Maine — York’s new lifeguard captain is gearing up for her first summer season overseeing the town’s beaches and ensuring visitor safety in the water Ella Yentsch has successfully recruited a full 15-person lifeguard team and is considering adding more staff She and her crew will undergo a week of training in June before officially taking their posts on June 18 to patrol the shoreline At 23, Yentsch brings eight years of lifeguarding experience, having previously worked in Ogunquit. She applied for the top lifeguard position last fall after the previous supervisor stepped down following more than three decades in the role and now I just feel lucky to be here with this job,” Yentsch said “I felt like I was ready to step into a more expansive role and be more of a leader in the lifeguarding community.” More: York Selectboard rejects ethics complaint against Mike Estes over Trump spat Yentsch looks to grow York lifeguard programOriginally from Booth Bay Harbor Yentsch has lived in Kennebunk for the last 10 years She started lifeguarding at 16 because it was a good summer job that used her skills as a swimmer she found there was more responsibility with a larger I definitely saw a lot of rescues and first aid scenarios,” Yentsch said “It was in Ogunquit I realized this was my thing.” she expanded her experience by spending two months as a full-time volunteer lifeguard in Costa Rica where beaches rely on international volunteers due to limited local coverage lifeguards from around the world gain hands-on training and build valuable connections Yentsch said she will be working to improve her staff’s training York will have lifeguards certified in advanced first aid previously only trained in basic first aid and CPR Yentsch said she and the guards will also be undergoing jet ski training with the help of one of her experienced guards who recently underwent similar training in Hawaii. Additionally, she plans to travel to Rhode Island to attend the United States Lifesaving Association Board of Directors’ educational conference to further enhance her expertise Yentsch also sees an opportunity to use her skills in videography and photography to boost the team’s visibility on social media she wants to strengthen York’s overall water safety community which she believes could be more developed She pointed out that York High School doesn’t have a swim team— despite being so close to the ocean helping young guards seamlessly transition into her team and develop into future leaders “My goal really is to make the agency something that can outlive myself,” Yentsch said “I really want to raise lifeguards in this agency that can step into my role eventually and that I can feel confident about them taking over.” More: Does Trump's ban on paper straws impact York's new ban on plastic straws? Yentsch’s hiring comes after longtime York Beach lifeguard supervisor Jeff Patten resigned in 2024 over a disagreement between himself and town officials on addressing drinking at York Beach Patten submitted a conditional resignation in mid-summer stating he would only return if town officials took action to address the drinking he and his lifeguards claimed to have witnessed on the beach York Police Chief Owen Davis disputed Patten’s assertion stating last year that police had received few complaints about drinking and that he did not consider it a significant issue Town Manager Peter Joseph acknowledged that limited resources play a role but agreed that drinking was not perceived as a problem on the beach Yentsch said she has already had conversations with the Police Department about open communication between her team and their agency. She said monitoring excessive drinking is important for safety and that complaints will be taken seriously. Guards do not have enforcement authority, Yentsch said, but they will follow a two-warning system. The second warning will involve telling individuals that police will be called. “Our number one priority is safety, so we’re looking for situations where drinking can escalate to a really dangerous situation,” Yentsch said. “Stopping those before they escalate to a point where they can endanger themselves or someone else.” YORK (WGME) -- Voters in York passed a plan to spend $4 million to buy 42 acres of sand on Long Sands Beach that is currently privately owned. Since colonial times, half of Long Sands Beach, or1,600 feet to the south and another 1,600 feet to the north, has been family owned. The beach rights are retained by the family every time they sell a piece of property. After all these years, the estate of Roger Norton Jr. wants to sell the sand to the town. Some worried the town would be throwing that money away if the state supreme court ultimately rules to ensure public access to all beaches. However, the town manager said the public could lose the rights to half of Long Sands Beach if the high court continues to recognize private beach ownership. Voters approved the plan on Tuesday, giving the town permission to buy the land for public access. A representative for the Norton family said: United StatesChevron New YorkChevron Robert Michaud/Getty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links Weekend getaways from NYC provide us residents a much-needed break from the chaotic energy of our beloved home—and then remind us why we couldn’t live anywhere else weekend trips like these provide visitors an opportunity to pair a visit to the Big Apple with a local-approved side trip to the quaint towns of Hudson Valley and New England’s numerous coastal enclaves all of the above are easily accessible from Manhattan with a bit of planning and know-how And if there’s one thing the New York-based travel editors at Condé Nast Traveler know how to finesse This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date The Amtrak Empire Service train runs daily between NYC and Albany and the Hudson Line commuter train from Grand Central makes stops in towns like Hastings-on-Hudson The cult favorite is a treat for breakfast Highly recommended: the Phoenicia Smash sandwich (beef griddled into caramelized onion ConnecticutAbout a one-hour train ride via Metro-North or rent a cozy Airbnb to truly settle in—without settling down PennsylvaniaAbout a two-hour drive; about an hour and fifteen minutes via Amtrak which feels martian-like with its clay-red lighthouse and cliffs We love the romantic renovated mansion for the original art prints in each room ConnecticutAbout a two-and-a-half hour drive it'll be easy to see why Newport is one of the best weekend getaways from NYC For a low key Long Island alternative to the Hamptons, the bucolic North Fork and adjacent Shelter Island are what you're after. Head first to Greenport, North Fork’s largest town which is known for its marinas, fishing boats, neighboring vineyards, and blooming fields of lavender in July. Sound View Greenport is our pick for where to stay in town Their fisherman-and-farmer-forward restaurant the Halyard is open too—don't sleep on the summer truffle and fresh cavatelli take the ferry from nearby North Haven to Shelter Island and salt marshes at the Mashomack Nature Preserve and even more land to explore on the protected beaches or in the acres of forest If you are strategic about avoid common travel times (Friday evening out of the city you can be in North Fork in just two hours making it a surprisingly quick weekend getaway from NYC a historic 36-room inn that also underwent a recent facelift and is open year-round drive 2.5 hours to either the North Ferry departing from Greenport or the South Ferry from North Haven the Hampton Jitney Greenport stop is a short walk to the ferry terminal up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world An attorney fighting for public access on Moody Beach in Wells is advising York voters to follow his case at the state Supreme Court before deciding on the $4 million land purchase at Long Sands Beach Attorney Benjamin Ford represents several families in Wells contesting Maine’s private beach laws The current law permits private beach owners to restrict public access to those not engaged in “fishing The Supreme Court will hear arguments in October less than a month before York votes on purchasing the Long Sands property owned by the Norton estate While York officials and the Nortons claim the deal will secure public access to the sand in perpetuity Ford argues that overturning the current law would render the purchase unnecessary “To have a municipality proposing to spend $4 million on a piece of sand that may actually not be worthless “We think that that is maybe not in the best interest of the people of the town.” as well as a claim that York is owed back taxes on the beach property a realtor from the Dunham Group working with the Norton family on the proposed deal called that and other claims circulating in town “misinformation.” Hatch shared statements from the Norton family whose attorneys contest claims that the land is valueless The family expressed their awareness of the Moody Beach case and confidence in past rulings that uphold the law “The precedent that is being challenged in the Moody Beach case has been unsuccessfully challenged many many times since the 1980s,” the family said Long Sands Beach purchase would protect public access The land owned by the Norton family at Long Sands Beach makes up much of the sand at the longtime vacation destination It spans 42.35 acres of shorefront property and runs from the intersection of Juniper Road and Long Beach Avenue to the area of 87-89 Long Sands Road all east of Long Beach Road’s right of way The land has been owned for almost a century by the Nortons they say they have sought to preserve the public’s access to Long Sands Beach through agreements with the town that date back to the 1950s Town Manager Peter Joseph said the town has no record of those agreements but believes they may have been made despite being counter to state law today He said the town will assess the property if the town does not take it over but that the Nortons do not owe back taxes The property is owned now by four siblings including Roger Norton III who made an effort to sell parcels of land specifically to families looking to come to York “He wanted York to be a family town,” Roger Norton III said about his grandfather established their first agreement with the town of York in the 1950s allowing the public free access to Long Sands Beach they mentioned that these agreements included a provision that the town would not assess property taxes on the land The agreement was renewed in 1993 by Roger Norton has generated substantial revenue from parking meter fees as a result of the agreement the town approached them about selling the land during negotiations for the property where the bathhouse is located They commissioned an appraisal at their own expense valuing the property at approximately $5.8 million which included the economic impact of the beach on the town a second appraisal conducted by the town in 2019 valued the property significantly lower at $43,000 based on the assumption that the land was “unusable for most development purposes beyond open space.” The Nortons say that the town’s appraisal was incorrect and not legitimate “This appraisal was later invalidated following a third-party review which later found the appraisal did not comply with appraisal accounting standards and was uncertified,” the Nortons statement read The town then commissioned a third appraisal with the involvement of the Norton family The family said it confirmed a fair market valuation of $4.3 million but did not take into account the economic impact of the beach The family has since agreed to sell it for $4 million which they say is “substantially less than fair market value.” is rooted in their longstanding desire to share their land for the betterment of the community “The Nortons have been part of the fabric of York for generations and as neighbors,” the family’s statement read “The current owners want the town of York to acquire the property so future generations can continue to enjoy it as they have.” Residents air concerns regarding Long Sands Beach purchase Residents have raised many questions to town officials since the Selectboard voted to move the proposed purchase to the Nov They questioned the value of the land and asked in an Aug 26 public hearing whether the pending case at Moody Beach in Wells could render the Long Sands Beach property valueless Peter and Cathy Masucci of Wells and other plaintiffs are seeking to overturn a 1989 court decision that sided with the owners of intertidal properties on Maine’s beaches stating the public was limited to “fishing Joseph addressed frequently asked questions about the property including whether the town should delay the purchase pending the outcome of the Moody Beach case that the beach access law has not been overturned The Moody Beach case is currently before the Supreme Court following previous rulings that upheld the law “It has been adjudicated at least at the superior court level that that you cannot get public access to the intertidal land for sunbathing,” Joseph said Access to the sand above the intertidal zone is not in dispute The land above the high tide mark is considered private property and is not part of the Moody Beach case Joseph cautioned that private landowners could still restrict access to the intertidal zone He noted that the town owns only one strip of land reaching the intertidal zone “Portions of land that are above high tide considered upland Attorney says public should have rights to Maine beaches While the Norton family is confident precedent will once again be upheld by the Supreme Court attorneys in the Moody Beach case say their arguments for beach access have never been made on a statewide level Ford said cases have challenged whether certain uses are prohibited under the 1989 ruling He said never has a team made their argument that the intertidal zone is owned by the state Ford explained that their argument begins with the Equal Footing Doctrine which he said overruled colonial laws governing intertidal land when states joined the union He stated that when Maine became a state in 1820 the doctrine effectively reset land ownership to the state the chain of title cannot be traced back to the state because the state never granted the property to any other owners He argued that even if the state upholds the law and navigating” should be interpreted through a colonial lens Since these activities are economic in nature he contended that sunbathing should also be permitted due to its relevance to the local tourism industry Ford also noted that the precedent is considered common law which can be established by judges but nullified by the state Legislature He mentioned that a law was passed in the 1980s regarding the intertidal zone but was overlooked in the 1989 court ruling “These arguments have never been made on a statewide basis,” Ford said “We’ve never had a case set up before that says here’s a broad spectrum of activities that happen on our coast Ford said he cannot say how the Supreme Court will rule in the case He said he spoke out about York because he believed it was unwise to make such an expensive purchase while their case was still open “The point was it makes no sense to a municipality to offer to pay for intertidal land when this court Some town officials have expressed a reluctance to support the vote Members of the Budget Committee discussed the uncertainty of the property’s value at the Aug While four members still voted to support the purchase member Adam Gould said he voted against it because “the number still seems high.” there’s a $4 million piece of land that’s really worth nothing,” Gould said in that meeting the town asked the Norton family to consider a provision that would account for a potential future overturning of the 1989 law in the Moody Beach case he noted that there was “no appetite” for such a provision The Nortons said their hope is to preserve York’s public access to the beach through the sale which they believe could be at risk if the town does not purchase the land the Norton family does not believe litigation is the best and most assured path forward for ensuring public access at Long Sands Beach,” the family said This article is being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org JCPenney has sued the Steeplegate Mall’s owner which wants to tear down most of Steeplegate and build some 600 apartments as well as businesses such as Costco or perhaps Whole Foods New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald is implementing a hiring freeze and warning of potential layoffs across the judicial branch as the Legislature looks to make deep cuts to the budget A group representing New Hampshire’s hospitals filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a state tax on hospitals — the latest turn in an ongoing dispute over hundreds of millions of dollars in health care funding New Hampshire Senate President Sharon Carson is calling for a financial and performance audit of the settlement fund for abuse victims at the state’s youth detention center Diversity among law firm’s core values for decades A federal judge says New Hampshire is making good progress toward eliminating wait times for inpatient mental health care Our expert panelists share what they’re seeing as key challenges and critical shifts in labor policies and what companies should do as they navigate legal compliance while fostering a stable workforce The 2023 New Hampshire Statewide Housing Needs Assessment predicted the state needs roughly 60,000 additional housing units by 2030 to keep up with its growing population founding partner of the intellectual property firm Saunders & Silverstein LLP breaks down why trademarks important for nonprofits and the simple steps you can