MHNO SPONSOR HILL ‘Munjoy Hill’ Level MUNJOY OBSERVER
Munjoy Hill
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Portland, ME Permit No. 824
1979 – 2015
FREE • Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization • Vol. 35, No 1 • February 2015 shops in the later stages of both phases of the study, in addition to nearly 30 committee meetings open to the public. While the overarching goal of realizing a Franklin Street that works better for all users and reintegrates the corridor into the fabric of the Portland peninsula has not changed, the mission of each phase has evolved as public input is received, data is collected, and the circle of stakeholders is widened. Our target goal has been to have a future Franklin St. that reflects the values of the community at-large.
Franklin Street: A Final Recommendation Expected this Spring By Markos Miller
Spring of 2015 will see a final recommendation for the future design of Franklin Street. The current study process is the second phase of the City’s redesign effort. Phase 1, which began in 2008, was tasked with developing three design concepts that would accommodate existing and future transportation for motorized vehicular traffic, bikes, transit, and pedestrians. In phase two of the study, the study team, made up of the City of Portland, MaineDOT, and the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS), along with a public advisory committee of diverse local and regional stakeholders, evaluated the feasibility of the three design concepts from Phase 1, and seeks to arrive at a final design for this important roadway. The City and MaineDOT have had a long-standing interest in improving the street, with a particular focus on the Marginal Way intersection and the functioning of the I-295 off ramps at Exit 7. A 2006 study, which narrowly focused on automobiles, called for a future widening of Franklin Street, without addressing needs for any other modes. At that time there weren’t even sidewalks along Franklin north of Middle Street. In early 2007 members of the Bayside Neighborhood Association and the Munjoy Hill Neighbor-
hood Organization, with the support of Portland Trails and Greater Portland Landmarks, held a public workshop to get community input into an alternative vision for Franklin Street. Participants identified several opportunities overlooked by the 2006 study, including bike and pedestrian accommodations, reconnecting historic neighborhoods, restoring land to Lincoln Park, as well as creating accessible open space and development opportunities- in essence, sticking back together the tear in the urban fabric cause by the auto-centric design of the early ’70s. The members of the two neighborhood organizations formed “The Franklin Reclamation Authority” to advance this community vision, meeting with a range of civic groups and City Hall staff. As President of the MHNO at the time, I played a key role in this effort. This advocacy effort resulted in then-City Manager, Joe Gray, allocating funds for the Phase 1 Study, in order to develop some viable design concepts that spoke to the wider urban context of Franklin Street. Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the study have been based on a robust public engagement process, including numerous public outreach meetings, a design charrette in 2008, a public input forum to kick-off the phase 2 study, and public feedback work-
The Golden Shovel We love our walkable neighborhood. However, winter snow and ice can make it challenging to get out and enjoy the Maine winter. Keeping our sidewalks clear, safe, and passable throughout the year is a shared responsibility. Property owners have a legal responsibility, and all of us have a shared role in helping to keep all of our sidewalks clear of snow and ice. It only takes a small stretch of an unshoveled sidewalk, breaking the sidewalk network, to force pedestrians into the street. These are our sidewalks, and we have a shared responsibility to keep them passable year-round. [The City of Portland
By Markos Miller has a Hotline you can call to report uncleared sidewalks: 874-8793] The Golden Shovel hopes to encourage everyone to do their part. Each month, we will present the Golden Shovel Award to a Munjoy Hill resident or property owner who has been exemplary in their duty maintaining a walkable sidewalks. We hope that others are inspired to do the same. Send your nominations to the goldenshovel207@gmail.com The first winter storm of 2015 brought only mild snow accumulation, but ice and freezing rain quickly rendered many
The final study recommendations will provide the framework for future transportation improvements and land-use opportunities. Future discussions will pick-up issues related to use of newly accessible land. A big question is how this land could best benefit Portland for generations to come: sold to the highest bidder to increase tax revenue, set aside for open space, such as enlarging the Boyd Street community gardens, or placed in a land trust that might provide the basis for mid-market housing for the artists, carpenters, cooks, teachers, and public servants that help make Portland vibrant. A mix of these are possible. The Franklin Redesign process has been a long-term community based-planning process, utilizing best practices and local and national expertise. Future decisions regarding the opportunities presented by this work will be able to build upon and deepen this shared vision. Developed through an inclusive, consensus-seeking process, we have strived to find a design that speaks to our collective hopes for our City. The final design may not be the ‘perfect’ design for any one interest group; there are healthy debates about many design features, but taken as a whole, it moves this important road away from outdated models and closer to the shared vision of our diverse city. I hope that residents, commuters, and the business community can come together to support this step forward for Portland.
Full-Membership Meeting
Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization S u n day, M a r c h 1, 4 - 6 pm at M a i n e M e a d Wo r k s our next full membership event will take place on Sunday, March 1 from 4-6 pm at Maine Mead Works at the bottom of the Hill, and will feature refreshments, a 50/50 raffle, and a brief member forum. As this event will close out our formal recognition of the MHNO’s 35th anniversary year, we will take a few minutes to honor any founding members who attend. Watch our Facebook page, website, and email blasts for more information coming soon.
Come out to meet some of your Hill neighbors, tell us about your concerns, and learn about what you can do to keep your community healthy and happy.
Above, Maine Mead Works at 51 Washington Ave. (207) 773-6323 mainemeadworks. com/. (staff photo)
Join “At Home on Munjoy Hill” (AHOM) for a Community Forum
“Choosing Wisely: Making Better Health Care Choices for You & Your Family” Sunday, Feb 8, 2-4 PM East End School, 195 North St, Portland If you or your family member has ever had a medical test, procedure, or
treatment that you wondered if you should question, join us to learn about Choosing Wisely, an effort led by doctors who have come together to identify tests or treatments that they themselves say are done too often. The goal of Choosing Wisely is to help all of us think more and talk together about the overuse of health care resources. Bring a friend, bring your family, and join us for a thought-provoking discussion. Or just come and listen—it might just come in handy the next time you or your doctor are thinking about ordering that next test! —Sponsored by At Home on Munjoy Hill, a program of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization whose mission is to empower older residents to remain in their homes as they age and Maine Quality Counts, a non-profit regional health improvement collaborative working to improve health and health care in Maine.
To learn more about the Franklin Study visit: http://www. ci.portland.me.us/660/FranklinStreet-Committee-Phase-2 #9 Willis Street: Winner of the January 2015 Golden Shovel Award
streets and sidewalks super-slick. The month’s Golden Shovel is awarded to the owners of 9 Willis Street. The short 2 blocks of Willis Street was a sheet of
ice after the first weekend of the year. Many sidewalks were unshoveled, forcing us into the street on our morning walk. Here we found little relief, slipping and sliding across the road, until we spotted the clear brick in front of 9 Willis St. From property line to property line, and around the corner, the sidewalk was not just shoveled, but cleared of ice as well. Given the freezing rain of that weekend, this was no insignificant accomplishment. We encourage our readers to get out there and do their part this winter, help out your neighbors, and exercise your ownership of our sidewalks.
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February 2015
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
At the Helm
The Munjoy Hill Observer is published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO) 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, Ross Fields, Deborah Stevenson, Lisa Peñalver
advertising Ross Fields Ross.Fields@munjoyhill.org (207) 233-4327 Tamera Edison tamera.edison@munjoyhill.org (207) 939-7998 Deborah Stevenson deborah.stevenson@munjoyhill.org (207) 807-0396 Lisa Peñalver, Layout & Design Observer@munjoyhill.org (207) 272-5962
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 President, Andrea Myhaver
It’s the time of year when I feel like hibernating again. Between the cold, the icy/snowy streets and sidewalks, and the darkness that still comes before 5 pm every day, I find that once I’ve made my way home from work at the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is leave again. Although there are some obligations I can’t avoid, more often than not I’m perfectly content to “hunker down” at home with my son and my kitty (and my boyfriend when he’s in town), with home-cooked meals, and hot beverages, and good books, and board games, and music, rather than venture out into the world.
