BRUNSWICK — The town could close Coffin Pond, reduce its allocation to the Curtis Memorial Library and dial back some street paving projects, even if the Town Council adopts a fiscal 2011 budget with a 2 percent property tax increase.  That scenario, which includes the elimination of seven municipal positions, was presented to the council […]

BRUNSWICK — A proposal to put a traffic signal at the intersection of Maine and McKeen street received a green light from the Town Council on Monday. The council voted 6-3 to support the approximately $100,000 signal. Although some councilors worried it could become a nuisance for residents who live nearby, the majority argued that […]

FREEPORT — A divided Town Council voted Tuesday to consolidate dispatch services with Brunswick, and some residents said they will fight to keep the service in town. The Town Council voted 5-2 in favor of consolidation, and authorized the town attorney to develop a contract between the two towns. The council vote came a day after […]

PORTLAND — The city Finance Committee began reviewing a proposed $196 million municipal budget proposal Tuesday evening. The package includes the elimination of the city’s equal opportunity and multi-cultural director, new fees for credit and debit card use and a change in the price and color of trash bags. City Manager Joe Gray’s proposal for […]

POWNAL — A Regional School Unit 5 budget proposal to close Pownal Middle School has a handful of parents and community members rallying to keep the classes in Pownal. Jonathan Morris, a Pownal resident and parent who teaches in Auburn said a few parents, unhappy about middle school programming, class size, educational and co-curricular options, approached […]

FALMOUTH — When Cpl. Sean De La Rosa of Texas shipped off for a tour of Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps, he never imagined it would lead him to Falmouth. But when he agreed to participate in the Soldiers’ Angels program, which is a volunteer organization that provides comfort and support to veteran and […]

FALMOUTH — Starting this fall, Lunt School will offer day care to kindergarten students during school hours when their classes are not meeting. But the change, designed to please parents, is creating concerns for some operators of day-care businesses. The school is adjusting its schedule so half the students will be in kindergarten all day […]

PORTLAND — The City Council Monday approved the return of dancing and entertainment to the State Theater on Congress Street. The council also approved a food and alcohol license for the theater, which has been closed since 2006 due to safety and fire code violations. According to an application from theater owner Stone Coast Properties, […]

CUMBERLAND — School Administrative District 51 can restore about five positions in its fiscal 2011 budget thanks to extra federal stimulus funds, Superintendent Robert Hasson said on Tuesday. Stimulus money toward general purpose aid has already been accounted for, Hasson said, although the availability next year of such money to support local entitlement was not confirmed […]

FALMOUTH — Residents may soon be asked if they want to pay for a long-awaited recreation center, and larger Town Hall and library spaces, if proposals to update the Plummer Motz and Lunt schools are sent to voters this November. The Community Facilities Planning Committee announced a $4 million plan to move the Town Hall […]