News Briefs Archives - The West End News

Orlando Delogu and the MCLU

By Cameron Autry Pillars of Portland is a monthly column celebrating local leaders and doers. This month we ce...

The Dearest Gift

La Vida Local Irregular Notes on West End Life By Rosanne Graef Especially at this time of year, but also when...

Carol McGorrill: Maine Angels & Pollinators

Carol McGorrill: Maine Angels & Pollinators Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton...

Your gift gives more when you buy local

By Mary-Alice Scott December is the peak of gift-giving season for many, and Portland Buy Local Holiday Gift G...

Community Forum on Reiche Renovation Not Reflective of Community

LETTER TO THE EDITOR On November 6th, the Portland School Department and Harriman Associates held a Community...

Winter Storm Services 2019/2020

During winter storm services, the City of Portland Department of Public Works cares for more than 560 lane mil...

Lori Moses is Advancing Childcare in Maine

By Cameron Autry Pillars of Portland is a monthly column celebrating local leaders and doers. This month we ce...

Portland City Council Hears Testimony On Several Local Issues

Homeless Voices For Justice holds a vigil before the meeting: Monday, November 18 was an eventful night for Po...

Hannah Hamalainen: Sauna is a part of local culture

Every month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz ca...

Fall Survival Guide

From leaf collection to parking restrictions, helpful info for every Portlander this fall. By Tony Zeli Whethe...

Todd Glacy: Inspiring People towards Health and Well Being

Todd Glacy: Inspiring People towards Health and Well Being Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interview...

Mary Allen Lindemann isn’t afraid to take a stand

Pillars of Portland: Mary Allen Lindemann By Cameron Autry Providing community gathering places, educating peo...

Portland Buy Local – Leveling the playing field

Leveling the Playing Field By Mary Alice Scott As Portland experiences an unprecedented period of growth and c...

La Vida Local – Why I’m Not Voting for Mayor

LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE Why I’m Not Voting for Mayor By Rosanne Graef “It’s like deja...

Whither Forest City?

La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life Whither Forest City? By Rosanne Graef Portland has long had th...

Dr. Philip Thompson: Neighborhood Doctor

By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Dr. Philip Thompson, a well-known and beloved West End physician, passed...

Homage to Local Sprouts

By Kate Goldfield Just today [August 6th], I made the very disturbing discovery that Local Sprouts, the indepe...

BAYSIDE BUYOUT – CITY SELLOUT

By Kelly Merrill In the midst of the worst housing crisis Portland has ever seen, the City approved the sale o...

Naomi Beal: Bringing Passive House building standards to Maine

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz ca...

Pecha-What??

PechaKucha Portland’s 45th show seeks stories of empowerment By Kelly Merrill What is PechaKucha? How do...

Back to School & Summer Reading

From back to school supplies to summer reading… Portland Buy Local businesses have you covered By Mary A...

Tom Handel – Free speech keeps community strong

By Cameron Autry Few rights enjoyed in this country are as essential to maintaining democracy as our freedom o...

Kelly Merrill: Illness to Activist

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz ca...

Opioid Response Summit

By: Lizzy Handschy, Co-Executive Director Portland Overdose Prevention Society On Monday, July 15th over one t...

Justin Costa Withdraws from Mayor’s Race – Endorses Two Candidates (Hint: Neither is Mayor Ethan Strimling)

MAYOR’S RACE UPDATE In July, Portland City Councilor Justin Costa withdraws from the mayor’s race. In a press...

Stop the Fast Driving!

La Vida Local Irregular Notes on West End Life Sign Up – Sign On By Rosanne Graef Signs are tricky thing...

Justin Hafner: When you build a collaborative team, you can accomplish anything.

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz ca...

The Buy Local Movement Today

By Mary Alice Scott As a community, we seem to value local business more than ever before. We recognize that l...

Community Support for Asylum Seekers

By Cameron Autry Last month roughly 300 asylum seekers arrived in Portland. Mostly from the Democratic Republi...

Paul Kendrick Standing Up for Victims

PILLARS OF PORTLAND Paul Kendrick – Standing Up for Victims By Cameron Autry When the truth becomes unpleasant...

Portland Must-Do Summer Fun

By Mary Alice Scott With June’s arrival, fun in the sun is on everyone’s mind. Throughout the year, we encoura...

Wilma & Charles Redman – Pillars of Portland

PILLARS OF PORTLAND Wilma & Charles Redman – Supporting Culture & Community By Cameron Autry “What is...

Sally Trice – Bringing your gifts and skills, getting to know someone, and gaining something new

Every month Peloton Labs co-founder Liz Trice interviews someone from the Peloton community. This month she ca...

Justin Costa to ‘Calm Things Down’

UPDATE: Councilors Justin Costa and Belinda Ray withdraw from mayor’s race. Read more: “Justin Cos...

Kate Snyder: Mayor as Steward

By Tony Zeli Former School Board Chair Kate Snyder has joined the race to be Portland’s next mayor. Snyder ser...

Growing Harbor View Park 2019

By Pamela Shaw The morning after the Harbor View Park Spring Work Day this year, two mallard ducks turned up,...

Making Fares More Fair

METRO proposes higher fares along with new ways to pay and fare caps to create equity. By Cameron Autry The ME...

Now Appearing in Your Neighborhood: Invasive Plants

By Pamela Shaw Some invasive species of plants in our area are old timers, familiar to many, such as Asiatic B...

‘Spring Is Sprung, the Grass Is Riz’

LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE By Rosanne Graef After a couple of April false alarms (during...

John Menario & Urban Renewal

PILLARS OF PORTLAND By Cameron Autry In the history of Portland few people have left an impact as large as tha...

Same Company. Brand New Look. You’re Invited.

From Tom Landry, Realtor® Dear Friends and Neighbors, Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate is no...

Seth Musich: A Tale of Two Portlands

Every Month a Peloton member is interviewed for the West End News. This month Peloton’s operations manager Ben...

Buy Local 2019 Directory Release Party!

Portland Buy Local will print 25,000 copies of their popular annual directory of local, independent businesses...

PORTLAND COMMUNITY FREE CLINIC

WEN FEATURED NONPROFIT MAY 2019 The Portland Community Free Clinic started with a backpack and a desk. Nate Ni...

PINGREE SUPPORTS CARBON DIVIDEND BILL

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, representing Maine’s First District in the U. S. House, is cosponsoring the fir...

Tips for Sellers Navigating Multiple Offers

By Tom Landry, Realtor ® The spring selling season has begun. While we help clients buy and sell th...

Reggie Groff, Documentary Filmmaker

Every Month Peloton Labs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz c...

Where is the Shelter Relocation Going?

By Zack Barowitz One thing that everyone can agree upon is that the Oxford Street Emergency Shelter is overcro...

Belinda Ray Jumps into Mayor’s Race

By Cameron Autry UPDATE: Councilor Belinda Ray withdraws from 2019 mayor’s race. So has Councilor Justin...

Introducing Maine Seaweed Week

By Mary Alice Scott Join us Thursday, April 18th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Caravan Beads for our next Portland Bu...

Update on Portland Area Villages

The Portland Area Villages Board has been working hard and thanks to our members and volunteers, we have some...

Local Restaurateurs to Open Café at Former Aurora Provisions

By Tony Zeli, Editor A new café is moving to the neighborhood in the former site of Aurora Provisions on Pine...

Figgy Wins Food Network’s ‘Chopped’

By Tony Zeli, Editor Natalie “Figgy” DiBenedetto, chef and owner of Figgy’s on Walker Street in the West End i...

Bogus “Russiagate” Story Finally Implodes

by Adam Marletta Robert Mueller’s long-awaited investigation is finally over and for Democrats it is like waki...

The Democrats are Also Climate Change Deniers

The Portland Phoenix made an excellent selection with their “Tweet of the Week,” for the Feb. 28, 2019 issue....

Your Taxes & the Property Reassessment

By Cameron Autry The City of Portland is conducting its first property reassessment since 2006. Given the shar...

Perfect Time for a Staycation

By Mary Alice Scott When the weather outside is frightful and there is seemingly nothing on the calendar to lo...

