panama and bowler 19- Life-boat lowering device 21- ___ -shanter (Scottish cap) 25- Pertaining to hunting 26- Caused by heat 27- Syrian leader 28- Buy alternative 29- Copper and zinc alloy 30- Bee follower 31- Baron

32- Art supporter 33- Bellows 35- Inc., in Britain 39- Fine hair 40- Having rickets 42- It’s a wrap 44- Part of Q.E.D. 46- Twinned 47- Full assembly 49- Prince Valiant’s wife 50- How sweet ___!

51- Me neither 52- Double 53- From the U.S. 55- London art gallery 56- Copycat 57- Captain of the Nautilus 59- Fore’s partner 60- Cookbook abbr.; From BestCrosswords. com

Solution on page 5

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Holiday Safety Tips

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

9

from the Portland Police Department

Submitted by Janine Kaserman Munjoy Hill Community Policing The holiday season is a time of celebration with friends and family. It can also be a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crimes. Please take the time to apply the following holiday crime prevention measures.

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member and always park in well-lit areas.

• Lock vehicle doors and close all windows, even if you will be away from the vehicle for a few minutes. Never leave the engine running in your absence, even for just a minute. Take all keys with you. (Don’t hide a set anywhere on your vehicle.)

Activate anti-theft devices.

• Keep purchases out of sight: In your vehicle, keep packages and other valuables, including cell phones and GPS devices, out of public view and preferably locked in the trunk.

• Dress casually and comfortably.

• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

• Avoid carrying a purse or wallet, if possible.

• ID: Always carry your Maine Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.

• Look around: Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.

• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

• Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.

• Protect your PIN #. Don’t carry it in your purse or wallet.

• Keep cash in your front pocket.

• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home. Photocopy the front and back of your credit/debit cards and keep that information in a safe place to have easy access

Find the 6 differences. See OutThere-byGeorge.com for more comparison puzzles.

to the information needed to report a car lost or stolen. Immediately notify the credit card issuer if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops and on buses.

• Review bank and credit card statements promptly. Report any discrepancies immediately.

• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

• Park near street lights if possible and have keys in hand before you return to your car. Pay attention to your surroundings; potential predators do not like eye contact. Always check underneath the vehicle and the interior before unlocking the door.

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DEC 2011/JAN 2012

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

On Hill

Here We Go A-Caroling

Please join the Friends of the Eastern Prom for a favorite holiday tradition as we go a-caroling on the Prom and the Munjoy Hill neighborhood. Carolers will meet at the Fort Allen Park bandstand at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, just in time for the Parade of Lights. We’ll begin by crooning carols as boats adorned with sparkling lights cruise the harbor. Sheet music will be provided, so never mind if you can’t remember all the lyrics to “Jingle Bells.” Afterwards, we’ll gather to warm up and enjoy refreshments at a private home.

Pizza for the Prom

Pizza and the Prom – what a perfect combination! Join us from 5 to 9 pm Tuesday, Dec. 27 at the Flatbread Company, 72 Commercial St. in Portland, for Pizza for the Prom. A portion of the proceeds from the evening’s pizza sales will be donated to Friends of the Eastern Promenade. Yum!

Fort Allen Park Restoration Update

Portland’s Historic Preservation Board reviewed preliminary options for the restoration of Fort Allen Park at two workshops this fall. The Historic Preservation Board and FoEP agreed on establishing the park’s period of historic significance from 1890 to 1930. This period will guide decisions on the park’s design.

Friends of the Eastern Promenade is spearheading the Fort Allen Park Restoration Plan, which will reinstate the park’s historic character, preserve its scenic views and repair deteriorating monuments, in addition to providing new walkways, lighting, site furnishings, fencing and signage.

FoEP has hired the design team of Martha Lyon and Regina Leonard to research the park’s history, create schematic plans and develop a budget.

Leonard presented an introduction to the preliminary plan at FoEP’s annual meeting in October. FoEP will seek community input at a public meeting to be scheduled in early 2012 prior to presenting the final plan to the Preservation Board. For more information, visit: easternpromenade.org/project-priorities/fort-allen-park-restoration.

New Directors Elected at Annual Meeting

188 Species of Birds on the Prom

Birders on the Fall Bird Walk in October got an exciting surprise: the 188th bird species to be spotted on Eastern Prom. Derek Lovitch of Freeport Wild Bird Supply, who was leading the walk, identified a lark sparrow in the trees along the Eastern Prom Trail. The Prom’s naturalized areas provide an important flyway for migratory birds. See the complete list at: easternpromenade. org/about-the-eastern-prom/birds-eastern-promenade.

