Cookbook author to speak at library

Author Margaret Hathaway will discuss her latest book, “Portland, Maine Chef’s Table: Extraordinary Recipes from Casco Bay,” a collaboration between herself, photographer Karl Schatz, and the great chefs of Portland, during an event at South Portland Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

This new cookbook features recipes for the home cook from nearly 50 of the city’s most celebrated restaurants and includes full-color photos of mouth-watering dishes, award-winning chefs, and lots of local flavor. The library is located at 482 Broadway, South Portland.

Hathaway is the author of the memoir “The Year of the Goat: 40,000 Miles and the Quest for the Perfect Cheese,” the guides “Living With Goats: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Herd” and “Food Lovers’ Guide to Maine”. A graduate of Wellesley College and a former Fulbright scholar to Tunisia, Hathaway worked in book publishing and as a manager of New York City’s famed Magnolia Bakery before settling with her husband, Karl Schatz, and their three daughters on Ten Apple Farm, a homestead in southern Maine where they tend dairy goats, assorted poultry, a large garden, and a small orchard.

Admission to this event is free. Questions can be directed to the South Portland Public Library at 767-7660 or go to www.southportlandlibrary.com. This event is supported by the Friends of the South Portland Public Library.

Christmas subject of history meeting

The monthly meeting of the Scarborough Historical Society will be held Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the society’s museum and meeting room located at 647 U.S. Route 1 (adjacent to the Dunstan Fire Station).

A brief business meeting is held and followed by a presentation. All monthly meetings are free to members of the public. However, donations are always welcomed. The presentation is about one hour in length.

Rather than a presentation, members will either relate an anecdote or discuss a personal keepsake that is a reminder of a specific event they each experienced at Christmas during any age. It is a night to share special stories, memories, artifacts and keepsakes of the Christmas season. Guests are welcome and may participate.

If time permits, the evening will conclude with some carol singing and refreshments.

Band concerts coming up

South Portland schools will be featuring a number of performances this month.

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, the high school band will play at 7 p.m. at the South Portland High School Auditorium. On Wednesday, Dec. 12, the Mahoney Middle School band concert will be held at 7 p.m. at Mahoney, and on Dec. 13, the Memorial Middle School band concert will be held at Memorial at 7 p.m.

Santa coming to Scarborough

Scarborough Community Services will be hosting a new free special event this year called, “Santa in the Park.” It will take place on Saturday, Dec. 8, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Park gazebo.

Come visit Santa in Scarborough. Park at the high school and take a tractor ride down to the park! Be sure to bring your camera so your child can get a picture with Santa.

Ramp rebuild in South Portland

South Portland is making plans to rebuild the recreational boat ramp at the Fore River Boat Facility in Bug Light Park. Following a pre-bid meeting Wednesday with prospective contractors, the city will accept bids, which will be opened Dec. 7. Work will include replacing the ramp’s concrete planks, using existing planks to create curbing on the edges of the new ramp, while extending the new ramp four feet below the mean low-level water line. The winning bidder is expected to complete the job between Jan. 1 and March 30, 2013.