Trump’s New Cold War

by Adam Marletta Trump is afraid of the socialist movement. He should be. A scourge is haunting the Trump Whit...

ProsperityME Empowering New Mainers through Financial Education

WEN Featured Nonprofit March 2019 ProsperityME empowers, through education and counseling, members of refugee...

Small Pleasures of Winter

LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE By Rosanne Graef I have always enjoyed winter and the one year...

Spencer Thibodeau First to Annouce for Mayor

By Cameron Autry First published February 2019. Last updated by Editor: 9/4/2019. In January, District 2 City...

‘Cam the Artist’ Paints Away Pain

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member or artist for the West End News. This mo...

Love Local Month

By Mary Alice Scott As part of our ongoing Shift to Local campaign, we encourage our community to shift 10% of...

Veterans Count Maine

WEN FEATURED NONPROFIT What happens when a veteran comes home from a tour and is without a job, without a plac...

New Snow Removal Rules & Fines

Don’t let winter weather slow you down. To help you get around, the City has revamped its sidewalk snow remova...

Parking Bans & Plowing 2019

For the most recent information please visit: Winter Storm Services 2019/2020. ALL THE INFO YOU NEED – P...

Edible Abundance Next to the 7-11 Parking Lot

Three years of strategic planting and coaxing demonstrate that urban food gardens can grow almost anywhere. By...

Prevention. Action. Change

Every week Liz Trice from PelotonLabs interviews a coworking member. This month she caught up with Clara Porte...

Neighborhood Spirit Alive at The 5 Spot

By Cameron Autry While some celebrate the shifting of Portland from a cozy seaside town to Northern New Englan...

Of Referenda, Moratoria & Fable

LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE By Rosanne Graef Ready for another round of the battle for the...

Be Out, Be Local, Be Healthy

By Mary Alice Scott, PBL Executive Director Portland Buy Local has many health and wellness members who are in...

Bramhall Square Gets New Lights

Pandora LaCasse’s light designs now stretch all the way to Bramhall Square. Thanks to a new public-private par...

Thibodeau, Figdor on Path Forward

In local races this November not much has changed for the City of Portland. Councilors Nick Mavodones, Belinda...

Karl Schatz: Stock Photos and Goat Hikes – PelotonPosts

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz ca...

Is it stock, is it broth… maybe it’s just a good idea?

“Those that scraped the fire were slaine with the sword; some hewed to peeces, others rune throw with their ra...

240 Strings – WEN December Featured Nonprofit

WEN FEATURED NONPROFIT 240 Strings If the day starts with violin, you KNOW it’s going to be a great day!...

Four A Cause – Raising Awareness for Greater Portland’s Lesser Known Charities

By Tom Landry Since I started Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate close to 15 years ago, I’ve m...

Biofuel – Home Heating Alternative

Biofuel is Cleaner & More Local By Tony Zeli & Cameron Autry Mainers can expect sharp rises in the cos...

Biofuel in the Making

Feel Good Fuel: How Biofuel is Made By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Personally, I found it hard to believ...

BUY LOCAL BINGO – Washington Ave

By Mary Alice Scott, PBL Executive Director After you Vote Local, it’s time to Shop Local! The holiday season...

The House Sharing Trend – An Event by West End Aging in Place

The House Sharing Trend Please join us on Tuesday, November 13 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Reiche Community Room, 166 Br...

Greater Portland Family Promise – WEN November Nonprofit

WEN FEATURED NONPROFIT Greater Portland Family Promise Greater Portland Family Promise (GPFP) serves children...

Reiche Community: A.M. Exercise, Monday Evenings Out & More

LA VIDA LOCAL – IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE Reiche Community: A.M. Exercise, Monday Evenings Out & Mo...

Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays – by Benchmark’s Tom Landry

By Tom Landry Before the age of the internet, very few real estate agents advised clients to list or stay on t...

French Chocolate & Coffee Shop with Craft Beer – New West End Shops

By Cameron Autry Two new businesses have opened their doors in the West End: a fine French chocolate boutique...

Krisanne Baker: Ecoartist and Water Activist – PelotonPosts

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice interviews a Peloton member for the West End News. This month Liz ca...

Millennials Compete for Portland City Council D2

PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL ELECTION Millennials Compete for District 2 By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor The two...

Neighborhood School Advocates Seek Open School Board Seat

PORTLAND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION Neighborhood School Advocates Seek Open Seat By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Edit...

Mercy State Street Goes Up for Sale

By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor Though it is not inaccurate to say that the behemoth hospital building on...

The Root Cellar – WEN October Featured Nonprofit

WEN FEATURED NONPROFIT The Root Cellar OUR ROOTS… The Root Cellar was started 35 years ago on Munjoy Hill by a...

Tips for Selling Your Home in the Fall

By Tom Landry Cooler temperatures are here, but the real estate market is still hot! Fall is the best t...

Community Investment in Action

CONGRESS SQUARE PARK Community Investment in Action By Dela Murphy, Executive Director Friends of Congress Squ...

Indie Biz Award Winners October 2018

By Mary Alice Scott, PBL Executive Director On October 4th, Portland Buy Local (PBL) celebrated the loc...

Portland Prepares for Self-Driving Cars

By Cameron Autry A new public private partnership has landed Portland on the forefront of the emerging market...

Mainer Returns to Work with Veterinarians

Every month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice catches up with a Peloton member. This month Ben Taylor is covering...

Portland Trails 19th Annual Trail to Ale 10k – WEN Featured Nonprofit

OCTOBER FEATURED NONPROFIT Portland Trails holds 19th annual Trail to Ale 10k This month, Portland’s nonprofit...

Indie Biz ‘Hall of Fame’ Announced

By Mary Alice Scott, PBL Executive Director Local, independent businesses make Portland an interesting, attrac...

Why are Multi-Family Home Prices Up & Why Should You Still Buy One?

By Tom Landry Sale prices for multi-family buildings in Greater Portland are way up. I recently compared price...

Unintended Consequences – A new temporary sign law has unforeseen results

LA VIDA LOCAL: IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE By Rosanne Graef For 41 years, Maine has been blessed by the b...

Whitley Marshall Competes for Mrs. Maine

Whitley Marshall, an American Red Cross blood drive supervisor and co-director of the Barefoot Truth Dance Com...

Enough is Enough…

Authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act, Medicaid was signed into law in 1965 alongside Medicare. A...

How Buy Local Supports the Community

By Mary Alice Scott, PBL Executive Director A healthy, local business community makes Portland stand out from...

Corporate Media: The Real Enemy of the People

By Adam Marletta On Aug. 16, 350 daily newspapers banded together to denounce Donald Trump’s ongoing wa...

Community Art Around the Corner & Underfoot

By Cameron Autry In June Rosemont Market & Bakery teamed up with Reiche Elementary School to present a new...

Capitalism, Not Individual Behavior or “Human Nature,” Caused Climate Change

By Adam Marletta Two recent letters to the editor in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram il...

Benefits of Summer Buying

Benefits of Buying a Home in the Summer By Tom Landry The most popular time to list a home in Maine is spring....

Protecting Land Along the Appalachian Trail – Peloton Posts

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice catches up with a Peloton member. This month Liz talks with Mark Che...

All Out to Oppose Brett Kavanaugh and a Feminist Dystopia

By Adam Marletta Regular readers of this column do not need me to tell them that Brett Kavanaugh, Donal...

Why Your House Isn’t Selling in a Hot Market

By Tom Landry It’s a red hot real estate market out there with many homes going under contract in days, and fo...

The Socialist Insurgent: Three Takeaways from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Primary Victory

by Adam Marletta Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent defeat of ten-term Democratic Party establishment in...

Americold Project Killed

City Continues to Seek Cold Storage on Waterfront By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor On the morning of June...

Local Develops Game about Cats on Maine Island

Peace Island is an open-world, story-driven adventure game set on a remote Maine island By Tony Zeli Local ani...

Separated Bike Lane for Portland

By Cameron Autry In June the City of Portland Public Works held a public meeting on a proposed separated bike...

New Buses for METRO

By Cameron Autry Greater Portland METRO GM Greg Jordan discussed upcoming changes to public transit at a West...

