Towns invited to FEMA meeting 

Scarborough, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth invite residents to a public workshop to discuss flood map revisions proposed by FEMA. 

The workshop will provide an opportunity for residents to hear directly from FEMA representatives about how the agency developed the proposed map revisions, the review process for adopting the revised maps, as well as provide an understanding of implications of map revisions on property owners. Town staff will be available at the meeting to help property owners identify their land on FEMA maps. 

The meeting is 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday at South Portland High School cafeteria.

Bull Moose expands store



Bull Moose Scarborough has begun construction on expansion of the Bull Moose Warehouse Store at 456 Payne Road that will include a book section.

After renovation and expansion, the Scarborough location will be the largest Bull Moose with more than 13,000 square feet.

Expansion and renovation of the Scarborough store will provide more space for additional video games, music and the more than 20,000 books the store plans to carry.

The expansion will create at least five permanent positions at Bull Moose as well as provide local construction jobs.  

The Scarborough Bull Moose will remain open during construction; the expansion will be open Nov. 13. 

Man charged with assaults in jail

A Connecticut man charged in a weekend spree through three towns remained in Cumberland County Jail in Portland Wednesday.

Steven Davis, 19, who police said is serving in the Navy and stationed in Groton, Conn., had his bail reduced to $50,000 cash after his appearance in Portland District Court Monday, according to officials at Cumberland County Jail in Portland.

Court officials said Davis did not enter a plea while in court.

Davis is charged with elevated aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing an acquaintance several times Sunday while the two were in the parking lot of a gas station on Main Street near Cash Corner in South Portland. South Portland Police Sgt. Steven Webster said police learned of the stabbing around 5:15 a.m. when they were notified by someone at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Police also charged Davis with aggravated assault after he allegedly punched a Scarborough resident with brass knuckles in a fight at a Sawyer Road home late last Saturday or early Sunday.

Webster did not name victims in either incident. He said the stabbing victim sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries. The victim in the fight in Scarborough was treated and released from Maine Medical Center.

Davis was arrested Sunday in Windham following a police investigation on Johnson Road, Webster said. 

PACE encourages ‘green’ living

 Scarborough may get a bit greener if councilors approve a new clean energy ordinance next month.  

The Town Council voted last week to have a  second reading Oct. 6 of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) ordinance, which would allow residents to apply for loans of up to $15,000 toward energy-saving home improvements.

Maine received a $20 million federal grant from the  Department of Energy to fund the project and other energy improvements.

Loans are available to all residents regardless of income as long as their homes are inspected by an energy auditor. 

Debbie Atwood, community organizer for the Maine Green Energy Alliance, said the energy auditor determines how to improve a home’s efficiency and what renovations will cost.

Town Council Chairman Carol Rancourt said she thinks the program is a great idea; after having her home reinsulated during summer, she didn’t have to use air conditioning. 

“I think this will be a great way to not only make our lives more comfortable but also help reduce our carbon footprint,” Rancourt said.

Town Manager Tom Hall said representatives from PACE will go door to door in Scarborough as early as next week to let people know about the program’s benefits. With more than 4,000 homes in Scarborough, Hall expects canvassing to take six to eight weeks.

Vice Chairman Judith Roy said she doesn’t want people to think representatives from PACE are “salesman” and that residents should be mindful of who is knocking on their doors in coming weeks.

Hall said he thinks the program could have a significant impact on the community. 

“Although Scarborough has a relatively new housing stock, there is still a lot we can do – 80 percent of homes are reliant upon oil heat, and when heating costs go up, the bottom line is we’re paying for it. There is a lot that can be done on a home to home basis to improve the quality of life and reduce our use of fossil fuels,” Hall said.