Postal Patron PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 PAID Permit No. 62 Portland, ME The Cape Cour erECRWSS Volume 25 Number 2 An Independent Not-for-Profi t Newspaper March 7 - March 20, 2012 Serving Cape Elizabeth Since 1988 capecourier.com Updated plan Whoa ... what a view for town-run cemetery in the works By Patricia McCarthy Cape Elizabeth Public Works employ- ees have lots of jobs, among them plowing snowy roads, maintaining Fort Williams Park, fi xing potholes, and digging graves. That last task might surprise many, but it comes with the town’s ownership of River- side Memorial Cemetery next to Spurwink Church. “It’s one of the most unique and impor- tant services we provide,” said Town Clerk Debra Lane, whose duties include working with cemetery trustees to oversee the cem- etery and selling burial lots. “Most people drive by and don’t think of the mechanics of it at all. But we take this responsibility very seriously.” The town has owned the cemetery for more than 65 years, since voters agreed to purchase it and assume control in 1945. Cemetery trustees are now in the process of updating a master plan to map out the future for the 27-acre site, which overlooks the Spurwink River and is bounded by Photo by Patricia McCarthy Spurwink Avenue and Route 77. Eileen Worthley, daughter Lilly and dog Cookie of Portland brave a brisk, windy Feb. 25 afternoon atop a dramatic vantage point at Two Nearly 20 years ago, the town commis- Lights State Park. Eileen is the wife of Cape Elizabeth High School teacher Doug Worthley. sioned Portland-based Mohr & Seredin Landscape Architects to draft a master plan for the cemetery, which was fi rst devel- oped in the early 19th century. The sloping Mutually benefi cial: CSA shares give farmers hillside is an attractive site, but the cem- etery’s expansion possibilities are hemmed a boost, buyers an early-bird discount in somewhat by wetlands and the state’s shoreland zoning regulations. By Tina Harnden The 1993 master plan called for main- At this time of year, Cape Elizabeth’s taining the cemetery’s rural nature and prized spring greens and luscious strawber- suggested better continuity between the ries are just a gleam in farmers’ (and resi- original cemetery area and newer sections. dents’) eyes, but it’s not too soon to buy It also set out ideas on how to expand the into the coming growing season. usable area of the cemetery and listed ways Many Maine farms, including three in to better maintain and beautify the site. Cape, offer the opportunity to invest in Lane said Mohr & Seredin was hired last Community Supported Agriculture shares. year to work with trustees on updating the CSAs are a relatively new support mecha- plan. The fi rm’s draft, which will require nism for small farms that provide growers Town Council approval, will cover a range with preseason cash for seeds and supplies, of issues to pick up where the 1993 plan left and consumers with credit on future food off. That includes items such as rules and purchases. regulations for the cemetery – for instance, The system provides money for farmers acceptable sizes of markers and pricing of when they most need it, and an early-bird lots, she said. discount for buyers. Lots currently cost $650 for a burial site Participating farms in Cape – Alewive’s (for one adult) and $300 for a site for bury- Brook Farm, Green Spark, and the Wm. H. Jordan Farm – allow CSA-share buyers to ing cremated remains. Photo by Megan Swann Lots can be purchased by current resi- use their credit for purchases at their farm Mary Ellen and Austin Chadd, owners of Green Spark Farm, one of three farms in Cape —see CEMETERY, page 18 —see CSA, page 18 offering Community Supported Agriculture shares. Paper’s board reminds readers of ongoing need for fi nancial support Dear loyal readers, subscription” to help ensure continued production and de- your community newspaper. It has been almost two years since The Cape Courier livery of The Cape Courier. Weddings and honor rolls have been announced; budget took the necessary step of requesting fi nancial assistance Since that plea was fi rst published on March 27, 2010, proposals dissected; election results reported; state champi- from its readers. about 400 donations have been received, some of which onships photographed and celebrated; and the stories of our Hoping to be able to continue delivery of a high-quality, were people renewing their voluntary subscriptions. These friends and neighbors told. Cape-specifi c newspaper to every household in town, we donations, coupled with advertising revenue, have made reached out to readers to consider a donation or “voluntary possible another two years of uninterrupted publication of —see NEED, page 2 Page 2 • The Cape Courier LETTERS/THANK-YOUs March 7 - March 20, 2012 Neighbor affected by The Cape Courier Rippling