Birth Roots – WEN Featured Nonprofit

FEATURED NONPROFIT Birth Roots Birth Roots supports the community by supporting families. They provide communi...

Julie Laukkanen – First Friday Art at PelotonLabs

July First Friday Art at Peloton: Julie Laukkanen Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice catches up with a...

It is Happening Here: Reunite Families, Deport Trump

By Adam Marletta My mother developed polio as a child. It left her paralyzed from the waist down. She i...

Opportunity Zone for Americold

By Tony Zeli, Editor The governor chose census tracts from Madawaska to Saco to be opportunity zones, qualifyi...

Mercy on the Move

By Tony Zeli, Editor In May, Mercy Hospital held a community conversation concerning the move of their State S...

No more moving your car every other week…

Stop Moving Your Cars No Enforcement of Street Maintenance Parking Rules June – September No more moving...

Portland Education Foundation – WEN Featured Nonprofit

FEATURED NONPROFIT Portland Education Foundation Portland Education Foundation raises philanthropic support to...

Chamber Has It Wrong on Paid Sick Time

By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor It’s time to set the record straight. In a May 21st special to the Press...

Maine Irish Heritage Center Celebrates 15th Anniversary

By Nancy Dorrans Late on the morning of Friday… Late on the morning of Friday, May 25th, t...

Collards

For all you people who’ve discovered kale in the last five to 10 years, welcome to the party. We’ve been eatin...

Tom Landry’s Tips for Buying and Selling in Today’s Hot Market

By Tom Landry The race to buy a home in the Greater Portland real estate market is on, and it’s one of the mos...

Solidarity with Palestine

by Adam Marletta Israel’s May 14 assault on peaceful Palestinian protesters is the latest escalat...

Tulip Mania

A flower journey though Amsterdam … and beyond. By Nancy Dorrans In 1994 as a non-traditional college undergra...

Historic Seth Thomas Clock Examined for Renovations

by Tony Zeli, Editor The Francis hotel, developers of the Bramhall Residences, and Greater Portland Landmarks...

Senator Ben Chipman Legislative Update

Legislative Update From Senator Ben Chipman Bill to increase availability of Naloxone now law L.D. 565, the bi...

Spencer Thibodeau Re-Election Bid Annoucement

By Tony Zeli, Editor Spencer Thibodeau says he will seek re-election for the District 2 City Council seat. The...

Organic Lawn & Garden… It’s never too soon

By Tony Zeli, Editor The Portland pesticide ban was passed early this year. City property goes organic this su...

Browntail Moth Discovered in Portland

CITY ALERT: BROWNTAIL MOTH The City’s Forestry Management crew recently discovered browntail moth webs on the...

Portland Downtown 101: The West End News Featured Nonprofit

Chances are you’ve heard the name Portland Downtown, but you may wonder exactly who we are and what we do. For...

If these walls could talk… tell your home’s story for a quicker and higher price sale

By Tom Landry As the owner of an older home, you are the keeper of an archive of stories. Whether joyful, fanc...

Harbor View Park Spring Planting 2018

By Pamela Shaw On Sunday, April 29th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers will be back at work on the “Edible H...

Road Construction Alert – State Street and Maine Med Expansion

State St. Sewer Work and Maine Med Expansion Likely to Overlap Portland Public Works alerts residents that the...

Letters: Leaf Blowers, Be Considerate!

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Leaf Blowers Please Be Considerate I (along with everyone else) am looking forward to spr...

Munjoy Hill Looks at Historic District

By Tony Zeli, Publisher & Editor In February and March, the City of Portland, Greater Portland Landmarks,...

Tim Yount – Fiber Networks & Maine

PelotonPosts is a monthly interview with a member of PelotonLabs, a co-working space in Portland’s West End wi...

Radio Wonderland – Portland Exclusive Interview

PRESS PLAY Taking any sound and making it musical By Tony Zeli, Editor & Publisher From the NYC undergroun...

Peer-to-Peer Outdoor Adventure – PelotonPosts

PelotonPosts is a monthly interview with a member of PelotonLabs, a co-working space in Portland’s West End wi...

Marjie Longshore: Teaching Families to Work Together

PelotonPosts is a monthly interview with a member of PelotonLabs, a co-working space in Portland’s West End wi...

Find Your Purpose w/ John Morris

Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice catches up with a Peloton member. This month she talked to John Morr...

A Win for Labor in “Trump Country”

By Adam Marletta The successful teachers strike in West Virginia that resulted in a five percent pay in...

Solidarity with Parkland Student Activists

By Adam Marletta The activism of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students in the wake o...

Tilting at Russian Windmills

By Adam Marletta If the left is serious about resisting not just Donald Trump, but the entire racist, m...

… As the War Machine Keeps Turning

By Adam Marletta The latest round of Congressional budget negotiations — which seem to have become a routine f...

The Perils of Ultra-Leftism

By Adam Marletta Last weekend’s Women’s Marches, while nowhere near the size and magnitude of la...

Notes From a S!#@hole Country

By Adam Marletta One year into Donald Trump’s nightmarish presidency the United States governmen...

Rats!!!

The Amos Farm by Christian Torp RATS! DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this article is to be taken as a potential solut...

Let’s Bury the Myth: Black Voters ARE Feeling the Bern

By Adam Marletta It is time to bury the pernicious myth that African Americans do not support Bernie Sanders,...

The Year in Resistance

By Adam Marletta The entry for Friday, December 29 in my Grumpy Cat 2017 office calendar reads, “This year is...

In God We Rust: Musings on the Alabama Senate Election

By Adam Marletta Republican U.S. Senate candidate and alleged pedophile, Roy Moore, literally rode out of town...

Resist the GOP’s Tax Heist!

By Adam Marletta Is the Republican Party actively trying to commit suicide? On the surface, this certainly see...

Shop Local – Giving It More Thought

by Tony Zeli Awareness is growing. Shop local and support the local economy. Yet, every year more and more of...

Local Gift Ideas from Indie Businesses

by Mary Alice Scott, Portland Buy Local For many businesses in Portland, this is the busiest time of year. Whi...

SCOUTbox – PelotonPosts

SCOUTbox – A Subscription Box ‘For Scouts, By Scouts’ PelotonPosts is a monthly inter...

New Horizons Adult Concert Band – I’m Glad I Joined!

LA VIDA LOCAL – IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE Make Your Own Music by Rosanne Graef “Music produces a kind o...

Designing a Vision for Bramhall Square

by Tony Zeli Historic Bramhall Square Site of the first federal execution (of Thomas Bird in 1790), today Bram...

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Don’t Let It Get You Down

by Dr. Molly O’Malley There’s a chill in the air and it’s getting darker earlier. While that means wood in the...

Mercury Retrograde & Winter Solstice

PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SKY – ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST DECEMBER 2017 by Leo Knighton Tallarico Hard to believe anot...

The Great American Stick-Up

By Adam Marletta Regular readers of this column do not need me to tell them the Republicans’ tax plan, which p...

Why not ask an independent travel agent?

A Day in the Life of an Independent Travel Agent by Nancy Dorrans First, A Look Ahead at Upcoming Trips Shakin...

November Spawned a Monster

One year after Trump’s stunning electoral victory, the left remains paralyzed in a state of shock. By Ad...

Hospital Food Reviewed – MMC & Mercy Cafeterias

THE PORTLAND PALATE West End Hospitals: The Affordable Food Alternative Part 2 by James Fereira My frie...

Beyond “Toxic Masculinity”

How Women’s Oppression is Inextricably Linked to Capitalism By Adam Marletta The widespread allegations...

Eddie’s Nails – A Family Affair

FROM (SO FAR) AWAY: STORIES OF IMMIGRANT BUSINESSES IN MAINE Eddie’s Nails – A Family Affair by Marilyn...

Book Nook – Mysteries

THE BOOK NOOK Mysteries – Get Started on a New Series by Nina Sachs, MLIS Mysteries. We shelve these separate...

Guthook creates online guides for long walks here and abroad

Guthook creates online hiking guides PelotonPosts is a monthly interview with a member of PelotonLabs, a co-wo...

