May 2013 Munjoy Hill Observer by Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

M u n joy Hil l

OBSERVER

Profit Org1 MayNon 2013 US Postage

PAID

Portland, ME Permit No. 824

FREE Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Vol. 33, No. 4 • May 2013

MHNO

Rites of Spring

Community Connection Continuity

After a one-year hiatus, the traditional Ebune Parade is returning to Congress Street. The EBUNE procession passes in front of City Hall and heads up toward Munjoy Hill. This year, graduate student Marita Kennedy-Castro, along with a crew of volunteers and organizations (see notice on back page of this Observer), have resurrected the event, now called “Ebune~ All Peoples, All Creatures Spring Parade And Celebration.”

Volunteers for the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization have begun staffing weekly Open house hours at the Hill House, at 92 Congress Street. If you see the doors open, stop in and say hello, or visit munjoyhill. org to find hours or to volunteer.

All cultures and creeds of our Portland community are invited to come together in celebration of the beautiful diversity of nature; of the many peoples that make up our diverse community, the many creatures and species that call Mother Earth home along with us; and of the blessing of spring’s return after a long, cold winter. Join in this colorful, fun community ritual and celebration to welcome back spring! (See ebune2013. com and on Facebook. For meeting times, see page 11 and page 16 of this issue).

Coming soon!, the MHNO Annual Meeting and Elections will be held at the end of June. Watch the June 2013 issue and check our website for date and details—munjoyhill.org. photos courtesy Marita Kennedy-Castro, Ebune Collection

Getting on Track

Restoring a Historic Railway to Connect Maine’s Largest Cities by Jake McNally

In this issue From MHNO President & Editor. . . . . 2 Restoring a Historic Railway by Jake McNally. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 & 3 Stamp out Hunger on Munjoy Hill. . . 3 Ask The Money Prof by Joel Gold. . . 3 MHNO Board profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 MHNO Bulletin Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Membership Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Capital & City State Senator Justin Alfond. . . . . . . 6 India Street Development . . . . . . . 6 Op/Ed: Housing at Adams Markos Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Good Neighbor: Joe Fournier. . . . . . . 7 Rocco DiDonato Photography East End Spring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 East End Business Focus Donatelli Tailor Shop. . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Growing Together/Parenting. . . . . . 10 Friends of the Eastern Promenade, & Ebune. . . 11 Portland Kitchen Tour. . . . . . . . . . 11 Art & Soul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Essay by Elizabeth Miller El Camino, by Kate Campbell Strauss Sudoku Puzzle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 School News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Local Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Comparison Puzzle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Gardener’s Dirt by Nini McNamany. . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Tony Donovan may be the John Poor of our time. Poor was the nineteenth century visionary who brought decades of prosperity to Portland. He connected us to Montreal by building the Atlantic and St. Lawrence rail line. Donovan is the founder and current president of the Maine Rail Transit Coalition. He is working to revive that historic rail link.

History has given Donovan’s project a head start. Acquiring the right-of-way is typically the most expensive component of interurban rail. In this case, the State of Maine already owns the rail corridor. “This train is gonna run. It’s nutty that it’s not. This is the future,” Donovan said.

and possibly be equipped with a bistro and bike rack. Donovan conjures an image of a commuter rolling along a restored Grand Trunk Bridge across the entrance to Back Cove after a day at work. “You cruise along that beautiful waterfront, you put your briefcase down, open a beer.” “How ‘bout instead of getting there fast, you’re productive while you’re getting there,” Donovan said. “You can’t be working on a laptop or your iPhone while you’re driving a car.”

Sleek two-way-facing engines known as Diesel Multiple Units will carry up to 100 passengers

ality that we can do this, they say ‘let’s go’. I just cannot get people in Portland interested.” Some people balk at the $138 million dollar cost of upgrading the rail line and establishing the rail service. “How much did it cost to build the Casco Bay Bridge?” Dono-

Donovan’s vision is more than just commuter rail. After Lewiston-Auburn he imagines service to the casino in Oxford County, the Bethel ski area, and even the White Mountain National Forest and beyond.

That future involves twenty-two Donovan’s office above the Evendaily round trips between Porttide Oyster restaurant is around land and Auburn with frequent the corner from the Grand Trunk service during rush hour and a fibuilding that was the terminus nal 1:40 a.m. departure from Portof the Atlantic and St. Lawrence. land-late enough to allow riders to A restored rail link would bring That India St. landmark diseconomic life to towns plays a plaque marking the that grew up along the 0.0 milepost of that 292-mile “Neither a wise man nor a brave historic rail line. Rail starailroad. man lies down on the tracks of tions contribute to “ecoDonovan’s head is full of history to wait for the train of the nomic massing.” People train knowledge. His desk buy houses and establish future to run over him.” is stacked with detailed rebusinesses near train —Dwight D. Eisenhower ports. But his current misstations. This countersion is simple: restore pasacts the suburban sprawl senger rail service between that is promoted by road fully enjoy the nightlife. Portland and Lewiston-Auburn. building. That is the first 29 miles of the original Portland to Montreal line.

Happy Mother’s Day! May 12

Donovan’s presentations get enthusiastic receptions around the state. “When they see this is a re-

van asks. $120 million. The New Veterans Bridge? $92 million. In addition, roads have to be rebuilt every 10 years at an estimated cost of $2 million per mile. “The future is not in the automobile,” Donovan said. “The younger generation can’t afford cars. They’re not interested in cars.” Instead, young, talented workers will be attracted to southern Maine if See page 3, Historic Railway

May 2013

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

At the Helm*

The Munjoy Hill Observer is published

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

observer@munjoyhill.org (207) 272-5962 munjoyhill.org Observer Committee Andrea Myhaver, Tamera Edison, Lisa Peñalver advertising Tamera Edison tamera.edison@munjoyhill.org 939-7998, Lisa Peñalver, Layout & Design 239-1604 3,000 Circulation 8,000+ Readership About our paper The Munjoy Hill Observer is published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO) as a service to its members and to the community as a whole, to inform Portland’s East End residents of local issues and events, and of the services that can be found here. The Observer serves as a vehicle to connect and inform our neighbors, while enlisting community partners to help us help those who need it most.

Is it Spring yet? It’s May, and I’m feeling a bit crazy, trying to decide what to put in this month’s column. Maybe it’s just my desire and excitement for the arrival of spring…finally. No matter what, there is so much happening on the Hill. So many opportunities for living life, for having fun and being involved. Speaking of fun, we are trying something new at Hill House, “Open Hours”. What this means is that our Hill House will be open to members and the general public at certain times of the week. The space is available for you to just hang out, talk to one of our members, buy a T-shirt or bumper sticker, pick up a copy of the latest Observer, use some work space, fill out a membership form, or even volunteer to be a “Open Hours” host. Look for the white sandwich board out front indicating that Hill House is open. The schedule right now is Monday, 11 am to 1 pm; Wednesday, 6:30 to 8 am; Friday, 11 am to 1 pm. We look forward to seeing you. And thank you to those members who are taking the time to make Hill House available to all of us. Hey, how about those Big Belly trash containers?! The one installed in front of Rosemont Market and Hilltop Coffee has really made a difference in the general appearance of the area; there has been much less trash in our little park in front of Hill

As always, if you are not currently a member of Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, I encourage you to join. When someone asks me why, I just say, “Because you live here!” There is a membership form on page 5 of this Observer. Bring yourself, your membership form filled out and $10 to Hill House during open hours to receive a warm welcome, a big smile and a very sincere “Thank you.”

This month’s At the Helm is being written by Ross Fields, VP & MHNO Membership Committee Chair, who is filling in for MHNO President Andrea Myhaver, while she takes some time to be with family this month. Her column will resume when she returns.

I think that’s it for now. It is a beautiful day and I am going out to take my walk with my lovely wife around Back Cove (5.5 mile loop from our home on Turner Street). We live in such a beautiful place. Make sure you take the time to get out there and enjoy it.

May is usually a quiet and inspiring month, marked by Mother’s Day celebrations and blooming gardens. We can count on longer days and warmer temperatures, a taste of the easy living that summer can bring. This year however, my mind is troubled by the recent senseless violence directed at our close neighbor, Boston, and by similar events in other parts of the country in April. They defy reason, and yet, we must come to understand them before we can find a way to prevent such destructive outbursts by angry individuals. We, as a culture, need to figure it out.

Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization

Andrea Myhaver, President.......................... . ......... andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org Ross Fields, Vice President............................ . ...................ross.fields@munjoyhill.org Elaine Mullin, Treasurer............................... elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org..671-6132

As Americans, we tend to feel sheltered from the turmoil and injustices that occur out in the world beyond our borders. It’s a luxury we have, among many others. But I believe it has become one we can no longer afford.

Sam Cohen, Secretary.................................. . .................. sam.cohen@munjoyhill.org Eben Albert-Knopp....................................... . ........ ealbertknopp@bernsteinshur.com

In pondering what can be done by individuals, I come back to our own community. I believe in the value of what we do here, by welcoming newcomers and including them in our events and activities. I think that the Observer newspaper itself can be a vehicle for conveying the shared values and interests of those who live in the neighborhood.

Ralph Carmona............................................ rccarmona@hotmail.com.........518-9177 Nova Ewers........ nova.ewers@munjoyhill.org Thomas Kelley............................................. . .............thomas.kelley@munjoyhill.org

At a retreat in April, the Board of the MHNO gathered to identify what it was that brought them to this part of the city and what they hoped to create through their involvement in the neighborhood organization. The concepts that arose were: Community, Connection and Continuity. These were the themes that kept surfacing.

