PROPERTY TAX / RENT REFUNDS NOW OPEN --- APPLY SOON!

State Rep. Herb Adams is reminding Portlanders that the new application period for the "Circuit Breaker," the state Rent Refund and Property Tax rebate program, officially opens its next round for applications on August 1st.
The program is open to Mainers who are renters, homeowners, or elders. New income levels have opened the rebate program to thousands of new people. Single persons who earned $60,000 or less in 2007, or those with spouses or dependents who earned $80,000 or less in 2007, are over the first hurdle.
The number of successful applicants in 2006 hit record levels in Parkside, Bayside, and East Bayside, and the average refund was about $460, says Adams.
"Generally, if your 2007 property tax was 4% of your household income, or your rent in 2007 was 20% of your household income, you are in the ballpark for a refund, " says Adams. " But it is well worth the price of a stamp to find out. "
Maine elders are eligible for refunds up to $2,000 under the same program. All applications must be filed by June, 2009.
Free applications will be available in August at the Portland Public Library and at local markets such as DiPietro’s in East Bayside, Dyer's Market in Bayside, and Terroni's and Mellen Street Market in Parkside," and every other place that will let me in the door " says Adams.
Over 200,000 Maine households qualified for the program in 2006, a number expected to hit 230,000 in 2007.

After August 1, 2008, applicants may also file online at www.maine.gov/revenue.

"The earliest applicants get the fastest refunds," says Adams. "This is one of the most successful, direct-to-you state programs in Maine history. Winter is coming, and thrifty Baysiders should pinch every happy penny."

Free forms are also available by calling Rep. Adams at 772-2565.

Now, Don’t Tell Us There’s Nothing to Do

Aug. 7

Children's Performance Series with Yo Yo People (yoyo tricks… and hula hooping)
12:30pm, Free
Deering Oaks Park

Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen
8pm
One Longfellow Sq

Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona"
6:30pm, Free
The Pavilion in Deering Oaks Park

Alive at Five Concert Series with The Brew
5-8pm
Monument Square


Aug. 8

Ellen Cherry
8pm
With Andrew Grimm & Valerie Orth
One Longfellow Square

The Longfellow Trail: An Urban Expedition ~ Family Walking Tour
11am-12pm, Adults: $5.00; Children: $2.00.
Maine Historical Society

Weekday Music Series: Phantom Buffalo
Noon-1pm
Congress Square

Aug. 9


Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona"
6:30pm, Free
The Pavilion in Deering Oaks Park

Soul Movement
8pm
One Longfellow Sq

Hanifa Washington
8-11pm
Peace Folk Benefit
Meg Perry Center


Aug. 10

Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona"
2pm, Free
The Pavilion in Deering Oaks Park


Aug. 11

The Children’s Hour ~ Family Tour of the Longfellow House
11am-12pm, Adults: $8.00; Children: $3.00.
Maine Historical Society

MEMIC’s Movies in the Park (rain date)
Dusk
Congress Square

Aug. 12

Super Sized Chameleons
8pm
One Longfellow Sq

Tuesday Night Concert with Truth About Daisies (soulful harmonic folk rock)
7:00pm, Free
Deering Oaks Park Bandstand

Dave Wickerham, Boca Raton, FL - Pops
7:30pm, Pre-concert talk at 6:30pm, $12
Merrill Auditorium

Aug. 13

The Children’s Hour ~ Family Tour of the Longfellow House
11am-12pm, Adults: $8.00; Children: $3.00.
Maine Historical Society

Sunset Folk Series with Will Gattis (piano based folk music)
7:30pm, Free
Western Prom Park

Aug. 14

Alive at Five
5-8pm
Monument Square


Aug. 15

The Longfellow Trail: An Urban Expedition ~ Family Walking Tour
11am-12pm, Adults: $5.00; Children: $2.00.
Maine Historical Society

Chamber Music
8pm
One Longfellow Sq

Weekday Music Series: The Toughcats
Noon-1pm
Congress Square


Aug. 16


Elvis
8pm
One Longfellow Sq

Aug. 18

The Children’s Hour ~ Family Tour of the Longfellow House
11am-12pm, Adults: $8.00; Children: $3.00.
Maine Historical Society


Aug. 19

Peter Conte Wanamaker - Classical
7:30pm, Pre-concert talk at 6:30pm, $12
Merrill Auditorium

Jazz at the Sq
8pm
One Longfellow Sq


Aug. 20

The Children’s Hour ~ Family Tour of the Longfellow House
11am-12pm, Adults: $8.00; Children: $3.00.
Maine Historical Society

Lovesick Sessions
8pm
One Longfellow Sq


Aug. 21

Latin Dancing
8pm
One Longfellow Sq

Ruby Slippers Workshop: Finding Forgiveness
12:15-1:15pm
Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium


Aug. 22

The Longfellow Trail: An Urban Expedition ~ Family Walking Tour
11am-12pm, Adults: $5.00; Children: $2.00.
Maine Historical Society

Truth About Dasies
8pm
One Longfellow Sq


Aug. 23

43rd WCSH 6 Sidewalk Art Festival
Congress Street

Ukulele
8pm
One Longfellow Sq

Aug. 25

The Children’s Hour ~ Family Tour of the Longfellow House
11am-12pm, Adults: $8.00; Children: $3.00.
Maine Historical Society


Aug. 26

James Vivian Temple Church, London - Classical
7:30pm, Pre-concert talk at 6:30pm, $12
Merrill Auditorium

Aug. 27

The Children’s Hour ~ Family Tour of the Longfellow House
11am-12pm, Adults: $8.00; Children: $3.00.
Maine Historical Society

Aug. 29

The Longfellow Trail: An Urban Expedition ~ Family Walking Tour
11am-12pm, Adults: $5.00; Children: $2.00.
Maine Historical Society

Project for Public Spaces

Project for Public Spaces is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities. Founded in 1975, PPS embraces the insights of William (Holly) Whyte, a pioneer in understanding the way people use public spaces. Today, PPS has become an internationally recognized center for best practices, information, and resources about Placemaking. Three in-house training courses held at PPS in New York City are coming up: Streets as Places (September 15-16), How to Turn a Place Around (September 25-26) and How to Create Successful Markets (October 17-18). For information on all three courses, please visit http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=224710976&u=2350075 and use the links on the right side panel. Visit PPS at www.PPS.org.

IMAGES OF ANIMALS FEATURED IN EXHIBITION AT THE PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART

Opening Aug 16

From the earliest examples of American art until the present day, images of animals serve as vehicles for meaning. Native and exotic creatures alike help artists to explore issues of identity: the quality and nature of being American or foreign, human or beast, wild or civilized, innocent or worldly. These are all issues that artists grapple with in the exhibition American Menagerie. On view from August 16 through November 9, 2008, at the Portland Museum of Art, American Menagerie features more than 25 works of art drawn primarily from the Museum’s permanent collection.

While representations of creatures associated with the American continent—the eagle, for instance—helped to establish an American identity, depictions of exotic beasts tapped into concerns about the larger world. One of the icons of early American painting is The Peaceable Kingdom, a Biblical theme painted multiple times by Quaker artist Edward Hicks, among others. The scriptural verse and the painting motif alike prophesy a time of peace in which the aggressive and the meek, i.e., the leopard and the lamb, may coexist in harmony, and that “a little child shall lead them.” One of Hicks’s most fully realized treatments of the subject, including a painted frame with the words from Isaiah inscribed on it, is on loan for the exhibition from the Mead Art Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts. This remarkable painting, through its serene depiction of the creatures of the world, poignantly encapsulates American hopes for the young nation, its moral compass, and its future generations.

Portraits of children from this time also frequently feature animals as a sign of the sitter’s relative affluence, as only wealthy families would have regarded cats and dogs as pets—and worthy subjects for art—rather than beasts of burden. Animals in portraits could also convey messages about the character of the child they accompanied, alluding broadly to innocence or employing more specific symbolism dating from the middle ages. The idea of a kind of moral kinship between children and animals persisted through the 20th century, with idealized depictions of children at play. Also included in the exhibition are a collection of toys with animal themes.

Many modern and contemporary artists have also found that animal forms provide appealing and timeless themes for their work. Artists like Marguerite and William Zorach found and depicted nobility in their own household pets, while their daughter, Dahlov Ipcar, uses the widely varied shapes, colors, and patterns of the animal kingdom to create richly textured canvases and illustrations. The work of Bernard Langlais taps into the emotional power of animals, with wood sculptures and works on paper that seem to examine the inner life of creatures both domestic and untamed. Although these were trained artists, the persistence of an essentially non-academic artistic approach can be detected in their work. As earlier artists were, they are drawn to a fundamental purity—an uncontrived nature—in the motif of the animal, a concept that is reflected in their approach to their art.

