Group to discuss Scarborough’s environmental vision

Citizens for a Green Scarborough is sponsoring an event billed as an opportunity to shape the environmental vision for Scarborough for the next 10 years.

The event will be held Monday, Oct. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Scarborough Public Library. The aim is to revisit the vision for the town put together 10 years ago, and to identify priorities for the next 10 years.

This evening is sponsored by Citizens for a Green Scarborough in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring.” RSVP to Susan DeWitt Wilder at 883-6050 or [email protected]. Those unable to attend to send comments.

Special services at Scarborough church

Saint Nicholas Episcopal Church, 350 U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough, will be celebrating a Creation Season during four Sunday morning worship services beginning Sept. 16 and ending with a Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 7, the Sunday that traditionally recognizes St. Francis of Assisi.

The Creation Season includes alternative liturgy, music and prayers that focus on God as creator and sustainer. This is the first time it will be held at St. Nicholas in Scarborough and marks the first year anniversary of the Rev. David Heald’s arrival to lead the parish.

Sunday morning services at St. Nicholas begin at 9:30 and all are invited to attend. Sunday School and nursery care are also available for children 10 and under.

Also, in place of the regular Sunday service on Sept. 9, St. Nicholas Church will celebrate a Beach Baptism and Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. at Ferry Beach in Scarborough, an annual tradition of the parish for nearly 20 years. Visitors are welcome to attend the service on the beach. Parking is free that morning.

For more information, call the church office at 883-9437 or the Rev. David Heald at 653-3704.

Order Eastern Trail guide online

The up-to-date, full-color, spiral-bound Eastern Trail Alliance Trail Guide can now be ordered online at www.easterntrail.org. Guides are $10 apiece, plus $3 for shipping and handling. Guides can also be ordered by phone, at 284-9260, or by email, at [email protected]. Send checks payable to the ETA at P.O. Box 250, Saco, Maine 04072.

Maine Lighthouse Ride set

The annual Maine Lighthouse Ride, to benefit the Eastern Trail Alliance, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 8. All rides leave from the Southern Maine Community College campus in South Portland.

The rides are self-guided with maps provided. The 25-mile ride follows the South Portland Greenbelt to Wainwright Farms Recreational Fields. The riders then head to the ocean, traveling along Maine’s beautiful shoreline through Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, back to the community college. This ride features seven lighthouses and one rest stop.

The 40-mile ride includes the greenbelt as well as a spur to the 3-mile section of the Eastern Trail across the beautiful Scarborough Marsh, the largest salt marsh in Maine. The ride then continues along the spectacular coastline of Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, passing by three state parks, five gorgeous beaches and two museums. Eight historic lighthouses are visible from this route, which usually takes take 3 to 5 hours, with two rest stops provided.

The 100-mile ride includes all of the beautiful scenery of the other rides, as well as a jaunt through Old Orchard Beach and Saco to the quaint village of Kennebunkport. This is truly spectacular country characterized by flat to rolling terrain, beautiful ocean views and four rest stops staffed with friendly Eastern Trail volunteers.

The Century course includes all nine lighthouses and begins at 7:30 a.m. Go online to www.easterntrail.org for more information, including how to register. All riders are requested to arrive an hour before their selected ride departs.

Komen race ?set for Sept. 9

Participants in the third annual Susan G. Komen Portland Race for the Cure will walk and run on Sunday, Sept. 9, in Payson Park and along Baxter Boulevard in Portland to celebrate breast cancer survivors, honor those who have lost their battle with the disease and to help raise funds to find a cure. Individuals interested in registering for the Portland Race as runners, walkers or volunteers should go to www.komenmaine.org or visit the Komen Maine Affiliate page on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

Breast cancer survivors are provided with a complimentary luncheon the day before the race (RSVP required) and special goodies in the Survivor Tent on race day. Survivors are also honored in a ceremony before the 5K starts.

The first Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure took place in Dallas, Texas, in 1983 with 800 participants. Today, the Komen Race for the Cure series is the largest 5K series in the world with more than 120 races and more than 1 million participants expected this year. The Susan G. Komen Maine Affiliate hosts two races annually one in Bangor which has been held since 1997 and one in Portland now entering its third year. Last year, the second annual Portland Maine Race for the Cure raised more than $150,000 and had more than 1,600 runners and walkers.

Due to the annual success of the Bangor race and growing support for the Portland race, the Komen Maine Affiliate has invested nearly $2.6 million for education, screening and treatment programs and over $750,000 for breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program. Nearly $500,000 has returned to Maine in the form of research grants through that program.

For additional information about the race, go to www.komenmaine.org.