Johana and Peter Alexander

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 325)

Remember the name!  Because when you see that Peter is performng somewhere in the Greater Munjoy Hill area, you want to be sure you are in the audience.  With a national reputation, Peter Alexander and his songwriting wife Johana, have returned to the coast of Maine purposefully -  to recapture some of the peace and beauty Peter experienced in his youth on the coast of Maine.  The couple lives on the Hill.

Like so many “from away” Peter spent all of his summers on the coast of Maine – Port Clyde to be specific.  Those summers in Maine are so much a part of his psyche that he has written a so far unpublished book on his summers in that lobstering community.  He recalls vividly how sad he felt when, at the end of the summer, his family returned to Washington, D.C. – home.  Summers in Maine were so important to him that he has written a number of songs about Maine and just how much it means to him.  

Peter, almost 60 years old,  is a master of the guitar and an accompolished singer/songwriter.  In fact, the list of other accomplished musicians he’s played with is long and impressive; like Ramblin’ Jack Elliot,  Tom Hardin, members of Phish,  Nils Loftren of the E Street Bank, Buddy Guy and too many others to list here.  This past Monday evening at Awful Annie’s, Peter played and sang songs of his favorite song writers such as Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Dylan and of course – his own compositions.  One particular sentiment – now  that I’m back on the coast of Maine nothing can bother me anymore – came through poignantly in “Back on the Coast of Maine.”

That’s not all there is to know about Peter:  For 17 years he was a Sikh living in India.  As is the custom, he wore a turban, with his waist long hair under the turban and carried a knife at his side.  He said Monday night on a break from performing, that it was a very intense experience and eventually he broke away from it because the rituals “got in the way of who I am.  It was a barrier to human relationships,” Peter said. 

Come and find out who he is and what an awesome talent Peter is at Awful Annie’s, 189 Congress Street on the Hill, the second and fourth Monday of each month from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. for the foreseable future.

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 324)

The boating business can change as quickly as the wind does and that is exactly what happened to the ship RawFaith said her captain, George McKay several days ago.  The ship arrived at Portland Yacht Services several days before Halloween as a refuge from a storm she’d encountered on her way to Salem, Massachusetts and eventually to Brazil for work on her bottom.

The winds have changed apparently and RawFaith will be spending the winter in Portland – somewhere.  Captain McKay does not yet know where that will be, but it won’t be at PYS at the bottom of the Hill.  “We will be doing some serious upgrade work during the winter,” the Captain said.

Captain McKay is hopeful that he’ll be sailing around Portland Harbor next spring with wheelbound people as his guests.  For background information on RawFaith, please read post # 316, written on November 2nd herein.

Laura Ker Owner of FIND (Apologies if this doesn't come out right side up; don' know how to fix it!)

By Carol McCracken (Post # 323)

“My goal is to be the second hand store with the best selection in Portland,” said Laura Ker, as we sat in a front corner of her new store on  Halloween Day last month.  The day was as gorgeous as today and shoppers were streaming into Find most of the afternoon.  Find is located at 16 Free Street in the Old Port.  The day was also her Grand Opening.

Laura, her husband Bob and 2 year old son moved to the Hill from Rockland several months ago.  She’d been selling vintage clothes on Ebay successfully and knew she wanted to open up her own business here in Portland.   August 18   Laura’s dream came true.  She opened the doors to her new business and by all accounts she’s on-track to meet her goal. 

Find is open 7 days a week with hours varying slightly on weekends.  Laura is on the job most days and is ready to consider buying “gently used goods” for both men and women.  She emphasizes that she’s selective about what she sells in her store.  “We are a small store, so we make sure everything on the racks is top quality,” said Laura.  “People bring in clothes and we offer them cash or credit for the items we can sell,” she added.  No appointment is necessary.

Men and women shop in vintgage shops like Laura’s to save money.  Many, like Laura, are concerned about the social and environmental cost of producing new clothing as well.  “Some people like to mix vintage fashion with modern clothes,” Laura said.  She prefers 60s and 70s clothes because of the bright colors and exaggerated lines.

See ya’ there!

