Scarborough Kiwanis Club announced that its 36th annual Kids’ Fishing Derby will take place Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bayley’s Camping Resort, Scarborough (Ross Road entrance).

The event is for kids ages 4-15. Live bait (worms) only. Worms will be available for purchase. Proceeds from worm sales will benefit the K-Kids Club at Wentworth Intermediate School.

Admission is free, although the club welcomes donations of money or nonperishable food items for the Scarborough Food Pantry.

Food will be available for purchase.

For more information, contact the club at scarboroughkiwanis2@gmail.com.

A Matter of Balance workshop offered

Between May 1 and May 24, Southern Maine Agency on Aging will lead an in-person A Matter of Balance workshop at the South Portland Public Library designed to improve the quality of life of adults 60 and older by improving their balance and increasing their physical strength.

As bodies change with age, balance and strength change, people are less confident or even fearful during everyday activities that were once taken for granted like shopping, cooking, driving, doing household chores, and even playing weekly pickleball games. The fear of falling can put a damper not only on what a person likes to do but also on social connections, leading to a sense of loneliness and social isolation.

A Matter of Balance workshop is designed to help participants increase physical activity, make important home safety improvements, and even learn how to respond if a fall does happen. The workshop empowers participants to take charge of managing their health. Each meeting invites attendees to share their own experiences and concerns about falls and together they create strategies for flourishing and living independently. Trained volunteers lead gentle exercises to build strength and improve balance and range of motion.

In a news release, a participant said, “I got my entire group of friends at our housing facility to continue with our exercises after we took A Matter of Balance two years ago. I’m taking it again for a refresher.”

A Matter of Balance is an eight-session in-person workshop with two-hour meetings. Participants benefit the most when they attend all eight meetings. The workshop is from May 1-24, at the South Portland Public Library. The meetings will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

To register, call 207 396-6578 or visit smaaa.org/events. Preregistration for the class is required, and class size is limited. Those interested are asked to sign up by April 28.

Southern Maine Agency on Aging is the focal point in Cumberland and York counties for resources, services and information to empower older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to live to their fullest potential. For more information about SMAA’s services, visit smaaa.org or call 207-396-6500.

New town hall hours effective May 1

The new hours of operation for Scarborough Town Hall will be Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., effective May 1.

Town Hall will be closed on Fridays and weekends. For more information, visit www.scarboroughmaine.org.

ecomaine announces finalists for 2023 Upcycle Challenge

The three finalists for ecomaine’s school-based Upcycle Challenge were announced last week. The company will award $500 to a participating student’s school. Finalists include overall challenge winners from 2022 and 2021 facing off with a newcomer in 2023.

The Upcycle Challenge asks students in ecomaine’s communities to use items that ordinarily would have been disposed of, to make all-new, functional ones. The company’s Outreach and Recycling Committee selected the finalists, based on the incorporation of post-consumer materials, the ingenuity and functionality of the new creation, inclusion of students in the process, as well as the approval from a teacher or advisor.

The finalists are:

Aurora, Cape Elizabeth High School: an all-new jumper made from old clothing (an old dress, old pants, with a touch from an old homecoming dress; 2022 winner).

Emma, Ruby, Christine & Scarlett, Fiddlehead Center for the Arts, Scarborough: a doll house from an old wreath box, with furniture, curtains, and accessories made from old straws, cardboard, paper, paper and toilet paper tubes, left over flooring tiles, sharpie caps etc. (Fiddlehead Center for the Arts was 2021’s winner).

The Intercultural Community Center, Westbrook: a wind chime to replace the center’s old one, made from an upcycled bike wheel, glass bottles, and pages from old books (also includes natural materials: seashells, pine cones, and leaves).

Finalists will be voted on by the public’s selections online through 8 p.m. on April 30, and the grand prize will be awarded to the winner’s school, school club, or activity of choice.

“It’s incredible to see the ingenuity of Maine’s students,” said Matt Grondin, ecomaine’s director of communications and public affairs in an April 13 news release. “We find that, year after year, we’re so impressed to see how young Mainers are looking at waste as a resource, keeping it out of landfills, and putting it to better, more creative uses. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of the final voting.”

According to the news release, ecomaine’s Outreach and Recycling Committee made special note of an entry by Sydney Doyle of Mt. Ararat Middle School, who crafts reusable tote bags from old pet feed bags; however, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, and Topsham are not ecomaine member communities, which unfortunately makes her designs ineligible for the grand prize – but Sydney will receive an ecomaine prize pack for her terrific work.

Land trust to take part in Earth Day celebration

McArthur Library is hosting an Earth Day celebration. Join local organizations as the library celebrates the planet at 270 Main St. in Biddeford. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 22.

Saco Valley Land Trust and Heart of Biddeford are organizing the event and both organizations will be in attendance with information tables.

Heart of Biddeford is organizing a clothing swap. Patrons are encouraged to bring unwanted garments. Other organizations, such as Saco Bay Trails, UNE Pediatrics Club, Biddeford Community Gardens, and Biddeford’s Adopt-a-Park Program will provide information and activities for all ages.

Participants can talk to representatives of the organizations, as well as others, including Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission and Biddeford Climate Task Force, on the front lawn of the library.

The planning and development commission, Biddeford Climate Task Force, and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge will also schedule presentations in the library’s community room throughout the event. The Biddeford Climate Task Force will also be seeking community input with its efforts to create a climate action plan for Biddeford.

Other activities include an invasive species walk led by Scarborough Land Trust, a city tree walk guided by Maine Master Naturalist Raquel Miller, and a group bike ride with Bike Biddeford Saco.

Saco Parks and Recreation will host a public parks cleanup the day prior to the event. Biddeford Recreation Department is also organizing a parks cleanup before the event.

For more information, visit the organizations’ websites. For more information about the event, visit Saco Valley Trust’s Facebook page.

Spring Fling at Ketcha Outdoors

Ketcha Outdoors is hosting a Spring Fling on Sunday, April 30. Patrons are invited to bring the whole family to an event that encourages outdoor play and an appreciation of nature. The Spring Fling, scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon, will feature story walks, bouncy house, face painting, and the opportunity to visit with farm animals.

Live Music will be provided by The High Spirits. There will be bikes for sale and fairy house paintings. The bike auction features kids’ bikes hand painted by local artists provided by Thaddeus St. John from Lincoln & Main Electric Bike Cafe & Winery.

Admission is $20 for up to five attendees. Donations are optional. Ketcha Outdoors is located at 336 Black Point Road in Scarborough.

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