Help shape the future of Falmouth Maine

Falmouth… in 10 Years?


What Do You Think?

We want your thoughts and opinions about where and how our town can grow and change over the next ten years.

As requested by the Town Council, the Long Range Planning Advisory Committee (LPAC+) is in the process of updating Falmouth’s Comprehensive Plan, which is reviewed every ten years. This plan, which was last updated in 2000, is the basic foundation for Falmouth town planning, and outlines our vision and priorities. It shapes our physical, social, and economic development into the future.

We invite you to take part in this process now.

A survey is available at www.town.falmouth.me.us/survey2011  to share your opinions. Paper copies, with return envelope, are available at the Town Hall, Falmouth Memorial Library, and the customer service desks at Hannaford (West Falmouth Crossing) and Shaw’s (Route 1).

The survey takes about 20-25 minutes to complete. All responses will be confidential. If you have any questions or experience difficulties accessing the survey, you may contact either Market Decisions Research Director Dr. Brian Robertson at 1-800-293-1538 ext. 102, brianr@marketdecisions.com; or, Falmouth’s Long-Range Planning Director Theo Holtwijk at 699-5340, tholtwijk@town.falmouth.me.us.

For your opinions to be included in the results, it’s important that you complete and return your survey by Monday June 13, 2011. The results will be tabulated and publicly reported.
Thank you in advance for taking your time to share your thoughts.

Sincerely,
Falmouth Long Range Planning Advisory Committee

Complete this Survey by June 13, 2011! http://town.falmouth.me.us/2011survey



Questions? contact:

Theo H.B.M. Holtwijk
Director of Long-Range Planning

Town of Falmouth
271 Falmouth Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207-781-5253, ext. 5340
fax 207-781-8677
www.town.falmouth.me.us

FAREWELL FESTIVAL: SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR GRAND OLD SCHOOLS

FAREWELL FESTIVAL: SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR GRAND OLD SCHOOLS:


A Grand Old Festival is being planned by the Falmouth Elementary PTO to celebrate these two schools and the many citizens of Falmouth who have walked their halls and learned in their classrooms.

The event will kick off with a community picnic on the evening of Friday, June 3 with entertainment and other family-fun activities. The entire community is invited to bring their picnic baskets and lawn chairs to this old-fashioned evening get-together. On Saturday, June 4, festivities will begin with a “Spirit of Falmouth” Parade leading from Village Park up Lunt Road to the schools. The festival itself will begin at the schools at 10:00 am and will include old-fashioned carnival games, family-fun activities, musical entertainment, live demonstrations, food vendors and more. At 11:00 a.m., a commemoration ceremony will take place, which will include the dedication of a time capsule to mark this historic occasion. In addition, school tours will be available for those who want to reminisce about their days in these buildings.



Decorate a Chair! We're inviting students, teachers, businesses and civic groups to claim a student chair and turn it into art in honor of the decades-long history and traditions of these educational institutions. Completed art pieces will be displayed throughout Falmouth at participating businesses from May 18-June 1. On June 4, chairs will be available for purchase through a silent auction during the Festival activities. Proceeds from the auction will offset the costs of the Festival and benefit the Falmouth Elementary PTO.

A lot more information and ways to register for events can be found at the Festival website, www.tinyurl.com/farewellfestival

FALMOUTH RANKED #1 IN THE COUNTRY!

FALMOUTH RANKED #1 IN THE COUNTRY!


“THE BEST SCHOOLS FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE BUCK”

The following are excerpts from the article published on Forbes.com Magazine, naming Falmouth, Maine, as the best city to “live and learn:”

“Falmouth, Maine, is a picturesque waterfront town 110 miles north of Boston with moderate housing costs (median price $351,550), per-student public-school spending just a touch above the state average, and an enviable position at the top of the Forbes/GreatSchools list of Best Schools for Your Real Estate Buck.

“Not much stands out to explain why the 2,100 student school district does so well. The seventh-graders all have laptops, but so does every other middle-schooler in Maine, thanks to a 2002 program that has distributed Apple MacBooks throughout the state. Teacher salaries are generous by Maine standards, at around $51,000 for a 10-year veteran, but low compared with $75,000 to $100,000 a teacher can earn in New York. At $10,000 a year, per-pupil spending is slightly above average for Maine but well below the $14,000 or so big cities like Chicago and New York spend.

“Here’s one clue to the superior performance of schools in this 10,669-resident town, which was founded in 1658: Teacher turnover is extremely low. In the 13 years Barbara Powers has been [in the district] school superintendent, exactly two teachers have left for jobs at other schools.

“People aren’t using us as a launch pad to somewhere else,” said Powers.

“Falmouth scored the highest on our second annual look at the places in America where your housing dollar will go the furthest in getting your children a great education. Done in partnership with GreatSchools, we analyzed 17,589 towns and cities in the 49 states that administer standardized, statewide tests (Nebraska doesn’t have one test). GreatSchools also used results from the most recent National Assessment for Educational Progress data, a federal program that tests randomly selected students in fourth, eighth, and 12th grades to provide state-level assessments of learning and educational progress. By combining the two datasets, GreatSchools could calibrate the results of individual cities in a single state with national standards to come up with an absolute score for each city. It then graded them on a curve with the highest-ranking city, Falmouth, representing 100. GreatSchools assesses more than 200,000 public schools, including charter schools.”

Everyone should take pride in this recognition, from the community members who support the schools, to the parents, many of whom are deeply involved in volunteering in the schools, to a world class group of students who come to school ready and willing to learn. But the highest praise goes to the leaders of our district, headed by Barbara Powers, and the incredibly talented and dedicated professional staff. They all deserve our profound gratitude for the fabulous job they do with our children.

