Mon, May 21, 2012
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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

  • Unsung Hero: Tony Vigue, community TV go-to guy

    May 21, 2012 3:30 pm

    SOUTH PORTLAND — “For more than a decade, Tony Vigue has been the go-to person when people in Maine need advice about starting a public access station. He is unfailingly helpful and devotes a lot of his own time to answering questions and providing technical expertise.”

    That's how Shoshana Hoose, former manager of TV3, Portland’s educational station, describes Tony Vigue, manager of South Portland Community Television.

  • Forecaster reporter discusses Maine Mall farmers market on News 8 WMTW

    May 21, 2012 10:40 am

    The Forecaster's Mario Moretto spoke Sunday morning with Thema Ponton of News 8 WMTW about the Maine Mall's plans to open a farmers market in a parking lot this summer. If things go as planned, it will be the second summer farmers market in the city. 

  • South Portland seeks replacement for lawn-care company in dispute with state

    May 17, 2012 11:10 am

    SOUTH PORTLAND — The city is distancing itself from a lawn-care company that may have sprayed chemical pesticides on turf designated for organic care.

    Purely Organic Lawn Care of York Harbor has been the city's pest-control provider for the Wainwright Recreation Complex and the high school fields since at least 2008. Now, because of an investigation by a state agency, the city is looking elsewhere.

    "We are exploring an alternative method of spraying the fields that doesn't include Purely Organic," Gailey said Thursday.

  • Scarborough councilor cleared of ethics charges

    May 17, 2012 10:00 am

    SCARBOROUGH — After an hour-long closed-door meeting Wednesday, town councilors dropped ethics charges against Councilor Richard Sullivan.

    Sullivan was accused of failing to disclose a conflict of interest.

    "I'm glad to have my good name cleared," Sullivan said after the meeting. "The Sullivan name got dragged through the mud."

    The charges were made by Councilors Carol Rancourt and Karen D'Andrea, who claimed that Sullivan, per council rules, should have disclosed a $40,000 contract his brother, Dan Sullivan, holds with the town for mowing and landscaping.

  • Landlords' pleas fail to delay Cape Elizabeth consideration of rental rules

    May 17, 2012 9:50 am

    CAPE ELIZABETH — While members of a recently formed property owners association asked for more time and less regulation, the Planning Board on Tuesday scheduled a full public hearing on a possible short-term rental ordinance.

    The move hear more about regulating short-term rentals came after board members listened to about an hour of comments, almost all from property owners who have formed the Cape Elizabeth Rental Association.

  • Stumped in Scarborough: Town sees little demand for wood from historic elm

    May 17, 2012 9:00 am

    SCARBOROUGH — The final piece of Elsie – the stump of what was one of the town's last giant elms – was pulled Wednesday, erasing from the Oak Hill landscape all that remained of the beloved tree that stood for about 150 years.

    Meanwhile, most of Elsie – sliced and diced last year into boards and chunks – remains in storage because artisans haven't expressed as much interest in the wood as the town had hoped.

  • Topsham voters approve $8.1M town budget

    May 17, 2012 8:10 am

    TOPSHAM — Voters approved next year's $8.1 million municipal budget at Town Meeting Wednesday evening.

    The 50-minute meeting, held at Mt. Ararat High School, drew 251 registered voters and ended with a round of applause.

    The fiscal 2013 spending plan is up slightly more than 1.8 percent from the current year. Town Manager Cornell Knight attributed the increase to the town funding new debt for a Fire Department ladder truck and a Public Works Department plow truck, and to its funding of nighttime rescue coverage.

  • Cape Elizabeth library bond will go to referendum

    May 17, 2012 8:00 am

    CAPE ELIZABETH — Town Councilor David Sherman on Monday said he is not accustomed to voting against his own council motions.

    Though still opposed to a town referendum about spending for renovations and reconstruction of Thomas Memorial Library, Sherman made the motion accepted 5-2 by councilors that shifts the decision back to a popular vote.

    Councilor Katharine Ray also opposed creating a referendum question. No date was set for the vote, but Sherman anticipated it would be on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

  • Brunswick-Topsham bridge detour planned

    May 16, 2012 3:50 pm

    TOPSHAM — A routine safety inspection on a bridge connecting Brunswick and Topsham is expected to detour traffic next week.

    The Frank J. Wood Bridge inspection is scheduled 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday, May 21, to Wednesday, May 23, the Maine Department of Transportation announced.

    Northbound vehicles on Routes 201 and 24 will be detoured to Route 1, east to Route 196. Southbound motorists will be permitted on the bridge, and both lanes will be reopened after 8 p.m.

  • Fund balance could ease Brunswick tax bite

    May 16, 2012 3:40 pm

    BRUNSWICK — A $54.8 million town budget that would result in a 6.2 percent increase in property taxes was discussed by the Town Council during a budget workshop Monday.

    Councilors reviewed plans to dip into the town's $8.5 million undesignated fund balance for $1 million to mitigate the impact on taxpayers.

    Town Manager Gary Brown said that decision would set back efforts to get the fund balance to its target of nearly 17 percent of the total municipal budget, or about $9 million.

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