Members of Portland Fire Local 740 took part in the annual “Race Up Boston Place” on Feb. 6 in Boston. The stair-climbing race raises money for the American Lung Association of New England. The Portland team finished first in the Firefighter Division, which requires all participants to race up 41 flights of stairs in full […]

NORTH YARMOUTH — Gary Foster of Gray, a self-employed residential builder and remodeler, announced his candidacy for the state Legislature in House District 109, which includes parts of North Yarmouth, Pownal and Gray. The seat is currently held by Rep. Susan Austin, R-Gray, who is serving her final term under Maine’s term limit law. Foster, a […]

PORTLAND — The Peaks Island Council has submitted requests totalling $361,000 to the city for consideration in the 2011 budget. This is the first year the island council has made a formal budget request. The requests range from continuing to fund ferry passes for Peaks Island students to subsidizing parking for island residents at the […]

PORTLAND — The School Department will have to make up a $4.3 million loss in state funding for 2011, and could face another $1.5 million loss in additional state and federal funds. Portland received $14.9 million in state general aid to education for 2010. The schools were originally allocated $17.7 million, but were told in […]

PORTLAND — A group of architects and urban planners this spring will work on a plan to make East Bayside a more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly and connected neighborhood. The neighborhood was chosen by the American Institute of Architects as one of seven communities in the United States that will receive technical assistance to help turn it […]

PORTLAND — A shortage of snow has foiled the city’s plan to hold a winter festival at Deering Oaks Park this weekend. The second annual WinteRush was scheduled for Saturday. But the activities, including a snow plow parade, a man-made sledding hill, animal tracking and a snow sculpture contest, are a no-go without snow. Nicole […]

PORTLAND — The city wants owners of multi-unit buildings to take advantage of new funding it has to help them spruce up their properties. The city’s Housing and Neighborhood Services Division plans to offer low-interest loans of up to $15,000 per unit to apartment building owners interested in upgrading plumbing, putting on a new roof […]

FALMOUTH — In the weeks since a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, Falmouth teachers, staff and students have employed a variety of creative ways to raise money to help the struggling country. According to Service Learning Coordinator Holly MacEwan, a lot of different school organizations and classrooms got into the act. Lunt School involved parents, asking […]

PORTLAND — Charlene Roberts Erlebach’s eyes brightened when she recalled her wedding day. “The flower girl baskets were just beautiful, with little ribbons and rosettes, they were so pretty,” the Brunswick bride gushed. “We actually did pictures twice, once on the actual wedding day and then a week later, Josh and I got all dressed […]

PORTLAND — The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine and Anti-Defamation League New England Region are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of vandals who painted swastikas on headstones at a local cemetery. The vandalism at Mount Carmel Cemetery, on Hicks Street off Warren Avenue, was discovered the afternoon of Feb. […]