City News Round Up: Friday, December 6, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the December 2 City Council meeting. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Monday, December 16 at 5:00PM.

First Friday Art Walk is tonight! Download the map here. You can also download Creative Portland’s Holiday Calendar here, OR download the Creative Portland app for easy access when you’re out on the town. 

Emergency Warming Shelter Open Overnight: Sat. 12/7 + Sun. 12/8
CommonSpace will be opening the overnight Warming Shelter First Parish Church (425 Congress Street) this Saturday + Sunday. Entrance through the red door in “freshman alley” by Portland High School. The hours are 7 PM-8 AM on both Saturday and Sunday, 12/7 and 12/8⁠. Read the Winter Warming Plan.

Upcoming Holiday Closures
Portland City Hall and City offices will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays at noon on Tuesday, 12/24, and all day Wednesday, 12/25, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025. There will not be a City News Round Up on Friday, 12/27. We’ll be back on Friday, 1/3.

Holiday Trash + Recycling Collection Changes
With the holidays falling mid-week, please be aware of the changes to the trash + recycling collection schedule, learn more here. Additional questions can be directed to solidwaste@portlandmaine.gov. 

• NO collection on Christmas Day, Wednesday, 12/25: ⁠Make-up collection will be on SATURDAY, 12/28.⁠ 
• NO collection on New Year's Day, Monday, 1/1/25: The make-up collection will be on SATURDAY, 1/4/25.⁠
• ⁠Peaks Island Residents: No trash pickup on holidays. Trash will be picked up the next day.
• Find the Riverside Recycling holiday closure schedule here.

Multicultural ‘Flags on Lobster Buoys’ Art Display Celebrates Diversity
Flags painted on lobster buoys by area multicultural students to resemble the flags of their birth countries are now on display at the Portland Public Schools Multilingual and Multicultural Center – just in time for First Friday Art Walk tonight! The vibrantly colored “Flags on Lobster Buoys” exhibit in the Center’s display window at 353 Cumberland Avenue sends a message of welcome and inclusion to Portland’s multicultural students and families. 

12/7: Raised Bed-Building Volunteer Workshop
Volunteers needed! Cultivating Community is hosting a raised bed-building workshop at Boyd Street Community Garden on Saturday, 12/7. Help us transform this in-ground garden into a beautiful raised bed garden before winter comes. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting, this workshop is designed to be informative and enjoyable for everyone. Learn more + register here.

12/10: Annual Toys for Tots Gift Drive
The annual Toys For Tots gift drive will take place on Tuesday, 12/10, 3:00-5:00 PM at the Portland Police Department (109 Middle Street). Please do not wrap gifts! Stop by and meet our Community Policing Officers, Coordinators, and some officers who help get your donated gifts delivered to kids this holiday season. If that date/time doesn’t work for you, please email to set up a date/time: bdonovan@portlandmaine.gov or jrogers@portlandmaine.gov.

City Reminds Residents of Winter Storm Operations Information
It’s that time of year again! City officials would like to remind residents of winter storm operations information, read the full details here (+ bookmark the page for storm days!). Our Public Works crew is ready for the season in which they care for more than 560 lane miles of road, and our Parks, Recreation & Facilities crew cares for more than 100 miles of sidewalks during and following snow storms. The fastest way to receive parking ban notifications is to sign up for our city alerts; you can choose to receive these via email and/or text message. Sign up today by visiting portlandmaine.gov/stayconnected OR text PortlandParkingBan to 38276. ⁠

The City’s residential sand and salt pile is located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park. This sand and salt pile is for residential use only, contractors are not allowed. Residents can take two 5-gallon pails at a time.

12/13: Coffee & Climate, Producer Responsibility for Pollution
Get ready to "talk trash" with the One Climate Future Team and special guests from ecomaine on Friday, 12/13, 9-10 AM. The discussion will focus on producers taking responsibility for pollution and an update on the status of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging legislation here in Maine. Register here.

New State Matching Grant - Businesses Impacted by 2023 Severe Storms
Portland businesses and nonprofits impacted by last year's severe storms can now apply for grants of up to $100,000. Grant recipients must match the grant amount with their own funds, insurance, or money from other sources. Applications are due by January 14. Visit the Maine Office of Business Development website to find the full information.

Fitzpatrick Stadium Closed for Construction
Fitzpatrick Stadium will be closed for construction through December 20 while new turf is being installed. Follow our Parks Division on Facebook or Instagram for updates.

Share Your Input - Public EV Charging Locations
The Greater Portland Council of Governments is identifying possible locations for new electric vehicle charging stations in our region. The regional planning agency uses transportation data and public input and wants to hear from you! Take their brief survey to let them know your priorities and concerns about EV adoption and where charging locations would be most helpful. 

Free Online Business Planning Class in January
Venturing Forth is a free online comprehensive business planning class hosted by New Ventures Maine. Anyone with a business idea or current business is welcome to apply. Learn more on their website and apply by 1/17; class begins Thursday, 1/23. Contact Banjo Ogunlela to request/complete an application, register for the orientation, or learn more at 207-262-7842 or Oyebanjo.ogunlela@maine.edu.

Reminder: PortTix Only Authorized Seller For Merrill Auditorium Events
Just a quick reminder that PortTix is the only authorized seller of tickets for all performances that take place at Merrill Auditorium! If you are not buying your tickets thru PortTix, we cannot guarantee their validity. Visit PortTix online at PortTix.com, stop in their storefront now located at 400 Congress St. Suite A in Portland, or call them at 207-842-0800.

Starting Soon - Free CEI Child Care Start-Up Training
Free training starts soon through the Child Care Business Lab, a program offered by Brunswick-based CEI that has helped 40 new childcare businesses to start in the last few years. This training is open to all Mainers interested in opening either a child care in their home or in a facility outside their home. The Child Care Business Lab integrates small business start-up education with child care management & coaching. Everyone who joins will learn how to write policies, create a business plan, create a financial forecast, apply for loans and much more. 

No Cost Monthly Legal Aid Clinic
Our Office of Economic Opportunity hosts a monthly virtual Legal Aid Clinic every second Thursday of the month. Appointments are available on Zoom from 12 PM-5 PM. Individuals may sign up for a one-hour appointment to speak with a volunteer immigration lawyer at no cost. Sign up online or contact them here: oeo@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8799. The Legal Aid Clinic can help with any immigration questions except those relating to asylum, please direct those to www.ilapmaine.org.

Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates 

Read all the latest updates in the November 2024 newsletter here. The 2024-2025 Fall/Winter/Spring Recreation Program Guide is now available to the public! The guide has information for all Recreation services the department provides through the Spring of 2025, and registration is now open. 

Elder Exercise: Drop-In Pickleball at Reiche

Join us for a game of drop-in pickleball! 50+ exercise takes place at Reiche Community Center on Fridays, 12/6,13,20, 6PM-8PM, $5/residents. Contact cviney@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8873 for more information.

We’re Hiring!
Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning! We are hiring across several departments in the city, with a variety of open positions: healthcare roles (RNs/CNAs), trades workers, before + after school recreation counselors, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and more. Connect with our city recruiter to learn more, or apply today. 

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects

Western Promenade Project to Resume Spring 2025
The contractor will be wrapping up details to stabilize the site for the winter this week as well as the week of 12/09; traffic impacts will be minimal. The Contractor will return to the site in the spring of 2025, and final completion is expected by 6/15/25. Read full details.

Visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for links to all the most recent DPW project updates.