At mid-December, the Portland Symphony Orchestra puts on the biggest and by far the most heavily attended performing arts spectacular of the holiday season. The PSO’s annual “Magic of Christmas,” a Portland tradition for 30 years, is slated for an even dozen performances over the next two weekends. For the 2013 edition, maestro Robert Moody […]
Portland Forecaster
City-wide news from The Forecaster.
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland 8th-graders invited to explore high schools
PORTLAND — Portland Public Schools will hold three open houses for eighth-graders and their families to explore their options for high school. The first open house, at Casco Bay High School, is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12. Open houses for Deering and Portland high schools will be held on Jan. 28 and Feb. 6, […]
advertisement
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Unsung Hero: Sophie Raffel, emerging leader for justice
PORTLAND — Sophie Raffel was adopted from Guangszhou, China, in 1995 when she was just 4 months old. Today she is a senior at Waynflete School, an emerging leader with a determination to make a difference. Raffel has compiled an impressive record at Waynflete. She’s a top student; captain of soccer and tennis teams; member […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
The Universal Notebook: Nuke the 'stink tanks'
Republicans asked for it and they got it. Democrats in the U.S. Senate had no choice but to use the so-called “nuclear option” of eliminating the requirement of a 60-vote super majority to confirm the president’s judicial and executive nominations. Obstructionist Republicans had so abused the senate filibuster rule that half the filibusters in the […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Policy Wonk: Maine detests welfare, unless you're a corporation
Maine deals with corporate welfare and welfare for the poor in shockingly different ways. The most obvious difference lies in the fact that the poor who receive a welfare benefit must meet eligibility requirements almost always predicated on some form of “need,” which must be demonstrated by the recipient: income below, or only slightly above, […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
The View From Away: You can get there from here (but why would you want to?)
Just before Thanksgiving an old friend invited me to work on his new TV show for a few weeks (“Instant Mom,” on Nick At Nite. Not that I’m plugging it, and not that I’m not). Flying on short notice may be expensive, but at least it’s inconvenient. Making three flights and two plane changes gave […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion, Portland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Letter: Nothing civil about Portland snow plows
I write in response to your story regarding “civility.” I take exception to the writer comparing my remarks at City Council meetings to Gov. Paul LePage’s “comparison of a state legislator to an anal rapist.” Why don’t you interview me, get the facts and write a story about the important issue of speeding snow plows […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Community Calendar: Dec. 11-24
Greater Portland Benefits Friday 12/13 Christmas Charity Band concert for Philippines Disaster Relief through World Vision, 7 p.m., West Falmouth Baptist Church, 18 Mountain Road, Falmouth, 592-1810, donations. Saturday 12/14 Christmas Concert for Portland Community Free Clinic, 7 p.m., St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, 515 Woodford St., Portland, 774-8740, free with free-will offering. Bulletin Board Thursday […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Arts Calendar: Dec. 11-24
Greater Portland Books & Authors Wednesday 12/11 An Evening of Storytelling with MOOSE, 7 p.m., Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700, $5 donation. Sunday 12/15 “The Quiet Roar of a Hummingbird” reading and signing, 2:30 p.m., Bonobo, 46 Pine St., Portland, 228-8264. Film Wednesday 12/11 “The Punk Singer” documentary, 7 p.m., SPACE Gallery, […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland's First Friday Art Walk rolls out 2 firsts
PORTLAND — Congress Street was a gridlock of pedestrian traffic on Friday night for a “special holiday edition” of the First Friday Art Walk. For the first time in its history, the monthly arts district open house featured a temporary pedestrian mall between State and Brown streets, with Congress Street closed to vehicles for two hours. […]