All presenting donors will receive a coupon for a free lunch pack at Cumberland Farms, which includes a freshly prepared sandwich, any size fountain soda or frozen beverage, and a 1.5 oz. bag of Cumberland Farms brand chips.

Please call Dawn Wheeler at
(207) 781-4460 for an appointment.
Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule your blood donation appointment today!

Read Story Featured in the Portland Press Herald, Click Here

OceanView Owner, John Wasileski, Signs Agreement to Purchase School Property From Town of Falmouth

Public praises OceanView project, view the Press Herald’s story featured on the front page of Local & State, click here

To study the property, the town established a facilities committee.  After a two year period, they recommended that the town residents consider building a “town center” on the property to include a new town hall, a community center and a library.  Eventually, a version of this recommendation went to voters in the form of a referendum in June of 2011.

In the wake of the vote in which voters narrowly rejected this recommendation, OceanView again indicated our interest and desire to work with the town.  After discussions over the summer of 2011, the town council decided to issue a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) from parties interested in acquiring and redeveloping either a portion or all of the school property.  This RFP was due in late November of 2011.

The town council met in executive (closed) sessions in late December/early January to review and analyze the RFPs.  During this same time, the town staff met with the various parties to ask questions and refine the proposals.  On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, the town council issued a public announcement that they were recommending that the town select the OceanView RFP.  At a public hearing on Monday, January 23, 2012, public praise of the project was received.

OceanView’s interest in the school property is two-fold.  First, we wanted to be sure that whatever happened on the school property would be beneficial and compatible with our retirement community.  For this reason, and as a result of many conversations with our residents, OceanView owner, John Wasileski felt strongly that many of the components of the “town center” concept would be an excellent reuse of the property.  The idea of having a library and community center on the edge of the campus was particularly attractive as it would be a major convenience for OceanView residents and a source of new activities, partnerships and programs.  This “town center” concept would also create a center of activity and services for our residents within walking distance.  It would allow for an expansion of sidewalks, trails and other pedestrian opportunities throughout the neighborhood and would offer increased support and use of the Falmouth Flyer bus service.

• Lunt School would house a variety of new programs that may include medical offices, a physical therapy clinic, an adult day care program and a memory support assisted living community.
• Plummer School would become a modest sized affordable senior housing community, a senior community center, a new home for the library or library annex and a new home for the Friends School of Portland.  Each of the uses will have to be analyzed in detail to determine their appropriateness for the building and their financial viability as a reuse.
• Motz School will probably be retained by the town as a community center.  As the home to Falmouth Community Programs, it will include a wide variety of fitness, education, entertainment and other activities.  In the months and years to come, OceanView will work in partnership with the town to improve and expand this facility.  Ideas like an indoor pool and expanded fitness programs are being discussed.
  

  OceanView Falmouth Schools Property Master Development Plan

As part of the redevelopment and reuse of the school buildings, there will be comprehensive improvements to the entire site.  First, there will be both a sidewalk and trail system connecting the property to the main OceanView campus and surrounding the entire block from Falmouth Road to Lunt Road to Middle Road and back to Blueberry Lane.  Additionally, a healthy tree buffer will be maintained between the OceanView campus and the school buildings.  Finally, the current stone dust playing fields will become a town green with a gazebo.

Our second interest is a potential expansion of OceanView onto a portion of the school property.  We proposed multiple scenarios to the town, always wanting to ensure the continued success of OceanView as a vibrant
community that is attractive to new residents.

We have proposed three types of new homes.  First, we show a cottage neighborhood with approximately 35 new homes in the Whipple Farm style.  Second, we show a new wing on the main lodge building.  Third, we show the replacement of cottages 11 thru 20 with a town home style building.  The master plan is still very preliminary, however, and we will spend a great deal of time in the months to come to finalize the exact details and design of the expansion.  There will be ample opportunity for residents to participate in that process.  The buildings, cottages, roads and sidewalks are all preliminary and conceptual, but it was important for the RFP process that we provide the town with a potential vision for the expansion of OceanView onto the school property.

In regard to the timing of this project, we envision spending the majority of 2012 on the design and approval of the redevelopment plan.  Marketing and launch of elements of the master plan would begin in 2013 and would be phased in over the next several years.  Since this project is adjacent to the current OceanView campus and accessible from Lunt Road, we envision keeping the disruption to the current campus at a minimum.  We look forward to working with our residents on the design and reuse plan of this property over the next several months.  There will be multiple meetings and opportunities to share their ideas, comments and concerns about the plan.

In summary, we feel that the redevelopment of the schools into compatible, complimentary uses and an attractive expansion of the current OceanView campus will ensure a wonderful future for the former school campus.  It will combine many of the positive civic-minded qualities of the original “town center” concept with the assurance
that the property will not be developed for commercial or non-compatible uses.  Since this property was going to be redeveloped as part of the town disposition and RFP process, we felt it was essential for OceanView to take the lead role in that process to both protect and ensure a bright future for OceanView and our residents.  Overall, consistent with our original vision and hope for the site — we envision a vibrant future for the school property that complements our existing campus, allowing for smart growth in an attractive, green setting.

Public praises OceanView project, view the Press Herald’s story featured on the front page of Local & State, click here

Enjoy a delicious lunch while learning from our panel of highly qualified professionals.  You’ll learn about staging and selling your home; banking resources and the ins and outs of safely moving your belongings.

Presenters

Sandra Wendland, Vice President
Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty

Thomas Whelan, President
Bath Savings and Trust Company

Kate Lowry, Staging and Downsizing
Kate Lowry Designs

Brian Hughes, Vice President of Sales
Bisson Moving and Storage Company

Space is limited, RSVP today!  (207) 781-4460

FitzVogt Chef, Craig Lentz, will present cooking demonstrations and talk about OceanView’s two newest resident dining opportunities – the Gazebo Grille and Mediterranean Bistro.  Peruse sample menus while enjoying three tasting courses, served with accompanying beverages.

