Drew Johnson

Staff Writer

Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts, Drew grew up going to his family’s lake house in Denmark, Maine, learning to snow ski at Pleasant Mountain and water ski on Moose Pond. While he started as a “Vacationlander”, Drew adopted “the way life should be” motto and moved to Portland in 2021.

Scarborough Leader

Nomination papers soon available for Scarborough council, school board seats

by Drew Johnson July 17, 2024July 17, 2024

Papers will be available Aug. 7 for three Town Council seats and one Board of Education seat.

Scarborough Leader

Seniors can connect at annual barbecue just for them in Scarborough

by Drew Johnson July 17, 2024July 17, 2024

Community Services hosts the catered lunch with entertainment and raffles and door prizes.

South Portland Sentry

South Portland council declines to pursue proposed transitional housing plan for former school building

by Drew Johnson July 10, 2024July 10, 2024

Zoning ordinances must be reexamined to allow for such facilities in the city, and councilors say they are open to exploring that option.

South Portland Sentry

Cape Elizabeth School Board plans special meeting on new, ‘unvetted’ bond proposal

by Drew Johnson July 10, 2024July 10, 2024

Some councilors and residents say the council chairman’s timing of a vote on his proposal was an attempt to undermine the school board’s proposed $89.9 million school project.

Scarborough Leader

Four proposals on table this fall to solve overcrowded school problem in Scarborough

by Drew Johnson July 10, 2024July 10, 2024

The School Building Advisory Committee will work this summer to educate residents about the four options and solicit feedback.

Scarborough Leader

Old schoolhouse restoration project in Scarborough gets grant to help wrap up work

by Drew Johnson July 10, 2024July 10, 2024

A grant from the Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce gives the historical society a needed boost in preserving the last of the town’s 13 one-room schools that is still intact.

South Portland Sentry

South Portland council approves budget with 6% property tax increase

by Drew Johnson July 2, 2024July 2, 2024

The South Portland City Council passed the $64.5 million municipal budget at last week’s council meeting. Combined with the $69.4 million school budget passed by voters in June, the total budget will be $133,818,526, a 4.9% increase over this year. Taxes are expected to go up roughly 6%, from $14.14 to $14.99 per $1,000 in […]