Among the other artists included in the exhibition are Mildred Burrage, Will Barnet, Wendy Kindred, Scott Leighton, Hunt Slonem, and Roger Winter.

The exhibition also includes a special group of works related to political cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman, who is credited with the creation of the “Teddy Bear.” Early in his long career, Berryman created this loveable and timeless character as both a personification of and a fictional companion to President Theodore Roosevelt. Illustrations by Berryman and a group of political pins featuring the teddy bear, all on loan from an important private collection, add another layer to the idea of American animals in this election year.

Portland Trails Events

TRAIL STEWARD SATURDAYS

Trail volunteers meet the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month to work on various trail maintenance projects. To be added to the email list, email info@trails.org

May 14 – Sept 10, 2008
Back Cove Weekly Race Series

Wednesdays, 6:00 PM
An informal weekly race around Back Cove. Free to the public, but donations support Portland Trails. Meet at the Preble Street extension parking area, Back Cove Trail.

Portland Trails Discovery Trek Series 2008


Friday, August 15th at 5:30pm
“The Remains of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal”
with Bud Quinn, Portland Trails' Volunteer Trail Steward.

Learn about the fascinating history of the C&O Canal while enjoying a magnificent trail. Meet at the entrance to the Fore River Trail at the end of Hobart Street , off of Congress Street .

Friday, September 12th at 5:30pm
“Casco Bay's Lobster Fishery”
with Susan Olcott, Outreach Coordinator for the Ocean Conservancy.

Learn about the local lobster fishery, past and present, as you stroll along the waterfront on the Eastern Prom Trail. Having worked in the lobster fishery as a biologist and lived on Chebeague Island for a year, Susan will discuss how lobsters are fished in Casco Bay and the culture of the fishing communities on the nearby islands. Meet at the iron globe on the corner of Commercial Street and Franklin Arterial.

Friday October 3rd at 5:30pm
"Explore the Eastern Cemetery "
with Christina White, founder of Spirits Alive , an organization dedicated to the preservation and beautification of the historic Eastern Cemetery.

Discover this "museum without walls" and visit the interment sites of notable area residents while learning about conservation efforts here. Meet at the Congress Street entrance.



Sunday September 21, 2008
9th Annual Portland Trails 10K
"Trail to Ale"

The Portland Company, 58 Fore Street in Portland

Register online with Active.com

Editorial

District Attorney Stephanie Anderson's decision to dismiss Drinking in Public charges with No Further Action (NFA) findings was met with stunned incredulity by Bayside residents and business owners. As word seeped out around the neighborhood, folks began to recognize that upswing in "layouts" and people drinking on their steps may be more than the typical summer upswing, but rather the result of a revolving door policy that allows people arrested for drinking in public (DIP) to be back on the street again in just a few hours.

An exchange of letters between District Attorney Anderson and Portland Police Chief Tim Burton [see below] illustrates the growing frustration between police, County Jail authorities, and the DA's office. The reluctance of judges to sentence offenders to more than "time served" drained DA's office of resources and barely allowed time for folks to sober up and clean up. From a patrol officer's point of view, why should he or she bother with the hassle of arresting someone if the person was going to be on the street again in no time?

The adoption of the NFA policy raises several questions for Bayside residents and property owners. What options exist for patrol officers who often see their role as actually helping people from doing further self inflicted harm? What are residents supposed to do about issues such as obstructing a public way (sitting Indian style in a circle blocking a sidewalk or blocking a street)? What sort of activity rises to a level of being actionable? The new policy creates a threshold where any intrusion upon a resident's quality of life is supposed to be taken in stride. Why ? Bayside may always have more calls for service than more sedate, neighborhoods, but what sort of official policy position would be purposely implemented in a manner that was virtually guaranteed to make matters worse? What was the DA thinking?

Anyone who has had the experience of a feeling trapped in her or his home while a group of folks sits on their steps and drink and yell, or anyone who has had folks camp in his or her backyard leaving their trash and HUMAN WASTE behind knows it can be unbelievably frustrating and dispiriting. Why have a garden, or a courtyard, or a place to hang the wash if it is only going to be trespassed upon? North Deering residents don't routinely walk out of their houses and see someone urinating on a tree. People in Bayside do. Parents in other neighborhoods don't spend nearly as much time having to plan safe routes for their kids to get to activities as Bayside parents do. The chilling effect on property values and people’s general sense of well-being makes creating a caring cohesive neighborhood even more daunting.

The Oxford-Portland Street corridor has one of the highest numbers of calls for service of any area in Portland. Cumberland Avenue ranks high on the list, too. (Weekly crime statistics are available at:http://police.portlandmaine.gov/crimemonthly.asp#calls) Taking a set of law enforcement tools from the hands of police officers is counterproductive in the extreme.

Enforcing Drinking in Public, layouts, refusal to leave, and other laws against so-called minor offenses has the dual benefit of creating a better, safer environment for residents and may possibly be an entree to the offender’s getting help. While it's true that jail isn't necessarily the best place to make changes and point one's life in a better direction, it's also often true that a precipitating event is required to cause people to make positive changes.

The mixed messages sent by different service providers, Portland Police, Health and Human Services, and the District Attorney's Office have a devastating and confusing effect on Bayside. The Bayside Neighborhood Association has worked hard to promote dialog between agencies, residents, and authorities, with mixed results and a decidedly indifferent attitude on the part of providers and government officials. But, it's not their steps that are getting pissed on, not their employees who feel unsafe going to their cars on a winter afternoon, not their houses that they can't find suitable tenants for.

District Attorney Anderson is an administrator with limited resources. However, when she institutes a general policy she really needs to consider the implications for the area most affected.

Steve Hirshon

The Wild Side

Think you know pigeons? Here are some facts that might surprise you.

Pigeons and doves have been around for a long time—longer than humans. Pigeons, also known as Rock Doves, are thought to have originated in southern Asia several million years ago. Compare this to modern humans, who first appeared about 120,000 years ago.


A pigeon usually constructs its nest on covered building ledges that resemble cliffs, a Rock Dove’s natural habitat. They also nest and roost on the support structures under bridges in cities and along highways. Pigeons build their nests with small twigs. A male pigeon brings the nesting material to his mate, one piece at a time, and she builds the nest. Nests are usually well hidden and hard to find.

Pigeons usually lay two white eggs. The parents take turns keeping their eggs warm (incubating). Males usually stay on the nest during the day; females at night. Eggs take about 18 days to hatch.

Both male and female parent pigeons produce a special substance called "pigeon milk," which they feed to their hatchlings during their first week of life. Pigeon milk is made in a special part of the bird’s digestive system called the crop. When hatchlings are about one week old, the parents start regurgitating seeds with crop milk; eventually seeds replace the pigeon milk.

Pigeons have excellent eyesight. Like humans, pigeons can see color, but they also can see ultraviolet light—part of the light spectrum that humans can’t see. Pigeons are sometimes used in human search-and-rescue missions because of their exceptional vision.

Pigeons can hear sounds at much lower frequencies than humans can, such as wind blowing across buildings and mountains, distant thunderstorms, and even far-away volcanoes. Sensitive hearing may explain why pigeons sometimes fly away for no apparent reason-- maybe they heard something you can’t.

Information taken from


www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rock_Pigeon.html

Reminder!! Street Cleaning Operations Underway

All of the streets on the peninsula are posted with signs restricting parking either one night or one day a week. If you are parked in violation of these signs, your vehicle may be towed.

The City's Public Services and Parking Department appreciate your cooperation with these parking restrictions as it allows us to carry out necessary street operations and keep our streets clean.

For more information, contact the city's Parking Division at 874-8443.

Low Interest Loans for Energy Efficiency Available

$325,000 available through City of Portland's Division of Housing & Neighborhood Services for qualifying homes

The City of Portland announces the availability of low-interest loans for Portland homeowners for energy efficient renovations. The Owner-Occupied Residential Rehabilitation Program offers loans of up to $15,000 to be paid over a period of up to twenty years. Interest rates range from zero to three percent and can be forgiven in certain circumstances. Income eligibility ranges from $38,200 for an individual to $54,550 for a family of four.

