Change is in the air as summer comes to a close, back to school prep is underway, and fall programs start up again (in fact, registration opened up this week). Plan ahead for the season by putting some upcoming dates on the calendar—Community Center workshop (August 21), Sustainable Scarborough Day (October 6), and Election Day (November 5), to name a few. And take advantage of these last couple weeks in August by coming to Summerfest and snapping some photos for our photo contest! Read on for details on these seasonal reminders and more.

Stay Connected to Town happenings...The next Town Council meeting is this Wednesday, August 21 (get links and view the agenda on the Town Calendar a few days prior). Watch previously recorded meetings on our Public Meetings YouTube channel.

TOMORROW! 28th Annual Summerfest

Friday, August 16

5:00-10:00pm

High School Sports Complex

Facebook Event (Check the Community Services Facebook page for any day-of changes)

Come celebrate the end of a great summer with your friends, family, and neighbors at Scarborough’s 28th Annual Summerfest event! The Town of Scarborough and Community Services hosts this annual event at the High School Sports Complex at no cost. Free parking is available at Scarborough High School, Wentworth School, Scarborough Middle School, Scarborough Public Library, and Scarborough Municipal Building.

🏃 Get the night off to a "running" start by joining the Summerfest 5K and Kids 1-Mile Fun Run! Kids Fun Run begins at 6:00 pm; 5K begins at 6:30 pm. Both races take off from the high school main entrance. Pre-register at runsignup.com.

🤸 The Kids’ Bounce Zone is back this year and entry is FREE thanks to our generous sponsor, Town and Country Federal Credit Union!

🚚 Food will be available from a variety of food trucks, including Cargo Pizza, Char Wrig's Sno and Dough Adventure Co., Mow's Munchies, Mr. Tuna, Poppies Kettle Corn, Steamy Weenies, and The Treat Truck.

🍨 Local businesses, organizations and non-profits will be offering everything from fun activities and games, to goodies like blueberry and apple crisps, ice cream, cotton candy, cakes and cake pops, and much more.

🎸 Live music starts at 7:00 pm from Springsteen Road, the alter ego of Maine's favorite party band, Time Pilots. Born out of countless requests for the best of Bruce Springsteen, you’ll experience an authentic tribute that captures the spirit and essence of the Boss! Sponsored by The Little Gym Scarborough.

🎆 This event concludes with a grand finale of fireworks, scheduled to begin around 9:15 pm. Be sure to bring your blanket or folding chair and find your spot early! 

National Night Out with Scarborough Public Safety

Last week the Scarborough Police and Fire Departments hosted a National Night Out celebration at Memorial Park. It was a special evening with a great turnout! The community had a chance to meet our Police K9, have a treat from the ice cream truck, and take part in some demos and activities. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Thanks to all who came out!

Last Chance! Enter Our Summer Photo Contest

Last Day to Enter is August 25

Thank you to all who have submitted an incredible array of outdoor summer photos into our photo contest! The views captured are best enjoyed when shared with others, and we hope you've taken a minute to check out the entries.

Submit by August 25

There's still time to enter! Snap photos while you're out enjoying scenery or time with family, and share with us by August 25 for a chance to win a gift card from a variety of Scarborough businesses. Complete our Entry Form to submit your favorite photos. Upload up to three photos with a title and caption (optional). Remember, they must be taken in Scarborough, in the summer, and outdoors to qualify!

Check Out Some of the Entries...

"Above Pine Point Harbor" by Jason Lindstrom

"Ferry Beach Baby" by Elizabeth Baxter

"Fledgling Bluebird" by Baerbel LoSacco

Check out all submissions in the Facebook photo album! Entries are added on a rolling/weekly basis. The voting period will run from August 26-September 12. The photo with the most 'Likes' in each category will win a gift card to a local business here in Scarborough, announced in the September 15 newsletter. Thanks to The Dairy Corner, Dunstan Tap & Table, Oak Hill Ace Hardware, Nonesuch River Brewing Company, Highland Farm, and Bite Into Maine for the prizes!

