News of The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine
April 7, 2021
Maine's Cannabis Industry
by Justin Lamontagne
 
Brett Messer is a self‐taught botanist with a degree in Finance and in Economics from Plymouth State University.  Brett spent a short time after graduation working in accounting, but could not ignore his desire to engage his green thumb.  Today he is the General Manager of Brigid Farm, a vertically integrated cannabis company with over 10 years of experience delivering quality cannabis products to patients in Maine. He will speak on April 9. 
 
Brett has built a qualified and motivated team that have made it their mission to grow, develop, and deliver the very best cannabis and cannabis products to Maine medical marijuana patients and, now, recreational customers. The Farm Stand in Saco and a newly opened House of Hash retail store in South Portland are also a part of the company.
 
 
Bits and Pieces | by John Marr
 
 
When does spring actually come to Maine? The answers are many, but almost everyone agrees it has to do something with Easter and the memories the holiday evokes. Hence it was appropriate for President Ellen Niewoehner to open our April 2 meeting by wishing all 33 participants a happy spring Easter. 
 
Charlie Frair provided the invocation by recalling his Presbyterian ancestry when the common custom was to don one’s Easter finest, including a bonnet for the women in the family, and head of for church. Appropriately, Charlie read a verse attributed to Christ wherein he reminded his followers to “Ask and you shall…” A simple sentiment to speak, but with meaning that reaches deep within and brings out the better of our being. 
 
Charlie has a lot more to give thanks for since the electronic version of his guide to wise wagering at the casino will soon be available on Kindle. It can also be purchased through Amazon. You can rest assured, buying Charlie’s book is a safe bet and sure to please and edify. The ever generous and helpful Mr. Frair has taken on fundraising duties and spoke to us about the upcoming 50-50 Raffle. You will soon receive an email with details.
 
It was great to see Bob Traill on the Zoom screen with his tech assistant by his side to make sure that he is fully linked and in perfect sync. April is Bob’s birthday month, and this nonagenarian shares the month with his fellow proud “Leatherneck” Mark Stimson who is celebrating 95 years this week. Tom Ranello, longtime friend of Mark who was one of many mentored by this Master of Real Estate, arranged for a magnificent parade of friends to drive by Marks’s home with horns blaring and signs waving in this momentous occasion. The South Portland Police Department led the parade which included a military contingent along with a Salvation Army quartet to accompany the Saint Mary’s Church choir. A most befitting recognition for a fabulous man. 
 
On the subject of Realtors, Roxane Cole, a past president, is celebrating 30 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Portland. Thank you, Roxanne, for all that you have done for Rotary and our community.
 
We will be helping to beautify and green up the community by gathering at the Bayside Community Gardenbetween the hours of 2-4 pm on April 14th. If you are looking forward to flexing your green thumb and helping out, bring your gardening tools and help to get things blooming. Maybe Julie Chase who is making her way back to the club will be joining us. It’s nice to have her back. 
 
One of our most prominent flock members is Dick Hall, who will be District Governor next year. He reminded us that for a mere $20 donation, for fabulous Rotary District 7780 causes, you can take part in the two-day virtual District Convention and learn what is going on as we continue the fight against polio, which would be eradicated by now if it weren’t for pandemics and world strife. 
 
Jan Chapman and Bruce Moore reported on their involvement, along with many other Rotarians, with the ongoing efforts to facilitate those fighting for recovery from substance reliance. Recently, Gordon Smith, tasked by Governor Janet Mills to lead the battle against the scourge of opiates, especially the fatal fentanyl drug, spoke of the programs that are in place to gain control despite the influence of COVID-19. With the recent closing of Milestone, the task is all the more difficult and Rotarians are working and donating to help them come back.
 
The inability of the club to meet in person has been somewhat demoralizing since we all enjoy being able to sit around the table and find out what is going on. However, do not despair for there is light at the end of the tunnel and we all hope that the summer sun will bring us back together and we will not have to wait for Bill Blount to get us together under the Sea Dogs bleachers. However, safety is most important, and you can be sure that no unwarranted chances will be taken. In the meantime, tune in every Friday, President Ellen has done a phenomenal job making a Zoom meeting a fun and informative time to be a Rotarian.
 
