Whether it's through performing one goal-motivated task each day, training so you're prepared when a situation arises, or demonstrating your character over the course of 50 years, your actions have a powerful impact on those around you. Read on for stories of people taking action in our community, and be inspired to get yourself moving, too! From joining a board, to taking our wellness challenge, adopting a hydrant, and more, there are many ways for you to fulfill your February goals. See the latest updates from the Town of Scarborough to learn more. |
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February is Black History Month, an observance to acknowledge the contributions made by black residents to the economic and cultural developments of communities across the U.S. The Town of Scarborough is committed to being a safe space where diversity, equity, and inclusion matter. Black History Month is a time to honor the achievements of black people, recognizing their role in history, and to reflect on ways we can build a community that lives up to these core values.
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No Trash Pick-Up on Tuesday, February 2
Due to the snowstorm, there will be no curbside pickup tomorrow
Revised Schedule
Tuesday customers will be collected on Wednesday, Feb. 3rd
Wednesday customers will be collected on Thursday, Feb. 4th
Thursday customers will be collected on Friday, Feb. 5th
Friday customers will be collected on Saturday, Feb. 6th
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Join the LOVE Month Wellness Challenge |
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February is LOVE month, otherwise known to our Community Services department as Love Overcomes Virtually Everything. Join us this coming month for a fun and creative daily challenge to spread the love—for yourself and others. Here's how:
- Follow Scarborough Community Services on Facebook. They'll be posting daily challenge details. You can also find the calendar here.
- Comment on their post to let them know you completed the tasks.
- Each day you complete and comment earns you an entry into our weekly drawing for awesome prize packs, stuffed with SCS swag, health and fitness gear, and healthy snacks!
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Good luck to everyone and congrats to taking a step towards you’re your own health and overall wellness. |
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Print out the challenge calendar to follow along. Today's tasks: Follow the moves in this video. |
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This month, on the fourth anniversary of his passing, we’re honoring the legacy of Jim Crowley, who dedicated 50 years of service to the town where he grew up and raised a family. Jim worked for the Public Works department for the full tenure of his service, beginning in 1967. He was very proud to have worked for Scarborough Public Works for half a century and took great pride in operating his loader over the years.
Jim passed away peacefully on January 27, 2017. Four years later, he continues to be remembered by his coworkers as a man who influenced daily operations at Public Works simply by demonstrating strength of character and purpose. He will be remembered in the town for years to come for his dedication, pride in his work, and honor to his family.
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Most people don’t think twice about the hydrant near their home, but our Fire Department is keenly aware of how important they are for fighting fires. After every storm, their crews proactively go out to hand shovel them to make sure they are available and ready for use.
How can you help? 'Adopt' a hydrant! Clearing the hydrant closest to your home after each snowstorm is a public service and act of kindness that will not go unnoticed. Each hydrant that a citizen clears speeds up the work for our firefighters and helps keep our apparatus off the roads.
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If you have any questions about for our fire department please contact Fire Chief Mike Thurlow by email or phone, 730-4201.
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Scarborough Downs as Mass Vaccination Site |
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Last week, the Town Council approved a Mass Gathering Permit submitted by Maine Health to use the Scarborough Downs as a mass vaccination site. The grandstand at the former Scarborough Downs racetrack will soon be retrofitted to serve as a mass vaccination site for upwards of six months. With a goal of administering 1,000 doses per day at this site based on availability, the Town of Scarborough is honored to be part of the solution in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Maine. |
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Board Spotlight: Board of Assessment Review |
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Property assessments are done on a routine basis by the Town, and there is always the opportunity for property owners to file an appeal. The Assessor reviews appeals and makes a decision. If the owner wishes to appeal that decision, they may submit it to the Board of Assessment Review.
A meeting is held in a format similar to a trial, with the Board members being the jurors. The owner presents evidence in support of their claims and the Assessor presents evidence in support of the town's claims based on the property's assessed value. This type of meeting (appeal hearing) typically happens 0-4 times per year.
There are currently 3 vacancies on this Board. If you have an interest in serving on the Board of Assessment Review on an as-needed basis (no scheduled meetings), learn more and apply online. |
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Nick is our Town Assessor and served as a member of the Board of Assessment Review before becoming the Assessor in 2019. Email him with any questions.
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Marine Rescue Team Receives Coast Guard Kudos |
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The US Coast Guard recently issued a formal certificate of merit to the Scarborough Fire Department Marine Rescue Team for an incident that occurred last fall. On September 16, 2020, they received report of a 19-foot boat that had capsized in Saco Bay with two people clinging to its hull. The Scarborough Marine Rescue Team was sent out along with the Saco Marine Rescue team, and the US Coast Guard was also notified and responded.
Weather conditions were treacherous and darkness was setting in. The communications center had lost contact with the victims, two recreational lobstermen from out of town.
