October 2011 Munjoy HIll Observer

M u n joy Hil l

M u n joy Hil l

OBSERVER

OBSERVER MHNO, 92 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101

Change Service Requested

Non Profit Org US Postage

PAID

Portland, ME Permit No. 824

FREE Published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Vol. 31, No. 7 • October 2011

The weather changes suddenly in early October, as seen in this view from the parking garage on Fore Street. The Eastern Cemetery can be seen above, and the Portland Observatory is visible at the upper right. in the foreground, work has begun on the empty lot where once stood the popular Village Café. Photo by Katie Brown.

The MHNO is partnering with Munjoy Hill Community Policing and Portland Recreation to celebrate our community on Saturday, October 22, from 10 am to 3 pm. The celebration formerly known as MunjFest will be held at the East End Community School this year.

Here’s a sampling of what will be offered: outside: Food vendors, pick-up kickball games (for adults & kids), Police SRT vehicle, Fire Department demo truck, bubbles, hula hoops, parachute game, kids’ obstacle course, Police K9 (canine/dog) demonstrations, and more! inside: Community Room: Kids’ craft corner, face painting, and Maine Child ID Program; Gym/Vendor Row: Crafters, artists, local non profits, businesses, and mayoral candidates. Cafeteria: Entertainment all day in a café atmosphere, featuring Chris Busby of Soul Proprietor, Myhaver Brothers Band, musicians from the Maine Academy of Modern Music (MAMM), and more! Find all the details online at munjoyhill.org. And visit our Facebook page often for updates.

MHNO Hosts Candidate Night MHNO Portland Mayoral Candidate Night Wednesday, October 26, 6-8:30 p.m.

East End Community School Cafeteria The Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization has a long history of hosting local candidate debates at our fall quarterly meeting. Please join us, along with the mayoral candidates, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the East End Community School to learn more about each candidate, their abilities to lead and their vision for Portland, followed by a straw poll of audience members. There will be a brief segment of MHNO and neighborhood announcements at the beginning of the evening.

MHNO writer Elizabeth Miller approached all of the 2011 candidates for mayor with a couple of questions to probe their thoughts on the role of neighborhood organizations.

Their responses appear inside this issue of the Observer.

By Elizabeth Miller What makes Paris, London, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, DC, favorite cities of so many? A big part of it is the “personalities” of their distinct neighborhoods—that special chemistry of people and the built environment that signals that this is a special place. But how exactly does a neighborhood identity emerge and how does it contribute to the overall community well-being?

When I first moved to Portland in 1985, I lived in a noman’s land on lower Park Street. It wasn’t really the West End—that started at State Street. It wasn’t Downtown— that ended at Gorham’s Corner. Then I moved to that section out on Washington Avenue that has states’ names.

Not East Deering; too north. Not North Deering; south of Allen Avenue. Once again, no neighborhood identity. I enjoyed the conveniences of living in these different parts of our Forest City, but somehow I didn’t feel connected to a larger whole.

Now I’m on Munjoy Hill with its active organization, and I’m still puzzling over how neighborhoods can or should contribute to our city’s vitality. So I posed these questions to the mayoral candidates in early September. How do neighborhood organizations fit into your vision of Portland? How do you plan to incorporate neighborhood organizations into your approach to governing the City?

Their verbatim responses (limited to 150 words) follow.

(12 of the 15 mayoral candidates responded to the questions about the role of neighborhood organizations. I did not get responses from Charles Bragdon, Mike Brennan, or Richard Dodge.)

Q1: How do neighborhood organizations fit into your vision of Portland?

Q2: How do you plan to incorporate neighborhood organizations into your approach to governing the City?

See page 9, Candidates Weigh In

Alas it comes to this.... (seen in Portland.) Photo by Katie Brown

From ghoulies and ghosties / And long-leggedy beasties / And things that go bump in the night, / Good Lord, deliver us! ~Scottish Saying

Annual MHNO Festival set for October 22

Candidates for Mayor Weigh in on Neighborhoods

October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

At the Helm The Munjoy Hill Observer is published

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

observer@munjoyhill.org (207) 766-5077 munjoyhill.org/observer Observer Committee Tamera Edison, Andrea Myhaver, Kristin Rapinac, advertising Tamera Edison Tamera.Edison@ munjoyhill.org, 939-7998, Lisa Peñalver, Layout, 239-1604

3,000 Circulation 8,000+ Readership About our paper The Munjoy Hill Observer is published by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO) as a service to its members and to the community as a whole, to inform Portland’s East End residents of local issues and events, and of the services that can be found here. The Observer serves as a vehicle to connect and inform our neighbors, while enlisting community partners to help us help those who need it most.

The Munjoy Hill Observer was first published in May of 1979. Circulation is 3000, distributed free in Portland at over 100 locations. Nearly 400 copies are mailed to current and former members of the MHNO.

MHNO Board 2011-12 Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization Andrea Myhaver, President . ................. andrea.myhaver@munjoyhill.org Kristin Rapinac, Vice President . .................... kristin.rapinac@munjoyhill.org Elaine Mullin, Treasurer elaine.mullin@munjoyhill.org.......... 671-6132 Eban Albert-Knopp............................................... . .............. eban.albert-knopp@munjoyhill.org Ralph Carmona................rccarmona@hotmail.com . ..................................................... 518-9177 Christina Feller...... christina.feller@munjoyhill.org . .................................................... 773-4336

Over the next couple of months I will be dedicating this column to providing you with a bird’s eye view of the activities of the MHNO Board of Directors. This month, the Events Committee is very busy and excited as we gear up for the We Love Munjoy Hill Festival on October 22, and our Quarterly Meeting/Candidates’ Debate which will be held on Wednesday, October 26. Both of these events will take place at East End Community School.

In September we took some time at the monthly meeting of the full board to review the strategic plan that was approved by the then-Board of

MHNO President, Andrea Myhaver Directors in 2010, and brainstorm about what we would like to accomplish this year. It was a lively meeting with great discussion and sharing of ideas.

We began with a very long list which we were able to hone into 5 goals for 2011/2012.

MHNO Goals 2011-2012 1. To ensure that the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization remains sustainable.

2. To provide assistance and services to families, youth, and elders on Munjoy Hill.

3. To build community.

4. To serve as a clearinghouse for information that involves residents of Munjoy Hill.

5. To develop a strong voice in all matters that affect Munjoy Hill, including development, security, safety, and infrastructure.

At our full Board of Directors meeting this month (please feel free to join us: Monday, October 10) we will be creating a list of objectives that will help us to meet our goals. In November I will recap the list that we approve and let you know how you can get involved. In the meantime, please join us in celebrating our great neighborhood on October 22 and come meet the mayoral candidates on October 26. We look forward to seeing you!

The ever-evolving Hill The Mums and pumpkins are out, so it’s official: it’s fall.

We have the month of October to come to terms with the inevitability of the impending winter and with the cascade of holidays.

We have all-hallowed Halloween to let off some stress-steam before the slide to the end of the year gets truly crazy.

I love this time of year, this brief and beautiful hiatus before winter closes in. It’s a time of anticipation. The fall brings elections, punctuated this year by a race for Mayor of Portland. The question arises of what this new development could mean for each of us in the communities in which we live. To do this, we need to look at what exactly we value in our community—what do we want to strengthen or preserve?

In one of the daily papers recently, I’ve been reading op-ed pieces addressing the camaraderie and warmth of fellowship in growing

Jamie Lane Fitzgerald........................................... . ........... jamie.lanefitzgerald@munjoyhill.org Katie Brown............... katie.brown@munjoyhill.org

up on the Munjoy Hill of decades ago. It was very heart-warming to read, right up to the point where the writers proclaim this environment is lost and “gone forever.”

I’m sorry, but I must respectfully disagree. A community is a living thing, and it is what we make of it. True, that precise mixture of personalities and environment is gone, but what has replaced it is equally, if not more, fertile ground for a neighborhood that is interactive and vibrantly growing.

One of the attractions of this area is that people DO get out and walk around their neighborhood, meeting at the coffee shops, green spaces, and churches that are abundant on the peninsula.

I would argue that a more concerted effort needs to be made by us all to increase “face-time.”

I believe that the decreased sociability we are seeing has less to do with the perceived “gentrification”

of the Hill, and more to do with the current obsession with digital & social media. This is a problem that is universal, not just one facing the Hill. I know people who forsake eating dinner with their own families and decline to spend time out with friends in favor of their email and facebook. I wonder about the values behind these choices. I doubt many people have even begun to question their own habits in this regard.

People are flocking to Munjoy Hill not just for the scenic location, they come for the COMMUNITY. If the residents (former and future) are concerned that the sense of community is in peril—it IS a living thing after all—then it is their/our responsibility to ACT: determine what is needed and give it the attention it deserves. Simple as that. Be real (not virtual).

