YARMOUTH, Maine — A program in Maine is helping first-time juvenile offenders avoid the traditional justice system and repair any harm they’ve done to the community. The program, called Youth Court, is appearing around the country in an effort to provide what is known as “restorative”… Read More
PORTLAND, Maine — Although the referendum on the fiscal year 2014 school budget is less than a month away, the superintendent of schools said there could still be some reductions if the teachers union cooperates. Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk said the $97.9 million budget presented… Read More
FALMOUTH — The parents accused of allowing minors to possess or consume alcohol in a party at their home last year said they hope to resume normal lives after settling the charges against them. “We’ve been through a horror, a nightmare, since last June,” Paula Spencer… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — The number of restaurants in town is growing, with plans to open another McDonald’s and the recent opening of Bueno Loco. According to Ethan Croce, senior town planner, developer Joe Cooper appeared before the Planning Board on Feb. 5 for a pre-application sketch… Read More
PORTLAND, Maine — The Falmouth parents on trial for allegedly allowing an underage drinking party at their home last June 16 reached an agreement with prosecutors Thursday after jurors said they were “hopelessly deadlocked” after nearly two days of deliberation. Under the… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — After a week of working long days rebuilding a home in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, 10 Falmouth students are getting used to being back in the swing of things at school. They are the fifth generation of Falmouth students to make… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — A bill introduced by state Rep. Mary Nelson, D-Falmouth, would limit public access to information that is currently part of the public record and allow municipalities to charge more for information they do provide. If approved by the Legislature, LD 104… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — Looking at 12-year-old Tigerlily White, you’d never know this active and vibrant young girl was born with a life-threatening liver disease. White was born with biliary atresia, a disease that causes a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — It took six months of negotiations and sometimes acrimonious debate, but the Town Council on Monday unanimously approved an agreement that allows a Route 1 business sign to stay put without any changes. Councilors voted 6-0 for the consent agreement with… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — A resolution of the acrimonious dispute over a Route 1 business sign could be before the Town Council by the end of January. Town Manager Nathan Poore on Friday confirmed that a deal is in the works between the town and Tidesmart Global… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — Maine’s medical marijuana law does not cover individuals who hope to use the drug for mental health or psychological disorders, but a bill to be introduced in the state Legislature by Rep. Mark Dion could change that. In a press conference Monday, Dion,… Read More
PORTLAND, Maine — A new style of learning, championed by author Paul Tough, is being applied in Portland’s public schools and in the creative writing programs offered at The Telling Room. The Telling Room, in connection with the schools, University of Southern Maine’s Teacher… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — The Town Council is meeting resistance from the business community on a proposed tenant footprint ordinance for the Route 1 business district. Three heavy-hitters in the local business world — the Falmouth Cumberland Community Chamber, the Falmouth Economic Development Commission… Read More
FREEPORT, Maine — The town avoided the use of eminent domain to take property necessary for creating access to Freeport’s new Amtrak train station. Instead, the town council on Tuesday unanimously approved a purchase-and-sale agreement with Timm Holdings LLC, using $125,000 from the sale of tax-acquired… Read More
PORTLAND, Maine — It was standing room only Monday night at a meeting to discuss the future of Hall Elementary School, with some parents expressing doubt about whether students should ever be sent back to the school. The building at 23 Orono Road, which was damaged… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — Town officials say there are no immediate plans for legal action against Yarmouth resident Steve Woods in the continuing disagreement over his company’s compliance with the town sign ordinance. But they also remain determined to have TideSmart Global comply with the… Read More
FALMOUTH, Maine — The owner of TideSmart Global said Tuesday that he will not proceed with plans for a $3 million office building because of the Falmouth Town Council’s recent discussion about his existing business sign. “If I can’t do business with a sign,… Read More
BRUNSWICK, Maine — The numbers of youth taking advantage of the Merrymeeting Project have remained stable over the past several years, but the age of homeless students taking advantage has dropped in recent years. “For my project, we serve school-age students, predominantly high school… Read More
HARPSWELL, Maine — Property taxes are going down. At their July 26 meeting, the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved dropping the mil rate to $5.76 per $1,000 of assessed value, from the current rate of $5.80. The change, which is retroactive for fiscal 2012… Read More
BRUNSWICK, Maine — As the largest school in Maine’s community college system, Southern Maine Community College has long struggled with space. But despite an obstacle from the LePage administration, an expansion of courses and classrooms at Brunswick Landing could change all that. The campus… Read More