“Some. Things. Curious” makes its debut tonight (Friday) at SPACE Gallery.
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| Art Walk attraction 'Some. Things. Curious' at SPACE Gallery “Some. Things. Curious” makes its debut tonight (Friday) at SPACE Gallery. Click here to read more ... |
| WWII vet recalls bomb blasts, landing at Normandy State Rep. Walter Wheeler of Kittery can see the blasts of gunfire just like the invasion at Normandy happened yesterday. Click here to read more ... |
| Calling the roll: Maine women veterans to be celebrated in bronze Do you know a Maine woman veteran among your family, friends, or neighbors? If so, the state is looking for names of living Maine women veterans to be honored this autumn in the Pine Tree state's first-ever bronze memorial to women who served their country in wartime and peacetime. Click here to read more ... |
| Teacher, author presents talk on Sept. 30 at USM Anthony Pedriana, author of "Leaving Johnny Behind: Overcoming Barriers to Literacy and Reclaiming At-Risk Readers," will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at the University of Southern Maine Wishcamper Center, Room 113, about his experiences as an urban elementary school teacher and principal responsible for teaching children to learn to read. Click here to read more ... |
| World War II anniversary to be commemorated in Portland Public ceremonies to mark the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II will be conducted at the USS PORTLAND memorial, Fort Allen Park, on the Eastern Promenade, Portland, at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept.2. Click here to read more ... |
| In a month, massive mural needs massive grant Wanted: $100,000 to help a local nonprofit set a world record for largest public art installation. Click here to read more ... |
| Phony prescriptions probe leads to SoPo teen's arrest In a case related to bogus drug prescriptions, on Tuesday night, Aug. 31, officers from the South Portland Police Department found and arrested 19-year-old Vincent M. Varanelli of South Portland at the request of the Westbrook Police Department's drug investigator, Westbrook police reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Hurricane threat already means early football, free baseball for 'Earls' Prep is under way for hurricane Earl. Click here to read more ... |
| South Portland High School Class of 1975 seeks member information The South Portland High School Class of 1975 held its 35th reunion Saturday evening, Aug. 21 on the campus of Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. Emcee for the evening was Steve “The King” Miller. Click here to read more ... |
| Cannabis college wants students to grow With the state's voter-mandated medical marijuana system falling into place, Maine’s marijuana industry is poised to become further commercialized, and a couple of groups are stepping up to train the new crop of green thumbs interested in entering the growing game. Click here to read more ... |
| Century's first heat wave bakes city Record-setting heat of 94 degrees in Portland Tuesday established a rare heat wave for the city, its first in this century, according to the National Weather Service. Click here to read more ... |
| Hurricanes offer surfers a risky ride Hurricane Earl has grabbed all the headlines this week, but surfer Marc Doiron came face to face with the effects of another hurricane, Hurricane Danielle, while surfing in Scarborough. Despite a rugged wipeout, he lived to tell the tale. Click here to read more ... |
| United Way launches campaign at Sea Dogs United Way of Greater Portland will kick off this year’s Campaign at the Portland Sea Dogs versus Binghamton Mets game today (Tuesday, Aug. 31), at 7 p.m. at Hadlock Field, the organization announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Forecasters warn that Earl may hit Maine "Although the accuracy of tracks this far in advance is difficult to determine, it is essential that everyone begins to follow the weather reports closely," said MEMA Director Rob McAleer. "This storm is already a Category 3 hurricane and conditions are favorable for continued strengthening." Click here to read more ... |
| Cumberland County Extension Association holds meeting, bake-off The public is invited the 2010 annual meeting of the Cumberland County Extension Association to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 15 starting at 6 p.m. at Southern Maine Community College, 80 Fort Road at the Culinary Arts Building, in South Portland. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Keep it Local.” Click here to read more ... |
| Veranda Street on-ramp to stay closed longer due to interstate work Tonight (Tuesday), the Maine Department of Transportation warns motorists that MaineDOT contractors plan to close I-295 southbound Exit 9 (Rt. 26 North — Baxter Boulevard) overnight, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. This overnight exit closure will allow for bridge paving adjacent to the exit, and to safely shift the bridge work zone to the center lane, the agency reported. A detour will be established. Click here to read more ... |
| Rare, 19th-century hand-painted banners saved for public On Thursday, Aug. 26, 16 Maine museums, historical organizations and their supporters came together in an "unprecedented collaboration" to save an important collection of Maine artifacts, 17 rare, 19th-century hand-painted banners commissioned by the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association. The banners were purchased for $125,350 and will be housed at the Maine Historical Society in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland Trails 'Trail to Ale' celebrates 11 years Portland Trails is gearing up for its 11th annual 10K “Trail to Ale” Race/Walk to be held on Sunday, Sept. 19, noting that this year as many as 1,500 walkers and runners are expected to participate. Click here to read more ... |
| Clean energy bus tour visits USM today What a long, not-so-strange trip it's been: The Job’s Not Done Tour is in the midst of a 17-state, 30-stop journey and features clean energy workers, union members and environmentalists urging Senate action on clean energy legislation. Today's discussion will take place at 5:30 p.m. at USM’s Abromson Center. Click here to read more ... |
| No curbside trash/recycling in Portland on Labor Day The Department of Public Services Solid Waste crews will not collect trash or recycling on Labor Day, Sept. 6, the city reported. Residents who normally receive collection services on Monday will have their trash and recycling collected this Saturday, Sept. 4. Click here to read more ... |
| A day at the ballpark — this is work? Sky boxes, the 22-seat, enclosed seating areas at Hadlock Field, are a hot commodity. Click here to read more ... |
| Storm threatens to linger, dump a foot of snow Today through Sunday, Maine will bear the brunt of a storm that will rotate back onto the state. Click here to read more ... |
| Red Claws falls to 8-3 with home loss In the second day of a two-game mini-series, the Bakersfield Jam extracted revenge on the Maine Red Claws after losing by 23 points on Saturday. Jeremy Wise led the way with a team-high 24 as the Jam beat Maine 115-98 in the Portland Exposition Building Sunday night. Click here to read more ... |
| Local police to step up OUI enforcement on New Year's Eve Revelers will be out in force tonight to ring in the New Year, and in most cities they will be greeted by a heightened police presence that includes drunk driving patrols, extra foot beats and maybe even roving bicycle cops. Click here to read more ... |
| Sea Dogs return with food drive The Portland Sea Dogs announced that they will once again hold their annual food drive. This marks the 10th year of the event, according to a press release. The food drive will begin on Monday, Jan. 4 and will run through Friday, Jan. 29. All the collected food items will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Click here to read more ... |
| PUC staff opposes ferry rate investigation In a setback to ferry rate protesters, the PUC staff is recommending denial of an investigation request. Click here to read more ... |
| Year in review, Part II Although 2009 may be remembered most for high unemployment and a dismal economy both nationwide and here in Portland, it was far more than that. From the moment the Daily Sun launched in February, right through December, it was a busy news year. This is the second installment of a month-by-month listing of the big stories over the past year. Yesterday, we began a recap of the year's top stories. Below is a recap from July through December. Click here to read more ... |
| Casco Bay Lines hires new General Manager The Casco Bay Island Transportation District announced Tuesday the hiring of Waldoboro businessman Hank Berg as general manager of Casco Bay Lines, which provides ferry service to Portland's island communities. Click here to read more ... |
| New printing press hopes to convene city's creative minds A new art printer targets the creative class. Click here to read more ... |
| 2009 in review, Part 1 The first of two parts, looking back at 2009. Click here to read more ... |
| Adams death underscored Peaks issues A Peaks Island death was an early controversy in 2009, but it wasn't the only one for the islanders. Click here to read more ... |
| The afterlife of local Christmas trees After lighting up the holidays, many Christmas trees burned for electricity. Click here to read more ... |
| Post-holiday waste sheds light on economy In the coming weeks, the National Retail Federation and other groups will release data showing how much consumers spent during the holidays, and how it compared with previous years. The numbers will no doubt be scrutinized to determine the economic trajectory heading into the New Year. But by then, Kevin Roche, general manager of Ecomaine, will already have a good idea whether this holiday season was a boom or a bust. Click here to read more ... |
| Reward money redirected into scholarship fund A Southern Maine ambulance company has donated $5,000 into a scholarship fund in memory of James Angelo, a Mercy Hospital security guard slain on the job, a case that's remains unsolved for more than 15 months. Click here to read more ... |
| Downtown bustles as shoppers seek last-minute gifts With less than 48-hours until Christmas, last-minute shoppers were out in force Wednesday, packing downtown shops and providing some extra oomph to the all-important holiday shopping season. Click here to read more ... |
| 'Accidental restauranteur' expanding onto Exchange Street Owners of the Local 188 restaurant are expanding into Old Port. Click here to read more ... |
| Library renovation entering final stages Nine months after construction began, the $7.3 million renovation project at Portland Public Library's Monument Square branch is nearly complete, and library officials are saying the new and improved building should reopen to the public in April, 2010. Click here to read more ... |
| City waives a burial fee for military vets The city council on Monday voted to make military veterans exempt from a one-time installation fee for burial markers at two city cemeteries. Click here to read more ... |
| Weekend nightclub death ruled a homicide A Portland man who died early Saturday following a fight outside a Read Street nightclub was a homicide victim, authorities said Monday. Click here to read more ... |
| Web groups try to lure Trader Joe's Portland foodies are taking to the Web by the thousands in hopes of luring trendy supermarket chain Trader Joe's to Southern Maine. Currently, the store has no stores north of Massachusetts. Click here to read more ... |
| The Miracle on Congress Street Quietly, over the past year or two, Congress Street's "New" Arts District has transformed from one of the city's most challenged neighborhoods into an economic success story. Click here to read more ... |
| Salvation Army distributes gifts, food today The distribution of Christmas gifts and food parcels to needy families in Portland begins today (Friday) from Salvation Army Headquarters, the organization reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Ringing in winter, wind chill drops to 10 below In Thursday's brittle cold, Salvation Army bell ringers were on a one-hour rotation on Exchange Street, but even then they were shaking their bells with a little more vigor to stay warm. Click here to read more ... |
| Literacy group merges with Learning Works For years, Phyllis de Fano, executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Portland, was in charge of just about every aspect of the nonprofit: She raised money, she trained tutors, and as the only paid staffer, she even answered the phones. Click here to read more ... |
| City amends parking ban policy After receiving complaints from last week's parking ban that went bust, the city announced on Thursday parking ban policy revisions that allow for 6 p.m. or 10 p.m. start times depending on the storm. Officials also outlined a formal process for cancelling bans if weather changes. Click here to read more ... |
| Change That Works tries to strike right note in health care protest In one part of an Exchange Street building Thursday, the sound of "fa la la la la" resonated from U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree's Portland office as members of progressive activist group Maine Change That Works sang mock Christmas carols pushing national health care reform. Click here to read more ... |
| Throngs turn out for Merry Madness In its sixth year, Merry Madness, the Portland Downtown District's shopping promotion, brought out roughly 2,000 people Thursday night, a strong turnout in decidedly chilly weather, organizers reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Deering High student chosen for Grammy Jazz Ensemble Deering High School’s Dom Sbrega has been chosen to participate in Grammy Jazz Ensemble, the school announced in its December newsletter. Click here to read more ... |
| Barge service resumes at city port Cargo service has resumed at the International Marine Terminal after a two month lull, stoking new hopes for a long-term shipping presence at the city-owned port and providing work for 16 people Click here to read more ... |
| Cheverus String Ensemble plays for nursing home residents On Dec. 15, the Cheverus High School String Ensemble visited area nursing homes performing Christmas music for the residents, the Portland Public Schools announced. Under the direction of Sean Potter, Cheverus music instructor, the 12-person Ensemble performed at the Woods at Canco, St. Joseph’s Manor, 75 State St. and Falmouth by the Sea. Click here to read more ... |
| Exchange Street building saved by sprinklers, city says Fire suppression systems installed recently in an Old Port building cited for building code violations are being credited by the city with preventing "significant" damage from a Wednesday morning fire. Click here to read more ... |
| Linda Bean launches Portland restaurant With little fanfare Wednesday, Linda Bean walked into Linda Bean's Perfect Maine Lobster Roll at 37 Exchange St. and checked on the success of the opening day for her first Portland lobster roll restaurant. Click here to read more ... |
| Police say missing teen likely ran away Westbrook Police are asking for the public's help in locating a 15-year-old boy who hasn't been seen in more than two days. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? El Rayo at 101 York St. boasts an iconic sign with the vibrant colors so typical South of the Border. The name of the restaurant means "ray of light." Click here to read more ... |
| Bangor Theological Seminary plans 105th convocation The 105th convocation at Bangor Theological Seminary, to be held Jan 25-27 at Gracie Theater on the Husson University Campus in Bangor, will bring together nationally-recognized speakers to share ideas and perspectives on key religious questions. Click here to read more ... |
| County stages logo contest for 250th anniversary The year 2010 is the 250th anniversary of Cumberland County, and the county is hostng a logo competition to celebrate. The logo will be used throughout the year of 2010 on all communication and promotional materials. Click here to read more ... |
| Controversial housing rule may be changed A controversial ordinance requiring developers to pay thousands of dollars for apartments they remove from the city's housing stock may be revised next year amid growing concern from business and property owners that the rule hinders development and is applied unevenly. Click here to read more ... |
| CORRECTION Click here to read more ... |
| Tax from Spanish-American War comes calling State Rep. Herb Adams of Portland wants Mainers to take advantage of a federal refund for a “telephone tax” passed by Congress to fund the Spanish-American War more than a century ago. Click here to read more ... |
| Five charged in Old Port assault Five men accused of "instigating altercations" in the Old Port, including one that sent a doorman to the hospital with head injuries, were arrested early Sunday morning, police said. Click here to read more ... |
| Santa visits Portland Post Office; Letters to Santa program continues Santa Claus will be on hand at the Portland Post Office this Wednesday to hand holiday candy canes to lobby customers. Click here to read more ... |
