MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
November 2013
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Non Profit Org US Postage
M U N JOY HIL L
OBSERVER
PAID
Portland, ME Permit No. 824
FREE • Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization • Vol. 33, No. 10 • November 2013
LET’S OPEN THE DOORS AT
The PORTLAND FOOD CO-OP By Caron Murray
THE PRESS RELEASE on October 16, 2013 announced: “Today The Portland Food Co-op launched its ‘Let’s Open the Doors’ campaign to recruit the 1,000 new member-owners it needs to open a new storefront community-owned market in Portland.” A community food cooperative storefront is a good idea for Portland. In fact it’s surprising that Portland does not already have one, considering what a foodie town we are, and the intense interest many have in local farmto-table products. The closest community food co-ops currently in Maine are Rising Tide Food Co-op in Damariscotta, and Fare Share Food Co-op in Norway. The Portland Food Co-op’s market will be member-owned but open to the public. Building on its existing relationships with Maine producers, The Co-op will carry local natural and organic products in stock including: meat, dairy, frozen foods, health and beauty products, and beer and wine. It will carry specialty products you won’t find elsewhere, from small farmers who don’t have an outlet at larger retail stores. The Portland Food Co-op (PFC) came out of a community conversation in 2006 about the
lack of locally owned grocery stores in Portland. When a local Portland natural food store closed in 2006, some Portland residents saw a need to be filled. “In the years since then, we have built a co-op, with just over 400 member-owners, that has contributed to Portland’s local food scene, not only by providing local food and products at a fair price, but also bringing together a community of people who care about what they buy and where it comes from,” said PFC Storefront Startup Project Manager, Rachelle Curran Apse. “This campaign is about bringing that vision to the next level by expanding The Co-op’s impact on the local economy and on the number of people we reach. We plan to carry the widest selection of local food and products in Portland. Be we need the investments of at least a thousand new member-owners to make it happen. Simply put, the faster we can bring them aboard, the faster we can open the store.” The Co-op needs just over $1 million to open the storefront, and a major part of reaching that goal is increasing its memberownership to 1,400. Some of the needed funding has already come through a loan for $330,000 through the Cooperative Fund
Member-Owners of the Portland food Coop get excited about the fresh foods that are coming in daily.
of New England (CFNE). This loan will need to be matched by member-owners who will make a one-time $100 equity investment for a share in The Co-op. The newly launched website where new member-owners can sign up online can be found here: www. portlandfood.coop. The Co-op is currently in lease negotiations for a possible location on the Portland Peninsula with 4,000 square feet of retail space. The anticipated opening is slated for sometime in the Fall of 2014. Currently, member-owners order food online through the current Co-op operation, which is volun-
JOIN THE MHNO for our next full membership meeting and holiday event on Wednesday, December 11 from 6-9 pm at the Cummings Center, 134 Congress St.
MUNJOY HILL
Neigborhood Meeting AND
PM 6-9
TER CEN S G MIN CUM G L.OR YHIL O J MUN MHNO
teer-run; all ordering memberowners have a work shift (three hours per month). However, the new storefront location will be a full-service grocery store, open seven days a week, and open to the public. As shareholders, member-owners will have significant benefits, including special discounts, owner benefit days, and a voice in The Co-op’s decision making. Once the storefront is open, member-owners will no longer be required to do a work shift because the market will be fully staffed with employees. And because member-owners each own a share of the company, they will earn rebates when the co-op earns surplus income!
(*KIDDING)
UPDATE ON THE FRANKLIN STREET RECLAMATION PROJECT . A POTLUCK SOCIAL . GREAT DOOR PRIZES & A 50/50 RAFFLE
The event will feature a presentation on the current status of the Franklin Street Reclamation Project, as well as a potluck social event to commemorate the winter holidays. There will also be door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. MHNO Board Members will be selling 50/50 Raffle tickets beginning in November and continuing right up to drawing time. Ticket prices are $1
per ticket, $5 for 6 tickets and $10 for 15 tickets. The winner will be chosen during the event, but you do not have to be present to win. The winner will be notified by phone, and the winning number will also be published on the MHNO Facebook page and in the February Observer. All proceeds will benefit the MHNO. For more information about the 50/50 Raffle, contact Ross Fields via email: ross. fields@munjoyhill.org. This event promises to be a special night, so bring something yummy to share, and join us!
The Portland Food Co-op is dedicated to serving greater Portland by creating a communityowned market that will provide a wide selection of high quality and fairly priced local, natural, organic, and green products, and by bringing together a community of member-owners who believe in supporting local farmers and building the local economy. Learn more and SIGN UP TODAY at www.portlandfood.coop. The Portland Food Co-op is located at 56 Hampshire Street, Portland, ME 04101; email info@portlandfood.coop
10 HOWARD ST.
CELLO CONCERT & ARTISAN EVENT
THUR. NOV 14 TO BENEFIT MHNO!
See page 5 for details & location.
MHNO
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS CONTINUITY
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November 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. 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 2013-14
Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Andrea Myhaver, President.......................... . ......... andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org Ross Fields, Vice President............................ . ...................ross.fields@munjoyhill.org Elaine Mullin, Treasurer............................... elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org..671-6132 Sam Cohen, Secretary.................................. . .................. sam.cohen@munjoyhill.org Ralph Carmona............................................ 518-9177.......ralphcarmona@gmail.com Sarah Graulty.............................................. . ..............sarah.graulty@munjoyhill.org Matthew Kennedy........................................ . ....... matthew.kennedy@munjoyhill.org Eben Albert-Knopp....................................... . ........ ealbertknopp@bernsteinshur.com Caron Murray.............................................. . ............. caron.murray@munjoyhill.org Thomas Kelley............................................. . .............thomas.kelley@munjoyhill.org Joan Sheedy.....joan.sheedy@munjoyhill.org . ............................................. 774-7616
MHNO Mission Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in January 1979, our purpose is to be
a
broad-based,
MHNO President, Andrea Myhaver
Grateful for Munjoy Hill: Past, Present and Future
sion for our neighborhood’s future in a way that will welcome the new found interest in our little corner of Paradise, yet allow our diversity, charm, affordability and sense of history to remain.
THIS IS THE 25TH “At the Helm” I’ve written since becoming President of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization in July 2011, and while I always feel that there are things to share about what is happening at the MHNO, I am sometimes at a loss to find something original to write. This is one of those times. In this, the month of Thanksgiving, I find myself wanting to echo the words of both Lisa and Ross who have shared their thoughts about gratitude, the current and potential development on Munjoy Hill, and keeping the balance that makes it a wonderful and interesting place to live. I share their desire to help shape the vi-
So what can I say that hasn’t been said? What unique perspective can I bring to the conversation? Well, I figured out recently that I have spent close to 32 of my almost 45 years on earth living on Munjoy Hill. That’s 71% of my life! What I can add is not just the sense of history, but history itself. I am always a bit amused when I read articles that describe Munjoy Hill in past decades as an area “in decline” , or “unsafe”. To be sure, there have been times in its history that Munjoy Hill has experienced small upsurges in crime and drug trafficking, and pockets of urban decay. However, by and large, it
has always been, and continues to be, a safe, clean, and inviting place to live. Even when I was a child of the 70’s and 80’s, and there were a few notable “drug corners” in the neighborhood, the reputation that Munjoy Hill received as someplace “dangerous” to live or visit, was largely unfounded, and based on the misconceptions of those who didn’t know what it was really like to live here. The Munjoy Hill of my childhood featured many large families, hide and seek games that involved kids from your whole block and beyond, schools that were small and within easy walking distance, a local library where the librarians knew your name and the names of your parents and siblings, several small corner stores, a bakery, and a full gamut of housing options from affordable apartments, to high end condos, to
large single family homes. As I think about that magical place of my childhood, and I compare it to the Munjoy Hill of today, I realize that it really hasn’t changed all that much. Yes, the library is gone (I still miss it!), and families are smaller, and corner stores have been replaced by corner restaurants, but, the socioeconomic makeup is still diverse, neighbors still help neighbors, and a broad range of people are still proud to call this neighborhood by the sea their home . I’d be very grateful if we find a way to keep it that way.
From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver
Here in the Land of Opportunity Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Not every country has a holiday dedicated to gratitude; we are among the lucky few. It makes us think about the meaning of the word. It’s more than just saying thank you. It has to involve an understanding of the value of those things around us that contribute to our well-being. After witnessing the “clash of the titans” in Washington this past month, I was finding it hard to swallow the frustration I felt at this spectacle, long enough to come up with my column for November. But I think I‘m succeeding. All I have to do is bring my sights back to the community, to the people around me, and to my friends. It’s called getting grounded (in the good way, not in the teen way). The state of being thankful can come about in mysterious and unexpected ways. I recently saw a Facebook post from a friend in Alaska who just donated a kidney to her brother. You might think that the family would be devastated by the medical crisis they faced. But instead, what I find striking is that they responded with joy and gratitude that they had the opportunity to give in such a way. It has brought them all closer as a family.
