Rocco Risbara (left) of Risbara Bros., and Dan Bacon (right), Project Manager of Gorrill Palmer Planning.
The Downs is a new and exciting mixed-use development in Scarborough, Maine. Located in the heart of the community, The Downs surrounds the historic Scarborough Downs harness racing track and will become home to a modern town center with supporting residential and commercial elements. The 500-acre mixed-use development will create numerous recreational opportunities and will include walking paths throughout 500 acres of preserved green space. Tree-lined streets will connect the planned community, which will seamlessly balance recreation, retail, residential, and commercial development. Together, all elements will create the premier place to live, work and play. The Downs development will bring new-found vitality to the center of town and launch Scarborough forward into its next chapter. Phase I broke ground in October 2018.
Pools, ice rinks, indoor and outdoor fields, a community meeting space – just a few of the possibilities coming to Scarborough’s newest athletic complex. Edge Sports Group, a company that specializes in recreational and athletic projects, has signed an agreement to be The Down’s first non-residential development. ESG is conducting a feasibility study to determine what amenities will be included within the Scarborough facility. Construction will begin this summer and the complex will open in Spring of 2021. If you’d like to weigh in on what you’d like to see at The Downs athletic complex, visit https://www.facebook.com/EDGESPORTSGROUP/
Phase II is in process and advancing……for up-to-date information, visit: thedowns.com
Heather Davis, Executive Director of Learning Works, shared fascinating insights into the innovative programs the organization provides to help children, teens, adults, and families realize their potential and become stronger participants in the community. Davis acknowledged the contributions of Rotarians, notably Steve Mortimer, Steve Stromsky and Mark Foster, among others who work as volunteers. Davis summarized the three goals of their programs, saying: “Learning Works supports over 3,000 students in Southern Maine by bolstering elementary students’ academic and social-emotional wellbeing, transforming the lives of teens and young adults, and building the capacity of New Mainers.”
Pointing to several charts, Davis detailed the severe challenge Maine has because of poor performance in reading and math proficiencies: “Over a ten-year period, reading proficiency at the 4th grade level has only improved one percent, despite all the investment in our school systems. Eighth-grade math proficiency increased only two percent over 10 years.” While the high school dropout rate dropped from 11 percent to 6 percent, it’s still the highest in New England. “Serious systemic inequities in the school system affect non-English speaking students more severely. They are 25 percent more likely not to graduate.” On a personal level, she shared the story of her brother who dropped out of school because a traditional program was not working for him. He managed to find an alternative, achieved advanced degrees, and now works as a researcher.
Davis said that Learning Works maintains five innovative workshops supporting over 3,000 students in after-school programs that have resulted in 70 percent of the participants increasing reading comprehension levels. She said that data from their second-grade program in Biddeford demonstrated that most of the participants were at, or above, grade level for reading scores at the end of the program. Since these programs continue on, she added that as the participants stay in the program through the fifth-grade, Learning Works is able to increase the number of interventions they have with students to continue to accelerate reading and math comprehension.
Davis said the organization’s second goal was to transform the lives of teens and young adults, particularly helping them complete their high school degrees. Learning Works provides alternative educational opportunities for persons age 16 to 24 who have dropped out of school. “We have an 80 percent success rate,” she said. “One hundred percent of these people stay in Maine.” The program not only provides specific education for a high school degree, but also provides vocational training in construction, culinary arts and hospitality, and is exploring a new track focused on healthcare. Davis highlighted one participant who graduated from the program and was accepted at Bowdoin College where he is now a junior.
The third focus of Learning Works is to build the capacity of New Mainers. These programs include English language and literacy program using conversation to help people practice speaking, and opportunities designed to immerse them into American culture and activities, including field trips to go shopping, eat in restaurants, and other ways to become familiar with their new community. Learning Works provides one-on-one tutoring, which includes the participation of Rotarians, and workshops on various topics, such as financial literacy, which Mark Foster spoke about to the club.
Davis said that their data showed that these interventions work, but they want to do more. She is working with the state and several school districts to blend her organization’s innovative approach into the regular curricula. “This isn’t easy,” she said. “All of these systems lack the funds to make changes.”
For more information on Learning Works, or ways to volunteer, visit their website: learningworks.me.