| METRO may raise fares, cut service to shore up budget METRO, which provides bus service to three Greater Portland communities, is considering fare increases, service cuts or employee layoffs in an effort to close up to $500,000 in its proposed 2010 fiscal budget. Click here to read more ... |
| Police: Home invasion possible case of mistaken identify Portland Police are investigating a Friday night home invasion where two men claiming to be narcotics agents burst into a Deering-area home and then fled without taking anything. Click here to read more ... |
| Merry Madness shopping event downtown on Thursday More than 70 downtown businesses are extending store hours until 10 p.m. this Thursday and serving to help Portlanders finish their holiday shopping and boost holiday business for locally-owned stores. Click here to read more ... |
| Exit interview: Duson on 'good' government, future politics In an exit interview, outgoing Portland mayor Jill Duson notes her accomplishments, challenges and is "pretty sure" she'll run for mayor if it becomes an elected position. Click here to read more ... |
| Record Prophets Far from dead, the national vinyl record comeback finds a home on Congress Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine's push for local foods echoed in national survey Food trends that have taken hold in Maine — locally grown produce, locally sourced meats and seafood, sustainability — top the list of nearly 215 culinary items in the “What’s Hot in 2010” survey by the National Restaurant Association. Click here to read more ... |
| Back Cove I-295 bicycle crossing raises red flags Controversy is "brewing" over bicycle access to Tukey's Bridge on the Back Cove, according to a new blog dedicated to the popular recreation trail. Click here to read more ... |
| United Way, Preble Street seek help with The Pantry Project United Way of Greater Portland has once again joined forces with Preble Street to roll out The Pantry Project, a program aimed at feeding hungry people from now until June 2010, United Way reported in a press release. Click here to read more ... |
| Community tries to forge vision for local schools in Future Search More than 100 community members are meeting today in the second and final day of a "Future Search" conference seeking common goals for the Portland Public Schools. Click here to read more ... |
| Never mind: Parking ban enacted but not enforced As snow dissolved into rain Wednesday, the city opted not to ticket or tow vehicles left on the streets during the season's first announced parking ban, officials reported. Click here to read more ... |
| City-run H1N1 clinic today for expanded priority groups For the first time since the vaccines became available this fall, H1N1 swine flu shots at city-run flu clinics will be available to adults, albeit only those with underlying chronic health conditions. Click here to read more ... |
| Faith leaders to gather today for climate vigil Led by Maine Interfaith Power & Light, Maine faith leaders will gather for a candlelight vigil this evening at 6 p.m. during the Copenhagen Climate Conference in support of a strong international climate treaty, organizers announced. The vigil is part of a series of international vigils happening around the world this weekend as part of 350.org. Click here to read more ... |
| Storm sets stage for skier's weekend Portland declared its first parking ban of the season Wednesday night, while ski areas welcomed the midweek winter storm that blanketed Portland and dumped about a foot of snow in the mountains. Click here to read more ... |
| City to hold seasonal flu vaccines this month Beginning next week, the City of Portland's Health and Human Services Division will offer the first of two seasonal flu clinics. Click here to read more ... |
| Avesta launching $9 million rehab of Munjoy Hill properties Avesta Housing next month will begin a $9 million renovation of its Munjoy Commons properties, a project made possible with federal stimulus money that ensures the two former school buildings will stay as affordable housing. Click here to read more ... |
| Cactus Club loses liquor license appeal The state liquor bureau has upheld the city council's February decision to deny the Cactus Club a liquor license, but don't expect last call at the Western-themed bar anytime soon. Click here to read more ... |
| Cape Elizabeth floats parking fees at Fort Williams Cape Elizabeth is looking at charging fees to park at Fort Williams Park, home of the Portland Head Light lighthouse. Click here to read more ... |
| Labor Day Records marks five years with concert, party Five years and nine titles later, Labor Day Records is celebrating its fifth year in the music world. The celebration will take a physical form on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Empire Dine and Dance Club on Congress Street in Portland with a concert and party featuring many of the Labor Day artists. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine Civil Liberties Union to honor SoPo couple at annual meeting The Maine Civil Liberties Union will present the 2009 Roger Baldwin Award to Rita Clifford and Sara Jane Elliot of South Portland, Jim Bishop and Steve Ryan of Bar Mills, and Sen. Dennis Damon of Hancock "for their extraordinary contributions to marriage equality in Maine" at the 2009 MCLU Annual Meeting and Celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Bangor Public Library in Bangor, the group reported. Click here to read more ... |
| George Lucas Educational Foundation films at two Portland schools The George Lucas Educational Foundation is filming this week at two Portland Public Schools — King Middle School and Casco Bay High School — for a series titled, “Schools That Work.” Click here to read more ... |
| Dairy’s eggnog sales help Salvation Army Oakhurst Dairy has launched its annual holiday campaign to support the Salvation Army of Northern New England by raising money through sales of Oakhurst Dairy Eggnog. This holiday season marks the 10th year of the community-focused campaign, the company announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Oakhurst Dairy awards $2,500 to Maine Historical Society for Children's Gate in the Longfellow Garden Maine Historical Society announced it has been awarded $2,500 from Oakhurst Dairy. The result of a grant application, the award will help support the re-building of the Children’s Gate in the Longfellow Garden. Click here to read more ... |
| Open house marks new life of Etz Chaim Century-old manuscripts from Poland and Russia. Beautifully bound scrolls of the Torah. These are a few of the treasures in Etz Chaim Synagogue, but many would argue the building itself, tucked back from Congress Street at its intersection with India Street, itself is priceless. Click here to read more ... |
| Mavodones sworn in for third term as mayor With an eye toward another painful budget year, new Portland Mayor Nick Mavodones vowed to pursue partnerships both between the city and school departments and with other municipalities to find savings. Click here to read more ... |
| Details on fire boat accident could be months off It could be several months before details of a November accident that caused nearly $100,000 in damage to Portland Fire Department's fire boat are released to the public. Click here to read more ... |
| Civilians sparse at Pearl Harbor service For at least the past 42 years, Portlanders have gathered in the cold on Dec. 7 to commemorate the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Click here to read more ... |
| Storey's Christmas trees ends 20 years at Northgate This month, Elliot Storey will know whether he can keep his garden center business afloat without access to a key Christmas tree lot that his family used for 20 years. Click here to read more ... |
| Walter's nears opening at 2 Portland Square Walter's has closed at 15 Exchange Street in Portland and is aiming to reopen this month at its new location at 2 Portland Square on Union Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland's assistant police chief announces retirement Assistant Portland Police Chief Joe Loughlin, the only person in the department's history to serve in every rank from patrolmen to chief, announced on Friday he will retire at the end of December. Click here to read more ... |
| Markathon tops $25,000 with on-air benefit More than 650 people called in and gifts were provided from supporters in three different countries as the radio fundraiser Markathon at 94.3 WCYY raised $25,320 for the Center for Grieving Children, organizers reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Wharf Street hits refresh button Call it a Wharf Street revival. There's rejuvenation happening in one of the Old Port's most popular two blocks, where the focus wil remain on dining and relaxation. Click here to read more ... |
| UMF Community Orchestra celebrates with annual winter concert Dec. 12 The University of Maine at Farmington Community Orchestra will present its winter concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, in Nordica Auditorium, UMF Merrill Hall. The 35-piece ensemble includes UMF students, staff and community members. Click here to read more ... |
| Man accidentally released from jail turns self in Ahmed Hussein Ismail, the Portland man accidentally released from Cumberland County Jail on Wednesday night, is back in custody after turning himself in Friday afternoon. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland's war began before Pearl Harbor Monday marks the 68th anniversary of Japan's Dec. 7 attack at Pearl Harbor -- an event that no doubt remains "enshrined in infamy," not to mention in the dozens of movies, hundreds of books and 2.4 million History Channel hours. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? A holiday party tonight from 5-8 p.m. at Foundry Lane will thank the studio's customers and artists. Foundry Lane, at 221 Commercial St., "focuses on one-of-a-kind and limited production jewelry, artworks and craft with a special focus on handmade jewelry," according to its website (www.foundrylane.com). Click here to read more ... |
| Letters to Santa program kept alive by area postal workers The Main Post Office in Portland is continuing its annual Letters to Santa program this year thanks to an extraordinary volunteer effort by local Post Office and District administrative employees, the U.S. Postal Service reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Lessons from Ted Turner featured at Mainer's talk The ICL Leadership in Action Breakfast featuring Burke will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9, with breakfast and networking at 7 a.m. followed by the program from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Registration is $20 per person and can be completed by contacting Shawn Hunt at the Institute for Civic Leadership at 773-3254 (extension 100) or shunt@civicleadership.org. Click here to read more ... |
| A Portland sister city in focus A photograph exhibit of life in Cap-Haïtien, Portland's sister-city in Haiti, goes on display Friday at City Hall. Click here to read more ... |
| Absences normalizing in city schools Absentee rates at Portland Public Schools have fallen back to normal in recent weeks after a surge earlier this fall that district health officials attributed to H1N1 swine flu. Meanwhile, attempts to vaccinate Click here to read more ... |
| Urban Hardware making transition to general store Urban Hardware, the distinctive 1,000-square-foot hardware store nestled near the corner of Congress and Park streets, is closing and changing into Urban General Store. Click here to read more ... |
| Barber Foods exec tapped for Obama jobs summit A representative of Portland's Barber Foods will meet with President Obama on Thursday as part of a jobs summit at the White House. Click here to read more ... |
| Post Office cuts back boxes, continues Station A closure process Faced with a loss of $3.8 billion nationwide at the end of its 2009 fiscal year in October, the U.S. Postal Service is pursuing two high-profile cost-cutting measures in Portland: possible closure of the Station A post office on Congress Street and removal of dozens of blue collections boxes around the city. Click here to read more ... |
| LearningWorks seeks donations, plans game night LearningWorks is turning to the community for donations of new games, food and blankets this holiday season. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland School Committee Holds Inauguration on December 7 New members of the Portland School Committee will be inaugurated in a ceremony on December 7 at 4 p.m. in the City Council chambers at Portland City Hall. Click here to read more ... |
| RBPA hosts annual holiday auction The Rainbow Business & Professional Association, Maine’s gay and lesbian business and professional networking group, will host its 13th annual Holiday Auction Wednesday evening, Dec. 9, at Portland’s Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St. Click here to read more ... |
| Ruling on Cactus Club liquor appeal expected this week The state police agency considering a Cactus Club liquor license appeal is expected to issue a ruling this week, a decision that could signal either a fresh start or the beginning of the end for the troubled Old Port bar. Click here to read more ... |
| Westbrook Police checkpoint yields OUI, drug charges Westbrook Police charged 17 people with crimes ranging from drunk driving to drug possession to possession of alcohol by a minor at a sobriety checkpoint Saturday night on Route 302. Click here to read more ... |
| Iconic Rockwell image re-created at gov's mansion An iconic image is re-created to honor Maine food. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland man struck, killed, on Forest Ave Sunday Portland Police say speed and alcohol don't appear to be involved in a traffic accident Sunday night on Forest Avenue that left a 57-year-old Portland man dead. Click here to read more ... |
| Goodwill hosts Art for Everyone Goodwill Industries of Northern New England will hold its third bi-annual Art for Everyone: A Collection of Donated Art, on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 pm. The sale will be held at Goodwill’s Headquarters, which is located at 353 Cumberland Avenue in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Saco & Biddeford Savings collecting Toys for Tots Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, in cooperation with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, is participating in the 2009 Toys for Tots campaign. Click here to read more ... |
| Dozens arrested inside, outside Phish concert State and local authorities made nearly 30 arrests and issued dozens of summonses for drugs and other infractions in connection with Sunday's Phish concert at Cumberland County Civic Center, officials announced Monday. Click here to read more ... |
| Cheap ski tips Click here to read more ... |
| Coming back to Saddleback A profile of the up-and-coming Saddleback ski area. Click here to read more ... |
| Forecast calls for 4-6 inches of snow in N. Maine Skiers can take heart. Forecasters expected 4-6 inches of snow in the northern regions of Maine this weekend. Click here to read more ... |
| 'Black Friday' just Friday in Old Port It may be Black Friday madness at the malls and the big boxes, but for Old Port shops and retailers it's mostly business as usual. Click here to read more ... |
| Group: Maine fishermen at risk from proposed federal rule Portland fishermen could find themselves swamped by out-of-state competitors under a new federal system of fishing regulation, opponents to the pending rules said Tuesday at a press event. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland School District launches alumni Facebook page The Portland Public Schools has created a Facebook fan page for alumni of the district’s four high schools: Portland High, Deering, Casco Bay High School and Portland Arts and Technology High School. Click here to read more ... |
| Thanksgiving 'trot' part race, part reunion When the cannon sounds tomorrow morning, nearly 1,500 runners will take off in the Thanksgiving Day four-miler around downtown Portland. But for many of the racers, it won't be the first time they've shared the starting line. Click here to read more ... |
| City Council last hurdle for Tasers With a positive endorsement from a key city committee, Tasers stun guns are one step away from becoming a permanent part for Portland Police Department's non-lethal weapons arsenal. Click here to read more ... |
| Cheverus provides thousands of Thanksgiving dinners Faced with record demand for Thanksgiving baskets, Cheverus High School students spent the past month collecting enough food, cash and supplies to provide up to 3,000 needy residents with a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Click here to read more ... |
| City Christmas tree lit by cool energy-saving lights Today, when the city lights its Christmas tree in Monument Square, about 2,000 energy-saving LED (light-emitting diode) lights will blink on, using about an eighth the amount of electricity of traditional holiday lights. Click here to read more ... |
