FEBRUARY 2024.VOL. 24 NO. 02. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
Unsheltered Homelessness A conversation with Jess Falero and Cullen Ryan
Every month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a community member for The West End News. This month Liz spoke with Jess Falero and Cullen Ryan about encampment sweeps, safety concerns at shelters, and what could be done if more resources were available. Below is an edited version of their conversation.
Jess Falero has experienced homelessness, is a peer advocate, community organizer, and emerged as a leader during the 2020 homeless encampment at Portland City Hall. Listen to the entire conversation at https:// thewestendnews.com/ podcast
Cullen Ryan has over 36 years of experience working with people experiencing homelessness as a clinician, advocate, and housing developer. Cullen is the Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine (CHOM), the largest supportive housing provider for people who have experienced homelessness.
Liz: What is the current situation with the encampments that have been cleared? Where are people going? Cullen: A lot has changed in the last two months. The city council allowed 50 extra beds at the Homeless Services Center (HSC) and worked with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) to create a shelter specifically for single adult asylum seekers. So that freed up 170 beds, and the city prioritized beds for people who were unsheltered.The city also removed some barriers that stood in the way of people coming inside. The result was many people coming inside to the HSC, Milestone, Florence House, and Elena’s Way. We’ve gone from a peak on October 6th of 282 tents all the way down to maybe 50 tents before the sweeps in early January. The number of people outside is maybe a quarter of what it was and closer to what it was last winter.That’s big progress.
“
Encampment sweeps are inherently violent. It’s very harsh to say, 'I'm going to destroy this home you built, and your only option is to access the shelter that you’re afraid of.'" -Jess Falero Liz: Jess, tell us what you’re hearing and seeing.
Jess: I’m not pro-sweep. But Cullen is right, people tried out the shelter who otherwise would not have tried it out. But just because something is effective, doesn’t mean that it’s humane. Encampment sweeps are inherently violent. It’s very harsh to say, “I’m going to destroy this home you built, and your only option is to access the shelter that you’re afraid of.” It wasn’t handled in an ethical way that allowed people their own autonomy. People on the streets are incredibly vulneraLiz: What were some of the barriers ble, and people making the decisions for that were lowered? them are not vulnerable, so there is a Cullen: The city made the “curfew” power difference there. later – people have to let them know if We need to talk about the ways shelthey need a bed by a certain time. That ters are unsafe and unprepared for the time used to be 6 p.m., then 9 p.m., and people showing up right now. Some peohas now been moved to 11 p.m. People ple have severe trauma, or severe mental can stay out even later if they commu- illness, or are veterans, or just don’t have nicate that need. The Humane Society is the skills to handle themselves as tactfulnow providing safe harbor for pets. People ly as people would like. So I’m concerned can lock their belongings outside before that the folks are going to end up leavcoming in and access those belongings any ing or getting kicked out. Shelters are a time, day or night. People can spend time Band-Aid and can actually perpetuate the with their partners in the common areas systemic issues that are happening in our of the building – just sleeping areas are world. Cont'd on Pg. 3 separated by gender.
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Craig Brett, MD reviews cardiovascular risk factors
Stephanie Miller reviews "The First Ladies" by Marie Benedict
Layne's Wine Gig Presents Two (prix fixe) Dinners
Winter Wonder in Quebec with Nancy Dorrans
2 THE WEST END NEWS / FEBRUARY 2024
FEBRUARY EDITION
WHAT'S INSIDE Book Short.....................................................6 Climate Justice.............................................13 Community Slice..........................................15 Events..............................................................7 Health & Wellness.........................................5 Layne's Wine Gig ..................................10-11 PelotonPosts..............................................3-4 Poetry............................................................15 Puzzle Page...................................................14 Travel..............................................................12
SUBMISSIONS WEN is a community newspaper and we need your voice! Share your submissions with thewestendnews@gmail.com or send to: The West End News, PO Box 10876, Portland, Maine 04104. • Letters to the editor should be no more than 200 words. Include your name and town or neighborhood. • WEN also accepts poetry, cartoons, and photo submissions. Deadline for publication in the March Edition is Friday, Feb. 23rd. Publication is not guaranteed and submissions may be edited for length. The thoughts and opinions expressed in our pages belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to the publication.
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Always Free! Published by Zeli Enterprises, LLC Contact Us The West End News PO Box 10876 Portland, ME 04104 thewestendnews@gmail.com Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Rick Ness, Sales VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Dorrans, Travel & Adventure Laurie Manos, CCL Column Stephanie Miller, Book Short Jennifer Ruggiero, Bright Ideas Ben Taylor, Best Worst Trivia Liz Trice, PelotonPosts Layne V. Witherell, Layne's Wine Gig Thank you for a special contribution from Dr. Craig Brett, Northern Light Mercy PRINTED IN MAINE BY Lincoln County Publishing Co.
