 |
|
Meet Your Candidates - Election 2019
|
Join us for the 2019 Scarborough Candidates Night on Tuesday, October 8 at 6:00 pm in Town Hall Council Chambers. The event, hosted by the
Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Kevin Freeman will also be broadcast live on SCTV.
Schedule
6:15-6:30pm Sanitary District
6:30-7:30pm Board of Education
7:30-9pm Town Council
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Jaime Higgins, Scarborough PD Crime Analyst
|
October is "Domestic Violence Awareness Month". Scarborough Police Department joins Family Crisis Services in bringing awareness to this crime, a serious public health problem. Domestic Violence negatively effects women, men, and children in every socioeconomic class and every age group. Scarborough is not immune to this problem.
Domestic violence may include verbal, emotional, economic, physical and sexual abuse. All forms of domestic abuse have one purpose: to gain and maintain control over the victim. Abusers use many tactics to exert power over their spouse or partner: dominance, humiliation, isolation, threats, intimidation, denial and blame.
In 2018 we had 55 reports of Domestic Violence. In a town of approx. 20,000 people we believe Domestic Violence continues to be grossly under reported. In the United States 10-35% of the population will be physically aggressive towards a partner at some point in their lives. According to studies, less than 1% of Domestic Violence cases are reported to the police.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Broadturn Farm - A Conservation Success Story
Rich Bard, Executive Director, Scarborough Land Trust
|
In the early 2000's, the farm that is now known as Broadturn Farm was in a state of disrepair. It was up for sale and it looked like it would be yet another historic farm that would be lost to development pressure. The Scarborough Land Trust mobilized to save the farm. In those days, it was uncommon for a conservation organization to make farm preservation a priority, but the visionary Land Trust leaders saw that the rural landscape and access to locally produced food was a critical part of Scarborough's heritage.
Money from Scarborough's Land Acquisition Reserve Fund was critical to making the purchase possible, along with other sources of funds, protecting 434 acres of land in Scarborough's far western corner in 2004. In total, more than 1,000 acres in Scarborough have been protected thanks in part to the Land Acquisition Reserve Fund.
Several years later, the farm fields and associated farmhouse and barns were leased to farmers Stacy Brenner and John Bliss, who still own and run Broadturn Farm, Inc. They have built a flourishing business that now focuses on flowers, some produce, a beautiful wedding and event venue, a farm camp, and other enterprises. Today the farm is a vibrant, colorful, and important contributor to our community and local economy, adding much more value to our town than a few dozen new house lots.
In addition to 275 acres dedicated to the farm itself, the property includes more than a hundred acres of woods. The Silver Brook Trail, a beautiful 0.6 mile walking trail accessible off Hanson Road is a wonderful short, easy walk, including a stop at a bench with a view of a waterfall. This trail is not to be missed!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Age Friendly Scarborough
Cynthia DiBiase, Seniors Program Coordinator, Community Services
|
This survey was put together by a new informal committee, The Age Friendly Scarborough Committee, as a first step in our age friendly initiative as a town. This group is sponsored by Community Services and is Town Council driven. The group was formed in response to goals set out by town council in 2018. One of the goals was to "Consider participation in AARP's Age-Friendly Community Programs". The Advisory board for the Scarborough 55+ Program took this project on and applied through AARP to join the network of Age Friendly Communities. The informal Age Friendly Scarborough Committee is comprised of existing members of our senior advisory board, and others residents who reached out to AARP directly with an interest in Age Friendly Communities. Right now, we have about 13 folks who have been involved. We haven't had many meetings, but hope to become more active in the New Year. If you, or someone you know is interested in getting involved, we would be happy to add you to our email group.
Click here for the complete article
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High Five Fridays are Back
Lieutenant Tim Barker, Police Department
|
On October 11, 2019 the Scarborough Police Department will once again begin High Five Fridays as a way for our officers to connect with the kids in our school systems. This year, in addition to seeing an officer at one of the P
rimary schools, Intermediate school, Middle School, or High School, you will see them at the Morrison Center as well.
The Scarborough Police Department recognizes the importance of interaction with all age groups. We offer a wide variety of programs that devote interaction with various groups. Too frequently, the only exposure that young children have to Police Officers may be from viewing a television shows, movies, or just seeing them in passing. These examples do not truly represent what type of character or personalities that our officers have.
With younger children, we as officers often see the excitement that many children have when they see a police officer, or a police car. There are many organizations that come into our police station for tours, and it is often highlighted by showing the kids a "cruiser" up close with the lights on, or having them ask questions about our uniforms and gear that we wear.
