The Scarborough Town Council is reviewing the impacts of a component of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts known as the “tax shift” or “shelter benefit.” As part of this review, the Council wants to ensure that they are using this benefit strategically in both the Haigis Parkway TIF and the Downtown Omnibus TIF. TIF districts […]
Leader Opinion
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
10 years of keeping our neighbors warm
Keeping warm — that’s the challenge of Maine winters. For some of our neighbors, the choices are acute: eat or heat. Fill a prescription or fill the oil tank. Even lowering the thermostat to near 60 and putting on extra layers isn’t enough for some to get by. Project GRACE makes it a little easier […]
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Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Winter safety: Take precautions to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
Recently, the evening news reported that a local contractor was overcome by carbon monoxide while operating a gasoline powered piece of equipment in a basement area, requiring transport to the emergency room. This story illustrates why everyone should be extremely careful when using a gas-powered generator or similar alternative heating or power sources. Improper operation […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Council Corner: The Blob
“You can’t stop it. You can only hope to contain it.” This quote is either from the movie “The Blob” or Sportscenter on ESPN. I’m not quite sure. Regardless, it is an apt quote for growth in Scarborough. In 2021, Scarborough added a total of 419 dwelling units. This includes single family homes, apartments, affordable […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Scarborough Council Corner: Community survey response summary
Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in our town-wide Community Survey! We received over 862 responses. On Jan. 5, survey vendor ETC Institute presented the results to the Town Council. A few key highlights: • 86 percent of residents were satisfied with the overall quality of life in Scarborough • Scarborough […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Public outdoor skating ponds open: Free fun for all ages
One of the best things you can do for your mind, body, and spirit during the doldrums of winter is to find an activity to keep you active and enjoying the season. Thankfully in Scarborough, there are a number of places to let out your inner snowman and make the cold months fly by. A […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Adopt a fire hydrant in Scarborough
Now that we are officially in the winter season, you may notice our Scarborough firefighters clearing the snow around hydrants after a storm. You might wonder, in a large community like Scarborough at 54 square miles, how many hydrants do we have to maintain? The answer might surprise you. Scarborough has a variety of different […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Scarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Meeting the moment in the nation’s capital
When I think of 2021, the phrase “meeting the moment” comes to mind. It was uttered countless times this past year by my colleagues in Congress, by the press, and by constituents all over the nation. But what does that really mean? Let’s take stock. The year started with a horrifying assault on our democracy. After hours […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, South Portland Sentry, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta – Applying for the property tax deferral
As your state senator, advocating for children, seniors and veterans is a priority for me, and will continue to be during this legislative session. In this update, I’ll be focusing on Maine seniors, especially those who have been struggling with the burden of paying ever-increasing property taxes. Two factors contribute to this problem. First, property […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Looking ahead to our new legislative session
On Wednesday, Jan. 5, Maine legislators from across the state convened at the State House in Augusta to kick off the second regular session of the 130th Legislature. The day is largely a ceremonial one that marks the start of a new session, but nevertheless we arrived refreshed and ready to work on behalf of […]