I find that this desire to hibernate commences for me every year just after the new year begins, and sticks around until sometime in March, when I start going a little stir crazy and need to get out more (and hope that the weather and the daylight cooperate). While I’ll never welcome the cold and snow (Sorry. I may be a tried and true Maine girl, but I just have never had the “winter lover” gene), I do actually enjoy this period when I partially become a climate driven recluse. It provides me with time for quiet introspection, and to connect with my loved ones in ways that
the usual “go-go-go” pace doesn’t allow. I love a sultry summer evening under a sky full of stars, but there’s also something to be said for quiet conversation by candlelight while snuggled up close to keep warm. Winter is also a quieter time for the MHNO, with less frequent committee meetings and fewer events. However, we are still busy planning activities to engage our membership. In fact, our next full membership event is coming up in March, just in time for me to come out of hibernation. Lead by our new Chair, Elise Loschiavo, the Events Committee has pulled together a gathering that is sure to be fun for everyone. The event will take place on Sunday, March 1, from 4-6 pm at Maine Mead Works at the bottom of the Hill, and will feature refreshments, a 50/50 raffle, and a brief member forum. Also, as this event will close out our formal recognition of the MHNO’s 35th anniversary year, we hope to take a few minutes to honor any founding members who can attend. Watch our Facebook page, website, and email blasts for more information coming soon. I hope
In the Here & Now February in New England is the
month that tests our patience and fortitude. It’s dark, it’s cold, but life goes on. Fortunately, February is also a short month, so it’s a good time to try out those ideas jotted down as New Years Resolutions. Been meaning to start doing yoga? Sign up for a class! Take up knitting, write a few letters. We have a Tea Room right on the hill, with a wonderfully warm and peaceful atmosphere. Join the MHNO (you know you’ve been meaning to!) This quiet time of year brings an opportunity to pause, regroup and decide where next to direct your energies. Neighborhood organizations do this too.
MHNO Board 2014-15
Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
Matthew Kennedy, Treasurer......................... matthew.kennedy@munjoyhill.org Sean Turley, Secretary.................................. sean.turley@munjoyhill.org
Stay warm and see you in March!
“In the winter she curls up around a good book and dreams away the cold.” —Ben Aaronovitch, Broken Homes
Editor, Lisa Peñalver Like a family, every community has trouble spots or situations that need immediate attention, or where there is room for improvement. It’s a constantly shifting landscape. At one time, in years past, Munjoy Hill was a rundown place to be avoided. Now, through the persistent efforts of caring residents, it’s blooming (booming). The concern has become about finding a balance… between wealthy and working class, affordability and affluence, new development and historic preservation; about how to identify and preserve the aspects of this community that have made it so very appealing. The state of grace that we are currently experiencing is fragile. Protecting it is going to require effort and thought, and… kindness. When something you care about is threatened, there is a natural impulse to react with
Andrea Myhaver, President........................... andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org
you all will come, and that I get a chance to say hello! In the meantime, whether you are a winter recluse like me, or a winter enthusiast who loves to go out and play in the cold and snow, I hope that you are finding ways to enjoy the season.
anger. But that anger can itself destroy what we care about most here. I realized this as I watched the film “Mandela” last weekend. I was struck by the power of his insight and vision, when he convinced his many followers to agree to the “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” (TRC). The black majority under apartheid had been cruelly oppressed by whites for generations, yet Mandela fully expected them, demanded of them, that they let it go. And they did!
I say this because there are many out there reading this who dearly love this Munjoy Hill, and are feeling a creeping sense of fear about the changes that are surely coming our way. There is nothing we can do to stop change from happening, but how we respond to it is going to make all the difference. Continuing to care for, and about, our neighbors and creating relationships and connections are what the MHNO has been about for over 35 years. Come to an MHNO meeting; meet your neighbors. Lend a hand and your heart; the best is yet to come.
His strategy of forgiveness—a radical concept—moved an entire nation beyond the politics of mutual slaughter into a viable society of laws and racial coexistence. It takes an intentional shift in one’s thinking to get past fear and anger. But I believe there is always a solution, and it can best be found with an open mind.
Keep fire safety in mind when heating your home in the winter months. December, January and February are the leading months for home heating fires. Overall, heating equipment is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire deaths. Learn more at http://www. p or t l a nd m a i ne .g ov/19 9/ Safety-Tips
Sarah Graulty.............................................. sarah.graulty@munjoyhill.org Elise Loschiavo............................................. elise.loschiavo@munjoyhill.org Elaine Mullin............................................... elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org Lindsay Salvatore........................................ lindsay.salvatore@munjoyhill.org.......... Joan Sheedy................................................ joaniesheedy@gmail.com Megan Summers ......................................... megan.summers@munjoyhill.org
observer@ MunjoyHill.org
Please Send Your essays, Letters and Hill news to
MHNO Mission Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in January 1979, our purpose is to be a broad-based, representative organization committed to improving the quality
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!
sense of community, maintaining the
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
current diversity of social and economic
4) Emergencies: 9-1-1
of life for the residents of Munjoy Hill and the East End, by strengthening the
1)
groups, encouraging self-sufficiency, and enriching the lives of all residents.
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
Join the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization
Recycle AND help fund the MHNO Heat Assistance Program: Donate recyclables thru
CLYNK! at Hannafords ... Funds raised support MHNO’s Fuel Assistance “Warm Hearts, Warm Neighbors” program. Pick up the green bag from the fence box outside the Hill House/92 Congress. FMI: email Louise Little at louise.little55@gmail.com. Keep those cans & bottles coming!
Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Committees
February 2015
New Membership Image from Peacebridge.org
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Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization GetCommittees involved! Join the fun! Get involved! Join the fun! Communications Committee -‐ This committee oversees all methods by which the MHNO communicates information of relevance to the community we serve, including rd Communications Committee -‐ Tehis committee versees all m3ethods by owf hich web, print, social media, mail and direct moail. Meetings: Monday the Mthe onth MHNO communicates information of relevance to the community we serve, including from 6:30-‐7:30 pm. Please contact Chair, Sarah Graulty: for mm ore information. web, print, sarah.graulty@munjoyhill.org social media, email and direct ail. Meetings: 3rd Monday of the Month from 6:30-‐7:30 pm. Please contact Chair, Sarah Graulty: Observer Committee – Tfhis committee publishes the MHNO’s monthly community sarah.graulty@munjoyhill.org or m ore information. newspaper, the Munjoy Hill Observer. Meetings: 1st Monday of the month from 6-‐7 Please contact Chair, Andrea Myhaver: andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org for Observer Cpm. ommittee – This committee publishes the MHNO’s monthly community more information. newspaper, t he Munjoy Hill Observer. Meetings: 1st Monday of the month from 6-‐7 pm. Please contact Chair, Andrea MCyhaver: andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org for and Membership and Fundraising ommittee – This committee champions the growth more information. involvement of our membership base and develops and implements initiatives to raise money to support MHNO programs and keep the organization sustainable. Please Membership and CFhair, undraising CKommittee – This committee champions tfhe growth contact Matthew ennedy: matthew.kennedy@munjoyhill.org or m ore and information. involvement of our membership base and develops and implements initiatives to raise money to s upport MHNO programs and keep the organization sustainable. Please At Home on Munjoy Hill Committee – This committee is developing a pfor rogram whose contact Chair, Matthew Kennedy: matthew.kennedy@munjoyhill.org more mission is to help empower older residents to stay and live comfortably on Munjoy Hill. information. rd Meetings: 3 Wed of the month from 5:30-‐7, locations vary. Please contact Chair, Elaine Mullin: elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org, for more information. At Home o n Munjoy Hill Committee – This committee is developing a program whose mission is tEvents o help Committee empower – oTlder residents coordinates to stay and live comfortably on Munjoy his committee and implements community events Hill. Meetings: and 3rd W ed of tthe onth from 5:30-‐7, vary. lease ontact Chair, activities hat m the MHNO sponsors or ldocations evelops, such as oPur 3 full cm embership Elaine Mullin: elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org, for more information. meetings/gatherings each year, our annual Community Clean-‐Up Day, festivals, and other fun social activities. Meetings: Ad hoc based on Event Schedule. Please contact Chair, Elise –L Toschiavo: elise.loschiavo@munjoyhill.org for more cinformation. Events Committee his committee coordinates and implements ommunity events that the MHNO sponsors or develops, such as our 3 full membership and activities meetings/gatherings each year, our annual Community Clean-‐Up Day, festivals, and Please note that unless otherwise noted, all committee meetings take place at Hill other fun social activities. Meetings: Ad hoc based on Event Schedule. Please contact House, 92 Congress St. Meetings days and times are subject to change, so please Chair, Elise Loschiavo: elise.loschiavo@munjoyhill.org for more information. consult our online calendar at munjoyhill.org for the most current schedule. All are welcome to attend, so please, join us!
