BOWDOINHAM — Oxford Aviation, which has plans to expand to a redeveloped Brunswick Naval Air Station, announced Tuesday that it hopes to seek state assistance to grow its aircraft refurbishing business to include painting jet airliners. F. Lee Bailey, the famous attorney recently hired by the Oxford-based company as a consultant, told the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment […]
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Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Toby Keith may perform at Cumberland Fairgrounds; opposition expected
CUMBERLAND — Country music star Toby Keith may perform in Cumberland this summer if the Town Council approves a permit for the concert. The council will hear a permit request at its regular council meeting on Monday, April 27, and will hold a special meeting April 29 for final confirmation of the event. Some Cumberland […]
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Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Religious freedom, zoning may clash again in Portland
PORTLAND — The city could again find itself tangled in a question of religious freedom, after ruling that a Washington Avenue building does not meet zoning requirements to be a Muslim house of worship. But the purpose of the building at 978 Washington Ave., which the city believes will be used for prayer gatherings, is […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Schools wrestle with budget strings attached to laptop computer initiative
CAPE ELIZABETH — Buying a new laptop computer in these economic times probably isn’t palatable to anyone facing pay cuts, high food and utilities costs, and little hope of improvement within the next year. At Cape Elizabeth High School, according to Superintendent Alan Hawkins, buying 600 of them just isn’t going to be an option. […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Facilities report notes need to quickly address Portland elementary school inequities
PORTLAND — A draft report on programming and maintenance needs of the city’s school buildings recommends hiring a consultant to review delivery options for the district’s stand-alone services and addressing educational inequity in two elementary schools within the next year. The report, released Tuesday morning, is the result of a nearly year-long study by the […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Plans would give old Portland school new life
PORTLAND — The development arm of the Westbrook Housing Authority will present its plans on April 28 to convert the former St. Patrick’s School into affordable housing. Westbrook Development Corp. won a conditional zone change on April 6 from the City Council that will allow it to convert the former private Catholic grammar school at […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland may get designated, free parking for mopeds, motorcycles
PORTLAND — The city may add 31 free parking spaces for motorcycles or mopeds on the peninsula. The change is aimed at encouraging two-wheeled transportation, and to open up regular parking spots for cars. The City Council Transportation Committee was scheduled to review the new parking plan at its meeting Tuesday, along with a few proposed […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland schools to consider $137K in budget cuts
PORTLAND — The School Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 28, to decide how to reduce next year’s proposed budget by more than $137,000. The district was asked by the City Council’s finance subcommittee April 14 to further reduce its $91.4 million budget, which eliminates 17 jobs and already reduces the local tax burden by […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
After the layoff: A personal journey through unemployment
Editor’s note: Sean Baker of South Portland has a personal perspective on unemployment: his career in broadcasting came to a sudden halt in February when he was laid off by a Portland radio station. He’s writing about the experience in this series for The Forecaster. For many of us, news about widespread job losses […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland seeks input on future of Franklin Arterial
PORTLAND — Redesign of the major corridor that slices across the city’s peninsula will be the subject of a community workshop on Wednesday, April 29. The Franklin Street Arterial Study Committee is looking for ideas from the public about how the arterial should be redesigned to better serve drivers as well as the surrounding neighborhood. […]