How to Build More Housing... Social or Otherwise
By Nancy English
On March 17th of this year, the Portland City Council established a group of residents to fgure out how to use public resources to get housing built. Maybe there could be a way to build permanently affordable housing with a bond that the City issued, or by using city land, or by any number of different approaches. Thirteen generous souls have volunteered to fgure it out, and they comprise the Social Housing Task Force.
Councilor Kate Sykes, who represents District 5, is co-chair. She was the driving force behind the creation of the task force. She points to Montgomery County’s social housing program as a prototype. That large and wealthy county around Bethesda, MD, she said, was run by wives of NASA engineers back in the 1980s. They decided to fgure out how to affordably house people with county funding.
“There are a lot of small municipalities looking into this,” she said. “My mind has opened to different models.”
Sykes, who calls herself a socialist, said socialists really care about the bottom line. She is pleased that several developers have volunteered to participate, as well as others who struggle to fnd housing.
City Councilor Sarah Michniewicz, a task force member, said, “If it is possible, it may look different from other examples. We have to be open to forging our own path.”
Co-chair Jon Fetherston, who was a housing commissioner in Massachusetts for ffteen years under succeeding governors, works with veterans’ homelessness initiatives. He is also a reporter for MaineWire. “I have always been in public
Page 5
of The
building at 18
some of its
service,” he said.
The
affordable at
He proposes that a specifc project of middle-income housing units be adopted to help focus the task force’s efforts. “Having a plan and a goal,” he said, can help focus the task force’s work in devising a fnancing model. At the October 22nd meeting, he suggested starting with a simple model to make progress in the specifcs.
Discussion at that meeting revolved around devising a mixed income, mixed unit size rental project. Possibly for persons making between 80 percent to 120 percent of the area median income (AMI).
Many of Portland’s approximately
Page 6
19,000 rental units are subsidized in various ways. The AMI of almost $78,000 (per HUD) for a single person is used to calculate affordability, with no more than one third of income paid to a landlord. At 100 percent of the AMI, a rent of $2,166 is affordable. Half of the residents of the city make less than the AMI.
According to Zillow, the average rent of a one-bedroom apartment in Portland is $2,075.
Jonathan Culley, who is on the task force, is the developer of the Nightingale and The Casco and owner of Redfern Properties. He said he hopes that the group’s work “leads to real, specifc, and
Cont'd on Pg. 3
Western Cemetery Nears Completion of $250k Capital Campaign
Stewards of the Western Cemetery thank neighbors for their enthusiastic support
By W. John Funk, President
The Stewards of the Western Cemetery announced that the capital campaign has reached $245,000 toward the goal of $250,000 at a celebratory event at the cemeter y on October 19th.
Improvements paid for by the campaign are already evident. A new fence is almost completed along the Western Prom. The remainder of the new fence and the installation of the restored historic fence on the upper corner will be
John Funk delivers a presentation to donors and volunteers at Portland's historic Western Cemetery. -Courtesy of Stewards of the Western Cemetery
fnished in November. A pedestrian path on the outside between the fence and the road is in place. And fnally, the installation of the tool shed should be done before the end of the year.
The door-to-door campaign has
Cont'd on Pg. 3
8
Layne Witherell explores the wines of Washington
Veterans Day Parade in Portland & Other Local Events Page
Construction
Casco, which since opening in 2023 is Maine’s tallest residential
stories.
Casco meets inclusionary zoning (IZ) requirements with
266 units
80% AMI. -Photo by Nancy English (Aug. 2022)
Page 7
Nancy Dorrans showcases Atlantic Canada
-Councilor Kate Sykes
Portland's Community Newspaper Since 2001 Always Free! Published by Zeli Enterprises, LLC Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor
Contact Us
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Portland, ME 04104 thewestendnews@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Sarah Braik, CCL Column
Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure
Nancy English, Freelance Reporter
Caitlin Marshall, Bright Ideas
Stephanie Miller, Book Short
Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonPosts
Layne V. Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig
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W. John Funk, President Stewards of the Western Cemetery ALL SALES INQUIRIES thewestendnews@gmail.com
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• Letters to the editor should be no more than 200 words. Include your name and town or neighborhood.
