“A Sailor’s Life for Me!” takes place on May 17 (rain date of May 18), 11am to 3 pm. Admission is free for Historic New England members. Non-member admission for adults is $6 and children is $4. In recognition of Armed Forces Day, kids get in free when mom or dad shows their military identification card.

A day of fun for all ages will take place at the Hamilton House in South Berwick when Historic New England presents “A Sailor’s Life for Me!” children’s festival. Hamilton House, once the location of the town’s landing, has a rich history in maritime activity including shipbuilding and involvement in the East Indies trade. Families are invited to learn about maritime history by exploring the site in search of remains of the old wharf and seeing the house Jonathan Hamilton was able to build through the wealth he accumulated as a privateer and merchant in the late 1800s. Children will enjoy craft activities including scrimshaw carving using soap, making sailor’s valentines, and knot tying. Musician and maritime interpreter Dave Peloquin will entertain with sea chanteys and cooper Ron Raiselis will demonstrate barrel making. Food will be sold on site by The Catered Event.

Hamilton House is located on Vaughan’s Lane, adjacent to Vaughn Woods, a mile off Route 236 in South Berwick. For more information contact the South Berwick Office of Historic New England at (207) 384-2454 or visit www.historicnewengland.org.

South Berwick residents reject funds for extra snow removal costs …
Foster’s Daily Democrat
It could’ve been quick and easy - a short period of public comment, three questions determined by a yea or nay voice vote, and a hand count if the vote was too close to determine by ear.

South Berwick police: Pair was stealing items to sell as scrap metal
Foster’s Daily Democrat
After stealing four bicycles, a freezer, and a lawn mower from a home on Brattle Street in the hopes of selling off the scrap metal for cash, a South Berwick man and a juvenile accomplice were arrested Thursday …

South Berwick students hike through their town’s history
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Cars and trucks rumble past the houses on Main Street, and the wastewater treatment plant is entrenched in the background on Liberty Street.

Police say juvenile was in possession of stolen property from …
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Police have arrested a girl and are searching for accomplices in connection with thefts from two downtown churches.

Berwick fire chief says more crew needed for frequency of calls
Foster’s Daily Democrat
But some town residents have questioned the validity of Plante’s numbers, saying the Berwick Fire Department is dispatched by South Berwick and therefore more accurate numbers could be provided by the South Berwick Police Chief Dana Lajoie.

Here are the highlights (or lowlights, depending on where you stand) of tonight’s Council Meeting

Special Town Meeting
Paper ballot votes were held on three warrant articles:
Article 2. To see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate and expend from the Undesignated General Fund Balance to cover the unexpected orverdraft in the Highway budget for 2007/08 Winter Maintenance.–Town Council Recommends: $150,000 from Undesignated General Fund-article failed 32 yes to 38 no

Article 3. To see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate and expend from the Undesignated General Fund Balance to cover the unexpected orverdraft in the 2007/08 Town Manager budget.–Town Council Recommends: $100,000 from Undesignated General Fund-article failed 21 yes to 50 no Read the rest of this entry »

Monday, May 12
Vaughan Fund Trustees Meeting Postponed to May 27

Board of Assessors
6:00 PM - Council Chambers

Town Council - Council Chambers
Here’s a quick run down on the agenda:
6:00pm Board Of Assessors Vaughan Fund rescheduled for next meeting
6:05pm Town Council
1. Executive Session – 1MRSA §405.6A – Discuss Interim Manager position.
6:30pm Special Town Meeting
Town Council to reconvene after town meeting
Reports & Correspondence
1. Healthy Maine Partnership presentation.
Unfinished Business
1. Take action on Comprehensive Plan Update.
New Business
1. Discuss/take action on Safety Belt Enforcement Grant.
2. Motion to approve Policy on Treasurer’s disbursement warrant for payroll.
3. Sign warrant calling for Municipal Referendum on June 10th.
4. Appoint warden and election clerks for June 10th election.
5. Sign warrant calling for SAD #25 Referendum on June 10th.
6. Discuss/take action on June 9th meeting date.
7. Discuss/take action on EDC request for support.
8. Discuss ordinance to create the position of Assistant Town Manager.
9. Discuss/take action on Interim Town Manager position.*
10. Executive Session – 1MRSA §405.6D – Police Union negotiation.*

Tuesday, May 13

Town Council and EDC Workshop
5:00 PM - Town Hall

Public Information Meeting on The Charter Amendment
6:30 PM - Auditorium Hall
The Town Council will hold an informational meeting on the Charter Amendment to provide for the recall of elected officials. A copy of the specimen ballot can be found on the town web site.