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THE WEST END NEWS
Unsheltered Homelessness: Cont'd from Pg. 1 A Conversation Liz: How are shelters unsafe? Jess: I’m sure both of you have had roommates before, and roommates can come with their own drama. When you’re in a 200-bed shelter, you have 199 roommates – people that have been on the streets, through domestic violence, human trafficked, in the prison system, in foster care – and they have been severely traumatized. A lot of unhoused people have complex PTSD, which is caused by consistent, nonstop, one traumatic experience after the other. During my time at the Florence House, I saw so many horrible things. I was harassed on a daily basis by different people, and you’re not allowed to defend yourself without losing your bed. Most people can’t ignore being harassed over and over and over again. If housed people get harassed, they just go home and shut their door, or they’ll call the police. But you can’t do that when you’re in the shelter: you’re not entitled to that and you don’t have a door to close. Privacy is so important. It is lifesaving when somebody can just close their door! At Florence House, we had somebody who every single morning would have a stress seizure, fall in the middle of the lobby, and hit her head, and be bleeding all over the floor, and you’d have a fight going on, and two ambulances and the police trying to get in. When you wake up regularly to that kind of chaos, it stores in your body. The body keeps the score. It holds on to all that unprocessed trauma, and your brain will dissociate and protect you from that moment and affect you for the rest of your life. Chronic trauma and homelessness take 28 years off a person’s life.
“
When we see someone struggling with substance use disorder, and we're watching them slowly die in front of us, when is it okay for us to step in and say, 'Hey, we want to intervene and make sure that you're safe?'” -Cullen Ryan
THE WEST END NEWS / FEBRUARY 2024
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as if they took medications. Shelter is an important interim step, because we’re much better at getting people housed from shelters than we are from outside. Jess: We need to absolutely bring people into housing because of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The second step is community support, because people are inherently social creatures and we need each other. This is why I love Housing First, it wraps around the 24/7 support. I love Greater Portland Peer Services. Cullen: So, when we see someone struggling with substance use disorder, and we’re watching them slowly die in front of us, when is it okay for us to step in and say, “Hey, we want to intervene and make sure that you’re safe?” That “you deserve love and warmth,” but in an empowering fashion? I’ve always felt that it was within reach for us to solve homelessness in Maine. We have a finite population. We have an almost adequate shelter network. We have pathways into housing, and we know almost all the people who experience homelessness by name because our numbers are so small. I think we can end it. I don’t want to allow a society that comes to be accustomed and accepting of unsheltered homelessness.
It’s not just “Let’s bring everybody indoors and then we all sing Kumbaya.” The fights that you see down at the encampment are going to happen at the shelters, too. People are doing their best, but if you Jess: I really appreciate the question. throw somebody out into the wild, and I think that we need to be careful about you make them survive that long, they end up becoming wild. You can’t be surprised trying to step into other people’s lives and telling them what they need, because by that. we can’t possibly know. But I do know Nobody wants to see what happens from my own life, that people that have to people because it’s so horrifying. We’re sat with me, regardless of where I was at, seeing systemic trauma happen before our and kept reminding me about my inherent eyes. But conflict isn’t inherently bad. The worth, regardless of where I was at that solution is to be willing to see what needs moment, that changed my life forever. And to be addressed and then do something if it wasn’t for those people, I wouldn’t be about it. We keep coming to this conflict here. because we haven’t addressed it yet. Cullen: Recovery happens in comCullen: The safety and security of munity when people feel good about housing is health care. Psychotic symp- themselves. That takes days, months, years toms are exacerbated by stress, and the to establish, but it starts with somebody most stressful situation you could be in is giving them the message that they are chronic homelessness. Sometimes when worthwhile. we move a person with psychotic sympJess: And that person is usually sometoms into housing, we watch their symptoms disappear right in front of our eyes Cont'd on Pg. 4
UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS
Listen to the full converstion at: https://thewestendnews.com/podcast
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THE WEST END NEWS What would you do with $10 million?
Unsheltered Homelessness: A Conversation Cont'd from Pg. 3 body who they trust. I don’t feel like either one of us is saying, “It’s okay for you to be outside.” We want to say, “It’s okay for you to be where you’re at. We would love it if you went inside, it’s really cold out here. You may freeze to death.” Those are loving conversations we can actually have with people. But it’s a really hard line to hold.
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I would hire 10 people for 10 years, to be 'housing stability workers.' They could serve 200+ people per year." -Cullen Ryan
fit neatly into billing for health care. And outreach services, and we really are short once people have housing, people have a on all those. I don’t think we’re going to pathway to wellness. get everybody inside. But if it remains our Updates since the interview goal, then we will strive towards it as a Cullen: The city went from a peak city, and we will get almost everyone inof 282 tents in October to 38 tents last side. And for the few remaining people week, which represents an 86.5% reducoutside, we can do our best to build relation in unsheltered homelessness. Outtionships and get them directly into housreach workers are indicating the number ing or into the shelter if we can remove of people outside is lower this winter than those barriers. last winter, before the encampment crisis. Jess: I think you answered that per- People are coming inside and the policy fectly. changes appear to be working.