Studies have found that, “Beyond a minimum level of income essential to meet basic needs, member-

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MHNO Mission

e this ewspape n

Robert Lobor.............robert.lobor@munjoyhill.org

If you see a crime happening or see/hear anything suspicious in your neighborhood, please call the police! Clip and save these numbers: 1)

in January 1979, our purpose is to 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.

Our community’s health directly affects OUR health—it must become a high-priority goal. One powerful way everyone can contribute to the well-being of the neighborhood is to get active in this neighborhood organization, the MHNO. Please do it today, in real time, in person. The future of this Hill is ours to create.

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?- You can help prevent crime on the Hill!

Incorporated as a nonprofit organization broad-based,

ship in a cooperative, caring community is a far better predictor of happiness and emotional health than the size of one’s paycheck or bank account.”* We HAVE this here, now!

* Source: Yesmagazine.org, article “We Are Hard-Wired to Care and Connect” by David Korten, posted Jul 30, 2008

Ann Quinlan.............. ann.quinlan@munjoyhill.org

a

~ Lady Bird Johnson

From the Editor, Lisa Peñalver

Joan Sheedy..............joan.sheedy@munjoyhill.org . ..................................................... 774-7616

be

“While the spirit of neighborliness was important on the frontier because neighbors were so few, it is even more important now because our neighbors are so many.”

S e n d Y o u r L e t t e r s a n d H i ll n e w s t o o b s e r v e r @ M u n j o y H i ll . o r g

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Show neighborhood PRIDE! with this bumper sticker! (measures 6”x 4”). Buy one and support your Neighborhood Org. Send $3.50 per sticker to MHNO, 92 Congress St, Portland ME 04101.

We also have Munjoy HilL t-shirts available for $15. Send your check to MHNO: Various Sizes and colors available, email inquiries to info@munjoyhill. org.

756-8135 -Daytimes: Janine Kaserman with Community Policing

2) 650-8770 cell -11 am thru the night, new “acting” Senior Lead Officer Kevin McCarthy (at right) 3)

874-8575/-8574

Dispatch- non-emergency situations

4) Emergencies: 9-1-1 Anonymous Crimes tips Program: Phone Tip—Dial 874-8584, | Online: tipsubmit.com Text-A-Tip: Text “GOTCHA” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES)

BULLETIN Board the munjoy Hill neighborhood Organization MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Attention

2011

ol o h c S y it n u m m o C @ East End195 North Street

ts s i t r A & s r e t f a r C , s r Vendo t n e m in a t r e t n d E o • o F t a Gre up k ic P • ) a re a ´ fe a c n (i y a All D ults) • d a & s id (k s e m a G l Kickbal t n e m t r a p e D e ir F • SRT Vehicle s t f a r C & s t r A Demo Truck • • g n i t n i a P e c a F • • Bubbles e m a G e t u h c a r a P • ps Hula Hoo • e s r u o C e l c a t s b O ’ s d i •K • o m e D e in n a C e ic • Pol • m a r g o r P ID d il h • Maine C

a n d M or e!

Sat. October 22, 10am -3pm Still accepting

!! s n io t a ic l App r o d n Ve Tables available!

Email us Ntoodoww!nload an

joyhill.org Come to www.mun : day, or email us at to n applicatio ation. rm fo in e or org for m ill. yh jo un m l@ iva fest

Hosted by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, Munjoy Hill Community Policing and Portland Recreation.

Flu clinics begin Oct. 2 in Portland — see schedule at publichealth.portlandmaine.gov/

Vendors!

Do you want to sell something at the We Love Munjoy Hill Festival? Do you represent a nonprofit organization and want to spread the word about your mission? It’s not too late to be a vendor at the Festival! We’ve extended our deadline, so visit www. munjoyhill.org to download an application today, or email us at: festival@munjoyhill.org for more information.

October 2011

Attention

Sponsors!

Please consider sponsoring the We Love Munjoy Hill Festival. Our annual festival is not only a great tradition that brings our neighborhood together - it’s also our major fundraiser each year.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to maintain Hill House as a place where all can gather and meet, and to provide programs and services that enrich the lives of those who live and work on Munjoy Hill.

The following are the WLMH Festival sponsorship levels:

Im m ediate JOB Openin g

les Part-Time Ad Sas Re p Assistant Ad Sale r needed for the Observe

s paid.

Competi tive commission hrs /w k, 0 8-2 n Anyw here betwee experi e de pending on sales; som able to ence prefer red . Must be e and work independentl y, invoic reg uate nic mu kee p rec ords, com wit h d an lar ly wit h senior ad rep com Obser ver Editor. Must be compu ter. pu ter literate and have a ibing Please email a let ter de scr and a ns, tio your intere st & qualif ica ill.o yh rg. resumé, to info@ munjo

King of the Hill Observer Promenader Friend of Hill House Munjoy Maineiac

$500 $400 $300 $100 $25

To sponsor the festival at any level, simply make a check payable to the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization and mail to: MHNO 92 Congress St. Portland, ME 04101, Attn: Festival, and indicate sponsorship in your check memo line. We’ll contact you to request your logo for inclusion in our promotional materials online and in print as well as in our followup article in the November issue of the Munjoy Hill Observer.

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October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

CapitAl City

City Councilor | kevin Donoghue kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov

District One residents will be among the first to host our first mayorelect in generations. I will host the District One Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 9, from 7pm to 9pm at the East End Community School, by which time balloting will be complete and a mayor announced. Regardless of who should win, I look forward to using the first post-election neighborhood meeting to facilitate a dialog that places the interests of district residents at the front of the mayor’s mind. That 4 of 15 candidates, Charles Bragdon, Ralph Carmona, Markos Miller, and Jed Rathband, live in District One goes to show the strong interest district residents hold for the city as a whole. Should one of the other 11 candidates, Mike Brennan, Peter Bryant, Richard Dodge, Jill Duson, John Eder, Hamza Haadoow, Jodie Lapchick, Dave Marshall, Nick Mavodones, Ethan Strimling, or Chris Vail, win who do not live in District One, we must ensure their interest for District One. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of pushing our interests is defining our interests, and that is precisely why broad participation is so important at the District One Annual Meeting. While construction has slowed in recent years, we regularly hear strong interest in development, ranging from our aspirations for places we love to our anxieties about unintended consequences. Will our mayor regard neighborhood involvement as an asset or a liability as we pursue growth? District One residents can use the annual meeting as an opportunity to direct the conversation toward our interests as neighbors of downtown and as advocates for our own neighborhoods. What needs attention on Munjoy Hill and in Bayside? How are city services working for you? Come tell it to me and the mayor November 9th. I can best serve you working with the mayor and we will be best served if we start off on the same page as the residents of District One.

Portland’s Candidates for Mayor in 2011 The 15 mayoral candidates include Charles Bragdon, Jill Duson, Nicholas Mavodones, Michael Brennan, John Eder, Markos Miller, Peter Bryant, Hamza Haadoow, Jed Rathband, Ralph Carmona, Jodie Lapchick, Ethan Strimling, Richard Dodge, David Marshall and Christopher Vail.

MON, Oct 3

Thu, Oct 6

Wed, Oct 12

Friends of Deering Oaks 3:30 pm, 55 Portland Street

Joint City/School Finance Committee 5:30 pm, State of Maine Room

Community Development Committee 5 pm, Room 209

City Council Meeting Evening Session 7 pm, Council Chambers

Zoning Board of Appeals 6:30 pm, Room 209

TUES, Oct 4

MON, Oct 10

Housing Committee, 5:30 pm, Room 209

COLUMBUS DAY - CITY BUILDINGS CLOSED

WED, Oct 5

TUES, Oct 11

Creative Portland Corporation, 3:45 pm, Room 24 - City Hall Basement

Planning Board Workshop 3:30 pm, Room 209

Historic Preservation 5 pm, Room 209 Thu, Oct 6 Land Bank Commission, 5 pm, Room 24 , City Hall Basement Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee 5:30 pm, Council Chambers

Bicycle Pedestrian Committee, 5 pm, Room 24 - City Hall Basement Public Safety Committee, 5:30 pm, Council Chambers Planning Board Public Hearing 7 pm, Room 209

Police Citizen Review Sub-Committee 6 pm, Public Safety Conference Room - 109 Middle Street THUR, Oct 13 Parks Commission , 5 pm, 55 Portland Street Board of Harbor Commissioners Public Hearing 5 pm. South Portland Council Chambers Joint City/School Finance Committee 5:30 pm, Room 209 CDBG Mandatory Applicant Meeting 6 pm, Merrill Rehearsal Hall - Myrtle Street Zoning Board of Appeals 6:30 pm, Council Chambers

Art Soul

“Alumni” Neighbor of the Month

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

October 2011

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Pondering the Poetry in everyday life

PORTLAND FARMERS MARKET on SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

Taurean Green

(Or, How to Jumpstart a Middle-Aged Woman’s Heart) Poem By Elizabeth Miller The bright red pepper caught my eye - would this be the perfect complement to my garbanzo salad? Sweet & spicy, the tag proclaimed.

