Happy peak summer! July brings along a number of events, updates, and ways to connect with fellow community members. Kick off the month with Fourth of July celebrations, then gear up for some free Parks & Rec Month programs thanks to Scarborough Community Services, and evening concerts in Memorial Park. Meanwhile, the School Building Advisory Committee has made recommendations to Town/School leadership and several assessments and studies are nearing completion in our Planning and Engineering departments. Read on for more updates, then unplug for the holiday weekend.

Town offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4 for the holiday.

4th of July

With 4th of July celebrations happening this week/weekend, please be aware of the Town's Consumer Fireworks Ordinance and the 2021 amendments made to acceptable use areas:

• Fireworks can only be set off on July 3rd & 4th and December 31st & January 1st beginning at 9:00am until 10:00pm.

• Use of fireworks is prohibited in the Higgins Beach area (ocean side Spurwink Road beginning at the intersection of Black Point Road and Spurwink Road to the Cape Elizabeth line).

• A Notification of Intent must be submitted to the Scarborough Fire Department prior to use. This online form can also be found on the town website under the Residents menu.

Trash Collection

No changes to trash collection for the week of the Fourth.

Neighborhood Parades with Scarborough Public Safety

Join the Fire Department for their annual Kids Fun Run and 4th of July neighborhood parade at Pine Point! The parade begins at Hurd Park at 9:00am on Thursday, July 4th and ends at the Engine 4 Fire Station. Come see the Fire department and their muster truck. Marine Resource Officer Daryen Granata and Sergeant Andrew Flynn on his motorcycle will represent the police department. There will also be VIPs (Volunteers in Police) in attendance, and retired Marine Resource Officer, Eugene O'Neill will be the grand master in the convertible.

The Prouts Neck neighborhood parade kicks off at 2:50pm, and the Higgins Beach parade will start at 4:30pm.

Enter Our "Summer Outdoors" Photo Contest!

Outdoors is the place to be this summer in Scarborough—its parks, nature preserves, and beaches provide the perfect setting for the season. We want to see these spaces through your lens. Snap photos while you're out enjoying scenery or time with family, and share with us for a chance to win!

Submit up to three photos with a title and caption (optional). They must be taken in Scarborough and outdoors to qualify! For each photo, select which category to enter it into:

Categories

• Beaches
• Pets
• Scenic/Natural Landscape
• Wildlife
• Parks & Paths
• Families & Fun

Photos will be uploaded to Facebook on a rolling basis. The photo with the most 'Likes' in each category will win a gift card/prize from a local Scarborough business. Thanks to Oak Hill Ace Hardware, Highland Farms, Dunstan Tap & Table, Nonesuch River Brewery, and The Dairy Corner for the great prizes!

Submissions from last year's photo contest. Enter yours!

It's Beach Season!

Check out the FAQs on our website for some reminders (dog times, plover protection, lot fees, and more). Heading to the beach often? Purchase a beach pass from Town Hall to avoid daily parking fees.

Parking Ticket? Pay Online

Did you get a parking ticket in Scarborough recently? The Scarborough Maine Police Department has three ways to pay— in person, by mail, and now online.

Online

Visit ScarboroughPolice.com

In Person

Scarborough Municipal Building

259 US Route 1, Scarborough

By Mail

Checks payable to:

Town of Scarborough

P.O. Box 360

Scarborough, ME 04070

Please Note: Parking tickets must be paid within 30 days of receipt or the fine is doubled.

July is Parks and Rec Month!

Join us and the National Recreation and Park Association as we celebrate #WhereYouBelong and recognize the people, spaces, and programs that create a sense of belonging in our community. Thanks to our partner Martin's Point Health Care, we are thrilled to offer a variety of events including fitness, wellness, family-friendly, and kid-approved activities. Be sure to save the calendar to join in on the fun!

For nearly 40 years, the nation has celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. This month is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals— along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — who maintain our country’s local, state and community parks.  

