Tuesday night the BNA board met for their monthly meeting, reviewing team reports and how they align with the BNA strategic vision. We also welcomed as a special guest newly elected Senator Rachel Talbot-Ross, who provided a legislative report and fielded questions about the state of the State. The Senator emphasized how our neighborhood is affected by politics at every level of government, and offered her support and continued advocacy. We’ll be hearing from Senator Talbot-Ross on a regular basis and she can be reached via email at Rachel.TalbotRoss@legislature.maine.gov any time.
Thanks to the BAYsideBEEs Team working to add fun to every BNA event, the board capped the evening with a map challenge game, shown in the photo. Thought-provoking and laugh-inducing, we’re looking forward to similar team-building activities in the future.
Here’s a link to the BNA Teams Report as presented to the board:
A small but enthusiastic group of local business owners braved the snow this morning to meet for the first Bayside Business Breakfast Club event at Isa Bistro, hosted by Chef Isa and Suzie St. Pierre. Also in attendance was Sam Dooley of Maine Clay Collaborative, Stacy Begin of Two Fat Cats Bakery, Kendra Haskell of The Knickerbocker Group, and Peter Leavitt of Leavitt & Sons Deli.
Topics included wayfinding signs, neighborhood branding, collaboration with Creative Portland, Portland Downtown, Chamber of Commerce, and other local organizations, pedestrian safety, connection to the downtown district, and more. We talked about modes of communication and online organization, but all agreed that nothing beats getting together in real life and making the personal connections that make Bayside a vibrant and welcoming community. So… we’re doing it again next month! In February we’ll meet at Two Fat Cats Bakery, and look forward to growing together. If you’re a Bayside business owner and would like to join us, reach out to breakfastclub@baysideportland.org and let us know what days/times work best and we’ll keep you in the loop.
The BNA Citizens’ Trash Brigade and the BAYsideBEEs volunteer corps teamed up to tackle un-shoveled sections of sidewalk on Parris Street this morning. Portland landowners outside of the Downtown District are responsible for sidewalk snow removal, and most of them do their civic duty, but as any Portland pedestrian will tell you, any stretch of sidewalk is only as good as its weakest link. There’s a reason for each forgotten patch of snow and ice of course—but instead of complaining about it, we got out there and got it done. Thanks to everyone who participated, and thanks to Wilson BBQ for offering a discount on our afterglow!
Lots going on in Bayside, and the BNA teams are rising to meet the moment. If you want to join a team, just send an email to any of the groups below, and a team lead will get back to you asap. If you have an idea for a team and want to get it started, we want to hear from you. Let’s do it!
Safe Streets Team Public Safety, Walkability, Infrastructure, Crime prevention
Student Group liason to Baxter Academy and Portland High School
Tech Team Website, Workspace, Social Media, Calendar, Newsletter, etc.
Tenants’ Team Renters’ perspectives are at the forefront of this team’s activity.
Tree Team overseeing planting and maintenance, trails and green spaces
The Tech Team is working on better communication pathways for the general membership, including mailchimp, which will allow us to send targeted email news and allow subscribers to tailor how they receive updates from various teams. We’re also now using google workspace to organize teams into google groups that can share files, calendar events, to-do lists, plus follow and archive conversations by topic within each team and between teams. Setting up the groups in a way that is simple to use but powerful enough to keep track of team tasks and communications, calendar events, shared files and important links has proven to be a challenge, but worthwhile. If you have experience and/or interest in admin tools please consider joining the tech team and helping us out.
Recent News
December’s Safe Streets Meeting was met with a strong response from the community and from the media. Troy Bennett from Bangor Daily News was in attendance and wrote this article about the effort and subsequently WCSH6 Newscenter Maine picked up the story as did WGME CBS13 shown below. The next Safe Streets Team meeting will be Tuesday, February 25th, 6:00pm in the Steve Hirshon Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone Street, Portland.
If you missed last month’s BNA Board meeting on zoom, you can view a recording of it here: BNA Board Meeting January 7 2025 See below for details on the next board meeting.
