February 2014 Munjoy Hill Observer by Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization

1979 – 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

M U N JOY HIL L

OBSERVER 35

Profit Org1 FebruaryNon 2014 US Postage

PAID

Portland, ME Permit No. 824

YEARS

FREE • Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization • Vol. 34, No. 1 • February 2014

MHNO Turns 35!! ON JANUARY 17, the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization celebrated its 35th birthday. The MHNO was incorporated as a non-profit organization on July 17, 1979. Over the past 35 years the “Hill” has seen many changes, but the MHNO, lead by a volunteer Board of Directors that is elected once a year at the annual meeting of the organization, has been a constant and consistent presence in the neighborhood. The MHNO helps to build community and improve the quality of life for all those fortunate

enough to call Munjoy Hill their home. At a City Council meeting held on Wednesday, January 22, Portland Mayor Michael Brennan issued a proclamation honoring the MHNO and thanking the organization for its 35 years of service to the residents of Munjoy Hill. Pictured at right are MHNO Vice-President Ross Fields, Portland Mayor Michael Brennan, and MHNO President Andrea Myhaver.

Look Into The Eyes of A Ghost On January 15, a wayward snowy owl became trapped in the abandoned Grand Trunk Railroad building at the corner of India Street and Commercial. The owl was rescued safely and taken to Avian Haven, an bird rehabilitation center in Freedom, Maine, according to a report by Maine Audubon that appeared in the The Portland Daily Sun on Jan. 16. “Also known as the ghost owl, arctic owl, or great white owl, snowy owls range through Maine in the winter.” Source: http://blog.explore.org/, Image: ipod wallpaper.

Above, Portland Mayor Michael Brennan (at center), bestowing the Proclamation to MHNO Vice-President

PHOTO BY KATIE BROWN

Ross Fields and MHNO President Andrea Myhaver at the January 22 Portland City Council Meeting.

BEFORE THE BEGINNING: THE 1978 MUNJOY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROJECT, PART 1

The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization celebrates its

By Matthew Kennedy

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MHNO News 2-5; Capital & City, 6; Health, 8; Housing Development, 9; School 10; FoEP, 11; Local Events, 17,18,19;

Arctic on the Promenade

PHOTOS BY KATIE BROWN

Not a soul in sight. Above, a glimpse out at Casco Bay from the inside of an igloo on the Eastern Prom, built by Jonathan Gorman and Samantha Okolita, both former residents of Massachusetts, who just moved to the West End. He learned stone masonry from his father and is a landscape architect, and she’s an architecture student.

OVER THE NEXT few months, the MHNO will announce various events and initiatives intended to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Organization. This column is one such initiative – a monthly note on the history of the MHNO, and of the neighborhood it was founded to serve. So let’s start at the beginning – or a bit earlier, a few months before the MHNO was established. What was Munjoy Hill like in the late 1970s? Who were its residents? What were their concerns? For answers, we are fortunate to possess a detailed description of life on the hill in 1977, a snapshot of the world into which the new MHNO dropped on January 17, 1979. On June 15, 1978 the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Planning Project Steering Committee, a group of eight Munjoy Hill residents supported by four paid staff members, issued to the Mayor of Portland the results of their year-long effort “to determine the needs, concerns, desires and opinions of Munjoy Hill residents on a broad range of subjects.” The project was undertaken “in the belief that Munjoy Hill represents an established, distinct, and identifiable neighborhood, where neighborhood plan-

ning is needed”; the core effort was a survey, taken in June 1977, of 178 Munjoy Hill residents chosen via a random sampling methodology. The report contained “no specific recommendations or legislative proposals of any kind.” Instead, it was purely informational, intended as a resource to help guide future decision-making. The report summarized respondents’ views on issues such as housing, transportation, law enforcement and social problems, and also summarized the demographic characteristics of the respondents themselves. So who lived on the Hill in 1977? It was a neighborhood of long-term residents, with a median length of residence of 20 years. Age distribution was wide, with 29 respondents under the age of 25, 72 respondents between ages 25 40, and 27 over 65 years. Slightly more than half of the respondents were married; almost half of the households had children. About a third claimed some college or other advanced education, which, according to the report, was slightly higher than the national average at the time. Laborers and tradesmen represented 16% of respondents, 9% were professionals, 17% office and clerical workers, and 26% homemakers. About 30% claimed

household income between $6,000 - $9,000 (or about $23,000 - $35,000 in current dollars), with 28% of households making less and 42% making more. Over half of the respondents indicated they liked the Hill “very much,” citing location and low cost of living (!) among other desirable characteristics. Those who disliked life on the Hill pointed to the deteriorating physical environment and “youth related problems.” Coming in March: Continuity and Change: The 1978 Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Planning Project, Part 2 Were you involved in the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Planning Project as a Steering Committee member, staff member, or survey respondent? Did you play a role in the founding of the MHNO? Do you have stories to tell? Early copies of the Observer (pre-December 1980) to share (even temporarily)? If so, we want to hear from you! Help us make history; please email me at matthew.kennedy@munjoyhill.org or call me at 207-370-1446. See page 9 of this issue for a summary of building projects on the Hill, written by Sam Cohen.

Buying or Selling, there iS no SuBStitute for experience.

Love the city?

Own a piece of it!

151 Newbury St., Portland, Me 04101 • Cell 207.465.5569 • M arc c hadbourne . coM

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

At the Helm The Munjoy Hill Observer is published

MHNO President, Andrea Myhaver

Celebrating 35 years!

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 Caron Murray.............................................. . ............. caron.murray@munjoyhill.org Thomas Kelley............................................. . .............thomas.kelley@munjoyhill.org Joan Sheedy.....joan.sheedy@munjoyhill.org . ............................................. 774-7616

MHNO Mission

In 1979, I was 10 years old and living on the Eastern Promenade; the average price of a new home was $58K; gas was roughly 0.86¢ per gallon; Margaret Thatcher was the first woman elected as Prime Minister in the UK; Pink Floyd released “The Wall”; the Sony Walkman was introduced (a bargain at $200); and the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization was born. In some ways it seems hard to believe that the MHNO has been around for 35 years! In a world where global and local priorities change on a regular basis, it is a testament to the forethought of those that founded the organization, as well as to the dedication of the scores of volunteers who have given of their time and effort over the years, that the MHNO has for three and a half decades been a vibrant, ac-

tive voice for residents of Munjoy Hill. We (the current MHNO Board) think it’s an accomplishment worthy of much celebration, and to that end we’re trying to plan some events to commemorate our anniversary that will bring together current and past residents of Munjoy Hill, and build an even stronger sense of community. To get some ideas, we started to look through the archives at Hill House to see how the MHNO has celebrated and come together over the years. Here’s a sampling of some of the events that the MHNO has sponsored since its inception: *Annual Festivals that went from dawn to dusk featuring – road races, field days, hay rides, historic tours, teen dances, hot air balloon rides, baking contests, and remarks by the governor of

Being a Good Neighbor Each month in the Observer we include a “Good Neighbor” column. Our purpose in including this is partly to show our appreciation for the people who are feeding positive energy into the community. After all, a pat on the back always feels good, and the telling of these stories can help inspire others to act, by showing that “no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” (author: Aesop, Ancient Greek storyteller who died 564 BC) While I like to think of Munjoy Hill dwellers as one big happy family, I realize that everyone has different expectations of their roles and responsibilities in any community. There are those who have lived here for a long time— for generations—some are here only briefly, and others are newcomers who specifically CHOSE this place for its charms. Each person brings a different style of communication to the table. Yet, with all the diversity, there is still a recognizable “community culture” to the Hill. I believe that what members of this community share is the love of place, THIS place. The views, the history, and the people themselves are a source of joy and satisfaction. In order to preserve the atmosphere of welcome and inclusiveness that characterizes

Today, Munjoy Hill is experiencing a “renaissance” of sorts. There will be no stopping the building boom that is on the horizon. The changes that are coming, while welcome in the sense that prosperity and popularity are welcome, are going to make some people uncomfortable, and some people very upset. Change can be unsettling. The way in which neighbors settle their differences in an established community like this, whether it is respectful or hurtful, invariably has long-term repercussions. It can be very helpful to stick to a few ground rules for public discussions, to avoid permanent rifts and ongoing feuds. Goodwill is a priceless, but fragile commodity. Because Munjoy Hill is entering a phase of change, and because harsh words uttered cannot be taken back, and because we all need to get along, I want to offer these ground rules from the Counseling & Mental Health Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Ground Rules Remain calm. Try not to overreact to difficult situations. By

in January 1979, our purpose is to be

broad-based,

representative

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

Those all seem like some great ideas to us, and we’d like to choose a few standouts from this list of events past, as well as some of the ideas generated when we surveyed our membership last year (pot-luck suppers, game nights and history walks to name a few) and put together a really great schedule of events to take place over the next 12 months. There’s even been some talk recently on the “Munjoy Hill Residents Past and Present” Facebook page about scheduling a massive reunion of “Hill

Kids” this summer, and if there are enough people interested in that, the MHNO would love to help make it happen. So, we’re looking for some volunteers interested in helping us to solidify the list and organize the events. Can we count on your help? Please contact me at: andrea. myhaver@munjoyhill.org, or leave a message on the Hill House voicemail: 207-775-3050, if you are interested. We’ll hold an initial meeting in mid-February to “get the party started” and then take it from there. Let’s make more history! I hope to hear from you soon!

From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver

this community, it will be important to tread lightly and be extra respectful when conflict between neighbors arises.

Incorporated as a nonprofit organization

the state of Maine. *Energy Fairs *Bean Suppers, *MHNO Sponsored performances by musical groups such as the New England Piano Quartet, *Cook-outs, *Solstice Celebrations, *Flower Power Project (placement of 15 flower boxes along Congress St.), *“Rid Litter” neighborhood clean-up days, *First Friday Art Walk Showings, and much more.

remaining calm, it will be more likely that others will consider your viewpoint. Express feelings in words, not actions. Telling someone directly and honestly how you feel can be a very powerful form of communication. If you start to feel so angry or upset that you feel you may lose control, take a “time out” and do something to help yourself feel steadier. Be specific about what is bothering you. Vague complaints are hard to work on. Deal with only one issue at a time. Don’t introduce other topics until each is fully discussed. This avoids the “kitchen sink” effect where people throw in all their complaints while not allowing anything to be resolved. No “hitting below the belt.” Attacking areas of personal sensitivity creates an atmosphere of distrust, anger, and vulnerability. Avoid accusations. Accusations will cause others to defend themselves. Instead, talk about how someone’s actions made you feel Don’t generalize. Avoid words like “never” or “always.” Such generalizations are usually inaccurate and will heighten tensions.

gerating or inventing a complaint or your feelings about it will prevent the real issues from surfacing. Stick with the facts and your honest feelings. Don’t stockpile. Storing up lots of grievances and hurt feelings over time is counterproductive. It’s almost impossible to deal with numerous old problems for which interpretations may differ. Try to deal with problems as they arise. Avoid clamming up. When one person becomes silent and stops responding to the other, frustration and anger can result. Positive results can only be attained with two-way communication. Sometimes being a Good Neighbor is not about what you do, but what you DON’T do. Let’s give each other the benefit of the doubt, and let’s all live here like we intend to stay.

