Anyone who has registered a vehicle in Maine has felt the pain of excise tax, the municipal tariff enacted by the state Legislature in 1925 to fund local public works budgets and road improvements. But throughout its 83-year existence, Maine’s excise tax has left some residents, particularly new-car buyers, feeling fleeced. Two organizations with a […]
Forecaster News
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-correx-012109 Corrections
Last week’s story about a hotel proposed on the Maine Wharf should have said the developer does not want to spend $300,000 to $400,000 without assurance the project will have a contract zone. Last week’s story about the Port City Music Hall added an extra letter to the name of the owner, Rob Evon.
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Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-eastendwindstudy-012109 East End wind study draws opposition
PORTLAND — A proposal to install a 100-foot tower to test wind speeds near the East End Community School is drawing opposition from residents of a neighboring condominium complex. The School Department was one of two groups in the state selected last summer by Efficiency Maine, a program run by the Public Utilities Commission, to […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-adamsschool-012109 Funding for Adams school projects shifts to grants
PORTLAND — The sole bidder for the redevelopment of the former Marada Adams Elementary School on Munjoy Hill last week sought to alleviate concerns about funding for the project. The City Council’s Community Development Committee was updated Wednesday on a revised proposal intended to address funding concerns and projected maintenance costs for a half-acre park […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, The Forecaster
pn-ferrycarts-012109 Ferry board to vote on cart restrictions
PORTLAND — The board of directors of Casco Bay’s ferry service is expected to vote Thursday on a new policy regarding carry-on items. The policy was crafted after some riders on Casco Bay Lines began pushing large and unwieldy carts onto ferries, said Catherine Debo, executive director of Casco Bay Lines. “We have some carts […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
p-mainestatepier-012109 City must re-evaluate future of Maine State Pier
PORTLAND — The city was dealt a blow last week when developer Ocean Properties bowed out of negotiating to redevelop the Maine State Pier. A spokesman for Ocean Properties said the decision was made after the company evaluated projects it currently has in the works. “Over the last two years as the recession has deepened, […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
pnms-grindle-012109 From sequins to sermons Unusual career path for actor-turned-minister Charles Grindle
PORTLAND — Wearing a rainbow stole over his dark minister’s robes, the Rev. Charles Grindle, 57, the newest member of the ministry team at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, welcomed parishioners on a frigid January night for his weekly Eventide service. The service began in a typical fashion, with music, albeit a rather free-form version […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, The Forecaster
Sharing a ride
It was smooth sledding for Brunswick Junior High School friends Julia Grocholl and Sarah Jedd after last Sunday’s snowstorm.
Posted inPortland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
s-pwd-011609 1 candidate for water district
There will be a special election on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to elect a new trustee to represent South Portland and Cape Elizabeth on the Portland Water District Board of Trustees. The election is being held to complete the unexpired term of Gary Larsen, who died in September at the age of 58. Larsen, whose term […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
s-scarpinepoint-011609 Study urges improved design of Pine Point project
SCARBOROUGH — The price and scope of a road project originally slated for last summer has increased after the project was reviewed by the ad hoc Pine Point Study Group. The original project as designed by town engineer Jim Wendel would have improved the infrastructure on a 450-foot section of King Street and Pine Point […]