building community one project at a time:
age-friendly scarborough
gail platts

Age-Friendly Scarborough has mastered the art of focused change. Each year, the core team selects one domain of livability to concentrate its efforts.

In 2025, transportation took center stage. Scarborough residents have access to two bus services: Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach Transportation (BSOOB) and Greater Portland Transit. While Greater Portland Transit stops were clearly marked, BSOOB stops remained unlabeled, making it difficult for riders to find them. The team identified this barrier and successfully advocated for proper signage at all BSOOB stops, making public transportation more accessible and user-friendly for everyone.

Looking ahead to 2026, the focus shifts to communication and information. The committee recognizes that staying connected to community resources and events is critical to healthy, active, and engaged aging. Many older Scarborough residents have long relied on paper versions of local newsletters to stay informed. However, as more organizations move to electronic-only formats, some community members risk losing touch with important news and events. To bridge this gap, Age-Friendly Scarborough will offer hands-on tech training sessions to help residents learn to use their phones and other devices to sign up for and navigate electronic newsletters and digital event information. These classes will ensure that everyone can stay socially connected and informed about what's happening in their community.

Beyond their annual focus areas, the team has also launched an initiative to enhance social connections. Gail Platts, coordinator of Age-Friendly Scarborough, started a "Happiness Cafe" that regularly attracts 14 participants. Based on the Action for Happiness movement, the concept is simple: gather in a community space over coffee to discuss happiness and well-being. Action for Happiness provides helpful resources like their "10 Keys to Happier Living," which includes actions such as "Do kind things for others" and "Find your strengths and focus on using them."

Gail encourages other age-friendly communities to explore this model. Action for Happiness offers free, self-paced training at https://actionforhappiness.org/volunteer for anyone interested in starting their own cafe.

Age-Friendly Scarborough demonstrates that thoughtful, focused initiatives—whether improving bus stop signage or creating spaces for connection—can profoundly impact community well-being.