WENA monthly meeting. Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2021. 6:30pm on Zoom
Board members present: Kim Sutton, Pamela Shaw, Barbara DeSerres, Liz Parsons, Ian Jacob and
Leana Good-Simpson
Agenda:
1. Neighborhood Announcements:
– Maine Med. is overwhelmed with Covid patients. Trauma patients are being transferred to
Boston.
– District 2 and At-Large candidates for city council will have a Zoom forum on Oct.14.
Sponsors are WENA and WPNA. Zoom link is on the WENA website.
– Christian Bisimwa is stepping away from the WENA board.
– A slate of 9 board candidates will be voted on in November:
- Kim Sutton, President
- Pamela Shaw, Vice President
- Barb DeSerres, Secretary
- Bryan Van Dussen, Treasurer
- Leana Good-Simpson, Board member
- Rosanne Graef, Board member
- Ian Jacob, Board member
- Liz Parsons, Board member
- Gwynne Williams, Board member
If you would like to learn more about serving on the WENA Board of Directors, please contact hello@wenamaine.org
2. Mercy Hospital update by Charles Therrien, President
– Construction at the Fore River site is on schedule.
– The office building at Fore River is open, temporarily housing radiology, imaging and pain
management,
– The wound care, gastroenterology and endoscopy services are in the new building at
Fore River.
– There are some issues with delays in the supply chain.
– Core services will move from State St. to Fore River in early January.
– New Height/RedFern will take possession of the old building in February. Mercy anticipates
maintaining a walk-in clinic on the premises.
3. Community Policing report by Officer Dave Argitis
– Be vigilant about packages left on porches. Thievery will increase around the holidays.
– There is no update on the attacks on pedestrians earlier in the summer. There are a couple of
suspects.
– Pamela Shaw praised the PPD led self defense course of four 3 hour sessions. Spaces are
available in the session that will be offered in January.
– Construction at Reiche School has limited access to the community policing office. An office
for the Valley/St. John neighborhood is being considered at the former site of the Greyhound
bus depot.
4. MMC Grant and Reiche Community Center Activities presented by Roseanne Graef.
– The Reiche Community Center received a $13,600 Grant from Maine Med. The fund have not
been released. There is no further update.
– Construction at Reiche is complicating access. The left hand door at the Clark St. entrance
gives access to the Community Center side of the building.
– Roseanne Graef shared a split screen image of the Community Room activity schedule for
fall 2021, briefly summarized as follows. Note: staffing levels for Portland Rec. have reduced
potential access to the community room. All scheduled times are tentative.
* Monday evenings are reserved for book group and movie nights 7-9 starting Nov. 1. A speed
debating program will be held on 5th Mondays. Call Roseanne for details.
*The book exchange will be open 7-9 am. Monday through Friday.
*An exercise program will be available from 7:45 to 8:45 M, W, Th & F.
* Tuesday afternoons are reserved from 3-5 for the Learn, Create, Explore program.
* Second Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm are reserved for WENA meeting.
– Portland Rec. staffing levels are tentative and subject to change. Applications are being
accepted, but must be submitted online. Contact Roseanne for details, or Kim Sutton
at hello@wenamaine.org.
– Portland Rec. Covid policy rules apply.
5. Portland Climate Action presented by Alan & Elissa Armstrong. portlandclimateaction@gmail.co
– Now and in the future more rain, less snow and heavier storms can be expected.
– Sea levels are predicted to rise by 1.5-3 feet by 2050.
– Buildings significantly contribute to this warming trend. They must be made more efficient.
– Portland and S. Portland to promote electro cars and rapid transit city buses.
– Development of solar power projects is being promoted at the state level.
6. Barbara Wood State Representative for District 38
– Explained the redistricting boundaries that will take effect next year.
7. John Hink. Candidate for City Council District introduced himself.
Submitted by Barbara DeSerres
WENA secretary