| No Daily Sun on Thanksgiving The paper will not publish on Thanksgiving Day. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine State Ballet brings Nutcracker to life starting this weekend Maine State Ballet rings in the season with the holiday classic, "The Nutcracker," beginning Thanksgiving weekend at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. This seasonal favorite tells the traditional story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as they journey through a snow-covered forest and into the Palace of the Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her spectacular court. Click here to read more ... |
| The Victorian 'Nutcracker' comes to Portland Portland Ballet Company will present the only "Nutcracker" set in Portland. With stage sets inspired by rooms at the Victoria Mansion and outdoor scenes in Deering Oaks Park, this Nutcracker is truly like no other in the world, the performance group reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Local arts groups collaborate to support education for artists Thirteen different creative-based Maine organizations have united for one cause. Maine Volunteer Lawyer for the Arts, a newly formed nonprofit, having already provided hundreds of thousands of dollars of legal service referrals for local artists, is now providing educational opportunities for the community, the group announced. Click here to read more ... |
| FOOD: Event to celebrate, support opening of Local Sprouts Cafe A "Food: Art: Community Opening" will take place on the First Friday Art Walk, Friday, Dec. 4, from 5-8 p.m. at the Meg Perry Center, 644 Congress St. to mark the new Local Sprouts Cafe, opening in March. Click here to read more ... |
| Cape Elizabeth resident honored during Breast Cancer Awareness Month The Maine Breast Health Leadership Awards were presented at the annual Silver Tea hosted by First Lady Karen Baldacci at the Blaine House in Augusta as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year’s recipients were Betsy St. Germaine of Cape Elizabeth in the professional category and Lisa Jepson Wahlstrom of Bangor in the Volunteer category — each recognized for their leadership in advocating for the breast cancer needs of Maine women. Click here to read more ... |
| Barber takes a bow after 50 years Bob Mitton Sr. went into the U.S. Air Force and served for four years during the Korean War. Then, he went to barber school in Lewiston and opened up Bob's Barber Shop in Portland on Fore Street. That was 50 years ago. Click here to read more ... |
| Weekend checkpoints nab two for OUI Westbrook Police charged two people with drunk driving and four others were arrested or issued summons for other offenses during two O.U.I checkpoints operated this past weekend. Click here to read more ... |
| Report suggests Tasers effective even when not used A Portland Police Department report on Taser use over the past three months suggests the electric stun guns are effective against aggressive, suicidal and intoxicated people even when they aren't deployed. Click here to read more ... |
| Jail deputy bitten by inmate An inmate at the Cumberland County Jail was charged with assault on a corrections officer, jail staff reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Camp Sunshine needs $50,000 in New Balance Foundation’s $250,000 Matching Challenge CASCO — Despite making good progress, Camp Sunshine still needs to raise $50,000 by the end of the year to meet a $250,000 matching challenge from the New Balance Foundation. Click here to read more ... |
| Genocide survivor to speak out on his experience El-Fadel Arbab, a Portland resident and activist working to end the genocide in Darfur, will host a talk, "One Man's Story of Tragedy, Escape and Immigration," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Ave. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? When a thief broke into the Park Avenue Church of God in September and carted off musical equipment, Mike Fink at Guitar Grave near Monument Square helped recover some of the items and even repaired a couple of pieces of equipment. Click here to read more ... |
| Art galleries team up for holiday events A new collective of six Artist Run Galleries located in the Heart of the Arts just steps from the Museum of Art, near the intersection of High and Congress streets will be having their very first annual Holiday Art Stroll Nov. 27, noon -9 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Carlson-Turner Books & Bindery at the base of Munjoy Hill owes its name to previous owners, Norma Carlson and David Turner, who started it in the mid-1970s. Scott Wilson bought the bookstore in 1996. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland Symphony Orchestra’s Festival of Trees Lights up the holiday season The Portland Symphony Orchestra announced a new Portland holiday tradition, the Festival of Trees. A display of beautifully decorated Christmas trees will fill the lobby of Merrill Auditorium during this holiday season, Dec. 7 through 21, the orchestra announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Mayoral scenario up for sample vote today A tentative poll planned at tonight's charter commission meeting is expected to shed some light on what a popularly elected mayor might look like in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Job applicant arrested for stealing charity donation jar A man who allegedly stole a charity donation jar while filling out a job application a Westbrook Dunkin' Donuts was arrested that same day by Westbrook Police, who tracked him down using the information from his job application. Click here to read more ... |
| District to promote new pedestrian signs Portland Downtown District today plans to unveil a system of pedestrian signs that should help tourists find key destinations in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Westbrook man charged with robbery, drug possession Westbrook Police on Tuesday arrested a local man Tuesday who they say robbed a woman at knife point then assaulted another woman in her home. Click here to read more ... |
| Robbery suspect arrested in South Portland South Portland Police have charged a local man with a "lengthy criminal history" in connection with a robbery at a convenience store early Wednesday morning. Click here to read more ... |
| Christmas tree hoisted into square Yesterday, the city's Christmas tree went up. Today, it's time to decorate it. Click here to read more ... |
| School plan dodges layoffs, cuts $3.4 million Portland Public Schools Superintendent James Morse outlined nearly $3.4 million in possible budget cuts Tuesday aimed at preparing the district for mid-year reductions in state education funding. Click here to read more ... |
| City man charged with Ocean Ave. murder Six days after Marion Shea was found dead at an Ocean Avenue apartment, Portland Police have charged her boyfriend with murder. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Where better than Seattle to dream up the name of a coffeeshop? Click here to read more ... |
| Parents of Deering High grad walking on air after son's Coast Guard landing When the red and black H-65 Dolphin search-and-rescue helicopter circled Deering High School Tuesday, two spectators on the ground watched with a special mixture of excitement and awe. Click here to read more ... |
| Cheverus students qualify for District II Honors Instrumental Music Festival Twelve Cheverus High School students were selected to perform at the District II Honors Instrument Instrumental and Vocal Music Festivals to be heldearly next year. Click here to read more ... |
| Sign of the harvest: Nouveau set to arrive Thursday Pine State Beverage Company has scheduled its first delivery of the 2009 Nouveau for 6 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 19). Click here to read more ... |
| Mavodones chosen as city's next mayor Councilor Nick Mavodones was selected for a third term as mayor by the full city council on Monday in a caucus that could go down as one of the shortest on record. Click here to read more ... |
| Wayside Soup Kitchen, Preble Street splitting up After more than 15 years and a million meals served to homeless and needy Portlanders, Wayside Soup Kitchen and Preble Street Resource Center are severing ties early next year. Click here to read more ... |
| Work on Florence House turns inward With the outside largely complete, the balance of work on Florence House is shifting toward the inside, contractors on site explained. Click here to read more ... |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank seeks public's help Saturday at Maine Mall In response to the increased need for food this holiday season and coming winter, Good Shepherd Food Bank is asking the public to help “Stuff-the-Truck” with food for the hungry on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maine Mall. The truck will be located in the parking lot at the corner of Gorham Road and Philbrook Avenue. Click here to read more ... |
| CMP tree care includes communities in Oxford, Cumberland counties A dozen communities in Oxford and western Cumberland Counties are among more than 150 cities and towns in central and southern Maine to benefit from Central Maine Power Company’s tree care program this fall, the company announced. The work along utility lines is part of a $23 million annual vegetation management program to improve reliability the reliability of its roadside distribution lines. Click here to read more ... |
| Ida adds to soggy year; record rain on Saturday Remnants of Tropical Storm Ida gave Portland a new rainfall record — 5.03 inches of rain on Saturday was the most rainfall in any 24-hour period for November in the city's 138 years of keeping precipitation records. Click here to read more ... |
| Fall of the street cones If you thought summer passed in a blink of an eye, road construction crews would say it was faster than that. Click here to read more ... |
| United Way exceeds fundraising goal The United Way of Greater Portland announced at its annual campaign finale recently that it has exceeded its goal of $8,174,000 and expects to raise more than $8.4 million when the campaign is completed, according to a press release from the nonprofit organization. Click here to read more ... |
| Official: Public not in danger following homicide As state and local law enforcement on Friday continued their investigation into the homicide death of Marion Shea, a spokesman for the Maine Attorney General's office says the public is not in danger despite the lack of an arrest. Click here to read more ... |
| Analysis: Dems need to get those choirs back on track How many times will Democratic base set aside frustrations? Click here to read more ... |
| Possible end to West End policing center saga Nearly two years after moving to Harbor Terrace, the West End Community Policing Center could be headed back to its former home at 251 Danforth Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Body found at Ocean Ave. home a homicide A woman found dead at an Ocean Avenue home Wednesday morning was a homicide victim, police said Thursday. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland Museum of Art exceeds goals with auction The 2009 Portland Museum of Art Auction, which was held on Sept. 26, exceeded the fundraising goal of $125,000 by $19,000, the museum reported. Funds from the auction support the Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs. Click here to read more ... |
| No clear favorite ahead of mayoral caucus City councilors will gather next week to select Portland's next mayor, but unlike most years, it's still not clear who will be chosen for the ceremonial position. Click here to read more ... |
| In wake of Texas tragedy, city marks Veterans Day Portland marks Texas base killings as it honors veterans. Click here to read more ... |
| Police department may launch harbor patrol Portland Police are exploring whether to purchase a patrol boat to expand the police presence in Casco Bay and assist with rescue missions and emergency calls on the city's island communities. Click here to read more ... |
| Self-Development of People plans Portland workshop The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Self-Development of People program will hold a community workshop Tuesday, Nov. 24, for Portland-area groups interested in applying for a SDOP grant, the program organizers reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine Festival of the Book 2010 to be held in April The fourth annual Maine Festival of the Book will be held in Portland April 9-11, 2010. Most events are free and open to the public. For more information go to www.mainereads.org. Click here to read more ... |
| Downtown Portland Corporation honors local businesses Thursday On Thursday, the Downtown Portland Corporation will present its 14th annual business awards to three local businesses that have played a major role in developing Portland's economic vitality. Click here to read more ... |
| Veteran's Day Parade Click here to read more ... |
| Maine's war bonds hunt skirts lawsuit, seeks millions from WWII era Something out of an Indiana Jones movie is involved in a new push for Maine to reclaim World War II war bond revenue. Click here to read more ... |
| Iraq vet promotes clean energy as issue of national security. Andrew Campbell might not be a ‘Green’ Beret, but he is part of a group of military veterans are touring the country promoting clean, sustainable energy as a matter of national security. Click here to read more ... |
| Irish center to honor Conley The Maine Irish Heritage Center announced the second annual Claddagh Award Celebration will be held at the center on Gray Street on Friday, Nov. 13. Gerard P. Conley is this year’s recipient. Click here to read more ... |
| Shipwreck & Cargo to sail with its own line of clothing Shipwreck & Cargo, an iconic nautical souvenir shop on Commercial Street, plans to move beyond selling boating-related memorabilia and will market a line of clothing next summer, according to Ryan Harding, son of Brewster Harding, owner of the Old Port fixture. Click here to read more ... |
| Downtown noise task force gets committee nod The proposal to create a downtown noise task force got a nod of approval from a key city council subcommittee Tuesday night. Click here to read more ... |
| USM turns learning into action with Civic Matters on Nov. 20 Civic Matters will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20, in USM’s Wishcamper Center, Bedford Street, Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Khoury agrees to serve on Campaign for Justice Colleen Khoury, former dean of the University of Maine School of Law, has agreed to serve as the 2010 chair of the Campaign for Justice. Click here to read more ... |
| The Maine Commission for Community Service announces cash awards for MLK Day projects The Maine Commission for Community Service announced Tuesday that it will provide cash awards for organizations in Maine to develop community volunteer service projects in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Open since Aug. 1 next to the Dunkin' Donuts on Fore Street in the Old Port, 'Til Death features tattoos, body piercings and art exhibits. Click here to read more ... |
| D-Day veteran to lead Vets Day parade On June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, the glider carrying North Deering resident Espen H. Christensen landed in a potato field in Normandy. The Portland-native, 28-years-old at the time, was in charge of a Howitzer gun capable of firing artillery shells almost seven miles. Today, he leads a Veterans Day parade down Congress Street. Click here to read more ... |
| National Gaming Day at Westbrook Library Walker Memorial Library will join hundreds of other libraries throughout the country on November 14, 2009, for the second annual celebration of National Gaming Day @ your library. Click here to read more ... |
| Crunch time for finding the city's Christmas tree The city of Portland finds itself in a Goldilocks situation when it comes to finding the right Christmas tree to erect in Monument Square. Click here to read more ... |
| Parking, crime, dogs likely District One meeting issues The District 1 neighborhood meeting will be held at East End Community School at 7 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland’s Eighth Graders Invited to High School Information Night All eighth graders in the Portland Public Schools and their parents are invited to a High School Information Night on November 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria of Lyman Moore Middle School, 171 Auburn Street. The program will provide information about the choices available to the district’s high school students. Click here to read more ... |
| Wholesale dilemma The tug-of-war between wholesale and retail comes in the context of foodie town success. Click here to read more ... |
| Bragdon to run for at-large council seat Less than 24 hours after losing his first bid for city council, Charles Bragdon has announced he's running for an at-large city council seat next year. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine Brewers Festival comes to a head The Maine Brewers Festival returns to the Portland Expo for its 16th year. Click here to read more ... |