Avoid “make believe.” Exag-

S e n d Yo u r L e tt e r s a n d H i l l n e w s to observ er@Munjoy Hill .org

WHO YOU GONNA CALL? You can help prevent crime on the Hill! If you see a crime happening or see/hear anything suspicious in your neighborhood, please call the police!

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

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

February – the month of Love!

Boyd Marley

A Friendly New Face at EECS

Are you in love? Do you remember that moment when you fell in love? Is there a special person in your life who, when they walk into the room, makes that ear-to-ear grin appear on your face? Or, leaves you tongue-tied because you can’t seem to find the words to truly express what you’re feeling? That person you just want to hold and never let go?

By Markos Miller (the newer portion) and the limbic brain. The neocortex is responsible for rational and analytical thought and language. Already you can probably see where this is going, since there never seems to be any rationality to love. Our limbic brain is responsible for all of our feelings such as trust, loyalty, and, of course, love. The limbic part of our brain controls our behavior and decision making, but has no capacity for language. This is most likely why words (if any DO come out of your mouth, when attempting to express your feeling of love) seem to make no sense at all. Just gibberish. Our feeling brain is not necessarily integrated with our speaking brain.

For me, it’s Kathleen, my wife, my friend, my adventure queen. Yes, I do remember when I fell in love with her. Very clearly. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever known . . . and she had a knife in her hand. We met the beginning of the summer of 1980, and we ended up going camping and fishing with friends up to the north woods of Wisconsin. When I saw her gut and filet her own fish, in a swarm of mosquitoes, I was hooked. I was in love. We got married on May 23, 1981, and it’s been one continuous stream of adventures ever since. One of the key factors in our love for each other is that we — to this day — continue to work on our relationship. Love is one thing, but living with another person is definitely an ongoing learning process.

So, to all my fellow February love birds out there, when your limbic brain is overwhelmed with the feeling of love, and your neocortex just can’t seem to find the right words — or words that make any sense — just give that special person a long, warm and loving hug, even if they are holding a knife.

But where does love, this intense feeling that seems to over take our whole emotional and physical being at the drop-ofa-hat, come from? And why is it so challenging to put into words?

Happy Valentine’s Day. Oh, and by the way, a Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization membership makes a perfect Valentine’s Day gift. Nothing says love like supporting your neighborhood.

It has to do with the way our brain works. Our brain is made up of the neocortex

Ask the Money Prof

Poems below were written by Joe Malia, a student at Southern Maine Community College who lives on Hammond Street near Munjoy Hill. He is inspired by spending time on the Eastern Promenade.

By Joel I. Gold

An Important Gift for Your Loved Ones

It Begins —Joseph Malia—

Holiday gifts can be fun, but are they everlasting? Another shirt, more jewelry, flowers – yes, they can be nice, but are they important in the long run? How many spouses are in the dark about their financial affairs during the marriage? When the financially literate spouse dies, are there any financial instructions and directives? Financial communication with loved ones is an important gift, and a necessity to the ones you love.

The cold night whispers, Cascading snowfall spreads,

If you’re a parent hanging around the East End Community School (EECS) lately, you may have noticed a smiling new face this school year. Boyd Marley is the schools new Assistant Principal, stepping in last August for Peter McCormick, who is now at Lyseth Elementary School. Boyd brings a wealth of experience to his new position: 20 years of experience as a Special Education classroom teacher, and 8 years of service in Augusta representing District 114 in Portland. I first got to know Boyd as he was completing his tenure in Augusta. He had been serving as the Chair of the Joint House/Senate Transportation Committee, and he agreed to co-chair Phase One of the Franklin Street Redesign Committee. Boyd’s ability to facilitate the work of a large committee and his relationship with the Maine Department of Transportation contributed to the success of this effort. He has been a supporter of greater transportation options, including funding for rail, and Safe Routes to Schools efforts, like EECS’s Walking School Bus. Back in August of last year, EECS Principal, Marcia Gendron called Boyd in about the position. Boyd commented that he was pleased to find that the two of them share similar philosophies about education, and has been impressed by the energy and passion Ms. Gendron brings to her work. “It really has a profound effect”, he added; “There is not a person in this school that will not make that extra effort for our kids. It is part of the culture of this school”. Boyd says he is particularly impressed with the culture built around student achievement in math, and the focus on developing the resiliency of students.

Boyd is a member of the Building Leadership Team and is working on the school-wide effort to use data around student learning to improve teaching practices. He also handles many issues related to Special Education. EECS is in its third and final year of a federal School Improvement Grant (SIG), which has provided resources to help boost student achievement and growth. The school’s top-to-bottom focus on setting goals and achievement is evident: Boyd’s list of goals for the next 45-day period is posted right by his door. Boyd is also finding that his experience in the State Legislature puts him in a unique position to connect with other organizations across the city and state to resolve issues and coordinate initiatives. His understanding of the realities of Portland’s social service agencies is a tremendous asset for a school like East End Community School, where there are many families struggling with poverty, and students with immigrant and refugee backgrounds. His political background also informs his understanding of how things might work in City Hall and Augusta, and enhances his ability to communicate effectively in these arenas. This is Boyd’s first role in an administrative position in public school; he is excited about the opportunities for professional and personal growth the position offers. He believes deeply in the role of public schools in the education of our young people and has sent his children through Portland Schools. “In Portland we have the opportunity to educate the whole child in a unique way”, remarked Boyd, “We are fortunate to have such a rich setting for our children; innovative programs like Rise and Shine, the diversity of our students, and the level of community involvement are incredible”.

Our time in winter chill.

Treasure —Joseph Malia—

You are my treasure

It’s never too early (or late) to provide financial instructions and directives to your spouse and children. Historically, there has been a tendency in families for only one of the spouses to be the “money person” of the partnership. This is changing as access to education, spousal careers and independence evolves. However, many of the “older” baby boomers and those in their 70s and 80s leave little instruction to surviving spouses. This can become a heavy burden upon death. It is not difficult to keep all financial details in • manila folders that can be easily found. • The following is some of the information that should be discussed while both spouses are alive; at the very least, this information should be included in a • memorandum accessible to the surviving spouse: Location of final resting place A list of all investment accounts, including custodians, contact

Good Neighbor of the Month

By Ross Fields, VP & MHNO Membership

• •

February 2014

•

every day just adds a new gold piece you have a value but no price no amount of money or wealth could part you from me my own personal treasure information, portfolio positions. A list of all bank accounts A list of all insurance policies, including all life and health and property casualty policies. A list of all real estate, including locations, mortgage information, and deeds. Budget information: a list of monthly expenses with contact information.

• •

Online banking user-ids/ passwords should be made available; all checkbooks easily accessed along with credit card information. All internet user-IDs and passwords. Health care information

•

Income tax information includes the past year’s 1040 form with schedules. This information should be checked and updated periodically. Your spouse will be very thankful for your effort!

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.

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Meet the Board of the MHNO Keeping your Neighborhood Organization Running

Ross Fields, MHNO Vice President Turner St.

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Ross Fields, Ad Sales Rep

Joan Sheedy North St Tamera Edison, Ad Sales Rep

Each MHNO Board member on this page has been profiled in recent issues of the Observer, which are all available online in “.pdf” form. To read the brief bios, go online to munjoyhill.org.

Sarah Graulty Waterville St.

Lisa Peñalver Editor of the Observer; also Graphic Designer, and BioMedical Illustrator, Peaks Island Gears Illustration: Thinkstock

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

February 2014

the munjoy Hill neighborhood Organization Observer Submission Deadlines! To submit your letter, article or ad into the next month’s issue of the Observer, please send it to us by the 15th of each month. If you do not receive a reply (you should), please follow up with a phone call to our Editor, Lisa Peñalver at 207-766-5077.

Open Meetings!! The MHNO Board meets every second Monday of each month at 7 pm at the Hill House at 92 Congress St.

Everyone’s Welcome!

Volunteer with the MHNO You can make a difference! The MHNO has a number of active committees. We are always seeking new members. Do any of the areas below interest you? Please drop in to a meeting (times and days for each committee listed below) at Hill House, 92 Congress St, to find out more! All meeting times listed are subject to change. Please visit our website for most current meeting schedule. Membership and Events Membership Committee oversees the expansion, maintenance and involvement of members;

also coordinates and implements all MHNO sponsored events such as quarterly and annual meetings, Membership & Events - Co-chairs: Ross Fields and Andrea Myhaver - contact ross. fields@munjoyhill.org Services Committee Services Committee initiates and implements all service and assistance programs, such as Fuel Assistance, Youth Community Services, Holiday Gifts and our new program for elder assistance. Services Chair: Elaine Mullin contact elaine.mullin@ munjoyhill.org NEW! Communications Committee Details in

next issue

Safe & Livable Neighborhood Committee The SLN Committee oversees MHNO involvement in all matters affecting street, sidewalk and neighborhood environments (includes safe sidewalks, street clean up, parking and traffic issues, maintenance and use of the Hill House).

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.

Chair of this committee is Sam Cohen: sam. cohen@munjoyhill.org The Observer Committee The Observer Committee provides oversight to the MHNO’s monthly newspaper, the Munjoy Hill Observer. Chair: Andrea Myhaver Contact andrea.myhaver@ munjoyhill.org

Follow the Franklin Street redesign process! Go online to franklinstreet.mindmixer.com Join the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization New Membership

Baby, it’s cold outside!

Name(s)_ ____________________________________________________________

The MHNO Heating Assistance Funds can help those in need. Are you having trouble keeping your home warm? The MHNO has a fuel assistance program for our neighbors having trouble paying fuel bills. Thanks to the generosity of our community who use the green Clynk bags we supply (in the green box on our fence), we have money to use for this purpose. Please reach out to Elaine at elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org if you need help with heating costs.

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

Membership Levels Individual: $10 Family: $20 Business: $35 Additional Donation

“LIKE” us & stay informed!

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!

