Maine (WGME) -- Gearing up for summer in Kennebunk people celebrated the start of warmer weather with a May Day Festival playing mini golf and eating yummy cotton candy and pancakes Festival-goers even had the chance to dunk members of the Kennebunk Fire Department in water The festival ended with a parade throughout downtown Kennebunk KENNEBUNK, Maine — For all the signs that spring has truly come to Kennebunk — the warmer temps, the blooming flowers, the bright green buds on trees — the biggest and most celebrated is no doubt the return of the May Day Festival This year’s celebration put on by the town's Park and Recreation Department takes place on Saturday bringing a packed schedule of family-friendly fun across downtown Kennebunk With festivities offering something for everyone Kennebunk has celebrated its May Day Festival on the first Saturday of May for more than a quarter of a century This year’s festivities kick off bright and early at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Duffy’s Tavern & Grill, located at 4 Main Street. At the same time, the town’s Farmers Market will open at the Waterhouse Center offering fresh local goods to start the day Here’s a look at what’s in store for this year’s May Day Festival Meet the entrepreneurs of tomorrowNew this year will be a Children’s Entrepreneur Market at Wallingford Farm at 21 York St. jewelry and more will be for available for sale Johnson said she was pleased to see a new event being held in the York Street area just a bit before you head onto Main Street “It’s just nice to include both sides of the bridge,” she said More: Kennebunk Cares Closet leaves behind a legacy of giving Kennebunk Free Library located at the corner of Main and Fletcher streets giving you the chance to pick up a few titles to read during an afternoon at the beach this summer or on a rainy day when you’re stuck inside The library will also have a Faerie Festival from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. where faerie houses created by local children will be on display including crowns and bell bracelets and puppet crafts and gnome games will be offered the Kennebunk Rod and Gun Club will take to the waters of Rodgers Pond at 49 Water Street for a fishing derby from 9 to 11:30 a.m Quite a few spots downtown will offer a variety of what Johnson is calling “fun and safe” activities for children and their families There’s the Farmers Market at the Waterhouse Center which will also host other events between 9 a.m you will be able to compete in cornhole matches and donate to Community Outreach Services’ food drive from 9 a.m At the Brick Store Museum at 117 Main Street Also, the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce will create a Children’s Fun Zone on Water Street, at which River Tree Arts will provide opportunities for face painting and sidewalk-chalking. There will also be an electric car show and bags of popcorn, courtesy of Lucky Pup Rescue The fun in this zone will be held from 10 a.m make sure to head over to the Bubble Garden at Parsons Backfield between 10 a.m There will also be a rock-climbing wall and more Kennebunk Fire Rescue will throw open its doors to the public from 10 a.m to noon and offer some education about the emergency medical services the first responders provide the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Wells Water District will hold an open house at 92 Main Street from 10 a.m More: Kennebunk police, Maine National Guard team up to 'make serious impact' on drug prevention Cheryl’s Sandwich Shoppe will offer treats to those who head to Cole Harrison Insurance Agency at 83 Main St to enjoy the crafts there and to test their pitching arms at the “Dunk a Police Officer” tank Also, Kennebunk Baptist Church at 77 Main St will serve hot dogs and beverages for lunch and offer treats at a bake sale from 11 a.m There will be a craft fair and raffle opportunities there Piscatrix Seafood Company will serve a luncheon of lobster rolls and clam chowder from noon to 2 p.m Kennebunk May Day Festival's grand finaleAs always the annual parade will cap off the May Day Festival and stepping off towards Main Street at 1:30 p.m Johnson said the parade’s lineup of attractions continues to take shape but she did say people can look forward to the familiar participants They include the Jim Dandys on their unicycles Since May 3 will be the opening day for the local Little League and you have what Johnson calls a “wide variety of fun things” to do and something to participate in,” she said Maine (WGME) -- The Maine State Police says a tractor-trailer truck crashed on I-95 in Arundel at around 8 a.m The crash reportedly happened at around Mile Marker 30 Kennebunk Fire-Rescue says the driver of the truck had a medical emergency which caused him to hit the median guardrail Kennebunk authorities along with the Wells Fire Department and the Maine Turnpike Authority reportedly helped with the crash Police say the driver was not seriously injured He was reportedly taken to Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford Maine — Tom Berry stood on Main Street Thursday one of close to 175 protesters who lined the sidewalks and held up signs speaking out against the policies of President Donald Trump and his administration an Irish immigrant who is now a United States citizen Berry and the others were not there for a one-time thing protesters have gathered in front of the Kennebunk Free Library and elsewhere to hold demonstrations every Thursday “Protests are happening across the country,” Berry said When asked who in the Trump administration he would address directly if given the chance, Berry did not name Trump, but instead named Secretary of State Marco Rubio “This is a fellow who really had stood up for democracy around the world,” Berry said “Because of his heritage – his parents came from Cuba – he knows in his blood what it means to see the ramifications of what happens when you’re living in an authoritarian state.” for many developing countries around the world USAID is the face of the United States to them Berry called USAID a source of American soft power and said the agency had the respect and admiration of other nations “Now he’s undercutting that and turning our allies into people who don’t trust us and who are going to be looking elsewhere for the kind of support that we used to provide and it’s reducing our standing in the world.” The protests are organized by The Democracy Cooperative a group formed by Democrats in the Kennebunks and Arundel shortly after Trump won the election in November The group is based in the Lafayette Center on Storer Street the president of Democrats Kennebunks Arundel from discussions to sign-making to the weekly protests Maine vs. Trump administration: Transgender athlete debate heads to court At Thursday’s protest, one of the co-op’s members, Daphne Gregory-Thomas, a former educator, expressed dismay over Trump’s determination to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education “We really believe democracy is at risk,” Gregory-Thomas said as the songs of Bob Dylan played in the background “We all understand that there’s always going to be change but coming in and smashing it apart puts our democracy at risk.” motorists honked their horns in support as they drove past the protesters with some also showing a thumbs-up or taking their hands off the wheel for a quick moment to clap with a flag showing Trump’s head affixed to the body of John Rambo in the breeze created by the truck’s passing The man said his mother has “Trump derangement syndrome,” the term some of the president’s supporters apply to those who passionately oppose him across the board The man said he likes engaging protesters and others because he sincerely wants to understand where people like his mother are coming from The young Trump supporter said he does have problems with some of the things the president has done He also noted that he does not quite like Trump’s personality adding that he “would not have him over for dinner with my family.” so he has appreciated the way the president has kept the United States