| Author Novella Carpenter to appear at Rabelais Novella Carpenter, author of "Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer," will appear at Rabelais Books on Middle Street later this month for a talk on her experiences farming on an abandoned lot in inner-city Oakland, California. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland man arrested in N.H. on assault, child porn charges CONWAY, N.H. — A Portland man was arrested Tuesday afternoon in North Conway, N.H. after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend the night before in Transvale Acres. Click here to read more ... |
| Arrests made in recent bank robberies With the arrest of two Portland men in recent days, police believe they may have solved four unsolved bank heists, including Tuesday's robbery at Key Bank on Forest Avenue. Click here to read more ... |
| Gay-friendly Emerald City opens amid air of optimism When the gift and card shop Emerald City opens today on Congress Street, owners Danny Hatt and partner Don Chouinard of Portland know that their gay-friendly merchandise will fill a niche in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Campaign for marriage equality not over, supporters say Same-sex marriage advocates on Wednesday vowed to press on despite the repeal of Maine's gay marriage law hours earlier. Click here to read more ... |
| Friends of Casco Bay appointments, honors noted Cathy Ramsdell, executive director of Friends of Casco Bay, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Maine Sea Grant Policy Advisory Committee to oversee the research, education and outreach activities of this state–federal partnership between the University of Maine and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Friends group reported. Click here to read more ... |
| L.L. Bean's Portland store closing next year Outdoor retailer LL Bean will close its Portland outlet store next September when the lease expires, officials announced Tuesday, affecting 14 jobs and potentially leaving a gaping hole along the Congress Street corridor. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Down-Home Cookin' celebrates three years at its Preble Street location in December. Click here to read more ... |
| South Portland runs out of ballots, sees tilt toward gay marriage South Portland recorded 63.2 percent turnout in Tuesday's election, as the city ran out of ballots around 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m., the city's clerk's office reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Donoghue holds D1 council seat; Bryan wins in D2 schools Amid heavy turnout for an off-year election, District 1 City Councilor Kevin Donoghue defeated challenger Charles Bragdon in the only contested city council race. Meanwhile, in the sole contested race for school committee, Ed Bryan defeated Anthony Zeli in District 2. Click here to read more ... |
| Androscoggin Bank opens new bank, investment cCenter in the Old Port On Friday, Nov. 6, Lewiston-based Androscoggin Bank will unveil its new Old Port location at 130 Middle St. with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tour for the media and local community. Click here to read more ... |
| Key Bank on Forest Ave. robbed; suspect at large Portland Police are looking for a white male in his late 30s who robbed a Key Bank branch on Forest Avenue Tuesday afternoon. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland voters: preserve gay marriage, reject TABOR II In voting Tuesday, Portland voters resoundingly opposed a referendum to overturn gay marriage; gave a thumbs down to a cut to the excise tax; balked at a measure to repeal school consolidation; panned TABOR II, the limitation on state and local government spending; supported medical marijuana; backed a transportation bond package; and narrowly supported a constitutional amendment increasing the amount of time that local officials have to certify the signatures on direct initiative petitions. Click here to read more ... |
| KONE enters new market through local elevator firm acquisition KONE has acquired Northeast Elevator Services, an independent elevator service company based in Portland, KONE reported in a press release. This acquisition enables KONE to establish its presence into a new market. Click here to read more ... |
| USDA organic, local foods funding flows into Maine When U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited a Portland bakery on Friday, it showed that some serious bread is behind USDA's "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, a federal effort to support organic agriculture. Click here to read more ... |
| UM Farmington commemorates Veterans' Day with Maine film University of Maine at Farmington proudly commemorates Veterans Day 2009 with a screening of the Maine-made film “The Way We Get By,” which has played to sold-out audiences across the country. Click here to read more ... |
| Turnout unpredictable as Election Day arrives After setting a record for the number of absentee ballots sent out for an off-year election, city officials and election observers aren't sure what to expect for Election Day turnout despite intense local interest in ballot questions on gay marriage and taxes. Click here to read more ... |
| Peter Wolf Replaces Judd Nelson as PSO guest narrator For the first Sunday Classical concert of the 85th anniversary season, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announces the replacement of the originally scheduled guest narrator. Click here to read more ... |
| Hit-and-run driver charged with murder Portland Police have charged Tim Antone of Scarborough with murder after the man he allegedly struck with his car at a North Deering apartment complex last week died of his injuries. Click here to read more ... |
| Walking tour benefits fight to end hunger in Maine On Monday, at the Maine Credit Union League in Westbrook, representatives from Maine’s credit unions joined Brenda Davis, executive director of Cross Roads Ministries, an Old Town-based hunger agency that serves thousands in Eastern Maine, to launch the southern Maine portion of the eighth annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour. Click here to read more ... |
| All but one tax-acquired property back in private hands Four of five properties taken by the city for back taxes earlier this year are back in private hands after their previous owners either paid their tax bills or entered into a payment plan. The fifth property, however, remains a something of a mystery. Click here to read more ... |
| 'An American Werewolf' comes to Freeport The first-ever stage production of An American Werewolf premiers at 8 p.m. tonight. Admission is free, but donations of canned goods will be accepted at the doors. A DVD of the performance will also be recorded for John Landis, to mark the first-ever on stage performance of his film. Click here to read more ... |
| Even if veto fails, gay marriages still a ways off If Question 1 fails, it could be up to two months before any gay marriages are performed in the state. Click here to read more ... |
| Wedding ceremonies to cease at City Hall until after election Marriage ceremonies have been put on hold at City Hall until after the Nov. 3 election to give city clerks time to process a record number of absentee ballot requests. Click here to read more ... |
| New sewer separation project to disrupt traffic Click here to read more ... |
| Gas line work planned for Park Ave; St. John St. Click here to read more ... |
| CORRECTION Click here to read more ... |
| Red Claws tickets go on sale next week Click here to read more ... |
| Theft, vandalism a 'sign' of marriage debate tensions Dueling campaigns over gay marriage in Maine both say their campaign signs are being defaced and stolen, as tensions mount a week from a Nov. 3 referendum election on the state's new gay marriage law. Click here to read more ... |
| Early voting finds fans in Falmouth, Scarborough Today and Monday, voters in Falmouth and Scarborough can do more than think about how they're going to vote on Election Day. They can cast ballots early, as residents of two towns chosen for the state's Early Voting Pilot Program. Click here to read more ... |
| Old Port noise task force proposed After months of debate over how best to regulate excessive noise in the Old Port, some city officials have proposed creating a task force to find a compromise palatable to residents, bar owners and hotels. Click here to read more ... |
| MoveOn.org plan press conference to lobby Snowe on health care Today (Wednesday) at 12:15 p.m., MoveOn members from across the state will hold a press conferences outside of Sen. Olympia Snowe’s six Maine offices to release a new report and to lobby for the public option. Click here to read more ... |
| Residence Inn by Marriott hosts ribbon cutting The Residence Inn by Marriott on Fore Street, the city's first Marriott property and the downtown's first extended-stay hotel, will host a ribbon cutting today. Click here to read more ... |
| Museum of African Culture highlighted by USA Today The USA Today Travel Section has identified Portland as one of "10 great towns with international flair" and singled out the Museum of African Culture as one of its cultural treasures. Click here to read more ... |
| Police unions to join negotiations on review board changes Leaders of both Portland Police unions have agreed to meet with city officials and Chief James Craig Thursday to discuss proposed changes to a police review board that were announced this week. Click here to read more ... |
| African parade honors ancestors, earth's renewal Don't look for Halloween scares but a sense of replenishment from Portland's Museum of African Culture. Click here to read more ... |
| Details emerge in 2007 Skolnik complaint against officer While trading barbs over amendments proposed for a police review board this week, Councilor Dan Skolnik and a police union leader Lt. Gary Hutcheson also clashed over the outcome of a 2007 confrontation between Skolnik and a police officer. Click here to read more ... |
| Police Explorer Post Recognized for Leadership Graduates from the Portland Police Explorer Post No. 2671 were recognized by Police Chief James Craig last night for their leadership and commitment to public safety. Click here to read more ... |
| TD Bank donates to Plant a Row for the Hungry TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, has donated $10,000 to support the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Plant a Row for the Hungry program at the proposed Regional Learning Center at Tidewater Farm in Falmouth, the bank reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland Police to hold citizen academy The Portland Police Department will be conducting a Citizen Academy starting Thursday, Nov. 19, officials announced this week. Click here to read more ... |
| FairPoint phone company files for bankruptcy Click here to read more ... |
| RBPA meeting features talk on economic recovery “Maine’s Economic Outlook: Recovery on the (Far) Horizon” is the focus of the Wednesday, Nov. 11 meeting of Rainbow Business & Professional Association. Click here to read more ... |
| Police union opposes changes to citizen review committee Should someone arrested by Portland Police be eligible to serve on a board that reviews how the department handles complaints? The head of the Portland Police supervisors' union doesn't think so. Click here to read more ... |
| Paving work to continue this week Road repair and repaving work will be underway this week on Brighton Avenue, Forest Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Park Avenue, and Stevens Avenue, city officials announced Monday. Click here to read more ... |
| USM Youth Ensembles perform in Merrill The USM Youth Ensembles, which consists of more than 200 musicians from Southern and Central Maine, will present their annual fall concert next month at Merrill Auditorium. Click here to read more ... |
| Era of traditional elections may be ending soon In just over a week, Portlanders will decide ballot measures on gay marriage, taxes and an expansion of Maine's medical marijuana laws. Sometime next year, they could be asked to decide several measures that would shape city elections for generations. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Halloween Edition Strange Maine the store is an experience. Click here to read more ... |
| Last cruise ship visit of the season Tuesday On Tuesday, the final cruise ship of the 2009 season, the Deutschland, will call to the Port of Portland, the city announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Food: Hot dog vendor returns after six-year absence For six and a half years, kosher hot dog vendor Perry Mogul wandered in the desert — the desert of Arizona — before returning this summer to Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| New Portland High career center launches speaker series A new career center at Portland High School is launching a speaker series to give students the opportunity to learn about various professions, the school announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Immigrant forum aims to start a lasting dialogue The event, a collaboration between Living With Peace and Peace Action Maine, will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Meg Perry Center on Congress Street. Christina Feller, President of Living With Peace says the purpose is to bring together immigrants from all ethnic groups to discuss issues like nutrition, parenting, discrimination and strategies for dealing with isolation felt by many elderly immigrants. Click here to read more ... |
| Public meeting next week on Commercial Street bike path A public meeting will be held next Wednesday at Reiche School to discuss two potential locations for a proposed bicycle and pedestrian path along West Commercial Street, from Veterans' Memorial Bridge to High Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Portlander played key role in Poe's literary life Portland would stand as a mere footnote in Poe's life if not for one man: John Neal. Click here to read more ... |
| Engaging young leaders in civic work focus of Oct. 29 gathering More than 250 leaders from the state’s public, private and nonprofit sectors will gather next week in Portland to consider how to better engage Mainers under the age of 35 in civic work. Click here to read more ... |
| Newcomers square off for District 2 school seat Should it matter if a school committee candidate has school age children? In District 2, that question could determine who wins a three-year seat on the school committee. Click here to read more ... |
| Narrow gauge announces Halloween schedule The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum has announced the schedule for the running of its annual Halloween Ghost Train. Click here to read more ... |
| Lights On Afterschool Rally deemed a success Scores of afterschool supporters and students gathered Thursday at Monument Square "to share their belief in the strong positive influence high-quality afterschool program can have on kids’ lives," according to the Maine Afterschool Network, organizer of the rally. Click here to read more ... |
| Pirates support United Way, breast cancer research The Portland Pirates hockey team is helping the nonprofit United Way with its fundraising by donating proceeds of tickets to upcoming games. Also, when the team returns home next Friday, promotions during the game will benefit the Maine Medical Center Cancer Institute's Breast Care Center. Click here to read more ... |
| Winxnet to host Windows, Microsoft tech launch event in SoPo Winxnet, a technology consulting company based in Massachusetts and Tennessee, is hosting Maine’s only Microsoft New Efficiency launch event for information technology leaders looking to see the new cutting edge technologies in Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, the company announced. This is already a capacity event with over 225 of Maine’s IT leaders attending. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland takes part in climate change event Saturday 1Sky Maine is partnering with local organizations and activists to hold three events on Saturday, Oct. 24 in Biddeford, Portland and Brunswick "in support of a strong clean energy jobs bill in the U.S. Senate," the group announced. Click here to read more ... |
| City delays four remaining flu clinics Click here to read more ... |
| FinalRune tunes the dial to shivers on Halloween FinalRune Productions has announced its first-ever live radio drama event to be performed live on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Luther Bonney Hall at University of Southern Maine's campus in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| City Council candidates profiled: District 1 Seeking to represent District 1 are challenger Charles Bragdon and first-term incumbent Kevin Donoghue. In the coming days, the Daily Sun will be publishing candidate profiles on contested local races, including this one. Some responses may be edited for length, but we have attempted to allow candidates to respond with detail. Click here to read more ... |
| Police bomb squad detonates Chinese land mine A Portland Police bomb squad was called in Tuesday after a Chinese land mine was found in a Francis Street home, officials said Wednesday. Click here to read more ... |
| Senators split on sifting through health bill, abandoning it While advocates of a public option in health care continue to gather signatures and hold events, opponents of a government-run health plan are equally busy. Click here to read more ... |