"During such difficult economic times, this program is an excellent way for homeowners to pay for energy efficient upgrades they might think they would be unable to afford otherwise," stated Councilor Dave Marshall.

"With fuel costs doubled in just a year, people really need to find ways to reduce their use of heating oil. Replacing an out-of-date inefficient furnace or adding insulation in the attic could help rein in those costs, and those energy savings could be a lifesaver for a family struggling to keep their home. People need to know that there is a program in the city that can help them," concluded Marshall.

The federally funded program encourages renovations designed to make a single-family home more energy efficient such as window replacement, insulation, sealing air leaks, and repair or replacement of inefficient heating systems. To help homeowners access the loan program, the city's Housing & Neighborhood Services Division now has a state-certified residential energy auditor on staff.

"As the city's energy auditor, I am able in a matter of hours, to assess the situation in a home and make some very cost-effective suggestions on ways to reduce energy consumption and save the family money," stated Roger Hutchins, Housing Rehabilitation Specialist. "This service is free and available to any qualifying resident interested in the loan program.

Loan applicants can also receive help from the city's Housing & Neighborhood Services Division in locating a contractor, preparing any paperwork necessary for the loan, and managing the construction. The Program requires correcting any building or safety code violations that may need to be fixed in the home.

For more information visit the city's website at www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/housing or call Mary Davis at 874-8698.

Nightly Crosswalk Painting Underway

The Department of Public Service’s Traffic Division continues to be engaged in nightly crosswalk painting throughout the City of Portland.

Pedestrians are reminded that the glass bead used to facilitate the painting process is slippery and people should use caution while walking across newly painted crosswalks. Motorists should also take care not to slam the brakes when driving over freshly painted crosswalks and center lines as they too can be affected by the glass beading. The glass bead will wear off quickly once morning traffic begins.

The painting process will be ongoing for the next month or so (weather permitting), beginning with pedestrian walkways followed by directionals (arrows) and center lines.

Park Ranger Program for East End Beach

The city’s Park Ranger Program for the East End Beach will run through the remainder of the summer. The Rangers are charged with supervising the East End Boat Launch as well as enforcing safety regulations for the East End Park.

The Rangers will collect boat launch fees, which are list below (proof of residency for Portland residents is required).

Daily Fees: Resident $5, Nonresident $10 and Commercial $125

Boaters are reminded that the following acts are prohibited at or near the boat launch: storage of gear on dock; swimming; consumption of alcoholic beverages; boat anchoring; fishing off or near the dock; and overnight parking. Boaters are allowed fifteen minutes for loading and unloading gear on the dock and should park in designated areas. Children under ten years of age must wear a personal floatation device and be accompanied by an adult. Dogs need to be on a short leash (8 feet or less).

Visitors to the East End Beach are reminded that glass containers, alcoholic beverages, floating devices and fishing are prohibited at the beach. Dogs are permitted on the beach from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Please help keep the beach clean by throwing away all trash in proper receptacles.

The public restrooms located at the East End Beach will be open 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The East End Park is closed from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

Two New Sculptures

Cloud Bench and Rustle

Maine artist and Maine College of Art graduate Vivian Beer recently oversaw the installation of her two sculptures, Cloud Bench and Rustle, in Winslow Park near Baxter Boulevard. The two works were recently acquired by the Portland Public Art Committee for the city’s collection.

Cloud Bench, a flowing metal structure, will serve as an intimate seating area with a view of Back Cove. The two painted metal structures that make up the piece Rustle were designed to evoke a waving flag or the movement of the wind. In the fall of 2007, Cloud Bench and Rustle were featured in an alumni exhibit at the ICA at the Maine College of Art.

Vivian Beer, grew up in Ellsworth Maine and currently has several large-scale sculptural and functional works on display throughout New England and around the country, including a summer outdoor show at the Courthouse Gallery in Ellsworth.

Cloud Bench and Rustle were selected through an open proposal process by a selection committee made up of local residents, artists, and business owners, as well as members of the Public Art Committee. The site was selected by the Public Art Committee when Milkweed Pod, a temporary sculpture in that location for several years, was blown down in a storm two years ago.

Various site work, stonework, and planting projects will be ongoing for the next month. The work should be completed over the summer and an opening event will be held in late summer or early fall.

"The Portland Public Art Committee would like to thank the City's Public Services Department and Landscape Architect Regina Leonard, who have worked together with artist Vivian Beer to install Portland's newest public art piece," stated Committee Chair Jack Soley.

Portland Taxi Fares Increase

New guidelines to become a licensed taxi driver will also go into effect

As of July 1, 2008 Portland’s taxi fare increased for the first 1/10 of a mile to $1.90 and to a rate of $0.30 for each additional 1/10 of a mile. The fare from the Portland Jetport increased to a minimum of $5.00 or the amount on the meter at the end of the trip, whichever is greater. Taxi fares were last increased four years ago.

Passengers are reminded to use licensed taxis. All licensed vehicles must have a meter, a taxi light on the roof, fares painted on the doors, the driver’s license with photo prominently displayed, and as of July 1, a blue taxi license sticker in the rear window. The public can be assured that these taxis have been inspected, have proof of insurance, and have passed the City’s standards for operating. Licensed taxi drivers undergo driving and criminal background checks.

Vehicles with magnetic signs on their doors, no light, or a light that says “shuttle” and no sticker or meter are not licensed as taxis by the City. The absence of a taxi driver license means that the driver has not undergone the required background checks.

The city has designated taxi lines at the Portland Jetport; the Portland Transportation Center, which houses Concord Trailways and the Downeaster; and the Greyhound Bus Station.

Passengers seeking to use a particular taxi company can call and arrange for pickup at any location in the city. The driver of the taxi or livery service must have an order with the passenger’s name and time of expected arrival available for checking by taxi authorities. Pre-arranged taxis do not have to wait in the taxi line but must go to assigned pickup locations.

Passengers with problems should call the taxi hot line at 756-8185. If possible, have the name and number of the cab and driver available.

Fundraising Effort of New Skate Park Underway

Portland receives $50,000 matching grant for Momentum Campaign

The City of Portland’s Skatepark Planning Committee has unveiled its Momentum fundraising campaign for a new skate park at Dougherty Field. The Committee initiated its “Buy a Brick” effort to help raise $50,000 for a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the Ollie Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.

“This campaign is an excellent opportunity for the community to come together in support of skate boarders and bicyclists,” stated Chair of the committee and City Councilor Dave Marshall. “With the loss of the park at Marginal Way, the city has been without a fun and safe venue for our extreme sport enthusiasts and it’s time we worked together to change that.”

To date, the Committee has raised $150,000 towards its $325,000 goal. With the receipt of the $50,000 matching grant, the Committee hopes to raise the remaining funds needed in time to begin construction next spring. The Buy a Brick program was designed to allow residents, businesses, and supporters of the skatepark an opportunity to buy a piece of the park. Each brick will be inscribed and become a permanent part of the structure.

“The Portland Downtown District is excited to get involved with this effort,” remarked Executive Director Jan Beitzer. “It is important that Portland’s local businesses step up and help the city reach its goal. Skateboarders and cyclists deserve a safe space to practice the sport.”

“Skateboarding and cycling is an important part of our community, and this fundraising campaign is a chance for our community to embrace the sports and its athletes,” stated James Meliota, Skatepark Planning Committee Member. “As a skateboarder, I cannot wait to see the designs for the new park. They will be innovative and unlike anything Portland boarders have even seen.”

The Momentum logo was designed by Deering High School student Meaghan Maurice, the winner of a citywide contest. For more information on how to purchase a brick or about the work of the Skatepark Planning Committee, visit www.portlandmaine.gov/skatepark.

Cultivating Community

This summer, Cultivating Community is holding “Twilight Dinners,” candlelit 3-course meals prepared by local chefs from the organization’s organic bounty.
$15/person (byob); 6:00 p.m. in the orchard - Limit 50 attendees, reservations required. Seatings still available for the September 11 dinner.
To make a reservation, email craig@cultivatingcommunity.org or call 761-GROW.
Directions to Turkey Hill Farm: After crossing the Casco Bay Bridge from Portland, get in the right lane and turn right at the second set of traffic lights. Follow Route 77 4.3 miles, through Cape Elizabeth town center, then turn left at the second entrance to Old Ocean House Road (it intersects twice with Route 77). Turkey Hill Farm is the 4th driveway on the right.
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Also, Cultivating Community is organizing another 20 Mile Meal this fall--an event that truly showcases the rich food system we have here in southern Maine while supporting the organization’s youth development and anti-hunger work.
If you would like to volunteer and be a part of the planning team, please contact event chair Sarah Bullett at sarahbullett@gmail.com or Craig Lapine at craig@cultivatingcommunity.org.