out of war “I would say he’s the best president of my lifetime,” he said The long line of protesters around the young man would disagree with that assessment as well as his use of tariffs and what they consider to be his negative impacts on such democratic ideals as justice and due process so that he could take part in Thursday’s proceedings said he has been registered as an independent for his entire career and spoke of the Republicans and Democrats throughout Maine’s history that he has admired Hoff said he has found a way to keep supporting the efforts in Kennebunk to speak up “I’m going to start a blog in support of this activity and carry it forward as much as I can,” Hoff said The Falmouth Navigators showcased their prowess on the baseball field Tuesday afternoon securing a decisive 10-0 victory over Kennebunk Josh Polchies hit an RBI single to center field allowing Thomas Healey to score and extend the lead to 3-0 hitting a powerful shot deep to right-center field which sailed over the outfielder's head and brought Polchies home ultimately rolling to a commanding 10-0 win Maine — A resident of Spiller Drive is urging others to be careful when walking in local woods after a rabid fox bit him in the leg in his back yard Michael Martin said he and his golden retriever were on their property on the afternoon of Sunday when a fox wiggled its way through his back fence and began to run loose in his back yard and catching it at times and tussling with it “He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body,” Martin said a veterinarian would later determine the out-of-control fox had not bitten the golden retriever the fox charged him and attacked – and bit him in the leg footage from Martin’s security system shows Martin jumping and darting in place with the fox relentlessly attacking his legs In what he describes as a two-hour confrontation swinging a softball bat and firing arrows at it from a bow he owns he and Teddy chased the fox back into the woods of the Kennebunk Land Trust’s Oxbow Preserve Martin said he went to Walmart in South Sanford and purchased more the fox had returned and was lying in wait underneath the nearby grill in his yard Martin said that is when he retrieved one of his guns who reported to his home and took the dead fox away for testing in Augusta Martin said he went to a hospital in Biddeford Martin said he received numerous shots in response to the bite Nights of insomnia and periods of faintness followed the Kennebunk Police Department said the state’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory confirmed that a gray fox in the community had tested positive for rabies “Rabies is common in wild animals in Maine,” the department stated “Make sure to never touch an animal that is wild or unknown to you You should also make sure your animals are up to date on the rabies vaccine.” What to do if you encounter a rabid animalAuthorities recommend you notify local animal control or the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife if you come across an animal suspected of having rabies They also recommend you avoid further contact According to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services rabies is a virus that affects the brain and spinal cord The virus spreads when infected animals bite or scratch a person or another animal The virus also can spread if saliva or tissue from an infected animal’s brain or spinal cord gets into broken skin or the mouth The U.S. Center for Disease Control urges anyone who thinks they have been exposed to rabies to contact their health care provider or a state or local department immediately Rabies is deadly if not treated before symptoms start “You cannot tell by looking at an animal if it has rabies,” the DHHS states It can take two weeks to four months for a domestic cat or dog to show signs of rabies after being infected It is unknown how long it takes for wild animals to show signs.” At the entrance of the trail near Martin’s property the Kennebunk Land Trust has posted a sign informing the public that it had been alerted to the presence of a rabid fox in the preserve The sign urges people to “use a high level of caution” when accessing the preserve The land trust also advises people to call the town’s animal control officer at (207) 985-2102 or call 9-1-1 if bitten and if they creature appears “excessively aggressive.” Maine (WGME) -- Kennebunk Fire Rescue says a condo fire on Wonderbrook Drive in Kennebunk trapped a person on the second floor Authorities say a neighbor called 911 after seeing the fire and trying to enter the building before the smoke pushed them back Firefighters arrived and reportedly began fighting the blaze after three minutes Authorities say they found a woman in a bedroom and saved her from the fire She was reportedly taken to York Hospital to check for smoke inhalation but was later released The woman who was trapped reportedly had her bedroom door open The State Fire Marshal's Office says the homeowner had placed hot ashes from her fireplace into a plastic bucket the previous day and positioned it on the deck near the door Kennebunk Fire Rescue said in a social media post that: KENNEBUNK, Maine — Police Chief Bob MacKenzie compares the fight against drug use and addiction to a river that rushes and gives way to a waterfall When the fight is at crisis levels — as it was just years ago when opioid addictions and overdoses were up — those on the front lines of prevention efforts feel like they’re at the bottom of that waterfall with a cascade of those who need help tumbling down onto them in high numbers Now that drug overdoses are down throughout Maine MacKenzie and others see an opportunity to get out from under that waterfall and get ahead in the crucial mission of helping people with substance use issues before it’s too late “Rather than wait at the bottom of the waterfall for the next wave of people to wash over find out why people get in the river in the first place and do some things to help prevent them from getting in the water at all,” MacKenzie said In this spirit, the Kennebunk Police Department is partnering with the Maine National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force to spearhead a tri-community initiative aimed at preventing or delaying young people from stepping into the dangerous path toward addiction MacKenzie and Sergeant 1st Class Rick Frost MacKenzie is currently recruiting volunteers from Kennebunk and Arundel – the three towns comprising RSU 21 – for a group that will represent a dozen sectors of the community from law enforcement to education and beyond The partnership will come at no additional costs to the community as the Maine National Guard and the Kennebunk Police Department are already chartered and committed to doing this type of work More: Wells, Maine police eye ICE training for federal immigration efforts MacKenzie and Frost connected after both participated in an online meeting about opioid use that Maine Drug Czar Gordon Smith held in March a member of Governor Janet Mills’ Fatal Overdose Review Panel caught Frost’s attention when he delivered a presentation during the meeting ‘I have to call this guy and introduce myself’,” Frost said Frost cold-called MacKenzie last week and pitched a collaboration between his task force and the KPD MacKenzie responded with immediate interest asking Frost how quickly he could make the trip to Kennebunk and even setting aside a desk at the department that he could have for himself “I know a good thing when I see it,” MacKenzie More: Kennebunk man fights off rabid fox in backyard: Watch the video Strategic planning is the first task McKenzie and Frost are approaching Putting together that group of sector representatives is part of that first step the group can start approaching its prevention efforts in a “real comprehensive way,” Frost said The group is key to the Maine National Guard’s model that Frost is helping MacKenzie get off the ground in Kennebunk and its neighboring communities A strong infrastructure needs to be in place for the real work to begin “A lot of things are going to start