Woody Howard

Woody Howard was raised on a potato farm in Hodgdon in Aroostook County, Maine. He went to Brown University, operated a general store with his parents back in Hodgdon during the 1970’s and eventually made it to New York City. For 10 years he worked as an Equity actor/singer and then served as a teacher at Horace Mann School, a private school in the Bronx. For most of his 25 years there he was Chair of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Film Studies, teaching acting classes, building sets, and directing about 70 plays and musicals over the years. He retired in 2016 and moved to Portland the next year with his husband of 44 years. They have grown to love Portland and all it has to offer; music, art, nature, food, and many friendly people!

Woody joined the Stroudwater Neighborhood Association (SNA) in 2019. He is serving his third term on the Board, having been secretary for two years, and is now halfway through his second term as president.

He believes strongly in the importance of every neighborhood in the City of Portland having a unifying organization such as the SNA. All cities, even New York City, are made up of distinct neighborhoods with individual personalities, resources, and challenges. Stroudwater is blessed with a host of hiking trails and a river that hosts paddling, skating and a remarkable variety of wildlife thanks to our picturesque dam. We have the Tate House, the Burial Ground and so many fabulous historic homes, a unique treasure in Portland.

We also are home to the Portland Jetport and, while we are very proud of its vitality and the service it provides to our region, we seek to form an ever-improving system of consultation and collaboration with the Jetport as it grows. We want to be watchful as proposals are put forth for development in the neighborhood to encourage environmentally responsible plans and to balance needed growth in housing with the things that give our neighborhood its distinctive character. Growing a city is always a balancing act and one that requires constant care, informed discussion, and unceasing engagement.

A volunteer organization such as the SNA can only do so much. I hope that I will be permitted to continue to do what I can as president to maximize our efforts for another year. It is a privilege to serve on the Board with so many hardworking, caring, and committed neighbors.

Kim Keaney

My name is Kim Keaney and I would love to continue serving as Treasurer of Stroudwater Neighborhood Association. I am retired but spent most of my work life in finance. I have been Treasurer since 2024.

I believe neighborhood associations help provide a connectedness that is so important in today’s world.

I have lived in the Portland area all of my life. I grew up in the Riverton neighborhood at a t ime when we headed out the door to play with the herds of others kids with the admonition to be home when the street lights came on. It was a time of real connection with neighbors. I have lived in the Boulevard area with plenty of neighbors but no real sense of connection with them. When my kids came along, i moved from the city to a rural area of Westbrook where I had only two neighbors. Though limited in number, they were the best neighbors I’ve ever had. I have lived in Deering Ceter with lots of friendly neighbors, and among other things, an active neighborhood assocation. Living in Stroudwater for the past 25 years, I have wonderful neighbors, those connetions are very important to me. But, my experience has been that neighborly connection don’t always happen organically. Having a neighborhood association like ours, committed to encouraging connections, is essential.

Phoebe Lake

Hello, I’m Phoebe Lake. I moved into the neighborhood with my husband in 2024 and started getting involved in the SNA the following year.

I have a background in Community Engagement work and I hope to help bring our neighborhood together in fun and meaningful ways.

Carter Waldren

I currently serve as a trustee on the Stroudwater Neighborhood Association board and live in Stroudwater, with my wife, Willa Vennema. I value the history of Stroudwater and its role in the founding of Portland, as well as the strong sense of community that continues to define it. My primary interests are infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and expanding access to outdoor recreation. I believe environmental issues are central to the long-term health of all of Portland, not just Stoudwater. I am particularly focused on protecting local natural resources, improving sustainable infrastructure, and ensuring thoughtful development that respects community character. Professionally, I teach and mentor students as they train to become automotive technicians at the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center. Outside of work, Willa and I enjoy hiking on local trails and staying connected to the outdoors. I am committed to being a thoughtful, solutions-oriented voice for our community.

Anne Marie Wilberg

Hi, I’m Anne Marie Wilberg. I am happily married with 2 adult children and 2 grandkids (so far!). I retired a few years ago from an active OB/GYN practice, but have stayed actively involved in addressing the Perinatal health care challenges that Maine and the rest of the country are facing. I also travel regularly to visit my family in the Netherlands, and I love to craft!

I’ve lived in the Stroudwater neighborhood since 2016, and a few years later I joined the Stroudwater Neighborhood Association (SNA) Board of Trustees. I’ve now served two terms, including the past two years as Secretary. Over that time, I’ve really come to appreciate what makes this neighborhood special—its history, its natural surroundings, The SNA has always focused on preserving those things, and that’s something I care deeply about as well.

At the same time, I think there’s more we can do to bring neighbors together. Especially since the pandemic, it’s easy to feel a bit disconnected. I’d love to see us create more opportunities to connect—through neighborhood events, shared activities, and making better use of spaces like the Stroudwater River.

I also see the SNA as an important source of information. There’s a lot happening that affects our neighborhood—development plans, airport issues, traffic, safety—and it’s not always easy to keep track of it all. I want to make sure neighbors know what’s going on and how they can get involved if they choose, whether that’s attending a Planning Board meeting or following a City Council issue.

For me, it’s really about keeping Stroudwater a place where people feel connected, informed, and heard. I’d be happy to continue serving and working with all of you to support our neighborhood.

Charlotte Witt

In August 2000 my family (my spouse Mark Okrent and our two children) moved to Garrison St. in Stroudwater. It’s hard to believe sometimes but we have lived here—very happily-- for over 25 years. The children are grown and gone, but we have many memories of skating, swimming, and kayaking on the river; it is a lovely place to raise kids.

During the past few years, I had the opportunity of meeting with neighbors and members of the Stroudwater Neighborhood Association Board of Trustees informally on the issue of the preservation of the historic dam on the Stroudwater river. Through this process I came to understand the importance of what the Association does.

Our Stroudwater neighborhood is a little gem in the city of Portland, but it is under pressure from traffic, air traffic, and other factors. In this context I appreciate that the Board of Trustees “is dedicated to stewardship of the natural, social, and historic character that makes Stroudwater Village and the surrounding neighborhood unique.” I would like to contribute to that mission.

I am a Professor of Philosophy (emeritus) at the University of New Hampshire. Having retired from teaching in 2024 I hope to use my writing and speaking skills advocating for the preservation of our neighborhood.