Tickled with the possibilities, I repeated aloud: sweet & spicy.

And from across the vegetable display came: Just like you.

I looked up and saw a handsome young (maybe 28?) man smiling at me.

Photo above: Taurean Green with Nicole Getchell, Rehersal Director of Portland School of Ballet

“Welcome Home, Taurean!

Ballet Star Returns East to Dance With Dance Theater of Harlem ... Again!”

“I’d NEVER forget Munjoy Hill. This is my home and where my dancing began,” Green said earlier this week following a workout at the Portland School of Ballet with company members. In fact, Green’s dancing began at the former Jack Elementary School on the Hill where he was discovered by Eugenia O’Brien, founder and director of the nationally recognized Ballet School.

When Green was a 10 year old student, he auditioned at school to be a beneficiary of the Rowell Foster Children’s Fine Arts Fund. The fund was established by Portland native Victoria Rowell. Green did not initially qualify for the fund because he’s not a foster child. But because of his extraordinary potential, O’Brien persuaded ballerina/actress/foster child Rowell to underwrite Taurean’s ballet lessons because he’s a minority, as is Rowell. “The rest is history!”

“I’ve been wanting to return to the East Coast to dance for some time now,” said Green, 28, as we sat in a leather couch just outside the practice room earlier this week, catching up. Most recently, Green had been dancing in Seattle with the Pacific Northwest Ballet company. But, he wants to be closer to family on the East Coast. Furthermore, there are only three cities on the West Coast: Seattle, San

Francicso and Los Angeles, where there are dancing opportunities. “Here, on the East Coast, there are many more opportunities for dancers,” Green said. So, early this spring, he auditioned for Dance Theater of Harlem – for the second time – and got the job.

Following Portland High School, Green received scholarships to study with various schools, which led to his employment with the famous Dance Theater of Harlem for four years. “I love to travel,” Green said. During those four years, he traveled overseas, mostly to the British Isles, and he said he’d like to do more. Although the 40 year old dance group performs mostly in NYC at the Joyce SoHo, the group does plan to go overseas to perform next year.

Green, who is incredibly focused and dedicated to his art said: “I’ve been on this path for a long time and will continue to stay on it to grow to be ready for other opportunities that will come my way. A dancer can’t stop growing.”

His mentor, O’Brien, said: “It’s hard to allow dancers to have a life in dance. It’s becoming a lost art form. People barely have an idea of the sacrifices kids have to make. It’s their job to bring someone else’s vision to life.”

(Author’s note: mhn.com had the pleasure of writing a story about Taurean Green that appeared in the December, 1993 issue of the Munjoy Hill Observer, upon Taurean’s receipt of the Victoria Rowell scholarship. A follow-up story on Green has been long-anticipated by mhn. com)

He (but not too quickly, because he spotted my wedding ring too late?): I thought you were single and would appreciate the line.

Me (but not too quickly, because I didn’t want to embarrass him further, because didn’t he see the gray hair?): You have made my day - God bless you.

He: [can’t remember, because I was still amazed at the improbability of this conversation] Me: This reminds me of when I went to the Sea Dogs the first time [thinking that he was probably in middle school at the time] and I was carded, I just about leapt over the counter to hug the guy.

He: I hardly get carded any more. [There was more, but I was slow to recover from the aforementioned shock] Me: Thanks for the lift.

As I strolled back to my car, winding my way through the fruits and vegetables, the shoppers and the farmers: You never know what fresh things await you at our Farmers Market.

Now located right on Munjoy Hill!

Falmouth Flowers and Gifts 58 Washington Ave. | Portland “There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.”

— Nathaniel Hawthorne

Falmouth Flowers and Gifts is a full-service florist offering first quality, fresh cut flowers and arrangements.

We will exceed your expectations for all occasions. We can create one-of-a-kind arrangements for newborns, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, and special events of all kinds. We also create unique holiday decorations and wreaths as well as theme-specific gift baskets.

See puzzle on page 9

By Carol McCracken from her August 19, 2011 blog posting #859 on munjoyhillnews.com, used with permission.

Me (but not too quickly, because I was stunned at the suggestion of an overture): Wow! What a great opening line.

Don’t know what to get for that special someone? Gift certificates are available in any denomination. We also have some wonderful new gift lines in. The beautiful night lights are very popular.

All of us at Falmouth Flowers and Gifts have a strong commitment to customer service. We take the time to

listen and have unconditional satisfaction guarantee.Many of you on Munjoy Hill may remember the owner Dan Gifford from Flowers On The Hill. He purchased Falmouth Flowers And Gifts after the untimely death of its previous owner Three years ago. Over the years he has become know as ‘Dan Dan the Flower Man,’ and rightfully so, with his love of fresh flowers and beautiful arrangements.

Located at the corner of Washington Ave. and Oxford Ave. on the Silly’s side of the street. Making floral deliveries as far north as Freeport and North Yarmouth and as far south as Scarborough and as far west as Westbrook.

Local Delivery Available | Wire-Out Service | Satisfaction Guaranteed

207-781-5533

October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Breast Cancer Facts What is breast cancer?

Cancer is when cells in the body grow out of control. When cells start growing out of control in the breast, it’s called breast cancer. The breast is made up of three main parts: glands, ducts, connective tissue Sometimes the cells in breast tissue start to grow at a faster-than-normal rate and become abnormal. The growth of extra cells begins to form masses called tumors. There are two types of masses: Benign (not cancerous) and malignant(cancerous) which can spread to other parts of the body.

Who gets breast cancer?

All women are at risk for breast cancer.

Even though it’s rare, men can be at risk too. Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer for women in the United States.

Here we will focus on risk factors and what you can do to lower your personal risk.

What are the risk factors?

• Being female • Increasing age • Race and ethnicity • Certain benign breast conditions • Personal history of breast cancer • Family history of breast cancer • Inherited genes that increase cancer risk • Drinking alcohol • Having children later in life • Obesity • Beginning your period at a young age.

Body Soul

By Michael O’Brien

October is Bre ast Cancer Awareness Month

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• Having had x-ray therapy to the breast • Smoking

How can I reduce my risk?

Talk with your doctor about ways to achieve these goals.

1- Exercise most days of the week. Try at least 30 min most days of the week.

2- Maintain a healthy weight.

3- Get help to quit smoking. .

4- Limit drinking alcohol. Cut it out all together or keep to less then one drink a day if you choose to drink.

4- Watch fat intake. High fat intake has been to linked in young girls getting their period early.

5- Reduce or cut out red meat. Keep meat to only one meal a day 6- Limit the amount of postmenopausal hormones used. Consider benefits and risks of hormone therapy.

Where does the time go? Who flipped the switch? It seems we were just looking forward to the first crocus of spring, and now it is time to prepare our gardens for their long winter’s nap. Perhaps we are even a little “gardened out” after all our weeding, deadheading and pruning.

Time for us to rest before the next batch of holidays comes calling? Not quite. As most of us have our bedtime rituals to help us wake a more vibrant self, think of this as your garden’s bedtime ritual. A thorough cleaning and preparation will give you a jump start on spring.

Making a few changes in your lifestyle can help reduce your risk. It is also important to know about those risks that are outside of your control. Beyond taking precautions to change your risk, the next step in managing the risk of breast cancer is early detection.

Current screening guidelines for women is starting at age 20, repeat clinical breast exams ever 3 years.. Starting at age 40, repeat mammograms every 1 to 2 years.

Leave the seed-head of these plant to feed the birds: black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), globe thistle, Joe-Pye weed, echinacea (coneflowers).

Getting Help & Resources:

The Learning Resource Center, Scarborough, 1-866609-5183; MaineHealth Cancer Resource Center www.mainehealthcancer.org, www.cancer.gov,

Women to Receive Preventative Services at No Additional Cost

These services will include the following: * Well-woman visits; * Screening for gestational diabetes; * Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for women 30 years and older;

Beauty-Sleep For the plants By Kathleen Carr Bailey

First, what NOT to do: The following plants are susceptible to winter-kill and should not be cut back this time of year: lavender, Russian sage, Rose of Sharon, roses—shrub or climbing, Caryopteris, butterfly bush (Buddleia) gayfeather (Liatris), globe thistle (Echiniops), sea holly (Eryngium).

Health Care Reform Update Based on recent recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, the Department of Health and Human Services announced today that new health insurance plans will be required to cover preventative services for women without cost sharing, starting August 1, 2012 as part of the Affordable Care Act.

In the Garden

* Sexually-transmitted infection counseling; * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and counseling; * FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling; * Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling; and * Domestic violence screening and counseling.

