FREEPORT — An anonymous publication called the Crow’s Nest has resurfaced, upsetting some residents and business owners, and prompting town officials to investigate whether they have the right to prevent its distribution.  According to several residents, the publication has been distributed periodically in town for about 25 years. It parodies town business, politics and public […]

CUMBERLAND — The Town Council voted 4-3 Monday to ban the use of consumer fireworks all but five days of the year, and voted unanimously to prohibit the sale of fireworks. A state law that takes effect Jan. 1, 2012, legalizes consumer fireworks, but allows municipalities to enact local restrictions on use and sale. Area […]

FALMOUTH — The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin at 43 Foreside Road hopes to soon expand its parish hall. The church went before the Planning Board last week for the first sketch plan review for a proposed partial demolition and expansion of the existing parish hall. The work would increase the building’s space […]

YARMOUTH — The Yarmouth Education Foundation has awarded its first round of grants for technology, school nutrition, special education, art and health. YEF awarded more than $17,000 for 10 new programs for the schools. Board member Kristina Keaney said YEF plans to award grants each fall and spring. The awards were announced Dec. 6, and […]

FALMOUTH — Andrew DeWolf, a senior at Falmouth High School, is designing and building his own skis. “I started with a ski press that was built a few years ago, but it needed a mold,” he said. So he built a mold out of two-by-fours. Now he’s working on the ski design and hopes to […]

FREEPORT — Students at Freeport Middle School are learning to help others, volunteer their time and give back to their community as part of a new sixth-grade program. Modeled after a program started at King Middle School in Portland, teacher Kelly Fitz-Randolph helped put the program in place in Freeport.  Fitz-Randolph previously taught at King […]

Revaluation unlikely, despite assessments below sale price FALMOUTH — People who live anywhere in town will now be allowed to keep backyard chickens and other poultry. And residents in farm, village mixed use and residential B zones with lot sizes larger than 40,000 square feet will be exempt from some restrictions on keeping birds. The […]

PORTLAND — City officials are warning that proposed cuts to the state’s MaineCare program would virtually eliminate health and case management services to low-income residents. Gov. Paul LePage has proposed cutting $120 million from MaineCare to close a budget deficit in the state Department of Health and Human Services. The proposal would affect about 65,000 […]

PORTLAND — On a recent Friday afternoon, only pigeons and a few weathered men occupied Congress Square, a stone-paved public park adjacent to the Eastland Park Hotel. Another man leaned behind an electrical box to urinate. Pedestrians walked briskly around the area, rather than cutting through the park, which would require them to go down […]

PORTLAND — Cumberland County Commissioners appointed three members to the Civic Center board of trustees. Former Portland City Manager Joseph Gray and Bridgton Town Manager Mitchell Berkowitz were reappointed to at-large and District 6 positions, respectively. Both were appointed to the board in 2011 to fill vacancies created when Shipyard Brewing owner Fred Forsley and […]