P.O. Box 6242 proposed zoning rules: Cape Elizabeth Maine 04107 207-838-2180 Consider implications capecourier.com From the Feb. 18 Wall Street Journal, . OUR MISSION STATEMENT page C1, quoting Alain de Botton: The mission of The Cape Courier is to foster “One of the losses that modern society a sense of community by presenting news feels most keenly is the loss of a sense of specifi c and unique to Cape Elizabeth and its community. We tend to imagine there once residents, and, whenever possible, to promote existed a degree of neighborliness that has volunteerism within our community. been replaced by ruthless anonymity, by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS pursuit of one another primarily for individ- Elizabeth Brogan, Debbie Butterworth, ualistic ends: for fi nancial gain….” Bob Dodd, Sheila Mayberry, We would have you, our citizens and Bill Springer, Beth Webster neighbors keep this in mind when you con- Publisher: Patricia McCarthy sider the implications of the new zoning [email protected] ordinance being contemplated by our Town Editor: Patricia McCarthy Council, which treats this very treasured (Letters, general news) sense of community as an inconvenient af- [email protected] terthought. School/Community Editor: Wendy Keeler Photo by Patricia McCarthy Our future, and our childrens’ and grand- (Business, Neighbors, schools, religion, sports) childrens’ future, and the very nature of our Ripples among the rocks in the Atlantic at Two Lights State Park on a windy Feb. 25. [email protected] town is at stake. Advertising Manager: Trish Brigham Frank Luongo (Display ads): [email protected] Reader urges Capers to host exchange students Lawson Road Bookkeeper: Dorothy Stack [email protected] Production Manager: Sheila Zimmerman Webmaster: Wendy Derzawiec THANK Photo fi nishing: Megan McConagha YOU, Distribution: Jeff Hewett VERY Technology Services: Katie Held For general information & classifi ed ads: MUCH! [email protected]/207-838-2180 ... to all who have answered Writers: Debbie Butterworth, Wendy The Cape Courier’s Derzawiec, Bob Dodd,Wendy Keeler, Patricia McCarthy, Ellen Van Fleet ongoing request for help. Photographers: Sarah Beard Buckley, Jenny Campbell, Kate Harnden, Ann Kaplan, Wendy We greatly appreciate your Keeler, Jack Kennealy, Patricia McCarthy, Photo by Paul Naseef voluntary subscriptions and other Colleen Taintor, Noah Whittenburg Pasqual Guarracino of Germany skis with his exchange program host Michael contributions. Checks made out to Proofreaders: Suzanne Higgins, Phyllis Naseef on the slopes at Sugarloaf in mid-February. The Cape Courier may be mailed Locke, Anita Samuelsen, Sheila Zimmerman to P.O. Box 6242, Cape Elizabeth, The Cape Courier is printed by The Times I have been hosting exchange students room to sleep, meals, and occasional trans- Maine 04107. Thank you Record in Brunswick and mailed free to since 2000. My family has welcomed teenag- portation. It’s been a wonderful experience residents 22 times a year. We disclaim all to the following most recent legal responsibility for errors, omissions or ers from many countries so that we now have for our family, our exchange student, and the newspaper supporters: typographical errors. All reasonable care friends all over the world. My older son wrote whole school. is taken to see that errors do not occur. We about his experiences on his college essay, Kay Kramer, another host mother this year Troy A. Ellsmore print corrections if notifi cation is received which helped him secure a scholarship! This said, “My husband and I really enjoyed host- Anne Pokras & Mary Fowler in a timely manner. Photographs will not be year, we are happily hosting Pasqual Guar- ing Pasqual for a few months before his stay returned but may be picked up at our offi ce in racino, a sophomore at Cape Elizabeth High with the Naseefs, until June. I would recom- Cape Elizabeth Town Hall. School. He has been a wonderful gift to the mend hosting to any Cape family interested Contributions will be acknowledged LETTER & SUBMISSION POLICY Cape community. in expanding their own children’s cultural in this alphabetical format. We welcome letters to the editor. Maximum Here we live in Cape, in such an idyllic, safe horizons while offering the experience of a Please specify how you would like length: 250 words. We reserve the right to refuse the name(s) to appear in print. Please letters and do not withhold names. Letters town, but we are lacking diversity – and that’s lifetime for a deserving foreign exchange stu- refl ect the opinion of the author, not The Cape what these students can bring so that our kids dent.” include a message on your correspon- Courier. Email letters to: editor@capecourier. can be better prepared for a global world. Cape needs host families to welcome stu- dence if you prefer to have your com or mail to P.O.