Safe & Livable Neighborhood Committee -‐ This committee provides a forum to discuss and implement ways to improve life on the Hill for all its residents and to protect Munjoy Hill’s unique character. Meetings: 1th Monday of the month 7-‐8 pm. Please contact Chair, Sean Turley: sean.turley@munjoyhill.org for more information. Please note that unless otherwise noted, all committee meetings take place at Hill House, 92 Congress St. Meetings days and times are subject to change, so please consult our online calendar at munjoyhill.org for the most current schedule. All are welcome to attend, so please, join us!
ill. munjoyh
Ope n M eetings!! The MHNO Board meets at 7 pm every second Monday of the month at the “Hill House” —92 Congress St.
Everyone is Welcome!
Renewal
Name(s)___________________________________________________________ Street Address_ _____________________________________________________ City______________________________________ State_______ Zip__________ Email (for MHNO updates)___________________________________________ Day Phone (____)________________ Eve Phone (____)_____________________ Volunteer for a Committee!
Membership Levels Individual: $20 Family: $35 Additional Donation $25 $50 $75 $100 $250 $500 Other Amount: ($______) wish my gift to be anonymous
We need your help to make Munjoy Hill an even better place to live! You can get involved by joining one or more of our committees:
Events Communications At Home on Munjoy Hill Safe & Livable Neighborhood Observer Membership & Fundraising
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! 02/2015
the munjoy Hill neighborhood Organization
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February 2015
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
AARP Maine Announces its 2015 Legislative Agenda By Jane Margesson - AARP Maine Communications Director
With the 127th legislative session just underway, AARP Maine recently announced their 2015 legislative agenda which includes a focus on health and long-term care, consumer protections, financial security, livable communities and certain tax reforms. Of note this year is AARP Maine’s support of the proposals under KeepMEHome, an important initiative conceived by the Speaker of the House, Mark Eves. KeepMEHome is aimed at helping older Mainers “age in place” through increased affordable housing options for middle income seniors , and property tax relief for older Mainers. AARP is focusing on financial and health security, issues that affect all older Mainers and their families. As a reminder, AARP is strictly non-partisan. We do not have a Political Action Committee (PAC) and we neither endorse candidates for political office nor give to their campaigns. With strong legislative leadership from both sides of the aisle, and by working together in the spirit of bipartisanship, the 127th legislature can pass meaningful policy for all residents. One key focus for AARP this year is our support of access to affordable, efficient long-term care services that promote con-
sumer independence and choice. For example, AARP Maine will work to protect programs such as the Medicare Savings and Drugs for the Elderly programs. These programs are specifically designed to help low-income seniors and disabled adults. AARP Maine is also committed to ensuring that home and community-based services dollars that allow people to age in place, such as respite and homemaker companion services, are protected and increased. Regarding health care, AARP Maine, in collaboration with the Maine Medical Association, the American Cancer Society and others, will work to ensure that Mainers living without health care coverage, including 16,500 aged 50-64, gain access to affordable coverage through the state’s option to expand Medicaid. Another priority for AARP Maine is the achievement of increased support for family caregivers who are balancing work and family responsibilities. Our most recent state survey showed that nearly three-quarters of Maine registered voters age 50 and older think funding services that enable seniors to remain in their homes for as long as possible should be a top or high priority for elected officials in the state. Today, almost 200,000 unpaid family caregivers provide
The Space Between
I asked her how she copes with it and what she might say to someone else struggling with accepting change. As an avid writer herself, she offered to jot down the rest of her thoughts. She went on to write, “I have to accept change. In life, it is everywhere. Around every corner, behind every door, there is change. Things change, you can be sad or mad, but life doesn’t stop for anybody. Things happen for a reason. I want you to know that if something changes in your life that you don’t like, I want you to look at it with new eyes. I want you to know that most things will turn out to be fine.”
Regarding financial security, AARP is committed to ensuring that reforms made to state tax structures safeguard the financial security of the 50+ population. In addition, AARP Maine supports a decrease in the current “credit freeze” charges which could help Mainers protect their hard-earned savings from identity theft. Many Maine people are struggling to make ends meet, and for retirees on fixed incomes, rising utility costs can become unmanageable. AARP will engage in legislative efforts that protect Mainers 50 and older from unfair cost increases and will work to ensure that protections are in place to help facilitate financial security in retirement.
A Community Forum: Join “At Home on Munjoy Hill” (AHOM) & Maine Quality Counts Sunday, Feb 8, 2-4 PM • East End School • 195 North St, Portland
Bring a friend, bring your family, and join us for an engaging discussion! The U.S. spends more on health care than any other developed country— and gets worse results. At the same time, we know that, as patients, we sometimes ask for tests and treatments that are not always in our best interest. Doctors may order tests and treatments, at times even when they know they shouldn’t. In fact, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office says that up to 30% of U.S. health care is unnecessary. The problem has become so serious that the ABIM Foundation and more than 20 professional medical societies have joined forces in a project called Choosing Wisely ®, an effort in which doctors have come together to identify tests or
There is a lot to do as the session gets underway! For more information about our legislative work in 2015 or to volunteer with us during the session, please visit www.aarp.org/me or call our office at 1-866-554-5380. This will be an exciting next few months and we look forward to working with state lawmakers to ensure that Maine continues to be a place where people 50+ want to live, work and retire.
treatments that they themselves say are done too often. The goal of Choosing Wisely® is to help physicians and patients - all of us! – think more, and talk together about the overuse of health care resources. The campaign is part of the ABIM Foundation’s goal of promoting wise choices by clinicians in order to improve health care outcomes, provide patient-centered care that avoids unnecessary and even harmful interventions, and reduce the rapidly-expanding costs of the health care system. If you or your family member has ever had a medical test, procedure, or treatment that you wondered if you should question, join us to learn more and be part of a thought- provoking discussion. Or just come and listen – it might just come in handy the next time you or your doctor are thinking about ordering that next test! ~ Sponsored by At Home on Munjoy Hill, a program of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization whose mission is to empower older residents to remain in their homes as they age and Maine Quality Counts, a non-profit regional health improvement collaborative working to improve health and health care in Maine.~ For more information about the AtHome senior program on Munjoy Hill, contact ahom@munjoyhill.org or Elaine Mullin at 207-671-6132.
GrowingTogether T i ps o n Par en t i n g & R el at i o nsh i ps
By Kathleen M. Kerr Navigating change of any kind affects us all, even children. As I was preparing to write this month’s article, I asked my 12-year-old daughter her perspective on how she is managing the upcoming change in her life of having to move to another Maine town and attend a different high school than she originally planned. She started by saying, “Change is not my thing. I really don’t like it. But I have to cope with it. Change might be scary but it will always be there. You will have to face it in one point in your life. You’re not alone. A lot of people are afraid of change.”
the bulk of care for older Mainers, in part because the cost of long-term care remains unaffordable for most middle income families.
