Drew Johnson – Page 98 – The Portland Press Herald

Staff Writer

Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts, Drew grew up going to his family’s lake house in Denmark, Maine, learning to snow ski at Pleasant Mountain and water ski on Moose Pond. While he started as a “Vacationlander”, Drew adopted “the way life should be” motto and moved to Portland in 2021.

Southern Forecaster

Scarborough Public Library resuming quest for expansion

by Drew Johnson March 7, 2022March 9, 2022

The Scarborough Public Library is renewing its push for a long-awaited expansion that will more than double its size. The goal is to bring the estimated $13.9 million project to a bond referendum in November. Planning got started in 2018, but then the pandemic interrupted, according to Library Director Nancy Crowell. “The pandemic certainly slowed […]

Town consultant: Downs building cap exemption good for Scarborough

by Drew Johnson March 3, 2022

A consultant hired by the town says conditions should be included if the Town Council grants the exemption and that further study is needed on the impact on schools.

The Forecaster

Scarborough council expands spending options for revenue from downtown district

March 3, 2022

The Scarborough Town Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a change to its downtown district tax agreement to benefit the town and taxpayers. The amendment expands the options the town has in spending tax revenue generated from the downtown district. When used for specific state-approved options, such as funding public safety equipment and affordable housing, it […]

Southern Forecaster

South Portland police office opening this month in Thornton Heights

by Drew Johnson March 2, 2022

The new office will make the police department more accessible for residents, the chief says, especially those with concerns about problems at the nearby Main Street hotels that are housing homeless people.

The Forecaster

Red Cross blood drive in Scarborough March 10

March 2, 2022

Scarborough Community Services is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at 418 Payne Road. The American Red Cross is facing its most severe blood shortage in over a decade, it says, largely in part to the pandemic. Overall blood donation is down 10% since March 2020. The shortage […]

The Forecaster

Scarborough fuel rally raises $26,000 to help heat homes

March 2, 2022

Project GRACE and the town of Scarborough raised $26,000 for fuel assistance during the 10th annual Keep Our Neighbors Warm rally last month at the Public Safety Building. The $26,000 will pay for nearly 8,000 gallons of fuel. The rally brings in roughly two-thirds of the money Project GRACE spends on fuel assistance, according to […]

The Forecaster

Cape Elizabeth Land Trust seeks artists for Paint for Preservation

March 2, 2022March 3, 2022

The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust is accepting artist submissions for the organizations’ 15th annual Paint for Preservation wet paint auction. From July 15-17, selected artists will create outdoor paintings at designated locations in Cape Elizabeth. On July 17, the artwork will be auctioned off, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the land trust’s conservation […]