M u n joy Hil l
M u n joy Hil l
OBSERVER
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. 32, No. 2 • March 2012
Down By the Water Irish Longshoremen Link Hill to the Waterfront Or, ... hoW the PORT IMPROVES AND PORTLAND’S OLDEST UNION LIVES ON by Jake McNally The shipping containers in the shadow of the Casco Bay Bridge share space with piles of dirt, demolition debris, and lumber. The yellow and blue port crane stands next to a massive construction crane. This jumble of activity is part of a welcome upgrade to the Portland International Marine Terminal. General contractor Reed & Reed, Inc. has removed the vacant Nova Scotia ferry buildings, resurfaced the freight yard, and constructed an office building with space for waterfront-related meetings on Commercial Street. The port improvements, funded by $5 million in federal transportation grants, will help American Feeder Lines, the firm that docks a container ship here every Monday, in its quest to create an eastcoast marine highway. American Feeder Lines has plans for six American-owned, Americanbuilt, American-crewed ships to service ports between Maine and Florida. This marine highway will ferry cargo that would otherwise be trucked less efficiently along the increasingly congested Interstate 95 corridor. Secondary beneficiaries are the longshoremen who work the port. These workers are part of the oldest labor union in Maine and are a continuation of a way of life that shaped the working-class character of Portland and Munjoy Hill. On a sunny August morning, Seagulls squawked as the Liebherr port crane swooped down. The jaws on the spreader clicked into the cell guides and plucked a shipping container smoothly from the hold of the American Feeder Lines ship. With
Rick Hardman, Portland Maine
a hydraulic whine, the crane placed the container on a waiting bomb cart. A yard hauler pulled the bomb cart over to a reach stacker. The reach stacker lifted the container onto a pyramid of containers already nested in the yard. The members of International Longshoremen’s Association Local 861 were nearly invisible in this mechanized process. Years ago, Frank Elliott, the Superintendent of the stevedoring firm that contracts with Local 861, recalls asking
his crew, “you know what those are?” He pointed to the containers being craned off the ship. “Those are longshoremen coffins.” Indeed, the thirteen-man crew unloading this ship is a small fraction of the hundreds of Munjoy Hill and West End men who scrambled along the docks, went into the holds with hundred pound bags of potatoes slung over their shoulders, or shoveled out loads of China clay destined for the S.D. Warren paper mill in Westbrook in decades past,
but the can-do attitude is the same. “This is by far the best work ethic, the friendliest group of longshoremen I’ve ever had to work with,” Elliot said. “These are real workers. They want to get this job done. They want to see the port do better.” Michael Connolly, St. Joseph’s College history professor and Munjoy Hill resident, tells the story of these workers in his book, Seated by the Sea: The Mari-
City Plans Bike/Ped Improvements by Markos Miller
Photo by Lisa Peñalver
Big Changes Afoot at Fort Allen Park Public meetings slated on Fort Allen Park RehaB Project Submitted by Friends of the Eastern Promenade
Friends of the Eastern Promenade is sponsoring a public meeting to present the current concept plans for the Fort Allen Rehabilitation Project. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the East End Community School, 195 North St. Landscape designers Martha Lyon and Regina Leonard will present historical research of Fort Allen Park and describe features of the current design concept. The public will be invited to provide comment during the meeting. “The evolution of this design scheme provides an enhanced pedestrian experience while balancing the opportunities to enjoy Casco Bay from Portland’s most significant greenspace,” said Diane Davison, FoEP President. Friends of the Eastern Promenade is sponsoring the Fort Allen Park Rehabilitation Project, working closely with Lyon and Leonard, the Historic Preservation Board and staff from the City of Portland. The Historic Preservation Board will hold a final public hearing on the project at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 at City Hall. In addition, the Parks Commission will review the plans at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 8 see page 4, Fort Allen Park
Last month, Portland City Council’s newly formed Transportation, Sustainability, and Energy Committee took its first look at a proposed addition to the city’s Comprehensive Plan to improve the walkability and bikeability of our city. The draft version of Pedestrian and Bicycling Plan, developed by the City’s Bike/Ped Coordinator Bruce Hyman, identisee page 14, Bike/PED improvements
The RiRa paddy Plunge Icy cold dip for charity: meet at the East End Beach bright & early at 5:30 AM on St. Patrick’s Day (3/17). The Plunge is sponsored by the RíRá Irish Pub & Restaurant. All proceeds go to the Portland, Maine Firefighters Children’s Burn Unit Foundation. Stop by RíRá for a registration form and for more Information.
see page 16, Longshoremen
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March 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 Andrea Myhaver, Tamera Edison, Sam Cohen, Kristin Rapinac, Lisa Peñalver 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 300 copies are mailed to current and former members of the MHNO.
MHNO Board 2012 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
MHNO President, Andrea Myhaver
All together now.... If life had been normal for me this month, I would have submitted this column a week ago, long before our Quarterly Meeting, which was held on Wednesday, February 29. Instead, due to a bout of bacterial pneumonia which kept me in bed for a week, I am writing this at the 11th hour (we go to press at 4:00 and it’s 2:30 now, just in case you think I’m exaggerating), and I find myself grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the neighborly spirit I witnessed last night. Since becoming President in July, my goal has been to strengthen our Board of Directors, and help to make the MHNO an inviting and wel-
coming group that people are eager to join. While I would love to see even MORE people join us at our next Quarterly Meeting, I am very pleased with the turn out we had, and I feel that in a very tangible way, I am seeing my goals come to fruition. It makes me proud of the work we have been doing. I am so excited by the positive energy that abounds within our Board right now. During our quarterly meeting, it was great to hear from new chairs of long-standing committees, such as the Safe and Walkable Neighborhoods Committee, and the Membership Committee, as well as from members of new committees such as the At
On the other hand, March makes people a little raw. Long before “March Madness” meant marathon sporting events on Cable TV, people used to (and
Throughout all the reports we heard, you couldn’t miss the renewed sense of purpose, and it was equal to the renewed commitment and support that came from the membership who attended this meeting. In the upcoming months, you can expect to learn more details about what our committees are working on, starting with this month’s feature on the At Home on Munjoy Hill committee. So stay tuned, because the best is yet to come!
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver
No time like the present The month of March is a drama queen. On the one hand, she’s all about the weather. “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” In Southern Maine, March is our switchover month—spring is officially proclaimed, mud ‘n all, but it could just as easily muster a blizzard. By the time March rolls around, most of us are ready for winter to be over,. But ...it’s not. It brings blinding sun, dark clouds, and gale-force winds that whip Casco Bay into a dance of green & white.
Home on Munjoy Hill Committee, about the projects and activities that are taking place to help build our community.
still do) go a little nuts this time of year. The good news is, winter is on its last legs. We may still get some snow, but the cold is behind us. It can’t last. We all continue to be challenged by an economy with a bad case of the blues, but even that seems to be turning around. And, lucky for our bruised psyches, our friendly neighborhood food, arts and entertainment venues keep coming up with a myriad of ways to distract us from our cares. Maine Restaurant Week, March 1-10, will be in full swing. This is a good time to get out and taste-test at
some of the places you’ve missed up to this point. Our restaurants offer a range of fares for all tastes and budgets. And the Flower Show is coming — it’s as much fun as a carnival for some of us! I also urge you to get outdoors and enjoy this fine weather. Portland Trails has been busy improving trails and connections, so it is now possible to start walking/hiking/biking up on the Eastern Promenade and link up with the Back Bay Trails system. Just over the bridge in Falmouth, the Maine Audubon Society is a wonderful resource for
nature-lovers. They offer yearround hikes and lead regular bird-watching outings. So much to do, so little time... but do make a point of carving out the time, because all of these activities are totally worthwhile. And remember to check out our Events section. on pages 17 & 18. Off you go now!
Sam Cohen, Secretary..... slamco@gmail.com Eben Albert-Knopp....................................... . ................... ealbertknopp@yahoo.com
Send Your Letters and Hill news to observer@MunjoyHill.org
Ralph Carmona............................................ rccarmona@hotmail.com.........518-9177
Katie Brown...... katie.brown@munjoyhill.org
se recy ea
Jamie Lane-Fitzgerald.................................. . .. jamie.lane-fitzgerald@munjoyhill.org
Pl
Ross Fields...........ross.fields@munjoyhill.org
cl
Joan Sheedy.....joan.sheedy@munjoyhill.org . ............................................. 774-7616 Ann Quinlan..... ann.quinlan@munjoyhill.org
MHNO Mission Incorporated as a nonprofit organization 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
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.
e this ewspape n
Christina Feller . ............ christina.feller@munjoyhill.org . ............................................ 773-4336
r
Nova Ewers........ nova.ewers@munjoyhill.org
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! 1)
756-8135 Daytimes: Janine Kaserman with Community Policing
2) 650-8770 cell: 11am thru the night, new Senior Lead Officer Tony Ampezzan (at right) 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)
enriching the lives of all residents.
Clip and save these numbers!
BULLETIN Board the munjoy Hill neighborhood Organization MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Keeping our Sidewalks Free of Ice and Snow
Open MEETINGS : The
By Eben Albert-Knopp and Joan Sheedy, of the Safe & Walkable Neighborhood Committee of the MHNO With winter on Munjoy Hill nearly over, it is not yet quite timeto stow the shovels, unplug the snowblower, or put away rock salt. Each time the snow starts flying, property owners have a few basic duties to perform, to ensure that this winter is a safe and enjoyable one for our cherished community.
At Home on Munjoy Hill
By city ordinance, residential property owners and anyone else responsible for maintaining residential property must remove snow from the sidewalk in front of the building within 24 hours of when it ceases to fall, or within 24 hours of when the city finishes clearing snow from the storm, whichever is later. For commercial properties, snow must be removed within 12 hours of when it ceases to fall. For purposes of the snow-removal ordinance, commercial properties include those located in a commercial zone or consisting of more than 4 dwelling units. Property owners must also clear a path through curb cuts at least four feet wide, and must clear any ice that accumulates on the sidewalk (or make it safe by spreading sand) within 24 hours.