getting thrown into the pot,” Frost said Frost and the group will develop an understanding of the community’s demographics and assess what the needs are for prevention and other measures to materialize Frost will step back and will be on hand as a resource if any questions or concerns arise More: RSU 21 advances $62.7M budget to voters: What it means for taxpayers MacKenzie said the Police Department had a group focused on drug-use prevention once before The group met every month but eventually lost its momentum in the early 2000s “I’ve wanted to see it come back ever since,” MacKenzie said it has – and with the support of the Maine National Guard which this time will focus on opioids and vaping and other higher-stake substances “Our organizations represent different sectors of the community We are a state-wide drug prevention organization The Kennebunk PD is a town-wide law enforcement agency with unique and critical knowledge of what might be contributing to substance misuse here MacKenzie said that anyone who would like to join the group can contact him, either by calling the department at (207) 985-2102, ext. 1339, or by sending him an email at rmackenzie@kennebunkmaine.us the director and founder of Tucker’s House— a nonprofit organization providing safe-haven residences for individuals recovering from addiction— is intrigued by the partnership between the Kennebunk Police Department (KPD) and the Maine National Guard Tucker’s House operates a women’s residence in Bridgton and a men’s residence in Harrison Wears visited the Kennebunk Police Department to discuss local substance-use prevention efforts and support for those battling addiction with MacKenzie MacKenzie and Frost were conducting an interview with the Coast Star that same day shared her interest in fostering a similar collaboration in Bridgton and Harrison “Anybody who knows Chief MacKenzie knows how passionate he is about helping with regard to prevention and eradicating the stigma that surrounds substance use disorder,” Wears said the better result we are going to have in achieving our goal “Wouldn’t it be a great thing if our little kids knew to say no and how it can prevent their lives from becoming a whole long list of miserable events?” by Ariana St Pierre Maine (WGME) – A Maine woman was seriously injured after a multi-vehicle crash on the Maine Turnpike in Kennebunk on Monday at mile marker 23 northbound on I-95 in Kennebunk Maine State Police say a Nissan SUV driven by a 45-year-old Lebanon woman rear-ended a Toyota SUV and then struck a tractor-trailer which was legally stopped in the breakdown lane The woman suffered significant injuries and was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland The driver of the Toyota SUV was taken to Maine Medical Center for evaluation The driver of the tractor-trailer was not hurt Troopers say no charges have been issued at this point but the case will be reviewed by the York County District Attorney’s Office The Maine Turnpike was blocked for about two hours and has since reopened Maine (WGME) -- Planting tulips in the name of hope Bangor Savings Bank and Kennebunk Rotary Club partnered with the "Yellow Tulip Foundation," planting 500 yellow tulip bulbs in a mental health garden "It's raising awareness to mental health and suicide prevention because this is something that affects really every community and we need to pay attention to it," Kennebunk Police Chief Bob MacKenzie said Kennebunk Rotary Club hosted their first "Hope Day" event "I think it's hugely important to have a community support for mental health but really it's all the time," Molly Whitehead One of the many support groups in attendance "Stay for Life," specializes in men's mental health They say asking for help can be scary but is the first step towards healing "We really wanted to bring the stigma that does surround men to the forefront of more conversations and honestly just keep people alive," the founder of Stay for Life Angela Whitten said Whitten founded Stay for Life after her 18-year-old son Trent took his own life Whitten has dedicated her life to helping men "Not all conversations have to be so dark and brushed under the rug We can talk these things in an open manner and discuss how people can get these resources available to them," Whitten said The yellow tulips are blossoming in Kennebunk's Rotary Park and event organizers hope to hold more Hope Days in the future KENNEBUNK, Maine — Kennebunk Cares Closet officially closed its doors on Saturday there’s comfort in knowing the beloved clothing program thrived five years longer than expected thanks to the dedication of its lead volunteers during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 the program was run by local educators who were grappling with their own set of pandemic-related challenges within their profession they just didn’t have the time to keep it up.” who had been volunteering for the program for a few years did not want to see Kennebunk Cares Closet’s door close so they stepped in and continued providing those in need with clothes that had been donated the church needs the basement space that it had been providing Kennebunk Cares Closet to host its classes and other programs Before anyone thinks that is an unfortunate step for a church to take with a program known for helping the greater community Bates is quick to make an important point: the demand for the service that Kennebunk Cares Closet provided has dropped significantly in recent years I’m sure we could have talked them out of it,” Bates said regarding the church’s hope for reclaiming its classroom space Congdon's Doughnuts legacy lives on: Here's what new owners have planned There are a couple of reasons for that downturn in demand the program never returned to its pre-pandemic strength given the impacts of that global health crisis on volunteerism and other factors Getting donations and filling orders became difficult especially with social workers staying home and schools shutting down for remote learning The avenues through which needs were conveyed had become limited The program hit its peak of service between September and December of 2019 Another reason for the drop in demand in recent years was that other organizations and programs have stepped up in neighboring communities to help fill the continued need people have for donated shoes is one of them – and the one to which Bates encourages people to contact if they wish to donate clothes or need some to wear The organization has distributed more than one million donated items of clothing in its time and boasts more than 2,500 volunteers Bates said their remaining inventory of clothes and shoes soon will find their way onto people’s backs and feet “We’ve made sure that where it all goes will be a nonprofit – that nothing will be sold More: York Beach's Nevada named one of the 'Best New Hotels in the World' by Esquire Kennebunk Cares Closet had three volunteers: Jack and Mary Bates has a long list of volunteers who worked hard and made a difference over the years While Jack Bates is sad to see Kennebunk Cares Closet’s door close he said it feels wonderful to have helped so many people over the years – thousands and thousands of families she as a coder at the former Goodall Hospital in Sanford – and Kennebunk Cares Closet proved a good match for them in their post-work life “It was a lot of work – a lot more work than you think.” Bates said he and Mary and others would go through them and often determine that only five of them might have clothing fit for providing to others – meaning “We made sure everything was wearable – nothing that you’d be ashamed to wear,” he said Kennebunk Cares Closet did not just help people in town When asked how far-ranging the program’s reach extended but he recalled once helping a family of seven from as far away as Oxford KENNEBUNK, Maine — A developer is seeking to build multiple new houses off Brown Street Spinnaker Way would provide 15 single-family homes on approximately 19 acres located at 142 Brown Street The applicant, Stuart Giles, or someone representing Giles, was expected to appear before