Seven new directors were elected to the Friends of the Eastern Promenade’s Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting in October. Welcome to new directors Aynne Doil, Tica Douglas, Nick Harding, Thomas Leonhardt, Sharon Sudbay, Joseph Sukaskas & Dhara Williams.

The new directors will join returning Board members Diane Davison (President), Joe Piergrossi (Vice President), John Wuesthoff (Secretary), Ginny Randall (Treasurer), Richard Anderson, Dan Haley, Crandall Toothaker and Rob Whitten.

Garden Search

The FoEP Garden Committee is on the lookout for gardens for the 2012 Hidden Gardens of Munjoy Hill. The tour is becoming one of the area’s favorite garden tours and is our signature fundraising event. We’re also looking for members for our Garden Committee to help us organize the event. If you know of a great garden in the neighborhood, or are interested in joining the committee, please email us at info@friendsofeasternpromenade.org.

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MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

11

occupy Maine, continued from front page the onset of winter weather was imminent. Few were out and about. The camp appeared to be remarkably tidy, trash in bins and not on the ground, pantry tent neatly organized with boxes and cans of food stacked on shelves, lists of needs and rules prominently displayed on poster boards.

I stopped by the camp kitchen and chatted with several men who had been staying in the camp for several weeks, Steve, Randy, and “Big John.” When it came to “issues,” they expressed frustration with the corporate ties that bind government officials. “There IS no money any more: they’ve taken it all for themselves.”

“Steve” commented.

The topic of much speculation was how soon before the city came in “to take away our tarps and our heaters.” It seemed a foregone conclusion that this would be happening, and that there would be some sort of confrontation. Indeed, recent news of Occupy protestors being sprayed or beaten has given an ominous edge to the regular health and safety inspections.

When I later spoke with City Councilor Kevin Donoghue, I was told that there are no immediate, or hidden, plans to remove the protestors. He said he thought the Police and the Parks and Rec officials have been doing a good job of working with organizers of the encampment in keeping the place orderly and safe.

Councilor Donoghue went on to say that on Dec. 1, there will be a meeting of the City’s Public Safety Committee (Ed Suslovic, John Coyne, and David Marshall) to formalize the status of the protestors who intend to stay at the park. The City recognizes that there are basic civil liberties issues at stake.

As I was leaving the park, I paused at the south entrance to speak with an older gentleman, seemingly out of place in his suit & tie, tan garbardine coat and black European-style beret. Bill Slavick, retired, lives with his wife, 41 years in Portland. He’d been meaning to come out since the beginning—today he finally made it.

Bill Slavick’s observation: “They don’t get it—the whole economy is imploding. Greenhouse gas emissions are rising faster than anyone expected, but the Republican ideologues ignore the words of 99% of [the world’s] scientists. Five million people killed in the Congo, and you can’t even find it in our newspapers.”

Mr. Slavick went on, “It used to be that the Church, academe, unions, the Democratic party, and the media were checks on corporate greed. Now all that is left is people protesting. In Europe, workers and students can shut down the country.

We are the 99% after all.”

I thanked him as we both headed back to our cars to deal with expired meters.

There is so much more that remains to be said. It is clear that All is Not Well in our in our beloved republic. The Occupy protesters intend to stand up and not let us forget it, until something can be done about it. One of the protestors, “Randy,” a 40-something Native American, stated that “there are problems our federal government is refusing to do anything about. The leaders are facing NO consequences themselves for their actions —or in-action. This protest camp is one real consequence.”

You can follow Occupy Maine at www.occupymaine.org and on Facebook, or email: occupymaine@gmail.com. Organizers can also be reached by telephone at: 207-2001791 (Google Voice - call or text).

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12

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

East End Business Focus

Carlson & Turner Books

By Lisa Peñalver

I walk in to the Carlson & Turner bookstore on Congress Street to find myself surrounded by a wealth of rows and stacks of beautiful leather and cloth-bound books, I feel like I’ve stepped into the past. Classical music plays in the background.

One of the owners, Cathy Alsup, is seated at the front desk. She looks up from the book in her lap and smiles as a set of bright eyes and a fluffy head pop up from behind the counter—Laynee, the shop dog, greets everyone who comes in.

