M U N JOY HIL L
M U N JOY HIL L
OBSERVER
OBSERVER MHNO, 92 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
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FREE Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Vol. 32, No. 11 • Dec.– Jan. 2013
MUNJOY HILL DECKS THE HALLS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
IN LATE NOVEMBER, volunteers with the Friends of the Eastern Promenade decorated the Bandstand at Fort Allen Park in a theme of red, white and blue,in honor and commemoration of the American soldiers serving in conflicts abroad.
P lease Join the MHNO
MHNO is here
Above, Justin Alfond and Dianne Russell, takin’ out the trash with the new Big Belly solar compactors. The trash cans were installed on Munjoy Hill this fall, thanks to a funds from the Gentleman of the Road concert held on the Eastern Promenade in August of 2012.
(Editor’s note: This picture cracks me up. In the background, we’ve got indie-folk hanging out in front of the Hill House garden, in the foreground there’s the requisite dog, and in the middle we have our friendly elected representatives. It is SO Munjoy Hill!)
From Andrea Myhaver, President of the MHNO
for a Holiday gathering at the Hill House, Friday, Dec. 14 at 6 pm.
SOME OF you may have heard this already. Liz McMahon and Ed King, who until quite recently were our distribution staff for the Observer, are in desperate need of community support right now. Liz used to be an active member of the MHNO, and was on the team that helped to steer the Observer in a new positive direction a few years back. Her partner Ed King, was the owner/editor of the West End News. A month ago, Liz and Ed embarked on a brave adventure, closing both of their businesses (Lucid Stage, and The West End News), selling all of their belongings, and moving to Russia, where Liz had accepted a position teaching English at a school in Volgograd.
92 Congress St. FMI 766-5077
C all For Submissions! (SEND TO OBSERVER@MUNJOYHILL.ORG)
See page 2, From the Editor, for info about the Burning the Clocks Festival, UK, at right.
PERSONALS: Valentines Day is coming! Please send
us your lovey-dovey shout-outs for family/friends/ lovers/pets and we will PRINT THEM in our special Valentine Edition of the Observer in February Please include the word “Personals” in the subject line. DEADLINE: send by January 10, 2013
PETPICS: Calling All PETS! Please send us photos of
Hill House First Friday 2013
FEBRUARY AFTER A FEW MONTHS off, the MHNO will again be greeting visitors for First Fridays starting in February. The February exhibit will feature artwork on the themes of love, family, and compassion, from students at the East End Community School. Watch for more details in our February issue, which will be out in late January 2013!
your adorable four-footed or feathered favorites and we will PRINT the pictures in the March Observer. The first three submissions will win a small package of cookies (of your choice) from Two Fat Cats Bakery on India Street!. Please include the word “PetPics” in the subject line DEADLINE: send by February 6, 2013
MARVELOUS MOMS: Start early to show your mother how much you appreciate her! WRITE an essay about her. Munjoy kids, 3rd through 5th graders, may enter our annual essay contest. Prizes for mom are donated by local businesses. Details in coming issues. DEADLINE: send by March 31, 2013 SOLDIERS AMONG US: To all those from Munjoy Hill who have served, or are serving our country, and their families: we deeply appreciate your sacrifices and want to tell your stories in the Observer. Please include “Soldier” in the subject line of your email submission. Send any time. Always welcome.
selling • b u y i n g • h o m e • i n v e s t m e n t •
Sadly, their adventure has been suddenly cut short as Ed was admitted into the hospital on Monday, December 3rd for severe abdominal pain. Within the day he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor that is blocking his intestine. Ed and Liz must immediately fly back to the US in order that Ed undergo emergency surgery and treatment. Their family and friends have set up a fundraising site to help with the expenses involved in the return for the surgery. It’s www.gofundme.com/help-ed-and-liz
FINALLY, WEEKLY CURBSIDE COMPOST PICKUP! VISIT garbagetogarden.org FOR DETAILS
M arc chadbourne . coM
There Is No Substitute for Experience OCEAN GATE REALTY, LLC • 151 Newbury St., Portland, Me 04101 • Cell 207.465.5569
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December- January 2013
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 Andrea Myhaver, Tamera Edison, Lisa Peñalver ADVERTISING Tamera Edison tamera.edison@munjoyhill.org 939-7998, Lisa Peñalver, Layout & Design 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 300 copies are mailed to current and former members of the MHNO.
MHNO Board 2012-2013 Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
Andrea Myhaver, President.......................... . ......... andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org Ross Fields, Vice President............................ . ...................ross.fields@munjoyhill.org Elaine Mullin, Treasurer............................... elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org..671-6132 Sam Cohen, Secretary.................................. . .................. sam.cohen@munjoyhill.org Eben Albert-Knopp....................................... . ................... ealbertknopp@yahoo.com Ralph Carmona............................................ rccarmona@hotmail.com.........518-9177 Nova Ewers........ nova.ewers@munjoyhill.org Thomas Kelley............................................. . .............thomas.kelley@munjoyhill.org Joan Sheedy.....joan.sheedy@munjoyhill.org . ............................................. 774-7616 Ann Quinlan..... ann.quinlan@munjoyhill.org
MHNO Mission
MHNO President, Andrea Myhaver
Winter on the Hill DECEMBER! Is it really, December? It feels like yesterday that I was writing about taking advantage of all that our neighborhood and city have to offer during the sultry summer season. Yet, time has marched on, temperatures have dropped, a bit of the white stuff has fallen, and so, yes, we are now approaching winter. I’ll confess. Winter is my least favorite time to be in Maine. I don’t enjoy skiing; the last time I was on a pair of ice-skates (and didn’t almost break my neck) was sometime in the late seventies; and on the list of activities I most enjoy, shoveling snow falls somewhere between undergoing a root canal and doing dishes. However, last month I talked about creating balance in my life, and part of doing so means finding opportunities within my ordinary days and nights to experience extraordinary joy. So, while I may not be quite ready to embrace all that winter has to offer, I’m going to try. In that spirit, here are a few things about winter on Munjoy Hill that I think are worth experiencing and sharing:
SLEDDING - We aren’t covered in the white
stuff yet, but once we are, what better way to enjoy life on a hill, then by sliding down it at breathtaking speed? Sledding! It’s not just for kids!
THE GOOD THEATER - Quality theater in a historic venue that I can walk to in under two minutes? That’s “good” incentive to leave my house on a cold winter’s night!
Friends of the Eastern Prom’s annual CAROLING ON THE PROM (December 15, 4:30-6 pm) – Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, this is a great time to get together with friends and neighbors to enjoy the gift of song. As a bonus this year, the caroling, which starts out at the bedecked Band Stand in Fort Allen Park, will take place during Sail Maine’s Boat Parade of Lights. I can’t wait! THE VICTORIA MANSION - Okay, so Danforth Street isn’t exactly on Munjoy Hill. However it is a very short car ride, or a notso-long walk away, and it’s so worth the trip! I can’t believe that I’ve lived in Portland for the vast majority of my years on earth, and
Light of heart
hadn’t experienced the Victoria Mansion until this month. There is so much that is fascinating about this National Historic Landmark! Right now the Mansion is (to quote the Curator), “tarted up for the holidays”, and it’s open for tours daily from now until Jan. 6 (visit victoriamansion.org for hours and more information). THE MUNJOY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION HOLIDAY GATHERING – Yup, I’m
making a shameless plug here for one of our own events. We are so excited to welcome you all to Hill House on Friday, December 14th for a gathering to celebrate the holiday season. Drop in any time after 6 pm to enjoy some fabulous refreshments, music, and good cheer with your neighbors!
From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver
AS THE YEAR DRAWS to a close, we have the opportunity to sweep aside the clutter and noise of recent months to reflect on all that is good and pure in our lives. (I’m imagining holding a large, glowing pearl, warm in my hands.) It’s a time to reflect, reboot, and resume.
tion. The folks in Brighton, UK, live in a community rich with the arts, but in need of support and inspiration, as do we. They live on the ocean ... as do we.
All our winter celebrations give a nod to this idea, but, for me, Winter Solstice, on the 21st of December, most embodies the sentiment. It is the most primal and simple; it emphasizes … a pause. It looks ahead to better days to come, a turning toward the light.
Same Sky’s artistic director, John Varah, describes the process: “Our aim is to guide people to create their best work. Then, by bringing these items together for Burning the Clocks, we’ve helped people to create something a bit magical, shifting their perception of what they might be capable of, and leaving them feeling really proud of their city and community.”