take to protect your brand The list highlights top hotels from around the globe including nearby destinations like The Longfellow in Portland Esquire praised the Nevada Hotel for its thoughtful restoration undertaken by Lipton and Friar after they purchased the property in 2021 the hotel was famously designed in the shape of a battleship aboard which the original owner served during World War II Previous story: York Beach's ViewPoint Hotel named one of Time’s 'World’s Greatest Places' in 2025 Lipton said their hotels have been making their way into lists by major publications since journalists have been booking stays with them Lipton said similarly a journalist stayed at the Nevada and submitted the newly renovated hotel for consideration to Esquire without Lipton and Friar knowing He said they recently learned they made the list Esquire’s Madison Vain and editors described the Nevada’s setting at Long Sands Beach as a “carnival of non-rhotic accents and sunburns.” beach on the other,” Vain and the editors wrote The Nevada Hotel makeover included new amenities and raising the first floor and redesigning the interior to provide access to the second and third-floor rooms from inside rather than the traditional exterior access typical of motels The third-story expansion allowed for more spacious rooms with each unit gaining additional square footage Lipton, Friar credit management team for recent accoladesOver the last few years, Lipton and Friar have worked on permitting as well as construction to renovate the Nevada and ViewPoint. They have simultaneously run the Stones Throw hotel and restaurant Lipton said that work also involved building a management team upon which they now rely for running their three hotels The team includes staff that have been with them for years going back to when they owned Inn on the Blues and Guac-N-Roll “It feels good to have all the hard work pay off and that our crew is also feeling very rewarded.” by Brad Rogers YORK (WGME) -- Access to some of Maine’s iconic beaches has been a hot button issue for years Town leaders in York want to spend $4 million to buy 42 acres of sand on Long Sands Beach that is currently privately owned 1,600 feet to the south and another 1,600 feet to the north half of Long Sands Beach has been family-owned The beach rights are retained by the family every time they sell a piece of property "Everything in the blue is intertidal land between the high and the low tide lines,” York Town Manager Peter Joseph said Some worry the town would be throwing that money away if the state supreme court ultimately rules to ensure public access to all beaches paying for something that we already have and would have," York resident Mac Booze said "Is the town into gambling?" York resident Mark Stewart said "Argument’s been going on for years in Maine and never been resolved." the town manager says the public could lose the rights to half of Long Sands Beach if the high court continues to recognize private beach ownership "There could be no trespassing,” Joseph said And you could be charged for going onto property without permission or a special exemption like the public uses I talked about." "This is something that's sentimental to me,” tourist Nicole Ragauskas said Tourists agree that $4 million is a lot to spend on sand but the beach is the reason why they come to York "You can't put a price tag on it," Ragauskas said "I want that land protected for public use forever and ever and ever," York Town Councilor Adam Gould said then there's our $4 million piece of land that's really worth nothing." Voters in York will decide in November if they want to buy the beach or risk losing the right to enjoy it "This is what York is known for,” York resident Karen Pierce-Stewart said “So to lose our beach would be to lose our identity YORK, Maine — Bill Shaheen has purchased the Purple Palace for $500,000 adding to his row of properties along Railroad Avenue at Short Sands Beach a former ice cream shop and a nearby parking lot Shaheen said he and his team will now evaluate how best to use the Purple Palace as well as Molly O’s in the coming season He said he may turn the Purple Palace into a takeout-only eatery and possibly change the cuisine which currently serves breakfast and lunch “We’ll see what we can do to put out really good food for the people of York,” Shaheen said Tuesday Million-dollar question: Million-dollar question: Do York voters want to save historic Cliff Walk? Rosenfield alleged Wilson reneged on their agreement to sell him the restaurant which he hoped to run and carry on the family tradition wrote that she never agreed to sell the building to her grandson A stay was granted in the case in November 2023 and Rosenfield has said he no longer is associated with the Purple Palace Itaaliander said he represented Wilson as the owner of the property who is currently in Florida for the winter months Wilson did not return a call seeking comment Wilson had inherited the restaurant from her father She ran it for 10 years before changing the name in 1987 to Sandy’s Purple Palace Wilson put the building up for sale last winter at a starting price of $895,000. The listed price was lowered to $695,000 later that year and briefly had a buyer under contract and Shaheen agreed to buy it for the reduced price of $500,000 Can you hear me now? York petition seeks to relax cell tower rules to end dead zones Shaheen said he plans to wait and see how the economy shapes up this year before he determines exactly what to do with the Purple Palace He said work will include a renovation of the inside While the Purple Palace sold breakfast to diners for years Shaheen said the limited seating makes it unlikely that sit-down service will return in 2025 “I’m toying with the idea of making all of Sandy’s a real nice kitchen and doing takeout,” Shaheen said Shaheen, husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, grew up summering in York and started Bill and Bob’s with his brother. Sweet Josie’s Candy Shoppe is named after his mother while Molly O’s Restaurant honors his daughter Shaheen has also since opened Nick’s Beachside Grille at 1 Ocean Ave “I might make it Mediterranean,” Shaheen said “I think it has the potential of being something great YORK, Maine — Samples from dead ducks found on Short Sands Beach on Tuesday are being sent to a lab to determine whether the birds died from avian flu Health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are monitoring cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza across the country state officials in Maine responded to a report of five dead ducks found on the beach in York The strain of bird flu known as H5N1 has resurfaced in the United States, according to an article published Tuesday by Harvard Health Publishing at Harvard Medical School The CDC reports that there have been 70 human cases since March 2024 none of which have occurred in New England “Ducks can die of many different things,” Matijas said “When we’re seeing that there’s five in a certain area More: Bird flu has caused growing problems for the last year. Here's what we know so far. Bird flu appeared in Maine for the first time in 2022 in Knox County and the backyard flock where it was discovered was eliminated to prevent its spread the CDC said there was no immediate public health concern The recent increase in cases has led to one documented human death in the United States according to the Harvard Health Publishing article and the CDC states the current public health risk is low California has the most human cases with 38 Outbreaks of bird flu have taken place in other countries in recent years. The World Health Organization reported there were 878 human cases of H5N1 with a 52% fatality across 23 countries between 2003 and 2023 It also stated that bird flu strain H7N9 has caused outbreaks in China since 2013 leading to over 1,500 cases and a 40% fatality rate health officials have said the recent presence of avian flu poses a very low risk to the public Benjamin Chan emphasized in February the vast majority of human cases reported elsewhere have been in people who have been in direct contact with farm animals Matijas and his fellow fish and game biologist John Veale said results from the ducks found at York Beach will likely come back in about two weeks They have already been predeceased by other birds found in Maine to have the virus Matijas and Veale said waterfowl are susceptible to the virus because they tend to flock together as they migrate The state’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife jointly posted a press release on Feb 11 stating birds have tested positive for bird flu in York and Cumberland Counties two red-tailed hawks and a great horned owl in recent weeks The birds have been collected in the towns of Kennebunk Although no cases have been detected in Maine’s domestic flocks since March 2024 and the risk to the general public remains low state officials are urging all flock owners to implement strict protective measures Those can include limiting contact between domestic and wild birds by keeping birds indoors or in fully enclosed outdoor spaces include washing hands before and after handling birds and sanitizing boots and equipment between coops Health officials say those who work with animals are at the highest risk of infection They recommend avoiding contact with sick or dead animals Antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can lower the risk of infection Those who believe they are exposed to bird flu or have symptoms are recommended to contact their doctor Recommended food safety guidelines include avoiding raw dairy and undercooked poultry or beef Cooking meat and eggs to the proper temperature and choosing pasteurized dairy products help eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses YORK, Maine — Voters are being asked to approve a $4 million purchase of 42.35 acres of Long Sands Beach to ensure continued public access of the popular destination The question will go before voters on the Nov Although the beach has been enjoyed by the public for decades most of it is owned by the estate of Roger R Town officials said they were approached by the estate to purchase the property to ensure public access to the beach in perpetuity officials said it is possible that another buyer could restrict public access to the property Town Manager Peter Joseph said the town recently compiled the following fact sheet answering frequently asked questions Here are the top questions residents have about the purchase: How much of Long Sands Beach is privately owned?The land owned by the Norton family at Long Sands Beach makes up much of the sand at the longtime vacation destination Previous story: Lawyer weighs in on whether York should buy Long Sands Beach for $4M The town has performed an appraisal on the property which returned a valuation of $4.36 million The property is not currently taxed by the town of York It was discovered that the property was not taxed midway through negotiations to purchase the property Regardless of the outcome of the proposed purchase the town will enter the property into property records in future years where it will be subject to taxation if privately owned More: York Beach lifeguard chief quits after calls for action on public drinking ignored It has been speculated that an informal agreement in the distant past was made between the town and the previous owners where the property would not be taxed if provided for public use The town has not been able to find any written evidence of such an agreement but it would be consistent with the facts surrounding the property this is not a valid way to value the property Privately owned intertidal land in Maine can be closed to public access for all users except those actively involved in "fishing and navigation." Privately owned upland land in Maine can be closed to all users The Long Sands Beach parcel in question contains both upland and intertidal portions the upland section can be closed completely and the intertidal section can be closed to users who are not actively participating in fishing What is the Moody Beach case?Moody Beach in nearby Wells is currently the subject of a legal challenge to the above-mentioned "Public Use Doctrine." Landowners of private sections of the beach who have decided to restrict sections of Moody Beach to public access The case will likely be heard by the Maine Supreme Court and possibly by the United States Supreme Court The outcome will either affirm the current status quo in private beach access in Maine or possibly add other recreational uses such as sunbathing as public uses allowable in the intertidal The Moody Beach case may change the value of the intertidal portion of the property but it will not change the value of the upland portion of the property It is also important to remember that the upland portion of the property controls access across most of the frontage of the property except that area immediately adjacent to the Long Sands Bathhouse where there is public access directly to the intertidal area Can the beach be used for other uses if it were privately owned?An initial review of the property by town staff indicates that the property could be divided into two separate parcels The land cannot be used for residential development or structures the property could possibly be utilized for functionally water-dependent commercial uses Those uses would be subject to strict permitting review under the Natural Resources Protection Act which is a federal law administrated by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection 'Rare opportunity': York Beach Surf Club, Sea Latch Inn faces foreclosure auction Other than the town-owned bathhouse parcel the remainder of Long Sands Beach between Route 1A and the ocean is privately owned Short Sands Beach is owned by the town of York and managed by the Ellis Short Sands Park board of directors north of the concrete access ramp (toward the Reading Room) is owned by Hartley Mason Trust and made public by agreement with the town The portion of the beach south of the concrete access ramp (toward Stage Neck) is privately owned YORK, Maine — It’s hard to top the view of the Nubble Lighthouse from a room at Joe Lipton and Michelle Friar’s ViewPoint Hotel – at least according to Time magazine The ViewPoint Hotel was included in Time’s list of the World’s Greatest Places in 2025 It stood beside destinations like Valle de Guadalupe Mbano Manor Hotel overlooking Zambezi National Park in Africa and Saudi Arabia’s Shebara Resort on the Red Sea The magazine touted the ViewPoint’s location directly across the water from the historic Nubble a landmark built in 1879 “perched on a rocky bluff.” “Travelers can glimpse the postcard scene from the comfort of a plush king-sized bed,” Madeline Bilis wrote in the Time list “In The Viewpoint Hotel’s new shoreside rooms walls of glass frame dazzling views of the lighthouse as well as puttering lobster boats and soaring shorebirds.” The list included locations from all over the globe, from Paris to Indonesia. Also included in the list from North America were the Ranch Hudson Valley in Sloatsburg, New York, Kasha-Katuew Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico, and the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, where the Los Angeles Clippers play Lipton said he is only aware of one other location in Maine that has made the list. That was the Lost Kitchen in Freedom and chef Erin French only accepts reservations by postcard “Our goal was to be considered one of the top boutique hotels on the Seacoast of New England,” Lipton said not just in New England or the Seacoast but in the world 'It's been a hell of a run': Fat Tomato Grill owner passing the torch Lipton and Friar have been chipping away at upgrading and expanding the ViewPoint since they purchased it in 2017 They purchased it with partner Chris Cane for $3 million along with the Brown’s Ice Cream property across the street and additional lots for $1.3 million Since then, they have added seven new hotel rooms built into the side of the hill overlooking the historic Nubble Lighthouse The units are covered with grass roofs so as not to disrupt the ViewPoint’s natural atmosphere They are also stacked four on the bottom and three on top Since then, they have also added A Little Auk an outdoor restaurant named after the bird but also as a joke on its initially “awkward” schedule opening only during the week to give weekend guests privacy They’ve also completed a new spa area offering scrubs Lipton and Friar have focused more on improving service than renovation projects at the hotel He believes that was the finishing touch that landed the ViewPoint in Time’s list he said a press corps stayed at the ViewPoint for work unrelated to the hotel itself He said one of the journalists took note of the quality stay and pitched it to Time They found out they made the list last year but waited until Thursday’s online publication to announce the news 'It’s really incredible' York’s rare wallpaper helps revive George Washington’s Mansion Lipton and Friar have done more than run the ViewPoint in York over the years They also previously ran restaurants at Short Sands Beach Today, they also own the Nevada and Stones Throw at Long Sands Beach both of which feature restaurants open to the public as well as hotel rooms Lipton said they focus on the word “hospitality” rather than “service.” He said he has been inspired by the book “Unreasonable Hospitality,” which describes service as being in black and white and hospitality in color is about good staff more than anything else He and Friar have worked with some staff members going back several years that have now taken prominent positions at the ViewPoint and their other locations He believes that is what caught