This week, we finish looking at the two sardine factories that existed in South Portland in the 1900s. The two canneries were both on the waterfront in Ferry Village. The E.W. Brown cannery was located farthest east, at the end of a dirt driveway that led from Front Street to the start of the breakwater […]

In previous columns, we’ve discussed a number of sardine canneries including two from Portland with ties to South Portland – the Brawn Company on Deake’s Wharf, owned by the Brawn family of Cushing’s Point, and the R.J. Peacock Company on Brown’s Wharf, run by John Toft who also owned a home at Cushing’s Point. We’ve […]

Last week, we talked about cutting out your convenient plastics: coffee cups, takeout containers, plastic bags, (more coffee cups). As we move forward, however, it is important to mention that reducing single-use plastic consumption is not solely an individual’s responsibility. While it is extremely important to be mindful of our consumption and learn to shift […]

Last Thursday, on the final morning of June, I indulged one final time and bought an iced latte on my way to work. As it sat on my desk, sweating in its single-use plastic vessel, I mourned the absence of these little treats in my month to come. Here in the Sustainability Office, we have […]

Anyone familiar with the maritime history of greater Portland may have heard of the Brawn family from Cushing’s Point. Let’s take a deeper look at the life of George Albert “Bert” Brawn. Bert Brawn was born in Lubec in 1860, the son of John and Jane Brawn. Although his father was a sparmaker, given the […]

Summer days often go hand-in-hand with disposable plastic items. July is the prime time for single-use plastics, whether it be beach drinks in plastic cups or plastic film popsicle wrappers. This month, we are focusing on reducing our single-use plastic consumption by learning from low waste mavens at this month’s Coffee and Climate and attempting […]

The Maine Port Authority is a state agency focused on transportation – providing resources and facilitating the movement of freight through our state and ports. First established in 1929 by an act of the Maine State Legislature, the Maine Port Authority covers all Maine ports along the ocean and rivers, from Kittery to Eastport, providing […]

              The Summer in Maine Auction, the auction featuring some of the best that Maine has to offer, will open for bidding on Saturday, June 25, at the South Portland Historical Society’s museum at Bug Light Park. Bids will be accepted every day until the auction closes on the […]

Join our Sustainability Office for a fun-filled Saturday morning, brimming with community building, knowledge sharing and sweet summer treats. What better way to kick off the summer season than a food waste recycling event? To celebrate the launch of our new food waste drop off site at Redbank Community Center, the Sustainability Office is hosting […]