Read the guidelines for more information on this important milestone in women’s health and newest development in the Affordable Care Act. (visit HealthCare.gov)

Leave these seed head & spent blooms to offer winter interest: sedum, astilbe, ornamental grasses.

Must-do tasks for a healthy spring garden • Cut back perennials as appropriate especially Hosta which tends to become mushy.

• Cut-back but leave greens at base: Some perennials such dianthus, campanula, foamflower (Tiarella), shasta daisy, heuchera (coral bells), astilbe have “evergreen” foliage at the base of the plant that should be left to overwinter.

• Clean leaves, spent blooms and other debris from around and under plants & shrubs. This eliminates hiding places for insects and rodents.

• Prune or cut out any dead or broken canes or branches on shrubs and trees to avoid further breakage. (including roses).

• Continue to weed and remove seedlings of annuals that may self-sow.

• Continue to water in newly planted shrubs and trees until the first frost.

• Construct wind breaks or sun screens around plants predisposed to winter damage.

• Late fall: add a slow-release fertilizer* and top-dress beds with organic compost. Perfect tonic when plants are waking up under the last snows of the season.

• Take soil samples for testing (less expensive and faster turnaround during winter months).

Do NOT: • ...pull stems or stalks of perennials — cut at the crown.

• ...compost any leaves with disease or fungus (powdery mildew or rust spots).

• ...neglect your tools. Clean, sharpen & oil so they may be ready at the first sign of “gardening weather.”

• ...forget to put under cover, or take inside, glazed, ceramic or terra-cotta containers and garden décor to prevent ice damage.

Plants & Shrubs with Special Needs Shrubs should be left alone for now— prune them in late winter or early spring, or right after bloom, depending on when they bloom. Roses may also be pruned in spring, although if a rose has grown an exceptionally long cane or two, you can remove a couple of feet of growth to avoid damage that might occur should they whip around in the winter winds.

Hydrangeas and clematis each have their own specific instructions.

Rhododendrons • Mulch with pine needles or oak leaves to keep soil acidic.

• Protect w/burlap those with exposure to high winds.

• Add organic fertilizer, made for acid -loving plants, such as Holly Tone* late fall (Thanksgiving).

• Spray broad leaf evergreens with antitranspirant such as Wilt Pruf* or other moisture-retaining product (Late fall). *Use care with plant chemicals; read the labels carefully. Always use a product appropriate to plant/shrub type and needs.

And always, ALWAYS follow the directions on the package.

Fall is a great time to join your neighborhood organization!

Go online to munjoyhill. org, click on "Membership," and complete the form.

Please include your email.

Welcome Aboard!

Why Do So Many Children and

De

Adults Struggle with Learning to Read?

By Wendy Gaal, Reading Specialist Upcoming free event: Reading and the Brain, a public discussion: Monday, Oct. 24th, 6:30-8 p.m, USM Payson Smith Hall, 96 Falmouth Street, Rm 1.

Do you remember how you learned to read? Most people don’t.

Most of us think that children, perhaps as we believe we did ourselves, learn to read by being surrounded by excellent books and listening to great stories. These activities certainly are very important to the process of learning to read, but they are not sufficient…just ask any child or adult who struggles with reading.

Reading is not a natural process; one does not learn to read in the same way as one learns to speak.

Reading is, after all, a relatively recent cultural invention. Why do so many children and adults struggle to learn to read? Why do even children from middle-class, literature-

rich families fail to learn to read?

Why don’t all cultures have a written language system? Our brains were not designed to read. How then does learning to read actually occur?

On Monday, October 24th from 6:30-8:00 p.m., Reading Matters to Maine and USM Southern Maine Area Resource Team (SMART) for Schools will present a free, public discussion of Reading and the Brain. This event will be held at the University of Southern Maine, Portland campus, Payson Smith Hall, 96 Falmouth Street, Room 1. The featured speaker will be Dr. Christopher Kaufman, who will describe what we now know from the work of neuroscientists and brain imagery about the process of learning to read. Backed with the knowledge of the science of reading, he will focus on the development of reading’s foundational skills as well as comprehension, the ultimate goal of all reading. Dr. Kaufman will link

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MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Certified Maine Master Gardener

this with practical information for parents and teachers: how this new science-based knowledge should be applied to home and school as we teach our children to learn to read. There will be a questionand-answer period following Dr. Kaufman’s talk.

Dr. Kaufman completed his studies at City University of New York where he earned a doctorate (Ph.D.) in School Psychology. Dr. Kaufman and his family live in Maine where, for twelve years, he was Lead School Psychologist for the Portland Public School System. Several years ago he founded Kaufman Psychological Services, where his work is devoted to brain-based workshops and a private clinical practice. Dr. Kaufman is also the author of Executive Function in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Improving Performance and Enhancing Skills for All Students.

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kcbailey@maine.rr.com

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

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ReadersWrite ReadersWrite ReadersWrite R e ad ReadersWrite

Winding Your Way to a Peaceful Mind

By Delores Lanai Author Delores Lanai, MEd, Crone, terra@ maine.rr.com, gives workshops on using Labyrinths for balance and problemsolving, Beginning Astrology, and Color for Healing; she also consults on diversity appreciation, organization development, and personal and small business finances and administration.

Autumn—My Favorite season...the crisp air... the amazing colors in the trees... the turning of the year when Virgo gives way to Libra the scales. So, for me, fall is the time of thinking about balance and harmony in our lives. Summer was outward solar energy; fall starts the inner lunar self reflection.

For many, summer means life outdoors. As the temperature begins to yo-yo to crisper days some have fear about the coming of

them to my definition of summer. Seeing the cruise ships here also adds to the feeling of “summer” in the fall.

winter. To reduce this concern, I include September and October in my “Maine summer.”

When I moved north from Washington, DC, I just couldn’t have a summer of only a couple of months, and because September and October are often lovely here, I added

During the fall months you might reflect on the Balance and Harmony in your life. Is it time to adjust some activities to bring Balance to you? Do you feel Harmony in your being? Should anything change to bring more to you? During this time of year you may begin thinking of the indoor activities you’ll enjoy in a few months. If you are not much into staying indoors, you might think of a few new activities you might try for the first time.

Ever walked a 7-circuit Labyrinth? This is a wonderful thing to do at the Spring and Autumnal Equinoxes as it is an ac-

tivity that is the epitome of balance—right and left; up and down; and in and out. It can be walked for pure enjoyment... or to ask a question to seek an answer. When I present workshops, I explain each path and how it can be used for problem solving. I found a website called LabyrinthLocator.com where a number of public labyrinths in Maine are listed, including one in Brunswick (contact 729.7331 or email: sfitzgerald@firstparish. net) and one at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay (www.mainegardens. org). Whether tracing a path or just taking a walk, be sure to get out to enjoy the colors and crisp fall air!

Half a Giraffe Poem by Andrew Lapham Fersch

Illustration by Phil Ashworth

I’m only half a giraffe as you can see I’m not sure how I’m telling you this though There’s no head on me.

Andrew Fersch is a teacher and writer who is working on a book of poetry for children that he’s going to publish and donate to all the elementary schools in Maine. For more information about this project, visit www.andrewfersch.com, or email onehundredyears@gmail.com

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October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Living With Peace­ Living With Peace is a dynamic local grassroots community support organization investing in the future of our immigrants by providing information, resources, and training to newcomers to the community and culture.

Chronic Diseases Drive the Need for an Immigrant Health Safety Net

By Jovin Byangina and Christina Feller, President, Living With Peace The US is carrying a high burden from the incidence of chronic diseases. As of 2007 more than half the population of the country was suffering from one or more chronic conditions, costing us more than $6 trillion to treat. Chronic diseases are mostly preventable. Chronic diseases are in large part controllable. But chronic disease mandates that those yet to be affected and those already affected take positive actions and conscientiously bring awareness to bear on their own lifestyles and behavioral changes.

Chronic diseases affect all ages of our population and while the numbers of those affected may be decreasing, the rates of incidence are increasing across all segments of the population, with some age groups and some populations affected more than others. The seven most common chronic diseases include cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary disorders, and mental disorders. Chronic diseases are now the major cause of death and disability worldwide. The greatest risk factors continue to be smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Our health care system was originally designed to respond to acute care conditions, but now, the health care system is spending more than 75% of its budget on treating and maintaining people who have chronic disease conditions. Healthy people are vital to productivity and economic development.

Economic development, in turn, is a contributing factor to quality health care services, employment stability, and a rising quality of life and standard of living.

There is a national debate going on about health care, but good health is a right and a mandate. That is why health responsibilities are shared by governments, private health agencies, workplaces, schools, and individuals –we all share the requirement to maintain a healthy population. However, preventive, promotional, curative and rehabilitative health care alternatives are not always accessible to all people because of various roadblocks: low income, cultural barriers, linguistic needs, low health literacy, poor national health policies, etc.

