Free busing for SMCC students 

Southern Maine Community College is offering free, unlimited bus rides to and from the South Portland campus and throughout the greater Portland area for students with an updated, valid SMCC ID beginning Aug. 23 for the school year. South Portland Bus Service and Portland METRO Bus have joined SMCC to offer the transportation alternative. 

In response to another substantial increase in enrollment for the eighth year in a row, SMCC will have more commuters than ever this fall and because increased parking spaces are not an option, the college will pick up the tab for the free bus rides. Enrollment is expected to be more than 7,000 students in the first semester. 

“This is a great option for our students on a couple of different levels,” said Dr. James Ortiz, president of SMCC. “This will not only decrease parking problems, but it will also address energy consumption issues with fewer people using gas commuting in cars,” he added.  

Traffic in South Portland will be reduced as well. A new parking lot or garage is not in the future for the college and “paying for students to ride the bus is a much more economical option especially at this financially challenging time,” Ortiz said in a prepared statement.

Significant changes to all South Portland Bus Service routes and schedules go into effect Aug. 23, the same day that free rides for SMCC students went into effect. It is important for all riders to plan ahead. South Portland Bus Service schedules and updates are available on buses and at www.southportland.org or call 767-5556. METRO schedules and updates are available on buses, online at gpmetrobus.com or call 774-0351. Schedules are also available at locations throughout the greater Portland area.   

Candidates to run this weekend

Scarborough’s District 127 candidate Amy Volk will greet 1st District Congressional candidate Dean Scontras on Route 1 at the Saco/Scarborough line around 8 a.m.  today and will join him on the seventh leg of his “Running Down the Debt” tour from Kittery to South Portland.  

Scontras begins the next leg of the run in Saco at Patriot Subaru. He began his run through the 1st District on Aug. 15 at the New Hampshire/Maine border and will finish it Aug. 29 by running from Scarborough to Mill Creek Park in South Portland via Route 1 and Broadway.  

Scontras hopes to win southern Maine’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Supporters are welcome to join Volk and Scontras along the way or greet them at either Scarborough Grounds Coffee House around 9 a.m. on Friday or at Mill Creek Park around 9 a.m. Sunday.

New cell sites added in area

U.S. Cellular has added two cell sites in Acton and Saco to improve call quality for customers.

The new site in Saco will increase coverage in Saco, Buxton, Scarborough and Dayton and along routes 112, 117 and 202. 

Field hockey clinics start soon

The fall field hockey clinic/league is open for sign-up at Scarborough Community Services. Grades kindergarten through six programs teach basic skills required to play field hockey. 

In each weekly session participants will work on individual and team skills and wrap up with scrimmages and games. Participants should wear comfortable clothes, sneakers and shin guards. Mouth guards are recommended. A limited number of sticks are available. 

The clinics are instructed by varsity Red Storm Coach Kerry Mariello. Red Storm players and parent volunteers are needed. 

Clinic dates are Saturdays, Sept. 11 to Oct. 16, for grades kindergarten through three, 10 a.m. to noon, and grades four through six, noon to 2 p.m. Both practices will be held at the high school fields. Register at the community services office by Sept. 7.

Send news items to editor@scarboroughleader.com or call 282-4337.