Saturday, September 28, 2013

Town hall location rejected afer site walk

Multiple factors lead selectmen to quickly dismiss a Route 1 site

ARUNDEL — The board of selectmen and Town Manager Todd Shea took their first site walk on acreage that was considered – but ultimately rejected – as the location of Arundel’s new town hall.
When asked if the site walk went well, Thomas Danylik, chairman of the selectmen, said with some humor, “I don’t know if you could say it went ‘well.’”

The board’s consensus to eliminate the potential site for a town hall was reached easily at Monday night’s meeting.


The proposed size of the new, two-story town hall would be 6,000 square-feet and offer spaces for town committees and boards to meet.


read more...

Thursday, September 26, 2013

RSU community facing 'significant' tax impact


KENNEBUNK — Voters will be deciding in the coming months whether they will support $74.8 million in improvements to Kennebunk High School, Mildred L. Day School, and Kennebunkport Consolidated School.

The renovations are proposed at $53.55 million for KHS, $11.32 million for Mildred L. Day School, and $9.96 million for Kennebunkport Consolidated School. A proposed plan for the Southern Maine Center for the Visual and Performing Arts is moving forward separately and is proposed to be funded privately, with a goal of raising $20 million. If fundraising is successful, it would reduce the overall cost of the KHS renovation to $48.3 million.
The annual impact of the $74 million renovations, in the highest year to be paid of the 20-year bond and based on $300,000 of assessed property value, would be $486.90 for an Arundel resident, $498.84 for a Kennebunk resident, and $438.09 for a Kennebunkport resident. That breaks down monthly to $41.57 in Kennebunk, $36.51 in Kennebunkport, and $40.58 in Arundel.

"I will say there is a bit of a sticker shock here,"


read more...

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Board approves initial renovation plans

By Alex Acquisto
Staff Writer 
 


KENNEBUNK — The Regional School Unit 21 school board approved the first reading of a major construction proposal for Kennebunk High School, Mildred L. Day School in Arundel, and Consolidated school in Kennebunkport on Monday, Sept. 16.


The Building Committee, which was formed in 2010, along with facility committee subsets in Kennebunkport and Arundel, devised respective plans for construction at each of the three schools.


The $74.8 million package will be presented at a public forum and workshop on Monday, Oct. 7 at Kennebunk High School.


read more...

Friday, September 20, 2013

Selectmen make interim manager choice

Former Arundel town manager to fill position during search

KENNEBUNKPORT — John Fraser was chosen as interim town manager last week by the board of selectmen.

Fraser succeeds Larry Mead, who has been the town manager of Kennebunkport since 2006.
Fraser, who served as Arundel’s town manager for 18 years before semiretiring in 2011, lives in Arundel.

“I think John is a great choice,” Mead said. “He has the double advantage of being from the area and having extensive experience serving just about 20 years next door in Arundel, and before that he was in Waldoboro and Warren.”

Two men arrested for selling heroin in Kennebunk


KENNEBUNK, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - Kennebunk Police and The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency have arrested two men for selling heroin in the Kennebunk area.

Officials say 26-year-old Zoran Trajanoski, of 956 Meetinghouse Road, in Wells, and 26-year-old Matthew Danis, of 148 Clearview Drive, of Arundel have under investigation for selling heroin around York county for the past month.

According to police, the investigations involved surveillance and controlled purchases of drugs which led to arrest warrants being issued on September 12, 2013, for both men. 

read more...

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Board to take up $74 million facilities plan


KENNEBUNK — Renovations to Kennebunk High School, Mildred L. Day School and Kennebunkport Consolidated School are moving on to the RSU 21 Board of Directors, proposed to cost a total of $74 million for the three schools.

The Facilities Committee voted on Sept. 13 to pass the three projects on to the Board of Directors for review. The board held a first reading of the projects earlier this week and a public forum will be held on Monday, Oct. 7 in the KHS auditorium. The projects could go before voters for approval in January.