Joan Sheedy.....joan.sheedy@munjoyhill.org . ............................................. 774-7616 Ann Quinlan..... ann.quinlan@munjoyhill.org

As I was assembling this issue, I realized that they are also the concepts that shape the Observer as well In this issue, for instance, we have a piece on an historic railroad being restored to connect communities; we’ve got a story on the long-time Hill business, the Donatelli Tailor Shop (on page 8), which is a perfect example of continuity; and the Ebune parade and celebration, welcoming the coming of spring, along with All Peoples & All Creatures, displays a playful side of our community.

MHNO Mission Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in January 1979, our purpose is to broad-based,

If you have any bulky items you need to get rid of as you do your spring cleaning, be sure to go online to recycling.portlandmaine.gov/stickerprogram.asp. There are some new guidelines and online options which make it easier to get rid of those pieces that won’t fit into a Blue Trash Bag.

Blessed be the Peacemakers

MHNO Board 2012-2013

House. Plus, the units installed along the Eastern Promenade are making a difference. According to Troy Moon, Environmental Program and Open Space Manager, 12 more have been ordered, and will be placed around the city. One of the great benefits of these units is that they send out an electronic “Hey, I’m full” signal, making it way more economical to service. Thanks Mr. Moon!

From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver

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 Vice President, Ross Fields

representative

We are doing some important things right on Munoy Hill, and I thank you all for being a part of it.

organization committed to improving the quality of life for the residents of Munjoy

Hill and the East End, by strengthening the sense of community, maintaining the current diversity of social and economic groups, encouraging self-sufficiency, and enriching the lives of all residents.

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!

756-8135 Daytimes: Janine Kaserman with Community Policing 2) 650-9005 cell: 11 am thru the night, Senior Lead Officer Tony Ampezzan (at right) 3) 874-8575/-8574: Dispatch/non-emergency events 1)

4) Emergencies: 9-1-1 Clip and save these numbers!

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

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

May 2013

At Home on Munjoy Hill We can Help Stamp out hunger in Maine By Lori K. Parham, AARP Maine State Director, Munjoy Hill One person going hungry in Maine is one person too many. Ours is a state with a far-flung population, and many who live here have low or fixed incomes. One third of Mainers 65+, for example, rely on Social Security for 100 percent of their income, just over $1000 per month. Every extra expense can have a ripple-effect, forcing at-risk seniors to have to choose between paying their basic living expenses or buying their next meal. Now more than ever, we must seek out opportunities to help Maine residents, no matter their age, keep food on the table. If we work together, we can make a huge difference! On May 11, 2013, AARP and AARP Foundation will sponsor Stamp Out Hunger, the nation’s largest singleday food drive. This is the 20th year of this effort, which is hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service. Here’s how it works: On May 11th, letter carriers across the country

will collect non-perishable food donations from their postal customers at the same time as they deliver the mail. They – in some cases with the help of volunteers – will then deliver these donations to a local food bank or pantry. Households nationwide will be alerted to the opportunity to participate in this food drive through a postcard or bag delivered to their home. This is a terrific and easy way to help those in need in every community across the state. If you are willing, ask your postal carrier how you can help on the actual pick-up day of May 11th. They will be happy to have an extra pair of hands to assist them with loading the food bags. Many Stamp Out Hunger volunteers take it a step further and use their own car to pick up the food donations and either deliver them to a drop-off point or to the local food pantry. However you can help, you’ll be making a huge difference and your efforts will be greatly appreciated. A recent AARP Foundation report revealed that hunger among older Americans has jumped nearly 80 percent in just ten years. Unfortunately Maine ranks first in New England for food insecurity among older adults. You can help address this issue. Find out more about Stamp Out Hunger at http://www.nalc.org/ commun/foodrive/. Please tell your friends and neighbors about Stamp Out Hunger day on May 11th and, on behalf of AARP Maine, thank you for taking the time to fill your own bag of groceries. Find additional resources for combatting hunger, at http://www.preblestreet.org/mainehungerinitiative.php.

Historic railway, from front page we develop interurban rail links. In Donovan’s vision, a revived St. Lawrence and Atlantic would be the first in a series of rail lines that would terminate at the foot of India Street. “Munjoy Hill and India Street neighborhoods, you should be aware of what we’re up to because this is huge.” Historically, the railroad was huge for Portland. 12,000 people dined under a 20,000 square foot pavilion in 1846 when the Atlantic and St. Lawrence broke ground on the construction of the railroad Poor envisioned, according to a 1989 Portland Press Herald article. The line was completed in 1853, then leased to the Grand Trunk and eventually absorbed by the Canadian National Railway. It served as Montreal’s link to the Atlantic when the St. Lawrence River was frozen. Two large grain elevators, the largest east of Detroit, handled the produce of Canadian farmers. Many millions looked to “the Grand Trunk to carry the great mass of products and the cattle from a thousand hills and hundreds of thousands of acres of pasture land from the west, from Canada, from hundreds of important points commercially and industrially speaking, to Portland,” claimed the Portland Press Herald in an article celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the line. “There are acres of wharves, there are miles and miles of track in the great yards. There are the shops and the stock yard in the East Deering sections of the city and there is the rapidly rising new station to remind us that the great international system means much to Portland.”

That new station was “Maine’s gateway to Canada and one of the busiest passenger stations in Northern New England,” according to Hal Boyle who recalled it in a 1979 article for the Portland Evening Express. “The interior was a mass of marble, hanging chandeliers, gold and rose panels and tile floor.” After World War I, Canada decided to develop its own ports and the Grand Trunk faded. Year-round passenger service between Portland and Montreal ended in 1960. The wrecking ball struck down the glorious station in 1966 and “Portland’s East End lost one of its most attractive landmarks,” according to Boyle. When the state purchased the rail corridor, it preserved the possibility that passenger rail could return to the foot of Munjoy Hill. Lewiston Senator Margaret Craven and East End Representative Dianne Russell co-sponsored a bill to fund the engineering and design work necessary to qualify the Portland to Lewiston-Auburn rail project for federal funding. Donovan supported LD 999 in a hearing before the Legislature’s Transportation Committee on April 9th. The Maine Department of Transportation spoke in opposition to the project. The next step is for the Transportation Committee to hold a workshop on the bill before they decide whether it should be recommended for passage by the legislature. Echoing the determination of the visionary who first brought the Atlantic and St. Lawrence to Portland 160 years ago, Donovan says, “If they kill it in committee, we’re not stopping. We’re gonna run these trains.”

Ask the Money Prof Want to get out of debt? Borrowing money and incurring debt can be very productive, but if mismanaged can lead to dire consequences. The Federal Reserve reports that as of the end of 2012, families with credit cards owe an average of $15,266; mortgage debt $149,667; and average student loan is $32,559. Overall consumer debt in 2012 declined by 1.5%, but student loans skyrocketed by 11.2%. There are many reasons for indebtedness, good and bad, but this article will provide a few ideas to help you get out of debt. The type of debt to pay off first (bad debt) are those loans that carry the highest after-tax interest rates: credit cards, auto loans and personal loans usually carry high interest rates and are not tax-deductible. The interest on real estate loans, student loans, and business loans is tax deductible. Secured loans (home mortgage loans, auto loans) should in general, be paid first because if payments are in arrears, the lender can take the property back. To get out of debt, borrowers must find a way to pay down principal in an effective

way. If possible, reducing the term of the loan, which generally requires higher monthly payments, will cut down on total interest paid on the loan. Consolidating loans may lower your monthly payment, but will not get you out of debt and may in fact, result in more interest in the long run. The first step is to develop a budget and list all your monthly expenses. Make sure you include everything you spend money on, especially cash transactions which may add up to quite a bit of money each month. Then separate out the necessary (non-discretionary) expenses from the not-so necessary (discretionary) expenses. By reducing the discretionary expenses and finding ways of reducing your non-discretionary expenses, you will have more funds to apply against your loans, thereby reducing principal. Of course, getting a higher paid job (I know this is a lot easier said than done, but possible) or more possible, getting an additional parttime

By Joel I. Gold

job for a while can reduce debt, as higher payments are made monthly. Increasing debt payments monthly certainly places a claim on your future income, which can impact your quality of life. However, if it is done for a temporary time-frame, the feeling of reducing debt is usually a good mental trade-off for the extra time at work. Another strategy to reduce debt is to rent out part of your primary residence. This is not for everyone, but if you are willing to give up some convenience, the extra funds can come in very handy. The important thing is not to give up, but know that you can get out of debt if you change your priorities and really want to improve your lifestyle. College professor and financial adviser Joel I. Gold is the owner of the Gold Company, located off of India Street, 145 Newbury Street, 3rd flr, (207) 650-7884, where he works as a Fee-Only Financial Planner. He’s been in Portland since 1995.

BULLETIN Board the munjoy Hill neighborhood Organization

May 2013

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Meet the 2012-2013 Board of the MHNO!

Andrea Myhaver President

Ross Fields Vice President

Elaine Mullin Treasurer

Sam Cohen Secretary

Eben Albert-Knopp

Ann Quinlan

Nova Ewers

Could be YOU!