The collection includes many general used books— scholarly books in various fields: nautical, travel, American Civil War, history, railroad, Maine-related, gardening, natural sciences, children’s literature, as well as many others. What I personally have found is that, despite so many of these books being bonafide antique treasures, the prices here are surprisingly modest and affordable.

In the early ’70s, the original owners David Turner and Norma Carlson opened the bookstore on Exchange Street. Then, as it is today, I’ve visited the store before, to Carlson & Turner Books buy books for my child who loves was a traditional antiquaranything old. There is so much to ian and used bookstore. see, it’s never a short visit. Today What the current owners I’m here to learn about the shop have brought to the presitself. I drag my eyes away from ent-day Carlson & Turner is Above, Laynee, the resident bookstore dog, greets the books. Cathy calls down to shoppers who come in to Carlson & Turner Books. a full-service hand bookbindthe basement for Scott Wilson, ery, offering repairs/restoration, conservation, boxthe other owner, who had been working in the bookbindery. He comes upstairs and they talk to me about making and more, all using traditional methods and authentic vintage equipment. their shop.

“You’d be amazed at how many long-time East End residents walk into this store and ask us if we’re new!

They just never noticed us before. “ Owner Scott Wilson chuckles. The bookstore has been in business and at the East End location at 241 Congress Street for over 30 years! (It’s a few doors down from the new Otto Pizza.) This real-life brick & mortar shop is housed in a three-story Victorian-era building built in 1888. Directly across the street is the oldest cemetery in Portland which dates back to the 17th century. Scott mentions that they actually have the key to open up the cemetery gate if it’s locked. “Long story, but we have the key if someone wants to get in.”

Scott and Cathy have preserved the inviting atmosphere of a traditional bookshop. The store is much bigger than its humble storefront would suggest! it extends all the way to the back of the narrow building. It houses over 30,000 antiquarian, scholarly, and used books. Carlson & Turner also deals in rare manuscripts, maps, photographs and fine art prints.

Cathy shows me an oversized book they’d recently bound for a client. The rich dark blue leather is engraved with gold lettering and lined with a marbled paper. On occasion they will prepare such covers for wedding photo albums or corporate events, creating a lasting gift.

With the holidays approaching, it’s worth remembering what welcome and enduring gifts real books can be. Or perhaps you have a family heirloom that needs the binding repaired.

Whether you are looking for a specific title, or just want to browse, stop in to the Carlson & Turner Books at 241 Congress Street , tel. 773-4200.

They are open year-round, 11 am to 5 pm (ish) 6 days a week, closed on Mondays. And be sure to visit the website at carlsonturnerbooks.com.

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”

—Ernest Hemingway

Carlson & Turner Books has been dealing in antiquarian and used books on the East End for over 30 years.

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Elders, continued from front page emotional challenges. What follows is a sample list to help identify some common issues that should be of concern. Does your elder exhibit any of these changing behaviors? • Difficulty sequencing or communicating • Confusion/Agitation • Inability to reason • Personal hygiene decline • Unsafe driving • Weight loss • Isolation?

An elder experiencing these changes will be reluctant to discuss them. This comes from a natural desire to maintain their status and independence. Their greatest fear is the possibility of having to leave home. A full medical evaluation can bring some answers and it may not all be bad news. For instance, the sudden onset of confusion and agitation may be the result of a urinary tract infection.

A simple test can rule this out. Sometimes overlooked, changing B12 levels can be the cause of confusion, depression and insomnia. For the family, this is not a time to overreact. However daunting the task, this is the time to attend to the concerns at hand. Share your concerns with a professional. Explore all options and, most of all, keep the spirit of the season where it belongs. Inside the heart of the matter.

Ann V. Quinlan, Senior Care Consultant and has worked as a broad-based healthcare professional for the past twenty years.

She can be reached at ann@beachglasstransitions.com.

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

13

Spotlight on Non-Profits is a regular feature. To feature your favorite non-profit, please contact Lisa Peñalver at observer@munjoyhill.org.

Portland Food Coop

By Lisa Peñalver Recently, a friend mentioned working with the Portland Food Co-op, along with the assertion that “They’re awesome!” I took this to mean that the people are a fun crew, and/or that the food was especially fine. Either way, I thought I should look into it, never having had any experience with a food co-op.