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The thoughts and opinions expressed in our pages belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to the publication.
Social Housing Task Force
Cont'd from Pg. 1
actionable recommendations to the City Council that ultimately result in the City using its resources to take a lead role in producing new housing for people who are struggling to fnd a place they can afford.”
At the October 22nd meeting, Culley said cheaper debt, city-owned land, no property taxes if owned by the City, and perhaps funding from the Jill C. Duson Housing Trust Fund would make a huge difference in fnancing.
Wendy Cherubini, a member of the Portland Urbanist Coalition who sits on the task force, said, “We have an ambitious workplan given the one-year timeline established in the Council Resolution, but of course, that can be amended, and task force members are enthusiastic and committed.”
In 2020, the Green New Deal was approved by voters and included inclusionary zoning (IZ) requirements to keep some portion of units affordable. In 2022, the IZ portion rose to 25% of units in developments with 10 or more units. The affordability requirement tightened to 80 percent of the AMI from 100 percent.
In a report presented at the September 30th meeting from the Portland Planning and Urban Development and Housing and Economic Development departments, projects with IZ requirements decreased sharply after 2022. Most of the units approved in 2024 were market rate rentals, but many were for renters making 50 and 60 percent of the AMI, fnanced with Low Income Tax Credit (LITC) loans.
Councilor Sykes called LITC funding expensive and ineffcient. She is investigating funding from the issuance of municipal bonds, while adamant that Portland’s AAA
$2,075
Average Rent 1 Bedroom Apartment in Portland
(Zillow, 2025)
bond rating, which reduces the interest paid on its bond debt, should not be affected.
A steady stream of funding, possibly a fee on mortgages processed at the Registry of Deeds, is an idea Sykes spoke about at the October 22nd meeting.
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Breakfast Sandwiches
Lunch Special Occasions Cakes
Phone Orders – Curbside Pick-up
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Homegrown Herb & Tea
Apothecary Style Bulk Herb and Tea Shop 195 Congress St, Portland
Making handcrafted, custom tea blends and herbal infusions in the traditions of the Old World Apothecary since 2006
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-Cullen
Task Force member Cullen Ryan, Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine (CHOM), said, “I am thrilled with the potential to create new and innovative kinds of housing. It is a wonderful group with a wide range of expertise.”
The task force next meets on November 12th.
Freelance journalist Nancy English ran for Portland City Council District 2 in 2024 and is a former paralegal for the City of Portland.
Western Cemetery Update
Cont'd from Pg. 1
been underway for almost two years and has been supported by over 200 West End residents.
In addition, with the help of over 150 volunteers, the Stewards have been able to dramatically improve the appearance of the cemetery and restore and clean several hundred gravestones in the last fve years.
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of visitors to the cemetery who walk, run, meditate, explore its history, or simply enjoy its lovely setting.
With only $5000 to go, the Stewards would like to close out the campaign before 2026. You can help and be part of this community effort by going to the Steward’s website (www. westerncemetery.me) and making a donation.
Also, please consider being a volunteer. The Stewards thank the West
Ryan, CHOM
Gladis House Cleaning
WENA's Free Activites at the Reiche Community Room
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inclement weather, check
The Samples w/s/g Nate Winter
Live at Bayside Bowl | all-ages
Nov 8 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Bella’s Bartok w/ The Crowded Table Live at Bayside Bowl | all-ages Nov 14 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Angelikah Fahray & Kalen w/s/g DJ Matt Perry | all-ages Nov 15 8:30 PM – 11:30 PM
NYE: ADRIENNE MACK-Davis (Album Release) w/ Oystahguy, Can’t Tell You, Trial By Sound Dec 31 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM (All-ages)
Community Events November
Sat, Nov. 1st/ 9a-3p / Busy Angels’ Craft Fair - Scarborough Free Baptist Church, 55 Mussey Rd, Scarborough – There will be a variety of crafters, baked goods, and unique gifts.