| Friendly eyes in the sky installed on Forest Ave Construction brings drivers a smoother ride, and not just under their tires. Click here to read more ... |
| Engagement The families of Page Willow Abbott and Darrel Joseph Williams Jr. are pleased to announce their engagement. Paige is the daughter of Lesley MacVane of Munjoy Hill in Portland, and Dr. Richard N. Abbott Jr. of Boone, N.C. Click here to read more ... |
| School committee Click here to read more ... |
| Portland’s Murray, Plumb & Murray Installs bench in Lincoln Park The Portland law firm of Murray, Plumb and Murray is one of the first Portland-area businesses to participate in the city of Portland’s park bench donation program, the company announced. The firm has donated to the city a durable park bench to commemorate the founding of the firm 36 years ago. The bench has recently been installed in Lincoln Park. Click here to read more ... |
| Incident rekindles Peaks Island safety questions Another emergency response controversy on Peaks Island has residents vowing to increase pressure on City Hall to resolve ongoing security concerns. Click here to read more ... |
| Two from Cheverus named to play at 2009 All New England Band Festival Senior Sarah Shapiro and Junior Emma Shapiro from Cheverus High School were selected for membership in the 2009 All New England Band Festival to be held on the Plymouth State University campus on November 23, 2009. Sarah Shapiro was selected as a string bass player, and Emma Shapiro a bassoonist. Click here to read more ... |
| Leaf and yard waste collection starts next week The City of Portland's curbside leaf collection program begins Monday, October 26, and will run through the week of November 21. Click here to read more ... |
| Young entrepreneur support programs aim to curb 'brain drain' Web designer Becky Stockbridge was recently named one of Business Week’s 25 Best Young Entrepreneurs, and thanks to Portland’s extensive support network for young entrepreneurs, she might not be the last to receive such recognition. Click here to read more ... |
| Walk Among the Shadows takes cemetery stroll down memory lane Here's an historically good bet: A Walk Among the Shadows, a tour of the Eastern Cemetery that starts tonight and continues Thursday and Friday. Guides take visitors through the 1668 burial ground linked to at least one ghost story, for a good cause. Click here to read more ... |
| Cheverus freshman selected to Boy Singers of Maine Group Nathan M. Caso, Cheverus HIgh School freshman, has been honored by selection to the Boy Singers of Maine. Caso is a resident of North Yarmouth and is the son of Michael and Molly Caso. Click here to read more ... |
| Mushers come to Planet Dog to discuss sport The Planet Dog Company Store in Portland will host Norwegian Nordic Super Star Lena Boysen Hillestad and one of Norway's top mushers, Venke de Lange. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland schools report first swine flu cases School administrators are urging calm after two students at Longfellow Elementary tested postive for H1N1 swine flu, the first confirmed cases to emerge from Portland Public Schools since the outbreak began last spring. Click here to read more ... |
| Health care lobbying centers around personal stories In about two weeks, community organizers in Portland gathered over 1,800 signatures on a petition for a public option in health care, organizers said, arguing they've gained momentum in the divisive debate over health care reform now playing out in Congress. Click here to read more ... |
| Congress St. art studios project clears hurdle A plan by Burt's Bees founder Roxanne Quimby to convert a vacant Congress Street building into artist space cleared the city council early Tuesday morning after "heart-wrenching" speeches from housing advocates and art lovers. Click here to read more ... |
| District 1 race a referendum on Donoghue Preview of the race for City Council District 1, which pits challenger Charlie Bragdon against Kevin Donoghue. Click here to read more ... |
| Jewish Community Alliance hosts Jerusalem correspondent for NPR The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine will welcome Linda Gradstein, Jerusalem Correspondent for National Public Radio, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. Click here to read more ... |
| Balmy today, stormy by the weekend Put away the long johns, but don't bury them too far into the closet. Today and Wednesday should bring springlike temperatures, but a storm is rolling toward New England from the Rockies, according to the National Weather Service. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Location, location, location. The Lobby Cafe marked four years in July at its site in the lobby of the U.S. Post Office building at 400 Congress St. Click here to read more ... |
| 'Food, Inc.' to be screened at O’Naturals in Falmouth The top documentary film of the year will be screened at O’Naturals in Falmouth, Friday, Oct. 23. Click here to read more ... |
| Queries Abound With less than three weeks to go before the Nov. 3 election, Maine voters are being asked to ponder issues ranging from gay marriage to funding medical helicopter services, with seven ballot questions rattling a variety of civic cages. Click here to read more ... |
| Officers acted in self-defense in April shooting, report finds Two Portland Police Officers who shot dead an armed Sudanese man outside an apartment building in April acted in self defense, according to a report released Friday by Maine Attorney General Janet Mills. Click here to read more ... |
| Taxi driver stabbed in Friday morning robbery An ABC Taxi driver is in stable condition at Maine Medical Center after being stabbed early Friday. Click here to read more ... |
| Public can mingle with city staff at City Fair Portlanders can meet city staff and learn about various programs and services throughout the city on Saturday at City Fair, a new program from City Hall. Click here to read more ... |
| Gay marriage support concert is hot ticket Some of Portland's best known musicians will be at Empire Dine and Dance this weekend, where they'll be serving up more than just rock and roll. Click here to read more ... |
| Home movies, lost relics of America featured at MHS Home movies, including selections drawn from Northeast Historic Film’s E.B. White Collection, is the subject of a Maine Home Movie Day Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at the Maine Historical Society. Click here to read more ... |
| Tanks a lot Sprague Energy Corp.'s Peter Frye remembers hearing the pitch: The world's largest permanent public art project, a series of massive fuel tanks in the company's South Portland fuel terminal, all painted in various designs and colors. Click here to read more ... |
| Farmers' market suffers Monday blahs Call it the Monday jinx. The otherwise hugely successful farmers' markets in Portland can't find traction with an experimental Monday launch. Click here to read more ... |
| MoveOn.org pushes Snowe for public option A rally in the Old Port Wednesday tried to keep the heat on Republican U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe in the push for a public option in federal health care legislation, which the Maine senator has opposed, although she softened her position a day after casting a key vote. Click here to read more ... |
| Frozen models put bite into Harvest on the Harbor Click here to read more ... |
| Clean-up planned for Capisic Brook A University of Southern Maine Environmental Science Student Group is sponsoring a community clean-up of Capisic Brook this Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| Poll shows majority support gay marriage, Tabor II An independent statewide poll released Wednesday shows a majority of likely voters plan to vote no on Question 1, the so-called people's veto aimed at overturning Maine's gay marriage law passed this year. Click here to read more ... |
| Cheverus alumnus publishes novel, holds local book signings Cheverus High School alumnus Timothy C. Whitney has recently published a book titled "Thanksgiving at the Inn," a work targeted to the young adult audience and one in which he credits his Cheverus High School senior year service project for inspiration, the school announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Gov. candidates not well known, poll finds Although the primary is still eight months off, a poll released yesterday shows none of the gubernatorial candidates are well known to voters. Click here to read more ... |
| Franklin Art. reduced to one lane today for trail construction Between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. today, construction for the Bayside Trail project will be underway at Franklin Arterial and Marginal Way, city spokesperson Nicole Clegg said. Inbound traffic on Franklin Arterial from Marginal Way to Somerset Street will be reduced to one lane. Click here to read more ... |
| City trash bags new and improved, spokesperson says No, it's not your imagination: something is different about the City of Portland's blue trash bags. The new bags, which the city says are exactly the same size as the previous ones, began selling about a month ago and come from the same vendor said City spokesperson Nicole Clegg. Although she admits the packaging has changed slightly, she said the new model is stronger. Click here to read more ... |
| Bigfoot hits Arts District feet first Hauling an 8-foot-tall, 400-pound replica of Bigfoot into an Arts District office Tuesday was like moving a big, shaggy sofa with jutting and (needless to say) large feet, as a team lugged the hairy exhibit feet first into its new home on Congress Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Rep. Adams reminds consumers of ‘winter disconnect’ rights Mainers who find it hard to make ends meet have strong protections from disconnection of lights, gas and electric heat this winter, said Rep. Herb Adams, D-Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Two arrested in Westbrook pot bust Westbrook Police arrested two people Monday in connection with a marijuana growing operation after officers found 53 pot plants and growing supplies in their Methodist Road home. Click here to read more ... |
| Bishop Robinson to speak in Portland Thursday The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire, the first openly gay person to become bishop, will speak on “Why Religion Matters in the Marriage Equality Debate,” on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to the Cathedral of St. Luke, 143 State St., Portland, and the Bishop will take questions following his talk. Click here to read more ... |
| Segway-like scooters latest police improvement Portland Police is looking to buy $17,000 Segway-like electric scooters. Click here to read more ... |
| PATHS to hold careers/college fair on Friday Students at Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS), Casco Bay High School and LearningWorks will learn about programs at local colleges and specialty schools as well as opportunities with local employers and the military at a careers/college fair on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the main lobby of PATHS. Click here to read more ... |
| Event celebrates art of Portland restaurant workers Artists who work in Portland area restaurants will have a chance to demonstrate their diverse creative talents at an event on Monday, Oct. 19, at One Longfellow Square. Click here to read more ... |
| New effort will link torture victims to local programs In what is likely a first for Maine, the city of Portland is hiring a social case worker to specifically identify immigrant refugees who are torture survivors, hoping to connect those newcomers with an array of services from housing to food assistance. Click here to read more ... |
| USM hosts film discussion about medical marijuana The University of Southern Maine's Women and Gender Studies Program and the Sociology Department will present a free screening and discussion of the award winning documentary, "Waiting to Inhale," 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21, at USM. Click here to read more ... |
| Green Elephant owners turning Bangkok Thai into fusion eatery Dan Sriprasert and Bob Wongsaichua plan to ride their Green Elephant into a new restaurant concept, called Boda. Click here to read more ... |
| Something's brewing Home brewing is taking off in Southern Maine. Click here to read more ... |
| Chief unveils new community policing model Officers outfitted with city-issued cell phones have been assigned to seven city neighborhoods to bolster community policing under a new program outlined Friday by Portland Police Chief James Craig. Click here to read more ... |
| Details of city police overhaul expected today After releasing plans for a widespread departmental reorganization in bits and pieces over the past few months, Portland Police Chief James Craig will announce the plan in full during a press conference today at 109 Middle Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Tactical team arrests wanted man in North Deering A city man wanted by Portland Police for violating probation surrendered yesterday after a tactical unit raided the North Deering home where he was hiding out. Click here to read more ... |
| Apartment building owner begins rebuilding from Forest Ave. fire A 90-year-old building on Forest Avenue scorched by a late-August fire will receive a makeover during the next two weeks. What makes this restoration job different is the fire didn't break out at the apartment building at2-4 Clinton St. but across Forest Avenue at a different building site. Click here to read more ... |
| Train 'robbery' staged at narrow gauge railroad On Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour, the 15th Alabama Company G, Civil War group will “rob” the 3rd Maine Company A and the 20th Maine Company B on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad on the eastern Portland waterfront. Click here to read more ... |
| Fire museum open house features history, fire horses The Portland Fire Department, IAFF Local 740 and the Portland Veteran Firemen's Association will host the sixth annual open house at its Fire Museum,on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Portland Fire Museum at 157 Spring St. Click here to read more ... |
| State offices closed today as cost-saving measure Many Maine state government offices are closed today, Friday, as a cost-saving initiative for the fiscal year 2010-2011 biennial state budget, the governor's office reminded the public. Click here to read more ... |
| Community arts and healing event at the Cancer Community Center The public is invited to a special Art HOPE Creativity Gathering with Laura Jaquays on Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Cancer Community Center located at 778 Main St., South Portland. This workshop is for any adult whose life has been affected by cancer and their families and friends. Click here to read more ... |
| Parkside plans block party for Oct. 17 From noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, on Sherman Street, the public is invited to a Parkside Neighborhood Block Party. Click here to read more ... |
| Homeless shelters prepare contingency plans Rising numbers at city homeless shelters have compelled social service agencies to dust off emergency overflow plans for the first time since 2005. Click here to read more ... |
| Analysis: National health care figure visits Maine's political battleground Maine's health care reform faithful welcomed an evangelist of their movement this week as Wendell Potter, a top insurance company executive turned whistle-blowing reformer, visited to focus attention on what he called a "public relations mistake" by the state's largest health insurer. Click here to read more ... |
| Columbus Day weekend promises dry spell amid wet The Columbus Day weekend should arrive during a window of dry weather in what is otherwise an unsettled period for Portland weather watchers. Click here to read more ... |
| Shipping ceases at city's International Marine Terminal Shipping activity at the International Marine Terminal has ceased for now after a mill in Northern Maine decided to stop exporting its wood pulp, officials said this week. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine Humanities Council announces Letters About Literature Contest The Maine Humanities Council, the state's partner with the national Letters About Literature competition, announced the opening of the 2010 competition. Students in grades 4 12, including homeschoolers, are encouraged to participate. Click here to read more ... |
| Collection drive for unused medicines on Thursday This Thursday, the city of Portland's Public Health Division will host a free collection drive for medications including vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, prescriptions, and veterinary drugs. Click here to read more ... |
| USM annual fall open house features sport industry career panel The University of Southern Maine Office of Undergraduate Admission is hosting its annual fall open house for prospective students and their families from noon to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, the university announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Local students commended by National Merit program Eleven students at Deering, Portland High and Casco Bay High School have been named Commended Students in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program, Portland Public Schools reported. They will receive a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program. Click here to read more ... |
