Kittery Escapes Sandy with Little Damage

Editor's note: Welcome to "Across the River," which offers stories and news from Kittery, Maine. Each Thursday, Portsmouth Patch will present a story about this community along with a short list of upcoming events and happenings around town. All Portsmouth Patch stories about Kittery, Maine will also be posted in our new "Across the River" topic page that can be accessed by clicking on the News section of the tool bar any time.

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Kittery, Maine residents rode out Hurricane Sandy with the same New England Yankee toughness they typically display during severe weather events. Overall, Kittery fared pretty well compared to some of its York County, Maine neighbors.

At the height of Hurricane Sandy on Monday night, there were 590 Central Maine Power customers in Kittery without power. By Tuesday, most of Kittery’s residents had electricity again except for some Kittery Point residents.

On the Town of Kittery’s Facebook page, Kittery Police Chief Paul Callaghan wrote on Monday that Kittery residents were on course to have a rough ride.

“The next 6-9 hours will be the worst. Sustained winds 30-35mph, gusts 50-60mph. We are now starting to get power outages on Pocahontas, (5 residents). Rt.1 Bypass, Walker, Haley/Foyes Lane and Dennett Rd.  Central Maine Power has trucks in Kittery and will respond as long as the sustained winds stay below 40mph. If the need arises to open a shelter, it will be at Marshwood High School in South Berwick,” Callaghan wrote.

Overall, Kittery fared pretty well compared to many other parts of York County, according to Central Maine Power’s web site.

For example, some of the Kittery’s neighbors had many more power outages.

More than 1,400 people lost power in Eliot and more than 1,300 York residents were in the dark well into Tuesday.

On Tuesday morning, Kittery town officials posted the following message on the town’s web site:

“Hurricane Sandy has passed with minimal damage to the Town of Kittery infrastructure.  Power is being restored, and the main roads are passable.  The Town offices will be open for normal business hours today(8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).  The Kittery Public Schools will be open.”

Kittery town officials also announced that the town’s voting place on Nov. 6 has been moved to the Community Center on 120 Rogers Road.

Meetings:

Kittery Port Authority, Kittery Town Hall, Thursday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Kittery Town Hall closed, Friday, Oct 26.

Kittery School Committee, Town Hall, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 general election, Community Center, polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Events:

Flu Clinic for students and staff, Shapleigh School Library, Friday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon

KTP bicycle rides: Every Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m., Kittery Trading Post guides will lead bicyclists on a coastal ride in town and newcomers are welcome.

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