TOPSHAM — Town Manager Cornell Knight is recommending a fiscal 2013 budget that could result in a slight tax decrease. The fiscal 2012 tax commitment of $15 million – reflecting a tax rate of $16.15 per $1,000 of property valuation – could drop to $14.95 million, with a tax rate of $16.08, according to Knight’s preliminary numbers. […]

HARPSWELL — Voters approved a $4.3 million budget and overwhelmingly re-elected Elinor Multer to the Board of Selectmen at the annual Town Meeting on March 10. Multer received 467 votes, defeating challenger C. Matthew Rich and write-in candidate Rich Daniels, who had 157 and 106 votes respectively. Ronald Ponziani, with 559 votes, defeated Paul Standridge, who […]

FALMOUTH — The $11 million fiscal year 2013 budget proposed by Town Manager Nathan Poore increases spending by 3 percent, but would require no increase in property taxes. Poore said the municipal share of the tax rate will stay at $3 per $1,000 of assessed value. The effect of the school budget on the tax […]

PORTLAND — The first public hearing on the proposed $94.9 million school budget drew few comments from residents Tuesday night. Four residents spoke about Superintendent of Schools James Morse Sr.’s proposed budget, which is currently under review by the finance committee. Only one resident spoke against the budget and urged School Committee members to reduce […]

A gaggle of Girl Scouts from around southern Maine participated in a “flash mob” outside Freeport retailer L.L. Bean on Sunday afternoon, March 11, in celebration of the 100th anniversaries of Bean and Girl Scouting.

Greely High School senior ice hockey captain Pete Stauber raises the championship trophy as freshman goalie Kyle Kramlich and other teammates cheer him on after the Rangers’ 6-2 win over Messalonskee in last Saturday’s Class B state final. More in Sports, Page 15.

CUMBERLAND — Longtime Town Councilor Steve Moriarty announced his candidacy for the state House of Representatives in District 108. The seat, which covers Cumberland, Chebeague Island, Long Island and part of North Yarmouth, is held by Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess, R-Cumberland. Moriarty, a Democrat who will run as a Clean Election candidate, is an attorney […]

FREEPORT — A federal civil lawsuit about sex abuse in Haiti now involves a local man. Paul Kendrick, 62, has been issued a subpoena by Boston-based attorney Theodore J. Folkman, who represents the Rev. Paul Carrier in a case being heard in U.S. District Court in New Haven, Conn. Carrier is one of 18 individuals and […]

CUMBERLAND — The Town Council scheduled several public hearings Monday, on adoption of the fiscal 2013 budget and proposed growth and impact fee ordinance changes. The hearings will take place at the council meeting on Monday, March 26, when councilors are expected to vote on adoption of next year’s spending plan. The operating budget could […]

FREEPORT — Almost two years after town councilors voted to outsource emergency dispatching services to Brunswick, Maine’s highest court has upheld the methods used to shift services. In a unanimous decision filed last Thursday, Maine Supreme Judicial Court justices said councilors did not violate the Town Charter by first approving a 2010 contract and then […]