INDIE BIZ AWARD WINNERS

1oth Annual Indie Biz Award Winners Announced Portland Buy Local held its 10th annual Indie Biz Awards on Thur...

Evict the Landlord! Vote “Yes” on Rent Control

By Adam Marletta Portland is becoming as expensive to live in — and potentially as “bougie” — as my hom...

Leadership – The Story of 2018

THE STORY OF 2018 LEADERSHIP by Tony Zeli A BLUNT INSTRUMENT There is a battle raging at the ballot box betwee...

AIRPLANE NOISE REPORT

Airplane Noise Complaints Continue by Tony Zeli In September and October, West End and South Portland resident...

Leaves In Bags, Please – Curbside Leaf Collection Begins

Fall Curbside Leaf Collection All November The City will collect residential biodegradable leaf bags curbside...

Pesticide Ordinance City Council Hearing

Pesticide Ordinance Public Hearing The City Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee unanimously...

After a scare, West End Halloween Parade was a big success!

Halloween Parade ‘Better Than Ever’ by Tony Zeli As volunteers gathered on Halloween evening there was a bit o...

Say, What Are Hospitalists Anyway?

Hospitalists: At the Heart of the Hospital by Dr. Ravi Chandrasekaran The PCP Model I began my career in 2003...

Winter Comes… It’s Time to Decide – An Astrological Forecast for November 2017

Perspectives From The Sky – Astrological Forecast November 2017 Winter Comes… It’s Time to Decide by Leo Knigh...

Architectural Salvage – How to decorate and restore your home with found items

by Tony Taylor The decorative use of architectural salvage, distressed finishes, and weathered and rusted surf...

Finding Warmth (and Learning to Spell) in Iceland

Off the Beaten Path Finding Warmth (and Learning to Spell) in Iceland By Nancy Dorrans Once or twice a year Ad...

Capitalism IS the Crisis

By Adam Marletta After a summer-long hiatus, West End News readers can relax: I am back with more long-winded...

Pavilion Grill Coffee Shop – The Portland Palate

The Portland Palate Review: West End Hospitals The Affordable Food Alternative Part 1 by James Fereira My goo...

TSBs – It’s time to make your mark in the neighborhood!

La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life Make Your Mark in the Neighborhood! The Traffic Signal Box Pro...

All or None – Vote to Fix All 4 Schools

by Tony Zeli In the summer of 2016, the School Board voted in favor of a $70.6 million bond to fix four aging...

Apples – What to do with all those apples!

THE AMOS FARM APPLES The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall. -Ern...

City Ballot : Zoning, Americold & Question 2

by Tony Zeli Question 2 City ballot Question 2 will ask voters if they want to strengthen zoning protection by...

Rent Stabilization : Moving Forward or Halting Improvement

by Tony Zeli Local Ballot Question 1 Question 1 on the City ballot asks voters if they support rent stabilizat...

At-large City Council Candidates : Development & School Bonds

At-large city council candidates in their own words on issues of importance to our readers. Two community le...

Neighbors Reach Goal of 500 Window Dressers Inserts

500 Window Dressers Insulating Inserts Ordered by Elissa Armstrong This summer Window Dressers volunteers from...

Book Nook – Not Just Bodice Rippers & James Pattersons

by Nina Sachs, MLIS When I was 12, I was confident that the only people who had a larger English vocabu...

A Tribute to Bridget Chase

Editor’s Note: WEN Volunteer Contributor Bridget Chase, 58, of Pine Street, Portland, passed away on August 7t...

The only breast cancer screening method proven to save lives

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Suzanne A. Hoekstra MD FACS Growing up, I always e...

Brothers Open The Francis Hotel

PelotonPosts is a monthly interview with a member of PelotonLabs, a co-working space in Portland’s West End wi...

Reheating in October – Astrological Forecast October 2017

Perspectives from the Sky : Astrological Forecast October 2017 Reheating in October by Leo Knighton Tallarico...

Invasion of the Trim Snatchers

by Tony Taylor As a teenage student of architectural history in late 60’s Connecticut, I remember my excitemen...

Mary Alice Scott New Buy Local Director

Mary Alice Scott New Portland Buy Local Director Mary Alice Scott is a Portland-based organizer who worked mos...

Ruski’s – Still a Neighborhood Bar

The Portland Palate Ruski’s Tavern – Still a Neighborhood Bar? Sometimes it’s the patrons who best de...

UPDATE: Homicide on Temple Street

POLICE BEAT Suspicious Death on Temple Street Ruled a Homicide UPDATE: Police Release Sketch to Identify Perso...

Reiche Community Room – Back to Learning and Fun

La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life Back to Learning (And Fun!) at the Reiche Community Room by Ro...

ROBO-TICKETING COMING TO PORTLAND?

City Announces New Digital Parking Ticket System by Tony Zeli Is this the start of robo-ticketing? Well, not e...

Local Print News Is Important

Interview with WEN Publisher-Editor Tony Zeli PelotonPosts is a monthly interview with a member of PelotonLabs...

Miglena and Sparkling Clean – An Immigrant Business Story

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Casco Bay and King Receive Highest ‘Credentialed’ Rating

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CONDESCENDING COUNCILORS – State and High Street Conversion Highlights City Divide

State and High Streets used to be two-way roads. In the 1970s, during a period of urban planning that created...

$40,000 to Irish Heritage in Maine

The Maine Irish Heritage Center is based out of the West End’s Saint Dominic’s Church on the corner of State a...

Market Street Shooting

Gun shots echoed through the Old Port for the second time this year. Two Westbrook men were injured, one shot...

Surveying the Damage: A Post-Election Postmortem

Adam Marletta In light of the recent election, I think the city of Portland should finally qualify for...

Shoveling for Seniors, an Important Volunteer Service

by Luke deNatale Although shoveling snow is not an immediate concern for most of us, winter is fast approachin...

Enchanted by the Emerald Isle

by Nancy Dorrans I realize it is November but my thoughts are on October. October is a long month… and, as you...

Bike Bright Portland

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is out in full force promoting their 3rd annual Bike Brightly campaign....

West End History: Andrews Square Rededicated

This Veterans Day leaders from the City, soldiers, veterans, and business leaders gathered to rededicate Andre...

City Seeks Proposals for Open Access Fiber

The City of Portland has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for fiber optic connectivity to its facilities...

The Amos Farm: Everything Urban Farming

by Christian Torp “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When the plowman will overtake the reaper And...

Small Business and Credit: First Step is Knowing Your Limits

by Marilyn Miller Neither a borrower nor a lender be,  For loan oft loses both itself and friend,  And borrowi...

La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life – Blaze Orange, Crows and Snowshoes

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA Today’s Topic: Blaze Orange, Crows and Snowshoes Ahhh, November,...

PARSONSFIELD: Folk Band with Strong Maine Roots to Play OLS, Nov. 13th

by Luke deNatale American Folk music is largely drawn from early American musical traditions from the inhabita...

Newsy Musings – Damnationland

by Jenny Anastasoff It’s that time of year again, when our New England psyches shift. The nocturnal gain...

West End Halloween Parade 2015

The annual parade was a huge hit. Hundreds marched, played instruments, carried puppets by the Shoestring Thea...

Spencer Thibodeau Wins 2nd District

Three young progressives went into the District 2 Council race, but only one could win. The first candidate to...

Strimling Wins, $15 and Scenic Views Lose, and Other Local Election Results

In an upset Ethan Strimling defeated incumbent Mayor Michael Brennan 9,162 votes (51%) to 6,882 (38%). Tom Mac...

Confronting the War Machine at Bath Iron Works

Adam Marletta BATH- As trick-or-treaters and Halloween celebrants scrambled for last minute cost...

Perspectives from the Sky – Astrological Forecast for November 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico We enter November with the clocks turned back an hour, giving the impression of dark...

Serious Bike Accident on Allen Avenue

A serious bicycle accident occurred on the afternoon of October 29th, on Allen Avenue at approximately 3:10 p....

Big Money Enters West End Council Race

by Chris Korzen On October 23, the first round of finance reports for the upcoming Portland City Council elect...

Indie Biz Award Winners

The 8th annual Indie Biz Awards were revealed on Thursday, October 22nd, at Port City Music Hall. Local busine...