Choosing Wisely: Making Better Health Care Choices for You & Your Family
Even at this young age, the tools for managing change are the same. I was impressed with how simple yet insightful her wisdom was. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” Recognizing that change happens, and knowing that sometimes there’s no stopping it, is where acceptance begins. Looking at a situation with new eyes brings perspective. Having perspective reminds us that we have choices. Choices help us to see what next steps we can take. Just like my daughter knows her next steps – “Change is coming for me and I have to accept that. Once I am done with 8th grade, we will pack up and move. When school starts up again I will go to a completely new high school. I will make a lot of new friends but keep in touch with my old friends.” I trust she will do just fine. Kathleen Kerr is a professional transition coach supporting clients as they explore the space between endings and beginnings to dauntlessly create beginnings that support them reaching their goals with optimism, courage, and joy.
“Our beliefs shape our filters; our filters form our thoughts; our thoughts drive our feelings; our feelings spur our actions; our actions become our habits; our habits reinforce our beliefs.”
By Ross Fields, CPE & Kathleen Fields, CPE
Parenting in the Ever Expanding Cyber-World
Dating – Part II February, Valentines Day, what a
perfect time to continue the topic of dating – cyber dating – and how to approach this uncharted 21st Century experience. If you haven’t read the December, 2014, Growing Together on this topic, please do so first (page 11, Dec. edition online). At the very least, view the Huffington Post video referenced in Dec. column. The topic of cyber-dating abuse is relatively new and deserves your attention. It’s easy to become fearful and worried about how instant communication, the expectation of immediate response, and even tracking, are affecting your child’s (boys and girls) dating experience. There are many experts who advocate “controlling the situation” by going through your child’s communications to stay ahead of the game. Besides “chasing your tail” and being exhausted, your futile attempts at control end up distracting you from seeing what’s really going on. Attempting to control and overpower also runs the risk of pushing him or her away from you and closer
to the very same things from which you’re attempting to protect them. You could also choose to ignore it and hope for the best. Or . . . you could use your time and energy to actually teach your children how to take care of themselves, first with your guidance and then, ultimately, on their own. What a concept, right? To get started, teach your children to: • understand and handle their feelings. Simply keep asking, “How do you feel about that?” Then, listen. Note: Thoughts are not feelings. • know who they are. Ask them regularly, “What do you think about it?” Then listen. Whatever comes out of their mouths, reply with “fascinating”; this is not about “what you think”. Give them repeated opportunities to make choices, remembering that mistakes teach as well as good choices, possibly even more. And take time to appreciate what it is you see special about them. • how to set boundaries. Knowing how to convey “No!” or “Stop!” with conviction, either verbally or physically, is one of
the most valuable tools you can teach. Having a personal private space, like a bedroom, where they are in charge of giving permission for another’s entry (yes, even you), reinforces their right to choose who they let into their lives and who they don’t. Making this work will require that you be aware, work on the relationship with your child, be vulnerable, and keep the lines of communication open. As always … with patience, education, and practice, you will become a more confident and effective parent. It’s ALL about the relationship. Ross & Kathleen Fields are Certified Parenting Educators (CPE) and, co-founders of Results Parenting, LLC, www.resultsparenting.com.
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
February 2015
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justinalfond.com
Jobs, growth top agenda to boost Maine’s economy deficit of 11,100, while the rest of the country has regained 123%.
Americans got some good news at the beginning of the year: more jobs were created in 2014 than in any year since 1999. In fact, under President Obama, we have now added jobs for 58 consecutive months.
Why, then, do so many Mainers and business owners still have a feeling of anxiety about the economy and their personal financial situations? There are many reasons, but two stand out: First, Maine’s economy has lagged behind the rest of the country during the recovery. 94% of Mainers in the workforce now have a job, which is great news. Still, we have a ways to go to recover all of the jobs lost in the recession; Maine still has a jobs
Second, wages for Maine people are flat and much of the economic gains have gone to people at the top end of the earnings range. This is a longterm trend: Since 1979, the top 1% of earners has seen their incomes increase by 150%, while income for the other 99% has increased by just 30%. We can close that gap here in Maine by focusing on three areas – our jobs agenda – to grow our economy and help Maine’s middle class prosper. This session, we will work to expand our skilled workforce by creating partnerships between our workers, our businesses, and our educational institutions, to align our training programs with the needs of the economy and business community. We will also be restarting the Workforce Committee’s successful “road show” with a new jobs regional tour
to listen to your ideas on how to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy.
Expect Democrats to also put forth new ideas for attracting young families to Maine, and keeping young families here. Expanding the Opportunity Maine Tax Credit to include people who move to Maine is one example. This program gives a one-to-one tax break on student loan debt if you live and work and Maine and could be a great business recruitment tool. We will also work to support our burgeoning startup community; for example, incenting the development of co-location or incubator space for entrepreneurs. And of course, we must make sure
kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov
City Update
November 5, 2014 marked my eighth District 1 Annual Meeting as your City Councilor. Many of you joined me and Mayor Brennan at the East End, Downtown, and Peaks Island, and brought your questions, concerns, and suggestions about issues in your neighborhoods. East Enders told of development pressure and visual impact from new condos and lost trees, practical impact from utility and construction crews crowding local streets and parking spaces, and cumulative impact from a series of projects that demand some sort of regulatory context. Downtown residents warned against building a consolidated day-and-night shelter in Bayside before following through on commitments to invest in public infrastructure and quality housing. Peaks Island residents joined others in anxiety regarding the pending Stormwater Utility Fee. It was no wonder residents felt under pressure, our meeting falling the day after Election Day, the results of which promise to bring continued pressure on municipal budgets and on City Councilors.
Two new City Councilors, Justin Costa of District 4 and David Brenerman of District 5, will join us as we debate critical issues, like updates to our residential and commercial zoning, including the R6 Urban Residential zone with governs much of East End as well as West End. As luxury condos push the limits of the zoning regulations, and historic multi-families remain largely illegal, city officials are hard at work rebalancing this equation in favor of a diversity of housing types and navigating the trade-offs associated with an inclusive community and aesthetic
concerns. Increased activity in the B1 Neighborhood Business zone and B2 Community Business zone has necessitated updates to commercial zoning in coordination with transit and parking policy. Absorbing new residents and businesses, while protecting and enhancing what attracted them and the generations of residents that preceded them, remains one of our greatest challenges, but one with which we will need to continue to contend if we are to
continue to grow as a city. Managing success is not a bad problem to have, yet success remains elusive in some areas. Whereas the East End grapples with unprecedented land valuations and gentrification, stagnation persists in areas around the Department of Public Services in the heart of Bayside. Following years of working to relocate higher-impact aspects of the Department to Canco Road in order to redevelop much of the site into high-quality affordable housing for working families, some have now identified this site as an opportunity for a consolidated day-and-night shelter. There may be merit in consolidating Oxford Street Shelter and Preble Street Resource Center into a single facility that leverages scarce local funding amid threatened cuts to state funding, yet residents objected to allowing any such prospect to delay overdue investment in Bayside. The Housing and Community Development Committee, of which I have served as chairman, has overseen the planned relocation, and has already prepared to put the property out to bid; we hope to realize positive return on investment, and provide some stability to an area that has little.