The real issue is that the shelters are not set up for everyone to be in. You know, if the shelter was set up, and it was safe, and it was a place for everybody that could get what they needed, like I would Liz: What would you do with $10 mil100% be like: “Tough love, let’s get you in lion? the shelter. It is a safe place for you to go.” Jess: I would open transitional housBut it’s not true. ing to get people directly off the streets Cullen: So, you can’t force people to and allow them to have one-on-one supcome in, and you can’t not do anything.You port. I wouldn’t have more than five peoknow, it makes me think that I am certain- ple in the house, and I would have at least ly not pro-sweep. I’m pro-inside, pro-chal- three to four staff at all times. And there lenging people to come inside. wouldn’t be a timeline about how long We need structures for people to be people can stay because everybody is difindoors with warm food, warm showers, ferent. privacy, a welcoming environment, and Cullen: I would hire 10 people for encouragement for people. We need to 10 years, to be “housing stability workensure that shelters have sufficient emer- ers.” They could serve 200+ people per gency capacity for the ebbs and flows of year. Right now, you have to bill Mainehomelessness by keeping the extra 50 Care. You spend half your time billing, and beds as needed. Also, we need to meet everything has to fit into the box of health people with support services, healthcare, care. But a lot of what people need doesn’t
Jess: The number of beds fluctuates at the shelter daily - it would be nice to start collecting data to address the fluctuation. Disclaimer: Neither Jess nor Cullen work directly with anyone who is accessing services at the Homeless Services Center.
Resources Community Housing of Maine: https://www.chomhousing.org Church of Safe Injection: https:// www.churchofsafeinjection.org PelotonPosts is produced by PelotonLabs and WEN provides free column space. Publisher-editor Tony Zeli is a coworking memeber at PelotonLabs.
Listen to UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS the full converstion at: https://thewestendnews.com/podcast
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
THE WEST END NEWS / FEBRUARY 2024
5
Heart month and cardiovascular health By Craig Brett, MD, Northern Light Mercy Cardiovascular Care
how important is it to take action?
With Valentine’s Day approaching, matters of the heart are certainly a common topic of discussion. But what about the health of your own heart? Dr. Craig Brett, medical director of cardiology for Northern Light Mercy Hospital, reviews cardiovascular risk factors and what you can do to keep your heart in top condition.
It is true that most people who develop coronary artery disease have one or more of those risk factors. First off, it is critical to know if you have those risk factors. “Know your numbers” is an important concept, since if you don’t know if your cholesterol or BP is elevated, it won’t be treated.
What exactly is heart disease?
There are many lifestyle inCraig Brett, MD. -Courtesy photo terventions which can help manage these risk factors, and there are effective strategies to help patients quit smoking if that is er risk factors that are modifiable, such as present. Your medical provider can guide quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and you through these processes. In some cas- maintaining a healthy weight. es, medications may be required, and fortunately, we have very effective drugs for Are there other risk factors some of these problems. that play a role in developing
Heart disease is a broad term, as there are many different types of problems that can affect the heart, but the most common type is coronary artery disease, which is a process where the arteries that feed the heart become obstructed over time with fatty deposits. This can eventually cause chest pain and heart attack.
Northern Light Mercy glows red for American Heart Month. - Courtesy of Northern Light Health
heart disease such as someHow much does genetics and one’s age? a family history of heart disventing cardiac events. There is increasing recognition that ease play into someone’s risk According to the CDC, If anyone has concerns or questions chronic stress may play a role in develabout half of all Americans of developing the disease? about their heart heath, I recommend oping heart disease. The body’s adaptahave at least one of three key they speak with their primary care providGenetics are very influential in de- tive responses to stress are helpful in the er who could connect them to additional risk factors for heart disease, termining whether someone may develop short term, but when activated chronresources. which are high blood pressure, coronary artery disease or not, and so it ically, can accelerate the development of high cholesterol, and smok- is important to know about your family fatty plaques in the coronary arteries, history. We can’t do much about our own and increase the likelihood of blood clots Dr. Craig Brett is medical director ing. What should someone do genetics, but if someone does have a bad in these arteries. Knowing the harmful of Northern Light Mercy Cardiovascuif they think they have one or history of heart disease, then it will be effects of chronic stress and practicing lar Care, which has offices in Portland more of these risk factors, and particularly important to control the oth- mindfulness can be very helpful in pre- and Yarmouth.