South Berwick residents act Monday on $265g to pay for snow cost …
Foster’s Daily Democrat
The town’s undesignated fund could take a major hit Monday night during a special town meeting when residents will decide whether to take out $265000 to cover overruns in the snow removal budget, the buyout of …

South Berwick could add recall regulations
Portsmouth Herald News
The town is taking steps toward allowing the recall of elected officials. A public informational hearing will be held Tuesday to discuss a referendum vote.

South Berwick neighbors concerned about backyard hive
Portsmouth Herald News
Neighborhood residents are buzzing about the actions of a Portland Road man who …

Teens vandals turn to buglary, Eliot police say
Portsmouth Herald News
Numerous teenagers will be facing misdemeanor and felony charges after residents aided a police investigation into multiple house and car burglaries.

Route 236 fire is extinguished
Portsmouth Herald News
Eliot firefighters clean up after dousing a fire at Lin-Cor Environmental, LLC in Eliot, Maine, on Route 236 Thursday.

EDC Celebrates Opening of Monkey Business Bakery

The Economic Development Committee held a Ribbon Cutting at Monkey Business Bakery at 440 Main Street South Berwick on Thursday, May 7. Pictured from left to right is Mike Lassel, Economic Development Committee Vice Chairman, Roberta Orsini, Acting Interim Town Manager, Business Owners Nicole Bouchard and Jacob Bouchard, Andrea Young, and Jean Demetracopoulos, Town Council Chairman. An Open House is scheduled for Saturday May 17. They are open for business between Tuesday through Friday 7 AM to 4 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 8 AM to 1 PM. Web site.

Curves changes owners in South Berwick
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Members of the South Berwick Town Council and Economic Development Committee held a ribbon cutting for the Curves health club May 1 to signify a change in ownership.

South Berwick police to increase vigilance on underage drinking
Foster’s Daily Democrat
With high school graduation and prom season around the corner, South Berwick Police Chief Dana Lajoie is hoping to curb underage drinking through a series of awareness and enforcement programs funded by a grant …

Eliot to vote on $4M budget
Portsmouth Herald News
With the final changes made in the fiscal year 2009 town budget, voters will be asked to approve a bottom line of $4.2 million at Town Meeting on June 14.

Kittery baker is fighting the feds over food policy
Foster’s Daily Democrat
With the rising cost of food and fuel creating a quagmire for Americans nationwide, local bakery owner Andrew Siegel and US Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, gathered Monday afternoon to announce their plans to combat …

Scholarships available for York County residents
Portsmouth Herald News
If you are a Maine resident and plan to further your education in 2008-2009, the following scholarship funds are open to York County residents. For information on scholarships available to Maine students on a statewide basis, …

Scouting’s highest rank for South Berwick’s Kareckas
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH
Kevin Kareckas received his Eagle badge and official recognition recently as he accepted the Eagle Challenge at the …

Artists open studios this Saturday
Portsmouth Herald News, NH
… their studios from 11 am to 5 pm Just in time for Mother’s Day, this annual spring event draws guests from all over New England to the rejuvenated …

South Berwick GOP meeting May 28, 7:00pm at the Town Hall Council Chambers. All are welcome.

GOP Candidates’ Day
June 7, 9;00am at the Community Center
Come meet the GOP candidates for state government, including Representatives Bonnie Gould and Sally Lewin, State Senate candidate Mary Andrews, Congressional candidates Dean Scontras and Charlie Summers. All are welcome and questions to the candidates are encouraged.

For more information: SB GOP web site

South Berwick Democrats Candidates’ Night
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. Great Works School, 49 Academy Street, South Berwick, Maine
Five of the six Maine’s First Congressional District Candidates will be visiting South Berwick on Wednesday May 28, 2008. Less than two weeks before the primary, Mike Brennan, Adam Cote, Mark Lawrence, Chellie Pingree, and Ethan Strimling, will be on hand to meet local Democrats and to answer questions one-on-one. State Senator Peter Bowman (District 1) and democratic candidates Bobbi Beavers and Mark Eves, running in House Districts 146 and 148 respectively, will also be present to answer questions.

