C.K. Burns Celebrates 100 Years |
On June 14, CK Burns School celebrated its 100 year anniversary!
The school was built in 1922. It was named after Clementine Kendrick Burns, a beloved citizen and business owner in Saco. She was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century, and passed away in 1922 at the age of 70. The city then named the school in her honor.
Students and faculty commemorated a century's passing with a school photo taken by drone and a performance of a school anthem that was discovered while researching the history of the school. City officials and school staff congratulated students for being a part of such a significant anniversary.
Fifth-grade teacher Carey Johnson created a video telling the story of the school's founding and the legacy of its namesake, C.K. Burns. If you'd like to learn more, please follow this link.
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Election Results on Clerk's Webpage |
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The results are in!
The votes from last month's Primary and Referendums have been tallied by the City Clerk's office and are available on the city's website.
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Traffic Changes to Cutts Ave. for Construction to Begin Next Week |
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Beginning July 13th (or as soon as the street is posted) the City of Saco will convert Cutts Ave. into a one-way street going from Main Street to Elm Street. This change is to maintain road safety during a construction project at 28 Cutts Ave. During the project, a large portion of the roadway will be reduced to one lane. These restrictions will remain in place for the duration of the 14-month construction project.
Parking along Cutts Ave will be allowed in certain sections and will be restricted in others. Please see details below, and thank you for driving safely.
Allowed Parking:
- Main Street to the City Hall parking lot – Both sides of Cutts Ave. will have allowed parking.
- 30 Cutts Ave. to Elm St. on the south side of the road will have allowed parking.
Restricted Parking:
- Parking will be restricted from the City Hall parking lot to Elm Street along the north side of Cutts Ave.
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RECAP: The 51st Annual Sidewalk Arts Fest |
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One sunny Saturday in June, we joined hundreds of people for the 51st Annual Saco Sidewalk Arts Festival, hosted by Saco Main Street . The event featured 64 local artists, according to Saco Main Street president Amelia Meier.
“Coming out of the pandemic, we’re just excited to be back,” she said.
Art was sold, art was created, and art was heard. The Saco Arts Commission, formed in 2021, also painted a second crosswalk design at Free Street and Main Street, a new Kid’s Corner arts and crafts area was added, Bob Costigan Music played live music, and as always, Saco Police Department , Saco Parks & Recreation Department, and Saco Public Works were on-site to make sure the event was smooth and safe.
We chatted with last year’s Best in Show winner, Steve Harmon, who said it’s fun to walk up and down and see everyone’s art.
“The creativity and different ways that people express themselves, there’s no limits to it,” he said. “I think there’s something special about the City supporting creativity like this.”
Among the hundreds of attendees was resident Roland Michaud, who was a City Councilor through the ‘90s and ‘00s and Mayor of Saco from 2007 to 2011 and from 2015 to 2017. He reflected on the importance of community events like the Sidewalk Art Festival.
“When you have a downtown that has activity and music and sounds and people walking and speaking and enjoying the community, it means a lot,” he said. “Why do you want to live in Saco? It’s got everything you could possibly want, and a little more.”
Starting this week, they'll have Music in the Park-ing Lot at the Dyer Library & Saco Museum (371 Main Street) every Thursday from 6:00 to 7:30 PM until August 18th. You can also find them hosting the Saco Classic Car Show on Main Street on July 23rd.
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Lifeguard Positions Remain Open at Saco Parks & Recreation |
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You must be age 16+ and lifeguard-certified or have the ability to be certified by your start date. SPR is willing to reimburse successful candidates for certification costs.
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Longtime Saco Business Opens Improved Headquarters |
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City officials were pleased to join PM Construction and National Firestopping Solutions last week as they cut the ribbon on their beautiful new headquarters.
Located at 19 Industrial Park Road, Economic Development Director Denise Clavette said the energy among their employees was palpable, and you could see their enthusiasm and excitement for being a huge part of their companies’ success stories.
“With PM Construction owning the land, this 20,000 square-foot facility represents an investment of more than $4 million here in Saco,” Clavette said. “Both companies are community focused, and we appreciate that.”
You can learn more about each business using the links below:
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Finance Clerks Closed Aug. 16 and 17 |
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Due to an upgrade of our financial software, the Finance Department will be closed to the public on Tuesday, August 16th, and Wednesday, August 17th.
