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Community Newsletter

Issue 297

This City of South Portland Community E-Newsletter includes information about City sponsored events, projects and special announcements from South Portland's non-profit community. Sign up if you would like to receive the newsletter directly to your inbox.
Having difficulty viewing the newsletter? The newsletter and archives are posted on the City's website here. Please report broken links to news@southportland.org.

The Finance Office (Tax Payments & Vehicle Registrations) has moved back to City Hall (25 Cottage Road).

Nomination petition papers for offices of City Councilor (District 3 & District 4) and Board of Education (District 3, District 4, District 5) are now available at the City Clerk’s office, and must be filed by Friday, September 3. Election Day is November 2, 2021.

There is still time to take out papers! As of today, nobody has yet taken out nomination papers for District 4 (City Council) or District 3 (School Board).

Thinking about running for public office?
Read More

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Employment Opportunities

Looking for a career? The City of South Portland is hiring for several positions. View the current job openings and learn how to apply online here.

Click here for a schedule of construction projects happening in the City

For a schedule of all City Meetings, Events, Public Hearings & Current Notices, please visit the City Calendar on the City's website.

All public meetings, including City Council meetings, will be resuming in person starting 7/31. The City has recently adopted a Remote/Hybrid Meeting Policy that allows committees, including the City Council, to meet remotely or in a hybrid (remote & in person) capacity in certain situations. Read the Policy here.

Schedule of Events

To register to receive Emergency Notification Alerts related to your neighborhood, follow this link: http://www.southportland.org/departments/police-department/code-red/

Check out this virtual tour of the new
Cash Corner Fire Station!

The City is looking for residents to serve on various Boards & Committees.

Residents are encouraged to fill out an application online or in person at the City Clerk's office located at City Hall during normal business hours. You can read more about the City's boards and committees on the City's website here.

Speaking of elections, you may now request your absentee ballot for the November 2 election. When ballots arrive (around October 2), we'll mail you your ballot. Then you can return it - either by mail or drop off at the City Clerk's office using the dropbox outside of City Hall. To request your ballot online, click here.

Real Estate Property Revaluation

Property assessments have been posted to the Assessor's page. Notices have recently been sent regarding property assessments and tax bills have been mailed. The first installment is due September 2.

The City has posted FAQs about the City's revaluation process, links to look up your assessed property value, and get answers about tax exemption and assistance programs. Read more at http://www.southportland.org/reval or call the Assessor's Office at (207) 767-7604 for more information.

Conservation Corner

Even a Single Tree Can Help Cool Down a City at Night time. Here's How!
shared by Barbara Dee, Conservation Commission

Click here to read the article.

Wreaths Across America Presents its Annual LEARN Award to South Portland Resident Brayden Kirk

COLUMBIA FALLS and SOUTH PORTLAND, Me. — July 28, 2021 — This weekend, at its annual Stem to Stone event in Maine, Wreaths Across America (WAA) recognized recent South Portland resident Brayden “Brady” Kirk as the fourth recipient of the organization’s LEARN Award.

This award given semi-annually to a young individual who has learned, and understands, the Wreaths Across America mission and incorporates it into their young life. Over the last decade, Brady has traveled with the WAA escort to Arlington, a week-long journey down the East Coast to share the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach in communities leading up to National Wreaths Across America Day. Now 18 and a 2021 graduate of South Portland High School, Brady is taking the lessons he’s learned over the years and made the decision to find a way to serve his own community. He will be attending Southern Maine Community College in the Fall for criminal justice, with a goal of becoming a police officer.

Wayne Hanson, WAA’s Chairman of the Board, and 13-year old Miles Worcester, the inaugural recipient of this award, and grandson of WAA’s Founders Morrill and Karen Worcester, presented Brady with the award on July 24, at the 8th Annual Stem to Stone event held in Downeast, Maine, where the nonprofit is headquartered. It is also where the balsam is grown to make the veterans’ wreaths sponsored by the public and placed by volunteers each December as part of the WAA’s mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.

“The Learn Award is something we developed back in 2015 as a way to express the importance of not only teaching as part of the mission, but for youth to LEARN what it means to serve and sacrifice for this country and then use that knowledge in their own young lives,” said Wayne Hanson, Chairman of the Board, Wreaths Across America. “It has been our honor and privilege to watch Brady literally grow up in front of us over the last decade, and knowing he has taken what he’s learned and has chosen to serve his community makes me and the entire WAA family very proud.”

