South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club elected Jim Britt as its president for 2022-23. Britt will preside over a Rotary Club that in the previous year raised and donated about $86,000 to a variety of charitable organizations and activities.

Jim Britt Courtesy photo

Club officers are vice president Nancy Irving (Cape Elizabeth), secretary Kathy Cotter (Cape Elizabeth) and treasurer Tom Hammerski (Cape Elizabeth). Club directors are Peter Bennett (Cape Elizabeth), Matt McAleney (South Portland), Tiffanie Bently (South Portland), Michael Tranfaglia (Cape Elizabeth), Kiley Wilkens-OBrien (South Portland), Sarah Fisher (South Portland), and director-at-large and immediate past president David Bagdasarian (Cape Elizabeth).

Founded in 1961, the South Portland – Cape Elizabeth Rotary is a community service and fellowship organization committed to both local and international service through projects and fundraising. The club actively supports efforts to stem food insecurity, access to clean water, youth literacy and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio worldwide, as well as a wide variety of community projects to benefit South Portland and Cape Elizabeth residents.

Rotary welcomes new members who seek to give back to the community and enjoy good fellowship. For more information about South Portland and Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club, visit www.sp-ce-rotary.org.

Boston Bruins anthem singer, Todd Anguilly, and his co-author, Rachel Goguen, will sign copies of their multi-award-nominated children’s book, “The Adventures of Owen and the Anthem Singer” on Aug. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Nonesuch Books & More in South Portland.

Owen the Pug will also be signing the book that follows his hockey-filled adventures with the famous anthem singer. Books will be available for purchase from the authors, and all proceeds will benefit the Bruins Foundation, a nonprofit that collaborates with charitable organizations that demonstrate a commitment to health and wellness, education, and athletics.

Additionally, for every book purchased, an entry will be made in a drawing of two Boston Bruins tickets for the upcoming season. The fundraiser will take place at Nonesuch Books & More at 50 Market St., South Portland. Capacity limits will managed as needed.

Law to establish green housing standards goes into effect

A new law sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, to codify green housing standards went into effect Aug. 8.

As amended, LD 1656 will increase Maine’s energy-efficient affordable housing stock by requiring new construction projects funded by the Maine State Housing Authority to meet certain housing design standards and sustainability requirements.

New projects will be required to meet at least one of a number of national and internationally recognized design standards or a similar third-party-recognized certification or state program approved by the Maine State Housing Authority that take into account both sustainability and energy efficiency. They will also be required to use cost efficient systems for heating, cooling and hot water that rely less on fossil fuels. Infrastructure must be included for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems and energy storage where appropriate, including providing for sufficient interior space to allow for energy storage.

“We want to make sure new projects don’t rely only on old technologies that will cost residents more in the long run,” said Millett in an Aug. 5 news release. “Giving these projects the ability to use and adapt to new technologies will help us address both the climate and housing crises while keeping costs down for residents.”

The Maine State Housing Authority now has until Jan. 1, 2024, to adopt rules to implement the new law.

Millett is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents District 30, part of Cape Elizabeth. She is a member of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. Prior to representing House District 30, Millett served eight years in the State Senate, representing Senate District 29, which includes South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough.

South Portland seniors can apply for free and confidential home accessibility and safety modification program

The South Portland Housing Authority has opened applications for 2022 for its Senior Home Modification Program. This no-cost program for qualified South Portland residents who are over age 60 or disabled provides necessary home repairs and modifications to improve accessibility and function so residents can live safely and age in place.

To apply, residents should contact Phillip Smith, LCSW, director of resident services for the South Portland Housing Authority at psmith@spha.net or 207-773-4140, ext. 234. The authority will work with residents to confirm eligibility, schedule a home visit to evaluate safety and accessibility needs, and determine a scope of work, site plan and schedule. Eligibility and income guidelines apply; residents will be asked to verify 2021 income and proof of homeownership. All inquiries and program participation are kept confidential. Each project will be limited to a total cost of $2,500 for labor and materials per household.

Repairs and modifications can include, but may not be limited to, installation of grab bars, railings, lever-handled doorknobs, faucets, adaptive equipment, carbon monoxide detectors, threshold ramps, dryer vent maintenance, refrigerator ventilation maintenance, and relocation of appliances where possible. The program is administered by the South Portland Housing Authority and funded by a grant from MaineHousing, with support from Age Friendly South Portland.

“As we and our housing age, safety factors creep up on us,” said Maxine Beecher in an email. “I fell a few years back and broke my hip. I live alone and couldn’t get in the tub or shower. South Portland Housing came in and put safety bars up. It was truly a gift. One of my neighbors had them put new front stairs on her home as she couldn’t manage stairs without safety rails.”

Beecher is co-chair of Age Friendly South Portland, an official committee of the city of South Portland created to ensure the city’s older adult residents have access to services and infrastructure enabling them to live safely and with dignity as they age.

“The Senior Home Modification Program is a great example of collaboration between South Portland Housing Authority, Age Friendly South Portland, and other community-based partners,” said Larry Clifford, consultant for the Maine Council on Aging, in a news release. “It will go a long way in preventing falls for older adults, which can sometimes be devastating in terms of quality-of-life.”

Gloria Twomey, a South Portland resident, was able to use the program to relocate her laundry room to be on the same level as her bedroom. “Living alone after back surgery, I was faced with the difficulty of having to carry my laundry up and down three small flights of stairs and the possibility that I may no longer be able to stay in the home I had lived in for 46 years,” Twomey said in an email.

“I reached out to several agencies and learned of South Portland’s program for aging in place. It has been even more helpful than I could have imagined, and I am grateful to him and this program for making it happen. The team also found other ways they could improve my safety such as installing handrails and smoke alarms. My thanks to all who were involved in this process to make my life safer.”