I started with the website: portlandfoodcoop.org. I learned that “The Portland Food Co-op (PFC) is an autonomous, member-owned, democratic, nonprofit, local business. … that offers access to local and healthy food.” I also learned that the PFC now occupies a newly renovated building on Hampshire Street down past the Rite Aid, in the tiny block bordered

by Hampshire, Federal St. and Franklin St. (so close!)

According to the website, “The Portland Food Co-op is a growing buying club and is currently taking new member-owners as both organizational supporters, and new members for buying both local and non-local food in bulk. We order from Frontier,

United, Crown of Maine and several local farms and producers. Save money, support local farmers, and have a better time getting your food.“ This all sounded good to me, so I delved further to see how to join. It functions much differently from, say, a Sam’s Club, in that there is volunteer time required—one or more “workshifts” totaling 3 hours per month. (It’s worth noting that the Co-op is very flexible in accommodating people’s schedules). You can

opt to be either a “purchasing member-owner” to do your shopping, or strictly an “organizational member-owner” and help with the running of the Co-op. There is an orientation class involved, and you do commit to some responsibility.

There are a wide variety of tasks from which you might chose; some members meet the truck and split orders, others work at home on the computer.

So now I was curious about the sorts of foods they offered; could I do ALL my grocery shopping here? The answer of course depends on what’s on my list, but if you are trying to cover the basic food groups (the current ones, not the 1950’s list), the answer is yes. The website tells me, “Through our vendor options, member-owners have access to buying all their groceries through the co-op because we have access to over 60,000 local, natural, and organic products.”

And the prices? Lookin’ good…

“The PFC regularly conducts price comparisons between items bought through the coop and those purchased at other

grocery stores in Portland. The most recent price comparison showed PFC member-owners had a 26% average savings when buying with PFC compared to other grocery stores in Portland.

The cost savings with buying from the PFC ranged from 0 to 71%, with 50% of the items memberowners bought not being sold at local groceries.”

A quick scan of the Board of Directors’ bio’s revealed that several of these folks have prior experience with working food Co-ops in large metropolises like New York City and St Paul, MN, among other diverse backgrounds and skill-sets. A very competent crew!

As far as the Co-op’s history, they’ve been steadily growing for nearly six years now.

“The momentum for the Portland Food Co-op started in the spring of 2006 in response to the loss of locally-owned gro-

cery stores. Just a few people around a table with a collective vision emerged from shared interests, including: supporting the local economy and local farms, and providing families with healthy, affordable food.”

This synopsis covers but a small taste of all the info available about the Portland Food Co-op online, and I urge everyone to check it out for themselves: visit w w w.por t la nd foodcoop.org , email info@portlandfoodcoop. org. or check out the store at 56 Hampshire, which will be open on Dec 10th for the East End Holiday Stroll. St. Bon Appétit!

14

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Film Festivals Put Spotlight on Diversity & Celebrate Minority Filmmakers

Happy New Year!

St. Lawrence Arts Center 76 Congress Street, stlawrencearts. org/ fmi, deirdre.nice@stlawrencearts. org, 347-7177

By Ian McPherson

MOOSE Droppings Open Mic/Spoken Word Meetings “Maine Organization

Autumn is the season for Portland cinephiles. With early October came another installment of the well-established Portland Maine Film Festival, but with deeper changes in the leaves came a time for two other film events to carve out a place in Portland’s world; a place for minority filmmakers.

Of Storytelling Enthusiasts members have one thing in common. We are all Enthusiastic about Storytelling!” Every second Wednesday of the month, drop by the Portland Public Library for our Monthly MOOSE Open Mic / Spoken Word Story Telling Event!

Adult original and traditional stories 10 minutes or less at the open mic hosted by a different MOOSE Member each month. Open Mic is followed by announcements, a short break with refreshments, and our featured performer. Suggested $5 donation. moosetellers.ning.com/

On October 30th, Munjoy Hill’s own nonprofit performance space, the St. Lawrence Arts Center, hosted an evening of short films by local women filmmakers called the Bluestocking Film Series – Films by Women. Local filmmaker, Kate Kaminski, and St. Lawrence administrator, Whitney McDorr, created the event as a way to support women working in film, and help them showcase their work. The USM Women and Gender Studies Program, the Maine Film and Video Association and the Maine Film Office co-sponsored the event.