In the United States millions of people are unable to access health care facilities because they cannot pay for the services. These vulnerable people include the uninsured, low income, homeless families, and immigrant people with cultural barriers, linguistic needs, low general literacy and poor health literacy.

These populations typically depend on a “safety net” defined as “a set of providers who organize and deliver a significant level of health care and other health-related services to uninsured and other vulnerable patients.” Safety net providers include public and non-profit hospitals, community health centers, public health department clinics, rural health clinics, free clinics, individual physician practices, and emergency departments, to name a few. It is worthy answering the question of how the safety net is paid for, since any service has a cost. Safety net providers are dependent on governmental

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financial support via a combination of Medicaid, federal and state grants, Disproportionate Share Hospital Funding, and local taxpayer support.

While the safety net is perceived as an entity capable of filling the gap left by traditional health care settings, there are still people who are not served by the known safety net for many reasons, including cultural, linguistic and educational needs.

A glaring sub-minority is made up of recent African immigrants who are unable to access a full range of preventive, promotional health care because of low health literacy, low general literacy, and poor English proficiency. Some of them are not even able to learn English due to poor formal education. They are unable to access and use health educational materials available in the U.S., even if they are in their native language!

This alarming situation puts them at increased risk of unhealthy behavior and resulting health conditions, such as chronic diseases, late presentation to the health care facility for medical treatment, poor adhesion to medical prescriptions, poor ongoing management of chronic conditions, etc.

Indeed, the 2009 Minority Health Assessment undertaken by the City’s Minority Health Office found that diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, heart diseases, mental health conditions, and STDs-HIV/AIDS were reported as the most important health problems faced by African immigrants.

In order to help these people engage in more health seeking behavior, a health educational program needs to be initiated and implemented by their peers from Africa who will act as cultural, linguistic brokers and health educators as well.

We have seen some programs get off the ground in Portland.

Readers of this column are aware of Living With Peace’s nutritional education program that has been working in the African communities for three years now. A new, promising initiative was started in Portland, Maine, in October, 2010.

The initiator is the author of this article—an African immigrant with cross training in nursing, education, management, and public health.

The initiative focuses on raising awareness of chronic diseases through educational programs with the ultimate goal of helping African immigrants adopt more healthy behaviors. The initiative is named “African Health Classes”. Eleven modules have been introduced into the Great Lakes communities of Burundians, Rwandese, and Congolese. The chronic disease modules include: overview, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart diseases, kidney diseases, COPD & asthma, cancer, mental conditions, bone & joint diseases, and genetic disorders.

Africa is a continent ravaged by social conflicts, wars, and famine. Recent African immigrants are mostly from a category of disadvantaged people with low socioeconomic status and its corollaries such as poverty, low level of education, and poor health status. While they may access rich community resources and healthcare services in the host countries, they

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For instance, while obesity and diabetes are highly associated, there is still a mistaken perception of weight gain and obesity as a proof of wellness, wealth and high social position among African communities. Therefore, recent African immigrants face two major health problems: they are victims of infectious diseases, parasite infestations, and mental issues due to the hardships they endured in their home countries, they are additionally exposed to new negative health outcomes prevalent in the host country.

While from a continent where famine and insufficient food is becoming a normal life, African immigrants are exposed to abundant and diverse foods in the US. Due to language and cultural barriers, low general literacy and, in particular, low health literacy in chronic disease prevention and control, they are unable to make educated decisions regarding what, where and how much to eat. Thus, being exposed to abundant food with poor chronic disease-related health literacy, an unhealthy lifestyle, and poor health-seeking behavior will result in the exposure and acquisition of a variety of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney diseases, heart and vascular diseases, cancers and the like, which ultimately will result in poor quality of life, low socio-economic status, disability, premature deaths and a trans-generational unhealthy behavior. All of this effectively undermines the future of African immigrant communities in America.

In consideration of the high prevalence of chronic diseases and the mix of exposure risk factors to African immigrants, this program deserves our full attention, and encouragement, as well as informational, motivational and financial support from a web of community and public health stakeholders.

Christina Feller is President of Living With Peace and is currently studying for her Master of Science degree in Health Education with a focus on diverse populations at Kaplan University. Jovin Byangina is founder of the Organization of United Africans for Global Health and Development and is currently studying for his Masters Degree in Public Health from UNE. References Collins SR, Nicholson JL, Rustgi SD. An analysis of leading congressional health care bills, 2007-2008: Part I, insurance coverage.

Siegel B, Regenstein M, Shin P. Health reform and the safety net: Big opportunities; major risks. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. Fall 2004; 426-432.

Walker PF, Barnett ED. Immigrant medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.

Healthy People 2020, http://www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020.

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do not take full advantage of preventive services such as health education materials, screening tests and procedures, due to lack of healthy behavior, language and cultural barriers and unawareness of healthcare services and the community support system.

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Solution on page 5

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Mayoral Candidates Weigh in on Neighborhoods

October 2011

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from front page

Q1: How do neighborhood organizations fit into your vision of Portland?

Q2: How do you plan to incorporate neighborhood organizations into your approach to governing the City?

Peter Bryant: Need them.

Get involved with them. Bring people closer together solving local/neighborhood issues. Open door policy. Invite them into the Mayors office. Run ideas by them.

Use them. Get together. Local Yard Sales. Meet neighbors. Form Comm. Help schools in their area?

Ralph Carmona I envision neighborhood associations providing more substantive input on the city’s policy-making. This will clarify administrative lines of authority and provide input that is necessary and sufficient.

As a board member of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Association, I saw firsthand how lack of input and communication resulted in the wrong-way approach to the street direction change on Walnut to North Street.

I intend to open lines of communication with associations and coordinate with the City Council toward an integration of neighborhood leaders into the city’s decision-making processes.

I intend to schedule regular meetings with the leaders of neighborhood associations. This will make the Mayor and Councilor fully accessible to the neighborhoods on issues of concern. It will ensure neighborhood input on city deliberations and on policy changes before they get to the

City Council, and allow City officials to connect with Portland’s diverse communities.

Jill Duson My commitment to serve all Portland neighborhoods is inspired by the example of my mother and other civil rights leaders who organized to improve neighborhoods in my hometown.

Direct engagement with neighborhood organizations will be a critical part of how I lead the City.

I will focus on making certain that Portland’s external reputation as a great city is real for those of us who have invested our lives and livelihoods here.

As a full-time Mayor, I will maintain a public calendar. I will hold office hours across the City, bringing City Hall to each neighborhood. I will listen and lead the City response to neighborhood concerns and celebrate neighborhood achievements. I will co-lead the monthly meetings with neighborhood association representatives and reinvigorate the citywide neighborhoods summit.

In summary, I will engage through neighborhood organizations, leaders, residents and businesses, and personally follow-up to make sure that promises made are kept.

John Eder As a localist, neighborhood groups will be a vital part of my Mayoral administra-

tion. Not merely the recipients and intermediaries for Community Development Block Grants, I see the neighborhood groups as the first unit of citizen government in Portland. I see them as conduits of information and decision-making where we will cultivate leadership in support for our common goals.

I want to help build the neighborhood groups so that they are strong and consequential. Ideally, I envision a full-time neighborhood co-coordinator in neighborhood centers throughout the City—wherever possible. These centers will be a one-stop shop for residents to get advocacy to City departments on behalf of residents, helping residents navigate city, state and federal government to answer their needs and concerns on a day-to-day basis. I will be in touch with the neighborhood groups daily so that together we will make Portland the city of our collective dreams.

Hamza Haadoow My vision of Portland, the neighborhood organization will play vital role in my administration. I am activist who understand your good job. Neighborhood associations will play a huge part in determining the legacy of Portland and transforming our city. This is the body of our City each doing their share that adds up to mission greater than the sum of its parts. We all shape the city we live in. In my leadership the neighborhood organizations will have a real voice in City

process. The services that the City can provide to your neighborhood can be accessed efficiently through an association. Information on City services can also be provided to a greater number of neighbors through association meetings and communications, resulting in a benefit to the neighborhood as a whole. I will encourage neighborhood Representatives to attend City Council, school board, planning commission meetings. Hamza Haadoow will be your partner.

Jodie Lapchick Founding the West End Neighborhood Association took many months of getting organized with little knowledge of what Munjoy Hill, for example, already knew. Recently, we spent unnecessary time choosing the best way to implement a Neighborhood Watch program.

Portland needs a central clearinghouse/website with tool kits and best practices for successful neighborhood organizations.

As elected Mayor, I will invest my time creating such a website for our neighborhoods to share information, best practices, and go-to people so neighborhoods can support each other.

from increasing involvement and participation. I will join the City Manager’s monthly meetings with the Associations’ presidents, invite all residents of the city, and dedicate a portion of time to rallying groups about the potential we each have as neighborhoods.