Empowering seniors in our communit y By Sam Cohen A steering committee of volunteers from the medical community and neighborhood has gotten the ball rolling on implementing a program that could help the community of senior citizens on the Hill. The program, At Home on Munjoy Hill, will rely on volunteers to assist in making transportation, home help, fitness and other activities a possibility for older individuals in the community. Volunteers paired with an individual requiring assistance could help by doing things as simple as making a scheduled phone call to catch up and check in, or by running errands, going shopping, making medical appointments, or going for walks.
FREE SAnd/Salt: The city leaves a number of blue pub-
lic sand barrels and sand boxes around Munjoy hill each winter for residents’ use. Every property owner is entitled to two bucket-fulls of sand from these barrels each storm. Barrels may be found at the following locations, among others: •
Atlantic Street at Congress
•
the Munjoy Hill fire station
•
Marion at Romasco Lane
•
the East End Boat Ramp
Residents may report an uncleared sidewalk by calling the Public Services Sidewalk Hotline at 874-8793, or emailing citysidewalks@portlandmaine.gov. The city will then take appropriate steps to inform the propertyowners of their responsibilities, clear the sidewalk if necessary, and penalize habitually noncompliant landlords. Penalites can include fines of up to $250 in addition to the costs of any necessary snow removal (which the city estimates at $100 for an average sidewalk) plus a 10% administrative fee. Some assistance is available for Seniors who need help clearing snow from their sidewalks. For more information, please call Joan Sheedy with the Senior’s Triad Shoveling Project at 774-7616. For more information regarding the City’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance, Chapter 25, Article VIII, section 25-171 et seq., please see the City website, portlandmaine.gov, click on City Code under the City Council tab. .
Happy shoveling!
Steering committee members, Anne Quinlan and Elaine Mullin thinks the way we treat our elders needs to be improved. “Statistics show that quality of life and lifespan are diminished if seniors are moved from home into facilities,” Mullin said. According to Mullin, after discussing the initiation of the program at the MHNO
Recycle and support the MHNO Heating Assistance Program Donate your recyclables thru our CLYNK! bags at Hannafords ! Funds raised support MHNO’s Fuel Assistance “Warm Hearts, Warm Neighbors” program. Stop by the Hill House at 92 Congress and pick up a free green bag (in box on fence0, or call us if we need to put out more bags: call Louise Little at 780-0860. (Note: please don’t take our bags unless you’ll use them for returnables- we DO pay for them! Please bring us any unused green bags so that others may use them. Or drop off a contribution to the effort.)
Keep those cans & bottles coming!
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.
Enter MHNO’s Essay Contest for kids!! Win a Prize!! Details on page 5.
MHNO Board meets every second Monday of each month at 7 pm at the Hill House at 92 Congress St. — all are welcome!
Residents’ Rights and Obligations
March 2012
fall quarterly meeting, the group received emails and responses from members of the community, regarding both volunteering and for services. From this. At Home on Munjoy Hill was born to address the problem and evaluate need. The next steps for At Home will be to recruit volunteers and hold informational sessions. Possible grant funding is also being explored, according to Mullin. “Medicare drives what happens for home assistance but it is very formal and specific. This is more all-inclusive. It’s for people who don’t meet those criteria, the people who get forgotten. There’s not much city or state help in Maine, compared to other states,” said Mullin. Specific hours won’t be required from volunteers. This program could also be of critical use to people who need short-term care during recovery from an injury or operation. To get involved or for more information, please email elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org, or info@@munjoyhill.org,
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March 2012
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
On Hill
Fort Allen Park, from front page
Proposed Improvements
at 55 Portland St. Public comment will also be taken at this time.
include:
The upcoming meetings continue an ongoing process to keep the public informed as the project develops. Friends of the Eastern Promenade presented the plan at its annual meeting in October. The Historic Preservation Board has held three public workshops to offer guidance on the design of the park and to hear feedback from the public.
• Remove all remaining evergreen trees along the Eastern Promenade roadway and the park interior (except for the Mugo) and remove existing crabapples along the entrance side of the horseshoe drive.
“We continue to extend the invitation for public comment and truly hope to hear input from the broad section of park users,” Davison said. Fort Allen Park, located at the southeastern end of the Eastern Promenade, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as a Historic Landscape by the City of Portland. The 4.5-acre park is known for its views of the Portland harbor and Casco Bay, its iconic bandstand and its two Civil War-era cannons, which rest on the remains of the original earthen berm of Fort Allen. The park is also home to several monuments, including the USS Portland, the USS “The cure for anything Maine and the 9/11 monuments. is salt water—sweat,
tears, or the sea.” —Isak Dinesen
Major features of the current design
• Plant Ginkgo trees along the Eastern Promenade roadway at the top of Fort Allen Park
These two images show 3D perspectives of the current concept plan for the Fort Allen Restoration Project. The images show approximately what the park would look like 15-20 years after the project’s completion.
• Plant Hawthorn Winter King trees along the outer edge of the new pathways on either side of the horseshoe drive • Replace the original central walkway leading to the bandstand • Add pedestrian pathways on either side of the carriage drive • Realign the carriage drive to its original layout • Rebuild the overlook terrace to improve accessibility • Repair the Civil War cannons and carriages, the bandstand and replace fencing • Install low-level bollard lights along pedestrian walkways and remove lighting along carriage drive For more information on the Fort Allen Park Restoration Project, including the current concept plan and 3D visualizations, visit easternpromenade.org
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Announcing the
March 2012
5
“We Love Munjoy Moms” MHNO Essay-Writing Contest
Attention all 3rd - 5th graders who live on Munjoy Hill! The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization has teamed up with J.Kelley Salon, Otto Pizza, and Hilltop Coffee to sponsor an essay writing contest about Moms on Munjoy Hill. We want to hear from you! Here are the basics (and Prizes!): • The contest is open to children who are in the third through fifth grades and live on Munjoy Hill. • Essays should be anywhere between 100-300 words and should explain why you think YOUR mom is the best mom on Munjoy Hill (or in the world!). • Essays may be submitted via email to: info@munjoyhill.org, and must include the words “We Love Munjoy Moms Essay Contest” in the subject line. Additionally, essays may be submitted in writing via us mail to: Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, 92 Congress St. Portland, ME 04101. • The deadline to submit an entry for the We Love Munjoy Moms essay contest is March 31, 2012. • All entries become the property of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO), and entrants agree that their essays may be reproduced in print and online media by the MHNO as it sees fit to promote the contest and the purpose of the contest: to honor Moms on Munjoy Hill. • One Grand Prize winning essay will be selected and the writer’s mother will receive a $50 gift certificate and gift basket from J.Kelley Salon , and a $50 Gift Certificate from Otto Pizza. • One Second Place Prize winner will be selected and the writer’s mother will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to Hilltop Coffee. • One Third Place Prize winner will be selected and the writer’s mother and the writer will receive “We Love Munjoy Hill” t-shirts. • Winning essays will be featured in the May issue of the Munjoy Hill Observer.
Things are happening on the Eastern Promenade! Fort Allen Park Restoration Presentation/ Parks Commission Thursday, March 8, 2012 5 pm 55 Portland St., Portland
Fort Allen Park Restoration Project Public Presentation Thursday, March 8 7-8:30 pm East End Community School Historic Preservation Board
Final Fort Allen Park Restoration Public Hearing Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7 pm Room 209, Portland City Hall
April Stools Day & Prom Pickup Saturday, April 21 9-11 am Eastern Promenade/FoEP
FoEP Volunteer Work Days Third Saturday of the month April through October
Eastern Prom Ecology & Bird Walk With Derek Lovitch of Freeport Wild Bird Supply, FoEP Sunday, May 6 9-11 am, Meet at the Fort Allen Park Bandstand, $5 for FoEP members, $10 for non-members
Pink Tulip Party Saturday, May 12 1-3 pm Home of Rob & Robin Whitten Benefits Maine Cancer Foundation
Eastern Prom History Tour with Herb Adams Saturday, June 9 9 am-noon Meet at Loring Circle; $5 for FoEP members, $10 for non-members
Hidden Gardens of Munjoy Hill Sunday, June 24 10 am-4 pm Start at the MHNO Hill House, 92 Congress; Tickets: hiddengardensofmunjoyhill.org
Zombie Kickball on the Prom Late June, Date TBD)
Fort Allen Park Summer Concert Series 7-8:15 pm Thursdays: July 12 July 19 July 26 Aug. 2 Aug. 9 Aug. 16 Aug. 23 Aug. 30 Bands to be announced
image above by STUDIO 1ONE, Copyright ©2012 iStockphoto LP
Find the Observer at these Fine Businesses: East End
Silly’s Restaurant
Outer Congress
Bayview Heights
Squid & Whale Tattoo
Tony’s Donuts
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St. Lawrence Arts Center
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Two Fat Cats Bakery Tu Casa Restaurant
Old Port Bard Café City Beverage Dunkin Donuts Fit to Eat Resturant Norway Savings Bank
Eli Phant
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Ferrechia
Videoport
Foodworks/Beautiful Foods to Go
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Becky’s Diner
The Good Egg Cafe
Casco Bay Ferry Terminal
Hilltop Coffee Katie Made Bakery Mama’s Crow Bar Mittapheap World Market Otto Pizza Portland Observatory & Museum Pepperclub Restaurant Portland House
$3 Deweys
DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant Five County Credit Union
Barron Center Park Danforth Punky’s Market Steve & Renee’s Diner
Congress Street Hot Suppa! Restaurant State Theater Wild Burritos
Marginal Way Miss Portland Diner
Monument Square The Works Bakery Café (next to Nicholodeon) City Hall Little Lad's Bakery & Café
Hamilton Marine
Portland Public Library
Portland Lobster Co.