Stitched in Community: American Roots Does Labor Differently

by Emilia Scheemaker Ben Waxman left a career in Washington politics to come home to Maine. As the adviser to...

Tuesday Morning Tai Chi Chih at Reiche

Tai Chi Chih is being offered at Reiche this fall through the Recreation Department. The classes will continue...

The Big Problem With Small Business

Adam Marletta Something unthinkable happened during the recent Democratic debate in Las Vegas: Hillary...

District 2 Debate Contrasts Leadership Styles

The West End Neighborhood Association (WENA) and Western Promenade Neighborhood Association (WPNA) hosted a ca...

Musings on the Mayor’s Race

Adam Marletta Four years after Portlanders chose Michael Brennan as the city’s first popularly el...

Stop paying sample stormwater bills

The City is asking media to alert property owners that the stormwater bills they received in September are jus...

City & Developer Reach Agreement on Midtown Project

The City and The Federated Companies announced that the Midtown project is expected to break ground by the end...

The Other City Council Races

TECHY AND HOMELESS ACTIVIST CHALLENGE LONG-TIME INCUMBENT FOR AT-LARGE SEAT Newcomer David Foster of Deane Str...

You Should Know: The School Board Campaigns

INCUMBENT HOLLY SEELIGER RUNS UNOPPOSED FOR DISTRICT 2 Holly Seeliger, a Portland Board of Public Education me...

Police Beat: Bank Robbery Arrest, Getaway Car Photo, Pedestrians Struck by Car

Bank Robbery Arrest Portland Police arrested 59-year-old Francis J. Ready of Portland in connection with a b...

ONE LONGFELLOW SQUARE REACHES OUT TO A NEW GENERATION

One Longfellow Square has developed a reputation for jazz, folk, blues and bluegrass… some might say, mostly f...

Newsy Musings: The Phoenix of Familiar Faces

by Jenny Anastasoff ELECTION 2015, THE PHOENIX OF FAMILIAR FACES Good day again, West End News readers. In o...

La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life – Your Neighborhood Footprint?

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA Today’s Topic: Your Neighborhood Footprint? It’s Wednesday. What...

Local Referendum: The Arguments For And Against The $15 Minimum Wage Increase

by Luke deNatale In July of this year, the Portland City Council decided to put a citizens referendum on the b...

My Sense of Adventure Takes Me to Africa

by Nancy Dorrans We travel, some of us forever to seek other states, other lives, other souls – Anais Ni...

READERS SUPPORT SPENCER THIBODEAU FOR COUNCIL

SPENCER THIBODEAU FOR CITY COUNCIL Portland is at a crossroads. The City must balance the vision of preservati...

READERS SUPPORT ETHAN STRIMLING FOR MAYOR

ETHAN STRIMLING FOR MAYOR I don’t know a lot about politics, but I do know things in Portland need to ch...

READERS SUPPORT ROB KOROBKIN FOR COUNCIL

ROB KOROBKIN FOR CITY COUNCIL I’m asking you to please vote for Rob Korobkin for City Council. With David Mars...

READERS SUPPORT WELLS LYONS FOR COUNCIL

WELLS LYONS FOR CITY COUNCIL As a resident of the West End, having lived and attended school in our neighborho...

Perspectives from the Sky: Astrological Forecast for October 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico As I am away on a Pilgrimage through southern France’s Mary Magdalene and Cath...

Ballot Question 2: Preservation or Development

by Luke deNatale If you walk along Fore Street, on the sidewalk closest to the water, between Waterville Stree...

Last Day of WMPG Begathon

Today is the last day of WMPG’s annual fundraiser, Begathon. Call in a donation at 207-874-3000. WMPG st...

Do It Big

by Sam Pelletier This year, in Portland, we’re voting on a minimum wage of 15 dollars per hour. Their initiati...

Bank Robbery at TD Bank

On Saturday, October 3rd, at 8:10 a.m. the TD Bank at 1410 Congress Street was robbed by a lone male who displ...

Corporations Are the Real Welfare Queens

Adam Marletta Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald’s failed attempt to establish a public list of the state...

Police Beat: Man Arrested for Impersonating Police Officer and Sexual Assault

Man Arrested for Impersonating Police Officer and Sexual Assault Police arrested 57-year-old Gary Mariner of L...

Three Progressives Fight for District 2 Council

Incumbent Dave Marshall steps down from City Council. A young progressive, who after almost a decade in office...

FIRST DEBATE SETS UP MAYORAL CAMPAIGNS

The Mechanics Hall at 519 Congress Street hosted Portland’s first Mayoral debate on September 30th. It was a b...

Bank Robberies Solved

Since May, the City of Portland has seen an unusual rash of six bank robberies, the most recent of which occur...

WENA – REICHE PTO YARD SALE

On Sunday, October 18th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the West End Neighborhood Association and Reich Parent-Teacher Org...

Suspect Arrested in University Credit Union Robbery

The University Credit Union at 391 Forest Avenue was robbed for the second time this month. An arrest has alre...

Iran’s Phantom Nuclear Threat

Adam Marletta The much debated Iran nuclear deal is such an absurd bit of kabuki theater, it cal...

Domino’s Pizza Robbery

On Wednesday, September 23rd, at about 1:55 a.m., the Domino’s Pizza at 788 Forest Avenue was robbed. Employee...

Three Attempted Robberies in West End

Three women have recently reported being the victims of attempted robberies while walking in the West End. On...

New Traffic Pattern at Bramhall Square

City crews are busy finishing road construction projects before the first snow. One ongoing project is at Bram...

Check Out the Book Nook at Reiche!

Okay – it’s 8 am on Tuesday, and you wish you had a mystery you haven’t already read to take on the bus to Bos...

Metered Spots Turn into Parks for PARK(ing) Day 2015

On the third Friday in September Portland joins cities around the globe in transforming on-street parking spac...

New Food Cooperative Competes for UMaine Contract

The Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative held its official launch event on Wednesday, September 16th at Broadturn Fa...

Volunteers for Congress Square Park Honored

The Friends of Congress Square Park held their Annual Meeting on Wednesday, September 16th. The event was held...

New Motorcycle / Scooter Spots in Front of Peloton Labs

About a year ago Liz Trice, owner of Peloton Labs, a coworking space located at Bramhall Square, requested mot...

City to Host Two Comp Plan Open Houses in September

The City’s Planning & Urban Development Department will hold two Comprehensive Plan Open Houses in Septem...

Blue Trash Bag Amnesty Announced

The City Council approved a new amnesty policy for blue trash bags at its meeting last night. Citizens can con...

Police Beat: Taxi Driver Robbed at Knifepoint

On Saturday, September 12th, at about 11:15 p.m., a cab driver for ABC Taxi reported that he was robbed at kni...

Patriotism: Hate Your Government, Love Your Country

by Sam Shain I recently posted to my Facebook page (which on any given day is a hotspot for political and soci...

Rejecting the Practical (A Response to My Critics)

Adam Marletta I knew I was rattling a proverbial hornet’s nest when I took on Sen. Bernie Sanders...

PLEASE, LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME!

by Asher Platts While riding my bicycle from a friend’s wedding rehearsal at the First Unitarian Universalist...

Market Owner Paul Trusiani Dies at Age of 81

by Ed King I knew Paul Trusiani, who died on September 4th, only because of his little grocery store, Paul...

Interest in Improving Bramhall Square: Design Charette Attracts 30+ Neighbors

On Wednesday, September 2nd, over 30 neighbors gathered for a design charette, a community meeting to discuss...

SCHOOL NEWS: Results of New Standardized Test Demonstrate Little

Results of the new Smarter Balanced statewide assessment were released on September 8th. Data for the Portland...

POLICE BEAT: Armed Bank Robbery at University Credit Union

On Friday, September 4th, at 9:30 a.m. the University Credit Union at 391 Forest Avenue was robbed. Two heavil...

Evergreen Cemetery Free Fall Tours

The Friends of Evergreen Cemetery have scheduled over a month of free fall tours. The tours are scheduled for...

Craft Brewing: Even for the Old-timers, It’s All About the New

by Tony Zeli To celebrate the craft brewers of Portland, we want to share their story. We reached out to many,...