Ralph Carmona Three years ago, Ralph Carmona and his wife, Vana, a 12th generation Mainer, decided to make Munjoy Hill their home. They both saw in Portland a quality of life and the opportunities to become involved in civic affairs and work for the public interest. They purchased a home in February 2010 and Ralph began involving himself in municipal, state and federal issues. This included teaching a course on Portland’s future at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and running for Mayor of Portland. Ralph presently is also a member of the Portland Recreation Commission, an advisor to Police Chief Michael Sauschuck and supports Mayor Brennan’s private-public partnership and food security efforts. A retired business executive, he is an adjunct professor at Southern Maine Community College where he teaches American Government, International Relations and Sociology. Ralph joined the MHNO Board of Directors in February 2011 and was chair of the MHNO Annual Appeal Campaign. His favorite things about about Munjoy Hill are the people and his morning walks with Vana along the Eastern Promenade. Ralph has a doctorate in Political Science, is Regent Emeritus at the University of California and Executive Director of the Maine Global Institute. A favorite quotation: “Think where one’s greatest glory most begins and ends, then say: ‘My greatest glory is that I had such friends.’” (William Butler Yeats)

“LIKE” us & stay INFORMED! Sign up for our email list at munjoyhill. org to receive alerts on events and issues pertaining to the East End (fyi: we do not share our list.). Get the first glimpse of the each month's Observer. "Like" the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization on Facebook! Just visit us online at munjoyhill. org and click on our Facebook link. Follow our updates, join the conversation, post photos and share links, all on our FB page.

Joan Sheedy

Thomas Kelley

Get to know us! Andrea Myhaver

Sam Cohen

(President, MHNO) Andrea was born and raised on the Eastern Prom of Munjoy Hill. After she graduated from high school, Andrea’s travels and jobs took her across the country. In 2002 she decided to return to Maine and her roots on Munjoy Hill to raise her young son, Reid. She and her son have been residents of North Street ever since. Andrea joined the MHNO board of Directors in 2010, where she quickly jumped in to serve as Secretary.

(Secretary, MHNO) Sam became a Board member half a year ago; he has lived on Munjoy Hill for two years. Sam likes the community-feel of Munjoy Hill, ”making the city feel like it’s tiny,”and he enjoys knowing the people that live around him. Few people likely know that Sam is an owner of three bikes. A favorite quotation, from the Talmud: “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

In 2011 Andrea was elected to her first term as President, and was re-elected to serve another term at the June 2012 annual meeting. Andrea says that most people know that she comes from a large family (7 brothers and 3 sisters) but may not know about her family’s musical talents, or that she herself is a singer. The “Von Myhaver Family Singers and Dancers” perform mostly at family events, but you never know when they might come to a venue near you!

Ross Fields (Vice President, MHNO) Ross and his wife, Kathleen, have lived on Munjoy Hill since July 2011; Ross became a MHNO Board member in December 2011. Ross likes the vibrancy of the Rosemont Market and the local restaurants on the Hill. He also enjoys living only a couple blocks away from the ocean. Few people may know that when Ross lived in Vermont—before he moved to Portland—he sang tenor in a barbershop quartet. A favorite quotation of Ross’—”When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” (Author Unknown)

Elaine Mullin

(Treasurer, MHNO) Elaine has lived on Munjoy Hill for four and a half years and has been a Board member for three years. She loves the constant activity on the Hill and the fact that you don’t have to go far to find things going on. Few people would know that Elaine has participated in the Trek Across Maine bicycle tour—three times! A favorite quotation: “Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” (Author Unknown)

Joan Sheedy

Joan has been a Board member for 7+ years; she has lived on Munjoy Hill for eight years. Joan sees the Munjoy Hill community as one big family whose members are all willing to help each other and to work together in pursuit of common goals. In addition to participating in the MHNO, Joan is also involved in many other activities across Portland, such as City Hall affairs. A favorite quotation, ““I just try as hard as I can to make ‘community’ on the Hill and to draw people together.” (Joan)

Thomas Kelley

Tom became a Board member in March 2012; he has lived on Munjoy Hill for one year. He likes living among the eclectic group of Munjoy Hill residents who all share the common traits of being friendly, amazing people. Few would know that Tom is an avid traveler; he has already visited a third of the world’s countries! A favorite quotation, “It was the tension between these two poles — a restless idealism on one hand and a sense of impending doom on the other — that kept me going.” (Hunter S. Thompson)

Open MEETINGS: The MHNO Board meets every 2nd Monday of the month, at 7 pm at the Hill House at 92 Congress St. — Please join us!

Eben Albert-Knopp

Eben has lived on Munjoy Hill for three years; he became a Board member early in 2012. He enjoys the great Munjoy community, Rosemart Market, and living within walking and biking distance from the Eastern Promenade and downtown Portland. Eben is an alumnus of the College of the Atlantic, which is located in Bar Harbor, ME.

Ann Quinlan

Ann became a Board member in 2011; she has lived on Munjoy Hill for three years but has spent summers on the Hill ever since the ‘60s. She enjoys “living in a well-knit community with neighbors who all know one another. Instead of confining ourselves to particular age brackets.” Ann believes it is important to live inter-generationally and to connect with people of all ages. A favorite quotation of Ann’s: ”We are not here to be perfect; we are here to be real.” (Einstein).

Nova Ewers

Nova has lived on Munjoy Hill for two years; she became a Board Member in March 2012. Nova loves how Munjoy Hill residents take pride in and love their neighborhood. “From sunrise over the Prom to sunset over Standpipe Park, it’s always a beautiful day on the Hill thanks to the beautiful people who live here.” Few people may know that Nova has sailed across each of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans twice. A favorite quotation, “It is not so much what is on the table that matters, as what is on the chairs” (W.S. Gilbert)

Tamera Edison Ad Sales Rep

Lisa Peñalver Observer Editor

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

May 2013

the munjoy Hill neighborhood Organization Open MEETINGS: The MHNO Board meets every second Monday of each month at 7 pm at the Hill House at 92 Congress St. — all are welcome!

Elder Care Resources —Clip-n-Save—

Portland Area Coalition for Elder Services (PACES) http://pacesseniors.com PACES members serve the senior community in greater Portland by providing high quality goods and services. Our monthly meetings focus on sharing best practices, improving business relationships and educating our members about community services available to older adults. Above, Volunteers helped clean up Munjoy hill on Saturday, April 6, 2013

Munjoy Hill Dogowner Etiquette **Did you know that the high concentration of salt and nitrogen in dog urine kills plants? **Did you know that when a dog tromps around in a garden to take a poop, the new plant buds it steps on will die? Please be responsible and respectful of Munjoy Hill properties and gardens by following these simple rules: 1) Please do not allow your dog to urinate or poop on any Munjoy Hill property owner’s gardens, plants, or yards. It damages the plants. 2) Please pick up your dog’s poop no matter what the weather conditions are. 3) Please throw your dog’s poop in a trashcan, and not beside a car, near a house, etc.

CONTACT: Lynne Maxfield-Cole PACES Membership Chairperson 53 Waterford Rd. Harrison, ME 04040 lmaxroad@yahoo.com 207-754-0730 Phoebe Chandler PACES President phoebe@allenselig.com 207 712-6500

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) http://smaaa.org The Southern Maine Agency on Aging offers a wide range of programs and services for older adults living in York and Cumberland counties. These programs and services are designed to foster independence, reduce the burden on family and caregivers, and promote an active and healthy lifestyle throughout the aging process. Southern Maine Agency on Aging 136 U.S. Route One Scarborough, ME 04074 Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 207-396-6500 --and--1-800427-7411 Fax 207-883-8249 Call 711 if you are deaf or hard of hearing and need relay service. info@smaaa.org Monday - Friday

4) Please do not allow your dog to urinate on any other property owner’s front steps, front gardens, and front planting vases. Once a dog urinates, then all the other dogs will want to urinate in the same place to “mark their spot”. Submitted by Munjoy Hill Resident, K. Snyder

Join the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization The Free Cell Phone and Minutes Program Available Now through SafeLink Wireless

Email info@munjoyhill.org. Show your neighborhood pride! Munjoy HilL t-shirts are available: S-XL@$16, XXXL@$20, Tees come in black or white. Or get this bumper sticker! (measures 6”x 4”) $3 per sticker. Buy one and support your Neighborhood group. Send your check to MHNO,92 Congress St, Portland ME 04101.

You may qualify to receive a free cell phone if you participate in any of the following: • Federal Public Housing Assistance • Food Stamps • Medicaid • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program • Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) • National School Lunch (free lunch only) • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) This program offers up to 250 free minutes every month for local and long distance calls and texting. The MHNO is in discussions with SafeLink Wireless representatives about the possibility of holding informational meetings on the Hill. Keep checking the MHNO Bulletin Board at 92 Congress St., or the MHNO Calendar online. Google SafeLink Wireless Maine for more info.