We do have many things to be grateful for in our community and in our lives, and this is the season we are reminded to acknowledge and honor these gifts, As I was gathering material for this issue of the Observer, I came across a particularly intriguing holiday celebration that takes place in Bridgton, England. It’s a “Burning the Clocks” festival, in which hundreds of people carrying lit paper lanterns parade though the town streets down toward a huge bonfire on the ocean. As they gather by the shore, they toss their paper clocks into the fire, symbolizing their hopes and fears—that their hopes would be fulfilled and their fears released. The clock stops here, time ends … and then begins again.
They are creating an environment where creative solutions can be born, which is precisely what we all need to create our new and wonderful future. We share their goals, and we can learn, from their efforts, different ways to expand our reach and aspirations. Take heart. We are not alone. I wish you all a joyful holiday season – and the best of the best in the New Year!
This sounds like an ancient ritual, right? Nope. Interestingly, it was started in 1995, by a group called Same Sky, a community arts charity (www.samesky.co.uk, www.burningtheclocks.co.uk).
“Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with Above, children surround a bonfire in Brighton, UK, for the annual Dec.21 your old nonsense.” ... Burning the Clocks festival. Photo courtesy of Same Sky, used with permission. (online at www.samesky.co.uk)
You may be wondering why I’m bringing a festival from abroad to the pages of our neighborhood organization; it’s because I see a connec-
in January 1979, our purpose is to a
broad-based,
representative
WHO YOU GONNA CALL? You can help PREVENT crime on the Hill!
organization committed to improving the
If you see a crime happening or see/hear anything suspicious in your neighborhood, please call the police!
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
756-8135 Daytimes: Janine Kaserman with Community Policing 2) 650-9005 cell: 11 am thru the night, 1)
Senior Lead Officer Tony Ampezzan (at right)
groups, encouraging self-sufficiency, and enriching the lives of all residents.
3)
874-8575/-8574:
Dispatch/non-emergency events
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) Clip and save these numbers!
Johann von Goethe
SEND US YOUR LETTERS AND HILL NEWS TO OBSERVER@MUNJOYHILL.ORG
Incorporated as a nonprofit organization be
Happy Winter!
ON HILL
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
December-January 2013
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Reflecting on Community GOOD NEIGHBOR of the Month by Lisa Peñalver
By Ross Fields, Vice President of the MHNO, Membership Committee Chair ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2012, my wife, Kathleen, and I left the comfort of our apartment here on Munjoy Hill and headed for St. JeanPied-de-Port, France, to begin our journey along the Camino de Santiago. The 500 mile (800 kilometer) trek from France, over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela took us 38 days, walking 12 to 18 miles per day, with three additional rest days, for a total of 41 days. One thing for sure is: the Camino is a fluid community of people from many countries of the world, and, with every step they take along the Way, they support and care for each other. Communication was extremely challenging at times, but the common phrase of “buen Camino” (good Camino, good travel) abounded. It was so encouraging to see how genuinely interested people were in one another. Everyone wanted to know where you were from, what it was like and how you were doing. I am attempting to integrate this amazing experience with life here on Munjoy Hill, and how it applies to our community in general. On the Camino, the goal for each day was to keep
yourself going: to place one foot in front of the other, with the purpose of reaching your goal, while appreciating your surroundings, connecting with and being there for each other, no matter how your body might feel and regardless of weather conditions. But unlike the Camino, “life” on the Hill for me, and most likely for you, can be infused with the distractions (cell phones, email, facebook, etc.) that make up daily living. So, for now, my goal will be just that…to continue to “put one foot in front of the other,” approaching each day with the attitude of “buen Camino,” and be on the lookout for those “chance” opportunities to connect with you. You are welcome to join me in doing the same. Buen Camino… ~Ross If you are interested in learning more about the Camino de Santiago, you may contact Ross and Kathleen, ross.fields@munjoyhill.org, and read Kate Campbell Strauss’s Camino chronicles in the Observer. You may enjoy seeing the movie, “The Way,” with actor Martin Sheen. You will find that there are others living on the Hill who have also made this trek.
Caring for the Caregiver THE WINTER HOLIDAYS CAN BE A CHALLENGE By Lori K. Parham, Ph.D., is AARP Maine’s State Directo THE HOLIDAYS CAN be extra stressful for caregivers, but there are many ways we can help. If you are a caregiver, claiming even a little time for yourself can be an enormous challenge. Finding personal time is important for everyone, but setting aside time for oneself during the holidays can become even harder. If you are a caregiver, this may seem all but impossible. At the best of times, many of us feel challenged during the holidays. Sometimes, even the activities that are “supposed to be fun,” such as holiday shopping or decorating, can feel stressful. This year, perhaps we can offer our Munjoy Hill neighbors and friends who are caregivers some relief by looking beyond our own hectic holiday traditions. The gift of time can be the most important gift of all. There are many ways to offer others some relief from the stresses of caregiving. For example, if you know someone who has not been able to leave their house because of caregiving duties, you could offer to lend a hand one afternoon so they can do their holiday shopping or have lunch with a friend. Another way to help is to gather some other neighbors or friends together to provide an ongoing cycle of support that is not too difficult for any one person to incorporate into their busy lives. Many people find it hard to ask for help even when they truly need it. If you can pitch in without their having made that request, the gift you give will be all the more appreciated. Most communities have services to help coordinate care and provide assistance with meals, light housekeeping or transportation. For Munjoy Hill, The Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging (SMAAA) is a terrific resource. They can be reached at www.smaaa.org or by calling 396-6500. Additionally, the AARP Caregiving Resource Center at www.aarp.org/ caregivers offers an array of resources for caregivers in addition to information for those who
wish to lend a hand. Among these resources, there is a caregiver support line, information about available services and supports, and advice on legal and financial matters. Finally, try to find a way to help any caregiver you know stay connected. Especially during the holidays, it is easy for caregivers to feel isolated. Whether you reach out by telephone, email or even through social networking sites, keeping friends and community close can make a world of difference. With best wishes for a happy and safe holiday, —Lori K. Parham, State Director, AARP Maine Lori K. Parham, Ph.D., is AARP Maine’s State Director, based in Portland, Maine. Prior to joining AARP Maine she worked as senior advisor to AARP’s Executive Vice President for the State and National Group in Washington, DC, overseeing the reorganization of the Association’s Government Affairs unit and the creation of a new Office of Volunteerism & Service. She began her career at AARP in Florida. Before becoming State Director in early 2007, she served as Advocacy Manager for State Affairs and was responsible for policy and legislative advocacy. Her service includes terms on the boards of the Florida Patient Safety Corporation, the Florida Council on Aging and the American Hiking Society. Before joining AARP, Parham served as a legislative analyst for the Florida Senate, providing technical expertise to the Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care. Lori has a B.A. in Sociology from Belmont Abbey College, as well as a M.S. and Ph.D. with a specialization in Political Economy and Aging from Florida State University. She is currently a member of the National Academy for Social Insurance, the Gerontological Society of America, and the Maine Gerontological Society and serves on the Board of ITN Portland.
