July 2020 Newsletter

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News from the Corner

Little Woodfords: Goodbye for Now to a Great Good Place

Little Woodfords has opened up its new location at 316A Congress Street. For the past 3 years, Little Woodfords served our neighborhood as a a prime example of a great good gathering place – a place where we can mix and mingle, meet up with old friends and find new ones.

FWC owes a particular debt to Andy and TJ from Little Woodfords for being an early partner and supporter of our mission and demonstrating the vibrancy that arises when folks who want community can mix so freely. It’s with a heavy heart and deep gratitude that we wish them success in their new location… and with great hope that we’ll see them back in the ‘hood that they helped create in the future.

Together We Can.

Friends of Woodfords Corner is working to offer direct assistance to Corner businesses to help them rebound from the impacts of this year’s physical distancing and stay at home orders, and we need your help. A summer gift to FWC will help us with our area green and clean projects, business promotion and support, and Corner beautification initiative.

Join us in our efforts to support the Corner’s economic vitality: make a donation to Friends of Woodfords Corner today! As a token of our appreciation for gifts of $25 or more-- and a symbol of solidarity with our neighborhood and businesses-- you’ll receive a “Hopeful: together we can” (12"x12") lawn sign delivered right to your home. Learn more and donate today at woodfordscorner.org/together.
Donate Today!

Bird's-Eye View: Woodfords Corner in 1955

Check out Woodfords Corner in 1955 from the Portland Public Library Archives. There were three gas stations (former Rite Aid, Dunkin Donuts and Merlin Motors), a movie theater next to Valle’s Steak House (now Woodfords F&B), two railroad lines, diagonal parking along Forest Ave, billboards on the roofs, lots of open storefronts and it looks like no street lights. For a larger-scale photo, check out the FWC news blog!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: FWC Green & Clean Initiatives

THIS Friday, July 10: Trinity Park Weed & Mulch Work Party
Put on your gardening gloves and help out from 9:00 - 11:00 AM this Friday at Trinity Park for our annual garden clean-up work party! Located at 580 Forest Ave, Trinity Park is the Corner's most central green space. Join neighbors and friends to help keep this space beautiful! BYO masks and gloves, and any small hand tools you may have. Details here.

UPCOMING: Woodford Corners Planter Project!
FWC is working to install planters in the heart of the Corner, bringing a bit of greenery to our sidewalks this summer and fall. We're working on establishing a volunteer blitz workday(s) in the coming 10 days. Interested in lending a hand? Email volunteer@woodfordscorner.org to express interest, and we'll notify you as soon as we have our date(s)!

ONGOING: Green & Clean Team
Want to help with smaller clean and green projects, such as weeding Plaza Green, Saunders Triangle, Tree Wells, and some other small spots in the Corner? We've got some more  small projects to dig into over the course of July. If interested in lending a hand, contact Teresa at 207-233-9276 or woodfordscorner@gmail.com.

Cornerstories 

going the extra mile

A special thank you to Marcia Sanderson!

With regret we announce that Marcia Sanderson is stepping down from FWC Board service after four years. Marcia Marcia and her husband Peter Meitzler, another former FWC Board Member, lived in Woodfords Corner for 25 years, always seeing the potential of the area to grow into a vibrant hub. Even after they moved out of the neighborhood 2 years ago, Marcia continued to serve with enthusiasm, creativity and pride. We are enormously grateful for her generosity over the years, and so excited to have her continue on as a volunteer with FWC. Marcia, we’ll miss you!

Thank You to the Railroad Clean-up Volunteers!

Once again neighbors showed up to help us keep the neighborhood clean and attractive from Forest Ave all the way to Brighton Ave. We’re the only neighborhood that does this clean up in the state of Maine. Thanks to Rick Fowler of Pan Am Railroad who keeps us safe during the event and the City of Portland Public Works who help coordinate the trash removal. The biggest thanks to our trashers - neighborhood volunteers Jane, Johanna, Patrick, Andrew, Blake, Kelly, and Jennifer. Also thanks to Sam from Learning Works!

Neighbor Announcements 

send your announcements to info@woodfordscorner.org

Project Feed has Reopened!

Using CDC guidelines, Woodfords Congregational Church volunteers have re-opened the pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic. They require PHONE-IN ORDERING and APPOINTMENT-ONLY PICK-UP. Click here for instructions and food options.

Glory Store Grocery Want to Know Your Shopping Needs

Gloriose Karamuna and Leonard Niyongabo, owners of the small African grocery at 625 Forest Ave have settled in to their shop and are serving their regulars well. They are now interested to know what types of products neighbors of Woodfords Corner may like them to carry. Stop by and introduce yourself – their hours are Monday - Saturday 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM and most Sunday afternoons.

Shop and Eat Local! 

Help support our local businesses who are doing a great job reopening within the guidelines to keep the Covid spread down. Maiz has new outdoor seating with lovely umbrellas, Woodfords Food & Bev expanded outdoor seating and added a nautical theme, Proper Cup has sidewalk tables, Bird & Co added a parklette with seating right on Deering Ave. Now Great Lost Bear has expanded seating to their parking lot under a large tent. Sammy’s Scoops, Big Sky Bakery, Dunkin Donuts, Mr Bagel, Blake Orchard Juicery, and Rose Foods are all operating with systems that keep us safe. And Artist & Craftsman is open too. Our merchants and restauranteurs are flexible, creative and determined to keep on keeping on. Thank you to all of you!

JULY 14: Don't Forget to VOTE!

Your vote matters. There is still time to get your absentee vote and keep covid exposure down. Go to lwvme.org/Voters for voter guides and loads of voter information.

Or go to the Portland site for city info on polling places, hours, and obtaining ballots.

Join Us

Since its inception in 2015, Friends of Woodfords Corner (FWC) has been working to create a safe, walkable, welcoming, and vibrant neighborhood hub thanks to the efforts of energetic volunteers. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to contribute their time and talents. As Woodfords Corner continues to flourish, we know that working alongside dedicated folks is crucial in achieving our goals. If interested in serving as a board or committee member, follow the links to learn more and contact us today. 
       
VOLUNTEER         BOARD OF DIRECTORS   

As a Main Street America Affiliate™, Friends of Woodfords Corner is part of a national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

With an emphasis on increasing community engagement, influencing the design of public spaces and supporting hyper-local economic vitality, we’re striving to create a safe, walkable, welcoming and vibrant neighborhood hub.

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.

Volunteer, donate, or become a sponsor!
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