Congrats Falmouth! “Top City to Live and Learn” by Forbes Magazine

Falmouth was just named “Top City to Live and Learn” by Forbes Magazine and GreatSchools in their second annual national study ranking cities across the United States. Falmouth schools earned an education quality score of 100.00. According to GreatSchools “Falmouth's got serious education chops, consistently outperforming state and national averages in achievement and earning the only perfect score on the educational quality index.”


Attributes cited in Falmouth’s schools were a focus on early intervention; teacher quality, professional development and collaboration; high expectations for all; use of data to guide instruction; full school and community involvement in creating regular improvement plans; and a K-12 commitment to service learning. As Carol Lloyd of GreatSchools wrote: “So where is the educational sweet spot? Wherever the impassioned middle class puts down roots. These are the towns, suburbs and cities across America where families consistently, and somewhat forcefully, support their local schools — come budget crisis or political battle. This kind of education-loving populace tends to multiply, attracting like-minded families to move there, too.”



Falmouth Schools are proud to be recognized for their commitment to educational excellence and citizenship efforts on behalf of all of their students.

Pertinent Links:

Forbes and GreatSchools: http://www.falmouthschools.org/announcements.cfm?ann=2/File/Supt/FOR_IMMEDIATE_RELEASE.pdf
Best Schools for Real Estate Buck: http://www.forbes.com/2011/04/25/best-schools-for-real-estate-buck.html
Best Cities to Live and Learn article: http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/4062-best-cities-live-and-learn-2011.gs?page=1

Ecomaine is hosting a Free Drug Disposal Event

Ecomaine is hosting a Free Drug Disposal Event on April 30, 2011. Click here for more information.
 
It is important to dispose of your prescription drugs correctly. If not, these drugs can contaminate our ground water and affect soil and plants.

Saturday April 30th 10:00am to 2:00pm

DIRECTIONS

 From the Maine Turnpike (coming either from the north or south)

use Exit 46:

After the toll booth, turn left

Travel about 1/8 mile to traffic light and turn right onto Route

22/Congress Street

Travel about 1/8 mile to left on Blueberry Road

Happy Patriot's Day!

FALMOUTH TOWN OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED

MONDAY, APRIL 18

IN OBSERVANCE OF PATRIOT'S DAY

Will you be watching the Boston Marathon today?

TOWN OF FALMOUTH SPRING LEAF BAG COLLECTION

TOWN OF FALMOUTH SPRING LEAF BAG COLLECTION

May 19th & May 26th

Be sure to place bags out at the curb by 7:00 a.m.

Leaf bags are available at Parks & Public Works facility, 101 Woods Rd

*Leaf bags are available in quantities of 15 per resident (while supplies last)



NOTICE: THERE WILL BE NO BRUSH PICKUP. HOWEVER, BRUSH IS ACCEPTED AT THE TRANSFER STATION.

Easter Egg Hunt for kids

Easter Egg Hunt 11:00 AM-1:00 PM Saturday, April 23, 2011

Egg Hunt for kids to age 12 & a new hunt for 0-2 year olds
Cake Walk, Music, Food, Games, Bouncy Houses and More!
Come and meet Crusher of the Portland Red Claws!
Bring a basket, dress for the weather. Fun for the whole family & Free

Where: Falmouth Congregational Church UCC, 267 Falmouth Road Falmouth Maine

Austrian Wine Tasting at the Cork & Barrel

Austrian Wine Tasting Thursday April 14 4:30-7:00 PM
Cork & Barrel, 204 US Route 1, Falmouth, Maine 207-781-7955

Tabitha Blake owner of Crush Distributors, a boutique wine distributor in Maine will be hosting our next wine tasting on Thursday, April 14. Her experience living and working in California's wine industry and her recent travels to Austria bring us access to some exceptional brands. Austrian wine is one of the most interesting phenomena happening in the wine world right now. Don't miss this unique and special tasting.

NV Hillinger "Pink Ribbon" Sparkling Pinot Noir

100% Pinot Noir made in the ProSecco style. aromas of fresh strawberries & red berries. Beautifully balanced, vibrant and refreshingly dry finish. Tasting Price $16.99



2009 "Young" White Blend.

New York Times best buys under $20. Aromas of soft orange blossom spiced white pineapple, flavors of lemon zest and tart melon, refreshing acidity. Tasting Price $11.99



2009 Paul D Gruner Veltliner. Dry yet impressively ripe, lime zest flavors and an appealing richness. The best liter value in the State of Maine. Tasting Price $11.99



2009 Anton Bauer "Gmork" Gruner,

On the wine lists of Viennas top restaurants! Bright, ripe aromas of Granny Smith apples and clean citrus fruit. Tasting Price $13.99



2009 Paul D Zweigelt, Lively violet and red raspberry aromas, soft jammy red berry fruit up front and a lush mid-palate of fresh prickly berry fruit. Very clean, spicy and pure with fresh acidity through the finish. Another impressive value!

Tasting Price $11.99



2008 Carnuntina Red Blend,

From Austria's premier red region. An easy drinking red blend,red berries in the nose and herbal nuances, fresh and pleasing palate. Smooth and ripe tannins.

Tasting Price $12.99

Celebrate Poetry month at the Falmouth Public Library

April 12th at 12pm at the Falmouth Memorial Library
Bring your lunch and enjoy a presentation by Falmouth Poet Eleanor Steele