CAPE ELIZABETH — Councilor Sara Lennon is the new chairwoman of the Town Council. The council caucused on Dec. 5 to discuss leadership and committee appointments, and made the decisions official Monday, Dec. 12. Councilor Frank Governali was elected vice chairman and was named the chairman of the Finance Committee, a committee of the whole […]

FALMOUTH — The new Route 26/100 Falmouth Railroad Bridge, which spans the Presumpscot River and the Pan Am Railroad tracks, will open to traffic this afternoon, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. This new bridge is slightly downstream from an original structure, which was built in 1932. Construction on the new bridge started in July. […]

BRUNSWICK — Students from a Bath fine art photography class are showing their skills in an exhibit that opens Monday, Dec. 19. The works will be displayed at the Back Street Bistro at 11 Town Hall Place, where an opening will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission. Featured artists from […]

AUGUSTA — The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is not required to admit the public to its advisory group meetings on the construction of a Brunswick train maintenance building, according to the Maine attorney general’s office. The AG’s office looked into the issue after reporters complained about not being admitted to a Dec. 2 […]

TOPSHAM — An online survey seeking input from residents about local fireworks regulations shows respondents are sharply divided. The survey, available at topshammaine.com/survey, was prompted by a state law that takes effect Jan. 1, 2012. That law legalizes consumer fireworks, but allows municipalities to enact local restrictions on use and sale. The poll asks residents […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — “Differences between us must not be our sources of conflict. They must be our reasons for unity.” A famous president, diplomat, or author did not speak those words. They were spoken by Lydia Bakunda, an 18-year-old refugee from Burundi and student at Southern Maine Community College. Bakunda’s native language is not English. […]

SCARBOROUGH — Students from Scarborough High School and Brunswick High School have been selected to participate in the 50th U.S. Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C. Adam Cohen of Scarborough and Julia Brown of Brunswick will be in the capital March 3-10 to observe the federal government in action. Sen. Susan Collins, who participated in […]

BATH — When Bath Iron Works personnel opened equipment crates earlier this month that had been sent from California, they found about two dozen eight-legged stowaways: black widow spiders. BIW received the shipment – which came from a supplier of vertical launch system components – at a warehouse in Brunswick, and then transferred it to the […]

BRUNSWICK — Visit Tom Brudzinski’s art studio six times and the next lobster he eats will be named after you. It’s an odd take on the frequent buyer card. But for anyone familiar with Brudzinski’s sense of humor, it’s not surprising. Brudzinski, 64, is an architectural designer who is turning his hobby, making lobster-themed art, […]

FREEPORT — Seacoast United soccer club says its desire to build a sports arena in Freeport is not off the table, even though the club is buying the Howard Sports indoor facility in Topsham. Paul Willis, Seacoast’s director of development and finance, said the nonprofit club plans to close on the Howard Sport purchase next […]