Joan Sheedy
HEALTHY, VIBRANT communities don’t just happen by accident. Within these communities, you will invariably find a core of people who have a vision they want to see realized, who feel strongly about fairness and safety and even beauty, and they feel compelled to make these dreams come true. Joan Sheedy is one of those people who cannot see an injustice and just go on about her business. In the mid1990s, Joan joined with the Friends of the St. Lawrence, helping get the word out about the need to restore the then 100-year-old church, brainstorming ways to raise funds and support for the reconstruction efforts that have brought back life to the St Lawrence Arts Center. (The history of the restoration effort is chronicled in in the June 2011 issue of the Observer, online at munjoyhill.org). These days, she is sharing her idea of a FREE snow-shoveling service for seniors with communities across the country. “My free snow-shovelling project is going national!” she exclaimed to me with a combination of glee and disbelief. “This is an idea that came out to my own head. NOBODY else in the whole country was doing it. I can’t believe it,” she told me. The National Association of Triads, a nonprofit out of Alexandria VA, were very interested in her project as a model for other cities. A Triad is a partnership of three organizations—law enforcement, older adults, and community groups, with the goal of keeping older adults safe and improving their quality of life. If you are not familiar with it, Joanie’s Free Senior Snow Shoveling Project began 8 years ago, when the city began fining residents $110 if they failed to clear snow from sidewalks in front of their homes. Joan saw a problem with this. “That’s a lot of money for someone on a fixed income—it’s just not fair! And you can’t expect people who are elderly to go out and shovel; they’ll hurt themselves.” says Joan. She began contacting high schools for student volunteers, and coordinating with the Sheriff’s department. On her own, she bought shovels, and her volunteers shuttled themselves to the homes of seniors on the list. “It took me a full year before we were going full-blast with the free snow-shoveling. The Sheriff’s Department has a big community service van they use for their shovelers, and they provide shovels.” While much of the work is done by high school students who need to perform community service, shovelers also include kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine, the Boy Scouts, and pre-release prisoners from the Cumberland County Jail. Joan Sheedy’s free shoveling project has recently been publicized by the Portland Daily Sun (Oct. 24, 2012) and by the Portland Press Herald (Nov. 21). “I’m not used to all this attention, but if it’s for the good of the seniors, so be it! It would be selfish of me not to share,” says Joan. Joan, a retired state-certified Nursing Assistant, is still going strong at 77. She lives at bayview Heights on North Street and continues to be active with the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, the Hidden Gardens Tour of Munjoy Hill and Friends of the Eastern Promenade, Friends of Casco Bay, and the Community Television Network (CTN).
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BULLETIN Board THE MUNJOY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION
December- January 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
MEET THE 2012-2013 BOARD OF THE MHNO!
Andrea Myhaver President
Ross Fields Vice President
Elaine Mullin Treasurer
Ralph Carmona
Nova Ewers
Thomas Kelley
Eben Albert-Knopp
Sam Cohen MHNO SECRETARY GROWING UP in historic New Castle, Delaware, I have distinct memories of walking down the street to Wassams for a candy bar, and looking up from the brick sidewalk to see passersby waving and saying hello. Many years, and beards, later, I find a great joy in saying hello to the people of Portland, my home. After moving north to New Jersey for high school, I decided to go further still, and I found myself at the University of Maine. I graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2009 and moved back to Delaware for a brief, yet illuminating, experience working at a photography studio. The beauty of Portland, turns out, was impossible for me to resist and I moved to the Hill in 2010 and have lived here ever since. I now make change and talk about cheese at Rosemont Market. I joined the MHNO a little over a year ago. I knew almost nothing about what the organization was or what I would be doing. What I found to exist is a tremendous engine of human energy working continuously to make this neighborhood better. My mother was on the tree commission of our town in Delaware, and my father has been involved in mentoring and nonprofit board involvement for most of his professional life. Their devotion of time taught me from a very young age that there is always more that can be done to help. I’m glad to be a part of this group, and as secretary of the board I’ve been working hard trying to perfect the art of the minutes. For two months this fall, I lived and worked at an organic farm in Freedom, Maine. Living in a treehouse and picking veggies out of the dirt is something I will never forget. Since returning, I have gained a newfound appreciation for indoor plumbing. And electricity. This winter, I’m looking forward to volunteering at the Telling Room, working with the MHNO, taking trips to the library and running as often as my body and the weather will allow.
“LIKE” us & STAY INFORMED! Sign up for our email list at munjoyhill. org to receive alerts on events and issues pertaining to the East End (FYI: we do not share our list.). Get the first glimpse of the each month's Observer. "Like" the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization on FACEBOOK! Just visit us online at munjoyhill. org and click on our Facebook link. Follow our updates, join the conversation, post photos and share links, all on our FB page.
Joan Sheedy
Ann Quinlan
GET TO KNOW US! ANDREA MYHAVER (President, MHNO) Andrea was born and raised on the Eastern Prom of Munjoy Hill. After she graduated from high school, Andrea’s travels and jobs took her across the country. In 2002 she decided to return to Maine and her roots on Munjoy Hill to raise her young son, Reid. She and her son have been residents of North Street ever since. Andrea joined the MHNO board of Directors in 2010, where she quickly jumped in to serve as Secretary. In 2011 Andrea was elected to her first term as President, and was re-elected to serve another term at the June 2012 annual meeting. Andrea says that most people know that she comes from a large family (7 brothers and 3 sisters) but may not know about her family’s musical talents, or that she herself is a singer. The “Von Myhaver Family Singers and Dancers” perform mostly at family events, but you never know when they might come to a venue near you!
ROSS FIELDS (Vice President, MHNO) Ross has lived on Munjoy Hill for one year; he became a Board member last December (2011). Ross likes the vibrancy of the Rosemont Market and the local restaurants on the Hill. He also enjoys living only a couple blocks away from the ocean. Few people may know that, when Ross lived in Vermont— before he moved to Portland—he sang tenor in a barbershop quartet. A favorite quotation of Ross’—”When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” (Author Unknown)
ELAINE MULLIN (Treasurer, MHNO) Elaine has lived on Munjoy Hill for four and a half years and has been a Board member for three years. She loves the constant activity on the Hill and the fact that you don’t have to go far to find things going on. Few people would know that Elaine has participated in the Trek Across Maine bicycle tour—three times! A favorite quotation: “Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” (Author Unknown)
THOMAS KELLEY
NOVA EWERS
Tom became a Board member in March 2012; he has lived on Munjoy Hill for one year. He likes living among the eclectic group of Munjoy Hill residents who all share the common traits of being friendly, amazing people. Few would know that Tom is an avid traveler; he has already visited a third of the world’s countries! A favorite quotation, “It was the tension between these two poles — a restless idealism on one hand and a sense of impending doom on the other — that kept me going.” (Hunter S. Thompson)
Nova has lived on Munjoy Hill for two years; she became a Board Member in March 2012. Nova loves how Munjoy Hill residents take pride in and love their neighborhood. “From sunrise over the Prom to sunset over Standpipe Park, it’s always a beautiful day on the Hill thanks to the beautiful people who live here.” Few people may know that Nova has sailed across each of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans twice. A favorite quotation, “It is not so much what is on the table that matters, as what is on the chairs” (W.S. Gilbert)
EBEN ALBERT-KNOPP
JOAN SHEEDY
Eben has lived on Munjoy Hill for three years; he became a Board member early in 2012. He enjoys the great Munjoy community, Rosemart Market, and living within walking and biking distance from the Eastern Promenade and downtown Portland. Eben is an alumnus of the College of the Atlantic, which is located in Bar Harbor, ME.
RALPH CARMONA (Chair, MHNO Annual Appeal Campaign) Over two years ago, Ralph and Vana (an 11th generation Mainer) Carmona decided to make Munjoy Hill the next stage in their lives because of its quality of life and the potential to make a difference. Ralph joined the MHNO Board in February 2011. What he likes best about Munjoy Hill are his morning walks with Vana throughout Eastern Promenade. Most people do not know that Ralph has a doctorate, is Regent Emeritus at the University of California and Executive Director of the Maine Global Institute. A favorite quotation: “Think where one’s greatest glory most begins and ends, then say: My greatest glory is that I had such friends.” (William Butler Yeats)
OPEN MEETINGS: The MHNO Board meets every 2nd Monday of the month, at 7 pm at the Hill House at 92 Congress St. — Please join us!
Joan has been a Board member for 6+ years; she has lived on Munjoy Hill for eight years. Joan sees the Munjoy Hill community as one big family whose members are all willing to help each other and to work together in pursuit of common goals. In addition to participating in the MHNO, Joan is also involved in many other activities across Portland, such as City Hall affairs. A favorite quotation, ““I just try as hard as I can to make ‘community’ on the Hill and to draw people together.” (Joan)
ANN QUINLAN Ann became a Board member in 2011; she has lived on Munjoy Hill for three years but has spent summers on the Hill ever since the ‘60s. She enjoys “living in a well-knit community with neighbors who all know one another. Instead of confining ourselves to particular age brackets.” Ann believes it is important to live inter-generationally and to connect with people of all ages. A favorite quotation of Ann’s: ”We are not here to be perfect; we are here to be real.” (Einstein).
Tamera Edison Ad Sales Rep
Lisa Peñalver Observer Editor
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
December-January 2013
THE MUNJOY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION MHNO Expanding Observer Ad Sales Force! Are you outgoing? Detail oriented? Are you able to navigate comfortably in Word, Excel, and most email programs? Do you have a talent for “closing the deal”? Do you live on Munjoy Hill or have a connection to Munjoy Hill? Are you looking for a PART-TIME JOB that allows you to make your own hours and earn income based on the effort you put in? The MHNO is expanding our ad sales staff for the Munjoy Hill Observer. If you answered yes to all of the questions above, we would love to hear from you! Please email your resume and a letter of interest to our President at: andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org.