Renewal

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

$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! 02/2014

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER justinalfond.com

CapitAl City

Second Session Preview: Healthcare and Jobs top the dockeT

On January 8, 2014 I had the honor of gaveling the 126th Maine State Senate into its Second Session. The second session of the legislature runs from January to April, and is devoted primarily to working on bills carried over from the first session, along with a limited number of new bills. This month I want to tell you about our work to expand access to healthcare, two jobs bills I am sponsoring, and a bill to help resolve the Portland Pirates — Cumberland County Civic Center dispute. Last month, the Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on two bills to expand access to healthcare. The Legislature has voted three times to accept the federal government’s deal to give healthcare to 70,000 Mainers, and I have proudly voted in the affirmative each time. The state is losing $700,000 every day that we do not accept this deal. According to a study

from Harvard, and this is the most sobering fact for legislators to consider, we could save nearly 400 lives a year by expanding access to health care. Four-hundred more of our friends and neighbors’ lives will be saved if we take this step. Increasing access to health care is the right

economic move for Maine and a proposal rooted deep in our values as Mainers. I am hopeful that our colleagues across the aisle will work with us to find a way to accept this offer. In addition to expanding access to healthcare, we need to do more to strengthen our economy and create jobs. I have several jobs bills this session that will help businesses in Portland and across Maine. The first will increase access to startup capital for small business. While resources exist to assist entrepreneurs with many aspects of

business development, the ability to raise capital is an area that remains problematic for many Maine startups and small businesses. My bill addresses this challenge by providing startups and other Maine businesses with the ability to easily sell small amounts of equity using various methods, including social media and the internet. My second jobs bill will help Maine’s small craft breweries, wineries, and distillers — a growing industry in Maine. These small businesses have produced some fantastic products that live up to the Maine brand while creating jobs right here at home. In fact, a recent study concluded that the brewing industry has brought more than $325 million into Maine’s economy -- roughly the same as the ski industry. Unfortunately the industry has been hampered by some antiquated laws that are restricting their ability to reach new markets and grow. I am sponsoring a bill that consolidates, clarifies, and simplifies different festi-

val license provisions into one. Streamlining event regulations will help a burgeoning industry grow and attract new customers and create jobs. Finally, in an effort to assist the Portland Pirates and the Cumberland County Civic Center, I have introduced a bill to allow large athletic facilities the option of sharing liquor sales’ revenues with sports teams playing at their facilities. This was one of the sticking points in the Pirates-Civic Center negotiations. While my bill will not fix every point of contention, it is my hope that this bill will provide the Civic Center and the Portland Pirates with another tool to help both parties come to an amicable solution, and bring the Portland Pirates back to Portland. These are just some of the bills I will be working on this year. Next month, I’ll discuss our educational priorities for the session, including continuing our work to end student hunger. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. You can reach me at Justin@JustinAlfond.com.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

(LIHEAP) provides money to help low-income homeowners and renters pay for heating costs. Am I Eligible? The amount of assistance you may get from LIHEAP is based on your household size and income, energy costs, and other factors. You may be eligible for assistance if your total household income falls within the income eligibility guidelines or 60% of the state area median income, whichever is less. Eligibility for households with incomes between 150% and 170% of the federal poverty guidelines is limited to those households with a member who is susceptible to hypothermia, such as elderly, a child twenty-four months of age or under, or with a doctor’s diagnosis. If your heat is included in your rent, you may still apply for LIHEAP. For mre information, cll (207) 6264603, or email: LIHEAP@ mainehousing.org, and visit mainehousing.org

How about housing for the middle class? Street. The lot does offer coveted snowstorm parking, and the anticipated construction has led to creating snow ban parking areas on the Eastern Promenade, while it may offer an opportunity for future middle class housing. kjdonoghue @ por tlandmaine.gov

Recent development proposals throughout District One, but particularly the East End, have provoked a lot of reaction. Much of public input has related to design, scale and the like, but no takeaway has been more obvious than the anxiety over the future of the middle class, namely whether residents will be priced out of - or condemned to forever live in - apartments. The private sector caters to the top of the market while the public sector caters to its bottom. It is time for us to look more closely at strategies that promote collaboration between sectors to foster growth across the whole income spectrum and develop a more inclusive community. Key areas of inquiry should be city land, zoning reform, tax incentives, and maybe mandates. City Land As the former Adams School was redeveloped into homes for middle class families, there remained substantial land left undeveloped, most notably the parking lot facing Munjoy

Along Franklin Street, the owner of several parcels, after buying, emptying, and demolishing apartment buildings to make room for condos, then opted not to build, instead raising the profile of another city parking lot. At the corner with Middle Street, this lot provides parking for perhaps a dozen city employees. Once we find an alternative for this parking need, this collection of lots could also become middle class housing construction. There are other nearby properties of interest, not least of which is the metered parking at High and Spring. We will be evaluating the prospects and challenges associated with redeveloping these lots, potentially contributing land, and packaging it with other resources for middle class housing. Zoning Reform You will recall how late last year the City Council voted (6-3) to amend zoning to allow more height to accommodate the development of spacious condos at 118 Congress Street. Would we not then also amend zoning to allow for housing types affordable to local peo-

ple? Whereas allowances for height were tied to views and commanding higher purchase prices, zoning reforms that promote middle class housing would seek to reduce construction costs so that families with children or active in the labor force might yet finance the purchase price. Zoning reform

may have many aspects as we review dimensional standards such as density and setbacks in the Urban Residential (R6) and the Community Business (B2) zoning districts, but I suspect that already no consideration is more pressing than parking requirements. Structured parking not only makes for ugly buildings, but it also makes for expensive housing. We will look into limiting “parking facades,” that fail to obscure large ground floor parking lots, and at the parking requirements that compel both poor design and limits on affordable housing projects. Tax Incentives You might also recall how City Councilors voted (6-3) on a tax break for the Bayhouse, the recently completed condos off India Street, to help the developer secure bank financing. In order to comply with State laws on tax breaks, the project was redefined as rental housing

until such time as sales of the units eliminated the need for help. Then they would convert to condos. As the City Council had already voted to amend zoning to allow more height for the Bayhouse, one might ask what public benefit would be served by offering a tax break for sky-high condos? The answer certainly is not affordable housing, but this is a card we should be ready to play. Would it not be reasonable to require that taxpayer subsidies be conditioned upon some affordability? This is a question we will engage as we review our policies for Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Mandates? It is one thing to require mixedincome housing as a condition of receiving tax breaks, yet it would be quite another, if not new, to have mixed-income housing as a matter of course. Developers of low-income rentals are often asked to include a share of market-rate rentals. Is asking higher-end condo developers to include a share of middle class condos so radical? Many cities that are farther along the course of gentrification have a wealth of experience in linking the development of affordable housing to the development of housing for the wealthy. What might we give up in pursuing this policy known as Inclusionary Zoning? More height? We’re been giv-

ing it up anyway, but have very little to show for it, since we’ve been giving it up for free. The devil would be in the details, but I expect that when we come to understand those details, we can learn from experiences of other cities that have tried to stem the loss of the middle class.

Changes to Maine “Circuitbreaker” Program Felt in 2014 The Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent Refund “Circuitbreaker” Program has been repealed as part of the enacted state budget for claims beginning on or after August 1, 2013. The Circuitbreaker Program has been replaced by a refundable Property Tax Fairness Credit that can be claimed on the Maine Individual Income Tax Form. The new credit will be available beginning in January, 2014 on the 2013 Maine Individual Income Tax Form 1040ME. A worksheet will be included with Form 1040ME to calculate the amount of the credit. http:// w w w.maine.gov/revenue/ taxrelief/tnr.htm, and more at income.tax@maine.gov

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

February 2014

GrowingTogether T ips

P arenting

R elationships

By Ross Fields, CPE & Kathleen Fields, CPE

Parenting and Cell Phones:

Are your habits spelling “Trouble” for you and your child?

In the musical, The Music Man, Professor Harold Hill stirred up the citizenry of River City. He was claiming that the presence of a pool table in town was leading their children down a path of sin and degradation. Is the cell phone the pool table of today, or is it just another unjustly blamed object? What if this is actually about the example we adults are setting? Cell phone use is a frequent topic of discussion with parents we work with. The usual complaint is, “I can’t seem to get my kid to do anything, because I can’t get him to put down his phone.” In most situations, cell phone “over-use” is just a symptom of the larger issue, genuine communication. I finally joined the 21st Century by acquiring an iPhone. What an amazing piece of technology. Even so, these devices still don’t take the place of face-to-face, human interaction, no matter how hard we try. Pretend that you’re 4 years old and excited because you’re going with Mom to your favorite playground! The one with the awesome slide and perfect swings! Getting out of the car, you see Mom with cell phone in hand (normal). You squeal,

“Hurry, Mom! Let’s go!” You run to the swings and jump on wanting to get as high as possible -- really fast. “Push me, Mom! I want to go high!” She pushes with one hand while texting with the other. “Mom, push me more!” She looks up from her device, smiles, nods, and gives you a push that sends you flying up to the clouds. “Mom! Look at me!” you shout, as you reach the top of the swings’ sweeping arc. You look down, only to see Mom frantically texting away while holding up one finger, like she’s saying, “just-a-minute.” Finally she looks up snapping a picture to remember the moment. Now you jump off and go over to the large slide. You want Mom to watch you, but see her talking to someone on her phone, slightly turned away from you. You climb to the top of the ladder. (Mom, I’m way up here!) She’s still deep in conversation. Then she looks up at you, and you sail down the slide shouting, “Mom! Look at ME!” wishing she’d slide down with you . . .making a “train”. Finally she looks up, makes eye contact with you and hollers, “Hi, Sweetie!” Watching you for a few seconds she takes another picture, and then retreats back to her phone. As that 4 year old, what are you feeling right now? What decisions are you making about your value in the family, in the world? What might you be learning about relationships? What do you think Mom is modeling? We’re not suggesting you throw your cell phone away. It’s about balance and

awareness. Take time to ask yourself if your child is just mimicking your own usage habits. Make it be OK to “silence” your phone at predetermined times -- or when your son wants 5 minutes. If your kids are older and have their own, discuss this in your regular family meetings, and choose times when ALL devices will be off. Like at dinner, or when you’re sharing a family activity. If you have a teen whose phone is attached to her like another appendage, then find a good time and tell her how you feel. Ask for what you want. Ask her how she feels. Hang in there. Work on setting mutually agreed upon limits that work for both of you. You are the most important person in your child’s life. You are his or her role model. They want to be like you. Think about the example you are setting. Are you creating “Trouble in River City”? Don’t need to say more. You get it. To see the Trouble in River City clip, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_ Oe-jtgdI. Enjoy 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, cofounders of Results Parenting, LLC, www.resultsparenting.com.

image © Corbis.com

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

It’s Time for the State to Say “Yes” to Extending Affordable Health Coverage in Maine

By Lori K Parham, State Director, AARP Maine

During the next few weeks, the Legislature will try again to ensure that close to 70,000 uninsured Mainers will have access to affordable health care thanks to the Affordable Care Act. In 2013, the Legislature was just two votes short of overriding the Governor’s veto of this important legislation. This is money earmarked to offer health insurance to uninsured Mainers, including thousands who are between the ages of 50 and 64. Along with a coalition of more than 80 organizations in Maine including doctors, nurses, health clinics, businesses, consumers, and groups such as the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association, AARP is

working to ensure that Maine people have access to affordable health care, including those who have lost their jobs and are currently unable to afford health insurance. Extending affordable health coverage will help Mainers aged 50 to 64 who find themselves in this very situation and who don’t currently qualify for Medicaid health coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act, all states have the option to expand health coverage opportunities for their residents. This is just one critical element of the law that will give people without insurance access to preventive and primary care. It would also include access to important medical screenings that can save

Wellness on the Hill:

lives and reduce the need for expensive emergency room visits. Over time, extending affordable health coverage will keep costs down across the entire health care system. If you have ever lost your job, you know how frightening that can be. Losing your job usually means losing your health insurance, too. The economy has been tough during the last few years and if you’re in your 50’s or 60’s, finding a new job can be difficult. In fact, older workers have longer periods of unemployment than do younger workers. It doesn’t take long for those who are out of work to find themselves making very difficult decisions about how to make ends meet, espe-

cially given the cost of individual or family health care coverage on the private market.

delay is a loss of millions of dollars that could support Maine people and Maine’s economy.