"We've reached the point where these are exactly what we need. We've done the hard work of squeezing these down. I'm satisfied that we've done the best job that we can to put the school facilities in the best condition that this community needs and deserves," said Tim Hussey, chairman of the Facilities Committee.

Estelle Wellman told the committee that the price tag is going to be a hard sell for some voters.

Bullying talk brings out concerns


KENNEBUNK — Frustrated parents vented their anger over the amount of abusive behavior among Kennebunk's students at a presentation on bullying Sept. 11
"There's a problem in this town and it's being ignored," one mother told the school administrators present.

Another mother challenged RSU 21 Assistant Superintendent Sara Zito to "step up and implement some programs."

Her wish had already been partially granted by that evening's program. Lynn Lyons, a psychotherapist in Concord, N.H., spoke to the public in the Kennebunk Elementary School gym after spending a full day working with students and teachers at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. About three dozen people attended the 5:30 p.m. session, most of them mothers of middle-schoolers.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

ARUNDEL HERITAGE DAY | SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14th, 2013 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

ARUNDEL HERITAGE DAY SATURDAY * SEPTEMBER 14th 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM 
 
CORNER OF LIMERICK ROAD AND ALFRED ROAD
AT THE NORTH CHAPEL COMMON SITE

Free admission
Come and join friends and neighbors for a day of fun for the whole family!
 
ENTERTAINMENT | GOOD FOOD | OLD TIME GAMES | CONTESTS |
CRAFTS | BAKE SALE | PRODUCE | MILKING DEMONSTRATIONS | PETTING
ZOO | RAFFLES | MINIATURE HORSES | DUCKS, RABBITS, GOATS |
WOOL SPINNING | HISTORICAL DISPLAYS | FOREST RANGER |
WRITING WITH A QUILL PEN | ANTIQUE CARS & TRACTORS | FIRE TRUCK DEMONSTRATIONS – AND MORE… 
 
Local groups/businesses include:
Al’s Quackery; Arundel Fire & Rescue; Arundel
Historical Society; Arundel Ice Cream; Arundel Parks & Recreation; Arunshard Pottery; Boy Scouts; Frinklepod Farm; Jessie McKinnon Band; Kate’s Butter; Kennebunk River Band;Pamelamas; Redneck Ridge Farm; Seashore Trolley Museum; Sharon Arnold Lux School of Dance; Stoneridge Farm; The Lobster Company; The New School; York County Veterinary Hospital
 
Many individuals will also be there with their crafts, talents, and knowledge!
 
Parking on site with overflow parking at Kate’s Butter – a shuttle bus will be available.

Arundel eyes ordinance preventing people from living in campers or boats on their properties

Posted Sept. 12, 2013, at 10:49 a.m.
 
 
ARUNDEL, Maine — A proposed ordinance to regulate the use of recreational vehicles — such as camper trailers — will go to town voters in November.
The Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 in favor of the proposed ordinance being placed on the November ballot at its meeting on Monday evening.

The ordinance, which is being referred to as the Temporary Occupancy Ordinance, was difficult to draft, officials said. After receiving a complaint of a resident occupying a camper trailer and disposing of waste on the property, officials realized that there was no ordinance in place that prevented an individual from living in a recreational vehicle on a property.

Selectmen discussed whether or not the ordinance was worth the cost of placing it on the ballot, after having received only one complaint.

read more...

Sunday, September 8, 2013

A Maine fisherman's life lived large ends in a sea of questions


A friend who was with him on his last night talks about Billy McIntire's ill-fated swim, and the 'toughest decision of my life.'

http://www.pressherald.com/news/a-maine-fishermans-life-lived-large-ends-in-a-sea-of-questions-_2013-09-08.html

OGUNQUIT – In the life and times of Billy McIntire, it was hardly an unusual sight.


