Bayside Business Breakfast Club — Stacy Begin, lead — Betsy Boyd, board liaison
The Business Breakfast Club agreed to a new coupon idea for the fall cleanup rather than a raffle. This year every volunteer will receive some kind of discount from participating businesses. The group also discussed lending more support to the Baysider through an advertising program. The group is moving forward with a visitors’ map and applied for a $500 micro-grant through the city’s sustainability office to finish the project. Next meeting is Sept. 24th at the Maine Access Immigration Network on Oxford Street.
BNA Citizens’ Trash Brigade — Megan Holt, lead — Rob Sylvain, board liaison
Annual BNA Fall Community Cleanup, Saturday September 20th 10am-noon. Every fall for decades Bayside neighbors and friends have come together to clean up our streets and sidewalks and enjoy each other's company in preparation for winter. This year every participant will be given a valuable Bayside Business Coupon Card, good for deep discounts at sponsoring Bayside restaurants, shops, services, venues and vendors.
Relevant Developments Team — Amelia LaBreck, lead — Jim Hall, board liaison
Councilor Michniewicz will address the board tonight regarding the former Federated Property now in city hands. A representative from Maine Music Alliance will address the board regarding the Live Nation project. Full list of current property development projects here: https://tinyurl.com/bnaprops
Tech Team — Joey Brunelle, lead — Jim Hall, board liaison
New deadline for submissions to the next issue of the Baysider is September 3rd. Advertising is being solicited to offset printing costs. Johnny Sylvain has successfully ported the google calendar, contacts, and email forwards to the new admin account.
Garden Team — Holly Picotte, lead — Susan McClosky, board liaison
The garden is in full bloom and is looking very beautiful!
Tree Team — Avery Yale Kamila, lead — Susan McClosky, board liaison
The Tree Hugging event sponsored by the Bayside Neighborhood Association and Portland Parks and Recreation is now scheduled for Saturday, September 13th on the Bayside Trail. The Penobscot Nation drum group will perform a welcome ceremony, Portland’s Supervising Park Ranger Liz Collado will lead a forest bathing experience, Rangers will also serve white pine tea, and have tree-related resources and information available. City Arborist Mark Reiland will be displaying the trunk of the oak tree removed from Oxford Street to spark interest in a future public art project. Deirdre Paul is designing a flyer for Am-at-eur Service to print.
Art Team — Kincaid Pearson, lead — Betsy Boyd, board liaison
Portland Downtown’s utility box painting program call for artists ends September 2nd. Seeking funding for a public art project using material from the oak tree recently felled to make way for Reveler’s apartment building at 89 Elm Street. Amelia Labreck has agreed to assist in reviving the BNA Black Frame Art Sale fundraiser.
Safe Streets Team —
Bowman has stepped down as team lead. Looking for new leadership. Scott Morrision reports the following through Jen Rogers at Midtown Community Policing:
a) August 2025- Citywide- 6,852 ; Bayside-1,040 ; 15.18%
b) August 2024- Citywide- 6,873; Bayside- 1,187; 17.27%
c) 2025 Bayside Monthly Average- 19.33% (2024 avg.-19.28%)
d) 2017-2025 Bayside Monthly Average- 18.13%
BAYsideBees Events team — Deidre Paul, lead — Peter Markoe, board liaison
Deidre and Peter have aligned on a date for the Pet Costume Parade and Block Party. We are eyeing the Bayside trail as the location, and have applied for the city block grant to help fund activities that will bring neighbors to the event, whether they have a pet or not.
Budget and Finance Committee - Chair Peter, Tom, Rob.
The finance committee has not officially met, but the GiveButter campaign is live, and we already have two donors!
Membership and Outreach Committee - Chair Colette, Betsy, Susan.
(Corrections welcome) The MO committee met in mid-August to formulate a plan for canvassing the neighborhood. They generated a form that can be included as a QR code within the membership packet. We are figuring the best date and time to begin canvassing along with routes and groupings.
Annual Tree Hugging Event!
Portland Parks’ Annual Tree Hugging Event is coming to Bayside for the first time in 2025
Saturday, September 13th at 11am
Bayside Trail at Somerset and Elm (behind Trader Joe’s)
Free and Open to the Public
Get ready for a reimagined Tree-Hugging Event along the Bayside Trail! While this marks the fifth such gathering in the city of Portland, this year promises a fresh approach. Inspired by the juxtaposition of the newly planted Bayside Trail trees and the resilient spirit of urban youth of the Bayside neighborhood, this event will explore the wisdom found in both natural and human landscapes, embracing the idea that everyone can connect with nature in their own way.