New Membership

Renewal

Name(s)_ ____________________________________________________________ Street Address________________________________________________________ City________________________________________State_______ Zip___________ Email (for MHNO updates)_____________________________________________ Day Phone (____)________________ Eve Phone (____)______________________

Membership Levels Individual: $10 Family: $20 Business: $35 Additional Donation $25 $50 $75 $100 $250 $500 Other Amount: ($______) wish my gift to be anonymous

Volunteer for a Committee! We need your help to make Munjoy Hill an even better place to live! Get involved by joining one or more of our committees:

Membership Events Services Safe and Walkable Neighborhood Observer

We want all members of our community to join the MHNO regardless of financial circumstances. If you are unable to pay the suggested minimum amount, please pay what you can. If you are able to contribute more, we encourage you to do so. We thank you for your support, and we’re excited to have you on board! Please send this form along with your check to:

MHNO, 92 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 Questions? Call (207) 775-3050, email info@munjoyhill.org or visit munjoyhill.org Welcome to the MHNO! 11/2012

May 2013

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER justinalfond.com

CapitAl City

Maine Education needs Support, not Censure First, this idea is the sole initiative of the Governor – lacking support from teachers, administrators, school boards, or communities. For my first four years serving in the State Senate, I served on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. In that time, my work was focused on measures that strengthened our public schools, promoted innovation, and initiated reform measures that are student-centered. For example, standardsbased education ensures that students are at the center of their learning; improved career technology education provides multiple pathways so that every student has an opportunity to succeed; and, supporting teachers in their professional development ensures that students get the best possible and best trained teachers. In the last two years, however, Governor LePage has promoted some significant changes impacting teachers, classrooms, schools--and, ultimately, our students. Last month, the LePage Administration presented its newest school “reform” plan. The plan assigns a letter grade of “A” through “F” to Maine’s public schools. I, along with many of my colleagues, am deeply concerned by this initiative for many reasons.

Next, I worry that this simplistic and superficial grading system aimed at evaluating school performance cannot provide an accurate picture of what is taking place at a school. It could give a false sense that all is going well at a school, or it could wrongly shame a once-struggling school that is on the right track and improving. The schools’ grades have the potential to embarrass students, teachers, and schools rather than motivate, incentivize, and actually help underperforming schools do better. Finally, this initiative lacks transparency on which indicators the Department of Education will use to grade our schools. Additionally, the Department of Education expects the schools to devise and implement improvement efforts with no additional funds. All of these factors create a grading system that will generate confusion and be a giant distraction for our public schools. And the reality is that we already know which of our schools are underperforming. If the Department were serious about helping all students, it would allocate additional supports and funds into these struggling districts.

As you all know our state’s budget writing committee is working hard on crafting a two year budget. The task ahead of them is daunting because Governor LePage’s proposed budget continues to underfund the state’s promise for education and places a heavier burden on local property taxes. Budgets set priorities. At a time when schools and teachers are already being asked to do more with less, we need to put our dollars behind our students and teachers. If we all agree that we must put students first, then we must fund the classroom. Our students must have every opportunity to succeed. And our teachers need the tools to do their job. We are in this together. Our teachers and principals want to succeed. They are eager to do the best job possible for our students. Now it’s up to us, as lawmakers, to encourage them as we all strive for innovation in our classrooms and the strengthening of our public schools. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can reach me at Justin@JustinAlfond.com

Portland Selected to Join Urban Sustainability Accelerator Program City to receive planning assistance for redevelopment of India Street neighborhood

Press Release April 23, 2013: The City of Portland has been selected to join the first group of municipalities to participate in an innovative new sustainability effort based in Oregon. The Urban Sustainability Accelerator (USA,) at Portland State University in Oregon is a new program created to help small- to mid-sized urban areas implement sustainability projects. The city’s Department of Planning & Urban Development asked the USA program to assist with planning and implementation for redevelopment of the historic India Street neighborhood, which adjoins Portland’s thriving downtown. The department is interested in integrating new urban redevelopment with historic preservation, managing storm water through green infrastructure, maintaining and increasing transportation choices, and addressing the challenge of sea level rise. Portland joins other teams from Louisville, Kentucky, the Sacramento Council of Governments and its member communities, Wichita, Kansas, and El Paso and

Waco, Texas, in receiving assistance starting this spring through the summer of next year. These cities’ sustainability projects have some common themes, including of urban redevelopment and infill, green infrastructure investments, historic preservation and promoting transportation choices. Portland’s project team will draw on expertise in the Portland, Oregon, region that has tackled similar projects and will benefit from experts in the other cities in the group. “Assistance from the USA program is a key part of the city’s commitment to planning for the India Street neighborhood,” said Jeff Levine, Director of Planning and Urban Development Department. “This work will build upon earlier work conducted as part of the Sustain Southern Maine initiative, and will allow the city’s planning efforts to move swiftly from concept to implementation.”

Robert Liberty, USA’s Director commented, “Portland (Maine) has already achieved very successful downtown revitalization. We were flattered that our older sister wanted us to help with the special challenge of integrating historic preservation with redevelopment that makes use of green infrastructure and improved transportation choices.” The Urban Sustainability Accelerator is made possible through support of Portland State University’s Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, The Institute for Sustainable Solutions and a grant from the Summit Foundation. For more information on the USA program, please visit http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability-accelerator or contact Urban Sustainability Accelerator Director Robert Liberty at rliberty@pdx.edu.

Housing at Adams: How long are community plans good for? In 2006, the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization held a community forum to set priorities for the re-use of the Adams School site. Over 80 participating MHNO members shared their hopes and concerns for what would happen on this important block, which had been the home of our local school, branch library, and de-facto community center. Three themes clearly emerged from this visioning process. Housing was the top priority. People wanted diverse housing options similar to those found on surrounding streets. Residents also valued open space that would serve diverse needs of users in an intimate scale. An indoor community space filled out the top three priorities. This neighborhood-based planning exercise informed the City’s Adams School Re-Use Committee, chaired by Munjoy Street resident Matt Thayer. That committee recommended about 40 units of housing and a redesigned playground space. Seven years later we are finally anticipating the completion of the first phase of this project and the realization of a community vision rooted in a neighborhood-based planning process. The housing will help maintain some income diversity as the Hill continues to gentrify. We will be celebrating this. However, the 16 residential units are less than half of what was hoped for here, and there is no clear path to a second phase of housing. Already people are floating out ideas for what else could

happen on the remaining land, as evidenced by the front page of last month’s Observer. It’s hard to not like community gardens. Atlantic Street resident Jaime Parker is one of many interested in seeing a winter skating pond. I’d be surprised if there weren’t several other ideas bouncing around.

housing that keeps our neighborhood diverse? How do we balance the long-term planning of a community with the ever-changing nature of today’s world? Does policy really matter? Should we quit planning, as Governor LePage suggests? These are some of the questions I’m mulling over.

In Portland we spend a lot of time and energy in thoughtful, informed planning processes. The City’s Comprehensive Plan is filled with chapters describing our goals for issues like transportation, economic development, and housing. Our neighborhood organization used, and increased, its community clout by organizing members and advancing their vision.

—Markos Miller

However, the road to realizing those visions is long and winding, and presents many detours. We easily forget what our original destination might have been with the passing of time, and might wander in a very different direction. Not all visions should be realized; circumstances change and plans need to adapt. But all too often the plans get put on the shelves and are forgotten about. Do we still want to see more housing at the Adams School site? Would we still feel that way if we fell in love with an interim community garden there? As our neighborhood continues to gentrify, will we still feel the need to support

Please let me know what you think.

Please send your thoughts to observer@munjoyhill.org with “Adams Site” in the Subject line. Markos Miller is a community activist and MHNO volunteer who lives on Atlantic Street, Munjoy Hill.

On Hill Good Neighbor of the Month Joe Fournier,

Manager of Munjoy Hill Rosemont By Lisa Peñalver Spend any amount of time on Munjoy Hill, and odds are, you’ll pop in to the Rosemont Market, located right beside Hilltop Coffee and across from the Blue Spoon. If you’ve stopped back at the deli counter (to look at all the amazing cheeses), most likely you’ve spoken with Joe Fournier, manager of the store, and not even known it. Joe Fournier, he makes the mozzarella. Like the rest of the Rosemont crew, he has an friendly, easy way about him, laid back, dresses in jeans and a t-shirt. You’d have no way of knowing he was the manager unless you asked. And like so many of our neighbors, there is more to him than meets the eye. I have friends in Europe who insist we Americans are obsessed with our jobs; that it’s how we define ourselves. The first question we invariably ask someone new is “What do you do (for work?)” Why not ask, what is your passion? What do you LIKE to do? Turns out, as the manager of a food market, Joe Fournier DOES like food, but not it the “I’m hungry” way your kid will express. More in the High Art of fine foods... and wine of course. And also in terms of locally-grown, organic foods that strengthen not only the individuals who eat it, but the community as a whole. When I asked about the nonprofits he’s been involved in, Joe immediately responded with Cultivating Community. “I had done a few food events with them (through Rosemont), and I wanted to be more involved. So I called up the Executive Director; he asked me to be on the Board, and I joined.”

“Growing up with five other siblings in Munjoy Hill, raised by a single mom, I appreciate the notion of food insecurity.” Cultivating Community has a variety of programs, including the NASAP / Fresh Start Farms (youth Farm programs, urban agriculture), which helps immigrant families get acclimated to the area, and teaches them how to grow their own fresh food in Maine. “It’s important that we keep working toward sustainable and viable food production, so that the freshest foods can be accessible to everyone, not to just those who can afford it (the premium price).” Joe is also on the Mayor’s Committee for Food Sustainability, and he would be a good person to talk to, if you too are wanting to get involved. But, back to the topic of Food. Joe has a background in restaurant cooking; he spent almost 7 years in in the Big Apple, NY, and another 3-plus working in Cambridge. An article he read while in Boston, about the food scene in Portland, Maine, captured his attention and brought him back to our shores. “The food here (in Portland) is amazing—we have a lot of great

restaurants, but there isn’t much written about it these days.” So, while he contemplates starting up his own Foodie newspaper, Joe has created “Between the Tinez w/Joe Fournier” (Yes: “Tinez” with a “z”), a YouTube video food blog. Oh, and he does watercolor paintings as well (not food-related), on display in various locations around the Hill, including over at Elizabeth Fraser’s art studio and Mayo Street Arts. You can see some of these at joefournier.blogspot.com That’s the thing about people here on the Hill, the more you know, the more there is to them. As the character Shrek would say, “I have layers, like an onion...” So don’t be a stranger, eh? Stop in and say hello!