| City motorcycle noise ordinance silenced A proposed city ordinance regulating motorcycle noise in Portland is effectively dead after a key committee opted this week to let the state Legislature take the lead of combating loud motorcycles. Click here to read more ... |
| City hopes to salvage Stop & Shop development ortland development officials will immediately begin looking for alternatives to replace the "Stop & Shop" development at Morrill's Corner, hoping that the mixed-use project can eventually be salvaged, the city's economic development director said. Click here to read more ... |
| Coordinator: City youth council has role in immigrant issues With just under four weeks before the Youth Advisory Council officially begins its 2009-2010 term, Council Program Coordinator William Nelligan is making a final outreach tour through Portland’s high schools, visiting Portland High School this week, the council reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Orchestra balances budget under new music director After a challenging year that included budget cuts, layoffs and endowment losses, the Portland Symphony Orchestra achieved a balanced budget for the fiscal year ending July 31, bolstered by record attendance at universally acclaimed performances during the inaugural season of Music Director Robert Moody, the orchestra reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Binga’s Stadium to hold grand opening Thursday Thursday at 11 a.m., the grand opening of Binga’s Stadium Smokehouse and Sports Bar will unveil the marriage of two dining and entertainment institutions. Click here to read more ... |
| Neighbors group looking to pressure City Hall on policing center The West End Neighborhood Association has launched a petition drive aimed at pressuring City Hall into action on the group's request to move the community policing center. Click here to read more ... |
| Maples closing its Old Port retail store Maple's Organic Deserts on Middle Street -- part of a local-business building that includes Bull Moose Records, Videoport movie rental and Anthony's restaurant/dinner theater -- is closed. Calls to the company's Forest Street headquarters Tuesday led to an answering machine, and messages were not returned by presstime. Click here to read more ... |
| Stop & Shop to close store in Kennebunk, drop store in Portland The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company Monday announced plans to close its Kennebunk store at 65 Portland Road on Friday, Oct. 30 and to discontinue the development of its Morrill’s corner mixed use project in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Food Mobile celebrates fourth anniversary On Monday, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, in partnership with Good Shepherd Food-Bank, celebrated the fourth anniversary of Maine’s first and only “Food Mobile,” with a contribution in the amount of $7,500 which is symbolic of the 7,500 pounds of food that the Food Mobile can carry each trip, organizers reported. Click here to read more ... |
| A new window for Station A comment Postal patrons concerned about proposals to close "Station A" on Congress Street have a new window of opportunity to express their views before an Oct. 13 deadline. Click here to read more ... |
| Getting beyond the two-headed-dog Maine wine stage Whether or not global warming turns Maine into a wine center, as a 2006 National Science Foundation report suggested, the short season and mild summers make for a climate that is inhospitable to classic wine grapes. St. Pepin, St. Croix, LaCrescent, Leon Millot, Marechal Foch, Ravat 51, Sabrevois and Aurore are the cold-adapted grapes that Melchiskey has found success with. Hundreds of gallons of test blends have been dumped over the years but there has been enough bottled success that their grape harvest festival attracts 125 volunteers. Click here to read more ... |
| New city-backed arts nonprofit ready to enter creative scene The new "Creative Portland Corporation" was years in the making, being created by the city in 2008 based on recommendations from a steering committee with roots going back to a 2006 "creative summit." Click here to read more ... |
| Food Rescue responds to growing hunger problem Food Rescue is currently working with 50 agencies, food pantries, food kitchens and, increasingly, Portland's Wednesday farmers' market at Monument Square. Click here to read more ... |
| Albee, Krieckhaus announce No on One benefit concert Spencer Albee and Alex Krieckhaus present "Hell No on One," a benefit for marriage equality Saturday, Oct. 17 at Empire Dine and Dance. Doors open at 7 p.m., show time is 8 p.m. at 575 Congress St. Click here to read more ... |
| Irish American Club explores roots in Ireland A group of 27 members and guests of the Irish American Club of Mane are on a tour of Ireland this week, part of the club's outreach and celebration of Irish heritage which took its most visible form in March with a St. Patrick's Day parade down Commercial Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Remember 'The Birds?' This is scarier Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne is hoping it will not take a scene out of a Hitchcock film to stir residents into protecting Casco Bay from domoic acid, and other harmful pollutants that threaten its marine life, postcard beauty and economic viability. Click here to read more ... |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters note new board members Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine reported new board members. Click here to read more ... |
| MS Eurodam plans benefit during day in port Scheduled to arrive Sunday, the MS Eurodam, a Holland American Cruise Line ship, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Casco Bay Sunrise, will host a fundraiser for Port Resources, a local nonprofit, city officials announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Curious about the real estate market? Check with the sign guys. After a slow start to the year, the local real estate market appears to be picking up. Most Maine counties experienced rising home sales last month, and statewide sales inched upward for a third straight month. Click here to read more ... |
| Wherefore art thou, State Theater? Why is the State Theater closed, and what's its future? A Portland Music Foundation blog and other online forums have speculated about the fate of the 1929 landmark, from rumors of its reopening to commiserations over its closure two years ago. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland Police to unveil new uniforms next week Along with a new chief and chain of command structure, Portland Police are getting new uniforms too. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland superintendent wins 2009 Giraffe Award Portland Superintendent James Morse will receive a 2009 Giraffe Award from the Maine Children’s Alliance at the annual Champions for Children event on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Freeport Hilton Garden Inn. The Giraffe Awards recognize those who stick their necks out to help improve the lives of Maine children, according to a school press release. Click here to read more ... |
| Hall School adopts international theme for Walk and Bike to School Day Students at Hall Elementary School in Portland will wear soccer shirts and T-shirts with the names and colors of other countries, dress in traditional clothing from other lands and carry international flags during the school’s celebration of International Walk and Bike to School Day, Wednesday, Oct. 7. Click here to read more ... |
| Munjoy Hill clean energy forum to be held Monday A comprehensive clean energy bill before Congress that would create thousands of clean energy jobs in Maine will be the focus of a panel discussion at the St. Lawrence Community Arts Center on Monday, Oct. 5, from 6-8 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| Leaf peepers can expect raindrops to keep falling on their heads Anyone going out to view the fall foliage should remember what happened this spring and summer. In other words, bring an umbrella. Click here to read more ... |
| Orchestra celebrates heroes, American dream THe Portland Symphony Orchestra will present its Tuesday Classical, Heroes and the American Dream, Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Merrill Auditorium. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland offers fall flu clinics Beginning this month, the city of Portland's Public Health Division will offer a series of eight influenza walk-in clinics throughout Portland, the city announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine Humanities Council presents public symposium on Zora Neale Hurston The Maine Humanities Council will present a public symposium, "Looking For Zora: The Many Lives of Zora Neale Hurston" on Oct. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bates College's Pettengill Hall. Click here to read more ... |
| Preble Street invites candidate to Friday forum Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice has invited candidates for Portland City Council to a forum for voters on Friday, Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. in the soup kitchen at Preble Street Resource Center at 252 Oxford St. (corner of Preble and Oxford streets) in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? "Our name probably took on more thought than on first appearance." Click here to read more ... |
| Neighborhood meetings to discuss CDBG funds The city of Portland receives approximately $2.1 million annually of federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Community Development Block Grant for urban planning, development and social service needs in Portland Districts 1, 2 and 3. Click here to read more ... |
| Paving season still in high gear Motorists should be prepared for road repair and repaving work underway on Brighton Avenue, Deering Avenue, Forest Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Stevens Avenue, and Westbrook Street through Saturday. Click here to read more ... |
| Bayside takes aim at 'quality of life' issues Bayside convenience stores could pull high-alcohol beer from their shelves or refuse to sell alcohol to clearly intoxicated people in an effort to cut down on alcohol-related crimes in the downtown neighborhood. Click here to read more ... |
| Snowboard park built into hill at Payson Park Come winter, skiers and snowboarders won't have to leave the city limits to get their downhill fix. Click here to read more ... |
| Artists unify around State Theater theme Like a star who's gone into retirement but still draws adoring fans, the State Theater is getting top billing by artists and gallery owners in the neighborhood where the theater is located. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine petition seeks service protection AUGUSTA (AP) — A petition before Maine utility regulators asks that FairPoint Communications' vital services be ensured if the company files for bankruptcy protection. Click here to read more ... |
| Mayor calls for more private meetings with councilors, top officials Weeks after mediating a spat between a city councilor and top city officials, Mayor Jill Duson has called for more private meetings aimed at clearing the air between councilors and city workers. Click here to read more ... |
| Lehane event moves to Irish Heritage Center Longfellow Books has moved its book signing next month with "superstar" author Dennis Lehane to the Maine Irish Heritage Center, in part to accommodate large crowds expected to turn out for the free event, store owner Chris Bowe said. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? "Unique beautiful clothing, global folk art and jewelry" are sold here, according to the listing for Siempre Mas in the Portland Downtown District's directory. The directory doesn't mention charitable good works for the people of impoverished Southeast Asian countries, which is a major focus of the store. Click here to read more ... |
| Patrons: Post office 'like our version of Cheers' If Cheers was the bar "where everybody knows your name," then the Congress Street Station A post office is the next best thing. It's a post office where friends meet and many longtime customers are on a first-name basis with the post office clerks. Click here to read more ... |
| Queen Victoria among flurry of cruise ships Eight cruise ships carrying 12,350 passengers are coming to Portland this week. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Ben Baird, manager of the Little Lad's Bakery and Cafe at 482 Congress St., said the business — serving food with no animal products — has relaunched with a kosher certification. Click here to read more ... |
| No trash/recycling pick-up on Columbus Day The Portland Department of Public Services Trash and Recycling crews will not be collecting trash or recycling in the city of Portland on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 12, the city reminded the public. Click here to read more ... |
| Blue Mango burger lives on past lease dispute Shelley Stevens and her husband Constantino Lallo created the Blue Mango Veggie Burger more than a decade ago at The Blue Mango Cafe, their former restaurant, which they ran for five years on Spring Street, where Food Factory Miyake is now. The burger was their attempt to provide a vegetarian option other than hummus for the art school crowd. A lease dispute ended the cafe but the burger lived on. Click here to read more ... |
| Fair livestock auction Wednesday Cumberland County 4-H invites the public to its annual 4-H Livestock Auction on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m., in the show arena at the Cumberland Fairgrounds. Click here to read more ... |
| Clynk layoffs don't sit well with employees A South Portland bottle redemption firm's plans to layoff 50 "part time" employees later this month didn't sit well with affected workers, who said they should have been given more notice to look for new jobs. Click here to read more ... |
| Great Diamond Inn project inches ahead Great Diamond Island is poised for another housing development, this one a renovation of an old military fort barracks into an inn, but a pending lawsuit in Cumberland County Superior Court argues that the existing Diamond Cove gated community is exceeding its bounds by allowing use of motor vehicles on the island. Click here to read more ... |
| Mental health Is focus of free Maine Med program The public is invited to learn about anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues at a free educational program on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Maine Medical Center's Scarborough Campus at 100 U.S. Route 1. Click here to read more ... |
| Foundation embraces innovation at annual meeting More than 400 business leaders, legislators and emerging leaders convened at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland Friday for the Maine Development Foundation’s 31st annual meeting. Click here to read more ... |
| White Heart bids farewell ... for now In the Arts District, last call has come and gone at the White Heart Bar and Cocktail Lounge, at least for now. The popular and iconic bar closed Sunday, following a goodbye party announced on the bar's MySpace page. Click here to read more ... |
| Transient arrested in baseball bat attack Portland Police have charged a transient in connection with a baseball bat attack early Saturday inside a Cumberland Avenue apartment. Click here to read more ... |
| City hosts medication collection on Oct. 8 On Thursday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Portland Expo, 239 Park Ave., the city of Portland's Public Health Division will host a medication collection drive for medications including vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, prescriptions and veterinary drugs, city officials reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Union protests proposed closure of Congress Street post office A rally on Friday, Oct. 2 will protest the proposed closure of the Congress Street Station A post office, which would hurt low-income and elderly residents in particular, according to opponents of the cost-saving plan. Click here to read more ... |
| Night paving work to occur on city streets Next week, Sunday, Sept. 27 through Friday, Oct. 3, road repair and repaving work will be underway on Brighton Avenue, Deering Avenue, Forest Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Stevens Avenue and Westbrook Street. Click here to read more ... |
| Grease is the Word In a state that has always done a good job at highlighting its natural resources -- it's not hard to sell people on the buttery merits of a freshly steamed lobster, and just try to keep those leaf-peepers from pouring across the border to get a glimpse of our fall colors -- the city's latest resource lacks postcard appeal. Instead, it’s a brownish-yellow sludge, greasy and smelly, can be found happily bubbling in many of the city’s favorite eateries. Click here to read more ... |
| Jail inmate treated for fall at county jail A Cumberland County Jail inmate was treated and released from Maine Medical Center and placed on suicide watch after apparently jumping off a set of stairs and landing on a table nearly 10 feet below. Click here to read more ... |