the attention of Time “Every one of our staff is about unreasonable hospitality YORK, Maine — The foreclosure auctions for two Long Sands Beach hotels and an undeveloped plot of land have been postponed The properties are owned under separate LLCs but affiliated with Taylor Perkins whose family built the Surf Hotel into a state-of-the-art resort after acquiring it from the Poulin family in 2020 the Surf Club foreclosure auction had been postponed until Nov he announced the auctions for the Sea Latch Inn and 11 Webber Road were postponed until 11 a.m 30 due to last-minute "bankruptcy filings." "Always looking to invest in Long Sands Beach,” Lipton said so we thought we would come to see what opportunity there was.” Keenan informed bidders that they would notify them if the auctions Perkins has declined to comment since the foreclosure auctions were announced earlier this fall The York Beach Surf Club has an estimated value of $5.5 million while the Webber Road property is listed at $3.25 million York’s $4M bid for Long Sands Beach: Frequently asked questions answered The Surf Club property has some of the newest inventory of rooms and amenities in York and on Long Sands Beach The hotel is located directly across the street from the Atlantic Ocean and Prebble’s Point The Sea Latch is also across from the beach and has 82 hotel rooms two and three-story buildings as well as six individual cottages The undeveloped property on Webber Road is located in the Residential-7 zoning district and allows for multiple living units or commercial uses with public water and sewer available on the street This marked the third time the Surf Club has faced foreclosure auction since Perkins’ family opened the resort Perkins previously worked out loan terms with his lender in 2021 and 2023 More: Wiggly Bridge wins approval for storage, kitchen expansion amid 'whisky fungus' claims Maine — Residents questioned the value of owning a significant portion of Long Sands Beach Monday in a public hearing on the land’s proposed sale to the town for $4 million A court battle over public access at Moody Beach in Wells has residents questioning whether buying the mostly undevelopable beach land owned by the Norton Estate is worth $4 million along with $1.2 million in interest that a loan would cost Depending on how a judge rules in that case the beach might be open to the public in perpetuity “It is my opinion you would be asking the taxpayers to pay $5.2 million for something they already have,” resident Mac Booze said during the public hearing Budget Committee members and the Selectboard moved the question to the November ballot Monday giving voters the chance to decide on the purchase The property is being offered by the Norton Estate after years of on-and-off negotiations with the town While the Selectboard voted to send the question to voters unanimously the Budget Committee did so with a 4-1 vote Budget Committee member Adam Gould said he voted against it because he believed the ruling in the Moody Beach case where the right to privatize a beach is being called into question could have a big impact on the Norton property’s value there’s a $4 million piece of land that’s really worth nothing.” Norton Estate looks to sell beach propertyA significant portion of the beach has long been owned by the estate of Roger R running from the intersection of Juniper Road and Long Beach Avenue to the area of 87-89 Long Sands Road The Norton family first engaged with the town about selling the property in 2018 Negotiations did not result in a deal at the time but talks began again about a year and a half ago Town Manager Peter Joseph said the Selectboard came to the $4 million price with the Norton family on July 15 Joseph said the opportunity to buy the land allows the town to protect it as a public asset when many beachfront properties are being closed off by private ownership Residents reluctant to support the purchase of the Norton property are pointing to the legal battle in Wells where the Maine Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case this year on rights to beach access Town officials in Wells have joined the plaintiffs by filing an amicus brief in support of public-use rights on Moody Beach They are arguing that the public’s restriction to “fishing fowling and navigation” in intertidal zones is based on a centuries-old assertion reinforced by a 1989 court case Groups such as Free Moody Beach and Our Maine Beaches are now trying to overturn that ruling residents opposed to the purchase said they wanted to wait until the results of the court case had been settled said he was supportive of the town owning the land but asked if the lawsuit in Wells was considered in the negotiations “It would make a huge difference in terms of the value of what we would be buying,” Goodwin said He suggested a “two-tier” purchase agreement in which the outcome of the lawsuit in Wells triggers a price that depends on the court case’s outcome is there any feedback on this lawsuit in Wells?” Goodwin asked told Goodwin that the topic was “almost an exact conversation” during talks with the Norton family “There was no appetite for it,” Joseph said The purchase appealed to members of the Selectboard Selectboard member Mike Estes said earlier this month the land may not necessarily be valuable from a construction standpoint but is worth protecting for public access The negotiations between the Norton family and the town have resulted in more than one appraisal of the property the Norton estate hired DiBiase Appraisal Services an appraisal by the town acquired only a value of $43,000 based on the assumption the land was “unusable for most development beyond open space according to the Selectboard memo on the transaction dated July 15 Joseph said the Norton family expressed a desire to leave the beach in the hands of the town for the sake of public access and waiting past November could take the decision out of the town’s hands He said the Norton family has put in writing they will go to market if the town does not vote to approve the purchase in November “That doesn’t mean it won’t be available for the town to purchase in the future,” Joseph said “But there’s a good chance that we have to be comfortable with… that there’s a chance it goes away before we have another shot.” YORK, Maine — Trash cans will return to Short Sands Beach this summer if voters approve the town’s budget in May after four summers without trash pickup at the popular vacation spot Town officials have since indicated that reinstating the service would be costly Business owners have complained of trash on the sidewalk since the service went away candy and other foods that lead to messy napkins and other trash Tourists have become known to ditch their trash by leaving it on the ground “It would be a nice thing to add to the tourism so people aren’t walking around with sticky ice cream hands,” said David Woods II whose family owns property on Railroad Avenue They find a little corner to stick their trash behind.” Full trash service across York’s beaches could cost between hundreds of thousands to more than $1 million a year town officials have said in the last couple years as business owners called for its return the town's Selectboard opted against including new money in the budget for the service Selectboard Chair Todd Frederick said the board has continued to hear from business owners that the service is desired there which led to the funding included in the proposed budget He said while town officials are not looking to cover all of the beach they hoped at least some minimal service could help the problem “It’s a reaction to both visitors and merchants in the area to see if we would come up with a middle-ground solution,” Frederick said More: Town, school budget hikes could raise York tax bills by $670 Municipal trash pickup stopped in 2020 at York’s beaches for two reasons The COVID-19 pandemic required people to social distance they were stopping the trash pickup to establish a “no-touch” system Joseph said it was also becoming difficult to staff the positions needed to pick up the trash The response to the carry-in carry-out policy that replaced trash service was mixed Joseph reported that the town received complaints from both businesses and visitors about trash issues but rather the area around Railroad Avenue where the stores are located Some business owners have tried to fix the problem themselves who owns the Beach Bliss Café on Railroad Avenue has passed out trash bags to customers in the past two years so they have a place to leave their waste 'Voice of the people': Mike Estes to step down after 15 years as York selectman Joseph told members that $100,000 was now in the proposed budget to provide minimal beach trash service He said the town should be able to handle the job “in-house” to address some of the trash complaints Joseph said he had not heard any criticism of the funding as part of the budget process Voters will be able to approve the budget at the town’s May referendum Joseph said the service would be seasonal for only three months He said the town would have to hire one employee whose job would be to empty and replace the cans multiple times a day on a daily basis He said there should be about 20 cans placed on Railroad Avenue as well as Freeman Street but this wouldn’t be gold-plated service,” Joseph said “This would be just getting trash cans emptied.” More: York residents take fight over AT&T antenna to Maine Supreme Court YORK, Maine — York Beach will be bustling this Christmas season as the Nevada Hotel and its sister locations welcome visitors with festive drinks and a newly opened spa Guests can enjoy a pop-up bar at the Nevada’s in-house restaurant, Lulu’s, adorned with holiday colors and lighting for the Christmas season. Around the corner, Joe Lipton, owner of the Nevada, has also launched the Spa House by the ViewPoint “We don’t want to just be a hotel,” Lipton said “We want to be a place where you have an experience.” More: Bell Farm Shops owners open new gift shop in downtown Portsmouth This summer, Lulu’s opened at the Nevada Hotel marking the transformation of the historic York Beach motel into a modern hotel experience The building's iconic ship-shaped structure was preserved during the renovation The restaurant features a blend of Polynesian and Mexican influences complementing the ship’s Naval theme— a nod to the original owner who served on the U.S.S Lipton said they had a successful first season for the revamped Nevada with Lulu’s attracting a steady stream of visitors Lipton decided to keep Lulu’s open for the Christmas season they crafted a holiday-themed drink menu to delight guests during the festive season Lulu’s pop-up bar won’t feature a full menu spicy Chex mix and togarashi tortilla chips with pico de gallo Crowder said the pop-up includes Christmas music with a tropical twist Lipton said the pop-up has been a success so far and serves as a place for guests to grab a specialty cocktail before going to Stone’s Throw for dinner More: After 30 years, York man behind the town's holiday light display passes the torch Lipton is also opening a new spa location across the street from the ViewPoint where he recently added seven new hotel rooms built into the side of the hill that spa has outgrown its original space and has moved to its own separate building are dedicated to running top-notch hospitality businesses in York as a way of giving back to the community They are currently not seeking any major new projects but are focused on maximizing the potential of their three businesses which now span both Long Sands and Short Sands Beach “We continue to grow into what we want to be,” Lipton said YORK, Maine — Voters overwhelmingly rejected a citizens' petition Tuesday that was filed in response to Wiggly Bridge Distillery's plans to expand its operation which would have required distilleries to be 400 feet from dwelling units and within a lot of at least 25 acres was defeated at the polls by a vote of 5,527 to 3,195 “This ordinance isn’t about protecting the town," said Amanda Woods, who does marketing for Wiggly Bridge Distillery and is married to co-owner David Woods “It is a way to stop us from operating and growing our business.” The ordinance was put forth by residents concerned about a proposed expansion of Wiggly Bridge leading to an increase in Baudoinia a black fungus that thrives on ethanol vapors The neighbors fear "whiskey fungus" will impact their health and their home values Wiggly Bridge Distillery owners have disputed that their business is causing whiskey fungus and put forward a University of New Hampshire study backing up their claim noting that whiskey fungus has already been found in neighboring properties Adam Flaherty and Mark Cartier stood at an entrance to the high school Tuesday holding signs in support of the proposed ordinance "We feel Question 12 places very reasonable buffers in place between future distillery structures and abutting properties so that the properties that are nearby aren't at risk of whiskey fungus Cartier said small communities across the nation are putting regulations in place to deal with distilleries located near residential neighborhoods He said Article 12 is based on an ordinance out of Tennessee Amanda Woods was also outside the polls Tuesday advocating for voters to reject the ordinance "It took only 100 signatures of citizens with no zoning background to put together an ordinance that targeted one business," Woods said Voter Patrick Barrett said he voted against the ordinance because it was "overly broad" and "too overreaching." The article did not receive a recommendation from the Selectboard who voted in favor alongside Chair Todd Frederick wanted to support the citizens who brought the petition forward "I think I was supporting the people who had done all the work to bring that one forward." Selectboard member Marla Johnson voted against recommending the article believing the parameters set by residents were based on conditions for larger distilleries She also noted that requiring 25 acres for a distillery is unrealistic for small businesses like Wiggly Bridge Voters approved spending $4 million to purchase 42.35 acres of shorefront property on Long Sands Beach by a vote of 4,547 to 4,007 The property stretches from the intersection of Juniper Road and Long Beach Avenue to the area of 87-89 Long Sands Road It was offered to the town by the Norton family who said they wanted to see the beach remain public in perpetuity Town officials and the Norton family had said if a private property owner purchased the property they could have eventually fenced off the sand Some residents questioned the necessity of the purchase citing laws that allow certain public access to the intertidal zone between the high and low tide marks A pending state Supreme Court case seeks to permit more activities than just fishing Voter Gene Thompson hung out a bit at the entrance of York High School Tuesday before heading inside to cast his ballot in the gymnasium He joked that he wanted to wait until the end to vote when it would really count Thompson said he was leaning towards a "yes" vote for the town to purchase Long Sands Beach but I’m leaning towards the ‘yes’ side,” Thompson said is $4 million what we need to spend on something you can’t do anything with Voters approved rezoning 300 acres of land between Route 1 and Short Sands Beach The section is being rezoned to encourage more construction and uses similar to what is found on Railroad Avenue Voters also approved Article 10, which asked voters to take ownership of Steedman Woods a popular wooded walking area currently managed by the Old York Historical Society YORK, Maine — The community of York will kick off two weeks of holiday festivities with the 2nd annual Lighting of the Anchorage Inn on Saturday Nick Darby, the special events coordinator for York Parks and Recreation, said the town appreciates the Anchorage Inn providing a place for the community to begin celebrating the holidays “We’re really lucky to have them to provide that for the community,” Darby said Earlier that Saturday, Nubble Lighthouse will be lit for the holidays at noon a ceremony will not be held as the park there is too small to accommodate a large crowd The site also only has one entrance and lacks egress While there will not be an official lighting event at the beloved landmark passersby and other visitors will have plenty of twinkling to see on their own at the lighthouse in the weeks that follow “We still want people to enjoy it,” Darby said The event at the Anchorage is just the beginning York Parks and Recreation has more yuletide cheer scheduled from Nov 'Polar Express' trolley rides through YorkThe Polar Express will breeze through York on Thursday and Friday Families can dress in their pajamas and take a “trolley express” ride along York Beach where “The Polar Express,” the timeless Christmas tale by Chris Van Allsburg families will be able to enjoy cookies and as anyone who has read the book and seen the movie knows Spaces on the trolley are limited and restricted to York residents Registration is underway for $25 per person The 45-minute rides will start in the York Wild Animal Kingdom’s parking lot on Railroad Avenue York’s Gingerbread House Competition set for Dec 7Those with a knack for tasty décor will want to enter the town’s Gingerbread House Competition on Saturday and all entries can be dropped off at the York Town Hall between 11 a.m The public can view the gingerbread houses at the town hall and cast votes for their favorites between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m The houses must be built entirely with edible ingredients Prizes will be awarded in five categories: Best in Show Most Attention to Detail and Most Unique Ingredient There are four