Russell Tarason bought the former St. Michael's rectory building from the Town of South Berwick for one dollar. Mr. Tarason paid for the move of the building to his land. Russell Tarason and Town Manager Perry Ellsworth celebrate the transfer.

Isn’t it great when what seems like an insurmountable problem works out?  That’s what has happened in South Berwick with the former St. Michael’s Rectory.  The old rectory was in the way of the renovation of the former St. Michael’s Church to transform it into South Berwick’s new Library.  For a while it looked like the rectory would have to be dismantled, much to the distress of many who did not want to see a fine old house lost.  Fortunately, the Town of South Berwick, under the direction of Town Manager Perry Ellsworth, persevered in trying to find a taker for the building.  As a result, South Berwick resident and real estate owner Russell Tarason stepped forward and on July 13 the old rectory moved from its spot next to the future Library to Mr. Tarason’s property.   The transfer means that the old building will continue its life and the Town does not have to bear the cost of dismantling and disposing of the building.

Here the rectory has been raised off its foundation and readied to be transferred to the truck.

The rectory is on the move through the parking lot on its way to Mr. Tarason's property, which is adjacent to the former church property.

According to those who watched the move, it was an amazing site to see this large building rolling along.

The old rectory on the new site awaiting its foundation.

For thirty-six consecutive years, hundreds of volunteers have come together for a South Berwick tradition. Official Festival activities will take place only on the grounds of Central School, on Main Street, in the center of town. A stop at the Strawberry Festival Information Booth is a must to find out more about the day’s schedule for the entertainers, as well as where all the various activities are located and to purchase strawberry festival memorabilia.

Preparation of the strawberries start on Friday, the morning before the Festival at the Community Center, where over a hundred and fifty volunteers get together for a good old fashioned social to hull, slice, and sugar the berries. Other volunteers slice the biscuits, prepare the whipped cream and move everything under the Strawberry Shortcake tent so all will be ready for the Festival goers when it opens at 9:00 am.

The Strawberry Festival Committee is pleased to announce that they we are continuing to serve Strawberry Shortcake and Cheesecake on biodegradable bowls, plates and spoons. These items are made out sugar cane called Bagasse tableware. Bagasse is the biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juices. Additionally, we will be recycling all of the hulls from the berries for anyone who would like them for composting. The boxes and the plastic containers for the berries will also be recycled.

Transportation to and from the Festival is FREE via an old fashion trolley ride. Running every 20 minutes, the trolleys provide free transportation to the Festival from parking locations at Marshwood Great Works School on Rt 236, Community Center on Norton St, Powder House Hill, and Agamenticus Field.

Strawberry shortcakes have always been a favorite of the Festival. They will begin serving at 9:00am until we run out. Last year we served up over 250 cases of fresh strawberries, 80 gallons of whipped cream and over 330 dozen biscuits. There will be 90 strawberry cheesecakes added to the menu and complimented with; you guessed it, strawberries. The costs of these items is only $5.00.

In addition to shortcakes and cheesecakes there is also a huge Food Court. There will be a pancake breakfast from 6:00 – 10:00. Throughout the day there will be various food items sold by local non-profit groups. The Fire Dept will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and cold drinks. The Community Pantry will be serving up frozen lemon aid. Knights of Columbus –fried dough, Masons–chicken BBQ and other assorted non-profit groups serving sandwich wraps, teriyaki, nachos, fruit cups, cotton candy and water.

The schedule of activities: Road Race
The day’s activities begin at 8:00am, a 5 mile Road Race and 2.5 mile Fun Walk, sponsored by the South Berwick Recreation Department and local businesses, kick off from Marshwood Middle School on Academy St.

Entertainment
Throughout the day, a variety of entertainers from around the area will be performing on two stages set up around the grounds.
• At the Central School Field Stage, Northern Explosion Cloggers, a great group of cloggers, go on at 9:00,10:00,11:00. All Together Now a Beatles tribute band at 12:30 – 3:30
• At the Central School Front stage, Bob & Maria Puppeteers at 9:00 and 10:00, Women of Note, an cappella group at 11:30 – 1:00; Funky Divas of Gospel 2:00 – 4:00 and Seacoast Men of Harmony at 11:30 – 1:30
• In the Field Area from 9:00 – 4:00 Wildlife Encounters. For the kids there will be a climbing wall, pony rides, a giant tiger slide, dunking booth, exotic animals exhibition, pony rides, a bungee jumping setup and much more.