Please call 699-4285 for more details or email findportland@yahoo.com

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 322)

Once again, the search is on for the spectacular spruce or fir tree that will occupy the traditional place of honor at Monument Square in downtown Portland for the upcomng  holiday season. The Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is on Friday, November  27th at 5:30 p.m. 

The winning tree should be 50 – 70 feet tall and must be located within 20 miles of Portland.  The tree will be removed from your property at no cost to you.

All tree entries must be received by November 10, 2009.  For more information, please contact Portland’s Downtown District at 772-6828 or email info@portlandmaine.com

By Carol McCracken  (Post 321)

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 is fast approaching and for the first time the popular North Star Cafe at 225 Congress Street is inviting anyone interested to attend a potluck dinner that day.

You may sign up by stopping by or emailing the Cafe at info@northstarmusiccafe.com or calling 699-2994. More details will be emailed later this month said co-owner Kim Anderson.

Steve Dimillo, Charlie Poole and Dick Ingalls represented "WCZ" at the planning board meeting late last month.

By Carol McCracken (Post # 320)

The City’s Planning Board will conduct an on-site workshop and site walk of the Central Waterfront on Tuesday, November 17th at 3:30 p.m.  This event is part of  the review process of the application by the Western Central Zone application for a relaxation of the ordinance that pertains to development on the waterfront.

Last month  representatives  of the “WCZ”, which extends from the Maine State Pier to the International Port (on the western end of Commercial Street), met with the planning board in a workshop requesting changes in the ordinance to permit  more non-marine useage by wharf owners on the waterfront.  (Please see MHN post # 312, dated 10/28/09 herein.)

The workshop will convene at the westerly side of the Casco Bay Garage at Buoy Park on Commercial Street (in front of the Casco Bay Island Ferry Terminal at 56 Commercial Street).  The site walk is intended to familiarize the Board with the geography, phyiscal conditions and uses in the zone. 

The public is invited to attend the workshop, but public comment will not be taken.

Plans are available in the Portland Plannaing Division,  4th Floor, City Hall.  If you wish to submit written comments, address them to Bill Needelman, Senior Planner, Planning Division, City Hall, 4th Floor, 389 Congress Street, Portland, Maine  04101. Contact by phone is 874-8722 or at wbn@portlandmaine.gov.

The R6 lot at 71 St. Lawrence Street

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 319)

Property owners in the immediate vicinity of 71 St. Lawrence Street have been informed that a “minor site plan application” was filed with the city’s planning office on November 2, 2009.  The application is for a 2 family building in an empty lot between 77 & 68 St. Lawrence Street.  The application was filed by Mark Poirier who is an area builder.  He restored the 75 & 77 St. Lawrence Street property which abuts the empty lot.

Proposed plans for buildings with three or fewer family units in it need not go before the planning board itself, however the plans are public.  Said proposls are reviewed by the planning staff.  It could take up to three months for the staff to review this proposal, said city planner Shukria Wiar. Anyone interested may review the proposed plan at the city’s zoning office on the 4th floor of the city hall. 

The proposal calls for four floors with the top floor reserved for use as a deck and a kitchen.  The third floor will have bedrooms.  It has a fiber cement clapboard exterior.  The lot is zoned R6. 

Dennis Seine, who  rents directly across  St. Lawrence Street from the empty lot said this afternoon:  “I’ll miss the 3 large trees that will have to come down.  That’s been our view for the past 5 years.”

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 318)

Shortly after 10:00 p.m. last night, councilor Kevin Donoghue was returned  to office with almost 66% of the vote whereas his opponent Charles Bragdon received 34% of the vote from District 1.   Donoghue received 2,625 votes and Bragdon received 1,364 of the District’s votes.  Bragdon is a newcomer to the political scene.

Donoghue’s jammed victory party was held at Awful Annie’s Bar on Congress Street.

On Question No. 1 – the attempt to repeal Maine’s same sex marriage was defeated by an even larger margin in the City of Portland.  7,244 voted to repeal the measure while 20,092 voted to keep same sex marriage.  The city of Portland also voted solidly on Question 4 to defeat the measure to restrict local spending.  1,8271 voted not to do that while 8,116 voted to limit government spending. 