categories for participants: ages 5-8; ages 9-12; ages 13-17; and ages 18 and older Yorks Park and Recreation and two local businesses Festival of Lights Parade to illuminate YorkThe town’s Festival of Lights Parade will be held on Saturday The parade will begin at Foster’s Clambake at 5 Axholme Road and end at Village Elementary School at 124 York Street Local businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate in the parade Honors will be bestowed for Best Children’s Float Best Business and Best Community Organization Float The Wreaths Across America convoy will pass through York on its way from northern Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Monday People are invited to cheer on the passing convoy from the front lawn of the York Parks and Recreation Department at 200 U.S the convoy typically drives by its office mid-morning People are encouraged to check in on the department’s Facebook page in the weeks ahead for exact timing 'Holiday Red Carpet Extravaganza' puts spotlight on York talentThe Center for Active Living will hold a talent show “Holiday Red Carpet Extravaganza,” in the York Community Auditorium at York High School at 1 Robert Stevens Drive on Friday “This is our first venture into showcasing local talent on the big stage and we can’t wait for you to see what our amazing community has to offer,” a representative of the center said and so much more — performed by talented residents of York!” The Seacoast Wind Ensemble will perform a concert in the York Community Auditorium at the high school on Sunday although the York Arts Company will be on hand to accept donations to support local theatrical and musical programming “We’d love to have people come and join us for one event or all of them “We’re hoping to build the community through these events.” visit York Parks and Recreation’s website at yorkparksandrec.org or call (207) 363-1040 My wife and I have gotten into the habit of taking a walk down to the beach early in the morning every day and it turned out to be one of the best moves in our over 50 years of marriage this tradition now encompasses the entire year The only thing that stops us is when it rains and tidal waves could also put a strain on our tradition we passed an elderly gentleman walking his dog rather tall gentleman whose back is straight He had a gray beard that seemed to form a point from his chin kind of reminding me of Don Quixote of "Man of la Mancha" fame steady stride that made him seem like he had nowhere to go He wore a hooded sweatshirt under a thick coat and held a rather large walking stick to mark his trail His dog walked by his side wearing what looked like a thick coat of his own His dog seemed to be a mirror image of his owner because it also stood and walked in a straight line not running off to explore what the beach had to offer The two gave the image of age and stability on a beach that always does the same We passed this gentleman throughout the rest of the fall and into the winter months Why don’t you volunteer to tell us how you got so old I imagined he must have led a very successful life His appearance was that of a learned man who was probably a professional of some kind He looked like he could have been a professor I started to imagine he could have been a stockbroker who worked on Wall Street He could have become disillusioned by the greed and corruption of times gone by and decided to spend the rest of his life walking the beach with his companion to clear his mind and possibly soul He could have been a fisherman who spent his years on the ocean only to have his years force him to go ashore I wonder if his dog spent the same time on the seas sitting next to his owner Maybe he is a writer attempting to get the juices of his imagination flowing to produce words that people want to read Could he have been a priest or rabbi questioning his faith by quietly contemplating nothing more important than himself My mind started to wander through what this gentleman was like when he was very young He must have had a wonderful and stable family growing up because this time in his life defined stability He also must have been the head of a wonderful family My wife and I passed this gentleman throughout the entire winter I remember him slightly waving to us in acknowledgment that we spent this short time together on the beach Maybe he didn’t like the hustle and bustle of a summer beach He probably just knew it was time to leave We are continuing that tradition through the summer and hopefully into our future I look for this gentleman with his faithful dog wondering Jim Fabiano is a retired teacher and writer living in York Realtor Joseph Itaaliander said he could not elaborate on why the sale did not close at 1 Railroad Ave The property went under contract this summer with the sale pending for several months The York Beach staple has been on the market since January The price was eventually reduced to its current listing of $695,000 has run the building as a breakfast place since 1976 and the restaurant stayed open until its final season in 2022 the Purple Palace advertised a special of sausage More: Foreclosure auctions for York Beach Surf Club, Sea Latch Inn delayed Rosenfield filed a lawsuit against Wilson in 2023 alleging in York Superior Court she agreed to sell him the building and the business Wilson alleged in court filings she never agreed to sell the building and that Rosenfield failed to make payments Rosenfield has since said he is no longer associated with the Purple Palace as his grandmother attempts to sell it He said this week the "litigation is over." The real estate listing advertises the building as being on the market for the first time in 41 years The space is 1,618 square feet and is described as “a prime location” near Short Sands Beach “In the heart of the York Beach Commercial District this property has fantastic visibility with heavy foot and car traffic,” the listing reads Business owners are watching for news of the sale who manages Molly O’s next door to the Purple Palace said a closed business does not help tourism at the beach She said it would be disappointing for the restaurant to stay closed again for a third summer next year There are 13 questions that will go before voters on Nov Here’s a look at the key articles on the referendum ballot: The expansion was approved with the condition no additional aging whiskey barrels be stored in the new construction Residents opposing the project gathered 127 signatures to put an article on the ballot limiting where distilleries can be placed in town The new ordinance would require distillery structures to be located at least 200 feet from any lot line and 400 feet from any dwelling unit argue the petition directly targets their local business While it would not prevent their current operation they claim it would hinder any future expansion or modification "The people who put this through have said we are grandfathered from it and we are absolutely not," said Amanda Woods whose husband and father-in-law started the distillery and improve (will) remain stagnant and will shut down." The Woods family said their distillery will not grow large enough to cause the whiskey fungus associated with massive distillers in Kentucky and Tennessee Residents behind the petition insist it aims to prevent future distilleries from being established near residential neighborhoods said he and his neighbors believe the regulations are necessary in York we are aware of the impact distilleries and aging warehouses of whiskey have on neighborhoods and areas,” Razzaboni said “While this is not targeted at Wiggly Bridge it’s really about the future so if York becomes a popular destination for distilleries in the future we will have some commonsense guidelines in place." Selectboard member Marla Johnson voted against the article Voters will be asked under Article 13 to approve the $4 million purchase of 42.35 acres of shorefront property on Long Sands Beach is offering to sell the land to the town to ensure it remains public in perpetuity Town officials and the Norton family say a private property owner could eventually fence off the sand if residents do not approve the purchase Some residents have questioned the necessity of the purchase The Selectboard negotiated the purchase with the Norton family before placing it on the November ballot Selectman Robert Palmer said the fact Supreme Court arguments focused merely on walking through the intertidal zone then that wouldn’t really help the Long Sands (beachgoers) We want people to be able to sunbathe there." the town owns only a small strip of sand that provides access to the intertidal zone if the Norton land is eventually fenced off by a future owner This strip is located by the Long Sands bathhouse The Nortons stated that the town first approached them in 2015 about buying the land A second town-conducted appraisal valued the property at just $43,000 based on the assumption the land was unusable for most development purposes this appraisal was later invalidated by a third-party review and replaced by a third appraisal commissioned by the town valuing the property at $4.3 million — higher than the negotiated price for the ballot brings the total cost to taxpayers to $5.2 million 'People love it': York aims to make outdoor dining rules permanent After a lengthy process of gathering public feedback the new zoning is going before the voters under Article 1 The total land originally envisioned for rezoning was approximately 300 acres between Route 1 and Short Sands Beach where town Planning Director Dylan Smith said residents were concerned their neighborhoods would become too urbanized with commercial activity The section along Short Sands Road would be rezoned to encourage more construction and uses similar to what is found on Railroad Avenue The area also includes wetlands and natural scenery that would become protected from development under the new zoning could be evaluated for more uses under the proposed Greenway District but park general manager Samantha Sauls said zoning has Smith said developers would still need to meet strict conditions that keep any new construction within a certain character kind of the whole idea and concept was to take York Beach village downtown and move that towards Route 1,” Smith said earlier in the rezoning process in May Preserving York Village: Why town hopes zoning change will save downtown which proposes allowing municipal use docks along all the town’s waterways and FEMA’s 100-Year Floodplains enabling the construction of a new public paddle craft dock on the York River Article 6 seeks to modify the language regarding the rules for the Board of Appeals’ review process while Article 7 clarifies language in the Open Space Conservation Subdivision application zoning ordinance Article 8 would set standards for permitting municipal use of wharves or changes to existing structures would require approval from the Harbor Board proposing to reduce the minimum square footage requirement for floor areas from 900 to 190 square feet allowing tiny homes as residential dwellings in all town zones Smith explained that the rising popularity of tiny homes has not particularly made its way to York; rather the town is meeting a state law requirement that permits tiny homes wherever single-family dwellings are allowed Tiny homes would require a minimum of 3 acres of land Other articles include Article 10, which asks voters to take ownership of Steedman Woods Article 9 aims to provide relief to residents with low to modest incomes by removing the $450 tax credit cap in the Tax Relief Ordinance while Article 11 proposes reducing the number of Recycling Committee members from nine to seven due to difficulties in maintaining full membership Maine — Two hotels and a vacant lot prime for development at Long Sands Beach will go to auction this month one of the properties facing foreclosure for the third time Auctioneer Stef Keenan said the Surf Club will be auctioned onsite at 11 a.m. followed by the auction at the Sea Latch at 2 p.m The Surf Club is estimated at $5.5 million Keenan said the three properties are owned by LLCs involving Taylor Perkins, who has expressed his goal of making the York Beach Surf Club a premier destination at Long Sands Beach Perkins did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday Keenan said Tuesday he could not share whether Perkins will be able to do the same this time but he expects the auctions to proceed as planned “It’s looking like a high probability we will get to sale,” Keenan said The three properties up for auction this month were previously owned by the Poulin family The York Beach Surf Club property at 780 York St was previously home to York Harbor Motel & Cottages and was used for tourism for almost a century Perkins and his father Sonny, a renowned local surfer, bought the Surf Club property in 2020 They then bought the Sea Latch Inn at 277 Long Beach Ave according to a website for the Surf Company The vacant lot at 11 Webber Road is near the Sea Latch Perkins and his company transformed the Surf Club property with architecture influenced by surfing including using repurposed surfboards in its construction It also included an oceanfront lawn space with a raw oyster and cocktail bar named the Rolling Pearl The major renovations and construction at the Surf Club property were not without financial challenges Court documents from 2021 revealed that York Beach Surf Club LLC defaulted on three outstanding loans to Kennebunk Savings Bank the auction was ultimately canceled after the Surf Club successfully refinanced Perkins stated he was working on refinancing and expected the auction would not proceed with auctioneer Keenan confirming he was notified that the auction was no longer necessary More: Dueling studies clash in Wiggly Bridge Distillery whiskey fungus debate in York Keenan said the ability to purchase all three properties in one day is a rare opportunity at Long Sands Beach where land is often owned for generations by one family A $100,000 deposit is required to bid on either of the hotels while the 11 Webber Road auction requires a $25,000 deposit “Getting onto the Maine coast is not an easy thing to do.” The Wednesday earthquake occurred at 3:15 a.m. with the epicenter located about 9 kilometers southeast of York Harbor less than two-thirds of a mile from the epicenter of Monday’s 3.8 magnitude earthquake More: 3.8 magnitude earthquake off York, Maine coastline rattles Seacoast University of New Hampshire professors and earthquake experts previously advised any aftershocks to Monday’s event would likely not be noticeable you don’t know if this is even the main shock,” Majid Ghayoomi a UNH professor of civil and environmental engineering “It could be the shaking before the main event From Tuesday: Earthquake in Maine, NH: Will there be aftershocks? How rare was it? Experts explain you probably wouldn’t even feel the aftershock if this was the main event,” Ghayoomi said of Monday’s earthquake Even for the range of magnitude we had for this earthquake I wouldn’t think anyone would even feel an aftershock “We would typically expect aftershocks to be smaller than the ‘mainshock’ event so if there are aftershocks from this event over the next hours or days they may be small enough that we don't actually feel them,” said Sophie Coulson assistant professor of earth sciences at the University of New Hampshire “Aftershocks happen as the rock that has been displaced in the main earthquake slowly settles and readjusts afterwards.” The aftershock’s epicenter was 9.9 kilometers below the ocean surface which occurred 13.2 kilometers below Atlantic waters Details: cache-fra-eddf8230158-FRA 1746512410 1253283868 YORK (WGME) -- The head of York Beach Ocean Rescue has officially resigned Jeffrey Patten told CBS13 in July he'd resign if the town didn't address safety concerns at the beach His major issue was blatant and excessive drinking of alcohol Patten also wanted York Beach Ocean Rescue to fall under the supervision of the fire department Patten announced his resignation on Monday He had been a rescue instructor for 30 years Around 30,000 people visit York Beach each summer Quebecois surfer Tom Cantin said he comes down here a couple of times a year with his family and friends he said the beach is subdued and pretty lowkey it's mostly surfers; so people that are here for the sport they're not here for the party," said Cantin it's families like the crowd you see [on the beach] right now." "What we're trying to do is we're trying to get open drinking suppressed here at York," said Patten "The data on open drinking is the people that open drink He said the reason he's speaking out is to protect his lifeguards Patten described a water rescue last year where his lieutenant guard was almost knocked off her rescue board by a person whom Patten said was drunk "If you're waiting for an incident of alcohol what you're waiting for one of several things," said Patten you're waiting for someone passed out on the beach and those things put my lifeguards at risk And that should be the focus of this issue." drinking on a public beach is generally against some form of law enforcement depends on what state and even what town you're in In New Hampshire, Public drinking isn't formally banned — at least, on the state level. But if you're caught with alcohol on Rye Beach just south of Portsmouth, you could get tagged immediately with a $50 fine. Rye Police Deputy Chief Scott Blaisdell said that's because of a strict ordinance passed by the town "It's a no-tolerance policy," said Blaisdell or other times on-duty officers will get out there and do it … if they happen to see people violating the the open container policy "Basically we tell our officers if they're blatantly openly drinking and it's obvious we're