When you live in a city, sewers are a critical need which is often taken for granted. I’ve always wondered what the sewers were like under the streets of South Portland, and how the system works in conjunction with the sewage treatment plant. I thought it would be interesting to document the history of sewage […]
Sentry Community
Community News – Riley family creates scholarship for hospitality management students at SMCC
Southern Maine Community College announced Monday, Jan. 30 that Dayna and Sean Riley, of Maine Course Hospitality Group, have created an endowment to establish the Riley Family Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance and support to Southern Maine Community College Hospitality Management students annually. Dayna and Sean Riley have spent 40 years in the […]
Our Sustainable City – Bird safe cities
This week, we’re introducing you to BirdSafe Maine, a collaboration between Maine Audubon, the Portland Society for Architecture, and the University of Southern Maine. Through volunteer work and advocacy, this collaboration addresses the issue of bird glass strikes here in Maine, contributing to an international community of nonprofit organizations working to protect the lives of […]
Our Sustainable City – Signing off
It has been a little over a year since I began writing weekly sustainability columns in the Sentry. My position in the South Portland Sustainability Office was my first introduction into sustainability and climate work outside of academia, and I was eager to learn more in the context and comfort of something I already loved: […]
A Window on the Past – What’s that smell? Casco Fisheries and Deep Sea Products arrived in the shipyard
We take a look this week at two more seafood companies that operated in the former West Yard of the South Portland shipyard after the end of World War II. We’ve written previously about the first three seafood companies that arrived in 1947: Quality House Specialties sardine cannery, George J. Kern’s seafood company, and LobLure, […]
Community News – Southern Maine Community College welcomes largest early college Spring Ahead group
Nearly 50 Maine high school students visited Southern Maine Community College Jan. 11 for an orientation to the Spring Ahead program, a Maine Community College System early-college initiative. The Spring Ahead program is for high school students who want to get a jump start on preparing for the educational opportunities available to them after high […]
A Window on the Past – Life in a lighthouse
How many of us can say, “My father was born in a lighthouse?” Longtime historical society volunteer, Judith Kelley, told me just that one recent afternoon as we sat chatting at the Cushing’s Point Museum. It happened to be Judy’s last day of volunteering as a docent after 11 years. I thought it would be […]
From Augusta – Getting to work in the 131st Legislature
I hope that everyone had a happy New Year. I wish you and your families peace and love in the coming months. On Jan. 4, the 131st Legislature met for its first session day. Reflecting on that opening day, I feel hopeful because we started this year with the passage of the heating and housing […]
Our Sustainable City – Grab your galoshes, the King Tides are coming
A King Tide is the highest predicted ocean tide, occurring at new and full moons when the gravitational pull of both the sun and moon is at its highest. If you’ve heard of a spring tide or sunny day flooding, you’ve also heard of a King Tide. I sat down with Gayle Bowness, Municipal Climate […]
Community News – Public Invited to South Portland Land Trust annual meeting
South Portland Land Trust members and members of the public are invited to attend the organization’s in-person annual meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at Lincoln & Main Electric Bike Cafe and Wine located at 93 Main St. in South Portland. The annual meeting is an opportunity for […]