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:

Annual BNA Fall Community Cleanup!

On By Bayside Neighborhood AssociationIn Citizens' Trash Brigade, Events Team

Saturday, September 20th 10am-noon

meet @ Bayside Community Garden on Chestnut Street

Every year for decades Bayside neighbors and friends have come together to cleanup our streets and sidewalks and enjoy each other’s company in preparation for the 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.

We’ll meet at the Bayside Community Garden on Chestnut Street and choose routes from there. Trash bags, gloves, pickers, water, coffee and snacks are provided.

Thanks to our local businesses who offered discounts to volunteers:
Leavitt & Sons Deli
Two Fat Cats Bakery
Lay Day Coffee Roasters
The Studio Portland
Fortune Teller Tattoo
Cyclebar
Maine Clay Collaborative
Isa Bistro
F45 Training
Bayside Bowl
Check back in the Spring for your chance to earn a Bayside Business Coupon Card from the BNA!

Remembering Deb Van Hoewyk

On By Robert SylvainIn Garden, Governance, Uncategorized, Welcome Team

The Bayside community is reeling from the loss of our longtime friend, mentor, guiding light, and superhero Deborah Van Hoewyk. Deb was a powerhouse member of the BNA board of directors for over a decade and was instrumental in creating programs like the Bayside World Market & Fair, Black Frame Art Sale, summer lunches at Unity Village, funding and operating the community garden, ESOL at the Immigrant Welcome center, and so much more. While nothing will replace her wisdom and power, she helped forge a community organization that fosters and empowers new leaders, and we’re committed to continuing the work she started.

Here is a repost of Deb’s obituary and memorial arrangements on funeralalternatives.net

“Deborah Van Hoewyk of Portland and West Bath, Maine, passed away on August 28, 2025, following a brief illness. 

Deborah was born in Barrington, Rhode Island, the daughter of Schuyler S. Sampson and Alice Mansur Sampson. Deborah moved to Cumberland, Maine, with her parents and brother as a young child and attended the Cumberland School system and graduated from The Waynflete School in Portland.  She attended Wellesley College and Columbia University for her undergraduate studies and earned a Masters in English from the City University of New York. 

Deborah lived in New York City for several years working as a writer and educator. It was here that she undertook the first of what would become a lifelong passion: home renovation. For a time, she lived on a barge in the Hudson River and later a houseboat in the Bronx.

Deborah moved to Michigan and with her husband, John Van Hoewyk, purchased a farm, and raised sheep, pigs, goats and an assortment of cats and dogs. At the same time, she was a lecturer in the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, teaching technical communications. She retired in 2010.

After retiring, she returned to Maine with her husband living in Portland. In the winter months they resided in Huatulco, Mexico. Later they spent summers in West Bath, Maine. As expected, all their homes just needed a “little” work, which Deborah happily took on. 

Deborah had a remarkable ability to build community wherever she lived. In Mexico she volunteered for a local spay/neuter project, helped organize a major annual fund raiser supporting rural schools, and wrote and edited articles for The Eye, a local English language monthly.  She loved Mexico and used her writing skills to bring the history and culture of Mexico to the English language community. Though a fluent speaker she never stopped taking Spanish lessons.

In Maine, she was a board member of the Western Maine Wellesley Club and The Bayside Neighborhood Association. She used her experience as a grant writer to support several local non-profits. At the time of her death, Deborah and several Bayside residents  were developing plans for a community center that would serve, among others, the Portland immigrant community. She was also the unofficial organizer of her high school graduating classes’ monthly meet ups.

She was a strong supporter of Charlie’s Friends Dog Rescue in Woolwich, Maine. Deborah and John fostered many wonderful dogs awaiting their forever homes.

Deborah was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Jeffrey Armstrong. 

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, John Van Hoewyk, her brother Schuyler S. Sampson, Jr., (Patricia), her sisters Patience Sampson (Robert) and Priscilla Armstrong and her many nieces for whom she had such fondness, Sharon, Samantha, Caroline, Juanita, Janetta, Katherine, Tabor and Schuyler as well as many great nieces and nephews.