LONGFELLOW SQUARE
Residence Inn by Marriott
Parkside / Bayside
Promenade East Apartments
Off-Peninsula
Flatbread Pizza
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Portland Pottery
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Root Cellar
GR DiMillo’s Restaurant & Sports Bar
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Running with Scissors Art Studios
The Green Hand–Books
PUBLIC MARKET HOUSE Market House Coffee
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March 2012
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
I have returned
By John J. Mcleod
A reader looks back at his youth on Munjoy Hill
Above, Trolley car #111 is turning into Morning Street from Congress Street in Portland. Phot used with permission. Item 1249,1 Title: Trolley, Morning Street, Portland, c.1900, http://www.mainememory.net and www. mainehistory.org
B or n Mun j on oy Hi ll
I was born on Hammond Street in 1923. Since then, I have attended Cathedral Grammar School, and Cheverus High School when it was on Free St. I spent two years in the Civilian Conservation Corps and four years in the Marine Corps In World War II. Then a number of years in Arizona, Now, I am back in my roots.
I remember attending the circuses at Cunningham Field and Bayside Park. I remember the City Dump that was on Anderson Street. Now it is an Industrial Area. Living near the dump, we were called “Dump Rangers.” My ball playing was at Cunningham Field. I remember walking all the way to Deering Oaks to ice skate. My bowling was in the Arcade and roller-skating was on the second floor at the corner of Elm and Cumberland Avenue. During the winter we did our sliding on Madi-
son Street, from Washington Avenue to Anderson Street, where the City had sand to keep us from going thru to Anderson Street. My skiing was done on a Lane that ran next to my home, from Washington Avenue to Hammond Street. Also skiing from Schailer School down across Sheridan Street to Washington Avenue. I remember the Jewish Nursing Home (where l live now) [editor’s note, this residence is now called Bayview Heights] on North Street. There was a pond across the street next to a water tower on Walnut Street. For swimming, we walked up [over] to the East End Beach. It was much bigger than it is today. It had enclosed showers; one section [of the showers] was for boys and the other section was for girls, where all could change into their [swim] clothes. The shower was to wash the saltwater off our bodies after the swim. I was also in some school plays, which were held in the Cathedral Guild Hall. I remember the open-air trolleys that plied the city streets. Since my father (who worked at the Cumberland County Power and Light Company) did not own a car, we used trolley cars to go places. My mother had an Aunt who lived in Stroudwater, so we would take the trolley to the end of the line and walk a little over a mile to get to her farm. The barn had a two-holer toilet. I also remember getting Liberty magazines to win a prize. I also remember the county Jail on Monroe Street. Across the street from the jail was a warehouse where Honey-Dipped do-
Sweet Dreams~~~ ~~Steps to A Better Sleep
By Paige Shannon
How much sleep do i really need? • 8 hours every night for adults • 10 – 12 hours every night for children Why is sleep important? • Without enough sleep we can feel sad, anxious, and cranky – • It can be hard for us to focus on things like driving and reading. • Without enough sleep we get sick more often and gain weight. • Lack of sleep can increase blood pressure. Why I am sleeping so badly? • Try turning off movies, TV, and computers before bedtime. • Letting your dog or cat sleep in your bed. Put animals in a crate or on the floor. • Your children are keeping you awake. Set regular bedtimes and routines and stick to them! 10 Simple Steps to Improve Your Sleep: 1. Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, or soda drinks before bed. 2. Have one room for sleeping. 3. Try a relaxing activity every night before bed, like taking a shower or bath. 4. Lie down in bed only when you are tired. 5. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. 6. Don’t nap. If you do, try to keep it short and before 5pm. 7. Eat light meals and don’t snack in the evening. 8. Avoid drinking a lot at night so you aren’t waking to use the bathroom. 9. Exercise! 10. Establish a routine for you and do the same thing every night. If you are still having difficulty sleeping, talk to your doctor. Learning Resource Centers, 100 Campus Dr. Unit 106, Scarborough, ME 04074, 1-866-609-5183, National Sleep Foundation, 1522 K Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: (202) 347-3471, Fax: (202) 347-3472, E-mail: nsf@sleepfoundation.org, www.sleepfoundation.org, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, Free Call: 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332), Factsheet--Sleep Disorders, www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/sleep.htm.
nuts were stored. What a nice aroma they had! Once in a while, the person at the warehouse would give us a box and we would eat them on the way to school. I remember the Sardine Factory that was next to the Burnham & Morrill’s [the bean factory]. We would ride our bikes there and we were told that we could have all the cans of sardines that fell off the outside conveyor belts. On Washington Ave, across from the Nissen’s bakery, there was a shoe repair shop. Every day after school, I would look in on Sam, the owner, to talk to him and admire all the belts and pulleys he had to run the machines. A few doors down was a small barber shop where my brothers and I would get our haircuts for 25 cents. Near Fox Street, there was a blacksmith shop, Orland’s, then Bruni’s Market where we got our Italian sandwiches for 25 cents. Many workers going to work at the shipyards would pick up a sandwich for lunch. I also worked a short while at the shipyard when I was discharged from the Civilian Conservation Corps. On Winthrop Street, we played basketball with a hoop nailed to a telephone pole. They talk about the good old days. These to me were my good old days. Submitted January 15, 2012 by John J. Mcleod, North Street, Portland Maine
Interesting Facts and Statistics About Sleep and Sleep Problems/Disorders
Courtesy of the Sleepand You.com. and the National Sleep Foundation, used with permission source: www.sleepandyou.com/about-sleep-stats.htm • Some 70 million people in the United States have a sleep problem. About 40 million adults suffer from a chronic sleep disorder; an additional 20 - 30 million have intermittent sleep-related problems. (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute) • Effects of sleep loss on work performance may be costing U.S. employers some $18 billion in lost productivity. (NSF 1997 poll on Sleeplessness, Pain, and the Workplace)
• One-quarter of America’s adults, 47 million people, don’t get the minimum amount of sleep they say they need to be alert the next day. (NSF 2002 Sleep in America poll) • One-quarter of America’s adults say their sleep problems have some impact on their daily lives. (NSF 2005 Sleep in America poll) • People who are already hypertensive may increase their risk of heart attack or stroke if they fail to get adequate sleep. (Lusardi P, Zoppi A, Preti P, Pesce RM, Piazza E, Fogari R. Effects of insufficient sleep on blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a 24-hour study. AM J Hypertens. 1999 Jan; 12(1pt 1):63-68) • Shift workers are 30 - 50 percent more likely to develop heart disease than day workers in the same industry. (Tenkanen L, Sjoblom T, Kalimo R, Alikoski T, Harma M. Shift work, occupation, and coronary heart disease over six years of follow-up in the Helsinki Heart Study. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997;23(4):257265)
• America’s adults average 6.9 hours of sleep each night, slightly less than the range of seven to nine hours recommended by many sleep experts. (NSF 2005 Sleep in America poll) • Three-quarters of America’s adults, (75%), said they frequently experience at least one symptom of a sleep problem in the past year. (NSF’s 2005 Sleep in America poll) • More than three-quarters of America’s partnered adults (77%) say their partner has a sleep-related problem; the most common problem is snoring. (NSF 2005 Sleep in America poll)
• More than one-half of America’s adults nap at least once a week. (NSF 2005 Sleep in America poll). • While the majority of America’s adults do not use anything to help them sleep, for those who do use a sleep aid, alcohol appears to be the popular choice; 11 percent of adults said they used alcohol, beer or wine at least a few nights a month, 9 percent used over-the-counter sleep aids, 7 percent said they used prescription medications. (NSF 2005 Sleep in America poll)
CapitAl City
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
March 2012
City Councilor | kevin Donoghue kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov
CDBG & CIP Projects March 11 marks the beginning of Eastern Daylight Time and a return to such rites as visiting a playground after work with enough time left over to see the sun set from Fort Sumner. I’m looking forward to seeing you during these rediscovered hours on the streets of Munjoy Hill. This is also about the time of year when the City Council starts to consider which neighborhood improvement projects will be supported by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Recent projects on Munjoy Hill funded by CDBG include the reconstruction of several sidewalks, major landscaping improvements to Lower Fort Sumner Park, North Street Community Garden, and playground equipment improvements at Adams Street and at East End Community School. This year we can expect full funding for Fort Allen Overlook Accessibility Project, a feature of the Fort Allen Restoration Project, as well as several accessible ramps to the Eastern Promenade. Unfortunately, austerity policies at the Federal level have reduced budgets for projects like these by nearly a quarter with obvious consequences for our economic and community development. Indeed, meeting our capital budgeting needs and setting priorities will become more challenging. In our upcoming Capital Improvement Program (CIP), I will continue to look out for Munjoy Hill, advocating for the maximum allocation for sidewalks, but also working to rebuild Munjoy Street, the recent sewer collapse having exacerbated the
already deplorable condition of the pavement. Please bring to my attention any area in the neighborhood in need of investment or maintenance as the new season also signals the shifting of city crews to district-based maintenance details. TRANSPORaTION NEWS At our regular board meeting in February, the METRO board of directors voted to fund the extension of evening service on the #1, which provides bus service to Munjoy Hill. We also voted to set aside funding to implement Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology, which will allow us to move toward having real-time bus data for smart phone applications and even at bus stops.
Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I have hope for the human race. —H.G. Wells
H o m e H e at i n g A s s i s ta nc e 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.
• The city has installed a bus shelter at the East End Community School on North Street.
• Weatherization Grants to help improve home energy efficiency.
• U Car Share is up and running and has placed a vehicle on Congress at St. Lawrence. Visit ucarshare.com for more info.
• Appliance Replacement Program replaces home appliances that are inefficient and expensive to operate
Please let me know what priorities – large and small – you would like to see us work on for you in 2012. Contact: kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov
• Governor’s Weatherization Program provides a home energy audit and weatherization improvements.