| Police ID body found in harbor Portland Police say the body found in the water near the Ocean Gateway ferry terminal on Wednesday is that of David Fortin, a transient who had been living in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Queen Victory to make maiden call to Portland Tuesday Eight cruise ships carrying 12,350 passengers will come to Portland next week. Click here to read more ... |
| Out of the frying pan, into your car's tank Seafood and Asian dishes are among the popular menu choices in Portland, but they're even more popular with the partners runningMaine Biofuel. Used vegetable oil from these eateries and dozens of others provide the raw material for the biodiesel company, which creates fuel from used cooking oil. Click here to read more ... |
| Anton takes City Hall concerns to the airwaves City Councilor John Anton on Thursday said he's losing patience with the lack of responsiveness from city workers and said City Manager Joe Gray deserves blame for these lapses. Click here to read more ... |
| Library renovation hits halfway point By Thanksgiving, visitors to Monument Square should see the new face of the Portland Public Library in elaborate layers of glass and steel. Click here to read more ... |
| 'Mystic Fair' a showcase for alternative ways of life The Holistic, Mystic Fair, which Mary Alderman started in 2006 in Augusta and moved to Portland for the first time earlier this summer, will take place Saturday at the Elks Lodge on Congress Street across from the Jetport. For a $5 entry fee, attendees can peruse various wares and speak with experts in the holistic community. For an additional cost, they can get a tarot card or psychic reading, a therapeutic massage and other services. Click here to read more ... |
| Sixth annual open house planned for the Fire Museum Portland Fire Department, IAFF Local 740 and the Portland Veteran Firemen’s Association will host the sixth annual Open House at the Fire Museum at 157 Spring St. Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| Styxx reopens at 3 Spring St. A nightclub serving the gay and lesbian community has reopened at 3 Spring St. in Portland with a whole new look and a new attitude, owners reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Roundtable on early childhood investments today Members of the Governor’s Business Roundtable on Early Childhood Investments will host a breakfast meeting today, Thursday, for more than 30 business leaders from throughout southern Maine, to offer insight into new ways to address Maine’s economic future, according to United Way of Greater Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Both sides agree: excise tax referendum a matter of 'fairness' Although TABOR II has gotten most of the attention this year, another anti-tax measure before Maine voters on Nov. 3 could have major implications for car owners and municipalities. Click here to read more ... |
| New principal to help craft mission at Peaks school Tim Devaney, the New York City educator hired this month as principal of elementary schools of Peaks and Cliff islands will have a key role in crafting new programs and a new mission for the Peaks Island school, Portland Schools Superintendent Jim Morse said Wednesday. Click here to read more ... |
| Public symposium on access to justice in Maine set for Oct. 2 The Justice Action Group and the University of Maine School of Law will be hosting a public symposium "to examine ways to ensure access to justice for all Mainers" on Friday, Oct. 2 at the Abromson Center on the University of Southern Maine campus in Portland from 8:30-3:30 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| WIC adds freshfruits, vegetables to food list Sorry, kids. "Eat your vegetables" may be heard around more dinner tables in Maine and around the country now that the Women, Infants and Children, or WIC program, is adding fruits and vegetables to its food packages for the first time since the federal program's inception in 1974. Click here to read more ... |
| Author Dennis Lehane coming to Longfellow Books Dennis Lehane, author of "Mystic River" and "The Given Day," will appear at Longfellow Books next month in support of his 2003 novel, "Shutter Island," which has been made into a feature film. Click here to read more ... |
| New broadside poetry, 'Waterproof Poems,' at St. Lawrence The second poem in a series of poster-size poetry broadsides, called "Waterproof Poems," is now on display on the outside of the St. Lawrence Arts Center at 76 Congress Street, on Portland’s Munjoy Hill. Click here to read more ... |
| Mamet's 'Cryptogram' featured at Portland Stage Mad Horse Theatre’s Dark Night Series presents David Mamet’s "The Cryptogram" Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for two weeks only, Oct. 12-21, at the Studio Theater at Portland Stage Company, 25A Forest Avenue in Portland. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| Common Ground Fair welcomes carpoolers, bicyclists On Friday through Sunday, the public is invited to pedal or carpool to the Common Ground Fair in Unity. Click here to read more ... |
| Bigfoot on Congress Street A day after Halloween, the International Cryptozoology Museum, Loren Coleman's brainchild, will open to the public at 661 Congress St., Click here to read more ... |
| Maine rail under review at Bangor, Portland meetings In a sweeping review of passenger and freight rail investments over the next decade, the Maine Department of Transportation is developing the Maine State Rail Plan, an analysis into the state rail system’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. Two upcoming public meetings will allow Mainers to help with the analysis by providing their thoughts. Click here to read more ... |
| Growing seafood processor moving to waterfront A Portland seafood processor is moving part of its operations to the Portland Fish Exchange next month, creating up to 20 jobs and drawing a viable fishing industry business to the city's waterfront district, officials said Tuesday. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Bella Caruolo of Utopian Tattoo and Body Piercing said the name emphasizes her love of making the world "a more colorful place," as her MySpace page (www.myspace.com/utopiantattoo) indicates. "Utopian is just what I consider Utopia. ... It's your ideal body piercing (experience)," Caruolo said during a recent interview. Click here to read more ... |
| Recovery, wellness fair scheduled today in Portland Today, Wednesday, from 2-4 p.m. at Wayside Soup Kitchen, 252 Oxford St., the city of Portland Overdose Prevention Project's annual Recovery & Wellness Resource Fair will be held for community members using Preble Street Resource Center's many services. The fair offers access to more than 20 area service providers, free food and a raffle to nearly 100 people each year. Click here to read more ... |
| Charter Commission getting down to business After spending the summer months setting agendas and getting organized, the city's Charter Commission has begun to tackle weightier issues like the question of an elected mayor. Click here to read more ... |
| Gulf of Maine targeted for $1.9 million in conservation grants The U.S. Attorney for Maine and the U.S. Coast Guard have announced 14 new grants totaling $1,913,735 to promote the health of the Gulf of Maine, agencies reported. Click here to read more ... |
| The Green Hand reaches toward mystery On her path from award-winning blogger to fledgling book shop owner, Michelle Souliere is about a month away from unveiling the Green Hand on Congress Street. Click here to read more ... |
| HGTV gardening host to talk about organic gardening On Wednesday, Sept. 23, Paul Tukey, founding editor of People, Places and Plants Magazine, author of "The Organic Lawn Care Manual," founder of Safelawns.org, and producer of the documentary film “A Chemical Reaction” will speak at the Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust Annual Meeting about his favorite topic — organic lawn and garden care. Click here to read more ... |
| Authorities ID victim in fatal Sunday crash Portland Police identified the victim in Sunday's fatal crash on Brighton Avenue as Deering High School student Guy Kitoko. Click here to read more ... |
| Swords named to post of Senate Page Cheverus High School junior Colin Swords has been nominated by Senator Olympia Snowe to serve as a United States Senate Page from January 2010 through June 2010, Cheverus High announced. Click here to read more ... |
| New bowling alley plans to feature music, pub food A new bowling alley on the Peninsula plans to not only feature plenty of space for league competition but also hopes to bowl customers over with good food and live music. Click here to read more ... |
| TD Banknorth's Portland headquarters to celebrate name change on Friday On Friday, Sept. 25, TD Banknorth will hold a celebration at its headquarters in downtown Portland to mark the company's official name change to "TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank." The public is invited to attend. Click here to read more ... |
| City opposing two Nov. 3 tax questions ortland jumped into the Nov. 3 election fray last night, opposing two citizen-initiated referendum questions. Supporters of tax limitations dismissed the action as "politics as usual." Click here to read more ... |
| From Brighton to Washington, look for paving starting Sunday This weekend, more road construction starts. Sunday, Sept. 20 through Friday, Sept. 25, road repair and repaving work will be underway on Brighton Avenue, Cumberland Avenue, Deering Avenue, Forest Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Park Avenue and Stevens Avenue, the city reported. Work is weather dependent, but motorists should expect delays. Click here to read more ... |
| Fall fundraising season kicks into high gear With the arrival of fall comes shorter days, colorful foliage and major fundraising for local nonprofits. Click here to read more ... |
| From underwear to cigarette butts, beach scrubbers see it all With three days left of summer, volunteers will fan out today to pick up trash on both Portland's East End Beach (start time is 2:30 p.m.) and South Portland's Spring Point Beach (this is an excursion for early risers, with start time at 8 a.m.). Click here to read more ... |
| Two arrested in Wednesday beer theft A minor was among two men arrested late Wednesday for allegedly stealing a case of beer from a Washington Avenue convenience store. Click here to read more ... |
| Green link forming on both sides of the Fore Biking to work, if you're biking from Portland to the work centers of South Portland, isn't for the faint of heart, say those who have tried it. Click here to read more ... |
| Munjoy Hill to celebrate community at 'Munjfest' Anyone looking for a little payback against their elected officials -- or the editor of their daily newspaper -- will get the chance to that and more Saturday at Munjfest. Click here to read more ... |
| Linda Bean bringing Maine lobster to Exchange Street Linda Bean, the granddaughter of legendary outdoor retailer L.L. Bean and recent sponsor of the world's largest lobster roll, is bringing her crusade for Maine lobsters to Portland's high-profile restaurant scene. Click here to read more ... |
| Deck fire dislodges Bollard, affects Gritty McDuff's A Wednesday fire at the corner of Fore and Exchange streets displaced the Bollard, a monthly magazine, and forced closure of the office for Gritty McDuff's brew pub, but the damage could have been much worse, officials said. Click here to read more ... |
| Key Bank on Brighton robbed again For the second time in six months, the Key Bank in Pine Tree Shopping Center on Brighton Avenue has been robbed. Click here to read more ... |
| Private meetings address growing tensions at City Hall City leaders held two private meetings in the past five days to address budding tensions between Councilor Dan Skolnik and a number of city employees. Click here to read more ... |
| Colonial-era garden thrives in age of local growing Today, as Tate House Museum opens for the last day of the summer, visitors may catch a glimpse of a handsomely groomed flower bed near the banks of the Stroudwater River. It's a garden featuring a regal blend of lavender, nasturtiums and Roman chamomile, also adorned with denuded rose bushes and clusters of lingering marigolds. Click here to read more ... |
| Unity Church presents Richard Hite in concert On Sunday, Sept. 27 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Unity Church of Greater Portland, 54 River Road, Windham will present a unique musical experience. International therapist and musician, Richard Hite will conduct a two-hour concert as "the master of a wide variety of ancient traditional instruments that have proven to have strong healing powers for both the body and the spirit." Click here to read more ... |
| Corn-shucking event at Lyseth School launches harvest lunch week Students at Lyseth Elementary School in Portland will shuck 1,500 ears of corn on Monday, Sept. 21 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The activity will launch a week-long series of activities in the Portland Public Schools related to Maine Harvest Lunch, a program that brings local foods into the school lunch program. Click here to read more ... |
| 'Seagars by the Sea' features Red Sox pitching legend Cigar aficionados and novices alike are invited to explore and enjoy the world of cigars along the scenic Old Port waterfront during “Seagars by the Sea,” to be held Sunday, Sept. 27 from 2-6 p.m. Seagars by the Sea is the inaugural Maine fundraiser for Homes for our Troops, a national nonprofit organization created to raise funds for the construction and adaptation of homes for severely disabled war veterans. Click here to read more ... |
| Councilor may seek repeal of 'dispersal ordinance' Amid renewed controversy over the so-called dispersal ordinance that regulates the location of entertainment venues, one city councilor says he may try to repeal it altogether. Click here to read more ... |
| Children’s Cancer Program Walk planned for Saturday The 23rd annual Maine Children’s Cancer Program Walk will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, at Payson Park in Portland and at six other sites in southern and central Maine. All walks start at 9 a.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Click here to read more ... |
| Twenty-Four Portland Public School students receive AP Scholar Awards Twenty-four students from the Portland Public Schools have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams during the last school year, the school district reported. Several of those students graduated last spring. Click here to read more ... |
| New sidewalks planned near East End, Longfellow Schools New sidewalks would be built and existing ones improved near East End Community School and Longfellow Elementary under a joint state and local project being considered by the city council. Click here to read more ... |
| I-295 lane closures expected due to shoulder work Motorists traveling southbound on I-295 are warned that crews are paving highway shoulders, and removing and installing concrete barriers from 7 p.m.-5:30 a.m. today and Thursday, which will result in lane restrictions on both sides of the highway between exits 3 and 4, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. Lane closures will be kept to a minimum of 2,000 feet, the state reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Children's haven thrived during soggy summer As the sun beamed outside, the pigs outnumbered audience members in the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine. Click here to read more ... |
| Maine Historical Society looks at music of the Depression The Maine Historical Society will present "Woody Guthrie, the Great Depression and American Protest Songs" at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Click here to read more ... |
| Society for East End Arts solicits art for show Society for East End Arts invites artists to participate in the 2009 SEA Holiday Art Sale. Click here to read more ... |
| WalMart provides $10,000 for language program at LearningWorks LearningWorks, formerly Portland West, is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Wal-mart Foundation directed to the English Language Program. Click here to read more ... |
| Bicycle Coalition of Maine partners with Common Ground Fair to provide valet bike parking Those attending the Common Ground Fair in Unity on Sept. 25-27 can save gas and money by bicycling to the fair. Click here to read more ... |
| Crews move dirt for Bayside Trail After years of planning, the Bayside Trail is finally under construction. A week ago, Shaw Bros. Construction of Gorham began clearing earth near the intersection of Somerset and Elm streets at one of the ends of the 1.2-mile trail corridor. Click here to read more ... |