There is something transformative about adversity. We can rise to meet our troubles, or we can get battered by them, but there is no ignoring them. The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood has faced more than its fair share of challenges over its history. It could even be argued that those hard times have contributed significantly to the strength and attractiveness that the community enjoys today. But it was more than the bitterness that has made it so. It was the response of the people in the community that has had the greatest impact. At each crossroad in time, there is an opportunity for those who live here to make their voices heard and to work to shape the character of the community. If we do not do this, others will, as they have in the past. The Munjoy Hill area is at another crossroad today. We are seeing unprecedented interest in development on the peninsula. What has historically been a working-class area, even a lowrent district, populated by students, young professionals, artists, immigrants, the elderly, even the indigent—this eclectic community, perched as it is,
representative
above the sparkling waters of the Back Bay and Casco Bay, has been “discovered”! The influx of wealth and improvements to properties have got to be a good thing, right? Hard to argue with that. But we run the risk of going too far. Housing on the Hill has already priced itself out of reach of most middle class families. This trend shows no signs of slowing. The task will now be to figure out how to maintain a balance in order to preserve the diversity and the richness we enjoy here. For this, we need all the help we can get. And we will need to work together (joining the MHNO is a great way to do this!) to make Munjoy Hill a place we can all call home, today and in the future. We have an opportunity here, be thankful ! :)
From MHNO President & Editor—2 From Vice President Ross Fields—3 Healthcare Exchanges Individual Mandate—3 MHNO Board profiles—4 MHNO Bulletin Board—5 Membership Form—5 10 Howard St. Open House event details—5 State Senator Justin Alfond—6 Police Self-Defense Course—6 Kitchen Fire Awareness—6 City Meetings—6 Growing Together/Parenting—7 Root Cellar News—7 EECS School News—8 Living with Peace—10 Friends of the Eastern Promenade—10 AARP: Long-Term Care—10 Gardener’s Dirt —11 Herbalist Insights: White Pine—11 To Your Health: Advance Healthcare Directive—12 Maine Learning Resource Center—12 Teen Sexting —12 Crossword Puzzle—12 Non-Profit Focus Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum—12 Ask the MoneyProf—12 Local Events—14-15 Comparison Puzzle—14 Crossword Solution—14 Sudoku Puzzle—14
SEND YOUR LE T TERS AND HILL NE WS TO OBSERV ER@MUNJOY HILL .ORG
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 Jeff Druan 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
Getting a Grip on the New Health Insurance Marketplace
A Time for Giving of Thanks, Reflection and Visioning
By Karen Vachon
By Ross Fields, VP & MHNO Membership Committee Chair
Sweeping changes have been made to how, when, and where you shop for your health insurance. Despite what you hear in the media, this is not all bad news (provided they sort out the computer glitches). Some of you will likely be very happy. Others will be mad. Some will be left out. Let’s take a closer look. First, the good news for all: The plans are standardized, and can be shopped for under one roof. It is easier to make apple-to-apple comparisons between different carriers. This is a very good first start. However, don’t become complacent. You will want to read each carrier’s plan in its entirety, as the plans have networks. Some require you to have a primary care physician.
Who will be mad? Very simply, I describe the mad camp as those being healthy and wealthy, meaning, your income is over the 400% federal poverty level, and/ or you are super-healthy. Nobody likes to pay more for insurance than you need. Since the new qualified health plans (QH) are robust in benefits, the costs are likely quite a bit higher than the plan you have now, especially if you currently have a $10,000 or $15,000 deductible. Your choices will be, to opt out of purchasing a QH plan, and pay the penalty (tax), which the first year is $95/ person or 1% of your adjusted gross income. If you choose to do this, you may consider mitigating your risk with supplemental insurance products or an indemnity plan. This leaves many uncomfortable, especially if you have a lot of assets. If you choose to pay the price for health insurance, you may shop either on the exchange (in the marketplace), or off the exchange. In Maine, there are two carriers offered on the
In reflection, I understand that over 20 years ago this community came together to embark exchange, and four carriers offered off the exchange. For a great overview of your options, go to: http:// www.maine.gov/pf r/insurance/ ACA_index.html Who gets left out? Now I come to the most difficult part of this column, for, at this point I’m addressing Maine’s poorest part of the population. Because Maine elected not to expand Medicaid, those who fall below 133% federal poverty level do not qualify for any premium tax credit. Hence, purchasing health insurance will not be affordable. What to do? If you are able, it’s time to get a job and get your income up to qualify for a premium tax credit. If you are not able, it’s a real challenge. Rest as-
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Yes, the gate-keeper is back, along with pre-authorizations. So, while the benefit language (deductible, co-pays, co-insurance, and co-insurance maximum), has been standardized, networks, referral requirements, preauthorizations, outof-network costs, and balance billing policies are going to vary. So read carefully and consult a licensed agent to help you weigh your
For those in the happy camp, it’s time to visit the health insurance marketplace www.healthcare.gov . It is here that you can set up your account, answer lots of personal questions, apply for your subsidy, and see the plans available to you. If you need help enrolling, navigators can help you through the process. Licensed health insurance agents will gladly service you before, during, and after you make your plan choice. It costs nothing to work with a navigator or a licensed agent.
I know I have said this before and I want to keep on saying it, I am very thankful for the community of Munjoy Hill, the East End. I am thankful for the social diversity I experience each and every day. I am thankful for the privilege of living so close to Casco Bay, and seeing its glimmering blue waters when I look down my street. I am thankful for all of you who make where I live vibrant, interesting and fun. I so enjoy walking down the street or into a local shop and seeing people I actually know and connect with. I feel that together, we are creating something bigger than ourselves, our ever-changing, ever-evolving community.
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Who needs to know about this? You, if you’re under age 65 and don’t have access to employersponsored health insurance. More specifically, if you received a letter from your health insurance carrier announcing that your plan will end on December 31st, 2013, or if you’ve been uninsured for a number of years, or if you work part-time at a company like Trader Joes, Walgreens, Lowes, Circle K (to name a few), or if you have received a letter stating that your current coverage doesn’t meet ObamaCare’s Qualified Health Plan (QHP) requirements. If you fall into any of these categories, this column is for you!
This feature will really help those who haven’t been able to afford health insurance on their own. For those employees who got notice that their employer plan wasn’t up to snuff, that notice may well be good news, as, chances are, you will likely qualify for a nice premium tax credit, and be able to secure a better health insurance plan than you currently have.
NOVEMBER IS THE TIME of year we press “pause” and take a moment to give thanks, to celebrate with family and friends. There is nothing like getting together for a good feast. When we had our farm in Vermont, we raised our own turkeys, blessed them and ate them, along with the other items we had brought in from the garden for our Thanksgiving feast. Apologies to all my vegetarian, vegan and raw food friends; I just really do love turkey.
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You can wallow in any emotion you choose. However, by March 31st, 2014 at the latest, you will need health insurance or you’ll be paying a fee (tax). The Affordable Care Act (ACA), a.k.a. ObamaCare, is new, different, and … confusing. This column addresses the part of the law called the “Individual Mandate”.
Who will be happy? If your family adjusted gross income falls between the 133% -400% federal poverty level guidelines, you will qualify for a premium tax credit. What this means is the government will subsidize your monthly premium. (For a complete poverty level chart, visit: http:// www.familiesusa.org/resources/ tools-for-advocates/guides/federal-poverty-guidelines.html.)
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THE HEALTH INSURANCE marketplace is officially open (sort of). Amid the government shutdown and computer glitches with the new health insurance marketplace, if you’re looking for an excuse to postpone shopping for your health insurance, you’ll find one. If you’re a selfproclaimed hold-out, otherwise known as the perplexed, bewildered, dazed, confused American, you are not alone.
medical situation and insurance needs.
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on a new direction: to revive the spirit of neighbors watching out for neighbors. They again found the pride in the place where they lived that had been experienced during the early parts of the 20th century. Those brave and committed community members, speaking with a unified voice, did a great job, and for that I am thankful. Because of them, Munjoy Hill is now poised for the future and a new vision. As with all “visions”, no one can ever really predict how it will all turn out. As individuals, we have our own “vision” of where we want our life to head. At the moment, here on Munjoy Hill, we are experiencing, each in our own way, the campaigning for “visions” that will no doubt change our community. We will always be dealing with new ideas and change. It is how we manage and guide those changes that shape the outcome. Some see change as good, some as bad. At first, the tendency is to rise up and push against anything new. I know that when I focus on what I don’t want, I usually get more of the same. The alternative? Focus on what you do want, and people will be more open to being inspired. To quote the Spice Girls, “Tell me what you want, what you really, really sured that people in the very low income bracket are exempt from the requirement of having health insurance.
November 2013
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want!” What is your vision for Munjoy Hill? My vision is that of maintaining the social diversity that is Munjoy Hill. I see this being accomplished by encouraging housing that encompasses a broad economic spectrum, and the developing of retail space that supports a walkable environment. I want the person who provides me with food, serves me a hot cup of coffee, delivers my oil, presses my shirts, brings me my mail, creates works of art, or who grew up here, to be able to afford to live here, comfortably. I feel that maintaining the social capital of Munjoy Hill is a top priority, one that we will all benefit from. I encourage you to get involved, to be a part of the “visioning” process, to have a voice in how you see your community developing so that in the decades to come another newcomer to Munjoy Hill will be saying, Thank You! The time is right to become a member of Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization. Why? Because you live here and your voice counts. cal Health Program provides free pap smears and mammograms to women who qualify. FMI: http:// www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/bcp/index.htm. If you take prescription medications, Hannaford’s discounted drug program offers very low-cost generic medications. FMI: http://www. hannaford.com/content.jsp?pageN ame=HSPlus&leftNavArea=Phar macyLeftNav. For more expensive brand medications, drug manufacturers sometimes offer patient assistance programs.
However, this isn’t a workable solution for those who really need medical services. There are many local resources that can help. First, visit or call your local hospital’s financial assistance office. Many people don’t realize that Maine’s hospitals offer free or discounted care on a sliding scale for those who qualify. The application is easy; you will need to bring in up to 13 weeks proof of income, proof of So, when will the www.healthresidence, and, if you own a small care.gov be fully operational? business, you will need to bring Latest reports say the website last year’s tax return. Maine Breast and CerviSee page 9, HEALTHCARE INSURANCE
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BULLETIN Board THE MUNJOY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION
November 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
MEET THE 2013-2014 BOARD OF THE MHNO!
Andrea Myhaver President
Ross Fields Vice President
Elaine Mullin Treasurer
Sam Cohen Secretary
Eben Albert-Knopp
Sarah Graulty
LISA PEÑALVER EDITOR, MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER I became part of the MHNO Team in early 2009, when I was hired as Editor of the Munjoy Hill Observer newspaper. I had previously worked 2 years with a marketing firm in Westbrook, and before this, I worked in the Public Relations office of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, designing and producing recruiting publications for the university. I lived in Alaska for 15 years. I moved to Maine from Fairbanks, Alaska, with my young daughter in 2006. We now live out on Peaks Island, where I juggle a number of jobs, including landscape gardening (on the island), freelance graphic design, and medical and scientific illustration, along with the editing/writing/design work that goes with being the Observer Editor. As a child, I lived in Spain for about a year with my family. My father is a native of Madrid. Back in the US, I grew up on a farm in upstate New York with goats & horses. I enjoy an active life, meeting people in the community, watching my child grow, being outdoors and reading. I love words. Few people would know I have a twin brother. (No, we are NOT identical!) I have no one favorite quote, but this’ll do: “Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” ~Mark Twain
Ralph Carmona
Thomas Kelley
GET TO KNOW US! ANDREA MYHAVER
(President, MHNO) Andrea was born and raised on the Eastern Prom of Munjoy Hill. After she graduated from high school, Andrea’s travels and jobs took her across the country. In 2002, she returned to 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 in 2010. In 2011 Andrea was elected to her first term as President, and was re-elected to serve her third term at the June 2013 annual meeting. Most people may know that she comes from a large family—7 brothers and 3 sisters—but not that her family’s is musical, or that she herself is a singer. The “Von Myhaver Family Singers and Dancers” perform mostly at family events. :)!
