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A chronological compilation of local news from all four editions of The Forecaster, covering 14 Maine cities and towns: Portland, Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Freeport, North Yarmouth, Chebeague Island, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Bath, Brunswick, Harpswell and Topsham.

Have a news tip for us? Call 207-781-3661 or e-mail the editor, Mo Mehlsak, editor@theforecaster.net.

News

  • Candidates populate Scarborough ballot

    Sep 02, 2010 10:10 am

    SCARBOROUGH — Candidates have been finalized for three Town Council elections, two Board of Education elections, the Sanitary District and Portland Water District on the November ballot.

    For two three-year seats on the Town Council, incumbents Judy Roy, 67, and Michael Woods, 52, returned nomination papers by Wednesday's deadline.

  • Council sends Scarborough Charter amendments to voters

    Sep 02, 2010 9:50 am

    SCARBOROUGH — After a brief public hearing the Town Council put six Town Charter amendments on the November ballot, including a provision establishing a process for recalling elected officials.

    The council voted unanimously to send five of the six amendments to voters:

    • Question 1 would prohibit a person from serving on both the Board of Education and the Sanitary District board.

    • Question 2 would set the number of Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals seats at five members with two alternates.

  • Disagreement could sink new pier at Pine Point in Scarborough

    Sep 02, 2010 9:10 am

    SCARBOROUGH — Construction of a new commercial pier at Pine Point may be dead in the water if an agreement between the town and the Pine Point Fisherman's Co-op cannot be forged in time to meet funding deadlines.

    The new structure would be built next to the aging pier now utilized by fisherman. It would allow fishermen to drive trucks out to the end for loading and unloading, and would include hydraulic hoists to help lobstermen bring in their catch.

  • Film studio deal at armory may elude South Portland

    Sep 02, 2010 8:40 am

    SOUTH PORTLAND — A deal to create a film production sound stage at the former National Guard Armory on Broadway may be in jeopardy.

    The reversal comes two months after city officials and project investors indicated they were close to an agreement and were only fine-tuning a contract.

    City Manager Jim Gailey said the city has not yet received a formal response to a lease offer that was hammered out during a private meeting attended in June by city councilors and representatives of the group of sound stage investors.

  • South Portland High School renovation plan faces final vote

    Sep 02, 2010 8:30 am

    SOUTH PORTLAND — The City Council on Sept. 8 will hold a final public hearing and vote on a $44.2 million bond to renovate and expand South Portland High School.

    If approved, the borrowing proposal will appear on the November ballot, where voters, who rejected a $56 million renovation bond in 2007, will again have the final say.

    Mayor Tom Coward said he expects the council will ultimately vote in favor of a renovation bond, but stopped short of predicting a victory for the $44.2 million proposal.

  • Bath City Council supports McMann Field turf project

    Sep 02, 2010 8:00 am

    BATH — The City Council on Wednesday approved the installation of artificial turf at McMann Field.

    The panel also voted unanimously to designate three new crosswalks as part of the Whiskeag Trail.

    The order for the McMann Field upgrade was amended four times before being approved 5-1. The final language states that the council encourages the Fields for Our Future Committee to continue fundraising, “with the understanding that there will be no request for, nor will there be any appropriation, of taxpayers’ funds” for the field.

  • Fire destroys Pole Island house

    Sep 02, 2010 8:00 am

    HARPSWELL — A fire destroyed a house on Pole Island on Aug. 30.

    About 30 firefighters from the Orr’s and Bailey Islands, Cundy’s Harbor and Harpswell Neck fire departments responded via boat to the blaze, which was reported around 7:15 p.m. Monday on the Quahog Bay island.

    “Island fires are a difficult thing to deal with,” Cundy’s Harbor Fire Chief Ben Wallace Jr. said Wednesday.

    The owners of the home were on the island off the Harpswell coast, but not in the house, Wallace said. He did not know their names.

  • Correction

    Sep 02, 2010 12:00 am

    Last week's story "Say 'cheese' while you smoke that carrot" should have said Brian Beasley is 18 years old and that he was arrested on a charge of theft for allegedly stealing a bottle of water from a police surveillance van. Police initially said he stole "several items."

  • Gray man dies in Falmouth motorcycle accident

    Sep 02, 2010 12:00 am

    FALMOUTH — A motorcyclist died on Middle Road Aug. 27 at around 7 p.m., when he apparently crossed the center line and struck an oncoming car head-on.

    Mikhail Filatov, 25, of Gray, was driving south on Middle Road when police believe he lost control of his motorcycle, struck a car traveling north, then struck a bridge guardrail. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

  • Scarborough Downs owner puts 400 acres up for sale

    Sep 01, 2010 2:50 pm

    SCARBOROUGH — Approximately 400 acres next to Scarborough Downs, owned by racetrack owner Sharon Terry, are for sale.

    The harness racing track, which has struggled to remain profitable during the economy and has tried unsuccessfully several times to bring a racino to Scarborough, is considering moving to Biddeford, where a racino proposal will go before voters in November.

    However, the sale of the property, near Maine Turnpike Exit 42 between Route 1, Haigis Parkway and Payne Road, is not contingent on the race track's move to Biddeford.

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