Upcoming Events
Saturday January 25, 11am BNA Citizens’ Trash Brigade Parris Street Block Walk
UPDATE: With the recent snowfall we’re pivoting to salt & sand for sidewalks on Parris Street, which has several spots that need attention. We’ll provide buckets of sand & salt from the city lot, shovels and a few ice choppers. If you have an ice chopper please bring it! We’ll warm up afterward at Wilson BBQ.
OP: We’re coming together for a short pickup party targeting Preble Street in particular, focusing on bits and butts that get overlooked during the Spring & Fall cleanup, and also to get eyes on the street to take stock of the pedestrian experience, flag infrastructure concerns, and to get to know each other. Afterward we’re planning to gather at Wilson BBQ to warm up, wind down, and plan for next month’s block walk. We’ll meet at 72 Parris Street and walk together. Trash bags and gloves provided.
Monday January 27, 6:00pm Portland Music Hall Presentation Composing Room @ Press Hotel 119 Exchange St, Portland, ME
The BNA Development Developments Team invites Baysiders to attend a public presentation by Portland Performance Ventures, LLC on their proposal for a 3,300-seat Live Nation music venue at the site of the old Press Herald printing press building across Myrtle Street from the Merrill Auditorium in Bayside. More information on the project is available on the city of portland website here: https://selfservice.portlandmaine.gov/
Wednesday January 29, 8:30am Bayside Business Breakfast Club Isa Bistro, 79 Portland St. Portland, ME
The Bayside Neighborhood Association is starting 2025 with a renewed commitment to connecting with diverse stakeholders and providing opportunities for community members to come together in pursuit of shared goals. To that end, we’re excited to present the first of what will be monthly events specifically for Bayside business owners to meet in an informal setting to meet, chat, and plan a better future for all Baysiders.
Mission Statement: “The Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA) empowers the Bayside community by building meaningful partnerships that promote health, safety, green spaces, diversity, housing, and sustainable development for all who live, work, and play in this unique urban neighborhood.”
We need your help! Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the BNA, a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Contact Jim Hall, treasurer for more information at jim@baysideportland.org
Join us online Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 6pm EST
The BNA board of directors meets on the first Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held virtually through zoom on odd-numbered months, and meetings are held in-person on even-numbered months. The public is welcome to attend. Membership in the Bayside Neighborhood Association is open to all who live, work and play in our neighborhood. The agenda for board meetings is set by the board prior to each meeting.
All Board members, guests, and meeting attendees shall behave with respect and civility during all meetings, events, and activities. This shall apply to both in-person and electronic forums. Behavior which may be ruled out of order includes but is not limited to the following:
• Interruptions of Board members, guests, or attendees who have been given the floor to speak to the group. • Badgering, bullying, or harassing comments or behaviors directed at other people. Enforcement of Rules of Conduct During meetings: • Board members, guests, and meeting attendees who violate rules of conduct will be given a verbal warning by the Chair. • Any person who receives one verbal warning from the Chair during the meeting will be asked to leave after a 2nd incident; or, in an electronic forum, they will be removed by the host after a 2nd incident. • Any person ejected from a meeting will be banned from the subsequent meeting. • Any person ejected from two meetings in a calendar year will be permanently banned.
Happy Holidays from the BNA! We’ve been working hard to increase capacity and drum up support for a number of initiatives central to our mission, and aligned with our stated community priorities for 2025. We’re looking for more engagement from the community at large as we build new teams and renew our lasting commitments. Here are some highlights:
We have a new Bayside Community Garden Team leader! Holly Picotte has been a great asset as a fellow gardener, volunteer, and crew member and is steeping up to manage and administer the BNA garden. She can be reached through email at garden@baysideportland.org or by filling out the form on our website here: https://baysideportland.org/bayside-community-garden-signup/ We’ll also be posting again in the springtime on instagram @baysidecommunitygarden
We have a new Safe Streets Team, inspired by the dialogue at our December 17th meeting with Mayor Dion, Chief Dubois, Midtown Community Policing and many residents and business owners. Our new neighbors Bowman and Anna Brown of Elda have stepped up to lead the team and keep the momentum going. You can contact them at safestreets@baysideportland.org As always, the BNA continues to advocate for the safety and dignity of all residents, workers, and visitors.