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. —Aesop, The Lion and the Mouse Greek slave & fable author (620 BC - 560 BC)

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

May 2013

East End Spring Photos by Rocco DiDonato

May 2013

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

East End Business Focus Donatelli’s Custom Tailors According to an old proverb, “Change is the only constant.” I might add one other constant: Donatelli’s Custom Tailor Shop. At the top of Munjoy Hill, at 109 Congress St., owner/founder Vangie (Evangelista) Donatelli and his family have been part of the community for nearly 50 years, and this business has been running smoothly for over 40 years. Custom alterations and repairs are their specialty, using the old-world tailoring techniques Vangie learned in Torino, Italy, as a youth. I stopped by the tailor shop to visit with Vangie on the same day in late February that the Portland Press Herald ran a story on this neighborhood, “Looking up on the Hill,” which was accom-

panied by a huge aerial photo. He waved the paper at me as I came in. “We’re on the front page!” he exclaimed. I’ve heard stories about when the neighborhood had, at one point, become so run down (mostly during the late ‘60s), that visitors were advised to avoid this end of town for their own safety. Not so any longer. I asked if he remembered “the old days.” He nodded and said, “Uff! Now it’s not like it was yesterday— I mean years ago—when I first opened the shop. There was a market right across the street, like a Seven-11, where you could get beer, and guys would hang

By Lisa Peñalver

out there all night long, drinking, yelling and making trouble.” “Back then, I knew the Chief of Police, Frank, I think his name was. We were friends. I told him, ‘Frank, you know how to clean this place up? I know how to clean this place up! Close that store at 8 o’clock! Or just shut it down.’ And when it shut down, no more trouble!” I asked Vangie if he ever felt unsafe during that time, and he just chuckled. “No, even when there was a crowd of biker guys over there, this big guy—tattoos all over—would come over to check on me, ‘Vangie, you okay? Anybody bothering you?’ They’d watch out for me.” At the age of 27, Mr. Donatelli

arrived in Portland, Maine, in 1965. He had relatives who had been living in the area for some time, including the aunt who had written to him saying he could find work in Portland. Vangie brought along his wife Liliana, and his young son, Faustino. When he first began working at the Gordon’s Men’s Shop on Monument Square, the owners at first were not aware of the fine skills he brought to the job. It was only after they saw the impeccably modern suits he had created for himself by altering out-of-style clothing from the basement, that they realized that they had something special in their shop. In time, the Gordon’s Men’s Shop closed. By then, Vangie was working at the Anderson Little store as General Manager (at the

Pine Tree Shopping Center). He worked and saved enough to buy his first property at 115 Congress Street, where he opened a tailor shop. A few years later, he bought the building next door, which housed a branch of the B &B Cleaners and a small drugstore. Here, the family opened Liliana’s Laundry and moved the tailor shop into the former drugstore space. Vangie and his wife, Liliana, had two sons and two daughters, all of whom were trained in the family business. Liliana herself had been an active part of the business and of the community. She passed away in 1999, but a plaque has been installed on the side of the building to commemorate her generosity and kindness. Most often you will see Faustino See page 9, Donatelli Tailors

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Donatelli Tailors,

May 2013

from page 8

Donatelli, working with his father in the tailor shop, or his sister Anna, keeping both businesses running smoothly.

With the recent upturn in interest in property on the Hill, Vangie has found himself fending off offers to buy property from him. He just says no.

Early on, the Donatellis made clothing from scratch, but these days, their work is more about altering existing suits and dresses. Soon a wave of prom dresses will be coming through the door, and summer will bring in wedding suits and gowns.

“I’ve been here all my life on Munjoy Hill. I have my health and I have my family. Business is good. I don’t need anything else.” You can find Donatelli’s Custom Tailor shop and Liliana Laundry at 109 and 111 Congress Street, for hours or cleaning/tailoring questions, call (207) 7743111.

The Donatelli family has always been active in the community, supporting events and gatherings in the neighborhood and attending events at St Peter’s and the Cathedral at the base of the Hill. Son Peter has coached soccer for Munjoy Hill and Kennedy Park kids over the years.

PHOTOS at left, top of page 8: group includes Faustino Donatelli, Anna, Vangie and son, Peter; center image, the Tailor Shop on Congress Street, and 1974 newspaper clipping shows Vangie with young Luana and Faustino, learning the trade.

Dishcrawl Old Port By Mary Soule

dred cities in North America, Dishcrawl’s purpose is to introduce food lovers to their local restaurants, and the chefs that run them. This is all about bringing Portlanders together!

Dishcrawl, the dining tour company, is now bringing its culinary journey to Portland. Dishcrawl is a national food startup founded to bring diners and restaurants together, and it’s coming to Portland in May. Dishcrawl guides food lovers on tours of four unique restaurants over one evening– like a culinary pubcrawl!

Restaurants participating in the Dishcrawl are kept secret until two days before the event, when they are revealed to the ticket holders.

Dishcrawl will bring its inaugural Portland tour to the historic Old Port on May 7th. It’s a chance for local diners to delve into a neighborhood of restaurants in one evening, while raising awareness of the eateries that are changing the face of Portland. Reservations are $45 per person.

For more information about Portland’s upcoming Dishcrawl events and to purchase tickets, visit dishcrawl.com/portlandoldport, our facebook page, or follow us on twitter @dishcrawlPWM. Check out our YouTube page to see past Dishcrawls in action!

Located coast to coast in over one hun-

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ALLEN, STERLING & LOTHROP GARDEN CENTER MOTHER’S DAY is Coming!

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May 2013

On Hill

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Time Outs only work in Sports

GrowingTogether T ips

P arentin g

R elationships

By Ross Fields, CPE & Kathleen Fields, CPE

But, the awesome thing in all this is that YOU have found Results Parenting. Very soon you will learn more about all the amazing - and highly effective - skills that we can teach you to help create the kind of family that I know you really are wanting: I KNOW you want those kids to learn to cooperate, be responsible, feel great about themselves, handle peer pressure, and learn what it takes to create close and loving relationships.

Why Parenting is not a sporting event By Kathleen Fields Sometimes, people have asked why in the world Ross and I are so passionate about parenting education. Once in a while, I hear, “Oh, that’s interesting. I have a nephew who really needs that!” Or maybe, “my parents did okay with me. I turned out fine.” And we all know what John Lennon said so beautifully: “Love is All You Need”.

And to raise them without punishment or being permissive. (Really). Here’s an action step for you:

So. . . consider this little story: Three different guys go to a doctor for different issues. The 1st guy tells the doc that he’s almost always constipated; the 2nd guy tells the doc that he has a terrible pain in his heel; and the 3rd guy tells the doc that he’s been coughing for two solid weeks. The doctor said, “Well, I can help every one of you! I’ll remove your appendixes. Last week, I had a patient who felt terrible. I removed his appendix and he felt fine!” OMG!! Would you trust a doctor like this? What kind of diagnostic procedure did he use? Plus, he believed one solution would work for every issue. So when our daughters were little (hollering was totally a throat-killer while the girls quickly turned deaf, and spanking was really not an option), the only solution that felt worthy was ... Da-da-da-DAH ! presenting— TIME OUT!

doo-doo. I can sing that Beatles’ song like a maniac because I truly do love my kids, but the real truth here is that they arrived into this world with no Owner’s Manual.

I started using time out for anything I considered inappropriate behavior. What a waste THAT was! Oh man, I had thought I could motivate my 3-year-old to change from knocking her sister over on her head to being sweet, cooperative and a loving little sibling (I did, after all, have my degree in education). Woh! It didn’t take long before it became totally clear that there must be other ways to help with behavioral issues. Time out is a loser. It’s NEVER a one-size-fits-all. Plus, what the heck were we doomed for when the girls got to be teenagers? (that’s when TIME OUT turns into “YOU’RE GROUNDED”) Can’t wait. . . If we don’t learn some real tools here, we will be in deep

Every day for one week look for ONE thing that is truly awesome about your son or daughter, and write it down. Share it with them if you feel so moved. But for right now, it might be a challenge observing only ONE thing, because once you begin looking for what you appreciate, you’ll discover many more. (yep, this simple action has magic!) Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have concerning this article or parenting in general. Kathleen Fields is a Certified Parenting Educators (CPE) and co-founder, with her husband Ross Fields, of Results Parenting, LLC, www.resultsparenting.com. For a parenting perspective on the recent events that took place at the Boston Marathon please go to http://www. resultsparenting.com/blog/ and read the April 20th post, “Mommy, Are We Safe?”

