Our Comprehensive Plan Process is Moving into the Final Phase |
Thank you to everyone who participated in our in-person and virtual open houses for the draft plan. A summary of what we heard is available on the city’s webpage.
Our next step is beginning the plan review and approval process with Planning Board and City Council. The comprehensive plan will be on upcoming agendas, starting with Planning Board’s January 18 meeting. The complete draft plan and appendices are available for review online at www.sacomaine.org/comp_plan and in hard copy at City Hall. We encourage you to submit comments through this form.
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New Senior Tax Assistance Program |
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On January 10, 2022, the Saco City Council updated Chapter 175, revamping existing local tax assistance for qualifying community members. This new tax/rent assistance program is for 10-year residents, age 65+, who also qualify for the State of Maine Property Tax Fairness Credit.
“Making sure our older residents can afford to stay in their homes as they age is important to us here at the City of Saco,” said City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath. “Our new local program combined with state assistance will ensure that is possible. Our staff is looking forward to working with community members to make sure they receive all the aid they qualify for.”
The City of Saco Senior Tax Assistance Program offers a match to the Maine Property Tax Fairness credit. This year only, the match is up to two times the credit.
The timeline for application is short in our first year of implementation, due to tax due dates and the ordinance enactment process. Applications for the City of Saco Senior Tax Assistance Program are due February 15, 2022, for current year taxes. Find more information and start your application today by visiting www.sacomaine.org/seniortax, calling 207-710-2654, or e-mailing the Saco Finance Department at mlavigne@sacomaine.org.
Saco’s Assessing Department is now also accepting applications to forward to Maine Revenue Services for the State Property Tax Deferral Program. The State Property Tax Deferral Program is a state program that allows qualifying homeowners to defer payment of the property taxes on their homesteads until they pass away, move, or sell the property. For more information on this program, visit www.sacomaine.org/assessing. Applications are accepted between January 1 and April 1.
To qualify for both the local Saco Senior Tax Assistance Program and the State of Maine Property Tax Deferral Program, the homeowner must retain a Homestead Exemption for the property. If the property doesn’t possess an exemption, you can easily apply by visiting our website here: www.sacomaine.org/assessing.
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Two New Businesses Cut the Ribbon |
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Unwind Cocktail Lounge
On Wednesday, December 29th, representatives from the City of Saco and Saco Main Street joined the new owners of Unwind Cocktail Lounge for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Scott Parsons and Brittany Brown have frequented the location since it originally opened and have introduced a new, original cocktail menu and delicious snacks to the Main Street lounge.
During the ribbon-cutting, Brittany and Scott shared their excitement to be part of the Saco community and create an escape for patrons to enjoy some cocktails, mocktails, and a warm, inviting place to gather. Thank you, Brittany and Scott, for realizing your vision here in Saco.
Be sure to stop by and welcome Scott, Brittany, and their friendly new team to the community!
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Everest Recovery
On December 16, 2021, City staff and elected officials joined the Everest Recovery team to cut the ribbon on their Saco location.
The treatment center, located at 2 Lehner Road, aims to improve Southern Maine's access to opioid addiction treatment services.
"Maine is facing a serious problem with opioid use disorder, and Everest Recovery is here to be part of the solution," said Peter Morris, co-founder, and CEO of Everest Recovery. "My goal is that our new treatment center is a place I would want to send a family member of mine if they were suffering from this disease."
Everest Recovery started accepting new patients on January 12, 2022. As we continue to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Everest Recovery has precautions in place to ensure the safety of patients during their time in recovery.
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Holiday Festival Warms Downtown |
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We had a flurry of fun on Dec. 4th at Saco Main Street's 10th Annual Holiday Festival and Parade of Lights!
Community members in Saco truly have a strong sense of holiday spirit. Dozens of organizations, City Departments, and individual volunteers come together every year to make this tradition a heartwarming success. Browse our gallery of pictures on Facebook and tag your friends, or let us know which was your favorite float.
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Age Friendly Saco Receives AARP Award |
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Last month, Age Friendly Saco was recognized for their incredible work in our community. Out of the 174 Age Friendly communities in the state, AARP Maine chose our local Age Friendly organization to receive the first-ever Beacon Community Award.
Age Friendly Saco volunteers gathered in the first floor conference room at City Hall last week so they could be together to accept the award via Zoom. Led by Director Jean Saunders, the volunteer organization has a diverse and growing set of initiatives aimed to achieve their mission of making it easier to age in place.
Here are a few of their accomplishments, just during the pandemic:
- Received more than $45,000 in grant funding during the pandemic to support their age-friendly work.
- Raised more than $6,000 in community funds to support food insecurity.
- Outreach during COVID: Calls to 2,500 residents to assess needs.
- Despite the pandemic, the Handy Helpers program provided over 150 service requests.
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Received a grant from Southern Maine Agency on Aging to start a tech handy helper program. Rather than simply relying on tech assistance by phone, the team set up socially distanced, outdoor individual lessons for the people who wanted to learn the technology.
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Partnered with Thornton Academy to mail more than 500 hand-made Valentines cards to residents.
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Sand bucket program (partnering with TA): Delivered more than 140 buckets of winter sand-salt mix with the help of Thornton Academy students and Saco Public Works.
- Preparing to announce new, on-demand transportation program in early 2022.