the Kennebunk Planning Board for a sketch plan review during a meeting last week but did not show The board adjourned the meeting without taking any action on the project the Planning Board is expected to discuss the project during its meeting this Monday The board that evening is likely to schedule a site walk on the property which is 63 acres overall and is currently vacant The land is in the town’s Village Residential and Resource Protection zones More: Kennebunk's White Sails Inn opens the Shipwreck Pub to the public Portions of the parcel have been used for mineral extraction for many years as the proposed project will not affect it The parcel has one access point to Brown Street through a 40-foot right-of-way which currently exists as a gravel drive named Scupper Way the subdivision would be served by the public’s water and sewer systems More: Affordable living in York: Moorehouse Place opens doors to local workforce KENNEBUNK, Maine — Voters will decide in 2025 whether to approve entering into a new, proposed waste handling agreement and whether to end the town’s pay-as-you-throw trash disposal system The Kennebunk Select Board unanimously agreed Tuesday to forward both questions to upcoming town meetings will be a special session focusing on the proposed agreement Residents discussed both issues during public hearings on Tuesday expressing preferences and sharing concerns about costs and educating the public about the financial and environmental benefits of recycling The town's local trash and recycling management consists of three parts according to Select Board Chair Miriam Whitehouse: the pickup of trash Currently, Casella Waste Systems is handling all three steps for Kennebunk but the town’s contract with the company is set to expire in June the Select Board discussed and held a public hearing for a proposed new contract focusing only on the disposal aspects of local waste management More: What's the top-selling home in York County so far in 2024? Town Manager Heather Balser said Kennebunk is one of 11 communities included in a recent request for proposals (RFPs) for the disposal of local municipal solid waste and construction demolition debris and the processing of single-stream recycling Three companies – Casella, Waste Management, and Ecomaine – responded to the RFPs Kennebunk does not handle construction debris as the town uses a user-fee model at the local transfer station the town’s contracts related to solid waste and the transfer station expire on June 30 Balser said the Select Board’s Pay-as-you-throw which has offered a 30-year contract ownership option when it comes to tipping fees for trash and recycling The up-front fees associated with this option can be spread over years Ecomaine’s ownership model provides a “long-term solution with reliability and predictability in pricing over the next 30 years,” Balser said “Ecomaine can meet current and future capacity needs,” she added municipalities can appoint a director to the company’s board which is responsible for setting the tipping fees each year “We’d be involved in that process,” she said The subcommittee found that the other two companies had uncertainties Most communities involved in the RFP process favor the Ecomaine proposal Moving forward with Ecomaine for a tipping fee contract still would require transportation of waste to a specific site Such a contract would need town meeting approval the town would then put services for curbside collection and transportation out to bid Given the time constraints of the current contract’s coming expiration would need to be held for the Ecomaine proposal More: RSU 21 teachers secure new contract after months of negotiations Balser also said the subcommittee recommended asking voters at the annual town meeting in June if they want to discontinue the town's pay-as-you-throw program which requires residents to purchase specific bags at local stores to hold the trash they put out at their curbs on collection days If voters were to eliminate pay-as-you-throw then the costs for trash and recycling would start being included in the town’s property taxes the pay-as-you-throw program generated approximately $677,000 in revenue for the town More: York County government breaks new ground with recovery and training centers During the public hearings for both the proposed contract and the pay-as-you-throw program spoke in favor of ending the town's pay-as-you-throw program “Forget the silliness with the blue trash bags,” he said The only way we’re going to get out of this is to properly teach one’s children.” stating Kennebunk residents do care about how best to manage waste in the community He expressed concerns about the impact on the local tax rate if the program Resident Joan Hunnewell said she wanted the town to keep the program Resident and former Select Board member Ed Karytko said he did not like the idea of having a special town meeting as soon as February when people did not have more information about the expenses associated with waste disposal outside of the tipping-fee arrangement Ecomaine is offering Resident Don Hebert noted the importance of discussing expenses related to waste disposal but stated he wanted to see people going beyond that topic to consider environmental concerns Resident Gayle Asmussen Spofford said she did not like the pay-as-you-throw trash bags but did not want to pay for disposal through property taxes She also did not want her money going towards paying for the trash disposal of fellow residents who do not recycle and conserve bags Resident Patty Sass Perry said she hoped the town could explore a waste-managing model in which residents would have to bring their own trash to the transfer station or hire a private hauler to dispose of it for them “There is no greater incentive to reduce your trash than if you’re responsible for your own trash,” she said Maine — A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 early Monday morning left one person hospitalized with serious injuries the spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety said the crash involved a 2019 Nissan SUV owned and operated by 45-year-old Kelly Adams of Lebanon Police said the initial investigation indicates that the vehicle operated by Adams rear-ended the 2022 Toyota SUV and then struck the tractor trailer unit which was legally stopped in the breakdown lane and was transported to Maine Medical Center in serious condition The driver of the Toyota SUV was transported to Maine Medical Center for evaluation The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured Police said the crash remains under investigation "No charges have been issued at this point but the case will be reviewed by the York County District Attorney’s Office," said Moss The Turnpike was blocked for approximately two hours Northbound traffic was diverted off at Exit 19 in Wells Assisting the Maine State Police was the Wells Fire Department Maine — Voters gave the local noise ordinance more teeth and chose a new company to handle its waste and recycling during a special town meeting on Tuesday Looking to strengthen the town’s noise ordinance voters approved Article 2 by a tally of 1,030 to 467 according to the unofficial results released by the Kennebunk town clerk’s office after the polls closed the ordinance will have some new language intended to provide local police officers with a better framework for handling the noise complaints they receive from residents and others A key phrase in the amended language will be “plainly audible,” words that are expected to help police officers and code officials determine excessive noise during situations when it may not be practical or effective to use a decibel meter and other noises that might not be normal in the neighborhood in which they are occurring The article’s passage also puts in place a call for private haulers to only pick up trash between the hours of 5 a.m will be the new starting hour for the ordinance’s nighttime standards voters’ approval of Article 2 will add language to help the town suggest a third-party sound engineer to take decibel readings at the