The fact is that Maine now has the chance to access the necessary federal funds that will enable residents to get the coverage they need. If Maine doesn’t, another state will access dollars we have paid in. The fiscal benefits of accepting these funds for Maine are quite remarkable. The federal government will pay the entire cost of covering newly eligible individuals for three years beginning this year, and then the federal government’s match rate gradually drops, beginning in 2017, decreasing to 90 percent in 2020 and thereafter. This is a great deal! Every month that we

If you would like to help make this happen, please contact your own legislators and tell them to support extending affordable health care coverage in Maine. Your voice truly matters in this discussion. You can find your legislators by going to www. maine.gov/legis/. Please call your legislators today and tell your friends and neighbors to do the same. If you would like additional information you can email me at me@aarp.org.

Beat the Winter Blues, Volume 1

Cultivating a Healthy Gut at the Rosemont Market February – the middle of the Maine winter. A time to build health, to fortify our immune systems in order to enjoy the height of ski season, endless snowshoeing, or simply an invigorating hike up the Hill in the strengthening sunshine. Lucky for us, our neighborhood Rosemont Market makes developing a healthy microbiome in the gut an easy task. Our gut, home to approximately 100 trillion friendly microorgasims, is critical to our overall health and sense of well-being, protecting us from invading harmful bacteria and parasites, making our food more easily digestible, and promoting the effective absorption of nutrients. To fend off any unwanted colds or flu this winter, we can give our gut a welcome boost with the wide variety of fermented foods available at our Hill Store. Fer-

dinner, or as a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up, and Winter Hill Farm’s homestead yogurt. Winter Hill Farm is another small Maine farm located five miles northwest of Freeport, who creates their rich, smooth, and creamy yogurt from their hardy Randall cattle, a historic heritage breed that Thirty Acre Farm, a small Winter Hill Farm is family farm in Whiteworking to preserve. field, Maine, is featured Sarah Wiederkehr, extensively on the top who owns and runs shelf of the refrigerated the farm with her section at Rosemont. Says —Hippocrates, father of modern medicine husband Steve BurgHill Store manager Emer, describes makily Ruddoch, “We’re very ing the yogurt, “We loyal customers – Thirty Acre start with our whole milk, then your gut. Farm consistently has great prowe add our probiotic culture, duce and tasty ferments.” There’s Other top-shelf fermented and just let the bacteria do their a reason they’re on the top shelf finds available at our neighborthing! There is nothing else add- Thirty Acre Farm grows 95% hood grocery include Vermont ed to our yogurt. Most grocery of their own ingredients and Creamery’s crème fraiche, to store brands have thickeners, brings us certified organic sau- top off all of your winter soups, emulsifiers, preservatives, and erkraut, ruby kraut, kimchi, Urban Farm Fermentory komsweeteners added. Ours is just gingered carrots, and sour dill buchas to enjoy with lunch, mentation converts the sugars and starches in vegetables and fruits into lactic acid and friendly lactobacilli bacteria – making fermented foods extremely easy to digest, with the added bonus that they support the growth of beneficial bacteria in our gut, hence the term probiotic.

pickles, with no added sugar and made with Celtic sea salt, rich in trace minerals. Try one every week for the rest of winter until you find your favorite! When you do, incorporate a tablespoon of fermented vegetables into every meal to insure a continuous supply of friendly lactobacilli to

“All diseases begin in the gut.”

My Health: I have a goal, now what should I do? By Shelly Verma, Medical Student with MaineHealth Learning Resource Center What is Goal Setting? Goal setting is a tool that you can use to help you stick to a new change in your life. Goal setting can be used with any new lifestyle change such as weight loss and quitting smoking. It will help you come up with a plan and deadlines that help you achieve your goal. How do I start setting goals? First, you want your goal to be about something that you want to do and that you are doing for yourself.. It’s important to feel like you can achieve your goal, , but still something that you have to work at.

I have a goal, now what should I do? Next, write down the step on how you are going to achieve your goal. For example, if you want to start exercising more you would need to figure out what type of exercise you want to do, when you will do it, and how long you will do it for each week. How do I know if I am on track with my goals? The best way to make sure you are on track with achieving your goal is by checking in with your progress. For example if you want to lose weight, you can check your weight once a week. Or if you want to exercise more, keep a log of how many days and for how long you walked in a week.

Should I have a time frame? Yes. You want to make sure you come up with an end date of when you finish your goal. Having a deadline will help you stay focused on achieving your goal. Try to be as specific as possible. For example, I will lose 1-2 pounds a week for 8 weeks. What if I’m not achieving my goal?

You can visit the resources listed below or visit your doctor for more information. The Learning Resource Center , 272 Congress St., Portland,

Me 04101, 207-662-7335, www. MaineHealth.org/LRC

Weight loss: http://www. mayoclinic.com/health/weightloss/WT00018/NSECTIONGROUP=2

If it turns out you are having trouble achieving your goal, take a look at it again. Maybe you need to take some smaller steps in order to get to your goal? The key is to make your goal as doable for you as you can. So, reassess and try again!

ht t ps://bewel l.sta n ford.edu/ smart-goals

Where can I find out more information about goal-setting?

http://www.healthmatters.idaho. gov/pdf/Fitness_Challenge_10/ SMARTGoalExamples.pdf

Goal setting handout:

http://publichealth.lacounty. gov/nut/lacollab/RegionalNetworkTrainings/Appendix%20 B%20SMART%20goal%20worksheets%20rev.pdf

By Gretchen Miller

the milk and the probiotic.” The couple highly recommends their yogurt as a wholesome breakfast or dessert topped with a little bit of local maple syrup or raw honey. Finally, while on our fermented food kick, we would do well to add both fermented cod liver oil which is extremely high in Vitamins D and A (www.greenpasture.org) and a concentrated multistrain probiotic (www.biokult.com). For instructions on how to make your own fermented vegetables, kombucha, and yogurt, check out Sally Fallon’s classic Nourishing Traditions and Sandor Katz’s Wild Fermentation.

Stay Healthy this winter 1) Boost your immune system: Eat 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A, C and E (think carrots, oranges, grapefruits and dark leafy vegetables). 2) Grab a shut-eye: get plenty of sleep! 3) Get outdoors: the light wards off depression and the activity burns calories. 4) Watch what you eat and drink: cut out sodas and sugars 5) Stay active, exercise-even a walk will help. 6) Wash your hands regularly to keep infections from spreading. 7) Stay warm: Cover up if you are feeling cold. Don’t wait till your fingers have frozen or your feet have numbed. 8) Drink water: Hydrate yourself 9) Get out and spend time with other people and visit with trusted friends or relatives. 10 ) Get a flu shot—if only to be a good citizen.

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Development on Munjoy Hill changes the character of Congress Street and the Eastern Promenade.”

118 Congress St. The proposed four-story condominium/ retail building at 118 Congress won City Council approval for a zoning text amendment that increases the allowable building height from 45’ to 50’. The 6-3 December vote (the Hill’s councilor, Kevin Donoghue voted in opposition to the change) was followed by a Planning Board workshop in December to discuss the mixed-use development. In Jean Fraser’s memo to the Planning Board, one item of concern was street trees. “The proposed development obscures signiﬁcant streetscapes and overwhelms the historic views of traditional Congress Street,” said city arborist, Jeff Tarling. He went on to note, “The lack of any landscape greening, planters, and removing available space for street trees is like no other project in recent memory. Proposed building overhangs over the sidewalk seriously affect street-tree growth and are strongly opposed as shown. The building overhangs eliminate ALL future shade tree/street tree possibilities and is unacceptable, as it

trees, and nearly 700 shrubs, which is more than the city requires from a project of this size. At press time, 16 of the 29 $500,000$700,000 townhouses have been reserved, according to the development’s website. Construction could begin as soon as February and completed by late 2014, according to Jonathan Culley, the owner of Redfern. 33-35 Lafayette St.

The Planning Board hosted a workshop in December to discuss the proposed deOn January 28th, The Planning Board velopment at 33-35 Lafayette St. The preunanimously approved the 118 Congress liminary proposal is to build a four-story, St final site plans. Next stop, City Council, 9,000 square-foot building with six condo where they will decide whether or not to units atop the foundation of the church approve of the encroachment on the pub- that exists there now. The project, dubbed the Marquis Lofts (an assumed homage to lic space. the Marquis de Lafayette), will house an Munjoy Heights enclosed first floor parking area, with the at Walnut St. residential units in the three floors above. The Munjoy Heights The preliminary development of 29 plans neglect to aca report from the high-end townhouscount for the city’s MHNO Safe and Livable es in six buildings requirement of one Neighborhood Committee tree per unit built. at the current site of the Portland Trails In a memo writCommittee Chair: Sam.Cohen@munjoyhill.org Jack Path received ten by City Planner unanimous approvNell Donaldson to al by the Planning Board in December. the Planning Board, concerns have been The infill project will establish the city’s raised in regards to the architectural comfirst completely shared street, known as patibility of this project within the context a woonerf (Dutch for ‘living yard’). This of the neighborhood. gives equal rights to the roadway for peDonaldson writes, “Concerns were exdestrians, cyclists and cars alike. pressed regarding the building’s height, Redfern Properties, the developers of the proposed at just over 43’, and scale in relaproject, took great care in working with tion to the neighboring buildings. Most of Portland Trails to ensure the continued use the surrounding buildings are two to three and public access of the Jack Path by pro- stories in height, and most have gabled or viding a permanent easement for the trail. mansard roofs which serve to mitigate Many existing trees will have to be cut the effect of height.” She goes on to say, down, so Redfern will be adding around 70 “Neighbors have also argued that the proposed setback (which is a function of the reuse of the existing foundation on site), when combined with the street’s narrow profile, will result in an ‘unpleasantly imposing presence on Lafayette Street.’” The memo concludes with this line, “Lastly, it should be noted that staff discussed the merits of an alternative design review for the project, under which the design could be reviewed for compatibility with a larger neighborhood context.” 152-156 Sheridan Street

view of a 12,000 square foot, three-story housing development at 152-156 Sheridan Street. The site, which is currently undeveloped open space, has a steep slope and the proposed structure will incorporate pier supports rather than – what would have to be – extensive grading. The building will have five residential units, four being two-bedroom, with a threebedroom unit on the top floor. “It should be noted that neighbors have raised design concerns, specifically with respect to compatibility with the existing neighborhood,” said Planner Nell Donaldson in a memo to the Planning Board. “A number of neighbors have remarked that the project seems out of scale with adjacent buildings. Neighbors have suggested that the applicant build the development into the hillside and thereby avoid the use of piers, making the design more consistent with surrounding development.” Of course, this wouldn’t be Munjoy Hill without concerns about parking. The preliminary design incorporates a parking garage on the building’s first floor, with five parking spaces, one for each unit. Some neighbors worry that this won’t be enough. The Planning Board held a public hearing on January 28th, after which it approved the Sheridan Street project. St. Lawrence Arts Center The only nonprofit among these new developments is the St. Lawrence Arts Center. They are proposing a 400-seat performing arts venue to be built next to the existing parish hall. According to the Bangor Daily News, the Friends of the St. Lawrence Church hope to apply for Planning Board approval in January, to open the possibility of the Board considering the application as soon as February 2014. The new venue actuated the formation of the Concerned Citizens of Munjoy Hill, a group that has raised questions about potential parking problems and called for alternative scaling and design of the performance hall. The project must also receive approval from the Historic Preservation Board before moving forward. As always, if you have any thoughts or concerns, or just want to know when the next relevant meetings are for a development, please feel free to email me at sam. cohen@munjoyhill.org and I’ll do my best to keep you in the loop.