• 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.
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March 2012
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
CapitAl City
Statehouse Update | Senator JusTin Alfond
MHNO is a proud member of Portland BuyLocal
justinalfond.com
Balancing the Budget and Covering Healthcare No easy solutions
As with most state budget bills, the proposal is complicated and detailed, but I will do my best to unpack it for you and provide some context. When Appropriations dug into the two-year Department of Health and Human Services budget shortfall, they initially wanted to handle the 2012 and 2013 years together. However, timing issues around keeping our providers paid and services being delivered emerged. The Appropriations Committee decided that the 2012 shortfall would be split and attached to a $25 million streamlining bill. Thus when the full House and Senate vote this week, February 16th, it will close the budget shortfall until June 30th, 2012 and the $25 million Streamlining Bill. What will the cuts mean for maine? Here are a few of the Streamlining Bill’s $25 million of cuts: • Maine’s Higher Educational Institutions were proposed to take a $6 million reduction for 2012-2013. The streamlining task force reduced that to $3 million (University of Maine System: $2,335,708 , Maine Community College System: $664,292 Maine Maritime Academy: $128,402). • Wrap Around ME Program was cut by $2,186,686 and is thus eliminated. Wrap Around ME is a statewide, multi-site initiative that supports an integrated planning approach for youth with complex needs. Each Wrap Around ME site serves children and youth ages 5-18 with serious emotional or behavioral disturbance
who are either in intensive temporary residential treatment, a juvenile correctional facility or at imminent risk of such placement. • Acute Care hospitals are being cut by 5% for a loss of $3,180,269. Any hospital will now limit stays to only 5 inpatient and 15 outpatient visits. Acute Care is active, short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. • And you can’t overlook the governor’s executive branch cut of $16,034. Additionally, here are a few of the fiscal year 2012 cuts: • The “non-categoricals” (non-cats) on Mainecare were one of the largest sticking points. The governor wanted the entire program eliminated, causing 18,000 people on the program to lose their health insurance and hospitals lose around $40 million in federal funds. The decision was made to cap non-cat spending at $40 million, with no one thrown off Medicaid. The 18,000 childless adults will retain MaineCare and leave by attrition. A freeze on new enrollment will be continued for the foreseeable future. • Parents with children was also a huge discussion, as it covers around 21,000 Mainers. The governor had proposed violating federal Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services laws by cutting Mainecare funding from 200% of the federal poverty line to 100% of the federal poverty line. Compromise was made to reduce funding to 133%, thus staying within the law. Funding for parents with children will continue until September of 2012 when 14,000 parents will lose their health care.
Ask the Money Prof
How to Select a Financial Adviser By Joel I. Gold, Financial Advisor and USM Professor
Selecting a financial planner (adviser) is an important task. If you do well and select a good one, your quality of life can be impacted in a very positive way. Here a few questions you should ask the advisers you interview: 1. What is your educational experience in financial planning? Academic degrees in Finance and Financial Planning are good, but not necessary. Many excellent financial planners come from various academic backgrounds. The following professional designations are well known and indicate a relative body of knowledge in financial planning: CFP® (Certified Financial Planner); CHFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), and PFC (Personal Financial Consultant). 2. What experience do you have in financial planning? Years in the industry are important, but younger planners can also be effective. When interviewing younger financial advisers, be sure to ask some of the other questions mentioned here and if they work with a more experienced partner or mentor or have a strong support staff to assist them. 3. How do you get paid (and what is your fee and/or commission rates)? In the financial planning industry there are three basic compensation methods: straight commission, fee-only, and fee-based methods of payment. Advisers that only sell products and do not charge for advising, receive commissions; fee-only advisers receive their compensation only from their clients (no third party compensation), and fee-based advisers will offset their fees with commissions if they sell products. The trend has been
toward fees, but don’t be afraid to work with a commission adviser, if they are knowledgeable and trustworthy. 4. What services do you offer? 5. Have you ever been disciplined or have had any client complaints? Go online and check with the SEC or State of Maine Securities Division for consumer complaints. One of the best ways to find a financial planner is through referral. Ask your friends or other financial professionals for the names of quality advisers. You can also access online professional associations such as the Financial Planning Association (FPA) , the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers (NAPFA) or the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP) for names of Advisers in your area. Joel Ira Gold has been a Finance Professor in the School of Business, University of Southern Maine since 1973. He teaches personal financial planning and other finance courses. His most recent published articles address the issues of comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary standard of care for investment advisers in the Journal of Financial Service Professionals. Joel also is a licensed investment adviser, dba The Gold Company since 1995. Joel is a fee-only financial adviser (www.thegoldcompanyfinancialplanning.com . Joel’s approach is that of practical and mindful financial and investment advising at modest fees. Dr. Gold lived on the Eastern Promenade when he moved to Maine and now has an office on Newbury Street.
• Optional Services also were also a big discussion. The governor’s original budget eliminated all optional services (chiropractor, physical therapy, occupational therapy and vision). The compromise restored coverage of sexually transmitted diseases, dental, and vision. It also includes a 10% rate reduction on most services and limits such as twelve visit to the chiropractor per year. • Hospitals were also a big deal in the FY 2012 budget. The governor proposed cuts of around $33 million in both years (state and federal funds). This compromise was around $27 million of cuts. To read more about both budgets please go to my website: www.justinalfond.com and as always I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me at Justin@justinalfond.com or 287-1515.
See puzzle on page 8
Last month I talked about the potential health care cuts. This month I will give a brief update on the process and what the proposed budgets will do.
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
East End Business Focus The Bar, the Myth, the Legend, By Lisa Peñalver
Drive up Congress Street on Munjoy Hill on a misty winter evening, and you’ll pass a little bar at the corner of Congress and Washington, the Snug. White lights twinkle in the window above an ornate wroughtiron grill. The bar’s name, the “Snug, ” in a Gaelic-like font, is painted gold. You can glimpse the many people inside in the warm light, and it’s an inviting sight. It looks like it’s always been there. In fact, this bar has just celebrated its fifth anniversary in December. According to owner Margaret Lyons, there have always been other bars at this location: in the ’50s there was the Stardust, owned by a woman—a topless bar/strip club; then the somewhat seedy “Bottoms Up” where the front part was a poolroom and the bar was in the back. “I had to go to heroic lengths to change the mood of the place,” Margaret tells me. “Awful Annie’s was right up the hill, and, in the beginning, I had to redirect some of the clientele up the street. It’s finally gotten to be the sort of place I want it to be.” A word about what that IS. Margaret insists that, despite its outward appearance, it is NOT an Irish pub. “The Snug is IrishISH. I have an argument going with one of my (Irish) cousins. If anything, the décor is French, I love anything French—the food, the fashion, the language—I can’t speak it, but I love it. My dog speaks French!” The bar has a devoted group of patrons, mostly in their 20s and 30s. It is the almost-cult following that the Snug has earned that I am
trying to understand. The place is small with dark wood paneling; it offers the usual fare of spirits and the required-bylaw hot food (a soft pretzel)), so what’s the secret to the success of this pub?
The Snug
Turns out that it’s a cult of personality. It’s the bartenders! In particular, “Michelle” (one name, like Cher) rules from Tuesday though Friday. Covered with tattoos, Michelle has “a perfect storm of a personality.” Utterly irreverent, inappropriate even, Michelle has a presence like no other. She’s hyper-efficient, according to her boss. Nothing gets past her. And you never know what she’ll do or say next, but it’s bound to be entertaining. As evidence of her influence, Margaret tells this story: at the Snug’s 5-year Anniversary party, Margaret, dressed in a monkey suit as “Guns” the mascot (“Guns” is the word “Snug” spelled backwards, …intentional) climbed up to stand on the bar and asked the audience to point to the owner of the bar. To the one, all hands pointed to Michelle. Michelle keeps the mood lively and upbeat, managing the music and the drinks with equal dexterity. Also tending the Snug bar with wit and
skill are Elizabeth—young, efficient and very personable, and Sully, “The Man” — a beer rep((salesman); an “old school” bartender, off-color and funny. The cooler months are the busiest at the Snug. It offers a welcome and warm place to tuck into. Margaret sees the business fall off somewhat (it’s all relative) in the summer months. “We’re always busy, though. I hit the ground running when I opened the Snug. “
I asked her how the bar handles St Patrick’s Day. Margaret admits it’s not one of her favorite holidays, though Margaret herself is part Irish. “I was dreading it actually.” But it turns out the Snug patrons have been very well behaved. Just don’t go in there with green hair, green food coloring, or a green plastic hat. You might find yourself unceremoniously barred from the bar. You can follow the bar’s blog online at thesnugpub. com. It’s uncensored, so adults only please. Or stop in for the real deal – the Snug is located at 223 Congress Street (again, adults only)
March 2012
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“Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink.” –Lady Astor to Winston Churchill “Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it.” –His reply. —Winston Churchill quotes
March 2012
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Art Soul
Spring Cleaning, Anyone?
If it were so easy, I’d already be organized By Solange Kellermann, a.k.a., the Clutter Doc You’ve got a whole lot of stuff. Stuff you want to organize. Stuff that you’ve wanted to organize for a while, but it just doesn’t seem like there’s time in your busy life to do it. And you can’t figure out where to start. You feel stuck before you even start. Sound familiar? It’s one of the most common scenarios I encounter with clients. You are not alone! To know where to start, no matter how much “stuff” you want to tackle, you need to know why you’re doing this. Different “whys” lead to different approaches and inner motivations. If there’s something crucial you’ve lost or need to attend to, or if people are expressing safety concerns, the need to do this is more urgent. You will need to stay focused, have support, and work for shorter periods of time. If you are tired of looking at it
all, your approach can be more relaxed internally and you can work for longer stretches.
ever is at your left elbow and work your way around the room or pile.
