PORTLAND — The first Muslim to win an election in Maine could be on the leading edge of a national movement. City Councilor Pious Ali won an at-large School Board seat in 2013. A native of Ghana, Ali came to America in 2000 and Portland two years later. He is now a youth and community engagement […]

PORTLAND — With its new artist-in-residency program, the University of New England hopes to integrate the arts into various departments on the Portland and Biddeford campuses. The first-ever artist in residence at the college is Kim Bernard, who is focusing on the intersection between art and science in her year-long appointment. Her first major project […]

PORTLAND — Tight budgets often mean teachers turn to alternative sources to get the educational materials their students need. With crowdfunding websites showing they work well for all sorts of efforts, teachers in the Portland schools have increasingly been turning to an organization called Donors Choose to supplement their classroom offerings. In the past eight years Sylvie […]

A pair of joggers get their morning exercise on Park Avenue in Portland on Monday, Feb. 13, as plow driver Dave Blackwell of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department drives by during the storm that left 16 inches of snow in the city. The National Weather Service was predicting up to 9 more inches on […]

Jordan Roberge of Portland grabs some air Thursday, Feb. 9, on the Eastern Promenade during the storm that left about 8 inches of snow in the city. More light snow is expected Saturday, with a larger storm looming Sunday into Monday. (Dan D’Ippolito / For The Forecaster)

PORTLAND — A multicultural showcase sponsored by the University of New England and a group called Empower The Immigrant Woman will be held 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Ludke Hall on the college’s Portland campus. The event, which is open to the public, will feature art, music, film and food designed to celebrate the […]

PORTLAND — The City Council Finance Committee on Thursday will review two bonding plans affecting the future of city schools and infrastructure. Public comment will not be accepted when the three-member committee discusses the proposed $61 million bond to upgrade and renovate four city elementary schools. Following review of the plan, forwarded with unanimous School Board […]

WESTBROOK — A Westbrook resident is planning a 5K road race in Portland to raise money for Planned Parenthood. The race, which is being organized by Myles Courtney, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26, from 8-10 a.m. Participants will run the Back Cove trail in Portland starting near the soccer fields. Courtney started the race, called […]

PORTLAND — After hiatus of nearly four years, the International Club is back at Portland High School with a goal of celebrating, educating and preserving the cultures represented by students. The club was revived partly in response to the anti-immigrant overtones of the presidential election this past fall. But mostly, the students said, they just […]

PORTLAND — Recognized as one of the only remaining structures of its type in the U.S., Victoria Mansion has received a $130,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to restore the mansion’s reception room. Work began this month and will last through early spring, with a goal to have the project completed […]