Fri, Nov. 7th / 5p – 8p / Traditional Craft Market & Gallery - Mayo Street Arts, 105 Mayo St, Portland – Mayo Street’s Traditional Arts Network (TAN) has assembled six local artists with a variety of backgrounds who create traditional crafts via painting, sewing, wood carving, and more. These ar tists preserve traditional art forms from their origin countries. Works will be on display for the months of November and December. Additional works available for sale at the Traditional Craft Market on Sunday, December 14 (2-5p). All Ages. Free.
Sat, Nov. 8th / 9a – 2p / St. Louis Christmas Fair - 279 Danforth St., Portland - Hundreds of handmade items: jewelry, wood crafted items, evergreen arrangements, baked goods, knits, quilted items, children’s items… Our Polish raffe table includes gift certifcates, a laundry basket, a food basket, and lots more. Check out this year’s quilt raffe - Luna Refections - which will be drawn on December 14. A Polish luncheon will be served from 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Enjoy a free cup of coffee as you browse our craft tables. All proceeds support St. Louis Church!
Sat. & Sun, Nov. 8-9 / 7p (doors 6:30p) / Evening of Eccentric Performance w/ Avner the Eccentric, feat. special guests Norman Ng & Madison
Cripps – Mayo St. Arts, 10 Mayo St, Portland – “Avner the Eccentric” Eisenberg is a legendary performer and clown known for his masterful blend of physical comedy, illusion, and theatrical nuance. Each performance will run approximately 90 minutes with intermission. Tickets: $25 in advance , $28 door, $35 preferred seating, with a pay-what-you-can option
Tue, Nov. 11th / 10:30a / Veteran’s Day Parade in Portland – Longfellow Square start – The parade route starts at 10:30 a.m. from Longfellow Sq. and will proceed down Congress St. to City Hall. Dignitaries will give addresses in front of City Hall.
Thu, Nov. 13 / 5:30p / Powerful
A.R.R.M.S! Repurposing – Reiche Community Center, Clark St, Portland – These workshops are for adults (18+) and are an opportunity to practice skills and enjoy conversation with neighbors. Bring your own cup and plate and enjoy food and drink! Have a pile of old, ratty jeans? Socks without matches or more holes than not?
Gather them up and join us in turning “waste” into a small bag or toy! Example project: make a bag out of jeans or a toy out of socks. Free.
Wed, Nov. 19th / 6p / Annual District
Meeting for District 2 w/ Councilor Wesley Pelletier – Reiche Community School, 166 Brackett St, Portland – Mayor Dion, City Councilors, City Manager Danielle West, and City staff will be available to discuss neighborhood issues and answer
questions from the public. Staff from the Parks, Recreation & Facilities (PRF) Before and After the Bell Program will provide free childcare assistance for children ages 5-12. Family members must attend the meeting to utilize the service, sign in and out, as well as sign a liability waiver. The program will take place in adjacent spaces to the meeting from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. only. No pre-registration is required.
Food Drive at Mad Horse Theatre
Shows are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30p and Sundays at either 2:00 or 5:00p.
Mad Horse Theatre Company (24 Mosher St, South Portland) will conduct a food drive during the run of The Squirrels by Robert Askins, October 30th through November 23rd. Patrons can bring a non-perishable food item(s) with them when they attend the show. Items can also be dropped off an hour before curtain, if you are not attending the show. A full list of suggestions can be found at mainelockerproject.org.
Part Romeo and Juliet, part King Lear, and part MacBeth, The Squirrels is a tragi-comical epic of prejudice and greed among squirrels living in a very divided tree. Content Warning: The Squirrels is rated R. Recommended for audiences 16+. Pay-What-You-Can.
Submit your event to thewestendnews@ gmail.com. Space is limited.
STATE STREET CHURCH
159 State St., Portland
Holiday Fair & Lunch
Sat. Nov. 8 9am - 2pm
Homemade lunchsoup, bread & apple crisp $10. Coffee, baked goods & cookie walk. Tag sale. Antiques. Jewelry. Used books, games & puzzles. Crafts & gifts. Silent auction.