going to deal with it," Spofford said "But we're certainly not going down and checking what people have in their cups and stuff like that — unless their actions alert us to either they're being disorderly or doing anything like that." Spofford said the department tries to be proactive by using reserve officers to patrol the sands But with the region suffering from a shortage of police personnel he said it's the second year in a row where the department has no reserve officers Spofford said a couple of officers on bicycles and in vehicles are dispatched to patrol along the beach's main road Lifeguards are equipped with radios connected to dispatch who can quickly summon those patrolling officers to respond to any incidents Parking along Long Sands is limited to a single lane of street parking which York town manager Peter Joseph says discourages tailgates and similar drinking events Joseph says York's beaches are mostly used by families where drinking hasn't proven to be a big problem but it's a very low concern compared to a lot of the things that we're seeing just day to day we're probably seeing more safety violations at the beaches from things like dogs and you know trips and falls and traffic safety in the crosswalk," Joseph said Spofford and the police department said they have not seen an increase evidenced in their reporting "Problems dictate where we set our presence if all of a sudden we have an uptick in problems at the beach But our statistics aren't showing that," Spofford said Spofford said the department received three calls for service regarding to public drinking — all amounting to warnings While there's a chance that the informal nature of public drinking may result in underreporting Spofford said the department at one time experimented with tighter enforcement this included officers searching people's coolers and cups for alcohol They soon abandoned the practice after getting negative feedback from residents "They didn't really appreciate a police state on the beach like that while they're with their families enjoying the beach then quite frankly it and made some of them nervous [and asking] why all these officers are down at the beach," he said Some beachgoers also don't believe York Beach has a problem with public drinking said he has an alcohol use disorder and has been coming to York Beach for over 40 years He's been sober for decades but said he's okay with those at the beach who aren't I've been out here for a couple of hours on the beach Law enforcement is not the only way to deal with public drinking at the beach the town of Scarborough launched a pilot program to hire and train three full-time seasonal park rangers to patrol their unguarded beaches Besides protecting the piping plover population director of community services for Scarborough said the park rangers use an educational approach when they see any open drinking they just go educate them on [it like] 'Hey please and thank you.' … If your behavior matches the environment Souza said the program has been successful but it's not cheap with $25,000 being allocated in Scarborough's town budget to cover salary and training Souza said he does not think using volunteers to do the work would be effective — as staying on message is vital to avoiding confrontation "You know how hard it is to keep somebody in the loop that works eight hours a month so it's always a chance for a message to be different and then that's where people usually get mad," Souza said Because the ocean rescue team does not record drinking incidents the evidence Patten has put forward about the increase in public drinking is anecdotal — consisting of his expert opinion and photos he's personally taken of beachgoers with alcohol at the beach Patten has repeatedly cited a drowning in 2019 at York Beach as being alcohol-related saying the victim had been in a group where others were too inebriated to warn him "We viewed that — the Parks and Rec Department [for the town of York] viewed that — as an alcohol-related incident because that drinking took place all day," he said a copy of the police investigation report obtained from York Town Hall does not support this making no mention of anyone in the group being intoxicated Patten said it's only a matter of time before a lifeguard gets hurt it's like the alcoholic before he can go [to rehab] And the town is saying 'We don't have a problem.'" Patten said his lifeguards plan on sending a letter to York's select board to request action After a magnitude 3.8 earthquake hit off the coast of York videos have started to emerge showing the earthquake in action New Hampshire 911 did not receive any calls about injury or damage as of 10:45 a.m. nor did officials in Portsmouth and Kittery residents across Maine and New Hampshire and as far south as Rhode Island reported feeling the shake What to know: 3.8 magnitude earthquake off York, Maine coastline rattles Seacoast Monday morning's earthquake originated off the southeast coast of York Harbor York Harbor is about 10 miles north of the New Hampshire border More: Earthquake maps: See where Maine earthquake epicenter was, seismic intensity map Monday's earthquake is being measured at 3.8 on the magnitude scale According to Michigan Tech, earthquake magnitudes between 2.5-5.4 are often felt but typically only cause minor damage Earthquake magnitudes measured at 7.0 and higher are considered major earthquakes How common are earthquakes in NH?New Hampshire has a moderate earthquake risk based on its position in the North American plate: according to a 2019 fact sheet from the NH Department of Environmental Services there have been 65 earthquakes above magnitude 2.1 since 1638 New Hampshire's earthquake risk rating is based on frequency rather than intensity While earthquakes in New Hampshire tend to be smaller there have been similar magnitude earthquakes in the past such as a 4.0 magnitude quake in Southern Maine in 2012 and another near Laconia in 1982 The strongest earthquakes with an epicenter in New Hampshire in state history happened four days apart in December of 1940 Owner Jimmy Asprogiannis plans to demolish the existing six-unit building and replace it with a new eight-unit motel structure The project will also feature a new single-unit building for the innkeeper’s residence Asprogiannis has been navigating the Planning Board process since last winter and is enthusiastic about updating the Grand View for the first time in years “Just bringing it to what today’s traveler and vacationer and families are looking for,” Asprogiannis said “There hasn’t been any updates down that end of the beach for quite a while.” The Grand View has been serving guests for more than 50 years who also owns Inn on the Blues at Short Sands Beach More: York picks location for new community center with a $39.4M price tag The Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the project on Oct the board asked Asprogiannis for a stormwater prevention plan to be included in the application before its approval The beach suffered serious flooding in January from back-to-back storms Residents who spoke in the application’s public hearing said they were concerned about stormwater runoff from the property as well Asprogiannis’ team provided the plan to the board in May To address a concern from a neighboring property owner they also included a wall in the plan to prevent the motel’s decks and lighting from overlooking her property according to Geoff Aleva of Civil Consultants “She testified she was happy,” Planning Board member Peter Smith told Aleva at the Oct Aleva said they were also looking to alleviate concerns regarding any future changes to the use of the innkeeper’s residence Residents were concerned previously that the building could be used as a standalone residential property as part of a condo association if sold to a new owner or if it could be converted to another hotel unit Aleva told the board they learned zoning would prohibit those changes based on lot sizes He told board members the application’s language would be changed to reflect that the unit will solely be used as an innkeeper’s residence More: York Beach's Purple Palace back on the market after deal falls through Asprogiannis said Tuesday he was excited about the approval He said this year his team has been working to get the Planning Board everything it needs while talking with neighbors about their future plans He said engaging with the abutters has been amicable “I just wanted input to see what they would like to see as well as make sure that it’s a neighborly vision.” Asprogiannis said he is going to pull permits for construction as soon as possible He previously said he hoped to be open for 2025 but he said he expects the work to extend beyond next summer Asprogiannis has invested in York since he purchased the Inn on the Blues at Short Sands Beach in 2017 He previously owned restaurants in New Hampshire and Maine including Mama Lena’s Pizzeria in Stratham Asprogiannis said Long Sands Beach is for a different type of tourist Families tend to come for longer stays at Long Sands as opposed to weekenders I’m just long-term invested in York,” Asprogiannis said YORK, Maine — York’s lifeguards say they stand by York Beach Ocean Rescue Chief Jeff Patten, who has threatened to resign over what he calls “open drinking” on the beach said that she submitted a letter to York Town Manager Peter Joseph this week backing Patten’s claim that drinking at York Beach has been overlooked She recounted instances of patrons bringing cases of alcohol onto the beach with some even boldly offering her a drink while she was on duty “Clearly a lack of enforcement has allowed patrons to feel comfortable openly drinking on the beach,” Dutil said “Even to the point where underage kids are being offered drinks.” The letter was signed not only by Dutil but by the entire lifeguard crew Town officials have disagreed with Patten’s assertion drinking is causing problems on the beach Police Chief Owen Davis said his department’s statistics do not show a high volume of calls to the beach over drinking on the sand saying the Fourth of July saw 639 calls for service only one of which was for drinking in public Dutil said the numbers are not telling the full story given what she sees on the beach She said she hopes the town will listen to Patten by cracking down on drinking or she said she may leave her job next summer “I don’t think I would come back if Jeff doesn’t come back,” Dutil said York County real estate: 2 homes sell for near-record $8.4M as median price hits $553,700 Lifeguards’ letter backs up claims of 'belligerent' drunk beachgoersDutil said she wrote the letter to Joseph working with her fellow guards on the message She wrote that York Beach Ocean Rescue means a lot to her and that she and other guards take pride in keeping others safe daily Dutil backed up Patten's claims that drinking on the beach has become a problem “We often get complaints from families with young children about the boisterous behavior that comes with excessive drinking,” Dutil wrote Dutil provided examples of how alcohol exacerbated situations on the beach She described one instance of seeing a person swimming at an unsafe distance from shore with lifeguards enforcing the rule that beachgoers must stay close enough to stand on the sand “A visibly intoxicated man stumbled out of the water and aggressively yelled at me for calling him back to shore,” Dutil wrote She mentioned Patten intervened and helped defuse the situation She noted that if she had needed to swim out and rescue the man it could have been dangerous for both of them In a separate incident at Short Sands Beach Dutil recounted she and another guard spotted a man swimming far out into the water The two guards took a rescue board and swam out to him the man grabbed onto and aggressively shook the rescue board while threatening to drown our guard,” Dutil wrote “He emerged from the water acting belligerent and smelling of alcohol.” Dutil stated lifeguards put themselves at risk by entering the water and “people who drink on the beach and make poor decisions force their staff into potentially dangerous situations that could otherwise be mitigated.” She wrote that she believes increased police presence is needed to help address drinking on the beach “It saddens and disappoints the entire staff that the town has not formulated a plan to address this issue,” Dutil wrote “It’s unfortunate that Jeff has to conditionally resign from his position for this issue to bring about the attention it deserves to ensure the safety of our staff and patrons.” Sale pending: York Beach's Purple Palace finds potential buyer amid family dispute The town's Selectboard has not discussed drinking on the beach since Patten raised the issue this summer wrote a letter that was read during public comment at the Selectboard meeting Monday night "Is there a plan being formulated to address lack of enforcement on our beach ordinances?" the letter read "The regular non-compliance with them appears not only to be putting our lifeguards and visitors' safety in jeopardy but also tarnishing the reputation York has as a family-friendly beach town." Selectboard members did not respond to the letter read during the board's second citizens forum Monday Selectboard Chair Todd Frederick stated he has not received any direct complaints about drinking at the beach that drinking on the beach does not appear to be an issue someone would contact me or law enforcement," Frederick said "We're not hearing that from the Police Department Davis said the Police Department does not have call data that reflects drinking is a serious problem He said his department responds to every call reporting intoxication and works closely with lifeguards to address problems on the beach He said his department maintains a presence at the beach He said the department also has to cover Route 1 and that officers do what they can to cover the more than 50 square miles of land in York “The allegations that we’re just waiting for something to happen is unequivocally untrue,” Davis said Davis said when people are confronted about drinking He said his department does not have the ancillary issues other communities have associated with drinking on the beach like fighting and we are a great community to come visit.” Patten said he wishes the town had taken more immediate action to address drinking on the beach since he submitted his conditional resignation letter on July 15 Patten stated that he was not involved with the letter written by the lifeguards but expressed pride in them for speaking up He hopes they do not intend to follow his lead in quitting he said he would still continue to support and work with them “I have no idea what the town will keep me from doing,” Patten said “But I’ll do everything in my power to be on this beach protecting the residents that swim here.” Maine — Joe Lipton walked along his newly renovated Nevada Motel with its third-story addition as a neighbor called from her deck to give him well wishes everybody’s happy,” Lipton yells back to the woman who hollered in response she has “watched the whole process” of revitalizing the 1950s-era motel “That’s what it’s been like this whole time,” Lipton said having just completed the project after two years of planning and construction offering 21 rooms overlooking Long Sands Beach The motel includes York’s newest tiki restaurant which will soon be open to more than just hotel guests The project brings the original Nevada Motel back to life after it was sold by the family of its original owner imitating the flybridge of a battleship like the one on which de la Pena served More: York lifeguard chief says police won't stop beach drinking, threatens to resign New are the modern amenities added by Lipton and Friar as well as a raising of the first floor and a new interior for access to the second and third-floor rooms rather from the outside like a traditional motel Rooms have also been made more spacious because of the third-story expansion allowing each unit to be bumped out to more square footage The room count was also reduced by two to make those units more spacious The hallways of the Nevada feature acrylic and digital artwork from two local artists The front lawn of the motel was once open grass and now features gardens The Nevada will feature a shuttle service exclusively for guests to the ViewPoint Hotel on Nubble Road so guests can enjoy the outdoor restaurant A Little Auk Those staying at the ViewPoint will also have access to the shuttle to get to the Nevada which is only a short walk from the couple’s third hotel and restaurant Lipton said the project at the Nevada was about revitalizing one of Long Sands Beach’s iconic structures and preventing it from being turned into residential units “Keeping the feeling of the Nevada and giving it a rebirth,” Lipton said A Sweet spot: New candy shop opens at York Beach named for Lipton and Friar’s daughter Lydia and her childhood nickname Tiki-style restaurants and décor became popular in the 1950s and Lipton said the Pacific Rim theme went well with the Nevada’s naval element Lulu’s focuses less on imagery like native tiki masks and more on the connection between food and nature rice and noodle bowls and al pastor – pork cooked vertically rotating underneath a pineapple from which juice flows down Lipton said Lulu’s is open to hotel guests but still needs approval from the Planning Board to be open to the public he said he is giving out one-day complimentary guest passes so visitors can get a taste of Lulu’s and now they’re guests of the hotel,” Lipton said “And they can come in and enjoy the restaurant.” Now having three hotels with accompanying restaurants Lipton and Friar say they plan to take a break from new projects for at least one year to enjoy what they’ve accomplished They said they still intend to finish the spa at the ViewPoint this year That project will be completed by late August or early September Lipton and Friar say they have focused on projects they thought would not only be successful but also places they would hang out themselves Lipton said he does not know what opportunity will present itself next but he said he has been motivated to open businesses that add to the community where he has lived since he was 8 years old what are we creating in the community that’s going to be here after we’re gone,” Lipton said Maine — A well-known landscaping and gardening business on Route 1 is turning a new leaf as it welcomes a new owner who plans to transform it into a hub for farm-raised beef and fresh produce Coastal Landscaping and Garden Center, a fixture in the community for 40 years, has been sold to Tom Dunn, owner of Stoney Brook Landscaping and Stoney Brook Farm Stand features beef and produce from his family’s farm Now the garden center will bear the name Stoney Brook as Dunn prepares to move his farm stand there The current farm stand will close on March 31 to prepare for its reopening on April 4 at 941 U.S Longtime owners David and Carol Bridges are confident the business is in good hands “I can’t think of anybody any better we could give it to.” Dunn said he has plans to bring food trucks to the garden center and eventually add a café. He also said he hopes to go to the town Planning Board for approval to bring animals to the business for families to enjoy “I’m looking to make it an experience,” Dunn said “We’re kind of looking to take it to the next level.” 