11/06/2022
Racisms - Mainer
In which Samuel James clarifies what Question 2 is really about.
"The K*K took my city away;" a column by Samuel James about Portland's racist city-manager form of government
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Operating as usual
10/03/2022
99 Years - Mainer
99 Years - Mainer
The racist roots, and results, of the city manager system of government; by Samuel James
10/03/2022
99 Years - Mainer
Samuel James documents the racist roots and results of the city manager system of government. Portlanders, read this before you vote to either keep this white supremacist system in place or return more power to the people.
The racist roots, and results, of the city manager system of government; by Samuel James
10/03/2022
The Breakfast Serial - Mainer
The Breakfast Serial - Mainer
Dan Zarin reviews Honeycomb Cafe in Scarborough
09/16/2022
TONIGHT & EVERY FRIDAY AT SALVAGE B*W AT 8: The Soul Proprietor spins Soul, Funk & Disco. Free & Liberating for all!
09/09/2022
TONIGHT! Funk, soul & disco! BBQ, beer & booze! Free & liberating for all!
05/02/2022
Another heartbreakingly beautiful column by Phoebe Kolbert in this month’s issue, “Dear Jane,” on stands now and at https://mainernews.com/kid-2-44/
04/12/2022
Honoring the great musician & human being Tim Harbeson, seen here in a print by Colleen Kinsella blowing minds with his bandmates in Tarpigh back in the day. Condolences to his family and many friends.
04/01/2022
SCANDALOUS EXPOSE: Fresh Approach sells criminally hot ghost pepper sausage, promotes alcoholic beverages within 500 feet of an elementary school. Pick up a copy of our April issue today!
03/06/2022
Creepy Green - Mainer
Maine's Green Party is content to have this creep be its candidate for a Senate seat and remain on its executive board. Can the party's credibility sink below rock bottom? We're finding out... https://mainernews.com/creepy-green/
Green Party leader “Zen” Ben Meiklejohn’s shameful secret; by Chris Busby
02/28/2022
Mainer’s latest bombshell political scoop is now live! Read it days before the mag hits the streets by subscribing at patreon.com/mainernews
02/06/2022
Our February cover story, “Northern Inhospitality,” is now online at mainernews.com. illustration/Martin Shields
02/06/2022
Northern Inhospitality - Mainer
What all the fuss is about... https://mainernews.com/northern-inhospitality
An unvarnished view of Andrew and Briana Volk of Portland Hunt + Alpine Club; by Chris Busby
02/01/2022
February 2022 Print Edition | Mainer on Patreon
THIS
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11/14/2021
… and the threats from Geoffrey Rice’s hired thugs have begun. Like at your own risk.
11/10/2021
Shining Light on Humanity - Mainer
Gov. Janet Mills can't be bothered to sign a bill to reestablish parole, further exposing the lie of Maine's Department of "Corrections." Meanwhile, inside Maine State Prison, Leo Hylton is writing scholarly papers about how best to do it. https://mainernews.com/shining-light-on-humanity-18/
Creating Safer Communities with Supportive Parole; by Leo Hylton
11/04/2021
BOMBSHELL EXPOSE - Slumlord Millionaire: The shocking greed of Geoffrey Rice. Pick up our new issue or visit mainernews.com. Read it. Share it. Spread the warning. This slumlord must be brought to justice.
11/02/2021
Racisms - Mainer
In a city where one tweet can send the city manager packing with his tail between his legs, what's really up with the claim that politics in Portland is too "divisive"? Samuel James has the answer: https://mainernews.com/racisms-39/
Minding the Gaps: On the "divisive" canard in local politics; by Samuel James
10/28/2021
Supermarket Censorship Update: Shaw's is now threatening to ban any issue of Mainer that, in its judgment, is not "suitable for all ages," an absurd standard for us (or any newsmagazine) to meet. (Like, we're supposed to make sure nothing in the mag might upset a five-year-old?) We are fighting this decision and will keep you posted.