MUNJOY MOTHERS CLUB
is seeking GIFTS for the annual Children’s Christmas Party on DECEMBER 15, 2012
It’s that time of year again, Christmas is right around the corner and the Munjoy Mothers Club is looking for donations to help put a smile on the faces of kids of Munjoy Hill who might otherwise not get a Christmas. We’re looking for TOYS, clothes, food, or cash. ANY DONATION WILL HELP!
Please drop off your donations or mail to:
Steve Trott, 315 Woodford St. Portland, ME 04104 ph 653-2341 & Linda York, 17 Merrill St. Portland, ME 04101 ph 518-3169
Show your 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 info@ munjoyhill.org.
Your donations are greatly appreciated! This Christmas is dedicated to the loving memory of event founder MARIE L. TROTT, (October 1942 - June 2011) ONLINE at marietrott.com and on Facebook : Munjoyhill-Mothers-Club
Join the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization NEW MEMBERSHIP
Elder Care Resources: Clip-n-Save Portland Area Coalition for Elder Services (PACES)
The Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA)
PACES members serve the senior community in greater Portland by providing high quality goods and services. Our monthly meetings focus on sharing best practices, improving business relationships and educating our members about community services available to older adults.
The Southern Maine Agency on Aging offers a wide range of programs and services for older adults living in York and Cumberland counties. These programs and services are designed to foster independence, reduce the burden on family and caregivers, and promote an active and healthy lifestyle throughout the aging process.
http://pacesseniors.com
CONTACT: Lynne Maxfield-Cole PACES Membership Chairperson 53 Waterford Rd. Harrison, ME 04040 lmaxroad@yahoo.com 207-754-0730 Phoebe Chandler PACES President phoebe@allenselig.com 207 712-6500
http://smaaa.org
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MHNO, 92 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 Questions? Call (207) 775-3050, email info@munjoyhill.org or visit munjoyhill.org Welcome to the MHNO! 11/2012
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December- January 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
ON HILL
GROWINGTOGETHER
THE HOLIDAYS
Getting What You (and Your T I P S O N P A R E N T I N G & R E L A T I O N S H I P S Family) Really Want By Ross Fields, CPE & Kathleen Fields, CPE DEPENDING UPON your age, phrases such as: “Santa Claus is coming to town,” “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,” “Grandma wants us to visit for the holidays,” “Can we bake cookies?”, and “Let’s get out the decorations!” can invoke fun, excitement and mystery; it almost certainly does, if you are six. Or, if you are, let’s say, over the age of 26, these phrases can provoke...sheer panic. This happens simply because ,as you get older, life becomes more complicated. The excitement and wonder you felt when you were six has dimmed a bit. Also, when you were six, it seemed like an eternity from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. For those of us who are older, it can seem like the Christmas holidays begin the weekend after Thanksgiving . . . there just is not enough time to get all the shopping done, make dishes for all of the parties, visit all of the relatives, and feel any spiritual significance . . . it seems to happen in a blur. Plus, when it is finally all over, you might feel
disappointment because it just did not turn out the way you had pictured it, the way it was when you were six. Who cares about angels getting their wings every time some stupid little bell rings, anyway? So, to help make your Holiday Season a bit more fun and more memorable, I suggest the following:
Step 2. Schedule when you will do the items on your list, on the family list, by writing them on the calendar. If you happen to be a family of four, then the most you will have to schedule will be the “twelve things for Christmas”.
Step 3. Work the schedule. Since it is the Holidays, there are always things that come up unexpectedly. So remain flexible, but don’t just drop something from the list. Reschedule it. This is about taking care of yourself and being an example for how to do it. Note: Resist the temptation to overschedule. Save your list and revisit it the following year.
“YOU are your child’s best listener!”
Step 1. Make a list of things that are important and meaningful to you. Pick the top three.
er to see where they line up and where they don’t. Some negotiating may be needed.
For example, when we lived in Vermont, my top three things were: to gather pine boughs from our woods for the barn wreath, to cut down and decorate our Christmas tree, and to listen to holiday music. Have the members of your family make their lists (and pick their top three things). Put the lists togeth-
Here’s to enjoying the Holiday season and making it look the way you want it to. Happy Holidays from Results Parenting. (Ross & Kathleen Fields are Certified Parenting Educators (CPE) and co-founders of Results Parenting, LLC, www.resultsparenting.com.)
ASK THE MONEY PROF By Joel I. Gold
Why is Being Thankful So Undervalued? THIS IS THE TIME of the year that we should be reflecting on our lives. If we could only take a look around us and see those that are less fortunate, it would make a world of difference on how we view ourselves. Being thankful for what we have accomplished and possess is so undervalued in our society. It appears that John D. Public thinks that having many goods and services means having a quality of life that makes us happy. We take for granted so many things that are meaningful in our lives. America is a great country with so many freedoms. While there are constraints and limits on our freedom, we still have the flexibility to behave and make decisions that can make us happy and content with our lives. We all seek the “good life,” but many of us go about it the wrong way. We tend to make comparisons with others, on the possessions we own, the titles we hold, the money we make. We equate these with success and happiness. Maybe we do this because our parents made it too easy for us. Maybe it’s the marketing of products through the media and its impact on our behavior. It is not our financial health, but our mental attitude towards life that causes our stress and anxiety, leading to frustration and, many times, health issues.
We 7 can learn important lessons on priorities from the immigrants Moderate Sudoku Puzzles - Book who come over here and are thankful for just being in America. They
From www.veryfreesudoku.com
Sudoku Puzzle 1
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. —Robert Louis Stevenson
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3 9 5 8 7
4 5
1 9
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seem to be overjoyed with having very little.
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They are not alone. Their peers are going through the same life challenges. But, their positive attitudes and solid work ethic many times culminate in successful lives, both emotionally and financially.
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2 4 5 9
8 6 2 Sudoku Puzzle 2
So be thankful for all your accomplishments, big and small, and try to see the positive side of things. If you have your health and are thankful for what you have, you are on the right track to a satisfying and productive life. College professor and financial adviser Joel I. Gold is the owner of the Gold Company, located off of India Street, 145 Newbury Street, 3rd flr, (207) 650-7884, where he works as a Fee-Only Financial Planner. He’s been in Portland since 1995.
CAPITAL CITY
STATEHOUSE UPDATE | JUSTIN ALFOND
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
December-January 2013
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justinalfond.com
Obamacare Redux WITH THE November elections behind us, a supportive President and Congress, and a Supreme Court ruling in its favor, the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is the law of the land. One of the critical decisions each state has to make is whether or not to establish a state-run health insurance exchange, or whether to allow the federal government to design one for us. In the last session, the Republican-led Maine Legislature was supportive of this aspect of the law, and took a do-nothing approach to setting up the insurance exchange marketplace--essentially, opting out of the requirements of the ACA. The Governor, also an opponent of the law, has indicated he will not “lift a finger” to implement the law. This inaction has put us in the position of either establishing a robust, state-run exchange in a month, or accepting the federal system. Because we don’t have enough time to establish an effective, state-run exchange, we must utilize the federal system. It is my hope that we can work with federal officials to ensure the best possible outcome. Once established, the state exchange will serve as a marketplace for all health insurance plans available in Maine. Individuals can compare plans and decide which plan is right for them. Some individuals will be able to qualify for subsidies. The exchange is one of the biggest benefits of the ACA, and I am hopeful we can have a great one here in Maine.
• If your child has asthma or another preexisting condition, your health insurance company cannot deny your child health care. • If you’re a young person just getting started on your own, you can stay on your parent’s health insurance until the age of 26. • If you are a small business owner, you will get a tax credit for offering your employees health care. And if your small business has under 50 employees, you will not be required to provide health coverage for your employees. • If you get sick, have cancer or diabetes, or if you’re pregnant or have any other condition insurance companies decide is “pre-existing,” Obamacare stops insurance companies from canceling or denying your coverage. Finally, Obamacare puts an end to taxpayers subsidizing health care for the people who can afford to get it. Hardworking Mainers will get a tax credit, averaging about $4,000, so they can afford health care. I am also happy to report that I have been selected by my colleagues to serve as the 115th President of the Maine State Senate. I look forward to working with you and my colleagues to move Portland and Maine forward.
