PORTLAND —Several local organizations are making it their mission increase students’ access to art both in and out of the classroom. Founded in 2012, Culture Club-Portland is a collaboration of four arts organizations with a goal of connecting students to the arts. Together, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Portland Museum of Art, Portland Ovations and […]
Portland Forecaster
City-wide news from The Forecaster.
Portland's new recreation director on the job
PORTLAND — New Recreation Director Ethan Hipple began work Jan. 19, City Hall spokeswoman Jessica Grondin said. Hipple most recently directed the Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, Parks & Recreation Department for seven years, implementing $2.1 million of improvements and capital projects, Grondin said. A graduate or Prescott College in Arizona and co-author of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s […]
Possible pesticide ban back before Portland city councilors
PORTLAND — City councilors are again considering regulating the use of pesticides and herbicides, although discussions now are confined to their use on municipal land. A proposed ordinance, last discussed in October 2015, was brought forward again Jan. 21 in the Council Energy & Sustainability Committee meeting, although no public comment or committee action was taken. Councilor Jon […]
Portland schools seek $2.2M in capital improvements
PORTLAND — The School Board sent a nearly $2.2 million list of capital improvement projects for 2017 to the City Council as part of a five-year plan. The numbers for 2017-2021 are still estimates, school officials said, and do not include major school construction or renovations. The plan, recommended 8-1 Jan. 19 by the board, […]
Portland Police Beat: Jan. 27
Arrests 1/15 at 10:27 p.m. Alishah S. Sayed, 20, of Portland, was arrested on Emerson Street by Officer Zachary Theriault on a charge of violating a protection order. 1/16 at 12:52 a.m. John M. Kanda, 22, of Portland, was arrested on Forest Avenue by Officer Zachary Finley on charges of operating under the influence and misuse of credit identification. 1/16 […]
Portland Councilor Jon Hinck seeks state Senate nomination
PORTLAND — City Councilor Jon Hinck has taken out nomination papers for the state Senate District 27 seat that will be vacated by Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland. Hinck, elected to the City Council in 2013 and chairman of the council Energy and Sustainability Committee, is the second councilor to announce a candidacy for state office. Councilor […]
Hundreds welcome winter in Portland
All aboard a snow raft on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the WinterKids Welcome to Winter Festival at Portland’s Payson Park. WinterKids, a nonprofit whose mission is to help children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity, partnered with Portland Recreation and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to put on the event […]
Scarborough firefighters, Russian colleagues find common ground
SCARBOROUGH — Five Russian firefighters visited town Tuesday, part of a week-long tour of southern Maine fire departments. The exchange program was orchestrated through the Archangel Committee, founded in 1988 as a nonprofit organization that coordinates sister city relationships with 14 greater Portland municipalities and Archangel (Arkhangel’sk), Russia. The firefighters from Archangel arrived Sunday, Jan. […]
Portland Public Schools students boost Metro ridership
PORTLAND — A near 30-year high in ridership on Metro buses can be traced to some of the city’s younger riders. Denise Beck, marketing director for the public transportation service that also includes Westbrook, South Portland and Falmouth, announced Jan. 13 that ridership in 2015 reached 1.56 million. The total marks a 5.3 percent increase over […]
Portland celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. takes global focus
PORTLAND — From the expanse of a dining room at Holiday Inn by the Bay to distant global shores, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated Monday. The 35th annual celebration organized by the city chapter of the NAACP took on an international focus as University of Maine Law School Dean Danielle M. […]