Do you spend your summers relaxing, or action-packed to make the most of the season? There are many moving parts here at the Town! Community Services is hosting activities nearly every day in July to celebrate Parks & Rec month. Our Planning & Engineering departments are in the midst of working with consultants on studies that will aid future planning for community investments. The Town Council is meeting Wednesday and discussing topics like the land bond. Be sure to continue on for more of what's happening here in Scarborough—a perfect read for when you are relaxing!

Make the most of Scarborough this weekend... Visit one of our incredible beaches, walk a Land Trust trail (upcoming events), stop by the Sunday farmers market, or have a picnic at one of our Town parks.

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, Bite Into Maine, Nonesuch River Brewery, and The Dairy Corner for the great prizes!

A Few Recent Submissions...

"Marshmallow on Legs" by Baerbel LoSacco

"Morning Sunrise on the Marsh Path" by Kelly Watters

"Summer Vibes" by Michelle Moscoffian

National Night Out with Scarborough Public Safety

Tuesday, August 6

5:30-7:30pm

Memorial Park, 5 Durant Drive

The Scarborough Police Department is holding a National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, August 6 at Memorial Park. Stop by to meet our Scarborough police officers and 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. 

Spotted Around Town 👀

Fire Chief Rich Kindelan and other members of our Public Safety crews participated in three parades around town on the 4th of July at Pine Point, Prouts Neck, and Higgins. It was a fun day!

The athletic fields are looking sharp! Thanks to our parks maintenance crew for the constant cycle of mowing, striping, and all other tasks that keep these spaces clean and ready for use.

We're Looking Ahead to the November Election...

Ballot Referendum Questions Being Considered

The Town Council is hosting a public workshop this Wednesday, July 17 at 5:30pm to discuss the three items being considered for inclusion on the November ballot:

• Land Bond: Scarborough's land bond is used to acquire land for conservation and other eligible uses as they are requested on an ongoing basis. The Parks & Conservation Land Board recommends and advises the Town Council on land acquisitions identified through an evaluation process. The funds are now nearly depleted after supporting 20 projects since it was last replenished in 2004. The Town Council will review a proposed $6 million land bond to be on the ballot this November.

Learn More: Read Councilor Shupe's full article at the bottom of this newsletter. And save the date for our next Council Corner Live on Wednesday, August 7, which will be dedicated to this topic.

• Replacement Fire Truck: The Scarborough Fire Department submitted a $1,000,000 request in the FY2025 budget to fund the purchase of a new pumper, 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.

• Body Worn & Cruiser Police Cameras: The Police Department is requesting nearly $1,000,000 for a lease agreement for cruiser and body worn video and audio recording equipment. The equipment will be used by sworn officers to record certain interactions while on duty. The cameras 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.

Voter approval is required for capital expenditures exceeding $400,000

Nomination Papers Available Soon for Open Seats

Do you have an interest in serving on a Board or Council to support your community? Now's your chance— nomination papers will be available on Wednesday, August 7th 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.

Free Outdoor Programs for Parks and Rec Month

We're already halfway through the month and have had a great turnout to the many free Parks & Rec programs being offered this month! 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.

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.  

Tonight: Kids Jamboree at Memorial Park (5:00-6:30pm) with a kids music concert, Hannaford Snack Pals pop-up, youth movement games, sensory tent, and more. Free!

Summerfest! Friday, August 16

Join us for Summerfest, our biggest event of the year, on Friday, August 16, from 5:00-10:00pm. Here are some of the fun offerings:

• Lots of vendors: Local businesses and service groups offering food, treats, apparel sales, info, raffles, games, and chances to win swag.

• Food trucks: Including Cargo Pizza, Steamy Weenies, Mr. Tuna, Mow's Munchies, The Treat Truck, and Char Wrig's Snow & Dough Adventures

• Kids Bounce Zone

• Live music by Springsteen Road, sponsored by The Little Gym Scarborough

• 360° video booth

• Pony and train rides

• Free balloon twisting

• Fireworks show to end the night

Ranger Report 🔍 From Our Town Beaches

In our last newsletter we introduced you to our three new seasonal park rangers (Facebook post if you missed it). Here's a rundown from Lead Ranger Tony of how the summer is going so far:

"The Park Rangers' daily tasks include patrolling and educating the public on the Plover Program, the general rules of the beach, and other related topics. We have found we are often relied upon for information about parking, tides, and the weather.

