As we continue our research into some of the seafood processing companies that were located in the post-war West Yard of South Portland’s former shipyards, let’s take a look at George Kern and his connection with South Portland. George J. Kern was born in 1923 and led a rather interesting life. He was the grandson […]

As the holiday season wraps up – no pun intended – knowing what to do with the abundance of waste you accrued over the course of the season is important. Wish-cycling, or tossing something in your recycling bin with a bit too much optimism, is extremely detrimental to the recycling process. Throwing away your holiday […]

Here at the South Portland Sustainability Office, we spend our days planning and managing programs that advance us toward our climate-action goals, such as reducing city-wide greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 and transitioning municipal operations to 100 percent clean renewable energy by 2040. In the midst of all of this exciting progress, it […]

We’ve talked about the sardine canneries in Ferry Village where many of the local neighborhood women worked in the early- to mid-1900s. When a herring boat came in, the horn at the factory would blow and it was a common sight to see doors opening and women walking down to the cannery. There were two […]

Do you need help with snow shoveling? If you are age 65 or older and have a limited income, Age Friendly South Portland may be able to link you with a volunteer to shovel for you. Please call the city of South Portland Social Service office at 767-7617 for more information. We have had an […]

Forster Manufacturing Company, Inc. operated a clothespin assembly plant in South Portland from 1947 to 1956. Let’s take a look at this old Maine company and its founder who appears to have had a habit of spreading misinformation in an attempt to protect his trade secrets. Charles Forster is credited with creating the manufactured toothpick […]