In addition to the exchange, here are some other benefits of Obamacare: • If you are a woman, you will no longer be charged more than a man for health care.
The WindowDressers
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By Lisa Peñalver
DICK CADWGAN AND FRANK MUNDO are the WindowDressers, a nonprofit out of Rockland, ME. With the help of community volunteers, they produce lowcost, energy/heat-saving window inserts through a “community-build” model.
I first heard of this community window project from friends on Peaks Island. I had missed last year’s insert-building workshop, so this time I stopped by the Bracket Church on the island to see the work in progress.
Over the past few years, their production has increased from 225 windows in 2009, to 1350 in 2011, to 2300 this year.
That day, WindowDressers had close to a dozen volunteers working away at assembly. Frank Mundo, who, with Dick Cadwgan, designed this community-build model, was there working alongside the others.
Their initial goal, according to Frank Mundo, was, “If we built 1000 windows (inserts) per year for 10 years, we could keep 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide gas OUT of the environment. (But it will end up saving even more, since we are already making over 2,000 inserts per year.” With each window expected to last 10 years, the impact on the environment, and on the wallet, should grow exponentially. The WindowDressers have designed a process for ordering, measuring, building, and installing heat-saving window inserts, available to the general public at a very low cost: approx. $12 per window. Using technology, careful planning, and a workforce of volunteers, the WindowDressers have been able to produce these inserts that pay for themselves. The process is so efficient that, for every 2 houses fitted, a third house can be fitted for FREE!
I immediately thought of the Munjoy Hill Community and how all residents, owners and renters alike, could benefit from lowering their heating costs. I wanted to know how a community could enlist their services. ““All they have to do is ask!” was Frank’s reply. He went on to say that it helps to have someone who will take on responsibility for coordinating with the volunteers in the area. Later I spoke with Island Fellow and AmeriCorps volunteer, Maggie Small, who had been involved with the build from start to finish, attending every weekend work-session and helping instruct volunteers. “This is a fabulous first-step in insulating your home,” she said. “It
JOIN THE FUN! Long-time resi-
dent of Munjoy Hill, Justina Marcisso, is organizing a neighborhood rummage sale, called the Thrifty Gifty Holiday Sale, with the help of some friends. Folks can sell their surplus belongings, make some money, and help our local charities, notably, the Ronald McDonald House who will receive the table donations ($10 per table) and Catholic Charities, who will come to pick up the leftover goods at the end of the day.
doesn’t cost a lot, and it makes a huge difference in your fuel costs. The next step would be to get an energy audit... “ A critical component of the WindowDressers outreach success has been the support of the Maine Interfaith Power and Light group (www.meipl.org/), through which faith communities look for ways to address energy conservation and climate change. I spoke with Sam Saltonstall of Peaks Island who served as president of the MEIPL board for a number of years. He was the coordinator for the Peaks Island community-build. “It surprised us, but folks have been willing to pay in advance for their windows. It’s a great value, and they trust
Who sparked the idea was Justina’s young son. “My goal is to get my son Dominic, who is 5, involved in this process. After the event, I will take the collection of donations and all monies and my son and I will handdeliver them to the Ronald McDonald House on Christmas Eve. It is important to me that he understand the TRUE meaning of the holidays, and to see how the feeling of helping others is worth more than any toy you ask Santa for.” Thank you, Justina Marcisso!
that the windows will come.” Maggie Small was impressed by the goodwill the effort generates. The WindowDressers plan to donate all their plans and process to the public domain “They just want to help people,” said Maggie. “And it’s catching on like wildfire. They’re going to need to get some help.” (They have approached Maine Prison Industries to enlist the help of inmate volunteers) “Basically, these two guys were building all these frames out of their garages,” said Sam Saltonstall. See also http://greensanctuary.blogs.uua.org/environmental-justice/the-window-dressers-rocklandme/ .
December- January 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
ART SOUL
A Willing Suspension of Disbelief THE TELEPHONE RANG just before dinner a few nights before Christmas. It was for me. Unbelievable, because in 1958, 5-year old girls did not GET personal phone calls. But it was for me. On the other end, a gruff male voice asked if I’d been a good girl! Was I ready for Christmas? Was I?! My parents never did find out who made that mystery call, but I was hooked for a few more years. Willing suspension of disbelief. Willing to believe that reindeer could fly through the air. That a jolly, rotund man in a red suit would shimmy down our chimney with a sack full of toys. And later, I would be grateful that my parents were not Dutch, for in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas sprinkles sweets and treats down the chimney, aiming small presents for shoes left by the fireplace. There was no way that I would have ever received my muchloved Chatty Cathy doll from the Dutch guy, given
the width of our chimney. December brings its own special blend of magic and faith, but only if you’re ready to suspend your skepticism, your worldliness, your disbelief. Is it possible for a one-day supply of oil to last eight days? In the 2nd century BC, such a wonder happened at the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Hebrews in ancient Israel had only one vessel of holy oil to light their temple. However, the oil lasted eight days, enough time for a new supply to be pressed and made ready. This month, menorahs around the world will be lit during the Hanukkah festival of lights, testimony to faith and miracle. A myth? Perhaps, but inspirational nonetheless. How could the birth of a child to a humble couple in a stable entice three wise men to cross a dangerous desert to present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? And that when that child grew up, his teachings would
Consider the Small Stuff THE HOLIDAY SEASON is upon us and we’re all a bit stressed. Sometimes it’s helpful to reduce stress by not sweating the small stuff. But sometimes you do have to give the small stuff more attention. Cases in point from experience — mine and that of others: 1. Find one, and ONLY one, place for your keys and put them there every time. Yes, it’s okay to have a place for an extra key, but that key should be replaced after it’s used. LESSON: make a decision and stick with it. 2. Empty your pockets. Goodness gracious some pockets can be treasure troves. We all love finding that $5 or $10 we left in a coat or jacket, but that aside, you should empty your pockets when you take the garment off. LESSON: do it now.
An essay by Elizabeth Miller, Waterville Street craft a religion that would inspire art and acts of charity over the centuries? And peace on earth and good will to men. Yes, I know that same religion, like many other belief systems, would also lead to persecutions and wars, but these are the actions of wicked men who forget the heavenly wonders, and grasp for earthly power in the name of religion. Think about those ancient peoples who feared that the sun would actually disappear, shrinking, shrinking, shrinking until the darkest night of the year. To celebrate the rebirth of the Light, the ancient Romans had Saturnalia; the ancient Persians had Yalda, and the Zuni had Soyal festivals, to name just a few. So put aside the postmodern cynicism and embrace the magic of the season. Oh yes, don’t forget the milk and cookies for the Big Guy and carrots for Rudolph. They have a long journey ahead of them.
By Solange Kellermann, the Clutter Doc
3. READ, don’t scan, emails. Have you ever missed crucial pieces of information because you scan some emails rather than reading the entire text? My theory is that some emails are unnecessarily long and have non-essential information. That promotes scanning to look for the one or two pieces of needed information. But in doing that – scanning – you can miss important information buried in the chatter. LESSON: slow down and pay attention. 4. UNPACK right away. I once drove myself crazy looking for ‘VERY IMPORTANT’ class notes. Where were they? Sitting in an unpacked bag sitting innocuously in a corner of my work room. Time and energy wasted because I’d not unpacked that bag. And yes, it did hold other important pa-
pers. LESSON: make time to unpack bags as soon as possible. Put things back where they belong. Now is not the time to find new places for things. 5. Don’t use your workplace email address for personal use. Many workplaces frown on employees using work time and work email addresses for personal use. Things to think about if you do use the company’s email address: What is your employer’s policy on this issue? Can your employer see what you’ve written? (Assume s/he CAN.) When you leave that workplace, that email address will be destroyed – it will not forward to your new address and you’ll have to notify people to reach you at a new email address. If you don’t have your contact list, you’ll have to somehow rebuild it. LESSON: separate work and personal life.