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)
Matthew Kennedy
Caron Murray
MATTHEW KENNEDY
Matthew and his wife, Lori Parham, moved to Munjoy Hill in January 2012; he became a board member in 2013. Matthew and Lori enjoy Munjoy Hill’s vibrant and distinct local culture, which brings the feeling of a small town to the edge of the larger city. Matthew has a background in architectural history and urbanism and welcomes the opportunity to help sustain and fortify this culture as the neighborhood continues to evolve and grow. As it says on the coffee cup in their kitchen, “Maine: I wasn’t born here, but I got here as quick as I could.”
SAM COHEN (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.”
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.
SARAH GRAULTY
Sarah joined the MHNO board in June, and brings a background in architectural/ landscape history and historic preservation planning. She loves biking, travel, and the ocean, and is particularly interested in the ways in which a community accommodates contemporary needs while respecting historic character. Sarah moved to Munjoy Hill this past spring from Burlington, Vermont, and is grateful to have landed in such a welcoming and dynamic community. She enjoys visiting the lively local businesses and getting to know her neighbors on the hill; she looks forward to serving on the MHNO board.
RALPH CARMONA
Tamera Edison Ad Sales Rep
Ross Fields Ad Sales Rep
Lisa Peñalver Observer Editor
(Chair, MHNO Annual Appeal Campaign) Over three years ago, Ralph and Vana (an 11th generation Mainer) Carmona came to Munjoy Hill because of its quality of life, and the potential to make a difference. Ralph joined the MHNO
Joan Sheedy
Board in February 2011. What he likes best about Munjoy Hill are his morning walks with Vana throughout Eastern Promenade. Most people do not know that Ralph has a doctorate, is Regent Emeritus at the University of California and Executive Director of the Maine Global Institute. A favorite quotation: “Think where one’s greatest glory most begins and ends, then say: My greatest glory is that I had such friends.” (William Butler Yeats)
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)
CARON MURRAY
Caron Murray was born and raised in Southern California but she enjoyed visiting Maine so much that in 2012 she and her family decided to move to Portland, Maine. They bought a house on Munjoy Hill in December of 2012 “One day I was on my way to Hilltop Coffee and I met Ross Fields. He invited me to be an MHNO member and I signed up! I am interested in getting to know my neighbors and in knowing what is going on in our community and finding out what I can do to participate. I have already learned a lot about community projects, businesses and events. And, I’ve met some great people!” Few know that Caron is a singer songwriter and recording artist. A favorite quote: “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman”, Virginia Woolf
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)
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
November 2013
THE MUNJOY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION Please attend this Benefit Event:
OPEN Meetings!!
Cello Concert and Artisan Event
The MHNO Board meets every second Monday of each month at 7 pm at the Hill House at 92 Congress St.
to Benefit MHNO! —10 Howard St — Thursday, November 14, from 5 -7 pm
Everyone’s Welcome!
Experience an evening of Maine artists, artisans, and music, in an historic, beautifully renovated home on Munjoy Hill! Benchmark Real Estate and Fiore Interiors are co-hosting this event that will showcase the works of eight VoxPhotographs Artists, fine art painter Ellen Thayer, and Maine artisans Angela Adams, Furniturea, and Modern Maine. Heather Frederick, Director of VoxPhotographs is an art dealer representing the work of thirty contemporary Maine artists who create photo-based works. Working with the design community, which comprises the largest segment of her client base, is always a rewarding experience, she says. When Vanessa Helmick of Fiore Studios requested possible works for inclusion in her Howard St. project, VoxPhotographs stepped up to the plate and eight gallery artists are represented with a total of thirteen pieces installed at the site. Presentations vary from traditionally framed works to images infused into coated metal. Ellen Thayer owns www.MaineIslandTreasures.com. She has several paintings from her “reflections” series in the house. They are created from specific areas in Casco Bay. Helmick says, “the way the light and tide interact creates specific colors and she captures them perfectly.” The house has an upstairs play room that Helmick calls the “Maine” room as it has lighting designed by Modern Maine, furniture from Furniturea, rugs from Angela Adams, and a piece of art by VoxPhotographs artist Kimberly Post Rowe. The event will also feature a concert of holiday classics by Bach and Vivaldi performed by internationally recognized Portland based cellist, Ben Noyes. Benjamin Noyes grew up in Portland, ME. He found local acclaim immediately, and while attending Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, Irene Sharp invited him to study in San Francisco. There, he attended the School of the Arts and San Francisco Conservatory’s preparatory division. He won numerous awards: first prize in NFAA’s ARTS Recognition, National Federation of Music Clubs, and National ASTA competitions, as well as being selected by Yo-Yo Ma to participate as soloist and recitalist throughout China to perform with the Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzen and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras. Enjoying the return to his roots in Portland, ME, he currently maintains a private studio and continues to garner acclaim for performances of solo recital programs, chamber ensemble concerts as well as various non-classical ventures.
Follow the 2013 east end holiday stroll on Facebook for dates in November
Email info@munjoyhill.org. Show your neighborhood pride! MUNJOY HILL T-SHIRTS are available: S-XL: $18, XXXL: $18. 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.
In lieu of tickets to this event, donations will be accepted to support the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization and Greater Portland Landmarks.
Join the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization In Memoriam
NEW MEMBERSHIP
We were saddened at the news of the death of Hill resident and community activist, Randee Bucknell, in early October. Randee, a former President of the MHNO, was a long-time advocate for the Munjoy Hill neighborhood. We extend our condolences to her family; so very sorry for their loss. ~ the Board of the MHNO
“LIKE” us & stay INFORMED! Sign up for our
Recycle AND help fund the MHNO Heat Assistance Program: Donate your
recyclables thru CLYNK! at Hannafords... Funds raised support MHNO’s Fuel Assistance “Warm Hearts, Warm Neighbors” program. Stop outside the Hill House at 92 Congress to pick up a free green bag. FMI: email Louise Little at louise. little55@gmail.com. Keep those cans & bottles coming!
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.
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! 11/2013
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November 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER justinalfond.com
CAPITAL CITY
Working waterfronts, Access to Casco Bay
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS about living in Portland is how close we are to the water. Casco Bay and our entire Maine coast are national treasures that we have the ability to experience every day. As we know, marine and natural resource industries play a critical role in both Portland and Maine’s economies. Investing in Portland’s waterfront is critical because we must keep investing in our assets. To that end, at the time of this writing, Mainers just voted on a transportation bond question that dedicated $13 million for improvements to the working waterfront. So what did we invest in?
Four million of the $100 million transportation bond will be dedicated to dredging Portland Harbor and making capital improvements to the Portland Fish Exchange. The Fish Exchange is a fresh fish and seafood auction house that allows fishing vessels and seafood wholesalers and processors to meet in a fair and open market. The Fish Exchange is vital to supporting Portland’s working waterfront and Maine’s fishers. Dredging Portland Harbor will allow more cruise ship vessels to visit our city, introducing new tourists to Maine and supporting the small businesses in the Old Port. The transportation bond also includes $9 million to expand the International Marine Terminal (IMT), create a rail line to the terminal, and upgrade existing
equipment. These investments would not only make the IMT more competitive, but it will also encourage private i nve s t ment dollars for cold and dry storage facilities on the site. Portland is Maine’s largest commercial port, and this past spring, the IMT received a jolt when the city landed Eimskip, a major global shipping company from Iceland. But not all news coming from our marine and natural resource industries is positive. Last month, we received word that Norwegian energy innovator Statoil announced it was terminating its investment in a $200 million off-shore ocean energy project citing “changes” and “uncertainty” in the state’s framework and “project delays which have made the project outlook
This is a terrible blow to Maine, and blame falls squarely at the feet of Governor LePage. He literally turned away hundreds of millions of dollars in economic opportunity and denied jobs to hundreds of Maine people. This should not have happened and could have been avoided. The Governor changed the rules of the game and pulled the welcome mat out from underneath Statoil’s feet. Statoil had already invested millions in our state and was on track to bring in hundreds of jobs and invest hundreds of millions of dollars more into the
District One Annual Meeting WHERE: East End Community
School, North St.
WHAT: This November, the Portland Police Department will of-
fer its Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Training class. R.A.D. provides women with the tools they need to both avoid dangerous situations and escape them. The course is specifically designed to help women survive situations in which their lives are in jeopardy.
WHEN: Wed, Nov 6, 7 pm WHY: District One CDBG Meeting
Dear Neighbors, I appreciate the opportunity to write you here in this space, as I appreciate when you write me on issues of concern to you. Best of all, of course, is when we have opportunities to speak face-toface, whether just in passing or in a more formal official setting. To those ends, please take advantage the upcoming meetings for district residents with me and city staff.
is an open forum for all district residents facilitated by me, but typically attended as well by Mayor Brennan and at-large City Councilors, among whom is bound to be a new face as either Jon Hinck or Wells Lyons will replace Councilor John Anton. Also on hand will be a full complement of city staff, including City Manager Mark Rees and many key department heads to whom you may also direct your questions and your feedback.
