City of South Portland, Maine | Official Website

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Community Newsletter

Issue #320

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.

See Public Meeting Agendas & Info

See the City Calendar for scheduled City board & committee meetings, including City Council Meetings, and 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.

PLEASE NOTE:

The next City Council workshop will be on Tuesday, October 25. The discussions will be on Standards of Denial for Marijuana Establishments; and Implementation of New Housing Law (LD 2003) and South Portland Housing Assessment & Strategy Report (HASR).

Report an Issue

Do you need to report a pothole, traffic hazard, broken streetlight, file a general complaint or communicate an issue pertaining to City property? Use the Citizen Request Portal!

Election News

REMINDER: Election Day is November 8, 2022
or you can cast your absentee vote NOW!

To vote absentee, you can request to have a ballot sent to your home by clicking here, or you can request and cast your absentee ballot in-person at City Hall. November 3 is the last day to request an absentee ballot without special circumstance. You do not need a reason to request an absentee ballot.
If you have already requested an absentee ballot be mailed to your home, it should be arriving any day if it hasn't already.
All absentee ballots must be returned to City Hall by Election Day, November 8, 2022.
All polling places will be open on Election Day from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM.
Have you recently moved? Changed your name? Not sure if you're registered? Call us at 207-767-3201 to make sure you're registered to vote!
For more information, please visit: www.southportland.org/elections

Upcoming Events

THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22! HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP-OFF

Click here or call (207) 767-7635 for more info.

CELEBRATE SOLAR FARM COMPLETION OCTOBER 27

Join us for a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the completion of South Portland's solar array that sits atop the City’s capped landfill. The array will offset 63% of the City of South Portland’s municipal electric load and save tax payers more than $20 million over the 40-year commercial life of the panels!

The City will celebrate the new solar installation with a ceremony on October 27 at 2 PM at the City’s solar array at 929 Highland Ave. We hope to see you there!

Learn more here.

Scroll down to see more Library events.

NEW DATE! Join PK Realty Management for a site walk to discuss the redevelopment of Yard South (the old Shipyard in South Portland next to Bug Light Park). Join to learn about the site history, project goals and share your thoughts. PK Realty Management will also be reviewing the contract zone exhibits and text prior to their submission to the City of South Portland.

When: Saturday, October 29, 10-11 AM
Where: Meet at 1 Madison Street, South Portland, Maine, 04106
Rain date and time: Sunday, November 7, 11AM‐12 PM

NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for 10/22 and has been rescheduled for 10/29. Please RSVP via email to info@pkrealtymgmt.com. If you’re unable to attend, PK Realty Management will be scheduling additional sessions in the future.

DRUG TAKE-BACK EVENT
OCTOBER 29, 2022

Learn more here.

Celebrating Community Media

This week we celebrated Community Media Day! South Portland Community Television shines a spotlight on the issues, people and events that make South Portland so special, and engages our community through media!

Check out these recent SPC-TV programs:
Spooky SoPo 2022

- League of Women Voters Candidate Forum -
Tax Stabilization for Seniors - Andi Fawcett Concert in Park - 12 OC Concert in the Park

Many more productions are underway. PLUS, you can tune into City Council meetings and many committee meetings online and on local cable TV, thanks to SPC-TV!

Learn more & link to SPC-TV video channels.

Announcements

The City of South Portland is pleased to announce it has been awarded $500,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to sustain the City’s Brownfields Assessment Program. These funds will be used to assist eligible landowners with assessing and addressing potential environmental impacts in order to facilitate beneficial redevelopment in our community.

Learn more about the Brownfields Assessment Program

Recently Launched

Check out the map.

Dog Licensing

License your dog by January 31, 2023! Reminders will not be mailed to each home. If you have licensed your dog online previously, you will get an email reminder. (There will also be reminders on social media, website, newsletter and at all polling places on Election Day.)

All dogs in the City must be licensed. To be licensed, you must show proof of your dog's current rabies vaccination. If your dog has been fixed (neutered/spayed), you must show proof, and the cost is $6.00. The cost is $11.00 for an unaltered dog. Visit the City Clerk’s office or license your dog online! After January 31, there will be a $25 late fee.

License your dog online.

Resources for Seniors

Age Friendly South Portland invites seniors, families, and the public to its Resource Fair on November 5, 2022 from 1-4 PM at the South Portland Community Center. Physical Therapists from Maine Strong Balance Center will provide free balance assessments. Many organizations will provide information and resources geared to support safe and healthy independent living.

For more information, contact Jill Vaughn (chipperfieldjill@gmail.com) or Kathy Adams (kadamsot@maine.rr.com)

Get Involved!

Provide feedback on South Portland's Broadway Gateway Pilot Project, which aims to slow traffic and make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists along Broadway. Email cstewart@southportland.org for more info.
Apply to be on a City of South Portland Board or Committee! There are a number of openings and opportunities for citizens to serve your community on a topic that matters to you!

Coming Up at the Library

Tuesday, October 26^th at 6:30 PM: An evening with Passamaquoddy guest speaker Dwayne Tomah.

Friday, November 4^th at 1 PM: In-person Spanish language learning group!

Saturday, November 5^th at 1 PM: Construct & Create. Build with LEGOs and so much more!

Saturday, November 5^th at 2 PM: Writers’ Group. Find writing inspiration, feedback, and community. Writers of all genres welcome. Register for Zoom link

Wednesdays in November at 3 PM: Dungeons and Dragons club! Open to middle and high school age kids.

Learn more about these and more library events.

Football game tonight, Oct. 21, 2022 at 7 PM at SPHS
Boys Soccer game Oct. 22, 2022 7 PM at SPHS
Next School Board Meeting: Nov. 14, 2022 at 6 PM

Events are subject to change. Check spsd.org for up-to-date information.

Conservation Corner

Submitted by Barbara Dee, Chair of the Conservation Commission

Hello, my name is Shara Drew 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 Newsletter is published by the City of South Portland. It is a compilation of the best available information at the time of publication. Events may be 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.

10-21-22 Newsletter