PORTLAND — Chess teacher Ben Monaghan had his work cut out for him. On a recent afternoon, Monaghan set up six chess boards at Fred P. Hall Elementary School and endeavored to teach the royal game to a dozen energetic children. At first, it was pandemonium, but over the course of an hour, the students […]
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Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
North Yarmouth panel to present development plan
NORTH YARMOUTH — Having spent recent months brainstorming options for the town in the wake of the Aug. 29 Wescustogo Hall fire, a committee plans to bring a several-pronged proposal to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The North Yarmouth Economic Development and Sustainability Committee presented five options at an Oct. 17 forum […]
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Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Yarmouth council enacts trash fee, rejects railroad quiet zones
YARMOUTH — A narrow Town Council vote last week on a $25 annual trash disposal fee sparked a somber conversation about the town’s economic future. After several meetings, the council on Nov. 21 voted 4-3 to institute a car-window sticker fee for residents to access the transfer station and recycling center. The council also rejected, […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
North Yarmouth holiday celebration endures, minus Wescustogo
NORTH YARMOUTH — Despite the destruction by fire last summer of the town’s usual gathering place, annual holiday celebrations will go on, albeit with some changes. Much as North Yarmouth Fun Day went on in September, next to the cleared site of Wescustogo Hall on Walnut Hill Road, so will the town’s annual Christmas tree-lighting […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Suslovic: Talks with Russian sister-city emotional, awkward, worthwhile
PORTLAND — Siblings can agree to disagree, City Councilor Ed Suslovic believes. Even if they don’t speak the same language. Officials from Portland’s sister city, Archangel, Russia, met Nov. 21 for a frank discussion with Suslovic, Police Chief Michael Sauschuck and several other community leaders. Reporters were initially invited to sit in on the meeting. […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland begins Congress Street bus corridor experiment
PORTLAND — A bus priority corridor along Congress Street is being created on a trial basis, starting this week and running through early 2014, Deputy City Manager Sheila Hill-Christian said Nov. 22. Between Franklin and State streets, some Metro bus stops will be relocated, some buses will stop “in-line” in traffic lanes rather than pulling […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Designers bring 'Joy to the World' at Portland's Victoria Mansion
PORTLAND — Victoria Mansion, the historic home and museum at 109 Danforth St., begins its 30th annual holiday celebration Friday bedecked in an international style. And for the first time, the mansion will be open to the public in the evening. Nearly a dozen local florists and designers volunteered time and materials to decorate the […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Buoy Local gift card aims to lift Portland-area holiday sales
PORTLAND — Just in time for the holiday shopping season, two local entrepreneurs are launching a gift-buying card that can be redeemed at 30 area merchants. Kai Smith and Sean Sullivan are marketing Buoy Local as a “community-based gift card” valid for shopping at Portland-area retailers including Rosemont Markets, Coffee By Design, Springer’s Jewelers and […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland schools hope to bolster STEM education
PORTLAND — Allen Armstrong stood in the middle of a classroom and surveyed students’ work as they toiled on laptops, creating 3-D designs. Armstrong, a retired mechanical engineer who’s now a classroom volunteer, recalled when he cut his teeth in engineering a half century ago in his father’s garage, building go-carts with motorcycle engines that […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Fire causes as much as $9M in damage to historic island fort building in Portland
PORTLAND — An early morning fire Saturday did between $5 million and $9 million worth of damage to a historic island fort property being renovated as a hotel. According to an announcement Saturday morning by Deputy Portland City Manager Sheila Hill-Christian, the Portland Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 18 McKinley Court on […]