This year’s theme—“Where You Belong”—celebrates the many ways park and recreation professionals across the country foster a sense of belonging in their community by providing welcoming and inclusive programs, essential services for all ages and abilities, and safe, accessible spaces to build meaningful connections. 

Meet Our New Seasonal Park Rangers

This summer, the Town of Scarborough launched its first season of a park ranger program and has three park rangers out in our community. The program is aimed at contributing to the stewardship and protection of Scarborough's recreational and waterfront parks and facilities. The rangers, Nick, Sommer, and Tony, will be around to offer general assistance, information, and directions to residents and visitors. Park Rangers play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with regulations and safeguarding our natural resources in order to enhance the overall visitor experience.

Last Chance! July 2nd Fire Department Blood Drive

Tuesday, July 2

9:00am-7:00pm

Public Safety Building, 275 US Route 1

Sign Up

The Scarborough Fire Department is hosting a blood drive in honor of Madison, the niece of one of our firefighters. In March 2021, Madison was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at only 10 months old. She went through a grueling 2 ½ year treatment plan which included many rounds of chemotherapy. During this time, Madison needed many blood and platelet transfusions to win her battle!

Madison is now in remission and able to enjoy just being a kid. There are more children who need your help to win their fight as well. This is why we started blood drives in Honor of Madison. Please sign up to donate blood at this drive and be somebody’s hero! 

"Seeing the difference in Madison before and after she received blood was amazing. She went from looking pale, bruising easily, and appearing in pain to smiling, laughing, and playing with her toys again. I can’t imagine if she would have had to go without."

This drive is co-sponsored by the Maine Children's Cancer Program. The organization is part of the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and their home office is right here in Scarborough.

Snapshot: Planning/Engineering Ongoing Projects

Vulnerability Assessment

The Town is working with a consultant to complete a vulnerability assessment. The assessment will identify areas and infrastructure that are most susceptible to damage from sea level rise, helping prioritize where investments are needed. Work is supported by a working group of representatives from relevant advisory committees, residents of areas of town most vulnerable to climate change impacts (Higgins, Pine Point, Prouts Neck), and Town staff. The project kicked off in May and is expected to be complete in June 2025.

Open Space Conservation Plan

An Open Space Plan was approved in the FY2024 budget to identify locations for small and large open space areas for parks, trail connections, or other conservation opportunities. Its purpose is also to aid the Town in its 30x30 goal. Learn more about the status and public engagement opportunities below.

Townwide Transportation Study

A Townwide Transportation Study is currently underway. The last Townwide Transportation Study was completed in 2006. Over the past two decades, infrastructure, development patterns, and priorities have changed. The updated study will look at broad categories within Scarborough's transportation system. The study is in its final stages of development with the consultant and draft sections are being reviewed by the Transportation committee. A full draft is expected to be available for public review this summer/early fall.

Rate of Growth Ordinance Annual Report

It's been one year since the amended Rate of Growth ordinance (formerly Growth Management Ordinance) was approved by the Council. The enhancements were made to further direct growth to designated growth areas, limit single family and three-bedroom housing to decrease pressure on community resources, and create a pathway for more deed restricted affordable and workforce housing. When the ordinance was amended last year, it added a reporting section to require the Planning and Codes department to prepare an annual report to the Town Council including the status of growth permits issued, permits remaining, and performance metrics relating to the impacts of growth. The Planning department will be giving this presentation in the July 17 council meeting.

July 25: Open Space Plan Community Workshop

The Town has begun work on an Open Space Conservation Plan to guide and prioritize land conservation efforts is Scarborough. The community is invited to participate in a fun and interactive workshop on Thursday, July 25th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Public Safety Building as part of the planning process. This workshop will provide an opportunity to weigh in on factors that are most important when it comes to conservation and to provide input into areas that should be conserved in Scarborough. Project team members will share participants’ feedback in real-time during the workshop. 

Other engagement events are planned throughout the summer as well. Members of the project team will attend Concerts in the Park on July 11, 18, and August 1, to collect feedback from the community. They will also be at Scarborough Summerfest on August 16. An online engagement tool will also allow community members to provide input virtually. The online tool will be live by July 11 and will be accessed through the Open Space Plan project page in the “What’s Happening” section of the Town’s website. 

