May 2010

Loring Memorial Park on the Hill

One of the many veterans honored this Memorial Day is Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. His heroism is memorialized at the Loring Memorial Park at the juncture of North Street and the Eastern Promenade in a park that was dedicated in 2000.

Major Loring enlisted in the service in 1942. He served in World War II as an Air Force pilot. He was shot down and spent time in a prison camp. Loring served once again in the Korean conflict. During a bombing mission over North Korea, he sacrified his life rather than be a prisoner of war once again. He died on November 22, 1952. Major Loring was awarded the Medal of Honor “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk to his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy.”

Major Loring left behind his wife and two young daughters.

The Loring Memorial Park is cared for by three generations of the family, led by his brother, Paul. Harold Loring, father of the two, served on the Portland City Council for 12 years and was twice Mayor of Portland.

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Ass't Site Mgr., Mark Shapp, in Celebatory Dress at the Observatory

Sixty-three people paid to take a tour through the Portland Observatory on its opening day today; climbing roughly 103 steps to the top where, on a clear day, the White Mountains of New Hampshire can be seen. The Observatory is a symbol of Portland’s rich nautical history. Reaching high into the skyline, it’s presence reminds one of a much simpler time in Portland’s history.

Back in 1807, residents of Portland, Massachusetts would have seen a very busy Casco Bay; full of schooners, brigs and smaller vessels bringing coal among other products to the Maine coast. For many reasons, it was and remains an important seaport. However, ship owners had no way of knowing exactly when their ships would be arriving at the wharves and thus when they needed to have crews on hand to unload their products. The wharves and channels could be seen from Munjoy Hill, so it was decided this was the spot to build the Observatory which we still celebrate today. A local sea Captain, Lemuel Moody, famously now, came up with the solution to the problem. He constructed the Portland Observatory. The rest of this fascinating history may be read in the “Portland Observatory”, by John K. Moulton, a 96 page book which can be purchased inexpensively at the gift shop at the Observatory.

Gail Thomas, a new docent this year, said: “It’s a fascinating building, especially since it involved the ocean and ships. Volunteering is extremely important because if not you’ll loose a whole sense of history. They don’t teach this material in schools.” Thomas is a licensed tour guide who has been all over the world for her profession. One reason she decided to volunteer at the Observatory is because it is such a “welcoming” organization.

The Observatory is open from May 29 until October 11. Guided tours are daily from 10 am until 5 pm. (Last tour is at 4:30 pm) Tickets: Adults $8; Seniors/Students AAA$7; children ages 6-16 $5; under 6 Free.

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Meara Smith, one of the four cooperative owners of Local Sprouts

The much anticipated Local Sprouts restaurant flew over its last hurdle earlier this week and plans to open on Friday, June 4th – just in time for the popular First Friday Art Walk. Its last hurdle was the often anxiety producing inspection by the city of Portland. It passed. The Grand Opening will run from 4 – 11 pm.

“We worked really hard to pass on the first try and we did. It’s remarkable,” said Meara Smith, one of the four owners of the cooperative restaurant. Smith, who is the kitchen coordinator, said this afternoon that she’s been busy creating the menu with lots of input from the community and other chefs. The large kitchen out of which the restaurant works is the former kitchen for the USM Portland Hall dormitory.

The menu is dictated by what’s available at the time. Because of the demand for local food, more farmers are trying to accommodate people in Maine. Early next week there will be two deliveries of food from Maine farms. One delivery will be by Crown of Maine and the other Farm Fresh Connection. A liquor license is pending. “It’s more expensive to use local and organic food, but our mission is to provide accessibility. That being said, we’ll have some less expensive and healthy menu items,” said Smith.

The attractive Smith, who lives in the Greater Munjoy Hill Area, will serve as a chef at Local Sprouts. Previously she has cooked at Street & Co., Caiola, Pepperclub Restaurant and Aurora Provisions. She currently works part-time at the Blue Spoon.

Local Sprouts will be open seven days a week serving three meals a day. Sunday might be brunch only.

For more information, please visit www.localsproutscooperative.com

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Winkaspeedia on her maiden trip following her launching this morning

This morning’s launch of an Echo Bay Dory Skiff at East End Boat Ramp was the celebration of months of hard work by students from around the area. It was also the first boat launch of the Compass Project at the East End location for the season. Another boat launch is scheduled for Monday, June 7th at 11 am for East End Community School students. The name of the skiff is “Dust Island.”

Jodi Carpenter, instructor in the boat building program for Compass Project, led the celebration for the dozen or so students attending. She offered a blessing and christening of “winkaspeedia” before it was launched into Casco Bay.

Earlier this year, The Compass Project, became a community based organization of Spurwink. Sonia Garcia, director of marketing, for Spurwink said: “We’ve taken on this Project and two other similar grass roots programs in Maine. These are grass roots programs that would have gone under if we hadn’t. They are good at what they do. Pat Ryan is a social worker as well as a sailor.” Ryan is the executive director of The Compass Project. It’s located at 170 Anderson Street.

The Project was founded in 2002 by Ryan for at risk children. The program is designed to help build confidence by working together as a team. It also builds social and other skills. Spurwink was founded 50 years ago by a social worker who didn’t believe children had to go to an institution to live. It now has seven schools in the area and the Portland Help Service.

Please visit www.compassproject.org or www.spurwink.org for more details.

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