request of someone making a complaint The town will not be responsible for paying the engineer for their time The amendments also clarify penalties and how noise violations will be enforced in the Maine District Court More: Kennebunk residents urge School Board to ban transgender athletes voters moved on to articles on the ballot pertained to the handling of local waste disposal and recycling voters had a choice: should Kennebunk become one of Ecomaine’s “owner communities” and enter into a waste-handling contract with that Portland-based company Or should Kennebunk stick with Casella Waste Systems the company it has contracted with over the years Voters chose a new direction – as unanimously recommended by the Select Board – and picked Ecomaine approving Article 3 with a count of 949 to 481 asking if the town should stay with Casella by a tally of 819 no votes to 401 yes ones 92 voters left their ballot blank on Article 3 The town’s agreement with Ecomaine will cover solid waste disposal and recycling services for the town Its current contract with Casella will expire on June 30 The total cost for solid waste and recycling disposal with EcoMaine is estimated to be $395,470 through July 1 solid waste disposal and recycling services in Kennebunk are funded through the town’s general fund and the “Pay-As-You-Throw” enterprise fund voters approved Article 5 by a vote of 1,150 to 300 authorizing the Select Board to choose a vendor to handle the actual collection and delivery of the town’s solid waste and recycling starting on July 1 The town decided it needed to hold the special meeting on Tuesday because all three of its contracts related to trash disposal and recycling are set to expire on June 30 Once a new tipping fee agreement is finalized the town will solicit bids for collection and transportation The proposals to come out of that process will be on the ballot for the annual town meeting in June voters will decide whether to continue the town’s pay-as-you-throw program which calls for residents to purchase their own trash bags for disposing of their waste Details: cache-fra-eddf8230074-FRA 1746500622 1862902491 KENNEBUNK, Maine — The founders of Tom’s of Maine have sold their historic home on Main Street for $1.7 million which handled the listing and sale of the property a multigenerational family from Michigan has bought the property and plans to move to Maine full-time and open the home as a boutique and bed-and-breakfast that honors the site’s history and prime location on Main Street with in excess of 20 showings,” Dana Whitney of Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty The home was listed on the market back in April for approximately $1.83 million York, Kennebunks, Wells projects 2025: Hotel expansions, new homes and more Architect and housewright Thomas Eaton originally built the Federal-style Colonial home for Kennebunk native Nathaniel Frost in 1799 circular driveway leading to a three-bay barn “This remarkable property is more than a home — it’s a private oasis surrounded by lush organic gardens filled with apple trees “The Chappells lived here for over 40 years leaving an indelible mark with their passion for sustainability and an ‘all-natural’ ethos that extended beyond their business to their home itself.” More real estate news: Seacoast NH's 10 highest-price sales of 2024 Robinson said the home embodies the Chappells’ values “It’s a reflection of the Chappell family’s legacy of creativity and care for the community,” Robinson said the Chappells tended to their property as they have to their company which is based in Kennebunk and is known for its innovative approach to manufacturing natural products and its environmentalism “That same dedication is evident throughout the property,” Robinson said “Long before sustainable design became a trend the Chappells equipped their home with solar panels The family proudly described their home as ‘all-natural,’ a fitting nod to both their personal values and their professional legacy.” Perkins Cove fire: Oarweed owners vow to rebuild, Uniques and Antiques future unclear Co-listing agent Elaine Prendergast called the property a “true piece of Kennebunk’s history and a testament” to the couple’s “vision for living in harmony with the environment.” Marketing efforts by the co-listing agents focused on the home’s versatility as a single-family residence Legacy Properties advertised in prominent magazines “This sale required not only dedication but a clear understanding of the property’s value and the type of buyer we were seeking,” Robinson said “Strategic advertising and personalized service were key to showcasing the home to the right audience.” Kennebunk voters will be asked to vote in favor of adopting a new charter This document has been carefully drafted over the 43 regular meetings and several public hearings and forums by the Charter Commission executive and administrative power and prescribes how many deficiencies were found with the current charter’s recall process caused the Select Board to place a ballot item asking voters to approve the formation of a Charter Commission to revise the current charter and three more were appointed by the Select Board the Charter Commission has met twice a month as well as hosting several public hearings and public forums We have delivered a charter proposal and final reports as required Our charter proposal was derived from inputs we received from four groups: the residents of Kennebunk and town managers from other municipalities and experts on municipal government we heard that the biggest concern was around improving the recall process followed by the need to empower our municipal government to respond more efficiently to change given the town’s rapid growth residents asked for clarity about the role of committees and boards in town government From the Select Board and municipal employees we heard the need to improve efficiency in handling municipal matters like budget decisions and ordinance changes the Charter Commission spent 18 months drafting a charter proposal which aims to create a compromise between the competing priorities solicited from the public and town government the commission suggested moving to a form of government that had limited approval power over three powers that voters now maintain: budget We heard significant feedback from the residents that it was crucial to maintain approval authority over the municipal budget and our town manager provided feedback that she felt borrowing approval should be left with the voters as well the commission sought compromise and proposed enabling the elected body to have approval authority over land use and all other ordinances it only has approval authority over some ordinances It was also backed by guidance from our town clerk as well as historical referendum data showing that ordinance questions on the ballot have the highest amount of blank responses and cause the most confusion to voters at the polls as reported by poll workers and the town clerk The charter proposal also proposes giving the elected body the power to spend funds from the unassigned fund balance in the case of municipal emergencies like natural disasters Spending in this way requires the elected body to form a plan to replenish the spent funds and hold public hearings on the proposed expenditures as well This proposal was made in the wake of the severe winter storms last year that significantly damaged the town waterfronts and left the Select Board with little means to start repairs The charter proposal also addresses residents’ concerns about the existing recall process by increasing the thresholds for signatories on a recall petition as well as providing a public forum for residents to be informed about the facts surrounding the recall effort This process was strengthened following the recall that occurred in 2021-2022 and the gaps in the process that were observed during that event The charter proposal increases the signature thresholds for the initial recall notice as well as the formal petition The commission compromised with these thresholds after hearing from the public