Click here for the complete article
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Councilor's Corner: Community Center Committee
John Cloutier and Paul Johnson, Town Councilors
|
The Town Council voted unanimously during our September 18th, 2019 meeting to approve the nine residents who will serve on the Adhoc Community Center Advisory Committee. The purpose of this committee is to research and advise The Town Council on the viability of partnering with The Downs and Edge Sports Group to incorporate a Community Center into the recreational facility that they are planning to build. The new committee will thoroughly explore the opportunity and develop an understanding of what amenities are most desired in a potential community center, the anticipated operational costs, and associated construction costs. This will allow The Council to better understand the public benefit associated with a partnership and the taxpayer impact of a decision to move forward.
It is important to clarify that this work is being undertaken to allow The Council to make as informed of a decision as possible about the opportunity at hand. We hope that you will engage and share your thoughts with us as we move forward.
The Committee is under a tight deadline as The Downs/Edge group is already working through the planning phases of the facility. The Town Council is anticipating a report back from the Committee by December 15th, 2019. We had strong interest from residents looking to participate on this citizen lead group, and we were very pleased to be able to assemble such a talented team for this important work.
We look forward to the work ahead, and keeping you informed along the way. It's an exciting opportunity that is worthy of this effort to explore further.
Sincerely,
John Cloutier & Paul Johnson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meet Our Student School Board Representatives
Kelly Johnston, Scarborough Public Schools
|
Kristen Caldwell has just begun her second year as a student school board representative. Outside of school, Kristen is a member of Model United Nations, ECOS, Key Club, and is Co-President of the Middle School Interact Club! She was on the varsity swim team last year and is the varsity field hockey team manager. Kristen has traveled to Costa Rica, Fiji, Laos, and Thailand during the past few years for service projects, and this past summer she went to Girls State where she was elected to the Senate! She participates on the BOE because she wants to make a difference in her school and community. Kristen plans to go to college next year where she will pursue a degree in Political Science with a minor in Spanish.
Max Bennett couldn't be more excited to be joining the Board of Education as the Class of 2021 Representative. He participates in clubs like the Gender/Sexuality Alliance (which he is the president of), Oak Hill Players, One Acts, RSVP, Scarborough A Cappella, and ECOS. He also participates in community theatre at Lyric Music Theatre, Portland Players, and STAGES Youth Theatre. He decided to run for the BOE because he wants to represent his school and the town he has lived in all his life, and hopes he is a valuable asset to the team. In the future, he hopes to go to college in New England to study Social Sciences/Humanities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meet Your Town Employees
Kailey Dubuque, Human Resources
|
On Monday, September 23
rd
, Shawn Brackett joined the Town of Scarborough Public Works Department as a full-time Maintenance Worker I. Shawn previously joined the town in April of this year working as a seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker for the Community Services Department. Shawn is a graduate of Thornton Academy in Saco, and Southern Maine Community College, earning his degree in Business. From there, he worked in sales for several years before making the switch to his work with the Town. Shawn will operate trucks and other equipment to provide road construction and repair and assist in snow and ice removal operations amongst other duties. We congratulate Shawn on his new position and welcome him to the Town of Scarborough full-time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
About the Scarborough Town Newsletter
|
Welcome to the official newsletter of the Town of Scarborough, Maine. Brought to you by a team of Town staff, our mission is to keep you informed about town events and activities.
Please note that the newsletter articles are intended to be brief and will often point you back to a link on the Town's Website or Facebook page. The website is the heart of the communication network within town and is the central repository for information on Town government.
Your newsletter team:
| Tody Justice, Town Clerk |
Catherine Morrison, Public Library |
| Stephen Kramer, Community Services |
Sean Bushway, IT |
| Heidi McNinch, Human Resources |
Brian Longstaff, Codes & Planning |
Kelly Johnston, Scarborough Public Schools
|
Michael Thurlow, Fire Department |
| Kim Sperlich, Police Department |
Ruth Porter, Finance |
| Leona Oceania, Public Works |
Larissa Crockett, Administration |
| Magdalena Slawiec, SEDCO |
|
|
|
|
|
2019 Scarborough Town Council
|
|
Peter Hayes, Chair
|
|
Katy Foley, Vice Chair
|
|
Jean-Marie Caterina
|
|
John Cloutier
|
|
William Donovan
|
|
Don Hamill
|
|
Paul Johnson
|
|
|
|
|