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Friends of the Eastern Promenade April Stools & Rid Litter Cleanup On April 6th, FoEP joined forces with MHNO and WENA to rid the park and the neighborhood of litter, debris, and dog waste. Litter is the predominant issue, stemming primarily from “Trash Day” as the wind tends to disperse items improperly stored in recycling bins. Tips to Spread the Word, Not the Waste • Please set bins outside the morning of trash day (not the night before) to reduce trash blown by the wind. • Weigh down paper and plastic with glass • The City asks that trash bags not be placed in recycling bins • Reduce waste by participating in a local composting business: Garbage to Garden. They pick up your food waste on trash day and leave a clean bucket behind. (They also volunteered at April Stools Day!) • Call the City’s Recycling hotline for more info: 756-8189 This year’s clean up was organized by our new fabulous volunteer, Cami Smalley! In honor of Cami’s dedication to the project, she has been honorably crowned the Queen of Crap! We also owe 21 years of success to the ongoing partnership with Fish & Bone (formerly Fetch) for providing sponsorship, prizes, fantastic ideas and incredible passion to the project. Our 2013 cleanup locations included: MHNO, 92 Congress St, Cutter St, East End Beach, Loring Memorial Trail, Cleeves Monument, Fort Allen Trail, Ft Sumner, Baxter Woods, Reiche School (West End), Ocean Ave dog park.

Tagline Contest Results! The FoEP Committee for Programs, Marketing & Outreach would like to congratulate Mary Casale and Frances Buerkens for submitting the winning taglines. Yes, that’s right—MORE than one! We had over 80 inspiring submissions and we couldn’t choose just one. The chosen lines were

“Where the City Meets the Sea” and “Conservation-Preservation-Recreation”

We are further considering the best of both, with the goal

of creating the ultimate tagline for Friends of the Eastern Promenade. Mary and Frances will each win a print of Munjoy Hill created by local artist, C Michael Lewis. The third runner up is Kristin Rapinac who submitted “History. With a View” and will receive a 1 year gift membership.

Pink Tulip Garden Party

Sunday, May 5- rain or shine -Noon- 3 pm 23 St Lawrence Street Spring beckons at last, teasing us with the warmth of the sun. Our hosts’ garden and yard will be beautiful with bulbs and flowering fruit trees, but no guarantee from the tulips just yet! FoEP volunteers planted Pink Tulips in the Cousin’s Memorial bed at the top of Cutter Street on the Eastern Prom. Numerous Pink Tulip gardens are planted throughout Maine as just one of the ways the Maine Cancer Foundation raises funds and awareness to support its mission. For more information, visit pinktulipproject.org. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Our gracious hosts, Rob and Robin,Whitten, will serve pink lemonade and cookies.

Ebune–All Peoples/All Creatures Spring Parade & Celebration Sunday, May 5, 11 am - 2 pm, All cultures and creeds of our Portland community are invited to come together in celebration of the beautiful diversity of nature; of the many peoples that make up our diverse community, the many creatures and species that call Mother Earth home along with us; and of the blessing of spring’s return after a long, cold winter. Join in this colorful, fun community ritual and celebration to welcome back spring! 11am - Parade Lines up on Casco St. (across from MECA) 12pm - Parade moves up Congress St. to Eastern Prom 12:30 - Parade arrives on Eastern Prom for a community participatory Earth Blessing 12:30-2pm - Community Celebration, Performances and Food from Local Sprouts Cooperative on the Prom

To volunteer for the event, contact: jshyka@hotmail.com

May 2013

The Portland Kitchen Tour May 10&11 two days, six kitchens, and loads of inspiration. Attendees tour some of the most intriguing kitchens on the Portland peninsula! Spend a delightful day in the East End, Back Cove, and the West End, browsing gorgeous granite countertops, drooling over double ovens, and coveting snazzy cabinets in unexpected colors. Each kitchen will feature a chef, cookbook author, cooking demo, and/or tasting – from some of Maine’s most esteemed culinary geniuses. A great gift for the mom who has it all! A great outing for girlfriends! Friday and Saturday, May 10 & 11, 2013 (Mother’s Day weekend), 10 am – 4 p

422 Ocean Avenue (Back Cove)

• Formerly a church, now converted into a private residence • High ceilings • 2 separate work spaces • Island with sink • Owner is a kitchen designer

18 Howard Street (East End)

• Green built by Tom Landry of Cornerstone Building • Asian, modern • Very simple, streamlined kitchen • Bamboo cabinets and flooring • Concrete countertops

4 Saint Lawrence Street (East End)

• Gutted and totally renovated • Loft-style living • Front is all windows overlooking water (across the street from Portland Company) • “functional urban contemporary style with vast harbor views in Portland’s hippest neighborhood”

76 Morning Street (East End)

• Cabinetmaker is Gilbert Miller of Maine Custom Kitchens • All Agren Appliances • Older home conversion; second floor • Kitchen designer is Tracy Davis of Urban Dwellings • White cabinets • Very traditional • Stunning • Open to dining room and living room • Traditional furnishings by Simply Home

114 Eastern Prom (East End) (details to come)

118 State Street (West End)

• Orange lacquered cabinets • Tiny galley kitchen in a nook • Condo-style • Cathedral ceiling • Post and beam • Building built in 1874 and converted to condos • Formerly occupied by the Sisters of Mercy A portion of ticket sales benefit Munjoy Hill’s St. Lawrence Arts. Day-of Box Office and starting location: St. Lawrence Arts, 76 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 http://www.stlawrencearts.org/ portland-kitchen-tour.html

May 2013

Art Soul

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

The New Normal? Colucci’s. Fire. Closed. ... For months?! Like many Munjoy Hill residents, I felt shock and sorrow when I heard about the fire that broke out at the popular superette (Saturday evening on March 9, 2013). Colucci’s is an anchor on the Hill, mooring us to the days before the Hill became so trendy. Its presence reminds us of our neighborhood’s immigrant, working-class roots, attesting to a resilience that has survived Munjoy’s ups, downs and ups again. And then, to learn that the fire was caused by arson. I felt violated, as if the crime had been perpetrated against me, personally. Colucci’s closure has left a big hole in our daily routines. We’d stop by in the morning, for a newspaper and a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. My husband has been such a regular, he even gets sidewalk service on his way to school at 6:30 am. We fetch milk, bananas or those gargantuan muffins for breakfast the morning after a late-night return from a trip. We enjoy the best Italians around (sorry, Amato’s). We splurge on dessert treats from the freezer or oven. We stock up on beer not necessarily from a chic microbrewery. What’s not to love about a place that regularly offers shepherd’s pie, mac & cheese, chop suey or meat loaf? A homey kind of place. The kind of place that watches over the school kids waiting for the bus. The kind of place where the counter folks easily banter with you, and where, regardless of age, gender or income, you’re always “deah” or “hon.” We miss it.

By Elizabeth Miller, Waterville Street

A short way down the hill, a sign in the window at Homegrown Tea stopped me in my tracks the other day. “We proudly serve tap water.” When did we get to the point that a restaurant feels it necessary to advertise that it “proudly” serves tap water? I’m glad that it does, and I applaud its participation in the push-back on bottled water. The mania for designer water has generated tons of plastic waste and carbon emissions from production and shipment. But something seems askew to me when tap water has to be championed. Shall we discuss coffee? Dark or medium roast? Peak? Latte? Espresso? Shade grown? Cupping? Yes, I know I sound like a curmudgeon, but that same askew-ness presents itself when I struggle to put together my order for the barrista (a barrista!). I think about our abundance and wonder: is more necessarily better? The best coffee I’ve ever had was in France, where it was only cafe, cafe au lait, or cafe creme. What does all this hand-wringing have to do with Colucci’s? Because I worry that when Colucci’s reopens, the familiar normalness of the place will be gone, and it will be all shiny and upgraded to appeal to “foodies.” If so, we will have lost much more than we have gained. We will have lost a sense of our roots, an important part of our collective identity that makes us a neighborhood. Dickie, Bridget et al, we miss you and we look forward to your return. We need you. And don’t forget the slurpy machine.

November was around the corner, and pilgrim season in France was nearly over. Most days, I saw no other pilgrims. But when I arrived in St. Jean Pied de Port, the last town on the French side of the Pyrenees and the starting point of the most popular route across Spain, I suddenly found myself surrounded by other pilgrims. I arrived in St. Jean after dark and stayed in a private hostel. I took the next day off to rest and collect myself before leaving France to cross the Pyrenees into Spain. I had the sense that crossing over meant closing one chapter of my experience, and I wasn’t entirely ready to do that, especially because I had heard negative rumors about the Spanish route. I checked into the municipal hostel that afternoon and slept in a dorm with fifteen other pilgrims – some were beginning their journey and some, like me, had already been walking for a while. I befriended some French-speaking pilgrims that had met about a month earlier and walked together since. Despite my increased proficiency in French, I couldn’t follow their conversations, which were fast and punctuated by curse words I had yet to learn. But we all left at about the same time the next morning and decided to cross the Pyrenees together.

around. An older woman wearing shorts arrived and bafflingly refused to stand by the fire or drink coffee, perhaps because she was suffering from hypothermia. Finally, we left the shelter and continued walking toward Roncesvalles. In some places, the path was studded with signs and arrows every ten feet, and in others, we couldn’t make out where the path was supposed to be and just made a lucky guess. The wind and sleet forced me to keep my head down and my eyes trained on the path, so all I observed of the surrounding mountains was that they were bare and grassy. By the time the precipitation stopped, we were descending toward the village of Roncesvalles, Spain, through a forest blanketed with red leaves. We celebrated our arrival that night, triumphant and relieved, with our first greasy Menu del Dia - steak, fries, salad, and wine - at the only restaurant open in Roncesvalles. Later, at the hostel, my adrenaline eventually wore off. Once I found a bed far away from the roaring snores of my friend Daniel, I fell fast asleep. (... More to come ...)