Part of the State Street Holiday Stroll
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LAYNE'S WINE GIG PRESENTS
Washington Wine
By Layne V. Witherell
No, this isn’t about the place where freshly pressed suits, mirror shined shoes, and way too much television and smartphone screen time rule the day. This is about the other Washington: the state that is the second largest wine producer in the U.S. with 32,000 acres of grapes.
Chateau St. Michelle Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, 2023, $13.
The “How it all began” is a story shrouded in myth. Phillip Morris (yes, the cigarette people) decided in the early 1970’s after the surgeon general practically put a skull and crossbones on those packs of Marlboro’s that they needed to “move beyond smoking.” A long-lost board member had no doubt seen the state of Washington with its cheap land and fedgling wine business and convinced Phillip Morris to open their corporate wallet wide to create a fne chateau and a reasonably priced fagship wine – a Riesling.
Their Pinot Gris is good, not great. Frankly, it is a better grape for Oregon. But it is winter hardy, can be placed in an irrigated vineyard, and is popular alongside their signature seafood dishes.
Under their aggressive sales and vineyard planting program, Washington rose from 2.5 million gallons in 1987 to 6 million in 1994.
That was the good news, as Ste. Michelle had catapulted to 75% of the state’s
wine market share and had added other winery purchases to their “strand of pearls,” according to former CEO Ted Baseler. The weird news is that recently their parent company suffered huge fnancial losses and decided to sell out to a hedge fund for $1.3 billion. Said hedge fund, Sycamore Partners, has its own “strand of pearls” with Walgreen’s, Staples, Lane Bryant, Belk, and Hot Topic.
Where we all go from here is anyone’s guess. Life beyond the grocery store might include the lingerie department or computer station. Stay tuned. If that grandfatherly aristocrat can be sold, then everyone can.
Owen Roe Corvidae 'Wise Guy' Sauvignon Blanc,Yakima Valley, '23, $13.
You will fnd in Washington State lots of “nom de plume” winery names. The O’Neill family (mom, dad, and six kids) named it after a 1649 ancestor’s estate letter. They farm 58 acres in the Yakama Valley, a region in south central Washington comprising 53,000 total acres.
Their work is what I call “New World Inventive” from the little bird label to the outrageously delicious interpretation of the Sauvignon Blanc grape – Washington style. Loaded with favors of citrus, grass, and lime (leave the grapefruit favors to New Zealand) it is an ideal accompaniment to a dinner or brunch salade Nicoise.
I went out and bought more bottles just to test my initial thoughts. Spot on.
Charles K. Smith Velvet Devil Merlot, 2023, Washington State, $13.
In the staid, corporate world that was
1970’s to 1990’s Washington wine, a fgure emerged... Had he not existed someone would have had to invent him. He was the Van-Halen-era-Sammy-Hagar-doppelganger and rockstar booking impresario, Charles K. Smith.
Legend has it he started out by making a few barrels of Syrah from older vineyards in Walla Walla. Sold them out of his pickup truck and was blessed with the mojo of a genius. He was a self-taught winemaker, who went on to sell his brands for $180 million dollars.
Blueberries, cherries, and plums are the wine’s signature favors together with smooth, soft silk. Perfect with lighter meat and pasta dishes, even salmon.
The spirit of Charles K. Smith is still alive even though the wine brand has been sold to the Ackley Investment Group, a direct mail printing company that is locally based in Seattle. They have been purchasing their own “strand of pearls” in the Northwest that includes Hogue Cellars, Montinore, Columbia, and Betz Family Wine.
ing from one big player to lots of golden opportunity purchases. Owners and managers don’t wear suits, just Pendletons (the Carhartt’s of the Pacifc Northwest).
Cedar & Salmon Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla, 2021, $23.
From the famed Horse Heaven Hills Vineyard, and owned by 3Badge Corporation, this is a classic Washington blend of 85% Cabernet, 8% Malbec, and 7% Merlot, beautiful and harmonious. Washington is warmer in climate than Oregon, but cooler than California. It really resembles Bordeaux, an ideal place for both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to thrive.
