York Town News
GUILTY OF CARING. The Muscular Dystrophy Association was out and about in town last week, with the help of local law enforcement, arresting area business owners and local celebrities who had been charged with having good hearts and caring enough to raise money for the MDA. Pictured here, from left, York Police Officer Scott Randall prepares to take Susan Littley and Stephen Lapointe of the York American Legion into custody as part of the jail-and-bail fundraiser, held at the Lobster Barn on Route 1 on Wednesday, April 11. The American Legion said they would raise $650 for the cause by selling shamrocks from Feb. 1 to March 17, but sold $525, so the consequence was the "arrest" and incarceration at the Lobster Barn with other volunteers from across the community to make phone calls to raise MDA funds as "bail."
Photo by Nikki Mendes
Local business owners and residents alike started to hold their breath on Monday, as rains fell and astronomical high tides deluged the area with water reminiscent of last year's devastating Mother's Day storm.
On Saturday, local environmentalists, activists and politicians encouraged attendees at a "global warming block party" in Portsmouth's Market Square to be a part of the solution to halt climate change.
Local officials do not know what the state's new school consolidation plan will ultimately be, but they agree there is no doubt that educational systems in Maine will be changing.
A proposal to scale back a hotel and locate a new Rite-Aid Pharmacy at the York Village Business Center on Route 1 had the Planning Board urging the project team to take a closer look at the building designs.
Due to two absences, the Appeals Board had to postpone its public hearing on Wednesday, April 11.
Town Manager Rob Yandow will be the guest of honor at St. George's Church Forum this week, while next week's focus will be on the tragedy of the genocide in Darfur.
Help support services for area women and children by attending a fashion show and specialty luncheon in the ballroom of the Wentworth by the Sea on June 3.
York Public Safety News
York Police Log
Due to the severity of the Patriot's Day storm conditions, the York Police Department's weekly police log informational meeting had to be postponed. See the April 25 edition of The Independent for a full listing of incidents from the current week.
The $295-million bond package passed by the Legislature on April 4 represents a victory for responsible borrowing and good government, according to State Rep. Windol Weaver, R-York.
Briefs
PhotoVoltUS, Inc., a provider of photovoltaic (PV) products and technology, has announced the receipt of a contract to install a grid tied photovoltaic system as part of the new Peru Elementary School building project in Peru, Maine.
Residents have shown that they do, indeed, "Love York Beach" by ordering bricks for the new sidewalk project for the business district.
What: Seacoast Democrats of York, Kittery, Wells, Ogunquit, Eliot and South. Berwick will hold an Office Warming Party with Congressman Tom Allen on Saturday, April 21.
Ongoing
By Town Planner Steve Burns
Do you have a child with special needs?
It's baby season at the Center for Wildlife, when orphans and injured young ones of all species find a temporary home in the shadow of Mount Agamenticus.
Ethel's Tree of Life, a local nonprofit which has a mission to serve youth and young adults who live with disabilities and/or special needs by providing transitional training in life and work skills, will host its Casino Night fundraiser on April 21.
