On June 8, the Cape Elizabeth Town Council unanimously voted to endorse the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, making Cape Elizabeth the 25^th “Cool Community” in Maine, joining South Portland and more than 300 other cool cities nationwide.  

The U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement urges federal and state governments to enact policies and programs to decrease global warming pollution levels, to reduce dependence on fossil fuel, and to increase energy conservation and alternative clean energy technology. Cape Elizabeth is already pursuing a number of the 12 suggested local actions outlined in the agreement. These include carrying out a municipal energy audit, actively investigating alternative energy sources such as wind power, working to improve the energy efficiency of municipal buildings, and encouraging recycling.

A citizen’s group “Cool Cape” is working on the 12^th action step of the agreement which is to “help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution.”  A current project is to work to decrease idling of private vehicles, which contributes to overall greenhouse gas emissions. For more information on Cool Cape, contact Carol Hubbard at hubbac@gmail.com.

Area kids go to Fenway

Dunkin’ Donuts hosted youth from the Boys and Girls Club from Portland and South Portland, at the Boston Red Sox game on July 5 against the Seattle Mariners.  The children received tickets in the “Dunkin Dugout” located in the famed Fenway Park Bleachers.South Portland children who attended include: Sean Schneiderat, Tyler Ross (South Portland), Kristi Stisi, Brill Kirk and Brady Kirk.

Cape resident graduates

Cape Elizabeth resident and ecomaine Environmental Manager Anne Hewes, PhD, has graduated from the Institute for Civic Leadership’s Leadership Intensive. This program helps participants understand why inclusive and innovative leadership is critical and gives them the skills to exercise it effectively in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

SMCC accepting nomination for 2009 Hall of Fame class

Southern Maine Community College is accepting nominations for its annual Athletics Hall of Fame. Nominations can be received from the community for any of the following three categories; former student athlete, administrator/coach, or friend and supporter.  

Nominations are reviewed by a committee at the college and an induction ceremony is conducted each fall where those inductees are honored.  To make nominations, fill out the nomination sheet on-line at www.smccme.edu/athletics/special-events/hall-of-fame/ or contact the athletics office at 741-5927. 

McGovern elected at ecomaine

At its annual meeting, ecomaine, a non-profit recycling and disposal organization owned and operated by 21 municipalities, elected Windham Town Manager Anthony Plante chairman of the board. Ecomaine directly serves 20 percent of Maine’s residential population with disposal and recycling services, while also servicing a large part of the commercial population. The 2009-2010 fiscal year will be Plante’s second as leader of the organization and its $24 million budget.

Also re-elected was Michael McGovern (Cape Elizabeth) as treasurer and finance committee chairman.

SMCC students bring home national medals 

Southern Maine Community College students brought home two medals and represented Maine this June at the National Skills Championships in Kansas City, Mo. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. 

Edwin Berry, of Hollis and a recent construction technology graduate, won a silver medal in the building construction competition and Michael Doughty, of North Waterboro and a senior in the communications and new media program, won a bronze medal in screen printing. 

The national championship brings students from across the county to compete, attend industry and leadership seminars, and visit one of the largest industry trade shows for high school and post secondary students in the country. More than 15,000 spectators and industry professionals came to observe more than 5,000 students compete in more than 90 separate events. 

The SMCC Team also included students Michael Giberti, who competed in auto service, and Kirk Gagnon, who competed in firefighting, and Jay Desmond, a recent graduate of the computer technology program, who serves as National Post Secondary President. Desmond is the only Maine student to ever hold a SkillsUSA national officer position.

Reps. appointed to committees

Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree has appointed South Portland State Reps. Jane Eberle, Terry Morrison and Bryan Kaenrath to national committees of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

 Eberle was appointed to NCSL’s committees on Agriculture and Energy, and Environment. Eberle, a strong advocate for the environment, is a member of the Maine Legislature’s committees on Natural Resources and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Kaenrath was appointed to NCSL’s committees on Budgets and Revenue, and Transportation. Kaenrath serves on the Maine Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee.

 Morrison, a member of the Maine Legislature’s Insurance and Financial Services Committee, was appointed to NCSL’s committee on Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce.

 The NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves legislators and staff in all 50 states. Its standing committees meet three times a year to allow legislators from different states to share expertise and benefit from other states’ experience.

Rotary elects Frustaci president

Joan Frustaci of Cape Elizabeth has been elected president of the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club for the 2009-2010 year.

Frustaci took over the helm July 1 and will serve for one year, succeeding Janet McLaughlin. Frustaci is a life long Cape Elizabeth resident, currently residing there with husband Joe and son A.J. Frustaci has her own business as a personal fitness trainer.

During her presidency, Frustaci says her emphasis will be “Service Above Self,” which is the motto for Rotary International.  

“Our club will use this theme in our community service and international service projects. The club is continuing efforts from the past year; an emphasis on clean water with a project in Haiti, supporting the Children’s Home in Eldoret Kenya (with the Cape Elizabeth National Honor Society), supporting and working at the Wayside Soup Kitchen and the South Portland Food Pantry. We will continue to contribute and support the Polio Plus Rotary initiative in order to eradicate Polio in our lifetime,” Frustaci said.

Serving on the incoming board with Frustaci is President Elect John LoBosco, Vice President Marge Barker, Immediate Past President Janet McLaughlin, Secretary Paul Butler, Treasurer Nancy Hawes, Club Administration Chairman Tom Meyers, Club Service Director Dave Bagdasarian, Membership Chairman Bob Danielson, International Chair Marc Mutty, Foundation Chairmen Frank Butterworth and Bob Carson. 

For more information about Rotary or Rotary membership, contact Frustaci at 767-290 or jfrustaci@maine.rr.com.