Individuals will also be needed to help with specific tasks such as set-up, clean-up and support during the event itself.
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Cultivating Community is an organization based in Portland that grows food in the community in an organic, sustainable way and helps to feed people who are most vulnerable. The food-growing work is used in youth and community development programs that reconnect people to the natural and social systems that sustain us all.

WHEN BAYSIDE MEANT BUSINESS

These two scenes taken on a summer's day show how many of life's needs were once served by proud Bayside businesses. The first, taken from the corner where today the Public Market Parking Garage stands, looks southwest to the corner of Preble Street and Cumberland Avenue sometime around 1875-1885. There, the E.M. Thompson Monument Works stands behind a tidy picket fence, tall white family cemetery monuments displayed thick as a forest on its tiny front lawn, and white marble headstones stacked against the shop wall on the right. From the late 1860s to 1890 Enoch M. Thompson's premier stone shop stood here, where a team of six skilled stonecutters shaped and cut many of Portland's most distinguished funeral monuments. Portland's Eastern, Western, Evergreen, and Cavalry cemeteries still feature the magnificent monuments once fashioned here. Hundreds of Portland's Civil War soldiers came home to rest beneath humbler headstones also cut here in Bayside.

Thompson's shop was demolished in 1890 for Horation N. Jose's 3-story brick office building, which still stand there today. But in the late 20th century, city road crews digging near here were startled to find unfinished tombstones buried in the street--reminders from a century ago that Baysiders leave their footprints in the sands (and stones) of time.

Looking to the left (up Preble Street toward Monument Square), behind the waiting wagons, stands the Presumpscot Shoeing Shop, run by Messrs. McKusick and Kennard at 26 Preble Street. Once, scores of such establishments dotted Portland, like today's filling stations. Then, Portland was home to more horses than people, and convenient blacksmiths’ hammers rang in many a neighborhood. (Note that behind the roof of the shoeing shop rises the steeple and clock tower of the Casco Street Baptist Church.) In 1927 the Portland Sunday Telegram lamented their passing: “In 1900 when the automobile came into vogue, there were 44 stables, large and small, in the city from St. Lawrence Street to St. John Street. The largest of these were those of Charles N. Jewell on Preble Street [in 2008 near the Salvation Army shop] and Whitman-Sawyer Stable Company, rear 697 Congress Street [in 2008 the big parking lot behind the Rite Aid near Mellen Street]. Today [1927] there are only seven small stables in Portland, and that . . . is probably more than is needed. . . . The horses kept for pleasure driving may be counted on one's fingers. The auto did it.”

Museum of African Culture Events

A note from Museum Director Oscar Mokeme:

Dear Friends, What a busy summer it's been at the Museum of African Culture. We are excited to be preparing for our 10th Anniversary event, which is sure to be fantastic! Check out our upcoming events ... and drop in to see our newest exhibition, The Royal Insignia. FRIDAY and SATURDAY, August 8 & 9--10th Anniversary and Celebration of Diversity. Join us in commemorating a decade of achievements in a 2-day celebration, free of charge! In brief, the schedule is as follows: • FRIDAY, August 8: Double-Film Screening 4-6 pm @ Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square Featuring 2 award-winning films from East Africa: Menged (Ethiopia) and Come Back to Sudan (US and Sudan). Panel discussion and refreshments to follow the screenings. Drumming Workshop with Master drummer Sanga of the Valley 7:30-10 pm @ World Arts and Culture Center, 65 Commercial Street. Call to pre-register: 207-761-3765 • SATURDAY August 9: Film Screening 11 am - 1 pm @ The Portland Public Library: Wardance (Uganda). Join us for the Street Festival from 1-5 pm @ Brown Street. World music and dance performances, activities for kids, food and drinks, and more! Details on our website coming soon! Thanks for your support! Museum of African Culture 13 Brown Street, Portland, ME 14101 207.871.7188 africart@museumafricanculture.org www.museumafricanculture.org

ADAMS URGES INSURANCE RATE REFUNDS

State Rep. Herb Adams is urging Portlanders to apply for refunds due them under a multimillion dollar settlement reached between the State of Maine and the MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company.
Last month the Maine State Bureau of Insurance reached a court-ordered settlement for rate overcharges to Mainers who had individual health insurance policies with MEGA between 2004 and 2007. The total settlement due Mainers is about $5.5 million, said Adams.
MEGA is required to help locate the hundreds of potential policyholders and rebate claimants statewide.
Adams has located almost 100 Portland people and families owed rate rebates, plus interest, in the Parkside, Bayside, and East Bayside neighborhoods alone. The state list of possible claimants in Portland city-wide totals "about 500 names, an amazing number for our small city " said Adams.
"These are tough times, and everyone who is eligible for refunds should claim them quickly " said Adams. To protect privacy, Adams is not releasing the West End list at this time but will be contacting individuals listed and encourages all Portlanders who think they may be owed a rebate to contact the State Bureau of Insurance directly at 1-800-300-5000.
The amount of each refund will depend on the length of time a person held a MEGA policy between 2004- 2007 and the kind of coverage held.
MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company specialized in coverage for small business and the self-employed.
Rep. Adams may be contacted at 772-2565 for help and the State claims help line is 1-800-300-5000 toll-free.

Arson in Police Van

Police responded to 223 Cumberland Avenue on June 20, at 12:40 PM, after being called by the victim of a domestic assault.
Sol Bolton, 22, of Portland, was stated to be the assailant, and he was still there when police arrived.
Bolton had previous injuries to his arm, which were aggravated while he resisted arrest.
He was taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. When police went to remove him from the arrest van upon arrival at the Cumberland County Jail, they smelled smoke and saw a smoldering handkerchief on the floor of the van.
This led to a charge of arson, in addition to those of assault and refusing to submit to arrest.

By Marge (“Scoop”) NIblock

The 2008 Bayside Community Garden Newsletter

It’s spring! Can you believe it? After many snow and ice-logged months of waiting, the soil is nearly thawed and early plantings of peas, spinach, kale, cabbage, lettuces and the like are just around the seasonal corner. Again, 2007 was a successful growing year (literally and figuratively) and we look forward to an even better one in 2008!

Some goals for this season:

• Repair our garden beds – as I’m sure some of you have noticed, the planks holding up your raised beds are looking pretty shabby and are in need of repair. Budget allowing, we hope to rebuild the beds completely in the fall, but until that point, we’re planning on driving stakes around some beds to prop up the wood and replacing entire boards if they’re completely shot. Hopefully this should be done sometime in the next month – we will do our best not to disturb the soil within while doing so, so anything that might be growing there (perennials, garlic, etc.) isn’t disturbed.
• Create a workable, healthy, productive system for composting – for now, any weeds, kitchen scraps and compostable materials should be piled in the depression (marked by a sign) below the bins. I and/or a few volunteers will occasionally add these materials to the bins and water/turn them so that we have nice, rich compost sometime this season.
• Bring in educators/presenters – the hope is to invite master gardeners and others to teach classes and give lectures on garden-related topics (composting, perennials, organic pest control, herb gardening, seed starting, canning).
• Hold a series of workdays (once a month like last year), potlucks (maybe once every couple months) and a harvest celebration at some point in the fall (hopefully with live music).
• Keep all beds full with active gardeners and the space mowed and attractive.

Policies and Procedures
(yep, there need to be some)

1. All beds should be actively used and maintained throughout the season

Basically, this means keeping weeds down to a minimum and keeping your bed planted. Of course, it’s understood that people have other lives and take vacations and such. For some, this is a serious hobby, for others, just a meditation and a way to relax and decompress in the sun. That said, if beds are obviously not being maintained for an extended period of time, either Kate or I will check in with you. If you are going away for a while, it’s encouraged that you have someone maintain your plot while you’re away. Or if that’s not possible, let us know and one of us will gladly help out! If you’re contacted and the bed still isn’t being used, it will be turned over to another gardener – there are plenty of folks waiting for a plot and willing to use it actively.