READERSWrite READERSWrite READERSWrite READERSWrite READERSWrite
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El Camino de Santiago Essay by installment by Kate Campbell Strauss
When people ask me to describe the best part of my pilgrimage, I often talk about learning to be alone, discovering my strength, experiencing a slower version of time, or never knowing who or what I would meet on the path each day. But my most profound encounters were with generosity. ****** At a café one morning in St. Chély d’Aubrac, I met a group of Belgian pilgrims, all in their mid-60s. They had made the pilgrimage before, but this time, they were walking for just a few weeks in France. They were excited to hear that I was walking all the way to Santiago. One of the Belgian women, Andrea, came to my table and sat, her back to her companions. Speaking slowly and in a quiet voice that no one else could hear, she asked if my budget was tight. I nodded. When she was sure her group wasn’t looking, she slipped me forty Euros and told me to light a candle for her and her family in Santiago. She started crying, and said, “My purse is empty but I give you my soul.” ****** A few weeks later, as I neared Cahors, I befriended a French pilgrim, José. José and I could barely speak – he spoke no English and my French was rough – but he took me under his wing like a daughter. He treated me to many meals during the time we walked together and even gave me several hundred Euros, saying that God had told him to. When he insisted on giving me money, it reminded me that in fact I did have enough and could stop worrying about it. When José left for home after two weeks of walking, he gave me his phone number. He knew I didn’t have anyone on that side of the ocean and said that if I ever had an emergency, in France or in Spain, he would come help me. ******
Two days before reaching the border of Spain, I stayed with a French artist. Jean-Gaëtan, who calls himself L’Alchemiste (“The Alchemist”), had not made the pilgrimage to Santiago but felt an inexplicable connection to the path and sought to be in contact with it. He answered the call by opening a studio on the path and, a few years later, he bought a house big enough to host pilgrims. His threestory home is covered in original artwork and aphorisms written on miniature black slate chalkboards. He made a three-course meal and welcomed us all into spiritual and intellectual conversations together. Like a handful of other hosts on the Way, Jean-Gaëtan gives by building community among the pilgrims he brings together in the warmth of his house. ****** As Andrea, Joseph, and Jean-Gaëtan gave of themselves, they expanded my purpose beyond the personal, private motivations I had internalized months before beginning my journey. By energizing and inspiring me with their generosity, they each realized their own purpose to reach Santiago, on my feet rather than their own. ****** More to come ... About the author: Kate Campbell Strauss moved to Munjoy Hill in February of 2012, one month after returning from her pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of Saint James. Kate began her pilgrimage in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, and walked four months to the northwest coast of Spain, beyond Santiago de Compostela, where the route ends. She would love to be a resource to anyone who is thinking of making the pilgrimage. Please send emails to Observer@munjoyhill.org.
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
December-January 2013
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THE LORD OF THE WOOD By Lynne Cullen ONE WINTER, two friends went hunting in the north woods of Maine, way down east. Tom said, “Did you see that doe I shot?” “You only wounded it,” said John “So?” said Tom. “I want a buck.” “It’s starting to snow.” said John. They climbed to the top of a hill, and saw another hill, and standing at the top was a stag. The stag shook its huge antlers and disappeared over the darkly clouded horizon. Tom stumbled after it. The light was fading. John followed, but when he reached the valley, Tom’s footprints were already disappearing under the fresh snow. “Tom! To-om!” “He’ll be on the next hill,” John thought. But there was nothing at the top except the snow and wind, and on the next hill, the stag. John followed. But the stag was always one hill away. The winter light was gone. Snow was falling in hard, sharp flakes. John had to find a sheltered place
to camp. He stumbled down the hill until he saw a light. John struck out towards it, hoping that Tom had started a fire. But the light came from a cottage. John knocked on the door. It was opened by an old woman. Her face was seamed with wrinkles, and her hair was white, but her eyes were black. “Come in,” she said, “Sit by the fire and get out of those wet clothes.” John did as she asked, and watched her hang his clothes over the fire. She ladled some stew into a bowl and placed it in John’s hands. She said, “How came you here?” John told her about Tom, the injured doe, and the great stag. “You have seen the Lord of this wood, who watches over the forest. All he asks of you is respect.” “And if he doesn’t get it?” asked John, yawning. “Why, then,” said the old woman, “You won’t be welcome in His wood!” John heard a terrible bellow, but he could not move. “Come in, My Lord,” the woman cried, “And greet our guest!” The door blew open with a BANG!
And the last thing John saw was a gigantic black shadow with the antlers of a stag. He awoke with the winter sun warming his face. The smell of cooking opened his eyes, and they ate together in silence. The old woman brought him his dry clothes, and a pair of snowshoes. “Take them. The snow is deep.” “I don’t know where I am.” “Follow His mark on the trees.” John set off into the sparkling day, following the hoof-marks that were burned into every other tree, until he came to the edge of the forest. He sat on a gnarled root to remove his snowshoes. But when he put his hand out to steady himself, he felt a familiar shape beneath the snow. John jumped up with a yell, then frantically scraped at the snow, until he uncovered the face of his friend. Tom was naked, and frozen, and on his face was the look of a startled deer. When John turned his friend over, he saw, burned onto his back, the mark of a gigantic hoof.
“The door blew open with a BANG! And the last thing John saw was a gigantic black shadow with the antlers of a stag.”
Writer and storyteller Lynne Cullen lives on Munjoy Hill. Lynne began telling traditional stories while living in Yorkshire, England, and has brought them over the sea to Portland, Maine. Lynne was taught to play the Anglo concertina by the great Irish player Noel Hill from County Clare. She is the host of Seanachie Nights in Portland: a monthly show dedicated to stories and music from Britain and the Celtic tradition. Lynne says, “Folktales have as much relevance today as they did a hundred, or a thousand, or ten thousand years ago. And because they are passed on orally, they are always evolving.” To learn more about Lynne, visit her website at www.lynnecullen.com.
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December- January 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
LIVING WITH PEACE
Living With Peace is a dynamic local grassroots community support organization investing in the future of our immigrants by providing information, resources, and training to newcomers to the community and culture.
Opening the Door to Maine’s Vibrant Future By Christina Feller, President, Living With Peace WHEN LEWISTON MAYOR Robert MacDonald stated that “immigrants should leave their culture at the door,” his statement began yet another series of debates about acculturation, assimilation and integration of immigrants into American life. What is integration? Why is the assimilation of immigrants into the social life of a community so important? Why is the integration of immigrants so critical to the future of the Maine workforce? And, by the way, the evidence shows that immigrants in Maine are assimilating into civic and social life and are integrating into the workforce by any measure used. Indeed, immigrants in Maine finish high school and college at a higher level than home-born students.
also helps the immigrant members of society to find their own identity in a new environment and offers them their own familiar terrain which they need in order to assimilate what is new and foreign.” So immigrants actually need the safety and security of their own culture in order to take in and accept and take on the new culture. Sergine went on, “culture plays a central role in influencing conflict since conflicts arise as a natural consequence of human relationships.” It is how we define and interpret the conflict that sets the tone either for reconciliation or further divisiveness. Let’s go back to the def-
Sergine Gakwaya, currently a Peacekeeper with the UN Forces in Juba, South Sudan, and former Board Member of Living With Peace, wrote her Master’s thesis at Brandeis on “The Role of Cultural Differences in the Integration of Immigrants into American Society: A Case Study of African Immigrants in Portland, Maine.” In this paper, she noted the work of Howard Cody at UMaine, who wrote that Maine was known as having “little room for diversity and none at all for multiculturalism.”
initions. Social scientists define acculturation as the adoption of the beliefs and behaviors of one cultural group by members of another cultural group. Assimilation includes a change in language preferences and the adoption of common attitudes and values, becoming a citizen, taking on the daily customs of the host society. There are other words before we get to big “I” of Integration. There is adaptation, adjustment, and accommodation; these words identify particular territorial or location-based changes, whether good or bad
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He argues that such a society assimilates or otherwise neutralizes all outsiders threatening its cultural uniformity. We continue to see examples of Maine leaders responding defensively to this perceived threat to our “cultural uniformity.” Culture plays an overwhelming role in defining identity. What can Mayor Macdonald, Governor LePage and others learn from the latest studies about immigrant assimilation? Beate Winkler wrote in 2003 that “culture
Crossword ACROSS 1- Colombian city 5- Church areas 10- Bluesy James 14- Up and ___! 15- Slip 16- Fleece 17- Pierce with a knife 18- Thick sweet liquid 19- Switch ending 20- Falafel sauce 22- Sildenafil ___: Viagra 24- Air rifle ammo 25- Mariners can sail on seven of these 26- Endanger 30- Org. 35- Fair-hiring abbr. 36- “Hold On Tight” band 37- Happen again 38- Calamity 41- Become cheeselike 43- Adlai’s running mate 44- It’s a moray
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(Solution on page 14) 45- Hwy. 46- Kick off 47- Candy 50- Sewing case 53- Structural engineer’s software 54- Distribute the wrong cards 58- Linger aimlessly 62- ABA member 63- Land’s end? 66- Mrs. Chaplin 67- To ___ (perfectly) 68- ___ firma 69- Horse’s gait 70- May honorees 71- Diamond flaw? 72- Cubs slugger Sammy;
DOWN 1- Dramatic troupe 2- ___ girl! 3- Jacob’s first wife 4- Drink 5- Aided 6- Thickness 7- Title of a knight 8- Elicit 9- Photographic tone 10- Water pitcher 11- When said three times, a 1970 war movie 12- Horn sound 13- Tropical plant 21- Jazz org. 23- Autocratic Russian rulers 25- ___-Cat 26- French beans? 27- Actor Buchholz 28- Gaucho’s rope 29- TV Tarzan Ron 31- Get it?
