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With Sincere Gratitude
Kelly Murphy,
Thanksgiving Scarborough
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The 3rd Annual Scarborough Community Thanksgiving Dinner was a tremendous success! Word is spreading about our delicious dinner, beautiful facility, and the welcoming atmosphere created by dozens of volunteers. We served well over 300 guests in the Wentworth Cafeteria and sent to-go meals home for another 50 people who were unable to attend the dinner in person.
The Thanksgiving Scarborough steering committee is a well-oiled machine that pulled this event off without a hitch. Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers, pie bakers, and sponsors. Their participation is invaluable and makes this holiday gathering not only possible, but very special for everyone involved. Having the full support of the Scarborough School Department, Scarborough Community Services, and Project GRACE is very meaningful and unique to our community dinner. It truly is a "community" event.
Very special thanks to Peter Esposito, Ann LeGage, Joe Wright, and all of the Scarborough Schools Nutrition Department who spend days preparing a restaurant quality Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds. We are very grateful to all the staff members who spent their holiday working with us to ensure everyone has a place to go on Thanksgiving.
Katie Bavoso from NewsCenter 6 was with us for much of the day starting at 6:15 in the morning! There are a few different clips from throughout the day but this one is my favorite and features some of our guests.
Many volunteers and guests have been with us for all of the three years - a sure sign that this has become a very important tradition for Scarborough; one that we hope continues for years to come.
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Come Share Your Thoughts, Concerns, and Ideas!
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 The Saco and Scarborough communities are partnering with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) to study the Route 1 corridor.
The purpose of this study is to make the Route 1 corridor from Downtown Saco to Pleasant Hill Road in Scarborough safe and accessible for all travel modes, including motor vehicles, transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Making the corridor more accessible will stimulate economic development, reduce vehicle delay, and improve safety for all users.
The communities are planning a series of public meetings to hear ideas and concerns, with the first two meetings scheduled to take place in early December. The Public Meeting in Scarborough is scheduled for December 13th at 6:00 PM in Scarborough Town Hall. The public can also visit our website for more information on the study and to learn about the Complete Streets principles we are using. An online community survey will be available in the first week of December for those who are unable to attend meetings or would prefer to offer comments online. A meeting will also be held in the City of Saco on December 5th at 6pm in Saco City Hall.
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Please join Town Manager Tom Hall and Superintendent of Schools Julie Kukenberger for a Listen to Learn session. These informal conversations are designed to give Tom and Julie direct insight from residents on what services you value most, what services you want more of, and what services you feel are more than is needed. This input will help guide budget development for FY20 and beyond so the more voices we hear the better the budget can reflect the community's priorities.
Thursday January 3, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Town Hall, Council Chambers
Wednesday January 16, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Scarborough Public Library, Community Room
Tuesday January 22, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Town Hall, Council Chambers
Wednesday January 30, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wentworth School, Learning Commons
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It's Time to Register Your Dogs!
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Come into the Town Clerk's office and pick up a lovely bright yellow tag that helps your dog get home if the unthinkable happens and helps provide much needed services for our furry friends across the state.
Dog license fees account for 95% of the State Animal Welfare Program's entire funding and without these fees the State would be unable to protect the animal companions of Maine.
In order to obtain a license for your dog, you must present a current State of Maine Rabies Certificate obtained from a veterinarian. This certificate will verify that your dog has received its rabies shot within the past two years. Also, bring with you written proof that the dog has been spayed or neutered, if applicable. If you have already shown proof of spay or neuter to the Town Clerk's Office then additional proof is not necessary. All dog licenses expire December 31st of each year.
$6.00 per year for spayed/neutered dogs
$11.00 per year for dogs not spayed/neutered
Per state law, any dog license that is re-licensed after January 31st will be subject to a $25.00 late fee.
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We're Dreaming of a Green Holiday!
Jami Fitch, Sustainability Coordinator
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It's looking like the North Pole outside these days, which has us thinking about the holidays!
Decorations, twinkling lights, and wrapped presents are important parts of our holiday celebrations, but they also generate a lot of waste and use a lot of electricity. In fact, between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Americans throw away a million extra tons of garbage per week (according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and use more electricity on holiday lights than some countries use in an entire year (according to the U.S. Department of Energy)! With this in mind, we wanted to share a few ideas to "green up" the holidays by reducing waste and energy use.
- Make your own wrapping paper
Most wrapping paper cannot be recycled, which means it ends up in the garbage. Make your own using craft paper or newspaper. Wrapping smaller gifts in a scarf or decorative dish towel becomes an additional gift! Check out these fun wrapping ideas.
- Upgrade to energy-saving LED lights
As your old strings of lights burn out, replace them with energy-saving LED lights. LEDs use 90% less energy than traditional lights, release little heat, and last up to 200,000 hours. LED lights cost a little more up front, but you'll save money on electricity and replacement costs, since they last much longer than traditional lights.
- Shop local
Support Scarborough businesses and use less fuel by purchasing your holiday gifts and treats from our local stores.
- Give an experience or make a donation
Experiences last longer than things! Ski passes, state park passes, tickets to sporting events, museum memberships, or making a donation to an organization that is important to the recipient are meaningful and impactful gifts.
Check out these other ideas from the
US Green Building Council
.
We hope you have a very happy, safe, and sustainable holiday season!
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Holiday Season Shopping & Crime Prevention Tips
Kim Sperlich, Police Department
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Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping during the holiday season.
