PORTLAND — The guy in the kitchen at 88 Middle St. is officially the top chef in the Northeast. Rob Evans of Hugo’s was awarded the James Beard Foundation’s best chef award Monday night at a ceremony in New York City. The northeast region includes New England and upstate New York. Evans topped Mark Gaier […]

PORTLAND — Waynflete School officials will bring their expansion plans for the private school to a West End neighborhood presentation next week. At a similar meeting April 13 at the Williston West Church in the Western Promenade neighborhood, more than 100 residents turned out to see what an expanded Waynflete campus might look like and […]

PORTLAND — Increased enforcement of seat belt and vehicle registration laws on Peaks Island is leaving some island residents critical of the Police Department.  In an e-mail to police Sgt. Gary Hutcheson on April 30, Peaks Island Council Chairman Michael Richards said many islanders are upset with the department’s “inconsistent and arbitrary enforcement of the […]

PORTLAND — Only three people showed up Monday night to comment on the $189 million city budget proposed for fiscal year 2010. The display of public comment contrasted sharply with budget hearings a year ago, when dozens of people showed up to speak against cuts to police and fire staff, the threat of the Reiche […]

PORTLAND — The City Council on Monday approved the School Committee’s proposed budget for fiscal 2010. On Tuesday, May 12, residents will have their say. The school budget referendum will be the second citywide vote on school spending since the state Legislature enacted Gov. John Baldacci’s school reorganization law, and the first since the City […]

PORTLAND — New Police Chief James Craig said he wants to do a lot quickly, both within the Police Department and in the community. On his first day as the city’s top cop, though, Craig’s goal Monday was to meet as many of his officers and staff as possible, aware it may take a while […]

PORTLAND — The School Department is taking extra precautions when it comes to sanitation and treatment of sick faculty and students in light of the so-called swine flu that is spreading around the globe. Schools have stepped up the frequency of classroom cleaning and sterilization, while promoting frequent hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene. Athletes, meanwhile, […]

PORTLAND — Maine College of Art opens a new multimedia lecture hall this week, the latest addition to the art school’s downtown campus. Osher Hall is in the Porteous Building at 522 Congress St. The lecture hall seats 112 people and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology so the college can stream lectures live. Lecturers will […]