BRUNSWICK — The U.S. Navy has released its draft review of the reuse plan for Brunswick Naval Air Station, a significant step in the base’s civilian transition.  Federal law requires the Navy to review the plan for the 3,200-acre facility before it can begin transferring property to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, the agency marketing […]

BRUNSWICK — After weeks of deliberating a fiscal 2011 budget with a 2 percent property tax hike, the Town Council is leaning toward a spending plan with a 1.5 percent increase. Despite the lower increase in the tax rate, funding levels could be partially restored for some programs, including the Curtis Memorial Library. The library […]

SCARBOROUGH — Kayla Mae Carpenter and Julia Waters on Tuesday said it felt good to return to the scene of the tragic prom-night accident that killed one of their friends and severely injured another last weekend. They said it was helping them cope with the loss and recover emotionally, while their physical wounds are still […]

BRUNSWICK — The state’s economic development agency this week approved the town’s new tax increment financing district, including a tax rebate program for a proposed inn at Maine Street Station. The rebate program for the 54-room inn has triggered a pair of lawsuits opposing its provision to return an average of 85 percent of property […]

SCARBOROUGH — Voters narrowly rejected a proposed $34.9 million school budget in the validation referendum Tuesday, 493-483. Voters also indicated, by a vote of 490-387, that the budget was too low. “Now we go back to the drawing board,” Superintendent of Schools David Doyle said. The Town Council will have the opportunity to set a […]

FALMOUTH — Plummer-Motz School wasn’t named “greenest school in America,” but officials recognized Jennifer Merrifield’s fourth-grade students for their hard work and green message last week. The class’ video was selected as a top 10 entry into the nationwide America’s Greenest School contest last month. Officials from Efficiency Maine and the organization’s mascot, PowerSleuth Fox, […]

FREEPORT — The Town Council Tuesday night approved a $9.27 million budget for fiscal 2011. The budget is $67,000 less than this year, and keeps municipal taxes flat. The budget passed 5-2, without the support of Councilors Joe Migliaccio and Eric Pandora. Migliaccio proposed transferring $4,200 from a fund designated for a website coordinator that […]

FREEPORT — Amelia and Hal Ulery packed up their lives and their six children and moved from North Carolina to a farm in South Freeport a few months ago to start a fresh and healthy new life. They run a farm stand, have an organic garden, chickens, horses, and a goat named Stella Luna. Amelia […]

PORTLAND — A proposal by a group of pier owners to relax zoning along the waterfront is expected to go before the City Council this summer. About a dozen pier owners in the Waterfront Central Zone, which includes the wharves from Maine Wharf to Deakes Wharf, have been working with city staff since February 2009 […]

YARMOUTH — Kyler Ross grew up in a creative, artistic home. His mother Lisa is a painter and jewelry maker, his father Dale is a furniture maker.  At age 5, Kyler starting taking pictures. But he said something changed for him at age 12 when he really became intrigued by photography.  “I began taking photographs every […]