These results remain unofficial for another ten days.

By Carol McCracken (Post # 317)

Earlier today Portland city clerk Linda Cohen said that her office is “swamped” with absentee ballots to count.  Cohen said that the number is double the number from the last Governor’s election.  “I suspect it’s because of question 1 on the ballot, but I can’t say for sure,” she said on the front steps of city hall.  At the same time, shortly after noon, there was a 2 hour wait to vote at city hall.

Just prior to Cohen’s comments, there had been a major rally at Monument Square urging voters to vote NO on question 1.  Probably over 500 people attended the rally as Darlene Huntress, Field State Director for the “Campaign NO on 1″ urged  everyone to support gay marriage by voting  no.  Following the rally, many went directly to city hall to vote.

Meanwhile, a small group holding bright red signs located in Lincoln Park on Congress Street urged voters to vote no on the TABOR initiative;  it would limit government spending in the state.  David P. Crocker, chair of the state TABOR  campaign said:  “I think we will win.”  Some of the group then moved to the corner of Congress Street and Franklin Street to rally more voters.

According to city clerk Cohen, the city hall is open today until 4:30 p.m. today and will be open tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 .m.  Residents of the Old Port area of Portland will be voting at Merrill Auditorium, rather than at East End Community School as they have done in the past.

Greater Munjoy Hill residents Charlotte Fullam and Marlene Anderson, said:  “We voted several weeks ago  ’cause we wanted to be sure we voted NO on 1.  We hope everyone else does the same”!

Captain George McKay of RawFaith (Portland House is in the Background); "RawFaith is the first and only tall ship in America designed and built with wheelchair accessibility in mind."

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 316)

There’d been a steady stream of visitors to the RawFaith for the past two days and Captain George McKay had probably welcomed all of them personally to his 118 ft. ship that is the only tall ship in America designed and built with wheelchair accessibility in mind.  “We’re not there yet, but we are working on it,” said the 53 year old Captain – George McKay, yesterday afternoon. 

The inspiration for this massive undertaking is McKay’s 30  year old daughter, Elizabeth, who suffers from Marfans Syndrome.  She is wheelchair bound and lives in southern Virginia now.  The McKay family lived through  its own emotional chaos as it watched their young daughter go from surgery to surgery during her childhood.  “She had to fight and claw for every inch of recovery.  Her challenges ran the gamut,” says McKay in his book  “A Pictorial Guide to RawFaith.”  Her pain free days are rare as she’s been severely handi-capped by this disease, McKay added.

Last week the RawFaith and its five member crew were heading to Salem, Massachusetts when it ran into bad weather off Portland Harbor.  So, she headed into Portland Yacht Services to find  refuge from the  almost 6 ft. seas she’d encountered offshore.  In Salem, McKay had planned on giving tours over the Halloween weekend as well as recruiting possible crew members for the ship’s continued journey to Brazil.  McKay is sailing her to Brazil to have the ship bottom copper plated; labor is far less expensive there and copper is plentiful.  He said yesterday afternoon that he’s in talks with several area people who may join him for the upcoming trip to Brazil. 

Captain McKay was formerly employed by a major Massachusetts-based company, Digital Equipment Corp., in its Augusta office in the 1980’s.   A self-educated man, he was employed there as an electrical engineer.  Eventually, he began his own company and invented an internet switch.  That “start-up”  company was sold to US Robotics and today is part of 3-Com, a large internet company.   

The RawFaith was launched in Addison in 2003.  McKay said it took him and three sons 28 months over a 4 year period to build RawFaith.  While his mission is not faith-based, McKay said he does have his own faith.  “RawFaith” “speaks of the inner srength displayed by so many children bornwith physical disabilities who, in spite of their situations, still believe in the joy and beauty that can be found in life.  Their strength is raw and so is their faith,” McKay wrote in his book referred to above.

RawFaith remains in port at Portland Yacht Services for the next week or so, although tours are not available.  For more information, please visit www.rawfaithsailing adventures.com.  You may email him at: rawfaithsailing@gmail.com