As a result, you will also be unable to pay taxes online during the two-day closure. However, you can still do many transactions online - renew your registration, purchase a parking permit, pay your ambulance bill, renew your dog license, and more!
The City Clerk, Code Enforcement, and Planning offices will remain open but can only accept cash or check payments during the upgrade.
Thank you for understanding and planning your City Hall finance business around this upgrade.
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Saco Cycles Seeks Volunteers |
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Saco Cycles is a program that gives bicycle rides to older residents living in care homes around the city. Launched by Age Friendly Saco, the program's goal is to improve quality of life for residents who might not otherwise have the opportunity to ride a bicycle.
The program is calling for volunteer pilots and safety riders! Call Age Friendly Saco today to inquire about piloting the electric-assist bike, or to learn how to sign up as a safety rider to bike ahead of the riders, assisting in road safety and major intersection crossings.
Rob Biggs, a pilot for Saco Cycles, said volunteering is a fun way to get outside in the summer.
"There's times where you gain as much or have more fun than the actual riders," he said.
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Piping Plovers at the Beach |
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The piping plover is a small shorebird that makes its habitat in sandy beaches. It has been on the federal endangered species list since 1986.
We need your help protecting the birds' habitat by not touching the nests. By respecting nests and keeping dogs on a leash from April 1 to September 30 at Bayview Beach, Kinney Shores, and Camp Ellis Beach, you are helping the species of plover continue to recover.
The Saco Parks & Recreation Department is still looking for volunteer Piping Plover Monitors this summer! Please contact Ryan Sommer, Parks & Recreation Director, at (207) 283-3139 or by email at RSommer@sacomaine.org for more information.
Saco will be monitoring Bayview, Kinney Shores, and Camp Ellis beaches for piping plovers. Volunteers must be able to walk the beach at least once a week to observe the birds, watch for disturbances, and report any issues to the department.
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Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Seeks Community Input in Survey |
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The Saco Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee (BPAC) is developing a cycling and pedestrian plan for the City of Saco and input from the community is fundamental to the process. Please take this short anonymous survey to share your thoughts on cycling in Saco.
Take the survey now:
About BPAC:
The mission of the Saco Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is to support and encourage a bicycle and walking-friendly community, to ensure safe, convenient, and friendly passage for all ages and abilities within the City of Saco. We do this through community outreach, public advocacy, and support of partners and events that promote safety and multimodal transportation.
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City Administrator's Open Office Hours 7/26 |
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Saco City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath has scheduled his monthly open office hours for July 26, 2022, from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM at City Hall, 300 Main Street.
All community members are invited to share their thoughts, views, concerns, or complaints with the City Administrator directly.
Please call (207) 282-4191 if you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule an appointment with Bryan outside of the open office hours.
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Plan Your Next Adventure in Saco |
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The Saco Conservation Commission has teamed up with local students to help showcase the city's natural beauty and accessibility. Looking for the best spot in Saco? Get started with our curated map of 16 trails, beaches and parks. This interactive StoryMap includes GPS-enabled trail maps, essential details about each site and photography to entice you to start exploring. Enjoy!
Click here or on the image below to visit the interactive StoryMap.
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Receive E-mail Notifications for Council, Planning Board, and More Through E-Notify |
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Would you like to hear from us more than once a month?
Sign up for e-notify to receive custom e-mail notifications on important City happenings, such as the release of new City Council and Planning Board agendas, RFPs, and more.
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The City of Saco has open positions.
We encourage you to take a look at the job opportunities currently available with the City of Saco on our Careers page. There is so much important work that goes in to keeping the City running, often behind the scenes.
We're currently hiring for these positions:
- Lifeguards
- Patrol Officer
- Mechanic
- Laborer
- Crossing Guards
If nothing is a great fit for you, consider passing the listings along to friends and family who might be looking for a satisfying and important career.
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We are always looking for ways to improve communication with our community members. As always, if there is anything we can do to better communicate information, please let us know by emailing ERoy@sacomaine.org. Be sure to check out our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages using the buttons below. You can also see news and updates on the City of Saco website at www.sacomaine.org.
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