Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Where Portland just changed traffic lights to better protect walkers
Happening soon: House of Heavy on the Portland Patch calendar
Hey there, Portland! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Where Portland just changed traffic lights to better protect walkers
- How Portland's new Equality Community Center is changing senior housing
- How a surprise $1.47M gift will reshape help for Portland moms
Also on today's calendar: House of Heavy and 7 more events.
Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Portland. 
- Thursday: Partly sunny and nice, with a high of 79 and low of 60 degrees.
- Friday: Partly sunny and nice, temps: high: 79, low: 58.
- Saturday: Nice with periods of sun, with a high of 72 and low of 63 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. New traffic signals aim to make Portland safer for pedestrians (wgme.com) — New traffic signals on Washington Avenue and Auburn Street in Portland now give pedestrians a head start before cars get a green light, and keep all directions red longer to clear crosswalks. City engineers say these changes, also added at other Washington Avenue intersections down to I-295, are part of broader efforts to make getting around Portland safer on foot. 
2. New affordable senior housing complex in Portland offers services for LGBTQ+ community (wgme.com) — Dozens of new affordable senior apartments are now open at the Equality Community Center on Casco Street in Portland, offering Maine's first LGBTQ+-focused senior housing while welcoming all residents 55 and older. With 54 units for people earning 50–60% of Greater Portland's median income and a waitlist already topping 250, the project aims to provide safety, community, and stability for vulnerable older residents.
3. Anonymous $1.47 million donation will allow Portland nonprofit to help more moms in need (wmtw.com) — A Portland-based nonprofit, Project Home, just received a $1.47 million anonymous donation that will let its TRUST program help twice as many low-income single mothers across Maine. The unrestricted cash assistance aims to give moms in Portland and beyond more control over housing, education, and work choices, with the group expecting to reach about 300 mothers and 600 children over three years.
4. Greater Portland Adoptable Pet of the Week: Toot (wmtw.com) — If you're looking to adopt near Portland, Toot is a five-year-old chocolate Lab at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland who's big on affection and energy. The shelter in nearby Westbrook handles adoptions first-come, first-served, with early sign-in at 9 a.m., and asks current dog owners to bring their own dogs to meet potential new companions like Toot.
5. ICE detains Maine school employee (wabi.tv) — Portland Public Schools confirms a transportation employee has been detained by ICE, raising concerns about student transportation and community safety. Local school and employee groups are calling for his release, emphasizing his role as a worker, parent, and pastor and the detention's impact on Portland families.
📸 Around Portland
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Portland
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- House of Heavy →
Live at Madrid's 144 Fore St Portland, ME 04103
8:00 pm - 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 - 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 - Ghostland Beer Release and Merch Pop-Up, feat. Ghost of Paul Revere →
Allagash Brewing Company, 50 Industrial Wy, Portland
1:00 pm
Friday August 21
Wednesday August 26
Thursday August 27
Saturday September 5
📣 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
- Recreation and Conservation Commission →
City of Westbrook Westbrook Community Center - 426 Bridge Street Westbrook ME 04092
6:00 pm - Gipsy Kings featuring Tonino Baliardo - Historia Tour →
State Theatre, 609 Congress St, Portland
8:00 pm - Jurassic Quest | Cross Insurance Arena | Portland, ME 2026 →
Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Square, Portland
1:00 pm - Hanging out in the Historic Wing →
Westbrook ME Calendar Westbrook, ME 04092
3:00 pm
Thursday August 20
Friday August 21
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:
- Insurcomm Restoration — (866) 708-5357
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
- Equality Commons Opens in Bayside
BAYSIDE, PORTLAND, Maine – The Equality Community Center (ECC) will celebrate the grand opening of Equality Commons, a 54-unit affordable senior… (Nextdoor Bayside) - A few years ago member of the band Genticorum came to Peaks to create and play and film their work.
Yann Falquet will return Friday to play at the 5th Maine with Emily Troll and Eric Goodman. It's sure to be a lovely night on the island. We'll be… (Nextdoor Peaks Island)
- Colwen Hotels posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Portland. Apply here.
- MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Shipping Receiving Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $18-$36/Hr 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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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