Please direct questions about the Open Space Plan or community engagement events to Jami Fitch, Sustainability Manager, at jfitch@scarboroughmaine.org or (207) 730-4035.

Community Center Planning - and Meeting the Community's Needs

Another ongoing project is the planning for a potential community center. An Ad Hoc Community Center Advisory Committee began meeting last September to further explore the opportunity for a community center. They have been working with architectural consultant UTILE to develop spaces inside the building, review operational costs and revenue potential to offset costs, and evaluate municipally-owned properties for possible sites. An overview will be presented to the Town Council in their August meeting—more details to come.

Town staff, council, and committee members are adept at striking the balance between longtime areas of interest (there has been talk of a community center since as far back as 1978— 46 years ago!), present-day needs (such as school building limitations), and looking to the future (meeting demands of a growing landscape while conserving land).

Learn more background on the Community Center in Councilor Karin Shupe's Council Corner article from April 2023.

July 27: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

Scarborough Public Works has two more collaborative, multi-town opportunities to safely dispose of your household hazardous waste materials this season. These events are a free service to residents of Scarborough, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Biddeford for all three events (proof of residency is required).

The remaining dates for the 2024 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days are:

• Saturday, July 27 (8am-Noon), Saco (15 Philips Spring Road)

• Saturday, September 14 (8am-Noon), Biddeford (371 Hill Street)

These are a collaborative cross-town events: Disposal is free for residents of Scarborough, Saco, and Biddeford at all three events. Please reference the flyer for a list of accepted materials and paint.

Questions? Contact us at pwinfo@scarboroughmaine.org or 207.730.4400.

Chamber of Commerce Hosts Annual Meeting

Award goes to longtime Volunteer-in-Police Ralph M.

The Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) held their Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 25 at the Hannaford Corporate Headquarters. Scarborough Town Manager Tom Hall was the featured speaker.

Leroy Crockett, Chamber president, opened the meeting and introduced Nicole Devoe-Lewis, Hannaford's Senior Vice President Omnichannel Operations. Nicole welcomed the group on behalf of Hannaford. She noted the importance of Scarborough to Hannaford, with their Corporate Headquarters and two stores.  

Leroy also presented the Chamber President's Award to Ralph Masciovecchio for his service to the community through the Scarborough Police Departments Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program. Community Resource Officer Eric Greenleaf introduced Ralph, describing his dedication to the volunteer program and his willingness to always serve.

Leroy introduced Tom Hall, to present the State of State address to the attendees. Tom focused on current Town Initiatives as well as a look back over the last 15 years.

Ralph Masciovecchio (center) receives his award from Chamber president Leroy Crockett (left) and Officer Eric Greenleaf (right).

Next Concert in the Park is July 3 (Wednesday)

The 2024 lineup for FREE summer concerts has been announced by Scarborough Community Chamber! All concerts begin at 6:30pm and are held in Scarborough Memorial Park.

July 3, 2024 – 195th Army Band 

***This is a Wednesday show ***

July 11, 2024 – Don Campbell

July 18, 2024 – Motor Booty Affair

July 25, 2024 – Hello Newman

Aug 1, 2024 – Yellow Brick Road

More details may be found on the Scarborough Community Chamber website. Check out the Scarborough Community Chamber Facebook page for all up-to-date information regarding the concerts such as rain delays or venue changes.

Save the Date: Annual Senior (55+) BBQ on August 14

Wednesday, August 14

Begins at 11:00am, lunch served at 11:30am

Tent at High School Tennis Courts, Wentworth Drive, Scarborough

$8 per person, Ages 55+

Register Online (Select 8/14 date)

Register by August 5

What better way to wrap up the summer season than with a celebratory BBQ! Community Services hosts this annual event, where you can enjoy a good old fashioned barbecue, complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken, salads, chips, watermelon, dessert, and drinks. We'll have live music provided by Andrew Favreau and raffle prize drawings. Event sponsored by Aetna Medicare Solutions.

