PORTLAND — Businesses forced to close last week because of a massive fire at the former Jordan’s Meats plant on India Street are back in business, but some are still without valuable street parking and all lost at least a night’s worth of income. The fire forced at least 14 businesses to close Thursday, May […]

FREEPORT — Police said a Freeport woman died Thursday morning in a single-car accident on Route 1. Lt. Susan Nourse said 24-year-old Miriam L. Urquhart was driving a 2000 Subaru station wagon southbound on Route 1 near Exit 24 of Interstate 295.  The vehicle went off the right side of the road and crashed into a […]

CAPE ELIZABETH — The Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation recently closed its 2010 spring grant cycle, and will award $27,500 to the school district for programs,  professional development and equipment. CEEF has awarded grants 15 times, and since 2002 has been able to fund more than $780,000 in programs to the schools. The group’s mission is […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — Two of the city’s 10 largest taxpayers are appealing their 2009 tax bills. One of those taxpayers is no stranger to the appeals process: General Growth Properties, the Chicago-based company that owns the Maine Mall, is appealing its bill after losing a similar appeal of 2006 taxes. The other taxpayer is MaineToday […]

SCARBOROUGH — The Town Council voted 5-2 to approve a $64.5 million municipal and school budget Wednesday evening. Councilors Ronald Ahlquist and Jessica Holbrook opposed the decision. The budget calls for a 3.95 percent tax increase, setting the property tax rate at $12.63 per $1,000 of value, up 48 cents from this year’s mil rate. […]

SCARBOROUGH — As the music teachers gear up for their annual spring concerts and the art teachers work into the night to set up the annual art show, they work with the  knowledge that this will likely be the last year for some of these programs. The $34.9 million school budget, approved by the School […]

BATH — If the proposed fiscal 2011 budget City Manager Bill Giroux presented Wednesday is the same one the City Council adopts June 9, residents can expect no tax increase for the third year in a row. Next year’s $13.6 million city budget is down 4.13 percent from the current year. Total property taxes of $15.8 […]

BRUNSWICK — With final details of a new teachers contract unsettled, the Brunswick School Board is preparing to adopt a $32.8 million spending plan. The budget represents a 2.13 percent decrease from current spending, but still represents a 1 percent increase to the town’s property tax rate. The tax increase is driven largely by a […]

FALMOUTH — The town is accepting nominations for its annual Citizen of the Year award. Nominations require a letter of up to 500 words that outlines the reasons the person should be considered. Nominations will be judged by the Town Council on the basis of contributions to community welfare, civic achievement, volunteerism and conscientious service […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — Bands performing during the 2010 season of the Mill Creek Concerts in the Park will soon have a new stage. On Monday night, the City Council awarded a $65,000 contract to Uncommon Kitchen and Bath to design a new gazebo for the park. Parks Operations Manager Sarah Neuts said the Knightville-based business […]