This will be my eighth district meeting and I have always found them help-
INDOOR FIRE DANGER: HIGH! Portland Fire Department Reminds Portland Residents to ‘Prevent Kitchen Fires’ October was Fire Prevention Month. With colder weather, the danger of house fires continues to grow. Portland has already seen several accidental house fires within city limits. The Portland Fire department has joined forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind Portland residents to ‘Prevent Kitchen Fires’ by spreading the word about the dangers of kitchen fires—most of which result from unattended cooking. According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen—more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries. In 2012, the Portland Fire Department responded to
The success of our economy largely rests on how well we care for and utilize the amazing resources we have in our oceans. From fish and lobsters, to off shore wind turbines and commercial shipping, the ocean will be shaping Portland’s and Maine’s future for decades to come. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to reach me at Justin@JustinAlfond.com.
kjdonoghue @ por tlandmaine.gov
Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) course to offer real-life defense tools and tactics
A donation of $25.00 for the course is suggested. All donations support the Amy St. Laurent Fund, which sponsors the R.A.D. trainings. Due to attendance issues, all donations must be paid prior to the first class (send checks to ASLF/PPD RAD Program, Portland Police Department, 109 Middle Street, Portland ME 04101). To sign up for the class or receive more information about Portland R.A.D., e-mail ppdrad@portlandmaine.gov or call 8748643.
I spoke with Statoil before the announcement was made to see if anything could be done to change their minds, but the decision had been made. They simply could not operate in such an unpredictable and unsupportive political environment.
Maine economy. Statoil had already shown they had skin in the game by partnering with reputable Maine businesses like Reed and Reed, BIW and other local businesses in the Boothbay region. It is rare for Maine to have an opportunity to play host to such a world-innovator, a world leader that could have put Maine on the map with a cutting-edge, legacy industry.
Upcoming City Meetings
POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFERS BASIC SELF DEFENSE CLASS FOR WOMEN IN NOVEMBER
This class is open to all women, ages 13 and older, in the Greater Portland area who would like to develop real life defensive tools and tactics. The Basic Self-Defense Course consists of a series of four classes and one scenario day. The class is scheduled for November 12, 14, 19, and 21, from 6 pm to 9 pm and November 23 from 8 am to noon. All classes must be attended to complete the course. The classes will be held at the Portland Police Department, 109 Middle Street, Portland, Maine.
too uncertain to proceed.”
250 cooking fires that very easily could have spread to the entire building, 3 injuries resulted. “When we’re called to a fire that started in the kitchen, often we’re told that the resident left the kitchen for a few minutes,” said Fire Chief Jerome LaMoria. “Unfortunately, those few minutes are all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. We hope this Fire Prevention campaign and our open houses will help us reach folks in the community before they’ve suffered a damaging or painful lesson.” Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates recommend: • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food. • If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you. • If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three away from the stove. • When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves. • Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop. • Clean up food and grease from burners and stove tops. For more fire prevention tips, visit http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information
ful for all involved, especially now, given all the new faces at City Hall. In addition to City Manager Mark Rees, Deputy City Manager Sheila Hill-Christian, Planning and Development Director Jeff Levine, and Fire Chief Jerry LaMoria are among the relatively new and innovative members of staff. Also new to the city is METRO General Manager Greg Jordan, who I am hopeful can join us, as I know public transit and service improvements are important issues to district residents. This is a meeting where we do the most of the listening and renew our relationship with you. Come tell us what is up in your neighborhood; you may find that others feel the same as you! As always, you may contact me directly at: kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
GROWINGTOGETHER TIPS
ON
PARENTING
&
R EL AT I O NSH I PS
By Ross Fields, CPE & Kathleen Fields, CPE EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER, I have reveled in all that goes into celebrating Thanksgiving. Mostly it was the fascination of observing my mother and grandmother orchestrating, during what sometimes felt like an afternoon of sheer chaos, a mouthwatering feast that seemed to appear like magic. It was also fun because I remember always having something to do that contributed to the event. I would be called upon to help my grandmother make her famous blueberry pies, take my turn at mashing the potatoes, help set the table or have a part in the saying of grace. When we sat down to eat, I always took pride in the fact that I had played a part in creating our Thanksgiving celebration.
a list of the different things that will need to be done for the big day. List out the standard items such as cleaning the house – everyone’s favorite, or determining who will be on the grocery shopping team. The more playful you
This is not about making it a job, it is about creating situations where your child feels valued and connected. If you are going to someone else’s home to celebrate, you will just have to get a bit more creative. You could suggest that your children offer to help with serving the meal or cleaning up. Your part would be to acknowledge their willingness to participate. Ask them how it feels to be helpful and valuable to others. I know you can do this.
THANKSGIVING
It’s emotionally healthy for children to know how they contribute, and that it matters. When family life was more agrarian in nature, children had specific jobs to do that directly contributed to the family’s survival and livelihood. When you have to grow and process your own food, care for the animals that give you milk to drink, or eggs to eat, or wool for clothes, you realize, real fast, how what you do is important. How you are valuable. Today, when everything is pretty much purchased at the store, it can be challenging to create opportunities for your child to feel any kind of value to your family’s survival or livelihood. So what can you do? You can start by using holiday celebrations, such as Thanksgiving, as opportunities for your child to take on a task that contributes to the success of your family event. A week before Thanksgiving, sit down as a family and make
Creating opportunities for your children to know their worth (Bonus chutney recipe link included)
Since I have you in the mode of trying a suggested parenting technique, how about trying a recipe that might be new to your palate? If you have an emerging chef, maybe he could tackle this one. Once we made this recipe for our Thanksgiving celebration, there was no going back. It is now a must-have, just like the green bean casserole. BONUS RECIPE: “Madhur Jaffrey’s Garlicky
Cranberry Chutney” for Thanksgiving and beyond:
http://susan-cooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/ madhur-jaffreys-garlicky-cranberry.html can be with it, the more fun you will have. Put someone in charge of setting the table. Go online to find out creative ways that napkins can be folded, or how to properly place the utensils (opening sequence to Downton Abbey). If your child has an interest in the culinary arts, have him assist with, or be completely responsible for, one of the dishes being served. In figuring out what tasks your children are capable of, just remember that they can usually do way more than we, as parents, are ready for them to do.
Enjoy, and have a wonderful, team-effort, worthwhile and joyful Thanksgiving. And as always . . . with patience, education, and practice, you will become a more confident and effective parent. It’s ALL about the relationship. Ross & Kathleen Fields are Certified Parenting Educators (CPE) and, co-founders of Results Parenting, LLC, www.resultsparenting.com.
November 2013
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AFFORDABLE GIFTS The Root Cellar is once again hosting the “Christmas Store” for the 2013 Holidays! On Tuesday, December 10th, you will be able to purchase Christmas gifts for all your children at very low cost. To qualify you must pick up your application form at The Root Cellar; fill it in and return it by November 15th. You will need to bring proof of address, as well as IDs for all the children on the application.
FREE HOUSING SURVEY The Root Cellar has learned that some local tenants have been living in unsafe or substandard housing conditions, and are unaware of their rights as tenants. The Root Cellar will be conducting a voluntary survey of local rental residences in the East End of Portland, with the goal of determining the extent of this problem, and to help educate and advocate for the members of the community who are affected, so that conditions may be improved. Please call The Root Cellar if you would like info: 207774-3197.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE ROOT CELLAR : Ladies’ Thanksgiving Luncheon, Wednesday, November 20: Noon at The Root Cellar, please call and let us know if you’d like to come. International Ladies Christmas Tea, Monday, December 2, at 6:00 PM at The Root Cellar. Come for great food, gifts and prizes and to kick off the Christmas Season! Call The Root Cellar for more info: 207-774-3197. The Root Cellar is a Christian mission with the goal of uniting the local community in the common cause of satisfying the physical and spiritual needs of inner-city youth and their families. Located at 94 Washington Ave. at the foot of Munjoy Hill.
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November 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
SCHOOL NEWS East End Community School Parent Teacher Organization For info about the EECS PTO and upcoming events, go to www.eecs.portlandpto.org or contact board@eecs.portlandpto.org.
November Calendar Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 Veterans Day, No School Monday, Nov. 25, 2013 Parent-Teacher Conferences, Early Dismissal Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013 Parent-Teacher Conferences, Early Dismissal Wednesday, Nov. 27-29, 2013 THANKSGIVING RECESS, No School
Hannaford Helps Schools
Walking School Bus
THANK YOU to the community for continuing to support East End Community School through December 1, 2013 at Hannaford. Purchases of designated items between September 1 and December 1, 2013 are eligible to earn money for EECS. Look for the Hannaford Helps Schools logo on the shelves as you shop to find participating products. For every four eligible items purchased, a $3 register coupon is awarded. Deposit the $3 coupon into the East End Community School envelope at collection tower as you exit the check-out area of the Forest Avenue store or submit it to the office at EECS, 195 North Street, Portland, ME 04101.
BUDDY UP WITH ANOTHER VOLUNTEER FOR ONE WALK PER WEEK! THE TWO WALKING School Bus routes are having a great time and growing at EECS! As a result, we’re looking for parent and community volunteers who would like to share the walk one morning a week with current volunteers on their route. It’s a great way to get a healthy dose of exercise and fresh air - and a new way to connect with both children and adults in your neighborhood. The Walking School Bus program is a national model that enables children to walk safely to school on a regular basis with adult supervision. All walking routes are designed to be no more than a 30 minute walk at a casual pace. SCHOOL NEWS continued on page 9
on the Hil T R l A
W NG S! NO PTI ENT CE TI AC PA W NE
SEA Holiday Sale
Teaching Outside WORKSHOP, TUESDAY, NOV. 12, 2013, 3:30-5:30PM AT EAST END COMMUNITY SCHOOL The focus of this two-session workshop is to share strategies for making effective use of the grounds around school as an exciting and valuable classroom resource. Come and find out why and how to use this powerful tool with students. This workshop is offered to teachers and others working with grades K-8. Workshop fee of $30 covers lunch, refreshments, and teaching resources. For more information or to register, please contact Sheila Sullivan at sheila@trails.org, or visit the Teaching Outside Workshop webpage: http://greeningschoolgrounds. wordpress.com/planning-your-schoolground-greening-project/. Organized by the School Ground Greening Coalition, a part of Portland Trails.
