Articles by Ben McCanna
Despite vintage sales year, lack of qualified workers leads owner of Falmouth wine shop to close after 22 years
After 22 years, it’s time to put the cork back in the bottle. Early next month, the long-running wine and gift store Cork & Barrel will close its doors after a final event — a wine tasting on Friday, May 2. Owner Connie Koengeter is calling the …
Police seek Falmouth burglary suspect who sped off with victim’s Lexus
Police are searching for a third suspect in connection with a daytime burglary, car theft and assault last week on Merrill Road. Police said Christopher Girard, 30, is one of three men who were allegedly in the midst of a home burglary when they were interrupted by …
Falmouth ice arena directors wary of competition from new rink
A $1.3 million plan to add a new ice hockey rink on Hat Trick Drive is gaining momentum, but the effort has also generated increased scrutiny from operators of the town’s existing skating rink. On March 13, the board of directors of Falmouth Family Ice sent a …
Falmouth schools, teachers union agree on three-year contract
The teachers’ union and School Board have reached an agreement on a three-year contract that includes wage increases for each year. The contract, which was formalized on March 13, will add an estimated $830,000 to the roughly $30 million School Department budget. About $270,000 of the increase …
Falmouth Police Department makes case for adding detective to sort through evidence
The Falmouth Police Department hopes to add another detective to its workforce, but the proposal isn’t necessarily a response to increased crime. Rather, the new detective would help sort out evidence. Security cameras and other digital devices have increased the solvability of crimes, according to Lt. John …
Portland school chief proposes $4.1M budget increase, 3.7 percent tax hike
A proposed school budget for fiscal year 2015 calls for a nearly 4 percent increase in spending and no cuts to staff positions. Portland Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk presented his proposed $102.3 million budget to the School Board on Tuesday night at Casco Bay High School, …
Brutal Maine winter paves way for challenging pothole season
FALMOUTH | It may be difficult to reconcile against the backdrop of this week’s arctic temperatures, but mud season is upon us. And with the change of seasons comes the annual arrival of potholes. It has been a tough winter, one that introduced “polar vortex” to the national lexicon …
Community mourns Cheverus student who died after oral surgery; questions linger over sudden death
PORTLAND | It could take several weeks before the state’s medical examiner determines the cause behind the sudden death of a Cheverus High School student last month. Benjamin E. LaMontagne, 18, died Feb. 22 at his home on Long Island. About 1,000 mourners attended his funeral Friday, Feb. 28, …
Portland biker turns losing football bet into fundraising effort, goes viral with pink beard
You don’t back out of a bet with a biker club, but you can improve on it. In January, Stephen Betters felt so strongly the New England Patriots would beat the Denver Broncos, he promised members of the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association in Bangor that he would …
‘At the age of 18, I sang with Foreigner’: Portland teens relish chance to perform with rock stars
During its 38-year history, rock band Foreigner has cycled through dozens of members. On Tuesday night, the group briefly gained another 24 when the Deering High School chorus joined their ranks for a sold-out show at the State Theatre. John Lappen, head of marketing for Foreigner, said …
Falmouth teen who lost father to Lou Gehrig’s Disease awarded for activism
Earlier this month, when Falmouth High School junior Sarah Caldwell was told to report to the principal’s office, two possibilities ran through her mind. “This is either really good or really bad,” she recalled. The news was good. Caldwell learned on Feb. 10 that she is one …
Public slow to embrace Portland’s new school budget approach
The School Department’s unprecedented effort to solicit budget advice from the public was met with a middling response, but the superintendent is undaunted. On Thursday, about a dozen city residents met with local politicians and school teachers, administrators and board members at King Middle School for a …
Falmouth schools down to one finalist for superintendent job
The School Board could reach a decision next week on whether to hire it’s only finalist for superintendent. School Board Chairman Andrew Kinley said Tuesday that no date has been set to discuss Geoff Bruno’s candidacy. “Right now we’re moving as quick as we can to take …
Southern Maine towns to share $2.9 million in waste disposal savings, but money won’t last
PORTLAND | Easy come, easy go. That’s the assessment from several area municipal managers regarding a projected windfall of savings from the regional trash service, ecomaine. Those savings will likely be used to offset proposed cuts in state revenue sharing. Last month, ecomaine’s directors voted unanimously to eliminate assessment …
Farm-to-school: Portland on pace to double amount of local produce, meats served in schools
While high-end restaurants on the peninsula clamor for farm-to-table cred, a lesser-known kitchen on the city’s outskirts may be poised to outdo them. Call it the farm-to-school movement. In an industrial lot off Riverside Street sits Portland Public Schools’ Central Kitchen. There, a dozen kitchen employees scramble …
Falmouth residents criticize town plan to outsource assessing work
Six residents and nearly all town councilors voiced skepticism during an hour-long discussion of a proposal to outsource Falmouth’s assessing services to Cumberland County on Monday. Nonetheless, the council voted 6-0 to authorize Town Manager Nathan Poore to negotiate a contract with the county. Regardless of the …
Hockey group proposes $1.3 million ice rink project in Falmouth
A short meeting agenda turned into a long night for the Town Council on Monday when two items dominated discussion. First, a local hockey organization pitched a new ice rink on town-owned land. Then, the public sounded off on a proposal that would outsource the town’s assessing …
Cleaner charged with stealing prescription drugs from elderly Falmouth client’s home
A housecleaner was arrested Tuesday after allegedly stealing prescription drugs from an elderly client. Kathy A. Vargas, 45, of Portland, was charged with a felony count after she “stole various amounts of prescription medications,” according to a news release from Falmouth police. Vargas is owner of a …
Country’s first circus college, part of $100 million Portland development, quietly builds momentum toward launch
The start date for a fledgling circus college on Thompson’s Point is still up in the air, but in some respects, the circus has already come to town. Several times a week, young students at Circus Atlantic learn how to juggle, tumble and swing through the air …
Former Falmouth firefighter indicted on arson charge
PORTLAND | A former Falmouth part-time firefighter has been indicted for arson by a Cumberland County grand jury. Griffin Kline, 20, of Falmouth was indicted Friday, Jan. 10, on a single Class A felony charge, nearly two months after his arrest for allegedly setting two fires in Falmouth. Kline …
Blizzard warning issued for much of Maine on Tuesday
Patriots say they followed rules, accept no blame over deflated footballs
Couple mistakenly gets $2,631 from Burger King drive-thru in NH
11 more victims come forward after arrest of Limerick man accused of firewood scam
Girls raising thousands for cancer research recognized by Brewer City Council
Why Obama’s ‘free’ community college plan is a waste
Obama intensifies Democrats’ war on homemakers
Iran’s emerging empire
Succession talk
Attack on player in Houlton, Mattanawcook boys basketball game leaves black mark in Lincoln
Morris stops 40 to shut out UNH
Morris posts second shutout in last three starts as UMaine hockey team tops UNH 4-0
MDI girls cruise past Presque Isle, stay unbeaten
My husband doesn’t let anyone win
After reading article about girl dating her father, I was glad mine lives far away