For more information: SB Dems web site

The Great Works River Watershed Coalition (GWRWC) is a volunteer group that monitors the water quality of the Great Works River and its tributaries at sites in Sanford, North Berwick, and South Berwick. The group seeks volunteers and members to assist in the biweekly monitoring program that begins on Saturday, May 31. Coalition members and volunteers also participate in several other events including watershed surveys, stream habitat surveys, and canoe trips.

On Saturday, May 10, a water quality training session will be held in South Berwick at Leigh’s Mill Pond on Vine Street, between 9AM and 10:30AM. The purpose of the training is to ensure that all monitors make the same measurements and record their data in the same way. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer monitor should attend this training program.

On Saturday, May 24, the group will guide a canoe/kayak trip and river clean-up on the Great Works River starting at the Emery’s Bridge Road in South Berwick, and ending at Brattle Street, also in South Berwick; this trip starts at 12:30 PM and takes about 2 hours to complete. This is a very easy section of the river to paddle, with no white water or portages. The purpose of the river trip is to identify any pollution sources, to clean up litter along the shoreline, and to enjoy our river resource. Don’t forget to bring a PFD, lunch, water, and a bag to store litter!

Water quality monitoring begins on May 31 and continues biweekly until September 6. On the final day of sampling the coalition will gather for a volunteer recognition party! Anyone interested in joining the coalition and assisting in their endeavors should contact GWRWC President Mike Cannon at 207-384-5881. More information is also available on the GWRWC web site, www.gwrwc.org.

Experience a rare opportunity to interact with dozens of artisans in studios as varied as the artists themselves. On exhibit and for sale will be paintings, photography, fiber arts, paper & book arts, jewelry, glass works, mixed-media, collage and assemblage, clocks, children’s books, journals and apparel. Throw in an exotic wandering dance troupe (performances at 12pm and 2 pm), guest musicians such as Seacoast violinist Sam Goodall and flutist Cynthia Chatis (11am), and art stations for children to create their own Mother’s Day cards, and you have a perfect day out for Mom and/or the whole family…

Be sure to check out South Berwick artists’ studios, including Mary Lou Bagley, James Vaughn, Tim Tiebout, and others. (Stop in at my studio and say hi –Molly #452)

For more information: www.millartists.com

Here are the first tadpoles I’ve seen this year, hanging out on a submerged oak leaf. I noticed the eggs during that warm spell we had two weeks ago and have been watching them change from dots to commas and today I saw these guys. We have a small human-made pond by our house that is a frog paradise. We put it in about fifteen years ago and on the very first day we filled it with water, a frog came and took up residence. Now it is full of frogs. Sometimes in the summer we have to close our windows to watch television because the frogs are so loud.

What did you see today?

The next school board meeting includes time for public input on the school budget.

Maine School Administrative District No. 35
Board of Directors - Regular Meeting - Marshwood High School
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.

Public Input - Budget

New Business:
1. Consideration and action to approve the NOP - Karen Wright at MHS.
2. Consideration and action to approve the Ratification of Contract with QEA.
3. Consideration and action to approve the recommendation of the Athletic Stipend Committee.
4. Consideration and action to approve the MHS Mission Statement.
5. Consideration and action to approve the Nomination of First Year and Second Year Probationary Teachers.
6. Consideration and action to approve policy EBCF, Environmentally Sound Schools, second reading.
7. Consideration and action to approve a student attending out of zone.
8. Consideration and action to adopt the FY’09 Budget.
9-11. Votes on the actions necessary for final approval of the budget and for setting the District Budget Meeting for June 5, 2008 and for setting the District Budget Validation Referendum for June 10, 2008.

See the entire agenda.

Monday, May 5

Solid Waste Committee
6:30 PM - Meeting Room 1
The Solid Waste Committee would like to welcome anyone who is interested in assisting with the pay as you throw (Pay Per Bag) education process to join them at their regularly scheduled meeting this coming Monday, May 5th at 6:30 pm in Meeting Room 1 on the third floor of Town Hall.