Delicious both in its blend and moderate use of oak seasoning (15% new French and 15% new American). Mushroom dishes, cassoulets, lamb, or steak are great.
August Sebastiani (4th generation) has created the 3Badge Corporation named after the original Sonoma frehouse where his family served as volunteer frefghters. What makes it intriguing to me is that they are negociants in the classic sense. They are intrigued by Mescal (inventing their own brand Bozal), craft beer, and experimenting with cocktail mixers... developing wines all the while.
The original winery was sold in 2008 to entrepreneur Bill Foley, who is in the process of acquiring and building his own “strand of pearls” including Chalone, Firestone, Foley Estates, Silverado Vineyards, Acrobat…
The West is all about change. Excuse me while I relax, have a glass of wine, and digest all this while lounging in my old faded Pendelton’s.
Layne’s Wine Gigs
Individually tailored gigs for small or large groups. Pick the place and the theme, and I will help select the wines and provide the fun. E-mail me: lvwitherell@gmail.com
The theme today seems to be mov-
Layne V. Witherell has been a professional in the wine business for many decades as a teacher, importer, writer, competition judge, and winery CEO.
Velvet Devil Merlot with a photograph of Charles K. Smith from Layne’s personal collection. -Photos by Judy Witherell
25 CUSTOM HOUSE WHARF , PORTLAND BEAR@NANUQKAYAKS.COM • 207-805-6884 • NANUQKAYAKS.COM ADVENTURE. KNOWLEDGE. LEARNING. CARE.
Atlantic Canada Showcased!
By Nancy Dorrans
Last month, as the monarchs headed south, I migrated north to the hidden corners of New Brunswick and Newfoundland to attend the Atlantic Canada Showcase 2025. I was eager to learn more about our neighbors to the north and was welcomed with open arms! This educational travel and trade event was described as “...a journey of discovery through the Atlantic provinces. From the charming local communities to the stunning landscapes and rich history, experience the unique beauty and culture of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.”
Many of the other “buyers” attending this event few to St. John, but I drove in a few days early. First stop? Fish and chips at an Irish pub downtown St. John. The place was packed as there were two extra cruise ships docked in town for the night. They were supposed to be in Bermuda but… Oh well! St. John, New Brunswick – as I soon discovered – is a safe and deliciously friendly haven.
Next morning, I took my time wending down the scenic ways of coastal New Brunswick… from Red Head Road to Mispec Beach, hiking William’s Trail, gazing out across the Bay of Fundy to Nova Scotia from Cape Spencer, and wandering around the not so hidden Sea Caves of St. Martins (pictured below)
The Showcase would offer a unique chance to connect with over 70 regional suppliers in two days, with just nine minutes per meeting. Whew! That’s hardly enough time to introduce ourselves.
Since I was ahead of the rest, I had scheduled a pre-showcase rendezvous with Jordan Jamison of Bay of Fundy Ad-
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ventures in St. Martin. He and co-owner Mike Carpenter offer day and multi-day trips that include activities such as sea kayaking, hiking, and wilderness camping. Our afternoon meeting at his headquarters gave us time to share exciting ideas for future collaborative adventures.
That evening, I dined on Beach Street Inn mussels and a beet salad with candied walnut and goat cheese at the Inn’s Periwinkles Restaurant. Jordan had told me that this place had a certain pull, and I was feeling it. I was already scheming ways to come back!
October began and I traversed a few trails in Fundy Trail Provincial Park, passing through Fundy National Park to explore the shores of Hopewell Rocks at low tide.
Later that day, I was on my way on PAL Airlines to St. John’s, Newfoundland (via Deer Lake) to begin my pre-showcase adventure. A wet and chilling wind greeted me that frst morning in St. John’s as I braved my way up to Cape Spear National Historic Site. Huge turquoise waves swirled and crashed against North America’s most eastern point. A sight that absolutely took my breath away.