Fermentation Adventure Destinations!

by Nancy Dorrans Where are the latest fermentation destinations? Answer is almost anywhere! Although fermentat...

Newsy Musings – Losing Videoport

by Jenny Anastasoff Good day, West End News readers. I may know some of you from Facebook, or the West End Nei...

La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life – Make More Than a Fashion Statement

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA Today’s Topic: Make More Than a Fashion Statement It’s almost ti...

10 Cruise Ships in 2 Weeks

The 2015 cruise season is heading into its peak in Portland with 10 cruise ships scheduled to call to port ove...

My Name Means Flower: Ubah’s Story

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

Nominations Open for Indie Biz Awards

Nominations for Portland Buy Local’s 8th Annual Indie Biz Awards Awards close tomorrow, September 2nd at 5pm....

Perspectives from the Sky – Astrological Forecast for September 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico As we enter September 2015 we are already feeling the winds of the Eclipse Season. W...

FIRST ANNUAL FINE CRAFT SHOW A BIG SUCCESS

The Maine Crafts Association held the first annual Fine Craft Show on Saturday August 22nd, on Congress Street...

Woman Charged in False Claim of Sexual Assault

Sarah Dodge, a 34-year-old woman from Bridgton, is charged with false public alarm or report in connection wit...

Wells Lyons Jumps into District Two Council Race

Wells Lyons has entered the District 2 race for Portland City Council. Wells joins joins Rob Korobkin and Spen...

Expect Traffic: High & Spring Street Road Work

The Maine DOT will be excavating in the intersection of High Street at Spring Street until September 1st. East...

Apply for a Stormwater Service Charge Credit

In advance of the new stormwater service charge ordinance, which goes into effect on January 1st, 2016, resi...

Career Opportunities

Adam Marletta I recently completed a temporary job stint at Purdy Powers & Company, an accounting firm on...

I Miss the Air in My Country: Nawaf’s Story

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

Letter to the Editor: Public May Never Know What Happened

In regards to the recent alleged rape incident in Back Cove, the woman has recently recanted her statement, bu...

UPDATE: Sexual Assault on Back Cove Trail Recanted

The victim in the reported sexual assault on Back Cove trail recanted their story. Following investigation by...

POLICE BEAT: 3 Arrested for Parkside Murder, Robbery Arrests

Three Arrested for Murder Three local men were arrested on the afternoon of Thursday, August 13th, in connec...

Rob Korobkin Announces Bid for Open District 2 Council Seat

UPDATE: As of Friday, August 14th, Rob Korobkin and Spencer Thibodeau have qualified for the ballot as Distric...

Serious Motorcycle Accident in Parkside

On Thursday, August 13th at approximately 12:42 a.m. the Portland Police Department responded to the area of S...

NEW ROUTE AND SUNDAY SERVICE

The Greater Portland METRO bus system has announced new Sunday service on all METRO routes beginning Sunday, A...

Who Gives a Charette about Bramhall Square?

Peloton Labs owner Liz Trice is hosting an Open House and Charette for Bramhall Square at Peloton Labs from 5:...

17 Carleton Street Gets a Tax Break

Avesta Housing gained Council approval for tax-increment financing for a 37-unit affordable housing project at...

Liberal Hit Piece Volume II: Super Blunt

by Sam Pelletier Truths can be unpleasant. Your parents had sex. Entitlements might not be there for you. Lega...

La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life – Recycling, Part 1

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA Recycling – What’s Really the Problem? Have you ever looke...

Bike Thefts Up, Advice for Securing Your Wheels

by Luke deNatale At the July West End Neighborhood Association’s meeting, Portland Police Officer David Schert...

Curbside Composting Business Heats Up

Portlanders clearly love to compost. There are now competing options for residential composting, with two comp...

Mystique of the Travel Agent

by Nancy Dorrans “World travelers,” they say. “Always on the go.” “Must be nice to get all those free tr...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Senators Should Support WIC

Maine in the summer can be paradise. Amid great weather and summery-themed festivals, it may be easy to forget...

The Best Things in Life Are Free: Abdirahim’s Story

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

Nickelodeon Robbed… Again

On Tuesday, August 4th, at 10:00 p.m. the Nickelodeon Cinema was robbed. This is the third robbery at the Nick...

Demanding a Living Wage

Adam Marletta Everything one needs to know about Portlanders’ current struggle for a living wage is cont...

Police Make Multiple Arrests in Prostitution Sting

Portland Police conducted an undercover prostitution sting in the Parkside area of the city Sunday evening, Au...

Perspectives from the Sky – Astrological Forecast for August 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico August begins with an important planetary shift. Saturn, considered the hand of time...

Second Man Charged in Old Port Murder

In a release to media, Portland Police stated that they have arrested thirty-year-old Gang Deng Majok in conne...

And Now, a Word From Our Sponsor…

Adam Marletta This year marks ten years since I graduated from college. It is a rather startling...

Anti-GMO Labeling Bill (DARK Act) Passes US House

A bill that has come to be known as the DARK (“Denying Americans the Right-to-Know”) Act has passed the...

Arrest Made: Portland Man Charged with Bank Robbery and Car Jacking

Police arrested 25 year old Jimmy Odong of Portland at about 4:10 p..m on Thursday, July 23rd. Jimmy Odong fle...

592 Washington Avenue Unfit for Human Habitation

The City has posted the apartment building located at 592 Washington Avenue against occupancy. Some of the vio...

Police Beat: 2 Armed Robberies, Increased Reward for Bank Robber, Murder Suspect Arrested

2 Armed Robberies in Back Bay Neighborhood Police are investigating two armed robberies that occurred Friday,...

City Counts Asylum Seekers for Community Support Fund

City officials have completed analyzing data in order to determine how many asylum seekers would be ineligible...

Videoport Closes, Gifts 18,000 DVDs to Library

Videoport might be closing, but their collection of independent, hard-to-find movies, will be gifted to the Po...

Councilor Kevin Donoghue Will Not Seek Reelection

District 1 City Councilor Kevin Donoghue (Munjoy Hill, East End) announced today that he will not seek reelect...

Words of Advice: Don’t Flush Grease!

Has fat, oil and grease got your city’s sewer system feeling a little sluggish? The EPA has the answer for you...

Franklin Street Redesign on to City Council

The Franklin Street Redesign effort, over many years, has developed a shared vision of a corridor that better...

West End Bike Move

“I did my first bicycle move in Washington DC. I figured, if I could do it there, I could do it in Portl...

Portland Gets a Raise

After a 6-3 vote by City Council, the minimum wage in Portland will go up. The question remains how much and h...

Beyond Gay Marriage: A Call For a Radical LGBT Movement

Adam Marletta And just like that everything changed. The Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-se...

Guys, Just Fund the General Assistance

by Sam Pelletier Let me first clarify the situation as I write this. Firstly, the Portland City Council voted...

Perspectives from the Sky – July 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico A very powerful Spring Season 2015 passed at Summer Solstice on June 21st. And for m...

Neal Dow OPEN House

ALL WELCOME!!! TUESDAY, JULY 7TH, 11 am to 3 pm **Free Strawberry Shortcake** Come see Portland as it was in t...

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DAVE MARSHALL WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION

After nine years on City Council, and much recent speculation as to his future plans, Councilor Dave Marshall...

Spring Street Construction Begins Monday, July 6th

Starting Monday, July 6th, the City will begin removing the Middle/Spring Street median (weather permitting.)...

Mako Bates Runs for City Council in District 2

Article updated Mako Bates, an organizer for the local ballot initiative to create a $15 minimum wage in Portl...

Spencer Thibodeau Launches Campaign for City Council District 2

Article updated Spencer Thibodeau, a 27-year-old real estate attorney at Verrill Dana and resident of Pitt Str...

FORE RIVER IN TROUBLE

by Tony Zeli The salt marshes of Upper Fore River are polluted with nitrogen leading to a host of problems for...

Vaped Out: Council Bans Public Use of Nicotine Vaporizers

by Tony Zeli Smoking has been banned in Portland for years, but as of this summer the ordinance has been expan...