Tuesday, May 6

Town Council & Planning Board Workshop
6:00 PM - Council Chambers

Planning Board
7:00 PM - Council Chambers

Town Council Workshop w/ Powderhouse Ski Club
7:00 PM - Town Manager’s Office

Wednesday, May 7

EDC Meeting
1:00 PM - Council Chambers

Budget Update:

The Town Council’s latest town budget overviews are now posted on the Town’s budget web site page.

It must really be spring now. I found the first dandelion of the season in my yard this morning. For most people these are big pests, but I am happy with anything that comes up green on my lawn. I long ago gave up the illusion that I would ever have more than 10% grass amongst 90% weeds and moss. In the New York Times last week there was an article about planting a low maintenance environmentally friendly moss lawn that only requires a little bit of watering. I can finally be proud of my moss, apparently it’s the in thing now.

I’ve been slow on posting lately as I’ve had to attend to some consulting projects (income is necessary), but I’ve got some great posts coming up. I’m working on a series about the transfer station. Gary Boucher gave me a great tour and helped me understand where all our trash goes and some of the economics of our waste stream. I’m also working on some stories where you will get to meet some of your neighbors, including some name sharers and the head of one of South Berwick’s oldest businesses.

Book Sale to benefit Friends of South Berwick Library is ON!
Annual Book Sale, Saturday May 3, 9-1
There is a great selection of books on the porch and under the tent. All the proceeds go to help make the library better for you, your children, and the town. Go today so you can spend tomorrow curled up with a good book.

Orris Falls Hike with Great Works Regional Land Trust is OFF!
Hike scheduled for tomorrow Sunday, May 4, 9:00 am - 11:30 am now scheduled for Sunday, May 11. For more info: http://www.gwrlt.org

Lots to do:

Spaghetti Supper - Maine Hawks AAU Girls Basketball Team
Thursday, May 1 , 4-7pm, Eliot Methodist Church, Rte 236, Eliot.
Adults $5.00 Children under 12 $3.00
Take a night off from cooking and enjoy a good spaghetti dinner.
Where else can you go and feed a family of 4 for under $20 !!!
The Maine Hawks girl’s basketball team is going to Ireland in July to the International Basketball Festival. The girls will play some basketball games and tour Ireland’s beautiful country.

Diva Dress Sale - Marshwood 8th Grade Social
Friday, May 2, 6:30-8:30pm
Saturday, May 3, 10:00am-2:00pm
5 Formal Dresses Donated by Madeline’s Daughter $25 each
Huge Selection of barely used fancy dresses in all sizes $5 & $10 each
To benefit the Marshwood 8th Grade Social – Upstairs at The Little Hat Company

Book Sale to benefit Friends of South Berwick Library
Annual Book Sale, Saturday May 3, 9-1 (raindate May 10)
South Berwick Library, Portland St., South Berwick, ME
It’s fun and it is a big fundraiser for the Friends! Support your local library and get great deals on books.
More Info http://www.friendsofsouthberwicklibrary.org/

Lend a Helping Hand Community Fun Day Great Works School
Penny Sale, Silent & Live Auction
Saturday, May 3, 2008, 2:00pm ~ 6:00pm
Marshwood Great Works School Gymnasium
Penny Sale Tickets on sale now. Tickets are $1.00 for 25 in advance or $2.00 at the door
Admission is FREE ~ Donation Bucket at the door
Please bring a canned food/non-perishable food item as a donation to be given to Footprints Food Pantry in Kittery and the South Berwick Food Pantry
2:00pm-4:00pm ~ Penny Sale & Silent Auction Bidding
4:00pm-5:00pm ~ Prize Distribution
5:00pm-6:00pm ~ Live Auction
Must be present to win!
Join us for Food (served on Green products)
Pony Rides (Lyman Hill Farm)
And more………..

Orris Falls Hike with Great Works Regional Land Trust
Sunday, May 4, 9:00 am - 11:30 am
Meet at the Orris Falls Conservation Area trail head on Thurrell Road. Rain date May 11. FMI call 207-646-3604, 384-2195 or email pattimitchem@gwrlt.org. http://www.gwrlt.org

Hike through on the old colonial trail from Thurrell Road to Emery’s Bridge Road, with stops at the ‘Big Bump’, Orris Falls, Tatnic Ledges and Balancing Rock. In the event high water prevents us from crossing the stream which feeds Orris Falls we will view the Falls, the old foundations, hike to the Big Bump, then head back to the trail head and drive around to Emery’s Bridge Road in order to hike to Balancing Rock and Tatnic Ledges.