Crafts
Over 100 juried artisans will be on hand to display and sell their hand-made wares, including clothing, pottery, wood products, jewelry, paintings, photographs, candles, jams and dips, furniture, and much, much more. These crafters will be located both at the side of Central School and in the area around the food court.

Please be kind to your pets and have them stay in the coolness of your home.

More at http://www.southberwickstrawberryfestival.com

On a Saturday at the end of May SoBo Central put out a call for volunteers to help plant each of the barrels and to spruce up the Town-owned island at the end of Butler Street.  And as is the norm in South Berwick, people came out of the woodwork to give their time to help make the town a better place.

According to Tanna Clews, SoBo Central hopes to extend the barrels down Main St. to Central School.  For more information about project or if you would like to sponsor a barrel contact Tanna Clews at info@sobocentral.org.

Tanna Clews and Judy Wood discuss the planting strategy.

A contingent of volunteers weed and mulch the overgrown island at the corner of Butler and Main.

You can help make the holidays a little brighter for a child in our community.

If you have questions, call Vicki at the South Berwick Social Services Department at 384—3310.

Keep South Berwick Warm provides funds for the South Berwick Social Services Department, who determines eligibility and disburses funds confidentially.  The funds raised by the KBSW are available for emergencies and to help families who may not fit strict state eligibility guidelines for fuel assistance but are in need of short term assistance with heating costs.

The Keep South Berwick Warm fuel fund has been raising money since 2008 when community members decided to do something to help make sure that no one in South Berwick, young or old, should have to be cold in their homes in the winter.  Keep South Berwick Warm hosts an annual soup supper and accepts donations year round to assure that the fund is there when families need extra assistance. This year, the Soup Supper, held on  October 20, raised nearly $2000 for the fuel fund.

Keep South Berwick Warm is a program of Sobo Central, a nonprofit corporation, so donations to the fuel fund are tax deductible.   Those wishing to to make a donation to the Keep South Berwick Warm fuel fund may send a check to Sobo Central, 9 York Woods Road, South Berwick, ME 03908, c/o Fuel Fund.

If you have any questions about fuel assistance, please call Vicki Desilets at 207-384-3310.  For questions about the challenge or donations, call Pat Robinson at 207-337-2792.

Both great horned owlets were admitted this spring due to injuries sustained from falling from the nest. They received medical attention and once stable were put outside with the Center’s permanent foster great horned owl Galileo. Once fully flighted and at the stage where they would fledge from the nest they were put in a 100 foot flight enclosure to build up strong flight muscles and practice hunting (owls move to hunting grounds in the fall to practice hunting with supplemental feeding from parents). Both birds are now 100% recovered and are fierce great horned owls ready for release. They have been banded them and have had their wing-chord, tail, and habitat information officially recorded thanks to a partnership with Biodiversity Research Institute. They are ready to go!

The Kittery Land Trust’s Cutts parcel is 22 acres of upland forest and wetland given to the Trust in the 1980’s by John Oliver Cutts. The land will provide ideal habitat for these two young owls as they begin their life in the wild!

Directions: From Rt. 1 in Kittery, turn onto Haley Road, go about 2 miles. There is a small sign at a driveway that reads “Cutts 501″; The house is a grey cape. (Note: the nearest mailbox across the street on Haley road is #492 and can serve as a landmark). Visitors may pull in and park on the grass on either side of the driveway.

Find out more at the Center for Wildlife’s website www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org .

Find out more about Kittery Land Trust at their website www.kitterylandtrust.org

Please join your neighbors for a light supper of soup, bread and desserts with a donation to the South Berwick Keep Sout Berwick Families Warm Fund.

Wednesday October 20, 5:00-7:00 pm
Spring Hill Restaurant and Banquet Center

Food provided by:
Nature’s Way Market, Pepperland Cafe, Fogarty’s Restaurant, The Catered Event, King Tut Cider, The Black Bean, The Early Bird, The Red Barn at Outlook Farm, The Brixham General Store, Spring Hill Restaurant, When Pigs Fly Bread, Bake sale by the South Berwick Senior Center

Acoustic Jazz performed by: Jeff Lind & Brian Richardson

Raffle Tickets for fun prizes:
$1.00 each or 6 for $5.00

Donations can also be made directly to:
SoBo Central c/o Fuel Fund
9 York Woods Rd South Berwick ME 03908
All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Contact Pat Robinson for more information: 207-337-2792 prnel@comcast.net

The event will take place August 1 at 9 am at Marshwood High School.  To find out more and to register go to hrdforbreastcancer.blogspot.com/ or go to Team Laffalots Home Run Derby Facebook page