New Day Farm, LLC, has submitted preliminary site plans for Planning Board re-

Show you care: Advertise with the Munjoy Hill Observer — or become a sponsor!

Do you feel barraged by 3D models and site plan reviews? Are ofﬁcial notices from developers stufﬁng your mailbox? Having trouble remembering if you’re just a concerned citizen or a “Concerned Citizen of Munjoy Hill”? Have no fear, this update of recent developments should help clarify the happenings on the Hill.

The concern regarding the overhangs persists in comments made by the Department of Public Services, “The proposed areas encroaching into the Congress and St. Lawrence St. right of way are excessive and should be scaled back, or the building should be set back to accommodate these features. Falling ice and snow is a pedestrian safety issue.”

By Sam Cohen

February 2014

Do you want a doctor who takes time to really listen to your concerns?

Are you hoping for health care that supports health without surgical or pharmaceutical intervention?

inner shores • chiropractic • homeopathy • attunement

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

www.innershores.com

February 2014

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.

Calendar 2014 February Break: February 17-21, 2014

Portland Children’s Film Festival. Students Invited to Submit Films to Contest East End Community School invites students in kindergarten through 12th grade to participate in the Young Filmmakers Contest, a signature event of the annual Portland Children’s Film Festival. Films entered in the contest should be three minutes or less and incorporate the contest theme, “change.” Winners will be shown during the festival (April 2-6, 2014) at various venues, including the Nickelodeon Cinema. Individuals, classes and other groups of young people are invited to submit films by the deadline of February 28, 2014. The contest will have a new category for the best film submitted by a class or facultysponsored club.

See www.portlandchildrensfilmfestival. com for contest rules, entry information and a resources page with links and tutorials to help those participating in the contest. Please email questions to contest@portlandchildrensfilmfestival.com.

Hannafords Helps Schools 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.

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Taking on the matters that matter to you and your family.

February 2014

Special Offer: For only $10 a year: Munjoy Hill Observer will be Delivered Right to Your Door! Includes Free MHNO membership! Fill out and send in this form with your payment Today! Name(s)_ ____________________________________________________________ Street Address________________________________________________________ City________________________________________State_______ Zip___________ Email (for MHNO updates)_____________________________________________ Day Phone (____)________________ Eve Phone (____)______________________

Please mail payment to MHNO, 92, Congress St., Portland ME 04101

You’re working hard to realize the American dream, and AARP is here to help you achieve your goals. AARP takes on the issues that are most important to you and your family, from affordable healthcare and retirement security to caregiving and community improvements. You want your voice to be heard, and AARP is listening. Find out more about us and how you can get involved at aarp.org/me or email us at me@aarp.org.

Friends of the Eastern Promenade FoEP Upcoming 2014 Programs

• April Stools Day & Litter Pick Up: TBA • Invasive Species Removal: TBA • Summer Concert Series: Thursday evenings from July-August • Bicentennial of Fort Allen Park: October. Stay tuned for this fabulous celebration of our park’s great history! • Bandstand Decoration: November • Caroling: December

Friends of the Eastern Promenade Welcome Kate McAlaine as the New Marketing & Development Coordinator Last August, Kate chose to move to Portland, pretty much site unseen. Originally from Philadelphia, she attended Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki (Wiscasset, ME). There, she connected with the land and fell in love with the Maine coast. After graduating from Connecticut College, she worked and traveled abroad in Central America, Europe, and Africa. After working for six years in The Bahamas with the Cape Eleuthera Foundation as a teacher and administrator, it was time to establish roots back home. Kate chose Portland’s East End thanks to its small size, proximity to the great outdoors, and healthy lifestyle. FoEP is excited to have her join their team. Kate’s passion for the outdoors, marketing know-how, and her love of photography will prove to be a wonderful addition. To learn more about Kate, read her LinkedIn Profile and visit her website, http://kate-mcalaine. squarespace.com/

Friends of the Eastern Promenade Wish Frances Buerkens Well in Grad School After one and half great years as the Marketing & Development Coordinator of Friends of the Eastern Promenade, Frances Buerkens is moving on to further her career. She is starting an MBAMarketing at Southern New Hampshire University. Her dedication, hard work, marketing skills, and her amazing photos of the Eastern Promenade have contributed greatly to the organization. Wish her luck when you see her on the Hill!

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Living With Peace Preparing Young People for Strong Economic Growth in Any Society Life Lessons from Away By Christina Feller, VP of 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.

Nadeem M. Qureshi is chairman of Mustaqbil Pakistan, a new Pakistani political party that seeks peace, stability, and a strong locally-based economy. Nadeem and I were classmates at Harvard and we talk often on the topic of peace-building in conflict and post-conflict societies. Nadeem wrote on December 17th in the Khaleej Times about the structure of Pakistani society and the labor market that makes progress toward this goal next to impossible. Young people under 25 years make up the future economies of Europe and the developing world. As Nadeem

notes, “Some 60 percent of our population is under 25. The real economy is shrinking rather than growing. Insecurity—bomb blasts, targeted killings, kidnappings, extortion—has scared away investment both old and new. This double whammy of a shrinking economy and declining net investment is creating spiraling unemployment among the young.” They are being university-educated to take on whitecollar jobs that do not exist in economies that are in shambles run by corrupt governments in disarray. What is needed in Pakistan is not much different from what is needed in the U.S. and other countries where young people are expected to create their lives in growing or shrinking economies. Many are faced with an economy controlled by governments, special interests and potentially, or actually destabilizing, forces. The age-old question is how to prepare young people for future economies. Nadeem offers a solution that is echoed by many, right here in Maine—bring back vocational and technical training in every neighborhood, every village and town, every city and state; teach young people how to build and live in peaceful and vibrant societies, not create and use implements of violence and war to destroy what little remains of civilized behavior. Today, Nadeem says, “in any large Pakistani city, a plumber can earn more in a single day than a newly-minted doctor can earn in a month.” Roofers and plow truck drivers

successfully cultivated to prepare you for your present vantage point. Where to now? Is the past really an insight into the future? Which way USA? As Ryan said, “At the end of the day, I pull into my driveway just like everyone else—front forward.” Living With Peace recently received a grant to develop our “Writers and Entrepreneurs: Collaborating for Success in a New World” project. We will be hosting a conference in March with five headlined published authors, and at least ten aspiring authors. NEEDED: 40 volunteers, especially ESL, Adult Ed, business consultants, social media advisors, students, and retired executives. Thank you. Please call Project Manager Rodents Biacho at 207-518-9039 or email him at rodentsbiacho@yahoo.com if you can help.

“Serving Greater Portland Since 1980”

Congratulations to all of tonights Award Winners! 104 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME 04101 • 207.773.8198

www.dalerandprinting.com

104ofWashington Avenue • Portland, Maine 04101 • (207) 773-8198 We are not in Pakistan; we are in Maine. As many mikerand@maine.rr.com you know, I am an insurance agent by day. I travel all over the state helping small business owners and their observer ad.indd 1 9/18/2009 8:37:35 AM spouses sign up for health insurance. I find repeatedly that the people who contribute the most to their loATTORNEYS AT LAW cal economies and to the well-being of their nearby neighborhoods and villages and towns, and are the Over 30 years of service to Munjoy Hill happiest and most content with life, are the microREAL ESTATE • SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY business owners who do real work every day. I was out JUVENILE DEFENSE • PROBATE, WILLS AND ESTATES in “rural” Windham yesterday, meeting with a plow truck driver, Ryan. As he was driving me in his huge 107 CONGRESS STREET • PORTLAND, MAINE 04101 plowing machine truck to my car (that I wisely left (207) 772-7426 | www.chesterandvestal.com near the main road), Ryan laughingly told me about winning the local Reverse Race. He noted that, “about 90% of the contestants were plow-truck drivers. We spend our whole professional lives driving backwards. You have to do it fast, and you need to be accurate. So of course we always win the Reverse Races.”

CHESTER & V ESTAL, P.A.

Reverse Races Top: Talking to the Hindu community at dusk in Chak 61 DB in the Cholistan Desert, Center: Speaking to villagers in Tehseel Yazman under the shade of a Neem tree in the midday heat. Bottom: Ladies corner meeting in Manzoorabad. Photos courtesy of Christina Feller.

Crossword ACROSS

1. Not false 5. Portion 10. A muscle of the thigh 14. Desire 15. What we pay to the govt. 16. Desire 17. Desperate 19. Cain’s brother 20. 12 in Roman numerals 21. Overweight 22. Russian tsar’s edict 23. Ten times as much 25. Ascended 27. Utilize 28. A star-shaped character 31. Seize 34. Overgrown with ivy 35. 2,000 pounds 36. Ancient units of liquid

I really like the idea of having Reverse Races for those of us planning a future different from the past, which is wise if you wish to survive in 2014 and beyond. Review your life accurately and, quickly noting the important features of the “landscape” which you have

(Solution on page 14) Source: mirroreyes.com

measure 37. Sweep 38. Greek territorial unit 39. Frozen water 40. Mahogany color 41. A friction match 42. Tracts 44. An unskilled actor 45. Bacteria 46. Fiasco 50. Set straight 52. Something to shoot for 54. Regulation (abbrev.) 55. Bum around 56. Mixed with impurities 58. Ends a prayer 59. Female ruff 60. Rectum 61. A musical pause 62. Daisylike bloom 63. Cried

DOWN

1. Between 2. Bog hemp 3. Remove the pins from 4. French for “Summer” 5. Horse barn 6. Despised 7. Allies’ foe 8. Lapsing 9. East southeast 10. Religious Society of Friends 11. City dwellers 12. How old we are 13. Expunge 18. Perch 22. Utilized 24. Bother 26. Bit of gossip 28. Declares 29. A few 30. Leg joint 31. Iota

32. Type of cereal grass 33. Stimulates 34. Men of great strength 37. The top edge of a vessel 38. Russian parliament 40. Farm building 41. A short moral story 43. A monarch’s substitute 44. Fastball (baseball slang) 46. Look closely 47. Long-necked wading bird 48. Abatement 49. Excrete 50. Winglike 51. Disabled 53. A song for 2 56. Genus of macaws 57. Uncooked

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

The Year was 1975...

February 2014

Discovering Hill History, by Lisa Peñalver

entitled “Seeing Portland – 1970 to 1984.”