Marshwood Travel Soccer Sign-Ups
To be held at the following locations:
Friday, May 9, 6-8pm at the Marshwood Middle School in Eliot, Saturday, May 10, 9-11am at the South Berwick Town Hall and Sunday, May 11, 12-3:30pm at the Agamenticus Soccer Fields in South Berwick.
The registration Fee is $130.00 and the program is open to all 3rd – 8th graders that meet the age guidelines from the towns of Eliot, South Berwick and Rollinsford.
For more information:
http://www.eteamz.com/MarshwoodTravelSoccer

USSF Soccer Referee Class
Saturday & Sunday, May 17 & 18
9:00am-5:00pm at the Marshwood High School Learning Center, South Berwick, ME.
The fee is $85.00 which covers the class and first year of registration. If interested please sign up by email to eliotme@comcast.net Questions, please contact Bob Collins at 207-451-9202. Please include your name, address, phone, email and date of birth including the year when registering. Make checks payable to Bob Collins, checks must be mailed prior to class to finalize registration. Class size is limited.

Here’s the skinny on tonight’s town council meeting:

Town Council Meeting - April 28, 2008

Councilor Gagne was not present.

Organizational – Elect Council Chair
-Councilor Jean Demetracopoulos was elected as Council Chair

Reports
Bruce Whitney reported on the status of two vacant lots the town wishes to sell. The lots were acquired through a tax seizure. He explained that in order to sell the properties would need clear title. He explained work that has been done on behalf of the town to get the clear title. The town’s choices are to sue the directors of the now defunct company that formerly owned the property or wait until 2009 when a 15 year waiting period will expire. The council agreed to wait until 2009 rather than incur any legal expenses that would arise from a lawsuit.

Read the rest of this entry »

You may know Andrew Mendola in his role as Stocking and Checkout Specialist at Nature’s Way Market. He is the person who keeps the shelves stocked and knows where everything is at the market. He has worked there since it opened in November 2007. At the beginning he spent a lot of time in the cellar trying to work out the logistics of storage, stock rotation, and fitting everything into the store. Now you are more likely to see him upstairs helping to make sure everything is where it is supposed to be and helping customers find what they need.

What you may not know about Andrew is that he is a musician who plays lead guitar in the jam band Superfrog. Andrew has been playing guitar for a while but became more serious and focused about his music after attending a week long seminar at Berklee College of Music. Superfrog has had a busy calendar this spring playing shows all over New England, including at Bourbon’s and the Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth and the Brick House in Dover. You can find out more about the band at www.superfrogmusic.com and hear music from the band. (I’m listening to the band while I write this–they are very talented)

At nineteen, Andrew has lived in South Berwick his whole life. He likes his job at Nature’s Way Market and plans to continue pursuing his career in music. This summer he will participate in a five-week program at Berklee College of music where he will be immersed in all aspects of performance. From there he’s ready to see where his music takes him.

Superfrog will be doing an acoustic show at the Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth on May 9. Check out their website for all the details. I also heard a rumor that Superfrog may be performing in South Berwick during the Strawberry Festival.

There is magic in the air in South Berwick and writer Victoria Kent and illustrator James Vaughn have teamed up to capture it in their new children’s book, The Magic of Mrs. Magee. The two have brought their unique talent and world view to collaborate on a story about fanciful creatures and their magical gifts.

Victoria Kent, who goes by V.E. Kent discovered or, depending on how you look at it, was discovered by the book’s main character, Mrs. Magee, when V.E. offered to be the entertainment at a friend’s child’s birthday party. For the party she transformed into the Irish fortune teller Maggie Magee who told each child a fortune designed to help them value the special gift that they each possess. Not only did the children respond to the character of Maggie Magee, but adults were also intrigued. V.E. began making more appearances as Mrs. Magee and began to weave a story around the character. She also realized that her alter ego allowed her to speak to children in a direct and honest way that encourages self appreciation without being condescending.

