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Community Newsletter

Issue #329

Having difficulty viewing the newsletter? View this and past issues here. 
In this Issue:
Photo: South Portland Land Trust

Upcoming City Council Meetings
Tuesday, March 7 at 6:30 PM - City Council Meeting (hybrid)
Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 PM - City Council Workshop (hybrid)

See the City Calendar for all scheduled City Council and board meetings + locations/links to participate. All agendas and packet material can be found on BoardDocs. This material will be posted by 4:30 PM on Friday the week prior to the scheduled meeting. See summaries of past Council meetings here.

Upcoming Budget Meetings
March 21, 2023 - School and City budgets will be posted to the City website no later than this date.

April 4, 2023 at 6:30 PM - The City Manager and School Superintendent will present their respective budget proposals to the City Council. The public has up to 3 minutes each to comment at this meeting.

April 11, April 25, May 9 (tentative) and May 23, 2023 at 6:30 PM - Additional budget information will be discussed. The public has up to 3 minutes each to comment at these meetings.

May 16, 2023 - City Council will vote on the final School budget.

June 13, 2023 - Voters decide fate of School budget at this June referendum.

June 20, 2023 - City Council gives final approval to the City portion of the budget.

Half Off Bus Rides March 1-Sept. 30

It’s a Fare Deal! 50% off all bus fares March 1-September 30, 2023! South Portland Bus Service, Greater Portland METRO, and Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit are discounting bus fares from March 1 – September 30, 2023. All bus fares will be half of their regular price during this promotion, including local and express service and full and reduced fares. The discounted fares are available to riders using either cash or the DiriGo Pass.
 

Upcoming Events

For more information and updates, follow the Rotary Club Facebook page.

Checking for Charity is South Portland Professional Fire Fighters Local 1476's biggest fundraising event of the year. All of the money raised is donated to charity, and this year's beneficiary is the Maine Cancer Foundation. Watch some exciting hockey all while supporting a great cause.
 

View more Library events below.

New Resource from SPPD

Did you know that more than half of homes in Maine have firearms? This means that most children are living with or entering homes with guns. Gun violence is complicated, but keeping guns secured and out of the hands of kids is not. That's why South Police Department created this new resource for parents and guardians: "Children and Gun Safety Information."
 

Featured Article
Kathryn Onos DiPhilippo continues her exploration of South Portland's sewers. Knowing sewers are a critical need in any city that are often taken for granted, she got curious about what they're like under the streets of South Portland and how the system works with our sewage treatment plant. Read Part 1 (A Window on the Past -- Sewers and sewage collection in South Portland) and Part 2 (More about sewers and sewage collection in South Portland).

Staff News

South Portland Police Department recently welcomed its newest officer, Dan Huntington. Chief Ahern shared in a Facebook post, "Dan Huntington comes to us by way of the Prince William County Police Department, Virginia. I first met Dan and his dad Fred in the Chelmsford High wrestling room, where he was known for his tireless work ethic. Upon graduation Dan served our country as a Marine before joining Prince William County. Welcome aboard, Devil Dog."

SPC-TV welcomes Sarah MacDonald to the team as a Camera Operator. Sarah brings formidable production experience to the station. Her background includes Production Management and Direction for Maine Harness Fairs as the Site Director for International Sound, and you've probably heard her work on TV as WMTW's Audio Director. Sarah honed her video and still photography skills in the crucible of the freelance wedding business, as well as on numerous independent video and photography projects. She holds a BA in Film Studies from Keene State College and has studied film at the Lorenzo DeMedici school in Florence, Italy. Station staff look forward to producing many excellent community videos with Sarah in the years to come!

Welcome, Sarah and Officer Huntington!

Employment Opportunities

Join our team! The City of South Portland offers competitive pay and a robust selection of employee benefits, including an excellent health plan with affordable family coverage, matched retirement options, dental, vision, life, income protection, long term disability, flexible spending accounts and more. The City of South Portland is proud of its talented and dedicated workforce and provides employees with inspiring leadership; stability; a positive, family-friendly workplace where work/life needs are valued and supported; and the support, encouragement and tools for successful careers. The City of South Portland values diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and embraces sustainable operations. Come join our team dedicated to service excellence!
 

Committee Updates & Openings
Wondering what good work your City Committees have been up to? Many have shared their annual reports, and more are on the way. Click here to read the reports submitted so far. Thank you to Committee members for the valuable work you do for our City!

If you're inspired to get involved, South Portland has over 20 Boards and Committees that thrive only with participation from residents from across our community. While some Committees are full, others need members now. Visit southportland.org/our-city/board-and-committees or stop by the City Clerk’s office at City Hall for more information about committees, vacancies, and how to apply.

Coming Up at the Library
  • Sat., March 4 at 2 PM: Author Talk with Elizabeth Lydia Bodner. Local author Bodner will be discussing her new book Unforgettable: Ages on End.
     
  • Weds., March 8th at 1 PM (the schools half day!): Upcycled Crafts with Eco Maine! Come learn how to make your own paper and weave!
     
  • Sat., March 11 at 10:30 AM: Birds of Prey: Our Talon-ted Friends. Learn about the birds of prey all around us. Open to all ages.
     
  • Weds., March 15 at 6:30 PM: Author Talk with Lisa Beecher. Join local author Lisa Beecher, in conversation with Bruce Coffin, as she discusses her new book, Living With Mr. Fahrenheit.
     
  • Sat., April 15 9 AM-12 PM (save the date!): Community Shredding Day. Bring your sensitive documents to be shredded in the Mobile Shredding Truck at the South Portland Public Library Parking Lot! Limit 2 containers of PERSONAL shredding only.


Visit the Library website for more information.
Some events are subject to change. Check spsd.org for up-to-date information.
Hello, my name is Shara Dee and I'm very happy to serve as the City of South Portland's Communications Officer!

I'd love to hear your feedback on our newsletter and other City communications, so feel free to send me a note any time at news@southportland.org.
The City of South Portland Community E-Newsletter includes information about City sponsored events, projects, and special announcements from South Portland's non-profit community. It is a compilation of the best available information at the time of publication. Events are subject to change without notice in the time between publication of this e-newsletter and the actual event. To send information to be considered for inclusion into this newsletter, send to news@southportland.org.
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