SMCC open house

Southern Maine Community College is holding an open house at its South Portland campus for anyone interested in attending the school. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m.-noon.

Attendees will learn about the academic programs offered at the school, have the opportunity to meet with members of the faculty and get a tour of the ocean-side campus. To pre-register go online to www.smccme.edu/openhouse.

Stuff the bus for the Food Cupboard

On Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the South Portland Sunrise Rotary Club will hold a stuff-the-bus event to benefit the South Portland Food Cupboard at the Shaw’s Supermarket on Waterman Drive. Also sponsoring the event is the South Portland Housing Authority.

The items most needed include peanut butter, tuna fish, beans, spaghetti sauce, pasta, spam, vegetable and chicken soup, canned fruit and coffee. Cash donations or grocery gift cards would also be appreciated. The housing authority is also accepting donations any time. Call Karen at 773-4140 for more information.

Star Wars day at library

On Saturday, Oct. 11, 10-11:30 a.m., the South Portland Public Library will host a special Star Wars Reads Day. Enjoy Star Wars-themed games, crafts and activities, pose with props and stormtroopers, wear a costume and bring a camera. Free and open to the public. Call 767-7660 for more information.

SPFD open house scheduled

The South Portland Fire Department will host its annual open house on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Central Fire Station, 684 Broadway.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is designed to help celebrate National Fire Prevention Week. See equipment displays and demonstrations. The open house also includes various vendors, food, giveaways and fun for the kids.

Cans For a Cure at Maine Mall

On Wednesday, Oct. 15, join the Q97.9 morning show live from the Bon-Ton broadcast center at the Maine Mall in South Portland for the radio station’s annual campaign to help beat breast cancer.

This year’s goal is to collect a half-million bottles and cans, so drink, save and participate. All proceeds will benefit the Maine Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Community Center.

Hosts Lori and Meredith will also be on the road all day Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16 and 17. Schedule a pick-up of your cans and bottles by emailing to lori@wjbq.com.

Hazardous Waste day

The city of South Portland will host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the public works facility at 42 O’Neil St.

During this free event, South Portland residents can drop off a variety of household products, especially those containing corrosive, toxic, flammable or reactive ingredients.

No latex paint, fireworks, fire extinguishers, electronics, prescription drugs, syringes, pressurized containers or commercial or industrial waste will be accepted.

Items that can be brought in for proper disposal include oil-based paints, stains and varnishes, fuels like gasoline and kerosene, swimming pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, weed killers, flea control products, furniture polish, chemistry sets, oven cleaner, artist supplies and more.

Call 767-7635 or email to publicworks@southportland.org for more information, including whether a specific item is acceptable.

Marsh clean up

The Friends of the Scarborough Marsh will hold its annual fall cleanup of the marsh on Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers should check in at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center on Pine Point Road.

Attendees are also asked to bring nonperishable food donations or grocery gift cards to benefit Project G.R.A.C.E. Some of the most needed items include peanut butter and jelly, granola bars, pasta and sauce, juice, cereal, pancake mix and syrup and canned fruit, vegetables, beans, chili and tuna fish.

Pumpkin and bake sale fundraiser

The field hockey team at Cape Elizabeth High School will hold its annual pumpkin and bake sale fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the community center. Choose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and enjoy some hot cider, homemade brownies, carrot cake cupcakes and more.

Pain workshop offered

Anyone suffering from chronic pain is invited to take part in a free pain self-management workshop being offered by the Southern Maine Agency on Aging in Scarborough.

The six-session workshop will provide participants with effective tools to proactively manage their pain. Topics to be covered include understanding acute and chronic pain, balancing activity and rest, moving easy exercises, getting a good night’s sleep and more.

Workshops will be held on Wednesday, 9-11:30 a.m., from Oct. 15 to Nov. 19. The Southern Maine Agency on Aging is located at 136 U.S. Route 1. Call Maria DeFabritiis at 396-6583 to register or for more information.