“I was not expecting this, what an honor,” said Brady Kirk upon being presented the award that is made from the same marble used for the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. His mom and dad, Jennifer and Bill Kirk added, “We are so proud of the young man Brayden is becoming and it has been 100 percent Wreaths Across America influence for his decision of becoming a Police Officer. We are truly thankful for the opportunities WAA has created, not only for Brady, but our nation’s youth. He has said on numerous occasions he hopes when he is serving the community in the role of Police Officer that he hopes to be able to escort the convoy down to Arlington and bring it full circle, but until then, he will serve where he can make a difference.”

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. It is a free event, open to all people. For more information or to find a participating cemetery near you, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

About Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

A federal freeze on most evictions enacted last year expired on July 31. Are you looking for rent assistance? Maine Housing has announced expanded emergency rental assistance program eligibility.

The following changes became effective at noon on Monday, August 2:

Updating one of the eligibility requirements from having financial difficulty because of the pandemic to during the pandemic.
Increasing the total number of months a household can receive assistance from 15 months to 18 months.

Updated application and program information is available in nine languages at mainehousing.org/covidrent. People with application-specific questions can contact their local CAA. Anyone who has general program questions or who would like to request a paper application can call MaineHousing at 1-800-452-4668.

Community Events & News

The South Portland Public Library is thrilled to welcome patrons back inside the library.

Both library locations are open to the public once again. Though construction crews work to finish up work on our property, the Main Library – as well as the Branch – are open. Our hours are as follows:

Branch Library, 155 Wescott Rd: Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday, 12pm to 5pm
Main Library, 482 Broadway: Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm

We have made it through pandemic restrictions and we are on the verge of having construction restrictions behind us. However, we are still facing one remaining factor which will limit our services: staffing. We are currently short staffed due to multiple retirements over the past year. As we are able to bring new staff on board, our hours will continue to expand to pre-pandemic levels.

As a courtesy to our younger visitors who are as of yet unable to be vaccinated, we are asking that all library visitors please wear a mask.

For the most up-to-date information about our hours, visit us online at SouthPortlandLibrary.com, or call us at 767-7660 x2 with any questions. We are so excited to see you all again!

Raptors & Reptiles with the Center for Wildlife

Saturday, August 21st
Outside the Main Library, 482 Broadway, at 10:30 am

Join us at the South Portland Public Library on Saturday, August 21^st at 10:30 am for Raptors & Reptiles with the Center for Wildlife. This event for all ages will take place outside at the Main Library located at 482 Broadway to wrap up our Summer Reading Program for 2021.

We’ll be outside with the Center for Wildlife as they teach us all about raptors & reptiles, with a live animal ambassador to join in the fun! All ages are welcome to join and enjoy & learn!

This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the South Portland Public Library.

For more information, or if you have any questions about this event, call Youth Services at 767-7660 x3 or visit SouthPortlandLibrary.com.

Join us on Friday, August 13 at 9:00 AM for our monthly Coffee & Climate conversation to learn more about organic lawn and landscape care, and each city’s related ordinances. We will discuss organic lawncare basics and the best things to do for your lawn this fall. Portland & South Portland staff will also be on hand to answer your questions. Register for this virtual event here.

Join the South Portland Public Library as we bring back storytime on location at Bug Light Park in South Portland. Destination Storytime will be held on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting on June 15^th and running for the foreseeable future as our outside program space will be out of commission this summer due to construction.

Destination Storytime will be meeting near the Liberty Ship in Bug Light Park and will include stories and songs. All ages are welcome, and we will have storytime blankets available to sit on but you are more than welcome to bring your own.

Thanks to our friends at South Portland Parks and Recreation are helping us take storytime on the road.

For more information, or if you have any questions about Destination Storytime, call Youth Services at 767-7660 x3 or visit SouthPortlandLibrary.com.

SOUTH PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION SUMMER EVENTS
All Events and Times are Subject to Change
Please visit our Facebook Page for updates.

Saturday, August 14th
Art in the Park @ Mill Creek Park, 9:00am – 4:00pm

Wednesday, September 8th
Bug Light Park Fall Classic Car Show @ Bug Light Park, 4:30pm – Sunset
(Rain Date 9/11)

For questions on events, contact Robert Carter at rcarter@southportland.org.