For sure, Downtown will continue to play a primary, if not exclusive, role in our shelter system, yet the Bayside neighborhood is owed a level of attention that is commensurate with its contributions in hosting the separate day shelter, night shelters, and most other attendant social services. We also heard many questions following a brief presentation on the Stormwater Utility, which would shift bills for stormwater upgrades from sewer users to generators of stormwater. This would be a fairer way of spreading costs, essentially remaining neutral for homeowners, and shifting costs away from higher density properties and toward big boxes and parking lots. Still, some residents expressed confusion about how their bills would be calculated and about how credits could be granted for cutting stormwater runoff with rain barrels and roof gardens. Some property owners on Peak Island objected to being included in the scope of the new fee, because they do not pay for sewer now, and thus it would be unfair to pay for stormwater. This objection highlighted both the injustice that sewer users pay for our stormwater system, and the fact that much more outreach will be needed to inform the public of this pending policy proposal, aimed at both fulfilling our clean water obligations and treating all of our city ratepayers justly. It is tremendously valuable to hear regularly from residents from all parts of District 1 and to get to work on those local issues which are brought to our attention, sometimes for the first time. Indeed, much of what I have worked on over the last eight years began from these meetings. If you were unable to come November 5, please drop me a line: kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov
Maine is a welcoming place for immigrants. Finally, Democrats will focus on higher education. One of the best ways to attract people and improve our economy is to make Maine a great and affordable place to get their college degree, and this year, we will advocate strongly for policies that make college more affordable. Increasing the Maine State Grant program, which offers scholarships to Maine students to attend college, is one idea. Also look for a
new focus on college retention. Too many of our students start but don’t finish college, and this must change. These are just some of our ideas to help grow the economy for all Mainers, but I’d love to hear from you. What would you like to see in the upcoming legislative session?
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February 2015
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Good Neighbor of the Month
She remembers riding the trolley to take her father’s lunch to him at Union Station railroad, where he was a general foreman.
Ann O’Donnell Mosely
By Caron Murray On a Sunday afternoon, I sat down for lunch at Miss Portland Diner with Ann O’Donnell Mosley and her two children, Joellen and Michael. We sat in the front room, and countless people stopped to greet Ann as we chatted and ate. These are true Portland locals, and they know everyone who’s anyone. I had a great time being introduced around and hearing Ann’s stories of a lifetime on Munjoy Hill. Ann O’Donnell Mosley, (née Meehan), is one of the longest living residents on Munjoy Hill. She was born February 6, 1932, one of twins. Besides her twin sister, Joanne, she had two other sisters, Marnie and Lucia, and two brothers, Joseph, Jr., named after his father, and Toppi. They moved to their great uncle’s home on Turner Street on Munjoy Hill in 1935. In 1953, Ann married Clyde Mosley. They briefly lived on a military base in Seattle, while Clyde
was in the Navy, but they soon moved back to Turner Street to raise their children, Michael, MaryCatherine and Joellen. Some of Ann’s earliest memories are of growing up in the neighborhood during World War II. During that time, life was often interrupted by the air warden’s blackout drills. When you heard the air raid sirens, all lights had to be out and the curtains pulled. The Promenade was patrolled by soldiers. If there was even a crack of light showing from your window, a flour sack would be dropped on your home. People in the neighborhood would take the soldiers in as if they were family. If you had a serviceman in your family, you put a flag in your window. In Ann’s home, growing up, she had a player piano in the house and there was always lots of company. They invited the servicemen for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Everyone would gather round and sing songs together.
After her husband passed away in 1988, she began working for the Board of Voter Registration until 1993, when she took a job as the receptionist at the Portland Public Works. She retired from there in 2013 at the age of 80 years. Michael and Joellen remember growing up on the Hill in the ’60s and ’70s. “Everyone knew everyone,” said Michael. “We were always playing at each other’s houses. You ate dinner wherever you were. Everyone was like family.”
was a tight-knit community.”
Tom Manning, the owner of Miss Portland Diner, comes to sit down with us, adding to the conversation. His father, Eddie Manning, owned and ran the local pub—Eddie’s Shamrock on India and Commercial Streets, where Benkay Sushi is now. Michael remarks, “There was Eddie’s pub, seven schools within walking distance, a public swimming pool, grocery stores, a barbershop, and gas stations on the Hill. No one needed to leave the Hill, and it
I asked Ann and her family what they think of the development on the Hill. I think their sentiments echo those of many other long-term residents: “It’s nice that after the ’70s era, when things were a little run down, that people are investing again, property values are up and the neighborhood is now a highly desirable location. Our hope is to maintain the feeling of tight community and to conserve the beautiful ocean view.”
Invest in your future. Join the MHNO today.
Fundraising
A huge 2015 thanks to our local business community for its generous support of MHNO! And with the new year, we’re happy to announce a new Business Sponsor, Portland Paddle. Locally owned and operated, Portland Paddle is a sea kayak and paddleboard outfitter, offering rentals, tours and lessons at the East End Beach. Portland Paddle operates from mid-May to mid-October, and is open every day during the peak summer months. They offer a wide range of lessons and tours for people of all skill levels, including nightly sunset tours, SUP yoga classes and multi-day camping trips. Munjoy Hill residents get 10% off all tours! Find more info and a schedule of offerings at portlandpaddle.net.
Below, the MHNO Business Sponsor window decal.
Photo by Corey Templeton
Welcome New Business Sponsors!
Come to a meeting • Join a committee • Get involved
Please join us in thanking our Sponsors for generously supporting the Munjoy Hill community:
Membership We’ve had a great response to our recent membership and renewal outreach. It really can’t be said too often: we are nothing without our members!
Munjoy Hill Level sponsor
The MHNO is staffed entirely by membervolunteers. Without these volunteers, we ‘d have no board, no committees, no events, programs, or services; and no Observer. With all of us working together, we really can do great things.
Observatory Level sponsor
Invest in your future—Join the MHNO today. Come to a meeting. Join a committee. Get involved. Matthew Kennedy is the Treasurer of the MHNO and Chair of the Membership & Fundraising Committee.
Trevor Coyne, REALTOR Joe Piergrossi, REALTOR
Hill House Level sponsors
To join the MHNO please complete and return the membership form on page 5.
interested in becoming a charter Business Sponsor? Please contact Matthew Kennedy at matthew. kennedy@munjoyhill.org or call 207-370-1446. At right, excerpt from the Call for New Members in the June 1980 issue of the Observer, words that are no less true today:
Ed GardneR
Fort Sumner Level sponsors portlandpaddle.net.
Portland Paddle
Your logo HERE
“We are not asking you to make a major commitment. If you’re like most of us, between work and family responsibilities, you can’t. But if a lot of us give a few hours a month to serve on a committee, help with an event, sign up new members, or work on a specific project, we can get things done.”
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
The Opening of the Sweet Art Valentine Shoppe at the PMA is on First Friday Art Walk. How convenient! Come by and get the best for your Honey, before someone else does! Opening at noon on Friday, February 6, the Sweet Art Valentine Shoppe will offer unique artistic confections, lovingly made by MECA illustration students, only for a limited time, at The Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress St, (207) 775-6148.
We are more than just copies …
and and G
and
(next to Hamilton Marine on your way to the Eastern Prom) with plenty of free parking
207.775.2444 Like us on
•
www.xcopy.com
/facebook.com/XPressCopy
R
S
BROCHU
M
Conveniently located at 100 Fore Street in Portland
ES
PRIN
N TI
PROGRA
… and more, including cutting, scoring, folding, multiple types of binding, hole punching, dry mounting, and laminating!
February 2015
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February 2015
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
N ot es
Ready to Fix It, Portland?
from the ToweR
Call it What you will— Notes from the Frozen Tower! By Jeanne Bull It’s February in Maine and no matter what the groundhog or the Almanac predict, there is plenty of winter left. We are weeks and weeks away from ice-free sidewalks or seeing anything green making its appearance. February can be tough. There are no holidays to look forward to besides Valentine’s Day, which can be exciting, (or not, depending on your situation) and the shortest month of the year too often seems unending. Sure, you can go out to spend money or you can stay in to browse the tube, or net, and re-read every catalogue lying about, and there’s always the thrill of doing your taxes, or waiting for the nightly news to see how many more minutes of daylight we’ve accumulated since December! But this February there is something new to do on the Hill that won’t cost anything but your time and is guaranteed to provide enough mental and physical stimulation to propel you through the February doldrums. This month, the Observatory is looking for individuals who are interested in joining us as ambassadors of Portland to the world. Do you enjoy meeting new people? Do you love Portland? Do you like to talk? Are you new to the area and want to learn more about our history? Are you a bona fide history buff looking for kindred spirits? Do you have foreign language skills? Do you like being physically active? Just looking for something new? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this might be an opportunity made for you. This is the first year Greater Portland Landmarks is using February to train individuals separately for the Observatory outside of the regular Portland History Docent Program which begins March 5th and runs for 8 weeks. This creates a lot more flexibility to work with individual schedules in an effort to encourage neighborhood people to join us.