Now that you know why, it’s time to get going. The first step is PREPARATION! Have 3 bags on hand (one for trash; one for shredding; one for donations); a bin or container for items that don’t have a home yet; a bin for items that have a home in another area; and an area for things that stay in this space. I like a brightly colored box for items that don’t have a home. This way you know where those items are – they’re frequently things you’ve been searching for. Use a timer and set it for less time than you want to work so you can wrap up and transition to the next thing.
Now SORT! Sort through things, making sure not to get caught up going down memory lane, and put items in the appropriate bag or bin. Remember to STAY ON TASK! It’s tempting to take that jar and put it in the bathroom cabinet, but next thing you know you’ll be cleaning out that cabinet and won’t get back to your original task. Stop when your timer goes off or when you are done sorting. Take the trash out; put the donation bag in your car (do not pull anything out of it!).
The next step is ACTION! Would you feel like Ruler of the World if you cleared an odious pile that’s been bugging you forever? Start there. Not sure where to start? Stand in the doorway (or in front of a pile) and begin with what-
Photo by christie & cole studio inc., www.stevecole.com, Copyright ©2012 iStockphoto
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Whew! Good job! Solange Kellerman is a resident of Munjoy Hill, is active in the Friends of the Eastern Promenade, and she offers cluttertaming consultations as the Clutter Doc. She can be reached at Solange@clutterdoc.com
Turn clocks ahead for Daylight Savings: Sunday, March 11 The First day of Spring is on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
In the Garden
Kathleen Carr Bailey is a writer and Master Gardener who has her own gardening business, Finishing Touches.
Research, Read & Recycle your segue to Spring By Kathleen Carr Bailey Ah, winter on my beloved Munjoy Hill/ Eastern Prom can be a challenge. Parking bans, narrow streets, icy sidewalks. Still, I would rather live in this neighborhood than any other. The gray of Casco Bay melds with the gray of the sky, with the islands forming dark blobs on the horizon. It is during the days of snow and sleet that I wonder if color will ever return; my gardening days seem so far away. Not so with everyone. Many gardeners embrace the winter months as the beginning of their gardening season. Time to sow the seeds. But what if you would like some instruction? There are so many websites to sort through, but I offer you my favorite—“umaine.edu/publications” which provides informative articles highlighting the things to think about before starting your seedlings. And I recommend the three “R”s of gardening: Research: Do you have a proper place
away from direct sunlight? A consistent, warm, 65°F–70°F, soil temperature is best. The top of a refrigerator or near a wood stove are perfect. Alternatively, use grow lamps, cables or mats. What do you want to grow? What will do well in Maine? What is the normal last frost date for our area? Most vegetables and nearly all ornamental plants,even shrubs, can be started from seeds. If this is your first try, start with a few varieties. Work with a calendar to determine when to sow your seeds; simply count backwards from your area’s last frost date.
Read: The seed packet is a wealth of in-
formation. Everything you need to know should be on the packet. Purchase from a reliable source. Mail order catalogs can be fun, but your locally-owned garden center will offer immediate answers to your questions. Look for the common and Latin name of the seed. Common names may differ by region; many plants may be known by several common names. The Latin name will assure you are purchasing the seed you wanted. Check for the packaged/use by date. Some seeds have a very short shelf life. Seed packages should also list “the emerge date,” how to plant and when to thin the seedlings. (Yes, some must be sacrificed for the good of the remaining.) Recycle: no need to purchase new con-
tainers. Clean your recycled plant pots: use a mild bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 2 parts water. You can also use other containers. My newfound favorite, the bottom of egg cartons with just a couple of pin pricks. The new organic egg produce package is clear so it can do double-duty as a green house. Use the empty seed envelopes to create a collage or other decorative décor. Many seed packages are works of art, just in miniature. If you take the time to do a bit of homework and follow the “Three R’s,” you’ll get good results from the seeds you buy, and be all the more ready to dig back into your garden once the ground thaws and the snow has gone for good.
Now located right on Munjoy Hill!
Falmouth Flowers and Gifts 58 Washington Ave. | Portland Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough. ~ A. E. Houseman, Shropshire Lad
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 theme-specific gift baskets. For this cheerful spring season, we have: • beautiful spring & Easter arrangements; • fresh wreaths and candle rings; • fruit and gourmet baskets; • live seasonal plants; • gift certificates in all denominations and a lovely selection of gifts from which to choose. • In-home decorating available.
*Easter is on April 8th ~ Be sure to order early!
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. Like us on Facebook
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207-781-5533
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Art Soul
Happy Casimir Day! An essay by Elizabeth Miller, Waterville Street Let me confess at the outset of this essay: I was a parochial school kid. It’s true; I embraced diagramming sentences. And yes, I even enjoyed wearing a school uniform, this attire cutting my getting ready for school routine to under three minutes. Although forty-five years later, I still have an aversion to donning anything navy blue.
ence in Polish affairs. His participation in a plot to kidnap and presumably dethrone the Russian-backed ruler of Poland earned him a death sentence. He fled his homeland, never to return. Arriving in Paris in 1777, he met Benjamin Franklin, and the rest, as we say, is history.
Who knew that in some parts of the US, just like Sts. Patrick and Joseph, Back then, two days in March brought our guy Casimir has his own day freedom from the regimen of the plaid too—the first Monday in March? This jumper. First came March 17, St. Pat- year, Casimir Pulaski Day is on March rick’s Day, where green was the color 5. His actual birthday is on March 6, of the day, touting all things Irish. but not even Washington or Lincoln Just two days later, came St. Joseph’s get to have their birthdays observed Day, with red to honor the carpenter on the actual day anymore. Revisionist history at work again. father, touting all things Italian. Problem was, we weren’t either. Our mother was a Lewandowski. We’d plaintively ask; what about the Polish? While we didn’t celebrate all things Polish, I should note that while jokes may have entered the house as Polish, they’d exit as Italian. As in “how many Poles / Italians does it take to screw in a light bulb.....” Ours was not a particularly politically correct household, that concept not yet invented. Mother would respond with just a touch of exasperation, we have Casimir Pulaski! ... Who? Doesn’t everyone know about the Polish military hero who, as an aide to George Washington, helped to train cavalry in the Continental Army? Back in the old country, nobleman Pulaski had distinguished himself, opposing both Russian (to the east) and Prussian (to the west) interfer-
Observances occur annually in Chicago and Milwaukee. It’s even a state holiday in Illinois. Buffalo, another city with a sizable Polish population, has its Buffalo Pulaski Day in the middle of July, complete with a parade. No mystery here; you’d have to be zwariowany (crazy) to have a holiday in early March in Buffalo. Philadelphia has a parade in October as part of its Polish-American Heritage month. Imagine, an entire month of all things Polish! In 2009, Casimir Pulaski was awarded US citizenship in appreciation for his service to his adopted country, having died in the Battle of Savannah in October 1779 at the young age of 34 years. Only six other people have been accorded this honor. So hoist a brewski on Casimir Pulaski Day. After all, what did St. Patrick ever do for us, except chase away a few snakes???
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
March 2012
Luck of the Irish? By Ann V. Quinlan
While one might wish the phrase, “luck of the Irish” to be a good thing, for the Irish it does not spring from a place of good fortune, as defined in Miriam Webster’s dictionary. In America, identifying the Irish with good luck took on a life of its own, and that may be a good thing, as in the power of positive thinking. However, good luck was not something that sprang to the minds of the early immigrant Irish. As any descendent of “The Great Famine” (c.1845-1852) will know, it was not good luck but an amalgamation of courage, faith and physical hunger that landed their ancestors on these shores. For those who survived the arduous crossing, any memory of their beloved homeland was buried deep in some mythological place of ancient dreams. Over the years, in their adopted home, a tiny little shamrock became one of the most recognizable symbols of American Irish heritage. Often accompanied by a pot of gold, residing at the end of a rainbow, this little green plant became associated with good luck. Over time, through hard work, political will and a strong commitment to education, there
is much to celebrate. As with the Irish, an immigrant of any nationality will tell you, success has very little to do with good luck. In modern Ireland, one certainly would not attribute luck of any kind to her current economic woes and bailouts. The great roar of Ireland’s thirty-year-old “Celtic Tiger” is silenced. Now, forced into retirement, she is purring softly in her cage at The Phoenix Park Zoo. It will take a lot more than good luck to set her free. In the meantime, being native Irish, I will honor one of my paternal grandmother’s traditions by wearing something green throughout the month of March. A wise woman once said, “we Irish are everywhere.” So, what harm can it do to wear a bit of green and just pretend to be Irish? Please join me and I will be sure to say “hello” and wish you the very best of Irish luck! Ann Quinlan is on the board of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization and is working on the At-Home on Munjoy Hill initiative to provide support services for seniors living in the community.