'I feel absolutely amazing': York mom donates kidney to save son Coastal Landscaping and Garden Center in business for 40 yearsDavid Bridges, also a former York Beach Fire Department chief has been in landscaping since he was 9 years old so it felt natural that he and his wife opened Coastal Landscaping and Garden Center in the 1980s he said it was time to look forward to other things in life He and Carol put the business on the market three years ago He said they had hoped that a buyer would come along who would keep the business open and running “I would much rather that it be left a garden center for the people of York,” he said That was our next step if we didn’t have success with this sale.” Dunn said he has known David and Carol Bridges since he was a student at Quinnipiac University studying for a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship Dunn also has a love for landscaping and hoped to open his own business after college He interviewed Bridges as part of his studies 22 years ago Dunn said his family wanted to wait to save up some money before reaching out he described the connection with Bridges as seemingly cosmic “It’s kind of divine intervention,” Bridges said More: York High School seeks $3.5M to upgrade outdated science labs New Garden Center to sell Stoney Brook productsDunn said Stoney Brook’s mission is to sell quality food to the people of York He said many grocery store meats are only hung for two days “To go in with a smaller butcher that really cares about the finished product they’re providing me has been very valuable,” Dunn said Dunn said he intends to keep selling the same annuals that customers have come to know from Coastal Landscaping and Garden Center “All the staples we’ll continue with,” Dunn said he said the plan is to add interesting tropical plants as well that can be harder to grow He also said they are adding organic soils and fertilizers that will soon be available “We’re going to really try to find that little niche and really stick to some of those industry-specific plants that are just harder to come by,” Dunn said David Bridges said he will stay on with Stoney Brook to help them get their plans off the ground He also has plenty of longtime customers who want to say goodbye before he leaves I’ve got a lot of customers that want to be able to see me.” More: York Beach's ViewPoint Hotel named one of Time’s 'World’s Greatest Places' in 2025 00:10 Earthquake shakes York Harbor Beach Maine shook after a magnitude 3.8 earthquake shook New England on Monday morning Maine — A fire destroyed a three-bay commercial garage shortly after midnight on Feb York Village Fire Lt. Mac Poulin said firefighters got the call at 12:01 a.m. and responded to 76 Birch Hill Road to find a “heavily involved” blaze “The building was a total loss,” Poulin said on Monday morning it appears that a wood-burning appliance was the cause Fire officials remained on the scene midmorning on Monday to investigate and extinguish any remaining hot spots The garage was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no firefighters were injured in the incident The two-alarm fire drew a large mutual aid response In addition to firefighters from York Village and York Beach and Pease Fire and Emergency Services in Newington Firefighters from Kennebunk and Portsmouth Maine — A local man is facing charges of terrorizing and reckless conduct after he allegedly fired a gun at a neighbor and two boats at York Beach on Friday night York police responded to the area of Long Beach Avenue and Webber Road at 9:56 p.m upon receiving a report of someone being shot at “The caller advised that they were outside when the neighbor shot a gun in her direction and she heard it fly past her head,” Cryan said in a York police press release on Monday “There were also other people outside at the time and they all took cover in fear of being shot.” as the neighbor suspected of firing the shots Cryan said a neighbor identified Ricker to the police and indicated the house into which Ricker had entered Cryan said Ricker was arrested in 2018 on charges of domestic violence and criminal threatening with a weapon "He's got some history with behavior," Cryan said "We've probably gotten about 30 calls to that house over the years." Cryan said Ricker was the only one inside the residence at the time of the incident Ricker had in his possession a Umarex USA Legends Replica MP40 Rifle that “shot high-velocity pellets and .177 projectiles.” Ricker was within 300 yards of his neighbors when he shot the pellet round Ricker also was within 300 yards of the two offshore boats at which he is suspected of firing There were no injuries and no reported damage at the time of the incident Cryan said Ricker first gave the impression that he had just gotten the gun and was trying it out Cryan then said Ricker also might have gotten annoyed by having an Airbnb in the residence next door to him "He has changed his story a few times," Cryan said Ricker was transported to the York County Jail in Alfred and was arraigned on Monday YORK, Maine — An eyesore of a building near the town’s “gateway” to the beach could be up for the taking as town officials consider having the Blinn House removed or demolished The two-family home on the corner of Route 1 and Short Sands Road has a dilapidated exterior, though its walls still contain some well-preserved timber, according to Town Manager Peter Joseph. York Selectboard members asked him on Feb 10 to look at several options for getting rid of the building including offering it for free to someone who might drag it off the property The town has owned the property since 2011 when it purchased three lots in that section of town to construct Short Sands Road connecting the beach to Route 1. The recent rezoning of the land in that area, now known as the York Beach Greenway District has opened more opportunities for future construction on the land Selectboard Chair Todd Frederick said the future use of the land is not the immediate concern for the board He said the eyesore alone is enough to warrant action by the board “Can we please have this for discussion and figure it out once and for all?” Frederick asked the board in their last meeting York Beach's Purple Palace sold: New owner has big plans for former breakfast spot Officials said the home was solidly built over many years by Blinn The total property was assessed for $896,100 at the time the town asked real estate broker Greg Gosselin to put the building and four acres up for sale for $875,000 to be marketed for commercial rather than residential use Then-selectwoman Kinley Gregg suggested at the time that covenants be placed on the property to make sure its use in the future reflects its location as the “gateway to the beach.” the site drew interest from a prominent restaurateur whose name he could not reveal for confidentiality reasons He said it was imagined for a wedding venue and events center He advised the town to add acreage to the lot so more parking could be added “I honestly believe that property had great potential without being torn down in 2012,” Gosselin said Gosselin recalled members of the Selectboard were not unanimous in favor of selling the land He said there was also concern about wetlands at the time “The town didn’t want to do anything with the property at the time They wanted to ensure everything was kind of put to bed before they started breaking off additional land,” Gosselin said Million-dollar question: Do York voters want to save historic Cliff Walk? Selectboard members recalled others interested in the Blinn House over the years at their Feb Frederick and Selectman Robert Palmer said it was once eyed by the York Art Association Selectman Mike Estes said the owner of the nearby sports complex was interested in bringing the building itself onto his property at one point as well The building has some nice features inside which he said can be deceptive to those trying to determine its value to the town and that the chimney’s brickwork is “amazing.” The home has been vandalized by people who have entered the building the rodent presence was not as significant as he feared “The amount of detail work that’s gone to waste because of the condition it's been kept in is a shame,” Joseph said Board members agreed the building should be addressed in some form “I don’t think we can do nothing,” Selectboard member Marilyn McLaughlin said “Every time I stop at that light and look to my right Joseph suggested the board allow the Fire Department to use the building for a training burn Salvaging the building would be costly to the town while he said there is no expressed desire from current board members to sell the multi-million-dollar land Estes said he wanted to offer the building to the public to see if someone would like to remove it from the land He suggested that the land could be utilized for a future housing project similar to the one the town is considering at the former York district courthouse “It’s sitting on that piece of land that’s probably worth the five acres that it sits on … probably worth $2 million,” Estes said Known for his loving personality and dedication to guests, Mitchell died Oct. 27 after a sudden diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and liver failure. His son Andrew shared the news on a GoFundMe page that raised more than $17,000 in just one week “Dad/Dan passed away surrounded by friends and family in his inn in York Maine,” his son Andrew posted on the GoFundMe Mitchell’s symptoms appeared in 2024, a year after he and Cathy bought the Lynwood he was brought to the hospital for severe pain and dehydration He was rushed to the emergency room where his aggressive metastatic cancer was discovered affecting his pancreas Mitchell was not a candidate for chemotherapy He returned home to York and the Lynwood Inn under hospice care two days before he died “We were able to get Dad back home to York which is something he’s wanted so much,” his son wrote Oct he slept more soundly than we’ve seen for quite some time.” More: York Beach Grand View Hotel gains approval for major makeover Mitchell managed the Atlantic House Inn at York Beach and took his most recent position at the historic Lynwood Inn he served as area general manager for Capital Vacations overseeing two resorts in Kennebunk and Wells Mitchell attributed his passion for hospitality to his childhood his family welcomed Cuban refugees seeking a new life in the United States but they knew it was the right thing to do,” Mitchell said in a previous interview Cathy worked as a doula and owned a daycare for children with special needs Mitchell and Cathy collaborated from opposite coasts through mutual friends and professional peers Their bond eventually grew stronger and turned romantic Cathy said they considered themselves “partners in life and in business.” When Mitchell got the job as innkeeper for the Lynwood and he and Cathy fell in love with the Lynwood as well as the guests When the ownership group’s members were looking to retire in 2023 they couple purchased it with plans to upgrade its amenities while maintaining its historic features “This is an opportunity to enhance the glory of it even more,” Mitchell said at the time of owning the Lynwood Those close to Mitchell said they have been devastated by Mitchell’s sudden illness and death has survived cancer herself and said it was difficult to learn of Mitchell’s health problems “I’m so thankful for the time that Gary and I had last summer to sit and talk to Daniel and Cathy at the Lynwood Inn It was such a special time,” Griswold said in a post “Daniel and Cathy have always treated people with respect and kindness.” Griswold described Mitchell as someone who she said he would go to Short Sands Beach or the Nubble Lighthouse and take a photo or video to post online for everyone to see on the “Friends of York Beach” Facebook page He was also one of the moderators of the page and always encouraged people to remember to be cheerful and happy like “unicorns and rainbows.” If he took a video she said he often sang in it to wish folks a wonderful day he posted a picture of York Beach and wrote were what I call the best ambassadors of York Beach YORK, Maine — Sohier Park could see major renovations with new benches, greenery, parking and walking paths overlooking the iconic Nubble Lighthouse bringing thousands of people to Sohier Park each summer Storm damage and outdated amenities have the Parks and Recreation Committee members concerned about the health of the park They are proposing $3.6 million in improvements though they said $1.3 million is already available in the Sohier Park enterprise fund Murray said the hope is to avoid coming to the voters to help fund the project through a bond possibly through fundraising and gift shop revenue Selectboard members said they had not ruled out going to voters pending more information on what it will take to complete the project “I really like the project,” Selectboard member Robert Palmer said From GLOW to RISE: York’s holistic wellness hub marks 15-year milestone He said the intent is to improve pedestrian safety as well as help beautify the space Repairs to recent storm damage are part of the project and improvements to infrastructure would include new curbs “This is really a significant upgrade to the park and improvements of the park,” Richardson said Pedestrians are currently too close to traffic at Sohier Park on busy days New crosswalks and walking paths would be added so visitors have more room to stand safely and clarity on where is safe to walk “There are people who stand adjacent to where cars are parking,” Richardson said “There’s a lot of potential for pedestrian-automobile conflicts.” Richardson said the driveway that circles past the Nubble and back toward the entrance would be adjusted for better traffic flow the crosswalks would be raised to let drivers know to slow down He said the process would involve eliminating some parking so the number of spaces is not reduced during the tourist season “The math involves eliminating some of where they are now,” Richardson said “We’re netting significantly more parking.” A new bus loading zone would alleviate the need for buses to travel to the end of the Nubble Peninsula The plan also includes a proposal for an extended deck at the Nubble Light Gift Shop Beautification would include the addition of heavy benches that could withstand winter weather so guests could easily sit in grassy areas He also said that plants native to the region would be planted “The hope would be to move the plant pallet to be more indigenous and native to the coast of Maine,” Richardson said “Those are as beautiful as any ornamental plant when they’re combined properly.” More: NH and Maine lobstermen push back against new size rule amid economic fears Sohier Park Committee members present Monday said congestion has been a concern at the park Committee member Tony Knox pointed to the Nubble lighting ceremony that parks officials said in 2024 was not held due to safety concerns for capacity “The culture of safety back at the Lighting of the Nubble in the fall when everything became so unmanageable and a public safety problem “Building a culture of safety and a way to get people in with the least amount of fuss is a primary mover.” Murray and Sohier Park Committee members spoke with the Selectboard about ways to fund the project before going to voters Town Manager Peter Joseph suggested renting the park for private events charging a high rate to cover costs over the course of a few dates to turn it into an event mill,” Joseph said “A couple days a year of $100,000 a day for the most exclusive wedding in New England is just one idea.” Murray said any bond approved by voters could be covered by revenue from the gift shop “I don’t see why a town couldn’t bond something for 10 years and have you (the Sohier Park Committee) pay it back within 10 years’ time frame given the history of what’s happened at the shop,” Palmer said The meeting drew one voice concerned for the abutters around Sohier Park who has run Fox's Lobster House next to Sohier Park for 55 years expressing concern over a project she had only learned