In mid-January, the City of Portland unveiled “Fix It! Portland”—a new and easy digital way for Portlanders to report quality-of-life concerns. Now, there’s an App for that! Fix It! Portland. is a new mobile app that allows citizens to report a variety of issues, such as potholes, streetlight outages, and snowplowing requests quickly and easily from their smartphone as well as from the City of Portland website. These concerns are submitted directly to the City where they are then routed and assigned automatically based on the location and type of the problem. In this way, Fix It! Portland. will connect citizen concerns directly with the City officials who are out in the field, working to make Portland a better place to live, work, and play.
citizens and we are working to create as many avenues as possible to allow them to communicate with us on their terms: When they want, how they want, and with whom they want,” said Acting City Manager, Sheila Hill-Christian. “In this digital age, we must meet residents where they are – and they’re on their smart phones. Have a question about traffic lights? Encounter a pothole? It’s all right there.”
“This app is a great example of how a responsive city can utilize technology to simplify processes and empower its residents,” said Mayor Michael Brennan. “With a few clicks on your smartphone, anyone can now photograph, map, and report issues. By making the process accessible and easy, we can work together to enhance our neighborhoods and improve the overall quality of life for our residents.”
Citizens who report issues will receive an automated response letting them know that their issue has been received. Once an issue has been assigned, another email will be sent to provide a status update. It is important to note that not all issues will be able to be automatically fixed. Issues will be completed based on priority-level and budget status. As with the launch of anything new, it is expected that there will be some growing pains. The City welcomes citizen feedback and will be monitoring the application regularly in an effort to continuously improve its effectiveness.
“We want to hear from Portland’s
The Fix It! Portland. platform is
powered by SeeClickFix — the world’s largest provider of mobile request management applications. SeeClickFix has helped hundreds of cities and counties throughout the country to improve the quality and efficiency of service by deploying citizen-reporting apps that route problems directly to back-office issue management tools. The project has been supported by SeeClickFix Director of Operations, Tobi Wilson as well as City of Portland’s Technical & Customer Service Supervisor, Joanne Lester. Ms. Wilson mentioned that SeeClickFix is “absolutely thrilled to be working with Portland. The support from Ms. Hill-Christian and Ms. Lester as well as the rest of the City’s customer service team throughout this project has been fantastic.” Fix It! Portland. can be downloaded through Apple and Android App Stores. Search: “Fix It Portland” http://en.seeclickfix.com/ portland_2
Portland has grown as a destination in recent years and the Tower on the Hill has become a magnet to the visitors from all corners of the US and the world who flock to our fair city every year. We need more people to help welcome them. Interested? Contact Greater Portland Landmarks at 774-5561 x120, or volunteer@portlandlandmarks.org for info on the February Observatory training and the History Docent program. Hope to meet you soon!
Living With Peace Maine Somali Bantu Take International Leadership Role in Rebuilding Nation, Economy and Livelihoods By Christina Feller
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. At left: The Members of the Coalition of Excluded Communities of Somalia meet with representatives of the International Rescue Committee in Nairobi in October, 2014. Mr. Abdulle, Chair of USKESOCBA, is center with Mr. Felix Leger, Country Director of IRC to his right .(Photo Courtesy of RESCUE)
two years ago, for the first time, the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) outstripped the number of Refugees in the world: something like 16 million IDPs to 13 million Refugees. This is both historic and alarming. Refugees crossed an international border and arrived at a UN Refugee Camp. The UN is the international body that arranges and structures Camp affairs. It is the UN that decides who gets to resettle in a third country. The paperwork is quite overwhelming, even to an educated Westerner, and the denials and refusals far outweigh the acceptances. Roughly speaking, fewer than 1% of refugees resettle to a third country; it is expected that they return to their home country after the conflict or disaster has ended. An IDP is a person who has been forced off his land or out of his home by natural (floods right now are displacing hundreds of families, thousands of people in South Central Somalia) or by manmade forces (in this case, Al Shabaab, the terrorist group).
Through it all, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulle kept the land rights of the Somali Bantu-Nilotic people high on his list of concerns. The Bantu-Nilotic people are farmers, and land is the most important resource they have to produce the food needed by a hungry, malnourished population. From 1992 to 2002, he spent active years in Dadaab Refugee Camp erecting boreholes and working for the social and educational rights of his people; and between 2002-2005, he and a large number of the Bantu were transferred to Kakuma Camp which is geographically located in the far western part of the country of Kenya. In 2005, approximately 18,000 Bantu came to the US as refugees. Many settled in New England. Mr. Abdulle is an elder and the Chairman of the international NGO known as US Kenya Somalia
Cross Border Trader’s Association. It is headquartered in Lewiston, Maine, and it works on behalf of Bantu farmers all across America with a focus on rebuilding their heritage and skills in farming. Like the famed breadbaskets of the US MidWest, South Central Somalia—the area between the Shabelle River and the Juba River—is the breadbasket of Somalia. The fields and rivers of this area has historically been inhabited by the Bantu and Nilotic peoples. There are three Somali Bantu NGOs in Lewiston which work on behalf of the Bantu-Nilotic farmers and riverine peoples: USKESOCBA, Somali Bantu Community Association of Lewiston, Maine, and Middle Juba Relief and Sustainability Organization (MJRSO). These NGOs are concerned with farming, whether in
Androscoggin County or anywhere within reach, and their international affiliations are concerned with rebuilding the Bantu agricultural base of Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Hi tech and the “coolness” of farming top the marketing agenda of the Somali Bantu Farmers of New England. They are developing their own branded clothing line, implements, bags and boxes, consumer items, and works of Bantu art in partnership with other organizations as well. They are building their brand, and looking for good farmland in Maine. If you can help, we urge you to call Mr. Mohamed Dekow, National Program Manager, at 207330-1352 or Mr. Hussein Muktar, New England Farming Coordinator at 207-344-4162. Two of these Lewiston NGOs are active partners, and co-founders of the
Coalition of Excluded Communities of Somalia. Begun in October of 2014, the Coalition’s purpose is to ensure the inclusion of more than 3 million Bantu and Nilotic and other minority or marginalized communities in Somalia in receiving food aid and medicine and in being full partners in rebuilding the country. The six founding members led by consultant Christina Feller met with embassies, major international NGOs, UN Agencies, and local partners for a month to raise important issues about responding to the needs of the BantuNilotic peoples.
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
February 2015
9
Gardener’s Dirt
Window gardening By Nini Mc Manamy
Need chopped fresh cilantro for the
guacamole? Snipped marjoram for the soup? A little chervil for that salade Lyonnaise? Midwinter is a tough time for the cook who garnishes, with our herb gardens frozen solid. Grocers sell herbs in bunches too large for most recipes, and the selection is limited. What’s a cook to do?
MHO Editor’s Choice: Imagine looking forward to our February winter darkness as an opportunity to hike Portland’s Back Bay Trail as it sparkles underfoot!
Solar-Powered Glowing Bicycle Path in Netherlands Inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night By Dovas ; Source http://www.boredpanda.com/van-gogh-starry-nightglowing-bike-path-daan-roosegaarde/ Dutch artist and designer Daan Roosegaarde has created a beautiful and innovative glowing bike path that, when illuminated at night by glowing pebbles and LEDs, looks like Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night painting. The kilometer-long bike path, which was created using both glow-in-thedark technology and solar-powered LEDs, is located in Brabant, the Dutch county where Van Gogh was born and raised. The swirling, glowing forms on the path’s surface will help bicyclists stay on track when they ride at night. We’ve seen similar glowing paths before in the U.K. We can only hope that more artists and innovators join forces to create such beautiful and environmentally friendly paths! More info: studioroosegaarde.net | Facebook | heijmans.nl (h/t: colossal, dezeen) See also solar roadways and parking lots.