Driving my rental car past the pretty fshing village of Petty Harbour (above), I decided to hike out in search of La Manche suspension bridge. The village of La Manche was abandoned in 1966 after a severe storm destroyed the small fshing industry that had thrived there. Another absolutely stunning view!
The Jigger in Bay Bulls served up the most delicious pea soup for my lunch.
Then, landing back in St John’s, I checked into the very hip Jag Hotel. This day ended with live music from the band Kitchen Party, chats with random travelers, more fsh and chips, and a beer at O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub.
Now the difference between St John, New Brunswick and St. John’s, Newfoundland is much more than just an “’s”! Both have amazing histories, cultures, scenery, music, food, trails, and the friendliest folk. But in Newfoundland there’s just so many cheeky Newfe sayings!
I would be back to New Brunswick for a post-showcase tour after the trade show event… More on that adventure next time. Until then, “Long may your big jib draw!”
Nancy Dorrans wis founder of Adventure Marketplace... Navigating travelers on authentic, nurturing, global and local adventures since 2014.
Hopewell Rocks at low tide.
We're
All in
This Together Inclusion is Essential for Climate Action
By Sarah Braik
Recently I spent most of a sunny Saturday in front of my computer attending Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s annual inclusion conference. It was so engaging I didn’t even think about how else I might be spending the day. Although every presentation and discussion was insightful and compelling, I shall focus on two.
Poetry Reading by Jacob Shore-Arguello
The conference began with a poetry reading by Jacob Shores-Argüello, a Costa Rican-American poet and prose writer. His poems mourn rivers and animals and plants that he loved in childhood, but which have disappeared.
We tend to think of Costa Rica as a model of sustainability, but development has taken its toll there. Nevertheless, Costa Rica has gotten much right: Argüello mentioned a neighboring town that has given citizenship to pollinators.
Conversation with Pamela Benson Owens
The last conversation of the conference was with Pamela Benson Owens, who reminded us that unconditional inclusion is essential in creating effective climate action. It begins with relationship building.
She gave an example of a meeting with a group of conservatives who were not expecting agreement on anything. Much of the frst meeting was spent sharing about the frst concert participants had attended, including what they wore, to build trust around common interests and create a space that can hold differing opinions. It worked!
Benson Owens brought up some barriers to relationship-building, and challenged us by asking, “Can you regularly and consistently suspend the right to be offended?”
She explained that when we begin to feel offended, we can no longer hear the other person and cut off any chance of developing a relationship. She suggested that we maintain awareness of our visceral response to comments we may perceive as offensive and to give ourselves time by saying something like “interesting” or “tell me more.” Then we can take an approach that will allow us to remain in the space.
Lastly, and most importantly, she outlined the characteristics of an organization that is truly dedicated to inclusion, focusing on leadership practices such as shared responsibility, holding each other accountable, acknowledging harmful behaviors, and admitting a mistake or an unconscious bias.
Inclusive leaders are humble, engage in collaborative problem solving, and are continuously learning and modeling inclusivity. They share decisions openly and explain their reasoning. They are transparent and have clear consistent expectations.
The conference gave me much food for thought, and I am already looking forward to next year’s conference!
Sarah Braik is a Portland resident and a member of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
We’re All in this Together is a monthly Climate Justice column provided by local Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers.
Scrubber Wash Ban Proposal on Sustainability Committee Schedule
Solar on Schools
By Caitlin Marshall
For the Portland Climate Action Team, the focus has always been on what we can accomplish right here in our own town.
Climate change is a global issue, and under this current administration, the federal government is running headlong in the wrong direction. But we’ve seen time and again in this city that we can make meaningful change: we’ve got solar on landflls, drastically curbed pesticide use, more and more bike lanes, and a brand new Climate Action Fund to spur further positive changes. So, what’s next?
Solar panels on schools. Those solar arrays on the landfll and elsewhere are already saving us millions in electricity costs. We could save even more by installing solar arrays on our public schools. We can look to the town of Westbrook for inspiration: they’ve installed solar on four schools already and are projected to save $14 million over the life of the project. Here in Portland, we have three times as much roof space. So much space to capture clean sunshine!