10/13/2021
UPDATE: Masthead Maine is now RESTOCKING all 42 HANNAFORD supermarkets where Mainer is distributed. CEO Lisa DeSisto said the decision to ban us from all corporate grocers was made by a middle manager at Masthead without the knowledge or approval of top brass. Hannaford said it did not ask that the issues be removed or banned from all its stores (despite an e-mail by a Yarmouth store manager citing unspecified "offensive, racist and political comments" to justify the issue's removal last week). Market Basket has banned the current issue from its 2 Maine stores; status of Shaw's still unknown (can't reach their corporate PR team).
Thank you Lisa DeSisto and Masthead Maine for defending press freedom in this matter. Thank you Hannaford for continuing to allow our magazine to be made available to your customers. And most of all, THANK YOU READERS for helping us raise hell about this and pressuring some of the largest companies in Maine to do the right thing!
10/12/2021
The Press Herald’s parent company, Masthead Maine, has pulled our current issue from all corporate supermarkets in response to suspicious “customer” complaints that it contains “offensive, racist and political comments.” Story to come Wednesday.
10/12/2021
Mainer has been BANNED from ALL CORPORATE SUPERMARKETS IN MAINE (Hannaford, Shaw's, Market Basket) due to vague complaints by "customers" that the current issue contains "offensive, RACIST and POLITICAL comments," as the store manager of the Yarmouth Hannaford wrote in an internal e-mail (emphases added). We have received ZERO reader complaints about this edition since it hit the streets on Sept. 28 and were never contacted by Hannaford, Shaw's or MB with any concerns. Neither were we notified of this blanket ban — which the supermarkets are threatening to make PERMANENT — by the Press Herald's parent company, Masthead Maine, which owns all the free-publication racks in those supermarkets and restocks them for us (for a fee) every month (Masthead also prints Mainer). This was ultimately Masthead's call.
This is very similar to the tactic used against us in Dec. 2019 when we exposed Maine hate groups using Facebook to organize — anonymous complaints to store managers that we're anti-semitic led to that issue being pulled from the Hannaford in S**o. The bigots also sent letters making similar claims to all our advertisers, using a fake human rights group as cover (no one believed it). Last week one of our ad clients got a call from a (white-sounding) stranger complaining about "racist" content in the current issue (she told him where to stick it).
The cover story of the current issue is by Pat Hogan, who personally disrupted the Proud Boys' monthly planning meetings at Mathew's. Fascist trolls aligned with Mathew's/PBs stole stacks of our Aug. 2021 issue exposing that situation - again trying to damage our circulation.
Our article about this ban will be posted tomorrow (Wed.). For now, just consider what it'd be like to live in a state dominated by corporations that ensure nothing edgier than Downeast Dog News (nice mag, by the way) is widely available to read. That's basically where we're at right now.
10/08/2021
Our October cover story is now online at mainernews.com. Please support our efforts to publish work like this by becoming a subscriber at patreon.com/mainernews
10/08/2021
Woods Q***r - Mainer
One of the most striking lines in this incredible story is how cops treated a homeless man in distress in the woods during the height of the pandemic: "After giving my campsite a pretty thorough once-over, the only flatfoot who spoke told me I’d had contact with a juvenile offender who identified me as “the dude in the woods.” The cop also informed me that I was on private property and it was time to skedaddle. He directed me to another forest where I could make camp and gave me 24 hours to beat feet." https://mainernews.com/woods-queer/
An excerpt from Pat Hogan’s memoir about his years as a Southern Maine hermit
09/14/2021
Golden Rules the Thumb - Mainer
Our review of the new Golden Rules the Thumb album is now online — read, listen, experience! https://mainernews.com/golden-rules-the-thumb-3
The Portland indie-rock supergroup cleans house on "Licorice"; reviewed by Chris Busby; includes "Seeing Things"
09/11/2021
Wildflower - Mainer
It's the perfect Maine summer day to dive into this warm and gorgeous new album by Wildflower... https://mainernews.com/wildflower-2
The Peaks Island quintet glows on its sophomore album, The Ocean Rose; reviewed by Chris Busby
09/08/2021
Racisms - Mainer
Samuel James, tellin' it like it is. https://mainernews.com/racisms-37
Fascists by Any Other Name; Samuel James on the integrity of words and the return of Paul LePage
09/05/2021
Introducing V-Land, our new Maine superhero political satire featuring the comic art of Cracked/Marvel alum Mort Todd! Online now at mainernews.com
08/21/2021
Public Service Announcement from our friends in ANTIFAH.