2. Attending workdays

We’re planning on holding a workday once a month (dates to come), probably on the weekend. Unlike at the beginning of last year, these should be fairly flexible, and if you have to miss a few, no big deal. But please try to make them if you can and contribute some time – as this is a community garden and the beds are provided free of charge, it’s important that everyone plays a part in making it work. Also, bringing food/drink is encouraged – I’m going to try to get some donations from Big Sky, Whole Foods and Coffee by Design if they’re willing.

3. Please keep the pathways clear around your bed (rocks, tools, etc.), for the lawnmower’s (and person who is mowing) sake.

4. The Bayside Community Garden is an ORGANIC garden. For the health of the earth and the community, and because others will inherit your soil once you’ve moved on, please refrain from using inorganic pesticides or fertilizers (Miracle Grow, Roundup, etc.). There are plenty of alternatives (organic preparations, using mulch, maintaining your bed, etc.) and I’m happy to share some with you if you’re curious and/or have a nasty disease or pest-related problem during the season. Also, I’m going to try to post some materials about pest controls and enriching soil organically on the webgroup site.

5. Most of our tools have been loaned to us, and we really can’t afford to buy more if they are stolen, so please take care to return them to the shed when your done with them and make sure to lock up if you’re the last one out of the garden.

Other Things

• We’re working on getting mulch, manure and compost for the beds – there’s a small pile of manure next to the compost piles from last year, and you’re welcome to some if you’d like to amend your soil. While it’s well-rotted, know that it may burn seedlings, so the sooner you work it into the soil before planting, the better. If I can find a good source of cheap straw bales, I’ll pass around a signup sheet for folks who’d like to buy 1 or 2. Mulch is SO helpful for keeping weeds down and moisture in the soil. I can’t recommend it enough for the success of your crop. Same thing is also true for compost – if we can get some, working it into your bed should really help keep your plants healthy.

• Early on in the season, we’ll distribute a signup sheet for people who’d like to volunteer some time and energy at a specific task (lawn mowing, maintaining the perennial beds, fence construction, compost detail, etc.) – if you have a particular interest, definitely let me know! Keep in mind this is voluntary (not required) but very encouraged, as again, our resources are stretched and the more people who can chip in, the better the garden will be.

• Keep track of garden happenings, workday dates, and communicate/network with other gardeners via the Bayside Community Garden Webgroup (see below).

Bayside Community Garden Webgroup

The Bayside Community Garden Yahoo group website was created last season to keep gardeners informed about special events and notices. If you aren’t yet a member, let me know (John Affleck, fieldofstones@gmail.com) and I’ll send you an invite. If you are already a member (there are 10 of us at this point), here’s a little recap of how it works:

The site can be found at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bayside_community_garden/

You might want to save this in your favorites or as an icon on your desktop so you can access it easily. Otherwise, you’ll need to go to http://groups.yahoo.com/ and type in bayside_community_garden.

The group site is fairly straightforward and easy to use. Once you sign in to yahoo with your username and password, check out the green list of links on the left side of the page.

• The ‘Files’ link is a place to look at and post - you guessed it - files! I'm thinking this would be a good place for online contracts/agreements, newsletters, pdf articles and the like.
• 'Photos' is a place to store relevant (or not) images of the garden – you’ll find some posterity pix from the now-extinct yahoo group site as well as some more recent shots. Feel free to post your own.
• 'Links' offers a place where you can post links to other garden-related sites.
• 'Database' is an interesting one. Looks like you can do lots of stuff here. Create lists, for example, favorite vegetables, seed catalogues or lists of diseases or pests you find in the garden. Others can add to the list in an ongoing fashion. This might also be a place to list contact information for people who are willing to have theirs posted so that people can be in touch.
• The 'Polls' function looks like a question-answer forum, although I haven't played with it at all. "Members" lists all of us and our information - this is the place where you can change your user preferences.
• And lastly, the Calendar will exist as a place to list any kind of events that relate to the Bayside Community Garden, or even things that do not (for example, you might want to post a plant sale that's happening, or maybe a class on gardening taught somewhere in the area). Meetings/workdays will be listed in the calendar and a reminder email will be sent out whenever one is about to happen.

Feel free to add links, files or pictures to the site – the more the merrier! This is a tool to keep in touch with each other and share our experiences, knowledge, comments and gardening schemes.

One last thing - when messages are posted to the site, they are sent out to your email account. Some folks have found they prefer to receive messages posted to the site emailed to them in a daily digest, or to just receive essential messages. To set preferences, you simply click on "Members," (on the left-hand side of the page) find your name/email address listed, and click on the drop-down box. By selecting "Special Notices,” you will just receive key messages (about meetings and other important things), probably a few times per month. If you opt to select "Individual Emails," you'll get an email every time someone posts to the group. Although this probably won't be too often (a couple per week at most I'm guessing), it may be too much and you may want to choose "Daily Digest" instead, which will send all the posts done in one day, packaged in a single email.

Bayside neighbors join for annual spring clean-up

Coffee and baked goods kick off this year's Bayside
Neighborhood Association's Spring Clean-up Saturday,
May 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet at the Community
Garden near the corner of Chestnut and Oxford streets.
Here you can pick up trash bags, gloves and rakes.

It's also a good spot to meet members of BNA's
steering committee, as well as local politicians. Once
you've enjoyed some refreshments and caught up on the
neighborhood gossip, select a section of street or a
whole block. Then stroll over and clean up whatever
the winter has left behind.

"A few hours of work helps spruce up the whole
neighborhood," says Adam Hill, chair of the
Adopt-A-Block Committee. "It also gives
Adopt-A-Blockers a headstart on keeping their adopted
streets clean."

The BNA's Adopt-A-Block initiative is a pilot program
in Portland experiencing success. More than 30
residents and business owners have adopted specific
sections of the neighborhood and commit to keeping
them clean. As a result, last year's fall clean-up day
produced much less trash than in previous years.

Following the clean-up at 1 p.m., Portland Trails will
lead a guided walk along the future route of the
Bayside Promenade. The one-mile trail will connect to
the Back Cove Trail at Tukey's Bridge and to Elm
Street. Eventually it will connect the Eastern
Promenade Trail and the Back Cove Trail to Deering
Oaks Park. The walk begins at the Community Garden.

For more information about the May 10 Spring Clean-Up
Day or Adopt-A-Block, call Adam Hill at 615-5267 or
email him at adamcnhill@yahoo.com.

Let Us Now Praise Compost

In March the Riverside Recycling Center kicked off its composting promotion, making compost bins and kitchen waste pails available at discounted prices. In line with Portland's sustainability goals, the City has endorsed compost as an environmentally responsible alternative to fertilizing lawns and gardens and composting as an efficient way to reduce waste management costs.

Last year, the Riverside Recycling Center received 6800 tons of yard waste and brush from Portland residents, costing the City more than $335,000 to manage. Composting yard waste and non-meat food scraps at home instead of disposing of them will reduce waste management costs and provide homeowners with a valuable soil amendment.

Sustainable lawn care practices such as yardscaping (which includes reduced mowing and aerating along with the use of compost) help the environment by growing lawns that are less dependent on chemicals, fertilizers, and watering. These practices could also significantly reduce costs to the City associated with managing yard waste.

"Our goal is to educate the public about the environmental and economic costs of managing organic waste," remarked Troy Moon, Solid Waste Program Manager for the Department of Public Works. "If we can get Portland residents to consider yardscaping practices and using compost as an alternative to chemical fertilizers for their lawns and gardens, we can remove toxins from our storm water and reduce waste management costs at the same time."

In addition to composting organics, residents are encouraged to "mow high," generating shorter grass clippings that compost better. It is estimated that the average American spends forty hours a year mowing their lawn, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and causing air pollution. In fact, a lawnmower pollutes as much in one hour as an automobile driving 350 miles.

In 2004, 3 million pounds of yard care pesticides were purchased in Maine, more than three times the amount purchased ten years ago. The use of pesticides and fertilizers pose health risk to Portland's water ways. For example, excess nitrogen, a component of most fertilizers, can cause nuisance algae growth in Casco Bay.

It is estimated that 25 percent of the average household's waste consists of yard trimmings and kitchen scraps, which can easily be composted. Home composting combined with recycling and yard waste programs can reduce household waste by up to 80%.

Reducing yard waste and pollutants entering the water system are components of Sustainable Portland, a taskforce established by then Mayor Jim Cohen and chaired by former Mayor Jill Duson and former Mayor Nathan Smith. Sustainable Portland will be releasing its report addressing environmental, economic, and community sustainability later this month.