Car burglars often case shopping areas; targeting cars that contain valuables that are visible. Thieves can break into a vehicle within seconds. Please take extra precautions to prevent car prowlers this holiday season:
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Remove valuables from your vehicle. Thieves break into cars for anything they think may have value. Shopping bags and gym bags are often targeted since they contain valuables such as money, electronics, sunglasses or athletic equipment.
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Carry your purchases with you while you shop. If that's not practical, place them in the trunk and if possible move your car to another location in case a car burglar is observing the parking lot.
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Hide accessories for mobile phones and other devices. They have value and indicate that an electronic device may also be stashed in your vehicle.
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Remove documents containing personal information, garage door openers, car keys and other items that can make you vulnerable to other crimes.
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Close and lock windows and doors before you leave.
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Park in a well-lit and well-traveled area to increase the chances that other shoppers can observe activity around your car.
Click here for more great ways to stay safe this season
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55+ Program Celebrates Thanksgiving Together
Cynthia DiBiase, Community Services Seniors Program Coordinator
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Scarborough's 55+ Program held a special day before Thanksgiving celebration for their participants! Seniors gathered together with friends, old and new, to gobble up some delicious turkey with all the fixings! Heartwarming notes describing what fellow seniors were thankful for were written on fall leaves, and scattered on the tables. The seniors enjoyed reading the notes, and sharing them with their peers while enjoying their meals. After lunch, they enjoyed some live music by Old School R&B and Soul vocalist and keyboardist- Soul Gal. The seniors sang, clapped, and danced along with friends. Laughs, smiles, and good times were had by all!
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Meet Your New Town Employees
Heidi McNinch, Human Resources Coordinator
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This month we're highlighting two new members of our Public Safety Team.
On Tuesday, October 30
th
, Jacob Murphy became our newest full time Patrol Officer.
Jacob started his career with the Town of Scarborough by working as a Seasonal Reserve Officer in the summer of 2016 and the summer of 2018. As a Seasonal Reserve Officer, Jacob helped reduce opportunities for the commission of crime through assisting with preventative patrols. Jacob also promoted and preserved the peace and helped create and maintain security in the Community. As a full time Patrol Officer, Jacob will identify criminal offenders and criminal activity and, where appropriate, apprehend offenders and participate in court proceedings. Jacob will aid individuals who are in danger of physical harm, help citizens requesting assistance or information, and facilitate the movement of traffic.
Jacob is a graduate of Scarborough High School and attended Southern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Orono.
On Monday, November 5
th
, Michael Welch became a full time Firefighter/EMT.
 In June of 2016, Michael joined the Scarborough Fire Department as a Per Diem Firefighter. As a Per Diem Firefighter, Michael helped combat, extinguish and prevent fires and care for the community by responding to fire suppression calls and medical emergencies day or night and in all types of weather. As a full time Firefighter/EMT, Michael will perform triage, treatment, and transport of victims, work closely with a Paramedic partner, perform fire suppression activities and provide mutual aid to surrounding communities. Firefighter/EMTs work with a vast cross section of co-workers and the public including call members, student firefighters, part and full time firefighters, local and state police officers, hospital staff and members of the community. Michael has also worked for the Town of Limerick as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT for more than five years.
Michael is a graduate of Holliston High School, Holliston Massachusetts and has received certifications from MA-Wentworth Institute of Technology, York County Community College, Southern Maine Community College, and the United Ambulance Training Center.
Welcome Jacob and Michael and thank you for helping keep our community safe.
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Changes to Scarborough Community Television
Nicole Hall, Community Services Administrative Coordinator
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As of November 27, 2018, local channels 2 and 3 were relocated to channels 1301 and 1302. This is carried in the basic service tier. Customers will be required to have a Spectrum Receiver on each TV. If you have an existing set-top-box, digital transport adapter (DTA), or retail device with a CableCARD on each TV, you will be unaffected by this change.
Otherwise, to order your Spectrum Receiver(s), please go to
the Spectrum website
or call 1-844-278-3409 and Charter will ship a self-installation kit directly to your home at no additional cost. You can also visit the Windham, Saco, Lewiston or Portland Cable Stores to pick up your equipment.
If you need equipment, customers are eligible to receive a converter at no additional charge for a limited period of time. Please note, if customers have TV(s) without equipment issued by Spectrum, you will lose the ability to view these channels.
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About the Scarborough Town Newsletter
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Welcome to the official newsletter of the Town of Scarborough, Maine. Brought to you by a team of Town staff, our mission is to keep you informed about town events and activities.
Please note that the newsletter articles are intended to be brief and will often point you back to a link on the Town's Website or Facebook page. The website is the heart of the communication network within town and is the central repository for information on Town government.
Your newsletter team:
| Tody Justice, Town Clerk |
Catherine Morrison, Public Library |
| Audra Keenan, Community Services |
Sean Bushway, IT |
| Heidi McNinch, Human Resources |
Brian Longstaff, Codes & Planning |
Kelly Johnston, Scarborough Public Schools
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Chief Michael Thurlow, Fire Department |
| Kim Sperlich, Police Department |
Ruth Porter, Finance |
| Leona Oceania, Public Works |
Larissa Crockett, Assistant Town Manager |
| Magdalena Slawiec, SEDCO |
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Peter Hayes, Chair
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Katy Foley, Vice Chair
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Shawn Babine
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Jean-Marie Caterina
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William Donovan
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Don Hamill
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Paul Johnson
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