HARPSWELL — School Administrative District 75 Superintendent Mike Wilhelm walked the School Board and the public through next year’s financial challenges Tuesday in the first of three budget forums. Tuesday’s forum in Harpswell was to be followed by one in Bowdoin on Thursday. The third will be held at Williams-Cone School in Topsham at 6:30 […]

BATH — Sabrina Murphy, the new executive director of the Bath Area Family YMCA, is also the first woman to lead the institution in its 154-year history. Murphy, who replaces Phil Krummel, was hired by the YMCA in 2001 as the associate executive director and later became operations director. Krummel headed the YMCA for 12 years […]

BRUNSWICK — A provision that would have provided renovation funds for school districts affected by the 2011 closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station was stripped from a bill that President Obama signed into law Tuesday. Removal of the measure will have immediate consequences for the Brunswick School Department, which had hoped to use money from […]

BATH — The draft fiscal 2011 budget proposed by Regional School Unit 1 Superintendent William Shuttleworth could mean the elimination of a dozen employees. The $24.35 million spending plan is nearly $634,000 less than this year’s budget, and includes a revenue loss of about $816,000. “I think, overall, about 12 people will lose their jobs, unfortunately,” […]

YARMOUTH — Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes, D-Yarmouth, worked for months to create a bill that would hold manufacturers – not municipalities or taxpayers – financially responsible for their product’s waste collection and disposal. The bill, “An Act to Provide for the Responsible Recycling of Consumer Products,” was signed into law by Gov. John Baldacci on March 25 with […]

PORTLAND — The Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday ruled that a May 2009 rate increase by Casco Bay Lines was reasonable and has rejected a petition demanding an investigation. The budget passed in May 2009 by the CBL Board of Directors resulted in increases to tickets across the board. For example, an adult ticket during […]

PORTLAND — The  second Maine African Film Festival takes place April 6-10, and in addition to films will feature art exhibits, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers. The event kicks off with an opening-night reception and art exhibit at Mayo Street Arts. Paintings by Nigerian artist Lemi Ghariokwu, whose work is on permanent exhibit […]

PORTLAND — The cost to ride Metro is scheduled to increase beginning Thursday, April 1. A one-way fare is increasing 25 cents, from $1.25 to $1.50. A 10-ride pass goes from $11 to $13.50, and a monthly pass will increase $2.50, to $40. Senior tickets will be 65 cents – up from 50 cents, and […]