The 2008 home compost bin and how-to guide is available at a reduced cost of $37.50 (original price $80) and can be purchased at the Riverside Recycling Center until April 11, 2008. The bin is black, has a 10-year warranty, is made of 100% recycled plastic, and is large enough for a family of five. Kitchen Waste Pails, for kitchen food scraps, are available for $8.00 each, and the wingdigger compost turner can be purchased for a discounted price of $16.50.

Contact Donna Rooney at 797-6200 or djr@portlandmaine.gov for more information or to obtain an order form.

For more information about yardscaping, please visit the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District webpage at http://www.cumberlandswcd.org/ or contact Tamara Lee Pinard at 892-4700.

2ND Annual BAYSIDE WORLD MARKET & FAIR

Saturday, June 21, at Portland High School

You can reserve your sales or exhibit table now at www.baysideworldmarketandfair.com
Table rentals only $30.00. Space is limited, so reserve early to guarantee your space.

For more information, email baysidefair@gmail.com or call 772-7595.

Last year’s first-ever Bayside International Market & Fair, which took place in the former Portland Public Market, was an enormous success, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 3,500 attendees and a wide variety of vendors, craftspeople, ethnic foods, multicultural music and dance, children’s activities, educational and social service exhibit tables, and the sharing of moving, personal stories of the immigrant’s journey that led here to Portland, Maine. Notably, many of the subcommittee chairs who organized events for the Fair & Market are themselves members of the ethnic communities represented in Bayside and Portland.

With a slight change of name for 2008, we announce a new partnership with the planners of WORLD REFUGEE DAY, observed on June 20th each year since first established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000. Events to recognize World Refugee Day are being planned for Friday, June 20th, in Lewiston/Auburn, to be followed by the Bayside World Market & Fair celebration in Portland on Saturday, June 21.

Highlights of the Bayside World Market & Fair:

· Date: Saturday, June 21, daytime & evening events
· Venue: Portland High School
· Multicultural music and dance performances
· Storytelling: Immigrant journey stories and/or traditional folktales
· Ethnic foods prepared by local community groups, merchants, or local restaurants
· Opportunities to buy/sell goods at flea market tables
· Ethnic arts and crafts
· Educational workshops for New Americans
· Informational displays from local organizations
· Children’s activities and childcare
· Participation of students from local schools

ASIA WEST OPENS SHOWROOM IN BAYSIDE

Asia West, one of the largest retail businesses in Portland’s Old Port, recently
opened a second store—an expansive three-story showroom at 125 Kennebec Street in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood, in the building adjoining Portland Architectural Salvage. The new showroom, housed in one of Portland’s oldest industrial buildings, offers leather and upholstered furniture, lighting, textiles, decorative accessories, and more. The Asia West staff gather almost all their furnishings from remote locations throughout India, China, Indonesia, and other exotic lands.

Bayside Photographer Attacked at Home

On March 3, at 6:15 PM, when Jay York opened the door of his home on Wilmot Street to walk his dog he was confronted by a white male whom he’d never seen before who was sitting on the steps smoking a cigarette. York’s description of the man is about six feet tall, 190 to 195 pounds, between 26 and 36 years of age. He said the man had dark hair and was wearing a dark jacket and dark jeans.
The man became confrontational and aggressive after being asked to move from the steps. When York stepped back inside to dial 911, the man also came in and knocked the phone from York’s hand. York then picked up a softball stick and hit the man, without wanting to harm him unduly. After scuffling inside and outside, while still maintaining his hold on the stick, York was able to get back in his home to call police.
They were not able to locate the assailant.

Portland Public Library Sets Circulation Record

Portland Public Library set a lending record for the July 2007– December 2007 period, reporting a 10% increase over the same period last year. “This is especially encouraging to us,” said Executive Director Steve Podgajny, “as it follows a record-setting year that ended in July, and it now marks an 18-month period of record lending.” Book circulation swelled by 10% and borrowing of audiovisual items grew by 11%, both exhibiting substantial increases.

For the year ending June 30, 2007, the Portland Public Library system lent 742,779 items and experienced 617,449 visits from users.

Lending of materials is one of the key statistics libraries use to gauge activity. Preliminary figures for January 2008 show a 7% increase over last year, continuing the strong positive trend. The Library is currently raising funds for the renovation of its downtown facility located at 5 Monument Square, one of its six locations. This project is expected to further increase lending rates when completed.

For more information about the Portland Public Library system, including an online catalog and program information, visit the Library’s website at www.portlandlibrary.com.

Signs of Spring in the Bayside Community Garden

By John Affleck
Garden Coordinator

Snooping around the Bayside Community Garden last week, shin-deep in overcrusted snow, taking inventory of raised beds that have collapsed during the winter, I had my first sighting of spring. A mob of Bohemian Waxwings descended on a thicket behind the compost bins, plump grey bobbing bodies, wingtips dipped in yellow and black eye-masks making them look like little cartoonish bandits as they pilfered its berries. Under the blanketing snow, I imagined parsnips in purgatory, nicely sweetened by the winter, and bulbs of garlic nearly ready to wake from hibernation and nuzzle up through the cold loam. Somewhere beyond that thicket, deep in a mound of backfill, a family of groundhogs are about to snort their way sluggishly out of their burrows and amble into the garden to look for early, lean pickings. Visions of succulent greens and sugar snap pea shoots are sprouting in their little pugnacious brains. They are waiting.

For resident groundhogs and Bayside Community gardeners, the wait is nearly over. Preparations for the 2008 season are in high gear. Past, current, and hopeful gardeners have been contacted, grants are being submitted, and we’re in the process of scouting for supplies. When the weather warms a bit, Kate, Clint, and I will be making a trip out to a local horse farm to load the bed of my pickup with free manure. Plans are in the works to hold a seed and plant swap and to bring in master gardeners to offer free classes to gardeners and the community focusing on seed starting, composting, organic pest control, seed saving, and canning. Our basic goal is to supply gardeners with the resources needed to nurture and haul home a healthy crop and to have plenty of fun doing it. There’s been talk about holding potlucks, scheduling garden yoga sessions, and organizing a harvest celebration for the fall. Plenty to be excited about.

That said, the project has its definite challenges. This is a garden that doesn’t hide its blemishes – it is somewhat weather-beaten and world-worn. An old, rusted-out water tank stands up on an embankment, and from it, a gravity-fed hose, partially cracked and leaking, snakes down to the beds below. Stone benches are frequently spray painted with graffiti, and nomads can often be found snoozing on garbage bags in the cool of the shrubs behind the compost bins. It is an urban garden, and to be sure, it feels like it. Simply maintaining the site has been tough at times. Our budget is tiny and tightening. As well, garden beds, resources, and activities are supplied to members free of charge.

To address these challenges, we’re hoping to encourage spirited involvement from gardeners and neighbors this season to ensure that basic needs are met. In the upcoming weeks, we will be making a stab at partially reconstructing our old raised beds, most of which are crumbling and buckling badly. Lumber and hardware will be necessary to do a complete rebuild come fall. A good stash of compost and mulch is sorely needed to build soil fertility, retain water, and keep weeds in check. New waterlines and tools will have to be salvaged, donated, or purchased from early spring yard sales as much of our supply has been loaned to us and may soon need to be returned. In light of all this, both financial contributions and helping hands in the garden are heartily welcomed. They will make a huge impact on what we’re able to do this season and beyond.

After various incarnations, the Bayside Community Garden now serves as a realization of what grassroots sweat, vision, and commitment can do to transform a neglected piece of neighborhood into a thriving, viable community meeting place. Our membership is made up of a spectrum of gardeners: native Portlanders and those from away, Kenyans, Sudanese, Somalis, Russians, and Indians. It is a fascinating place to be, haphazardly beautiful and surprisingly vibrant. Take a stroll along the beds in the high season of July and you’ll discover rainbow chard, swirled eggplant, German hardneck garlic, crookneck squash, purple bush beans, Spanish onions, strawberry remnants, Jerusalem artichokes, husk cherries, Hungarian hot wax peppers, edible and ornamental cut flowers, a kaleidoscopic array of greens, and broad-leafed Italian basil that will adorn succulent wedges of heirloom Brandywine tomatoes. If you see me there, come on over. I’ll give you a tour. And if the groundhogs, blight, or neighborhood gleaners haven’t cruelly claimed my cherry tomatoes for their own, I may just offer you a few to show you what Bayside tastes like in the summer.

To inquire about tending a plot of your own or to make a contribution of any sort, please contact either John Affleck (207) 838-4260 or Kate Pendleton (207) 899-4970.