Rooftop solar on schools is a great way to meet the climate crisis with inge-
nuity, but we need to speak up to make it happen.
The Portland City Council has laid out ambitious goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions. They declared a climate emergency in 2019, committed to 80% less GHG emissions by 2050, and 35% by 2030. We are not on target to meet that. An updated GHG inventory for the City of Portland only shows a few percent decrease from the 2017 baseline.
Fortunately, there is already lots of interest in more solar! Over 70 percent of Maine voters support solar development in their communities. Most of your neighbors are already on board. We just need to let our representatives know and encourage our town to make good on those GHG goals.
Solar on schools is doable, cost-saving, and a great learning opportunity. Let’s make it happen!
Bright Ideas is brought to you by PCAT, which meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month, 6 to 7:30 p.m. All are welcome! FMI: Portlandclimateaction@gmail.com or visit they on Facebook.
Youth at a recent CCL conference. -Courtesy photo
On Nov. 12 the City of Portland Sustainability & Transportation Committee will be discussing the luxury cruise ship scrubber wash ban proposal submitted by Portland Cruise Control. -Photo Credit: Berry Manter
The Correspondent
By Virginia Evans
Reviews By Stephanie Miller
I’m not entirely sure why I enjoyed “The Correspondent” by Virgina Evans, my frst exposure to her work (Thank goodness for book clubs!). Perhaps because I love novels that refect on our complicated, messy, and ordinary choices in life. Perhaps because I love words, and a novel of letters is really about craft as much as story. Or perhaps, it’s just the kind of novel that is pleasant to read, but then you can’t stop thinking about it after you close the last page.
“The Correspondent” is a poignant, funny, and engaging story told in epistolary format with a memorable protagonist: retired Sybil Van Antwerp, who re-examines her life through letters and emails.
Sybil is a complex and often prickly septuagenarian. Two or three mornings a week at 10 a.m. she sits down to write letters, continuing a life-long habit that has been her primary way of engaging and understanding the world.
She writes to her best friend, brother, children, celebrities, and authors of the books she enjoys. Instead of phoning or texting, she writes notes to her next-door neighbor (who turns out to be my favorite character) – a kind widow who is obviously in love with her.
But are these wonderful letters a shield she hides behind? A replacement for human closeness?
We enter her correspondence at a time when refecting on her past and fnding forgiveness is a central theme. Despite the wisdom of age, she expects that life will continue as it always has. She’s been an accomplished lawyer, active community member, a mother, divorcee, and sister. She is incredibly kind and nurturing to
By Virginia Evans Crown / Apr. 2025 / pp. 304
MICRO SHORTS
“Book Club for Troublesome Women”
By Marie Bostwick
Margaret Ryan creates a book club to get to know her fascinating new neighbor Charlotte Gustafson, who agrees to join only if they read the new controversial bestseller, “The Feminine Mystique.” Four suburban housewives bond over strong cocktails, secrets, their husbands’ bad habits, and their dreams to “have it all.”
Thomas Jefferson is a demanding and selfsh father and taskmaster, but Patsy stays loyal, despite the personal sacrifces and a diffcult marriage to a man, incidentally, that her father chose for her. This is an enjoyable historical fction view of a fascinating woman who had a major infuence on our nation’s early years from the shadow of her genius and complicated father.
“The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women
Who
Survived The Worst of Nazi Germany”
By Gwen Strauss
some people in her life. However, when events force her to face the most diffcult parts of her past, she is thrown off course.
First, she fghts back, a tactic she used often in her life to mixed success. Finally, she accepts that a letter she has been writing for forty years needs to conclude by coming into the light. In an inspiring twist, when she fnally asks for forgiveness, there are many people in her life willing –even eager – to give it.