David Marshall Neighborhood organizations will play a central role during my tenure as Mayor by providing direction and feedback in developing a vision of Portland. Our neighborhood organization meetings will serve as venues for residents and business owners to develop ideas for improving our city. Through our conversations, we will create a vision for our future and work together to make it a reality.

As your Mayor, I will incorporate neighborhood organization into my approach for governing by holding monthly meetings with leaders of neighborhood organizations. During these meetings we will develop our vision and goals for improving our city. To implement our goals and vision, we will work with the City Administration and the City Council to develop plans and identify resources. Through a strong partnership with the neighborhood organizations, we will face our challenges and reach our goals to improve our city and advance our vision.

In these uncertain times, closeknit neighborhoods are the key to strengthening communities. I will work with under-developed and defunct associations to identify and overcome the barriers that keep them See page 13, Candidates Weigh In

October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

The Jump

On Hill Photo by Eric Pomorski (digitally enhanced by Lisa Peñalver)

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By storyteller Lynne Cullen

Curly Baptiste was a sailor who was fascinated by high places. No mast was too tall for him to ascend, and no tower too shaky for him to climb. He frequently talked of what a wonderful sensation in must be to fall from a great height. But back in the 1800s, Bungee jumping hadn’t been invented yet. Maybe if it had, everything would have turned out differently.

When his ship dropped anchor in Portland, Maine, Curly and his mates availed themselves of all the pleasures a busy port has to offer, and it was very early the next morning when they emerged from a tavern to take the air.

As they passed the Observatory, Curly boasted that he could run to the top in 30 seconds. The other sailors disagreed, and bets were placed on Curly’s success. One of his mates was designated to follow him as a witness.

As bets were laid down, a thick fog rolled in, the temperature dropped, and the sailors huddled near the base of the structure for warmth. Then Curly and his witness entered the tower and started up.

Curly reached the top in record time, and his friend soon joined him, wheezing and out of breath, but he confirmed that yes, Curly had done it! They walked around the platform enjoying the view, for the fog seemed to have cleared while they had been climbing the stairs. They called down to the gang below, but their shouts did not seem to carry to the men, though Curly and his mate could see them clearly.

Finally, Curly’s friend tied his jackknife in his handkerchief, Curly put in his lucky coin for added weight, and they tossed the bundle over the railing. But still the men paid no heed.

“Well, that’s that,” said his friend.

“We might as well go down and collect our winnings.”

But Curly didn’t reply. His head was cocked to one side as though listening to something. Then with a queer grin he said, “I know a quicker way!” and hurled himself over the railing, plummeting silently down toward the group of men below.

The other man screamed a warning and rushed down the stairs, fearful of

what he would find when he got to the bottom. He burst through the door, hoping that nobody had been hurt by Curly’s leap. To his astonishment, the men were sitting on the ground, playing cards as though nothing had happened! And nothing had. Curly had not landed.

Moderate Sudoku Puzzles - Book 9

The men searched the grounds for From www.veryfreesudoku.com yards around, but Curly was never seen again. They did find the handkerchief Sudoku Puzzlecontain1 ing the jackknife, but Curly’s lucky coin was no longer with it. Maybe that too, like Curly himself, had vanished on the way down.

5

Contact Storyteller Lynne Cullen at thetwacorbies(@)yahoo.com or 846-1321, www.lynnecullen.com

Your Home as an investment

by Colleen Bedard

Your front door – First impressions ARE lasting. The first impression that someone has of your home affects how they feel about the rest of the house.

A fresh coat of paint on the front door and landscaping are small improvements that make a difference.

The kitchen and bathrooms -- Fresh, clean, up-to-date kitchens and baths never go out of style. If you’re on a small budget, consider paint and new hardware on older cabinets. A new faucet or countertop can also go a long way to bring more appeal to the kitchen.

The energy used to heat your home – What can you do to improve the energy efficiency of your home? Check for drafts now to see where caulking or spray foam can eliminate cold air coming into your home. Also consider installing a programmable thermostat. When it’s time to sell your home, you will need to disclose the age of your furnace, any service calls

for the furnace in the past 2 years, and how much fuel was used to heat your home over the past year. Energy efficiency does matter. If your furnace is getting old, start saving for a new furnace.

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Maintaining your home is important and will pay off when you sell your home whether it’s next year or ten years from now. Buyers want to see that the home has been cared for. Bright, light, and clean will always sell. De-clutter.

Smart homeowners who are thinking of selling down the road will often ask me if I can come to their home now to advise them on the changes they can make. A Realtor can tell you what today’s buyer is looking for and help you make the best use of those hard earned dollars.

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Colleen Bedard is a Realtor with Townsend Real Estate and lives on Munjoy Hill. She can be contacted at cbedard@townsendre.com or 233-7273

Published online Sunday, September 4, 2011, AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)

The Office of Securities and the North American Securities Administrators Association say many investors have been taken in amid difficult economic conditions and fluctuations in the stock market.

Many investment traps promise high returns to cash-strapped investors but provide little if any disclosure of risks

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Your yard – A pleasant back yard with a deck or patio and plants is something that you can enjoy now and that will set your home apart from others on the market when it’s time to sell.

Maine lists top investor scams So-called distressed real estate schemes are on the list of top investment traps that are being highlighted by Maine business regulation officials.

9

and offer high commissions to aggressive salespersons.

Top investor traps include offerings of distressed real estate, which have been on the rise following the collapse of the real estate bubble. Swindlers also trick investors by touting the promise of untapped oil and gas reserves and other sources of energy production.

Higher precious metal prices also have lured investors into a variety of scams.

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Munjoy Hill Real Estate Update What are the places in your home where your hard-earned dollars will pay off the most for you when it comes time to sell—1, 5, or ten years down the road?

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Sudoku Puzzle 2

SUDOKU: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1-9. For more info, visit veryfreesudoku. com.

Mayoral Candidates Weigh in on Neighborhoods continued from page 9 Q1: How do neighborhood organizations fit into your vision of Portland?

Q2: How do you plan to incorporate neighborhood organizations into your approach to governing the City?

Nick Mavodones Having a place where people can come together and make a difference is the very foundation of an active civic culture. Portland’s diverse neighborhoods, and by extension our active neighborhood organizations, are one of the biggest reasons our city is such a great place to live.

While every association is making a difference now, I would work with all of them to do even more. One of the first steps I would take as Mayor would be to host a “community think tank” where representatives from all of our neighborhoods come together to discuss what their associations are doing effectively. By pooling their experiences, each association can build on our collective successes and strengthen the city as a whole. This collaborative approach will keep the good things going in Portland and build an even brighter future for all of our neighborhoods.

Markos Miller Neighborhood organizations are the heart of our local civic communities. As the former President of the MHNO I see neighborhood organizations playing a key role in engaging the public in setting policy goals, partnering in implementation, and providing feed-

back to City Hall. Under my leadership the MHNO practiced Neighborhood Based Planning, holding community forums to discuss issues such as the re-use of Adams School and the widening of Franklin Street, and provided ongoing civic leadership to advance solutions. The community vision emerging from these forums set the course for city policy and action. I champion Neighborhood Based-Planning and will form active partnerships with organizations to facilitate proactive initiatives to improve neighborhoods and the city. I envision a re-designed Department of Neighborhood Services that places neighborhood organizations at the center of community building : through facilitating grassroots discussion, consensus building and harnessing the local expertise of our neighborhoods to solve problems.

Jed Rathband Prominently; last year, I participated in the SDAT program that undertook the study of the East Bayside neighborhood. The East Bayside Neighborhood Organization (EBNO), the City, and the Muskie School partnered on this visionary approach to developing Portland’s most diverse community.

The results of this project are not

On Hill

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

October 2011

11

collecting dust on a shelf, they are being implemented, the driving force of which is the EBNO. As we work to address critical issues like the need for density, better transportation, and business development, neighborhood groups need to be on the forefront of this debate.

One of my signature issues is Neighborhood-Led Development, where the neighborhood organizations will help identify and plan potential development opportunities. The city will work along side these projects to integrate the plans and to assure that these projects meet our shared goals, citywide.

Ethan Strimling Neighborhood organizations are vital to both the creation and implementation of a vision for Portland. Having run one (Portland West Neighborhood Planning Council) for a number of years and having served on the City Manager’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee, I have intrinsic knowledge as to their importance.

I will meet with neighborhood organizations on a regular basis and consult with their leadership regularly on projects affecting their neighborhoods. I will recreate the neighborhood advisory group that Bob Ganley started and have them on my schedule regularly. Additionally, I will make it a point to visit our neighborhoods regularly, making sure that they don’t always have to come to us.

Chris Vail Portland’s neighborhoods drive our city and are a in-

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Serving Lunch & Dinner Tuesday through Sunday tegral part of my vision. As I have stated on my website “our neighborhoods are our strength.” I will meet with every neighborhood association and implement a system of regular and constant communication.