April Birthdays:
Mark Stimson, Apr 04
Ben Jackson, Apr 07
Cole Smith, Apr 17
David Clough, Apr 19
Bob Traill, Apr 24
Mike Robinson, Apr 27
 
Membership Anniversaries:
Dick Hall, 37 years
Roxane Cole, 30 years
Michael Reed, 28 years
Dave Seddon, 17 years
David Smith, 11 years
Jan Chapman, 9 years
Patty Erickson, 5 years
Jennifer Frederick, 5 years
Matt Wolcott, 5 years
Tiel Duncan, 5 years
Abdullahi Ali, 4 years
 
 
The Red-Hot Portland Real Estate Market
By Ben Lowry
 
Based upon this past year, with COVID dominating Portland’s headlines, one would think that the residential real estate market would be tepid at best. But, as we heard on Friday, April 2, the market has not only been hot, but “bananas”, according to our speaker, Brit Vitalius, the president of the Southern Maine Landlord’s Association and founder of the Vitalius Real Estate Group. The news of record growth, with a 22% one-year increase in the value of single-family properties, is good news for sellers, but first-time buyers have had a tough go of it as bidding wars have left homes selling over asking price, with cash offers and often no contingencies. And those with financing set up have been left worrying about how a home will appraise, leaving banks and mortgage companies to become creative in helping buyers find a way to make a home purchase. 
 
Vitalius gave an overview of how the pricing on a 2,000 square foot home in Cumberland County went from a median sale price of $350,000 in 2016, jumped to 450,000 in January of 2020, and leapt to 600,000 in January of this year. With many large corporations realizing that at-home offices are not going away, Maine is now the destination for out-of-state buyers and families from Boston, New York, Chicago, and Miami. And these families can show up in Maine with cash offers over the asking price and own their dream home on or near the water for a fraction of the cost of living in these urban centers. One home that the Vitalius staff handled had 40 offers after one weekend of showings. “Bananas” is right.
 
Multi-family home sales are also skyrocketing with an 18% increase in values in the past year (and 26% for properties with 2-4 units) with a doubling in value over the past 11 years. These properties are difficult to find, with just 16 on the market currently in Portland, down from the usual 30 to 40. At a median price point of $580,000 in Portland, many investors are looking to purchase multi-unit places in Westbrook and Saco where the median price hovers around $350,000.
 
While there isn’t a lot of construction of single-family homes in Portland currently, areas like the mills in Biddeford-Saco have become very popular as rental options for younger people and those who commute to Boston. Lewiston is undergoing a similar surge, but at a much slower rate that has crept along for almost 10 years. With the passage of the Portland rent control referendum in November, which capped any rent increase to 5% of the previous rent, many landlords are now in a bind after renting apartments for well under market value for years only to have their hands tied once the longtime tenant moves out or passes away. Vitalius, in representing landlord’s rights through the association, has taken the issue to court in hopes of seeking legal recourse for what he believes is an inequitable action.
 
Vitalius doesn’t see a burst in this bubble and forecasts that the pricing trends that have been so eye-popping will continue at least for the short-term as Maine becomes more than just a vacation destination. No one knows where the market will head, but now is a very interesting time to be in the real estate market as a broker or, even more so, as a seller. 
Moment of Reflection
 
They shut me up in Prose – (445)
 
By Emily Dickinson
 
They shut me up in Prose –
As when a little Girl
They put me in the Closet –
Because they liked me “still”   –
 
Still! Could themself have peeped –
And seen my Brain – go round –
They might as wise have lodged a Bird
For Treason – in the Pound –
 
Himself has but to will
And easy as a Star
Look down upon Captivity –
And laugh – No more have I –
 
Speaker Schedule
 
April 9 | Brett Messer, Cannabis Industry
April 16 | Bill Benson, Boots 2 Roots
April 23 | Chris Busby, The Mainer (formerly The Bollard)
April 30 | Austin Williams, Roux Institute
May 7 | Eliah Thanhauser, North Spore Mushrooms
May 14 | Glenn Cummings, University of Southern Maine
May 21 | Ian Dorsey, Mast Landing Brewery
May 28 | NO MEETING
June 4 | TBD
June 11 | Wade Merritt, Maine International Trade Center
June 18 | Picnic, Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth
June 25 | TBD
 
The Windjammer
is published online every week by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
 
Contributing Editors
Jake Bourdeau
Dick Hall
Erik Jorgensen
Julie L’Heureux
Ben Lowry
John Marr
Tom Talbott
 
Managing Editor
Bob Martin
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