Scarborough Conservation Commission's Current Work

Brought to you by the Scarborough Conservation Commission

Among various citizen volunteer Town committees, Scarborough has a Conservation Commission with seven voting members and two alternates (associate, non-voting members). The mission of the Scarborough Conservation Commission (SCC) is to increase awareness of the value of our natural resources, work to identify and reduce potential damage to these natural areas, and to proactively work with Town Staff, other committees and local organizations to encourage the sustainable stewardship of those resources.

Scarborough has a unique mix of beaches, wetlands, including the largest salt marsh estuary in Maine, upland forests, streams, rivers, and farmland that provide important habitat for a myriad of native plant and animal communities. The SCC is currently working to protect these natural areas by focusing on three goals: 

1. Conserving land to protect natural areas and resources, agricultural land and contiguous wildlife habitat.

2. Building resiliency to prepare for climate change and sea level rise, and to protect the health of the watersheds that flow into Scarborough Marsh.

3. Educating residents about the importance of land conservation, and listening to their environmental concerns.  

Over the past 15 months, the SCC has been successful in incorporating many of these conservation goals and principles into Town decision-making. Last spring, we provided a workshop to the Town Council on the “Economic Benefits of Land Conservation” and encouraged the Council to support our 30x30 initiative to conserve and protect at least 30 percent of Scarborough’s land and water by 2030. This ambitious goal has been set at state, national, and global levels as a way to address the urgency of the biodiversity and climate change crises.

The SCC is pleased that the Council unanimously voted to support this 30x30 resolution and also agreed to fund and implement SCC’s proposals for an Open Space Plan, Vulnerability Assessment, and the formation of an Ad-Hoc Open Space Committee. The Town recently approved the makeup of this committee, which meets monthly. We are also supporting the Town’s Parks and Conservation Land Board’s request for additional funding for the land bond, which will be key to reaching our 30x30 land conservation goal.

Stay tuned for more Conservation Spotlights in our newsletter this summer!

Board of Education Unanimously Approves School Building Advisory Committee's Recommendations

After meeting weekly since February, the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) made their recommendations to the Board of Education in a joint workshop with the Town Council on June 27 (view the recording - starts with a presentation of results from the school survey). They developed four exploratory concepts for new school solutions which they recommended move forward to the next phase of planning:

Concept 1 Build a 4th primary school: Renovate existing K-2s & add Pre-K

Concept 2 New Grade 2-3 school (consolidated): Existing primary schools become K-1

Concept 3 Preserve the primaries and Middle School: Build new additions at existing schools

Concept 4 New K-3 community school (consolidated): New build; repurpose existing school buildings

Current costs for these plans are not yet validated. View the full slides here. A detailed report is forthcoming. View the June 27 SBAC recommendation presentation.

The BOE unanimously approved the recommendation to move all four concepts forward to Phase 2. They also approved an amendment to keep the SBAC communications subcommittee in place during the interim stage between Phase 1 and Phase 2, which will begin in the fall. The Town Council will vote on the recommendation at their next meeting. 

While the structure of Phase 2 is still being established, the process will entail having the concepts thoroughly vetted by professional design and engineering teams. Costs will be validated and land options will be explored at this time, and it is expected that the plans will continue to evolve.

Town Council Corner: All Politics is Local

By Don Cushing, Town Council

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.

Do you remember when… That’s a thing we start to say to ourselves when we get older. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately. 

I remember the first time I voted. I registered as a Republican so I could vote for California Rep. Pete McCloskey. I thought it was important to oppose Richard Nixon even though there was no chance that the incumbent President would not be his party’s nominee. He was nominated in August, two months after the Watergate break-in. I voted for George McGovern too, along with a few other people. Nixon was elected in a landslide, carrying 49 states with 60.7 percent of the vote. I have voted in every national election since. It has always felt like a duty. 

