FALMOUTH — The 10-screen Regal Cinemas may soon become a Walmart grocery store if the retail giant’s plans to expand are realized. “They’ve been seeing viewership decline. It’s been a nearly 50 percent drop off in five years,” property owner Ben Devine said of the cinemas. Devine, who was instrumental in bringing Walmart to the […]

PORTLAND — After reviewing more than 20 trees in Portland, South Portland, Falmouth and Scarborough, Portland’s Downtown District has chosen this year’s holiday tree for Monument Square. The 45-foot blue spruce was donated by a private landowner on Washington Avenue in Portland. “The tree was planted 39 years ago,” Sayre English of the Portland Downtown […]

PORTLAND — The City Council on Monday unanimously approved changes to a program designed to discourage the construction of parking lots on the peninsula in favor of more dense developments. Changes to the program include lowering the per-space fee from $10,000 to $5,000 and allowing developers the option of leasing parking spaces for a period […]

NORTH YARMOUTH — Anne Graham maintained her victory in the Maine House District 109 election when a recount on Monday showed her to have a 36-vote lead over Gary Foster. Graham, of North Yarmouth, earned 2,140 votes over 2,104 for Gray resident Foster, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap reported Monday. “I was impressed with the […]

PORTLAND — The City Council on Monday passed a resolution calling on the state Legislature to change the law and allow municipalities to prohibit people from openly carrying firearms in public areas and buildings. Gun rights advocates, however, scoffed at the council’s 6-1 decision after the meeting, saying they were confident the newly elected Republican […]

PORTLAND — A plan to create 35 units of affordable housing in a building near the corner of High and Danforth streets will be considered by the Planning Board at its workshop Nov. 23. A partnership led by Community Housing of Maine, (CHOM), has proposed renovating 68 High Street and constructing a building next to […]

FREEPORT — After two meetings, a site walk and a few plan alterations, the Project Review Board approved the demolition and relocation of the existing Ben & Jerry’s store. A pedestrian area will be created in its place, with plantings, benches and landscaping. The plan also revises some enhancements to the previously approved Puffin Park […]

FREEPORT — Local firefighters participating in a pilot program could help a South Freeport cardiologist find ways to predict the potential risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, early onset diabetes and sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Lowell Gerber developed the program that is being used to test nine members of the fire department and a handful of […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — Late last Friday morning, the sounds of hammers and drills rose softly from a soggy piece of land behind a playground on Wescott Road. The sounds represented the construction of a bog walk, the final phase of an outdoor learning area at Skillin Elementary School that has been five years in the […]

BRUNSWICK — Downeast Energy is doing a lot of driving this holiday season. Food and toy driving, that is. The propane and heating oil company is participating in two campaigns this year: a toy drive to benefit children serviced by the Sweetser behavioral health organization of Saco, and a food drive sponsored by South Portland radio […]