Dr. Manijeh Best, DDS , Dr. Alan Avtges, DMD, Dr Paula Hasson, DMD
• Orthodontics • Cosmetic & Family Dentistry • Invisalign • Endodontics • Oral Surgery • Sleep Apnea All of your dentistry needs under one roof! www.foresidedental.com
Friday Dec. 6th 6 - 9pm Saturday Dec. 7th 10am - 5pm Sunday Dec. 8th 11am - 4pm on Munjoy Hill, Portland, Maine
East End Community School, 195 North Street
info@foresidedental.com
3 Fundy Road, Falmouth, Maine 04105 207.781.2054
SEA
Brought to you by SOCIETY FOR EAST END ARTS
www.SEAportland.org
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Portland Pottery
HEALTHCARE INSURANCE, should be fixed by late November 2013. To get a quick preview of whether you’ll qualify for a premium tax credit and/or subsidy, get a good overview of your plan options, and price of your health insurance, or just to ask a question or post a comment, you can do this all in one place: visit: http://www.valuepenguin.com/
& Metalsmithing Studio
118-122 Washington Ave. Portland, ME 04101
We Warmly Invite You to the
23rd Annual Holiday Show & Sale December 13th-15th FRI 9-7 • SAT 9-5 • SUN 10-4
To stay informed, and follow the ongoing discussion about health care reform, I recommend a great blog: http:// healtheconomy.net/health-unsure/
Over 70 Local Artists • Unique Pottery • Jewelry
Artists, visit our website for show registration
Holiday Ornament Date Night
Workshop • 3 Course Dinner • Dec 6th • 6-9pm
207-772-4334 • www.portlandpottery.com
p
cafe
122 washington ave portland me
***daily
seasonal specials coffee tea cappuccino housemade pastries and desserts breakfast all day fresh homemade soups vegetarian vegan & gluten-free options Enjoy a meal in our cafe and browse the pottery in our gallery Hours: mon-thur 8am-7pm fri-sat 8am-5pm 207-772-4334 www.portlandpottery.com
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from page 3
vidual health insurance marketplace in a broad stroke, exceptions do apply in unique situations. Consider this to be Individual Health Insurance 101. Still feeling perplexed, bewildered, dazed, and confused? Find yourself a navigator or call an insurance agent. They can help, and they don’t charge for their services. Here’s to health insurance in 2014! Karen Vachon is a freelance writer, and licensed health insurance agent. She lives in Scarborough.
While this column addresses the indi-
SCHOOL NEWS, from page 8 Volunteers are asked to: • Attend a 1-hour training • Agree to a background check • Be available 1 morning per week, between 7:45-8:30am Alex Endy, an East End parent and volunteer Walk Leader with the program echoes many similar sentiments from volunteers, “My favorite thing about volunteering is getting to know students and people in the neighborhood. I’m happy to have established friendships and acquaintances with folks I’ve lived near for years.” The number of children the program is able to serve on different routes is governed by the number of volunteers in place – so please sign up to join in the fun!
p
and potter l t y or
November 2013
See www.PortlandWalkingSchoolBus. org for more information and to sign up online. And please pass the word to anyone you think might be interested! You
can also contact the Portland Walking School Bus Program Coordinator, Betsy Critchfield, at betsy@bikemaine.org or 956-6539. Families are encouraged to register their children to join the Walking School Bus as well! CASCO BAY HIGH School/ PATHS 8th Annual CRAFT
FAIR
Saturday, NOV 23, 2013 10 am - 4 pm Free admission, free entertainment. The crafters this year are offering knitted goods, jewelry, stained glass, pottery, metal art, wood crafts, clothes, holiday items, Portland’s longest Cookie Walk, baked goods, back by popular demand — unique and oneof-a-kind ornaments made from locally renowned artists, and much, much more! Over 60 crafters will be on site. 196 Allen Avenue, Portland, Maine. FMI contact tiki. craftfair@gmail.com
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November 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
LIVING WITH PEACE
Living With Peace is a dynamic local grassroots community support organization investing in the future of our immigrants by providing information, resources, and training to newcomers to the community and culture.
Knowledge + Motivation = Positive Change Christina L. Feller, VP, Living With Peace, investing in people In the last six years, I have been stage. Of the 22 graduates, 19 night at Stroudwater Christian privileged to serve as a tutor to were women and 3 were men. Church, Roger tried to hold back candidates for graduate degrees. Two graduates were African im- tears as he spoke about his Mom Many of you who regularly read migrants. One man stands out. and what this graduation meant this column and work in the to him. Roger N. Ruganzu is the current new American communities President of Living With Peace. There were about 150 people will recognize names like MaxHe is husband to Solange, father there celebrating the graduation well, Aimee, Joe, Franck, Apollo, to Abby and Hadassah, a leader of Roger, Claude Rwanganje, and Roger, Gure, Abdi, Bakhita, Baof his community, a deeply faith- Stephane Amani. We cried from bala, Bashir, Michael Benjamin, ful man, and a long time em- joy at their success and we cried Muhudin, and Alex among othployee of Granite Bay Care. He is in grief for Roger’s sorrow. Abby, ers. These men and women hail the epitome of a motivated new aged four, sat on my lap in the from South Sudan, Somalia, American. He has lived through audience. She took the photo of Tanzania, Rwanda, and Demounimaginable horrors and vio- her father that accompanies this cratic Republic of Congo. article. Their degrees are in such The speakers came from diverse fields as nursing, the leadership of the international sustainable Rwandese, Burundian development, community and Congolese commental health, community munities. All expressed and economic developthe need for further ment, early childhood eduknowledge acquisition cation, public policy, busieven by already educatness administration, and ed professionals. Jules community behavioral spoke about envisionhealth. These folks learned ing the future; Patrick early to invest in themspoke about the value of selves. The motivation to Above Roger Ruganzu at left, and Stephane Amani at right, education in achieving acquire knowledge drives flanking a relative at the graduation reception at Sebasco future achievement. The Harbor Resort in Phippsburg, October, 2013 (courtesy photo). a better quality of life. Solange, Roger’s wife, opportunity to apply this spoke about his dedicaknowledge brings positive tion, his perseverance, and his change. lence in the Democratic Republic commitment to serving the menAllow me to recount the scene of Congo and in Rwanda where tal health community. at Sebasco Harbor Resort in he and his family fled. He studied Phippsburg last Sunday early af- for five years in Kigali to become Roger stands as a role model ternoon. An hour from Portland, a lawyer. He worked on behalf to many in his community. He Sebasco Resort was chosen for of the rights of the Survivors of should. He represents the best the site of the graduation of 22 the Genocide. For that he was Maine has to offer. students in the Southern New imprisoned and tortured. There Christina Feller is an internaHampshire University Commu- is more that is worse, but that tional development consultant nity Mental Health program. It is behind him now. His only reand advises local Diaspora Orwas a beautiful day with a bright maining brother lives in Texas. ganizations on returning to home clear sky and glassy smooth His sister is back home tending countries to rebuild resiliency blue waters on the bay. The Re- his mother. Roger’s mother is dyin local economies and populasort Conference Room had been ing of cancer. As he was gradutions. turned into a graduation and re- ating with a master’s degree, his ception hall. The graduates sat mother reached a terminal conin front, administration on the dition. At the reception Sunday
Planning for Long-Term Care: Decide. Create. Share.Lori K. Parham, State Director, AARP Maine THE HOLIDAYS CAN be a perfect time to start to have conversations with loved ones about their or your future care needs. It’s important for all of us to assess our financial and physical well-being as we age. Making long-term goals now that support and enhance economic and health security can make a big difference down the road. Too often, families wait until a crisis occurs to begin to plan. Planning ahead is especially important for women. Women make up the majority of adult Social Security beneficiaries, collecting Social Security as retired or disabled workers, wives, and widows. For many older Americans, Social Security provides an important protection against economic insecurity, but there are several reasons why women are at greater risk of an insecure retirement, and why long-term planning is particularly essential.
For one thing, women are more likely to take time out of the workforce to care for children and ailing parents. According to a recent report issued by the AARP Public Policy Institute, the majority (67 percent) of caregivers in America are women. As a result, it is estimated that women have 12 fewer years in the paid workforce over their lifetimes. The time out of the workforce not only lowers women’s lifetime earnings and savings, but also lowers their ultimate Social Security and pension benefits. Another challenge is that women typically are paid less than their male counterparts. In 2012, fulltime working women aged 55 and older had median earnings that were 76 percent of older men’s median earnings. Additionally, employed women are more likely to work part-time than employed men, and less likely to participate in a pension plan.
These are just some of the reasons why women aged 65 and older depend on Social Security for a larger share of their retirement income and are more likely to experience financial insecurity in old age. AARP’s 2012 Member Opinion Survey in Maine reflects the concerns of our female members. For example, according to the survey results, 68% of female AARP members in Maine are concerned about staying in their own home as they get older, and 65% are concerned about having long-term care (LTC), or home health services available. Not only are they concerned about access to LTC but 61% are concerned about paying for it as well. What is the best thing to do? The best thing to do is take action. One thing you can do right now is create a short and longterm plan that will help you get your health and economic security on track. Decide. Create.
