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Michael Kelley has been professionally working in the newspaper industry since 2006 writing about municipal news, education news, environmental news, sports and other human interest topics. He has covered the communities of Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Portland, South Portland and Westbrook for several weekly newspapers. His work has appeared in magazines, daily newspapers and weekly newspapers throughout Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Latest
  • Published
    July 27, 2021

    Investigation of 2020 protest says police responded with restraint

    The report found that most of the attendees were there to peacefully protest and concluded that police made arrests “sparingly” and used force only on protesters who had turned violent.

  • Published
    July 27, 2021

    Visit Portland seeks to add guest fee to fund tourism marketing boost

    Visit Portland hopes to create a Tourism Improvement District to provide a source of funding for hotels to use for promotion and other efforts to increase room occupancy and the amount of money tourists spend in the area.

  • Published
    July 25, 2021

    Ecomaine accepting designs for Recycling is a Work of Art contest

    Ecomaine is accepting until 5 p.m. Aug. 23 designs for its Recycling is a Work of Art painting contest. The contest is an opportunity for students, community groups and artists to submit their proposals to paint one of ecomaine’s 22-foot recycling containers with messages of reduction, reuse, recycling and sustainability. Up to six designs will […]

  • Published
    July 25, 2021

    Presumpscot Elementary School renovation bid approved

    The Portland Board of Education voted unanimously July 20 to shift $4.3 million in school renovation reserve funds to cover the cost of renovation and new construction for the Presumpscot Elementary School project. Great Falls Construction won the project with the lowest bid of $14.6 million, but that exceeded the expected budgeted amount by close […]

  • Published
    July 25, 2021

    School board to use $6.2M for tax relief, custodial pay, debt service

    The Portland City Council has given the Board of Public Education the go-ahead to allocate an extra $6.2 million in state aid for the 2021-2022 school year for tax relief, custodial salaries and the creation of a debt service relief fund. The extra $1.49 million being used as tax relief will mean taxpayers will not […]

  • Published
    July 20, 2021

    Council moves forward with homeless services center plans

    Portland city councilors agree to have a developer continue its work in spite of calls for it to wait until November when a measure to mandate smaller shelters could be on the ballot.

  • Published
    July 20, 2021

    Hall calls for two Portland baseball stars

    Former Deering Rams Ryan Flaherty and Ryan Reid will be inducted later this year into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

  • Published
    July 19, 2021

    Longtime director leaving Friends of Casco Bay

    With the retirement of its longtime director, Friends of Casco Bay is seeking a new leader to oversee its work in monitoring and improving the health of Casco Bay. Executive Director Cathy Ramsdell is stepping down from the post after nearly 20 years. Andrew “Sandy” Marsters, president of the Friends of Casco Bay Board of […]

  • Published
    July 19, 2021

    Local diaper bank hits 1 million mark

    Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services has distributed more than 1 million diapers in Southern Maine since the beginning of 2020, thanks to $100,000 in grants and donations from 20 organizations and over 200 individuals. KJFS, a program of the Jewish Community Alliance, ramped up distribution through its diaper bank to meet an increasing need throughout […]

  • Published
    July 19, 2021

    Temporary safety measures put in place at Portland intersection

    Safety bollards, signs and intersection paint have been temporarily added to the intersection of Deering Avenue and Revere Street at Woodfords Corner. Through its Imagine People Here campaign, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine teamed up with Friends of Woodfords Corner for the work July 15 in an effort to slow traffic to make the intersection […]