The day was clear and the gentle slopes gorgeous. Partway through the morning, however, it started to rain. I caught up to the group at a snack break. We joked around, as usual, but Jean-Claude was visibly anxious about the weather. Every year, pilgrims die in the fog and freezing conditions atop the Pyrenees, and he insisted that we stay within eyeshot of one another. I thought about turning around, but the rain wasn’t that bad, and I was already four hours into the hike. As we ascended further, though, the rain turned horizontal and froze. The only shelter for hours was a small metal sign that temporarily shielded our faces from the onslaught of icy pellets. In the early afternoon, we reached a small cabin and crowded into the dark and smoky room, where some young pilgrims and their dogs had stayed the night after facing similarly terrible weather the day before. We took turns drying off by the fire and passed a pot of coffee

Keep the ClutterDoc’s Basic Tenets in Mind By Solange Kellermann, the ClutterDoc

This is the last installment of Clutter Doc articles. It has been a joy to share ideas with the reading audience – hopefully it has helped some of you on your organizing path. Here are my parting words of wisdom.

1. It’s not the stuff that counts.

We all go through stages of acquisition and de-acquisition. When you are just starting your own life and household, you need to acquire things; if you are moving to a smaller place you need to get rid of things. No matter where you are on this continuum, it’s not the stuff that makes life meaningful it’s the people in your life and your relationships.

2. Use spare moments to clean up every day.

You’d be surprised how little time it takes to wash the dishes. If you have a ton of kitchen clean up, do it 10 or Moderate Sudoku Puzzles 15 minute at a time. It’s really nice to wake up to a clean From www.veryfreesudoku.com sink and kitchen. •

Make your bed. Pull the sheets and covers up. A tidy bed makesPuzzle the whole room Sudoku 3 look better.

•

Put your clothes in the closet, bureau, or hamper.

•

El Camino de Santiago Essay by installment by Kate Campbell Strauss

To De-Clutter:

1 2

9 9 5 Clear out a pile of clutter while you watch ‘bad TV’.

3. Motivation (a.k.a., bribery/ reward) really works.3 4

Does following rules #1 and #2 sound boring to you? Feel you can’t do it? I have a friend who repeats this phrase when faced with an unpleasant task: “I can do this!”. This works for her; you may need something else. You know, I’m a fan of bribery – just not with more cluttery stuff. Figure out what will be a lasting motivator for you and use it.

6 1 Now, go forth and organize! 5 4 5

1 7

6 3 7 8 3 9 8 9 5 2 Find crossword puzzle on page 14

About the author: Kate Campbell Strauss moved to Munjoy Hill in February of 2012, one month after returning from her pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of Saint James. Kate began her pilgrimage in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, and walked four months to the northwest coast of Spain, beyond Santiago de Compostela, where the route ends. She would love to be a resource to anyone who is thinking of making the pilgrimage. Please send emails to Observer@munjoyhill.org.

Boo

9 5

9 6 8 1 2 6 5 4

Sudok

School News East End Community School Parent-Teacher Organization

For more information about the EECS PTO and upcoming events, go to www.eecs. portlandpto.org or contact board@eecs.portlandpto.org.

May 2013 Calendar Thursday, May 9, 2013, 6pm-7pm, PTO Meeting in the School Library Friday, May 10, 2013, 3:25pm-4pm, Portland Public Library Bookmobile at EECS Friday May 24, 2013, 3:25pm-4pm, Portland Public Library Bookmobile at EECS Monday, May 27, 2013, Memorial Day, No School

Thank you to East End Community School “All-Star” Teachers!! May 6-10, 2013 is recognized nationally as Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you to EECS teachers, staff, and administrators for your tremendous dedication and hard work all year long. The Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education, Stephen Bowen, recently visited EECS as part of his “Promising Practices Tour” and wrote about it on his blog. He noted our “all-star” teachers and that “learning doesn’t ever seem to stop” under Principal Marcia Gendron’s leadership. He also called attention to the EECS extended learning program, Rise and Shine, as a success that should be replicated statewide. http://mainedoenews.net/2013/04/03/portland-schoolsestablish-promising-practices-for-allstudents/#more-18441.

Bookmobile Visits EECS on Fridays The Portland Public Library’s new bookmobile is a 24-foot vehicle that houses 1,500 items! The Bookmobile will be parked in front of EECS every other Friday from 3:25pm-4pm and then next to The Root Cellar from 4:15pm-4:45pm. Equipped with solar panels, wireless Internet capabilities and sides that open up for additional book and material storage and programming, the vehicle enables the Library to reach into Portland’s neighborhoods. The bookmobile targets families, particularly those with young children, in neighborhoods that do not house a branch of PPL system. Additionally, the bookmobile reaches out to individuals who may lack transportation or the time to travel, be experiencing health problems, or who may not yet be readers.

Volunteers Sought for Walking School Bus Program Volunteer leaders are needed to supervise children walking to EECS and Reiche as part of a new Walking School Bus program in the Portland Public Schools. Volunteer Walk Leaders are the

wonderful backbone of this initiative! All Walking School Bus Program routes are designed to be no more than a 30 minute walk at a casual pace. Being a Volunteer Walk Leader is a great way to get in a healthy dose of exercise and fresh air and connect with your community. The Program is currently recruiting volunteers for the Spring 2013 Walking School Bus Program that will run through the end of the school year. To volunteer please fill out a Volunteer Application Form in the school office or go to the Volunteer Application Form online. And please pass the word to anyone you think might be interested! Volunteers are asked to : —Attend a 1-hour training session —Agree to a criminal background check —Be available 2 times per week, between 7:30-8:30 AM and/or 3-4 PM. Once you submit your application form, you will be contacted shortly by the Walking School Bus Program Coordinator and asked to attend the volunteer training. The WSB Program Coordinator trains each Volunteer Walk Leader and manages the day-to-day coordination of the school’s WSB Program. Each Volunteer Leader will receive training, support, and be supplied with program literature describing program policies on child behavior, cancellation due to inclement weather, and ideas for making the walks fun and enjoyable for everyone! Volunteer Leaders are then assigned to share one group of children along one WSB route. If one leader is ill or has a conflict, he/she first checks to see if another leader of the same route is available to cover the walk to school. The WSB Program Coordinator can also assist with finding alternate route leaders. What makes the program such a success is the deep commitment of our Volunteer Leaders to be on time and completely dependable. The Volunteer Leader also keeps a simple record of student attendance and checks in with the school’s Walking School Bus Program Liaison weekly. Serving as a Volunteer Walk Leader is a very special way to connect with local students and the larger neighborhood – please sign up to volunteer! The Walking School Bus program is a national model that enables children to walk safely to school on a regular basis. The program gives students physical exercise and time outdoors, and it helps to reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. Portland aims to be the first city in Maine to have a coordinated and regularly operating Walking School Bus program. The plan is to expand to additional Portland elementary schools beginning next fall. The program is collaboration between the Portland Public Schools and the Maine Safe Routes to School Program. You can also visit www. PortlandWalkingSchoolBus.org or contact the Portland Walking School Bus Program Coordinator, Betsy Critchfield, at betsy@bikemaine.org or (207) 2005287 for additional information.

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

EECS School Gardens The East End Community School enjoys a beautiful and peaceful garden space near the playground—a prime spot for butterfly and bird-watching. There is also a school vegetable garden on North Street adjacent to the community garden. EECS’s outdoor classroom curriculum allows students to plant seeds, tend, and harvest their own food. Students can enjoy their very own fresh vegetables. This spring, the “Adopt a Corner” initiative asks families, classrooms, and community members to volunteer to maintain a small part of the grounds. Leah Cross, School Ground Greening Liason, explains, “As a community we are so fortunate to have this ... campus, but at times the maintenance

May 2013

can be overwhelming. The school grounds are actually a public park, so the idea is to get more people invested in the space, and have them take some ownership and have some fun in the process.” FMI: Leah at leahcrossdesigns@gmail.com .

Friends and Neighbors Saturday School Hours The EECS library is open on Saturdays from 12pm-4pm. Students, families, friends, and neighbors are invited to stop by for some quiet time to study, check out books, use the computers, or play board games. There are also sewing machines available for families that are interested in learning how to sew or working on an existing sewing project.

May 2013

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

2013 Farmers Markets

Weds, May 1, 6 pm Evening of Poetry

http://www.portlandmainefarmersmarket.org/ SUMMER MARKETS: From April 28th through late November, come to our outdoor locations to shop with over 35 Maine Farmers in one stop: on Saturdays at Deering Oaks Park in Portland from 7 amNoon, or on Wednesdays in Monument Square in Portland from 7 am to 2 pm.

