In 1998, a group of friends in Portland decided to get together and watch Jewish films. And then, over the course of 23 years, the Maine Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) has grown into a beloved cultural arts organization that serves the area year-round. Executive Director Barbara Merson told us, “We primarily focus on films, but…
Perched near Acadia National Park, in an oceanfront setting alongside one of Maine’s most gorgeous coastal spots Acadia Seaside Cottages are the ideal and hosts, Joy and Peter Cutrone, both grew up in the Northeastern United States, and Joy enjoyed family vacations in Acadia for many years. Their mission was to create cottages that encourage…
Portland, Maine, is one of the top U.S. cities for people in recovery, mainly because of Foundation House — a local residential program devoted to helping recovering addicts thrive — was the first to work both nationally and internationally. Not only does Foundation House provide intensive outpatient therapy through a practical and holistic approach to…
In Steve’s words, “Some people see me as a writer; others see me as a photographer; and some view me for my research capabilities. I try bringing all three together and see myself as a storyteller.” He told us that he’s enjoyed his storytelling career, especially in Alaska for the last 14 years. He’s written…
Central Provisions, established in 2014, is normally an internationally inspired small plates restaurant that uses local ingredients. But COVID-19 changed all that, and Paige Gould and her team took action to survive. She told us, “We’ve changed our restaurant in so many ways over the last year. The front of the restaurant has been turned…
Rush is an accomplished filmmaker who has made documentaries for PBS, History, Discovery, National Geographic, Smithsonian, Turner Broadcasting, and others. His work has been honored with the George F. Peabody Award, the Writers Guild of America Award, and the International Documentary Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award, to name just a few accolades. He’s a creative force.…
Folly 101 has been a favorite Old Port shop for 19 years now, offering simple, gorgeous, hand-selected products for the home, plus body products, and more. It’s always been a popular destination for locals and tourists. Winter was always a slow time, and owner Astrid Vigeland would shut down in February to renovate and freshen…
In October 2017, Andrew Zarro opened a little coffee shop in Portland’s Woodfords area. His mission was to serve exceptional coffee while contributing to neighborhood revitalization. The business took off, thanks in part to incredible press coverage. Last year, the shop made it on the “Top 100 Coffee Shops in America list” (Food & Wine…
When Lois Skillings embarked on a nursing career 40 years ago at Mid Coast–Parkview Health in Brunswick, she couldn’t have imagined the growth and changes that have happened in the region, in healthcare, in Maine’s hospital landscape, and in her own career. And of course, she couldn’t have anticipated the current COVID-19 climate — a…
(MHFCU Leadership Team (l-r): Patty Duffy, Chief Lending Officer; Maureen Horan, Chief Operations Offer; Julia Jones, Community Loan Officer; and Scott Budde, President & CEO) Meet the client who’s about to make quite a difference to Maine’s food-producing industry. Scott Budde, CFA, is the President, CEO and co-founder of Maine Harvest Federal Credit Union —…