that our initially proposed thresholds were too high the recall provision proposes requiring 500 (less than 4.5% of registered voters) signatures on a Notice of Intent to start the recall process followed by 1000 signatures on the formal petition The commission believes this amount provides the necessary rigor around recalling a duly elected official Compare and contrast this with the recall provision at the state level which only allows an elected state official to be recalled if: (1) Where the victim of that crime is the municipality itself the charter proposal is reorganized to provide a better flow for the reader This change involved moving many sections from the existing charter into new places which in turn caused the entire document to look different even though it maintains many of the current charter’s concepts The commission found and corrected over 100 typographical errors and added many definitions in a formal appendix to the charter to help create clarity in the future I would encourage residents of Kennebunk to find more details regarding these changes in our published charter reports which can be found at https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/1138/Charter-Commission/ You can also attend one of our upcoming information sessions held in room 300 at Kennebunk Town Hall on Saturday 10/12 at 10 a.m Chris Babcock is the chairman of the Kennebunk Charter Commission Maine (WGME) -- A good Samaritan was hit by a car while trying to help another driver who had crashed into a tree in Kennebunk The crashes happened on Sea Road on Wednesday night Kennebunk Fire-Rescue says the incident started with one car crashing into a tree A good Samaritan went to help that driver but was then hit by an oncoming car Both the driver and good Samaritan were taken to hospitals in Portland and Biddeford It is unclear how severe their injuries are Tim Spang, of Spang Builders, presented his vision for the project, which he hopes to build on Traditional Lane during the Planning Board’s meeting on Jan Planning Board members expressed concerns about the proposal’s aesthetics and potential impact on the environment and traffic They also grappled with the timeline by which the applicant had initially hoped to be approved for a contract zone Spang is seeking a contract zone to move forward with his project essentially vacant lot he intends to build on is situated in the town’s Business Park and Branch Brook Business Park Adjacent zones More: Kennebunk voters to decide on noise ordinance and waste disposal at special meeting Spang told the Planning Board that he and his wife first got the idea for this project when they realized that many of their employees had a considerable commute to their jobs because they could not afford to live in Kennebunk Spang said his proposal is intended to help people who work in Kennebunk to live in town and to provide opportunities for children who grow up in the community to live in it as adults Tadema-Wielandt said Spang intends to designate eight units Spang also intends that a majority of the units would be geared towards households with an annual income range between $75,000 and $125,000 The project also would include walking trails “We hope to create a sense of community,” he said More: Affordable senior apartments coming to Kennebunk with Avesta Housing's new project Planning Board members air concerns about size designPlanning Board member Edward Trainer called the size of the project “substantial” and said he was concerned about its potential impact on the environment “We don’t really have information on that at the present time,” Trainer said “We’re going to have to look at that really carefully.” reminded the Planning Board that the proposal would need to go through the permitting process with the state’s Department of Environmental Protection “There’s not going to be an approval of this project until they’re satisfied there’s not any unreasonable impact on the environment caused by this,” Parkinson said Board member Richard Smith emphasized the likely need for the development to have a second entrance and exit given the traffic it could be expected to generate Smith also said the proposed buildings were “very nice-looking” but suggested they were something you’d more expect to see in “Westbrook or Portland or Biddeford or Sanford.” “I don’t really see them fitting in with the architecture of Kennebunk Parkinson noted that the times are at a “generational crossroads” and people are going to need to expand their definitions of what Kennebunk is about are “extremely well-designed” and resemble well-received developments in other communities “It’s maybe something you as a lifelong resident are not used to seeing in town but times are changing,” Parkinson told Smith “If we’re going to keep this town a place where our kids could afford an apartment then it’s going to be that type of change that is needed.” Board member Janet Vance shared her concerns about the project’s potential impacts on traffic safety and the environment Vance noted that the project is proposed in an area where the speed limit on Route 1 increases by five miles per hour and suggested that turning onto and off of the property could prove difficult for residents She also stated that the site is currently zoned in a way to ensure business growth without creating “undue traffic.” Vance also expressed discomfort towards the project’s proximity to the Branch Brook aquifer She said she does not want to see a dog park and dumpster near the water “There’s a lot of issues with this overall concept,” Vance said More: Kennebunkport home with view of Walker's Point sells for record $12 million Parkinson said he and his client were prepared to work with the Planning Board members on all the issues they raised “This developer knows how to listen,” he said of Spang Parkinson said his client hoped to put his proposed contract zone before voters during the annual town meeting this June As members of the Planning Board began to emphasize that they needed an appropriate amount of time to meet their responsibilities Parkinson reported that Spang had just informed him that he would be fine with having the issue appear on the town’s November ballot instead The Planning Board is hoping to have a joint workshop for the proposal with the Kennebunk Select Board in February A public hearing for Spang’s application also needs to be scheduled If voters approve the contract zone later this year the project will then need to go through the town’s site plan review process KENNEBUNK, Maine — If you haven't yet dined at Via Sophia by the Sea on Western Avenue this is your last chance to savor its Italian cuisine: the restaurant will close permanently after its final dinner service on Sunday Additionally, The Rabbit Hole the general manager of the Kennebunkport Resort Collection called the restaurant and its lounge a "beloved part" of the organization "We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from our guests and the local community," Nelson said we’re excited to focus on our other seven award-winning restaurants that have been part of the fabric of the Kennebunkport dining scene since 2011 This shift also acknowledges the staffing challenges our region faces prompting us to adapt to ensure we can consistently deliver the exceptional experiences our guests have come to expect We’re committed to supporting our team during this transition by offering opportunities at our other properties and the option to return when our seasonal hotels reopen in the spring.” More: Seacoast NH and Maine restaurants that opened or closed in 2024 hailed the eatery as an “authentic Italian restaurant infused with seafood flare.” According to its website the restaurant’s signature dishes are Arancini Via Sophia by the Sea has roots in the nation’s capital Via Sophia is a restaurant at the Hamilton Hotel in Washington and its Kennebunk counterpart has been a collaboration among chefs Colin Clark York Beach: Nevada Hotel unveils Christmas pop-up bar, ViewPoint opens new spa Laura Dolce, the executive director of the Kennebunk Kennebunkport Arundel