If the foliage wasn't enough of a tell tale sign that Fall is here, our Town updates sure will be! Read on for helpful tips and reminders as you tackle yard clean-up and prepare for winter. Have fun while you're at it—Community Services has some great programs ahead. We also hope you'll join our upcoming municipal election and have details to get you ready, and lastly a newly promoted Sergeant in our Police department who you'll get to know. Read on for more!

First payments for taxes are due today, October 15. Click Here to pay online.

Now that the trees have started to drop their leaves, it’s time to think about fall clean-up. But, what should we do with all those leaves?! Think about Scarborough’s rivers, streams, marshes, and beaches before raking. Leaves, grass clippings, and other yard waste can clog streams and smother wildlife habitat. They’re also loaded with nutrients, which pollute our waterways.

The Best Option Mulch leaves and grass clippings into your lawn (they make a great natural fertilizer!) or compost them. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has great resources on composting, including fact sheets and how-to videos.

The Next Best Option Take leaves and other yard waste (no branches, please) to Casella Waste at 594 County Road in Westbrook.

There is no charge for Scarborough residents to dispose of yard waste at Casella.

Reminders

• Please do not blow or rake yard waste into the street. Yard waste can block ditches and drains and cause flooding, and clog removal costs the Town time and resources.

• Do not dump yard waste onto stream banks or beaches or into the Marsh or wetlands.

Improve your lawn, organically! Here are a few tips to begin building healthy soil this Fall: 

• Aerate – Aeration loosens the soil which improves root growth and depth, and increases drainage. Aerate once a year in the fall, then every other year once soil is improved.

• Compost – Raking a thin layer of compost over your lawn will add nutrients and help the soil hold moisture.

•  Over-seed – Spreading new grass seed over your lawn is the ideal next step after aerating and topdressing.

• Fertilize Frugally – Add fertilizer only if the results of your soil test (done in either mid to late spring or early fall) indicate it is needed. Avoid chemical fertilizers.

• Add lime – If your soil test shows that you need to adjust your soil’s pH, fall is the perfect time to add lime.

• Lawn Alternatives – Consider reducing your overall lawn area by planting low-maintenance native trees, shrubs and flowers gardens. Native plantings not only beautify your property, they also provide important habitat and food sources for wildlife, birds and pollinators.

This information is compiled by the Scarborough Pest Management Advisory Committee. Click Here to learn about all Town boards and committees.

Game of Thrones aside, winter really IS coming. Given that it’s not unheard of to have an October snowstorm in Maine, it's time we remind and encourage all residents to prepare for the upcoming season. Here's how:

• Clear all items (basketball hoops, etc.) from the edge of the roadways (at least 12 – 15 feet from the edge of the pavement). This better enables us to clear the roads properly and lessens the chance of items and equipment being damaged.

• Be aware of and abide by parking bans. When cars are left parked on the street

during a storm/parking ban, it significantly affects our ability to clear the roadways, and

entire sections of streets may be negatively affected as a result. (Plus, your car may be

towed at your expense. No one wants that.)

• Snow tires are important. Very important. You should get some.

• Place your trash and recycle carts in your driveway, not on the roadside. They can be a few feet up into your driveway – the “arms” on the trash trucks can reach them even if they are a few feet back.

• No matter what you drive, when it snows, road conditions worsen. Allow yourself extra time, go slow, and get to where you are going safely!

• When clearing your driveway of snow, please do not shovel or snow blow the snow into the roadways. This creates additional dangerous (and unnecessary) conditions for everyone. Furthermore, when clearing snow, remember to clear it to the down side (or right side) of your driveway, as this will save you a backache when you have to re-clear your driveway after the plow comes through.

• Dust off that snowblower. Give ‘er an oil change and some TLC to make sure all parts are working correctly. If you do this, and do it well, maybe it won’t snow this year.

Questions? Contact Public Works at pwinfo@scarboroughmaine.org or (207) 730-4400.

The State Referendum Election and the Scarborough Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Your participation in local elections matters, and there are many ways for you to vote! Early voting by absentee ballot is now available at Town Hall, Chamber B during regular business hours. There's still time to request an absentee ballot to submit by mail or drop box (pictured here at the Town Hall entrance). Or vote in-person on Election Day at Scarborough High School.

There are two ballots, one for the Municipal Election and one for the State Referendum Election. On the municipal ballot, vote on candidates for Town Council, School Board, and Sanitary District. It also includes referendum questions for a new fire truck and a turf/track replacement project. Click Here to visit our Elections page and view sample ballots.

The Town of Scarborough has compiled key information into a centralized Voter Guide on our website. Head here as you begin making your voting preparations and diving into details. This page will continue to be updated.

Next week, we're sending you a special edition e-newsletter about the election. We hope you'll find it a useful tool as you prepare to cast your ballot. Your participation in local elections matters.

On November 2nd, you will be asked to vote “yes” or “no” for bond issuance to replace the existing turf and track at the sports complex at the Scarborough High School. Both the turf and track are well past their life span. Since the failed 2019 referendum, the facility has continued to deteriorate, making this need more urgent today than it has ever been. A new webpage goes into detail on the project need, condition, impact if addressed (or left unaddressed), and answers to frequently asked questions.

Thank you to all who took our website feedback survey, conducted in August and September. We received over 150 responses with helpful comments on ways to improve our website. Our IT department is listening! They are in the process of making extensive upgrades over the coming months with a focus on making the Town website more user friendly, easier to navigate, and getting you to the information you need more quickly.

Congratulations to Sergeant Travis Hon, recently promoted from Patrol Officer! Sergeant Hon has worked for the Scarborough Police Department for just over 8 years. Let's get to know him a bit more...

