SCARBOROUGH — A decision by councilors on Wednesday to remove a paragraph entitled “Interaction with the Media” before approving a procedures manual has for now warded off the appearance of council censorship of committee members. In an attempt to clean up language and clarify procedures and positions for the town’s council-appointed boards and committees, the […]

SCARBOROUGH — A community room at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church has been transformed by piles of presents and tables of clothing, toys and other items as volunteers work to wrap gifts with colorful papers, ribbons and bows in preparation for families who will pick them up this week. It’s all the work of Project GRACE, […]

SCARBOROUGH — Opponents aren’t backing down after the Planning Board unanimously approved reconfiguration of a Pine Point motel’s parking lot using land gained in a swap with the town. During the board meeting on Monday, Dec. 14, one resident stood up and interrupted the deliberations, accusing board members of ignoring Department of Environmental Protection requirements. […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — Four of the seven city councilors attended a private party last weekend to celebrate the new mayor’s inauguration. Although the gathering on Saturday, Dec. 12, at Mayor Tom Coward’s home constituted a council quorum, neither the press nor the general public were invited. The party appears to have taken advantage of a […]

CAPE ELIZABETH — Aware of the foreboding financial outlook for the coming year, the newly elected Town Council and Chairwoman Ann Swift-Kayatta took steps to save money at their first meeting Monday, Dec. 14. Councilors accepted a report developed by the Fort Williams Park Advisory Commission proposing ways to make Fort Williams Park financially self-sustaining. Included […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — When the City Council unanimously approved using $10,000 from its Land Bank to purchase less than a quarter acre of land off Berwick Street on Dec. 7, residents and city officials alike hoped the effort would set a precedent for future open space conservation efforts. “It’s a collaborative effort,” Councilor Tom Blake […]

FALMOUTH — After more than a century of birthdays, presents can get kind of dull. For Barrett Nichols, who turned 108 on Monday, Dec. 14, a room full of children helping him celebrate last week was a present that really brightened his day. The students from teacher Amy Farmer’s first-grade class at Lunt School brought […]

CAPE ELIZABETH — With news of a reduction in state funds for this year, and a grim outlook for fiscal year 2010-2011, the newest members of the School Board were sworn in on Monday, Dec. 14. John Christie, Kate Williams-Hewitt and David Hillman took their oaths in a special business meeting. Rebecca Millett was elected chairwoman […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — The owners of the Maine Mall received some good news and some bad news this week. While the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York accepted General Growth Properties’ plan for the reorganization of $10.25 billion in debt, the Maine Board of Property Tax Review on Tuesday denied the company’s appeal of its […]

FREEPORT — Dick Anderson received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Coastal Conservation Association of Maine at the organization’s annual meeting Dec. 7. Anderson was honored for more than 50 years of work on marine conservation. The 75-year-old outdoorsman said Tuesday the CCA is a “wickedly important” organization. “The primary objective of the organization is to […]