6 THE WEST END NEWS / FEBRUARY 2024
BROADER PICTURE
BOOK SHORT
The First Ladies A groundbreaking partnership By Stephanie Miller
ing it’s too politically hot to touch, Eleanor and Mary go around him by inviting the press to an exhibit of photographs of lynch mobs. When asked why she feels it is so disturbing, Eleanor grabs Mary’s hand and says, “It evokes a truth Mary revealed to me. Inaction in the face of racism is acquiescence to it.”
Who says strong women can’t collaborate? Outspoken First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a capable advocate for civil rights—mostly without support from her husband or Democratic Party leaders— in part because she met, respected, and listened to Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a Black educator and activist. Together, they This well researched novel is a combecame a formidable pelling and compassionate portrait of two pair of “first ladies” for women who used every scrap of opporequality and universal tunity and blessing available to them to dignity. further the causes they believed in. Their Written by the aucommitment to better our country is a thors of “The Personal celebration of everything we say we hold Librarian,” Marie Benedear in America: life, liberty, and freedom dict and Victoria Chrisfor all. 'The First Ladies topher Murray, this “The First Ladies” his- by Marie Benedict MicroShorts (Berkley 2023) torical novel is a soaring saga of a warm personal and honorable ‘A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: political friendship. Even before she be- Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy,’ by came FLOTUS, Eleanor was daring and re- Nathan Thrall lentless in her efforts for many civil causes A decrepit bus full of Palestinian kinand was an early advocate for the rights dergarten children from an underfunded of African-Americans at a time when most West Bank school is smashed by a tracplayers in Washington were not. tor-trailer on a rainy day outside of JeruEleanor made many mistakes by salem, rolls over, and catches fire. Israeli not fully understanding the situation and police, military, and emergency personnel needs of Black Americans. To her credit, are less than two miles away, in sight of she apologized, listened, and learned. A lot the crash site, yet do not move toward fewer records survive to tell the story of the scene for thirty minutes, when the fire Mary Bethune, but she was an incredibly has already consumed the bus. Meanwhile, wise, capable, and successful early leader passing Palestinian drivers break windows, in education, vocational training for young enter the fiery bus, and drag burned and women, and civil rights. When she met El- broken children from the blaze. Kind peoeanor, she was also a devout Republican, ple take victims in their cars to various the party of Lincoln. hospitals. Meanwhile, Palestinian emergenIn the face of blatant discrimination cy vehicles are held back at a checkpoint, and disrespect, Mary maintained grace and in view of the smoke. dignity, and a wry sense of humor. She and Abed Salama’s six-year-old son Malid Eleanor had a true friendship and partis on that bus. Due to the daily brutality, nership, which is quite a beautiful thing humiliations, and restrictions that make it when you realize how different they were impossible for most Palestinians to travel in upbringing, social position, race, and between neighborhoods, he is unable to background. They were not even allowed get to his son. In this extremely sobering to eat together in many restaurants, denon-fiction telling of the most horrific day spite Eleanor’s position. Each was highly of Abed’s life, New York Times Magazine respected, and each were unapologetic essayist Nathan Thrall highlights the inpioneers, willing to break some china if credible penalties of living under occupait furthered the cause of what they truly tion and how Palestinians suffer because believed. the Jewish state actively works to reduce In one example, Eleanor agrees to bring to her husband’s attention the fact that Blacks are still being lynched at macabre festive picnics, despite the laws against it. When FDR resists any action by claim-
Portland's Deering Oaks Park has been a long-time favorite spot for ice skating. Parkside residents and siblings Rita and Nick Panagakos skating in Deering Oaks Park (circa early 1940's). -Photo submitted by Bill Doukas Submit photos to thewestendnews@gmail.com.
Given current events, this is a timely story of a family’s loss, and is one stop in my seeking out reliable sources for understanding today’s Gaza attacks in context of decades of occupation.
along with “Ordinary Grace” are his two literary fiction books. He shares in the acknowledgements that he based the story on research of several Indian schools and the depression-era revival phenomena.
‘This Tender Land,’ by William Kent Krueger
‘Murder in the Maple Woods,’ by Claire Ackroyd (MAINE AUTHOR)
Four orphans in 1932 – each with a special talent – escape the brutal treatment at the Lincoln Indian Training school in a canoe. They are chased by the cruel and pitiless superintendent and her husband. Thus begins an odyssey of self-determination for each of them, as they battle for freedom from and alongside a one-eyed, angry farmer, a magnetic healer with a penchant for fame, and two women who serve the poor in a Hooverville slum. The novel is spellbinding, with poetic language, cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, and a story that carries us along as a fifth member of the Vagabonds, the their presence in Jerusalem. Abed is not name the runaways adopt to inspire them exactly an unblemished hero, and Thrall along their harrowing journey. tells the story of his life in stark terms. But he is a devoted father, and his helplessness, Krueger wrote nineteen books in the anger, and grief are very hard to watch. Cork O’Connor mystery series and this
By dent of the author’s name, this one is often in the top left position of the Maine Authors collection on the bookstore shelf. I saw it there for years before pulling it down. It’s a delightful story of authentic characters and no sappiness (a pun!). Starting with the death of a boy in the remote maple sugar camps of northwestern Maine, the slim volume is packed with drama and impressive detection work by a camp inspector. I also learned about this important state industry and how maple syrup producers operate on very slim margins in a highly regulated market. Stephanie Miller is a voracious reader and bibliophile and spends a lot of time lost in the stacks of bookstores and libraries. Find her online @StephanieSAM.
