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🌱 Patch AM: How Portland’s new Equality Commons is reshaping senior housing access

Also check out House of Heavy on the Portland Patch calendar

Friday August 21st Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello Portland! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Portland's new Equality Commons is reshaping senior housing access
  • Why Portland's housing and economic development director just stepped down
  • Amtrak train from Portland involved in deadly Plaistow collision

Also on today's calendar: House of Heavy and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What is full of holes but still holds water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Partly sunny and nice, with a high of 76 and low of 60 degrees.
  • Saturday: A couple of afternoon showers, temps: high: 69, low: 63.
  • Sunday: Cloudy, showers around; humid, with a high of 72 and low of 65 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Portland unveils Maine's first affordable housing complex for LGBTQ+ seniors (planetizen.com) — Portland just opened Equality Commons, Maine's first affordable housing complex designed for LGBTQ+ older adults, and demand already far exceeds the 54 available units. Located beside the Equality Community Center, the building serves residents 55 and older who meet income limits based on Portland's median income, with several units reserved for people with disabilities or living with HIV/AIDS.
   

2. Portland city official resigns weeks after assault charge was dropped (pressherald.com) — Portland's director of housing and economic development has resigned after months on paid leave, and the city has brought in veteran manager Patricia Finnigan as interim director while a permanent search begins. City officials say Gregory Watson's assault charge was dropped as unprovable, and a separation agreement formalizes his departure, with Assistant City Manager Dena Libner previously filling the gap.
   

3. Apparent death along train tracks in Plaistow after Amtrak train collides with vehicle (wmur.com) — An Amtrak train traveling from Portland to Boston struck a vehicle in Plaistow, New Hampshire Thursday afternoon, in an incident that appeared to result in a death along the tracks. No passengers or crew were hurt, and investigators are still working to determine what happened, which may affect riders who regularly use this Portland–Boston route.
   

4. Troy Jackson says Sen. Collins is not willing to challenge Pres. Trump (wgme.com) — A U.S. Senate campaign stop brought Democratic nominee Troy Jackson to a Portland bar Wednesday night, where he met voters and criticized Sen. Susan Collins' approach to President Trump. Jackson argued Collins isn't using her power on the Senate Appropriations Committee to challenge Trump administration policies, as he seeks to unseat her in November.
   

📸 Around Portland

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Portland

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

    Friday August 21
  • House of Heavy →
    Live at Madrid's 144 Fore St Portland, ME 04103
    8:00 pm
  • Wednesday August 26
  • Longfellow Open House
    Longfellow School-Portland Portland, ME 04103
    4:00 pm
  • Longfellow Popsicle Social
    Longfellow School-Portland Portland, ME 04103
    4:30 pm
  • Early Release / Staff PD Students Released at 1:10
    Ocean Avenue Portland, ME 04103
    5:15 pm
  • OAES Open House and Watermelon Welcome
    Ocean Avenue Portland, ME 04103
    8:00 pm
  • BACK TO SCHOOL POPSICLE PARTY
    Riverton School Portland, ME 04103
    8:00 pm
  • Thursday August 27
  • Popsicle Party with Rowe Families
    Amanda C Rowe School Portland, ME 04102
    4:30 pm
  • Popsicle Party
    Amanda C Rowe School Portland, ME 04102
    4:30 pm
  • Good Together; Akwaaba Table Beer Dinner →
    The Cellars at Allagash Brewing Company, 100 Industrial Wy, Portland
    6:00 pm
  • Saturday September 5
  • Ghostland Beer Release and Merch Pop-Up, feat. Ghost of Paul Revere →
    Allagash Brewing Company, 50 Industrial Wy, Portland
    1:00 pm

📣 Portland Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Portland PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Broadreach Public Relations Celebrates Five Years of the Entrepreneurial Operating System —Linda Varrell Read on Patch
  • It is a miracle, but Alexis and I found Midnight tonight up on Racien by Allen Avenue.
    thank you, thank you, thank you so so much for everybody that has cared and helped and called and message and looked for Midnight. He is very skinny… (Nextdoor North Central Deering)
  • Peaks Island, please come to the Chorale concert tonight, Wednesday August, 19th at 8:00pm at the 5th Maine.
    The theme of the concert is "We Belong" and all of the music is about community and the importance of connecting with each other. It's an uplifting… (Nextdoor Peaks Island)
  • UniFirst Corporation posted a job opening for Production Team Partner - Garment Sorter andamp; Shipper - UniFirst in Portland. Apply here.
  • Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. posted a job opening for Blowmold Machine Operator in Portland. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Portland here.

Ok Portland! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A sponge (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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