The Kennebunk Dog Park Steering Committee met this past week for the first time this year. Here are a few updates you may be interested in:

Spring Clean-Up - Sunday, May 2nd at 4:00pm

Please stop by the park if you can spare a half hour, hour or more to help clean up debris, dog waste, work on the flower gardens, spread wood chips, etc. If you use the park on a regular basis, it's a nice way to give back.

Fundraising Bricks Installation - Sunday, May 2nd at 4:00pm

The park is ready to install the first batch of engraved bricks! The bricks will be installed in the entrance area of the park for all to see. Bricks are available for purchase through The Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk and proceeds from brick sales are used for the ongoing maintenance of the park. Stop by Scalawags if you would like to see a sample brick.

One of the best things about moving to Maine three years ago has been the opportunity to share the area's sandy beaches with my dogs. Jack and Rose are the most joyful when they are running on the beach. No other activity makes them as happy and there is no place they would rather be than at their favorite place, Goose Rocks Beach (GRB).

Unfortunately, several home owners have sued the Town of Kennebunkport to prevent public access to the vast majority of Goose Rocks Beach. This turn of events is distressing to me on so many levels.

As a resident of Kennebunkport the thought of losing access to one of the town's best assets makes me question whether I would want to continue to live here. I also nervously wonder what will happen to my home's value and appeal should I decide to move.

As a shop owner in Kennebunkport, I think about all of the visitors who flock to Southern Maine in large part because of the beautiful beaches. If these people are not allowed to enjoy GRB as they have for so many years in the past, they will find other destinations for their family vacations and romantic getaways. If these visitors don't come, what will become of our hotels, restaurants and shops and the people who work in them?

As a dog owner, it makes me really sad to think Jack, Rose and I would never be welcome again to take a long walk on Goose Rocks Beach. Our GRB adventures would just be memories of eight paws and ten toes in the sand.

As a resident, shop owner and dog owner, I support the Save Our Beaches organization and its efforts. Save Our Beaches is a group of concerned citizens whose goal is to maintain the long established history of public access and use of Goose Rocks Beach for recreation and enjoyment.

This issue impacts not only local residents but residents in coastal communities throughout the country as well as anyone who enjoys visiting our country's beautiful beach towns. If this happens here, it can happen (and has happened already) in other coastal communities.

Don't bury your head in the sand! Lend your support by visiting the Save Our Beaches, website at http://www.save-our-beaches.org and Facebook page.

Since opening Scalawags in 2007 I have been bugging the local postal workers in Kennebunkport for "dog stamps". Every month or so new stamps are on display at the post office and usually feature a Hollywood star or flag or duck. Apparently, stamp collectors just can't get enough duck stamps.

Well all of my pestering has finally paid off.  The U.S. Postal Service has selected Animal Rescue as its 2010 "social awareness" stamp theme.  The new Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps feature photos of ten dogs and cats adopted through shelters.

The Postal Service has partnered with Halo, Purely for Pets and Ellen DeGeneres (co-owner) to get the word out about the new stamps. The launch of the new stamp collection coincides with Halo's campaign to donate 1 million meals to shelter pets through various consumer donation triggers. For example, if you fan Halo on Facebook, the company will donate one first-class meal to a shelter animal in need.

The Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps go on sale April 30th but you can pre-order them online now. Be sure to tell your friends about the new first-class stamps so they can help too and visit Halo's website for more information about pet adoption and to find out how you can donate meals.

Thank you USPS! We look forward to sending and receiving lots of mail with these cute characters in 2010!