32- Line of cliffs 33- ___ lunch 34- Crawl 39- Neth. neighbor 40- Lauder of cosmetics 41- Corp. honcho 42- Signal that danger is over 44- New Haven collegian 48- Philosopher ___-tzu 49- Foolish persons 51- Sample 52- Stomach woe 54- Polite address 55- Sock ___ me! 56- Wineglass part 57- Stains 59- Mower brand 60- Slaughter of baseball 61- Pro ___ 64- Part of ETA 65- Paid player; BESTCROSSWORDS.COM
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
EAST END Business Focus Body and Soul Health Solutions IF YOU’RE STILL WORKING on your New Years’ Resolutions, let me suggest adding ... massage to your list!
She eventually went back to school to get her business degree, but her path was not yet clear to her... and she still had the desk job.
Therapeutic massage is widely recognized to offer a host of health benefits, from relieving aches and pains, and speeding healing after an injury, to reducing stress.
When the body is stressed, it often becomes more prone to injury, and this played out in Elizabeth’s life. After one particularly severe injury that required surgery, during her recuperation, Elizabeth began to find clarity.
While there are many qualified massage therapists in the area, in this issue of the Observer we are focusing on Body & Soul Health Solutions out Washington Avenue, and on massage therapist Elizabeth Jackson, LMT, RMT. I recently visited her workplace on Auburn Street. The space is clean and welcoming; the soft colors and gentle music put the visitor at ease. Elizabeth shares the offices with Lisa Dulac, who does acupuncture (healthybalanceacupuncture.com) “Lisa and I really do well together. We get along so well, and I find that our therapies complement each other. There are times when I feel that clients of mine would benefit from acupuncture treatments, and they can go see her, and vice-versa. We both really love what we do and have created a nice space here.”
Bedridden, she used this quiet time of introspection for meditation. It was during this period that Elizabeth first experienced Reiki (Reiki is “a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive.” —from The International Center for Reiki Training, www. reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html)
I asked Elizabeth how she became a massage therapist. She smiled and said, “It’s kind of an unfolding, I didn’t come to it straight off.”
Her Reiki experience “was amazing;” it helped her so much. She become fascinated with Reiki, and determined to learn the art. Today, Reiki is part of her quiver of healing tools.
She had worked for many years as corporate credit manager at a plumbing and heating business. “It was a great job, and it helped me raise my kids,” she said, “but it was a demanding high-stress desk job, ...” and her body felt the effects.
“I recommend massage for everyone,” she says. “Growing up, I had no experience with massage; I thought it was only for rich people. But once I started getting massage regularly, I realized how important it was. No matter how tough things got in my life, I let myself have
December-January 2013
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LIVING WITH PEACE, from page 10
By Lisa Peñalver
this time for myself (with a massage).” Elizabeth has had her practice for four years at her current location. She’s been practicing massage for six years; her degree is from the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts, in Bridgton, Maine. “I feel so blessed that people entrust themselves to me; it’s a gift. We all want to feel that we can make a difference, that we can truly help someone. Massage allows me to do this.” Elizabeth is a Munjoy Hill alumnus, having spent her entire childhood growing up in this community. While she no longer lives on the Hill, she enjoys regular walks along the Eastern Promenade and Bayside trails. “It’s beautiful over there!” She said, “We didn’t have these nice trails along the water when I was a child; it was all bushes.” As her website says, “For those who are seeking relief from pain or stress, or simply longing for a deeply relaxing experience; you have found the right place. It is my pleasure to provide you with a treatment that best suits your needs. You are meant to be a healthy, joyful, inspired being; any obstacles are merely transitory. Let me help you return to your natural state of being.” Body & Soul Health Solutions is located at 94 Auburn St. Suite 106, across from the Shaws/Northgate plaza; call (207) 878-3003 or visit online, bodysoulmassagereiki.com.
(for instance, adjustment to Maine weather, adaptation to Maine’s rural-ness and long winters, or accommodation to discrimination in the workplace because of language difficulties and misunderstandings). Integration is a socially transformative process. It is a longer-term process. It is a dynamic process whereby both the migrant group and the host group work together to form secure, vibrant and cohesive communities. Sociologist J.W. Berry reminds us that “integration can only be achieved in a society that values multiculturalism.” He explains that “the immigrant group will likely be constrained by the behaviors and attitudes of the receiving society; and the receiving society has to determine how to change in order to accommodate immigrants.” I reached out to the new President of the Lewiston-Auburn Neighborhood Network, Gure Ali. I asked him about this word integration. He responded easily, “We are Americans. We are citizens and we pay taxes and enjoy the fruits of our labor like everyone else. Our number-one job is to integrate our neighborhoods and our cities with people See page 12, LIVING WITH PEACE
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December- January 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
LIVING WITH PEACE, from page 11 who care deeply about their local environment and their local economy, people who believe in the American Dream and parents who want their children to be successful in the future Maine economy. We are doing all of that. We are proud of our new Youth Development and Recreational Services Center we are building here in Auburn. We will continue to help build up our neighborhoods into vibrant, friendly, bustling places of activity where everyone enjoys the same air, the same sidewalks, and the same ability to achieve success.”
NITY
haim/
of India)
Christina Feller is an international development specialist. Living With Peace is a seven-year-old Portland and Auburn-based NGO serving the integration needs of immigrants. The board of directors is comprised of immigrants from Algeria, DRCongo, Rwanda, So Sudan, and Somalia.
School News
Life Insurance Health & Dental Disability Retirement Long-Term Care
Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. IIS000026
EECS PTO Has an Online Newsletter
Portland Children’s Film Festival Planning
For information about the EECS PTO (the East End Community School Parent Teacher Organization) and upcoming events, go to www.eecs.portlandpto.org or contact board@eecs.portlandpto.org.
The Portland Children’s Film Festival, in conjunction with the East End Community School, has begun planning for the second annual event to take place April 4-7, 2013. The festival was conceived and organized by East End Community School parents and teachers who, inspired by Portland’s diverse and creative community and a shared interest in film and the arts, wanted to couple an opportunity for local families to view quality independent and international films with hands-on programming designed to encourage local children to explore their own talents and interests in filmmaking.
December School Dates to Remember Thursday, December 6, 6 pm- 7:30 pm P.T.O. Meeting at The Root Cellar Monday, December 24-Tuesday, January 1, 2013 SCHOOL CLOSED FOR WINTER BREAK
D elores l anai
Officiant, Notary, Crone
Joy*Full Celebrations WEDDINGS * HA N DFA STINGS * F RIEN DSHIPS
***Holiday Concerts*** Secondary Students Perform in December Enjoy student performances at these upcoming concerts:
terra@maine.rr.com * 773-9235
CHESTER & V ESTAL, P.A.
Dec. 12, 6 p.m.
Lincoln Middle School
Dec. 13, 7 p.m.
Portland High School
Dec. 17, 6 p.m.
King Middle School
Dec. 18, 6 p.m.
