Author: BNA Admin

Giving Tuesday is Just the Beginning

On By BNA AdminIn Governance

Now is the time to donate to the BNA in 2025
December 2nd is Giving Tuesday — the season of giving begins in your neighborhood. Big news — we have a matching gift donor this year, which means your donation to the BNA will be matched by an anonymous benefactor up to $2500.00 even after Giving Tuesday. The Bayside Neighborhood Association is doing more programming than ever, and needs your help more than ever. Please help us continue to help each other. Go to https://givebutter.com/BNA25 or contact us for more information

Help Shape Portland’s Emergency Operations Plan

On By BNA AdminIn Events Team, Safe Streets

The City of Portland is updating its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to improve how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

Your insight is invaluable. We would like to hear your experiences and ideas to make sure this plan truly reflects the needs of our diverse communities. Your input will help us build a plan that is inclusive, effective, and ready for anything.

You can find all the details on the project page here: https://portlandmaine.gov/emergencyplanning

We’re asking residents to share their ideas and concerns through a survey and an idea board on the website, which are open now through November 30, 2025.

The BNA Safe Streets Team is involved with everything concerning pedestrian and bicycle safety, including but not limited to advocating for improved lighting, signage, and streetscape design, collaborating with Midtown Community Policing on crime prevention and enforcement, safe routes to school, and helping first responders in emergency planning efforts like this. We can do more when we raise our voices together. For more information on how you can help contact safestreets@baysideportland.org

Volunteers mulch trees on Bayside Trail

On By BNA AdminIn Trees & Greens
photo by Avery Yale Kamilla

Portland’s tree steward Cameron Scharff was surprised by the number of volunteers who showed up on Saturday, Nov. 9 to help tuck trees on the Bayside Trail in for the winter. 

“I am incredibly pleased with what was accomplished,” Scharff said. “In less than two hours, we mulched and composted nearly 50 younger trees on the Bayside Trail, with volunteers from Bayside, the West End, the East End, and Libbytown. The addition of this organic material will support tree growth, increase water retention, suppress weeds and improve aesthetics along the trail. This collaborative effort is precisely the kind of community-driven forestry initiative that can make a large difference in the lives of trees, the health of parks and the enjoyment of the community that uses them.”

The 15 volunteers were more than had RSVP’d, and people continued to trickle in as the event was in progress. With a fleet of wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes, and piles of loam and woodchips, the volunteers gathered behind Dunkin’ and started with the recently planted trees and expanded from there. The trees in the section of the trail behind Trader Joe’s had been topdressed and mulched in the spring. 

All the activity on this part of the trail discouraged two individuals from setting up a tent. Four used needles were discovered during the tree mulching event. 

Scharff instructed volunteers to spread the loam in a thin layer, feathering it into the topsoil, and then cover it with a layer of woodchips. Volunteers were careful to leave the root flare at the base of each tree trunk exposed to avoid creating the dreaded mulch volcanoes that can injure trees. 

Scharff’s last day on the job was Nov. 21. He served with the Portland Parks Conservancy and Portland’s Parks and Recreation Department in 2025 as a tree steward courtesy of the Maine Conservation Corps, which is funded through the national AmeriCorps program. One project Scharff worked on this season was cataloguing all of Portland’s street trees. Portland hopes to host another Maine Conservation Corps tree steward next season.

Volunteers Needed for Tomorrow!

On By BNA AdminIn Events Team, Welcome Team

Calling all Baysiders! We just got this call to action and our neighbors need our support. Sign up below if you can help on Thursday, November 20th.

Hearts of Harvest Community Thanksgiving Meal Volunteer Sign Up

The City of Portland’s Office of Economic Opportunity is partnering with Food for All Services, a local, multicultural food pantry, to host a Community Thanksgiving Meal and we’d love the support of volunteers in making the event possible! 

Where: Food For All Services, 72 Parris St, Portland

When: Thursday, November 20th, Lunch: 12-3 pm, Dinner: 5-8 pm

(Volunteer Shifts: 11 am-2 pm, 2-5 pm, 5-9 pm)

What: Volunteer roles will include: serving food, greeting people at the door, sharing resources, connecting with community members, set-up, clean-up etc.
Email Lauren at llindenbaum@portlandmaine.gov with any questions!

Bayside First Friday Nov 7th

On By BNA AdminIn Arts & Music, Events Team, Uncategorized

Another First Friday is upon us, and it looks like the rain will hold off until afterward!

Highlights:

A new neighborhood gallery and performance space is joining us at 47 Portland Street, on the 3rd floor. Open Systems Studios‘ current exhibit “arhythmias” went up last month and was a great hit. If you haven’t seen it come down tonight and check it out before December’s new offering.

Happy first birthday to Maine Clay Collaborative! In addition to the usual Friday free clay play open studio event, they’ll be serving up birthday cake while it lasts. Join us!

Photos from last month’s Bayside Art Walk:

November 2025 Art Team Report

On By BNA AdminIn Arts & Music

First Friday November 7th. Adding Mayhem at 52 Alder Street and Open Systems Gallery at
47 Portland Street, 3rd floor.
Public Art Painting has begun on the utility box on Cumberland Ave and Elm Streets. The contract was awarded to Lily Carter, whose design was chosen by Kincaid over more than a dozen applicants, noting “I thought it was a fitting one because it’s based on a quilt and the bayside neighborhood feels like the most diverse and similar to a quilted network of residents.” Rain has stalled the work but it should be done before snow flies.

Fall Baysider Drops!