Work Continues on the Eastern Promenade By Frances Buerkens, Marketing & Development Coordinator, Friends of the Eastern Promenade GIVING THANKS: November is the time for giving thanks, and Friends of the Eastern Promenade has had so much to be grateful for in 2013. The long-awaited ground breaking of the Fort Allen Rehabilitation Project took place in early October. R E Coleman Excavation has contracted with the City to perform construction on this historic landscape. Clearing operations began on October 5, when crews cleared existing vegetation to make way for the relocation of utility lines, removing existing overhead lights and beginning the work to construct pathways along the perimeter edges of the Park. In the spring, these walkways will be graced with ornamental Hawthorne Winter King trees. The top of Fort Allen will receive Gingko Biloba trees to line the esplanade where the great Elms once stood. In an effort to give a second “life” to the spruce, cedar and crab apple trees that were removed, the trunks have been stored at Evergreen Cemetery. Local woodworking artists are invited to select pieces for their designs. FoEP is also seeking ideas and talent for the creation of keepsakes befitting the upcoming Bicentennial Celebration of Fort Allen in October 2014. For safety and liability reasons, this section of the Eastern Promenade will remain closed throughout the winter months until our anticipated project completion date of June 30, 2014. We appreciate your patience while this historic transformation unfolds. Friends of the Eastern Promenade is now raising funds to ensure completion of the project by refurbishing the two civil war cannons and the USS Maine cannon. The goal is to have the entire rehabilitation finished to celebrate the Bicentennial of Fort Allen next October 2014. For more information and to contribute to this effort, please visit EasternPromenade.org. WELCOMING OUR NEW 2014 BOARD Our 5th annual meeting and elections also took place on October 2. We are pleased to welcome Stephanie Green, Alyssa Grupp, Cami Smalley and Nathan Smith to the FoEP board. We are grateful that departing board members Richard Anderson and Rob Whitten will remain on key committees to ensure our good work continues and we are most appreciative of their dedicated service over the past several years! COMMUNITY TELEVISION NETWORK (CTN) We’re proud to announce the completion of our FoEP video now available for viewing at our website Easternpromenade.org The video highlights collaborative efforts and the rich history of the Prom and our organizational efforts to “Preserve, Protect and Enhance”. Special thanks to CTN for going above and beyond to see this work through to completion. We’d also like to thank Kristin Rapinac and Victoria Foley for their generous contributions to this effort. OUR SUPPORTERS FoEP would not be where we are today without the generous support of our membership: our charitable concert sponsors, the neighborhood gardeners who shared their sacred spaces for tour-goers delight, and of course, the City of Portland for its ongoing open communication and commitment to the Eastern Promenade. Our special thanks to the extremely generous donors of our “Bicentennial and Beyond Initiative” for helping FoEP ‘graduate’ to the next level in organizational growth by increasing capacity and creating our first part time Executive Director position. We of course owe a great deal to the hard work of our committee and past and present board members for orchestrating all of the above!
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone. ~Friends of the Eastern Promenade
Share. is an AARP initiative dedicated to increasing awareness among women about the depth and breadth of long-term care and the benefits of planning. It encompasses three primary steps: • DECIDE where you see yourself in the future. • CREATE a comprehensive plan that includes your home, health, finances and wishes. • SHARE your decisions with others so they know your preferences. You may also want to share this planning process with friends and family, so they, too, can plan their futures. Using new online tools, you’ll be guided through a 7-step process to complete a comprehensive long-term care plan in just 40 Days. The initiative’s resources engage women as leaders
within their families, informal networks, and communities, in learning about long-term care so they can actively plan for a secure future and share what they learn with others. Why not get started at www. aarp.org/decide? AARP empowers you to pursue your goals and dreams. If you go to Decide. Create. Share., you’ll see how beneficial it can be to put together a sensible, sustainable plan for you and your family. If you are already a caregiver, you can find helpful information in our online resource center at www.aarp. org/caregivers. This comprehensive resource has information to help you hire home care workers, assess assisted living residences and understand and apply for public benefits. You don’t have to plan for your or your loved one’s future alone. This holiday season, take the first step.
This Fall, Think Spring!
Gardener’s Dirt By Nini McManamy
UNLESS YOU’RE A gardener, you might think that the first frost would mark the end of the gardener’s labor in the garden. But you’d be wrong; the first frost marks the beginning of next year’s planting season—for garlic, daffodils, tulips, and other bulbs. We plant bulbs in the fall because they need to be cold-treated for several months to grow right, but we wait till after the first frost so they won’t start growing right away. Of course we then get a long pause in the planting season till things warm up in April. What follows are some tips for growing garlic and flower bulbs.
ART SOUL chances are good that birds will dig up your garlic or frost will heave it out of the ground.
Once the garlic sprouts in the spring, you can remove the mulch—or just leave it to nourish your plants. Garlic needs regular watering to make big heads—an inch per week—and feeding with slow release fertilizer in April and again in June. You should be able to harvest your scapes in July (keep watering), followed by the bulbs when the tops start to brown. Always harvest by digging rather than pulling, and let the garlic cure in a dry place for two weeks before cutting the tops off. Mesh laundry bags are great for storage. Flower bulbs. Flower bulbs are soooo wonderful chilly spring mornings. Your flower bulbs will perform best in the right soil and light, and no matter what they say, most tulips are only good for one year. Exceptions: the short greigii and kaufmannia types, and the tall late blooming viridiana types.
Garlic—a cradle-to-grave growing guide. Garlic is a fussy thing to grow well, but follow the advice of Richard Rudolph from Rippling Waters Farm (found at the Farmer’s Market) and you can grow big, fat heads like I did this year. It all starts with the Work your soil to a soil: Garlic likes a high pH, depth of 8 inches for “It is a greater act of faith to plant so chances are pretty good tulips and daffodils. you will need to lime the soil a bulb than to plant a tree.”Bulbs grow naturally in before planting. A soil test dry soil under trees and will tell you just how much ~ Clare Leighton will rot if they sit in wet to add to achieve a pH of 6 to soil. Because tulips are 7. Your soil needs to be well like gumdrops for squirrels and deer, the bulbs worked, free of rocks, and rich in organic matter from should be treated before planting. A tobacco soyour compost pile. lution works, as does a healthy dusting of cayYou break up the heads and plant each clove individu- enne pepper. Daffodils are squirrel proof. ally, pointed end up, and 3 inches deep. Each clove will become a whole head. It’s best to buy named varieties to Use a bulb planter to speed the job along. Plant plant—those lovely heads at the grocery store may be too at the depth indicated on the bulb package, tender for a Maine winter and just rot in the ground. If pointy tops up. (Tulips have contractile roots you can’t find any for sale at the Farmer’s Market or area and will actually pull themselves downward to garden centers, go on line. My favorite is the long-keeping the right depth.) Russian Red. If you consider your tulips to be annuals, as I do, Plant the garlic in rows, 6 inches between cloves. Cover you can pull them after flowering. If not, leave with compost then a three-inch mulch of leaves (but don’t the foliage to yellow and feed with bulb food use oak; they contain a chemical that inhibits growth). I in the spring. Planting in containers is temptthrow rinsed seaweed on top of the leaves to add micro- ing, but you will need to keep them from filling nutrients and hold the leaves in place. Without mulch, up with water that becomes ice, or from drying
HERBAL INSIGHTS: White Pine Essay by Mischa Schuler
Particularly during acute colds, pine needle tea is both delicious and stimulating. Tasting much like the smell of pine forest, the tea has slightly bitter overtones, which energize the digestive system and engage circulation. To brew such a tisane, gather about thirty bundles of needles, tuck them into a quart mason jar and pour boiling water to the top of the jar. Cap and let steep for fifteen minutes – the longer the steep, the more bitter the bite. Now this infusion can also be used as a steam to clear the sinuses. The strong pine scent unfurls into the nostrils and loosens the mucous along the membranes of the respiratory tract. This will also act as an expectorant if there is mucous in the lungs that needs to be loosened and coughed out. Simply drape a towel over both your head and the ma-
out completely. Those cute little forced bulbs at the garden center are a wonderful winter lift, but the bulbs are spoiled for replanting, so recycle them in the compost. Bulbs have varying needs for sun. Best for partly shady areas: crocus, snowdrops, squalls. Squirrel resistant and most salt tolerant, for near driveways and walks: daffodils, grape hyacinth, alliums. 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.
Do you want a doctor
inner shores
who takes time to really listen to your concerns?
• chiropractic • homeopathy • attunement
Are you hoping for health care that supports health without surgical or pharmaceutical intervention?
Are you searching for an approach in treating conditions that have been unresponsive to other methods?
Wendy Pollock DC, CCH
“Using multiple modalities along with her innate skill as a doctor and healer, she was able to fix what others could not. Dr. Pollock has a big, big heart and soul to match her phenomenal talent.” —Michelle Patrick, LMT
Dr. Wendy Pollock DC, CCH Practice of Chiropractic, Homeopathy and Attunement 83 India Street Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 370-8330 innershores@gmail.com
Grateful for over 35 Years
www.innershores.com
Always here for your digital printing and copying needs. 100 Fore Street Portland [next to Hamilton Marine on your way to the Eastern Prom]
And this mighty tree grows near to us: Wentworth Island, Jewell Falls in the Fore River Sanctuary. In the spring, dine upon picnic blankets beneath the dusting of yellow pine pollen. Yet for now, this green will be our bright background on our blustery winter days. Mischa Schuler is a Community Herbalist. She can be found on Munjoy Hill puttering in her garden, cooking up a meal, or reading a good book. www. WildCarrotHerbs.com
arts
Being a conifer, White Pine keeps its needles through the winter – although, truth be told, it constantly sheds some small percentage of needles to make space for new growth. These needles, remaining green throughout the winter, contain within them Vitamin C and other bioflavinoids, supporting the immune system of humans and forest-dwelling small mammals alike.
No pines are pollinated by bird or insect. They are all wind pollinated. Now, this pollen, drifting eagerly from male pine cone to female pine cone upon the same tree, not only promotes fertility within the pines, it also supports fertility in human males. Within the plant world, pine pollen is the most specific plant part for supporting testosterone levels.
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th e
Each bundle (or fascicle) holds five leaves, shaped as needles – an identifying characteristic of the White Pine (growing in length to five inches.) Standing from afar, looking up at the boughs of the tree, the branches bend slightly toward the sky with smaller branchlets emerging in whorls of six in increments along the length of a limb.
son jar. Remove the lid and breathe the steam into your lungs.
on
November 2013
n a s
d
THE MAGIC OF AN Eastern White Pine forest brings to mind fairies and a gentle joy, dappled sun, and breathy scent! The air smells cleaner and sweeter with each foot fall through the newly fallen needles of Pinus strobus.
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Su pp ortin
ft o r g non-p
775-2444 www.xcopy.com
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TO YOUR Health Do I need an Advanced Directive? November 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
By Gillian Eastman, 4th year medical student, Tufts University School of Medicine, through the MaineHealth Learning Resource Center
You can schedule an appointment with your doctor to talk about any of the medical terms or ideas that you have questions about.
What is an Advanced Directive? An Advanced Directive is a legal form that allows you to express your wishes about the kind of medical care you would like to get if you were to become ill and not able to speak for yourself. This form can be filled out for anyone 18 years or older. It is strongly suggested to fill it if you are over 50.
What should I do with my document? You should make a copy for yourself, all of your health care providers, and a copy for the person you would like to carry out your wishes for you (your healthcare agent).