Fisherman Billy McIntire, shown at work in 2008, is presumed drowned after diving off his lobster boat late in the evening of Aug. 22, investigators say. His body has yet to be recovered.
Contributed photo


Perkins Cove lobsterman Rick Knight, captain of the Michelle D, waits to unload his catch at the wharf late last month. Billy McIntire “was a hell of a nice guy,” Knight said of Perkins Cove’s unofficial “mayor,” who was lost at sea and presumed drowned on Aug. 22. McIntire was “always very popular and nice to be around,” Knight said.
Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

Before midnight under a nearly full moon, McIntire -- a consummate hard worker with a jovial reputation and a penchant for having a good time -- was heading for his boat, three women and a friend in tow.

In the days since his death that night, the few witnesses who know firsthand how McIntire was lost have largely remained silent or have all but left town, only fueling rumors and speculation about his final moments.


"None of this should have happened," said Tim Levesque, who set off with McIntire that night, along with the three women, whom they had met at a bar. After a night of drinks and dancing, they headed to the first boat McIntire had ever owned, the Clover.


The night ended with McIntire lost at sea. He remains missing and presumably drowned.


read more...

Past, present and future

http://www.keepmecurrent.com/the_village/featured_stories/past-present-and-future/article_89531a0e-10ec-11e3-a8a8-0019bb2963f4.html

Posted: Thursday, August 29, 2013 4:49 pm
Faith Gillman, Staff writer
Arundel Historical Society celebrates its heritage and an ambitious expansion
The Arundel Historical Society is on a mission to encourage a relationship between the people and history of the town, while also revitalizing and strengthening the sense of community.

One big step toward that goal is the new North Chapel Common complex, which is taking shape near the intersection of Alfred and Limerick roads.


Arundel, so named from 1719 until 1820, when it became part of Kennebunkport, has a long farming history. The town seceded from Kennebunkport in 1916 and was then known as North Kennebunkport, returning to the name Arundel in 1957. Throughout its history, Arundel has retained its rural character and heritage, which is something members of the nonprofit Arundel Historical Society want to celebrate and preserve.


read more...

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Thornton Academy and the University of Maine announced a new partnership involving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

Thornton Academy in Saco, Maine and the University of Maine have announced a new partnership involving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) which will allow students with the right course load to skip a year at UMaine. The ceremony involved TA Headmaster Rene Menard, Maine Senate President Justin Alfond and UMaine College of Engineering Dean Dana Humphrey.


Monday, September 2, 2013

Get the facts on RSU 21 before you vote —or write


To the Editor:
A recent letter to the editor (Aug. 8) by Mr. Ed Geoghan unfortunately illustrates how selective facts can indiscriminately be misused to reach incorrect conclusions. Mr. Geoghan leads off with some accurate data: 1) the school population in RSU 21 has indeed modestly declined — as previously projected by a consultant study and 2) as he correctly cites, school consolidation in 2009, coupled with the above decline, has indeed resulted in some excess elementary school capacity.

He goes on to state that via merger with Arundel, three schools were added (ML Day, Thornton Academy and TA's middle school, TAMS) thus totaling eight. However TA and TAMS are NOT part of RSU 21! Another irrelevancy: changing high school sports conferences at KHS has nothing to do with closing an elementary school, as he implies.

His recommendation is simply to close two elementary schools. The RSU 21 Facilities Committee has long had a well documented plan to reduce, as necessary, the district's elementary school capacity. It is an integral part of the long range plan to renovate two of RSU 21's elementary schools as well as

Kennebunk High School. This is something Mr. Geoghan well knows, yet ignores. Retaining a K-5 elementary school in each community per the RSU charter and per previous community wishes expressed via voter referendum is the facilities plan.

RSU 21 schools transition to new school year

By Alex Acquisto KENNEBUNK—More than just seasonal change is afoot in Regional School Unit 21. As the summer heat dissipates and the finals days of August transpire, schools in the district are gearing up to open their doors for the 2013-14 school year Wednesday, Sept. 4

read more...