(Allergy notes: shellfish and nut ingredients.)

Tasting Menu

~First Course~
Gazebo Grille Feature
New Orleans Gumbo
Sweet Peach Tea

~Second Course~
Mediterranean Bistro Feature
Scallop and Lemon Spiedini Over Cous Cous,
With Lemon Crème Fraiche Sauce
Chardonnay

~Third Course~
Mediterranean Bistro Feature
Veal and Pistachio Meatball in Wine Sauce With Shaved Parmegiano Cheese
Chardonnay

~Take-Home Dessert~
Cranberry Pecan Biscotti

And don’t forget, you could go home with our fabulous doorprize!

Seating is limited, RSVP Required!  (207) 781-4460

This presentation traces three hundred years of travel and tourism in Europe and North America through the maps and guidebooks that directed travelers and tourists to their destinations. It begins with Coryat who, unlike his modern counterpart, had neither guidebooks nor maps. It ends with World War I, after which travel to Europe would never be the same again.  Visit this exhibition online at: http://usm.maine.edu/maps/exhibition/19/home

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 – 2:00 PM
RSVP by calling (207) 781-4460

Last week, the Hilltop Community Room, Main Lodge Dining Room, Private Dining Room and Gazebo Grille were decorated in a wealth of black, white and silver paper lanterns, shiny silver centerpieces, and black & silver draping to bring a festive atmosphere to our Silver Anniversary!  At the before-dinner party, residents enjoyed the Chris Humphrey Big Band Quartet who kept the dance floor full, and others tapping their feet in their seats.  A complete open bar, wine, champagne and hot and cold appetizers were served to an appreciative crowd.

Two dinner seatings served a total of 125 residents served with delectable choices of Cabernet-Braised Beef Short Ribs with Horseradish Potatoes, Oven-Poached Halibut with Julienne of Pumpkin, Pistachios & Beurre Blanc , Roasted Half Baby Chicken with Figs & Port Wine.  Our amazing chefs also created a light and tasty Pumpkin Pot de Crème with Pecan Praline Crunch (see below for an exclusive recipe!).

During dinner, John Wasileski presented our 25-year residents, Gladys & Myron H. and Evelyn P. with special awards, and recognized our two 23-year residents Louise D. and Barbara T. as well.

Cheers to the next 25 wonderful years at OceanView!

For Fritz and Betty Hessemer, the decision to move to OceanView from Rehoboth, Delaware was about being closer to their family. “Our daughter, Jane, asked us to move closer in case we needed her. She knew about OceanView, heard about the expansion, and when we saw the plans we were sold,” said Fritz from his apartment’s private, third-story deck. Motioning to the Presumpscot River Estuary and beyond to the Portland skyline, he said, “we have the most beautiful view of the water. Not to mention that as an energy conservationist, I love the fact that solar energy is being utilized.” His wife, Betty paints both with oils and watercolor and has her studio set up. With the walls of their apartment covered with beautiful portraits of their grandchildren or scenic beachscapes from Rehoboth, Betty has been eyeing the view out her window for her next piece of inspiration.

“We’re so excited about this very successful project and the new residents who are joining our active, stress-free community, ” said Sales and Marketing Manager, Gloria Walker. “Plus, we’re celebrating 25 years this fall, since OceanView first opened in 1986, so to finish our new Main Lodge Expansion while we celebrate our silver anniversary is a real testament to the OceanView lifestyle. It also speaks volumes about our owner and his commitment to being a leader in smart growth, sustainability and quality service in the retirement industry in Maine.”

Locally owned and managed by John Wasileski for 25 years, OceanView at Falmouth, along with his two other communities, The Highlands of Topsham and Highland Green, has always maintained a focus on controlled, smart growth, conservation, and alternative energy sources to reduce the company’s overall carbon footprint. This leadership earned John Wasileski the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence several years ago.

Today, numerous solar hot water systems are in use at OceanView at Falmouth, including a 360 tube array on Hilltop Lodge, 12 flat plates on Falmouth House, heliocol collectors for the 60 foot pool. A new installation of 14 collectors on the roof of the Main Lodge Expansion furthers this commitment. Solar energy will be part of the planning of any future projects.  Resident John Radebaugh feels strongly about OceanView’s commitment  to environmental responsibility. “I’m a part of Earthcare, a group of residents at OceanView who want to be aware of what nature offers. One of the things we’re very interested in is solar power,” says Dr. Radebaugh. “It isn’t developed very well in this country and we’re appreciative of any efforts to try and develop solar at OceanView and other areas nearby because that’s the future of energy sources and really makes a difference.”

For more information about OceanView at Falmouth, visit www.oceanviewrc.com.

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Did you know that OceanView makes smart growth a core part of its mission? In addition to preservingmature trees throughout our 60-acre campus, developing walking trails so we can enjoy those lovely acres, maintaining dedicated open space as conservation land, and supporting the Portland METRO to reduce cars on the road, our owner John Wasileski has conscientiously committed to alternative energy and solar power to help reduce our corporate carbon footprint.Being environmentally responsible is a big piece of the OceanView at Falmouth culture.

Since 2007, OceanView, in conjunction with ReVision Energy, has installed numerous solar hot water systems, including a 360 tube array on Hilltop Lodge, twelve flat plates on Falmouth House, heliocol collectors for our pool, and now, fourteen brand new collectors on the roof of the Main Lodge Expansion.

We were recently featured on ReVision Energy’s “Solar Road Tour” and you can check out the video below!