PORTLAND — City councilors settled one budget question Monday, then got a glimpse into the future of city spending and operations. By a unanimous vote, the council approved the fiscal year 2017 block grant spending plan proposed by City Manager Jon Jennings earlier this month. The nearly $4 million in spending is far outstripped by the […]
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Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Falmouth clinic launches how-to website for medical marijuana
FALMOUTH — Since 2011, a local doctor has been using medical marijuana and other integrative remedies to treat patients. But he and his practice were running up against a problem: accurate information on medical cannabis wasn’t readily available to patients. So Dr. Dustin Sulak, whose Integr8 Health practice is at 170 U.S. Route 1, decided to make […]
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Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland picks 4 finalists for redesign of Congress Square
PORTLAND — Four companies, including two with area connections, have been named finalists in the redesign competition for Congress Square. City spokeswoman Jessica Grondin on March 25 said the companys are Freeport-based Michael Boucher Landscape Architecture; Yarmouth-based Terry DeWan & Associates in collaboration with Olin Studio (also of Philadelphia); Boston-based CRJA–IBI, and WRT of Philadelphia. Grondin said 12 […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Cumberland council OKs $10.5M budget, appoints interim police chief
CUMBERLAND — The Town Council on Monday unanimously approved a $10.5 million budget for next year. The panel also appointed Lt. Milton Calder to serve as interim police chief while the town searches for a permanent replacement for Chief Joe Charron, who is retiring. The fiscal year 2017 spending plan, which includes a 3.7 percent […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Cumberland-North Yarmouth school district projects 4.3% budget hike
CUMBERLAND — Next year’s budget in School Administrative District 51 could increase 4.34 percent to $35.2 million. That amount, minus anticipated revenues, would produce a proposed tax assessment on the Cumberland-North Yarmouth district of $22.8 million, up nearly $900,000 from the current fiscal year. Cumberland’s tax rate would rise by 1.5 percent, adding 28 cents […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland City Council still working on immigrant assistance
PORTLAND — Discussion about a new city office to assist immigrants and others who may be disenfranchised will continue at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at City Hall. “I think it is, how do we best integrate folks into the community,” Councilor David Brenerman said March 25 about the hearings his Economic Development Committee will host […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
SBA honors Portland business owner’s work for recovery
PORTLAND — On May 4 in Augusta, Margo Walsh will receive a big award from the U.S. Small Business Administration. But on March 25, she was just as happy to see Ryan Dewar and Justin Landry, employees who stopped by MaineWorks LLC, on break from painting apartments for Avesta Housing. “The power of this business is about empathy,” […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
South Portland Councilor Fox unapologetic about unorthodox behavior
SOUTH PORTLAND — First-term City Councilor Brad Fox has been absent or left early from at least a dozen – or about 11 percent – of all council meetings and workshops in his 13 months as an elected official. Fox is not in the official council photo on the city’s website, and he did not attend the inauguration last […]
Posted inThe Forecaster
Proposed South Portland municipal budget up $1.2M
SOUTH PORTLAND — City Manager Jim Gailey has proposed a new fiscal year municipal budget of nearly $32.6 million, an increase of $1.2 million from this year’s spending of $31.3 million. Added to the proposed new school budget of $47.8 million, taxpayers could see an increase to the tax rate of 53 cents per $1,000 of […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
'Cat' gets second life for Portland-Nova Scotia ferry service
PORTLAND — Ferry service between the city and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, is expected to resume this summer, using a high-speed catamaran leased from the U.S. Navy. The lease agreement was announced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine. “Portland’s working waterfront makes a big contribution to our local economy, […]