Musician Michael Solak and Actress Elizabeth Freeman, Residents of East Bayside.  The Couple was Married in August in Portland.

A Delightful Concert by The Copacetic Collective was Held One Afternoon Earlier this Week at Urban Farm Fermentory Plaza.  Would Have Loved to Hear Them Play at a Ft. Sumner Park, North Street on the Hill, Afternoon Concert!

Cycle Mania, 65 Cove Street, Appears to be Missing its Sound Monitoring  Equipment on the Roof Top.

Residents of the Tree Lined Hammond Street Were Equally Divided in Their Feelings About the Music Noise Level in East Bayside Over Several Hours of Canvassing the Neighborhood: Both Today and Earlier This Week.

“We hear music, but it’s not that bad at all.  It ends early and I kind of enjoy the atmosphere it brings to the area,” said Elizabeth Freeman, this afternoon in East Bayside. “To be honest, we are artists.  We understand that these artists need an outlet for their music.”

Freeman’s new husband said this afternoon:  “It’s not offensive at all. We don’t want to get these places shut down, especially after this past l l/2 years,”  said Michael Solak.

It’s a mixed bag on East Bayside.  Some residents object to the music level coming from the breweries and others like the above couple enjoy the atmosphere the music creates.

This blogger came to the conclusion that it’s a mixed bag of opinions following several hours of canvassing neighbors along Hammond Street about their feelings concerning music levels:   Both earlier this week and again today.

It was a mixed bag – in sharp contrast to a one-sided front page article in the “Portland Press Herald” last Saturday.  The article’s author, Randy Billings cited only those who object to outdoor music.  But people do exist that appreciate the outdoor music – even if award winning reporter Billings did not mention them in his unbalanced condemnation of out-door music.

Several residents of Hammond Street said they hear some music sometimes. When they do they just close their windows if they don’t want to hear it.  The music is gone!  Psst!  Gone. No one said they have lost any sleep over the music.  Maybe over other issues, but not the outdoor music.

Portland contracted Acentech, a Massachusetts company, to conduct an acoustics test in July of 2021 for $35,000.  The two month survey is to be completed around October 9.  At that time, a report will be issued.  Five devices have been stationed around the area:  60 Parris Street, 65 Cove Street, 179 Sheridan Street, Fitzpatrick Stadium and 90 Anderson Street.

When asked who determined the locations of the monitoring equipment and on what data was that based, the city’s spokeswoman responded:  “The Permitting and Inspections Director worked with the Police Department to evaluate areas that would be ideal based on complaints received, and wilingness of local property owners since we needed permission from several in order to place the equipment.”  The equipment was first placed during the week of August 9th.

Members of the Portland Police Department climbed on top of the Cycle Mania building several weeks ago to replace batteries and because of vandalism to the equipment.  When asked where the equipment was located because this blogger could not see it, Cycle Mania owner David Brink said he didn’t know where it was.  “I don’t know where it is,” he said several times looking up at the rooftop. “I don’t see it. I just want what’s best for the neighborhood,” he said.

Portland has become a destination place for groups of bachelerettes looking for pre- wedding celebrations according to numerous sources.  They are attracted by the number of craft breweries that have spring up recently and the new recreational marijuana laws.  Multiple small business owners on Congress Street at the bottom of Munjoy Hill reported their businesses have been boosted significantly by the large number of pre-wedding celebrators coming to their businesses.

Eli Cayer, owner of Urban Farm Fermentory, is out of state at a conference for the next week or so.

No one else seems to know where the Cycle Mania equipment is either.  Is this any way to administer a survey?

(mhn.com comment:  Most neighborhoods in Portland have dissenting views on controversial issues.  For example, the introduction of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad years ago, the redevelopment of the former Portland Yacht Services at 58 Fore Street more recently.  A more recent example of neighborhood division was whether or not to place much of Munjoy Hill on the city’s historic designation list.  No neighborhood is in 100% agreement on controversial issues.  East Bayside is no exception.)