• Welcome ceremony performed by the Burnurwurbskek Singers of the Penobscot Nation
• Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing experience led by Portland’s Supervising Park Ranger Elizabeth Collado
• Refreshments including traditional white pine tea, activities, information tables, and more
Call for Artists!
Bayside is Painting Outside the Box!
The Bayside Neighborhood Association is partnering with Portland Downtown on a project to repaint utility boxes in the neighborhood with designs by local artists. A panel of judges, including a prominent gallery director from Bayside will decide what designs are approved and funded. At least one utility box in the Bayside neighborhood has been identified for repainting by the program. The deadline for submissions is September 3rd. Go to the Portland Downtown website for more information and to submit a proposal for consideration.
Also…
If you are an artist living or working in Bayside, the Bayside Neighborhood Association wants to hear from you! We have lots of programs and opportunities for artists in the works. In addition to the Painting Outside the Box program, we have a mandate to create a sculpture of some kind from the trunk of a huge oak tree that was recently felled on Oxford Street to make way for the 89 Elm Street housing project by Reveler. The raw piece of material will be on display with more information at the Bayside Trail Tree Hugging Event on September 13th. Also The BNA is planning to reboot our popular Black Frame Art Sale and is looking for artists to participate. Reach out for more information and join us!
and…
Here’s another opportunity for artists in Bayside from our friends at Maine Clay Collaborative: https://www.maineclay.org/consign
#MaineClay
Change is in the Air!
Change is coming to Bayside — Let’s make it good!
Our neighborhood is going through some major changes, and so too is our neighborhood association. Two of our longest-serving board members—Alex Landry and Deborah Van Hoewyk—are stepping down for separate personal reasons, both leaving very big shoes to fill. The board is seeking to appoint immediate replacements for these seats. At least one of the seats must be held by a Bayside resident, and the board is encouraging renters and BIPOC members of the community to inquire. Please contact board@baysideportland.org for information.
Other ways to help:
The BNA Teams need neighbors and friends to help us help each other. Join us!
- Safe Streets Team Public Safety, Walkability, Infrastructure, Crime prevention — We need a new Team Lead for Safe Streets!
- Business Breakfast Club meeting monthly to promote Bayside business collaboration
- Community Garden Team growing the neighborhood since 2001
- Citizens’ Trash Brigade in charge of Fall & Spring cleanups and monthly walk the block
- BAYsideBEEs Events Team adding fun to every BNA event
- Development Developments Team following proposals to the city planning board
- Public Art Team creating and promoting visual arts
- Student Group liason to Baxter Academy and Portland High School
- Tech Team Website, Workspace, Social Media, Calendar, Newsletter
- Tree Team overseeing planting and maintenance, trails and green spaces
- Welcome Team welcoming and working with immigrant populations and recent arrivals
Bayside Block Party June 18th
MUSIC! FOOD! GAMES!
Wednesday June 18th
5:30 – 8 PM
72 Parris Street, Bayside, Portland
COME GET YOUR SUMMER ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH OUTDOOR FUN!
Music with Guinean drummer Namory Keita and DJ Stack it up Steve
Games for all ages – Big Jenga, Cornhole, and more
Food Trucks and refreshments including Cheese the Day and Vy Banh Mi
Information tables from local non-profits and businesses
Signups for BNA events, teams, and initiatives
Meet your neighbors and make new friends!
Tables may provide information for non-profit orgs, present works for sale by local artists, represent public offices, or promote local businesses. Please understand that as a 501c3 non-profit, the BNA is prohibited from engaging in any political campaign activity. A limited number of tables can be provided, so if you are able to bring one please indicate below. Setup is any time after 4pm—first come first served for placement. Direct any questions to info@baysideportland.org
OUR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS:
The Baysider is Back!
We are delighted to share this first new issue of The Baysider with you.
The Baysider was first published by the Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA) in 2005 and continued publication through 2018. (You can find an archive of past issues on the BNA website.) Plans to restart The Baysider online began in early 2025, as the BNA began developing teams to spearhead a wide variety of new initiatives.
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 Rob Sylvain 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
Annual Meeting and Election Results
6/3/25 UPDATE: The board elected officers and organizational seats at the June 3rd meeting. See below.
Introducing the 2025 Bayside Neighborhood Association Board of Directors:
- Tom Blackburn, President
- Robert Sylvain, Vice-President
- Colette Bouchard, Secretary
- Peter Markoe, Treasurer
- Jim Hall
- Alex Landry
- Susan McCloskey
- Deb Van Hoewyk
- organizational seat: Portland Downtown, Betsy Boyd
The bylaws allow up to two organizational seats. If you are part of or know of an organization in Bayside that may be interested in joining the BNA board, please contact board@baysideportland.org
Our New President, Tom Blackburn: “Following an absence of about 15 years from the BNA board, I am pleased to see the recent direction of the BNA, especially the revival of committees and subsequent broad support from the community. I’m particularly interested in the BNA as a partner to the proposed Bayside Opportunity Center, in hopes of establishing a community center for Bayside; potentially a game changer for the community and Bayside residents, especially the immigrant population.” -Tom has lived on Hanover Street in Bayside since 1998.