Airfare Facts and Lore

by Nancy Dorrans As a travel agent since 1982, give or take a few years, I’ve seen a lot of changes in the ind...

Businesses Get Creative with 5 Cent Bag Fee

by Tony Zeli Earlier this year Portland became Maine’s first city to place a five-cent fee on disposable, or s...

La Vida Local – Irregular Notes on West End Life: Get Involved!

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA Today’s Topic: Why Get Involved? We want to feel that our lives...

Family, Health and Religion: Kamani’s Story

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

Blue Trash Bags Turn Purple… and Cost More

The City is getting ready to roll out new purple pay-as-you-throw trash bags, which will be available at local...

Councilors Will Push for $10.10 Min Wage

In an email sent to media, Councilor Jon Hinck stated that he, Councilor Justin Costa and Mayor Brennan will i...

City Establishing Assistance Program for Asylum Seekers

Following the City Council’s June 25th vote to pass the municipal budget, which included an amendment to fund...

The Rent is Always Due

Adam Marletta “It takes a scary kind of illness/To design a place like this for pay,” Jello Biafra...

Arrest of Burglary Suspect

On Saturday, June 27th, Police arrested Richard Bing Coleman (age 29) of Portland on two counts of residential...

Fire Department Saves Man from the Water

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night Fire Department personnel from the Marine Division were approache...

Police Beat: Residential Burglaries in Parkside and West End

Police are investigating a series of residential burglaries in Parkside and the West End. Over the past week,...

CITY BUDGET IN BRIEF

Here is a brief look at some of the more contentious issues in the recently passed $222 million city budget. T...

UPDATE: Bank Robbery Reward Up to $10,000

TruChoice and cPort Federal Credit Unions, are working in cooperation with the Portland Police Department to o...

New Law: Cars Must Yield at Crosswalks, Bikes Must Obey Stop Signs

In an increasingly rare act Governor LePage singed a bill into law. The new Maine law defines bicyclists, pede...

cPort and Bank of America Robbed

Portland Police are investigating two bank robberies that occurred early on June 19th. They appear to have bee...

$15 Minimum Wage Petition Turned In

Portlanders for a Living Wage, a ballot question committee formed to support the passage of “An Ordinance Towa...

City Seeks Solar Installations

City operations seek to substitute grid power and fossil fuels with renewable power and fuels that produce les...

Summer Food Program for Children

Local children can enjoy free lunch through the Summer Food Service Program, a federally funded nutrition prog...

Police Beat: Local 188 Staff Threatened with Knife

Next time you head out to tie one on, leave your blade at home. The staff at Local 188 at 685 Congress Street...

WESTERN CEMETERY FENCE RENOVATION

by Luke deNatale The West End Cemetery has had recent construction completed. The fence that surrounded the Ce...

This Call May Be Monitored

Adam Marletta On Monday, June 1, at midnight, the civil-rights eroding, post-9/11 legislation known as The Pat...

Old Port Fest ’09: How the World’s Longest Lobster Roll Saved Lives

by Tony Zeli In 2009, the oddest thing that happened at the Old Port Festival was not giant parading puppets o...

UPDATE: Victim’s Gun Trumps Suspect’s Knife

The victim of the armed robbery on June 5th in the lot of 106 Gilman Street has worked with a police sketch ar...

City Monitoring Noise During Old Port Festivities

It’s slated to be a busy weekend in Portland, but don’t have too much fun. There are several conce...

UPDATE: Person of Interest Related to Car Burglaries

A security camera captured the image of the individual at approximately 4:08 a.m. on Somerset Street between C...

Developing 17 Carleton St: Animosity Over Lost Parking

Between 50 and 60 neighbors from Carleton, Pine, Neal, West Streets and others, attended the neighborhood meet...

Developing 17 Carleton St: TIF Passed Committee

Avesta Housing, developers of 17 Carleton Street, gained unanimous approval for tax-increment financing (TIF)...

Informational Meetings on METRO Busing of High School Students

Starting in September, Portland high school students will be transported to and from school and extracurricula...

Minimum Wage State Referendum Underway

Try not to get confused this summer while traveling through squares and parks downtown. You will be asked if y...

Congress Square Park: Derelict Space to Summer Hot Spot

The Revitalization of Congress Square Park by Tony Zeli There is a new venue in town. Wednesday night concerts...

Biking Surges Among Millennials

by Luke deNatale Warmer weather always brings Portlanders outdoors from the many months spent inside waiting...

TREES NEEDED IN WEST END

by Tony Zeli As the debates around the budget demonstrate, resources are scarce in the City. Parks and green s...

LA VIDA LOCAL- IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE: TREES

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA Have you gone to a different city and reported back to your frie...

‘From Away’ Comes to Visit: Day Trip Advice

by Nancy Dorrans When I’m away traveling and I tell people I live in Portland, Maine, the reaction is dreamy....

DEMOCRAT HIT PIECE

by Sam Pelletier Tommy stumbles out of bed at 12:45 p.m. and retrieves his EBT card from atop his antique maho...

From Guatemala to Portland: Amelia’s Story

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

Police Need Help Identifying Deceased Woman

Police are asking the public for assistance identifying a woman found deceased on the East End beach on May 22...

RUM RIOT: Friends of Evergreen Commemorate 160th Anniversary

It was called the Maine Law. Passed in 1855, it was the first prohibition law in the country. Mayor Neal Dow w...

POLICE BEAT: Attempted Sexual Assault, Stabbing and Robbery

ROBBERY, ASSAULT AND ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT IN WEST END On Sunday, May 31st at 12:30 a.m., a 23-year-old Por...

Developing 58 Fore St: Rezoning Passed

Through postponed hearings, arguments over what the comprehensive plan — the document that governs zonin...

CITY BUDGET POSTPONED UNTIL JUNE 24

The City Council postponed the budget vote for a second time on Monday, June 1st. This is after the vote was f...

Words of Advice – Baby Goats!

Rainy days are ahead. According to the Farmer’s Almanac we can expect thunderstorms and showers on a wee...

Union Street Paving Work Begins

Paving prep work is scheduled to begin on Union Street, between Spring Street and Commercial Street, on June 1...

PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SKY – June 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico The stage has been set from the important planetary aspects earlier this spring. The...

Carleton Street Development: Neighborhood Meeting Scheduled

Developers have announced a neighborhood meeting to discuss plans for an affordable housing building at 17 Car...

Enforcement of New Overnight Parking Rules Begins

New overnight parking restrictions for the majority of Peninsula residents and the Nathan Clifford neighborhoo...

UPDATE: Two Shot in Old Port

UPDATE: One of the victims of the shooting in the Old Port on Tuesday night has died as a result of a gunshot...

Lost in Translation: Why I Won’t Be Attending Your “Gatsby” Party

Adam Marletta As we continue our societal shift from a print-based culture which emphasizes the importance of...

Summer March Season Has Begun

Summahs in Maine. Time to visit the lake, go camping, enjoy the beach, have a lobster bake. Every weekend ther...

King Students Dismissed Early Due to Power Outage

King Middle School students got an early start to their weekend. They were dismissed at 10:45 a.m. on Friday,...

Rally and March for Respect

The We Are Maine march and rally was attended by hundreds of people from across the state. Immigrants, student...

Fatal Motorcycle Accident on Brighton

Initial investigation indicates excessive speed was a factor in the crash on May 21st that killed 38 year old...

High Kicks, Laughs and Action: Local Filmmaker Set to Release Miniseries

by Luke deNatale Portland has a burgeoning film scene that is always bringing new filmmakers and genres to the...

Referendum Initiated to Protect Scenic Views

A group of residents have submitted an affidavit to initiate a referendum to protect scenic views. The residen...

Mayor Exercises Powers and Postpones Budget Hearing

“The Portland City Council will postpone its vote on the municipal budget, which was scheduled to take place d...

GMO CONCERN GROWS, CONSUMERS WANT LABELING

In an email to supporters, Representative Chellie Pingree is asking her base to oppose the DARK Act, a Republi...

1st Ever Homeless Youth Count in Maine

Preble Street, the hub of services for the homeless and poor in Greater Portland and the state, has organized...