We need to generate a two way flow of communication that is productive and progressive.

I will make the halls of City Hall and the people of our neighborhoods one. I will utilize the organizations as the bridge between government and us the citizens. I

will reach out to every organization and schedule a consistent meeting process to build a foundation of communication and flow of information. I will involve and reach out to every neighborhood to create and keep a face to face bond and relationship that allows for progressive and educational dialogue.

I have stated on my website “Me...

We” as a simple slogan of what I feel I/we can bring to government working together.

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October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

East End Business Focus From Morocco to Munjoy: FEZ

Restaurant owner finds a welcome corner on the East End

By Jake McNally When Abraham Lembarra first visited Hamdi, a Somali-owned restaurant and grocery near the corner of Washington and Cumberland Avenues, he ordered everything on the menu.

He came for the halal meat but, as a chef himself, he was appraising the dishes with a discerning palette. “I liked some and had to criticize some,” he recalled.

Hinda Hassan, who had just purchased the business, engaged Abraham and his family in conversation. Abraham’s wife had been transferred here through her job at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Abraham had just sold the successful Italian restaurant he had created in St. Albans, Vermont, and was casting about for what to do now that he found himself in Portland.

It was a fortuitous encounter. Hours of conversation later, Abraham and Hinda entered a partnership, and Fez was born.

With a revamped menu, outdoor seating on the new back patio, and a bold orange sign advertising Mediterranean cuisine, the newest restaurant on the East End has been warmly received.

With a dish of chicken tajine sizzling in the background, Abraham explained how his culinary journey has led him from the coast of Morocco to Portland’s East End. As a toddler in Casablanca, his mother frequently fed him hard-boiled eggs. One day she left him with a babysitter. He went to the egg basket filled with dozens of eggs and cracked one open. He was dismayed to find that it contained a runny mess. He plopped down, pulled over the basket and whacked egg after egg on the ground, looking for one that was hard-boiled.

“There’s a picture of me with my legs open, a basket here and tons of liquid on the ground.

It was crazy.” he says, shaking his head. He has been cooking ever since.

First he learned to make pita by watching his mom. Later he worked in his dad’s shop selling kebabs and all kinds of sandwiches.

“That’s where I learned speed,” he said, pausing to toss cilantro into a steaming skillet.

When his father passed away, Abraham came to New York and worked his way around the kitchens of several Italian restaurants. Then he moved on to Naples, Florida, where he was inspired by Dario Zuliane, the owner of a restaurant called Dario. “I loved the whole Italian flavor. I learned pretty much everything Italian from him.”

NOV 2011

“I made seventy-two orders of falafel yesterday. Look! I have two left,” he exclaimed during a recent lunch visit.

He attended the Culinary Institute of Miami,

moved to Massachusetts, got married, purchased his first restaurant in Vancouver, then, two years later, wound up in far northern Vermont.That is where he made his first big move.

He combined two store-fronts on the main street of St. Albans, right between two successful local restaurants, and opened El Panino Pizza and Pasta House.

“Everybody told me you’re not going to make it between these two people. I had 285 customers the first day. It was a big bomb. Mondays were just like my Saturdays. We were slammed all day long.”

After a two-year run, his wife’s transfer brought him to Portland, connected him with Hinda Hassan and led to the creation of Fez. “I figured, go back to the home, the tradition,” he explained. “Tajine—that’s what Morocco eats.”

Tajine is a traditional dish named for the clay pot that its cooked in. “When you cook something in tajine, the taste is incredible.”

Abraham’s most popular version starts with chicken sauteed in a blend of cilantro, garlic, basil, salt and pepper and steamed in broth.

He adds vegetables, and basmati rice, cooks until the liquid is absorbed, then finishes with parmesan-crusted tomatoes. The final touch is putting it in the oven to seal the flavors.

The result? For customers who have been to Morocco, it brings back memories.

“Others, when they try the food, they say, ‘I gotta go there’.”

Many of the flavors are, in fact, handpicked by Abraham during return trips to Casablanca’s bazaars. Ginger from Morocco is more flavorful. “They don’t shoot it with any chemicals. It grows naturally,” he offered as explanation for why he insists that some ingredients be authentically Moroccan. He scraped a slice of turmeric root to reveal the source of the yellow color of the basmati rice. Walnuts also “have to be from home,” he said. “The oil is much better when they grow slowly.”

Fortunately, we don’t have to cross the ocean to get a taste of Morocco. Abraham Lembarra’s creations can by found at 30 Washington Ave. Open 11 am to 10 pm Monday-Sunday. Expect an infusion of new flavors when his mother visits later this fall.

VOTE CHRIS VAIL

FOR MAYOR I have proven, hands-on, passionate

service to the City of Portland in the Portland Fire Department since 1999.

I am ready to serve the City of Portland in City Hall. Together WE can!

VOTE CHRIS VAIL in November and help introduce:

· ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY to City Hall · COMMON SENSE into our Government · A Face to Government for the People of Portland · A LOCAL BOY TO LEAD our Great City, Proud Graduate of Peaks Island Elementary, King Middle and Portland High School

Your Vote Matters!

Paid for by Vail for Mayor, Sherrin Vail Secretary Treasurer, 1119 Washington Ave, Portland, ME, 04103

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

October 2011

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Spotlight on Non-Profits is a regular feature. To feature your favorite non-profit, please contact Lisa Peñalver at observer@munjoyhill.org.

Where are you located? We are located at 165 Lancaster Street in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood. We just relocated to this beautiful new space this past April.

How long have you been in Portland? Community Counseling Center has been located in Portland for well over a century. Our roots date back to 1874, and we have existed in a variety of capacities since that time. Before CCC became what it is known as today, we offered community support through organizations such as Child & Family Services, Traveler’s Aid Society, and the Portland Fraternity. We even have historical documents that show our work with Civil War widows and children, as well as the aid we provided to Depression-era individuals and families who needed help obtaining resources. We are proud to be one of the oldest nonprofit mental health agencies in this area.

How many people work at the Center? We have approximately 100 staff members who are clinicians and case managers, as well as administrative and support staff.

What other agencies do you work with? We strive to collaborate with many other community agencies and organizations in the area. As part of Maine Mental Health Partners, we work closely with Spring Harbor Hospital and Counseling Services, Inc., as well as Maine Medical Center and MaineHealth. In order to provide the best services to our clients, we also collaborate with the City of Portland, Portland Schools, and other area social service agencies.

Do you also have volunteers? We have nearly 30 volunteers who are part of our Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) that provides emotional and practical support to vic-

tims of traumatic events at emergency scenes throughout Greater Portland. Volunteers are called in by first responders, police and fire departments, and hospital personnel at Maine Medical Center to provide victims and their families the support they need in the first few hours following a tragedy.

How are you funded? CCC is funded through a variety of sources including federal grants, state and municipal contracts and revenue from the services we provide, as well as fundraising efforts from individuals and foundations.

Additionally, we receive a tremendous amount of funding from the United Way which goes to support direct services for clients who are uninsured.

How does your fee-structure work? Most clients who visit us for counseling or case management services utilize their insurance plans to cover the majority of the cost. For those without insurance, each counseling session costs $84. However we do offer a sliding fee scale for those who need it.

What are most common problems people bring to you? We see clients of all different ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities, and their problems vary. We help clients cope with the challenges of depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, divorce, PTSD, sexual and/or physical abuse, and trauma - just to name a few.

We also focus on special populations such as refugees and immigrants, elders, those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and the LGBTQ community.

Are there any personal stories/examples you could share? Each day, we see dozens of individuals and families who come to us at their darkest moments. Their stories inspire all of us at CCC to come to work each day.

One client that I will never forget was a 13 year old girl whose mother had brought her to CCC for help after her

divorce from her physically and verbally abusive husband.

Once an outgoing, bubbly girl, this girl had become shy and reclusive; she began doing poorly in school, and had started abusing drugs. After six months in therapy with one of our clinicians, this young girl emerged from treatment as the bright, confident young woman her mother remembered from just a couple of years before. The clinician worked with this girl on recovering from the trauma she experienced while living in an abusive household, and the result was truly awe-inspiring.

Do you find folks from the immigrant community come to you? Why or why not? CCC works with a large number of individuals and families from the refugee and immigrant community here in the Greater Portland, and our program for this special population is thriving. Many refugees and immigrants who come to us have seen unimaginable things in their home countries, and some have even been tortured. In collaboration with the City of Portland, we operate the Survivors of Torture program that works with refugees and immigrants who have experienced things we cannot even imagine. Our highly trained clinicians offer services to these individuals in their own languages, and help them heal from the horrific experiences they had before coming to the United States.