Lyman Moore Middle School
Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
Deering High School.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Over 30 years of service to Munjoy Hill REAL ESTATE • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY JUVENILE DEFENSE • PROBATE, WILLS AND ESTATES 107 CONGRESS STREET • PORTLAND, MAINE 04101
(207) 772-7426 | www.chesterandvestal.com
“Serving Greater Portland Since 1980”
National Expert on Bullying Prevention to Speak at Reiche Stan Davis, a national expert on strategies to prevent bullying, will discuss the latest research and techniques to discourage bullying behavior and to empower bystanders in a talk titled “Empowering the Community” on December 13 at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria of Reiche Community School, 166 Brackett Street, Portland. The event is free and open to the public.
Davis is the author of “Schools Where Everyone Belongs: Practical Strategies in Reducing Bullying” and “Empowering Bystanders in Bullying Prevention.” He tonights visited Reiche in November to meet with staff and collect information through staff and student surveys.
Congratulations to all of Award Winners! 104 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME 04101 • 207.773.8198
www.dalerandprinting.com
Davis’ work with the school is funded by a grant from Education Association (NEA) and the Reiche School Parent Teacher Organization. For information, please call 874-8175.
104 Washington Avenue • Portland, Maine 04101 • (207) 773-8198 the National mikerand@maine.rr.com
observer ad.indd 1
I think it is time we opened our doors to all, whether newcomer or old-timer, time to learn about the cultures of others and be enriched by what we learn. It is time for peace, time for engagement.
9/18/2009 8:37:35 AM
EECS School Library Now Open on Saturdays
Help Support the Observer with your advertising! email Observer@munjoyhill.org
Now EECS families have the opportunity to visit the East End Community School Library on Saturdays from 12pm-4pm. Students and their families are invited to join Mrs. Hubley and Mrs. A for some quiet time to read, study, or use the computers in the library. There will also be sewing machines available for families that are interested in learning how to sew or working on an existing sewing project.
For more information, contact Leah at leahcoplon@ gmail.com or Lauri at boxermacomber@earthlink.net. http://www.portlandchildrensfilmfestival.com/
READING MATTERS TO MAINE
offers Educational Scholarships and Free Professional Development Opportunities By Wendy Gaal, Reading Specialist The Reading Matters to Maine Fund, a fund of Maine Community Foundation, has given scholarship awards to the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine for evidence-based graduate reading courses that will be held in this spring 2013. The University of Maine Farmington has been awarded scholarships for an undergraduate evidence-based reading course; these will be awarded again in the fall of 2013. These scholarships are available through the respective universities for current teachers, current educational technicians, and teacher candidates who are, or will be, teaching reading. Learn more: http://readingmatterstomaine. org/category/have/ You can go online for details about the fund, its focus and criteria, our recent activities and grants, and how it might helpful in bringing free professional development in evidence-based reading and related topics to your school or district or teacher preparation program. http://readingmatterstomaine.org/category/fund/ Reading Matters to Maine’s Third Annual Conversation about Reading-Reading Comprehension: Foundations & Instructional Practices was held on October 1, 2012. A full-length video of that presentation by Rachel BrownChidsey, Ph.D. and Christopher Kaufman, Ph.D. will be posted on the USM SMART website by or about December 1. Watch for it at: http://usm.maine.edu/smart It will be available along with the presenters’ slides, bibliographies, and a study guide written by Alexis Kiburis, Psy.D., as a free, online professional development opportunity. Schools that participate may wish to complete a grant application for follow-up professional development support after completion of the on-line comprehension module. You may watch some highlights of the video on the RMTM website at http://readingmatterstomaine.org/reading-comprehension-k-12/ Reading Matters to Maine is committed to teaching all at-risk and struggling readers to learn to read FMI: Wendy Gaal, wendy@gaal.com, Eastern Promenade, 207-775-4329. www.readingmatterstomaine.org
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Your neighborhood arts center is at 76 Congress Street, stlawrencearts. org, 347-7177
Poetry Readings, every Tuesday 7-10 pm, @ Local Sprouts, 649 Congress St., Portland, All Ages, Gil Helmick, 400-7543.
MOOSE DROPPINGS Maine Organization of Storytelling Enthusiasts meet 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 each by a different MOOSE Member. Suggested $5 donation. moosetellers.ning.com/
A TIME FOR PEACE TUES, DEC 18, Noon-1pm. Wars and rumors of wars, occupations…dwelling on the just peace ... There ought to be ways found to address critical issues without the violence of military force. —a non-sectarian vigil, noon to 1 pm, in the garden at State Street Church, 159 State Street, Portland. Of peace, fmi: 774-6396
PHOTO A GO-GO DEC 14--Bakery Photographic Collective, 90 Bridge St Suite 265, Westbrook, 207.591.6675, info_at_bakeryphoto.com
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a special gift from Santa himself! Tickets @ PortTix. www.mainenarrowgauge.org/Free Admission to all shows! www.societyofsouthernmainecraftsmen.org/Shows
Merry Madness Thursday December 13, 5-10pm – Shop ‘til you drop
Winter Window Walk
SATURDAY 2012
Stroll through downtown during the holidays to enjoy the festive window displays! Vote for your favorite by emailing info@portlandmaine.com by Dec. 16.
CORNER OF CONGRESS & LOCUST STREETS
AREA HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOWS
DEC 8TH
ffee o C Saint Paul’s
g
Performances & Classes 10 Mayo Street, mayostreetarts. org —Times vary. Classes: Tango, Belly Dancing, Kids Yoga, Juggling, Zumba and Pilates. Artist Studios, theater, poetry, music and more. Contact 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts.org
Join the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad for this wonderful Christmas tradition! Our historic Monson steam locomotive #4, to bring a train full of holiday passengers to the North Pole for some hot chocolate, cookies and
Free holiday sleigh ride in the Old Port; running the day after Thanksgiving to Dec 23; Start at Monument Square (Saturdays 2-6pm, Sundays 1-5pm)
Mornin
MAYO STREET ARTS,
THE POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN
HORSE & WAGON RIDES
Church
Twelve Days of Christmas DOWNTOWN EVENTS, thru Dec 16
2012
~ 9am -2 pm ~
Dec 8: PORTLAND FINE ART
Bar at Noon
PORT VERITAS SPOKEN WORD
ic h
ST. LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER
December-January 2013
dw n a S
for info call 207 828 2012
AND CRAFTS SHOW - DESIGNING WOMEN, 202 Woodford Street (207) 217-0407
Dec 14-16: PORTLAND POTTERY HOLIDAY SHOW & SALE-(see ad p. 16) Munjoy
Hill
Rocco DiDonato Photography Thru month of january 2013: Bakery on the Hill, Congress St. POLAR PLUNGE DEC 31 5th 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.
An Epiphany Celebration SAT JAN 5, 2013 • An Epiphany Celebration To conclude 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
We are now taking orders for
Holiday Cakes, Pies and Sweet Platters!
~Please order by Saturday Dec 22nd~ Call us today! 771.0994 147 CUMBERLAND AVE. PORTLAND MAINE
www.katiemadebakery.com
CALLING ALL GARDENS!
Complimentary tours and tastings offered daily!
Do you know of any interesting garden spaces? Noticed any precious window nooks, porch plants or sidewalk landscapes? Friends of the Eastern Promenade will consider all garden shapes & sizes for theHidden Gardens of Munjoy Hill 2013 tour! Email info@easternpromenade. org.
51 Washington avenue | 773 - 6 323
W W W. m a i n e m e a dWo r ks .co m
SIT & KNIT EVERY DAY LUNCH SPECIAL DINNERS 3-Ham Italian 135 Congress Street • Portland, ME 04101 for $10.99 BUY-ONE/ GET ONE FREE 10” Pizza Open 7 Days a Week
774-2279
Sun to Thur: 6 am – 11 pm Fri & Sat: 7 am – Midnight
Try our fresh homemade
Italian Sausage
Haley’s Dog Walking, LLC Dog First-Aid Certified Insured • Portland, Maine
207-408-2889
haleysdogwalking@hotmail.com
at the Portland Public Library; First and third Monday of each month from 4-5:pm
MHNO is a proud member of Portland BuyLocal
December- January 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
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MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
December-January 2013
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
223 Congress Street Portland Maine thesnugpub com
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December- January 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Share the Beauty of the P romenade!
Colorful Solutions for Financing a Home Mortgage
The home you’ve dreamed of may be within reach. At Norway Savings, we offer several down payment assistance programs for eligible borrowers.
Karen Perry
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Business Development Officer, Exchange Street 207.482.7924
Call for a no obligation appointment today – while rates are at historic lows. We’ll help you explore the many financing options available.
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