One enduring job of (most) literature is to give us hope and happy endings. Sybil’s letters are not always cheery, but they are strong and courageous. She advocates for herself and for her right to live as she chooses. She gives us a tour through some wonderful literary adventures, as she writes to authors about how their books touched or annoyed her. She shows us that slowing down and taking time to carefully handwrite a letter by thinking out every sentence has real merit in our technically fast, 24-hour news cycle-driven world. “The Correspondent”
This is a feel-good story celebrating the many strides that American women in the 1960s made toward equality, fghting for a chance to be a working mom with something close to equal pay, and overcoming not being able to get “the pill” or a bank account without their husband’s permission.
At the end of the day, they each fght for a different but valid view of personal contentment. The role that deep friendships play in reaching your dreams is a recurring theme, and I think what holds the story together, despite some fantastical experiences that try to link these ordinary women to national events.
“America’s First Daughter”
By Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
Here is a story of Patsy Jefferson to prove the maxim that behind every good man is an amazing woman.
Actually, she was the force behind two men - her father and her somewhat erratic husband. All while birthing nine children. I do that math and think, good Lord, she was running at least one household, a plantation, and a political dynasty while pregnant for nearly seven years and then breastfeeding for another three!
This is one determined and strong woman. She took on the enormous and rather lonely role of caring for her father as a young teenager with a promise given at her mother’s deathbed. From Paris to Monticello to the White House and back to the Virginia hills again, she managed his home, political social calendar, and his legacy through scandal, personal tragedy, and poverty.
Ms. Strauss follows the story of her great-aunt, Helene Podliasky, who, along with eight of her fellow prisoners at the Ravensbrück concentration camp, escaped during the death marches at the end of the war to the American front lines.
It is nonfction told with an engaging technique, where at various points of the escape, Strauss features the backstory of one of the women. The visuals created by her solid and unemotional language are vivid: Nine emaciated women weighing about ffty pounds each, with flthy hair, bodies, and fngernails, exhausted from lack of food and untreated sores and broken bones in their legs and feet, knock on the doors of village inns and farmhouses looking for food and shelter.
It’s the end of the war near the front – some German citizens are kind and generous and weary of war. Some offer minimal succor with disdain to look good to the encroaching Allies. Some are cruel and dismissive.
Strauss did extensive research and pieced together the story from diaries and published accounts, although many of the nine women worked hard to erase those years from their lives.
Bayside resident and voracious reader and bibliophile, who spends a lot of time lost in the stacks of bookstores and libraries. Find her online @StephanieSAM.
“S” Geography Trivia
1. What European country once set up a colony in present-day Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, only to lose it to the Dutch in 1655?
2. Located in North America, what’s the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, and third-largest by total volume, holding 10% of Earth’s surface fresh water?
3. Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga named what California city after a Christian ritual also known as communion or the eucharist?
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Wednesdays at Salt Yard, Mast Landing, Wilson County, Smoked, George + Leon’s Thursdays at Dock’s Seafood, Locally Sauced, Tomaso’s Pizza, Arcadia online @bestworsttrivia
4. Helvetica is the old Latin name for what central European country? Find the answers online at thewestendnews.com/puzzle-solutions!
COMMUNITY SLICE
Portland Police Department expands Community Policing Offces including a new location at 443 Congress St. serving the Monument Square area… WalletHub ranked Maine the 4th Safest State citing low assault rates, climate losses, and strong job security… Also they ranked Bowdoin as Maine’s #1 Best College thanks in part to its lowest student-faculty ratio and highest gender and racial diversity ranking… State Street Church in Portland is awarded $420k matching grant to preserve historic towers… Victoria Mansion unveils original artwork by Carl Joe Williams interpreting its Unwilling Architects Initiative and the role enslaved individuals played in building the mansion… Red Cross celebrates the completion of a $4.5 million renovation of its blood donation center on Forest Avenue... A new report from the Reuters Institute says people are using ChatGPT twice as much as they were last year... Por tland High School senior Ramona Rowe publishes sci-f novel “Factory Town” with help of The Telling Room Greater Portland Metro receives funding to launch new transit service taking riders all the way south to Scarborough Former News Center Maine meteorologist Jason Nappi predicts Portland will get just 52 inches of snow this winter (less than the average of 61”)…
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State Street Church. -Photo by Tim Greenway
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