Now at our sunny new location in the Old Port
Open seven days a week • 9 Commercial St. • 207.210-6473 Small-batCh COffee rOaSter aNd SCratCh bakery
What if I change my mind? You can always change your mind. You just fill out a new form and give an updated copy to your doctor and your healthcare agent.
Why do I need an Advance Directive? An Advanced Directives will help family members and Doctors know what treatments you do or do not want. It also takes the pressure off of your loved ones. With an Advanced Directive, they will be able to more easily carry out your wishes.
Where can I find an Advanced Directive form? • Your doctor’s office “Serving Greater Portland Since 1980” • MaineHealth Learning Resource Center, 272 Congress St., Portland, Me 04101, 1-866-609Congratulations to all of tonights 5183, www.mainehealth.org/LRC, www.faceAward Winners! book.com/MaineHealthLRC 104 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME 04101 • 207.773.8198 • Caring Connections, 1-800-658-9998 , www. caringinfo.org 104 Washington Avenue • Portland, Maine 04101 • (207) 773-8198
What if I have questions about some of the medical terms?
www.dalerandprinting.com mikerand@maine.rr.com
MaineHealth Learning Resource Center
CHESTER & V ESTAL, P.A.
observer ad.indd 1
http://www.mmc.org/lrc_body.cfm?id=296 Learning what you need to know to be healthy isn’t always easy. How do you find information and resources you can trust? The MaineHealth Learning Resource Center is here to help. Each location has a health educator who can help you find out what you need to know.
9/18/2009 8:37:35 AM
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
Whom do we help? We help anyone who needs health information. • Patients who want to learn about a disease, condition or treatment • Community members who need healthy living tips and resources • Healthcare providers looking for health education materials and resources Our services • Health education classes • Free library of health books, brochures and videos • Personalized help from health educators to find out what you need to know • Public computers to search the Internet for health information • Outreach programs to improve the health of Maine communities Find us at 272 Congress St., Portland, Me 04101, 1-866-609-5183, www.mainehealth.org/LRC, www.facebook.com/MaineHealthLRC TO LEARN ABOUT SEXTING AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD, VISIT: www.uKnowKids.com
Sexting references: PCs n Dreams http://www.pcsndreams.com , American Osteopathic Association http://www.osteopathic.org , The Pew Charitable Trusts http://www.pewtrusts.org , Enough is Enough http://www.internetsafety101.org . Poster Designer: Brigit Gilbert.
CROSSWORD ACROSS
(Solution on page 14) BESTFORPUZZLES.COM
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1 Key above G 6 Where there’s smoke 10 “__ we forget” 14 Conductor Walter 15 Trails 16 Declare with confidence 17 French noble 18 Surprise cries 19 Bundle 20 “Casualties of War” director 22 Breaks away 24 Freshwater birds 26 As much 27 Lawsuit 30 Segment 32 Wimsey of detective fiction 34 Palestinians, e.g. DOWN 38 Piece of a two-piece 1 Multiple choice choices 39 Sounds of time passing 2 Cleaving tool
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Hunk Stomach soother Skater’s jump Parade spectacle Cambodian’s neighbor Sounds of disgust Member of a Jewish sect 10 Office gizmo 11 Shake off 12 Tennis star Monica 13 Long lock 21 Water-lily painter 23 Andean shrub 25 Sort 27 Priestly vestments 28 Apple refuse 29 Golf course hazard 31 Galls 33 Spat 35 Objectives 36 Highlands hillside 37 Make smooth
40 Remove the stubble 43 Moon of Saturn 44 An arm and __ 46 May birthstone 47 Exceed 49 Standards of perfection 51 Concoct 52 Yale of Yale University 53 Dole out 55 Relieved 57 Mild oath 59 Chomp 60 Horned goddess 61 Jailbirds 64 Cassowary’s cousin http://bestforpuzzles. com
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
November 2013
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Spotlight on Non-Profits is a regular feature. To have your favorite non-profit featured, please contact observer@munjoyhill.org.
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad NEXT STOP: MEMORY LANE In the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey declares that the three most exciting sounds in the world are anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles. It’s a sentiment my father can relate to. He grew up riding the Canadian Pacific between Toronto and Owen Sound, Ontario, and he fell in love with train travel.
By Paul Foster (Jr)
He’d been instructed to slow, too, for all the people on the Eastern Promenade Trail who wanted photos of this hulking machine steaming toward them from the past. Children waved and he waved back. He knew how they felt. When he was eleven years old, living in the West End of Toronto, he and his neighborhood friends would frequent a nearby train yard, waving at
When Dad’s birthday came around this year, I decided to investigate the source of a train whistle I can hear from Munjoy Hill. It drifts into my apartment and inspires a kind of inherited nostalgia in me. Does Portland have a steam train? Could I get my father near it? Turns out what I’d been hearing was one of the engines of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the narrow gauge railroads that connected Maine’s smaller communities until the 1940’s. And, to my surprise and delight, the museum offers a way for train enthusiasts to have the unique, hands-on experience of actually driving a locomotive. My family reserved a slot for Dad in the Guest Engineer Program and selected a date when the diesel engine would be switched out for Monson Railroad Locomotive #4, a steam engine dating back to 1918. When the day arrived, my father enjoyed the exhibits in the museum, and the informative rail journey along the panoramic shores of Casco Bay, then donned his engineer’s cap and gloves and mounted the ladder into the cabin of the engine itself. For the next hour, the train would be his. As the locomotive hissed on the rails outside the museum, the staff engineer provided instruction in the cramped space behind the boiler: the many levers, the pressure gauges, the different whistles. Moments later, the fireman shoveled coal into the firebox and, with left hand on the brake and right on the throttle, Pops chug-chugchugged the metal beast off into the afternoon light of a birthday he’ll never forget. When he returned, we demanded a full debrief. Not surprisingly, the cab of a locomotive is a bit like an oven. “I’m glad I had my gloves,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe the heat coming off that throttle lever.” The engineer and fireman had been supportive, patient … and vigilant. “At one point,” my father laughed, “I got a bit carried away and the engineer told me to slow it down.”
FLAMENCO + MODERN GUITAR LESSONS www.gregoirepearce.com gregoire.pearce@me.com phone: 860.367.4018
VOICE + PIANO LESSONS www.sarahsaintdenis.com sstdenis@pomfretschool.org phone: 207.460.0128 East End
the engineers who moved trains in and out of the roundhouse. One day, an engineer called out to him: “Hey, kid! Want a ride down the track?” He was lifted up into the cab and, after a short trip down a section of the yard, he was convinced he wanted to be a train engineer for the rest of his life. And he really hasn’t changed. Driving back from the museum, he remarked on how odd it felt to drive a car after the organized chaos inside the locomotive. The ferocity of the heat and the steam, the potential danger of harnessing that much power — he’d found it exhilarating. In the comfort of a modern automobile, he gripped the cushioned, leather steering wheel and adjusted the air conditioning. His eyes may have been on the road, but his mind was still on the shining rails. “I could do that every day,” he said. And in his voice, I heard the trace of an 11-year-old boy I wish I’d somehow had the chance to know. The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum is located in the Portland Company Complex on Fore Street. For more information, visit www.mainenarrowgauge.org or call 207-828-0814. Tickets are now on sale for the railroad’s festive Polar Express experience.
All aboard! Paul Foster (Sr) takes command of Locomotive #4. Photos by Paul Foster (Jr), Paul Foster (Sr), and John Hirst.
ASK THE MONEY PROF By Joel I. Gold You have a pension? Be thankful!
Did you know that about 1/3 of retirees have pensions, and that number is declining. A pension is a stream of income through life expectancy. In finance terms, it is called a defined benefit plan. In the old days, most federal, state and large corporate employers offered pensions to their employees. The employer took the burden of risk and guaranteed payment to their employees for life. Some pensions begin at 65. Others begin after a minimum of work years, but at the point of eligible retirement. Some pensions include a COLA (cost of living adjustment) while others do not. Pensions are an income source, not an asset. This means when the participant (employee) dies, the benefits usually go the surviving spouse. After the surviving spouse’s death, benefits end. Pensions are not part of one’s estate. A common formula is 2% for each year worked (there are maximum work year ceilings) times preretirement income. For example, teachers, state workers, firefighters, police, etc. are usually in the Maine State Retirement System. If one works 35 years with an average pre-retirement salary of $60,000, the pension would be in the neighborhood of $42,000 ($60,000 x 70%). To generate this type of income in a 401k or
an IRA, using a 4% interest only withdrawal rate, one would have to have saved $1,050,000 in these accounts. The big advantage of pensions over 401ks is the certainty of income stream during retirement. The big advantage of 401k’s is the impact on wealth and estate value. If the portfolio is invested effectively, the end result could be a competitive income stream verses the pension and the wealth factor. But, as we know investing in the stock market is not guaranteed. Today, retirees are faced with historically low interest rates and therefore reduced income streams. These low interest rates do not hurt those on pensions as much as those investing for themselves. The cost of living adjustments on pensions may be impacted, but much safer than the investment environment. For those folks that have a pension, kudos to you for staying at your jobs and enjoying the benefits of retirement security (a future article will cover the current environment and issues facing pensions today.) 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.
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November 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Seniors: Be on High Alert for SCAMS By Jason Alderman
ACCORDING TO THE FBI, senior citizens make attractive targets for con artists for a variety of reasons: They’re more likely to have a nest egg, own their home and have good credit. Seniors are less likely to report fraud because they don’t know where to report it, don’t realize they’ve been scammed, or are too ashamed at having been duped – possibly fearing they won’t be trusted to manage their own finances going forward. When elderly victims do report crimes, they often make poor witnesses because of faulty memory. Seniors are more susceptible to products promising increased wealth, cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties and so on. Here’s a roundup of common telemarketing scams targeting seniors and how you can avoid them: Be wary, even if callers appear legitimate. Caller ID “spoofers” pretending to represent your bank, credit card company or government agencies may try to trick you into revealing personal information under the pretext of fixing a security breach. When in doubt, hang up and contact the organization yourself. Other common telemarketing scams include: Your internet connection is supposedly compromised, and you are asked for passwords so they can “fix It”. Red Flag is when they ask you to PAY after the “work” is done. Internet providers don’t charge to correct connection problems. You’ve supposedly won a free prize but are asked to pay for handling, postage or taxes. By law, you never have to pay for any legitimate prize. Get-rich-quick schemes, like those involving Nigerian princes trying to smuggle funds out of their country using your bank account in exchange for a cut of the amount. The “Grandparent Scam,” where someone pretending to be your grandchild calls in a panic, claiming to have been arrested or injured (often abroad) and asking you to wire them money – and not tell their parents because they’re embarrassed. Soliciting funds for fake charities, especially after natural disasters. Companies offering seniors free medical equipment or services. After you provide your Medicare number, they forge a doctor’s signature and bill Medicare for unneeded goods or services you never actually receive. Some particularly brazen thieves will even offer to help you recover money you’ve lost to other scammers (who are often part of the same operation).