Security Deposits Protected

AUGUSTA - Renters and landlords will both enjoy new protections for security deposits on rental properties under a law sponsored by Rep. Herb Adams, D-Portland. The measure, LD 330, "An Act to Protect the Integrity of Security Deposits," officially became Public Law 332 on Sept. 20. Under the new law, when a building with rental units is sold or transferred, the old owner will have to present the new owner with written proof that the building's security deposits have been legally transferred to the new owner during the sale's final closing proceedings.

Adams introduced the bill in response to complaints from both landlords and tenants who discovered after the sale of buildings that the old owner had never turned over security deposit funds. New owners and tenants had no recourse but to pursue old owners--many long gone—in costly lawsuits, often in out-of-state courts.

"This is not pocket change," said Adams. "Security deposits can be in the thousands of dollars for just one apartment, and in the tens of thousands for one single building. Good landlords and good tenants both need protection in today's turbulent real estate market."

Supporters of the bill included the Maine Apartment Managers and Owners Association (MAOMA), the People's Regional Opportunity Program (PROP),and the Office of the Maine Attorney General.

"We strongly support LD 330," Assistant Attorney General James McKenna told the Legislature's Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee, which considered the bill. "It closes a loophole that is unfair and harmful to Maine's many hardworking families who struggle to come up with the sum for a security deposit."

Adams represents Portland's Parkside, Bayside, and East Bayside neighborhoods and the foot of Munjoy Hill, home to Maine's largest percentage of rental housing stock and some of the oldest, with large ethnic diversity and high turnover rates. Adams's bill received the unanimous support of the Legal and Veterans Committee and both bodies of the Legislature.

Portland launches “Volunteer Portland,”

On Valentine's Day, Portland launched its Volunteer Portland program. Volunteer Portland is a web-based initiative designed to allow the people that live, work and play in the City a chance to give back by volunteering or donating their time, services or financial resources. The initiative was first introduced by City Councilor Jim Cohen during his tenure as Mayor.

The site’s gift catalog includes more than fifty items including bike hitches, park benches, scholarships, and trees, available for donation to your neighborhood or the community at large. Donations can be made online, in person or by mail. Volunteer opportunities include ushering at Merrill Auditorium, working with the City Clerk’s office during an election, or mentoring a student group.

City Councilor Jim Cohen was joined by various City Department Directors as he outlined the purpose and intent of the program. Councilor Cohen presented the first Volunteer Portland donation of $3,000 to the Portland Education Partnership Program.

“I know I am not alone in wanting to give back to the City,” stated Cohen. “Volunteer Portland provides a simple format for people to get involved and share their time or resources with a City they love.”

Find out more by visiting www.portlandmaine.gov/donations/volunteerlist.asp

City of Portland Featured in Coastal Living Magazine

This month, Coastal Living magazine published “The Lure of Portland,” a travel diary by Jennifer Chappell. The article highlights a number of Portland destinations including the Arts District, the Portland Museum of Art, and the Longfellow Home. The article also pays tribute to Portland’s rich and diverse culinary community including restaurant Street & Co., microbew Gritty McDuff’s, and the fresh breads and homemade pies available at the Public Market House.

“It’s gratifying to see Portland receive recognition in Coastal Living,” stated Mayor Ed Suslovic. “The magazine not only took the time to sample some of the great fare available at our local restaurants, but to explore and appreciate the unique character of the City, from our cobblestone streets to our lively Arts District.”

Published by Southern Progress Corp., a Time Inc. subsidiary based in Birmingham, Alabama, Coastal Living is travel and living magazine for people that love the coast.

For more information, go to:
http://www.coastalliving.com/coastal/travel/destinations/article/0,14587,454594,00.html

Portland Seeks Artists Input for Creative Economy

 Portland's Creative Economy Steering Committee is seeking input from artists on their space needs by asking them to participate in a survey. The information gathered will help shape taskforce recommendations related to having available, affordable, and secure long-term space in Portland for artists and other contributors to the creative economy.

"The Creative Economy Steering Committee has been working since 2006 to develop strategies to encourage and maintain the creative economy in Portland," stated Jim Cohen, chair of the Committee. "The Committee has spent a great deal of time exploring potential initiatives ranging from new community events, to growing innovation businesses, to addressing space needs of artists and arts organizations. We hope to bring a set of recommendations forward to the City Council by late spring.”

The Creative Economy Steering Committee was appointed by then-mayor Cohen in 2006 following a well-attended Creative Economy Summit held in May of that year. According to Cohen, “It became clear after the Summit that we needed to better understand the creative sector's needs and steps we can take to support it."

Among the initiatives being considered is the development of a Center for the Arts. A Center for the Arts could come in many forms, but in principle it would host a community of artists and arts organizations creating a synergy that elevates the making as well as the quality of art. Economies would be realized with a concentrated population of creative people and groups pooling resources and sharing equipment and space. If built, a Center could accommodate a range of uses, including studios, live/work space, galleries, a museum, performance and rehearsal space, and education and administrative offices. At this point, however, the Steering Committee is keeping its options open, including whether the Center would be financially feasible or whether it should be a public venture, a private venture, or both.

"Housing and work space is the foundation for any economy,” stated Councilor Dave Marshall, co-chair of the Committee and a professional artist. "We need feedback from artists and creative individuals about their space needs in order to grow our creative economy."

Access the survey online on or before April 7 by visiting www.ci.portland.me.us

Hello from the Lofts

by Heather Frederick

The Chestnut Street Lofts building at the corner of Chestnut St. and
Cumberland Ave. is the new kid in the neighborhood, and its residents are glad to be here.

The building includes thirty-seven residential units, each with its
own parking space, and two commercial units. As of presstime, only
two residential units and one commercial unit remain unsold.
Why has this building been such a success story?

First and foremost is its location. Not only is it within walking
distance of so much of what Portland has to offer, but being a part
of the unique neighborhood of Bayside is appealing. Portland is a
great city because people actually live in it rather than just work
in it, and the Chestnut Street Lofts condo owners are no exception.
We don't use our cars much!

Many of the Lofts’ residents work in Portland. Some of the residents use their condos as second homes but are very active in the Portland cultural scene.

The ages and occupations of the owners show how affordable
and appealing these condos are. Whether you’re a mechanic or an attorney or an artist, it's a wonderful place to call home.

The condos are "loft" style, and many are one big, open space. Several
artists live and work here, designing their space to accommodate their
lifestyles. The views are pretty incredible in any direction. Portland's investment in preserving its historic architecture, parks, and quality of life for its residents is a big plus for all of us who have invested in Bayside.

Walking through Bayside is always an interesting experience, and we
are glad to a part of the positive future of this neighborhood. We like the Bayside’s diversity and understand that the neighborhood will undergo many changes during the next decade. We appreciate that members of the
Bayside Neighborhood Association members are deeply involved in guiding its future and are committed to making sure that Bayside remains a great place to live.

It was good to meet many of our new neighbors at the December Open House that my husband, Linden, and I held at our new condo. I hope the Lofts tenants will make a positive impact on a terrific neighborhood. We're here for the long term.
(Heather Frederick is a photograph dealer and her husband a painter.
They live in Belfast part-time, where Linden has his studio. You
can see what they are up to by visiting: www.voxphotographs.com, or
www.lindenfrederick.com.)

SOUNDS IN BAYSIDE

By Emily Koehn
An interview with our Bayside philosopher about his new book, Sounds: A Philosophical Theory (Oxford University Press, 2007).

B: How did you come up with the title for your new book? Were there any other competitors?

C: Honestly, there were a bunch of competitors. One was The World of Sounds. But it sounded too philosophical. I wanted to keep it short and sweet, which is more of my style, and not make the title excessive. A friend of mine titled a recent book of his about loyalty to friends, family, and country The Limits of Loyalty, and I liked his sense of aesthetics--call it what it’s about.

B: Describe what your book is about in three sentences.

C: Physics or science tells us that our environment is filled with disturbances and pressure waves that travel through the medium. The end result is that we hear sounds, music, pitch, timbre. The book is really about how it is that our brains and our auditory perceptual systems translate information about pressure waves and vibrations into auditory experience.

B: What is one of you favorite Bayside sounds? What is one of your least favorite Bayside sounds?

C: A favorite sound is hearing the plows move throughout the night in the winter. My least favorite sounds are heard in the summer, when the windows are open, and the f-bomb drops all throughout the day. That gets old surprisingly quickly.