Deborah’s family would like to thank the staff at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick for their compassionate care during her stay. 

An outdoor celebration of her life will be held on Saturday October 18, 2025, from 2-4 PM at 359 Fosters Point Road, West Bath ME.  Online condolence messages can be submitted at Funeral Alternatives, 46 Bath Road, Brunswick, ME 04011. (https://www.funeralalternatives.net/)

Please consider making a memorial donation to Rescue Charlie’s Friends Dog Rescue, 90 Road B, Woolwich, ME 04579 (https://rescuecharliesfriends.org/)“

Tree Hugging Event Success!

On By Robert SylvainIn Events Team, Trees & Greens

Reposted from Portland Protectors:

“A powerful event took place in Portland today. Portland Maine Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department and the Burnurwurbskek Singers of the Penobscot Nation in conjunction with the Bayside Neighborhood Association held a blessing of the sapling forest on the Bayside Trail (part of Portland Trails) along with an immersive forest bathing walk. The Burnurwurbskek Singers, including three generations of drum leader Ron Bear’s family, performed a series of sacred songs, each a prayer. The drumming drew in visitors to the often lonely trail, while others stood behind Trader Joe’s chain link fence listening. The music also drew something surprising and unusual which none present had ever seen soaring over Bayside: A bald eagle. Ron Bear wasn’t surprised, however, saying eagles show up when the group performs. The drumming and singing were followed by a Shinrin-Yoku Forest Bathing experience led by Portland’s Supervising Park Ranger Elizabeth Collado. This event culminated with a tea ceremony using white pine tea. As Ranger Liz reminded the group, the Eastern white pine is the Maine state tree and the Tree of Peace of the Haudenosaunee nations. Those assembled breathed in the here and now and envisioned the area when the young trees are mature and casting shade across a parkway surrounded by hundreds of new apartments. Parks and trees are essential to current and future residents of Portland. Today this baby urban forest was hugged and blessed. We look forward to watching it grow.”

The Bayside of First Friday Art Walk

On By BNA AdminIn Uncategorized

Everybody loves Portland’s First Friday Art Walk, but not everybody loves the crowds. Looking for something off the beaten path, with hands-on experiences, curated local and underground art, free music, great food and craft beer? Look no further than the Bayside of Portland’s First Friday. Anchored by Bayside’s best kept secret in 82Parris Gallery, a truly collaborative effort of young local visionaries of the Portland art scene—and the brand new and expanding Maine Clay Collaborative, providing studio space for ceramic artists, pottery classes for all skill levels, and now free open studio clay playtime on First Fridays. Walking between these two anchors is a delight on the brand new woonerf featuring public sculpture by Clint Fulkerson in front of the renovated brick warehouse now housing craft beer masters Argenta Brewing with resident food truck Hank & Artie’s, the Fiery Puerto Rican food and rooftop cabana of Bar Publica, open fire pits on the patio of Wilson County BBQ’s featuring live music every Friday. Many people already know the iconic Bayside Bowl, with its many stages, pro lanes and rooftop bar, but right around the corner is the hidden gem of the Apohadion Theatre, presenting eclectic off-beat and underground music of infinite variety. So much going on in Bayside. Check it out this Friday!

Bayside First Friday Art Walk September 5, 2025

Print & Share map

BNA Team Reports September 2025

On By BNA AdminIn Reports 
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!

On By BNA AdminIn Events Team, Trees & Greens

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

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19nkUDryoW

Call for Artists!

On By Robert SylvainIn Arts & Music

Bayside is Painting Outside the Box!

Kerrin Parkinson with her utility box painting on the corner of Pearl and Cumberland Streets. 2021

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!

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Thank you for your response. ✨

and…
Here’s another opportunity for artists in Bayside from our friends at Maine Clay Collaborative: https://www.maineclay.org/consign
#MaineClay