The character of Mrs. Magee haunted V.E. and she began forming the story into a book. The collaboration with James Vaughn began when V.E. chanced upon one of his intricate pencil drawings that was displayed at SoBo Book & Bean. She bought the artwork and called James.

Read the rest of this entry »

Only one meeting on the schedule:

Town Council
April 28, 2008 – Council Chambers - 6:00pm
Organizational – Elect Council Chair
Executive Session – 1 MRSA 405-6E Discuss Pending Litigation between Joseph Rousselle and the Town of South Berwick v. Janis Dickson and Ernest Dickson
Unfinished Business
1. Discuss Comprehensive Plan.
New Business
1. Discuss/take action on Solid Waste Committee charge.
2. Discuss/take action on Safety Enhancement Grant.
3. Take action on Strategic Underage Drinking Enforcement Grant.
4. Approve consent order between Joseph Rousselle and the Town of South Berwick v. Janis Dickson and Ernest Dickson.
5. Take action on SMRPC General Assembly membership.
6. Adopt budget for fiscal year 2009 and sign warrant for town meeting.
7. Accept resignation from Library Advisory Board.
8. Sign warrant calling for special town meeting on May 12th.
Executive Session – 1 MRSA 405-6D Discuss Police Union Contract.

Read the full agenda…

South Berwick budget slashed
Portsmouth Herald
Town councilors sharpened their pencils and pared an 18 percent increase in the town budget to 13 percent this week.

Elected South Berwick town officials face many challenges
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Job description: attend multiple meetings a week, address questions and concerns from residents at all times, …

Old Berwick Historical Society Talk
Thursday, April 24, 2008,7:30 pm
Berwick Academy, Fogg Memorial Building
“The Making of Strawbery Banke “ — Author Dennis Robinson presents the compelling history of this 10 acre museum that was born out of a controversial urban renewal project, and explores the politics of preservation in a small blue collar city amid difficulties that bedevil nonprofit agencies to this day.

Admission is free . At Berwick Academy, please enter on the Fogg Memorial driveway and use the parking lot at the top of the hill. Info: phone (207)384-0000 or www.obhs.net

Old Berwick Historical Society Walking Tour of Old Fields Burying Ground
Saturday, April 26, 1:00 pm (rain date: Saturday, May 3) Free of charge

South Berwick’s former community cemetery is located near the corner of Vine and Brattle Streets. Dating from the 1600s, it contains the graves of early colonists, veterans’ from the Civil War, and soldiers of the American Revolution. The community’s main church stood here and residents worked at sawmills on the Great Works River and a shipyard near the Hamilton House.  Info: phone (207)384-0000 or www.obhs.net

The squill have covered the ground in a carpet of blue in the aisle garden behind the Sarah Orne Jewett House on Main Street.

Berwick campus celebrates Earth and ingenuity
Portsmouth Herald News
Up on the hill at Berwick Academy on Friday morning, more than 600 students, faculty and staff members formed a …

SAD 35 reinstates special education post
Portsmouth Herald News
In response to parents’ concerns, School Administrative District 35 will add back one special education instructor …

The Town Council has made some headway on getting the budget down. They’ve got spending down below 2008 levels but revenues from excise taxes, car registrations, and building permits continue to be way below expectations so it still means a tax increase. Read more in this Foster’s Daily Democrat article:

South Berwick looking at tax rate increase due to revenue shortfall
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Though the Town Council has slashed nearly $1 million from the first draft of its 2009 municipal budget — in the process actually bringing expenditures below 2008 levels — taxpayers are still looking at a tax rate increase due to a factor largely out of town’s control: revenue.

Berwick Academy students participated in their annual Service Day on April 18 by helping resident Bruce Whitney, a member of the South Berwick Cemetery Association, clean up Old Fields Burying Ground on Vine Street.

Photo by Amory Mansfield.

Join a Natural Step for Communities Study Circle in South Berwick
Imagine municipalities whose government operations become 100% fossil fuel free. Or communities that change depressed local economies to thriving economies, creating over 200 eco-enterprises. A dream? Far from it: the Natural Step For Communities provides inspiring examples of communities that have made dramatic changes toward sustainability, and explains how others can emulate their success.