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MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Art Soul
Good Neighbor of the Month John Wuesthoff By: Sam Cohen When John Wuesthoff first came to Portland in 1967, sparks did not fly. “My wife and I looked at each other and said, this is not a city we wanted to grow old in,” Wuesthoff said. “Portland was down and out at that time, but it has only continued to improve since. It’s a great place to be and a great place to get back to.” Getting back to Portland is something Wuesthoff is familiar with. In the last decade he has done 15 missions of election monitoring for the U.S. State Department. His most recent trip was less than a month ago in the 40 below zero climate of Kazakhstan. Wuesthoff arrived in Kazakhstan a month before the election. He hired an interpreter and driver and set up meetings with political representatives and the press. Through these conversations and evaluations, Wuesthoff and other monitors can gauge the level of democratic process. “The idea is to try and assess whether or not it is a free and fair election,” he said, “it’s determining whether the opposition is on a level playing field.” Often the playing field is far from level and can even require clandestine methods. Five years ago on a mission in Belarus, the KGB would interrogate Wuesthoff’s hired interpreter for information at the end of each day. Any meeting Wuesthoff had with the press was kept a secret for fear of being followed. The controlling party shut down a newspaper by halting its deliver of paper. Wuesthoff took his interpreter to the American embassy for political asylum and she is now living in the United States. In post-war Bosnia he was involved again in some election suspense. Wuesthoff and his driver were leading a convoy around Sarajevo. When the driver got lost, the
contingent following assumed they were stealing ballots. Tensions flared and Wuesthoff called in help from NATO to ensure things didn’t turn violent. The cultural exchange is one aspect of the job that Wuesthoff enjoys profoundly. He speaks with bubbling exuberance about the hospitable nature of the people he spent time with in Kazakhstan. One man took his hat off of his own head to make sure Wuesthoff was comfortable. A little closer to home, Wuesthoff has been heading his own law firm in Portland for the last 15 years but wants to cut back to do more election monitoring. He has his eye on the fall election in Georgia, or maybe somewhere in central Asia. “I always try to find the places where there is some political ferment,” he said. Wuesthoff served in the Peace Corps in Africa, and honeymooned in Sierra Leone. He has lived in Massachusetts, California, San Jose and Albuquerque. For more than a decade, Munjoy Hill has been home and he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. “I love this neighborhood,” he said.
Portland Public Library to host “Facebook for Seniors” Tuesdays, March 13th, 20th and 27th from 1 -4 pm. Registration is required The Portland Public Library will continue to offer three-session workshops entitled “Facebook for Seniors” for folks wanting to learn how to use the popular social media tool. The course will be held on Tuesdays in March: March 13th, 20th and 27th from 1 -4 pm. The course will cover building a Facebook account, privacy settings and advanced settings like uploading videos and sharing web links. Participants must have an email account. Patrick Therrien from the Maine State Library will be teaching the course. Registration is required and those who do not get in will be put on a waiting list for the next session. There is limited space available for each of these trainings and participants must register in advance at the Library’s Public Computing desk or by calling 871-1700 ext. 708. If the class fills, registrants will be put on a waiting list and called when a space opens.
To Be An Artist Is To Trust By Jo Israelson
Trust in oneself. When the unconscious speaks, I listen with trepidation. For when it talks, I will have to respond. Sometimes the message comes in the form of a dream. It might be the remains of a disturbing image that lurks beneath my eyelids when I awake. Sometimes it is a missive disguised as a poem or song fragment. Other times, there is only an inkling, an itch, a sense of an unfinished moment that runs rampant throughout the day. I know it is time to go inside myself. And then, I proceed. Trust in the materials. There is a never ending array of material from which to chose: charcoal, pen, pencil, pastel, paints, paper, clay, plaster, metal, film, natural items, found items, digitized images. Sometimes I am fooled by my need to hurry and do not choose wisely. Sometimes I grab the nearest item. And then my hand rejects it. Eventually, the material decides for me. When I pay close attention, to the feel, the heft, the mark of each, the right ones appear. And then, I continue.
Trust in the process. To be an artist is to trust in a deep and profound way in the process of creation. I must be willing to discard the work that does not feel complete. I must be willing to disregard first attempts. I must be willing to be gentle and not berate myself. I must be able to persevere in the path of disappointment or to revel in the exaltation of achievement. I must believe the process is the meaning, not the product. And then, I work. Trust in the viewer. When it is time to share the work, I must trust in the viewer. I must believe that he or she will approach my work with respect and curiosity. I must realize that viewers bring their life experiences to the work. They arrive with knowledge and emotions. They take whatever time they require to discern meaning. They take from the piece what they are able to and what they need. I have no influence or power. And then, I rest. To be an artist is to trust. Artist Jo Israelson is a native of Munjoy Hill. Visit her website at joisraelson.com.
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
March 2012
13
Spotlight on Non-Profits is a regular feature. To feature your favorite non-profit, please contact Lisa Peñalver at observer@munjoyhill.org.
Goodwill
By: Michelle Smith, Communications Manager, Goodwill
You may have heard some buzz about Goodwill lately. We have expanded our programs and community impact, opened a Buy the Pound Warehouse Outlet in Gorham, have received increased visibility in our commitment to sustainability and hired a new CEO, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt. But Goodwill Industries of Northern New England– and our model – has been operating in Maine since 1933. Our model of social enterprise reflects economic, social and environmental sustainability, with a focus on connecting people to marketplace employment. And that’s just what we do. Our mission is to help people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work. We do this by eliminating barriers people may experience and we all experience barriers in our lives, whether it is a lack of education or work experience, a disability, an acquired brain injury or a criminal history. All of these ex-
Industries of Northern New England
periences, and others, can make it difficult for someone to find and get the job they want, and that’s where Goodwill steps in.
writing a cover letter or resume, or they may have the opportunity to receive training to get to the next step in their career path. We
viduals with disabilities to live and work as independently as possible in their communities.
Goodwill offers programs And we are in Maine (and able to offer New Hampthese proshire and Vergrams be—Goodwill CEO, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt mont) that help cause of our people become business self sufficient and contributing model. Our integrahave programs that help youth members of our local communition of economic, environment and seniors find work, and our ties. We have Workforce Soluand social goals is realized daily AmeriCorps programs contribtions offices across Maine where when you donate items to our uted more than 42,000 hours of people can stop by to get help stores. We are able to offer afvolunteer service to local comfordable goods to the communimunities last year. ty, divert waste from the landfill We offer two community-based and contribute to Maine’s ecobrain injury programs in Port- nomic stability by helping people land and Lewiston that help peo- become part of the work life of ple with acquired brain injuries their community. Goodwill runs become as independent as pos- a business that contributes to the sible (by the way, March is Brain economic, environmental and Injury Awareness Month. We social sustainability of our state. encourage you to visit the Brain I encourage you to visit www. Injury Information Network goodwillnne.org to learn more (www.biin.org) to learn more about the work we are doing about brain injury prevention. in Portland and northern New We also offer community-based England. We could not support programs that empower indi-
“...nothing should go to waste, not a shirt, not a shoe, not a person.”
many of our programs without your generous donations and our shoppers’ commitment. Thanks for your continuing support. As our CEO, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, recently noted, “Our founder, Edgar Helms lived 100 years ago, but his thoughts were very contemporary. He felt nothing should go to waste, not a shirt, not a shoe, not a person.” Writer Michelle Smith is a resident of Munjoy Hill (Atlantic Street). She has been working with Goodwill Industries for four years, after having earned her Masters degree in American Studies.
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March 2012
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Cumberland County Master Gardener Plant Auction—Sunday, March 11 at the Portland Flower Show
Bike/Ped improvements, from front page fies bicycling and walking as integral to a livable and sustainable city, and seeks to address goals of increased public health and public safety through goals and strategies to improve the walkability and bikeability of Portland. The proposed Bike/Ped plan frames this work in the context of Complete Streets Policy. Across the country, communities are adopting Complete Streets Policies to ensure that urban streets provide safety and mobility for all users (drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians). While many of us commonly think of city streets as public spaces for a full range of social activities (think of out front of Hilltop Coffee Shop or a First Friday Art Walk) actually street design has placed the car above all other users. A core objective of the Pedestrian and Bicycling Plan will be to establish performance measures for city streets that take into account how the street serves walkers and cyclists, as well as automobiles. Whereas traditional auto-centric performance standards focused on how quickly cars could move through intersections, a multi-modal quality of service standard can more equitably evaluate various transportation modes and impacts. For example, how safe and easy it is for people to walk or bike along a street or across a street would be another measure in evaluating how well the street functions. While much of Portland is admired for it’s walkability, irregular sidewalk surfaces, unsafe street crossings, and gaps in the sidewalk system present barriers to pedestrians. This time of year it’s obvious that our snow clearing policies could be improved upon as well. The Bike/Ped plan would offer performance measures to address such issues, providing direction for appropriate materials for sidewalks, improving accessibility to street crossings and crossing distances, and improving snow clearance on sidewalks. Portland also offers great opportunities to bicycle for commuting and recreation, but even the most experienced bicyclists encounter challenges in the design and functioning of public infrastructure. The bicycle component of the plan seeks to strengthen the bicycling network and to create more opportunities for bicyclists of all ages and experience levels. Many Portland streets have surplus width that can be repurposed as bike-lanes—shared lane markings or arrows on travel corridors can also remind drivers that travel lanes are to be shared by cars and bicycles. The plan also seeks to replicate the successful Neighborhood Byway created in the Deering Center Neighborhood last year. The Neighborhood Byway establishes bicycling and walking routes along secondary streets to serve trips within neighborhoods and to offer safer connections across heavily traveled corridors, The Bicycle component of the plan also seeks to address issues such as the maintenance of streets for bicycling, bicycle detection at traffic lights, and short and long-term parking for cyclists. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan will be an important addition to Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, providing an integrated approach to addressing our city’s goals related to livability, sustainability, public health, and public safety through transportation planning. Let our City Councilors know what you think, For more information about the proposed Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan see the materials for the February meeting of the Transportation, Sustainability, and Energy Committee at http://www.portlandmaine.gov/transcomm.htm.
Falmouth, Maine – The 10th Annual Cumberland County Master Gardener Plant Auction will be held on Sunday, March 11th at the Portland Flower Show, 58 Fore Street, Portland. The event, which is held in space generously provided by Portland Yacht Services, includes a silent auction from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm in Building #11 and a live auction at 5:30 pm in Building #3. This popular event benefits the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Home Horticultural Program in Cumberland County. The live auction will include hardscape, perennials, shrubs and trees from the Show’s displays. The silent auction will include items and services donated by local garden centers, professional landscapers, Master Gardener Volunteers, and many of the vendors participating in the show. Registration for both auctions is from 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm in Building #11 (directly across from the main entrance to the Flower Show) or in Building # 3 at 5:00 pm. There is no admittance fee for this event. For more information contact the Cumberland County Extension Office at 1-800-287-1471 (in Maine) or 207-781-6099. Visit the Cumberland County Master Gardener website, www.cc-mg. org to view the list of donations. This list will be updated on a regular basis. For more than 90 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land-grant public education role by conducting communitydriven, research-based programs in every Maine county.