08/20/2021
The Dutch Baby at Ruby’s West End, reviewed by Dan Zarin, who marks 15 YEARS this month as Mainer/The Bollard’s breakfast reviewer. We are so grateful for Dan’s dedication and all the excellent writing and photos he’s contributed over the decades. Dig in!
08/13/2021
Jessie Lacey presents The Fortland! Recipe & story @ mainernews.com
08/13/2021
Mouth Washington - Mainer
The tribute show to Mouth Washington's Will Held is tonight at Sun Tiki. Here's our review of their crushing new album: https://mainernews.com/mouth-washington/
Portland post-punk ragers defy tragedy with "Remiss;" reviewed by Chris Busby
08/08/2021
Racisms - Mainer
Samuel James on some non-crazy reasons why people aren't getting vaxxed: https://mainernews.com/racisms-36
"A Healthy Shot of Skepticism": Samuel James on some non-crazy reasons why people still aren't getting vaccinated against COVID-19
08/06/2021
Mathew’s owner offering free drinks to people if they’ll find and destroy copies of our new issue further exposing their pro-hate bar policy.
07/23/2021
Ignored by police and press, neighbors fight fascism pole by pole.
07/20/2021
Proud Boys in Maine Meeting at Portland Dive Bar - Mainer
The eye-opening story of a man who emerged from the woods into what he thought was civilization...
A bartender at Mathew’s Pub says he was fired for refusing to serve members of the violent hate group; by Chris Busby
07/20/2021
Neo-Nazi Proud Boys have been openly meeting at Mathew’s for months. Scoop now online at mainernews.com
07/18/2021
Transience - Mainer
Another great rainy-day read by Kenny Wayne Beek: the conclusion of "Transience: Book III," from our current print issue. https://mainernews.com/transience-6/
Chapters from an epic memoir about homeless existence in Maine, by Kenneth W. Beek; Book III, Ch. 11, 12 & 13
07/05/2021
A blunt history of 158 Pickett Street Cafe, from our July issue, now online at mainernews.com. photo/Matt Robbins
06/28/2021
Jake Sawyer Rides Again! - Mainer
Maine's most legendary motorcycle outlaw rides again! https://mainernews.com/jake-sawyer-rides-again/
Excerpts from the explosive new memoir of Maine’s most legendary outlaw, by Cliff Gallant
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Comments
Thank you for attending our Spotlight Lecture to celebrate John Duncan's photography book, Take It Easy: Portland in the 1970s!
John's black-and-white images are as beautiful as the stories behind them. Special thank you to Maine Historical Society, Print: A Bookstore, Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, Islandport Press, Longfellow Books, Mainer, The Press Hotel, and our host, Bunker Brewing Co..
Check out our upcoming Spotlight Lectures here:
https://www.portlandlibrary.com/series/spotlight-lecture-series/
John's black-and-white images are as beautiful as the stories behind them. Special thank you to Maine Historical Society, Print: A Bookstore, Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, Islandport Press, Longfellow Books, Mainer, The Press Hotel, and our host, Bunker Brewing Co..
Check out our upcoming Spotlight Lectures here:
https://www.portlandlibrary.com/series/spotlight-lecture-series/
Why are you banning the Maine publication Mainer from your stores?
If you censor this publication by removing this periodical, I plan to boycott your stores and will not shop there. The 'complaints' from a few should not be allowed to dictate how this publication is distributed.
If you censor this publication by removing this periodical, I plan to boycott your stores and will not shop there. The 'complaints' from a few should not be allowed to dictate how this publication is distributed.
I am surprised you guys didn't cover the protest yesterday.