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WHAT'S GOING ON
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FOOD & DRINK
LAYNE’S WINE GIG PRESENTS
TWO DINNERS By Layne V. Witherell
LOBSTER THERMIDOR
For us, there are two types of prix fixe dinners. The best experience possible or the “You are a captive here” scenario. At its best it can be a reasonably priced, well-orchestrated, and delightful culinary experience. At its worst, it can strangle your credit card to within an inch of its life and significantly add to the sommelier’s retirement fund. This article is about the good kind.
Maine Lobster (so fresh it crunches), sherry bechamel, parsnip and gruyere. Truffle Dutch creamer potatoes.
MAINE OYSTER COMPANY 38 Portland St. (just down from Bubba’s Sulky Lounge),Thu. – Sat., 5-9 p.m.
They have a large coastal Maine map on the wall with a list of around forty different Maine oyster farms and a list of what’s currently available in the restaurant. The people in this place know their oysters.
Now comes the exciting part, after the glass of obligatory Prosecco paired with a few raw oysters. The wine list for this locally sourced, limited time, high quality extravaganza is achingly small with no producers listed.This is why food writers never mention a wine accompaniment; they just sit there wringing their hands. I don’t like the term “foodie,” but I know what wines work to create an experience. Sancerre $70.00 a bottle. At this price, please, God, just kill me now! The wine of greed. My heartfelt thanks to all you mindless Tik Tok devotees for bringing this humble village wine to the masses.
Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa, What we had: a $75.00 per person $44.00. A must for a vegan dinner. Poor prix fixe three course dinner (add bever- South Africa has suffered a long-standing bad rap but there are emerging stars. age, tax, and gratuity). OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER
Muscadet $45.00. Will work with the Eight large Damariscotta oysters mussels, it always does. A simple wine that baked with spinach, bacon, parmesan. hasn’t suffered the kneejerk popularity of Sancerre. “Mom’s recipe.”
Layne and Judy Witherell at Maine Oyster Company, Layne with Maine Oysters Rockefeller – eight large Damariscotta oysters – and Judy with Lobster Thermidor, drinking Terrien Sonoma Chardonnay 2014. -Photos courtesy of Layne Witherell Terrien Sonoma Chardonnay, 2014 (!!!). $75.00. OMG. Michael Terrien is one of my all-time favorite winemakers. This is old-school California, not the overpriced pancake syrup butter concoctions that are featured on far too many wine lists and store shelves. Michael works with old chardonnay vine plantings on trusted sites with minimal oak treatments, preferring low yields and extended bottle age instead. This is complexity we just aren’t used to.
What made our prix fixe dinner great is that a similar flavor combination of fresh from the ocean local dishes when accompanying it with a Meursault would run upwards of $300 plus (and climbing in price by the minute) per bottle. We could have had a very good dinner paired with their other wines, but this is a sheer magnification of flavors.
“G
reat wine makes you feel like a genius.” -Matt Kramer
To quote Matt Kramer on the world It was a meal reminiscent of Paris Zweigelt (Rose), Austria $49.00. A famed white Burgundy from the French or Beaune, the capital of Burgundy, at its far-out miniature pairing. town of Meursault, “What it offers is a Bangs Island Mussels (a local treat) best, in a cozy little local centric place in served in a smokey tomato broth with Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley, $75.00. combination of flavors found in few charemerging West Bayside. chorizo, shishito peppers, and sourdough NO NAME. Had to wait to see the bottle. donnays anywhere. Honey, coffee, hazelnuts, and spices.” Cont'd on Next Page This is your prix fixe scary moment… toasts. SPANISH MUSSELS
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11
LAYNE'S WINE GIG: Two Dinners Cont'd from Previous Page
CHAVAL
ROASTED BONE MARROW WITH SHRIMP
58 Pine St. (in Portland’s West End), Tue. - Sat., 4:30 - 9 p.m.
You sip your Cava while enjoying and finishing the beef bone when Ilma Lopez, the co-proprietor, comes over and recommends a Sherry luge pouring through the bone with you slurping as the deliriously happy recipient. I know my Spanish Sherry, but she REALLY knows her Sherry.
