To: Falmouth Route One Business and/or Property Owners and Falmouth General Public

MEMORANDUM

To: Falmouth Route One Business and/or Property Owners and Falmouth General Public

From: Community Development Committee (CDC) –
Councilor Bonny Rodden, Chair; Councilor Teresa Pierce; Councilor Faith Varney
Date: January 6, 2011
Re: Proposed Route One Vision and Design Concepts

______________________________________________________________________________
The Town’s Community Development Committee (CDC) wants to know what you think about development along Route One South from Route 88 to the Falmouth Shopping Center.

In 2002 the Falmouth Town Council directed the formation of the Route One Corridor Committee. The intent of the committee’s recommendations was to “begin the transformation of the corridor from an automobile-based suburban service center to a pedestrian-friendly, pedestrian-scaled New England village center.” The Route One Corridor Committee finalized its report in 2005, however it was never adopted by the Town Council.

The CDC was assigned by the Council to review and finalize the proposed 2005 Route One Study. The CDC is in agreement with almost all of the 2005 study’s recommendations and has taken the best of the 2005 plan and infused it with its thinking of 2010 and what it learned from the Falmouth Shopping Center Community Event held in October 2009. In coming up with these recommendations, the CDC met with several members of the former 2005 Route One Study Committee and had input from the public.

The CDC presented its Design Concept Recommendations to the Town Council on September 27, 2010. These recommendations can be viewed at http://www.town.falmouth.me.us/Pages/FalmouthME_BComm/RouteOneFolder/DocumentsList . If you would like to receive a hard copy, please call Theo Holtwijk at 699-5340.

At this time the CDC would like feedback from you on these key concepts before the Town Council considers final recommendations. The Town Council is expected to discuss the key concepts again on January 24, 2011. The CDC will meet again on January 18, 2011 at 8:00 AM.



Several options are provided for your input:

Reply by January 17, 2011 to a short survey that has been posted at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PZJ7LXZ

Send a letter or e-mail with your comments or questions to Theo Holtwijk, tholtwijk@town.falmouth.me.us, attn.Community Development Committee,

Subscribe to receive Town Council or CDC Meeting Agenda notices and speak at a meeting – see http://www.town.falmouth.me.us/subscriber

Your voice matters. Please let the town hear from you. Thank you.

“Old Maine Woman, Stories from The Coast to The County,” Book Signing

January 9th
Book Signing with Glenna Johnson Smith

Glenna Johnson Smith, author of “Old Maine Woman, Stories from The Coast to The County,” will sign copies of her book from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at Nonesuch Books & Cards in South Portland. Smith, a Presque Isle resident and longtime columnist for Echoes magazine, writes with eloquence and humor about the complexities, absurdities and pleasures of everyday modern life, her childhood on the coast in the 1920s and 1930s, and the joys that old age brings. “Old Maine Woman” includes some of the best of Smith’s Echoes columns, as well as new material. Topics range from what it was like to grow up in a small-town post office, to her experiences as a first-year teacher, to what happens when the telephone man comes to call at her cluttered house. The book also includes a foreword by renowned Maine author and Smith fan Cathie Pelletier.

Born and raised in the Hancock County town of Ashville, Smith, 90, has since lived in Aroostook County for more than six decades. A former high school English teacher who retired in 1990, she has written and directed award-winning plays, led elder hostels and classes for senior citizens and conducted writing workshops. In addition to her work for Echoes, she also has been published in Yankee magazine; Maine Speaks: An Anthology of Maine Writers; Old Women’s Wisdom; and a number of other anthologies. She has won numerous awards for her work and civic contributions, including Presque Isle Citizen of the Year and an honorary doctorate from the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

For more information, contact the store at 799-2659. For more information about the book, go to www.islandportpress.com, email books@islandportpress.com or call 846-3344. Islandport Press is a Maine-based publisher of quality books about Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Falmouth Community Programs Winter/Spring 2010/11 programs

Registration for Falmouth Community Programs Winter/Spring 2010/11 programs is now open. Click here to access and print the full brochure and registration form: http://www.town.falmouth.me.us/Pages/FalmouthME_Community/docs/programbrochure.pdf
You may register by mail, in the FCP office Monday through Thursday, after hours in the FCP Drop Box at the side door of Town Hall or register online: http://activenet5.active.com/falmouthcommunityprog/servlet/registrationmain.sdi?online_site_id=2
 (convenience fee does apply to all online registrations). They will not accept phoned or faxed registrations.


Their office hours are Mondays 7:00-5:00, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00-5:00, FRIDAYS CLOSED.

update! Falmouth Town Council Meeting 12/13/2010

The December 13, 2010 Town Council meeting discussion on a possible zoning amendment to limit building footprints in the SB-1 District (lower Route One) has been postponed until a future date, likely in January.   We anticipate a need to schedule more time to this matter, including anticipated  discussion about the proposed Walmart expansion. Due to other priorities, including the continued work on the future use of the Plummer-Motz/Lunt Schools and other community facilities, the December 13, 2010 Council agenda could not accommodate enough time for a lengthy Council discussion about limiting building footprints in the SB-1 District.  

Falmouth Maine Town Council Meeting this Monday

The Town Council meeting scheduled for December 13, 2010 will begin at 5:30 pm in an executive session. It is estimated that this session will last 30 minutes. Regular business of the Council is projected to begin on or around 6:00 pm, and the Public Forum will take place at or close to its normal time of 7:00 pm.