I wish I could boast about my voting record in state and local elections. I can’t. I had a busy life. I did not give it much thought. I didn’t care about who represented me. What real difference did it make? 

Since I’ve gotten involved in the government of our town, my perspective has changed. Scarborough is such a great place to live because of countless decisions made by elected officials over the years. These decisions affect the roads we drive on, the schools we send our kids to, the way we preserve our environment, and how we protect our safety. They balance the needs of dog owners and beach walkers, businesses and residents, young families and retired people. They codify strategies for dealing with growth, traffic, and climate change. Ultimately, our taxes are determined by these decisions. 

The decisions made by local officials affect your daily life and mine more than any national or state election, and yet when we have an election that is just about Scarborough, most of us don’t vote. 

Don Cushing joined the Scarborough Town Council in November 2023. He can be reached at dcushing@scarboroughmaine.org.

The turnout in our June election suggests that there are a lot of folks in our town who are just like I was. Scarborough has 17,410 active voters. 3,133 people, that’s 18%, turned out to vote. The school budget was on the ballot. School Board candidates were on the ballot. Democratic and Republican candidates for the fall election were selected in this election. The choices made last June will have a lasting impact. 

Low voter turnout in local and off-year national elections creates opportunities for people with extreme views and positions. People with passion on all sides of the issues know that House Speaker Tip O’Neill was right when he said that all politics is local. When Town Councils, School Boards, and State Legislators are dominated by ideologues, their views become our laws.

It’s fair to say that Scarborough has done very well under the guidance of the minority who do vote. It is also true that the political climate in our nation has changed radically. Leaving elections to the minority may not be the best choice going forward. 

Scarborough has been blessed to have smart, thoughtful, and committed citizens of all political stripes who have been willing to serve this community as elected officials. They have worked to balance competing needs and priorities with compassion and pragmatism. They did this mostly without my vote and perhaps without yours. Going forward, it might be worthwhile considering the wisdom of leaving it up to others to choose local officials and decide local issues.

Scarborough Town Council

Nick McGee, Chair • April Sither, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina • Don Cushing • Don Hamill • Karin Shupe

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

Head Outside with the Scarborough Land Trust

Morning Yoga at Broadturn Farm

Sunday, July 7 & 14, 10:00-11:00am

$10, Register (7/7), Register (7/14)

Join instructor Heather Guglielmo for a morning of yoga among the flowers at Broadturn Farm. Attendees should bring their own yoga mat or towel, water, weather-appropriate clothing, and insect repellent. We will plan to be outside unless weather moves us into the barn. All ages and levels of experience are welcome.

Bats: Fact vs. Myth

Monday, July 15, 8:00-9:30pm

Free, Register

Join us at Broadturn Farm to talk about these misunderstood creatures. We will go over the species of bats found in Maine and their current conservation status. In addition, we will dispel some myths frequently held about bats. Hopefully at dusk we can see some bats starting to leave the barn and feed for the night. Using a bat detector and an iPhone we will try to identify several species of bats from their ultrasonic frequencies.

Keep Busy this Summer with Scarborough Public Library

Teen Reading Buddies

Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30pm-4:30pm

Does your little one love having stories read to them? Does your beginner reader want to avoid the dreaded “summer slide” by practicing reading aloud? Teen Reading Buddies are ready to enhance kids’ love of reading and develop fluency and comprehension.

This is a drop-in program every Monday and Wednesday.

Summer Learning

For the full list of Summer Learning programs: Library Events

Love this image for our "Truth or Dare" Summer Learning theme? Buy a t-shirt or sweatshirt to support next year's Summer Learning programs! Available in Mens, Womens, and Kids sizes and lots of colors. 

Toddler & Preschool Dance Party

Friday, July 5, 10am

Thursday, July 18, 10am

Monday, July 22, 10am

Wednesday, July 31, 10am

Drop-in

Come shake those sillies out and wiggle those waggles away at our DANCE PARTY! We've got the music, the floaty scarves, and some amazing dance moves. Come on down to the best "dayclub" in town!