One option is to grow herbs indoors, and with attention to the challenging growing conditions of the centrally-heated house, you can have your favorite herbs at hand all winter long. Herbs are usually low-maintenance plants, thriving on moderate (not nitrogen-rich) soil with regular watering, abundant sun, and lots of beneficial pest-eating insects from the surrounding gardens. Inside, they suffer from being confined in pots with inadequate soil, dry air, inadequate light, and of course, cats. I’ll leave the cat problem aside, but it is made much worse if you feed your plants with fish emulsion, as I do. Step one is to find a window, though plant lights will do. Lights have to be on for about 12 hours a day to produce enough light for the plants, and this will have a noticeable effect on the light bill. I have a window with southwest exposure, in a closet
also lit by a nearby window facing southeast. The result is bright light all day, with direct sun for several hours in the afternoon. Your herbs want at least 6 hours of sun. Temperatures in the 50s at night, up to 70s by day, best mimic a Maine garden in summer. Exception: some herbs, notably rosemary and bay, which will not overwinter outdoors, can be potted up and moved indoors, where they need cool temperatures, in the 30’s and 40’s, to experience the winters that are natural for them. An unheated porch or bedroom is best for them, though they need protection from temperatures below 30 degrees, and can come in to the kitchen on cold nights. Small herb pots dry out quickly. If you transplant your herbs to deeper pots, they will have more root room and more soil to hold water. Check your pots for water every day--you will learn which plants are thirsty (marjoram) and which can tolerate drier soil (basil). Feed herbs just once a month, and with a weak solution. Slow growth is a response to low winter light, rather than inadequate plant food. Too much nitrogen causes a flush of growth that attracts pests, and
Ask the Money Prof Thinking of Starting a Business? Entrepreneurs and those individu-
als owning businesses represent about 1/2 % of the millionaires in this country. Approximately 7% of the US population have a net worth of $1,000,000 or more (Source: Stanley, Thomas J. and William D. Danko. 1996. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of American’s Wealthy. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing.) Of course, these numbers mean that even if you do not own your own business, you can still become a millionaire (financial planning will help). Here are some business concepts you should consider (By the way, taking a business or entrepreneurship course may not guarantee success, but it will certainly help you
understand the process and can help reduce your risk when going into business.): • Do some research on the idea, whether it’s an operating business you’re thinking of buying, or one you are thinking of starting up. What is the future for the product? (One thing we have plenty of is demographic studies into the future). Buy into the industry first, start a company second. If it’s not a good idea, whatever you try to do, eventually will not matter. • What are the profit margins in this business? Profit margins are the profits you make on products sold. If you have low volume, then profit margins are
essential to make money. The best businesses to go into are those that have strong margins and sales (revenues). • Partnership? Should you go it alone or get a partner? There are plenty of books written about the advantages and disadvantages of partnerships. For every advantage there is a disadvantage. .Read up this. • Financing: How much money will you contribute (equity) and how much will you borrow (indebtedness). If you can borrow money at 8%, and above 9% on the funds, you have positive leverage. Remember the risks of borrowing: you are placing a claim on your future income..
whiteflies are the bane of indoor herb growing. If your plants become infested, isolate the buggy plant, give it a lukewarm shower to rinse of the pests, and treat with a nontoxic pest spray like Safer’s Soap. Convinced to give it a try? Family garden centers like Skillin’s and Allen, Sterling and Lothrop have a nice selection of herbs right now. In general, herb seeds are slow to germinate so it’s best to start with plants indoors. There is absolutely nothing as delicious on a cold evening as fresh-snipped basil on a pile of linguini with butter, salt, and pepper, and grated cheese. Writer Nini McManamy is a Master Gardener with a garden design and consultation business, Gardener’s Dirt (ninimaine@aol.com)
By Joel I. Gold
• Marketing - essential for the growing firm. You can have a great product, but if no one knows about your company, it will be difficult to sell your product. Come up with a marketing plan. There are plenty of books and classes on marketing concepts and action steps. • Business Plan - many entrepreneurs do not have one immediately, unless they need some outside financing (where many of the lending institutions want to see it). It’s probably a good idea to have some type of Business Plan to give you a roadmap and to not forget any essential steps in running a business (again, plenty of resources exist on business plans.)
• One more tip: Enjoy the product you are selling, It will help you market the product. 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 FeeOnly Financial Planner. He’s been in Portland since 1995.
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February 2015
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
25th Annual Maine Home, Remodeling and Garden Show at the Cross Insurance Arena (for-
Maine Jewish Museum 267 Congress St,
‘SweetArt’ Pop-Up Shop
This Valentine’s pop-up shop is created by students in Illustration at MECA. This year’s shop will be at the PMA for two weeks beginning Feb 6. 60% of the proceeds will go to the artists and the rest to PMA.
Candlelight Concert- Vivaldi’s Four Seasons The
historic Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco and Biddeford presents the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Lehmann, in a candlelight concert of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The concert will take place at the church on Feb 6 at 7 pm, at 60 School St in Saco. Donations gratefully accepted.
St. Lawrence Arts
Your neiborhood arts center! Creating an affordable and accessible venue for a diverse offerings of arts including but not limited to theater, dance, music, film, and workshops; http://www.stlawrencearts.org/
Phone (207) 773-2339 The Jewish Museum is hosting Merrill St artist Lin Lisberger’s exhibit, “Vessels: Sculpture and Prints”, until August 29. Email; ani@ treeoflifemuseum.org Website; http://mainejewishmuseum.org.
PhoPa Gallery, 132
Washington Ave | photographs and works on paper. Currently showing: CURIOSITIES, photographs by Tonee Harbert, Oct. 29 - Dec 6, Artist Talk | Sun, Nov 9, 3pm, http://www.phopagallery. com/
Mayo Street Arts
Performances & Classes 10 Mayo Street, mayostreetarts. org —Times vary. Classes: Tango, Belly Dancing, Kids Yoga, Juggling, Zumba and Pilates. Artist Studios, theater, poetry, music and more. Contact 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts.org.
Farmers Markets
Saturdays Dec 6 - April 18 at 200 Anderson Street, 9am-1pm
merly the Cumberland County Civic Center), Portland, Maine We welcome everyone at 10:00 am on Saturday and Sunday, Feb 7 & 8, 2015 • http://maine.newenglandexpos.com/
The Snowman Adventure Race
SUNDAY, Feb 8 on the Eastern Challenging Sudoku Puzzles - Book 10 want a doctor Do you From www.veryfreesudoku.com Promenade, 11 a.m. Join us on who takes time to really the Prom! The Snowman Adlisten to your concerns? Sudoku Puzzle 15 7relay. venture Race is a partner A5 re you 6 hoping for health Each team sleds with one biker4 care that and one runner! Great prizes for 5 8supports health best times, best themes 3 & best 7 without surgical or pharmaceutical intervention? costumes. Register a team today
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http://www.snowmanadventure. com/. The return of a wonderful6 fundraiser for The Portland 5 Gear 9 Hub - a non-profit shop of Camp 1 Ketcha & the Community Bicycle 6 Center!
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Lincoln Park was built in 1866, after a fire that nearly destroyed Portland. The park rose from the ashes of that great fire, so it was first called Phoenix Square. The park was refurbished and rededicated at a ceremony in 1909, but it hasn’t had much attention paid to it since. In 2013, Lincoln Park was added to the list of Places in Peril by Greater Portland Landmarks. The Friends of Lincoln Park are dedicated to restoring the park to its former glory. Please help
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MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
February 2015
11
East End Business Focus Springer’s Jewelers—Selling More Than Just Fine Jewelry By Ross Fields As luck would have it, I’d just seen
an ad for one of our local jewelry stores at the same time my wife desired to commemorate a life event with a pendant. So down the hill, and into town, we headed.
