What's in store for the month ahead? Everything that goes hand-in-hand with summer: Beach days, farmers market Sundays, and even an event dedicated to the season itself—Summerfest! We hope you'll take advantage of Scarborough amenities (beaches, parks, trails) and programs in these few weeks before school starts up again. Read on for further details.

Lots of upcoming dates and events in this newsletter! We hope to see you out and about.

Town Council Passes Proclamation on ICE Facility

The Town council unanimously (6-0) passed a proclamation on July 29th, "Calling for Safe, Respectful Communities and Requesting Congressional Engagement Regarding Federal Immigration Processing Operations at 40 Manson Libby Road". The special meeting was attended by community members who filled Council chambers, with a public comment period well over an hour. Many councilors expressed a desire to explore what other actions the Town could take to address the concerns with the ICE facility's operations.

New Pickleball Courts Now Open

The Town of Scarborough is excited to announce the completion and opening of our brand-new pickleball courts, located behind the Scarborough Municipal Building.

This project, featuring eight dedicated courts, represents a multi-year effort to bring a highly requested and much-needed recreational amenity to our community. We are thrilled to offer an expanded space for residents and visitors to gather, stay active, and enjoy one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Construction was completed on Thursday, July 30, and the courts officially opened to the public on Friday, July 31. The courts are available daily from dawn to dusk at no cost and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to seeing our community come together to enjoy this exciting new addition to Scarborough’s recreational offerings.

New Skate Park Relocated to School Campus

The Town released a Request for Proposals to solicit proposals for the skate park construction. Interested vendors will have until August 24, 2026 to prepare and submit proposals for consideration. The RFP included construction documents from Acorn Engineering detailing surrounding amenities, which were finalized with updates from feedback from public engagement. The new location is set to be between the High School track/turf and the Wentworth School parking lot, alongside the tennis courts.

August 4: National Night Out with Scarborough Public Safety

Tuesday, August 4

5:30-7:30pm

Memorial Park, 5 Durant Drive

Free!

The Scarborough Police Department is holding a National Night Out celebration this Tuesday! 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. There will be free pizza (while it lasts), police and fire-themed cupcakes decorated by MePowered Pastries, a bounce house, and more. New this year, the Maine Forest Service will be making a special helicopter landing!

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

Thank you to community sponsors!

Portland Inflatables

Northeast Ice Cream

Poland Spring

Hannaford

Walmart

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Portland Pie

Pat's Pizza

Bambino's

Romeo's

Amato's

Trauma Intervention Program

MePowered Pastries

Texas Roadhouse

Bangor Savings Bank

August 6: "Close the Gap" Trail Grand Opening

The Town of Scarborough, in partnership with the City of South Portland and the Eastern Trail Alliance, is pleased to announce the official grand opening of a new segment of the Eastern Trail that closes a critical gap and creates a continuous trail from South Portland’s Bug Light to downtown Saco. The community is invited to celebrate this milestone with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 10:00am. The trail is officially open for public use following the ribbon cutting.

The ceremony will take place at the new trail connection at Wainwright Sports Complex at 125 Gary L Maietta Way in South Portland. Brief remarks will be made by project partners to recognize key stakeholders and donors, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Spanning 1.6 miles, the construction of this new trail closes a gap in the Eastern Trail and now provides 16 continuous off-road miles for public enjoyment. The new segment required the construction of two new bridges, one over the Nonesuch River crossing and a second elevated over the railroad tracks. Construction began in June 2025 and the project had an initial estimated completion date of October 2027. Thanks to the efficient work of Shaw Brothers Construction, the trail is opening 15 months ahead of schedule.

“This is an exciting culmination of a vision that has been years in the making,” said Eliza Alexander, Interim Executive Director of the Eastern Trail Alliance. “The new segment connects communities through a beautiful, natural trailway that is safe and accessible for runners, walkers, and cyclists alike. We are deeply grateful to the many people who helped get us here.”

Ample parking is available at Wainwright Sports Complex for the ribbon cutting ceremony on August 6. The ceremony will take place a short walk from the parking lot. A golf cart will be available to transport those with limited mobility to the ceremony site. Following the ribbon cutting, attendees are encouraged to take an inaugural walk, ride, or roll on the new trail.

Meet Our Seasonal Park Rangers

We have three seasonal park rangers whose roles are aimed at contributing to the stewardship and protection of Scarborough's beaches. Our ranger program began in 2024 as a way to connect visitors to a Town employee for any questions they may have during their beach visit. Meet this summer's rangers:

Presley Nolf

Hometown: Glen Gardner, New Jersey

What are your goals this summer?

I’m planning on spending months traveling after my graduation next spring, so I’m working on saving up money this summer. 

What made you interested in this position?

I am very passionate about environmental conservation, and I absolutely love talking to people. Those are two very big parts of the position. I also love the beach!

What are 3 things you want residents to know about you?

I am a college student going into my last year at Rutgers University, I live on my sister’s flower farm, and I am always down for a chat. 

Ranger success story from the season so far: When a mother could not find her child on Pine Point, I, the beach attendants, and the police department worked together to search. A lot of beach goers went out of their way to help, too, which was really beautiful. The child was eventually found, and I felt very blessed that I was able to help reunite the family. 

Riley Wildes

Hometown: Portland, Maine

What are your goals this summer?

To work a fun job and gain experience for my college degree.

What made you interested in this position?

My future career goal is to become a Game Warden, and when I heard that I could work as a park ranger so close to home, I jumped on it immediately.

What are 3 things you want residents to know about you?

1. I love learning about wildlife, especially plovers this year!

2. I love fishing and if you catch any fish on the beach I’ll be over there to check it out.

3. I love talking to people and trying to answer different questions!

Ranger success story from the season so far:

My favorite story from this year was getting a call about a baby bird that fell out of its nest. I ended up finding it and took it to Center for Wildlife where I later learned that it was a house sparrow and that it was doing great and will eventually be released back into the wild.

Brandon Bryan

Hometown: Moriah, New York

What are your goals this summer?

To help manage the beaches, protect wildlife, and work with the community.

What made you interested in this position?

I retired from the D.C. Police Department and found myself looking to work with the community and serve again. I found this to be a great opportunity to work for the town and enjoy the wildlife.

What are 3 things you want residents to know about you?

1. I love to fish and have really made time since moving back to the Northeast and have enjoyed Maines lakes tremendously.

2. I have a love of mechanical things such as cars and motorcycle and have owned 10 cars/bikes so far.

3. I have gotten to find a love of birds and wildlife as I have gotten older and enjoy learning and sharing about new animals. 

Ranger success story from the season so far:

Myself and Ranger Riley had an injured seagull in the Higgins area, and were able to catch it, and give to the wildlife center where it was successfully cared for and released. 

Happy Retirement to our IT Director, Jenn Day!

Jenn Day has been with the Town of Scarborough for 14 years and is heading into retirement this month. We wish her the best and congratulate her on the great impact she has made on our town as Director of the IT department. Learn more about Jenn and her time in this role.

What first brought you to working in IT, and what led you to Scarborough?

At the time, I was living in Scarborough with my family and I had a child in the school district, so I was very familiar with the Town and all of our issues and opportunities. It seemed like a natural fit and I've loved every minute of working here.

What changes have you experienced during the course of your time in this position?

Scarborough has grown tremendously, while continuing to provide top-notch services and amenities for our citizens.

Likewise, technology has evolved rapidly over time, providing many advancements we never thought possible fifteen years ago. Enhancements in classroom devices, communication platforms, mobility and cloud computing have allowed us to continuously improve our efficiency, response times, data security and accuracy. Of course, the emergence of generative artificial intelligence will define the next chapter in technology - I'm interested to see how this plays out over time for Scarborough.

What have you found most rewarding over the years?

I love working with people, and have been so fortunate to work and collaborate with amazing teams in both the Town and School District. I also really enjoy troubleshooting technology problems requiring research, testing, teamwork and a bit of sleuthing.

What's something people may not realize about what the job involves?

I think people imagine IT as sitting behind a computer monitor and tapping away on a keyboard. That's certainly something that I do throughout the week, but this position requires more soft skills - there's a lot of presenting, committee work, project management, budgeting, negotiating, diplomacy and mediation. People don't usually call IT to let us know how happy they are with their technology - you need to be able to calm down frustrated people, solve problems and explain very technical things in a non-technical way.

What are you most proud of during your time working for Scarborough?

I have been privileged to work on teams that built Wentworth Intermediate, replaced a core system in Public Safety, and improved system security. However, I think I'm most proud of our technology team - they are a group that works hard behind the scenes, often answering calls at night, on weekends and holidays, always staying up-to-date on the latest hardware and software, and servicing a very large constituency quickly and efficiently. They are unsung heroes! 

What are your plans for retirement?

I plan to play a lot of golf and travel with my husband!

Summer Photo Contest in Full Swing!