The BNA is also very much involved with the exciting new project at Justin Alfond’s 72 Parris Street property, which he is generously gifting to the community, forming a steering committee including BNA board members, residents, and other stakeholders to determine the best use of the former Fork Food Lab site. Check out this video of the first planning stage: 72 Parris Street Project
In other news: Meet the BAYsideBEEs!
The BAYsideBEEs volunteer corps is the brainchild of longtime Bayside artist in residence Deirdre Paul. Deirdre hopes to add “more fun” to everything we get done. From street cleanups to community meals, block parties, greening and educational programming, the BAYsideBEEs will be there to help, and we need your help to make that happen! Contact us at volunteer@baysideportland.org Working on hats too!
Citizens’ Trash Brigade — Our ongoing volunteer activities have always included a spring and fall neighborhood cleanup. We’re already planning our spring cleanup and raffle on April 19, 2025, and need a big turnout to cover every street. Another new neighbor, Megan Holt has suggested forming the BNA Citizens’ Trash Brigade. Great idea Megan, let’s do it! In addition to our spring and fall cleanups, the CTB is planning monthly targeted cleanups, one block at a time, where we stick together instead of spreading out. The first one will be Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11am to Pickup Preble Street, weather permitting. We’ll meet at the 72 Parris Street parking lot, gloves and bags provided, hot drinks afterward. Contact us at CTB@baysideportland.org for more information.
(above) Volunteers and staff for the Wayside Food Programs’ Community Lunch at 409 Cumberland Avenue. Mondays noon-1pm, starting again after the holidays on January 6th. All are welcome.
Next BNA Board Meeting: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 6pm online using zoom. Open to the public. Please email info@baysideportland.org for an invitation and link. Check our community calendar often for updates
“The Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA) empowers the Bayside community by building meaningful partnerships that promote health, safety, green spaces, diversity, housing, and sustainable development for all who live, work, and play in this unique urban neighborhood.”
We need your help! Please consider a tax-deductible year-end donation to the BNA, a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Contact Jim Hall, treasurer for more information at treasurer@baysideportland.org
Congratulations to the new District One Portland City Councilor, Bayside’s own Sarah Michniewicz, who served as president of the BNA since 2017. Longtime board member and BNA vice-president Robert Sylvain will be stepping in as president pro tempore until elections can be held at the next annual general membership meeting.
Thank you to everyone who pitched in at the BNA Fall Community Cleanup! We met new neighbors from the Daymark Portland Condos , Jessica James from Longfellow Communications brought her team along, and unhoused neighbors showed up to help brighten up Bayside. Lucky volunteers won gift certificates to Isa, Leavitt & Sons, Portland , Bayside Bowl, Pizzaiolo and Dunkin’. And of course our indomitable Community Policing Coordinator Jen Rogers at Portland Maine Police Department led the way and organized gloves and trash bags. If you missed this one we’ll be doing it again in the spring!
It was great to see so many of you at the BNA Annual meeting and potluck on October 18! We’re grateful to our Bayside neighbors Foundation House for hosting us. Mayoral candidates Councilor Mark Dion, former councilor Justin Costa, & Dylan Pugh, and at-large candidate Bill Linnell, graciously joined us to hear what Baysiders had to say (and brought delicious cookies, mac & cheese and lobster rolls to share!)
This year’s Fall Cleanup and Raffle is on a Friday! Come join the BNA on on Friday, October 20 2023 from 3:30 PM – 5 PM to meet new neighbors and see old friends, have some snacks, and help beautify Bayside. As always, all volunteers will be entered for a chance to win a gift certificate to a great Bayside business! Isa Bistro and Leavitt & Sons Deli are two of our great sponsors.
