– Community News – South Portland Land Trust Launches Community Business Partnership Program

South Portland Land Trust, in a September 8 press release, announced the launch of its community business partnership program. The initiative aims to increase business support for land trust conservation efforts, including building and maintaining trails, conserving open spaces, and engaging people in projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change. in the community.

According to the release, benefits for local businesses include recognition on the land trust website, in the monthly newsletter and on social media; free coordination of employee working days; and a number of other advantages.

Inaugural companies that have already joined the program include Evergreen Credit Union, Lighthouse Bikes, The Maine Mall, and Rusty Lantern Markets. Local businesses, regional and national chains are encouraged to participate. Businesses can sign up for a level of support that fits their budget.

“South Portland is fortunate to have businesses that are very dedicated to our community,” said Richard Rottkov, chairman of the land trust board, in the press release. “The Community Business Partnership program offers them a simple and meaningful way to support our essential conservation work right here in the community they serve. “

Leah Day, owner of Lighthouse Bikes in Knightville, said in an email that supporting her local land trust was obvious: “I can’t think of anything more important than preserving the land around us. A big part of our mission at Lighthouse Bikes is to share the beauty of South Portland’s coast with tourists and locals and inspire them to value and protect it. South Portland Land Trust does vitally important work.

Craig Gorris, Senior Managing Director of Maine Mall, said, “Maine Mall is proud to be the first member of the South Portland Land Trust’s Community Business Partnership program. The key land trust goals align with our own sustainability priorities and we look forward to working with them to help improve our community this year and beyond.

The new program also helps the land trust build internal capacity. With just one part-time staff member, the organization has its eye on future growth.

“For 35 years, we have strived to keep spaces open and to build and maintain footpaths with the aim of connecting our neighborhoods,” said Rottkov. “The Community Business Partner program is one way for us to ask the community to join us so that we can continue this vital work. “

As the program continues to grow, the Land Trust plans to offer additional benefits to participating businesses, including an annual spring gala in the park.

Local businesses interested in joining the Community Business Partner Program can visit southportlandlandtrust.org or contact Michelle Smith, program coordinator at [email protected].

Fundraising to Support Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Awareness

Members of the Aucocisco school community will meet and speak to the media at Oxbow Blending and Bottling at 49 Washington Ave. in Portland on September 22 at 5 p.m. after a five-mile run led by Erica Richards, parent of an Aucocisco student, to support learning disability awareness.

The team will then compete in the Maine Marathon on October 3, raising funds to support the school and learning center in Aucocisco.

Of particular concern to Richards is the potential link between learning disabilities and incarceration and / or substance abuse when learning disabilities are left untreated. She is grateful for the instruction and helpful advice her two children received at Aucocisco school.

“I think everyone has heard of dyslexia, but is less aware of dysgraphia or dyscalculia, and the impact than these and other neurodivergent differences, for example ADHD and autism, may have on an individual, ”Richards said in a Sept. 10 press release. . “This became important to me when I learned that my children had learning differences and what could happen if they were not addressed in a meaningful way. “

According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, “While the U.S. Census reports that one in 5 Americans (20%) have a disability, the Office of Justice has found that 32% of federal inmates and 40% of inmates report to minus a handicap. . “(LDA Today, Vol.3 No.4).

It should be noted that ADHD often accompanies learning disabilities and constitutes a neurodivergent diagnosis. About 25 to 40 percent of adults with substance use disorder have ADHD, suggesting that if children received the necessary school interventions, we could prevent more people from using drugs.

“I run to encourage people to understand why this matters and how it affects everyone, even if they are not personally affected by the learning differences,” Richards said in the email. “At the end of the day, everyone deserves to learn despite the challenges they face. It’s important to remember that these are challenges they didn’t choose. This is why places like Aucocisco are so important. Aucocisco has helped our son by significantly addressing his dyslexia and honoring him as an individual, who just happens to have ADHD as well.

The Maine Professional Drivers Association has announced that the 23rd annual Trucking for Kids Convoy event will be held on September 19. The event helps Camp Sunshine and Camp POSTCARD raise funds for the operation, which has been difficult in recent years.

Activities will include: Touch-a-Truck event (10 a.m.), truck display, driver competition, raffle items and food. Programming at Scarborough Downs will be 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The convoy will leave at noon, rain or shine.

The drivers association webmaster has designed a registration process at www.mpda.org/trucking4kids, where donations and sponsorships can be made through PayPal or with a credit card.

For more information, call Jim Costa at 420-1816.

First congregation to organize a barbecue fundraiser

The First Congregational Church of Scarborough will be offering its fifth annual public dinner prepared by Moe’s Original Bar-BQ on Wednesday, September 22, starting at 5 p.m. The church is located at 167 Black Point Road in Scarborough.

This year’s event will again take place on an all-to-go basis. There will be no meals inside. Vehicles will be directed inside the church parking lot. Payment will be made in cash only. The cost will be $ 12 for all meals. Meals will be given to an occupant of the vehicle, from 5 p.m.

Meals will be distributed on a first come, first served basis until food is exhausted. The meal will include pulled pork and barbecue sauce, baked beans, potato salad and cornbread. Meals will all be the same and packaged by church members, who will adhere to all health and food handling precautions.

The dinner is a fundraiser sponsored by the church’s Men’s Fellowship.

South Portland Land Trust Trail Cleanup

South Portland Land Trust will be hosting a trail cleanup at South Branch Trail on Saturday, September 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate National Public Lands Day. The South Branch Trail trailhead is located on Philbrook Road, near the east entrance to JCPenney in Maine Mall.

The trail clean-up is made possible with support from One Tree Planted, a Vermont-based organization that helps fund reforestation efforts around the world.

Work on the trail will include building new bog bridges, reducing brush, removing invasive plants, and picking up litter that has accumulated over the summer. Volunteers are encouraged to stay all morning or go out for an hour to help. Those interested in helping should email Michelle Smith at [email protected] All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and refreshments.

The South Portland Land Trust celebrates National Public Lands Day each year. This annual event is the country’s largest one-day volunteer event for public lands. For the Land Trust, this is an event that raises awareness of the many trails available in South Portland and gives individuals, families and friends the opportunity to help manage the city’s important open spaces. For more information, visit the Events page on southportlandlandtrust.org.

Sleepover Bookcase Plans for Stuffed Animals

The South Portland Public Library will be hosting a slumber party with stuffed animals on Friday, October 1. Guests are invited to drop off their stuffed animals. Dolls and other toys are also welcome. Pre-registration is required for the program. Participants can register by calling the Children’s Room at 207-767-7660, ext. 3.

Soft toys can be dropped off on Friday October 1 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Soft toys, dolls, etc., will explore the library overnight. Participants are requested to provide one animal / doll / toy per child.

The pick-up time is 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 2. Participants are invited to an outdoor story hour to wrap up the sleepover and find out what the stuffed animals have been up to all night. All are welcome to attend this Saturday story hour and welcome to bring a stuffed animal friend if they wish. Participation in the Stuff Animal pajama party is not mandatory to attend story time.