Peaks Island (A short 15 min ferry ride from Portland, ferries leave Portland for Peaks at 4:30 and 5:35pm) Gem Gallery Presents, an Evening of Poetry, at, JONES LANDING on PEAKS ISLAND, OPEN MIC! BRING YOUR POEM!, Feature: Portland Poet Laureate, Bruce Spang guest poets: yourselves, Detail contact: Jesse at jmantsch@maine.rr.com, See cascobaylines.com for schedule)

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. Call 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts.org

SUN, May 5: Ebune Parade

Your neighborhood arts center is at 76 Congress Street, stlawrencearts. org, 347-7177

Ebune All Peoples • All Creatures Spring Parade & Celebration: gather on Casco Street & Congress in front of MeCA at 11 am. see page 11 of this Observer for schedule of activities, and Ebune on Facebook. http:// ebune2013.com/

SUN, May 12: Mothers Day SAT May 18 BENEFIT AUCTION for THE ROOT CELLAR 6pm – 9pm at 94 Washington Ave. Join us for a street festival-like atmosphere! Silent and Live Auction with, music, games, food and tours of the facility. Tickets available at The Root Cellar office (207-774-3197).$25 per person., www.therootcellar.org Plenty of parking available

SAT May 18 Bug Light Kite Festival Rain date: May 25, 11am to 4pm Come enjoy a day of old-fashioned, kite-flying fun at Bug Light Park, 1 Madison Street South Portland, ME 04106, http://www.sphistory.org/, contact Kathryn DiPhilippo, (207) 767-7299

SUN May19: Maine Comics Arts Festival MeCAF:10-5 at Ocean Gateway in Portland, Come meet over 100 MeCAF announces first featured guestJeff Smith! (Bone books) Admission is only $5.00- Kids and 12 and under FREE! FMI: Casablanca Comics of Portland, mecaf.blogspot.com. rick@ casablancacomics.com

Crossword Across 1- Boxer Max 5- First name in jazz 9- Diary of ___ Housewife 13- Marshal 15- Dresden denial 16- Adriatic port 17- Cowboy display 18- Begrudge 19- Breakfast brand 20- Santa ___ 21- Asta’s mistress 23- Shudder 25- Sick as ___ 26- Kingdom in the Himalayas 27- Rancorous 30- German article 31- ___ is human 32- Aware 37- “The Time Machine” people

Mayo Street Arts

St. Lawrence Arts Center

participating FarmShare Farmers, http://www.getrealmaine.com.

Community Spay-Neuter Clinics Pit bulls welcome! The Center for Wildlife Health Research is pleased to announce a recent grant from Animal Farm Foundation to subsidize the spay-neuter at Freeport’s Community Spay-Neuter Clinic of pit bulls and pit bull mixes belonging to low-income families on public assistance. Sterilization available for $50 for males and females for qualifying families. This fee includes exam and rabies vaccination. For info, call Community Spay-Neuter Clinic at 865-0772, and visit our website at www.communityspayneuterclinic.com. For Animal Farm Foundation, visit www.animalfarmfoundation.org”.This service is of

Pepperclub Restaurant The Good Egg Café

78 Middle Street • 207.772.0531 on Facebook and at pepperclubrestaurant.com Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner • BREAKFAST ALL DAY Ask about our Weekly Specials

Open seven days a week 8 am to 11 pm

Call (207) 619-7565 for Take-Out & more Info. 111 Cumberland Avenue (corner of Washington Ave)

Port Veritas Spoken Word Night Poetry Readings, Tuesday Venue: Bull Feeney’s; Monday Venue: Formerly Awful Annie’s which was formally George’s Tavern which was formally some fishermen getting wicked hammered in a tent. Mama’s is located at 189 Congress and features American Craft Beers as well as nightly musical and poetry events. Beer Only, Cash Only, 21+. FMI Gil Helmick, 400.7543,

Poetry & Healing: A Circle of Stones “Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting over and over announcing your place in the family of things.“ —Excerpted from Dream Work by Mary Oliver Are you a sixty-something woman interested in writing, poetry, & story as heart centered creativity & healing? Group is limited to 7 participants. Please email ann@spiraljourneys.com, or send your letter of interest to Spiral Journeys, PO Box 7555 Portland, ME 04112.

Maine Senior FarmShare Do you know a low-income senior (relative, friend or neighbor) who couple benefit from $50 of FRESH, UNPROCESSED, LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE? To participate, directly contact a local farmer to sign up. Contact your local area agency on aging by calling the ELDERS-1 toll-free number: 1-877-353-3771, for a list of

particular value to the Munjoy Hill neighborhood--we have so many young, elderly, and/or otherwise less affluent neighbors with animals. Please help get the word out about these low-cost services.

May 27: Memorial Day Celebrations Memorial Day Weekend- May 25-27

Portland Congratulations to all of Vigils for Peace Award Winners!

Down

tonights

104 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME 04101 • 207.773.8198

Monument Square: Weds, noon to 1, Vigil for a world without war, be104 Washington Avenue • Portland, Maine 04101 • (207) 773-8198 gun by area clergy in 2007, presently mikerand@maine.rr.com challenges our endless war against the people of Afghanistan and the observer 9/18/2009 8:37:35 AM push for war against Iran. Women in ad.indd 1

www.dalerandprinting.com

Black Vigil, every Friday from 5:00-5:30 at corner of Congress and High Street, part of the international movement that began in Israel in opposition to violence against Palestinians, we have been standing for ten years against violence of all kinds. Third Tuesday monthly Vigil from 12 to 1, front steps at State Street Church, UCC, 159 State Street, We invite members and the public to take some time to pray or meditate or contemplate.

(Solution on page 12) 38- Existence 40- Sturdy cart 41- Pre-war apartment 43- Tantalize 44- No longer young 45- Automobile shelters 47- Automatons 50- Seed cover 51- “Fiddler on the Roof” setting 52- Workers’ rights org. 53- Dash lengths 56- Sci-fi author Frederik 57- Words of understanding 59- Greek fabulist 61- Pulitzer-winning biographer Leon 62- Inert gas 63- Alpaca’s cousin 64- Cautious 65- “Born Free” lion 66- Star-___ tuna;

“Serving Greater Portland Since 1980”

1- Vamp Theda 2- “East of Eden” brother 3- Mother of the Valkyries 4- Actress Charlotte 5- Vigor 6- Singer Horne 7- Actress Tyler 8- Any unnamed object 9- Red as ___ 10- Molten material 11- Vacuum tube filler 12- Designer Christian 14- Over there 22- Suffix with ball 24- Flows 25- Lofty nest 26- “It’s ___ real” 27- Let it stand 28- Tent stick 29- Boxer Spinks 32- Canine command 33- Standard of perfection

34- Boast 35- Emit coherent light 36- Organs used for sight 38- Waistline 39- Breaks off 42- Debatable 43- Concerning Comanches, e.g. 45- Principal ore of lead 46- Sheet music abbr. 47- Role for Valerie 48- Alternate 49- Abdomen 51- Gush forth 52- Revivalists 53- Morales of “NYPD Blue” 54- May honorees 55- Disagreement 58- Poivre’s partner 60- Antlered animal BestCrosswords.com

CHESTER & V ESTAL, P.A. ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Over 30 years of service to Munjoy Hill REAL ESTATE • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY JUVENILE DEFENSE • PROBATE, WILLS AND ESTATES 107 CONGRESS STREET • PORTLAND, MAINE 04101

(207) 772-7426 | www.chesterandvestal.com

Help Support the Observer with your advertising! eMail us: Observer@munjoyhill.org

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

May 2013

Complimentary tours and tastings offered daily! 51 Washington avenue | 773 - 6 323

W W W. m a i n e m e a dWo r ks .co m

The Portland Commerce Exchange is a non-profit organization promoting the exchange of business through quality business relationships.

We meet each Friday at 7:30 AM for one hour.

Our members learn about other membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; businesses and become ambassadors for each other in the community, generating and sharing networking and sales leads.

PLEASE JOIN US for our NEW MEMBER AND GUEST DAY on Fri. MAY 31, 2013

7:30- 8:30 AM One City Center, Portland, ME Food Court Level, Burton Fisher Community Meeting Room Like us on Facebook at Portland Commerce Exchange

www.portlandcommerceexchange.com

May 2013

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Gardener’s Dirt Impatient for Impatiens

By Nini McManamy Gardener’s Dirt is happy to be back in the Munjoy Hill Observer, and looking forward to a wonderful season outdoors. Sadly I start the garden season with a report on the loss of a plant which has been a mainstay of Munjoy Hill gardens for decades: the colorful impatiens. Beloved for its tolerance of shade and spectacular color display, it provided bright color spots from June to October . The impatiens crop at greenhouses across the South has been devastated by the impatiens downy mildew, which kills the plant rapidly once infection occurs and spreads quickly. There is no effective treatment,and since a wild cousin of the garden impatiens, jewelweed, is widespread locally and across the US, it will serve as a ready source of disease for any garden impatiens not yet infected. The good news: the colorful New Guinea Impatiens, which is larger and more expensive,appears to be resistant to the mildew disease.

mate change has brought the disease north and the impatiens appears to be the first among what will, unfortunately, be other garden casualties. Until next year, my lovely Elfin Orange impatiens; you will be missed! Writer Nini McManamy has worked for several years at O’Donal’s Nursery. She is a master gardener with a garden design and consultation business, Gardener’s Dirt (ninimaine@aol.com, 871-7297). She takes garden questions on Facebook as Gardener’s Dirt.

Local greenhouses have not planted impatiens crops this year and gardeners should look for alternatives. Mary-Lou Fathke, horticulturist for the City of South Portland, says she will be using waxy begonias in shady spots this year. These lowgrowing annuals come in shades of rose, pink, and white flowers and have drought, shade and coolweather tolerance. Other alternatives are varieties of tuberous begonia and tourenia as well as New Guinea impatiens. Although the mildew disease, which spreads to the soil around the plant, is killed by cold weather, cli-

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