Life in South Berwick, Maine
Recently South Berwick resident Jennifer Houghton, owner of Little Hat Company and parent of three, mentioned to me how great it is to be raising children in South Berwick. She agreed to share her thoughts here at the 236 Diner.
In a world that seems to be spinning faster, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring up [...]
A guest essay by South Berwick resident Amy Miller
I had a particularly nice day last week when I bought a pound of ground round and some almonds at the new independent market in the village of South Berwick.
First I bumped into my babysitter, who works the checkout line Wednesday afternoons. It was like running into [...]
Since I’ve been running this blog I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk to many South Berwick residents I never knew before. This morning I was thinking of the span of time people have been here. I’ve talked to some who have lived here all their lives and some who just moved [...]
I was having friends for dinner and wanted a special dessert. I went to Monkey Business Bakery and told Nicole that my friends love chocolate and birds. The result: an incredible cake that satisfied every kind of chocolate need and was beautifully decorated with a delicate tree with tiny birds perched among [...]
There’s a new story in today’s Foster’s Daily Democrat about the ongoing issues between the South Berwick council and town manager.
Beleaguered South Berwick Town Manager alleges ‘Right-to-Know …
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Embattled Town Manager Jeff Grossman believes Town Council members violated the state’s Right-to-Know law Monday during a closed-door executive session…
Foster’s Daily Democrat is reporting more information about the ongoing issues between the South Berwick town council and manager:
Letter outlines cause for South Berwick Town Manager dismissal
Foster’s Daily Democrat
There is sufficient cause to remove Town Manager Jeff Grossman from office, and he has been offered a buyout package in exchange for his resignation, according to [...]
Want to do something to help a neighbor? South Berwick Volunteer Network (SBVN) needs volunteer drivers. SBVN is a nonprofit organization that offers free transportation to local residents who need a ride to medical appointments. Usually, drivers are assigned one day per month (M-F). The average appointment requires about 2 hours of [...]
Here’s a round up of this morning’s coverage of the town meeting last night:
South Berwick Town Manager asked to leave
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Town Manager Jeff Grossman insisted he “isn’t going anywhere” after acknowledging Monday night at a Town Council meeting that a member or members of the council asked him to resign…
S. Berwick boss may lose [...]
SAD 35 costs up $1.7 million
Portsmouth Herald News
Superintendent Jeffrey Bearden of School Administrative District 35 says that taxpayers in Eliot and South Berwick will have to pay an additional $1.7 million to fund schools in fiscal year 2009..
Land Trust looks to raise funds with Spring Auction
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Tickets are still available for the [...]
Monkey Business Bakery, one of South Berwick’s newest businesses opened this week on lower Main Street. Dover residents Jake and Nicole Bouchard rented the space vacated by Hot Dog Heaven in October and spent months fitting up the baking kitchen and the showroom.
Jake and Nicole both grew up in central Maine. Nicole learned [...]
The Little Hat Company is a fun place to go. It is full of colorful toys, books, fuzzy puppets, and the very sweet and unique hats that are the core of its business. But that’s only part of the story; the other part is that the Little Hat Company is a company on [...]
EDC chair walks out of South Berwick council meeting, resigns
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Dennis Fontaine, the chairman of the town’s Economic Development Committee, frustrated with recent development projects that have stalled…. (with correction added to article…)
Industrial park bill killed
Portsmouth Herald News
State lawmakers in Augusta on Tuesday killed a bill sponsored by Sen. Peter Bowman, D-Kittery, to create [...]
After five years of work and a process that included participation by over 100 citizens, South Berwick’s updated Comprehensive Plan is now before the Town Council for discussion. The comprehensive plan describes broad planning goals and strategies to guide town officials as they chart the future. South Berwick’s last comprehensive plan — still [...]
There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.
— Andrew Carnegie
A group of longtime library devotees gathered at the South Berwick Public Library on Thursday, Feb. 21, to honor and say goodbye to [...]
Fosters’ Daily Democrat is running a story on the South Berwick Town Council’s narrow vote to approve a grant request for the Regional Efficiency Group’s continued work.
South Berwick Town Council approves grant request for regional authority
Read background on the Regional Development Authority .
