WINDHAM — The Town Council Oct. 16 unanimously approved an amendment to the town’s fire codes to exempt some structures from sprinkler requirements. Now exempt are agricultural buildings, barns, carports, grain silos, stables, livestock shelters, detached private garages and greenhouses. Before the amendment, all new buildings of at least 7,500 square feet either served by public […]
Jane Vaughan
Jane Vaughan has been a reporter with the Lakes Region Weekly since 2018. She covers nine towns in the Lakes Region and a variety of topics, including local politics and education stories across five school districts. She has experience working in print, digital, and radio journalism and enjoys telling stories across platforms. She holds a BA in English from Wellesley College. Outside of work, Jane enjoys swimming, boxing, and spending time outside. She lives in Cape Elizabeth.
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Gray begins to tackle marijuana policies
GRAY — With its six-month moratorium on retail and medical marijuana uses in town in place, the Town Council has begun working on how to regulate them. Both the state medical marijuana law and the state adult use marijuana law have been significantly altered within the past year, Alyssa Tibbetts, an attorney with Jensen Baird Gardner & […]
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Posted inSouthern Forecaster
A new day for A La Mexicana
RAYMOND — Eighteen months after a kitchen fire destroyed the popular A La Mexicana, the restaurant will celebrate its grand re-opening Friday, Oct. 19, in its new, renovated diner. Owner Jose Chavez said he is happy to be up and running again in a permanent place after the April 2017 fire. “I lost pretty much […]
Posted inElection 2018, Local & State, News, Politics
House District 67: Consultant challenges incumbent lawmaker
The district includes Frye Island and parts of Casco, Gray and Raymond.
Posted inLocal & State
Longtime Windham town manager leaves post after dispute with councilors
A divided town council votes to approve a severance package worth $175,000 to Tony Plante, who had held the job since 1996.
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Windham’s Plante to get $175K in severance
WINDHAM — Tony Plante has left his position as town manager with a severance package of $175,000. Donald Gerrish, an experienced town manager, has been appointed to serve in that role while the town searches for Plante’s replacement. The Town Council voted 5-2 at its Oct. 9 meeting to approve the severance agreement, which was worked […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Goodwin goes up against Ordway in Standish district
STANDISH — A part-time mathematics instructor at the University of Southern Maine is running for public office for the first time against an incumbent seeking his third term in House District 23. Democrat Tim Goodwin hopes to unseat Republican Lester Ordway, who was elected in 2015 in a special election and has since held the […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Windham honors oldest resident with Boston Post Cane
WINDHAM — Hazel Gilman, the oldest resident in Windham at 100, was honored this week with the Boston Post Cane. Gilman called the award “an honor,” although, she explained, “It’s nothing I’ve done. It just happened.” The tradition was begun in 1909 by The Boston Post, a former daily newspaper. The Post rewarded canes to the […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster
Sculpture to honor late skateboarder
STANDISH — A sculpture will soon be installed at the Johnson Field Skate Park in honor of John Terrence “JT” Norton, a passionate skateboarder who suffered from schizophrenia and took his own life nearly two years ago. Norton was a huge advocate of the park being built, according to Renee Prescott of Standish Parks and […]
Posted inLakes Region Weekly, Southern Forecaster
Two trying to unseat Welch in Windham
WINDHAM — The incumbent, a former councilor and a medical marijuana business owner are competing for one seat on the Windham Council in the only contested municipal race in town this November. Incumbent Dennis Welch, who has served on the council since 2011, is being challenged in the three-way race for one of the Council’s At […]