What do you think would be the most important thing people should know about Community Counseling Center? CCC’s doors are always open to those who need assistance. Life is not always easy, and asking for help can often times be even harder. That is why we operate under a concept called Open Access, which means that you do not need to schedule your first appointment with us ahead of time. Instead, you can stop by our office during normal business hours, whenever you are ready, and a clinician will be happy to see you that day. CCC is located at 165 Lancaster Street. Delivering help, hope, and healing to Maine Families since 1874. FMI: www.commcc.org/ or call 874-1030.

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October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

Throughout October

Wed Oct 12

St. Lawrence Arts Center 7 6 Congress Street, stlawrencearts.org/ fmi, deirdre.nice@stlawrencearts.org, 347-7177

Greater Portland Landmarks’ Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Workshop 6;30 - 8:30 pm Greater Portland Landmarks 207-774-5561.

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 email: Blainor McGough, director@mayostreetarts.org, 615-3609, or info@mayostreetarts. org Port Veritas Spoken Word Night Poetry Readings, Every Tuesday 7-10 pm, @ Local Sprouts, 649 Congress St., Portland, All Ages,Gil Helmick, 400.7543, SOCCER PICK-UP GamES Interested in playing SOCCER in the East End? Pick-up games—No fancy leagues, no super-competitive play - just have fun,

keep in shape, and celebrate the wonderful sport of soccer! All ages/ skill levels welcome! Contact Andrew: 670-8041 or drewleadley@ gmail.com

Weekends in October: 2011 Fall Foliage Cruise to Bailey Island, 10 am - 3:34 pm Cruise up to Bailey Island and learn the history of Casco Bay, www.cascobaylines.com, fmi: 774-7871 ext. 105.

SAT Oct 5 MOOSE Droppings Story Telling Event: Every second Wednesday of the month, drop by the Portland Public Library for our Monthly MOOSE Open Mic , Spoken Word Story Telling Event!

Huak/ Computer at Sea 9 p.m.

Bayside Bowl

Sat & Sun, Oct 8-9 Portland Film Festival screenings at 6pm and 8pm Saturday, 2pm & 4pm Sunday, admission $8/$5 students, mayostreetarts.org Remembering the Unsung Women Poets of Maine, 7 pm9pm, Mayo Street Arts, Readings and Music celebrating Celia Thaxter, Elizabeth Akers Allen, Denise Levertov, and other Maine poets.$5 admission.

Tue Oct 11 Port Veritas inaugurates their new home at Local Sprouts with a very special celebration. Opening the evening is multi slam champ John Survivor Blake followed by the first 2011-2012 Portland

Walk Among the Shadows IV: Souls at Sea, Halloween Tours Thursday – Saturday October 20-22 & 27-29, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Our evening tours through the cemetery celebrate the Halloween season! Tour groups will be guided down Funeral Lane by a resident specter who will lead them to hear the tales of those who have passed before. The tours are familyfriendly and last about 40 minutes.

Tours are first-come, first-served (so get there early as there are only 5 tour groups allowed through each night).

Admission is $10 and $5 for children 12 and under.. Spiritsalive.org Actors from Acorn Productions and Portland Playback will bring the dead to life in the same spooky manner — with a mix of eeriness and fright for young and old.

This is the largest fundraiser we have to help keep the cemetery active and open all year long, please bring your friends and family for a spooky night of history.

Sun Oct 16 Fall Bird Walk, Eastern Promenade, Meet at 8 am at the bandstand at Fort Allen Park with your binoculars. Free for members of Friends of the Eastern Promenade, $5 for nonmembers. RSVP to kristin@friendsofeasternpromenade.org.

Tue Oct 18 4th Annual Indie Biz Awards , 6:30-10:00 p.m.; Buy Local Awards presentation will begin at 8:00 p.m., SPACE Gallery located at 538 Congress Street, http://www.portlandbuylocal.org/ events/indie-biz-awards.

WEd Oct 19 FoEP Annual Meeting & Elections, 6-8 pm. East End Community School, friendsofeasternpromenade.org.

Thu Oct 20 A Dash of Diva: Girls’ Night Out, 4:30pm - 10 pm,$20/$30, Holiday Inn By The Bay 88 Spring Street adashofdiva.com

Fri Oct 21 Twilight in the Park/ Deering Oaks Park. This beautiful event features hundreds of warmly glowing luminaria forming patterns of light along the pathways and bridges in Deering Oaks Park. 5:30pm - 7:00pm, Benefit for Hospice of Southern Maine. hospiceofsouthernmaine.org

Fri Oct 14

Sat & Sun, Oct 22-23

Annual George Mitchell Dinner and Auction, Representative Dianne Russell (D-Portland) 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Maple Hill Farm B&B and Conference Center 207-377-2793.

Train Rides Fall Harvest Weekends Join us for a harvest-themed train ride! The train will be decorated and we’ll be giving away some treats in keeping with the season. There is the possibility that we will be operating our steam engine #4 for these weekends!

Please call in advance to confirm. mainenarrowgauge.org, 828-0814.

Sat Oct 15 Casco Bay Cyclocross Race to benefit FoEP 10 am-2 pm, To volunteer at the event, please contact kristin@friendsofeasternpromenade.org.

Cupcakes for Cats/ Chocolate to the Rescue, 11 am to 3 pm, FoFF sale and open house at Thrifty Kitty Thrift Store, 651 Forest Ave., (2nd fl of the Odd Fellows Building at Woodford’s Corner) www.feralcats.net or 797-3014. *Lay Down Your Sword and Shield* Peace Event, by The Seat of Their Pants Productions —A Benefit for the War Resisters League, 7:30pm, Peaks Island, Brackett Methodist Memorial Church, Suggested Donation: $5-$10 FMI: 664-8037

Tue Oct 25 Greater Portland Landmarks’ Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Workshop 6:30 -8:30 pm South Portland Public Library 207-774-5561.

Thu Oct 27 Creepy Poems, Mayostreetarts.org Inanna: Sisters in Rhythm,7-10 pm, fund-raising event for The Awake Collective. Inanna will perform for us and dancing is encouraged! The Awake Collective, 509 Forest Ave

Sat, Oct 29 Mayo Street Arts Haunted House Costume Ball “Sci-Fi Experiments Gone Wrong” Haunted House 7-10pm Costume Ball with The Cramps 10-11pm.

http:/www.stlawrencearts.com

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“Serving Greater Portland Since 1980”

Congratulations to all of tonights Award Winners!

104 Washington Avenue • Portland, ME 04101 • 207.773.8198

www.dalerandprinting.com

104 Washington Avenue • Portland, Maine 04101 • (207) 773-8198 mikerand@maine.rr.com

observer ad.indd 1

9/18/2009 8:37:35 AM

Bottom of the East Halloween Extravaganza 8 p.m. Bayside Bowl

Sat & Sun, Oct 29-30

Come try our own fresh, homemade Italian Sausage.

Lunch and dinner plates made fresh daily

Train Rides Fall Harvest Weekends Join us for a harvest-themed train ride! Please call in advance to confirm.

828-0814 , mainenarrowgauge.org

Tue Nov 1 MaineHealth Learning Resource Center: Preserving the Harvest 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. UMaine Regional Learning Center 396-8570.

f o o d f ro m f r i e n ds , f amil y & tr ave ls

lun ch & dinn e r m o n day – s aturday

Thu Nov 3

Open 7 Days a week Weekdays: 6 am – 10 pm Fri. & Sat: 6 am – 11 pm

135 Congress St • 774-2279

Greater Portland Landmarks’ Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Workshop 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Woodfords Congregational Church 207-7745561.

SAT Nov 5 Pink Tulip Project Bulb Planting, Volunteers should contact friendsofeasternpromenade.org.

Join us for Wine Time: daily wine specials and a small-bites menu

LOVE BRUNCH!

Blue Spoon now serves Saturday brunch 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. e i g h t y n i n e co n g r e s s s t r e e t • 2 0 7 . 7 7 3 . 1 1 1 6

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

October 2011

15

Peace Group Marks 10th Anniv. Of War This October marks the 10th year anniversary of the US involvement in the war in Afghanistan. Peace groups across the nation are holding services and conferences in an on-going effort to end the war. on October 15th, a benefit with Music, Song and Spoken Word will be held at the Brackett Methodist Memorial Church, Peaks Island. Proceeds from the benefit will be donated to The War Resisters League, one of the oldest peace groups in the United States founded in 1924. *Lay Down Your Sword and Shield* Peace Event, by The Seat of Their Pants Productions. 7:30pm, Peaks Island, Brackett Methodist Memorial Church, Suggested Donation: $5-$10 FMI: 664-8037. Hear well-known Portland and Peaks Island performers. in the tradition of the mass meetings of yore, there will be opportunities to sing along. Folks of all ages are encouraged to attend and participate.

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October 2011

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

MUNJOY HILL OBSERVER

October 2011

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