On By BNA AdminIn Baysider, Uncategorized

The latest issue of The Baysider is here! Look for print editions all around the neighborhood, at the Public Library, and local businesses like our sponsors: Two Fat Cats Bakery, Leavitt & Sons Deli, Bayside Bowl, The Studio Portland, Fortune Teller Tatoo, Isa Bistro, Maine Clay Collaborative, Coffee Me Up, CycleBar, and more. Special thanks to Dale Rand printing for helping us out. For more information about advertising or submitting and article for the next issue, contact baysider@baysideportland.org

Baysider FALL 2025 finalDownload

The Baysider features items of interest to the Bayside neighborhood and the broader Portland community.
We invite everyone who lives, works or plays in Bayside to send in submissions: opinion pieces, neighborhood news, reviews, interviews, historical trivia, photos, original fiction, art—you name it! Anything related to Bayside. Also please submit events for our community calendar, ads for local businesses, ideas for future issues, and spread the word.

We are also seeking volunteers to regularly help with writing and design. If that’s you, please email us at: baysider@baysideportland.org Thank you to everyone—past and present—who has made The Baysider possible and who continues to make Bayside a special place. 
— Joey Brunelle & Rob Sylvain  

Please contact us if you are interested in contributing or sponsoring our publication. Advertisement specs available upon request.

Thanks to Special Collections Librarian & Archivist Abraham Schechter, the Portland Public Library’s has been digitizing their collection of The Baysider which lives in the Portland Room archive. The public can now access searchable pdf copies of many issues of The Baysider at the Portland Public Library Digital Commons website. More to come!

https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/baysider/

See our Archive of The Baysider for downloadable pdf versions of previous issues.

Show Up and Get Your Voice Heard!

On By BNA AdminIn Comms Team, Events Team, Governance, Uncategorized

Several events are coming up that encourage public engagement in local policy making, and we want to make sure Bayside voices are being well represented at all levels of government. Please put the following on your calendars:

Bayside Neighborhood Association Board Meeting

Tuesday, October 7⋅6:00-7:30pm

Steve Hirshon Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone Street, Portland, ME

Meeting Agenda

October Team Reports

September Minutes

Coffee with Constituents

Wednesday, October 15⋅4:30 – 6:00pm

Coffee By Design 1 Diamond St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

Your elected representatives in the Maine Legislature want to make sure we stay connected to the needs and priorities of Portland’s neighborhoods. To that end, we are hosting a “Coffee with Constituents” gathering.

Think of this as a neighborhood coffee hour — an opportunity for us to sit down together in a casual setting, listen to what matters most to you and your neighbors, and hear directly how state government can better serve our community.

We are reaching out to you because neighborhood associations play a vital role in shaping the
life of our city. We would appreciate you sharing this invitation with members of your
association and encouraging them to join us.

We look forward to the conversation and to learning from you,

Rachel Talbot Ross State Senator, Senate District 28 (including Bayside)

Yusuf Yusuf Representative, House District 118 (including Bayside)

Matt Moonen House Majority Leader, District 117

Sam Zager Representative, House District 116

District One Meeting with Councilor Michniewicz

Thursday, October 16⋅6:00 – 7:30pm

Portland High School, 284 Cumberland Ave, Portland, ME 04101, USA

The City of Portland’s Annual District Meetings will begin Thursday, October 16, 2025 with the District 1 meeting hosted by Councilor Sarah Michniewicz. Mayor Dion, City Manager Danielle West, and City staff will also be available to discuss neighborhood issues and answer questions from the public. These meetings are the public’s opportunity to meet their district councilor, the Mayor, and representatives from the various departments within the city. 

The City will once again offer free childcare during these meetings. Staff from the Parks, Recreation & Facilities (PRF) Before and After the Bell Program will provide childcare assistance for children ages 5-12. Families will need to sign a liability waiver and sign in/out of the program. Family members must be attending the meeting to utilize the service. The program will take place in adjacent spaces to the meeting from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM only. No pre-registration is required. 

Check the Bayside Neighborhood Calendar for more events

Halloween Pet Parade! 10/25/25

On By BNA AdminIn Events Team
click the flyer to download, print, and post.

The Bayside Neighborhood Association presents the inaugural Bayside Trail HOWL-O-WEEEN Dog Costume Parade and Neighborhood Harvest Festival !

OCTOBER 25, 2025 NOON-4PM
Costume Parade Starts @ 1PM
Meet on the Bayside Trail at Elm and Somerset Streets (behind Trader Joes)

Live Music, Food Trucks, Prizes & Snacks (for humans and others)

Volunteers needed!
contact info@baysideportland.org

funded in part by a grant from the City of Portland Office of Sustainability

Vendor tables available:
https://forms.gle/BU34QFHHrfT6R5yV9

share the event:
https://www.facebook.com/share/17oa3vwtB3/

Our partners:

AT&T Store, 63 Marginal Way, Portland

Trader Joe’s 87 Marginal Way Portland

Portland Hearts of Pine

Uncommon Paws

Portland Parks & Recreation

The Smothered Spud Food Truck

Wicked Smahht Chourico Caht

Bayou Mountain Boys

Portland Press Herald

Bayside First Friday Art Walk October 3rd!

On By BNA AdminIn Arts & Music, Events Team, Uncategorized

Bayside is the Playside this Friday! Sneak away from the madding crowds of Congress Street and check out where the cool cats go to Art Walk on the first Friday of every month. We have the old school Portland underground vibe in Bayside, and you’re invited. Here’s what’s up:

82Parris Gallery 			              
Memories to Give by Esper Gaspardi and Raquel Miller
5-8pm

Maine Clay Collaborative
Clay Play Open Studio
5-7pm

Wilson County BBQ
Mike Maurice
5-8pm

Bayside Bowl 
Black Uhuru
8pm

Apohadion Theater
Dominic LaVoie 
8pm

Some scenes from last month’s Art Walk: