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 fitness classes thanks to Scarborough Community Services and evening concerts in Memorial Park. Meanwhile, the school budget passed this week, appointments have been made for the new Ad Hoc Community Center committee, and the Town Council passed an updated Growth Management Ordinance in last week's Council meeting. Read on for more updates, then unplug for the holiday weekend.

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

Fireworks Notification

With 4th of July celebrations happening this 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

There will be no curbside trash collection on Tuesday, July 4. Collection for the remainder of the week will be bumped by one day:

Tuesday Route: Wednesday 7/5 Pickup

Wednesday Route: Thursday 7/6 Pickup

Thursday Route: Friday 7/7 Pickup

Friday Route: Saturday 7/8 Pickup

Questions? Contact Public Works at pwinfo@scarboroughmaine.org or (207) 730-4400.

Pine Point Parade with Scarborough Fire Department

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 Tuesday, July 4th and ends at the Engine 4 Fire Station, followed by strawberry shortcake in the fire station.

Tuesday, June 27 was Election Day. The local election was to vote on the school budget and to fill an open seat on the Portland Water Trustee Board. Here are the unofficial results:

School Budget Validation Referendum

849 YES

741 NO

2   Blanks

Portland Water District Trustee

126  Leroy Crockett

13   Judy Cavalero

10   Seth Garrison

387  Other individual who received 5 votes or less

1,031 Blanks

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.

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.

Learn more about payment option details, how to appeal a parking ticket, and ordinance information on our website.

This was the last week for retiring Middle School Resource Officer Rob Pellerin! Officer Pellerin has worked for the Scarborough Police Department for 18 years. He reflects back to when he first started with Scarborough in 2001 and hating the smell of the marsh. “Now I love it”. He first started as a patrol officer and became the Middle School Resource Officer in 2009. He also taught 5th grade DARE for the past 14 years and has been the Police Department’s taser instructor for 16 years.

Officer Pellerin loved working for Scarborough because of the people and community. “It’s been fun to work in a community that at one moment could feel so busy and the next could feel so ‘small town’.” He’ll miss his interactions with the community and working in the school. “My favorite part of my job was patrolling neighborhoods and getting a chance to interact with the community.”

After retiring from Scarborough Police this week, Officer Pellerin will start in July as a Deputy Judicial Marshal at the Cumberland County Courthouse. “Thank you so very much for allowing me to serve the people of this community. It has been an honor and a privilege.”

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 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days are:

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

• Saturday, September 9 (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.

Event calendars are available to pick up at the Community Services Hub, at Town Hall, and at the Scarborough Public Library. 

Scarborough Community Services is honoring National Parks and Recreation Month this July! We have partnered with Martin’s Point Health Care to offer free fitness, family, and wellness sessions throughout the month. Sessions include annual favorites like Zumba and Yoga and Pokémon and Popsicles in the Park. This year, we have also organized many more family-friendly and kid-approved activities and events, which include:

• Cardboard Creations Lab

• Cornhole Tournament

• Family Trail Fun with Scarborough Land Trust

• Hooked on Fishing Casting Session

• Youth Open Gym

• Barbie Party

• Take Apart Day

• Outdoor Sound Bath

• POUND Fitness Unplugged

• Wacky Water Day

We have also added a brand-new Community Block Party to wrap up the month of celebrations. This event will be held at the Wentworth playground and field, where we will have games, music, and food trucks on hand for the whole community to enjoy.

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 to a local Scarborough business, like Highland Farms, Nonesuch River Brewery, Scarborough Grounds, and The Dairy Corner.

Sergeant Craig Hebert, Fire-Police Captain Ron Doucette, and Fire-Police Lieutenant Rick Higgins sat down to reflect on the role.

Join the Fire-Police Team

We need a few new members to join on an on-call basis. There is no public safety background required for this role—new members will receive thorough training and guidance. Contact Sergeant Craig Hebert at (207) 883-6361 or chebert@scarboroughmaine.org to learn more. Apply online at www.scarboroughmaine.org/jobs.

Work for the Town of Scarborough

The Town is now hiring for:

• Parks Maintenance Worker (two openings)
• Accountant/Deputy Tax Collector
• Patrol Officer
• Experienced Dispatcher
• Call Company Firefighter
• Maintenance Worker/Plow Truck Driver
• Call Fire/Police
• Seasonal Positions: Parks Maintenance Worker

See all open jobs

In June, the Police Department's Social Services division facilitated its first in-person Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program Steering Committee. Its mission is to provide administrative oversight for LEAD, a grant-funded program under the Bureau of Justice Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program Grant. The committee will review and provide feedback on the program policies, protocols, and progress in order to achieve a reduction in overall recidivism.

Attendees included Scarborough Police Department Administration (Chief of Police, Lieutenants, Sergeants), dispatch and officers, Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, Cumberland County Trauma Intervention Program, Crossroads Recovery, The Opportunity Alliance, Maine Pretrial, Milestone Recovery, Scarborough General Assistance, Grace House for Women, and Volunteers of America.

• Sunday, July 2, 9am - Morning Yoga, Blue Point Preserve

• Saturday, July 15

10am - Amphibians and Reptiles of Southern Maine, Pleasant Hill Preserve - FREE

7:45pm - Bats: Fact vs. Myth, Pleasant Hill Preserve

• Tuesday, July 18, 10am - Family Trail Run/Walk, Fuller Farm Preserve - FREE

• Wednesday, July 19, 9:30am - SLT Hosts Forest Playgroup, Location TBD - FREE

• Saturday, July 22, 12pm - Invasive Species Info and Work Session, Fuller Farm Preserve - FREE

• Sunday, July 23, 2pm - Contemplative Summer Walk, Pleasant Hill Preserve - FREE

• Saturday, July 29, 10am - Wildflower Walk, Warren Woods - FREE

More details and registration links for all of these events can be found at www.scarboroughlandtrust.org.

Stop by the Scarborough Farmers Market this summer! The market is held on Sundays from 9:00am-1:00pm, June through October.

Hello Newman kicked off the season last Thursday and are followed by more weekly musical performances. Our free and family-friendly concerts, co-sponsored by Scarborough Chamber of Commerce and Scarborough Community Services, are held on Thursdays evenings at 6:30pm for six weeks in the summer. Be sure to pack a picnic dinner, bring your chairs or blankets, and visit the park for one (or all) of the concerts:

July 6: Joan Kennedy Classic Covers and Originals

July 13: Motor Booty Affair Ultimate Party Disco Band

July 20: Delta Knights Classic Rock, R&B and Blues

July 27: Compaq Big Band Big Band, Swing

August 3: Don Campbell Band American Crossovers and Originals

See the Community Services summer brochure for program details and instructions for registering.

Our Town Councilors value public engagement! They have an established Communications & Engagement Committee that meets monthly to discuss opportunities to hear from residents. It was in this committee that plans were made for the 2021 community survey, Council Corner articles and its in-person Council Corner Live spinoff, Budget Roundtables, and more. They are currently in the planning stages of a 2023 community survey for this fall, which will continue to collect benchmark data from its previous iteration two years ago. To learn more from the councilors, be sure to look for their Council Corner articles here and in the Scarborough Leader. An archive of articles can also be found on our website.

Scarborough Town Council

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

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

Scarborough Public Library: July Programs

Summer Learning 2023 All Ages

Wednesday, June 21-Saturday, August 12

Summer Learning continues at the Library! It is for all ages, and it’s not too late to get started. Pick up Summer Learning materials for infants through adults through mid-August. There are fun things happening at the Library every day! See Summer Learning activities.

Poetry Reading with Kate Kearns

Tuesday, July 11, 6:30-7:30pm

Register

Kearns will be reading from her latest book. Kate is the author of You Are Ruining My Loneliness (Littoral Books, 2023), and a chapbook called How to Love an Introvert (Finishing Line Press, 2015). A Scarborough, Maine poet with an MFA from Lesley University, Kate’s work has appeared in Maine Women Magazine, the Maine Sunday Telegram “Deep Waters” section and is forthcoming on Maine Public’s “Poems from Here”.

"Living with Mr. Farenheit" with Lisa Beecher

Wednesday, July 26, 6:30-7:30pm

Register

Attend this riveting talk by author Lisa Beecher about her book Living with Mr. Fahrenheit and her experiences dealing with psychological trauma. Lisa Beecher and her husband are first responders, deeply invested in careers and family, when he experiences a psychotic break. From a treatment failure in a psychiatric hospital, to her husband’s return to work and beyond, the family is forced to operate by the rules of a culture that does not encourage and support caring for mental health in an optimal way.

Living with Mr. Fahrenheit throws open the door on a first responder family’s psychological trauma, where secrecy and shame maintain an influential grip. Beecher lends her voice to a small but growing number of people willing to share their personal and professional experiences in a call for greater understanding, and culture change, in handling the impacts of first responder trauma.

Library Director Nancy Crowell is Retiring

Contribute to a Video for Her!

Upload Video Here

Nancy Crowell is retiring after 45 years as the Library Director and the Library is putting together a video for her retirement party! Our goal is to have lots and lots of people contributing so it feels big and special. You can record it yourself and upload it here, OR drop by on Friday, July 7 between 10am-12pm and we'll record it for you! Can't make it but still need help? Contact Elsa Rowe at ERowe@scarboroughlibrary.org or 396-6279 to make an appointment.

Monday – 9am to 5pm • Tuesday – 9am to 7pm • Wednesday – 9am to 7pm • Thursday – 9am to 7pm • Friday – 9am to 5pm • Saturday – 9am to 5pm • Sunday – Closed