Yeah, I know, everybody and their dog has written about this place, but our most recent meal was what I call a “build your own prix fixe.” Specials pop up and are not to be missed. Their staff are wine list savvy, making it an adventure for the culiGonzales Byass, Palo Cortado “Lenary explorer. onor,” $7.00 glass. The Spanish Sherry master identifies this rare find barrel by FRESH WHITE TRUFFLES ON barrel with a little chalk mark. Your “one SCRAMBLED EGGS stop shop” Sherry lesson would be at Bolet Brut Rose Cava, Spain, $13.00 their bar with a copy of Talia Baiocchi’s glass/$49.00 bottle. Spanish Cava, that classic book “Sherry” in hand with a glass Barcelona sparkler that got stomped by each of: 1. Fino Tio Pepe (very dry, austere, Prosecco, is usually a yawner. Even though almonds and apples); 2. a glass of Gonzait is bottle fermented for tiny bubbles, the les Byass Amontillado Seco (an older fino, grapes (macabeo, parellada, and Xarel-lo) mellower and more relaxed, like chestare ho-hum at best. But this is a pinot nuts); 3. Gonzales Byass Oloroso Seco (dry, full bodied, raisins and nuts). Now, noir-based Cava to be reckoned with. blend away to make your own rare Palo The color is dark rose, and the fragrance Cortado. I call this “become your own is pure pinot noir. Wild with truffles. It not winemaker and #mendoblendo to your only looks brilliant but tastes brilliant as friends’ amazement. well. And try not to spill the bone marrow Koehler-Ruphrecht Pinot Blanc, Pfalz, Germany, $15.00 glass. The goal of fresh truffles is to take a fairly neutral good wine, as is the case with pinot blanc, and elevate it in flavor. Truffles act as a magnifying glass for both the dish and the wine. The Cava and pinot blanc are great as opposites in flavor.
Layne wrestles with Chaval’s Sherry luge. To left, roasted bone marrow with shrimp and white truffles on scrambled eggs.
“the thinking person’s gamey.” It pairs well with a wide variety of wines, and for two or more people it is more fun to share glasses than a bottle. You want to experience variety as opposed to textbook pairing.
to think about the meal as opposed to just smiling and slurping. Crianza means oak aged which adds more weight to an otherwise full wine. Rioja as a region hasn’t changed in a hundred plus years, so this is a dish that you could have in JP Brun L’Ancien Terre Dorres Madrid in 1840. The rest of the world has Beaujolais, France, $15.00 glass. Ga- just changed a lot. may fruit with lusciousness. This is a wash These are but two of the world class down with the rabbit dish as an accompadining experiences that you can find in niment. Gamay as a grape is young, fresh, Portland, Maine. Explore, ask questions, broth/Sherry situation on your shirt. Judy delicious... and if you close your eyes the be fun, be courteous, and treat the staff is much better at it than I am. After you red wine could be white. Just smile while well. They work hard for you. have recovered from this serious restau- you are drinking it and eating the rabbit. rant happening called the Sherry Luge, it is Bodegas Lan Crianza, Rioja, Spain, Layne has been a professional in time for the main event. $14.00 glass. Tempranillo, the grape of the wine business for many decades and was awarded the Master Knight PYRENEES RABBIT FIDEOS Rioja is the opposite of gamay, hence the of the Vine for his pioneering work Rabbit is slightly gamey but in a fun pairing. It is fuller bodied and has an in Oregon. He can be reached at multi-dimensional interesting way. I call it earthy, dusty character that engages you lvwitherell@gmail.com.