"Sunset Over Spurwink River" by Brett Coffin

Category: Scenic Views

"Taken at World Cup Final watch party"

We've received some incredible entries into our 4th annual "Summer Outdoors" Photo Contest so far, and there's still a month left! Snap photos while you're out enjoying scenery or time with family, and share with us for a chance to win some great local prizes, like a gift card to Cafe Luna, El Rayo, or the Dairy Corner.

How to Participate—It's Easy!

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

• Beach Days
• Nature & Wildlife
• Golden Hour
• Scenic Views
• Community & Summer 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 from a local Scarborough business. Thanks to Dairy Corner, El Rayo, and Cafe Luna for the great prizes!

"Decisions" by Meaghan Fullman

Category: Community & Summer Fun

"Salt Pump Rock Gym"

'Like' any of your favorite photos in the album—each one will count as a vote to determine the top category winner.

Accepting Nomination Papers for Open Seats

Nomination papers will be available starting Wednesday, August 5 in the Town Clerk's office to pick up if you are interested in running for elected office in Scarborough. They are due by Wednesday, September 2.

The open seats will be filled in the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3rd. They will fill the following vacancies:

• One Board of Education member, to fill a term to expire in June 2028

• Three Town Council members

• Three Sanitary District members

Questions? Contact the Clerk's office at (207) 730-4020.

Recreational Shellfish Licenses Available

Beginning on Monday, August 3, any allocated resident recreational shellfish licenses that remain unissued (currently 14) will be issued on a first-come, first served basis, regardless of residency (non-residents can purchase remaining licenses). This has not been an option since prior to Covid. If interested, please call the Town Clerk's office (207-730-4020) to confirm that licenses are still available. 

Short Term Rental Registration Process Now Open

The new Short Term Rental Registration Ordinance, approved by the Town Council on May 20, requires short term rental operators to register with the Town by December 31, 2026 and annually thereafter. A safety inspection is also required with new registrations. 

Registration is now open and can be accessed from our website.

Please reach out to Autumn Speer at aspeer@scarboroughmaine.org with any questions.

Metro Transit Launches This Fall

Greater Portland Metro is coming to Scarborough this fall and offering new public transportation opportunities for our community. Public transit is a safe, reliable, and affordable way to cut traffic, expand mobility for those who cannot or choose not to drive, and reduce climate pollution. The Metro hosted a community meeting in Scarborough on July 28th to continue to provide updates and answer residents' questions about the launch of their new services in town, microtransit and a new fixed bus route.

Fixed Route

Launch: October 4, 2026

A new fixed-route bus service (Route 25) will connect Metro’s downtown transit hub to Scarborough, primarily along Route 1 and cross over to Cabela’s parking lot, with stops served along the route every 45 minutes. From Portland, riders can connect onward to Westbrook, Gorham, Falmouth, Freeport, Brunswick, and beyond. The Route 1 stops will link up with Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit, effectively creating bus service from Brunswick to Biddeford.

On-Demand Microtransit

Soft Launch: September 14, 2026

"An Uber-style service at a fraction of the cost"—book a ride and have "curb to curb" service anywhere within the zone. It serves areas up to 2 miles from the fixed route service corridor. The initial zone covers the area east of the Maine Turnpike between the Scarborough-South Portland line and Dunstan Crossing, including parts of Pine Point Road and Black Point Road. Riders can book a pickup through Metro's app, website, or by phone, and a van will meet them at the nearest cross-street to take them within the zone or connect to the fixed route.

For residents without easy access to a car, including teens, seniors, and people with disabilities, this transit service can open up everyday errands, medical appointments, and job opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Learn More & Get Involved

There will be more opportunities to learn about these new services over the next couple of months. Metro will be at Summerfest with one of the microtransit vans, and information on the programs and how to ride. They will also attend and present at senior lunches and at the Age Friendly committee meetings. There will be a formal event for the launch in October 2026 and free fares for the first 2-4 weeks of the service. Stay tuned for more!

Programs, Classes, & Trips for All

A group of Active Adults set sail recently on beautiful Penobscot Bay aboard the wooden schooner Eastwind! The trip was one of our many programs offered by Scarborough Community Services and is a great way to both meet new people and explore new places.

Check out our Programs Brochure for events and programs for all ages. Fall programming registration will open on August 10 for residents and August 17 for non-residents.

August 21: Summerfest, FREE Community Event!

Come celebrate the end of a great summer with your friends, family, and neighbors at our annual Summerfest event on Friday, August 21! Festivities begin at 5:00pm on the Clifford Mitchell Sports Complex by the high school and end with a spectacular fireworks display at 9:15pm. Here are some of the exciting offerings you’ll find at this year’s event:

🤸 Jump around in the Kids’ Bounce Zone! 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, Poppie’s Kettle Corn, Giuseppe Roasters, Vy Banh Mi LLC, Mow’s Munchies, Cheese the Day, and El Rodeo.