about a week ago which includes a new sidewalk and pedestrian access for Fox's had been planned without informing her or neighboring property owners Fox also said she opposed private bookings for Sohier Park to raise money for the project “We don’t want to be an exclusive club where people buy the Nubble for a certain amount of hours for a fundraiser,” Fox said Murray said committee members decided to present the project first to the Selectboard Board members were told the project would still require a long permitting process Selectboard Chair Todd Frederick said there would still be a long process in which community members can provide feedback “I would hope that through education and discussion that voters would see a reasonable reason to support to support the enhancement that we’re talking about,” Frederick said More: York board hits pause on cell tower proposal as residents rally to end dead zones by Mal Meyer but one York leader thinks it's gone too far and is raising the alarm he says he's willing to resign over it Jeffrey Patten has long overseen the lifeguards in town and is worried about their safety He says they see drinking all the time but it's not their place to enforce the law Patten first noticed the issue over a decade ago “I warned at the time if we don’t get a hold of this it would break into open drinking,” Patten said they have "been embarrassingly negligent in addressing it all." “I think the town needs to formulate a plan for dealing with it,” Patten said He's offering his conditional resignation asking for action and for the York Beach Ocean Rescue Service to fall under the fire department's supervision “I do understand the concerns that have been raised about water safety so we're kind of looking at it from that perspective,” York Town Manager Peter Joseph said But the town manager and police say they're not seeing problems related to excessive drinking “If the lifeguards have an issue and they see something happening down there We'll respond and we'll handle the situation,” said Lt The police department says its officers do look for any violations but often people are drinking covertly “Which makes it difficult for us to go down there We don’t have a right to go to everybody and go what do you have in your cup?'” Piskopanis said Long-time visitor John Sullivan thinks most people are respectful but I think if you’re respectful and you're careful it shouldn’t be that big of deal,” Sullivan said implementing something stricter like a zero-tolerance policy comes with its own drawbacks that’s not something we're really interested in,” Joseph said “The initial response from the town has been disappointing I would have loved to have seen a recognition and 'We're going to do something about this’” Patten said Patten says he will work through the rest of the summer As for getting his crew under the fire department the town manager says that's something that hasn't been explored before Maine — A $1.3 million Cape Neddick home was destroyed by fire Thursday night No one was injured but the structure is a “total loss,” according to York Beach Fire Chief Jeff Welch The cause of the fire remains under investigation Welch said the home at 2 Forest Hill Lane was “fully involved” with flames when firefighters arrived close to midnight Thursday York police had received a 911 call reporting the fire at 11:34 p.m but thankfully we have hydrants in that neighborhood,” Welch said Its exact appraisal according to the town is $1,291,300 He said there were at least 30 firefighters from York alone responding from the York Beach and York Village Fire Departments More: Kennebunkport police pursue ‘street takeover’ mobs. Video from blocked police cruiser “The town’s very fortunate to have the call staff,” Welch said York firefighters were assisted by departments from Ogunquit South Berwick and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Greenland and Rollinsford provided station coverage The fire took about two hours to knock down and then required an extensive overhaul to find remaining hot spots No one was found inside the home by firefighters York police stated the area of the home was secured in a press release and there is "no immediate threat to the public." "There is no ongoing risk to nearby residents or businesses," the press release stated A call to York police was not immediately returned Welch said the fire is being investigated by the Maine state fire marshal and York police who said they plan to conduct a "thorough investigation" into the fire Welch said it was too soon to know how or where the fire started “We don’t have any pinpoint of cause at this time.” YORK, Maine — Long Sands Beach’s newest tiki bar is open to the public after a holdup this summer in the restaurant’s approval process town officials required the restaurant to remain exclusive to hotel guests until a change of use was approved code enforcement informed Lipton that the restaurant could now open to the public The delay was due to a stream overlay district intended to protect a non-existent stream “They realized that they can now make a determination the stream never even existed,” Lipton said Lipton had been using guest day passes to give people access to Lulu’s while he awaited approval for the restaurant to be public he allowed people to request the passes so they could get full access to the hotel’s amenities Lulu’s is preparing to hold a celebration on Sept 8 with a live steel drum reggae band from 3 to 6 p.m commemorating the first summer open at the Nevada especially for the locals heading into September More: York to spruce up town with pop-up pocket parks for tourists and locals Lulu’s is one of three restaurants operated by Lipton and Friar at their three hotels. The other two are A Little Auk at the ViewPoint Hotel and Stones Throw which has both a restaurant and hotel rooms Lipton said he plans to offer a shuttle service between Long Sands Beach, where the Nevada and Stones Throw are located, and the ViewPoint on Nubble Road, which overlooks the Nubble Lighthouse After completing work on all three establishments in recent years he intends to take a break from major projects for a while “One of the things we really wanted to do was be able to share the Nevada and Lulu’s with the people York’s iconic Cliff Walk in jeopardy: Leaders weigh if costly repairs are worth doing Maine — The town's longtime chief lifeguard said he may leave his post at the end of the summer over what he described as town leadership turning a blind eye to blatant public drinking on the beach Jeff Patten said he has warned town officials for more than 10 years he was concerned about drinking on the beach He said it's common to see beachgoers walk onto the sand carrying boxes of Bud Light and Budweiser with the logo in plain sight Patten sent a letter to Town Manager Peter Joseph Monday stating he plans to resign at the end of the 2024 season if drinking on the beach is not addressed “You can never allow carte blanche open drinking and trust that people drink responsibly.” Patten also wrote the lifeguard department should be placed under the purview of the Fire Department say their call statistics do not reflect a problem with beach drinking York Police Chief Owen Davis said his department has received relatively few calls complaining about public drinking on the beach “I can tell you that not once has our department not answered a call for service down there,” Davis said “We’re just not getting the calls for service from citizens complaining about people drinking.” Pizza by Paras building demolished: Now what happens to York Beach spot? said he began to see more overt drinking on the beach about 13 years ago He pointed to emails and messages he has sent over the years One from 2011 to then-Parks director Mike Sullivan stated “drinking on the beach has become a much more prevalent issue” and that a lack of police response was the reason Lifeguards do not have the authority to issue citations or enforce town or state law “People are even starting to gather around the lifeguard stand and consume alcohol,” the email states it was usually someone who felt it was safer to be out of the sight of ocean rescue staff.” Patten again wrote to Sullivan complaining about young men “throwing beer on each other swearing and completely disrespecting any direction from the lifeguards.” He said when guards requested help from an officer on a bicycle he said the officer did not remove the individuals “because ‘he knew them from school.’” “Seems to be the same issue every summer,” Patten said “It would be nice if the summer officers could realize that if we call them down not watch as patrons verbally humiliate our staff.” Patten said he has continued to see drinking become more prevalent on the beach despite having voiced his concerns He described a recent incident in which he approached a group of people playing beer pong and asked them to stop He said he returned to find them still playing and was told they had replaced the cups with seawater Patten photographed another group last week playing with plastic cups on a table set up at Long Sands Beach It was unconfirmed whether alcohol was in the cups but Patten believes it was an indicator of York's reputation “The word is out on beer pong,” Patten said he is continually told not to report drinking to police unless an incident is underway He said he has seen police coverage at other beaches where law enforcement have cracked down on drinking on the beach early on to prevent incidents later in the day “Owen says we haven’t had any incidents,” Patten said Davis said he is aware that drinking occurs on the beach the department’s call data indicates public intoxication is not a serious problem in York He pointed to the Fourth of July weekend and said of the 639 calls for service in town “We received no other calls from any community members about issues stemming from drinking on the beach,” Davis said Davis confirmed Patten reported a table that appeared to be used for beer pong this summer but he said there was “no alcohol whatsoever.” “They were just trying to put a ping pong ball in a cup of seawater,” Davis said Davis said most people do not know that drinking on the beach is against the law or town ordinance Town Manager Peter Joseph said state law requires police to inform people drinking of the law then observe people drinking a second time before they take action Davis said interactions with the public have not escalated beyond the first encounter “People have been very compliant,” Davis said He said last year he and Assistant Town Manager Kathryn Lagasse walked on the beach and asked people what their concerns were “None of them identified (drinking) as a problem,” Davis said No one raised drinking on the beach as an issue.” Davis and Joseph also said limited resources are a factor Davis said police “can’t obviously catch every single person” drinking on the beach while Joseph said police weigh carefully how best to respond While Patten said he sees a growing number of open drinkers with beer logos visible on 30-rack containers saw 30 racks of beer strewn about the beach then we are absolutely going to go down there and handle that situation immediately,” Davis said More: Wiggly Bridge Distillery returns with new expansion plans amid whiskey fungus concerns Patten said he plans to finish out the season and would never leave his crew mid-summer he said it's important to take a stand in addressing what he believes is a problem He pointed to a drowning in 2019 at York Beach in which he said multiple witnesses corroborated the individual was in a group where heavy drinking occurred He fears that letting people drink on the beach could lead to more deaths if left unchecked including a danger to his guards who risk their own lives to save people in the water “I certainly don’t want any of my guards going into the water at an increased liability that they might not come out,” Patten said YORK, Maine — A former longtime York town clerk and the head of a regional shelter program have entered the race for a Selectboard seat The three candidates are vying to replace Mike Estes, who is stepping down after 15 years on the Selectboard to focus on state-wide work opportunities and his family Candidates have until March 18 to file to run for office in the upcoming election Szeniawski considered running for Selectboard shortly after retiring as town clerk stating at the time she was still "at the top of her game." This year she decided she was ready to re-enter local politics and run for the town’s executive board “I know the town and the town’s people,” Szeniawski said “I’m just hopeful that I can give back to the town.” who has been the executive director of the shelter program in Alfred since 2019 and has political experience said her family moved to York for its school system She hopes to help families stay in York by addressing the town’s lack of affordable housing “We need a whole continuum of housing for the system to work well,” Gean-Gendron said “I really think that we have some incredible opportunities in York to ensure that families can afford to live here.” More: York revives plan to turn old courthouse into affordable housing Szeniawski said no particular issue drew her to running she hopes to use her experience to help the board guide policy “I wouldn’t say I have any skin in the game,” Szeniawski said Describing herself as a fiscal conservative Szeniawski said that while the Budget Committee finalizes spending she hopes to assist the Selectboard in recommending a budget that benefits taxpayers Szeniawski has also served as a justice of the peace including at York’s iconic Nubble Lighthouse She is married to former York police chief Charles Szeniawski More: York Pickleball Club's scaled-down expansion tackles noise issues Gean-Gendron has been engaged in local politics in York since she and her family moved there 10 years ago Drawn by the school system and the charm of a small coastal town she convinced her parents to join them and live in an in-law apartment Her father previously served as executive director of the shelter program she now leads she has organized events like pasta dinners for the organization and served as the agency’s director of development and public relations from 2013 to 2016 Gean-Gendron worked as a political consultant on national fundraising for Gov Janet Mills’ campaign before becoming the executive director of the shelter program Gean-Gendron said she is concerned about the difficulty families face in staying in York due to its lack of affordability She believes her experience with the shelter equips her to help lead York toward the changes it needs to accommodate all levels of housing The organization owns and operates 121 units of affordable housing for formerly homeless individuals and families “I understand affordable housing,” Gean-Gendron said “And I understand how important the municipal leadership is in order to get that done.” The two most recent to file for Selectboard say they look forward to a healthy race against Martin a former engineer who has lived in town since 1993 Martin has chaired several building committees in town overseeing projects such as the construction of York High School’s music section and the recent renovation and addition to the town offices He stated that he is not concerned with any opponents but is focused on offering his skillset to the town as Estes’ departure creates an opportunity to serve “I’ve always believed you help your neighbor,” Martin said in February It’s an opportunity to see if I can contribute.” is under contract after a family fallout between the owner and her grandson Realtor Joseph Italiaander said he could not disclose any information about the pending transaction but said it was under contract Wednesday The restaurant in the purple building at 1 Railroad Ave That led to a legal battle Nevada motel reborn: Iconic landmark reopens with modern makeover The longstanding breakfast place remained closed in the summer of 2023 after Rosenfield filed his lawsuit The Boulos Company states on its listing that the Purple Palace is on the market for the first time in 41 years The listing touts the building as a “prime location within walking distance of Short Sands Beach.” It also mentions the property’s visibility with heavy foot and vehicle traffic The property was initially listed at $895,000 Italiaander said earlier this year he was representing Wilson as the seller Wilson did not return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday She previously said she had hoped to have Rosenfield take over the business to have family work there,” Wilson said last year Rosenfield said via text Wednesday he is no longer involved in the Purple Palace or its sale He has said he would have liked to have kept the Purple Palace in the family for future generations I wanted my son to run it," Rosenfield said previously YORK, Maine — York Days returns with a week-long slate of activities The festivities kick off on Friday, July 26, with a beach cleanup and culminate on Tuesday, Aug. 6, with National Night Out Here is a look at the activities planned from July 26-Aug York's Park and Recreation is partnering with Green Maids for its second beach cleanup at Short Sands Beach on Friday Participants will meet at the playground at 6 p.m to make a positive impact on the environment but organizers suggest bringing your gloves to ensure a comfortable fit Participants will receive a temporary one-night parking pass so you don't have to pay for parking to participate in the cleanup Lighting of the Nubble LighthouseThe Nubble Lighthouse will be lit from July 26 until Aug and a lot of people have shared the experience with families,” said Brenda Knapp chair of the Sohier Park Committee that oversees the lighthouse this summer is the Nubble Light