Dec 1-11

A Celtic Christmas-Lucid Stage : AIRE brings back its popular family holiday entertainment, an evening of performance, song and dance featuring A Child’s Christmas in Wales and an Irish Christmas program. www. lucidstage.com

Tuesday 7-10 pm, @ Local Sprouts, 649 Congress St., Portland, All Ages,Gil Helmick, 400.7543,

an enchanting new Mainstage holiday production Portland Stage Co., 25A Forest Ave

p.m. – 9 p.m./ Sat 10 a.m.– 5 p.m./ Sun 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. East End Community School Center, 195 North St. Free admission; light food available in PTO Café.—Over 80 artists bringing you blown glass, jewelry, journals, paintings, textiles, sculptures, photography, paper crafts, pottery, magnets, cards, bags, children’s soft toys, and more.

Sat Dec 3 Old St Paul’s Christmas Fair, St. Paul’s Anglican Church 9-2pm, 279 Congress, 828-2012

Fri Dec 9,. 5 pm.• free classical music concer—Chamber ME , Chapel

Portland Company Complex, 58 Fore Street (new location!) This juried indie craft fair will be held from 11am to 6pm. It will be the biggest Picnic Holiday Sale ever! Contact us at picnicportland@gmail.com for more info. & vendor and sponsor applications.

Sun Dec 18 • Munjoy Mom’s Christmas Party, Root Cellar, 1-5 pm. 94 Washington Ave. To donate or participate, please call Linda at 518-3169

Sat Dec 31 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Polar Plunge into the North Atlantic Ocean, Noon at the East End Beach to raise money & awareness for global warming and climate issues through the efforts of the Natural Resources Council of Maine— mrcm.org.

FMI: stacie@nrcm.org or 430-0127.

SAT Jan 7, 2012 • An Epiphany Celebration To conclude the

Hall of State Street Church UCC,-159 State St, 774-6396

Sat Dec 10 • East End Shops Stroll Shop the East End for oneof-a-kind gifts while supporting your local businesses. holiday sales, art displays, raffles and more.

SUN Dec 11• 3rd annual Picnic Holiday Sale at the

holiday season, The Choral Art Society presents An Epiphany Celebration on Saturday, January 7th, at 7:30 p.m. at the Immanuel United Church (formally Immanuel Baptist Church) in Portland.

307 Congress Street. Visit www. choralart.org

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To submit a film to Bluestocking, the director must identify as female, and her film must meet the criteria of the “Bechdel Test for Women in Movies,” where to pass means that a film a) has two or more women in it, b) they talk to each other and c) that they talk about something other than men.

Fri-Sun, Dec 2-4 • SEA Holiday Art Sale Friday 6

The Polar Express™ is back!

Maine Narow Guge railroad invites you. And this year, we’ve added an early train time (2:45 PM) and another First Class car! Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov 25-dec 23, 2:45 PM, 4 PM, 5:15 PM, 6:30 PM www. mainenarrowgauge.org/

Port Veritas Spoken Word Night Poetry Readings, Every

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Seasonal Cruises on Casco Bay: www.cascobaylines.

Horse & Wagon Rides free holiday sleigh ride in the Old Port; run day after Thanksgiving to Christmas; Start at Monument Square (Fridays 4-8pm, Saturdays 2-6pm, Sundays 1-5pm)

Street, mayostreetarts. org —Times vary. Classes: Tango, Belly Dancing, Kids Yoga, Juggling, Zumba and Pilates. Artist Studios, theater, poetry, music and more. Contact email: Blainor McGough, director@mayostreetarts.org, 615-3609, or info@ mayostreetarts.org

That evening’s weather was definitely not a deterrent, according to Regina Bartholomew, a local filmmaker who participated in the event. “The theatre was completely filled up with local actors, filmmakers, friends and family,” Bartholomew said, “the shorts were kick ass and the curators were absolutely fabulous.”

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“This is a series, not a festival, and we hope it will be ongoing,” McDorr said in the opening address. “We figure our biggest challenge will be bad weather,” Kaminski quipped, “so we’re planning the next one for April.”

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Bartholomew said when she found out about Bluestocking, it encouraged her to step outside her usual production roles.

“I had experience photographing and producing short films and documentary-style pieces, but never writing and directing.”

Bartholomew said, “so I took that as a challenge.” Bartholomew created her film, “Happy Motoring,” specifically for October’s Bluestocking.

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The films screened, which included narrative, experimental and animation, represented a veritable feast of non-male-related (and also non-female-related) subjects and themes, including, but not limited to, the surface of the planet Venus, nuclear apocalypse, death, age, nature, human waste, and the many nuances of the chicken.