While searching for images of Munjoy Hill during the ‘70s, I came across an 2010 story in the Portland Press Herald called, THAT ‘70S SHOW, A new photography exhibition offers a look back at a very different Portland by Bob Keyes. It included many photos from an exhibition

Scrolling through, I discovered a trove of images of Munjoy Hill children and youth by photographer Mark Rockwood. He still lives on Munjoy Hill (I called him!),and he graciously granted the Observer permission to reprint these images. There are coffee vouchers to Hilltop

Coffee for the first 5 people to correctly identify people & locations in all three photos; send your ideas to Observer @Munjoyhill.org Find more ‘70s shots on http:// www.markrockwoodphotography.com/fine-art/, doubleclick on the image of the young man at the far left , “70s Streets”. (THANK you Mark!)

Spotlight on Non-Profits is a regular feature. To have your favorite non-profit profiled here, please contact observer@munjoyhill.org. images courtesy of St Lawrence Arts

St Lawrence Arts A year ago, in the February issue, the Observer ran a story about the proposed expansion of local non-profit, St. Lawrence Arts (SLA). The community remains intensely interested in the form that this expansion will take, and the impact it will have on the landscape of Munjoy Hill, so I once again approached Friends of St. Lawrence Church (FSLC) to see where they were in the process. [In 1996, Friends of the St. Lawrence Church, a non-profit corporation, was formed by several neighborhood residents, with the mission to save the historic St. Lawrence Church. The FSLC owns and operates the St. Lawrence Arts Center]. On January 23, 2014, I spoke with Julia Kirby, Development Director for St. Lawrence Arts, on the very day that FSLC submitted their application for an amendment to a conditional rezoning approval to the City of Portland. Their plans to build a modern 400-seat performing arts venue in the church’s former sanctuary space will now move to a new phase with the Planning Board. Until now, the plans had been under review by the Historic Preservation Committee. The goal of FSLC, from its inception in 1996, was to restore both sides of the building, the Parish Hall and the Sanctuary. While it was running the Parish Hall Theater, the organization was considering the best way to rehabilitate the Sanctuary, a challenging proposition given the level of structural deterioration. During the spring of 2006, the primary roof trusses of the sanc-

By Lisa Peñalver

tuary of the church experienced a partial collapse. With the integrity of the structure compromised, the sanctuary was dismantled in 2008. In 2010, FSLC produced architectural plans that proposed a careful rendering of the original sanctuary, complete with a bell tower, granite façade, gabled roof and the ecclesiastical details that were its hallmark. This plan, which received enthusiastic, unanimous approval from the City of Portland in November 2010, and a generous 10-year conditional rezoning agreement (CZA), carried a budget of over $15M. The new contemporary design reflects the need for a building with an economically feasible project budget. The design is under review by the Historic Preservation Board, and will undergo additional refinement. The most current version features a clean and spacious design that will more generously accommodate a larger audience. The new plans, including those for parking management, will be available online at the City of Portland website at portlandmaine.gov. In February, FSLC will host a neighborhood meeting to present the updated plans and get feedback from the public. The public is invited to attend. Contact SLA or visit their website for more information. (Keep checking for the date and location.) The next steps, to occur this winter and into the spring, involve another Historic Preservation Board workshop (a minimum

of one is required, though more workshops may be held, depending on the needs of the project), as well as at least one more public hearing with the Planning Board. The Planning Board will either recommend or not recommend approval of the final plan to the City Council. The City Council will ultimately make its decision at a public hearing.

Perspective A, northeast corner on Congress St

Julia Kirby explained that, “Even though our application has been submitted, there is definitely room for the community to weigh in. Changes to the design are still being made.” Going forward, “everyone can be on the same page,” since the updated plans and drawings will all be posted in one place on the City website. The hilltop stretch of Congress Street will soon be seeing more changes in its landscape. Referring to the proposed four-story condominium / retail building at 118 Congress across from the Donatelli Tailor shop, Kirby observed that the Munjoy Hill portion of Congress St. is gradually becoming “more of a main thoroughfare. It seems like a natural progression for the growth of the neighborhood.” There is an historical context to the evolution of the St. Lawrence. The rise and success of the Arts Center directly parallels that of the community, and it would not be a great stretch to say that the revitalization of the Munjoy Hill neighborhood as a whole has been influenced by the energy and enthusiasm generated by the work of local volunteers to preserve the historic St. Lawrence Church. This old Victorian land-

Perspective B, looking east up Congress St

Perspective C, looking west up Congress St mark, with its presence today as a thriving and well-loved community arts and theater venue, is a vital part of the fabric of this community.

To learn more about the new Performance Hall, visit the website at: www.stlawrencearts.org/ sanctuary. Find a recap of upcoming building developments on the East End on page 9 of this issue.

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Protect your identity Identity theft basics What is identity theft? Source: www.OnGuardOnline.gov

Image: http://www.postmodern.ro/eveniment/mandela-long-walk-freedom

Identity theft occurS when someone uses your name, Social Security Number, date of birth, or other identifying information, without permission, to commit fraud. For example, someone may have committed identity theft by using your personal information to open a credit card account or get a loan in your name.

Nelson Mandela: A Man for the Ages

What are some common signs of identity theft?

By Eleanor Morse

• Bills that do not arrive as expected

Over the years, Portland has become home to many immigrants from the African continent, some seeking refuge from wars and political strife, some seeking higher education, others joining family members who have already found a life here.

ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Prisoner number 46664 was banished to Robben Island where he labored day after day in a limestone quarry. In all, he served over 27 years in prison.

Nelson Mandela died on the 5th of December, 2013. Given how profoundly he influenced freedom movements in Africa and throughout the world, this seems a fitting time to reflect on the significance of his life and the legacy that he has left behind.

Desmond Tutu, a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop, once said that he believed prison was the making of Nelson Mandela. “Suffering can lead to bitterness. But suffering is also the infallible test of the openness of a leader, of their selflessness.” When Mandela had gone to jail, he had been “one of the most angry,” said Tutu. “The suffering of those 27 years helped to purify him and grow the magnanimity that would become his hallmark.”

increasingly isolated, embattled and stigmatized. An international campaign lobbied for Mandela’s release, and finally in 1990, during a time of sharply escalating civil strife, Nelson Mandela was released. President F.W. de Klerk and Mandela negotiated to abolish apartheid, and in 1994 multiracial elections were held, and Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. What had seemed truly impossible came to pass.

Mandela inherited a country with enormous problems: massive disparities in wealth, tens of thousands of For those who were too young to reland restitution cases from people member the scourge of apartheid, who’d lost their land during apartheid, here’s a brief history. Apartheid went a third of the population illiterate, 33% into effect in South Africa in 1948 and unemployment, blacks wracked with persisted until 1994. Through a sepoverty and bitterness, whites pararies of enactments, non-white South lyzed with fear for the future. Of all Africans gradually lost their basic Christo Brand, one of Mandela’s white that he accomplished during his human rights. ‘Whites only’ destenure as president, one of Mandeignations denied public access la’s most remarkable and enduring to blacks on beaches and public accomplishments was the Truth parks. Buses, hospitals, schools and Reconciliation Commission, and universities were divided acchaired by Desmond Tutu, to incording to race, with whites getvestigate crimes committed under ting the lion’s share of services apartheid by both the government and public funding. From 1960 to and the ANC. The commission 1983, non-whites in South Africa held two years of hearings, recordwere forcibly resettled to all-black ing and investigating bombings, astownships, called bantustans. sassinations, torture and rape. Of Non-whites were required to the commissions’s work, Mandela carry a pass book at all times and said that it “had helped us move were often unable to live where Image from the Hector Pieterson Museum, Johannesaway from the past to concentrate they worked. In 1970, black South burg, South Africa 1976, Soweto Riots/Children’s March on the present and the future.” Africans were deprived of their The Soweto Uprising, also known as 16 June, was a John Mahama, the president of citizenship. Mixed marriages series of protests led by high school students in South Ghana, said, “[Mandela] showed Africa that began on the morning of 16 June 1976. were prohibited; sexual relations Students, including young children from numerous Africa that if we were to move bewith a person of a different race Sowetan schools, began to march in the streets of yond the divisiveness caused by became a criminal offense. ThouSoweto in response to the introduction of Afrikaans colonization, and the pain of our sands of people were imprisoned as the medium of instruction in local schools. An self-inflicted wounds, compassion and tortured. Many were killed, estimated 20,000 students took part in the protests. and forgiveness must play a role in With no warning, police opened fire on the crowd up both in prisons and in public prounarmed students and teachers. By some estimates, governance. Countries, like people, tests like the Sharpeville Massathe number of people who died was as high as 700. 16 must acknowledge the trauma they cre and the Soweto Uprising. June is now a public holiday, Youth Day, in South Africa, have experienced, and they must As relentless as the apartheid sys- in remembrance of the events of 1976. find a way to reconcile, to make tem was, resistance was equally Source: Wikipedia. See also: http://libcom.org/ what was broken whole again.” determined. Nelson Mandela was history/1976-the-soweto-riots South Africa is a country with its a Xhosa born into the Thembu own difficult story still unfoldroyal family and educated at Fort jailers was a testament to Mandela’s ing. But without Mandela’s model of Hare University and at the University ability to find common ground with magnanimity, honesty and forgiveof Witwatersrand, who became an his enemies. Mourning the former ness, its sorrows would be greater toicon of the resistance movement. At prisoner’s death, Brand said, “Mandela day. Muhammad Ali said of Mandela, first dedicated to nonviolence, Manwas my prisoner, my friend, my presi“He taught us forgiveness on a grand dela eventually believed that violence dent and my father.” scale.” This forgiveness was not easy or was necessary to effect change. He cofounded Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) During the 1970s, it seemed inevitable glib, but as hard won as any forgive,the militant wing of the ANC, and led that the apartheid system would end ness can be, an inspiration for the ages a campaign to sabotage the National only through a bloodbath of epic pro- from a towering human being. Party government. In 1962 he was cap- portions. It also seemed nearly certain tured and convicted of conspiracy to that political prisoners like Nelson Eleanor Morse lived in Botswana overthrow the state and sentenced to Mandela were doomed to die in pris- from the early to mid 1970s. Her third novel, White Dog Fell from the Sky, is on, either through torture or old age. life in prison. set in southern Africa during the time At the Rivonia Trial, he said, “I have While Mandela remained in South of apartheid and is now available in fought against white domination, and African prisons, internal unrest in- paperback. She lives on Peaks Island. I have fought against black domina- tensified through strikes, boycotts tion. I have cherished the ideal of a and civil disobedience; international democratic and free society in which censure grew in the form of sanctions, all persons live together in harmony divestiture and other worldwide ecoand with equal opportunities. It is an nomic pressures, leaving South Africa

• Unexpected credit cards or account statements • Denials of credit for no apparent reason (e.g., for credit you did not apply for) • Calls or letters about purchases you did not make • Charges on your financial statements that you don’t recognize • Incorrect information on your credit reports - accounts or addresses you don’t recognize or information that is inaccurate How does monitoring my credit help protect my identity? Monitoring your report is the single best way to spot signs of identity theft, such as errors and suspicious activity and accounts or addresses you don’t recognize. What should I do if I think I may be a victim of identity theft? You should place an initial fraud alert on your file as soon as you suspect you might be a victim of identity theft. You can do this online at the three credit reporting companies: • Equifax - www.equifax.com/CreditReportAssistance • Experian - www.experian.com/fraud • TransUnion - www.transunion.com/fraud Here are some other steps you can take: • Contact the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or charged without your knowledge. • Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents. • Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft. • Use the ID Theft Affidavit at www.ftc.gov/bcp/ edu/microsites/idtheft/ or www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore to support your written statement. • Ask for verification that the disputed account has been dealt with and the fraudulent debts discharged. • File a report with law enforcement officials to help you correct your credit report and deal with creditors who may want proof of the crime. • Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. • Report theft to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations. To find out more , visit the CFPB’s website at www. consumerfinance.gov/learnmore/. Where can I find out more about identity theft and protecting my identity? For more information, visit www.consumerfinance. gov/learnmore/ or www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/ idtheft/ or write to: FTC Consumer Response Center, Room 130-B , 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC, 20580 www.OnGuardOnline.gov gives practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against phishing and Internet fraud, how to secure your computer, and how to protect your personal information.