Huge thx to the Mainer for reviewing the long lost Freepeoples Frequency album ... please check it out!!!!
https://mainernews.com/freepeoples-frequency/
https://mainernews.com/freepeoples-frequency/
The Real Samuel James is an international blues singer and performer, storyteller, journalist, and culture critic who grew up here in Maine. Those who nominated Samuel shared positive stories and examples of how he changes hearts and minds through storytelling and music. Samuel contributes to The Moth, Blackgirlinmaine, and Mainer. He shared with us: "I try to bring joy where I can and where I can't, I try to bring change."
This full page ad is running in monthly magazine Mainer, distributed throughout the state – including at every Hannaford Supermarkets in Maine.
Tell the supermarket chain to protect farmworker rights and join ! Write to Hannaford: http://bit.ly/HannafordMilkWithDignity
Tell the supermarket chain to protect farmworker rights and join ! Write to Hannaford: http://bit.ly/HannafordMilkWithDignity
Thanks for the endorsement and great cover story, Mainer!
CFNE borrower New Roots Cooperative Farm - founded by immigrants from Somalia - is getting a boost this season from the Black Lives Matter movement. New Roots is a CFNE borrower, and they're featured in this great article in Mainer News. Portland Food Co-op and Isuken Co-op are also highlighted for their solidarity with New Roots.
https://mainernews.com/new-roots-spreading-in-rocky-ground/
https://mainernews.com/new-roots-spreading-in-rocky-ground/
This is a beautiful Mainer article about New Roots Cooperative Farm and Isuken Co-op in Lewiston. Please read it! It will make you smile!
"New Roots’ primary source of revenue has been its community supported agriculture (CSA) program, by which customers purchase shares to receive fresh produce from the farm weekly. In past years, New Roots averaged about 100 CSA shares. This year, they’ve doubled that. Suddenly, rather than scrambling to figure out how their farm will survive in this pandemic-stricken economy, New Roots is grappling with explosive growth."
"New Roots’ primary source of revenue has been its community supported agriculture (CSA) program, by which customers purchase shares to receive fresh produce from the farm weekly. In past years, New Roots averaged about 100 CSA shares. This year, they’ve doubled that. Suddenly, rather than scrambling to figure out how their farm will survive in this pandemic-stricken economy, New Roots is grappling with explosive growth."
The Movement for Black Lives evoked a global response to support Black-owned enterprises. In America, this support led to extending contributions of time and funds to Black-owned businesses across the country.
Mainer News Cooperative, a worker-owned solidarity cooperative, shares how the Movement for Black Lives helped save the season for New Roots Cooperative Farm, Maine’s first immigrant-owned farming cooperative.
The article also highlights Isuken Co-op, the Nation’s first Somali Bantu farm-to-table worker-cooperative food truck. We're honored to provide continued technical assistance to both New Roots and Isuken.
Learn how you can help:
- Donate to New Roots Farm Cooperative: https://newrootscooperativefarm.com/donate/
- Donate to Isuken Cooperative: https://isukencoop.com/support/
During these challenging times, we are excited to share their inspiring stories of cooperative resilience 👇🏾
https://mainernews.com/new-roots-spreading-in-rocky-ground/
Mainer News Cooperative, a worker-owned solidarity cooperative, shares how the Movement for Black Lives helped save the season for New Roots Cooperative Farm, Maine’s first immigrant-owned farming cooperative.
The article also highlights Isuken Co-op, the Nation’s first Somali Bantu farm-to-table worker-cooperative food truck. We're honored to provide continued technical assistance to both New Roots and Isuken.
Learn how you can help:
- Donate to New Roots Farm Cooperative: https://newrootscooperativefarm.com/donate/
- Donate to Isuken Cooperative: https://isukencoop.com/support/
During these challenging times, we are excited to share their inspiring stories of cooperative resilience 👇🏾
https://mainernews.com/new-roots-spreading-in-rocky-ground/
https://mainernews.com/jeff-beam/
Thanks to Mainer for the writeup on the new album: "Beam is deep into his career at this point — his introspective psychedelia as familiar to local fans as the horn of the Casco Bay Ferry." (For me personally, the defining horn in Portland will always be the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum)
(Also, amidst my unwavering self-promotion, I also want to urge folks not to forget to support local journalism too.)