Day in the Life of a Scarborough Code Enforcement Officer

Brian Dobson (pictured right) is one of three Code Enforcement Officers for the Town of Scarborough. Code enforcement officers are responsible for enforcing local, state, and federal regulations for building construction and development that occurs in Scarborough. Once a building permit is issued, code officers conduct on-site inspections at specific points throughout the project. Here’s what a typical day looks like for Brian: 

5:00am: Time to get up. “I’m an early riser,” says Brian. “That’s my quiet time.” He feeds his two cats, makes coffee, and sits down with his iPad for a round of Wordle and to catch up on the news. 

7:30am: Arrive to work and start with checking voicemails and emails.

8:15am: Brian and the two other code officers check in to share what they’ve been working on and if there are any schedule changes for the others to cover. “We really rely on each other".

8:50am: Brian arrives early to his 9:00am inspection, a new garage with a finished space above it. It’s an insulation inspection, which happens prior to closing in the space. He looks to make sure they’ve filled all the holes, that it meets energy code, and that the spray foamed areas are sealed before sheetrock begins. 

Prior to this insulation inspection, he had been here for a framing inspection. “My job is to help everybody out,” Brian says. He works with the contractor to keep the project moving along and make sure it’s done right. This makes the homeowner happy and ensures they’re getting a good quality product that’s safe. He’ll come back again for the final inspection, the end of the building permit process. 

9:30am: The next scheduled inspection is at 10:00am and is about twenty minutes away. Brian listens to voicemails on his drive over to the Pine Point property. “My job described in one word would be ‘multitasking’.” 

10:00am: Brian meets with a contractor for a framing inspection for an addition on the house. 

Brian is also a former contractor—after 25 years as a contractor and with his own business, he was ready for a change.

11:00am: His next inspection is on Market Street off Haigis Parkway. It’s a foundation inspection for what will be a new 3-story commercial building.

12:00pm: Brian heads to town hall for lunch. “A lot of people like to step out for lunch, but I’m out all morning so I like to sit at my desk.” He checks emails and voicemails while he eats. 

12:40pm: Off to his next inspection. This one’s for a new house, and he's here for an insulation inspection. He also checks on a few things that were missing from the framing inspection the last time he was here.

2:00pm: Brian arrives at a new house being constructed for a full framing, electrical and plumbing inspection.

3:00pm: The last inspection of the day is a unique one. Brian meets with staff at NorDx on Route 1 for renovations to their hazardous storage room. They talked through the process of replacing the flooring while safely displacing the toxic chemicals that are typically stored in the room. Deputy Fire Chief John Brennan was also there to talk through fire prevention measures. 

4:00pm: With his inspection schedule complete, Brian heads back to the office to respond to emails and wrap up his work day before going home.

6:00pm: Brian and his wife head to Pat’s Pizza for dinner, one of their local favorites. His brother lives locally, so he and his wife meet them for dinner too. 

8:00pm: Time to feed the cats and unwind with some TV. “We’re watching The Queen, Band of Brothers and I’m also a big Celtics fan, so sports too.” By 9:30, it’s lights out and the end to a full day.

Find more "Day in the Life" features of Town employees in the free Scarborough Living magazine publication distributed in local businesses throughout town.

August 21: Community Center Workshop

The Ad Hoc Community Center committee has been meeting for the past year. Their charge from the Town Council was to use past data to determine a cost effective community center and site location. They worked with architectural consultant UTILE to develop a feasibility study for the project. The team will give their final presentation to the Town Council in an August 21st workshop at 5:30pm.

Included in the workshop presentation:

• What's included in the community center concept, based on resident interest (pool, track, meeting room, etc.)

• Municipal properties evaluated for site fitting and selected option (Wentworth ice rink area on municipal campus - see photo)

• Financial analysis and cost estimate; revenue generation

Items of note:

• Interest in a community center has been a years-long discussion and expressed by residents in multiple surveys, even as far back as 1978 and 2003. This study is in response to the interest that has been brought forward.

• The feasibility study purpose was on research, analysis and programming; community input on programming and site; conceptual layouts and design studies; and cost estimating and forecasting.

• There are no detailed designs or a timeline. The Town Council will hear the workshop on August 21 and deliberate on how the timing of this falls with the upcoming school project and other capital project considerations.

Design rendering of a potential community center at the site of the current Community Services maintenance garage (next to Wentworth, across from the high school track)

Public Hearing on Ballot Referendum Questions

Next week, August 21, a public hearing is scheduled for the regular Town Council meeting to further discuss three items being considered for the November ballot: a new fire engine, police cameras, and funds for the land bond . From there it moves to a second reading a vote on September 4. The Town Council first held a workshop and regular meeting to discuss these on July 17 (View here).

