NORTH YARMOUTH — A Biddeford man whose long career has included fire chief positions in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Florida, is the town’s first-ever public safety assistant. The hiring of Ricky Plummer for the part-time position followed the transition of the town fire company to a fire and rescue department, a change approved at […]

FALMOUTH — A drumming open house will be held at Beinema Hall at the Falmouth Congregational Church on Saturday, Dec. 31. The session, a continuation of those that have been held Saturday mornings at Deering Oaks Park in Portland, will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can bring drums or percussion instruments and […]

NORTH YARMOUTH — A Christmas Day fire did significant damage to a home at 72 Prince Well Road, and claimed the life of a pet cat. Neither the homeowner, who Fire Chief Clark Baston identified Tuesday as Paula Roberge, nor any other people were home at the time. A neighbor reported the fire in at […]

PORTLAND — When Gov. Paul LePage signed a bill on July 1 legalizing the sale and use of consumer fireworks, towns around the state had six months to decide whether to enact their own restrictions. For some elected officials, it was easy: maintain the status quo, which outlawed consumer fireworks and stores that sell them. […]

PORTLAND — When Becky Rand renovated her iconic diner on Commercial Street four years ago, she wanted to add solar heating panels but couldn’t afford to do it. She made sure the necessary plumbing was installed, though, so if the funds became available, she would be able to add a solar hot-water system in the […]

PORTLAND — Two area schools have received $1,000 grants from the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools to encourage safe and increased walking and biking. Ocean Avenue Elementary School and Yarmouth’s Harrison Middle School were among the 26 schools selected to receive grants from 212 applicants nationwide. At Harrison Middle School, students are working […]

BRUNSWICK — The Vietnam War produced at least one good outcome; it was in Vietnam that Dr. Peter McGuire started doing free clinic work. “I was in Vietnam in 1967, and I’d go out in the central highlands and run free clinics for the Vietnamese people,” McGuire said. “We were trying to win their hearts […]

Part of a continuing series by the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting on Maine’s bail system. AUGUSTA — Sometimes it takes a death. Sometimes it takes four deaths: a mother, her two children and the man who killed them and then killed himself. The deaths of Amy, Monica and Coty Lake at the hands […]

A Page 3 story on Dec. 16, “South Portland marina to expand shop, ‘gas house,’” should have said Sunset Marina is a full-service, 150-slip marina on Casco Bay.

SCARBOROUGH — It’s a long shot from college junior to renowned pundit, but one Scarborough native got much closer to achieving that dream last week. Christine Rousselle’s blog post, “My Time at Walmart: Why We Need Serious Welfare Reform,” exploded onto the Internet last week. As of Wednesday, it has garnered more than 600,000 views […]