Have you ever walked into a business for the first time and immediately thought to yourself, “Something feels different here.” That is exactly what happened the moment I stepped through the doors of Springer’s Jewelers on Congress Street. I was feeling the anticipation of having a great experience. At first, I thought it might be from the sheer “brilliance” of the place. It’s pleasingly bright, clean, orderly and welcoming. Imagine how you might feel walking into the Emerald city of Oz for the first time. And guess what, my anticipation was spot on. We had a great time. Being a business owner myself, I wanted to find out who was behind keeping Maine’s oldest (145 years), family operated (4th generation) jewelry store so vibrant. I soon became acquainted with Zoe and Lilly, daughters of E. Richard (Rick), owner, and Nancy Beaulieu,
who graciously answered my many questions, and who I now think of as the “front women” for Springer’s. The History
In 1870, just five years after the end of the American Civil War, George T. Springer opened his store in Westbrook (then Saccarappa), Maine, selling optical goods, stationary, art-
to 580 Congress, where it remains today. In addition to fine jewelry, silver serving pieces and fine china were available on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the four-story location.
his daughters just do what they have always done: treat each other with mutual respect and appreciation. It’s working.
Two additional stores were added, Portsmouth, NH, (1971) and Bath, ME, (1979). All three stores represent the Beaulieu’s commitment to maintaining and revitalizing local, downtown shopping districts.
Rick, interestingly enough, had the same thing to say about each of his daughters. I did ask him how it was when he worked for his dad. “It was good. I actually worked at the other two stores, which gave me the opportunity to learn what running a business, on my own, was really like.” Rick recalled how his dad, Edmond Jr., wasn’t overly enthusiastic about his request for two weeks off. Rick got the two weeks, but couldn’t remember if it was paid time off (which at that time was $75 a week).
Leadership changed hands once again in 1988 as E. Richard (Rick) Beaulieu assumed the role of owner, guiding the business to exclusively offer fine and estate jewelry, along with being the sole Rolex dealer in the state of Maine.
ists’ materials, “fancy goods” and … fine jewelry. Springer’s moved to 515 Congress Street upon the transfer of ownership to Edmond J. Beaulieu in 1925, just four years before the stock market crash of 1929. After weathering the challenges of the Great Depression (Edmond Sr. borrowed from his life insurance policy) and then World War II, Edmond Sr. passed the reins to Edmond Jr. in 1947 as the store moved
History in general is great, but I wanted to know what recipe this family used to create success, year after year. I definitely wanted to know how it was for the girls, Lilly and Zoe, working with dad (at the store they call him Rick). In separate conversations, both girls explained that they had grown up being respected for who they were. Dad and mom talked with them, not at them, allowing for actual conversations and the development of strong relationships. “I have never felt any anxiety in working with my dad,” answered both girls. Rick and
With a successful business, there always seems to be some defining moment, some decision that a business owner looks back on with great satisfaction and pride. Rick’s was the 2012 decision to fully remodel the store and remain at 580 Congress . . . when he was being encouraged to move away to a new stand-alone location. He is happy with the choice to stay, and with how Portland, his family’s home, is in the midst of a revitalization. Lilly joined the family business in 2008, with Zoe following in 2012,
not because they had to, or were expected to, but because they wanted to. I know there are many other family members who work in the business, and non-family employees who have worked there for up to 40 years. That alone says a lot. There is a brother, Edmond the 3rd, but I suspect that some female energy will be taking the reins in the future. To Zoe, Lilly, Rick, and everyone else at the Congress Street store, I say thank you. It is so refreshing to walk into a store and be greeted with a smile and “hello” that includes your first name. As Rick so proudly expressed, “What we sell here is happiness.” So true. Find Springer’s Jewelers at 580 Congress in Portland, with locations in Bath, ME and Portsmouth, NH, www.springerjewelers.com
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February 2015
MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER
Munjoy Hill and the MHNO: Snapshots from the 2000s
By Matthew Kennedy
2002
2004
The annotated timeline below summarizes a selection of significant MHNO and Munjoy Hill news from the 2000s, as reported in the Observer. For those of you fortunate enough to be long-term Hill residents, much of the below will be familiar; many of you were actively involved in these events. For the rest of us, this dash may provide some insight into our neighborhood’s recent history, and the MHNO’s part in that history.
February: Jack School slated to close following discovery of “toxic mold.”
March: Cynthia Fitzgerald (then MHNO secretary) is honored by the city for service to the community, including 25 straight years as an MHNO board member.
2000 February: The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum presents a comprehensive plan for development of two rail routes, one running along Commercial Street to the International Ferry Terminal to meet cruise ships, the other circling the East End before running down Marginal Way to Hadlock Field. March: Bath Iron Works is to cease operations on the East End waterfront at the end of the year; plans take shape for “Project Oceangate,” a proposed new terminal for passenger ships. May: The City holds a public meeting to discuss the possible closure of Adams school and consolidation of East End elementary schools. June: The Observatory reopens following a multi-year restoration.
2001 May: The St. Lawrence Arts & Community Center opens. The first production is a staging of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”
May: Our own Community Policing Coordinator Janine Kaserman is named Portland’s Civilian Employee of the Month! October: The MHNO and city support the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in the establishment at Fort Allen Park of a Memorial to victims of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centers. November: MHNO continues to host discussions on the developing plans for “Oceangate”. Of particular concern is the project’s possible impact on traffic on Munjoy Hill and throughout the East End.
2003
May: Demolition of Jack school begins; construction of East End Community school begins in December.
2005 June: MHNO sponsors the first Hidden Gardens of Munjoy Hill tour, a fundraiser for Cultivating Community. (The tour is now organized by the Friends of the Eastern Prom.) June: Society for East End Arts founded (www.seaportland.org).
May: There is ongoing discussion of area schools; plans call for construction of a new school on the Jack school site and the closing of Adams school.
October: MHNO stages the first annual MunjFest community celebration.
June: Bobby Lipps, lifelong Munjoy Hill resident, turns 50! By then, Bobby had been working at St. Lawrence for almost ten years and, per the Observer author, “has probably walked up and down the hill more times than anyone in history.” He’s still going strong.
November: Front Room restaurant opens.
June: An Observer article reports on the establishment of the Eastern Promenade Park Master Planning Committee, organized to develop a master plan for the Eastern Prom. The Committee includes three representatives from the MHNO. June: The MHNO establishes its first website. August: The Blue Spoon restaurant opens.
November: Ocean Gate project breaks ground.
2006 April: 100 Congress Street the new home to Midcoast Multisport, a store focusing on the needs of triathletes; Bar Lola soon to open in the space next door. May: Opening ceremony at East End Community School.
2007 February: Hilltop Coffee moves to 90 Congress Street. April: Friends of the Eastern Promenade is formed, taking the Eastern Promenade Master Plan as its guiding document.
August: With support from Hilltop Coffee, Portland Trails and the city, MHNO renovates the open space/garden outside of 92 Congress Street, welcoming the community to enjoy this “Munjoy Hill Community Patio.” November: Jack Path, long fenced and inaccessible, is reopened through the efforts of Portland Trails. (The path will again reopen following completion of the Munjoy Heights project.)
2009 May: Lisa Peñalver joins the Observer as editor, a position she holds to this day. (Thank you, Lisa!!) May: MHNO board member Joan Sheedy is honored by the state for her work founding the Senior Snow Shoveling Project. July: Friends of the Eastern Prom and Portland Trails replace the “goat path” between Fort Allen Park and the Eastern Prom trail with a cleared, stepped connector trail. Coming soon to the Observer: “2010 to the present” Note: Matthew Kennedy’s MHNO Snapshots of the past can be found online in recent issues of the Observer —(free!) at munjoyhill.org