What drew you to law enforcement? What keeps you? I have been interested in working in law enforcement for as long as I can remember. It was always present because my dad worked in law enforcement; I was always around it and fascinated. Now working in the field, I remain fascinated and impressed by the dedication I get to witness and experience from my fellow Officers each and every day.

What does Scarborough mean to you? I grew up in a neighboring town and played sports through high school, so I must admit that in one respect Scarborough was a rival! Despite Scarborough growing much larger since I was young, the community has remained caring and close-knit. It is an absolutely incredible feeling to be even just a small part of this community. And I take great pride and responsibility in being tasked as a protector of the community.

Sergeant Hon spends his time outside of work with his wife and two sons, ages 8 and 10. They also have a 3-year old hound mix who loves to be outside in the yard and harass their two cats. In his free time Hon loves to be outside on some sort of adventure, either hiking with his family or on the water, whether it's swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or fishing.

Are you interested in a career with the Town of Scarborough? Our current job openings range from Assessing Coordinator, to Maintenance Worker/Plow Truck Driver, Child Care Counselor, and Engineering Technician. Click Here to view all available positions and apply.

The Scarborough Police Department is hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It will be held at the Public Safety Building on Saturday, October 23 from 10:00am - 2:00pm. Use this opportunity to safely dispose of any unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications.

During October, November, and December 2021, Efficiency Maine is offering free workshops on seven separate code provision topics and best practices related to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). As of July 1, 2021, the IECC 2015 became the mandatory baseline energy code for all new construction in Maine. The workshops are open to all building professionals involved in design, equipment specifications, construction, and municipal code enforcement.

The Community Services Hub on 418 Payne Road is your one-stop shop for registering and attending a variety of programs. Take a look at the remaining senior programs for the month, and be sure to view the full brochure for November dates, too:

Click Here to view full calendar.

Over the Phone: Call us at 207-730-4150 and pay by debit or credit card

In Person: Stop by the Hub at 418 Payne Road from 10am-2pm, Monday-Friday, to register and pay in person. We accept debit, credit, cash, or check in person.

Paper copies of the brochure are available at the Hub and Scarborough Public Library. Save the Seniors page of our website for seasonal updates.

We have kids programs, too! Learn more in the Fall Community Services digital brochure, updated regularly. Click Here to view a flip-through version of the digital brochure.

Maine Mariners vs. Adirondack Thunder

Cross Insurance Area, Portland

$16 per ticket

Come join the Town of Scarborough for this special event! Tickets for this game include an after-game skate experience and photo opportunity for our ticketholders. Tickets may be purchased and picked up at the Community Services Hub at 418 Payne Road. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (doors open 10:00 am to 2:00 pm but curbside and in-person can be arranged outside of those hours). Call Community Services at (207) 730-4150 for details.

The higher our state valuation, the lower the contribution we get from state subsidies and the more taxes we have to pay to the County. Any funds that become available as a result of leveraging a TIF can only be used on initiatives outlined in a development program agreed to with the state. It’s a similar concept to how 401K’s work with your income taxes. The greater you contribute to your retirement, the less taxable income you have to pay towards taxes, which also allows you to have more money in your retirement.

Read the full article to learn more about how this affects our Downtown Development District, which covers areas in Oak Hill and the Downs. To learn more about TIFs, watch the August 25 Finance Committee Workshop and the October 6 Town Council Workshop (00:01:00-1:20:00). 

Scarborough Town Council

Paul Johnson, Chair • Don Hamill, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina • John Cloutier • Ken Johnson

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM. Visit our online calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

At a special Board of Education meeting on October 12, 2021, Brem Stoner was officially appointed as the Interim Principal of Pleasant Hill School. He is currently the Assistant Principal at Wentworth School, and has served in this capacity for over three years. Prior to serving as an elementary school leader, Brem taught in elementary school classrooms for 15 years, in South Portland, Gray-New Gloucester, as well as in Bellevue, Washington. He received his Bachelors at Keene State College, and his M.Ed and CAS graduate degrees from University of Southern Maine.

Given Brem’s current position at Wentworth, there will be some transition time between now and when he will be able to assume full time responsibilities at Pleasant Hill; Joanne Sizemore, previous Assistant Superintendent for Scarborough Schools, will continue serving as Pleasant Hill Interim Principal until Brem can assume full-time responsibilities.

After reviewing the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the interview committee, composed of school district leaders, Pleasant Hill staff, parents, and Board of Education members, as well as conversations with Mr. Stoner’s professional references, Scarborough School’s is excited to welcome Brem to the Pleasant Hill School community as their new building leader. Brem resides in southern Maine with his wife, son and daughter, and a third child due this month!

We are grateful to the Friends of Scarborough Library for donating more than $100,000 in the last 15 years, founding our outreach services to the homebound, starting our large type collection, sponsoring our popular Summer Reading Program, sponsoring BookPage (a selection guide to the best new books published each month), holding a major book sale as a fundraiser, and funding museum and park passes to check out with a SPL card!

You're Invited: FOSL is celebrating 50 YEARS!

Saturday, October 23rd, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Scarborough Public Library

Buy a 50 Years T-shirt for $15 and choose 3 books. We'll have Halloween treats for kids along with a children's book.

Thank you for supporting the Friends of the Library. Join or renew your Friendship today!

Monday – 9am to 5pm • Tuesday – 9am to 7pm • Wednesday – 9am to 7pm • Thursday – 9am to 7pm • Friday – 9am to 5pm • Saturday – 9am to 5pm • Sunday – Closed

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