FEBRUARY 2021.VOL. 21, NO. 02. PORTLAND, MAINE.
HEALTH BRIEF
Covid-19 Vaccination Hotline Opens for Age 70+
Goodbye, Norway Maples City removes invasive trees on the Western Prom and will return with native trees and shrubs in the spring By Tony Zeli The removal of an invasive species of tree on the Western Prom caused concern among West End residents who worried that Portland crews were clear cutting the promenade. But the clearing of dozens of Norway Maples was all part of the city’s master plan for the Western Prom.
Northern Light Health launched a live phone Covid-19 vaccination hotline for community members 70 and over. When the phone line opened on Monday, January 25th, at 9 a.m. it became overwhelmed with high call volume and new appointment scheduling was immediately delayed “Many of the Norway Maples had deuntil later in the day. The new vaccination fects common with the species, prone to phone number is (207) 204-8551. storm damage, trunk cracks, and we did Northern Light Health encourages have a few trees fail recently,” said Jeff Tarpatients with internet access to visit their ling, the city’s arborist. website for vaccine information and to The removal of Norway Maples along schedule their vaccination. They anticipate that call volume will remain high. The the Western Promenade occurred in late vaccination information website is: covid. December. Taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather, forestry crews northernlighthealth.org/publicvaccine. removed Norway Maple trees from two Early in the vaccination process, areas, the southern viewshed across from health care officials realized that patients the Western Cemetery and the Valley without internet access needed a phone- Street playground, community garden, and based solution. They developed the ho- dog park edges, technically part of the tline, which is not a permanent call center Western Promenade. but now all community members have “The grove of invasive trees is an access to vaccination scheduling. Patients indication that the area was once open,” without internet access should call (207) said Tarling. The clearing on the southern 204-8551 for scheduling and information. view area revealed historic views of the Northern Light urges patients to call this Fore River. The invasive Norway Maples number rather than their local hospital had obscured these public views for deor healthcare provider’s office to free up cades. “Nearby, established Red Oak, Black those phone lines for continued patient Cherry, Pine, and Birch groves represent care. the native trees that would be found in Northern Light Health is an integrat- Maine.” ed health delivery system serving Maine, Tarling is generating a plan for rewith hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, long-term and home healthcare, planting in the spring. It starts with a list of and ground and air medical transport and native trees and shrubs to buffer nearby emergency care across the state, including residential properties and screen some of Mercy Hospital in the West End. Northern the commercial views below. But the new Light Health works with the Maine State landscape will preserve view corridors to the Fore River and the west.Trail improveC.D.C. to vaccinate the community.
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Grassroots fight in South Portland to monitor emissions
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Covid-19 vaccination update from Northern Light Health
Above: Portland crews removed dozens of Norway Maples clearing views that had been obscured for decades. Below: Pitch Pine at Western Cemetery across from the Prom where new plantings in the spring will compliment the pine grove. -Photos by Tony Zeli ments are also planned, and storm water runoff improvements are to include rain gardens. The big picture theme according to Tarling is to complement the nearby Western Cemetery Pitch Pine environment. Pitch Pine is found in and around the cemetery that is across from the Western Prom, but nowhere else in Portland do we find a groove like we have in the West End. A few can be found in the Evergreen Cemetery woods and a few here and there, but the Pitch Pine of the Western Cemetery and Prom is to be treasured. More plans for the spring improvements will be available in March. Tony Zeli is publisher and editor. Reach him at thewestendnews@ gmail.com.
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Community comes together during a pandemic
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