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TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
Winter Wonder in Quebec
est by far! Do you know that -40 degrees Fahrenheit is the same as -40 degrees CelThere’s always excitement, trepida- sius? We found out. It is really cold. tion, and a bit of adrenaline that pumps Each year my tour includes a visit and through your veins when you’re getting ready for an adventure.That’s how it is for self-guided tour of the Hotel de Glace, a me anyway, especially in the winter. What hotel that is made entirely of snow and will the weather bring and what should I ice! bring? Did I cover all the bases? What am I Our self-guided tour usually finishes forgetting? Add the logistical coordination at the Ice Bar with a delicious cocktail of planning the adventure for over sixty served in a glass made of ice. Last year, it people and those feelings multiply. was so cold and windy that we had little Winter is an incredible experience time to explore. When I checked in, the when you’re in a place that thrives within manager told us to hurry to the Ice Bar it. For the Québécois, winter is a way of first because the alcohol and mixers were life, and a plethora of opportunities are freezing as they were being poured. It was offered in their region to help them and really, really cold. those of us who venture north to enjoy Also in and around the Hotel de Glathe outdoors. ce is the beautiful Grand Hall, a small chapEvery year, Quebec City hosts the el, an ice slide, and a labyrinth of rooms world’s largest winter carnival, Carnaval and even suites – if you dare to spend the de Québec, in North America’s oldest and night. Each year there is a different theme, most European city. Their outdoor festival and the rooms are all decorated by a team celebrates winter between late January of artists that carve elaborate murals into and mid-February. For ten days and nights, the snow walls of each room. the city is transformed into a snow festival with ice sculptures, lights, music, and dance. By Nancy Dorrans
Once again, I’ve organized a motor coach tour to Quebec City to attend their carnival and celebrate the season with Bon Homme and his friends! I’ve organized this adHotel de Glace snow mural venture at least eight Nancy w/ Bon Homme One year the theme was nature, times. And last year, while we had little traffic and no messy another year was all about the circus. If weather to contend with, it was the cold- you’ve never been, the Hotel de Glace is
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Scenes from the Hotel de Glace Ice Bar during Quebec's winter carnival 2023. Below: Group on Lévis ferry crossing the icy St. Lawrence. -Photos courtesy of Nancy Dorrans an experience not to be missed! We always stay at the Chateau Frontenac, an iconic and historic castle hotel that stands on a bluff overlooking Old Quebec and the St. Lawrence River. During World War II, the Château served as the venue for the Quebec Conferences, where Allied leaders such as Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt met to discuss the war. Taking a guided tour while there is well worth it! On my tour, meals are “on your own” so that everyone can venture out and discover the hidden cafes, bistros, and many fine dining restaurants throughout the city. Quebecois dishes are delicious, and you may even try the specialties of coq au vin, bouillabaisse, and escargot. Or stick with a tourtière (meat pie), pouding chômeur (poor man’s pudding), some French onion soup, and poutine. I do enjoy poutine! In fact, I have my own poutine routine while in Quebec City. For dinner at least once, I’ll visit Bistro St-Malo, a small intimate restaurant in Old Quebec. I order their Cassoulet: a rich, slow-cooked stew made of haricot beans, sausage, pork, mutton, and preserved goose, aromatically spiced with garlic and herbs. On Saturday morning I’ll meet whoever is interested in joining me and head to Le Cochon Dingue (The Crazy Pig) for breakfast. Maybe this year I’ll try their Charlevoix Plate featuring black pudding with hollandaise sauce au gratin, topped with a fried egg, apple and bacon caramel sauce French toast, served with fried potatoes and onions.
After breakfast we take the Lévis ferry across the icy St. Lawrence and enjoy a stunning view of our Chateau before heading up to find Bon Homme and wind through the Carnival events. This year my tour sold-out almost before school started. Next year we’ll do it again – usually the first weekend in February. Stay in touch. I’ll look forward to traveling with you someday! Winter Wonder Haiku Embracing the snow That brings the cold quiet joy On these winter days
Nancy on the Lévis ferry.
Nancy Dorrans is founder of Adventure Marketplace... Navigating travelers on authentic, nurturing, global and local adventures since 2014.
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CLIMATE JUSTICE
THE WEST END NEWS / FEBRUARY 2024
13
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
Think Snow, Protect Our Winters By Laurie Manos For so many Mainers, winters are about snow. Whether it be Alpine or Nordic skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling, or simply enjoying the beauty and serenity of snow from the comfort of your home, snow is a part of our Maine culture and our economy. Yet due to the effects of climate change, we find ourselves waiting longer each year for winter sports to get into full swing. This year has been like no other, with drenching and damaging rainstorms bringing mountain operations to a halt and taking weeks to recover from. It’s not your imagination. Maine is warming, winters are getting shorter, and it’s not just Maine. In terms of the global average temperature, 2023 was the hottest year on record… by a lot! The global average temperature in 2023 has already reached +1.5°C. This is the temperature that just a decade ago 198 countries agreed in the Paris Climate Accord that we should not exceed in order avoid severely damaging consequences of climate change. They were right. The storms are stronger, wetter, and more frequent, and winters are less snowy. While staying below +1.5°C is no longer an option, we still have a chance to stay below the secondary goal of less than +2.0°C to avoid more devastating and costly consequences. But we need to act quickly and wisely. Numerous climate models, over 3,500 economists, and climate scientists agree that the fastest and surest way to
A Delicate System Ready to Snap
