AUGUSTA

Maine to receive $5.4 million more for heating assistance

Maine is getting an additional $5.4 million for a program that helps low-income families pay to warm their homes in the winter.

Members of Maine’s congressional delegation announced this week that Maine will receive part of the $453 million additional funds for the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program being released by the federal government across the country.

U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud and Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King praised the announcement as residents have been struggling with particularly cold temperatures this winter.

The program supplies heating assistance to about 50,000 Mainers.

Maine Film Office approves twice as many productions

The number of films and television productions approved by the state of Maine has doubled.

The Maine Film Office says it certified 16 productions in 2013, up from only eight productions in 2012.

The productions approved last year are spending more than $4.7 million in Maine, increasing from $1.5 million spent in the state the year prior.

The office is pointing to the state’s film incentives as part of the increased interest from film and television producers. The office says it’s also working on marketing Maine as a prime location for film production and meeting with filmmakers.

ELIOT

Electrical problem likely caused towing company fire

Fire officials say an electrical problem is likely the cause of a fire Saturday at a towing company in Eliot.

The fire chief said several vehicles and a utility yard plow were damaged in the fire at the National Wrecker Service on Saturday morning.

Firefighters put out the fire in about 45 minutes, WMTW-TV reported.

PORTLAND

Preparations underway for Portland Facial Hair Fest

Maine’s largest city is gearing up to celebrate the mustache.

The inaugural Portland Facial Hair Fest to be held in March includes the seventh-annual Stache Pag, a mustache pageant, along with the Beard and Mustache Competition and the International Moustache Film Festival.

Most of the events are being held at the Ocean Gateway from March 26-30.

Nick Callanan, co-organizer of the Portland Facial Hair Fest, says organizers hope to expand the annual pageant “into a full-on facial hair extravaganza.”