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS-NOV 3, 2013 FALL BACK!!
Light Up Your Holidays! ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, Friday, November 29, 5:30 pm, Monument Square, Come see the spectacular lighting of the Christmas Tree at this annual tradition. Entertainment by Rick Charette and the Bubblegum Band and a visit by a very special guest!
SHOP FOR A CAUSE DAY, Saturday, November 30, Celebrate Small Business Saturday by shopping downtown and a portion of sales from local businesses benefit the Milestone Foundation’s HOME Team. The Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement Team provides community support to those with chronic health, mental health and substance abuse issues living on the streets. Learn more at www.milestonefoundation.org. FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK - HOLIDAY EDITION, Friday, December 6, Explore and celebrate the Arts District with a special Holiday Edition of the Art Walk. Expect the unexpected with special performances and more - full details coming soon! MERRY MADNESS!, Thursday, December 12, 5-10pm, Merry Madness is an annual favorite for holiday shopping and spending time with friends. Participating stores remain open until 10 pm and offer complementary refreshments. NEW for 2013, the festivities will kick-off in a heated tent on Market St. (next to the Portland Regency Hotel). Stop by the reception from 5-7 pm to enjoy appetizers from area restaurants, entertainment and raffle prizes. Pick-up your engraved souvenir Merry Madness glass, which has become a collectable! Tickets $10 per person. Must be 21+ to attend. FREE HORSE & WAGON RIDES, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Nov. 30-December 22, Enjoy the magic of downtown Portland with free horse and wagon rides. Pick-up and drop-off in Monument Square. WINTER LIGHTS, November 29-February 14, Celebrate 15 years of artist Pandora LaCasse lighting up downtown Portland with radiant light sculptures. The signature lights adorn parts of Congress and Commercial St., Longfellow Square, Congress Square Park, Post Office Park, Boothby Square and more.
REMEMBER TO VOTE!! NOV 5, 2013 PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTION
POLLING PLACES Munjoy Hill: East End Elementary School, 195 North Street (find online at http://www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/cityclerk4.asp )
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 CrowBar is located at 189 Congress and features American Craft Beers as well as nightly musical and poetry events. Beer Only, Cash Only, 21+. FMI: portveritas.com/wordpress/ ST. LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER Your neighborhood arts center is at 76 Congress Street, Find shows at stlawrencearts.org, 347-7177 MAYO STREET ARTS Performances & Classes, 10 Mayo Street, Call 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts. org. Classes: Tango, Belly Dancing, Kids Yoga, Juggling, Zumba and Pilates. Artist Studios, theater, poetry, music and more. C4: COAST CITY COMICON 2013, Nerd Rave:, NOV 8, EMPIRE!, 575 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101, Doors at 7:00 pm, Show at 8:00 pm, , Convention:, Nov 9 & 10, Double Tree Hilton, 363 Maine Mall Rd., South Portland, ME, 04106, Contact Us, Phone: 207-899-1505, , Email: info@coastcitycomics.net,
For more information contact PDD at 207.772.6828 or visit portlandmaine.com. DEERING HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS “GREASE” DHS’s music and drama departments will present the musical “Grease” on Nov. 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. and on November 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling 874-8260 or at www.deeringdrama.org. Advance tickets are $5 for children and students and $10 for adults. The prices at the door are $7 for children and students and $12 for adults. AUCTION OF HAND-PAINTED MIRRORS Supports Student Projects: Live auction of mirrors painted by local artists on Nov 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at DiMillo’s Restaurant on the Portland waterfront, hosted by Painting for a Purpose. Preview mirrors at www.paintingforapurpose.net. Additional items available at a silent auction. Tickets are $10 per individual or $25 for a family. All tickets will be sold at the door. All money raised goes toward grants for youth-led service learning projects designed by students in the Portland Public Schools. FMI: Jane Ellis at 934-3616 or ellis123@maine.rr.com.
Moderate Sudoku Puzzles - Book 7
Although direct telephone contact is common, scam- From www.veryfreesudoku.com mers also use mailers, email, texts and advertisements to lure potential victims into contacting them for further Sudoku Puzzle 3 1 2 9 information. A few tip-offs these offers – whatever the 9 5 channel – might be bogus:
3 2
The offer sounds too good to be true.
3 4
High-pressure sales tactics – they won’t take no for an answer—often have sensible-sounding answers for your every question or hesitation.
5
You must make a decision “right now” because the offer will expire soon.
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Claims that you are one of just a few people eligible for the offer. Your credit card number is requested for verification. Never provide credit card or other personal information by phone, letter or email unless you made the4initial contact.
CELLO CONCERT & ARTISAN EVENT Thur. Nov 14, 5-7 pm, Open House at 10 Howard St, to Benefit MHNO! See page 5 for details.
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7 You are urged to provide money quickly and not given 5 9 6 time to consider the offer. There is no risk. All investments have some risk, except 6 3 for U.S. Government obligations. 7 8 2 They refuse to provide detailed written information. 3 9 5 You are asked to trust the telemarketer. Like your mother 8 9 always said, “Don’t trust strangers.” The Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov) has5 a SCAM ALERT BLOG that exposes the latest scams, as 2 4 well as a site where you can file a complaint if a business
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Find crossword puzzle on page 12
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Sudoku Puzzle 4
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doesn’t make good on its promises or cheats you out of your money.
Jason Alderman, a financial expert who directs Practical Money Skills for Life (www.practicalmoneyskills.com), a free, award-winning financial education program.
Comparison Puzzle-by OutherebyGeorge.com. See if you can find the six differences
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
November 2013
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Habitat to hold “Raise the Roof Gala” on Friday, November 13 Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland announces the Raise the Roof Gala on Wednesday, November 13 at the Marriott at Sable Oaks. (out by the airport) The benefit dinner and awards ceremony will honor Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland’s volunteers, families and supporters. The reception starts at 6:00pm, dinner is at 6:45pm, and the presentations will begin at 7:15pm. Steve Thomas, Emmy Award-winning television personality and former host of the acclaimed home improvement shows “This Old House” and “Renovation Nation,” will be the keynote speaker. Steve has partnered with Habitat for Humanity International to help raise awareness about
Buckdancer’s Choice
the need for decent, affordable housing since 1991. Steve will discuss the ReStore “brand,” its impact on Habitat for Humanity, and Habitat’s Economic impact.
visit www.habitatportlandme.org or call 207.772.2151. Habitat volunteers and families are invited to attend for free, but must pre-register by calling 207.772.2151.
The Charlie and Leisa Crane Spirit of Humanity and Lifetime Achievement awards will be presented to a volunteer who have made a powerful impact in the Habitat for Humanity community in Greater Portland.
Sponsors include TD Bank and Packgen as Gold Hammer Sponsors, and Marriott @ Sable Oaks, PretiFlaherty, Springborn Staffing, and Unum as Silver Hammer Sponsors.
“We are thrilled to host our volunteers and our families, and to recognize our supporters on this very special evening,” said Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland Executive Director Godfrey Wood. “The Raise the Roof Gala will put the spotlight on the people that make this organization what it is, as well as help us to raise funds to continue building affordable homes in Cumberland County.” Tickets are $50 each and include dinner. Tables of eight are available for $400, half tables of four are $200. Space is limited, you must pre-register by Thursday, November 7 at noon. Walk-in registrations will not be accepted. To register,
MUSIC COMPANY
248 ST. JOHN STREET, PORTLAND • 207-774-2219 HOURS: M-F 10A-8P, SAT 10A-5P, SUN NOON-5P
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness in Cumberland County and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. The organization has built 57 homes in southern Maine since 1985, and through the international tithe program, has built homes for another 137 families in other countries. In 2012 three local families put the demoralization of substandard housing behind them.
Acoustic Guitars Electric Guitars Bass Guitars Amps Banjos Mandolins Fiddles Ukeleles Plus More, More, More Come see our great selection of instruments!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WRITE FOR OUR NEIGHBOHOOD NEWSPAPER? EMAIL LISA AT OBSERVER@ MUNJHOYHILL. ORG
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Starring DENISE POIRIER*
* Members: Actors’ Equity Association
Wed/Thu 7:00, Fri 7:30, Sat 3:00*/7:30, Sun 2:00
- NEW YORK TIMES Show Sponsor
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GREAT PRICES! GREAT STUFF! 800-639-2715 hamiltonmarine.com
marine Visit us at 100 Fore Street Today!
Carhartt Gear
Men & Sweatshirts, Jackets, Gloves, Women’s Styles Work Pants, Hats Available! & more in stock!
Tarps Starting at 6¢/sq ft! Lightweight Blue Premium White Super Heavy Duty Silver
[Sat 3:00 Matinees on 11/16 & 11/23 only]
3 GRADES! Many Sizes In Stock!
Fiske Skins Baselayer Authentic Wool Watch Cap Genuine government issue knit cap. One $ size fits all.
799 each
Black Order# 157829 Blue Order# 157830
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3XL 24.49 each Starting at
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November 2013
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
THE BODY ARCHITECT
PERSONAL TRAINING EXPERIENCE
30 DAYS FOR ONLY
$49!
THE EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: Functional Movement Screening Unlimited Team Training Unlimited Yoga, Qigong & Spinning Open Gym Access 4 Small Group Personal Training Sessions Tailored to YOUR Goals!
CALL FOR MORE INFO: 207.774.2196 OR STOP IN FOR A TOUR ! 34 ROMASCO LANE IN PORTLAND AT THE BASE OF MUNJOY HILL