December 2021 Newsletter

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2021 Reflections & Our Impact in 2022 Thank you to all those who've donated to support our big plans in 2022! Hosting virtual lectures and candidate forums; Organizing railroad and park clean-up days; Installing temporary infrastructure demonstrations to make our streets safer and more accessible for all users; Enhancing our sidewalks with 20 planters. We kept them green all summer long – and demonstrated sustainable practices – with the addition of two rain barrels; Holding our first annual garden tour where we showcased 12 area gardens to hundreds of horticulture enthusiasts; and so much more! In 2022 we want to make an even bigger impact. Along with our usual annual and ongoing work, we plan to: Install distinctive placemaking infrastructure throughout the corner, including light post banners, more planters, garbage cans, and picnic tables. Make more temporary – and eventually permanent! – infrastructure updates, like the bollards and sidewalk bump-outs on Deering Ave., to make our streets safer for all users. Design and create of a map and listing of Corner businesses to promote our commercial center. Develop a strong, recognizable brand identity for Woodfords Corner that will help build a sense of community pride. And, last but not least, hire a part-time staff person to manage FWC’s many programs and initiatives! We aim to raise $20,000 in order to accomplish these projects in 2022, and invite you to be a part of Woodfords Corner's transformation: make a gift today as an investment in your community! Learn More & Donate Today! Coming Soon: Snow Do you know your responsibilities when it comes to sidewalk snow and ice removal in the City of Portland? Help keep Woodfords Corner walkable–a safe place for your neighbors to get around–all winter long! Did you know?  The City has a supply of free sand and pet-safe salt mix located at the Little League parking lot in Payson Park (for residential use only).  You can help the Portland Fire Department by keeping areas around fire hydrants clear of snow and ice.  FWC Volunteers will be heading out to educate our neighbors about snow removal in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing you! More info >> Newsletter Question of the Month We are launching a new feature in our newsletter, the survey question of the month. We want to hear your opinion on some ideas! This month we're asking: How many gifts and/or gift certificates will you be buying in Woodfords Corner this holiday season? Answer the December question here corner happenings More events happen in Woodfords Corner than we can promote in our e-news.  To see more of the hyperlocal options, visit woodfordscorner.org! Saturday, Dec. 1: Temple Beth El's Annual Chanukah Party Susan T. Goldberg Courtyard, 400 Deering Avenue - 5-7pm A Chanukah party for everyone! Bundle up and join us under the lights of the Susan T. Goldberg courtyard for donuts, hot drinks, live music, and a community menorah lighting (at 5:30pm) to celebrate Chanukah. No RSVP required. Questions? Email office@tbemaine.org  Starting Friday Dec. 3: Holiday Pop-Up's at Coveside Coffee 28 Vannah Avenue - Open 7:30am-2pm (M-F), 8am-1pm (Sa-Su) Mark your calendars for a series of weekend pop-up’s from local makers at Coveside Coffee this month! Look out for ceramics, hyper-local honey, original paintings, chocolates and more! Starting Friday December 3rd. See Coveside Coffee's Instagram profile for a complete schedule.   Saturday Dec. 4: Old Fashioned Christmas Fair at Trinity Church 580 Forest Avenue - 9am-1pm A traditional Christmas Fair, featuring wreaths, greens, decorations, cookies, baked goods, soups, fiber arts, books, jewelry, and white elephant items. All are welcome, please remember to wear a mask! Now - Dec. 20: Tenera @ Speedwell Speedwell Projects, 630 Forest Avenue Stop by SPEEDWELL projects to see TENERA, our new exhibition featuring work by Sharon Chandler Correnty, Leeah Joo, Crystalle LaCouture, Cindy Rizza, Barbara Sullivan, and Andrea Sulzer. We are open Thursday - Saturdays, 12pm to 6pm. Read more about the Exhibition here. Now - Tuesday, Dec 7: Photo-a-Go-Go To-Go @ Bakery Photo Collective 630 Forest Avenue The sale will feature work of over 50 local and nationally recognized photographers. From affordable small prints to high-end editions from established artists, it's got something for everyone! Stay tuned for updates. LEARN MORE HERE Saturday Dec. 18 & Sunday Dec. 19: Portland Ballet's A Victorian Nutcracker 471 Stroudwater Street, Westbrook   Portland Ballet’s a Victorian Nutcracker returns to the stage this holiday season with newly designed backdrops and set pieces inspired