Today South Berwick Town Manager Jeff Grossman gave the236diner.com an update on the progress of the St. Michael’s Parish purchase. The 90 day option to buy is due to expire on April 6, 2008. Mr. Grossman reports that the process is moving forward on time and gave a summary of the [...]
The Portsmouth Herald reports that although there was some dissatisfaction with the progress made by the Regional Efficiency Workgroup on their first grant, Kittery Town Council voted to support an application for a second grant. Town Manager Jonathan Carter believes the proposed legislation will be postponed to be reworked into legislation that doesn’t create [...]
Southern York County Regional Development Authority Public Information Meeting that was originally scheduled for February 13, 2008 at Noble High School Auditorium has been postponed to Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm at Noble High School Auditorium.
Here are some additional materials:
Frequently Asked Questions document that was handed out at the first information [...]
Southern York County Regional Development Authority Public Information Meeting: The meeting originally scheduled for ednesday February 13, 2008 6:30 pm at Noble High School Auditorium has been postponed to Wednesday February 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm at Noble High School Auditorium.
Find out more about the Southern York County Regional Development Authority.
In South Berwick: Town Hall, check-in starts at 2:30, caucus begins at 3 pm.
In Eliot: Eliot Elementary School, check-in starts at 1 pm, caucus begins at 2 pm
Kittery: Traip Academy, check-in starts at 4:30 pm, caucus begins at 5 pm
Schedule of other towns’ caucuses
New voters and voters not registered in a political [...]
Here’s the really skinny on what I heard at the public meeting this morning:
In general citizens think the idea of working regionally to promote economic development, job creation, and planning is a good idea, although they are not sold on the idea of a development authority
Citizens at the meeting do not support this legislation as [...]
In the last few weeks I’ve tried to find out everything I can about LD 2003, the bill that would allow the creation of the Southern York County Regional Development Authority. I’ve read the legislation, heard from proponents and opponents of the bill, and read the minutes of the Regional Efficiency Grant Working Group [...]
The Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission (SMRPC) has posted more information about LD 2003, Southern York County Regional Development Authority on their web site, including upcoming meeting schedules. They have also have a link to the minutes of the Regional Efficiency Grant Working Group meetings. These minutes include meetings beginning in January [...]
Two public information meetings have been scheduled to receive public input on LD 2003 “An Act to Create Southern York County Regional Development Authority.”
South Berwick: Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 9 am at Marshwood High School
North Berwick: Wednesday, February, 13, 2008 at 6:30 pm at Noble High School
Read [...]
SoBo Book & Bean is a friendly little oasis in the heart of South Berwick. The patina of the wood floors, the book lined walls, and the homey furniture create a cozy ambiance for enjoying a coffee or a meal, conversing with friends, browsing the books, watching the world go by out the [...]
Portsmouth Herald reports this morning that the work group of seven towns that wrote the legislation to create the Southern York County Regional Development Authority met on Friday. The meeting was attended by Senator Peter Bowman and Representative Bonnie Gould, cosponsors of the bill. The group met to prepare for the work session [...]
For more than a year South Berwick, Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, North Berwick, and Wells have been discussing the creation of a regional development authority. As a result, LD 2003, “An Act To Create the Southern York County Regional Development Authority” was sponsored by Senator Bowman of York and cosponsored by Representative Gould of South [...]
Here’s a round up of newspaper articles on the proposed Southern York County Regional Development Authority from newest to oldest. Let me know if you know of others and I will add them.
Development authority bill not killed in Augusta
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH – Jan 25, 2008
Despite Sen. Bowman’s withdrawal of support, the Development Authority [...]
South Berwick has been going through a comprehensive planning process for the last few years and on February 25 will hold a public hearing on the draft plan. You can find our current plan (from 1990) and the draft of the next comprehensive plan on the town website.
In preparation for the public hearing, I [...]
Ray Oldenburg, an urban sociologist writes about the importance of “third places” for healthy functioning of communities. He describes third places as
“informal public gathering places. The phrase “third places” derives from considering our homes to be the “first” places in our lives, and our work places the “second.”
Americans long enjoyed third places in [...]
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