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Returning for its third year in a row, the annual Maine African Film Festival (MAFF) ran in Portland from November 1st - 6th at the Nickelodeon Cinemas. The African Cultural Foundation, a Portland-based nonprofit, organizes the MAFF as a platform to celebrate the richness, complexity and diversity of African peoples and their cultures through the arts. The festival brought not only a host of celebrated works by contemporary African filmmakers, but a panel discussion and an art exhibition as well.

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Kicking off the MAFF, four Portland High School (PHS) students – two of whom are African immigrants – gathered inside the Portland Public Library to host a public talk called “Being African in Maine: The Youth Experience.” Joining them was Mark Crasnick, a local man who has been working with Hussein Ahmed, one of the African students, through a PHS program called the Portland Mentoring Alliance. Mark commented that when he graduated PHS in 1967, there were only two students of color. The audience seemed prepared to hear next that not much had changed, but the

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Film Festivals, continued from page 14

students generally seemed optimistic.

“The barriers break down pretty easily,” said Isaac Jaegerman, a PHS senior. Although Jaegerman added that “a lack of knowledge” does exist at PHS; that some students “don’t put effort” to learning the difference between different African nations – or between Islam and Islamism – but that this is a problem “on a national scale,” not just at his school. Jaegerman went on to praise the PHS curriculum, which includes Middle Eastern Studies and World Religions classes, as an effective combatant to this problem, but added that he wished there were more of an emphasis on current events.

“I had to learn about the Arab Spring and the famine in Somalia on my own, because such current events are not really taught, and it would be helpful if they were.” Jaegerman said.

11/18/11 7:27 PM

The two African students both agreed they enjoy life in Portland: “it’s small and connected, it feels so warm,” said Kowsar Mohamed, a PHS junior. Both Mohamed and Ahmed praised PHS’s extracurricular diversity initiatives like the International Club and the Portland Mentoring Alliance.

The following night held an opening at Portland’s Constellation Gallery by New York artist, Nyu Gen Smith, an American of Trinidadian and Haitian descent. Smith’s mixedmedia works, which were accompanied by a performance by the artist the night of the opening, address the impact of colonialism on African and Afro-Caribbean identities, a theme which was concurrently addressed in many of the films in the festival such as Justin Chadwick’s The First Grader, and Daniel Cattier’s Kongo.

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

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16

DEC 2011/JAN 2012

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

< A GIF t F r OM t h E SEA > As told by Lynne Cullen, Artist, Playwrite & Storyteller Around the world, 1816 was known as the “year without a summer.” In May, frost killed off most of the crops in New England, and by July, river ice had frozen as far south as Pennsylvania.

That Christmas Eve, the people of Portland, Maine were on the verge of starvation. They had received word that a ship bound for Portland had gone down in a storm, taking its much-needed cargo of grain to the bottom of the ocean. There would be no feast on Munjoy Hill that Christmas Day.

But early on Christmas morning, a lookout came rushing down from the Portland Observatory with amazing news! He had sighted a ship sailing into Casco Bay!

Word spread quickly, and all gathered at the harbor to welcome their rescuers. Perhaps the news of the merchant ship sinking had been false.

At last, three sails appeared on the horizon, and a ship sailed into the safety of Portland Harbor. Several fishermen hauled out their skiffs and rowed out to greet the saviors of the city.

They rowed closer and closer, but could see no one on the deck or hanging from the rigging. The first man to reach the ship secured his boat, grabbed a rope, and scrambled aboard.

Several minutes later, he reappeared on deck waving frantically.

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The other men climbed aboard, and asked their friend what was wrong.

“Come see for yourself,” he said.

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The men searched the ship from top to bottom, but they found not one single soul, living or dead. What they did find was a hold bursting with grain, crates of salted fish, and much more!

On that day, the people of Munjoy Hill had the greatest Christmas feast in memory.

Though they tried to discover where the ship had come from, and what had happened to the crew, no records were ever found. All anyone knew was that, in their hour of need the citizens of Portland were saved from starvation by a ghost ship called: ... The Saint Nicholas. fmi: www.lynnecullen. com, -253-0288

NOVEMBER 25 TO DECEMBER 18

DECEMBER 3 TO DECEMBER 4

Merry Madness!

Kicks off at the Portland Regency Hotel, 5pm!

Shops stay open until 10pm with free refreshments.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15

For a complete list of participating stores and additional downtown holiday events, visit portlandmaine.com