Update: Nonprofit Brings Arts Integration to Core Classes

The West End News spoke to Side x Side founders, Beth Wilbur Van Mierlo and Annette Kraus, in December. They a...

City’s Wellness Committee Promotes Biking to Work

Folks all over Portland are celebrating National Bike to Work Day. The bike parking at the West End News...

Bank Robbery at University Credit Union

On May 14th, at 2:47 p.m., officers and detectives responded to a bank robber at University Credit Union on ou...

Armed Robbery in Parking Lot of Hannaford

On Wednesday night, at about 10:20 p.m., officers responded to the parking lot of the Hannaford at 787 Riversi...

Joy Place Development: City Looks to Sell Reiche Teachers’ Parking Lot

Joy Place is an alley, with an abandoned building, an old foundation of a barn and a dilapidated shed… a...

School Budget Passed

Voters approved the Portland Public School’s budget in a citywide referendum held on Tuesday, May 12th. The un...

Fr. Mike Seavey Blogs on Divisive Issues

“A culture of encounter demands that we be ready not only to give, but also to receive. Media can help us grea...

Developers Tout Economic Report on Fore Street Rezoning

Portland-based Planning Decisions, Inc. (PDI) released a study that indicates the redevelopment of 58 Fore Str...

Students Create Peaks Island Bike Map

Second- and third graders in teacher Charlie Marenghi’s class at Peaks Island Elementary School have made a La...

Baltimore and the Fire Next Time

Adam Marletta The blanket condemnation of the rioting in Baltimore, coupled with white America’s tone-de...

WMPG’s Vinyl Collection Airing Out

A burst water pipe flooded the basement at community radio station WMPG. Supporters have rallied and are savin...

Police Fight Motorcycle Noise

Every year residents report being disturbed by motorcycles with excessively loud exhausts, the unnecessary rac...

CLEAR CUTTING THE WESTERN WATERFRONT

“It really was a situation that couldn’t continue,” says Vin Veroneau, President of JB Brown. He is referring...

New Poll: Majority Support for $15 Minimum Wage Initiative

A new Public Policy Polling survey, commissioned by the Portland Green Independent Committee, finds that a maj...

School News: Board Approves New Schedules

The Portland Board of Public Education voted to approve a revised schedule of elementary and middle school sta...

Serious Motorcycle Accident

On May 4th at about 3:40 p.m., the Portland Police responded to a single vehicle motorcycle accident on Congre...

Words of Advice: Self-Employed In Need of Health Care

“Maine is open for business,” except if you are able-bodied, childless and self-employed… In...

Disabled Residents Robbed Twice, Police Make Arrest

Two robberies occurred at the same residence, in the area of Boyd Street and Cumberland Avenue in East Bayside...

$15 LIFTING WORKERS UP, SHUTTING SMALL BUSINESS DOWN

$7.50… $8.75… $10.10… $15… The stakes keep getting higher for workers and small busine...

When City Council Fails: A Look at the Ballot Initiative Process

“It’s an option of last resort.” -David LaCasse, Friends of Congress Square Park “The referendum is a blunt in...

Any 10 Citizens… And a Lot of Bureaucratic Hurdles: The Ballot Initiative Process

So you want to put your own ordinance on the ballot? Get ready… The process is not exactly an easy one....

Sokear’s Story

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

BULLY PULPIT

by Sam Pelletier Our Governor is once again taking a swing at my home city of Portland by advocating for LD 13...

La Vida Local – Irregular Notes on West End Life: SOUND OFF!

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA This Month’s Topic: Sound Off! Fingernails scraping a chal...

Perspectives From the Sky – Astrological Forecast May 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico May 2015 The first half of Spring 2015 has set the stage for continuing important ch...

Arc Iris Wants You To Know Them… Intimately And Over And Over Again

Inviting all musically curious, trend setting, intrigued audience members. May marks a very special month at O...

SCHOOL NEWS: Metro Buses for High Schoolers and New Bell Schedule

UPDATE: The May 5th meeting of the new METRO Advisory Committee has been rescheduled. The next meeting of the...

New Outdoor Dining Regulations

The City recently implemented new outdoor dining permit regulations after a year-long review process that invo...

Tragic Fall from Second Floor Porch

On April 22nd at about 3 p.m. police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics responded to 563 Cumberland Avenu...

Police Beat: Racially Motivated Assault and Home Invasion

Racially Motivated Assault Two men were arrested and charged in a racially motivated assault outside 790 Congr...

The Cost of Lifting Workers Out of Poverty

Submitted by Asher Platts, The Punk Patriot Why should we have a living wage? What is the cost of lifting work...

Obama’s Wars and the Liberals Who Love Them

By Adam Marletta Political bumper stickers are funny things. Drivers who adorn their vehicles with nume...

Neighborhood Clean-up Days

“We love it,” said Emma Holder of the Parkside Neighborhood Association, when asked if neighbors e...

Shooting in Libbytown Neighborhood

Portland Police have arrested 18 year old Christopher McMann of 111 Elizabeth Road. He is charged with Reckles...

MAYOR’S MINIMUM WAGE GUTTED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE

After a public hearing, the Finance Committee of the City Council shredded the Mayor’s minimum wage proposal b...

New Parking Restriction Signs

Public Services is currently in the process of installing new street maintenance parking restriction signs in...

Bus Hits Bicyclist

On April 15th a South Portland School Department bus hit a bicyclist on Deering Avenue, near King Middle Schoo...

Maine Robotics to World Championship

Baxter Academy for Technology and Science’s rookie First Robotics team, the Outliers, qualified for World Comp...

City to Host Two Community Conversations on the Budget

The City will host two community conversations at the end of April in order to receive input from citizens and...

Plastic Bag Fee Starts April 15

Starting Wednesday, April 15th, Portland became Maine’s first city to place a five-cent fee on disposable pape...

Hate Crime Under Investigation

Police are investigating a hate crime that occurred on Sunday, April 12th. The Portland Halaal Market at 269 S...

Perspectives from the Sky – Astrological Forecast for April 2015

by Leo Knighton Tallarico April 2015 continues to bring us important planetary movements that promise big chan...

Pizza, Cherries & Democracy: Branca’s Story

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

Spate of Robberies, Home Invasion, Police Make Arrest

Over the last several months there have been 15 robberies, including armed robberies, throughout Portland....

Cell Phones in Angola

MY STORY: English-language learners from Portland Adult Education sharing their stories in their words. We wel...

Young Man Robs Nickelodeon

At 10 p.m. on April 2nd, police responded to an armed robbery at Nickelodeon Cinemas in the Old Port. It was r...

It No Longer Matters Which Map Was Passed

58 Fore Street Rezoning Update A big contention in the rezoning of 58 Fore Street, whether building heights sh...

Suspect Evades Police, Struck by Own Car

UPDATE: At approximately 3:45 p.m., Jamie Vandegraff was located and arrested in the Maine Mall area in South...

Which Map Was Passed: 58 Fore Street Rezoning

Developer CPB2 wants to rezone and build up 10 acres at 58 Fore Street, site of the Portland Company complex....

Local Inventor Weighs Hives to Save Bees

Local entrepreneur and inventor Alex Jones has had bees on his mind for some time. “I was really hoping to bui...

Portland’s Urban Agriculture Agenda

Finally… Spring has come. Time for spring showers to bring May flowers! I’m Jeremy Bloom, co-chairman...

La Vida Local – Irregular Notes on West End Life: Spot Gardens & Way Stations

by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA Today’s Topic: Spot Gardens & Way Stations “Spring is natur...

BUILDING A POLLINATOR CORRIDOR

There is 26 square miles of roads, driveways, parking lots, roofs and other impervious surfaces in Portland. T...

Native Seeds for Native Bees

The Wild Seed Project is a nonprofit in Maine working to reintroduce native plants into the landscape. Native...

Neighbors Ban Together for Pollinators

The Portland Pollinator Partnership is hosted by the Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA), and its partners...

Plant These to Help the Bees

by Betsy Garrold, The Populist Farmer We have all heard about the plight of our pollinator species especially...

22 Students Sickened at Reiche Elementary

by Luke deNatale Twenty-two students at Reiche Elementary School became ill with sudden stomach illness and vo...