🍨 Local businesses, organizations and non-profits will be offering everything from fun activities, games and face painting, to goodies like snow cones, ice cream, popcorn and much more.

🛍️ Visit the Junior Makers Market, where you’ll find a variety of booths run entirely by kids!

🎷 Live music kicks off at 6:00pm with the Maine Pops Concert Band. Returning after a crowd-pleasing performance last year, they bring more than 100 talented community musicians together for a memorable concert everyone can enjoy.

🎸 The Barflys Band takes the stage at 7:00pm. From classic rock anthems and country favorites to blues, '80s hits, disco grooves, and old-school classics, their high-energy setlist spans generations. Sponsored by The Little Gym Scarborough.

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

Council to Discuss Radio System Upgrade for Fall Referendum

The Town of Scarborough is exploring a significant municipal two-way radio communications system upgrade for its public safety, public service, and school departments in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach. A full needs assessment was conducted by an external consultant in 2024 and delivered final recommendations in 2025. The total cost for the full infrastructure overhaul is expected be over $12 million, and grant funding is actively being requested. The Town Council will hold a first reading in their August meeting (August 19th) to determine if this project will be included as a referendum question in the November municipal election. Their second reading and vote is scheduled for September 2nd.

Radio currently in use in the Dispatch center. It uses 1980s technology that has reached its end-of-life (no updates available).

August 15: Marsh Day with Scarborough Land Trust

Join Scarborough Land Trust to celebrate the beauty, history, and wildlife of the Scarborough Marsh at the inaugural Marsh Day on Saturday, August 15. The event is a chance to explore outdoors and discover how scientists, conservationists, and community members work together to protect this special place.

The day will be flooded with family-friendly activities from 8:30am to 5:00pm throughout town, including:

• Guided paddles

• Birding and ecology walk and talks

• Clamming, oyster farming, and fish seining demos

• Booths, touch tanks, crafts, and kids' activities

• History presentations, and more!

All events are free.

Learn more and see the schedule for the day. Registration for some events is requested to help with planning purposes. 

Help Shape Our Climate Action Plan

Work on Sustaining Scarborough, the Town's climate action plan, continues all summer, with plenty of ways for the community to help shape it. Weigh in on topics ranging from efficient homes and vehicles to recycling and storm preparedness. We’ll be at Summerfest on August 21. Plus, we’re partnering with Scarborough Public Library on lots of upcoming sustainability-focused events, including:

• August 18 – Repair Café 

• August 26 – Kids’ clothing swap

• September 26 – Repair Café

• October 17 – Adult and teen clothing swap 

We’ll have information, activities, and giveaways at all of these events, so come say hi!

August 6: Final Concert of the Season! (Postponed)🎶

Under the Covers band was set to play on July 30, but rain had a different story. The concert has been moved to this Thursday, August 6th at 6:30pm! This is the final show in our Concerts in the Park series held at Memorial Park on Thursday nights, thanks to Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce. Come hungry, as there will be food trucks for your dinner/snack needs.

For more details about concerts, frequently asked questions, or to inquire about concert sponsorships or chamber membership, please visit the Chamber of Commerce website, or email chamber@portlandregion.com.

Council Corner: First Year Challenges

By Larry Cain, 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.

It has been an eventful and challenging first year on the Town Council. I was elected in June last year to fill a partial term. The phrase "I didn't know how much I didn’t know” is certainly applicable. It is not like the issues and work were just waiting for me to show up. It is more like jumping into a moving river. You have to swim like hell just to keep up.  

If I had to pick one word to describe my first year, it would be rewarding. Working with the various levels of talented and committed Town staff taught me that we are fortunate to have people who truly want the best possible results for Scarborough.

Your Town Council is a dedicated group that considers and debates issues with respect and seriousness. Most importantly, our residents have taught me the meaning of civic responsibility. I am continuously learning about the history, culture and diverse opinions affecting issues that face our town.

However, it is disingenuous to only write about the positive events while serving as a Town Councilor. While the original intent of this article was to provide some feedback and thoughts about that first year, the tragic killing of Mr. Guerrero in Biddeford has certainly overshadowed recent events. I will reemphasize that I am speaking only for myself, and not for the full Council.