As a park ranger, we encounter many different scenarios. We may be picking up deceased birds one minute and educating a beachgoer about the dog or surfer rules the next. We also pick up and dispose of a lot of trash and items left behind by the public (see photo). We encourage carry-in/carry-out and the use of the provided garbage cans. Working in collaboration with Animal Control, the Harbormaster, Public Works, Parks Maintenance, Police, Fire, and Audubon, we are constantly on the move to make sure our patrons’ day at the beach is an enjoyable one." 

These are some of the things we find daily on our beaches. This is from the course of 4 days at Pine Point.

Projects Currently Underway & Ways to Engage

Open Space Plan

The Town is looking to the future of Scarborough’s landscapes and natural resources by creating an Open Space Conservation Plan. The Town has hired Viewshed, a Maine-based landscape architecture, GIS, and planning firm, to assist with the plan development. It will provide the Town with a set of conservation priorities to achieve the Town’s 30x30 goal by identifying priority areas and their potential for conservation. 

Get Involved: As part of the planning process, the community is invited to an interactive workshop on Thursday, July 25th from 6:00-8:00pm at the Public Safety Building. 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. 

Members of the project team will also be at upcoming Concerts in the Park on July 18 and August 1 (as pictured above right from last week) and Summerfest on August 16 to hear feedback.

Provide Input Virtually!

Provide input into the Open Space plan directly from the interactive project website. Let us know which places and spaces that matter to you. Share information that you think is important for us to consider as the Plan is developed. Tell us what types of activities you’d like incorporated into Scarborough’s open spaces.

Vulnerability Assessment

Scarborough, like other coastal communities, is feeling the impacts of sea level rise, storm surge, and increased precipitation. The January 2024 storms were devastating to residents, properties, and infrastructure and point to the need to address the Town’s most at-risk areas and infrastructure. A Vulnerability Assessment kicked off in May and will take about a year to complete. This is a crucial step in developing a comprehensive understanding of Town vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies to improve resiliency in the face of predicted environmental stressors, such as flood hazards and sea-level rise. 

Get Involved: A public meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 12 from 6:00-8:00pm (Council Chambers/Zoom) to introduce the project and provide an overview of the process and how to provide input. Smaller, neighborhood meetings will also be held in the Higgins Beach and Pine Point neighborhoods (dates TBD).

Transportation Study

The Town has been working with consultants on a Transportation Study since January and is expected to have a full draft for public review by this Fall. The last Townwide Transportation Study was completed in 2006. Over the past two decades, infrastructure, development patterns, and priorities have changed. The goal is for this study to provide direction and focus for the Town's future capital spending related to traffic and transportation needs.

Get Involved: Opportunities for public input and review of the study will be made available when the Town receives a full version, expected September/October. Stay tuned!

July Blood Drive Was a Success!

Thanks to all donors who supported our July 2nd blood drive. Our goal was to collect 80 units of blood and we collected 83 units of blood. This will help a lot of people!

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.

Next Concert in the Park is July 18

There are a few concerts left for the popular summer series! All concerts begin at 6:30pm and are held in Scarborough Memorial Park.

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.

Town Council Corner: A Path to Continued Land Conservation in Scarborough

By Karin Shupe, 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.

On July 17 at 5:30pm the Town Council will be holding a workshop to discuss the potential referendum questions for this November’s ballot. One of these questions includes a request to replenish the land bond fund. The land bond fund is a Town fund that was created in 2000 for the purpose of purchasing land for conservation. Unlike what a traditional bond referendum looks like, the land bond does not have an immediate impact on taxpayers, as it authorizes future bonding for land conservation.  

Scarborough voters have overwhelmingly supported every land bond referendum that has come forward since the creation of the land bond fund. The Town has contributed $7.5 million towards the acquisition of land for conservation in this 24-year span. Scarborough’s commitment to land conservation has helped successfully obtain grants from the federal and state government and attract donors and matching funds from organizations like the Scarborough Land Trust, Land for Maine’s Future, and Maine Farmland Trust. These partnerships have led to conservation and preservation of land throughout the Town, including Pleasant Hill Preserve, Warren Woods, Fuller Farm, Broadturn Farm, and Silver Brook Preserve.