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

February 2014

East End Business Focus Sullivan Multi Family Realty This year, 2014 the Sullivan Multi Family Realty business celebrates 10 years in business. In 2003, Bill Sullivan was returning to the States from military service abroad, and he and his wife, a Yarmouth native, were looking to make a home in the Portland area. Back in 2003-2004, when Bill Sullivan and his friend “Mac” MacBride (of the MacBride Dunham Group) began looking at real estate opportunities in Portland, it became apparent that no one was specializing in multi-family units. And so the Sullivan Multi Family Realty was formed to fill the need. At that time, many of Sullivan’s clients were first-time homeowners. “Buying a multi-family unit allowed them to get more house than was possible with a single-unit, with income from rentals to help cover costs of the mortgage and improvements.“ Bill noted that, historically, many of the triple-deckers and other large homes on Munjoy Hill were meant to be occupied by one family. As the families grew, however, a house would be partitioned so that the adult children and their spouses had their own apartments under the same roof. I asked Bill what changes he had seen before, during and after the recession, expecting to hear of a degree of economic

shared with future generations.”

Bill explained, “Before the recession, we saw mostly first-time home-buyers. A multi-family unit is a great stepping stone for young families to get into a home.

Bill continued, “In one contract we had, where we sold a home on Allen Ave, we had to include a clause so that if the buyer were to find any money hidden in the walls of the house, the buyer would agree to pass it on to the previous owner. The father in the family, who had passed away long before, had never trusted banks and he hid his money in the house.”

In 2004, we had probably 60% first-time buyers looking at 2-3 units; now its’ maybe 40%, with 60% investor buyers.” I asked about the abundance of multi-unit structures on Munjoy Hill; they certainly seem to offer quite a lot to work with in his line of business. Bill is enthusiastic about Munjoy Hill: “I really like to learn about the history of houses, and Munjoy Hill has so much history! Families often lived in the same homes for generations. I love to look at houses on the Prom. They were built when there was art in architecture. You see such phenomenal detail. Once we sold a 3-unit on the Hill. After we closed on it, as we were cleaning out the attic, we found that the lady had saved every newspaper from WWII in boxes! It was amazing to see all those old news stories. We made sure to get them into the right hands so they could be saved and

You can find multi-family homes all around Munjoy Hill, like those above on the Eastern Promenade.

Indoor Fire Danger: High! Portland Fire Department Reminds Portland Residents to ‘Prevent Kitchen Fires’ With colder weather, the danger of house fires continues to grow. Portland has seen several accidental house fires within city limits this winter. 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 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

By Lisa Peñalver

downturn. Not so.

After the market dipped, investors came out to pick up the buildings at a good price. We never even slowed down.

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

I could tell that Bill enjoys what he does and the houses he gets to work with. The stories kept coming. “You should see this one house on the Back Bay that had belonged to the Harbormaster and Civil War hero, Joshua Chamberlain; the woodwork, the floors, the trim, the details are just beautiful.” I asked if he felt that the current building boom on the East End was pushing out the artists and young professionals whose circumstances require rents at the lower end of the spectrum.

“I’m not seeing it. We hold a First Friday Art Walk event in our offices on the first floor (84 Middle St., between Eventide and Hugo’s restaurants), We display artwork; it’s a lot of fun. There are still a lot of artists and young people living out here (on Munjoy Hill).” Because the business continues to expand, the Sullivan agency recently moved from the familiar light blue building on Congress, down to 84 Middle Street, where they have more room for their offices. You can learn more about Sullivan Multi Family Realty by visiting their website at sullivanmulti.com Or stop in and say hello. They handle both sales and rentals: Sullivan Multi Family Realty is located at 84 Middle Street, call 207-771-5556 , or Email: info@sullivanmulti.com

Portland Food Co-Op Plans for Munjoy Hill Store The board of the Portland Food Co-op announced on January 6, 2014 that a lease has been secured for a future community-owned market at 290 Congress Street, right in the heart of Portland. This building, known locally as Rite-Aid Plaza, is centrally located and accessible to thousands of people by foot and bike. The plaza is located on a major bus route and also has ample parking for those traveling by car. The co-op will occupy the right half of the building, with a projected opening date of September 2014. Major renovations over the next six months will turn this space into a warm and welcoming grocery store that will be enjoyed by everyone. All efforts are now turning towards the design and renovation process. The Portland Food Co-op is pleased to be partnering with Kaplan Thompson Architects for the design phase. Kaplan Thompson is renowned for their commitment to creating environmentally sustainable spaces that are also beautiful and that fit within the client’s vision

and budget. The board looks forward to working with this locally-based firm and having them help turn their cooperative vision into reality. As a cooperative business, the PFC is owned by many people throughout the community (over 717, at print time!). These MemberOwners are invited to participate in the planning and design process via a series of meetings and surveys throughout February, where they can experience an array of visual possibilities for the new space and provide input on their visions and priorities for the new store. You can participate too by visiting portlandfood.coop/join-now and becoming a Member-Owner today. Joining online takes just a few minutes, and you will be helping to open the doors of this community-owned market and will have the opportunity to help shape the future of the Co-op.

LIKE us on Facebook: Micucci’s

Munjoy Hill is home to Maine’s only Italian Grocery Store 45 India Street, Portland Maine 04101 P 207. 775. 1854 • F 207. 774. 9046 E annamic69@yahoo.com

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Gardener’s Dirt

Flowers for the Dark Days

bring your plant home . Give the plant a low nitrogen, high phosphorus food just before and during bloom season. Cut back on the food

Start with the focal point for the arrangement--a huge bloom, or five of something (an uneven number of flowers usually is most pleasing). Move on to the secondary flowers, spacing as you go. At this point you may need to stop and make everything shorter. Vary flower type, size and color to give texture to the bouquet. Lastly, fill in with greens, ferns, or winter twigs. Go into a florist shop and study how they choose and arrange plant material. Check the websites of great florists like Winston Flowers in Boston. Learn techniques from design demonstrations at the flowerschool.com website.

By Nini MacNamany The aromatic greens and poinsettias of the holidays make it hard for flower lovers when low-light January rolls around. With Valentine’s Day coming, it’s time to splurge on indoor flowers. The best buys for your money are long blooming potted plants, available at nursery centers. Ferns, rex begonias and anthuriums tolerate low indirect light. African violets, cyclamens and orchids need morning sun. More than a half day of direct sun, and you can grow geraniums or culinary herb plants. Avoid placing plants in drafts or poorly ventilated areas. Potted plants need to be watered when the top of the soil is dry, fed once a month, and patrolled for insects. White flies are a common problem for houseplants as are several types of mites and scale. These bugs won’t go away on their own, so first, give the plant a warm shower to mechanically remove bugs, then consult with a nursery professional about low-toxicity remedies. Professional growers often use growth suppressing hormones to force house plants into bloom at the time of sale, so you won’t produce as many flowers after you

and watering after blooming, resuming with higher nitrogen food when you see new growth. If potted plants seem like too much work, you can enjoy cut flowers. With cut flowers, you get what you pay for. Low cost flowers are great for a one night show, but seldom last more than two or three days. Whatever you choose to buy, ask the store to cover the blossoms at the top in cold weather. Put the flowers in a container of fresh water as soon as possible.

New Winter Home for Portland Maine Farmers’ Market The new East Bayside Farmers’ Market is located at the Urban Farm Fermentory Food Hub near Fox Street and offers plenty of free parking. The Winter Market will feature 21 vendors selling their fresh and storage fruits and vegetables, plus locally produced eggs, tempeh, meat, dairy products, honey, ferments, and preserves. With the opening of the Winter Market in December, the community can enjoy shopping indoors for locally grown food throughout the colder months.

Fill a clean vase with lukewarm water. Add the packet of “flower food”, which is really antibacterial preservative. Snip the ends of all stems on the diagonal to increase the surface area for water uptake, and remove all foliage and buds below what will be the water line. You are ready to begin arranging.

Our Saturday market hours have been extended! The market now runs until 1pm (extended from noon.) This is an effort to ease the parking congestion for our customers, and it gives us all an extra hour to enjoy the Portland Farmers’ Market. So bring your empty string bags and copies of your recipes; you will leave with ingredients for the perfect meal.

For more information please visit the website, www.portlandmainefarmersmarket.org, like us on facebook, email us at portlandmainefarmersmarket@gmail.com or visit the Market Information Booth.

Don’t just stand there,

Adopt-A-Stop!

Local program needs volunteers to help clear neighborhood bus stops of snow and ice

With a foot of snow possible in Portland with any given winter storm, no one wants to get caught in the slush waiting for the bus, which is why the City of Portland has partnered with the local volunteer program, Adopt-A-Stop. Adopt-A-Stop coordinates volunteers committed to keeping an adopted bus stop clear of snow and ice during the winter, and free of trash and debris during the warmer months.

Change the water every couple of days, adding flower food and snipping stems each time. As flowers age, remove brown or drooping petals and foliage and add fresh flowers to an aging bouquet to get more out of your investment. To warm hearts on Valentine’s Day, try mixing orange and lavender tulips with bright pink roses and include a chocolate heart on a stick from Haven’s. 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,

“A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define and limit the possibilities of each other’s lives. It is the knowledge that people have of each other, their concern for each other, their trust in each other, the freedom with which they come and go among themselves.” ~~Wendell Berry

There are more than eight hundred and fifty (850!) bus stops in the Greater Portland area. The City needs volunteers to help ensure access at stops, so travelers of all ages can easily board the buses. Volunteers who sign up to clear their neighborhood stop will be provided with a free shovel. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.adopt-a-stop.org.