The Circles will be reading Natural Step for Communities along with a study circle guide. Study Circles begin on Sundays May 18th or on Fridays May 2nd and meet for 8 weeks to explore step by step the processes for change. Group size is limited to 8, meeting time is 7pm to 8:30. For more information on Sundays call Gail Santos 207-384-8116 or email gailoae@gwi.net for Fridays call Rebecca Gray 207-457-5442 0r email gray_Rebeccam@yahoo.com

ChallengerSports Soccer Camp
South Berwick Youth Soccer (SBYS) is once again hosting a soccer camp run by Coaches from ChallengerSports. ChallengerSports British Soccer is “the #1 Soccer Camp in the US and Canada”. Camp will be held during the week of July 28-August 1 at the Agamenticus Soccer fields in South Berwick. Half day and Full Day camps will be offered for boys and girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade. A mini soccer program is available for ages 3-6.

Online registration is recommended at www.challengersports.com or contact Marcia Flinkstrom for information on registering by mail. (mflinkstrom@comcast.net or 384-5041)

Special Needs Parent Network (SNPN)
The Special Needs Parent Network (SNPN) was formed to provide support, resources and information to families raising a child with special needs. Special needs includes, but are not limited to, Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Diabetes, mental health and chronic health issues. Our meetings are held the Last Friday of each month (September through May) at the Family Resource Center located at Landmark Hill, US Route One, Kittery. Meetings begin at 7:00pm. Please contact Marcia Flinkstrom for more information (207-384-5041 or mflinkstrom@comcast.net) If you are interested in joining our online Yahoo group, please email Lisa Richard at maine4lily@yahoo.com.

Berwick retail project may bring real change
Foster’s Daily Democrat
But he added that Jellison, who was in Florida this week, loves the location, which is just south of the North Berwick town line and just north of the South Berwick town line. “It may take a little longer for this to get off the ground,” Gallucci said.

Woman killed in Route 236 crash
Foster’s Daily Democrat
A young woman was killed this morning in a two-car, head-on crash on Route 236 this morning involving a sedan and a tractor-trailer truck.

It’s brush fire danger time of year
Portsmouth Herald News
An Eliot, Maine, firefighter exits the woods where a brush fire at the Kittery landfill went to three alarms during a sunny but windy afternoon recently…

Drivers take notice: Memorial Bridge closes today
Portsmouth Herald News
The Memorial Bridge will close today at 7 a.m. and re-open on Saturday morning at 7 a.m., prohibiting vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic and limiting marine access…

Monday, April 21
Patriots Day-Town Offices Closed All Day

Tuesday, April 22
Budget Workshop
5:00 PM - Council Chambers

Special Town Council Meeting
Executive Session – 1MRSA §405.6A – Personnel, discuss interim manager position.
6:00 PM - Council Chambers

Local papers are running an Associated Press article that gives a round up of new laws from the 2008 Maine legislative session . Read the full story in Foster’s Daily Democrat. Here are a few of the law changes:

• The minimum wage goes from $7 per hour to $7.50 over a two-year period.
• A statewide unified building code will give contractors a single set of standards to follow rather than rules that vary from town to town.
• Vehicle registrations will rise from $25 to $35. Title and vanity plate fees also rise.
• There are new incentives to keep downtowns vibrant and encourage the reuse of existing buildings through a historic preservation tax credit.
• Maine’s family medical leave law will cover employees who must take time off from work to care for a sick brother or sister. The law currently covers workers who care for a sick child, spouse, parent or domestic partner.
• It will be illegal to smoke in cars in which children under 16 are present. The law will authorize $50 fines, but for the first year only warnings will be issued.
• Maine outlaws the sale of cigarette lighters that are attractive to children because they come in the shapes of cartoon characters, toys and animals.
• A new law requires manufacturers to disclose the most dangerous chemicals used in consumer products they make; another bans lead in toys and children’s products
• Truckers will not be allowed to let their vehicles idle for more than five minutes when the temperature is above freezing under a bill to conserve energy and promote cleaner air.
• Distributors will pay more beer, wine and soda taxes as part of funding to keep Maine’s Dirigo Health program running.
• Scrap metal processors must pay sellers only with checks and maintain a paper trail to those they pay. Sellers must also sign statements that the metal is not stolen.