avoid +2.0°C is to charge a fee for carbon pollution from fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) at their source. This smart, market-based By Jennifer Ruggiero solution will speed up the transition to What’s there to say about climate clean energy like wind and solar and enchange that hasn’t been said before? We courage funding and development of new have to act now before we exceed 1.5º C. solutions yet to be fully realized. Small changes add up. Reduce, reuse, reCongress should pass the Energy In- cycle. Plant trees, de-lawn, and landscape novation Act (HR 5744) as soon as pos- with native plants. Compost. Go electric. sible to ensure a healthy, prosperous, and Plenty of noise exists to intentionsnow-filled future. Winter recreation may ally create doubt and uncertainty about be a first world amenity in the Northeast how people think and feel about climate USA but melting glaciers and diminishing change and what people know about the snowpack threaten the survival of millions topic. Bad actors are racing to create legglobally. islation to prevent adopting clean energy Here’s the good news. Skiing is big alternatives. This is compounded by social business in Maine and our ski resort own- media and reinforcement loops that feed ers and managers are smart. That’s why us endless information that confirms our so many of them have already endorsed a own biases. Even our brains are working carbon fee and dividend policy like the En- against us. Focused on today, struggling ergy Innovation Act. They know that this to overcome cognitive dissonance, and policy is their best and possibly last hope loathe to think we could be contributing for sustaining a vibrant ski industry. to a planet-changing crisis, we push it away Every major ski resort in the state is because we think we have the luxury of on board, including Sugarloaf, Sunday Riv- ignoring it. er, Pleasant Mt, and Saddleback, and the Peering out the window with no national non-profit, Protect Our Winters. snow on the ground on a balmy 40º day in If you love or depend on snow, I hope the new year, a question surfaces, is Maine that you too will join them, me, and the ready to pivot everyday living and econoCitizens’ Climate Lobby in supporting the mies in response to climate change? Energy Innovation Act. You can quickly Even now, we think major events and easily show your support right now: don’t affect us because they’re not haphttps://citizensclimatelobby.org/get-loudpening here. News of a climate refugee take-action/energy-innovation-act. moving due to extreme drought is glossed Laurie Manos is a resident of Harpswell, Sug- over because it isn’t happening to me. arloafer, CCL member, and climate advocate. However, if a tree in Portland can com-
pensate for pollution produced in a different country, certainly a melting glacier will have an impact in Maine. As unchecked human activity has slowly contributed to anthropogenic climate change, we’re at the point where the slow march will now trigger escalated, accelerated feedback loops. One in five countries are at risk of their ecosystems collapsing, according to recent research. Six of the nine planetary boundaries that create stability and resiliency have been crossed. As these interconnected systems get pushed to the edge, it will pose prominent, daily obstacles to living. Every person, company, and government need to be part of the solution. Portland is doing something about it. With numerous organizations and initiatives, Maine is focused on addressing this. Maine Won’t Wait and Maine Climate Council are just a couple examples. The Portland Sustainability Office has a climate action plan that includes One Climate Future, policies, assessments, and more. The resources are there for us. Today, we must go and plant the tree that should have been planted years ago. Check out more at: https://www.facebook.com/PortlandClimateActionTeam. Bright Ideas is brought to you by PCAT, which meets the third Tuesday of the month, 6 to 7:30 p.m. All are welcome! FMI: portlandclimateaction@gmail.com.
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PUZZLES Greek Mythology Trivia 1. At the center of the original Labyrinth lived what bull-human hybrid creature imprisoned by and named after King Minos? 2. Arachne was a talented mortal who was turned into a spider after beating the goddess Athena in a contest in what type of crafting? 3. Heracles was the greatest of the Greek heroes, and known for performing what number of labors, like slaying the Hydra and capturing Cerberus? 4. Perseus is the Greek hero who beheaded what horrifying Gorgon who turned people to stone?
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FEBRUARY EDITION HILLTOP SUPERETTE’s
SLICE FROM THE PIE SLICES OF COMMUNITY NEWS THAT WE COULDN’T FIT…
Body Positive Dance Fitness is grateful for a successful grand opening with hundreds packing demo classes… Portland’s Barron Center is named one of the 10 Best Nursing Homes in Maine achieving the highest score possible from the US News & World Report rankings… WalletHub lists Maine as 2024’s 6th Best State to Raise a Family thanks largely to low violent -Courtesy Body Positive crime and unemployment… The Portland Elks Dance Fitness Lodge 188 recent basket raffle extravaganza helps to raise $1500 for A Company of Girls, The Family Restored, and Portland Wheelers… An overpopulation of rats in the West End’s Harbor View Park includes some domesticated rats leading volunteers to organize rat rescues… Maine receives $15 million grant from the federal government to support the installation of hundreds of Level 3 and Level 2 EV charging ports across the state… Chocolats Passion will donate 10% of sales of their Valentine’s Day best-seller Love You to the Moon and Stars to The Locker Project… Indigo Arts Alliance and WMPG 90.9FM premiere Voices + Visions: The Podcast featuring artists in conversation about their creative intersections and distinct voices… Tune in the fourth Tuesday of every month…
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Oh what a beautiful sight to see A little girl pick a flower for me I never saw a dandelion that was elegant or grand Til’ I saw the one clutched in my granddaughter’s hand
Learning to Play Playing to Learn Let’s Make Music !
It’s worth more than the moon and stars above To receive a special token of a granddaughter’s love
Do you play a brass instrument? Woodwind or percussion?
Your store-bought flowers may smell so fine But my precious dandelion is Top of the Line!
We welcome musicians at all levels who are interested in playing music in an educational and supportive setting.
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