Wine Tasting this Saturday at The Good Life Market

Wine Tasting!
This Saturday, December 11th 2010 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Holiday wines! Rich Reds, Sparkling Wines, Ports, and other holiday favorites. Please stop by.

Get your Free GOOD LIFE MARKET wine tote! Fill it up with 6 bottles or more and take 10% off.

If you know of anyone else who would like to know about these events, please forward this invitation along to them. The tasting is free, informal, and open to the public. We hope to see you on Saturday!

The Good Life Market
1297 Roosevelt Trail
At the Corner of Rt. 85 and Rt. 302 in Raymond, Maine

(207) 655-1196 Open 7 am to 7 pm daily

Benefit for the Telling Room - Yarmouth Maine High School

Please join us for a night of roaring beats, wild stories, and sweet sounds to benefit the Telling Room (sponsored by the Yarmouth High School Performance Series). Emilia will be joined by Kim on bass and Seth on drums.


"The Telling Room is a nonprofit writing center in Portland, Maine, dedicated to the idea that children and young adults are natural storytellers. Focused on young writers ages 6 to 18, we seek to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and provide real audiences for our students’ stories. We believe that the power of creative expression can change our communities and prepare our youth for future success."
Time


15 December · 19:30 - 22:30

Location Yarmouth Performing Arts Center - YHS
286 West Elm St.
Yarmouth, ME
http://www.tellingroom.org/

http://www.downeast.com/maine-event/moose/performs-yarmouth-performing

Maine Department of Transportation - weight limit on Falmuth bridge info

News Release for December 3, 2010


For More Information:

Mark Latti, MaineDOT Public Information Officer - 624-3030

Ken Sweeney, MaineDOT Chief Engineer – 624-3030



MAINEDOT WILL POST WEIGHT LIMIT ON FALMOUTH BRIDGE

Starting Tuesday, December 7, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will post a weight limit on the Route 26/100 Railroad Crossing Bridge that spans the Presumpscot River Bridge in Falmouth. The weight-limit posting will restrict the bridge to vehicles that weigh 22 tons or less.

The posting of 22 tons will allow most vehicles, including passenger cars, pickups, school buses, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles to utilize the bridge. The 22-ton posting does prohibit heavy trucks from crossing the bridge.

Trucks weighing more than 22 tons will be directed to a detour that utilizes the Washington Avenue Extension, Blackstrap Road, Brook Road and Leighton Road. This detour is approximately .8 miles longer than the normal travel route. Trucks can also utilize the Maine Turnpike, which runs parallel to this section of Route 26. MaineDOT estimates approximately 350 trucks a day will use the detour.

MaineDOT engineers recommended the 22-ton weight limit due to the deteriorating condition of the steel structure and also to ensure the bridge remains open to most vehicles until the new Route 26/100 bridge is completed. The new bridge is currently under construction, parallel to the existing bridge, is expected to be completed and opened to traffic within 11 months.

MaineDOT has met with city and town officials from Portland and Falmouth to inform them about the posting. MaineDOT plans to work with trucking companies and area businesses to help minimize the impacts of the posting.

The Railroad Crossing Bridge was built in 1932 and is 834 feet long. Construction crews are currently working on the Railroad Crossing Bridge replacement. The new bridge is being built downstream of the current bridge. Once the new bridge is opened, crews will dismantle and remove the old bridge. The total cost of the bridge replacement project is $10.5 million. CPM Constructors of Freeport is the contractor for the project.

Falmouth Town Hall special hours on Dec 15th

FALMOUTH TOWN OFFICE WILL BE CLOSING


AT 11:00 AM AND WILL REOPEN AT 2:00 PM
ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15

FOR AN EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AND ANNUAL SERVICE AWARDS

Main Audubon presents: Eyes on Owls at Gilsland Farm, Falmouth Maine

Eyes on Owls


Join naturalist Marcia Wilson, photographer Mark Wilson, and six live owls for an event devoted to these wonderful birds. The program includes a slideshow introduction to owls of New England and beyond, a hooting lesson, tips on finding owls without disturbing them, and an opportunity to see seven live owls. We will have intimate looks at those species native to the region and beyond — everything from the diminutive saw-whet owl to the giant eagle-owl. The two abbreviated morning sessions are focused for young children (ages 2 and up).

Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010
Time: 9:30-10:15 a.m., 11-11:45 a.m., 1:30-2:45 p.m., or 4-5:15 p.m.
Fee: Members: $10/adult, $5/child, Nonmembers: $15/adult, $10/child
Led By: Marcia Wilson and Mark Wilson
Registration: Advance registration necessary. Call Laura at 207-781-2330, ext. 209.

Directions


By public transportation: Take METRO Route 7 from Portland or Falmouth Center. Northbound buses depart hourly from Monument Square at half past the hour. The bus stop is located on Route 1 at the end of the Gilsland Farm driveway. Complete route map and schedule: http://gpmetrobus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108&Itemid=192

From the north: take I-295 to exit 10 and then left on Bucknam Road. At the light turn right onto U.S. Route 1 and continue south for one mile. After the blinking light at the intersection of Routes 1 and 88, Gilsland Farm Road is on the right at the light blue sign.

From the south: take I-295 to exit 9. Continue 1.9 miles north on U.S. Route 1 and turn left onto Gilsland Farm Road at the light blue sign, immediately before the intersection of Routes 1 and 88.