Challenge on Aug where swimmers race for 2.5 miles through the “gut” of the Nubble that separates its island from the mainland but viewers can watch the swim when it kicks off at 8:30 a.m York Parks and Recreation will host its York Days 5K Road Race on Sunday The fourth race in the Seacoast Road Race Series this 5K race benefits youth programming throughout York and day-of bib and shirt pick up opens at 7 a.m The first 400 to register will be guaranteed a free race shirt in their requested size York Days Sand Castle ContestThe York Days Sand Castle Contest will be held at Short Sands Beach on Tuesday Registration will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Adult Category: 1st place; Family Category: 1st A special thank you to Mort and Audrey for sponsoring the event Come join the fun and showcase your sand sculpting skills York Days closing weekend features its annual craft fair at the York Beach Ball Field More than 50 local vendors and crafters will showcase their creations There will also be food and drinks available for purchase and kid activities Join Parks and Recreation for the annual York Days Fireworks Celebration on August 4 This dazzling fireworks display around 9 p.m will light up the night sky over York's Short Sands Beach This event is the perfect way to celebrate summer and create lasting memories with loved ones Arrive early to secure a good viewing spot and enjoy the festive atmosphere Glamping, Wes Anderson-style: Sandy Pines fashions new retreats after quirky filmmaker held in communities throughout the country York’s police and fire departments will be at the Bog Road Athletic Fields complex from 5 to 8 p.m First responders hold National Night Out as a way for residents to get to know local police and firefighters including in neighboring communities like Kittery and Portsmouth The event goes back to 1984 when the first National Night Out was held in Pennsylvania according to the national organization’s website The event is free with no registration required Maine — York County’s coast got walloped in a pair of back-to-back storms in January 2024 Dunes were obliterated by the tremendous force of ocean water pounding the shore during the highest of tides – measured in Portland at noon on Jan according to the National Weather Service in Gray Public infrastructure and many private properties sustained damage The destruction came at a high cost for repairs and also for expected losses in revenues that may have flowed more robustly had the beaches been up to pre-storm standards in the summer of 2024 “There is no buffer now at high tide,” said York County Emergency Management Agency Director Art Cleaves given the costs associated with rebuilding the dunes and other beach-related public infrastructure York County government and coastal municipalities are forging a framework to work together to get it done – for the present and for the future – to take measures to build to 100-year flood standards The collaboration would see the county lead the effort organizing engineering and a host of other details to reduce duplication of effort and manpower municipal representatives from Old Orchard Beach to Kittery and others came together recently to hear about and discuss the work that needs to be done Cleaves told those gathered in person and online that costs projected to get the beaches and dunes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s five-year flood protection standard It is expected to cost another estimated $25 million to get to the 100-year FEMA does not reimburse for costs associated with building to that category communities would be eligible for any future FEMA category G assistance York County Manager Greg Zinser reminded legislators that the coastal beaches are York County’s working waterfront He and Cleaves noted that the tourism economy supports 27,000 local jobs and $1.6 billion in annual spending Donna Bailey of Saco asked if there were other category G-level beaches in Maine or New England.Barnstable on Cape Cod is a G beach but said there were none in Maine he was able to identify York County Commissioner Justin Chenette asked what role the county’s dredge might have – and while the dredge will serve short and long-term roles Zinser said it has been determined there simply isn’t enough available sand to supply what’s needed in the inshore areas the dredge is able to transverse at least one community – Wells – has a permit and the county dredge is expected to be used there this season Chenette asked what the county was seeking from legislators Zinser said the collaboration needs money to move forward with engineering and other aspects of bringing the dunes and beaches back “We need to get them engineered and in shape to be resilient for the future,” he said about 175 roads were in jeopardy and are now York County Commissioner Richard Clark pointed out that many of those roadways carry water and sewer lines “It would be catastrophic,” if the roads were to fail please consider county government,” Zinser told legislators “and make sure not to forget rulemaking… we are asking Under terms of the agreements with the coastal towns and cities the county will seek grants and other funding on the municipalities’ behalf through state The county would serve as the administrative agent for procurement The initial focus would be on emergency protective measures under FEMA Category B and then efforts would be redirected to reach Category G The county would take a lead role in project management and coordination and outlining future monitoring and maintenance responsibilities for improved dunes and beaches “I think it’s our best approach,” said Saco City Administrator John Bohenko “I do think there is strength in numbers and voices,” said Wells Town Manager Mike Pardue Maine — A new effort is under way to spruce up the town in low-cost ways as the Planning Department looks to place “pocket parks” around York The corner of Railroad Avenue near the Beach Bliss Café and York’s Wild Kingdom is about to feature a new park area for tourists to sit in the shade and even enjoy some games left out to play on temporary turf serving as a pilot for what town planner DeCarlo Brown described as a chance to improve pedestrian areas with little spending or resources “This is all about pilot projects that (are not) going to break the bank,” Brown told the Selectboard Monday The proposed park would cost less than $1,000 Pocket parks are in the works to be placed in other parts of town as the Planning Department identifies other corners of York that might have gone unnoticed until now Selectboard members said they supported the initiative having heard from residents recently about keeping costs down the better,” Selectboard Chair Todd Frederick said York Miss Flame 2024: Ava Peltz makes history as first firefighter to win crown Brown said the town would save costs in installing the pocket parks by using existing town resources He said the idea for the pocket parks came in the wake of more people looking to spend time outdoors creating small public parks very quickly without a lot of funds,” Brown said Brown showed the board schematics of the proposed park on the corner where Railroad Avenue turns left past York’s Wild Kingdom and the York Beach Fire Station “There’s no respite from the sun,” Brown said of the area “The only way you can get out of the sun is going into a business to pay money for (something).” Brown noted that pedestrians are often near traffic especially in the section of Railroad Avenue near the Beach Bliss Café where there is no crosswalk Brown said they plan to install a small park in the corner between York’s Wild Kingdom and Beach Bliss Café with a crosswalk painted in the section without a sidewalk an image of a cornhole-type game was placed in the area where the turf would go and buy some seating for $100,” Brown said “You got yourself a pocket park in a very short time.” The park would use jersey barriers only used during the cold offseason Wooden pallets and planters would decorate the barriers to give a garden-like appearance Brown said the project was vetted by public works and ready to launch as soon as a week Board members responded favorably to the idea Selectboard member Marilyn McLaughlin called it “beautiful,” noting pocket parks are common in New York City who wrote the book “Best Pocket Parks of NYC," wrote in an article on untappedcities.com that pocket parks go back to 1964 when the Park Association of New York City organized to support the formation of public green spaces or “vest pocket parks.” She wrote they used the city’s small Board member Marla Johnson said she loved the idea of pocket parks and found it “creative.” Board member Robert Palmer said he appreciated the future parks were light commitments for the town Frederick said he looked forward to learning where else the Planning Department could find solutions through well-thought-out pocket parks “It’s pretty short money to have a pretty interesting fun amenity,” Frederick said Maine — A site has been identified as the ideal location for a new community center on Long Sands Road though the Selectboard has some concerns about the project’s cost and Center for Active Living is estimated to cost $39.4 million if built at 32 Long Sands Road 71% of survey respondents favored this location over the other two examined Parks and Recreation Director Peter Murray together with the committee members involved in the study presented the findings to the Selectboard at its Oct The presentation covered operational cost projections for the project and explored alternative options Members of the committee included the York School District’s assistant superintendent who spoke to the Selectboard about a need for middle-schoolers to have a place to go after school A representative of the senior population also spoke to that demographic’s desire for a new intergenerational facility Murray said the project could be on a referendum ballot possibly as soon as the May 2025 referendum our goal is to have something that the community can vote on and make a decision they want to do this or not,” Murray said “It’s trying to understand what needs to happen in order to get to the finish line in May.” Town Manager Peter Joseph and Selectboard member Marla Johnson suggested the proposal could need more work and appear on a ballot in 2026 While board members praised the committee’s passion they also questioned the cost at a time when voters have expressed concern about rising taxes “I’m looking at it too from a taxpayer’s (point of view),” Selectboard member Mike Estes said “This is going to be the most expensive building by two and a half times that the town has ever built.” The town’s community center committee has been working on the study since last winter with the help of consultant Joel Bargmann of the firm Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype The committee visited several existing community centers to gather information then looked at 12 different sites around town for a potential location The search was whittled down to three sites – 32 Long Sands Road a site on Short Sands Road near Ridge Road The site at 32 Long Sands Road was preferred in part because it is 200 feet above sea level The proximity to York Village has also been an important consideration and Bargmann said the site has room to put a large parking area in front of the property with the community center behind it “This is the most optimal position of the building,” Bargmann said York, Maine Nov. 5 ballot: Voters to decide distillery rules, $4M Long Sands Beach deal The full project would include a six-lane pool the number of lanes needed for competitive swimming It would also include a multipurpose room that could be used for a variety of activities The gymnasium would have two full cross courts and one center court with a walking track above it Bargmann said the gym would be 12,000 square feet according to the presentation heard by the Selectboard the pool was the most desired element of the community center Also highly desired was a space for cardio The project with no pool and reduced programming would be $28.6 million The facility is projected to cost $2,176,148 to operate annually He showed both conservative and aggressive revenue projections that estimated at least $890,434 a year to offset that number and as much as $1,077,407 a year Those projections would leave between $1,285,714 and $1,098,741 for the town to subsidize each year Bargmann said expenses could be offset by revenues through memberships The Selectboard was shown a PowerPoint that showed residents could access the building for free while non-resident access could cost $30 per person The site is envisioned to be open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m Selectboard members said they appreciated the desire for a community center while remaining cognizant of the impact of the project on taxpayers Board members also asked about where cost savings can be made “The cost of the project is a shocker,” Selectboard Chair Todd Frederick said this past year I’ve probably heard more feedback on the cost of living in York than I’ve ever heard of my time sitting on this board.” Estes asked if the project was providing services already offered in town He asked if the school’s gyms would no longer be needed for use by the community if they were built in the new center and he noted pickleball is already offered by other organizations in town “Is it too much duplication of service where we may be able to shrink the size of the building?” Estes asked Murray noted that the school’s gyms are already at full capacity and will continue to be needed by Parks and Recreation for their activities scheduling at the school gyms often extends late into the night Murray was asked if the project could be completed in phases starting with design and engineering costs at the May referendum and then revisiting the full project a year later He explained that committee members considered whether it was better to request funding all at once especially given the expectation that construction costs would rise over time Selectwoman Marilyn McLaughlin mentioned the need for a pool in York noting that her 7-year-old grandson had to take swimming lessons in Eliot due to the lack of facilities in York “I just think that there’s so much to offer with this,” McLaughlin said “It would put York on a map of a different type of vacation place to be where you don’t just have to go sitting you don’t have to go sit in a bar and drink Maine — Voters may be asked to approve the purchase of 42.35 acres of shorefront property for $4 million on Long Sands Beach A significant portion of the beach has long been owned by the estate of Roger R has agreed on a price of $4 million with York's Selectboard voters will have a chance to air their thoughts on the potential purchase at a special Budget Committee public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m Town Manager Peter Joseph said the Selectboard came to that number with the Norton family on July 15 He said the opportunity to buy the land allows the town to protect it as a public asset when many beachfront properties are being closed off by private ownership “The town has always maintained it,” Selectboard member Mike Estes said 'I’m definitely excited': Nevada Hotel’s Lulu’s tiki bar at York Beach now open to public and was a “lifelong resident of York Beach,” Joseph said Norton’s family owned much of the land on the west side of Long Beach Road as well as the sand Joseph said Norton sold properties on the west side also called “upland” from the ocean and sand While many who sold their beachfront properties also sold the sand Norton retained ownership of the land east of the road The property that remains consists of only 1.99 acres of “upland” and above the high tide line as well as 40.36 acres of intertidal land between the high and low tide lines besides the bathhouse parcel owned by the town of York and the Sun and Surf Restaurant that lies solely between Long Beach Avenue and the ocean “Given the current shoreland zoning laws within the state of Maine it is unlikely that a similarly configured lot could be created today,” the Selectboard memo dated July 15 states The estate has previously engaged with the town several years ago with the intent of selling it to the town the estate hired DiBiase Appraisal Services to appraise the property and found a valuation estimate of $5.82 million The town and the estate did not reach an agreement at the time A second phase of negotiations with the estate began about a year and a half ago the town acquired an appraisal of only $43,000 “That valuation was based primarily on the assumption that due to the property dimensions and its location in the shoreland zone the property was unusable for most development purposes beyond open space,” the memo stated and this past fall the town and estate agreed to perform a third appraisal using a jointly agreed appraiser That was conducted by Tom Siegel of Core Market Advisers and focused on a linear-foot comparison of other waterfront property sales in the region that had occurred in the recent past That showed a market value estimate of $4.36 million That led to a “soft” agreement of a potential purchase price on the property of $4 million The purchase was approved by the Selectboard but must now receive the same approval by the town Budget Committee Estes said the purchase is a rare opportunity for the town to take control of a property that will be enjoyed by the public in perpetuity “But if you look at the economics that our beaches create for the businesses in York “York goes from a year-round population of 13 to 14 thousand to 40 to 50 thousand in the summertime,” Estes said More: York residents push to restrict distilleries amid Wiggly Bridge ‘whiskey fungus’ fears