OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Those working toward making Old Orchard Beach an age-friendly community are serious when they say they want to make it a place for all ages.
Old Orchard Beach Community Friendly Connection, a group with a mission to make the community a great place for people of all ages to live, work, play and do business, formed last year as part of the town’s requirement of becoming an AARP Age-Friendly Community.
Since then, the committee has held public meetings and compiled information from a survey to get a feel for what community members want in their town.
The group is hosting an a free event, called “Imagine, Dream, Believe,” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, showcasing what the community has to offer and hosting activities for all ages.
“It’s the connection aspect of Community Friendly Connections,” said CFC Core Group Co-Facilitator Helene Whittaker. “I think it will bring the community together.”
Old Orchard Street, the main drag in downtown, will be closed to traffic, and free parking will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Milliken Street parking lot and Old Orchard Beach High School, with free shuttle service from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to the event.
About 50 booths representing municipal departments and local community groups will line the downtown. There will be opportunity to talk to the town clerk and other department heads as well as town councilors and the town manager for information on town matters. Other groups to be represented include the local library, the local historical society, AARP, Marine Mammals of Maine, Friends of the Ballpark and the Salvation Army. Young people can explore town vehicles, play games at a video game hub, and visit with mascots and a clown. People of all ages can meet Elsa the goat from Oceanwood Camp and Conference Center.
There will be events at Old Orchard Beach High School from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. including a paper shredding truck and car seat checks. Volunteers from the Old Orchard Beach Community Food Pantry will also be on hand collecting donations of non-perishable food.
“Saturday’s event is a true celebration of community in OOB. First and foremost it will be a lot of fun, with music for all, and games, face painting, and touch a trucks for the kids,” said Town Manager Larry Mead. “In addition, it’s a chance to connect with and learn more about our town departments and the many, many service agencies and resource organizations who help to make OOB a great place to live or visit, not just in the summer months but all year-round.”
There will be a silent auction with proceeds going to purchase a wheelchair accessible glider for Veterans Memorial Park.
Booths will provide free information and more, CFC Core Group Co-Facilitator Pat Brown said. People who would like to shop or buy food can visit the many stores and restaurants downtown, and some retailers will have specials, she said.
There will also be an unveiling of concepts for proposed future projects inspired by input from community members.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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