A severe thunderstorm rolled through Southern Maine around 9 p.m. Friday bringing heavy winds, rain and lightning that resulted in power outages across the region. Most heavily affected were Portland, coastal islands and the Gorham area, according to Central Maine Power spokeswoman Gail Rice. In Gorham, a tree felled by heavy winds on Fort Hill […]

The state has asked the city of Westbrook to submit a formal application to build a new junior high school on the former DeWolfe property on Stroudwater Street. City and school officials believe the request suggests that the state is leaning toward that site as the location of a new junior high, as opposed to […]

“Maine has had no shortage of thoughtful leaders and bold ideas on economic development over the years. However, the state has frequently failed to stick to and sustain its ideas, with the predictable result that it has undercut the effectiveness of numerous intelligent but under- or un-funded initiatives that might have otherwise made a larger […]

It could be tougher in the next gubernatorial race for outside groups to influence voters without triggering matching funds for their candidate’s publicly funded opponents under a proposed rule change being considered next week by the state’s ethics and elections commission. The proposed change also runs the risk of making gubernatorial races more expensive in […]

The Westbrook City Council has approved a parking plan for the city to use as a guide in coming years to ease parking troubles in the downtown. The plan calls for a multi-phase approach that could include metered parking spots, a city employee hired to enforce ticketing, more public lots and possibly a parking garage. […]

These buildings shown in the photo at left once stood on Main Street just west of Bridge Street. The building on the right was 881 Main St., with George’s Barber Shop (George Belanger) and the Smoke Shop (Mabel Shapiro) on the first floor. Margaret Shane operated a rooming house on the upper floors. The large […]

These buildings shown in the photo at left once stood on Main Street just west of Bridge Street. The building on the right was 881 Main St., with George’s Barber Shop (George Belanger) and the Smoke Shop (Mabel Shapiro) on the first floor. Margaret Shane operated a rooming house on the upper floors. The large […]

These cases were handled in Cumberland County Superior Court during September 2006: Angela A. Appleton, 21, Westbrook, was found guilty on a charge of driving to endanger in Westbrook on May 13, 2004, and was fined $400, sentenced to Cumberland County Jail for 72 days and had license suspended for 30 days. A charge of […]

Bridgton Road resident Adeliya Ptashka was watching television Friday night during the thunderstorm Friday night when lightning struck her home and started a fire. By 9 p.m., the severe thunderstorm that brought heavy winds, rain, lightning, and widespread power outages across Southern Maine had reached Westbrook, and Ptashka could see it raging out her back […]

Gov. John Baldacci announced the first wave of staffing changes in his administration last week, tapping his long-time friend and current economic development commissioner, Jack Cashman, to be his senior economic adviser. Cashman said he and Baldacci go back 30 years. Both men, and their fathers, served on their respective city councils – Baldacci in […]