Chamber of Commerce reflected on the restaurant’s impending closure “It’s always a shame when a local business closes especially one as vibrant as Via Sophia,” Dolce said what we are seeing elsewhere in the state: increases in the cost of goods and staffing struggles have caused many a good restaurant to close.” Dolce expressed hopes and good wishes for the site and for the Via Sophia staff “We hope that the beautiful space will soon be filled and that the staff are successful in finding new positions,” she said please call (207) 967-6530 or send an email to dining@viasophiabythesea.com 'Food, laughter, and cheer': Ogunquit fire chief serves up Christmas dinner for everyone Maine — Firefighters rescued a woman from the second floor of her condo during a fire on Saturday morning According to Kennebunk Fire Rescue Chief Justin Cooper, firefighters responded to the condominium complex at 7 Wonderbrook Drive upon receiving a report of the flames from a neighbor at around 7 a.m The neighbor had tried to enter the condo to save the resident trapped inside but she backed off when the smoke deterred her and first responders brought her to York Hospital to be evaluated for smoke inhalation the state fire marshal’s office has ruled the fire accidental The fire marshal had determined that the homeowner had placed hot ashes from her fireplace into a bucket on Friday night and placed it on the back deck leading to the eventual ignition of the fire but all levels of the condo sustained smoke damage Cooper said the bucket had caught fire so thoroughly there was no real visual evidence of it when firefighters arrived prompting a call to the state fire marshal for an investigation Cooper said hot ashes should be placed into containers made either of metal or some other kind of non-combustible materials Cooper said the next-door neighbor helped save the day when she spotted the fire and called 9-1-1 battery-operated smoke detector on its first level codes have required that new homes have smoke detectors that are connected by one hardwired system and backed up by batteries and are placed in each bedroom The condominium complex where the fire occurred on Saturday was built in 1986 The condo that caught fire is one of six units in a single building within the complex making an interconnected system of smoke detectors crucial for safety “The adjacent neighbors in that building had no idea there was a fire,” Cooper said “This could have turned into a multiple fatality.” As for the neighbor who tried to rescue the homeowner Cooper said he does not want to discourage people from attempting acts of heroism he urged caution and that people call 9-1-1 as the first step in an emergency “You’ve got to make a judgment call,” he said Cooper also shared one more safety tip: sleep with your bedroom door closed “That’s what keeps fire and smoke out,” he said Cooper applauded them and members of his own fire-rescue crew for responding to the emergency quickly “We felt the crews did a fantastic job,” he said KENNEBUNK, Maine — You can do a lot of good in your community over a period of a hundred years. Just ask the Rotary Club of Kennebunk Local Rotarians officially marked their club’s centennial earlier this year they’re saving their big celebration for this May when they will host a dance at the Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport to cap the district conference they will be hosting The Rotary Club of Kennebunk is part of Rotary International District 7780 Rotarians throughout the region will attend and celebrate the hosting club’s milestone The club meets at Duffy’s Tavern & Grill on Main Street every Thursday Anyone who has ever attended a Rotary Club meeting will find the format of the Kennebunk group’s gatherings comfortable The Rotarians open their meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance the sergeant-at-arms leads a round of “Happy Dollars,” in which members donate a buck or two or five for something in their lives for which they are grateful – a wedding anniversary the Rotarians round out their time together with a guest speaker who shares stories and details about their organization or business or a cause with which they are involved Club President Lesa Kraft Angelos described the group as tight-knit and fun “I just love the group spirit we have,” she said MacKenzie described the appeal of Rotary for anyone looking for camaraderie and a chance to make a positive difference “What’s important is if anybody has an interest in service this is maybe an opportunity for them,” he said More: 95-year-old's generosity drives York nonprofit Heart to Heart to help more seniors In what ways has the Rotary Club made a difference in Kennebunk the club awards scholarships to local high school graduates who are either heading to college or trade school the club handed out $50,000 to young people launching their futures The club holds monthly blood drives for the American Red Cross It also distributes illustrated dictionaries to kindergarteners rings bells to raise money for the Salvation Army every holiday season and contributes to Meals on Wheels and Community Outreach Services to help with their missions of feeding the hungry The local Rotarians also have spearheaded many projects in the community They helped fund the development of Rotary Park in 1974 provided defibrillators throughout the community and purchased uniforms for members of the first-ever Kennebunk High School Band in 1936 a popular event in the community that the club has hosted every summer for just about three-quarters of a century will be held at the Waterhouse Center on Main Street in August The club also has consistently taken part in Rotary International’s global efforts donating to the Paul Harris Foundation to help eradicate polio and contributing to efforts to provide Guatemala with clean water and crutches to people who need them in Africa Paul Harris is the founder of Rotary International and the Foundation in his name helps fund these initiatives this all started when 19 local men banded together and formed the club in January of 1925 with the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club as their sponsor according to a write-up by then-Club Historian Roger Gonneville in 1990 the Kennebunk Club had men only as members for decades but that all changed in 1988 when Barbara Aiello joined the newly formed club established an educational fund to help students borrow money for college The club ended its first year with a Christmas party held at what is now the Webhannet Club in town presenting more than 100 children with gifts the new Rotarians had their first two meetings at Uniform Rank Hall in the K of P Block on Main Street in late January Rotary International has the club’s first listed meeting quarters at the Hotel Greenleaf on Summer Street the club members met at what they called Rotary Hall – which is now the second floor of the Brick Store Museum located in the back of the Kennebunk Free Library Other meeting places over the years: the space now occupied by The Kennebunk Inn and at a restaurant at the Cape Porpoise Pier known at the time as Spicer’s Galley More: Kennebunk developer pitches 15-home subdivision for vacant land off Brown Street Rotary Club celebrates centennial with '100 for 100' campaignFor its 100th anniversary, the Rotary Club is raising funds through a “100 for 100” campaign donations large and small are welcome in any form of a hundred – 100 quarters Donations can be mailed to the Kennebunk Rotary Club Rotarians expressed gratitude to those whose support has helped the club thrive for the past 100 years the Kennebunk Rotary Club has been committed to enhancing the lives of individuals in our community,” the club said “Our accomplishments have touched every corner of Kennebunk and the surrounding areas Your support has helped us grow into what we are today.” indicating that the club members and their fellow Rotarians throughout District 7780 will have much to celebrate when they have for the conference and the dance this May “If you think about all the work that Rotary has done for our community and