TOPSHAM — It will be up to the annual Town Meeting next year to decide if Topsham should enact local restrictions on the sale and use of consumer fireworks. Until then, fireworks will be legal under a new state law that takes effect Jan. 1. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Dec. 15 not to […]

BRUNSWICK — The town will continue to be a fireworks-free community, after the Town Council voted 6-3 Monday to ban the use and sale of pyrotechnics. Brunswick joins towns like Freeport, Portland, South Portland, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Yarmouth in banning fireworks, which become legal under state law beginning Jan. 1, 2012. The law allows […]

FREEPORT — The Town Council Tuesday night approved the sale of property on West Street to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. Councilor Jim Hendricks, chairman of the Municipal Facilities Committee, said at the Dec. 20 council meeting that Habitat’s plan is to build eight units in four duplex-style structures. Each unit will be owned […]

FALMOUTH — As soon as fifth-grade teacher John Carter breaks out his Apple iPad and launches the  Grammar Dragon application, which is projected through an Apple TV onto a large screen, his class of excited 10- and 11-year-olds goes silent. Then there are shouts of “adverb!” “adjective!” “noun – no pronoun!” as the class works together […]

YARMOUTH — After eight years, the Gateway Committee has completed its analysis of the Route 1 corridor and presented the final document to the Town Council. Town Engineer Dan Jellis said the final report, presented Dec. 1, includes traffic, safety and access improvements to the Route 1 corridor from the state Visitor Information Center to […]

CUMBERLAND — A small newspaper that had a brief life in the 19th century is making a comeback in the 21st century, in the form of a monthly online newsletter. The Cumberland Globe was originally published from 1877-1880 by George Blanchard and George B. Bagley, who did business as Blanchard & Bagley Publishers. Single copies […]

FREEPORT — After a dozen years as the Winslow Park manager, Bart Carhart said he and and his wife, Mary Lou, are ready to retire and travel the country. Carhart has managed the 100-acre park since 2000. He also owned the South Freeport Village Store and worked in the recycling facility. The Carharts, originally from […]

Falmouth Police Department Officer Kurt Fegan’s U.S. Marine Corps unit in Afghanistan wishes the “crew back home” a Merry Christmas. Fegan took a leave of absence in September to serve in Afghanistan, and is scheduled to return to Falmouth in February.

CHEBEAGUE ISLAND — Approximately 20 people came out Monday for the first of two Department of Marine Resources aquaculture hearings on a three-year experimental lease of waters off the coast of Chebeague and Jewell islands for two kelp farms. After the hearings, the DMR has 60 days to decide whether to grant the leases. The […]

PORTLAND — The City Council on Monday approved a plan to restrict parking on three one-way streets on the peninsula. Parking along Crescent, Dow and Gilman streets will be restricted to the right-hand side Public Services Director Michael Bobinsky said the changes are needed along the narrow, one-way streets to aid snow plowing. Bobinsky said […]