Portland, ME Manifesto with Ted Fleischaker

Today’s special episode is hosted by Gideon the Free-quent Flyer.

[Cold open] Harraseeket Inn holiday buffets: https://www.harraseeketinn.com/dine-1

Hello, and welcome to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. I’m Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, and I’m joined today by Ted Fleischaker, board member of Portland, Maine’s Etz Chaim Synagogue and publisher of the Up Portland newspaper. Ted, welcome to the Manifesto.

[0:20] Plugs

• Etz Chaim: https://etzchaim-portland.org/
• Up Portland: http://www.upportland.com/
• Micucci’s Grocery Store: https://www.facebook.com/MicucciGrocery/
• Anywhere else people can find you online/in Maine/conferences, etc?

[1:30] Jewish Community in Maine

• Etz Chaim: India and Congress ST, Portland, ME.
• Services, Torah Study, Museum.
• Fire during COVID
  • What kind of renovations were required? Discovered original (1921) wiring.
  • How was the community served while the synagogue was closed?
• History of the building
  • Location of a boarding house for Irish and Italian immigrants that burned down in the fire of 1866
• History of the Jewish community in Maine
  • Nearby 1904 Synagogue split in 1920’s over whether to use Yiddish or English during services.
  • English speakers spent $50k remodeling present Etz Chaim building.
  • Mid-1970’s, only 15 members left in congregation. Sell the building, hang on, or merge with another congregation?
  • Museum foundation took over the building, congregation rents sanctuary back for services
  • Etz Chaim changes from orthodox to egalitarian. 3 services per week: Monday Orthodox minyan, Friday night reform service, Saturday morning Orthodox service.
• What do Jewish traditions look like today in Portland: how can people find seders, sukkahs, etc if they’re in Portland or Maine for the Holidays?
  • Four working synagogues in Portland: Chabad House, Bet Ha’am, Temple Beth El, Etz Chaim
  • Surrounding areas: Lewiston, Old Orchard Beach, Biddeford-Saco, Bath
  • Center for Small Town Jewish Life: https://jewishlife.colby.edu/

[20:10] Publishing a local newspaper

• Washington Post Magazine on local journalism: https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/interactive/2021/local-news-deserts-expanding/
• How does Maine support so many local newspapers?
  • Up Portland
  • Island papers
  • Lobster boat papers
• What goes into publishing a daily/weekly/monthly paper? How many printers remain, do papers get shipped in from out of town, USPS, “paper boxes” on the streets? What does it take to manage a dead-tree media distribution company these days?

[36:40] Visiting Portland/Visiting Maine

• For first-time visitors to Portland or to Maine, what recommendations do you have?
  • Where to stay?
    • Eastland Hotel (The Westin Portland Harborview)
  • Where/what to eat?
    • Dock’s Seafood – lobster roll: https://www.docksseafood.com/
    • Street and company – lobster dinner: https://www.streetandcompany.net/
  • What to see?
    • Portland headlight in Ft. Williams Park: https://portlandheadlight.com/
    • Bar Harbour, Acadia National Park: https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
    • Red’s Eats in Wiscasset – Lobster Roll: https://www.redseatsmaine.com/
    • Rock Paper Scissors in Wiscasset: https://www.facebook.com/rockpaperscissorsmaine/
    • Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Bush compound
  • Fly to Portland or Bangor?
    • Portland has more nonstop service, competitive fares

[41:54] Quar Question of the Week

• For folks who are thinking of taking a socially-distanced winter getaway in Maine this New Years, what’s your go-to romantic nook in the state?
  • Bar Harbour: winter hotel discounts at luxury properties
  • Rockland: 250 Maine Hotel (https://www.250mainhotel.com/)
  • Blackpoint Inn (only open in season): https://www.blackpointinn.com/

Thanks again to Ted Fleischaker for joining me today. You’ve been listening to The Manifesto with Gideon, the Free-quent Flyer, on the Milenomics Podcast Network. Goodbye, and good luck.