internationally over the years KENNEBUNK, Maine — RSU 21 has selected Valerie West to be an assistant principal at Kennebunk High School a Kennebunk resident and graduate of Kennebunk High School was previously dean of instruction at Dover High School in Dover “I am excited to bring my professional journey to the place I call home,” West said “It is a full-circle moment for me and my family as I have fond memories of being a student at KHS I look forward to working with the students West received her bachelor of science degree in environmental horticulture from the University of New Hampshire in 2007 her master of science in education from St and a certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership/curriculum/superintendent from the University of Southern Maine in 2024 More: RSU 21 School Board approves $9,690 bonus for Superintendent Terri Cooper West joins fellow Assistant Principal Donald Weafer III and Principal Scott Tombleson on Kennebunk High School's administrative team “Valerie brings a wealth of experience to KHS and I am thrilled to have her on our team,” Tombleson said “Her proven track record of educational leadership her unyielding support of the success of every student we serve and her experience leading strong alignment in instructional practice make her a truly exceptional addition to our school community.” Susanne Lillis wants to get to know her neighbors on Fletcher Street and her fellow residents throughout the community This week, she acted on an idea she hopes will work: she opened The Shipwreck Pub, the lounge inside White Sails Inn which she purchased from its previous owner soothing blue and adorned with paintings of a nautical nature keeping in step with the inn’s tribute to Kennebunk’s beloved history of shipbuilding complete with gluten-free and non-alcoholic options in addition to the usual staples “We have a little bit of everything,” Lillis said adding that the pub serves drinks only and not food Oarweed Restaurant to rise again: Beloved Ogunquit landmark set for 2026 comeback Shipwreck Pub: A 'cozy and a little bit sophisticated' placeA large offering lots of daylight when the sun is shining and that’s the point: it’s where people can gather around or even play one of the board games that are stacked on a nearby shelf Two standalone chairs rest against the opposite wall for those seeking a sense of solitude with a newspaper or one of the books that line a shelf underneath those board games A widescreen television is affixed to the wall ready to broadcast a game or some other programming to entertain guests or provide additional atmosphere Lillis said the pub is home to two book clubs she hosts both of which meet during the last week of the month and you have a meeting space that Lillis describes as “inviting.” “It’s cozy and a little bit sophisticated,” Lillis said the pub’s sphere will spread to the inn’s front porch and to the firepit that’s surrounded by Adirondack chairs in the front yard the pub was available only for the inn’s guests and was a key part of the bed-and-breakfast spot’s appeal Lillis opened the pub to the public for the first time on Tuesday we can certainly look at expanding,” Lillis said Lillis’ career in the hospitality industry goes back 25 years She was born and raised in Denmark and began working in the industry during the nine years she spent in Germany She and her husband moved to the United States in 1999 settling first in Oregon and ultimately making it to Rangely While Sails Inn – formerly the Elizabeth Rose House – caught the attention of Lillis by its location has guest rooms on its upper level and has enough space on the first floor to hold such events as wedding receptions When Lillis learned that the inn was for sale in 2023 she booked a room and arrived in Kennebunk as a visitor she did not announce her curiosity about potentially buying the place but she knew that would become her plan the moment she stepped inside They cited a significant increase in the number of dogs at the site during its many hours of daily operation in recent years On Monday, Jeffrey McCorkle, of Westwoods Road, asked the ZBA to reverse the Site Plan Review Board’s favorable ruling for the Red Barn Inn in the spring of 2024 Though a member of the Westwood Homeowners Association McCorkle represented himself at the meeting McCorkle asked for a reversal of the Site Plan Review Board’s ruling based on three arguments McCorkle argued that one of the Site Plan Review Board members had had a conflict of interest and should have recused himself from voting on the kennel’s proposed expansion because he occasionally brought his dog there as a customer the ZBA agreed with attorney Kristen Collins Collins said Kolff did not have a conflict because he had not stood to benefit from the application the Site Plan Review Board was addressing “Being a customer of a business is clearly not a conflict on its face,” Collins said and you bought a coffee at that coffee shop you certainly would not be prohibited from hearing an application regarding that coffee shop McCorkle argued that the Site Plan Review Board failed to consider auditory concerns when conserving the kennel’s application and made their decision based only on visual factors McCorkle charged that that had been a failure of interpretation of the town’s ordinances McCorkle argued the town’s ordinances are not clear and instead are “gray,” allowing for auditory concerns such as the noise levels of barking at a kennel “Buffering is not just visual,” McCorkle said and the board did not consider that as part of its review.” McCorkle said this argument was central to his and his neighbors’ desire for the Site Plan Review Board’s ruling to be reversed Collins argued noise had not been a part of the Site Plan Review Board’s considerations when working through the kennel’s application which sought to remove a 2009 restriction on the number of dogs allowed at the site the board’s focus is on the “general layout and appearance” of a site Vice Chair Stephen Sayers told McCorkle he found this second argument “persuasive.” Ultimately he and fellow ZBA member Wayne Berry voted to reject McCorkle’s argument because the context of the town’s ordinance pertained to buffering as “vegetative.” saying he did not feel he had all the information he needed to make an informed decision – a reference to a lack of details provided to the Zoning Board ahead of its meeting that evening McCorkle argued that the Red Barn Inn’s application to expand should have been categorized as a major site plan and not a minor one given that the business had made “drastic changes” to its footprint in the years since it was first approved for operation back in 2009 McCorkle argued that the kennel had a footprint of 1,080 square feet when it began in 2009 and had swelled to one of roughly 12,000 square feet currently Town engineer Chris Osterrieder noted the Red Barn Inn had not been proposing a physical expansion of its operations with its 2024 application “They had identified additional space on the site but they did not say they were trying to look to increase or expand it beyond what it was,” Osterrieder said “The abutters are stating numbers that are not consistent with the application.” The ZBA unanimously rejected this third argument agreeing that the Site Plan Review Board had not erred in addressing the kennel’s application as a minor site plan and not a major one The ZBA members spent the first half of its three-hour meeting discussing how to proceed with McCorkle’s appeal given that it had not received from the town all the information it needed The ZBA decided to proceed with that evening’s public hearing on McCorkle’s request and kept their discussions and voting focused on the three legal arguments before them Sevigny explained to Sayers and Berry why he did not feel comfortable denying the appeal when information from a previous meeting had not been provided He said giving the appellant a “fair case” and listening to the arguments would have benefitted everyone “We’re trying to do the best thing we can for everyone in our community,” he said.