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MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
East End Eats
March 2012
15
MHNO is a proud member of Portland BuyLocal
Food, Glorious Food!
Munjoy Hill has it—and how! During the coming weeks, treat yourself
India Street: Benkay Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Micucci’s Grocery, Two Fat
One of the very
Cats Bakery, Foodworks Beautiful Foods To Go, Coffee by Design, Amato’s
nicest things about
Middle Street: Hugo’s, Sebago Brewery, Dean’s Sweets (truffles!), Pepperclub & The
life is the way we
Good Egg Café, East Ender, DuckFat, Ribollita
must regularly
Congress Street: Bakery On the Hill, Figa, Otto Pizza, Homegrown Herb & Tea,
stop whatever it is
Colucci’s Hilltop Market, Bar Lola, Hilltop Coffee, Rosemont Market, Blue Spoon, Corner Room, Front Room
we are doing and devote our attention
Washington Avenue: Fez, Silly’s & Silly’s with a Twist. Coffee by Design, Main Mead
to eating.
of Portland, Mittapheap International Market, Tu Casa Salvadoreña Restaurant
Cumberland Avenue:
~Luciano Pavarotti
Katie Made Bakery, Buffalo Wings-N-Things
March 1-10 , 2012
Sebago Brewing Company 211 Fore Street, Open 11am – 1am Every Day, www.sebagobrewing.com Follow us on Facebook & Twitter!
Featured menu items: (full gluten-free menu available 7 days a week)
• Sebago Cheddar & Ale Soup - Locally made by Kamasouptra. Crafted with our Runabout Red Ale, cheddar cheese, vegetables & spices. Served in a steaming crock.
Come try our own fresh, homemade Italian Sausage.
Lunch and dinner plates made fresh daily
• Lobster & Bacon “Mac & Cheese” - Sautéed lobster meat, bacon, cavatappi pasta, fresh mozzarella, mascarpone, monterey jack & parmesan cheeses, roasted garlic, and a touch of cream. Topped with crispy bread crumbs. • Mushroom & Sage Risotto - Portobello, sage, and crimini mushroom risotto topped with a grilled, sliced portobello and crumbled gorgonzola cheese. Also available with grilled, sliced sirloin. • Vegetarian Falafel Burger - Pan-seared house made falafel topped with tzatziki and served with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber.
Open 7 Days a week Weekdays: 6 am – 10 pm Fri. & Sat: 6 am – 11 pm
135 Congress St • 774-2279
• Premium burgers made with local, antibiotic-free Pineland Farms All Natural Beef: •
Imperial Burger - Leaf lettuce, Mainegrown tomatoes, local cheddar, fried egg, crisp bacon, and chipotle aioli.
•
Santa Fe Burger - Maine-grown tomatoes, leaf lettuce, Pineland Farms pepper jack cheese, and house made guacamole.
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March 2012
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.
The Somali Community Resource Center Helping to Find a Better Way |
Friday night in late January and Portland High School was teeming with excitement as the Somali community came together to elect their leadership for 20122014. Mahmoud Hassan, who was elected President of the Community Resource Center, sat down with me to talk. I asked him about the Resource Center; he replied that it serves the families in the areas that are really important to them like public safety and education and relations with city partners. “Our goal at the Center,” Mahmoud said, “is to work with the police department and the school department, for instance, in a good way so that interacting with us and our families is easier for them, and we can make progress in working together.” Mahmoud had high praise for the new Police Chief, for the commu-
nity services division run by Janine Roberts, and for all of the athletic events and games and teams set up and supported by Officer Ray Ruby. “Officer Ray is great with the youth and we work well with Janine.” When I asked Mahmoud why the people elected him in particular, a middle-aged man of 40+ who works for the Multilingual Office at the School Department, he told me, “My outlook is that all people are the same. We are all seeking a life filled with peace and happiness. I speak without malice and without hatred. I myself find it easy to work with people because I like to learn about different cultures. I tend to have people agree with me. That is why I think they voted for me.” He continued that he believed he was elected because the people trust
By Christina Feller, President, Living With Peace him to channel his energy and the resources of the community center to help the people. About Maine and its benefits, Mahmoud responded, “It is a huge state for the number of people we have here. It is gifted with everything—rivers, the ocean, mountains, and more importantly, good people. We have good people here who are well travelled, well educated, and Portland is a small city where we know each other.” How to help Portland’s economic development? Mahmoud believes we need to have a more diversified employment base, more exporting, and more investment in high tech and in higher education. “We have good schools and we need our youth to understand why it is so important to finish high school and go to college. They need to know what kinds of industries and
Longshoremen, from front page time History of Portland, Maine and its Irish Longshoremen. In 1919, there were 1366 active members of Local 861. “Today, that would be the largest employer in the state of Maine,” Connolly said. Like many long-time Hill residents, Connolly had a family connection to longshore work. His father was a longshoreman and his grandfather was a charter member of Local 861. “I grew up hearing all these incredible stories and some of them seemed larger than life,” Connolly recalls. Connolly’s grandfather supported his grandmother and 13 children on longshoremen’s wages. “That was having a major impact on Munjoy Hill and the World War I era Portland economy, if you extrapolate out from one longshoreman to the 15 people dependent on those wages,”Connolly said.
Joseph Casale, mayor of Portland in 1985-86, Eddie Manning, former owner of Eddie’s Tavern on India Street, and Philip T. O’Donnell, former Portland Harbor Commissioner, Harbor Master, and “Mr. Waterfront,” are prominent Munjoy Hill residents of the past who earned longshoremen’s wages. Will Gorham, former City Councilor and former Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization President, has a connection to Local 861 that goes back to his grandfather, Iron Mike Gorham. Mike Gorham immigrated from Ireland and worked along shore for 50 years, serving as President of Local 861 for 40 years. In his retirement, Gorham’s grandfather “would walk down to the Eastern Prom and sit on the first bench by the monument,” Gorham recalls. He and his longshoreman friends would “sit
what kinds of jobs are out there.” Outreach and Governance
The Resource Center has a fiveperson governing board and “we are organized into committees so that everybody can do their part,” said Mahmoud. “One person is in charge of committee organization, another the youth, and another handles interagency outreach, like that.
The Somali Community Resource Center is located at 991 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04103, and can be reached by calling (207) 541-9290
We are now reaching out to the business community and to the education community to start programs where volunteers come to mentor the youth.” Mahmoud concluded, “We have about 1,000 children in the public school systems of Portland, Westbrook and South Portland. This is a lot of potential for the future. This is a lot of lost opportunity if they are not successful.”
Living With Peace is now organizing its next Dialogue for Youth: Linking Engagement to Opportunity that will be held in late March. If you know a young person who would benefit from this Dialogue or if you want to make a difference in a young person’s life here in Portland, please contact cfeller@maine.rr.com or call 7734336.
down there and shoot the breeze for hours at a time. They’d all be speaking Gaelic so you couldn’t understand a word they were saying.” Vinnie O’Malley, a former longshoreman himself, grew up as the son of a longshoreman on the West End. He remembers his father coming home, looking like Casper the Ghost after a day of shoveling China clay that was used for the finish on glossy paper. His mother would make him burn his clothes when he worked the foul-smelling hide ships. O’Malley joined the union in 1974. “I was a longshoreman’s son. That was sorta the tradition. They hired longshoremen and longshoremen’s sons first.” “Color is what this port had.” Whether they were heading east to Eddie’s Tavern at the bottom of India Street for lunch or west to collect their pay from the Jarka stevedoring firm in
Union Station, “you didn’t want to be driving on Commercial Street when we were driving at noontime.” With lanes going in each direction on each side and tires getting caught in the ruts of the central railroad tracks, “it was insane,” O’Malley said. “I’m really proud to be an Irish longshoreman,” he said. “There’s a real camaraderie that makes society more civil. We got to work collectively to get something done.” O’Malley still carries his union brasso on his keychain. The mechanized choreography of the ILA Local 861 crews working today is dramatically different than the “donkey work” that O’Malley and his friends signed up for in their 20’s, but “the personalities still exist, the relationships still exist,” and the longestrunning workingman’s benevolent association in the State of Maine carries on.
Crossword Across
1- Basilica area 5- Terra ___ 10- Actress Harper 14- Enervates 15- Fighting 16- Yours, in Tours 17- Connections 18- Rough cabin 19- Very dry champagne 20- Incontrovertible 23- Alway 24- Not for a Scot 25- Extremely tender 33- Actor Romero 34- Tidy 35- Cacophony 36- Salt Lake City hoopsters 37- Pennies 39- Cab 40- Actor Erwin 41- Hawaiian outdoor feast
42- Oohed and ___ 43- Worldliness 47- Mich. neighbor 48- Suffix with Capri 49- Having one color 56- Switchblade 58- Embankment 59- 11th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 60- All there 61- Beat by a hair 62- Ingrid’s “Casablanca” role 63- A wedding cake may have three of these 64- Staggers 65- Cat call; Down
1- Italian wine city 2- Physical suffering 3- Blueprint detail 4- Canadian gas brand
5- Small wheel 6- Not us 7- “____ the night before Christmas ...” 8- Diplomacy 9- State of USA 10- Plaque 11- French 101 verb 12- Former coin of France 13- Join a poker game 21- Not e’en once 22- Enticement 25- Brief brawl 26- Deplete 27- Ballet step 28- Affectation of sophisticates 29- After taxes 30- Spud state 31- Female fox 32- Children’s author Blyton 33- Curse 37- Patron
38- Absorb, as a cost 39- Mai ___ 41- Waterfall 42- Up and ___! 44- 31st president of the U.S 45- Dogwood 46- In disagreement 49- Pit 50- Message symbols 51- Enormous 52- Actor Tamiroff 53- Account 54- ___ facto 55- Tobacco plug 56- Concorde, e.g. 57- Yes, in Yokohama; BestCrosswords.com
Solution on page 5
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
March 2012
17
St. Lawrence Arts Center
Mad Horse Theatre Presents :
Cesar Chavez Observance
Your neighborhood arts center is at 76 Congress Street, stlawrencearts.org, 347-7177
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds March 17 and beyond, at Lucid Stage. A play that follows the dysfunctional family life of older sister Ruth and mother Beatrice, who seem to focus most of their energy putting down and attempting to stomp out younger sister Tillie’s effort to prove exactly just what is the effect of gamma rays on man-inthe-moon marigolds. This beautiful lyrical drama was the 1971 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama and New York Drama Critics’ Circle award-winner. Lucidstage.com
Saturday, March 31, 3-5 PM, First Parish of Portland Maine, 425 Congress Street. In observance of Chavez’s birthday and 50th Anniversary of United Farm Workers of America. FMI: Dr. Ralph Carmona: ralphcarmona@gmail.com, 518-9177.