(Photo L-R: Heather Davis and President-elect Amy Chipman.)
President-elect Amy Chipman(left) was at the podium, as President John Curran was in Hamburg, Germany for the Rotary International Convention. It was a beautiful day and attendance was low at 37 members, as this writer suspects some members started the weekend early.
Gracie Johnston (right) presented us with an invocation and talked about an army private from WW II who is still alive and his recounts of that experience. He described wading through the cold ocean to shore, remembering the chaos at Omaha Beach. His advice is to keep busy to deal with PTS and says it’s OK to look back, but don’t stare.Bob Clark led us in the pledge and Meredith Small led us in singing ‘God Bless America.’
President-elect Amy listed off the members with birthdays in June, along with the anniversaries of members who joined our club during the month of June in years past.
Gracie came back to the podium to encourage more people to volunteer to help out at our monthly prepping and serving of the meal at the Preble Street Soup Kitchen on June 26th 3:30-6:00 p.m. More bodies are needed to help with this important service that we provide in helping those in need. For more information, contact Gracie at: gjohnston@portlandradiogroup.com
Mark Foster (left) told about working with Learning Works to teach financial literacy classes to new Mainers. The students didn't understand how safe our U.S. banks were. He said he was asked many wonderful questions and was honored to represent Rotary during his visit at Learning Works.
President-elect Amy mentioned the great work being done by our Club's New Mainers Task Force chaired by Ben Millick.
With Jerry Angier(left in photo at right) conducting the weekly raffle, our speaker pulled Dick Giles’(right in photo at right) name to try his luck at finding the Queen of Hearts, but the $555 pot eluded him when he didn't find that elusive queen.
Patty Erickson(left) thanked everyone for the Maine Outdoor Challenge silent auction items that have been donated. Amy told us that good weather was predicted for Monday and Wednesday participants, but some rainy weather was expected for Tuesday. She encouraged us all to attend the lobster bake following the last events of the MOC at the AmVets Hall, 148 North St., Yarmouth on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
With a light agenda, Amy was surprised to be able to introduce the speaker early, giving her ample time to tell us about Learning Works.
To register, go to https://rotary7780.org/event/district-conference-1/. As you hopefully know by now, this is Governor John LoBosco's one-day, FREE, District Conference to be held on June 22nd at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. Even though it will cost you nothing, we need to know if you will attend so we know how much free food to plan for and how many children will be there for the many activities we have planned for them. We do have an alternate location lined up in the unlikely case of bad weather.
So please, register early and we look forward to seeing you at what will be a distinctive and very fun District Conference.
The following items are needed on an on-going basis. Please feel free to bring them to a meeting where we will collect and distribute them to the appropriate projects.
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa. Contact: Roger Fagan, drrogerfagan@gmail.com
Toiletries for the Shelters - Collect those tiny bottles of toiletries you are paying for during your next hotel visit and bring them home for members of our society who find themselves staying at a shelter and in need of personal hygiene products.
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President-elect Amy Chipman (left) was at the podium, as President John Curran was in Hamburg, Germany for the Rotary International Convention. It was a beautiful day and attendance was low at 37 members, as this writer suspects some members started the weekend early..jpg)
Gracie Johnston (right) presented us with an invocation and talked about an army private from WW II who is still alive and his recounts of that experience. He described wading through the cold ocean to shore, remembering the chaos at Omaha Beach. His advice is to keep busy to deal with PTS and says it’s OK to look back, but don’t stare.
Mark Foster (left) told about working with Learning Works to teach financial literacy classes to new Mainers. The students didn't understand how safe our U.S. banks were. He said he was asked many wonderful questions and was honored to represent Rotary during his visit at Learning Works..jpg)
With Jerry Angier (left in photo at right) conducting the weekly raffle, our speaker pulled Dick Giles’ (right in photo at right) name to try his luck at finding the Queen of Hearts, but the $555 pot eluded him when he didn't find that elusive queen.
Patty Erickson (left) thanked everyone for the Maine Outdoor Challenge silent auction items that have been donated. Amy told us that good weather was predicted for Monday and Wednesday participants, but some rainy weather was expected for Tuesday. She encouraged us all to attend the lobster bake following the last events of the MOC at the AmVets Hall, 148 North St., Yarmouth on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.