Cruiser & Body Worn Cameras (Police Department) $1M

The equipment will be used by sworn officers to record certain interactions while on duty and would bring the Scarborough Police department up to industry standards. Scarborough is one of only a few departments in Southern Maine who do not possess either camera. See an example at Summerfest tomorrow.

Sergeant Andrew Flynn, pictured above, left, spoke to the benefits of wearing a camera on his uniform during the Police department's initial presentation to the council on July 17. As a K9 handler, he is especially supportive of the body worn cameras because of the safety it provides. The camera is equipped with GPS, so dispatch can see his location in real-time if needed. "At 3am when it’s pitch black and I’m running through the woods with my dog, it’s a huge reassurance to me to know that they not only can see my footage but they also know where I am. So if I call out that I need help, they know exactly where to send that help." (View presentation)

Replacement Pumper Truck (Fire Department) $1M

Commonly referred to as a fire engine. It would replace a 20-year old truck and is scheduled as part of the department's Apparatus Replacement Plan. As the current vehicle ages, it becomes more expensive to maintain and to purchase a new one.

Land Bond Replenishment $6M

The Parks and Conservation Land Bond is now nearly depleted after supporting the purchases of several conservation projects. This approval would replenish the bond that is used to support land purchases for conservation, public access, recreation, and wildlife protection. There has been significant voter approval for the four previous land bond questions dating back to 2000 when it was established and most recently in 2019.

The land bond was also the topic of last week's Council Corner Live (View here).

Run for a Seat to Serve Your Town/School

Do you have an interest in serving on a Board or Council to support your community? Now's your chance— nomination papers are available for the following races:

• Town Council - 2 seats for a 3-Year term to expire 2027

• Town Council - 1 seat to fill a vacancy created by Jean-Marie Caterina, with a term to expire in 2026

• School Board - 1 seat to fill a vacancy created by Carolyn Gammon, with a term to expire in June of 2026

• Sanitary District Trustees - 2 seats for a 3-Year term to expire 2027

Nomination papers can be picked up and submitted in the Town Clerk's office on the main level of Town Hall and must be returned by September 4.

November Election: Request an Absentee Ballot

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. If you plan to vote prior to election day or want to avoid the lines, it's time to request an absentee ballot.

Request an absentee ballot by completing an Application for an Absentee Ballot. Please print and complete the form, then mail it to the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at P.O. Box 360, Scarborough, ME 04070-0360 or fill out the e‑form request. Absentee ballots will be mailed when they are available in early October.

For further information on Absentee Voting and Voter Registration, please contact the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at 730-4020.

Town Council Approved Cannabis Licensing Changes

The Town Council approved additional changes to the Cannabis Licensing Ordinance in July, its second successive year making amendments. The ordinance changes seek to address ongoing concerns from residential abutters that multiple cannabis facilities were not complying with the odor containment requirements. The revisions incorporated a more streamlined enforcement process, expanded the enforcement authority, and will require all property owners leasing space to cannabis establishments to seek a separate business registration.

The Town Council was not fully satisfied with only changes to the licensing ordinance, and is additionally considering changes to the zoning ordinance. They will consider incorporating a 1,000 foot buffer from residential properties, applicable to all new, or the expansion of existing, cannabis cultivation facilities.

Odor issues have proven to be a challenging nuisance to solve—present one moment and gone with the ocean breeze the next. The Town Council worked continuously over the last 18 months with all parties to find a path forward many are left feeling optimistic about. Reports of cannabis odor have declined from a high of nearly one every other day in the summer and early fall of 2023 to only a single complaint over the last three months. The Ordinance changes, and the zoning changes contemplated, will allow action to be taken with non-compliant businesses, but otherwise preserve the cannabis industry as it stands now and make meaningful reforms in the future to protect residential property owners.

First Public Meeting Held for Vulnerability Assessment

The Town of Scarborough held a public meeting this Monday, August 12 about the Flood Vulnerability Assessment that is currently underway. The meeting was led by the Town’s hired consultants, GEI Consultants, and included a presentation explaining the data review, collection, and analysis process; types of infrastructure included in the study; and how the study results will be used. View the recording and presentation slides. 