| Citizen Oriented Policing School planned in Cape Elizabeth The Regional Law Enforcement Collaborative, comprised of law enforcement agencies serving Cumberland County, along with Southern Maine Community College, will be conducting a “Citizen Oriented Policing School." The school is scheduled to begin this Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. at the Cape Elizabeth Fire Department Training room, ending on November 18, 2009 with a graduation ceremony at SMCC. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland area food businesses gain media attention Portland area eateries are attracting the attention of the national media, according to Front Burner PR, a Portland public relations firm. Click here to read more ... |
| 'Young Voters' host candidate forum tonight In a year when high-profile ballot questions on gay marriage and taxes have overshadowed many local races, the Maine League of Young Voters is hosting a forum tonight at Community Television Network studios to give voters a chance to hear from the candidates directly. Click here to read more ... |
| Tabor supporters believe this is their year Following a failed attempt at passing a taxpayer bill of rights in 2006, organizers of the TABOR II question on the November ballot believe this is their year. Click here to read more ... |
| Fermentation leaves foodies in a pickle Homemade pickles. I love them. Sweet-n-sours, bread and butters, dill spears. They bring back memories of both mom and gramma in the kitchen. But make them? That's not for the faint of heart or the light of equipment. Or so I thought, until Alison LePage went and pulled back the curtain on fermentation. Click here to read more ... |
| Cruise ships call to port Two ships, the MV Aurora and the Norwegian Majesty, arrived in port here Friday. The MV Aurora, operated by P&O Cruises a part of Carnival Corporation, carries 1,870 passengers. Christened in 2000 by HRH Princess Anne, the 885-foot-long ship began its 24-day sail Aug. 30 in Southhampton, U.K. and following its stop in Portland will continue north to Bar Harbor. Click here to read more ... |
| Advertisements aim to boost up prayers on Jewish holy days The Jewish High Holidays are fast approaching and one synagogue in Maine, Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh, is taking to the airwaves, with an unusually public approach in welcoming Jews in Maine to attend synagogue on the Hebrew New Year, Rosh Hashana. Click here to read more ... |
| What's that sound? With an "unenforceable" ordinance and a growing tension between downtown bars and their residential and hotel neighbors, the city has started rethinking its noise policies. But as local officials continue to think in terms of decibels limits, what's missing from the debate is a clear vision for the future of downtown. Click here to read more ... |
| Higgins raises money for South Portland Food Cupboard In just a few months, Higgins Office Products will be celebrating 50 years in business. To commemorate this upcoming anniversary, Higgins held an in-house fundraising event. Employees made donations in exchange for wearing jeans or shorts on Fridays during the summer months. The money raised has been donated to the South Portland Food Cupboard. Click here to read more ... |
| Street projects start turning the corner Driven around Portland lately? Maybe you noticed that flaggers and construction workers can pop up in your path in nearly every neighborhood. Click here to read more ... |
| Council approves Ocean Avenue bike lanes After a months-long stalemate that threatened to derail the project, the city council on Wednesday approved the creation of bike lanes along much of Ocean Avenue once paving wraps up early next month. Click here to read more ... |
| Old Port Playhouse plans October launch The stars seem to have aligned for Old Port Playhouse, Portland's newest professional theater. Located in the same block as the Nickelodeon Theater on Temple Street, the 70-seat venue faces out onto a plaza where a decorative mask of Bacchus, patron deity of theater, is one of the cultural landmarks. Click here to read more ... |
| Church plans third annual Harvest Ball The third annual Harvest Ball, an evening of entertainment, dining and dancing, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Local music and art? It's a Picnic in Portland “This is a juried craft fair,” said Picnic organizer Amy Teh of Pinecone + Chickadee, a local design and silk-screening studio, who emphasizes that while local art is sure to dominate the fair, the jury was careful to not be too Portland-centric in their selection process. Click here to read more ... |
| Seminar for business mailers planned in Scarborough The U.S. Postal Service and the Maine and New Hampshire Postal Customer Councils will host a seminar for business mailers on National Postal Customer Council Day on Wednesday, Sept. 16. It will be held at the Southern Maine Processing & Distribution Center located at 79 Postal Service Way in Scarborough, the postal service reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Councilor calls out no-show city manager at meeting Councilor Dan Skolnik on Tuesday criticized city manager Joe Gray in front of a packed audience at City Hall, accusing Gray of not attending the meeting despite apparently saying he would be there. Click here to read more ... |
| L.L. Bean toasts grand opening of Home store L.L.Bean celebrates the grand opening of its new Home store in Freeport this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13. Click here to read more ... |
| SoPo police talk man off Casco Bay Bridge South Portland police physically restrained and threatened a suicidal man with a Taser but were able to remove him safely from Casco Bay Bridge early Wednesday. Click here to read more ... |
| Ocean energy subject of institute's lecture The public can attend a free lecture, "The Challenges and Opportunities for Maine to Emerge as an International Ocean Energy Leader," by George Hart, Ocean Energy Institute, at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute Thursday, Sept. 10, from 7 to 8 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| USM to host college fair Sunday, Sept. 27 The University of Southern Maine’s Office of Undergraduate Admission will host a college fair coordinated through the New England Association for College Admission Counseling on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 2-4:30 p.m., in USM’s Costello Sports Complex, Gorham. No registration is necessary for this free event. Click here to read more ... |
| Officials urge motorists to be wary of school buses, student bicyclists Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap reminded motorists Wednesday to be especially vigilant while driving as the school year kicks into full gear. Click here to read more ... |
| Lighthouse boosters work to stay off the rocks On Saturday, the first-ever open house of Maine lighthouses will provide free tours of more than two dozen lighthouses, including three in the Portland area. The event, organized by the U.S. Coast Guard, the state and the American Lighthouse Foundation, is being billed as a chance to educate the public about maritime history and expose the public to these unique historical structures. Click here to read more ... |
| It's all Beatles, all the time The Beatles are back in a big way in the Port City. Today's release of a remastered catalog of Beatles music has stood the city on its ear, and not just for those converging on music stores. Click here to read more ... |
| Acorn Productions announces winter Phyzgig festival Acorn Productions 12th annual Phyzgig festival, a celebration of physical comedy and variety entertainment for the family, will take place in downtown Portland between Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2009. Click here to read more ... |
| Miss America dignitaries arrive in Maine Anyone who has ever wanted to meet Miss America, or the people behind the crown, can block out Sept. 19 and 20 for a special event. Click here to read more ... |
| Sea Dogs honored for broadcasting, lodging Portland Sea Dogs’ radio broadcaster Mike Antonellis has been named the Eastern League Broadcaster of the Year, the Boston Red Sox franchise announced. Click here to read more ... |
| College /Portland Comparison list Portland “Campus” Guide gives a sense of the Port City. Click here to read more ... |
| Woods at Canco hosts Grandparents' Day The Woods at Canco retirement community will host a Grandparents’ Day Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here to read more ... |
| Labor Day breakfast honors Liebman From 8 a.m.–11 a.m. on Monday, more than 200 people are expected to attend this year’s Portland Labor Day Breakfast, held at the Maine Irish Heritage Center at 34 Gray St. in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| A note on Labor Day Click here to read more ... |
| Life in a college town Portland may have more than its fair share of used record stores, left-leaning political rallies in Monument Square, a spate of businesses on Congress Street slinging cheap burritos, and a thirst for beer rivaling even the muggiest SEC tailgate party, but is this livable seaside city really a college town on par with Boston, Providence, or even Orono? Click here to read more ... |
| Explorer of the Seas makes first of four visits to Portland this season Saturday, the Royal Caribbean ship, Explorer of the Seas will make the first of four visits to the Port of Portland this season, the city announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Local high school students to watch Obama speech Click here to read more ... |
| Higher education in Portland HIgher education at a glance in Portland. Click here to read more ... |
| Water district joins hazardous materials exercise The Portland Water District will jointly conduct an Emergency Exercise with the Presumpscot Valley HAZMAT team on Saturday, Sept. 12, starting at 8 a.m., at the Sebago Lake Water Treatment Facility in Standish, the district reported. Click here to read more ... |
| West End group launching neighborhood watch West End Neighborhood Association will launch its neighborhood watch next week, becoming the fourth active watch program in the city and the third to form in the past two years. Click here to read more ... |
| Class b&w continues, so do repairs Click here to read more ... |
| Hit-and-run highlights Parkside crime concerns A reported hit-and-run incident on Cumberland Avenue near Deering Avenue Wednesday may have been an isolated crime, but one resident said it's not unique. Click here to read more ... |
| Vintage book, paper show coming to South Portland Flamingo Eventz is pleased to announce that they will host the revised, renovated and completely updated Maine Vintage Book & Paper Show on Sunday, Sept. 20. Click here to read more ... |
| Repower Maine rally: 'Climate is on steroids' A controversial energy bill both supported and opposed by environmental groups was the centerpiece of a demonstration Thursday in Monument Square, as an Al Gore-inspired group pushed for Maine's Republican senators to support cap-and-trade global warming legislation. Click here to read more ... |
| Weekend drunk driving roadblock checks 523, arrests four Police stopped 523 cars and charged four people with drunken driving late Friday and early Saturday during a sobriety roadblock conducted on the Casco Bay Bridge. Click here to read more ... |
| WCSH 6 Sidewalk Art Festival prize winners announced The 44th annual WCSH 6 Sidewalk Art Festival was another success for artists and attendees alike, organizers announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Events listing Click here to read more ... |
| Veranda Street bridge to reopen with block party It's party time in East Deering as the district's neighborhood association hosts a block party Tuesday to celebrate the opening, almost a month earlier than expected, of the Veranda Street bridge. Click here to read more ... |
| AARP hosts roundtable Thursday with Sebelius, Pingree Today at 10:30 a.m., AARP Maine and Maine Women’s Lobby will host a roundtable discussion about women and health care reform, with U.S Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. Click here to read more ... |
| Cash for Clunkers no boon for city coffers Cash for Clunkers, the government rebate program that gave car dealers and automakers a much needed jolt this summer, hasn't yet proven a similar boon for city coffers. Click here to read more ... |
| Portland, SoPo knee deep in paving, sidewalk work Sidewalks today, a major street project tomorrow is the story on Broadway in South Portland, just one place where the smell of asphalt is in the air. Click here to read more ... |
| Longtime local nonprofit finalizes moves to Scarborough After nearly 50 years in Portland, the nonprofit Morrison Center has moved to a new facility in Scarborough big enough to accommodate all of its programs under one roof. Click here to read more ... |
| USM Celebration of Book Arts open to public The public is invited to join the students of the University of Southern Maine’s Book Arts at Stone House summer program for a panel discussion taking place from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the University Events Room. Click here to read more ... |
| Social service office fills up as shutdown days loom A crowd waited in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services regional office building in Portland Tuesday, many of them sitting in a reception area, a few standing by the counter, each one waiting for their name to be called. Click here to read more ... |
| Police offer no motive in Mosque shooting Portland Police investigating a shooting outside an East Bayside mosque Monday night have already crossed off several possible motives but are saying very little about what angles they are pursuing. Click here to read more ... |
| LearningWorks, WalMart, Crusher team up to give away school supplies Today from 2:30–4 p.m. at 181 Brackett St., LearningWorks, formerly Portland West, will distribute free school supplies to children with the help of the Maine Red Claws NBA D-League mascot, “Crusher.” Click here to read more ... |
| Another fall? Summer wetter than most autumns on record National Weather Service data illustrate what many suspect: this summer has been more like the average fall than like most summers on record, at least when it comes to rainfall. Click here to read more ... |
| United Way launches campaign from Sea Dogs pitcher's mound United Way of Greater Portland will kick off this year’s Campaign at the Portland Sea Dogs today at 6 p.m. at Hadlock Field, the organization reported. Click here to read more ... |
| Water district work affects Congress Street tonight Portland Water District crews will replace a valve on Congress Street in Portland near the end of the Exit 5B, Congress Street off ramp of I-295, tonight starting at 10 p.m., the district announced. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Zero Station is a picture framing shop, gallery and staging ground for political events. Click here to read more ... |
| Naked Shakespeare takes zoning protest to the street The amateur Shakespeare troupe banned from its Old Port venue because of a zoning rule has scheduled a public performance later this month aimed at pressuring City Hall into letting them return to their longtime home. Click here to read more ... |
| Grill the gov on live tv tonight Gov. Baldacci will be the guest of Portland's dean of broadcast pundits, Harold Pachios, on the community Television Network talk show "Pachios on the News" tonight at 7 p.m. on Channel 5. Click here to read more ... |
| New trail at Portland’s Fort Allen Park to be celebrated Sept. 17 Friends of the Eastern Promenade and Portland Trails are hosting an event on Thursday, Sept. 17, to celebrate and raise money for the Fort Allen Park Trail on Portland’s East End, the organizations announced. Click here to read more ... |
| Badges to Baseball program mentors young people The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and the South Portland Police Department teamed up recently to provide youth the Badges to Baseball program, a multi-faceted mentoring initiative sponsored by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. Click here to read more ... |
| Who was Stanley Thomas Pullen? Stanley Thomas Pullen, namesake for the Pullen Fountain on Federal Street, led the charge to form the Portland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in May 1872. Click here to read more ... |
| Japanese literature the focus of library series The Portland Public Library will present a Maine Humanities Let's Talk About It reading and discussion series, Family and Self: Readings in Twentieth Century Japanese Fiction. The series begins Sept. 8, runs from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Portland Public Library at 5 Monument Square, and continues for five sessions, through Nov. 10. Click here to read more ... |
| Labor Day reminder: No trash, recycling pickup No trash or recycling pickup will happen on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, the city announced. Click here to read more ... |
| What's In a Name? Jennifer and Allen Little own Finer Pointes Dance Shop, formed in 1989. Click here to read more ... |
| Part and parcel of a long post office history As the federal government looks at closing Portland's West End post office on Congress Street, historians are getting ready to draft another chapter in the city's tumultuous and often controversial history of building and dismantling post offices. Click here to read more ... |
| Daily Calendar A daily calendar of events for the Portland area. Click here to read more ... |