“We are particularly proud of having reached out to so many residents during the pandemic,” said Director Saunders, “and this experience allowed us to broaden our outreach efforts by adding to our database and our ability to reach more people now than ever before.
"We are pleased with how many people we helped with food insecurity, through our food deliveries with the Saco Food Pantry, our meals program in which volunteers delivered hot meals right to residents’ doors, and our sponsoring the Farmers to Families Food box program for our community which served all age groups of our community and allowed for more multigenerational opportunities to engage our younger residents (high school students) in this food program."
Congratulations to Age Friendly Saco on this well-deserved recognition!
Do you or a loved one want to connect with Age Friendly Saco? Find more information on their programs at www.sacomaine.org/agefriendly or call them at (207) 710-5029.
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New and Re-elected City Councilors and School Board Members Sworn In |
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City Clerk Michele Hughes swore in newly elected and re-elected members of the Saco School Board and Saco City Council during the Dec. 6, 2021, City Council meeting.
Returning to the City Council are Marshall Archer (Ward 1), Joseph Gunn (Ward 3), and Jodi MacPhail (Ward 6).
And please join us in welcoming new school board members Arthur Archie (Ward 1) and William Gayle (Ward 5), as well as returning members Jeffrey Richard (Ward 3) and Beth Johnston (Ward 7).
City Council group photo (above, left to right): Marshall Archer (Ward 1), Jim Purdy (Ward 2), Joseph Gunn (Ward 3), William Doyle (Mayor), Michael Burman (Ward 4), Phil Hatch (Ward 5), Jodi MacPhail (Ward 6), and Nathan Johnston (Ward 7).
School Board group photo (below, left to right): Arthur Archie (Ward 1), Jennifer Preble (Ward 2), Jeffrey Richard (Ward 3), Kevin Lafortune (Ward 4), William Gayle (Ward 5), Sarah Truman (Ward 6), and Beth Johnston (Ward 7).
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Sign up Now for Future Parking Ban
E-mail Notifications
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If a significant storm is predicted, a parking ban may be ordered. The parking ban will prohibit parking on city streets allowing Saco Public Works crews to perform their job quickly and efficiently. During parking bans, the Transfer Station is closed, allowing the department to have more personnel available to fight the storm. If trash and recycling collection is impacted by a parking ban, the change in collection will be shared with the parking ban notification.
The best way to ensure you see parking ban notices and building closures is to sign up for our e-mail list at www.sacomaine.org/stay-connected.php. Sign up today, and check your e-mail as it snows.
You can also always reach our parking ban hotline at (207) 282-SNOW (7669), or check local radio and TV stations, who also receive notices from us in the event of a parking ban or building closure.
The only location that allows for overnight parking within the City of Saco is the Long-Term parking lot at the Saco Transportation Center (138 Main Street). Overnight parking is not allowed on any other city owned parking lot and vehicles will be towed. See the map at www.sacomaine.org/parkingban for information about parking in the East Lot or West Lot.
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Council Recognizes Saco Centenarian |
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At a City Council meeting last month, we were proud to honor Saco's newest centenarian, Wanda Ann Regina Massie!
Wanda turned 100 on December 1st. Her parents immigrated from Poland in the early 1900s and her family resided on Summer Street in Biddeford, Maine. She was born in Biddeford on December 1st, 1921.
Wanda attended Biddeford Schools, was a member of the Biddeford High School Glee Club, and traveled to Washington DC with her Senior Class.
After graduating from Biddeford High School in 1938, Wanda worked at Fishmans and then Saco-Lowell, where she eventually met her future husband. Wanda volunteered at the Penny Pincher, was a Docent at the Dyer Library/Saco Museum, a member of the Altar Guild and served as Treasurer at Trinity Episcopal Church in Saco.
Wanda married Charles C Massie Sr on June 29, 1951, and immediately became a mother to Patty, Michael and David. The family moved from Camp Ellis to Lincoln Street in Saco in 1954 and Wanda had one son, Charles C Massie Jr, on July 12th of the same year.
At the age of 100, Wanda continues to live on Lincoln Street with her son, Chuck, and daughter-in-law, Jane. Wanda has eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She has always enjoyed her family, gardening, traveling, and playing golf. Wanda is an avid reader and plays Sudoku daily.
Saco has a long tradition of gifting locally-made walking canes to our oldest community members. Ernie Merritt, a Saco resident, makes these custom canes for centenarians, and presented one to Wanda last night.
Please join us in celebrating Saco’s newest centenarian!
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Calling All Artists!
The Saco Arts Commission Wants to See Your Design to Beautify City Utility Boxes
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In support of City beautification efforts, the newly formed Saco Arts Commission’s first major initiative is a contest to create art for three downtown traffic light boxes.
This project creates a harmonious combination of art and essential services and provides a great opportunity to make functional objects visually appealing and vibrant in downtown Saco.
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Socks for Seniors is a Success, Again! |
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We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to the Saco community, who together donated a staggering 871 pairs of socks for our 6th Annual Socks for Seniors program.
The Saco Police Department is proud to serve a community full of such generous and caring neighbors—happy holidays to all.
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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, or updates about the ongoing Comprehensive Planning process.
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The City of Saco has a variety of 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.
If nothing is a great fit for you, consider passing the listings along to friends and family who might be looking for work.
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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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