This public meeting is the first engagement opportunity for the project. Neighborhood meetings are also scheduled at Higgins Beach on September 5th and Pine Point on September 24th. Preliminary findings for these areas will be shared at these meetings.  

The Vulnerability Assessment is the first step to improve Scarborough’s flood resiliency. It will provide the Town with a prioritized list of vulnerable areas and infrastructure, suggest adaptations to improve resiliency to floods, and recommend other actions the Town should consider. GEI will also develop initial concept plans for some of sites identified in the Assessment. Additional engineering and construction work will be needed when the Town begins to address the vulnerable areas and infrastructure.  

Results of the Vulnerability Assessment will be compiled into an interactive StoryMap. The draft StoryMap will be available in early 2025, and the project is scheduled to wrap up in the summer of 2025. 

If you have questions about the Vulnerability Assessment, please contact Jami Fitch, Sustainability Manager, at jfitch@scarboroughmaine.org.

Open Space Plan: Share Your Feedback Online

In addition to a Vulnerability Assessment, the Town is also working with consultants to develop a Conservation Open Space Plan. The Plan will identify priority areas and their potential for conservation. Through the development and implementation of this plan, the Town aims to maintain its character and ensure the future of Scarborough’s landscapes and natural resources.

The Town and consultants Viewshed hosted a workshop on July 25 to start gathering public feedback to inform the conservation priorities of our community.

Now it's your turn! Visit the interactive project website to explore maps and share your ideas. Information will be collected from the public through the end of the summer. A draft plan will be available for review in late 2024, and the final plan will be presented to the Town Council in early 2025.

With the input, the team from Viewshed will create a map of conservation priorities that will appear in the final Open Space Plan once all community feedback has been collected.

Share your thoughts through two activities on our project website: (Top) Drop a pin on the map and share thoughts on locations we should consider in the open space plan. (Bottom) Share which Resource Categories you would like the community to prioritize in future open space conservation efforts.

If you have questions on the Open Space Plan or the planning process, please contact Jami Fitch, Sustainability Manager, at jfitch@scarboroughmaine.org. 

Just Released: Community Services Fall Brochure

August 22: Coastal Meetup & Community Science Event

Thursday, August 22

2:00-3:00pm

Eastern Trail, 140 State Rt 9, Scarborough

Register

Please also create an account on this site before the event.

The Town of Scarborough invites you to participate in the Coastal Flooding Community Science project. This project asks participants to make observations of coastal flooding and coastal flood impacts at select sites in the community. The data collected aids in understanding the unique vulnerabilities Scarborough experiences during astronomical high tides and assists in resilience planning and emergency management. Visit the Gulf of Maine Research Institute project page to learn more.

An initial introduction and orientation, followed by data collection will take place at the Eastern Trail on Thursday, August 22, 2024 starting at 2:00pm. The event is meant to align with an estimated high tide of over 10 feet!

All you need to participate in the Scarborough Coastal Meetup is a camera (a phone camera is great), some comfortable shoes, and weather-appropriate clothes.

"Eastern Trail Bridge" by Towle Tompkins from our 2023 photo contest

October 6: Second Annual Sustainable Scarborough Day

The Town of Scarborough is hosting its second annual Sustainable Scarborough Day for everyone from the environmentally conscious to the eco-curious for a day of learning and fun. Meet with experts, local businesses, nonprofits, and enthusiasts on topics ranging from sustainable living, efficient homes, transportation, landscapes, recreation, waste management, land conservation, and climate action. This is a family friendly event with activities for all ages—stay tuned for details!

Unwanted Pesticide Collection Coming in October

The Maine Board of Pesticides Control is offering free collection of unwanted pesticides this fall. Those who wish to participate must pre-register by September 25, 2024. The chemical name, amount, and condition of the products to be disposed will be needed during the registration process. 

Collections will take place in October, and participants will be notified of the specific location, date, and time of the event in an informational packet, which will be sent two weeks prior to the event. 

Please contact the Maine Board of Pesticides Control with questions. They can be reached at (207) 287-2731 or pesticides@maine.gov.

Scarborough Land Trust: Morning Farm Yoga on Aug 25

Sunday, August 25

10:00-11:00am

Broadturn Farm, 7 Hanson Rd, Scarborough

$10, Register

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.