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

February 2014

MHNO Comm u n i t y Connections Con t inuit y

Three things can’t be hidden: coughing, poverty, and love. —Yiddish Proverb

Find the Observer at these fine Businesses: East End

Old Port

Wild Burritos

Bayview Heights

Bard Café

Monument Square

Blue Spoon

Casco Variety

City Hall

Coffee By Design

City Beverage

Portland Public Library

Cummings Center

Dunkin Donuts

The Works Bakery Cafe

Donatelli’s Custom Tailor Shop

Fit to Eat Resturant

The Public Market House

Liliana’s Dry Cleaner & Laundromat

Sebago Brewing

East End Community School Library

Waterfront

LONGFELLOW SQUARE

Ferrechia Hair Salon

$3 Deweys

The Green Hand Books

Foodworks/Beautiful Foods to Go

Becky’s Diner

Outer Congress

Casco Bay Ferry Terminal

Tony’s Donuts

DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant

Big Sky Bread

The Front Room

For more information about the study on the India Street Pilot Community, visit sustainsouthernmaine.org

The Good Egg Cafe Hilltop Coffee

7 1 Fri. Feb 14 at 7:00 pm/ Sat, Feb 15 at 3:00 pm, Mayo St Arts The award-winning play is based on V-Day Founder/playwright Eve8Ensler’s6 interviews with more than 200 women. With humor and grace, the piece celebrates 5 women’s sexuality and strength. Through this play and the liberation of this one word, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives. For more than twelve years, The Vagina Monologues has given voice to experiences and feelings not previously exposed in public.

This production is put on by Portland’s Alternative Theatre, a local theatre group, and is part of the world-wide V-Day campaign to end violence against women. The proceeds of this show go to SASSMM (Sexual Assult Suport Services of Mid Coast Maine). Tickets: $10.

Katie Made Bakery Mama’s Crow Bar

Flatbread Pizza

Park Danforth

Hamilton Marine

Punky’s Market

Pepperclub Restaurant

Portland Lobster Co.

Steve & Renee’s Diner

Portland Pottery & Café

4 East 8 Promenade 1 Apartments 5 Root 8 2Cellar 9 4

Residence Inn by Marriott

.....and More!

Silly’s Restaurant 1

Bayside Bowl

Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day 4 3 8 3 “What if there IS no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.! —Bill Murray in the movie ‘Groundhog Day’

5 2

SUDOKU 3

4 9

9 1 8

7 8 1 9 1 7

Rosemont Market8

Outer Forest Off-Peninsula

From www.veryfreesudoku.com

3 2

Videoport

The Public Market Coffee shop

Five County Credit Union

Moderate Sudoku Puzzles - Book 10 Otto Pizza

Feb 14 & 15, The Vagina Monologues Sudoku Puzzle 17 return to Portland

Norway Savings Bank

Standard Bakery Parkside / Bayside

St. Lawrence 5 Arts Center

Running with Scissors Art Studios

Two Fat Cats Bakery

Congress Street

Tu Casa Restaurant

Hot Suppa! Restaurant

6 7 3 6 9

Sudoku Puzzle 18

Barron Center

Have we missed one of your favorite spots? TELL us! Send it in an email to Observer@munjoyhill. org

State Theater

For rates and information, contact Tamera Edison at 207-939-7998 Tamera.Edison@munjoyhill.org and observer@MunjoyHill.org

5 4 5

S u ppo r t y o u r c omm u n i t y & r e a c h th e p u b l i c

Advertise in the Munjoy Hill Observer!

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

2014 is the Year of the Horse St. Lawrence Arts Your neighborhood arts venue is at 76 Congress Street, stlawrencearts.org, 347-7177

The Snowman Adventure Race Sat, Feb 8 on the Eastern Promenade

Sat. Feb 8, 2014, 11 a.m. Join us on the Prom! The Snowman Adventure Race is a partner relay. Each team sleds with one biker and one runner! Great prizes for best times, best themes & best costumes. Register a team today at www.snowman.com. Contact bburkett@ campketcha.org . All proceeds benefit the Portland Gear Hub.

24th Annual Maine Home, Remodeling and Garden Show Feb 16, Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, One Civic Center Square When: Sunday, February 16 2014, 10AM - 4PM Over 180 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services for your home. Seminars provide expert advice on a variety of home improvement topics. Artisan Marketplace offers unique products from local vendors. “Meet the Chefs” cooking series where you can taste culinary creations from the areas best chefs. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors age 65+; $5 for children age 6–16; children younger than age 6 are free. Discount coupons are available; tickets can be purchased at the door. More information at http://maine.newenglandexpos.com

Cat-Lovers! Celebrate World Spay Day

with AWS and Have Your Cat Spayed/Neutered for Just $10 During the Month of February! - Please call us at 207-985-3244 to make an appointment.(Westbrook clinic) - See more at: animalwelfaresociety.org

Cat Haiku The rule for today. Touch my tail, I shred your hand. New rule tomorrow.

Mayo Street Arts, Performances & Classes 10 Mayo Street, mayostreetarts. org —Times vary. Classes: Tango, Belly Dancing, Kids Yoga, Juggling, Zumba and Pilates. Artist Studios, theater, poetry, music and more. Contact 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts.org

MOOSE Droppings Maine Organization of Storytelling Enthusiasts meet Second Wednesday of the month. Drop by the Portland Public Library for our Monthly MOOSE Open Mic / Spoken Word Story Telling Event! Adult original and traditional stories, 10 minutes or less Suggested $5 donation. moosetellers.ning.com/ Weds, Feb. 12 MOOSE Presents “Bellyfopping into the Unknown,” Featuring: Lynne Cullen Maine Organization Of Storytelling Enthusiasts Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library

Port Veritas Spoken Word Poetry Readings, every Tuesday 7-10 pm, @ Bull Feeney’s 375 Fore St. - 7:30-10pm / All Ages, FMI: Gil Helmick, 400-7543.

Chinese New Year Celebration 2014 Sat, Feb 8, 2014 – Doors open at 10 am Westbrook Performing Arts Center at the Westbrook Middle School 471 Stroudwater Street • Music, Dance, Lectures, Food http://cafammaine.org/cny/2014-celebration/ Please join CAFAM in welcoming in the Year of the Horse, 2014! This year’s HORSE is wood, which means it is stable and strong, as well as good at making decisions. Make the decision to join us at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, Join the celebration and learn more about Chinese culture. This year we have our annual dance performance by children of the Chinese school in Portland. We will also have a traditional Chinese music performance by a group from Boston and a Chinese cooking demonstration by Chris Toy, an excellent cook and educator from mid Maine. We also have the fortune of having the Confucius Institute of University of Southern Maine joining us in the celebration. The institute is a collaboration of American and Chinese educators who bring education of Chinese culture and language to the United States. The institute will be hosting a hands-on Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting table and a simple “introduction to Chinese” language table. The institute will also be demonstrating Chinese customs such as wrapping dumplings, making intricate paper cuttings, and the tea drinking ceremony. 新年好 Happy New Year!

Calling All Gardens! Do you know of any interesting garden spaces, precious window nooks, porch plants or sidewalk landscapes? Friends of the Eastern Promenade will consider all garden shapes & sizes for theHidden Gardens of Munjoy Hill 2013 tour! Email info@easternpromenade.org.

Affordable Care Act— DIY For 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, to ask a question or post a comment, visit: http://www.valuepenguin.com/

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

W W W. m a i n e m e a dWo r ks .co m Find crossword puzzle on page 12

To stay informed, and follow the ongoing discussion about health care reform, try http://healtheconomy.net/health-unsure/ Healthcare.gov Official Website

www.healthcare.gov

Calculator for Premium Tax Credit Subsidy from the Henry J. Kaiser Family

Foundation: http://kff.org/interactive/subsidycalculator/

YouTube overview of the Health Insurance Marketplace https://www.

youtube.com/watch?feature=player_ embedded&v=E45xOGIcGWo#t=89

Comparison Puzzle-by OutherebyGeorge.com. See if you can find the six differences

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

February 2014

February is African-American History Month

The annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in October.

World Beyond War David Swanson Talk and Book-Signing Saturday, Feb 15, 2014, 6:30 pm. At Lee Hall in the Wishcamper Center of USM, Swanson will be speaking and available to sign his books: WarNoMore The Case for Abolition, and When the World Outlawed War. FMI: mSpiess@myfairpoint.net, 207-865-3802

Public school February Break: February 17-21, 2014

David Swanson, a leading voice for a world without war, will bring his enthusiasm to Portland to share his message on non-violence and saving lives by ending war. Swanson is the host of Talk Nation Radio. He holds a master’s degree in philosophy

from the University of Virginia and has worked as a newspaper reporter and as communications director, with jobs including Press Secretary for Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 Presidential campaign. He helped plan the nonviolent occupation of Freedom Plaza in Washington DC in 2011. He blogs at DavidSwanson.org, WarIsACrime.org and works for RootsAction.org. Swanson will also be in Brunswick on 2/15 from 3 5pm to speak at Curtis Memorial Library.

Jan 29 ~ Feb 23

PORTLAND PREMIERE

NEW CAR

“...a smart comic cruise through the perils of middle-aged longing and regret.” - VARIETY

“...a laugh-out-loud amusement park ride.” - EVERETT HERALD by Steven Dietz Show Sponsors TICKETS 883-5883

Wed*/Thu 7:00, Fri 7:30, Sat 3:00*/7:30, Sun 2:00

[Wed* 7pm on 1/29 & 2/5 only, Sat 3pm Mat on 2/15 & 2/22 only]

Portland’s History Docents Class Starts in February Have a great learning experience. Meet interesting people. Get involved in your community. You can do all these things through the Portland’s History Docents program, now in its 19th year. Seven of our area’s historical sites – including 3 of Munjoy Hill’s most famous sites, Eastern Cemetery, Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the Observatory – are recruiting for this special program, a 12-week training class for people who would like to become volunteer guides.

tures on area history, art, and architecture and training on good guiding techniques.

The Portland’s History Docents classes will be held at the Maine Historical Society on Thursday mornings, 9 AM to Noon, beginning February 13 and concluding May 1. Volunteers for this stimulating course receive lec-

The cost of the program is $30 ($20 for students with a valid I.D.) For more information, contact the program manager, Marjorie Getz, at Greater Portland Landmarks, 774-5561, extension 120.

Homeopaths Without Borders in Haiti Talk by Dr Wendy Pollock DC, CCH on Thur. Feb 13, 6:00 pm at Wildwood Medicine 83 India St Portland. FMI contact info@wildwood medicine.com. This spring, Dr Pollock will be returning to Haiti with a team of US homeopaths from March 5-14, 2014. Donations accepted to benefit training of community homeopaths in rural regions of Haiti www. homeopathwithoutborders-na. org.

Participating institutions are Spirits Alive (Eastern Cemetery), Greater Portland Landmarks (Portland Observatory), Tate House Museum, Victoria Mansion, Maine Historical Society (Wadsworth-Longfellow House), and the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum. Graduates of the training are asked to serve at least six hours per month at a site of their choosing from among these institutions.

February 2014

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

ARE YOU A CAREGIVER? COULD YOU USE SOME NEW TOOLS ON MANAGING THE CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA / ALZHEIMER'S? (THIS SEMINAR IS FREE OF CHARGE, PRESENTED BY FIRSTLIGHT HOMECARE)

WHERE?  PORTLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY: ROOM 2 WHEN?  TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014 TIME?  10:30 AM - NOON LIMITED SPACE - RESERVATION REQUIRED! Contact: Ann V Quinlan, CCM 207-239-9063 email: avquinlan@firstlighthomecare.com