Thanks to Mainer for the writeup on the new album: "Beam is deep into his career at this point — his introspective psychedelia as familiar to local fans as the horn of the Casco Bay Ferry." (For me personally, the defining horn in Portland will always be the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum)
(Also, amidst my unwavering self-promotion, I also want to urge folks not to forget to support local journalism too.)
Portland: Heritage Seaweed is lucky because as a specialty grocery store, we're an "essential" business. Although we closed our doors a month ago, we're able to (barely, maybe?) scrape by thanks to online orders. But yesterday, City Council decided that "nonessential" businesses like The Green Hand Bookshop (models of social distancing and safety) must halt all shipping. BUT! Because of sudden and strong pushback from community members like you, City Hall has temporarily suspended their order until an emergency meeting on Monday evening when they will decide the fate of these small shops...
SO! PLEASE continue to communicate with city officials regarding how you feel about the ban on "nonessential" small businesses being able to ship orders to people via the mail. We worry that this temporary reprieve may dampen public response, allowing the ban to remain. So keep pouring it on!
The letter linked below is worth a read (and includes a link to city hall emails), as is this Mainer article: https://mainernews.com/small-businesses-in-portland-thrown-to-the-wolves/
Thank you!
SO! PLEASE continue to communicate with city officials regarding how you feel about the ban on "nonessential" small businesses being able to ship orders to people via the mail. We worry that this temporary reprieve may dampen public response, allowing the ban to remain. So keep pouring it on!
The letter linked below is worth a read (and includes a link to city hall emails), as is this Mainer article: https://mainernews.com/small-businesses-in-portland-thrown-to-the-wolves/
Thank you!
UPDATE: SEE COMMENTS FOR PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CITY
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Thank you, thank you Mainer for covering this story.
Local nonessential businesses in Portland are prohibited by the City from even *shipping* items to their customers, as was clarified yesterday in an FAQ for business owners.
We recognize that the City is trying to navigate an unprecedented event and is rightly prioritizing public health, but these are safe, no-contact, socially distant sales methods.
So many local business owners are scared right now - the federal funds to support small businesses have run dry, there is little support coming from anywhere else, and they still have huge bills to pay each month.
You can write to Mayor Snyder and our City Manager and ask them to reverse course on this. Please be kind - everyone (everyone) is exhausted and overwhelmed and trying to do the right thing. But do let them know how much the local business community means to you, and that our local businesses need this in order to stay afloat.
---
Thank you, thank you Mainer for covering this story.
Local nonessential businesses in Portland are prohibited by the City from even *shipping* items to their customers, as was clarified yesterday in an FAQ for business owners.
We recognize that the City is trying to navigate an unprecedented event and is rightly prioritizing public health, but these are safe, no-contact, socially distant sales methods.
So many local business owners are scared right now - the federal funds to support small businesses have run dry, there is little support coming from anywhere else, and they still have huge bills to pay each month.
You can write to Mayor Snyder and our City Manager and ask them to reverse course on this. Please be kind - everyone (everyone) is exhausted and overwhelmed and trying to do the right thing. But do let them know how much the local business community means to you, and that our local businesses need this in order to stay afloat.
Check out this years drop off locations - Northern Roots Grow Supply - The Homegrown Connection - Urban Garden Center - Lewiston - Alternative holistic gardens -
Check out our featured friends - East and Eye -Best Friend Farms - PINE TREE GLASS ART - Northern Roots Grow Supply - Narrow Gauge Distributors - Maia Grow - Sinsemilla.Me - Akasa - Urban Garden Center - Alternative Holistic Gardens - Evodom - Mainer
Check out our featured friends - East and Eye -Best Friend Farms - PINE TREE GLASS ART - Northern Roots Grow Supply - Narrow Gauge Distributors - Maia Grow - Sinsemilla.Me - Akasa - Urban Garden Center - Alternative Holistic Gardens - Evodom - Mainer
So - a new book coming out about the tragic but not "mysterious" death of Geraldine Largay, which clearly was caused by sad but entirely understandable events - isn't it time you apologized to her friends and family for putting them through untold suffering with your hysterical, sensational, fact-free series? That would be the decent thing to do.