As you may know, the Town Council held a special meeting last Wednesday with the specific purpose of passing a proclamation that expresses support, sympathy and respect for Mr. Guerrero’s family, along with the Biddeford community as a whole. The proclamation also calls on our Congressional delegation to work on our behalf to achieve tangible results regarding the ICE facility located here as well as improving transparency, accountability, and community safety from this agency. In addition, we set expectations that all law enforcement personnel treat every person with respect, dignity and common decency.  

About a hundred people attended that meeting, and many spoke publicly with passion and concern regarding the horrible treatment of their immigrant neighbors and friends. That meeting was the most rewarding of my tenure on the Council. Our residents were not there to speak on their own behalf or on their own issue. They selflessly spoke on behalf of others that may not have a voice themselves. To witness that incredible concern for others was moving and impressive. You can read the proclamation here. After a heartfelt and inspiring discussion amongst Councilors, we passed the proclamation unanimously.

While this is not a solution to the serious concerns that were raised that night, this proclamation was a thoughtful and timely first step in exploring options that may be available to pursue regarding these issues.

There is significant frustration that our Town cannot do more to affect the ability of ICE to operate a facility located in our town. It is difficult for any town to have an impact on a federal agency’s performance. In this case, GSA is leasing a building from a private property owner. It is unclear if the Town has the authority to change that legal arrangement in any way. There is a viable discussion to have on whether this is even a role for the Town to pursue. Instead, I have always believed that the primary role of a town government is to be responsible for the basic safety, education, and well being of its own residents. The fact that people do not feel safe right now is blurring those distinctions.

Providing high quality services by spreading available resources over the entire community is the primary function of our Town staff and elected officials. Scarborough does an outstanding job performing these services. Along with our natural resources, recreational facilities and businesses, it is one of the most attractive places to live in the entire State. In addition to services provided by town government, our culture of personally caring, helping and lifting up our neighbors is the intangible that drives our town to excellence.

That commitment to helping our community has definitely shown up in my first year of service. Very rewarding Council accomplishments include increasing the Senior Property Tax Relief credit by 20%. We passed various initiatives to make our roads safer. There was an “all hands” effort to reduce the negative impacts of new growth initiatives and housing laws implemented by the State. We constrained new growth housing permits as much as legally possible. We increased building impact fees to help offset infrastructure improvement costs related to housing construction. You overwhelmingly voted to approve a generational improvement to our school buildings. We passed town and school budgets that support public safety and continue educational excellence while recognizing the financial strain that many people are feeling.

In addition, the generosity of community organizations to improve our town and provide valuable assistance to our neighbors is significant. Scarborough Land Trust continues their innovative efforts to conserve vulnerable land at an impressive pace. Project Grace provides heating fuel assistance, along with food insecurity relief, to those in need. Just recently, a group of committed volunteers have created the non-profit Scarborough Wood Bank that will provide firewood to folks that struggle to heat their homes.

So, while any efforts to change a federal agency’s authorization and behavior will be lengthy and challenging, I do not want to lose sight of the remarkable character of our town; and I celebrate the commitment and tenacity of our community. Extending that generosity and care to our immigrant neighbors simply provides respect, recognizes dignity and increases good will.  

I will finish by offering sincere appreciation to my fellow councilors, Town staff, and the wonderful residents who have offered me support, feedback, constructive criticism and a little bit of humor during my first year serving the Town. I will continue swimming hard to keep up! Thank You!   

Scarborough Town Council

Cory Fellows (Chair) • Larry Cain (Vice Chair) • Jonathan Anderson • Scott Doherty • Bill Donovan • Michelle Hayes • Karin Shupe

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month (third Wednesday only in July and August). Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

Upcoming Programs at Scarborough Public Library

Death Cafe with Die Well Death Education

Tuesday, August 4, 5:30-7:00pm

Learn More

At a Death Cafe, people - often strangers - gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death. Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their finite lives.' It is a group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives, or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. All are welcome - join us! Individually wrapped, homemade skull cakelets will be provided. 

Catherine's Retirement Party

Friday, August 14, 10:00-11:00am

Drop in for a casual goodbye to Catherine Morrison between 10am-11am. She is retiring after 28 years here at Scarborough Public Library!

Repair Fair! Let's Fix What's Broken

Tuesday, August 18, 10:00am-1:00pm

Learn More

Do you have small things that need fixing? Come to the library and consult the amateur experts! (People who know a lot doing their best.) No appointment needed. Possible fixes includes battery replacements for watches, remotes, clocks, etc., gluing small broken items, dollhouse furniture repairs, small electric appliances, rewiring appliances and lamps, picture frame repairs, jewelry repairs, small furniture, and minor bike repairs.