MOOSE Droppings—Open Mic/Spoken Word Meetings Maine Organization 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/
Mayo Street Arts, 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
Port Veritas Spoken Word Night Poetry Readings, Every Tuesday 7-10 pm, @ Local Sprouts, 649 Congress St., Portland, All Ages,Gil Helmick, 400.7543,
Soccer Pick-Up Games Now indoor: Interested in playing SOCCER in the East End? Pick-up games— No fancy leagues, no super-competitive play - just have fun, keep in shape, and have fun. All ages/skill levels welcome! Contact Andrew: 670-8041 or drewleadley@gmail.com
Public Library Events Free Workshops thru the Library: Wisdom at Work, a lunchtime professional development series at the Portland Public Library, details at www.portlandlibrary.com/
Haley’s Dog Walking, LLC
40th Annual Portland, Maine Boat Show Friday, March 23 - Sunday, March 25. The Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine is home to this indoor boat show (with large boats exhibited outside). The show includes sports fishing clinics, and a number of boating related seminars.
Maine Maple Sunday
Dog First-Aid Certified Insured • Portland, Maine
207-408-2889
haleysdogwalking@hotmail.com
Sunday, March 25 at Various locations throughout Maine, FMI Maine Department of Agriculture website, Maine Maple Sunday page; Each spring Maine’s maple producers open their doors and welcome the public to Maine Maple Sunday. Many sugarhouses offer free tastings and live demonstrations on how maple syrup is produced. Some serve maple syrup treats, such as syrup on pancakes or ice-cream, and provide sleigh rides, live music & a variety of family activities. Held annually on the fourth Sunday of March. However, some sugarhouses have extended dates, while a few others have alternate dates. Be sure to check schedules with each sugarhouse.
Portland Winter Farmers’ Market
SAINT PAUL’S CHURCH
Continues on Saturdays through April 21, after which the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market returns. On now at the Maine Irish Heritage Center, on the corner of State and Gray Streets, one block from Mercy Hospital.
ANGLICAN
Shoestring Theater’s The Odyssey @ Mayo St Arts
Established 1763
Puppets & Marionettes. Experience Homer’s classic in a whole new way! See
Sicilian marionettes battle gods, goddesses, sea monsters, and other mythical creatures. This four-part show will be performed over four weekends in March, with a Friday evening and Saturday matinee performance. 10 Mayo Street, mayostreetarts. org —615-3609, email info@mayostreetarts.org March 2 & 3: Part I – Circonians, Lotus Eaters, Cyclops
Lenten Schedule
March 9 & 10: Part II – Aolian WInds, Circe, the Underworld March 16 & 17: Part III – Sirens, Sea Monsters, Calypso, Sun King March 23 & 24: Part IV – Calypso, Nausica, Reunion, Death of the Suitors
WEdNESdAyS, 5:30 Pm Evening prayer and Bible study
Maine Restaurant Week Thursday, March 1 - Saturday, March 10 Both the Winter Maine Restaurant Week and the Fall Maine Restaurant Week (November 2012 TBD) provides participating restaurants an excellent opportunity to increase business during an otherwise quiet time of year, and according to its sponsors... “Customers love it because the specially priced three-course menus offer value that feels downright decadent.” Be sure to check out the Maine Restaurant Week Signature Event, Opening Night Cocktail and Dessert Competition, on February 29th at the Portland, Harbor Hotel in Portland, Maine.
Portland Flower Show March 7-11 at a the Portland Company Complex, 58 Fore Street, Portland, ME (207) 775-4403. Show Times: Thu, March 8| 10 am – 6 pm Fri, March 9| 10 am – 7 pm Sat, March 10| 10am – 7pm Sun, March 11 | 10am – 5 pm
Maine Boatbuilders Show Friday March 16: 10 - 6pm, Saturday March 17: 10 - 6pm Sunday March 18: 10 - 4pm A gathering of the finest fiberglass and wooden custom boat builders on the East Coast. Also exhibiting numerous manufacturers of boating equipment. Sailboats, powerboats, canoes, kayaks, and rowing boats with the builders there to discuss and sell their work.
FRIdAyS, 5:30 Pm Stations and Benediction SUNdAyS Masses at 8 am and 10 am
Congress & Locust Streets
Place your AD here! email observer@ munjoyhill.org
207 828 2012
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Maine Jewish Film Festival Sat, March 17 - Thur, March 24 The Maine Jewish Film Festival, MJFF, has “grown to be one of the best-attended, most well-respected, and highly-anticipated cultural events in the State. We attract a diverse, sophisticated, and deeply loyal audience base who loves independent film.” www.mjff. org/films
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Congratulations to all of tonights Award Winners! 104 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME 04101 • 207.773.8198
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observer ad.indd 1
9/18/2009 8:37:35 AM
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March 2012
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
CeleSoirée : Celebrating Immigration through the Arts Friday, April 13th, The Portland Company, 58 Fore Street, Portland, ilapmaine.org/celesoiree.html
Great Portland Bike Swap Sunday, April 29, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., the Great Maine Bike Swaps will return again this spring to the campus of the University of Southern Maine in Portland. Cyclists of all ages and ability levels will have the chance to buy and sell bicycles – or do both – with a percentage of the sales going to support the programming and educational efforts of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
Maine Comics Arts Festival
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Sunday, May 19-20 from 10-5 at Ocean Gateway in Portland, Come meet over 100 COMIC writers, artists and publishers will be guests for this event!! FMI: Casablanca Comics of Portland, mecaf. blogspot.com.
Almost St. Patrick’s Day Benefit When: Friday, March 16th, 5 to 10 p.m., What: fundraiser to helping children with developmental disabilities. Where: Local Sprouts Cafe, 649 Congress Street, Portland , Who: The Robbie Foundation, FMI: www.robbiefoundation.com, Lynn Gierie, robbiefoundation@gmail.com or 229-1807, The Robbie Foundation is hosting a benefit evening at Local Sprouts Cafe in Portland. Come check out delicious local organic food, beer and wine and a chance to win raffles and prizes.
mayostreetarts.org http:/www.stlawrencearts.com
P
Cherished Possessions is committed to continuing its long tradition of offering quality furniture, antiques, Persian rugs, art, and one-of-a-kind items of interest, including coastal-themed pieces.
OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK Store Hours: Tues-Sat, 10 am -5 pm & Sunday, Noon-5 pm 185 COTTAGE ROAD SOUTH PORTLAND
799-3990
• Consignment items are accepted 4 days a week, Wednesday-Saturday • Pickup and delivery of items is available • Home preview of your furniture • We invite artists and crafts-persons to consign their work • We accept major credit cards
Real EstatE Up on Munjoy Hill
Confused About Whether You Need A Real Estate Agent to Help You Buy Property?
By Colleen Bedard
What does it mean for you as a buyer to become a client and be represented by a real estate agent? Why would you, as a buyer, want to work exclusively with one real estate agent as you search for that perfect property? Working with a real estate agent who represents you gives you--the buyer--tremendous market advantage. In this scenario, you sign a standard buyer representation agreement and become a client. Now your real estate agent can do all of the following for you: • Give advice • Analyze, inspect, and investigate the property or area • Disclose material facts and search for latent defects in the property • Provide a competitive market analysis for you on what similar properties in the area have sold for • Advise you on negotiating strategy, price, terms, and conditions as you prepare your offer and, later, continue to work through the contract • Verify the statements made by the seller • Promote your interests above those of all others
• Provide information about the neighborhood • Search for properties not currently on the market (In other words, he or she cannot provide you with these services if they are not representing you.) For listed properties, the seller has committed to paying the buyer agency’s commission. Surprisingly, some buyers think that they will get a “better deal” if they deal directly with the listing agent. The listing agent, however, must always represent the interests of the seller first. A buyer, therefore, will always be in the best position if they have their own representative to investigate, advise, and negotiate on their behalf. On Munjoy Hill and in other competitive areas, it is imperative that a buyer have a real estate agent working on their behalf in order to be first-inthe-door and to search out properties that are not presently on the market.
Colleen Bedard lives on Munjoy Hill and is a Realtor/Broker with Townsend Real Estate. She can be reached atCBedard@ TownsendRE.com or 233-7273.
March 2012
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March 2012
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
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For more info, see ad on page 13
The Maine Goes Red initiative provides women with opportunities throughout the year to learn more about their number one health threat -- cardiovascular disease -- and how to prevent it. As the Maine Goes Red statewide partner, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care will bring you several local activities in 2012 and beyond to enhance the American Heart Association’s mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Some of these activities include: National Wear Red Day • Go Red Night with the Portland Pirates • Go Red For Women Luncheon in Portland. Together with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, we’ll be painting the town red and hope you will join us in this fight to save lives!