B: Are sounds different in any way in Bayside?

C: As with any built urban environment, with few trees and little vegetation, it’s a highly percussive and reverberant neighborhood.

B: Are you drawn toward those types of sounds?

C: Yes. I live here. In fact, you can get more information about your environment in these surroundings. They’re complex, information-rich, acoustic environments with little sound dampening. (Some would say “sound-polluted.”)

B: What’s the easiest way to dampen sound and sound pollution in Bayside?

C: Trees and other absorbent, non-reflective materials, many of which are organic. In short, soft things. For example, notice when we have snow in the winter, how much quieter it is in Bayside.

B: Where did you compose most of your book?

C: In a third-story room in my home on Portland Street. I don’t look out the window, though--I face away from the window.

B: Give Baysider readers some advice on how to best listen to sounds.

C: Depends on what kind of sound. For music or when you’re trying to abstract from the source and listen just to the sound, close your eyes. But if what you want to learn is what’s going on around you through listening, trying to hear what someone’s saying, or when you hear the start of an engine, listen with your eyes, too. You’ll hear the sound with more detail.

B: Why did you decide to philosophize about sounds?

C: I’ve always had an interest in music. I’d say music first drew me to sounds.

B: Are sounds better than smells?

C: It depends on which sounds and which smells.

B: Who is the main audience for your book?

C: Cognitive scientists who are interested in perception as well as philosophers interested in understanding how perception depicts or represents the world as being.

B: I’ve heard one unexpected Baysider made it into the acknowledgements section?

C: Yes. My dog, Jackon. He’s got much better hearing that I do--very attentive to sounds. (He’s pretty good at smells, too.)

B: What will your next book be about?

C: The senses.

B: What about the senses?

C: How we distinguish different sense modalities from each other and how this discussion has been impacted by recent empirical discoveries dealing with exotic sensory phenomena like cross-modal perceptual illusions, synesthesia, and alien or nonhuman sense modalities. It deals with things like echolocation, electrochemical senses, neural plasticity, and sensory prosthetics.

B: Anything else you’d like to mention to the readers?

C: See you around the Bayside neighborhood.

B: Thank you for speaking with me.

C: My pleasure.

Community Partners for Protecting Children

By Victoria Szatkowski

Community Partners for Protecting Children (CPPC) is an initiative that came out of the Children’s Advocacy Council and is now a coalition of numerous stakeholders, chief among whom are the Department of Health and Human Services, the City of Portland, Youth Alternatives, Casey Family Services, PROP, and our very own BNA. The focus of this initiative to keep children safe is to strengthen families in their own communities so that they have better success with their children and do not have to become involved with the child protective system.
As part of this initiative, we at BNA want to help strengthen families here in Bayside, and so we started a group for mothers. BNA has been convening the Bayside Breakfast Club for more than a year now. We meet every Wednesday morning, 9:30 – 11 usually, though we often go over. Some of the things we have done in the past are organize a pot luck and give-away, go visit Women, Work and Community, share our recipes by cooking for each other, provide some child development information, and now we are working on learning how to knit. Linda Trott is making a pair of slippers! We were very fortunate to get our knitting supplies donated by some area shops. Portland Fiber and Knit Wit on Congress St. and Seaport Yarn on Fore St. gave us some beautiful yarn and needles, and now we are all inspired to create gorgeous things to wear!
We talk about everything and share our strategies for keeping sane while raising our children. Some of us are grandmothers and are helping to raise children a second time around. Some of us were born in another country and are still learning what the culture is and what to do about children who want to assimilate more or less than we do. Some of us are single mothers and are struggling to raise a child with little other support. By meeting together, we can share our experiences and help each other to cope. Much of the time it is just important to listen and to provide a space for this sharing, to let us all know that we are not alone and that we can support each other.
At this time, CPPC has these activities going on:
Parent groups are thriving in both Parkside and Bayside. This includes the Bayside Breakfast Club ,which meets every week, and the Parkside Super Club, which meets every other week. For information contact Victoria at BNA (415- 0769) or Sara at Parkside Neighborhood Center (874-1023).
Parents as Partners has been launched. Rosemary Whittaker (DHHS) and Deb Dunlap (Youth Alternatives) are bringing together parents to help develop a Parent-to-Parent child welfare mentoring initiative. Contact Rosemary at 822-2252 for more information.
Prevention efforts to support parents and link with needed community resources continue to be developed. Advocacy and coordination of available services to address identified neighborhood needs include childcare and substance abuse services.
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services now has two Child Protective staff (Mary Ellen Welch and Suna Shaw) working with families within the Parkside, Bayside, and East End neighborhoods. This move has supported closer working relationships with families and other community members as well as more direct knowledge of the strengths and needs of children and families in the neighborhoods.
Youth Alternatives, Family Intervention and Support Program will be hiring a new worker for Bayside and Parkside. Susan Simpson, the initial CPPC FIS, worker moved on to a new position, though she still maintains connections with CPPC through her current work in Children’s Case Management
CPPC is expanding to the East End. A growing group of community members, including several life-long East End residents, have been meeting over the past few months to define CPPC in their area and are working actively to help establish a neighborhood leadership group that will span the three CPPC neighborhoods. For more information, contact Elise Wilson @ 773-2625 or Rosemary Whittaker @ 822-2252.

The Bayside and Parkside CPPC Neighborhood Team includes Victoria Szatkowski, Bayside Neighborhood Association; Zoe Miller, PROP’s Parkside Neighborhood Center; Cyndi O’Leary, Preble Street; Maryellen Welch, Department of Health and Human Services; Rebecca Smith, Portland Police Dept. Midtown Community Policing; and Michelle Lauture, Portland Police Dept. Parkside Community Policing.

An Exit Strategy from the Procrastination Superhighway

by Kevin Donoghue

Back in 1993, Portland adopted its Transportation Plan, A Time for Change, against a background of growing concern for suburban sprawl, traffic congestion, air pollution, global warming, and even fuel costs. The plan had understood itself as a necessary corrective “to something fundamentally wrong in how we as a government and as citizens make decisions about building and using transportation systems.” (p.1)

A Time for Change imagined our city through lenses of a utopian and a dystopian transportation future, the former a place where children could walk to school and parents could shower after biking to work and the latter a place where families have fled to the suburbs and the city has become but a parking garage.

The planning horizon for each future had been fifteen years, and clearly one has been chosen for 2008.

Notwithstanding the sizable benefits from the leadership of Trainriders Northeast and Portland Trails, the interim has seen decisions to shutter neighborhood schools and open several more parking garages. METRO has converted its fleet to natural gas, but after we have built a new highway in the West End. In a paraphrase of Jane Jacobs: “This is not the rebuilding of Portland. This is the sacking of Portland.”

While implementing our transportation plan has stayed the course on the procrastination superhighway, citizen activists are signaling for an exit strategy ahead. When traffic engineers recommended doubling the automobile traffic capacity of Franklin Arterial in the essentially discredited Peninsula Traffic Plan, neighborhood leaders reclaimed the public process and redirected it consistent with A Time for Change.

While the city has indeed corrected course and is moving forward with its new Peninsula Transit Plan, a new highway project is coming over the horizon. MaineDOT is announcing its plans to widen I-295 through the peninsula and is aggressively seeking federal earmarks through our delegation in Congress, included among whom is former mayor and the father of A Time for Change, Congressman Tom Allen.

MaineDOT will invoke alternatives to widening as obliged by the Sensible Transportation Policy Act but is unlikely to recommend against widening and even less likely to identify funding for alternatives. The most meaningful alternative, commuter rail, remains but a mere twinkle in the eye of the governor.

Meanwhile, the only thing between the sand and gravel folks and a lucrative fait accompli is the public.

February 12 at 7 pm, there will be a crucial public hearing at the Clarion Hotel on 1230 Congress Street on whether we should seek federal earmarks for highway widening or for greater public transportation. The hearing will be hosted by the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Study group (PACTS), a federal transportation planning committee on which I serve as the one and only local elected official.

February 21 at 7 pm, there will be a public forum at the new Ocean Gateway on the Eastern Waterfront on our priorities for work on the Peninsula Transit Plan. I am chairing the planning committee, whose outcomes are expected to include recommendations for the new bus routes for METRO.

A Time for Change was back in 1993. Now the time for action has been established: 2008.

Please tell me your thoughts on transportation planning in Portland: kjdonoghue@portlandmaine.gov