The BNA Annual Meeting and Potluck was held on Saturday, May 31st, along with the annual election of half the board. All five nominated candidates were approved by a wide majority of the assembled members of the larger Bayside community. 18 ballots were cast. Congratulations to the following BNA board members:
- Tom Blackburn, 14 Hanover Street — 15 votes
- Colette Bouchard, 8 Hanover Street — 13 votes
- Jim Hall, 47 Cedar Street — 13 votes
- Peter Markoe, 47 Hanover Street — 15 votes
- Robert Sylvain, 167 Falmouth Street — 17 votes
The remaining board members seated for a two-year term in 2024 are as follows:
- Alex Landry, 15 Boynton Street
- Deborah Van Hoewyk, 21 Chestnut Street
- Susan McCloskey, 25 Parris Street
Also elected in 2024 for one-year terms were one organizational seat, and the office of president, as follows:
- Portland Downtown, represented by Betsy Boyd
- Sarah Michniewicz, President
This year the board made changes to the bylaws affecting the method of election of board president and organizational seats. The office of president will be chosen by and from the full board— along with the other board offices of vice-president, treasurer and secretary—at the next board meeting this Tuesday June 3rd. Sarah Michniewicz stepped down as BNA president last November when she was elected to Portland city council, making VP Robert Sylvain (who is one of two allowable board members not residing in Bayside) the president pro tempore until a “resident president” is elected. In addition, up to a total of two organizational seats may be selected by the new board.
Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center to Close
Very sad news from our friends at the IWC. More than ever our community needs to come together and help each other. The BNA is committed to helping bridge the gap left by these circumstances. Please reach out as we navigate the uncertain time ahead. We can make a difference together.
| Thursday, May 22, 2025 |
| The Board of Directors of the Immigrant Welcome Center (IWC) has made the difficult decision to close our physical location at 24 Preble Street in Portland, ME due to a sustained funding shortfall, heavily impacted by the loss of federal funding for our programs. Walk-in services at our Center will end Monday, June 30th, 2025. Our offsite English Language Education (formerly iEnglish) partner classes will continue through July to allow current students to complete their courses. We are exploring all options to support clients and continue projects of the IWC that can happen off-site through the calendar year. Soccer Saturday will expand this summer, offering ten consecutive weeks of free soccer for local youth and families. For more than seven years, the Immigrant Welcome Center has lived up to its name, providing a place where New Mainers could find not only essential services but also a sense of belonging and welcome. Its closure marks a significant loss for the many individuals and families who have relied on its programs and open doors. While the physical space is closing, the need for this work remains urgent. We promise to continue to coordinate with community partners to explore new homes for key programs in the months ahead. We extend our deepest gratitude to the staff of IWC, whose commitment, skill and compassion have shaped every aspect of our work, and to our funders, partners and the thousands of immigrants who have placed their trust in us. Your support has made everything we have accomplished possible. Although this chapter is ending, our mission remains: to help New Mainers navigate life in Maine and strengthen the fabric of our shared community. For questions or suggestions, please contact the Board at board@welcomeimmigrant.org. You can still reach staff directly at their individual email accounts, or reach out to info@welcomeimmigrant.org for your email to be forwarded to the correct program. We look forward to finding new ways to serve this community together. Sincerely,The Board of DirectorsGreater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center |
Portland BikePed Audit
The Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee held an Audit of Park Avenue and Portland Street, between St. John Street and Hanover Street , on Sunday, May 18th at 10 AM. Members of the committee led by Winston Lumpkins, representatives from several neighborhood associations, and interested citizens were joined by city councillors Sarah Michneiwicz, Wesley Pelletier and Pious Ali, meeting in Deering Oaks Park at the base of Mellen Street to make a loop, experiencing the parking-separated bike lanes on both sides of Park Ave before crossing Forest Ave into Bayside, where bike lanes transition to the traffic-side on Portland Street.
The Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee aims to gather community feedback via this audit to help inform the city about what had worked—and what had not worked—about the Park Ave lanes, thereby informing the design of future roadways and any potential redesigns on Park Ave. Design work on a future plan for Forest Ave is underway, and parking-separated bike lanes are under consideration for that design.
More information about The Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, visit https://www.portlandbikeped.org or email pbpac.chair@gmail.com