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Captain Brian LeFebvre, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Commander for Northern New England, delivers a message of thanks to the Scarborough Marine Rescue Team |
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Luckily they had jumped into the very cold water and swam to safety on Bluff Island. They had a cell phone with them and were able to call back into the 911 center and provide their position on the island which was relayed to the rescue boat. Bluff Island is predominantly surrounded by rocks and posed a significant risk to the marine rescue boat, making extraction of the victims very dangerous. Thanks to active training and practice with this type of extraction, the marine rescue team was able to successfully bring the victims to safety. The Scarborough Fire Department Marine Water Rescue Team was commended by the US Coast Guard for their bravery, professionalism, and dedication to public service. |
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Town Council Corner: Reflecting on 2020
By Council Chair Paul Johnson
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Looking back on this past year, a collective source of pride amongst all councilors, and our town staff, is our dedication to continuing the business of Scarborough in the face of much adversity. Here are some of the highlights of what we accomplished in 2020:
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• The FY2021 school budget passed on the first attempt with nearly two thirds of residents supporting the increase of just 1%. Coincidently, 2020 was the third year in a row that Scarborough passed its school budget on the first attempt. Perhaps Scarborough is moving away from our entrenched budget battles and towards a more predictable tax increase and broader support for our schools and municipalities?
• The Town Council passed a new TIF/CEA policy that allows for more structure and transparency when a developer approaches the town for a property tax reimbursement in return for infrastructure improvements, economic development, or affordable housing.
• Our Town Manager was able to maintain all town positions during the intense first few months of the pandemic. This took initiative, creativity, and the desire to take care of our town employees.
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• We were able to secure childcare for many Scarborough families during the school day, allowing parents to return to work and for the children to maintain a consistent academic schedule with some much needed social interaction.
• Two ad-hoc committees were formed with two key objectives. One committee will help shape the new downtown area of The Downs and the second committee is tasked with reviewing our town charter.
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Of course, there was lots of other riveting town business, but these are some of the points of pride. In total, Scarborough didn't miss a beat in 2020 and we look forward to a productive 2021. As always, please reach out to any councilor with any questions or concerns. |
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Scarborough Town Council. |
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Scarborough Town Council
Paul Johnson, Chair • Don Hamill, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina • John Cloutier • Betsy Gleysteen • Ken Johnson
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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. |
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Two New Ad-Hoc Committees Are Underway |
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Two new ad-hoc committees, Downtown Development and Charter Review, formed and began meeting in January. Please consider participating in their regular meetings:
Downtown Development: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM
The Downtown Development Committee is an opportunity to shape what the heart of our community will look like for decades to come. The committee is charged with partnering with the Downs to develop a schematic design and conceptual layout of a new Downtown District.
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Charter Review: 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, 6:30 PM (plus additional subcommittee meetings; see calendar for details)
The Charter Review Committee is charged with reviewing and making recommendations to the Town Charter, as required every ten years. The charter sets forth the powers, rules and principles for how we govern.
All meetings are available for public comment via Zoom or for viewing on YouTube. If you cannot attend the meetings, please submit your questions or comments through our online feedback form. |
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Feedback Wanted: Scarborough Public Schools Survey |
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Scarborough Public Schools is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity at all levels. Two new components of this include creating a district steering committee and forming a partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium. The next key early action step involves gathering feedback from stakeholders, including students, staff, families and the larger community. |
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Please endorse this work by taking a few minutes to complete this Parent/Community Climate Survey designed by the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium. Your feedback will be critical in assisting the Steering Committee in the development of a long-term action plan for Scarborough Public Schools. Thank you for sharing your experiences and perspectives. |
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This survey is open until February 5. All results are anonymous.
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Library Offering Free Virtual Programs |
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The Scarborough Public Library is open for curbside pickup and computer lab appointments. They are thrilled to announce a brand new virtual program series for you to stay connected from home! |
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Anthology: Storytime for Adults
Tuesdays in February & March, 6:30-8pm
Enjoy listening to an hour of carefully selected poetry, essays, and short stories and stay for a half an hour of discussion afterward. The theme for the kickoff program on February 2 is Snowed In: or How to Outwit Winter. A collaborative offering from Scarborough Public, South Portland Public, and Thomas Memorial Libraries.
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Library Hours
Monday 10am-5pm • Tuesday 10am-5pm • Wednesday 10am-6pm • Thursday 10am-5pm • Friday 10am-5pm • Saturday 10am-2pm • Sunday Closed
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Save the Date: Camden Conference
February 20-21
Scarborough resident and retired foreign service officer, Matt Ward, will present the Library’s third and last virtual program in the Camden Conference series. Visit the Library's Camden Conference page to see the recordings of the first two illustrated lectures and to register for “China & the Arctic.” |
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Click on the calendar event to view Town Council meeting Zoom links |
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Our mission is to keep you informed about town events and activities. |
Your Newsletter Team
Tody Justice, Town Clerk • Lucy Norvell, Public Library • Jill Deering, Community Services • Donald Begin, IT • Magdalena Slawiec, SEDCO • Brian Longstaff, Codes & Planning • Kelly Johnston, Scarborough Public Schools • Michael Thurlow, Fire Department • Kim Sperlich, Police Department • Ruth Porter, Finance • Leona Oceania, Public Works • Allison Carrier, Communications
Please note our website is the central repository for information on Town government.
If you have ideas for stories, please email us!
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