Town Council Corner: Reflections on Leadership

By Nick McGee, Town Council Chair

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.

Leadership is a funny thing. I’ve often contemplated, even second-guessed, what it should be – what is the right way, how do you move groups of people with varying viewpoints toward a goal, and are those goals what’s best for the community? It’s a lot to think about and even harder to execute. As this will be my last Councilor Corner article, I thought I’d at least share with you some of my experiences and a few lessons learned along the way.

First, there are varying styles of leadership. Some come in with what they would perceive as a mandate, count the votes, push the initiative through, check the boxes, and are happy to declare a mission accomplished at the end of the day. 

Then there are the consensus builders, those who take the time and effort to do deep dives into the feelings and details that go into the opinions of those in the room. They’ll typically land and happily accept partial wins – everyone walks away with a piece of what they really desired at the onset. Both styles have their benefits, and their drawbacks as well.

Second, I learned that opinions vary widely and deeply held beliefs are difficult to overcome, even if the facts indicate the opposite of one’s opinion. I’d also point out that there are many times where you find out that your opinion on a subject matter isn’t as fully mature as you believed it was. 

Details are often glossed over in public articles, and many of those details greatly impact one’s ability to achieve certain objectives. State laws, federal laws, regulations, and legal precedence can often make clear and mutually agreed upon objectives near impossible to achieve. It’s a tough lesson to learn on the local level.

Third, effective communication will, and will always be, the number one thing any leader can point to as the cause of their success, or the reason for their failures. In the absence of clear and effective communication, distrust and misinformation is allowed to spread. Correcting misinformation is infinitely more difficult than clearly communicating facts from the onset. 

It has been incredibly humbling and an honor to be selected to represent Scarborough. Even more so when your colleagues place a great deal of faith in you to act as their leader. It comes with some heavy responsibilities and is quite surreal in many respects. At the end of the day, I’ve come to the conclusion that what is needed from our government, and the people we elect to represent us is “balance.” Some would argue that this could be construed as a compromise of deeply held principles – which I agree are incredibly important, but for me and what I’ve learned, perhaps the principle we should all be looking to uphold is that we need each other and that we need to learn how to advance our community together.

We have five meetings left before a new Council is seated. Currently, there are 3 seats up for election, one 2-year term and two 3-year terms. This November has the potential to become a pivotal moment for Scarborough and the direction of this community. If the momentum from this current Council is to be maintained in the areas of reducing the pace of growth, keeping the municipal budget in check, further advancing land conservation efforts, and advocating for educational excellence, we’ll need help from some new faces this November. Hopefully, they will be the leaders who believe in balance. Are you one of them?

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.

Engaging Programs at Scarborough Public Library

How to Build a Walking School Bus

Thursday, August 22, 6:45-7:45pm

Register

Join lead teacher Anne Dalphin from Portland's Reiche Community School for a lesson on how to build a Walking School Bus for your child's school. A Walking School Bus is a simple yet effective way to ensure children get to school safely and on time: a group of children walk to school together, accompanied by one or more adults.

During the session, attendees will learn about the purpose of a Walking School Bus and gain valuable insights into the planning process. Topics include understanding the benefits and goals of a Walking School Bus, gathering the necessary information to create a successful program, and identifying the essential equipment needed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the Walking School Bus. 

From Inspiration to Publication: Writing Books From Your Heart

Wednesday, August 21, 2:00-3:00pm

Register

Kids ages 8-18 (parents welcome too) are invited to join award-winning journalist and children's author Elisa Boxer for this workshop, discussion, and Q&A on how to get started writing the book that only you can write. No experience necessary. Just bring your curiosity and creativity! 

Food for Talk: Summer Cookbook Club on the Farm

Sunday, August 25, 3:00-5:30pm

Frith Farm, 61 Ash Swamp Road

Register (Space limited to 25)

Food for Talk is a book club for anyone interested in cooking! If reading about food and culinary traditions, experimenting with new recipes, and learning from other cooks sounds fun, sign up and join us this summer for Sunday afternoons at Frith Farm in Scarborough. Book club meetings will take place at this scenic local farm and will include a potluck dinner. Feel free to join for any Sunday, no need to attend the whole series. Learn more about how to join and the August book.