As of today, there is approximately $14,000 remaining in the Towns land bond fund. With a Town Council goal to conserve 30% of Scarborough by 2030, more funds are needed. There are many public and economic benefits to land conservation that make this goal so important for Scarborough. The number one concern expressed by our community in the recent survey was the rapid pace of growth and expansion. By conserving land, not only are we protecting our natural resources from development and preserving drinking water and water quality in our rivers, streams, and marsh, we are also providing open space for our residents and visitors to enjoy.  

Historically, conserving land is cost neutral to a town budget, while residential development adds more to a town's cost of services and infrastructure beyond the tax revenues it receives. As one of the fastest growing communities in the state, it is even more important for us to act now to protect our natural resources and maintain the open space that has attracted residents to Scarborough.   

The request before the Town Council this Wednesday is for a $6 million replenishment of the land bond, which accounts for the rising cost of land and the Town’s 30x30 goal. This recommendation comes from the Town’s Parks and Conservation Land Board, which is responsible for evaluating the applications the Town receives for land bond funds. The Board has developed a detailed acquisition evaluation process for properties, based on factors such as size, preservation of natural resources, location to habitat, public access, and creating connectivity.  

Most recently the Board recommended, and Town Council approved, the use of $800,000 towards the preservation of an additional 130 acres at Silverbrook Preserve in western Scarborough. This recent Silverbrook Preserve expansion now connects 813 acres of continuous conserved land between Scarborough, Saco, and Buxton. With no further funds available in the land bond, the Town may miss opportunities like Silver Brook Preserve in the future. The Town is also currently in the process of developing an Open Space Conservation Plan. This Plan will guide and prioritize land conservation efforts. With no funds in the land bond, we will be unable to act on the land conservation recommendations from this Plan.

Scarborough is a leader in land conservation. No other town in Maine has spent as many local dollars on conserving their natural resources. This Wednesday I will try to continue our leadership in land conservation by encouraging my fellow councilors to support placing this $6 million land bond on the November ballot. To learn more about the land bond I invite residents to attend our upcoming Council Corner Live on August 7 to learn more about the land bond—stay tuned for details.

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

Women's Walk at Pleasant Hill Preserve

Saturday, July 20, 10:00am

Free; Register

Come meet up with fellow women who enjoy the outdoors and have a desire to walk the wonderful open spaces Scarborough Land Trust has committed to preserving. Women are twice as likely as men to feel uncomfortable walking alone, so we created this monthly program to foster a fun and supportive community for women to walk together and get to know our preserves. These walks average 60-90 mins in length with a leisurely pace as we observe the landscape and wildlife (migrating birds, wildflowers beginning to appear, etc).

Forest Bathing at Warren Woods

Saturday, July 27, 10:00am

$5, Register

Immerse yourself in nature through Forest Bathing, a growing global wellness movement that encourages you to enjoy nature at a slower pace and alleviate the stressors of everyday life. Forest Bathing walks are slow-paced and generally cover less than a mile of trail. During this time your guide Kelsey, in partnership with the forest, will offer an evolving series of invitations crafted to help participants slow down, open their senses, and connect to nature. Kelsey is a nature-based artist and certified Forest Therapy Guide, who offers meaningful workshops in nature through her business Gently Flourish.

Keep Busy this Summer with Scarborough Public Library

Food for Talk: Summer Cookbook Club at Frith Farm

Sunday, July 21, 3:00-5:30pm

Register

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. Free; limited to 25. Feel free to join for any Sunday, no need to attend the whole series but we do ask that you register for each one.

The July book is Kaukasis: A Culinary Journey through Georgia, Azerbaijan & Beyond. Pick up a "secret copy" at the circulation desk starting June 4 (we'll have 9 copies) or flip through a reference copy at the library and photocopy a recipe to make.

Summer Learning

Upcoming Programs:

Tuesday, July 23, 2-3pm: Superhero Obstacle Course

Tuesday, July 30, 2-3pm: Daring Deeds Food Taste Test

For the full list of Summer Learning programs: Library Events

Toddler & Preschool Dance Party

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!