City received more than $900,000 assist asylum seekers

"The city of Portland has received more than $900,000 in recent donations to help assist newly arrived asylum seekers. Finance officials are recommending the city prioritize housing, basic needs and reimbursing local groups as it begins to appropriate the funds.The city’s finance committee unanimously endorsed that plan on Thursday night. Portland City Manager Jon Jennings told the committee that housing is the most urgent need, and is what the city told the public it would use the donations for."

https://www.mainepublic.org/post/portland-considers-how-spend-more-900000-donations-asylum-seekers

Time Dollar Silent Auction

"Hour Exchange Portland is proud to announce its annual Spring Into Summer Online Silent Auction! HEP, formerly Portland Time Bank, has always been about celebrating gifts… the uniquegifts and talentswithin each oneof us…the gifts of our love and time spent with others. In this season of giving and celebration, we remind ourselves of the opportunity to reflect on the abundance in our lives, and the tapestry of people that enrich our experiences.

That is why the items in our auction were chosen-- to help us appreciate the gifts all around us-- our family, our friends and our community. The Portland area boasts a wide array of generous and innovative businesses, which is why our auction highlights Buying Local and Maine’s abundance."

Polar Dip this saturday

A part of Camp Sunshine's Freezin' for a Reason, there is a polar dip at the East End beach on Saturday.  You can support the cause by sponsoring the polar dancers. 

 So you can support them, or dip yourself in this weather: 

38+ Hours of Comedy?

Local comedian Bob Marley is going for the Guinness World Record for longest comedy performance at the Comedy Connection starting Wednesday September 22. It's a fund raiser for the Children's Hospital. Hopefully it will go better than Riley's attempt at longest guitar solo.

"How did Bob come up with this crazy idea? Last spring he was sitting around with some of Boston’s comedy greats and someone made the suggestion of Googling the record for the longest comedy performance. When the record at the time, by Tommy Tiernan of Ireland came up, off-handedly Marley said, “I can do that!”

tip Al Nye

Portland's Who's Who

According to the Phoenix:

"We started with a simple question: Who are the people without whom Portland would be the poorer? But that's not the only criterion. Who is making Portland, and Maine, great for all of us to live, work, and play in today, and even better for tomorrow? Who is spending their time and energy really contributing deeply, in a way we should all notice and appreciate (even if they're too modest — and busy — to seek that publicity themselves)?"

Innocence Project Exhibit

The Munjoy Hill News reports on Donald Verger, a local photographer, who was arrested based on a mistaken identity. After his release Verger visited The Innocence Project, an organization that works to exonerate wrongly convicted people through DNA testing. He has set up a fund raiser at the North Star Cafe.

"Starting on Sunday, March 1st and running through the end of the month, Don Verger’s stunning photographs have been on display at the North Star Café on Congress Street at the bottom of the Hill. One hundred percent of the proceeds from that art show will be donated to The Innocence Project based in New York City."

Logo Design Wanted

Portland, Maine Dyke March is looking for an artist to help develop a logo. See more info here.

While they are upfront with the details, from a legal / business perspective it is a really bad deal for the artist. They want full copyright ownership to the design without any compensation. I can understand if they don't have any money, but a better deal would allow the artist to keep the rights to the logo, and grant the group an exclusive lifetime license to use it. That way the artist continues to get credit for their work, and the group can use it however they want. But if later on the group were to disband, or merge with another group, the artist can retake control of their art.

"The artwork will be for use in advertisement, all publications and promotional materials (including merchandise) and will be the sole property of the Portland, Maine Dyke March Committee.
...
There is no cash prize or financial remuneration for the design work. The selected artist/designer will be recognized in the following ways: On the website, on the Facebook and Myspace pages of the Portland Dyke March, and during announcements made during the June 19, 2009 event. Other methods of recognition may be considered as well (i.e. press releases, the artists own media, et cetera)."

Book Fair - Donations Wanted

Portland West’s Free Book Fair To celebrate the service of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Saturday, January 17th 1:00 pm—4:00 pm

Portland West Learning Center
181 Brackett St.
Portland, ME

Original artwork and books created by the Learning Center Students will be on display.
Student readings will be performed throughout the afternoon. Light refreshments will be provided.

How can you help?

1. We are looking for books!
Drop by as many books as you can carry anytime before Friday, January 16th.

2. Spread the word!

3. Come to the event!

4. Volunteer to help!

Scavenger Hunt (fundraiser for Portland West)

Click on poster for more info...

Maine Pumpkin Festival

Maine Pumpkin Festival

"We're bringing it home to MAINE! As many of you may recall we first introduced our Pumpkin Festival in Deering Oaks Park in 2003. We then took the festival on the road for a few years and in 2006, Camp Sunshine smashed the Guinness World Record for the most lit jack-o-lanterns at one place, at one time in Boston, MA. This year, we are excited to be back in Maine and are gearing up again to beat the World Record at Cumberland Fairgrounds!

This year’s event promises to be incredibility exciting with live music, face painting, children’s activities, great food, and of course — pumpkin carving! Make this annual event a tradition for your family and friends. And don’t forget, all proceeds from the event will benefit Camp Sunshine, a national retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Join us for a day of pumpkins, entertainment, and family fun at the Cumberland Fairgrounds!

Volunteer (or just give us money) Portland

Not a bad idea, I guess. Maybe they can get a volunteer to do a better website.

"Livability is one of our greatest assets. The cleanliness of our city, its safety and the range of cultural activities are matters of tremendous civic pride.

The City of Portland is committed to providing its comprehensive services in a quality, cost effective manner. Although the City is able to meet the needs of its core services there remain many opportunities for citizens to enhance and expand the services available by providing sponsorships, donations or volunteer services toward special programs or projects.

Portlander's have a long history of generous charitable giving and an extraordinary level of volunteerism.

By mobilizing people and resources we can work together to continually strengthen our City and build a community we can all enjoy for a life time!

- Volunteer Portland

Freeze your arse off...

Maine Polar Plunges:

"Camp Sunshine is pleased to present the 2008 Maine Polar Plunges. We believe that together we can send many more children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from Maine to our one-of-a-kind retreat in Casco.

With the strength of events such as the Maine Polar Plunges and the resources of Camp Sunshine, it is our goal to raise in excess of $25,000 in 2008. That is enough to send more than 16 Maine families to Camp Sunshine.

February 9, 2008 at noon at Willard Beach, South Portland, Maine"