Ribbon cutting at Wentworth

The Scarborough School Department will hold a ribbon cutting and open house at the new Wentworth Intermediate School on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. A reception and tours will follow.

Those wishing to attend this event, which is free and open to the public, are asked to RSVP no later than Monday, Oct. 13. Call 730-4100 to sign up or for more information.

Turnpike spur officially named Route 703

On Monday, the South Portland City Council approved a request from the Maine Department of Transportation to officially name the road connecting Exit 45 to Main Street.

The transportation department said naming the turnpike spur would aid emergency responders, as well as assist travelers. The state has named the roadway State Route 703 and plans to put up marker signs as is typical along well traveled routes.

– Kate Irish Collins

Candidate forum set for Oct. 21

The South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Community Chamber of Commerce will hold a City Council candidate forum at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at South Portland City Hall.

The forum features opening and closing statements by the candidates, for districts 1, 2 and 3, as well as a question and answer-style format. The public may submit questions for the candidates in advance of the event by emailing forum moderator Mike Vaillancourt at mvaillancourt@atrlaw.pro.

The forum will also be broadcast live on South Portland Television and will re-run from time to time until Election Day.

Library book sale coming up

A used book sale, sponsored by the Friends of the South Portland Public Library, will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 and 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The sale offers 16 hours of incredible bargains, all to help support the library’s ongoing programs and activities.

The sale will be held in the library’s downstairs meeting room and the pricing on books will be on a pay-what-you-can basis. In addition, the friends are planning to open the Friends BookShop in the coming months.

The bookshop will be stocked with gently used, high quality books and will be open on an ongoing, regular, basis during the library’s normal hours. The success of this endeavor will be determined by the availability of dependable volunteers, so anyone interested in helping out should email to booksale@southportlandlibrary.com.

Residents to vote on revaluation

This fall Scarborough’s local ballot will include a $478,900 bond question to pay for a full property revaluation.

Town Manager Tom Hall said the community does not currently have the funds available to pay for a revaluation in the near future, which is why the Town Council approved putting the measure out to vote.

In addition, Scarborough has a charter provision that requires voter approval of any expenditure with a principal amount of more than $400,000. Hall said, “Given the nature of the project and its life expectancy it is a good candidate for financing.”

According to Bill Healey, Scarborough’s assessor, the revaluation is needed because it’s been nearly 20 years since the town conducted a revaluation that included full property inspections.

“The revaluation would provide us the opportunity to verify that our assessment records are accurate,” he said. “The primary benefit of any revaluation is the redistribution of the tax burden. It will help us to make sure no property owner is paying more or less than they should.”

Healey said a “secondary benefit” is that, if approved, the bond would allow the town to purchase a new assessment software package that is “much more user-friendly” and that would allow easier access to tax assessment records.

If the bond passes, the revaluation would start in early 2015 with an expected completion date of June 2016, he said. What’s important for voters to know, according to Healey, is that the revaluation would apply to all classes of property, including commercial, industrial and business personal property.

– Kate Irish Collins

Lynch named student adviser at Bates College

As the new school year commenced at Bates College in Lewiston, Meghan Lynch of Scarborough joined a group of more than 60 students, called junior advisors and resident coordinators, who welcome first-year students and support returning students as they settle into residential life at Bates.

Lynch is a 2013 graduate of Scarborough High School.

As part of her job with Residence Life, Lynch facilitates opportunities for social and intellectual engagement beyond the standard classroom experiences. In years past, the position has been responsible for organizing activities ranging from sushi making workshops, to volunteer outings with local service organizations. All of these efforts are geared toward building a welcoming and inclusive college community.

When selecting students to serve, “We look for students who understand the value of community, who are able to be positive role models,” Assistant Dean of Students Erin Foster-Zsiga said. “It takes a variety of experiences and personalities to have a successful staff, and students need to be able to see themselves within the Residence Life staff.”