by Portland’s Victoria Mansion. New backdrops and set pieces are made possible thanks to a generous grant by the Davis Family Foundation. A Victorian Nutcracker is a retelling of the classic story of a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream, brought on by the curious gift of a nutcracker, in which she travels to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Land of the Sweets. This version, with characters pulled directly from Portland’s past, is sure to please audience members of all ages. Westbrook Performing Arts Center Saturday, December 18 at 2:00pm Sunday, December 19 at 2:00pm Additional Dates at: Merrill Auditorium Wednesday, December 22 at 7:30pm Thursday, December 23 at 7:30pm BUY TICKETS HERE Have a Corner Happening coming up? Submit your events to be included in the FWC Community Calendar and upcoming monthly e-News editions! Submit a Calendar Event corner news  Looking to gift vintage this year? Monstera Vintage Decor (located at 28 Vannah Avenue in the same building as Coveside Coffee) is open Friday and Saturday 10am-2pm and Tuesday 3-6pm, and by appointment. Follow us on Instagram @monsteravintagedecor or check our website for expanded hours during the upcoming holiday season. Vintage items make unique, sustainable, and one-of-a-kind gifts! We are your destination for vintage wall art, brass statues and candlesticks, vintage books about Maine, rugs, and vintage barware. We hope to see you this season! This Friday, Dec. 3rd: Buy any beverage or food item from Coveside Coffee & get 20% off your total purchase at Monstera! (open 8am-2pm) The 2021 Holiday Shopping Guide Want to give a gift certificate to a local restaurant or fitness studio? How about a local market? Or shop for gifts at some of the boutique stores? We've put together an all inclusive list of the small businesses in Woodfords Corner to make shopping local as easy as possible! See the full list here Did you miss your Annual District Meeting? November was District Meeting month, we hope you attended yours! If you weren't able to the city has provided recordings: District 3 District 4 [find the link on our blog once we receive it from the city website!] District 5 Have news or an announcement about your business, property, or organization? Submit  it to be included in upcoming monthly e-News editions! Share an Announcement fwc announcements Thank You to Our November Donors! We've received a number of donations for our Year-End Appeal and we would like to thank everyone who has donated so far, especially our friends at The Great Lost Bear and Pot & Pan Kitchen! A special thanks to Vanguard Charitable for providing us with a grant at the recommendation of Mary Barthelman.   Thank you Heather Latham for your time with us on the Board of Directors We can’t thank Heather enough for her dedication and support of FWC over the last 4 years. New to the neighborhood a few years ago, she jumped right into service and developed our website, coached our board members on social media and tech, supervised our media intern from USM for a year, worked events and helped with the planters and other projects. While we are losing her on the board, she remains in the neighborhood as a kindred spirit and a strong supporter for community building and placemaking. Support Friends of Woodfords Corner! Appreciate the work that Friends of Woodfords Corner is doing to help make the Corner an even more safe, walkable, welcoming, and vibrant neighborhood hub? Join us in our efforts: make a donation to Friends of Woodfords Corner today! As a token of our appreciation for gifts of $25 or more, you’ll receive a “Hopeful: together we can” lawn sign delivered right to your home. Donate Today! FWC & Main Street America In 2019 (a mere 2 years ago) Friends of Woodfords Corner became a Main Street Affiliate, and we thought it might be time to explain what this means for our organization and our community, and how how this makes us unique among many varied community groups in the Portland area! Learn more>> Ready to pitch in? We love help in any form. Friends spread the word and support the local businesses and organizations. Volunteers and Board Members do the organization and event work. Donors help us with greatly needed funds.  Partners are organizations that work with us on projects. Sponsors give us goods or cash donations. There are many ways to help our neighborhood. Please consider joining us. Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form here Our mission is to preserve the diversity and unique history of Woodfords corner and foster a thriving, welcoming, and sustainable village hub. Volunteer, donate, or become a sponsor! 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