FREEPORT — Town councilors got a lesson on legal issues Tuesday. They reviewed Town Council rules and procedures – including conflict of interest guidelines, public comment practices and budget reporting – with town attorney Rob Crawford of Bernstein Shur, and spent a considerable amount of time discussing an email policy that was adopted last January. The policy […]

PORTLAND — The union representing more than 200 Portland firefighters has filed a grievance in response to the punishment of two firefighters after the city’s fire boat was damaged. The filing means it will take several months – perhaps a year – for a full report on the Oct. 15 incident to become available. The […]

FALMOUTH — The deadline for submitting proposals to the town for the former school properties on Lunt Road passed at noon Tuesday, and at least one team of developers is already campaigning to win the bid. While bids for the property will be sealed until the Town Council chooses a winner, Redfern Properties President Jonathan […]

FREEPORT — The Freeport Flag Ladies will host a candlelight vigil on Sunday, Dec. 4, to honor Wreaths Across America and the effort to deliver thousands of Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery  in Virginia. The convoy will arrive in Freeport at 4 p.m. on Sunday and the Flag Ladies will greet them in front […]

YARMOUTH — Alan B. Stearns of Hallowell was selected from among 26 applicants to become executive director of the Royal River Conservation Trust. Stearns was deputy director of the state Bureau of Parks and Lands from 2007 until this year, and previously worked in the governor’s office and the state Department of Transportation. He also […]

CUMBERLAND — The Town Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed fireworks ban at its Monday, Dec. 12, meeting. The ordinance, developed by the council’s three-member ordinance subcommittee and presented to the council Monday, would ban the sale and use of consumer fireworks in town or on watercraft within town waters. “The public […]

FALMOUTH — After a lengthy public hearing Monday night, the Town Council decided the Falmouth Flyer bus is here for at least another year. The town had until Jan. 1 to let the Greater Portland Transit District, or Metro, know if it intended to discontinue the Flyer. The council voted 5-2 to maintain the bus […]

PORTLAND — Mayor-elect Michael Brennan will break with tradition for his inauguration. Brennan, the city’s first popularly elected mayor since 1923, will still be sworn in at noon on Dec. 5 along with City Councilors Cheryl Leeman and John Coyne, as required by the City Charter. But Brennan, who will serve a four-year term and […]

PORTLAND — A 15-member task force is being assembled to come up with a long-term plan to prevent homelessness in the city. The goal of the group is to provide a multi-year plan, with specific action steps, by next June that is in line with current state and federal plans. So far, only the leaders […]

HARPSWELL — Local artisans are opening their studios to the public for two weekends in December as part of the Holidays in Harpswell arts and crafts fair. Along with shopping, visitors can see pottery-throwing and basket-making demonstrations, attend book signings and enjoy discounts on lobster and meals at Harpswell restaurants. Brochures with location maps will […]