PORTLAND — The U.S. Postal Service announced last week that it is delaying the closure or consolidation of thousands of post offices until May 15, 2012. The delay is a response to requests from several U.S. senators, USPS said in a press release. In July, USPS announced it was considering closing 30 Maine post offices, […]

Amy Anderson, right, of The Forecaster appeared on WMTW Channel 8 Sunday morning to discuss her story about Seacoast United soccer club and its purchase of the Howard Sports dome and Roller World in Topsham. Even though the nonprofit organization plans to buy the Topsham facility this week, Seacoast United officials say they will continue […]

PORTLAND — Sidewalks on Congress Street near Maine Medical Center will be closed to pedestrians on Saturday while repairs are made to the skywalk bridge at 887 Congress St. Pedestrian detours will be clearly marked, the city said in a press release. Vehicle and bicycle traffic on Congress Street will not be affected.

2 big retailers ‘extremely serious’ about coming to town SCARBOROUGH — With the town opting not to override a state law that legalizes consumer fireworks as of Jan. 1, two national explosives retailers have made overtures about coming to Scarborough. Alabama-based TNT Fireworks, which claims to be the world’s largest fireworks distributor, and Ohio-based Phantom […]

PORTLAND — Patti Smith is still a little awed by her rise in South Portland politics and government. During an interview Wednesday at her York Street office, she looked back on her decision in 2008 to run for the City Council, the first time she’d ever sought public office. “I didn’t even think I’d win,” […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — The owner of Sunset Marina near Ferry Village plans to expand a “gas house” to nearly six times its current size. The gas house, which sits on the dock, currently holds a small marina store, controls for land-side gasoline and diesel pumps, a fire alarm system and the circuit breakers for the […]

TOPSHAM — With the sale of Howard Sports and its Roller World rink imminent, local roller-skating enthusiasts are afraid the rink they’ve come to love is in its final days. Seacoast United soccer club plans to close on the purchase of the 20 Atwood Road sports center next week. Paul Willis, the nonprofit club’s director […]

BRUNSWICK — Lisa Botshon’s son, a second-grader at Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School, came home from school earlier this fall singing a chant he had learned about the proper way to walk through the halls. While it may have just been a catchy tune to her son, Botshon considered it a disturbing form of “mind […]

CAPE ELIZABETH — The library, recycling center, town offices and pool and fitness center will have abbreviated holiday hours starting Saturday, Dec. 24. Thomas Memorial Library, 6 Scott Dyer Road, will be closed Saturday, Dec. 24; Monday, Dec. 26; Saturday, Dec. 31 and Monday, Jan. 2, 2012.  The Recycling Center will be closing two hours […]

HARPSWELL — Residents of West Harpswell clashed Tuesday with members of the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee over a proposal to create a village district in their neighborhood. The town’s Comprehensive Plan, passed in 2005, calls for directing future growth into established villages while preserving rural areas. The CPIC, tasked with identifying a village district area, […]